Transportation
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Public Transit Tuesdays: Hayne
Posted by Megan Braden-Perry on Tue, Sep 4, 2012 at 11:59 PM
I was writing this on the night of August 28, but the power went out. Stupid Isaac. Rather than scramble around looking for electricity and Internet access, I figured I'd post it a week later. Hope y'all don't mind. Here's what I had before the power went out.
Since I know it won't be my best, I've been putting off posting this installment of Public Transit Tuesdays. The threat of Hurricane Isaac pushed my print deadlines up and therefore truncated my bus adventure with Liprap on Monday, and not being able to see out of the bus thanks to the wrap-around advertisement and stupid little fleur de lis decal on the window made it worse. I thought I might be able to ride alone today and take some pictures, but RTA has suspended services.
While convincing myself that I'm "just about to post," I've eaten two hamburgers that my fiance cooked, made tuna burgers, eaten week-old Tuna Helper, snuggled with the cat and had a good bit of champagne (orange flower water doesn't expire, by the way) — but not nearly enough — in hopes that I'd get excited about posting this.
Not working, but I want to get this in while it's still Tuesday. And so begins the shortest installment of Public Transit Tuesdays...
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Public Transit Tuesdays: Lakeview
Posted by Megan Braden-Perry on Tue, Aug 21, 2012 at 11:59 PM
I assumed there would be no ratchetness on the Lakeview bus, but I actually came across two riding stock characters, a riding snacker and the never-before-mentioned riding rambler, who speaks loudly on the phone for the entirety of the ride, a couple who might be transient youth and suburban kids blasting rap music from their cars. Also ratchet: Bugs. Lots of them...
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Public Transit Tuesdays: Claiborne
Posted by Megan Braden-Perry on Wed, Aug 15, 2012 at 10:20 AM
Robert Morris of Uptown Messenger was once a regular Claiborne bus rider, using it as a shuttle to and from City Hall, until he missed scooping a fire and a shooting because he couldn't get there in time. Together we discussed the practicality of this bus line, explored places he's always wondered about and talked New Orleans journalism over lunch, while getting the lowdown from him on his neck of the woods and what it's like to be influential in tacos on Klout...
[Also, I'm sorry this is a bit late. My Internet was on the fritz last night. It's still moving pretty slowly, actually.]
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Public Transit Tuesdays: Lake Forest
Posted by Megan Braden-Perry on Tue, Aug 7, 2012 at 11:59 PM
The East is coming back and it's pretty close to what I remember. Ah, the East. Aside from having to live with my Mom's emotionally abusive first cousin and his even more emotionally abusive wife from October 2002-May 2003, after my Mom died and my Paw Paw took ill (He died in February 2003.), I have nothing but fond memories there: shopping at the Plaza as a kid and boy-watching there as a teenager, visiting family and friends of the family since practically every 7th Ward household engaged in the New Orleans East exodus and doing suburban family things like going to Denny's and Wal-Mart without having to go to Metairie, Kenner or the Westbank.
From what I gathered on this bus adventure, the majority of the East is back and there's not much blight — except for businesses. There were so many abandoned businesses and overgrown lots where businesses once stood. And it wasn't Mom and Pop places — these were strip malls, schools and other businesses that, if I had to assume, have the means to rebuild.
The fact that the Lake Forest bus was "oh-my-God-is-someone-else's-sweat-dripping-down-back," "please-mister-bus-driver-don't-make-a-sharp-turn-because-I-don't-want-to-fall-out-of-the-back-door" packed not only illustrates the rebounding population of the East but provides quite a few quotable moments...
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Public Transit Tuesdays: Leonidas
Posted by Megan Braden-Perry on Tue, Jul 31, 2012 at 11:59 PM
The second accompanied installment of Public Transit Tuesdays brings us from City Park to Audubon Zoo on the Leonidas bus, passing through Hollygrove, Pigeon Town and Gert Town, proving to be a fine continuation of my Uptown education which began years ago when I was a student at Lusher Extension. This bus adventure opens with difficult questions: How do you pronounce "Leonidas" anyway? What are the boundaries of these neighborhoods? Good thing my bus buddy and best friend Jenny who was raised in all three neighborhoods was there to help answer them...
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Public Transit Tuesdays: Avondale
Posted by Megan Braden-Perry on Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 11:59 PM
Other than Mosca's Restaurant, the Avondale Shipyard and Dollar World, I had absolutely no clue what I'd come across while riding the Avondale bus. Turns out I'd try a new snoball flavor, dine at a strange restaurant, meet a local rapper's father, do some impulse thrifting and more...
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Public Transit Tuesdays: St. Bernard-Paris Avenue, St. Bernard-St. Anthony
Posted by Megan Braden-Perry on Tue, Jul 17, 2012 at 11:57 PM
Originally, I wanted to wait until after my dental splint was removed to ride the St. Bernard Avenue buses so I could enjoy all of the food along the route, but after polling Facebookers, it was decided that I'd ride them today. Since the St. Bernard Avenue buses pass through my neighborhood and I ride them almost daily, I had the bright idea to give readers a tour of the 7th Ward in addition to the usual Public Transit Tuesday coverage. Big mistake. Not just because I couldn't eat anything, but because it was so hot outside that I really felt like I was going to pass out...
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Public Transit Tuesdays: Marigny-Bywater
Posted by Megan Braden-Perry on Tue, Jul 10, 2012 at 11:40 PM
Back in April, I mentioned how I have always been unusually taken with St. Bernard Parish. I neglected to say that I've also been unusually taken with the 9th Ward and have been for my entire life, or as Bunny Matthews writes, "before it was hip." You should also know that unless I am forced to, I refuse to call any area in the 9th Ward "Bywater" or "Marigny" because that sounds very post-Katrina-I'm-not-from-here-I-just-came-here-to-be-cool-and-follow-my-dreams-I-also-have-a-guitar-and-I-can-play-a-chord-on-it-would-you-like-to-hear-about-all-of-the-volunteer-work-I-do to me and that infuriates me. Hearing and seeing these neighborhoods referred to as "The Bywater" and "The Marigny" infuriates me even more. That is definitely post-Katrina-I'm-not-from-here-I-just-came-here-to-be-cool-and-follow-my-dreams-I-also-have-a-guitar-and-I-can-play-a-chord-on-it-would-you-like-to-hear-about-all-of-the-volunteer-work-I-do.
Of course, not every new 9th Ward resident is like that. I'm sure many came to New Orleans and found the post-Katrina 9th Ward to be a place abuzz with art, music, food and American entrepreneurship...
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Public Transit Tuesdays: Algiers Ferry and Algiers Local
Posted by Megan Braden-Perry on Tue, Jul 3, 2012 at 11:30 PM
For the first time in Public Transit Tuesday history, I had a buddy ride with me. Rachel Heiligman of Transport for NOLA accompanied me on the Algiers Ferry and Algiers Local bus, and it was great to finally have some company—not just because I'm sick of people bothering me when I eat alone, but because someone was there to go through the drama with me, helping me to remember that I'm not crazy...
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Public Transit Tuesdays: Tulane
Posted by Megan Braden-Perry on Tue, Jun 26, 2012 at 11:59 PM
Riding the Tulane bus is like putting in extra hours at work so you can enjoy your vacation: It sucks at the time and you sometimes wonder what you were thinking, but in the end, the reward is worth it...
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