Memphis VS New Orleans (compared, place, people, quality)

[hdwell]

both cities have funky music and food goin' on. NO is truly unique and Memphis doesn't get enough credit for uniqueness. But in my book, they both are

[dalorax]

weisenheist, you maybe the only one that has commented that might actually have a knowledge based opinion. Too bad the opinions are seemingly negative. I would live in either city and have. The job potential really determines that for me and is about the same depending on what industry you're. I hear the Hazmat certified folks are in high demand down that way (so sad). I'm not sure about rearing children in NOLA. Orleans parish schools have always been questionable. I went to Jefferson Parish schools. I suppose that is something like comparing the City schools to the county schools here. But hold on to your panties folks, I have kids in the MCS system and the SCS system and there seems to be more opportunities in the city. My daughter will be attending attending Carnegie Mellon this summer through Memphis Prep.
I don't understand the Black/White issue here. Very strange. I'm sure we all have our prejudices but this is the Twilight Zone.
Memphis definitely has the weather thing hands down and I would consider it a game changer. NOLA has a heat and humidity out of this world as it seems most of the gulf coastal states do.
Cuisine is not a wash. While cities like Chicago and New York have a wide array of ethnic foods and flavors, NOLA has a unique style and flavor all it's own. This is the soul food. I challenge you: where else will you find this? If you do it will be tagged New Orleans style...
I can't go to Snug Harbor and see Ellis Marsalis play around these parts (you know, Wynton Marsalis father). He used to teach at UNO.
The NOLA aquarium is better than Atlanta's IMO (does Memphis have one?)
NOLA is my favorite, but I have made my choice. This is where I pay my bills. I like Memphis because of the potential. That progression will depend upon the number of transplants. When I first moved here I was told that "...these people are from Memphis and don't know it." That was from a transplant from MS. I think I'm beginning to understand.
But I'm only a train ride away from the best food in the country!

[wilco27]

Originally Posted by weisenheist

thinking back, both cities are sort of yucky, in a yucky kind of way !!!

neither made Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazins's 2010 "10 Best Cities for the Next Decade" !

but for some reason, I think Memphis might be still behind NOLA, if the list were expanded...having

LIVED in both places ! VISITING doesn't really COUNT ! how about more opinions from people who

actually LIVED IN BOTH PLACES ???

Any resident of NOLA would be biased perhaps, and most longtime residents/natives of MEMPHIS

seem to think the place is without equal..LOL

I'm glad I know better LOL.....really, in objective terms, or based on certain criteria such as Kiplinger used, hell.......there are FAR better places....PERIOD, whether NOLA or Memphis for godssake.

The Kiplinger survey piece is quite interesting

MOST people, who transfer to Memphis (only) when given a real choice, would not deliberately CHOOSE to spend their lives or childrens' lives in Memphis, TN (or nola)..why would you ? lol

Alrighty. I've been to NOLA several times each year for the past years with natives every time so I'm pretty solid in my opinion of the city.

There are "better" places than Memphis or NOLA but that wasn't the question. And for your assertion that "most people" wouldn't choose to spend their lives in Memphis or NOLA, I disagree. The cities aren't for everyone (you) but clearly plenty of people CHOOSE to stay in each city and don't mind it.

[rockadoodle]

I haven't visited NOLA since before Katrina, but I loved to visit there for the shopping, the food, the...everything. "Visit" being the key word there. Loved to visit but never wanted to live there.

Memphis ain't the greatest locale on the planet, but it's home.

[moonshield324]

As far as live music goes, NO has Memphis beat hands down. 2 MAJOR festivals every year (Jazzfest and Voodoo Fest) with vastly superior lineups (especially Voodoo Fest) and many more music venues - including a House of Blues.

I heard a story that the owner of the HOB franchise vowed never to have one built in Memphis. Is this true? Wouldn't surprise me.

[Kabluey]

You must be talking about the founder, not the owner, of the HOB -- Isaac Tigrett. He's also the co-founder of the Hard Rock Cafes. He did once said that he did not feel that Memphis appreciated its musical heritage enough, and b/c of that, doubted that he would ever locate a HOB there.

