Lower Garden District - New Orleans, LA

Once plantation land, the Lower Garden District became a thriving neighborhood in the early 19th century when Barthelemy Lafon was contracted by two plantation owners to draw up plans to subdivide their land. The plans, which crossed barriers of five plantations, later became the Lower Garden District neighborhood. During the Civil War, Union soldiers confiscated several homes in the area, and during the early 20th century area development displaced many of the district’s residents. The neighborhood continued to decline until the early 1970s, when the community began to focus on revitalizing the area, saving historic buildings and turning it into a thriving community.

Several art galleries line Magazine Street, including Soren Christensen LLC, Thomas Mann Gallery and Arthur Roger Gallery, but the only area museum is the Louisiana Children’s Museum. Each year the district plays host to the Scandinavian Festival and the Whitney White Linen Night, an open art event.

Residents in the Lower Garden District have an abundance of restaurant options, as Cajun, Cuban, Southern and French restaurants dot the district's streets. Corporation Bar & Grill doesn't look like much from the outside, but the small, hole-in-the-wall restaurant serves a gator po'boy that the locals describe as the best dish in town. The menu consists completely of homemade, authentic New Orleans dishes such as gumbo, jambalaya, and red beans and rice at a great price. T & T Seafood on Jackson Ave also serves authentic Cajun food, but the crawfish in particular keeps diners coming back for more.

Surrey's Cafe and Juice Bar, located on Magazine Street, serves some of the best Southern breakfast food in the area. Locals rave about the restaurant's flavorful shrimp and grits, some saying that they practically licked the bowl clean, and the bananas foster French toast. Just make sure you have cash on hand when you eat here — the establishment doesn't accept credit cards.

To grab a quick sandwich or bagel, visit Stein's Market & Deli. The Fernando comes topped with prosciutto that melts in your mouth, and The Rachel features hot pastrami, Swiss cheese and sauerkraut. Locals compare the bagels to fresh New York City bagels, and the fact is, they are probably pretty close, because the deli has them shipped in directly from New York City.

A broad mix of neighborhood bars, music venues and dance clubs makes up the nightlife in the Lower Garden District. The Rusty Nail provides patrons with the best of both worlds, an array of entertainment and a neighborhood-bar feel. A favorite among locals, the bar features live music, an outdoor patio and signature drinks such as Disco Lemonade, a frozen mix of sake and vodka. To dance the night away, head to Republic of New Orleans, which features plenty of dance space, a solid bar selection and live music.

Most Lower Garden District residents drive to their destinations, although the main strip of the district, which runs along Magazine Street, proves walkable. Several public parking spaces sit close to the Pontchartrain Expressway, which runs through the northern portion of the district, and on average, parking costs between $12 and $13 per day.

You won’t be able to hail a cab in the Lower Garden District. Instead, you’ll need to call a cab company or use your Uber app to schedule a ride. Streetcars don’t run through the district, but buses do, and all come equipped with bike racks, making it easy for cyclists to switch between riding and biking. There aren’t designated bike lanes in the area, but as long as you pay attention to the traffic it’s safe to ride a bike to your destination.

The Lower Garden District houses several free-to-the-public parks, but none of them have a full playground and none host annual events or festivals. Soraparu Park, the only park in the area with equipment for kids, features some climbing equipment, monkey bars and a basketball court. There isn’t a dedicated dog park or dog run in the area, but most residents take their dogs to Coliseum Square. The park features a central fountain, benches and a water fountain complete with a snout-level drink station. It also has a green area that’s perfect for playing Frisbee. However, a lot of dog owners have their dogs off leash while in the park so avoid taking your dog to this park if he isn’t socialized. Mary Wright Square, located on Sophie Wright Place, also has a large green area and sidewalks perfect for an evening stroll, but for more extensive exercise you need to head to the gym.

The cost of living in the Lower Garden District averages approximately 15 percent higher than the rest of New Orleans. Expect to pay around $1,000 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, $1.25 to ride the bus and between $3 and $5 for a beer. On average, gas prices sit around 11 percent higher than the national average.

Magazine Street serves as the Lower Garden District’s main shopping area, and everything from clothing stores to arts and crafts stores line the street. Up/Unique Products sells environmentally friendly home décor, accessories and lighting. Every item in the shop is handmade and signed by the artist, making it a great place to find one-of-a-kind items.

Zukababy, a natural parenting boutique, carries an array of baby products from natural toys and clothes to furniture and essentials. The store prides itself for carrying baby items that you won’t find anywhere else, including baby books with categories specific to New Orleans, such as “Baby’s First Mardi Gras” or “My First Trip to the Audubon Zoo.”

For interesting art pieces and home décor items, visit Simon of New Orleans. Simon Hardeveld, a popular New Orleans artist, owns the studio, which sells artwork and signs with colorful sayings on them, as well as antiques.