Just a general thread to express your condolences for NOLA, share a memory about New Orleans or offer support to those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

My family and I last visited New Orleans in May. We did all the typical Tourist stuff... Zoo, Aquarium, Horse 'n Buggy Tour, FQ Tour, went to the Museums, ate at some really nice restaurants.

Anyway, it was a wonderful trip... right after Yahoo! Travel and National Geographic readers voted New Orleans the #1 Family Destination in America. And it turned out to be quite a fun trip.

I've also visited with just my wife (girlfriend at the time) and it was wonderfully romantic. Five star dinners, walks through the quarter that I will remember forever.

And the TripSmarter team attended a conference in NOLA back in 2000. There were several conventions in town and everywhere you turned, there were people partying and having a good time.

Not to mention we are the official website for New Orleans Television (N.O.TV). We have (had?) the most awesome New Orleans office and apartment on Exchange Alley. It's about 2 blocks off Bourbon St in the heart of the French Quarter. Some people may recognize our very popular New Orleans Live Cam (currently offline... obviously) at our Exchange Alley office. Anyway, we've had the chance to make some really good friends with our advertisers and clients and wish them all the best.

I guess New Orleans was many things to many people. It depended on what you went there to find. And for me, it never disappointed.

It's one of the most culturally rich and historical cities in America. Very unique. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by Katrina.

as I'm watching this on television and reading about it online, I just feel so sad for everyone affected. Thanks Steve for getting these threads started, hopefully they'll be of some help.

While admist personal and national struggles with the magnitude of the effects of Katrina upon New Orleans, its always TOO EASY to focus on all the bad, all the panic, all the negative that these situations bring out in people.

I encourage all of us to stay on top of the events and be aware of what your localities are doing to assist BUT i also beg you to not lose HOPE! Its easy to watch the news and focus on all the negativity that we are bound to see in the media today. Our country, our citizens...we are a group strengthened when faced with struggle.

New Orleans will recover, our country will recover, and we have to remember for all the terrible images we are seeing today, we will refelct back in months as we hear the truly humanitarian stories emerge, the ones of heroism, the ones of helping fallen brothers, picking up fellow man and extending a hand to helping society.

9/11 was a period of time many thought would be impossible to fully recover from and years later the country has found it as a point of strength, an event in American history, strike that...Global History...that was albeit tragic, but one that solidified the concept of people all over the world coming together for a common cause...supporting the human spirit!

Until we reach that moment of reflection, we will work hard to provide for fellow men and women in need. New Orleans is a beautifully historic and culturally rich city and will be again in the future!

Randy Peterson
Club Hour

Well said. I have no doubt that with a little time and a lot of hard work, New Orleans will rebound.

I love New Orleans.

In June of 1991, we bought a small television station in the Big Easy. To be honest, we were viewed as 'newcomers' for the first 5 years or so... New Orleans has seen their share of carpetbaggers, and they expect you to pay your dues before they open their arms and hearts to you... but, oh my, when they DO finally embrace you in those warm, wild and wonderful arms, you can feel the love... and the spirit... the people of New Orleans are so real, so generous, so full of feeling and joie de vive!

I have always thought of myself as sort of a 'loner' but, New Orleans taught me that I am not. It has been a thrilling and emotional roller coaster ride... and, we have never received an honor so treasured and so humbling as we did this Spring when the New Orleans Convention and Visitor's Bureau named us their 'Official Visitor Information Television Station.'

New Orleans is a GREAT city... one of the three most unique cities in this country, and just as the unique and strong people of New York braved the terror and destruction of 9/11, the people of New Orleans will triumph - and I know them, they will do it with great STYLE and humor and love and generosity.

Right now, they need our help. Their people need jobs and shelter. They need money, and when the power comes back on, and the City is ready to invite us back, we must all give our support - we must be hungry, thirsty, extravagant tourists! Tourism is the driving economic force of the city.... so, start making your plans now! I hope to be back at my favorite bar stool, slurping down oysters on the half shell and drinking an Abita draft by January! Just in time for MARDI GRAS!

If you have jobs to offer hard working folks from New Orleans, please let us know... please post them here!

We love ya, New Orleans!

From Randy Wahlberg:

Our hearts and prayers go out to all of the NOTV family of clients, partners, and vendors in New Orleans during this extremely difficult time. We could not have imagined last Friday night and Saturday as my wife and I frolicked through the French Quarter, stopping in to visit, shake hands, and say hello to our many friends, that we would find ourselves in such a state.

It was erie, as if Ti Martin's unexpected presence plus the hug and smile was staged as if it might be awhile until we would meet again. Chin Ling stopped to visit with us in "the alley" as preparations were taking place. Fischer-Gambino had a sale so good we couldn't pass up a new chandelier for over the kitchen table. And the dozens of galleries and shops were alive with activity as the visitors scurried to take it all in.

The visit gave us a fresh and lasting impression of all the GOOD things that made New Orleans great!

We will remain with you....and we will rebuild and assist in the development of the NEW New Orleans!

May God be with you and bless you all! The spirit and heart of New Orleans lives on.

