Location

The Research Faculty of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology are physically located in three buildings on the LSUHSC campus. The Departmental administration is housed in the Medical Education Building [map], with satellite offices in the Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center in the Clinical Sciences Research Building [map], and at the Dental School [map].

The Health Sciences Center maintains a Residence Hall for students that adjoins the Medical Education Building. Off-campus housing is easily obtained, and many students choose to live in the historic Uptown area. The cost-of-living in New Orleans is below the national average.

New Orleans is renowned for its unique atmosphere and hospitality. The French Quarter, probably the most famous New Orleans attraction, is within walking distance of the Medical Education Building. The Quarter abounds with shops and restaurants suitable to any taste. Also nearby are the Louisiana Superdome, the Canal Street shopping area, the Riverwalk and Jax Brewery shopping complexes and the Aquarium of the Americas. Several famous plantation homes of the Old South are within a short drive of New Orleans.

The climate in New Orleans is semi-tropical. The long summers and mild winters are an asset in a city with abundant outdoor revelry. Festivals include the Jazz and Heritage Festival, the French Quarter Festival, Mandeville Seafood Festival, the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival, and many others. All of these are within a one-hour drive from the Health Sciences Center.

New Orleans is well known for its rich musical heritage. A listing of clubs and music can be found via Offbeat magazine and radio station WWOZ. In addition to the Jazz and Heritage Festival, other major music festivals are within a 2 hour drive of New Orleans: Festivals Acadiens - the premier Cajun music festival - is in Lafayette and the Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival - the premier zydeco music festival - is in Opelousas. Lafayette is also host to the Festival International de Louisiane - music of French derivation from all parts of the world.

While these celebrations are exciting, they are surpassed by the world-famous Carnival. The carnival season, which precedes Mardi Gras, usually begins in earnest in early February and continues through Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday (the beginning of Lent). The Mardi Gras season is filled with parades, parties, and formal balls.

The local newspaper, The Times-Picayune, has a good list of local festivals, Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest schedules and a rating of local restaurants. A five-day weather forecast is also available.

The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera, and Art Museum are available. The Art Museum is within walking distance of the Dental School Campus, as are City Park and four public golf courses.

The LSU Tigers play their home games in Baton Rouge, just 80 miles from the Health Sciences Center. The New Orleans Saints football team holds their home games in New Orleans at the Superdome - about 3 blocks from the Health Sciences Center.

Other attractions include the renowned Audubon Zoological Gardens with its beautifully landscaped gardens and habitats, Jean Lafitte National Park, and the City Park, which is the fifth largest urban park in the nation. The historic St. Charles Avenue streetcar line (the oldest continuously operating street railway system in the US) still provides regular daily service to the Garden District, where grand old mansions front the street and provide a glimpse of a past era and the rich history of New Orleans. These streetcars provide a six-mile ride from the bustle of the Central Business District to the serenity of the Garden District.

New Orleanians appreciate fine cuisine with an emphasis on seafood and Cajun dishes, and the many fine restaurants in the city offer a variety of dishes on their menus.

A variety of tours visit plantation homes (p1, p2, p3, p4), haunted houses (h1, h2, h3, h4), and the bald cypress-tupelo gum swamps (s1, s2, s3, s4) common to the area. Walking tours are available for the French Quarter (f1, f2, f3) and the Garden District (g1, g2, g3). Riverboat (r1) and airboat tours are also available.

You can observe a lot just by watching.
Yogi Berra

I was always a good observer.
Louis Armstrong