AAN 2012: Things to Do Outside of Conference Sessions

At this year's AAN Annual Meeting, the AAN is offering attendees a number of activities to participate in during downtime. Here are some of the opportunities that are available.

Run/Walk for Brain Research

Tuesday, April 24

6:30-8:30AM

Sponsored by Teva Pharmaceuticals

Support research in neurology and join us for a 5k run or one mile walk in New Orleans. Whether you’re an occasional or seasoned runner, or just enjoy a walk, you’ll enjoy this beautiful trek—for a good cause. All proceeds go to support Clinical Research Training Fellowships in neurology. The race is open to all meeting attendees and their families. Water and refreshments will be available following the race. The registration fee is $25.

Bus service to and from the race site will be provided. For registration and details, visit www.aan.com/view/runwalk or contact Andrew Halverson at ahalverson@aan.com.

or (651) 695-2757.

USTA Tennis Event

April 23-27

The AAN Sports Neurology Section, in conjunction with the United States Tennis Association (USTA), will provide free morning Cardio Tennis events daily from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. from Monday, April 23, to Friday, April 27, during the Annual Meeting. This event is intended to help promote the health benefits of tennis, while bringing overall awareness to the sport. By exposing AAN members and their families to a fun morning of tennis—and providing educational pamphlets regarding the health benefits of this and other similar sports—the Sports Neurology Section will begin the process of increasing awareness within the neurologic community of how exercise can benefit neurologic health and well-being. Cardio Tennis is a safe and healthy workout designed for players of all ability and fitness levels. The event will take place at the Hilton Health Club in New Orleans. It is recommended that participants arrive by 6:45 a.m. in order to pick up their heart monitor. More information about the event will be posted on the Sports Neurology Section’s webpage at www.aan.com/go/about/sections/sports as it becomes available.

Morning Yoga

Wake up your mind and body before a day filled with the latest breaking science and the best education. Come to the new yoga event on Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday mornings from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. Attendance is free, but space is limited. Be sure to add this event to your Annual Meeting itinerary at www2.cmrreg.com/aan_7i/aan2012/index.html. Yoga mats will be provided.

Attendees who want to roam through the city of New Orleans might find these free activities to be interesting and provids an opportunity to see and learn about the history of the city.

1. Get jazzed.

Stroll along Bourbon or Frenchmen, where jazz pours out onto the street or duck into a few clubs for the full experience.

2. Dive deeper into our musical heritage.

After you’ve heard your fair share of jazz, learn about its roots at the New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park (916 N. Peters Street).

3. Browse art throughout the city.

It seems like you can find art in every corner of New Orleans — the galleries on Julia and Royal Streets, the Mid-City and Bywater art markets, Jackson Square vendors and so much more.

4. Experience Our Parks.

Walk among the centuries-old oaks of City Park, picnic in picturesque Audubon Park or enjoy views of the Mississippi River at Woldenberg Park.

5. Take in a free festival.

Through free summer festivals such as Vieux-To-Do and Satchmo Summerfest, explore the history of New Orleans and understand the culture of this unique city.

6. Immerse yourself in New Orleans history.

Stop by The Historic New Orleans Collection at 533 Royal Street for a crash course on the city’s history that spans almost 300 years.

7. Enjoy the neighborhood.

Spend an hour people-watching at a coffee shop in the Faubourg Marigny, voted one of America's 10 Great Neighborhoods.

8. Bike along the levee.

Rent a bike and go for a ride along the levee while taking in the sights and sounds of the mighty Mississippi River.

9. Oysters at Le Bon Temps Roule.

Head Uptown to this Magazine Street club on Fridays for free oysters as you listen to the funk sounds of Joe Krown.

10. Shop for mansions on St. Charles Avenue.

Come on! You don’t have to be in the market to appreciate these jewels on the Avenue.

11. View the architecture of the French Quarter.

I spy wrought-iron balconies, a cornstalk fence, a hidden courtyard.

12. Get in touch with nature at Jean Lafitte National Park.

Just 30 minutes from downtown New Orleans and you can immerse yourself in Louisiana’s rich ecological treasures — swamps, forests and marshland.

13. Catch a free summer show at Tipitina’s.

This uptown venue pays homage to the jazz legend Professor Longhair with free shows on Fridays during the summer months.

14. Go see Fulton Street.

Stroll through the Fulton Street promenade, home to outdoor cafes, one-of-a-kind shopping, Harrah's Hotel and open-air concerts and festivals.

15. Celebrate the ambiance of The Roosevelt.

The $145 million historic restoration added 504 rooms to New Orleans' hotel inventory, along with 60,000 square feet of event and meeting space.

16. Hang your business card at the Old Absinthe House.

Leave your mark on New Orleans by adding your business card to the wall at one of Bourbon Street’s oldest bars.

17. Spend Saturday morning at the Farmers Market.

Learn a bit about the famous New Orleans cuisine with free cooking demonstrations at the Crescent City Farmers Market.

18. Check out the Louisiana Superdome.

The Louisiana Superdome, with its multi-million dollar renovation, is a premier venue for major conventions and sporting events, including Super Bowl XLVII in 2013.

19. Haunt our “Cities of the Dead.”

Visit our famous above-ground tombs at Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in the Garden District or St. Louis Cemetery No. #1 on Basin Street, believed to be fi nal resting place of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. Knock three times on her crypt and make a wish.

20. Take Yourself on a Literary Tour.

See where Tennessee Williams (722 Toulouse), William Faulkner (624 Pirate’s Alley), Truman Capote (711 Royal), Thornton Wilder (623 Bourbon), Walker Percy (1820 Milan) and Anne Rice (1239 First) lived.

21. Jam at Wednesday at the Square.

During the spring and summer months, the Young Leadership Council hosts free concerts in Lafayette Square featuring some of the hottest local acts.

22. Ride the River.

The free Canal Street ferry offers some of the best views of the New Orleans skyline and drops you in historic Algiers.

23. Be Moved by Our Spectacular Churches.

The large Catholic population of New Orleans gave rise to breathtaking churches such as St. Louis Cathedral, St. Augustine and Our Lady of Guadalupe.

24. Discover the Besthoff Sculpture Garden.

Located amid the beauty of City Park, the Besthoff Sculpture Garden features one of the most impressive collections of contemporary sculpture in America.

25. Be a “Voluntourist.”

Though New Orleans is thriving, there are parts of the city that could still use some help following Hurricane Katrina. Just a few hours of volunteering can leave a lasting impact on New Orleans.

26. Walk and Talk.

Network with thousands of your fellow colleagues in the world's most walkable city.

27. Room with a View.

Soak up the views of the French Quarter, Warehouse District and Central Business District from your newly renovated hotel room.

28. Savor Your Senses.

Savor the smells of more than 1,000 restaurants as you walk the streets of the French Quarter and Riverfront.

29. World Class Venue.

Browse the exhibit hall in a Convention Center that has undergone million dollars in renovations.

30. Unique Destination.

Listen to the rattle of the historic streetcar and know that you're truly someplace different.