Feb 16, 20222 min read

All the Things in New Orleans

A painting of the journey to Uptown New Orleans.

(Terrance Osborn)

I remember moving to New Orleans, Louisiana [NOLA] at six. My family and I lived in a house uptown on the dead-end of Magnolia Street. We were just east of Tulane University and surrounded by the Mississippi River.

I remember my father telling me how he has always wanted to live in a city where everything we need is within walking distance. I believe that New Orleans did this perfectly. My father worked at Tulane, so he often walked to his job, and Audobon park was close by as well. The architecture of New Orleans was diverse and colorful, which allowed for a beautiful display shown in Terrance Osborne's painting, "Uptown Bound."

I will be looking at New Orleans through a sociological and cultural lens. I currently live in Long Island, New York, and compare the two areas often. The way the communities interact is fascinating. Long Island is not nearly as inviting as New Orleans. There were community events and street fairs around my neighborhood in NOLA every week. To put it simply, the city always felt alive.

What I like most about NOLA is the city life. I specifically remember Freret Street, just a few blocks away from my house. There were restaurants and stores all around. I remember going to the comic book store every week as well. Freret Street is what someone would expect from a convenient fifteen-minute city. What brought everything together was the Freret Street fair. Residents, vendors, and tourists gathered to celebrate and have a good time. People would display art, sell hand-made clothing, and restaurants were at their busiest. A picture from Wikipedia taken from an unknown photographer represents the festival perfectly.

As I write, I cannot help but reminisce about the festival's ambiance. There were so many people in one area. Everyone was inviting and shared their excitement with the people around them. The interactions during the festival speak volumes about New Orleans culture. Everyone seemed like they wanted to be there. I remember the variety of colors found when walking Freret street, even without the festival.

Lastly, no one can talk about New Orleans culture without mentioning Mardi Gras. It is a celebration unique to New Orleans that brings all of the citizens out to celebrate. I appreciate New Orleans because it is my example of what a community should be. I did not know how important the culture was to me when I lived there, but now I do. Looking back, I understand how my life in NOLA influenced who I am and how I strive to share my excitement with others.