Antoine's is one the New Orleans classic old creole restaurants. Note the permits in the window (shown in the second picture) allowing the Antoine's to re-open after Katrina. This is a common sight, especially in the French Quarter (which has a high concentration of restaurants).
The top sign reads, "The Original Pierre Maspero's is proud to be a part of the team working to bring New Orleans back! Thanks to Almighty God and Our Blessed Mother for sparing us." Pierre Maspero's is a popular restaurant in the French Quarter that was still closed at the time of Jazzfest.
This building is on Canal Street - one of the city's biggest boulevards. Many of the news reports during the Katrina crisis were shot on Canal Street. The flood waters stopped right about at the edge of the French Quarter, which allowed camera crews to take footage of the flood without being in it. One can still tell about where the water stopped - most of the buildings on Canal Street between the Mississippi River and Dauphine Street are open, while the many of the buildings on the other side of Dauphine Street are still boarded up.
Notice how the "One Way" sign is bent. I assume this is wind damage from Katrina.
The sign reads "REHAB". I assume this is a storm-damaged building that is being offered for sale to anyone willing to rehabilitate it.
Many restaurants, hotels and other businesses have help-wanted signs. There is a labor shortage in New Orleans, largely because of a housing shortage. So many homes have been destroyed or made uninhabitable that there's no place for workers to live. Most people have heard of K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen - it's one of the most famous restaurants in the worlds - yet they're having trouble filling positions. Notice how many different types of openings they have.
Someone put these flyers on the windshields of cars parked along the residential part of Bourbon Street. It reads:
Invest Construction Cooperative
New Orleans
small businesses.
gon' back to work!
what do we need from you?
your cooperation.
you can get involved by contacting us:
displaced residents, and returning businesses
will benefit through the services we offer.
including the small jobs that prove too much
for the Homeowner.
As well as providing quality workmanship
for the local New Orleans Businesses,
Contractors, out of town employers,
And returning residents.
Got A job?
We will
coOperate
Here is another help wanted sign. The Royal Sonesta is one of the big, fancy hotels in the French Quarter. Notice the benefits they're offering.
Here is the other end of the scale. This Wendy's on Canal St. is offering $125 a week bonus pay.
