West Bank Living

Relocating to a new city is full of challenges and one of the biggest is what job opportunities are available in your field.  Are you considering moving to New Orleans, LA?  Perhaps your next military relocation is to NAS JRB New Orleans and your spouse will be looking for a job in the area.  Or maybe you have visited before, fallen under the magical spell of this historic city and feel her pulling you to return…not as a visitor, but as a resident.

Each year, City Business, a well respected New Orleans business periodical, polls employees throughout the metropolitan area to determine the best of the best - employers, that is.  Here are the most recent top 20 winners along with links to their websites.

Legal

• Deutsch, Kerrigan & Stiles
• Frilot LLC
• Adams & Reese

Accounting/Financial

• LaPorte Sehrt Romig Hand
• Postlethwaite & Netterville

Software and Technology Solutions

• ReadSoft
• Diamond Data Systems

Energy and Oilfield Companies

• Superior Energy Services

Communications

• Broadpoint

Consulting

• Booz Allen Hamilton

Construction

• DonahueFavret Contractors Inc

Health Care and Related Industries

• St. Tammany Parish Hospital
• Coventry Health Care of Louisiana
• Ochsner Health System
• East Jefferson General Hospital
• West Jefferson Medical Center
• People’s Health
• Louisiana Medical Mutual Insurance Co.

Other

• Planet Beach Franchising

The complete list:  2007 Best Places to Work in New Orleans

Obviously, the health care and legal communities are some of the most terrific and highly regarded employers in the region.  I’m sure that this is greatly influenced by the prestigious educational institutions located in and around the New Orleans area, such as Tulane University and the LSU School of Nursing.

As the recovery and revitalization the New Orleans region continues, I’d like to welcome you to my hometown and my city.  New Orleans - Proud to Call It Home!

• West Bank Homes for Sale – Find a home for sale on the West Bank or other New Orleans metropolitan area.
• Contact Lisa Heindel for help buying or selling your New Orleans area home
• Free online home evaluation of your New Orleans West Bank home

Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

When a family is relocated, there are the typical concerns.  What are the best neighborhoods?  Where will the kids go to school?  Where is the nearest grocery store, oil change place and pharmacy?

At the top of the list for many families is also the location of their new place of worship.  The New Orleans area has that party town reputation, but there is much more to the city than that.  If you are considering a move to the New Orleans area, I hope you have the time to visit one of the many churches right here in our friendly Algiers community.  Attend a service or two and find the right fit for your and your family - it’s a great way to meet your new neighbors and make some friends.

Catholic Churches in Algiers, LA

• St. Andrew the Apostle
• Holy Spirit Catholic Church
• Holy Name of Mary
• All Saints Church
• St. Julian Eymard

Methodist Churches in Algiers, LA

• Aurora United Methodist Church
• Algiers United Methodist Church
• Asbury United Methodist Church

Lutheran Churches in Algiers, LA

• St. Stephen Lutheran Church
• Trinity Lutheran Church

Episcopal Churches in Algiers, LA

• St. Philip’s Episcopal Church
• Mount Olivet Episcopal Church

Presbyterian Churches in Algiers, LA

• Woodland Presbyterian Church

Baptist Churches in Algiers, LA

• Oak Park Baptist Church
• Calvary Baptist Church
• Second Nazarine Baptist Church of Algiers

Other Churches in Algiers, LA

• DeGaulle Drive Church of Christ
• Love Outreach Christian Center
• Westside Christian Church
• United Seventh Day Adventist
• Algiers Assembly of God
• Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall
• Navigator’s Christian Fellowship

In addition to regular services, many of these churches have attached schools (such as St. Andrew and Calvary), offer Mother’s Day Out and youth and pre-school programs.

There are so many places of worship in Algiers that I’m sure I missed a few.  If your church is not on this list, please contact me and I’ll be happy to add it.  Or, if your church has a website that is not linked here, let me know and I’ll add that too!

When buying or selling a home on the West Bank of New Orleans or relocating to the New Orleans West Bank, you deserve local expertise and advice. Lisa Heindel provides full time, professional real estate services to buyer, sellers and military transferees in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego and more.

West Bank Relocation Information

West Bank Homes for Sale – Find a home for sale on the West Bank or other New Orleans metropolitan area.

Contact Lisa Heindel for help buying or selling your New Orleans area home

Free online home evaluation of your New Orleans West Bank home

Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

The Residence at Park Avenue:  Luxury Townhouses on the West Bank of New Orleans in Harvey, Louisiana

I was lucky enough today to have a chance to visit one of the lovely, luxury townhouses at The Residence at Park Avenue in Harvey, LA.  With a great location right off of Manhattan Blvd., this secure and gated community is a hidden gem right here on the West Bank of New Orleans.  Drive through the gates and take a tour with me….

Some of the wonderful amenities in this fabulous neighborhood:

• Restricted and secure gated access
• Private clubhouse and exercise room
• Heated pool and hot tub

• Private courtyards
• Beautiful cobblestone paved sidewalks
• Reasonable home owner fees include lawn care

No cookie cutter townhouses here!  Each unit has been custom finished to suit the owner while still fitting the style of the neighborhood.

