Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with louisiana

Car insurance in New Orleans

goneill — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:24:44 -0800

I bought a car!! It is a 1993 Honda Civic. I need to buy insurance. I will be driving my car about once a week, to buy groceries - otherwise I will be riding my bike around New Orleans, Louisiana. I don't know anything about car insurance. I am 34, have a perfect driving record. Can anyone help me figure out what kind of insurance I should get? I will be fine if the car is totaled or stolen and I cannot ever drive it again. I have health insurance for myself so I do not need to protect myself in that way.

I need help in just understanding the basic terms that insurance companies use, what I should look out for, and how much coverage I should get, and any other information that I'm not thinking of!

Thanks!

Can you tell me where I went tubing in Louisiana?

oreonax — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:33:56 -0800

Where do you recommend going tubing near New Orleans? I'm heading down home to Baton Rouge for the 4th of July and I'd like to relive my youth and go tubing down a bayou with a cooler by my side. But. Neither I nor my family remember where we went that fabulous summer day and now I need some help finding a spot for a few hours of tubing and maybe a sandbar lunch.

What I remember is that we rented tubes from some outfit and went down the Bogachitto (Bogue Chitto?) after we were warned that dilly dallying too long would land us in Lake Ponchartrain.

Anybody got any suggestions? If you do and you're in Baton Rouge over the 4th, I'd be happy to buy you a drink...

Can taxes be avoided?

m0nm0n — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:45:54 -0800

TaxFilter: Is it possible to reduce the amount of or completely avoid paying the ~$1200 in taxes H&R Block online is telling me I owe the state of Louisiana? Here is the situation: last year I worked in the UK for four months, for a company based in Jacksonville, Florida. Prior to my stint in the UK, my girlfriend and I had moved from Florida to Louisiana while the company kept me on as a full-time employee. I worked for the company from Louisiana for five weeks (starting in October 2007), then went to the UK and worked there for another five weeks, and then came back for two more weeks for Christmas and New Year's.

This brings us up to 2008. I worked in the UK from January through the end of April. During this time (actually, going back all the way to when I moved to Louisiana), my employer sent paychecks using my new Louisiana address, but filed the state taxes as if they were Florida's. The catch here is that Florida does not have state taxes, whereas Louisiana does.

So when I go to file my taxes this year, H&R Block Online (free and easy, right?) tells me that I owe ~$1200 to Louisiana. Now, I don't have a problem paying the money if there is no other recourse, but I have some questions about this.

First off, should the company in Florida have updated the state tax information after I moved so that appropriate taxes were taken out? And if so, could they be liable for paying the taxes they never did?

Additionally, since I never signed a lease and did not get a Louisiana driver's license until after finishing up in the UK, could I still have been technically considered a Florida resident and not have to pay the Louisiana taxes?

One more bit of background info: the company always paid me in US dollars -- I was never employed by a UK firm. I never got a visa or work permit. There are some pretty tight regulations where you can work in the UK without those documents to which the company closely adhered.

Drink alcohol as a passenger in Louisiana?

chitlin — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:11:11 -0800

Mardis Gras coming up... In Louisiana, is it illegal for a passenger to drink an alcoholic beverage in a traveling automobile? I have a friend who's going to Mardis Gras soon, and she wants to be able to drink a few cocktails in the car on the road trip, while a non-drinking friend drives. Is this illegal? I've heard conflicting reports of how/if LA conforms to the TA-21 laws. I would like to have the question cleared up before she gets in trouble! Thanks.

Stop - Houma time!

TomSophieIvy — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 10:14:44 -0800

Houma, LA. Where to eat, what to do? My wife will be in Houma for a brief business tip from 2/26 - 2/28/09. Any dining suggestions or anything else to recommend in Houma? Thank you!

Help me get the most out of my Southern US road trip.

willnot — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 10:57:22 -0800

I have a follow-up to this Southern US road trip question. My route is firmed up, and I'd like recommendations for anything to see or skip between hotel stops. I'm going to be covering a ton of ground and moving pretty fast. I'm sure that isn't the best way to see the Southern United States, but it is what it is given my time. This will all be happening in early February.

I fly into New Orleans on a Saturday, and will have a night and part of a morning there. I will be returning the following weekend, so I don't need to see everything on this partial day.

Sunday - I've already booked a 1 PM swamp tour to the North East of New Orleans in Slidell. After than I was planning to stop at Bay St. Louis, MS based on aka burlap's recommendation from my previous question. I like arty towns, so that sounded right up my alley. From there, it's on to Pensacola, FL, which is where I'm sleeping Sunday night. Is there anything between Bay St. Louis and Pensacola that I should be sure to see? Or anything in Pensacola that I should be sure to do?

