I've been asked to relocate to New Orleans from Washington, DC. I've been an East Coaster all my life and New Orleans seems to have a different culture. I'm sure there's more beyond Mardi Gras, but what is that like? Also, are there any water sports? Are there any neat neighborhoods that are off the tourist beat? I'm also concerned about crime. Thanks for any thougts you share.

New Orleans is hard to really describe. It has so many facets & is ever changing. There is definitely more to it than Mardi Gras & Bourbon St.

If you are from Washington then you have dealt with similar crime. Much of it is black on black /relationship crime- drug deal, domestic violence, etc. This is no different than in any major metropolitan city. It is sad & we hope that better education & job opportunities will help break the cycle.

There is boating on Lake Pontchatrain but no real beach area. Across the lake there is tubing & many people canoe on the local rivers there.

We have culture out the wazoo here. The NO Metropolitan Art museum has great exhibits. We have the Saengar theatre & many good plays pop up there. The local theatre scene is very active too.

You can pick from all sorts of neighborhoods. Many are trying to make a comeback & renovation is common. Picking the right area to live depends on where you'd be working & commute time allowable, the lifestyle you want, budget & other info. Why not list some of those & maybe we can help give you a more detailed idea.

Thanks benj! I will be working at a lab at Tulane and I was hoping to either walk to work or drive no more than 15 or 20 minutes. Public transportation would be good for work, too. I have a car, but I'm interested in neighborhoods where you can walk around alot (to get groceries, to get coffee). I don't mind 'transitional' neighborhoods, though.

Canoeing is great and that's the kind of thing I'm interested in.

Thanks again!

You will love New Orleans. Check out the Warehouse District. Yes, there is soooo much more than Mardi Gras. Many locals even leave town during that time of year. The food in New Orleans IMHO is some of the best in the world. Crime is definitely an issue, as it is anywhere. Personally, I would not recommend public transportation in NO. But, I am female and a bit spoiled, better ask someone else about that. Having said that I think you will find NO to be very friendly and fun place to live. Good luck and hope you love it!!

Oh, also, if you lived in Warehouse District, I think the drive would probably be less than 20 minutes. If you are a single person or don't have kids that would be your best bet IMO.

Thanks, Yesu!

Hi Soda1,

I live in Washington, D.C. and have all my life. Not sure where you are from but I think DC is not a very friendly place - although I love it, it is a just a bit uptight. That being said, I just returned from my first trip to New Orleans and found it to be very friendly and a beautiful place to be!

It was very hot when we went in May but I loved it anyway! The palm trees and magnolias won my heart! If my husband were relocated I would not complain one bit.

One thing you might want to check out if you are single is how the singles scene is. Also, I think travelandleisure.com has a site that gives city info - how friendly the people are, how much it costs to live there, etc.

Good luck!

I moved to New Orleans to go to school and fell in love, both with the city and with my wife. She hails from the DC area and I'm from Miami. We both adore New Orleans despite the summer heat and high crime rate in some neighborhoods. Crime is worse in some areas than others, so choose a neighborhood carefully. Personally, I like the Quarter (duh), University area/Garden District, Marigny, and parts of "Mid City."

We live in the lower Garden District (Magazine street/1st area) and like it a lot. We just bought a house that can only be described as a fixer-upper. By the time we finish, our investment will be about $250,000 for a large historic home surrounded by great neighbors. Not a bad deal.

You mentioned Mardi Gras. It's so much fun but is also a bit of a hassle if you live too close to parade routes. Keep it in mind.

I'm so glad no one mentioned moving to the "burbs" I live in New Orleans and am very proud of it. Check out the "Lakeview" area. Prices aren't cheap compared to alot of the city, but we have our own crime prevention district.

You should probably contact a real estate agent. If you want to live in the University section, there are good areas and bad ones, and they can change within one block. Drive through during the day and at night. A friend lives on Maple St. that is a great area. During the day, it's an oak-lined quiet residential area with coffee shops, book stores, and salons. At night, the bars open and it changes completely.

Welcome to the "Big Easy."

Thank you all for these really great insights. I really don't want to live in the burbs. I have just a few more questions: are there any 'ethnic' groceries or neighborhoods? Like Latino or Asian neighborhoods?

Soda,
Yes, there is plenty of ethnic places to choose from as far as foods go. N.O. is really a melting pot of culture. Most of the Asian neighborhoods that I know are in N.O. East. There are ethnic groceries throughout the city. One Latino one is Union Supermarket on South Carrollton Avenue. Also there was Asian Gourmet Market, Korea Market. Haven't been there in ages though.

Try this site for some info on the ethnic history of the area. It mentions the Asian area of the city.
http://www.soulofneworleans.com/Natu...%20Orleans.htm

You might look at the mid-city area. It's truly a cultural melting pot. Asian, black, and spanish (cuban or mexican, I don't know). Tons of great ethnic restaurants on Canal St. and Carrollton Ave.,(several Chinese, Japanese, health food, and let's now forget Juan's Flying Burrito) and you could possibly take the new Canal St. Car to work. Get on at Canal St. or Carrollton Ave., go downtown, and transfer to the St. Charles line. The Canal cars are AWDA (handicapped) accessible and air conditioned. Can't say the same thing for the St. Charles line. I can think of worse things than taking the streetcar to work in the morning. Okay, so it's a little warm, but it doesn't usually get over 80 degrees during rush hour. And, the windows are open and you get to see some of the best scenery in New Orleans. From Mid City to the University area, your ride would be about 30-45 minutes and cost $1.25 each way. I think it's a bargain.

There are plenty of good rentals available in the area. Most are "shotgun" doubles. That means that you can come in the front door and fire a shotgun through the back door. The typical layout is living room, dining room, bedroom, and kitchen. The bath is tucked somewhere near the bedroom. Typically, the owner lives on the other side of your double.

You will not believe New Orleans. It's fun, lazy, and a great place to live. Just don't expect to move too fast. If you read about a new trend in the Washington newspaper, expect to see it in a few years in NO. We're very slow to change.

But, we do have Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest!

Any other questions?

Thanks so much for all your replies, it sounds better and better all the time. The job sure looks good, too. Everyone's wonderful posts are really helpful. Now, if I can only figure out the canoeing thing in NO (or any sculling? rowboating?)