In the face of poverty, injustice, and environmental catastrophes compounded by both, NoLa has created a culture of presence, music and festivals that may pale in size to others in the world, but never in their intensity. It’s why the city ranks #7 for Programming, our category spanning shopping, food scene, nightlife and cultural attractions. Given the need to celebrate, to seize the day, to revel in all that fusion of humanity and culture and sweaty new people and ideas, the city ranks #6 in our Nightlife category. After all, the party only starts in the French Quarter. It grows more refined and local as it weaves into Marigny, Bywater or the timeless jazz seduction of Frenchmen Street. NoLa also rules our Shopping category, scoring a #2 ranking, helped by the intoxicating treasures of Magazine Street convincing visitors that their finds are only available here and now. And they often are. In the last few years, the city has been renovating and expediting projects languishing since the Hurricane Katrina rebuild.