'''Lakeview''' and '''Lakefront''' are sections of New Orleans near and along Lake Pontchartrain.
Post-Katrina Update
This area was hit hard by the flooding from levee failures during Hurricane Katrina in 2005-- some parts were under more than 10 feet of standing water for weeks. As of the late of 2008, a good number of businesses and attractions are back, but the recovery has been gradual and partial. The park along Lake Pontchartrain again offers pleasant views, and a number of restaurants and shops are again open along Harrison Avenue. While signs of the pleasant prosperous part of town this was before Katrina are starting to reappear, at present the area is perhaps of as much interest to those wishing to see the scope of the destruction. For long stretches of block after block, there is a mix with buildings repaired and reoccupied, buildings with reconstruction work ongoing, buildings gutted and vacant, damaged buildings still sitting in limbo while owners try to get long ago promised insurance or "Road Home" money, and vacant lots where unsalvageable buildings were demolished. Streets warped and buckled under the weight of the flood water; most side streets are still in need of repair so drive cautiously. This section of the city is not generally subject to the high-crime rate found in many other areas, though one must still be cautious, as with any unfamiliar area.
Understand
The old neighborhoods along the riverfront, like the French Quarter and Uptown are most popular with visitors. The Lakeview and Lakefront area are comparatively little visited by out of towners. It is known by locals for the parks along the lakeshore and for the seafood restaurants, especially those at and around West End Park.
Public transit is poor in this part of town; unlike the French Quarter, this is a part of New Orleans best visited by car. It is a short drive from Mid-City.
Background
The Mississippi River was one reason why New Orleans was built where it was; Lake Pontchartrain was the other. For much of the city's history this part of town was best known for fishing camps and music halls built up on wooden piers in the mud-flats and shallow waters around the ever shifting edge of the lake. In the 1930s a dredging project filled in and extended the land on the shore, ending with a sea-wall, giving the lake and land a firm boundary for the first time.
For this reason, most of this part of town was built after World War II, making it one of the newer neighborhoods of New Orleans.
Lakeview
Note that despite the potentially misleading name, '''you can't view the lake in Lakeview'''. The "Lakeview" area is a bit inland, on the other end of City Park from Mid-City. View the lake from West End or the Lakeshore Park.
Lakeview is mostly residential, but has a strip of businesses along Harrison Avenue with a number of notable restaurants. The largest concentration of open businesses is on the stretch of Harrison from City Park to Canal Boulevard.
To see
'''Lake Pontchartrain''' is a wide rather shallow brackish water lake. Lake Pontchartrain is roughly oval in shape, about 40 miles wide from east to west, and measures about 25 miles from north to south. The far shore is beyond the horizon, giving it the appearance of an inland sea.
: The Lake was long a favorite recreation area for New Orleanians. In the 1960s problems with pollution closed the New Orleans shore to swimming. A popular and successful "Save Our Lake" campaign began in the 1980s to eliminate pollution sources running into the lake. By 2000 water quality far surpassed that needed for safe swimming. After the setback of Katrina in things are improving again.
: Much of the shore is a series of parks, known collectively as Lakeshore Park. The Lakeshore Park is a pleasant place to pic-nic during good weather.
'''Helenic Cultural Center''', Robert E. Lee at St. Bernard, by Bayou St. John. Large Greek Orthodox Church and a building complex, puts on the popular Greek Festival each summer. The return of the "Greek Fest" for the last weekend of May 2006 was locally hailed as one of the first big successes in the revival of the Lakeview/Lakefront area.
'''Old Spanish Fort''' the remains of this colonial era fortification are just across the Bayou and Robert E. Lee Blvd. from the Helenic Cultural Center. Not much to see; little remains other than a few walls and ruined piles of brick foundations. May not be worth a special trip unless you're a serious fortification buff, but if you're nearby anyway, worth a quick look.
'''Lakefront Airport''': 6001 Stars and Stripes Blvd, on the lake shore just east of the Industrial Canal, [http://www.lakefrontairport.com/]. This was the city's airport back before the arrival of the big jets and the new New Orleans International airport was built out in Kenner. Lakefront Airport still keeps busy with private and company planes. The 1930s vintage main terminal building and the nearby sculpture fountain by Enrique Alfarez are treats for lovers of Art Decco.
'''University of New Orleans''', [http://www.uno.edu/] Main campus is near the lake end of Elysian Fields Avenue. The '''UNO Arena''' ( [http://arena.uno.edu/] ) is at a separate location at the lake end of Franklin Avenue. The modern campus has little to see and there is little reason for the visitor to come to the campus except for when special events, exhibitions, or concerts are held here.
'''West End''' is a park at the end of West End Boulevard (formerly surrounded by famous seafood restaurants and bars which were destroyed by Katrina). Getting there is a slight trick if you aren't familiar with it. Take West End Boulevard ''almost'' to the end: when you see the sea-wall with "WEST END" in big letters on it, don't go straight, instead turn left. After the road parallels the seawall for a while it will bend right and you'll find yourself at West End. If you accidentally go straight, you wind up driving along Lakefront Park, which also has a nice view of the lake. The park and marina are still there after Katrina but not the restaurants and bars.
Eat
This part of the city was long noted for good restaurants. Several have reopened since Katrina, more are rebuilding and plan to come back in near future. Those open as of August 2008 include:
'''Chateau Coffee Cafe''', 139 Robert E. Lee, Lakeview, 286-1777. Salads, sandwiches, and wraps.
'''Cafe Touche'''', 515 Harrison. Lunch. This was the first place to reopen in the neighborhood; good po-boy sandwiches.
'''Chicken Sue's''' 203 W. Harrison. Lunch, including freshly fried chicken, Cuban sandwiches. There are tables for eating in, though much of the business is "to go". For those who remember Lakeview pre-Katrina, owner "Chicken Sue" and some of the staff and menu were formerly at the now defunct Meme's Market Deli. Tel. 371-5546
'''Dixie Chicken & Ribs''', Aragonne Boulevard just off Harrison Avenue. In addition to their popular chicken and ribs, po-boys and local style specials. Dine in or pick up. Tel. 488-1377.
'''Lakeview Deli''', 827 Harrison. Tel. 304-8501
'''Lakeview Harbor''', 911 Harrison. Casual lunch & dinner.
'''Lakeview Brew Coffee Cafe''', 5606 Canal Boulevard (at Homedale Street). Coffee shop with sandwiches, salads, and soups and a variety of fresh baked snacks. M-Sat 6:30am-9pm. Tel 483-7001. Wi-Fi.
'''Lake Marina Market''' 124 Lake Marina Drive (''the road to West End Park''). Combination deli, bar, and small grocery store, with burritos and gyros in addition to sandwiches. 7a-10pm Mon-Sat; 7a-8p Sun. Wi-Fi.
'''Landry's''' 8000 Lakeshore Drive. Seafood with a view of Lake Pontchartrain. Dinner only.
'''Nola Beans''' 762 Harrison Avenue [http://www.nolabeans.com/]. Coffee, breakfasts, and lunches (including such local favorites as red beans & rice). Wi-Fi.
'''Reginelli's''' 874 Harrison. Pizza and Italian. tel. 488-0133
Drink
'''Dream Lounge''', 870 Harrison.
Music
'''The Sandbar''', in the University Center of the University of New Orleans, off Elysian Fields near Lake Pontchartrain. Sometimes hosts good modern jazz.