Monday - this is a MONSTER driving day. I need to get to Jacksonville, FL. I was thinking about stopping in Tallahassee for lunch and maybe taking a hike in Apalachicola National Forrest to stretch my legs. Any other recommendations?

Tuesday - I'll be traveling to/staying in Savannah, GA on Tuesday. I was thinking about driving north passed Savannah to check out Hilton Head and then dropping back down to the hotel. Does that make sense? I'm very excited about seeing Savannah. It looks really interesting. Is there anything I should be sure not to miss?

Wednesday - I'll be traveling to/staying in Atlanta, GA. What should I not miss between Savannah and Atlanta? What should I do in Atlanta. I have a friend who mentioned a tour of Coke. Worth it? Or would something else be better?

Thursday - I'll be traveling to/staying in Birmingham, AL. Again, based on the recommendation from the previous thread, I think I'll be spending a lot of time in the Talladega National Forrest. Is there anything in particular I should be sure to see/do?

Friday - I'll be driving back down to New Orleans. Anything between Birmingham and New Orleans that I shouldn't miss?

Saturday/Sunday/Monday - I'm on a company sponsored weekend in New Orleans. Much of my time will be spoken for, but I may have time for one or two major outings. What shouldn't be missed?

Thanks

Help this man keep his van.

pantsonfire — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:18:56 -0800

How can I tell if my '87 GMC Safari Van is up to driving from Philadelphia to Louisiana? I'm moving to Louisiana. Cargo vans seem to be very expensive for one-way rentals, and I have a sad sort of attachment to my crappy old van.

What are the odds of this beast hauling all the way from Philly to the Gulf?

I just had the starter, fuel pump, serpentine belt, and belt tensioner replaced. Before I go, I'll definitely take it in for a brake job and an oil change. But at 195,000 miles, what are the odds this thing will make a 1400 mile highway trip? It leaks a little oil and power steering fluid. Also, I noticed a little bit of white gunk under the oil cap. But not too much.

Fellow travelers will be my girlfriend, my dog, my cat, and the various personal belongings I don't feel comfortable moving in the shipping container that's hauling the rest of my stuff.

Thank you for your advice and/or suggestions for affordable alternatives!

Louisiana Filter:When was the registration of birth certificates required?

verevi — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:22:10 -0800

In what year were official birth certificates required to be registered for people born in Louisiana? I've googled my way to no definitive answer to this question. When did birth certificates become a requirement for births in the state of Louisiana? (Also, how did you find out this date?)

Can you find Night Owl, by Bobby Loveless?

The Giant Squid — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:54:12 -0800

Where can I find a digital copy of Bobby Loveless' 'Night Owl'? It's an old rock and roll tune (late fifties - early sixties) which was hugely popular in Louisiana (and throughout the Delta region). I have been looking for it on behalf of my father-in-law, who is a huge fan of this era's music? It's pretty obscure, I acknowledge.

Heading down to the other LA...

sixcolors — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:28:35 -0800

Tell me about Shreveport, Louisiana. Things to see. Places to eat. Quickest and safest way to get there. A cousin of mine is having a wedding this weekend. I've been to Shreveport several times, but I was quite young, so I don't remember a lot.

No need to answer every question, answer what you know or wish to share, but here are some things I'm curious about:

1. We're on a budget and will only be there for Friday and Saturday, so doing things is out of the question. But, I wonder if there are any good places for sight-seeing? And, of course, we must eat. Where are some good AND cheap places to eat?

2. NICE AND CHEAP (around $80 a night) HOTELS, THAT IS NOT LOCATED IN BAD AREAS.

3. We're driving from O'Fallon, IL, which is across the river from St. Louis, MO. We know that highway 55 goes almost due south, until you get to Memphis, TN, then it veers southeast into Mississippi. Where should we go from Memphis? To Little Rock, through the rest of AR into LA? Or, into Mississippi, next take 61 south, and then 20 west all the way to Shreveport? The former looks quicker. But going by the maps, and my memory of previous trips, there's a LOT of winding hilly back roads from Little Rock to Shreveport. My mother is NOT a fan of those kind of highways. Are highways 71/549 and 167 as dangerous as they look?

4. There aren't any major floods going down there, is it?

5. Any thing else we should know about Shreveport, LA.

Where to eat, drink, sleep and play in South Padre?

