The ATA Chronicle - March/April 2018 - 4

FROM THE PRESIDENT-ELECT
TED R. WOZNIAK
ted@tedwozniak.net

Outside the
French Quarter:
The "Other"
New Orleans
ATA's 59th Annual Conference is
set for October 24-27, 2018, in
New Orleans, Louisiana.

P

lanning for ATA59 is well
underway. Distinguished speakers
have been invited to submit
proposals, and session proposals for a
variety of languages and specializations
are coming in on pace with last year.
Speakers come from all over the world
to share their experience and expertise
with attendees. ATA59 is shaping up
to be another great conference for
professional translators and interpreters
who want to hone their professional
skills, stay abreast of changes in the
profession, reunite with cherished
colleagues and make new acquaintances,
and, of course, network with potential
clients. If you need some inspiration,
visit the ATA58 homepage (www.atanet.
org/conf/2017) to see videos and photos
from last year, watch a sample session
from the Virtual Conference, and much
more. I hope to see you in New Orleans
where we'll "let the good times roll!"
Speaking of New Orleans, when
most people hear the name, they
probably think of the French Quarter
and Bourbon Street. They envision
nightclubs, restaurants, and partying on
the street, but there's a lot more to New
4

The ATA Chronicle | March/April 2018

Orleans than just the French Quarter.
Here's some information about the
"Other" New Orleans to help you plan
your visit during ATA59. (See the box
on page 5 for links.)
First, 2018 marks New Orleans'
Tricentennial, so there will be
celebratory events throughout the year.
Several infrastructure projects have been
launched to make the city even more
inviting. A number of green spaces in
the city have been improved, a new
terminal is scheduled to open at the
Louis Armstrong Airport in February,
and work has begun on a $6 million
renovation of the French Quarter
surface and underground infrastructure,
including converting some sections to
pedestrian zones.
Before I can tell you what's outside
the French Quarter, you should know
where it is. "The Quarter" as locals call
it, comprises a roughly 14 x 6 block
area bordering the Mississippi River
that's the oldest section of New Orleans.
From the river on the south side, it
extends north to Rampart Street (Louis
Armstrong Park) and is bounded on the
east by Esplanade Avenue and on the
west by Canal Street. Our conference
hotel, the New Orleans Marriott, is
located at the western edge of the
French Quarter at 555 Canal Street.
Nearby points of interest include the
St. Louis Cemeteries and their aboveground vaults, of which Cemetery
No. 1 is the oldest and most famous. It's
located just north of the French Quarter
and is the resting place of Homer Plessy,
the French-speaking Creole plaintiff
in Plessy vs. Ferguson, a landmark
U.S. Supreme Court case challenging
segregation. You'll also find the grave

Here's some information about
the "Other" New Orleans to help
you plan your visit during ATA59.
of Marie Leveau, the renowned voodoo
priestess. You can only enter No. 1 with
a registered tour operator, but the other
cemeteries don't charge admission.
Cemetery No. 2, located three blocks
from Cemetery No. 1, was consecrated
in 1823 and is the resting place of
many early jazz musicians and notable
New Orleanians from the 19th century.
Cemetery No. 3 is located about two
miles from the French Quarter, and the
tombs there are generally more ornate
than in No. 1 or 2.
The Audubon Aquarium of the
Americas is located about five blocks
from the New Orleans Marriott on
the river. The 400,000-gallon Gulf
of Mexico exhibit is home to 15,000
aquatic animals, and you can also walk
through a 30-foot long Caribbean Reef
tunnel. Tickets are $29.95 plus tax.
Audubon Park, home to the Audubon
Zoo and Audubon Nature Institute,
is located in the Garden District. In
addition to the thousands of animals in
natural habitats, the park is a beautiful
green space with oak trees and lagoons.
New Orleans is home to more than 45
museums encompassing various aspects
of art, history, and culture. You may be
surprised to learn that TripAdvisor rates
the National World War II Museum
as the top tourist destination in New
Orleans and the #2 museum, not only
in the U.S. but the entire world. Its
immersive exhibits and multimedia
www.atanet.org
http://www.atanet.org/conf/2017 http://www.atanet.org/conf/2017 http://www.atanet.org
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