New Orleans' big comeback

[Hangnail]

After being here dang near a month, they can put all the lipstick on this place they want to, but it's still a dump. Don't mean to step on any toes, but they would have to bulldoze 80% of the NOLA area and start from scratch to make an improvement. There's some neat architecture for sure, but outside the tourist trap of downtown, it is no different than any low income urban area. There's some cool little enclaves spread throughout, but the areas nobody should go through at night are everywhere. The suburbs are pretty cool, with commutes of maybe fifteen to twenty miles to the west.

Get outside the city and it's the real deal. It doesn't take long to get into swampy stuff. We've done a lot of driving just to get away from New Orleans. Lots and lots of gators can be seen from the roadways if you get back off the highways. Spent some time in Venice over the weekend. I've got to get back there for some fishing. I've seen more fishing boats here than I've seen back home in the last twenty years.

 

[Hangnail]

I like lots of things, including posting on here what I don't like. See?

 

[jb3]

Hangnail, outside of Nola, close to Marrero (sp), there is a roadside market with sells crabs, mudbugs, shrimp, etc... There's a place called Westwego Market which has great boudin and fresh skins and cracklins. You ought to check it out.

 

[TAFKAP]

http://m.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/04/the-big-comeback-is-new-orleans-americas-next-great-innovation-hub/274591/

I love New Orleans.....I never got to go prior to Katrina, but I envy the pride people have about their city. The people I work for are based down there, and they decided to stay, rather than move to Houston like everyone else. The place has a magical draw to it..

 

[TAFKAP]

One of my buddies picked up shop and left Memphis right after New Orleans. He runs his own website business, and made a great living since Katrina getting business websites back online after the storm.

 

[Hangnail]

jb3, it's right down the highway from where we're staying. I haven't had any food that I'd consider less than pretty dang goodm except once. Had lunch at Perino's and it was a letdown based on what some locals told us. If you like fried, this is the place. I wonder how long I'd have to look to find somewhere that fries cereal. Probably not long. I think they season the boils for tourists. Haven't had one yet that was spicey or hot enough. They're still good though.