Mardi Gras on the Weekends: The Best Neighborhoods to Rent Near New Orleans' Top Employers

I'm Melissa, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for New Orleans and I'm here to tell you about the best places to live and work in The Big Easy. Not every day is Mardi Gras! We work too. The major industry in Louisiana is the refining and extraction of petroleum. Many roughnecks live in dorms on platforms out in the Gulf of Mexico. If you prefer a line of work where you're more likely to live full-time in a house or apartment, there are jobs available in the manufacturing and medical sectors. And, honestly, a big city like New Orleans has room for everybody! Here are some of the major employers and their neighborhoods.

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AECOM

This multinational infrastructure consulting firm has its main headquarters in Dallas, but a corporate office can be found on Poydras Street in New Orleans. They're the ones responsible for the New Orleans Convention Center, renovations on the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and recovery and reconstruction of the city after Hurricane Katrina. The work options are flexible with room to grow. They're looking for people with bold ideas and big dreams. They're looking for the engineers who can keep the "Big Easy" as easy as it can be for everyone.

Central Business District

This energetic urban neighborhood is bustling with exciting innovation. You'll never lack for trendy restaurants and upscale shopping in the CBD. The Orpheum, the Saenger and Joy are theaters as good as anything on Broadway. You can take in free live music at the Square or explore the Ashe Cultural Arts Center. The streetcar line will take you wherever you need to go.

Central City

This old, predominately black neighborhood is called Josephine by the locals. New Orleans is famous for Mardi Gras parades, but Central City gets things going a month early with a Martin Luther King Day parade. Leidenheimer Bakery is located in this area so you may be smelling bread baking sometimes. Central City is home to several charter schools and a branch of the New Orleans Public Library.

Broadmoor

This widely diverse neighborhood in the heart of the city has a little bit of everything. The historic district is dedicated to recalling the checkered past of this city that has overcome a lot of adversity over the years. The schools, parks and libraries make this neighborhood ideal for raising a family. Young professionals and graduate students can also find their niche here.

Domino Sugar Refinery Chalmette

A major cash crop in Louisiana is sugar cane and sugar refinement is a major industry. In Louisiana, bright yellow bags marked "Domino Sugar" line grocery shelves waiting to be put in pralines, beignets and cups of coffee and glasses of sweet tea. Many of the surrounding neighborhoods were started by Domino for their employees to live in. Today, this refinery employs 500 people plus 100 non-company support personnel who produce 6 million pounds of sugar every day. How sweet it is!

St. Bernard Parish

Just five miles from Downtown New Orleans is a historic neighborhood famed for the scenic beauty of many gorgeous waterways. If you like fishing, you'll never lack for weekend getaways to bring in speckled trout and redfish. If you've got a boat and you're bold enough, you can head out to the Gulf for the big game fish. If you're more of a landlubber, you can always go on a nature hike at St. Bernard National Park.

Lower Ninth Ward

This is a historic part of New Orleans that took a lot of damage during Katrina that has still not fully recovered in some areas. You may be able to get a small to medium-sized townhome at a relatively low price. It's not the best place to establish a family as yet, but if you're young and starting out, you may be able to get someplace inexpensive here while putting in your hours and saving up.

Chalmette

A little closer to Lake Borgne is Chalmette, the Parish Seat that the Domino Sugar Refinery is named after. It's a historical area with a National Cemetery with graves dating back to the Civil War and Chalmette Battlefield where America met a great victory in the War of 1812. For something more cheerful, you could take the kids to Bluebird Park. For something more adult, you could try Lehrmann's Bar and Billiards or Desi Romano's Sports Bar and Grill.

Caesars New Orleans Hotel & Casino

Ever wanted a job where you get to play cards all day? You might be able to get such a job at Caesars New Orleans, a luxury casino and hotel. Located on Canal Street, it's the premier place in New Orleans to blow your dough. But, if you're a dealer, hospitality clerk, chef, security guard, retail worker or other employee, you're guaranteed to take some money home in the form of a paycheck. If you manage to get a job connected to a tip jar, some appreciative patrons with deep pockets might see you getting home with a good bit of cash at the end of the night.

French Quarter

What can be said about the French Quarter that everyone doesn't already know? The famous antique French architecture, the zesty Cajun cuisine and the vibrant jazz culture all make this neighborhood the crown jewel of New Orleans. It's said that if you go to the St. Louis Cemetery Number 1 and draw an X on Marie Laveau's crypt, she'll grant you a wish. Drawing on crypts is discouraged now, so try leaving her flowers or cigarettes instead. She also likes scrunchies.

