I'm old enough to remember when New Orleans was actually a very nice place to visit and even to reside. The area started it repaid descent around that time that John Fraud Kennedy became president.
Prior to the JFK administration, the Quarter, while rowdy was safe and actually family friendly to a certain extent. Stunning movie palaces and beautiful department stores (Maison Blance) lined Canal Street. The central business district was nearly theme-park clean and absolutely safe for walking. My wife and I used to stay at the Roosevelt Hotel and walked the surrounding blocks with absolutely no fear, down to Rampart Street over to Jackson Square and up to Loyola and Howard Avenues. You didn't even need to carry a gun in those days to feel safe!
Believe it or not, it was a great place for fun, food, shopping and history at one time. Then, in the early 60's, liberalism's clutches took hold and irreparably ruined the New Orleans of the 40s and 50s that I so fondly recall. The black thugs referenced in the lead article of this thread now control the once charming New Orleans and it's why it's been off my destination list for some 50 years now.
My parents always went to New Orleans in the 50s. They stayed at the Fairmont too and went to The Blue Room. They took us in the 70s when we were around 10 or so a few times, but they continued going for years. Had their own waiter at Antoines which allowed us to go through a back door, down an ancient hall and pick up a phone. The waiter would come get us and take us to our table. It was fun.
I know what you mean. When I visit family down there, it galls me that we have to carry concealed handguns just to feel comfortable enough to *risk* going out at night.
At Mardi Gras? Forget it. This isn't my idea of a "good time".
Tell you what, though... if you do find yourself down there, don't miss the WWII Museum. It was impressive to start with, and it just keeps getting better.
LBJ’s ‘Great Society’
All cultures are NOT equal... As my mother used to say - the proof is in the pudding... New Orleans is becoming a hellhole... dems run the place, right? Same as they run Detroit... and Chicago. Places that will become less and less livable as time goes on.