Anyone Been To NOLA Recently?

[Hoc Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Hoc]

I'm just looking for any updates. I was supposed to go for Halloween, but my girlfriend got sick and had to go through radiation therapy ending the first week in November, so I couldn't go. Probably won't make it for next year Mardi Gras or Jazz Fest, because I already have too much going on during that part of 2008 (Vegas and Tahoe in January, Vegas in February, Thailand in April, New York in May, and London/Paris/Barcelona in July). So, any updates from others are appreciated.

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

Hoc,

Sorry to hear about your girlfriend and hope she is doing okay.

Sharon

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I heard from some people who live there that they have redone the outside flea market. From my understanding it is now fully enclosed new roof and new bathrooms. from what I see here on the site there is starting to be less availability than there was a year ago. I no longer see the long weeks at the Quarterhouse which BTW I now am an owner of 2 weeks there.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Hoc,

Sorry to hear about your girlfriend and hope she is doing okay.

Sharon

Also sorry to hear about your girlfriend, and hope that she is recovering nicely.

[Hoc Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Hoc]

Also sorry to hear about your girlfriend, and hope that she is recovering nicely.

Thanks to both of you. She came through with flying colors, and is now on five years of anti-hormone therapy. Fingers crossed for the future, but it looks good.

Meanwhile, she is also getting what is probably the only benefit of being with me (): lots of vacations this year and next. We already have Maui for Christmas, Oahu for New Year, Vegas and Tahoe in January, Vegas again in February, Thailand and Hong Kong in April, New York in May, London/Paris/Barcelona in July, Grand Mayan in the Mayan Riviera next December, and two trips to Hawaii probably thrown in somewhere next year. It keeps her mind off the problems.

[Hoc Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Hoc]

I no longer see the long weeks at the Quarterhouse which BTW I now am an owner of 2 weeks there.

Congratulations. As the owner of 4 NOLA weeks (Mardi Gras at Club La Pension and Quarter House, Jazz Fest at Hotel de L'eau Vive and another floating 2-br. at Club La Pension), I completely understand how it gets under your skin and into your blood.

The other good thing is that my girlfriend loves the blues and great restaurant food, is an artist and has never been to NOLA, so eventually she's in for a real treat.

[anisep77 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close anisep77]

I live near N.O.

The French Market was completely redone! It is open for business and is beautiful! It is extended now and includes more spots for vendors and actual food vendors! The rest of the city is on the mend, it isn't 100% but is making a come back! Everything near or around the quarter is operating at full capacity, etc. Bourbon St, the Aquarium, and Riverwalk! I suggest for everyone to come back to help us celebrate our rebirth!

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

The French Market was completely redone! It is open for business and is beautiful! It is extended now and includes more spots for vendors and actual food vendors! The rest of the city is on the mend, it isn't 100% but is making a come back! Everything near or around the quarter is operating at full capacity, etc. Bourbon St, the Aquarium, and Riverwalk! I suggest for everyone to come back to help us celebrate our rebirth!

Thank you for joining and posting this update.

Hope to be there again in 08 , maybe we can meet up.


BTW Anisep77 joined and posted because she is a freiend and I asked her to do so and I know she lives in the area.

[bigrick Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bigrick]

BTW I now am an owner of 2 weeks there.

I misunderstood you! I thought you were getting only 1 week. Fantastic!

Frank, I think you should check further down the street. Emeril and Chef Paul may have a spare room you can use for your whole family!

Steve, I cannot imagine owning 4 weeks there but having too much on your plate so you can't get there yourself. (P.S. good to hear your girlfriend is well.) Maybe you can squeeze in a weekend somewhere. Make it a MR joyride or something.

We were in NOLA in Oct 2006 (just missed seeing Frank) and we'll be back there in Mar 2008. Exchanges both times.

I too am curious to see how much has changed in 18 months. The most striking thing to me in Oct 2006 was how many people were still without electrical power. Oct 2006 was 14 months after Katrina! This was definitely not California.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

. I no longer see the long weeks at the Quarterhouse which BTW I now am an owner of 2 weeks there.

Oh Frank.... I am VERY afraid for you - what does your lovely wife say?????

[Hoc Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Hoc]

Steve, I cannot imagine owning 4 weeks there but having too much on your plate so you can't get there yourself. (P.S. good to hear your girlfriend is well.) Maybe you can squeeze in a weekend somewhere. Make it a MR joyride or something.

Rick--

I've been thinking about doing something like that, but I've got so many vacations going on early this year, and just got back from two weeks in Hawaii. So, there goes my ability to get away more in the first few months of the year (including my Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest timeshares). I might try booking my floating Club La Pension timeshare for Halloween again for this year. At least I can rent the ones I don't use for decent money.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I misunderstood you! I thought you were getting only 1 week. Fantastic!

It is a 2 bedroom lock out so I am treating it as 2 seperate weeks.

Oh Frank.... I am VERY afraid for you - what does your lovely wife say?????

She was against it at first but she knew how much I like Nola, She signed on the dotted line.

[johnstp Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close johnstp]

I go to NOLA at least once a year (heading down at the end of this month), and there has been a LOT of improvement each time I've been there since Katrina.

Even some of the more devastated neighborhoods are starting to come back. Not all, but some.

If you do go between now and June, I would recommend taking in the George Rodrigue exhibit at the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA). Rodrigue is most famous for his 'Blue Dog' paintings.

Also, you really should take a 'Hurricane Tour.' It sounds ghoulish, at first, but if you haven't seen the devastation first-hand, you can't fully understand the scope of it.

[JudyS Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JudyS]

I hadn't seen this thread before. Hoc, glad your girlfriend is better!

My nephew goes to college (Loyola) in New Orleans, and my sister will be visiting him there in two weeks, so if there's anything in particular anyone would like to know, I can ask.

My nephew just started college there this year. So far, he really likes it. When he first expressed an interest in attending college there (he's from Connecticut), my sister was a bit concerned, but it's been fine. He's had no problems from the aftermath of Katrina. The college was offering extra financial aid to attract students; that was a big factor in his decision to go there.

I assume Loyola (and maybe some other NOLA colleges) is still being generous with the financial aid for incoming students, if anyone has relatives looking for a college.

[roadsister Member Find all posts View Profile Close roadsister]

I'm just looking for any updates. ......So, any updates from others are appreciated.

HOC,
I just returned from New Orleans on 3/26, staying at the Worldmark/Wyndham shared resort on St. Charles.....

I posted a review, pictures of the resort AND the places to see, a couple 1 min videos here: WorldMark Vacation Forum: Viewing forum

There is a picture of the French Market...it was not open as they were still working the interior but they expected it to be open in a month or so....

Please let me know what type of information you are looking for and I will be happy to respond.