My response was, in general, regarding “New Orleans”—not specific neighborhoods (as was also true of the question asked). My point was that neither extreme is accurate (everything being just as remembered vs. the city in its entirety being ghost town).

‘Tis true that several neighborhoods were (and still are) dramatically and visibly impacted; some of NOLA will likely never be just as it once was. I’ve helped one friend gut his 9th Ward home that he’s presently rebuilding, and helped another friend with a home in Lakeview replace sheetrock, replaster and repaint (his home was affected by less than one foot of standing water). Granted, these folks were the exceptions—not the rule. My sister was the first resident of her Midcity block to return on 10/30/05. In 02/06, she was celebrating the return of her first neighbor; as of 08/06, a total of three houses on her block were occupied (including her own residence); eleven other homes on that block remain unoccupied.

‘Tis also true that the Camilla Grill appears to be forever closed at this point; we can choose to either dwell on that fact, or we can be grateful that the Praline Connection and other wonderful venues have reopened and support their efforts to bring the city back to life. I will probably always miss many people, places and things that won’t be returning—but that hasn’t and won’t keep me away.