Travel advice for my nola trip

Scottish,
If you have 8 hours, you have time, just watch the clock.
Take the terminal AirTran over to the NJTransit station and ride into the city from there. There are 3 trains every hour. This will deposit you under the bus terminal in Manhattan (at 42nd and 9th if you come up the right staircase), one block away from Times Square. Just head down 42nd toward the center of town and you'll be there.
Have a good time, but watch the clock and allow yourself a good 1 1/2 hours to make the trip back. It should only take 1/2 hour, but it's the northeast and you can't count on things working the way they're supposed to work.