Katrina Gives New Meaning To Refrigerator Art

October 21, 2005 – Imagine the skankiest, stinkinest, nastiest, knock-you-down, most sickening smell in the world, then add some. New Orleanians returning home weeks after evacuating for the hurricane faced refrigerators from Hell among the clean-up miseries. Most gave up on kitchen appliances gone toxic, just strapped them up with duct-tape and hauled them to the street for pick-up and proper disposal by the EPA. But the French Quarter harbors a high percentage of artists, not to mention an above average quotient of wise-asses so art and political graffitti blossomed in unlikely places post-Katrina. Alas, beauty and satire are all destined for the dump – someday soon.

Note: As off Friday October 21, refrigerators artful and not, are gone from about half the streets in the Quarter. The pick-up crews are making steady progress. Across New Orleans the EPA reports that some 3000 appliances a day are processed in the New Orleans East toxic dump station.

The Fun (and Funky) Fridges of the French Quarter

If you’re visiting the French Quarter, check out all of your options – here’s the list of open restaurants, hotels and shops plus their Katrina hours of operation.

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