This was before the Stax Museum, the Rock and Soul Museum, Gibson Factory were built, before other efforts were implemented or sometimes attempted in vain to honor that heritage both big and small. Before the city tried to attract the Grammys. Before Memphis music and tourism officials were omnipresent at SXSW. Before Craig Brewer started a relationship with MTV. Before sites like livefrommemphis were launched and Gonerfest started its cult following. We're still not where we were in the 50s and 60s in terms of music presence on the world stage, but we've started to recognize and appreciate it (although much can still be done on that front, especially to support local musicians)

This was before he sold the HOB as well. Around the time Peabody Place was being built, he was interviewed again and appeared more open to it. A HOB recording studio has been located in Memphis for I'd say at least a decade.

Now, he is not the decisionmaker on it, hasn't been since 1998. If he wanted it to happen, he can't make it happen. If he wanted to prevent it from happening, he can't do anything about it. A lot has changed since then in Memphis and around the world. Memphis has done much to honor its musical past and stake a claim on its future. Incidentally, he's the son of the late John Tigrett (helped build the Pyramid and instrumental in many downtown developments).

[hdwell]

^Kabluey, theworld loves the rich musical heritage of Memphis-I know I do! I'm pulling for Memphis and NO alike. The music world should be able to take note about what's happening in Memphis as what's going to be big next. Like didn't it start about oh, 56 years ago with a tall skinny good looking dark haired young man named Elvis?

[bluff2085]

If there is any city that comes close to the feel of New Orleans in the South, it's Memphis--the river, the music, the drinking, the hoods, downtown, midtown, etc. But that's just on the surface. When you spend time in New Orleans, you would find it's more like Pittsburgh or Cleveland than your typical Southern city. That's because of the old school building density and the corner bars, walk-up buildings, etc.

I think a transplant from NOLA to Memphis would find the move a fairly easy transition and vice versa. But there really is no comparing the culture of New Orleans to any other city.

[Ginsaw]

On trips to NOLA in the past when I got toward the end of the causeway I used to tune the car radio to a certain local AM station that specialized in New Orleans R&B, Jazz and old R&R that had a Southern or Louisiana flavor. It felt almost like an official welcome to the city. I wish I could remember that station's name. But as all things do, it eventually disappeared and could no longer be found on the radio dial.

I can still get that today however and right here in Memphis with "New Orleans Big Beat" - WEVL 89.9 FM - Volunteer Radio

As New Orleans cuisine goes, with Owens-Brennans restaurant we have a grand example of the creole high cuisine and the identical if not better ambiance found in the best French Quarter restaurants. And without the expense of an 800 mile round trip, security concerns, general cleanliness concerns, add-on tourist taxes they charge for the French Quarter and real pricey hotel rates.

I've had dishes like eggs hussarde and bananas foster in both OB here and in the FQ Brennans. Both excellent and no real difference. You're really better off staying here if that style cuisine does it for you.

NOLA just has more of it, and lots more crowds, shops concentrated in one area and lots more walking to do. And the buildings are older. Memphis had early in its history lots of that too. Memphis went back to 1800 roughly. NOLA another 100 years or so before that. And Memphis had its Continental European contingencies also, only ours were more Italian and German. NOLA was French and Spanish. We tore down our oldest buildings. They didn't. We turned our Main Street into something other than a street. They kept their historic streets intact. We did away with our trolleys, then tried to re-introduce them. They kept theirs. We had old Europe culture and quaintness and lots of mom and pop shops here too at one time. They kept a lot of that, until I think recently. We even had Mardi Gras here. They kept that too, although they ran parts of it off in recent times (that's a long story).

Anyway, since we have so many fans of NOLA present, here're a few little tastes of the New Orleans culture we've been talking about -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nCJIlOOg9Y There is not a happier tune than that one. Also,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KbbdEpMW-E

This one's for lagniappe - everyone enjoy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...eVh4&feature=related

[kingchef]

most of us, if the truth is told, would go to hell to work if the pay and benefits were what you wanted or needed. that criteria is the number 1 reason people transfer to a city. quality of life, education for primary and secondary grades, and family ties are the others.

i have lived many places and known many people in many professions, and most of them always give the number one answer for moving to a city, area, or region: the offer was just too good to turn down! those that ***** about memphis not being a city of choice, give up those jobs and move or retire to middle and east tn, or go to michigan, califormia, ohio, and several other states. see how that works out for you.