Karen Knapstein, your friendly Antique Trader Online Editor here...

New Orleans has always been one of the listings on my "Places to visit before I die" list. It first made its appearance on my list about 12 years ago, when a friend said she was planning her wedding, of which I was the matron of honor, and that she wanted to get married in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Those plans fell through, but the celebrated location remains on my "to do" list.

I came across a story featured on IndyStar.com (Crescent City getaway — Get your fill of music, food and shopping in New Orleans) that expounds on what New Orleans has to offer besides Mardi Gras: antiques, fine art, antiques, jazz, antiques, food, antiques, Southern hospitality, antiques ... you see where this is going?

The result: New Orleans has moved up a couple of positions on my list ... perhaps I'll make it there before I'm 50 ...