Developed in 2003, there has historically been little turnover in The Residence community (the last unit sold was in 2006).  There are some lucky buyers out there right now, though, with 3 units currently listed for sale - all for under $400,000.  Each of these luxury townhomes has 3 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths.  Not your typical small townhouses, the available units have from 1,920 square feet of living area to over 2,300 finished square feet and garages tucked discreetly behind the units.

Are you ready to live in luxury?  If you want to know more about The Residence at Park Avenue, give me a call and we can schedule your private showing today.

When buying or selling a home on the West Bank of New Orleans or relocating to the New Orleans West Bank, you deserve local expertise and advice. Lisa Heindel provides full time, professional real estate services to buyer, sellers and military transferees in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego and more.

West Bank Homes for Sale – Find a home for sale on the West Bank or other New Orleans metropolitan area.

Contact Lisa Heindel for help buying or selling your New Orleans area home

Free online home evaluation of your New Orleans West Bank home

Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

Despite the inclement weather on Friday that postponed the Krewe of Cleopatra, I still got to ride with the Krewe of Choctaw on Saturday.  It was cold and misty in the morning as we headed to the breakfast provided by the great folks at Bennigan’s in Algiers to fill up on coffee, eggs, grits, bacon and sausage, biscuits and more.  The face painter was busy making up the court members for their long awaited ride…

After breakfast, we were off to the parade route to load up the floats and get ready to ride.  Controlled chaos best describes the scene when a parade is lining up.  The face painter handled a line of krewe members who preferred a painted face to the masks.  Floats were pulling into the correct positions.  Bands lined the streets, practicing that one last time before beginning to march.

Finally, it was time to roll!  As we rode through Terrytown and Gretna, the faithful parade goers who braved the weather were showered with throws from all of the floats.

It was an exhausting but spectacularly fun day!

Sunday morning dawned overcast, but by the time we made it to the parade route on General de Gaulle, the sun was shining just in time for the Marine Corps Band to march down the street.

After watching the court and other royalty pass by, we zipped over to Gretna for the Family Gras celebration.  We arrived just in time to hear the end of Irma Thomas’ set.  While waiting on the next performance, we grabbed a bite to eat and visited with friends that we ran into all over the street. 

At around 2 pm, Blake Shelton took to the stage and had a great response from the waiting crowd.  I’m so glad that Gretna is participating in the Family Gras celebration and bringing it to the West Bank.

After the band finished, we met up with other friends to see the entire Krewe of Alla parade.  With over 30 floats, it was a full afternoon.  Whew….home to sleep and get ready for the coming week.

Happy Mardi Gras to everyone!

It looks like it might be a wet start to the West Bank Carnival season this weekend, so put on your rain coat, bring your umbrella and let the good times roll!

Krewe of Cleopatra Parade

Cleopatra rolls through Algiers and Terrytown starting at 6:30 pm Friday with the theme Cleopatra’s Bits and Pieces of the Past.  Following the traditional Algiers/Terrytown route, the all female krewe kicks off the West Bank parade weekend with 21 floats and a dozen marching bands and units.  See the entire parade route here.

Krewe of Choctaw Parade

In a return to their traditional parade day, Choctaw will roll on Saturday at 11:30, immediately followed by the Mystic Knights of Adonis.  With the theme Worldly Travels, Choctaw features 24 floats and multiple bands and marching units.  Adonis is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary with the theme Adonis Celebrates 10 Screamin’ Years for the 14 float procession.  See the entire parade route here.

As Choctaw turns onto Franklin Avenue in Gretna, they will pass the site of the Gretna Family Gras festival, featuring live music at the corner of Stumpf Blvd. and Franklin Ave.  Workers have been setting up the stages this week, in anticipation of a great turn out to hear the sounds of the Dixie Cups, Bobby Cure and the Summertime Blues and local favorite Irma Thomas.  Admission to Family Gras is free, but the area will be gated and no ice chests will be allowed inside the gates.

pssst…Look for me on float #17, driver’s side…I’ve got some great plush spears to throw!

Krewe of Alla Parade

Sunday starts early! Alla Gras, a family friendly celebration, will begin at 9 am on the neutral ground of General de Gaulle, between Kabel Drive and Rue Parc Fontaine.  Featuring local musical acts Rockin’  Dopsie, the Algiers Brass Band, Kermit Ruffins and more, the event is free.  Food and drinks from local restaurants will be available for sale.  The party will continue as the parade passes and wind up at 4:00 pm.  Get there early to set up your chairs and snag a front row seat for the parade!

At 11:30 am, the Krewe of Alla will roll on the traditional Algiers/Terrytown route with 34 floats, a marching band contest and the Budweiser Clydesdales.  The theme for this year’s parade is Name That Tune.  Alla is one of the few krewes still throwing doubloons and if you are lucky, you can scoop up the special turquoise and gold doubloons being thrown only from the Captain’s float.

Be safe, stay dry and have a great West Bank weekend!