Big Easy's Eager to Welcome Psychiatrists to APA Institute

October in Louisiana is usually warm, with luxurious evenings for strolling down Chartres Street for colonial history, Royal Street for art and antiques, Bourbon Street for entertainment, and on to world-class restaurants on almost any street in the French Quarter. And all of these diversions are within easy walking distance of the Marriott on Canal Street, where sessions will be held for this year's APA Institute on Psychiatric Services (IPS). (See end of article for registration information.)

Many New Orleans restaurants continue their tradition of offering fine food in unique elegant environments, including Antoine's, Galatoire's, Arnaud's, the Rib Room, and the Brennan family's restaurants: Palace Café, Bacco, Dickie Brennan's Steak House, and Mr. B's. Bistro. Within the Vieux Carré, better know as the French Quarter, are many of my favorite nouveau-cuisine establishments, such as Peristyle, Carmelo's, Irene's Cuisine, the Red Fish Grill, Broussard's, Café Amelie, Stella's, Bayona, Court of the Two Sisters, Dominiques, and K-Pauls.

For snacks, casual dining, and dancing featuring local musicians there is Mélange and the Lobby and French Quarter bars all within the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on Canal Street.

The French Quarter is not just a wonderful place to stroll, eat, drink, hear music, and be entertained, it is also a community of friends—in an old-fashioned Mr. Rogers way: “Welcome to my neighborhood.” I live there, as do a number of my psychiatrist colleagues, other physicians and professionals, academics, business people from a wide variety of backgrounds, as well as musicians, chefs, waiters, artists, clergy and tradespeople—folks from all walks of life. Community activism and activities are perennial. Over the IPS weekend, local events will include the 18th Annual New Orleans Film Festival<www.neworleansfilmfestival.com>, the Saturday evening Art Walk on Royal Street<www.royalstreetartsdistrict.com>, and a community festival for our French Quarter New Orleans Police Department.

Ironically, New Orleans oldest, most historical institutions and sites, including the French Quarter, weathered Hurricane Katrina intact, as they have during previous storms of the past several centuries. The French Quarter and the adjacent downtown convention area are as intriguing as ever. However, for those who might wish to witness neighborhoods more affected by Katrina, there will be sections of the city that might still be unrestored and could be visited at the time of the IPS to gain more understanding of how the hurricance devastated so many lives.

For those who bring family and children, or have time before or after the IPS, there are attractions galore outside of the French Quarter. A walk to the Aquarium on the nearby Moonwalk, followed by a trip upriver to the zoo on the John James Audubon riverboat, is a must for children and their parents. You can also explore the most remote regions of the nearby Barataria swamp by high-speed airboats (yes, you will probably see alligators). On the Moonwalk, you can board the Creole Queen paddle-wheeler and the Cajun Queen riverboat, which offer morning and afternoon departures, as does the steamboat Natchez, which also features a dinner and jazz cuisine on the Mississippi River.

In close proximity to the IPS meetings at the Marriott are the restaurants and entertainment venues of the rapidly gentrifying Warehouse District, including nationally acclaimed Emeril's, Louisiana, Herbsaint, La Cote Brasserie, Restaurant August, 7 on Fulton, and in the Hilton Hotel, Dragos.

I urge family members who are free on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon to walk up nearby Magazine Street into the Warehouse District to Julia Street, where you'll find the Green Market, an open-air venue featuring locally produced vegetables, flowers, spices, exotic orchids, and cooking lessons or music. This is a must for locals and visitors alike.

My wife, Janice, and I hope that you-all enjoy the Quarter and surroundings as much as we do every day. We are grateful to APA and each of you for coming to our city. Your visit here aids New Orleans in recovering its vitality and promotes the economy.