Two years after Katrina, New Orleans hums with activity

As the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, we’re taking a look at the Crescent City’s tourism efforts and promotions. Although New Orleans in August might not sound like your idea of a good time, there are plenty of activities and specials running now through the fall that should entice you. Indeed, there are many reasons to visit — don’t let a little humidity stand in your way.

First, some encouraging numbers and some good news. Earlier this year, Mardi Gras attracted about 800,000 people and hotels reported about a 95 percent occupancy rate in the spring, the New Orleans Jazz Festival entertained about 375,000 people — the highest crowd numbers since 2003, according to preliminary figures. The Essence Music Festival, which took last year off, came back this year and boasted more than 200,000 visitors and more than $100 million influx. The COOLinary New Orleans celebration (tel. 800/672-6124 ; www.coolinaryneworleans.com) is running through September, with three-course lunch menus for $20.07 and three-course dinners for $30.07. New Orleans also saw its first annual Seafood Festival, a Cajun/Zydeco Festival and the Creole Tomato Festival earlier this summer. Orleans Parish now has 830 restaurants in the metro New Orleans area, which is more than 100 percent of pre-Hurricane Katrina levels. Notable additions include the new brasserie Luke, the fourth restaurant owned by James Beard Award-winning chef John Besh, located in the Hilton St. Charles (formerly Hotel Monaco). Other new destinations include Alberta, on Magazine Street, Iris, and Riche, a Harrah’s casino-Todd English partnership. For more on the restaurant scene, visit the website www.nomenu.com.

For the latest updates and local deals, check out New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau (tel. 800/672-6124 ; www.neworleanscvb.com), whose website is well designed and easy to use. There are still some summer specials on dining, lodging, shopping, and tours, if you’re interested in traveling before the season ends; click on “brochures/coupons.” Flash animation alternates some descriptive catch phrases that attest to the city’s indomitable spirit and its reputation for hedonism: “We allow more than three ounces of your favorite liquid,” along with the mantra “Soul is Waterproof” and “Give your Diet a 3-Day Weekend.” Actually, you can even go beyond what’s offered there and visit the bureau’s new site, 24 Nola (www.24nola.com), designed to give visitors the insight locals have — a growing trend in travel promotion. You can build your own 24-hour itinerary, find out where the original muffaletta was born, or discover the farmer’s market. The editor’s pick section, rotated at least weekly with input by local notables, gives you a brief description of said destination or activity, with links to add a comment, add to your itinerary, or view it via Google maps.

The marketing effort is comprehensive and, to some extent, understandable, as misperceptions about New Orleans still persist, such as the city is still “closed” and that it is still underwater. While much has been accomplished in terms of recovery, Mary Beth Romig, director of communications and public relations for the CVB, says, “We speak a great deal about New Orleans being very much a tale of two cities. In many ways, it’s business as usual, culture is alive and thriving, those historic parts of the city people know of are very much open and thriving. But there are parts of the city, particularly large parts of the residential neighborhoods, that have a long way to go in recovery.”

Part of that struggle, no doubt, will show up fictionalized or otherwise inspired by post-Katrina New Orleans in the television crime drama K-Ville, which will debut in the fall on Fox. The show follows two police officers, and in a move that lends itself to both storytelling authenticity and economic development, Fox is filming the series on location. Some of the cast is working with Habitat for Humanity on days off, helping to rebuild.

Airlines are currently running a few sales to NO that may be helpful. American Airlines (tel. 800/433-7300 ; www.aa.com) is having a sale on fall flights, valid September 1 through November 15. There is a fourteen-day advance purchase requirement, and a one-, two-, or three-night or Saturday stay may be required. The special has a blackout date of September 3 — that’s Labor Day. Sample fares to New Orleans include Baltimore or New York-La Guardia from $198; Cedar Rapids, Iowa from $228; Chicago, Tampa or Miami from $188; Phoenix from $298; Rochester, MN, from $258; and St. Louis from $228. United Airlines (tel. 800/UNITED; www.united.com) is running a sale for coast-to-coast savings, for travel August 16-January 11, 2008, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. There are a few blackout dates. Departures from Seattle to New Orleans, for example, are priced from $99 one-way.

By Carrie Havranek

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Courtesy of frommers.com