Post-Katrina New Orleans is grateful to have tourists and visitors and locals are generally very excited that you (and your money) are in town. This is a fantastic town for people of all ages, backgrounds, and tastes. The following common sense considerations are just to make sure you know what the locals know about getting around town safely. Additionally, we have provided some insight on the unique customs of the South. (Many thanks to Mike Smith, Deputy Director of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Law Library for providing some additional safety tips. Customs tips provided by Amy Hale-Janeke, a native Texan who recently moved to the Big Easy and had to learn some lessons the hard way.)

• Safety

• Customs & Other Things You Need to Know

• It is generally unwise, and downright tacky in some circles, to wear your convention badge around the French Quarter (FQ) or the Central Business District (CBD).

• The sidewalks in the French Quarter and elsewhere are usually cracked and uneven. They are particularly treacherous if you have on high heeled shoes and/or have had a few drinks. Sensible shoes are the way to go when trekking around the French Quarter.

• Don't be "lured" by the Vegas-style lights of Armstrong Park on Rampart Street. It isn't what Louie had in mind for you.

• NEVER go into a cemetery by yourself or in small groups. Always go with a large tour group. There are many tour companies who provide guided tours to the cemeteries. The cemeteries and tombs provide perfect cover for robbing unwary tourists.

• Do not succumb to panhandlers. Never pull out your wallet or get into your purse for a stranger. Carry wallets in your front pocket. At the very least keep your ID and at least one credit card in a separate pocket in case your wallet wanders off.

• If you are walking around at night, stay with the crowds of revelers. If you wander off alone, stay in well-lighted areas where other people are walking.

• As a general rule, stay where the action is: The French Quarter, the Riverwalk area, the Warehouse District and the Central Business District (CBD).

• The best of the French Quarter can be experienced in the blocks between the river and Bourbon Street. Past that the neighborhoods are more residential and not well-lit.

• Taxis are relatively cheap in New Orleans. Use them if you have doubts about where you are going or if it is late at night.

• Do not wear Mardi Gras beads in public. Only tourists wear beads when there isn't a parade going by.

• Hours of operations for bars are usually not available because they never close. Most New Orleans bars are open (and serve alcohol) 24 hours/day.

• Open containers and drinking on the street are both perfectly legal in New Orleans. One caveat: glass containers are not allowed on the sidewalks. Most bars use plastic, but, should you find yourself holding a glass cup or bottle, grab a “go cup” before heading outside.

• Parking in the Quarter is horrid and the streets are all one-way, so the best advice is to walk or take a cab. The French Quarter is fairly compact (bounded by Canal St., Rampart St., Esplanade Ave., and the river) and walkable. But caution should be exercised when venturing outside the Quarter, particularly at night.

• Chivalry is alive and well in the South. It is expected that ladies enter and exit elevators first. Same thing goes with doors. Accept with good grace.

• Iced tea is a summer staple and is usually served sweetened. If you don't want your tea sweetened, be sure to order it unsweetened.

• Waitpersons, hotel staff, taxi drivers, and pretty much everyone else in town will use terms such as "darlin',""baby,""honey," etc. when speaking to strangers of all ages. Don't be offended as these are not meant to be derogatory terms. They are in fact terms of endearment used to show immediate friendliness and goodwill towards the other person. They also come in handy if you don't know someone's name (or have forgotten it after too many Hand Grenades).

• Don't be surprised if you get hugged, kissed or slapped on the back by someone you just met. The code of the South is to be friendly and trusting to all (until you prove yourself otherwise) and physical contact is an expression of that trust.

• You may find yourself grilled about where you grew up and your family's background. Don't be alarmed. This is part of a complex societal game called "Who's Your Mamma?" played by most native New Orleanians. They use it to figure out who you are and if they are related to you in some way. If so, then you are family and will be welcomed as the long-lost prodigal son.

• Despite the overt friendliness, many New Orleanians socialize within their own families and rarely invite outsiders to parties and such. Cousins, in-laws, and step-anythings are considered close family so don't be surprised if someone invites you to dinner with their family and you end up shaking hands with 25 people.

• Hurricane Katrina is referred to by many as simply The Storm. There is also the pre-K and post-K designations. Pre-K is the time before Katrina struck and post-K is anytime after Katrina. Thus, someone might say, "I lived in Lakeview pre-K, but post-K I am in a FEMA trailer."

• Compliment food all the time. If someone takes you to their favorite restaurant, be sure to rave that it is the best "X" that you've ever had. Same thing if the manager stops by the table. It's just the polite thing to do. If you hesitate for even a moment, you may be accosted by the chef, the sous chef, and various servers who want to know what's wrong with your food. Excellent food is a point of pride for most New Orleanians and they can be prickly about it. Never never never say that your hometown or state has better food (i.e. the catfish is better at X restaurant at home). That is a sure way to start a fight.

• If you are a vegan or vegetarian, beware. Many sauces contain both milk and butter. Red or brown sauces usually either contain meat or are flavored with meat. And don't make the mistake of thinking dirty rice is vegetarian.

• Red beans and rice are always served on a Monday. Mostly they too are also cooked with meat. Check out this insider's tip from one of the largest producers of red beans and rice mix, Zatarain's.

  An insider tip: When you’re making red beans from scratch and adding a ham bone, make sure that you either crack the bone or that one end of it is open, so the marrow can cook out into the beans. It gives the dish a rich flavor and silky texture.