The people of Bayou St. John tell of merriment and traffic as the festival descends on their neighborhood.
Nina Feldman learns from residents and business owners in Bayou St. John how the Jazz Fest (and the traffic that comes with it) temporarily transforms their neighborhood.
In shady Bayou St. John, the neighbors really know each other. The same crew assembles each morning at the local coffee house to read the paper and debate its assertions; another crowd convenes at the various watering holes each evening.
“It’s one of the great things about this neighborhood,” says Fortin St. resident Jonas Bishop. “The fact that I know everyone on my block… It’s definitely a community-centric area that you don’t find a lot of places.”
Delanie Manuel, server at Liuzza’s by the Track and Jonas’ neighbor, agrees. “I thought I’d be a Quarter Rat forever,” she admits. “But no, I love it here.”
