R223,
New Yorker here who recently visited New Orleans for a friend's destination birthday party. I'd been once in high school and once in college, and my oldest friend from middle school has lived there for more than two decades, but until a few weeks ago I'd not visited him there.
The good stuff: The food is amazing. I mean, really... It's so damn good I don't see how anyone keeps any semblance of a waistline. The combination of French, Creole and Southern cooking cultures is to die for. Also, the museums were impressive, as were a lot of the galleries.
And of course it's easily the biggest party city in the USA if not the planet. It is Louisiana, so it's Southern, and the people were incredibly friendly and fun.
But because it is the biggest party town, it seemed... How shall I put it? Bereft of any intellectual heft. There's no theater scene to speak of, not really, and how seriously can you take the local colleges when the drinking never ever ends? Yes, there's jazz, and damn, it is brilliant, but it should be noted that almost all the music is tied to... alcoholic beverage consumption.
The city seems to be fueled mainly by the dollars of tourists, and everyone I talked to seemed rather nostalgic for the good ole days of Tennessee Williams, Eudora Welty, Ernest Hemingway, etc., but those days are LONG gone.
Also, it's somewhat a walking city, but not like NYC. Much more spread out than I'd imagine, or at least it seemed that way.
But the segregation and race problems were in ample evidence, and the roads were in terrible disrepair. And in February it was already simmering with humidity. IN FEBRUARY. Who wants to live in that climate in the summer, and then face hurricane season?
I get why the city attracts authors and actors, at least for certain parts of the year, cause it's colorful, vibrant and unique. But if you're not into serious drinking and endless partying (which I am not), what does the city offer besides incredible cuisine? I'm afraid I'd be bored after a few weeks, but maybe that's because I've been in NYC for so long. You say that there very, very few things that New Orleans does not provide that NYC can, but that comment leaves me confused, cause I noticed many, many things that NO cannot provide that NYC does.
(Oh, and I loved the streetcar! What an amazing way to see the city.)
