News

Katrina FAQs

Your site says that New Orleans is open for business...what about the hurricane? Didn't it destroy most of New Orleans? Everyone in New Orleans has been or knows someone who has been affected in some way but no, Katrina did not destroy most of New Orleans. Just neighborhoods you would not see if you did not look for them. You'll see from pictures on this site and the news that… Read More »

$1.50 Chocolate Snowball Please!

Several nights a week, my wife and I cool off with a snowball from Casey's on West Esplanade in Metairie! Many nights, it's the meeting place for several of our friends.Snowballs are a tradition for locals all around the New Orleans area. For me, it's as New Orleans as Red Beans & Rice or even Mardi Gras! Many towns across the country have "snow-cones" but they are nothing like our… Read More »

Our July 4th Celebration: This year is special

For the last 15 years, I have spent my July 4th evenings working the Go 4th on the River Celebration. Each year, the entire Riverfront is crowded not only with locals but also with visitors from the Essence Festival, an annual July 4th weekend event which produces sold out hotels and very happy restaurants and retail businesses. But there was a different scenario this year...the year after Katrina set our… Read More »

Rediscover New Orleans!

I have spent the last 30 years of my life promoting New Orleans. After Katrina, besides my home flooding, I was not called back to work. My job was to promote an attraction in New Orleans. Much has changed in my life in the last 10 months, but the one thing that has not changed is my love for New Orleans. I find myself thinking of all the reasons visitors… Read More »

Thank you, 17,500 Librarian Visitors!

If you were Downtown this past week it felt so good to see convention delegates in mass numbers walking the streets, shopping, eating (spending money) and having fun. The American Library Association's annual conference was a huge success in more ways than one. Besides the normal benefits to an association to have a smooth and successful event, it was so beneficial to our tourism economy. Additionally, with 17,000+ delegates returning… Read More »

The Librarians Are Here!

At last, the wait is over. The American Library Association, the first major citywide convention post Katrina, begins today through June 28. The exhibits will be open June 24-27 in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The conference features a wealth of famous speakers such as First Lady Laura Bush, Madeleine Albright, Cokie Roberts, Anderson Cooper and many more. Local retail shops, restaurants and tourist attractions have been eager to… Read More »

Now is a Great Time to Visit New Orleans!

From the New Orleans CVB: The historic areas and tourism core of New Orleans have enjoyed the reputation for being a safe place to be for residents and visitors alike, and more so in the months following Hurricane Katrina. During this time, the city has seen a major reduction in crime. Visitors have enjoyed a high degree of safety and security while touring America's most walkable city. Read more...  … Read More »

Something new for the National D-Day Museum

The New Orleans museum that honors the achievements of the generations that fought in World War II has officially been changed from the National D-Day Museum to the National WWII Museum .. and is now open. The National WWII Museum has opened Discovery Hall, an educational center and new wing aimed squarely at the generations to come...the first part in its expansion plan to triple the size of the six… Read More »

New Orleans attractions re-open after Katrina

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas opened Memorial Day Weekend after an 8 month shutdown because of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. It was so exciting to be back in the Aquarium, and it appeared to be even more beautiful than before. Over 80% of the fish and other creatures had not survived Katrina ... mostly due to loss of power. It took months, not only to restore the… Read More »

Mardi Gras in New Orleans, 2006

Since the NOLA blog started recently, we did not have a chance to mention Mardi Gras this year. It's impossible not to mention, it was so wonderful!Mardi Gras 2006 was a throwback to the way it was meant to be. Lots of locals taking this opportunity to enjoy themselves, many adults in the French Quarter enjoying the celebration (in recent years, it was filled with college-age kids), many costumes of… Read More »