Treme Bicentennial

The corner of Gov. Nicholls and Henriette de Lille Streets

The Treme neighborhood is celebrating its 200th year in October.  Check out the official website for events running from October 16 to October 21, 2012.  

La Belle Esplanade bed and breakfast is located within the Greater Treme neighborhood.  Since I wanted to write about historic Treme today, I took a stroll down Bayou Road, the oldest street in New Orleans that runs directly in front of the inn.  Yes, our address is 2216 Esplanade Avenue, but the addresses opposite us are on Bayou Road.  It is complicated, like many things here are at first introduction.

Looking back at where Barracks Street splits from Bayou Road; those are banana trees

A house in the Barracks Street Square

After Bayou Road crosses N. Claiborne Avenue it becomes Governor Nicholls Street.  Though they run parallel to Esplanade Avenue, few visitors travel these parts.  As a very old part of the city, this route is thick with historic details.  As I was taking these pictures, I was trailing a group on a bicycle tour.

My favorite house on Bayou Road

My favorite house on Gov. Nicholls Street; look at that lean

This neighborhood is not gentrified.  It is inhabited by people whose families have lived here for generations.  Treme has its own culture.

New Orleans African-American Museum in Treme

The African-American Museum building and grounds

Esplanade Avenue is one of the most picturesque streets in New Orleans, but Governor Nicholls Street and Bayou Road have their own charms.  Treme is one of the things that make New Orleans a magical place, not only for tourists but for the people who live here.  Treme doesn't exist to attract tourism dollars.  It thrives because home is where the heart is.

Front door inspired by the New Orleans Water Meter cover

Tomb of the Unknown Slave on the side of St. Augustine Church

If you will be staying in the area on October 21, you'll be able to witness an event that will be the first of its kind: The United Second Line.  I count 13 Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs marching. It starts at 11:00 AM at 1210 Gov. Nicholls Street.  Scroll to the bottom of this link to count for yourself.  I don't know for sure, but I believe that is the address pictured in the first photo which is the location of St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church, the oldest African-American Catholic congregation.

If you don't know what a second line is, you may want to stop by the Backstreet Cultural Museum located across the street from St. Augustine.  When we came to New Orleans our first time, we spent two hours here learning about something we had no idea existed.  

Nowadays, we join every second line we come across in our travels around town.  No matter what we are doing when we are at home, as soon as we hear a brass band in the neighborhood, we are out the front door to march and dance in the street.  Nowadays, we are the proud custodians of a Mardi Gras Indian suit, something that gives us daily pleasure. 

The opposite corner of Henriette de Lille Street

No matter when you visit New Orleans, you will encounter a surprising adventure.  Maybe, like us, you will move here in order to have adventures every day.  By the way, my stroll to take these pictures was a little over a quarter mile.  If I had continued another block, I would have been at the edge of the French Quarter.  I had business in Faubourg Marigny, a different kind of neighborhood altogether, instead.

If you are going to be in New Orleans during the celebration of Treme's bicentennial, you know where you can stay.  It's the most colorful house on Esplanade Avenue.

A votre sante.