During the night the mystery was revealed to New Orleans in a vision. Then New Orleans praised the Brangelina of heaven and said: “Praise be to the name of Brangelina for ever and ever; wisdom and power are theirs. They change times and seasons; they set up kings and depose them. They give light to …
The Gospel According To New Orleans; Orleans Avenue 2:19-23
AP: The French Quarter Is In A Funk
“I’m paying the most rent I’ve ever paid, and I’ve got the smallest place I’ve ever had,” said Bob Clift, a portrait artist who waited in vain one recent day for customers under the live oaks on Jackson Square, outside St. Louis Cathedral.
A familiar face in the Quarter for 37 years, Clift said he is planning to leave the city after paying about $1,000 a month for an 8-by-15-foot room. “Poor people can’t live here anymore,” he said. “Including me.”
Many say that the move of the Brad Pitt – Angelina Jolie cottage industry into the French Quarter will only boost its economy and morale. If interest in New Orleans goes up as a by-product of the celebrity factor, that is great. But, what New Orleans will these tourists see if long-time Quarter dwellers can no longer afford to live there? Something I don’t want to see is rents and real-estate prices artificially skyrocketing because the Quarter is suddenly fashionable to the Hollywooderati. If my friends and other people I love to see there have to leave, is it a good thing?
Another important question: Will Brad Pitt entertain me as much as Harry Anderson did? As if Pitt and Jolie are going to show up at Flanagan’s and Fahy’s, much less hang out there.
But if Brangelina wind up leaving, will they slam New Orleans as hard as Harry Anderson did?
Yeah, I read The French Quarter is in a Funk story a coupla days ago in the Houston Chronicle. It pained me mightily to read it there – I thought it had an ugly slant to it.
Perhaps Brad and Ang will effuse a light, fresh pine scent, and can be used to keep Bourbon Street smelling April fresh.