New Orleans in a Fog

This photo was taken with my iPhone on Wednesday (30 December) on Chartres St. in the Quarter. It captures visually some of what, to me, New Orleans is about. On the right is the historic and beautifully restored Louisiana Supreme Court building, on the left is a former local court and police building which is now the Williams Collection of the Historic New Orleans Collection. One of my favorite hang-outs in the city is the reading room there on the 2nd floor. Next to it on the right is another building which "The Collection" (which has minimal public funding - but huge endowments) is restoring for conference space. On the other side of the courthouse, in the block ahead on the right is Brennan's Restaurant, on the cross street immediately behind me (St. Louis Street) is Antoine's Restaurant - both ancient institutions bespeaking our continuing culinary excellence. Scores of other excellent eateries are within blocks. In the foreground are two dear friends who were visiting in New Orleans, one a priest from Long Island, the other a deacon (and fellow blogger) from Monroe. People from all over come and visit here, and love it.

The old and cultural anchors of the city are firmly in place, unmoved, and prospering. Yet not far ahead in the photo, one sees two tall buildings (the Marriott and Sheraton hotels on opposite sides of Canal St.) and some other tall buildings in the CBD (Central Business District - on the other side of Canal St. from the French Quarter). The tops of these buildings are obscured by fog. In these buildings the other businesses of the city - commercial, government, convention, some retail - take place. These "engines" of life in a city are very much in a fog in New Orleans. This is nothing new. It is a piece of the dichotomy which is New Orleans. Culturally rich and thriving, dysfunctional and impoverished. Will the fog lift one day? Will the upcoming elections help? Wherein lies this malaise?