Metairie, LA

Located along the south bank of Lake Pontchartrain, Metairie sits on the site of the Colapissa Indian village. French and Spanish settlers, armed with land grants from their respective governments, first came to Metairie in the 1720s looking for a place to call home. Due to the European influence of these immigrants, the areas around New Orleans were divided up into parishes rather than counties. In its early years, the primary industry of the area was farming. In fact, the French name Metairie translates to “small, leased farm holdings.”

Established in 1825, Jefferson Parish was named for President Thomas Jefferson to commemorate his role in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The largest community in Jefferson Parish, Metairie’s population exploded during the 1940s. If it were to incorporate, the Jefferson Parish area would be the fourth largest city in the state. Before 1958, the only way residents could travel to New Orleans was to take a ferry boat, but in 1958, the first span of the Crescent City Connection provided a way to cross the Mississippi River by car.

Metairie was spared from the worst of Hurricane Katrina In 2005. In the aftermath, a wave of former residents of Orleans Parish moved to Metairie to start over. The result has been diversification, bringing additional culture and flavor to an already historically rich location.

Family Gras takes place in Metairioe each February and boasts a more family-friendly atmosphere than Mardi Gras. Live music takes place on the festival plaza main stage, featuring both nationally known and local artists. Visitors can watch a Mardi Gras parade and taste Cajun-style food from hundreds of vendors, while children enjoy activities geared just for them.

Since 1978, the Jefferson Performing Arts Society has brought quality theatre to Metairie. In addition to a full season of diverse events, this non-profit group also provides arts education, training and their popular Summer Theatre Kids program.

Notable people who hail from Metairie include comedian and long-time talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon, NBA all-star Danny Granger and founder of Popeye's Chicken restaurants Al Copeland.

The majority of eating establishments are located on Veterans Boulevard - or just a couple of blocks off of this main strip. A traditional stop for both visitors and residents, Café du Monde in Metairie offers the same delectable beignets and chicory coffee served at its French Quarter location. The Acadians introduced this doughnut-like confection to the area, and you really haven’t tasted New Orleans cuisine until you order these.

With so many great Cajun restaurants in the area, picking a favorite is no easy task, but locals and tourists alike rave about Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop. Don’t let the modest exterior of the building fool you, because once you step inside, you’ll know you have come to a place that knows how to cook Cajun style. Start off with the boudin balls, a mixture of ground pork, rice and spices that are deep fried and served with a spicy mayonnaise dipping sauce. Diners can, of course, get an excellent poor boy sandwich, but the real star of the restaurant, hands down, is the yumbo mumbo gumbo. This gumbo starts out as a basic chicken and sausage gumbo with crabmeat, crawfish, tomato and okra, and then the chef adds golden-fried shrimp on top. With seafood in every bite, this gumbo is sure to please even the pickiest palette.

When you want a change of pace from all of the delicious seafood of Metairie's many restaurants along the Mississippi River in the southeast part of town, head over to That’s Amore Pizzeria. Renowned in the area for its terrific pizza, diners can choose between deep-dish, Chicago-style pizza and a thin-crust, New York-style pizza. While you're waiting for your fresh-baked pizza to cook, order the chicken wings and fried ravioli appetizers, both highly recommended by the locals, to tide you over.

If you like big band and swing music, then The Max serves up the atmosphere you’ll love. This bar is open 24 hours a day, and the small cover charge includes a drink ticket, making it an affordable option. Sunday nights feature live music, and the Yat Pack plays tunes from the Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin era. Even when there is no live music, the jukebox at The Max has a great selection, and you can brush up on your throwing skills with a fun game of darts.

For cheap beer and a game of pool, stop by Colby’s Cocktails on Wabash Street. If you’re serious about darts, the bar not only has several dart boards, but also sells quality dart feathers and hosts a dart league for hard-core players. You won’t find food service here, but Colby’s provides menus to several different area eateries and allows you to bring in your favorite local dish.

Automobiles are the most common mode of transportation in the Metairie. Interstate 10 runs through Metairie east to New Orleans or west to Baton Rouge. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway provides a direct northbound route across the lake. Parking spots are generally easy to find and free across most of the area.

Although not particularly conducive to walking, Jefferson Parish has a number of great biking options, notably the shared-use levee trails that line both Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River. Most of the streets of Metairie have low traffic and slow speed limits, providing inviting biking conditions for most riders. The Jefferson Parish Bicycle Master Plan program, overseen by the Regional Planning Committee, outlines a wide range of improvements that continue to make cycling conditions in the area better every day.

Service Cab operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week with affordable and reliable taxi service to the airport or New Orleans from anywhere in the Jefferson Parish area. Relatively new to the New Orleans area, Uber does service several areas in and around New Orleans, including Orleans Parish and at the Louis Armstrong International Airport.

Located just west of Metairie in Kenner, the E3 route of the Jefferson Transit system takes riders from to Carrollton and Claiborne Avenues in New Orleans. From there, riders can take RTA routes into downtown New Orleans. The E4 route runs along Metairie Road to Canal Street and City Park Avenue where riders can board the RTA into New Orleans. Jefferson Transit does not operate on Sundays, holidays or late at night during the week.

With a man-made pond and a bird sanctuary located in the middle, residents can bring the whole family, including the dog, to Lafreniere Park and enjoy a day by the water. While your four-legged companion is running in the dog park, children can experience the fantastic carousel. Visitors can bike and hike on the several trails, feed the ducks and enjoy a picnic outing in one of the many shelters.

Bonnabel Boat Launch offers a convenient way to get out on the water with your boat or Jet Ski. In case you have dogs, it also has a fenced-in area where pets can run leash-free. A walking/jogging path right next to the water provides a perfect location for your exercise routine.

The cost-of-living index for Metairie comes in close to the national average at 98.7 percent. Monthly rent runs approximately $820. Utilities and necessities such as insurance, electricity and phone services all cost less than the national averages.

For over 77 years, the Old Town Praline and Gift Shop on Veterans Memorial Boulevard has been serving up tasty, authentic tasty New Orleans treats. Every day freshly made candies and pralines line the shop shelves, and the kitchen welcomes visitors to see how the staff creates them.

The Lakeside Shopping Center houses one of the largest malls in the area. Shoppers can find national retailers here, such as Macy’s and William-Sonoma, but also local shops such as Mignon Faget, Adler's and Jeantherapy. A local New Orleans artist, Mignon Faget designs gorgeous jewelry and stylish household accessories. At Adler’s, shoppers can find the perfect wedding or shower present as well as corporate gifts and jewelry. Jeantherapy specializes in stylish jeans, shorts and custom t-shirts.

Fleurty Girl, a fun gift shop on Severn Avenue, carries custom t-shirts and tons of NOLA-themed items, making it the perfect spot for visiting shoppers who want something to remind them of New Orleans.

Renaissance Antiques, a consignment shop located on Edenborn Avenue, features antique furniture and vintage household items in its 18,000-square-foot showroom. If you love to hunt for a good bargain, this shop will have you smiling from ear to ear.

Although there are no farmer's markets in Metairie, that doesn't mean you won't find great local produce and gourmet options at grocer's such as Dorignac's Food Center, which boasts fresh baked bakery goods and one of the area's finest delis. If you prefer a small, friendly environment, try Zuppardo's Family Supermarket.

Rouses has a wide variety of fine cheeses, and its seafood selection is top notch. They also stock hard-to-find Gulf Coast beers and affordable wines. The International Market has everything a worldly chef would want. If you love Indian food, this market all the spices you need. They have an isle dedicated for British foods and delicacies as well as Mediterranean, Chinese and South American ingredients.