A sliver of good news from New Orleans

[BOSSHOG]

Most of the news is still terrible. But yesterday we headed to the quarter to celebrate Louis Armstrong at the Annual Satchmofest. While driving through New Orleans East there was evidence of construction of new Apartments, some looked complete, and a lot of cleaning up has been completed recently. Also the parking lot we always use on Elysian Fields was full by noon (just like the good ole days.) And there was a lot of locals having a great time at Satchmo Fest with three bandstands playing great music throughout the Farmer's Market. It wasn't a typical Sunday Afternoon crowd in the quarter but the sidewalks get more crowded each time we visit. And all the Saints home games are all but sold out. So come on down and help the big easy out one beer at a time.

[Tinksrival]

1. Glad to hear!

Don't hear much about the big easy anymore. New Orleans sure does deserve some good times.
Go Saints! P.S. What did ya think of Ditka?

[BOSSHOG]

2. I might suggest

that any coach who comes to New Orleans is cursed because the SuperDome is built on a voodoo graveyard (part myth, with a little truth tossed in.) He and Ricky Williams ruined each other in the Big Easy. Ditka fawned over Williams too much. Mike's more comfortable in Chicago. He did open a steak house in New Orleans but I don't think its opened anymore. I like Mike Ditka alot, especially when he won the Super Bowl in New Orleans, even though glory hound Buddy Ryan tried to steal the spotlight.

[elehhhhna]

3. Sorry. Glad I went before the flood ... the Monteleone is a great hotel,

btw. But partying on top of all those new ghosts? nuh uh.

[earth mom]

4. That's exactly how I feel about it.

:cry:

[elehhhhna]

6. We may get flamed for that sentiment. It's just tooooo sad...

and such a cool, unique city. Makes me tear up, too.

[BOSSHOG]

8. Great sentiment

and no flame here but a great tradition in New Orleans is a Jazz Funeral where the casket is paraded through the quarter by a horse drawn hearse led by a Jazz Band celebrating the dead's life. What occurred is too sad for words but those whom Katrina took would not want extensive sadness. And the city depends on tax revenue from tourism for day to day operations. And if there is one thing the city needs now is tax revenue.

[BOSSHOG]

10. I might add

that those performing in the bands on the stages were all locals, the food vendors were all locals and many of those enjoying the day in the Farmer's Market were locals; all trying to make a living.

[greenman3610]

5. my son is working with Americorp in NOLA

at one point, riding buses all over town doing some questionairre surveys of
residents on mass transit -
he says the belief that the levees were blown -
to protect the "tourist" side of town at the
expense of the poor side, - is widely
held and not even in dispute among many New
Orleans residents.

[BOSSHOG]

7. While I'm not disputing

your post, I'm trying to figure out how blowing the levees would have saved the French Quarter. And there is no evidence that such a thing took place. And Lakeview which was flooded extensively is not a poor area of town. Marie Louveau has three graves in New Orleans and she is in each one of them, that is not in dispute among many New Orleans residents.

[nosillies]

9. Yay! I'll be there on Saturday.

Glad to know there's something to look forward to (besides seeing family).

[Oilwellian]

11. I'm heading to Slidell next Sunday

My husband's daughter is having a baby and we plan to be there for the arrival. We used to live in Slidell and are apprehensive about going back this time...it's just going to be so hard to see the devastation of our old stomping grounds. Have you by chance been to Slidell lately and can you tell us what to expect?

[BOSSHOG]

12. We lived in Slidell through the 90's

Traffic has tripled in the past year. There is lots of construction on I-10 coming into Slidell from the east or the west. The final product will be great but right now its a little messy and I urge caution as you approach the city. The worst hurricane damage occurred in south Slidell along Pontchartrain Drive (road to Hwy 11 bridge.) That part of town was under at least six feet of water and not much progress has been made. Salmen High School was bulldozed and they are rebuilding. The big Catholic Church near Salmen looks like something out of a French City during WWII. We lived right off of Pontchartrain (great Mardi Gras parade route) and our old house had six feet of standing water, and that's four miles from the Lake. Rats Nest Road on the Lake took an ungodly beating. You may recall "Vera's" restaurant at the end of the road. Its gone. One of my old watering holes, "Campy's" washed out to the gulf. Eden Isles is like one big trailor park. But the rest of town is in pretty good shape. Gause Blvd is a freaking parking lot most days. Most businesses (except those in South Slidell) have come back. If you get a chance drive down Pontchartrain to Rat's Nest then drive down to where Vera's use to be; no views on TV does the damage justice. Be careful on the interstate and enjoy your visit. Best wishes to the new Baby.

[Oilwellian]

15. Thanks so much for the update

We'll be staying with my husband's sister who recently finished rebuilding...her home had 4 feet of water...I believe she lived in Westchester Estates which is right next to Salmen and the Catholic church. In fact my hubby graduated from Salmen.

I guess we missed the possibility of ever meeting you since we moved to Virginia in 89. I sure miss the Cajun cuisine and always looked forward to pigging out when we drove down to visit family. Yes, I remember Vera's well...right on the lake and the best seafood anywhere. We also made it a point to visit Check In/Check Out off of Old Spanish Trail for their wonderful muffalatas (sp?) and hot roast beef po-boys. I imagine they no longer exist as well. (sigh)

We played golf at the course right next to Eden Isles last summer and I had a passing thought at the time...if a hurricane ever passed over the lake, Eden Isles, and everything surrounding it would be gone. How freaky that just two months later, my thought came true. I can't help but wonder if it wasn't a premonition of some sort. It's hard to believe all of those gorgeous homes are gone but always thought it so risky to build right on the lake.

Thanks for the traffic warnings...we'll be cruising in from I-59 and will slow down once we approach Slidell.

[BOSSHOG]

16. Small World

We lived in Yester Oaks, right across Pontchartrain from the old Delchamps grocery store. We moved there in January 89 and left in January 2000. We still spend a lot of time and money in Slidell. We loved the old neighborhood. Everything was within walking distance, even Friday night high school football; the grocery store, the gym, dry cleaning, Church. My favorite watering hole, The Landing rented a bus and we went to see Salmen High play in the state championship game in the Super Dome in 96. Spartans kicked ass. I think Checkin, Check out is still in business, but not sure. I also believe the Oak Harbor Golf Course is back open for business. I-59 is fine and dandy but be careful once you merge onto I-10.

[Sal316]

13. We probably walked right past each other.

I spent the last few days in NO doing relief work with the Celebration Church relief group. We slept at the Airline campus and our task was rebuiliding the school on Trancontinental. On Saturday we got to hang drop ceilings in about half the classrooms. It was nice to be able to put the finishing touches on something considering all the work that is still needed. We got home last night about 10:30pm after about a week there.

I never worked so hard, physically, in all my life without being too sore to move the next day. It was such a rewarding experience, and I'm going back to do more as soon as I can.

[BOSSHOG]

14. Thank you and your group

very, very much. Your efforts are appreciated beyond words. Did you get the opportunity to eat at Satchmofest? We thoroughly enjoyed the Jazz band in front of Margaritaville about 2:00.

[Sal316]

17. It was our honor to help.

No, we didn't get to eat at Satchmofest, but we did eat at the Gumbo Shop Saturday night. Shrimp creole, jumbalaya, and crawfish etoufee...Man was I in heaven!

I also loved that one of my favorite restaraunts in the country was up and running. Rocky's on Magazine St. in the Garden District. Some of the best pizza anywhere!

I want to come back again soon.... I feel like I'm not done there.

[BOSSHOG]

18. You and your group

are a national treasure. The Gumbo shop does it up right.