Lakeside Mall is the Ugliest Behemoth I've Ever Seen

[Mac da Knife]

She was the Beauty Contest Winner after the Katrina Oakwood looting.

[Suzy Wong]

I don't think I ever said it was a dining destination.

But I love my house, I love the architecture of N.O. that isn;t as easily found in the suburbs, and I live 5 minutes from a great ethnic (Vietnamese) coummunity in one direction, and maybe 6 minutes in the other direction I can be in the F.Q. and 5 to mid city. So that makes me happy.

Kind of like hulking McMansions, some people, love reproductions, I prefer antiques, scratches and all. We are all entitled to our likes and dislikes.

So, you keep Kenner, I am sure it will be on the historical list one day, as it no doubt becomes a cultural and culinary mecca and I will keep my neighborhood or as you so elegantly put it, my

pile of rubble.

So, how's the vibrant dining scene in Gentilly these days?

Here's the latest score according to Tom Fitzmorris' list of restaurants by neighborhood:

Kenner - 42

Gentilly - 4

[JudiB]

I live in the heart of Metry, so that monstrosity is crampin' my style. The traffic is a NIGHTMARE.

I was with some friends the other day, craaaaawling along Metairie Road, and the driver kept insisting that we go back to Vets. I tried to talk her out of it, but she was driving...

Well... of course, Vets was worse. And I had to LOOK at that horrid thing most of the time, lol. Can't get it out of your view when you're stuck in traffic.

Having said that - I'm thrilled that Macy's is returning to the area. I'm not a "shopper", don't like malls etc... but I love that store.

[Dilfan]

Pretty much once you get to Causeway, the best way to get through Metairie, westbound, is via W. Napoleon.

[Pelican Six]

Just loving you like a mirror, Suzy. What you fail to realize is that I've lived in Gentilly. I know what it once was and what it has become. You, on the other hand are completely ignorant of my neighborhood. Get a clue - there is no neighborhood called Kenner. It's comprised of many neighborhoods, some of them quite beautiful. Your snark about "keep Kenner" and a "mecca for the masses" reflects very poorly on you. I could live anywhere I choose. I CHOSE to live here in Kenner. It's beautiful, clean, safe & yes, even unique. I send my kids to schools in New Orleans. Because that's what's best for me and them.I don't shit on others for choosing what's in their best interests and don't feel it enhances my New Orleans "street cred" to denigrate someone's neighborhood. And before you go thinking you've offended me, don't worry - you don't have that kind of power.Now that we know where we stand, why would you care what is built in an area you wouldn't be caught dead living in, that services a clientele you wouldn't lower yourself to rub shoulders with?
btw, I said THE PLAZA is a pile of rubble, not Gentilly. It was bulldozed into A PILE OF RUBBLE. put yer eyes on, MawMaw.

[DoctorB]

I understood the original Gentilly/Plaza comment to mean not "Gentilly was turned into a pile of rubble just like the Plaza," but "Gentilly, like the Plaza, was overrun by black people and thus became undesirable." Was I mistaken?

[cstoehr]

I can't stand going to Lakeside. The flow of traffic in and around there is a pain in the ass and malls generally get on my nerves.
There really aren't any good malls in and around N.O., so it is the best option of you are going to one for now.

I am heading to Lagers in a few minutes for some beer and maybe a bite to eat and I am always wishing they were in a better location away from the mall so I would feel like going more often.

I hate the parking at Lagers!!!

[Pelican Six]

I understood the original Gentilly/Plaza comment to mean not "Gentilly was turned into a pile of rubble just like the Plaza," but "Gentilly, like the Plaza, was overrun by black people and thus became undesirable." Was I mistaken?

Nope. Although that is somewhat of an oversimplification. Along with a massive black influx came increases in drug dealing, violent crime, and murders, thus becoming undesirable. Standing by for charges of racism in 3...2...1...

[Alex]

LOL - well OK, since ya asked here it is:

[Pelican Six]

To quote Stephen Lynch:

"I am not a racist, some of my best friends are white."

http://www.whatarerecords.com/vanilla/