JPDD — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 21:33:40 -0800

Things to do in South Padre, Texas or on the way from Baton Rouge, LA? My best friend and I are planning a short low-budget road trip from Baton Rouge to South Padre Island, what should we do on the way and once we get there? We've got about 5 days round-trip and not much dough. We're a couple of guys in our mid/late twenties - where are the best places to eat, drink, stay and be merry?

Recommendations needed for online law schools in Louisiana

donmayo — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:33:05 -0800

I am interested in pursuing a degree in law. There are no law schools where I live and am too settled to uproot. What do mefites think about online law programs? Legitamacy, practicality, etc? Any suggestions on one over another? Personal experiences? One other complication is I live in Louisiana (where our law code is a little bit idiosyncratic). Does this affect national online law school choices? TIA

What should we not miss in a 3 day drive from New Orleans to Atlanta?

jur777 — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 21:15:15 -0800

What should we not miss in a 3 day drive from New Orleans to Atlanta? Looking for interesting cultural, historical, musical or culinary experiences. Would prefer the non-touristy stops. We know the places to hit in New Orleans and Atlanta - how about the places in between? The small towns off the beaten path... the weird... the cooky... the naturally beautiful...

Heading down South for the Holidays.

moooshy — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 21:16:07 -0800

My best friend is stationed in Biloxi, MS with Americorps and I'm planning on going down there for a Southern roadtrip over the Christmas holidays. What should we see within 4-6 hours of Biloxi? [mi] We're Northern born and bred, having most recently lived in Philadelphia and Chicago, and so we were thinking of doing a giant circle through the South over the course of a week. Drive 2-3 hours, see stuff, spend the night, continue onwards.

I'd be interested in your favorite places to eat/things to see in MS, LA, TN, and AL. We're also concerned that everything might just completely shut down between Christmas and New Years. Is this something to worry about? Will it be safe for the two of us (22 and 23 female) to travel alone in a car in more rural areas, or should we stick to the major cities? Any places to definitely avoid?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Cute thing downed by bb gun

typewriter — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 21:27:14 -0800

In the 1950s, what small game might a young boy in rural Louisiana be able to fatally or severely injure with a bb gun? I'm thinking a jackrabbit, or squirrel. Something cute and thus regretful in hindsight. What kind of terrain would it be? Tall and grassy, wooded? Also looking for a location that may not be too far from his house.

(Creating a small backstory for a character.)

A family trip to volunteer in New Orleans?

Ash3000 — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 05:06:44 -0800

My immediate family is considering making our holidays vacation a trip to New Orleans to do volunteer work, excavating houses, etc. Problem #1: We have no idea where to start. Short story is this: this year, it's my turn to pick where we go for the holidays. (We're upper-middle-class, generally speaking, 48 continental states is usually fine, outside the US mainland probably wouldn't be. I'm the oldest of three children, five-member nuclear family.) I had the idea that it would be a really, really interesting and worthwhile experience to donate our time as a family volunteering in New Orleans - I spent my spring break doing such, and was blown away by the experience. Only problem is, I have NO idea what the next step is. What's the best volunteer group to register as volunteers with for a short period of time (i.e. 2-5 days)? Anyone know of any families that did things along this line? Any tips we should know? Any things in New Orleans that we'd enjoy as a family during the evenings? Is this even feasible?

port arthur to new orleans?

oigocosas — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:52:08 -0800

driving from port arthur to new orleans for my wife's birthday. can anyone recommend craftsfolk, artisans, jewelry or clothing designers along the way which could provide "that special gift" i am trying to find her? im relying on the "hive mind's" sense of "cool." go for it! i'd love to be able to arrive in some small town, check out some small shop and miraculously have that perfect something waiting there for her. any ideas? food suggestions welcome, too.

cool crafts on louisiana road trip?

oigocosas — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 10:41:45 -0800

driving from port arthur to new orleans for my wife's 40th. can anyone recommend craftsfolk, artisans, jewelry or clothing designers along the way which could provide "that special gift" i am trying to find her? im relying on the "hive mind's" sense of "cool." go for it! i'd love to be able to arrive in some small town, check out some small shop and miraculously have that perfect something waiting there for her. any ideas?

Winter holiday festivals in Alabama, Mississippi and Alabama - Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and others especially...

mdiskin — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 05:47:55 -0800

Help me find family-friendly winter holiday festivals and celebrations in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama to be held this year (2007-2008)-- especially non-Christian celebrations like those celebrating Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or just winter itself. Or specific cultural celebrations that would offer something beyond the usual Xmas/Santa stuff. It's especially hard for me to get good descriptions since many holiday sites and city calendars aren't yet updated for the coming winter's festivals. I'd like specific towns/destinations to point others to (this is for a magazine article).

