GOOD NEWS FROM NEW ORLEANS:

If you drive into New Orleans from the airport the back way, down Jefferson Highway to St. Charles Avenue, everything on the river side is as gorgeous and decadent as ever. Some live oaks have toppled, and many magnolias have died, but all the way to the French Quarter, the shops and restaurants are open, and people have come home.

It’s not that good everywhere, though.

UPDATE: Several readers say that this paints an overly rosy picture of New Orleans’ recovery, even along this route. Not having been there, I can’t say, but certainly the overall picture isn’t as rosy as this bit, as noted. Here’s an extensive blog report, with some photos, from earlier this month.