First, the good news: there's a big sign on the Superdome, saying it will reopen 9/24/06. Now, as whatshisname used to say, for the rest of the story: as ATeam posted, places are reopening, but all the fast food places are drive-through only. The major intersections with 4 way stop signs have been taken over by businesses advertising, using signs stuck in the ground, like at election time, the areas under the overpasses are being used to store damaged vehicles, some blocks are razed & cleared to the ground, but most are untouched - save for the blue tarped roofs. (I'm glad for the blue tarps - when I went in Oct., the sight of houses with holes hacked through the roof to escape the water, hit me hard - & I'd already seen it on tv.) Lowe's is so jammed, you can't get in the parking lot!
My personal opinion is that they can rebuild it, and they will, but they can never make it what it was. The gumbo of Cajun, Creole, Spanish, & French was unique. I could live without MardiGras, as I don't like parades,(except Pete Fountain's "Half Fast Marching Krewe" lol), & I never got invited to the fancy balls, but the architecture, music, food, street entertainers - it was one of a kind. I always loved it, and I think America has lost something irreplaceable.