**The Good, the Bad and The Ugly**

Bright Lights, Small City.

New Orleans is ALL about the culture and NOLA is one of the few remaining cities left with a real, pervasive personality but being a culture vampire only gets you (and the city) so far. Most of the jobs are service sector jobs and this is one of the few places where people just move here, without jobs, just because they want to be here -- they’re drawn to it, they want the adventure. There’s a lot of moving here on a whim going on. Nevertheless, that’s not everybody. Tulane is a major draw as is The Gulf.  Although not a wealthy city, it is pulling itself together post Katrina. Some of those people moving here on a whim are professionals and people doing non-profit work. 

NOLA is not a city in which to be anonymous or to be left alone with your imagination. There will be good mornings, goodnights, how y’all doings, and head nods and smiles and eye contact. Neighbors will walk out on their front porch to give treats to your dog. There is polite chit-chat. Prepare yourself. 

**The Best Thing About New Orleans?** 

The culture. You can walk out of a bar with your go cup and food and music are king. (Not to mention the King Cakes which are a Friday ritual.) 

**The Worst Thing About New Orleans?** 

There are big bugs and roadwork (the city is sinking) and traffic cameras.

**How You Living?** 

Probably not in an old building in The French Quarter as you imagine.  The city is not the same to live in full-time as it seems on vacation. Life is not lived on Bourbon Street. There is abject poverty, crime and yes, corruption.  You can live in a decent house with a yard (and keep a store of emergency supplies) and there are about a half dozen good public schools though entrance is basically by lottery so nothing is guaranteed. 

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** 

You can actually make a difference. The smallest gestures reverberate here. 


New Orleans

Magic Between The Lines

**The Best Thing About Baton Rouge?** 

Just up the Mississippi River from New Orleans in Baton Rouge you’ll find a city marching to the beat of its own drum. Cajun and creole influences (Baton Rouge likes to eat) combine with a good dose of southern charm and a city that’s uniquely Louisiana. 


**The Worst Thing About Baton Rouge?** 

Swampy summers. And Hurricanes. High violent crime. Traffic (the population grew by nearly a third after Hurricane Katrina.) And a certain lingering plantation mentality.


**How You Living?** 

Baton Rouge’s downtown is compact and walkable. You can jog along the banks of the Mississippi and watch the sun rise along the iconic river.

The Garden District, if you can afford it, is nice with some good restaurants, cafes, and supermarkets like Trader Joe's and full of young professionals. Similar is Capital Heights and Southdowns. Oak Hills and Quail Ridge are pretty much a straight shot to LSU. Turnberry is up and coming. Lots of LSU professors live in Kenilworth (older demographic) as it’s out of the college bubble (quiet) but 15 minutes from campus. 

Otherwise, almost anywhere in Baton Rouge is 30 minutes away. You can just embrace the traffic & live a little further out. 

The Acadian Style is common in BR— This American style originated in homes built by Acadian settlers to Louisiana. A hallmark of the style is a high pitched roof which typically contained a loft. A hybridized variation of this style was popular in the Baton Rouge area in the 1990’s – 2000’s as an alternative to the traditional style of the 1970s. While no longer single room homes, these modern hybrids typically exhibit open floor plans.  Found in Woodstone, Woodgate, Oak Hills, and all  throughout the area.

Cottage / Bungalow–The style, often called the California Bungalow, can be found in the Garden District, Capital Heights & Southdowns.
French Provincial design had its origins in the style of rural manor homes, or chateaus, built by the French nobles New construction found in University Club, Lakes at Highland and Lexington Estates.

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** 

If you love a tailgate, Cajun food and a Creole vibe.


Top LOOKS for Louisiana

New Orleans, LA

Magic Between The Lines

90

Baton Rouge, LA

Marching to its Own Louisiana Beat

65

Shreveport, LA

Ratchet City

62