Gert Town - New Orleans, LA Area Guide

The area that contains Gert Town was slower to develop than the rest of New Orleans; this was once the back swamp, a largely uninhabitable area that was mostly ignored for much of the city's early years. In the early 1800s, Mademoiselle Jeanne de Macarty started a sugar plantation, and today's Gert Town was part of her land. Alleged serial killer Marie Delphine Lalaurie was a member of the Macarty family -- her father was Louis Barthelemy Macarty, and her cousin Augustin was mayor of New Orleans from 1815-1820. In the 1830s, the New Basin Canal was developed along the area where today's I-10 is located. This canal drained the land and allowed for development of a small community. In 1893, a man named Alfred Gehrke opened a general store in the area, and it quickly became the neighborhood hotspot. The small settlement became known as "Gehrke's Town" and eventually the name "Gherke" morphed into "Gert." Founded in 1915, Xavier University is the only historically black, Catholic university in America. The university started out as a small, liberal arts college founded by St. Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Saint Katharine Drexel, canonized by the Roman Catholic Church in 2000, is the only saint born in the United States. She died in 1955 at the age of 96. One of Gert Town's most famous residents was Chief Larry Bannock. Bannock died in 2014, but he was the outspoken, flamboyant leader of the Gold Star Hunters, a Mardi Gras Indian tribe. He served as the leader of this krewe for 30 years. As an expert at costumes and bead-making, Bannock's costumes were exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution and at the St. Louis Museum of Art. While lesser known than the traditional Mardi Gras krewes, the Mardi Gras Indians have held their own parades for well over a century.

While it may have been slow to develop, today's Gert Town is very different from the tiny community of its past. In addition to residential streets, you'll find a variety of businesses, stores, and restaurants. Gert Town offers a variety of terrific restaurants that hold their own against better-known New Orleans locations. Ye Olde College Inn is rumored to be a favorite of Drew Brees, the quarterback of the New Orleans Saints football team. Operating since 1933, this farm-to-table restaurant is serious about the "farm" part -- they have their own, located right next to the restaurant. The farm provides the ultimate in fresh ingredients, from fresh-picked fruits and veggies to a flock of free-range chickens providing eggs with bright orange yolks. Located near the university, Five Happiness provides a terrific menu of Chinese favorites like Sizzling Go-Ba, Hunan Deluxe, and Clay Pot of Subgum Bean Curds. Since this is New Orleans, they also feature an extensive seafood menu, with Sauteed Crawfish Tail, Kung Pao Shrimp, and Shrimp Curry. For amazing crawfish and a great selection of po-boys, head to C&A Seafood on Jefferson Davis Parkway. With the French Quarter just five miles away, endless evenings of fun are right around the corner. The party is known to spill into the streets from the nightclubs and jazz venues in the Quarter, and you'll be able to dance the night away. When you just want to have a drink and watch the game, Rendon Inn is located off Renton Street. Considered a "hidden gem," the menu is sure to please, as well -- it is known for its St. Chuck Duck and the Sweet Spot Burger.

Gert Town has a comprehensive transportation system with bus stops located throughout the neighborhood. I-10 extends along the eastern edge of the neighborhood, providing access to the rest of New Orleans for those who prefer to drive. With ample sidewalks and some bike lanes, the neighborhood is pedestrian and bicycle-friendly, as well.

While today's Lincoln Park contains baseball and soccer fields, it was once an amusement park featuring a skating rink and hot-air balloon rides. It was also the location of jazz concerts by noted musicians like Freddie Keppard and Buddy Bolden. The amusement park was in operation from 1902 until 1930. At the south end of the neighborhood, a linear green space contains the Jefferson Davis Trail, a paved walking and bicycling trail. For a traditional playground, a basketball court, and ballfields, head to Norwood Thompson Playground.

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Gert Town is roughly $720, which is a little less than the New Orleans average of $810. Major employers in Gert Town include Xavier University. The neighborhood includes several small businesses, including warehouses and shuttle services, as well as the WVUE-TV Fox 8 television station.

Gert Town is home to a few specialty stores and some corner markets. Some notable locations include the Hollygrove Market and Farm, a community-focused outdoor market featuring pre-ordered boxes of organically-grown produce. Another great food-related shopping destination, Restaurant Depot, caters to restaurants and bars. This members-only wholesale supplier offers food, beverages, equipment, and supplies. For wholesale seafood, head to the New Orleans Fish House. For more traditional shopping, head into the French Quarter, where you'll discover the French Market, the Outlet Collection at Riverwalk, and a variety of gift shops, boutiques, and art galleries.