Welcome Back to New Orleans!

On behalf of the Louisiana Psychiatric Medical Association (LPMA), I want to welcome APA members and guests to New Orleans for our live Annual Meeting. As an APA district branch of the APA, LPMA supports the mission of advocacy for our patients and our profession through education, legislative action, research, and community outreach. We are a diverse group of psychiatrists living and practicing in Louisiana, and we are proud to welcome you into our home state.

Many of you have visited us before and will relish reconnecting with colleagues while dining at your favorite restaurant or listening to some live local music. For those who are first time visitors to New Orleans, you are in for a real treat—lots of treats in fact! Much like the APA meeting itself, your host city offers an embarrassment of riches to share with you.

While at this year’s meeting, I encourage you to read folks’ nametags—those who have Louisiana on their badge will be able to point you in the direction of their personally reviewed “five-bean”–rated restaurant for local specialties of red beans and rice, gumbo, jambalaya, beignets, etouffee, and a variety of seafood dishes. Though many visitors plan their trips around the meals they share, it's not all about the food. Most New Orleanians are equally eager to share recommendations on where to satisfy your tastes for live music: We are proud of our Grammy award–winning artists who perform in venues along Frenchman and Bourbon streets, as well as in their own namesake clubs and at some of the major hotels. If you’re interested, make a reservation for a jazz, gospel, or drag brunch, and you’ll enjoy an outstanding meal and show.

The Historic New Orleans Collection, Jazz Museum, Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve, French Quarter Visitors Center, and World War II Museum are among those within a half hour’s walk from the Convention Center. The African American Museum, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and numerous other art galleries are worth the pedicab or Uber ride fare. A streetcar-ride away from downtown along the oak-lined St Charles Avenue line will allow you to take in the architecture of the Garden District-Universities neighborhood, while the Canal Street/Cemeteries Line will take you through the MidCity–City Park neighborhoods. Shopping opportunities include shops for antiques and collectables along Royal Street and Magazine Street, with outlet stores close by at the Riverwalk.

Saturday morning yoga at the Cabildo or beginner twerk classes at Crescent Park as well as bicycle and kayak rentals along Bayou St. John and the Lafitte Greenway are fun options for getting moving and outside.

Do not worry if you cannot get your fill of the music, food, and beautiful architecture of our city in your few days here: To avoid FOMO, just start planning your next visit before you leave.

Again–welcome back. We’re glad you’re here! ■