As someone who just signed a PNS on a condo in the French Quarter yesterday (what timing for this HN post!), I'm looking forward to finding that balance between the universal and the intimate - I come from New England, where the elitism and tribalism the author speaks of is easy to find, and easier to get sucked into.

I've been here a few times now, mostly frequenting the Quarter, Marigny, the Warehouse District, and the Garden District -- each seem (to me) to be their own special, slower spin on different areas of the country. I'm sure some will disagree, but to me, the French Quarter, while obviously having tons of European influence, feels a lot like a New England town (except the weather of course!). Marigny (again, to me) feels almost SoCal-esque, with its small bungalows and arts focus. The Warehouse District feels like a rust belt city, very industrial but charming, and the Garden District feels straight out of Georgia or South Carolina, the most southern. All this is to say it all makes New Orleans a very special place.