Ideas on what to see/do/eat in between New Orleans and Memphis?

Rewind — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 12:06:28 -0800

Any Mississippians/Louisianans care to tout the virtues and/or notable places and events of their homeland (or at least point me in the direction of a some good fried pickles?) My girlfriend and I will be taking a (sort of) road trip from New Orleans to Memphis in mid-July and are looking for good places along the way to pull over and enjoy the local culture/cuisine.

We've made this trip once before and took Rte. 55 through Jackson the whole way. Because we were somewhat pressed for time, and hadn't really researched any points of interest prior to going, we ended up eating at a Shoney's for dinner and simply turning off the Interstate at random places to see what we could discover (which ended up being Sardis Lake & Dam, innumerable cotton fields, various 7-Elevens, and a quaint, yet pretty town called Duck Hill.)

We're looking to be a little more proactive this time around and I figured we'd follow the Mississippi River up as outlined here, and the aforementioned Route 55 on the return trip. Anyone know the difference in drive times between the two routes? Any must-see's/eats from people that are familiar with the area? I've gotten a few ideas from this previous thread which has been helpful, and was hoping some of you might have some ideas more specific to the two routes I mentioned. We'll have around a full day each for the drive up and return. I realize I haven't exactly been specific with regards to our areas of interest, but quite honestly, we're not all that picky other than to say we're looking for things with a local flare, and are not at all opposed to kitsch.

Lastly, and of utmost importance, is where to get good fried pickles? My girlfriend, a native Southerner, insists that I, a northern boy, must try this "delicacy." Quite frankly, just the thought of them makes my mouth water.

Looking for Christmas/holiday family fun in the Southeast...

mdiskin — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 08:44:21 -0800

Southern Christmas/winter holiday traditions for families with kids -- point me to some good things to see, places to go, eat, etc in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama especially (GA, Arkansas, TN also welcome).... Bonus points for Thanksgiving fun, and if you have a few items to appeal to people of other faiths/nationalities, that would be fantastic.

Help with my mix cd while not mocking our musical tastes

elkerette — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 09:06:12 -0800

Fun roadtrippy songs that mention the states of Louisiana and/or Alabama (or cities therin) prominently? Bonus: showtunes that do so! I'm going on an Easter road trip between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama with a friend and her two children.

We would like to make a mix cd for the trip made up of upbeat, child-appropriate songs (no language, not too heavy sounding) that mention either Louisiana or Alabama OR New Orleans or Mobile prominently in their lyrics.

Being musical theatre geeks, I'd also love to include some showtunes that also fit this criteria.

MeFites, please help!

Poker in Shreveport?

ivarley — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 10:16:16 -0800

Where's the best poker room in Shreveport / Bossier City, Louisiana? A friend and some of his low-rolling buddies are headed to Louisiana this weekend. My google recon turns up mostly generic stats and internet gambling ads. Any first hand experience?

I'm interested in finding the best place for a $300-500 bankroll to last the weekend. Low limit Hold 'em, poker and blackjack tournaments, and $5 blackjack are my favorites. I could care less about slots. Good drink service and no-smoking would be nice, but not required.

Sell, rent, or stay put ?

ultraultraboomerang — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 13:30:07 -0800

I'm in a really weird housing market (Baton Rouge, LA). Should I get out and rent for awhile until it calms down? Any ideas about weighing capital gains tax vs. possible profit I might lose if prices nosedive before my 2 years are up? I know the housing market is weird everywhere, but this is really a unique situation so I thought I'd see if anyone had some unique perspective. Baton Rouge is about 70 miles west of New Orleans, and due to the great diaspora after Katrina housing prices went up around 26% here in just a few months. So did rent, incidentally, which is why I bought a fixer upper condo in July.

I'm getting really nervous about staying in a market that's so unpredictable and inflated, but I don't want to sell too early and end up paying a ton of capital gains taxes (a ton = rough estimate; I can't find any real idea of what rates are here).

Which is riskier: Staying put until my 2 years is up, hoping there isn't a huge crash? Or selling this summer and paying the tax on my profit (which probably won't be more than $10-15k)? Renting will cost around the same as my mortgage, so should I rent for awhile until things get a little less murky?

"Louisiana SOS" Shirt?

kittyprecious — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 06:23:57 -0800

About a year ago, someone was selling a t-shirt with a red background and a white state of Louisiana with "SOS" carved out of it. Who was selling it and are they still available? EBay returns nothing and Google searches mostly bring references to the Secretary of State.