Randy Wahlberg
Director of Sales
New Orleans Television

I know that all of us here at TripSmarter are heartbroken...not only because of what we see on TV, but because New Orleans is a part of our Tourist Network Family. Most all of us have had an occassion to "work" in the Big Easy for short periods, and I can honestly say that the hospitality extended to us was always genuine, not prompted by tourist dollar$.
I was in the Crescent city last week. I left Thursday to get back to Panama City because of the storm's uncertain track. Little did I know that I may have been seeing this wonderful historic city undamaged for the last time. And I truly believe that our collective emotions go beyond "there but for the grace of god go we". Regardless of the cause of this tragedy, our prayers, and much of our energy in the coming weeks and months will be directed to our countrymen.
As an Air Force Meteorologist I spent three years in the Pacific at the Typhoon Warning Center. I often put out warnings and advisories for places I'd never seen and people I'd never meet. I've been to NO, and I have friends whose lives are changed forever. This is one of the most personal experiences I've had as a "weatherman". I hope we all are learning from this. Not just about the fury or unpredictability of nature...but about the nature of our country and our hearts.
This weekend and in weeks to come, the folks in NW Florida will be providing food,shelter, and compassion for the folks from New Orleans. Multiple events are being hastily scheduled to provide immediate and long term help to all the victims. I'm sure that I speak for everyone in this company...GOD Bless You.

Just wanted to recognize the heroic actions of the US Coast Guard. It's been reported that they rescued over 8,000 people in the first 4 days... most of them from roof tops, etc.

Also, many more heros are emerging as people all over the country are opening their homes to those who have lost their homes.

True heros.

My son and I had a nice trip there a few weeks back that I shared on this very site.

We walked right there on the convention center streets we watched night after night and I am sure we saw some of the same poeple that now need our prayers AND our hearts and homes open to them.

My friends from N.O are all acounted for and ok with varying degrees of water in homes and damage. Thank you God.

Many, many are coming to our area and I heard that 700 are already right here in Sandestin. We have met a few already. God Bless them and comfort and strengthen them at this time.

As Isaiah 40:31 says, " they will wait on the Lord and renew their strength to soar like eagles again".

Prayer can work miracles. Opening your pocketbook can also help.

Long live Mr. B's and the rich and spiritual heritage of New Orleans.

From Janis Gallo:

A city with a soul and individuality ...that's how I have come to know New Orleans and its residents. I've spent nine years working with the hospitality industry in N.O. and in all that time have never ceased to be amazed by the extraordinarily vernacular that embodies this unique place. Its music,architecture, cuisine and life styles have been carried through generations of New Orleanians. They will prevail, they MUST prevail and we must help with more than rhetoric. Jobs, housing, health care and all the resources required to assist with the restoration of life, home, and the city they love...and we love…. are critical. If you have resources post them here. We are committed to utilizing our resources to assist and will be elated when we post a “welcome back message”!

Janis Karam Gallo
General Manager/Hotel & Cable Relations
New Orleans Television

I love New Orleans!! It holds a life time of meories for me and my kids. My oldest 3 where born there. I lived there all my life. Over 28 yrs. My heart my roots my history lay there. I have been in Missouri for not quite 3 yrs. now.
But New Orleans will always be home!! God bless them as they rebuild. Dont lose the faith !!! Our grandparents lived
through Hurricane Besty.. We togther will make it through
Ktriana!!!!

Hello all,

Heartfelt condolences goes out to the residents, and businesses of the City of New Orleans. My fiance and I were there two weeks ago, August 23 through August 26. We wanted to take a short vacation before the summer was over, so I suggested New Orleans. He's been there twice already, and raved about the city and the food, especially the gumbo. Originally, we were going to come there the week of August 29, but decided not to because it would run into the labor day holiday. I checked the weather forecast that Sunday ( Aug. 21), and it was forecast to rain and thunderstorm the entire week. However, the only thing it did was drizzle for a second it seemed like, and quickly dried up because of the heat. While there, we watched the weather forecast so we would how to plan our day. There was never any mention of a pending hurricane, but the reports did mention of a hurricane that had effected Floria and Miami.

We stayed in the french quarters at the Bourbon Wyndham hotel. It was beautiful! The room was nice, and the staff was very helpful. From what I hear on CNN news, the french quarter and bourbon street received little or no damage. One of the many restaurants we ate it, Deanie's Seafood Restaurant on Annunciation Street, rates number one with us! The food was awesome! Talk about large portions - wow!!
Anyway, there is so much to tell, like the cooking class we took, shopping like mad at the Riverwalk mall, etc. More than anything, I keep praying that all the nice people we met are okay. I have the phone number of a cab driver that took us around. He's and elderly gentleman and was sort of like our tour guide. I've called several times to his home and his cell number, but to no avail. For sure I would love to visit Nawlins again, it may not be the same ever again, but the spirit of Nawlins will always be there.

WE SPENT ONE WEEK IN NEW ORLEANS JUST TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE HURRICANE HIT AND WE HAD A WONDERFULL TIME AND PRECIOUS MEMORIES.OUR PRAYERS GO OUT TO ALL THEIR AND HOPE TO SEE THE CITY REBUILL.THEIR IS NOT ANOTHER CITY LIKE IT. SHARON VANN TEXAS