each town looks the same to me

[musesfool]

I was in bed last night by 10 pm, and I slept through the night! I mean, I woke up at 3, 4, 5, and 6, before being up for good at 7:20 (just before my alarm went off), but I don't think it took too long to get back to sleep any of those times, and I feel like a whole new person! I mean, today is going to be busy, too, but at least I feel like I can

Comments

[executrix]

The Serious Eats New York and Roadfood blogs are sending tourists to do precisely the kind of things you mention!

[musesfool]

Are they? that's cool.

[nestra]

I think maybe New Orleans is not quite as torn about tourists because it's *such* a huge part of the local economy. However, I think everyone is irritated by drunk frat boys at Mardi Gras.

In general, New Orleans is more laid-back. That said (and without having seen Treme), there's definitely a big response to the disaster tourism, to people who only heard about the Lower Ninth by watching TV and want to gawk for themselves at the poor black people. And there are the other areas of town where people may be angry that the Lower Ninth got so much of the publicity, when many neighborhoods were also devastated.

So, um, it's basically complicated. But if the tourists stop coming, New Orleans dies.

[musesfool]

However, I think everyone is irritated by drunk frat boys at Mardi Gras.

I think everyone everywhere is irritated by drunk frat boys; New Orleans at Mardi Gras just gets them in superconcentrated doses.

That said (and without having seen Treme), there's definitely a big response to the disaster tourism, to people who only heard about the Lower Ninth by watching TV and want to gawk for themselves at the poor black people.

that's also been brought up on the show, in almost exactly that way (a local challenges three tourists from Wisconsin as to whether they'd ever heard of the Lower Ninth before Katrina; of course they say no).

I think the show gets that it's complicated, which is all I as a viewer ask (well, not all, but you know what I mean). I don't know how it feels to someone from the city.

[nestra]

I don't know how it feels to someone from the city.

Me either, since I'm avoiding the show (which I'm sure is excellent) like the plague. *g*

[nestra]

Here's some additional perspective from the Times-Picayunne.

John Casey, you are my favoritest.

[dotificus]

I hooted with joy at the face Casey made at the end of the ep.

Hey, I thought you of all people would be crowing at the Mr. and Mrs. Charles stuff?