Marigny

This is a charming, welcoming neighborhood where a colorful shotgun cottage could be your new home. The jazz-centered nightlife attracts people of all walks of life. If brunch is more your thing, Paladar 511 has rustic charm and savory Italian flavor. For a calm picnic with a panoramic view of the Mississippi, try Crescent Park. Intellectuals will enjoy an afternoon at Baldwin & Co, an independently owned bookstore.

Warehouse District

Despite what the name would have you think, this is a sophisticated neighborhood devoted to the arts. There's an art walk every month on Julia Street and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art for more historically relevant works. The culinary and terpsichorean arts are likewise appreciated, as is the jazz music that is the heart and soul of New Orleans. The World War II Museum keeps history alive.

New Orleans East Hospital

New Orleans East Hospital believes in delivering quality healthcare using the four C's; courtesy, concern, compassion and kindness. (OK, so that last one was a K.) They welcome everyone, but be warned that they do hold their employees to a high ethical standard. (I'll kindly assume you don't have that problem.) Currently, they're looking for a pharmacy technician, an RN and an ultrasound technologist. If you're not an RN yet but would like to be one, LCMC Health hosts a residency program sure to put you on the right path.

New Orleans East

As it says on their official web page, "It's great living!" You could very well have a great time here, or "pass a good time" as the Cajuns say. Every second Saturday of the month there is a Community Market where you can purchase fresh produce and authentic Cajun/Creole spices while a live zydeco band plays. If you're civic-minded, you can join "Love the Boot", a voluntary community clean-up crew.

Gentilly

On the shore of Lake Pontchartrain is a diverse, middle-class neighborhood known as Gentilly. It's often overlooked by tourists, but residents are happy with reasonably priced restaurants and a reconstructed library. The architecture leans more toward Spanish Revival than the French Colonial NOLA is famous for. Lake Pontchartrain is a great place to spend a weekend. You can even catch some fish and crabs to serve at your barbecue.

Little Woods

Some call it Le Petite Bois, some call it Edgelake. Either way, Little Woods has a rich history and natural beauty that lends itself to a tranquil retreat that occasionally rouses to the vivacious jazz beat. If you love fishing, Lake Pontchartrain is more than serviceable. If you like eating fish but not catching it, Castnet Seafood will serve you right. If you're a fan of aviation and Art Deco architecture, you may want to pay a visit to New Orleans Lakefront Airport,

Zatarain's

If there's anything New Orleans is known for, it's Cajun and Creole cuisine. And you can't have that without a little spice! Every Louisiana home likely has a shaker of Zatarain's seasoning in their cupboard. (I know mine does!) Along with seasoning mixes, they manufacture frozen dinners and convenience meals so that anyone can have Cajun food at any time. If you don't know the first thing about culinary, that's alright. They also need mechanical engineers and warehouse workers to get the products moving. They're located in Gretna, just a short ferryboat ride from New Orleans proper.

Gretna

Technically, Gretna is its own city on the opposite side of the Mississippi from New Orleans. However, it's close enough to be part of the New Orleans metropolitan area. If you like shopping for something unique, there's a farmer's market every Saturday, plus an art walk every second Saturday of the month and an occasional holiday market called "Shop the Huey" after Huey P. Long Avenue.

Lower Garden District

LGD has a quirky, artistic vibe and is a Mecca for people who like shopping in quaint and curious boutiques. On your shopping expedition you can stop at one of numerous coffee shops or casual eateries for a bite. If you'd rather bring your own (or get carry-out), Coliseum Square Park has many fountains that make lovely places to have a picnic.

Milan

To differentiate this neighborhood from the fashionable Italian city, pronounce it "My Lin". This recently rehabilitated area is home to a number of camelbacks, shotguns and Victorian cottages as well as some modern condos. A streetcar runs along St. Charles Avenue. There are a myriad of places to shop, eat or get a drink, plus some green spaces. And, of course, there's the annual Mardi Gras Parade!

In Conclusion

New Orleans is a city known for a wild annual parade, jazz music and an attitude of "Laissez les bons temps rouler." The entire state is a "Sportsman's Paradise" due to the many areas available for hunting and fishing. If you think New Orleans is a bunch of jocks with the mentality of Boudreax and Thibodeax, think again! There are universities, libraries and museums of all stripes for mental stimulation. It's also a place to work. Coffee and beignets don't make themselves, after all. Someone has to drill for oil and if a roughneck gets hurt on the job, someone has to patch them up. Someone has to make the jambalaya and then more someones are needed to catch the shrimp and grow the vegetables that go into the jambalaya. Wherever you go in New Orleans, it takes a lot of different people to make New Orleans what it is. Could you be one of them?