This post by Blackstone Content Correspondent Summer Suleiman originally appeared on ideavillage.org.
Our favorite season is here…
Summertime!
And while most things slow down in New Orleans as the summer heat sets in, we know that as a startup, things move fast all year around. We also know that running a startup takes a lot of work, and that often means founders are doing it with a small team and a tight budget.
But here at #IDEAinsider, we think a little gratitude goes a long way. So if you want to show your team some love while things slow down in the city, we’ve got you. Here’s twelve fun and inexpensive ways to take your team out for a good time, and show ‘em how much you appreciate them.
13. Take a Night Off at The Maple Leaf Bar
Turn up Tuesdays and take the team out to hear Rebirth Brass Band at the Maple Leaf Bar. Just beware of turning up Tuesdays. Wednesday might be rough.
12. Take a NOLA Brew Tour
Make Fridays more fun and take your krewe to a tour at the NOLA Brewery, any Friday at 3p.m. Then cool off with a NOLA blonde.
11. Take Timeout for Snowballs
Beat the summer heat and treat your team to a snowball break at any one of our favorite snowball stands around the city. I’ll take a medium strawberry with a little drizzle of condensed milk, please!
Credit: TheGumboBros.com
10. Start a Breakfast Club
Start Friday off right by bringing bagels (with all the fixins’) for the team. Invite other team members to keep it going all summer long. It’s a nice way to start the day off and spend QT with your team.
9. Start a Summer League
Organizations like Play Nola offer several different sports and venues and invites people to start their own teams. It’s a great way for team bonding.
8. Team Lunch at Barpreneurs
Take your team to mix and mingle with other like-minded folks at Barpreneurs for lunch and 25 cent martinis at SoBou on Fridays.
7. Take an Art Stroll
Take your team out of the office for an afternoon of art at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Entrance to the museum is free on Wednesdays!
6. Go Team Tubing
Cool off from the summer heat and take your team tubing or canoeing on the Bogue Chitto River. Team bonding!
5. Have a Picnic at Audubon Park
Take a mid-week break, head to Audubon Park and find a nice big oak tree for a post-work picnic.
Credit: Urbite.com
4. Get to Know the South
Offer up a little southern history for your startup team and take them to the Ogden Museum of southern art. It’s free on Thursdays from 10am-5pm.
3. Take a Beignet Break
What better way to show your team how much you love them than with a Cafe du Monde fix? Beignets and au laits are ALWAYS a good idea. It’s inexpensive and delicious way to show your team a little love.
Credit: TheGearPage.net
2. Tap into your Inner Kid
Tap into your inner kid and take your team for a ride at City Park’s Carousel Gardens. Sometimes the best way to get people to loosen up is to rely on those child-like instincts.
1. Start a Summer Book Club
Summer is the perfect time to catch up on all the reading we should be doing year-round. Invite your team to vote on a good book and get together once a month to have a light and lively discussion. We recommend starting with a light read, and then working your way up.
Tell us how you’re showing your startup some love on Twitter and Instagram with #IDEAinsider.