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If the vibrantly colored paneled walls ofThe Eliza Jane hotelcould talk , they ’d in all probability have a lot of news to share . At the very least , they ’ve surely been listening as guests come and go , proffer silent attending in response to the oft - repeated question formed on myriad visiting lips : Who the heck is Eliza Jane ?
The walls ca n’t tell you , but General Manager Michael Klein sure can . He says the interrogation is so common that direction has include relevant talking points in their employee orientation process . When I ask about her at check - in , I was also given a pamphlet with a light bio .
The hotel ’s lesser - known namesake is Eliza Jane Nicholson , the first woman publisher of a major metropolitan paper in the United States . She owned and operatedThe Daily Picayunefor 20 years , and the 19th - century warehouse that housed the paper ( alongside businesses like powder maker Peters Cartridge Shop , the Gulf Baking Soda ship’s company , and botanical spirits Jehovah Peychaud ’s Bitters ) have since been translate into theHyatt Unbound Collection hotel . The report is still around today , though it goes by the name ofThe Times-Picayune—orNola.comonline .
Photo courtesy of The Eliza Jane
“ We use Eliza Jane really as our breathing in because she was a storyteller who fetch community elements together , ” explains Klein . “ Her medium was the report , and we feel that that medium is an divine guidance , tying into the community and telling stories that are unique to New Orleans . ”
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The hotel honor Eliza Jane and the historic newspapers of New Orleans ( the property ’s Magazine Street positioning is also a half block aside from the city ’s historicNewspaper run-in ) through its designing . Much of the edifice ’s original brick , masonry archway , and metalworking still remain , now beautify with marble dialect . appear closely for details like a hall papered with newspaper intent , or demode typewriter in some of the hotel ’s 196 guest rooms ( mine greeted me with a typed welcome note of hand ) .
You ’ll find exchangeable artifacts in thePress Room entrance hall lounge , where cunning libations and small plate are served up in a decidedly literary space . The cranberry - colored paneled walls are rimmed with bookshelves , have hardcover book and vintage typing implement , along with other ornamental touches . The sit down field is grand yet comfortable , with leather and velvet upholstery , a marble fireplace , and brass unclouded fixtures .
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You may like to sit and snack , perhaps understand a book , but it ’s also the consummate home to contemplate the accomplishments of Eliza Jane . stand in 1843 near Pearlington , Mississippi , fiery - haired Eliza Jane Poitevent grew up visiting her grandad in New Orleans . As a young woman , she go on to submit her writings to the city ’s newspapers , includingThe Daily Picayune , under the penitentiary name Pearl Rivers , finally moving to the Big Easy to pursue a career in journalism .
“ We know that writing was something that was a lifelong passion of hers , ” explicate Amanda McFillen , director of programs and interpretative services atThe Historic New Orleans Collection . “ I do n’t know why she wanted to do it professionally , except that she just had this very strong desire to have her oeuvre publish and be recognized for it and to be pay for it . ”
Eliza Jane was hired asThe Daily Picayune ’s literary editor in 1870 . Two years later , she hook up with the report ’s possessor . When her husband passed aside in 1876 , Eliza Jane inherit the newspaper publisher , which then was on shaky fiscal land . She began making what were innovative changes at the time , including amplify the paper ’s subscription base . Over the trend of two decennary , she tally sections to the paper that appeal to different readers , such as an advice pillar , sports reporting , and stories of interest to women and children . She also mentored other cleaning woman writers and gave advice columnistDorothy Dixher start .
“ She was very passionate about writing , but she was also a really savvy businesswoman , ” say McFillen . “ Within a few years , she had pay off the debt and had made it a very profitable newspaper . ”
Credit should also be founder to the fact that Eliza Jane had a dandy staff , which include her business sector handler , George Nicholson , who she finally married . While Eliza Jane happen away in 1896 , ownership ofThe Daily Picayuneremained in the family until the sixties , a legacy that really verbalise to Eliza Jane ’s success as a businesswoman and journalist .
And then , of course of action , there ’s the bequest of The Eliza Jane hotel . Located within New Orleans ’ Central Business District , two blocks northward of theFrench Quarter , you ’ll notice that richly emblazon lobby accented by a patterned tile floor . A marble - topped bar sits under a glass canopy , across from the Press Room waiting room . If you fancy some open - strain easiness , you could also sit in the hotel ’s receptive - air courtyard , where greenery conform to the construction ’s original exposed brick and a fountain designed by a local creative person total a trivial dramatic flair .
The Eliza Jane is located in New Orleans’ Central Business District, two blocks north of the French Quarter.|Photo courtesy of The Eliza Jane
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Arched passageway get in touch the hotel to French - pep up Louisiana brasserieCouvant , located in the portion of the former warehouse that once put up the Peychaud Cocktail Bitters manufacturing plant , which shared the space with the newspaper .
Under the direction of Executive Chef Ryan Pearson , Couvant draws upon Louisiana ’s coastal and farming bounty for saucer that include prawn and hominy grits , gougères , and duck’s egg confit — plus an impressive Côte de Boeuf for two . A standout item is the Raclette Burger , useable only at lunch period and completed tableside with the scraping of this Swiss cheese from a cast iron pan onto a wry - older patty . in the beginning , Pearson was dead position against a burger , but presenting it as an experiential mantrap switch his head . “ I still give him a hard time that it ’s there but I make out the fact that we have it , ” says Klein .
The hotel also recognizes Antoine Peychaud , who constitute Peychaud ’s Bitters . He’sthe influence behind The Eliza Jane ’s new in - menage bitters aging program , the Publisher ’s Alchemy , which will develop usage aromatic hard drink for the craftcocktails served at the Lobby Bar and Couvant .
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And what might Eliza Jane have think of her namesake property , from the luxe guest rooms to the brasserie ? Whatever her opinion might have been , she would have been sure to let everyone know . McFillen notes that she was not diffident about convey her thoughts , explicate that she was once misattributed as a “ Mister ” byField & Stream . She objurgate them on the error , “ and they wrote her this wonderful , very funny reply where they justify profusely , ” say McFillen . “ She was definitely in a male dominated sphere for her total career and had to sail this unceasingly throughout her vocation . And I cogitate she did it with a draw of spirit . ”
The hotel has 196 guest rooms, some of which feature antique typewriters.|Photo courtesy of The Eliza Jane
Look closely for details like a hallway papered with newspaper designs.|Photo courtesy of The Eliza Jane
Craft libations and small plates are served up in the Press Room lobby lounge.|Photo courtesy of The Eliza Jane
Eliza Jane turned the struggling Daily Picayune into a profitable paper.|The Eliza Jane New Orleans
A marble-topped bar sits under a glass canopy, across from the Press Room lounge.|Photo courtesy of The Eliza Jane
Couvant draws upon Louisiana’s coastal and agricultural bounty.|The Eliza Jane New Orleans
Arched passageways connect the hotel to French-inspired Louisiana brasserie Couvant.|Couvant New Orleans
