| In 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans hard and | | | | year and it's time to party and catch the color and |
| the subsequent flooding caused immense disruption to | | | | movement of this vibrant and raunchy annual |
| the city and its people. For a long time visitors were | | | | celebration of city life. The krewes will have even |
| unable to enjoy the architecture, food, music, nightlife, | | | | bigger and brighter floats on show. If you have to miss |
| shopping and the distinctive joie de vivre that New | | | | the parades, you can get the feeling of Mardi Gras |
| Orleans was famous for. But now, just over two | | | | year-round at Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World, the |
| years later, the Crescent City is back in the tourism | | | | world's largest float designing and building facility, where |
| business and better than ever. | | | | more than 80 percent of the New Orleans' floats are |
| With a new motto, "Soul Is Waterproof," high-profile | | | | constructed. New Orleans' celebrated nightlife, from |
| events such as the Sugar Bowl and Mardi Gras, and | | | | piano bars and pubs, to music clubs are open to the |
| the Jazz and Heritage Festival are returning, and the | | | | small hours of the morning, and three casinos are again |
| historic heart, including the French Quarter, Faubourg | | | | operating. |
| Marigny, Warehouse and Arts District, the Garden | | | | Billed as "The World's Largest Block Party", from |
| District, Magazine Street, Audubon Park and Zoo, and | | | | Friday, April 11 through Sunday, April 13, the annual |
| St. Charles Avenue, are again welcoming visitors. | | | | French Quarter Festival celebrates its 25th year in |
| Around 8 million people are expected this year, | | | | 2008. This vibrant part of New Orleans becomes a |
| compared to the 10 million visitors who came in 2004. | | | | vast outdoor mall offering the best local music, culinary |
| A walk along the city streets gives one the feeling that | | | | delights and art exhibitions. Be entertained by some of |
| the vibrant urban culture is flourishing anew. Old | | | | the more than 150 musical performances on 15 stages |
| favorite restaurants, with their celebrity chefs, have | | | | throughout the French Quarter, and be tempted by the |
| been joined by new places opened by bold creative | | | | 60 food and beverage stalls featuring authentic local |
| restaurateurs. Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Cafe pays | | | | cuisine in Jackson Square, Woldenberg Riverfront Park |
| homage to the conjunction of great music and food, | | | | and elsewhere. |
| and the Tire Swing Bar makes a mean cocktail. Ride | | | | And then there's the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage |
| the streetcars down Canal Street, between | | | | Festival in May, which features 12 stages of jazz, |
| attractions, or along the river. The shops and boutiques | | | | gospel, cajun, zydeco, blues, African, Latin, R&B, rock, |
| along Magazine Street are again packed to the hilt | | | | Caribbean, folk, funk and much more. Known as |
| with interesting goods. Don't miss the New Orleans | | | | JazzFest, this year features Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, |
| Museum of Art, among the nation's best, and the | | | | Jimmy Buffett, Sheryl Crow, and the Neville Brothers. |
| premier art museum in the Gulf South region. | | | | Obviously, New Orleans is back in the swing. |
| The Mardi Gras parades are back in February this | | | | |