Join Your Classmates in New Orleans:  Feb 25-28, 2027

Fresh off of a great mini reunion in DC, we are now planning something different: A  trip to New Orleans in late February, centered around a visit to the National WW II Museum. As many of you know,  our classmate Dave Nierenberg is a trustee and major supporter of the museum, and is excited to share with us this amazing institution.  And, Bill Eskridge’s partner, Don Patron, is an artist who shows regularly at Royal Street galleries and knows the city well.   So, think of this as a visit to New Orleans with some friends with local knowledge!  And, let us add that we are all grateful for the fact that everyone is safe after the boat crash on the Mississippi yesterday.

If you are wondering about the timing, the end of February is early Spring in New Orleans, with an average daytime high of 70 degrees.  Mardi Gras and its associated crowds and activities occur earlier in February.  Thanks to Dave, the centerpiece of our trip will be a curated all-day visit to the museum with hand picked guides. This will be on Friday, February 26; we will start early, so please plan to arrive the night before.  For those of you who have not been to the museum, it is a memorable experience and a great way to honor our veterans.  Dave tells us that the museum recently added a final pavilion called “Liberation.” This pavilion focuses on the end of the war, including the liberation of the camps by Allied soldiers, the international institutions that the Allies built to prevent another world war, and the war’s far-reaching effects on American society. The NYT had a recent article about the museum: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/26/arts/design/world-war-ii-museum-new-orleans.html?smid=em-share .  On Friday evening we plan to have a group dinner at a restaurant in the Warehouse District, within walking distance to the Higgins hotel where we will be staying.. 

We are planning other activities, including Saturday afternoon in the French Quarter.  We are working on a private tour of the Cabildo, the old Spanish capitol building in Jackson Square, now a museum,  where the closing of the Louisiana Purchase took place.  Later in the afternoon, Don’s friends will host us at their gallery on Royal Street.  After a group dinner, probably in the French Quarter, Don has offered to bring anyone who is game out to a piano bar or other nighttime activity. We are also looking into a jazz brunch at Commander’s Palace in the Garden District on Sunday at noon. Our committee will provide other options for visits throughout the weekend depending on people’s interests.

The headquarters for our visit will be the Higgins Hotel, which is adjacent to the WWII museum.   We have reserved a block of rooms at the discounted rate of $238 per night (about $285 with taxes and fees) for Thursday February 25 through Sunday February 28. You can tack on up to 3 additional nights at that rate before or after the weekend.  The link for the group rate is here. BOOKING WEBSITE: https://book.passkey.com/e/51379632.   Pat tells us that she and Rob plan to stay over on Sunday night and visit the Whitney Plantation outside of town on Monday.  The Whitney is the only plantation that is centered around the enslaved experience.  She is happy to arrange tickets for others.

If you want to join us, please make your Higgins Hotel reservation promptly; you can cancel the reservation with a full refund up to 72 hours before arrival. And, please let us know by Thanksgiving if you plan to come, including your attendance at group dinners on Friday and Saturday nights and a Sunday jazz brunch, so we can get arrangements in place. 

 Our three previous mini reunions have really been awesome.  We hope to see many of you in ​New Orleans this February.  Please email Pat Profeta at pkp@nbgroup.com or Carl Reisner at carl.reisner@gmail.com with any questions.