luvs2pack

Thanks bayougal. My husband lived for a time in Homa in his younger days and has always wanted to go back to the area. I would think fall or spring would be the best time.

TheWeasel

"For a city that often averaged one murder per day....having 54 people murdered since the beginning of the year is a undeniably regrettable - but POSITIVE occurance!"

That number doesn't look as impressive when you consider how low the current population of NO is - less than half of what it was this time last year. The murder rate on a per capita basis is only slightly lower than 2004, and NO ranked no. 2 in the nation that year.

All that aside, I think it's great the Nat'l Guard has been called in to help the police department. They've more than had their hands full with depleted ranks and (obviously) lots to deal with post-hurricane. Hopefully they'll be able to keep up with the rising population and get more officers out there.

Budman

TheWeasel, the news I heard was that NO population is at 50% of pre-Katrina levels whereas the police levels/manning is at or near 100% of pre-Katrina levels -- and they had to call in the National Guard?

And they reelected the nincompoop Mayor -- They got what they asked for.

Dan

Budman, NOPD is operating at about 70% of the pre-K level but they still have to patrol the entire city, not just the populated part! With the Guard now helping out to deter looting of vacant housing, officers can patrol the populated areas. In a week, they've tripled the number of felony arrests and there have been zero murders, I believe.

I voted for the other guy, I must admit, but Nagin's not the buffoon he sometimes likes to portray on TV.

Grcxx3

Dan- Good point about what the police have to cover.

With the National Guard covering the hard hit (and much-deserted) Lakeview, Gentilly, and 9th ward areas - the police can concentrate their effort on the tourist areas, the residential and business areas that have been coming back strong, and the other populated areas of the city that traditionally have been high-crime areas.

It's going to be a long road to recovery, and - unfortunatley - crime has always been an issue in the city, but I am hoping the 3 conventions in town this week (1 major, 2 smaller) will be successful and help encourage others to come and visit.

New Orleans is a very special city and its "love of life" is infectious. I have to admit - arriving at the airport and waiting for my luggage while listening to a jazz band.....I couldn't help getting teary-eyed!

Saraho

For a day of Cajun culture, come to Eunice on Saturday morning and go to Savoy's music store where there is a weekly old time jam session from 10-noon. You will see owner Marc Savoy at the piano and his wife and other famous Cajun musicians playing accordian, fiddles, bass, spoons and triangles side-by-side with other local old and young musicians- no electronic instruments. Refreshments are boudin and beer. Spend an hour there, then go by Fred's in Mamou for more lively music.

In the afternoon, go to the Park Service in Eunice to watch a video of Cajun Mardi Gras- the chicken run - which is done on horseback wearing medieval costumes. Then look at all the displays of Cajun culture in the museum and attend the cooking class to learn to cook gumbo.

At 6pm go to the Liberty Theater to watch the Rendezvous des Cajuns- a Cajun-style Grand Ole Opry. Then eat at Nick's on Second or go out in the country to eat and dance at D.I.'s or Bubba Frey's. Stay at the B and B in downtown Eunice.

This is unforgettable to do during Mardi Gras, but is lots of fun on any Saturday- in fact it is a more authenic
Cajun experience if you come during a less crowded non-holiday time of year. And there will also be festivals somewhere in the area on many weekends from spring to fall. Frog festival, Buggy, Duck, Etoufee, Yam, International Music, Zydeco,and October Fest are some of the festivals.

philmaur

Saraho- Do you work for the Eunice Chamber of Commerce or Visitors Bureau? If not, you should. Great info. Thanks.

Ackislander

21,000 librarians just attended the annual conference of the American Library Association there, and as far as I know, none of them starved or were murdered, though some of them probably felt like dying after too many Hurricanes. Seriously, call your local library, ask the reference desk if anyone went to ALA, and you may get very recent information. The only complaints I heard reading their blogs were about the heat (low 90's) and humidity (mid-90's).

Truhs

I just returned from New Orleans a few hours ago. I stayed in the French Quarter and felt very safe. I saw policemen around a lot and only heard sirens three times in six days. My friend and I wandered around the Quarter without problems. There are still a lot of restaurants and bars closed, but a lot are open, and I had some great meals. The streets are not crowded compared to pre-Katrina times. I suggest practicing the same safety precautions you would anywhere but don't let reports of crime keep you away.

emd

Truhs, I really appreciate your update. Will you elaborate a bit please- like where did you go in the quarter to dine/stay? Where were the great meals? Were there any places you particularly wanted to go that were closed?

Truhs

I'll be glad to add more; I could go on and on. Let me say that although some of the wait staff in these restaurants said they were operating with reduced staff, I never experienced a long wait or less than good service. Here are some of the places where I had great meals:

Bacco on Decatur just off Canal was great. I am vegetarian and had delicious spinach ravioli, but the people I dined with loved the fish and seafood they had. The bar there is tiny but there's a nice courtyard where you can carry your drinks. Bacco is connected to a hotel but I am not sure which one.

Ralph's on the Park was great. It's farther away from the river toward what I think is called downtown. Anyway you can find it on the web. The food was great, service was great, and the building is, I think a historical site. On the taxi ride there from the French Quarter, we saw some damage and many empty stores and homes, but of course, nothing like the Ninth Ward and other harder-hit places.

In the Garden District, which hardly shows any damage at all, I went to the Flying Burrito, a casual Mexican food place. The food was great and the atmosphere funky. We also had drinks at the Columns Hotel, which has a large porch in (I guess) and old mansion. This is also on the Web.

The Asian Cajun was great. It satisfied my need for tofu, but the meat eaters in my party also said the food was great.

On Frenchmen, I went to Adolfo's--great food and atmosphere with a Zydeco band playing downstairs--and 13, also great food.

There were some places still not opened, but none that I planned to go to. Some places (Flying Burrito incl.) were closed on Sunday night, and many were keeping shorter hours than usual, so if you have a night out planned, check with the hotel to make sure they will be open late.

I went to the Museum of Art, which had an Ansel Adams exhibition on. There's also a disturbing "Katrina Exposed" exhibition with tons of photographs.

I talked to some people who went on "misery" tours, tours of damaged areas. I waffled back and forth about it, not wanting to be a spectator, but not wanting to be unaware of the devastation and hardships. I talked to people who had taken the tours who had a hard time putting it into adequate words. I talked to several people who live in New Orleans who wanted tourists to see it so they could be witnesses and could know they were not forgotten.

SAnParis

Bacco as well as Ralph's both belong to one of the Brennans (Ralph). Their restaurants always tend to be good.