Hansen's Sno-Bliz and the Story of the New Orleans Snowball - Episode 227
Beyond Bourbon Street, an Insider's Guide to New Orleans
Release Date: 04/04/2025
EP 256 - 13 Books About New Orleans Redo
Beyond Bourbon Street, an Insider's Guide to New Orleans
Today’s episode is a re-broadcast of one I originally released in April of 2020, in the midst of COVID 19. It’s a list of books I recommend about New Orleans. It came to mind because I’ve gotten several inquiries in the last couple of weeks requesting good books about the city. This one is the first of two I’ve done on the subject - the other was episode 126. I was listening to this one today - the list of books are timeless, and it’s interesting to me to hear my thoughts from that time period - of course, we were in the early days of quarantine, but we didn’t know...
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EP 255 - Late Night Eats
Beyond Bourbon Street, an Insider's Guide to New Orleans
Ever been out in New Olrleans and looking for something to eat after 9pm? The idea for this episode came from our good friends Garrett and Cheryl who frequently come to New Orleans and like to eat a bit later than normal. They were lamenting the fact that by the time they want to eat late at night, they don’t know where to go. Marie suggested this might make a good topic for a podcat (I was already in bed!), and they wholeheartedly agreed. So, this one’s for y’all Garrett and Cheryl, as well as those of you who find yourselves out and about past my bedtime!
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EP 254 - St. Augustine Church
Beyond Bourbon Street, an Insider's Guide to New Orleans
St. Augustine Catholic church is located in the Treme and is said to be the oldest black Cathoic parish in the United States. To help us learn all about it, I’m joined by three parishoners.
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EP 253 - Two Chicks Walking Tours
Beyond Bourbon Street, an Insider's Guide to New Orleans
My guest today is a long time sponsor of the podcast, and the founder of Two Chicks Walking Tours.
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EP 252 - Q & A July 2026
Beyond Bourbon Street, an Insider's Guide to New Orleans
This week's episode is a Q&A show with questions from listeners like you. 02:13 - Cliff Hochberg - under appreciated neighborhood 03:55 - Dan Tamura - three traits it takes to live in New Orleans 06:20 - Heather Heise - New Orleans Opera Festival 08:20 - Nick Savides - Tales of the Cocktail 10:35 - Mark Wingfield - Rainy Day Drinks 12:14 - Mark - Where to find oysters 14:50 - Mark - How to Save NO Restaurants 17:06 - Steve Mule - Decatur Street Construction 19:35 - Jeff Singer - Under-appreciated museums 21:45 - Meera - Out of the way activities 23:56 - Mike Tuomey - How...
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EP 251 - Revisiting the Upstairs Lounge Fire
Beyond Bourbon Street, an Insider's Guide to New Orleans
Today’s episode is is a replay of one I did several years ago about the fire at the Upstairs Lounge. The anniversary of this tragic event was on June 24th, so I thought it was a good time to play it again for those who might not have been listening back then. I think it’s one of the most moving and important episodes I’ve recorded.
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EP250 - Dining with Ian McNaulty
Beyond Bourbon Street, an Insider's Guide to New Orleans
Today, I’m joined by local food writer Ian McNaulty to talk about what’s going on with dining and drinking in New Orleans.
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EP 249 - Oysters
Beyond Bourbon Street, an Insider's Guide to New Orleans
Today’s show is all about oysters! I’m down in Grand Isle, about two hours South of New Orleans. I’m joined by the owner of Bayside Oysters, Mr. Kirk Curole
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EP 248 - Summer in New Orleans
Beyond Bourbon Street, an Insider's Guide to New Orleans
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EP 247 - Live at Seven Three Distilling
Beyond Bourbon Street, an Insider's Guide to New Orleans
Today’s episode is our fisrt ever podcast recorded in front of a live audience. We’re at Seven Three Distillery and interviewing their head distiller, Luka Cutura..
info_outlineHansen's Sno-Bliz and the Story of the New Orleans Snowball
In today’s episode, we head over to Hansen's Sno-Bliz on Tchoupitoulas Street, in uptown New Orleans. We visit with Ashley Hansen, granddaughter of Ernest and Mary Hansen, and the current owner of Hansen's Sno-Bliz.
Hansen's is the oldest snowball stand in the United States, and is currently open for its 86th season in 2025. In the 1930s, Ernest Hansen created the first machine to shave ice into the snowy powder essential for a terrific New Orleans snowball. That machine is still put to daily use in the shop today!
Mary Hansen ran the business, while Ernest was working as a machinist on the ships docked along the Mississippi. In their later years, the Hansen's ran the snowball stand together. As they got older, their granddaughter Ashley was their to assist, and ultimately to continue the tradition.
"There are no shortcuts to quality” - Mary Hansen
Mary Hansen uttered these words frequently, and ran her business by this code. Today, Ashley continues setting the standard, making the syrups from scratch each day, and using the best possible ingredients. Mary's words are all over the shop - on signs and on every plastic cup sold at Hansen's today.
Listen in and learn all about Mary and Earnest Hansen, and the ubiquitous treat New Orleans claim as their birthright today. You'll hear great family stories, and tales of New Orleans traditions. By the end, you'll be ready to make your plans to visit New Orleans this summer and stop in at Hansen's for a delicious snowball!
Visit and Follow Hansen's Sno-Bliz
If you want to drive yourself crazy with snowball envy, be sure to follow Hansen's Sno-Bliz on Instagram. Go ahead, you know you want to!
Check out their website (snobliz.com) for more history about Hansen's and to be sure they are open for the season. You can also get updates on their Facebook page.
Better still, visit Ashley and the team over at Hansen's in person.
Hansen's Sno-Bliz is located at 4801 Tchoupitoulas Street, New Orleans, LA.
Tchoupitoulas is pronounced CHOP-i-TOO-LAS, but you would already know that since you listened to episode #11 - the Language of New Orleans. You did listen to that episode, right? :)
Hansen's is open from 1-7PM, Tuesday-Sunday, when they are in season. Be sure to check before you go, and don't go on Mondays - they will be closed. Mondays in New Orleans are for red beans and rice anyway.
Thank You
Thanks to Ashley Hansen for talking with us on a busy afternoon in the middle of snowball season. I went to meet Ashley and learn about the snowball business. What I got instead was a love story, and a new friend!
Thanks also to Paul Broussard who works with Ashley and helped set up our interview!
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Thanks for listening!
Mark