STORM2K

Posted: **Fri Dec 02, 2005 8:15 pm**

Mall Resurrects Display of Hurricane Town

By STACEY PLAISANCE, Associated Press Writer

METAIRIE, La. - The outcry was so intense after a suburban New Orleans mall removed a Christmas display of a miniature hurricane-ravaged town that the exhibit is going back up this weekend.

Frank Evans, who designed the tiny blue-tarped roofs and little toppled fences, said he was reinstalling them at the mall's request starting Friday night.

The miniature town, a full 60 feet long with pumping stations and tiny piles of hurricane debris, is circled by a miniature train that children ride after sitting in Santa's lap. It was installed in mid-November but ordered removed Tuesday after some people complained it was in poor taste.

Evans said the removal prompted hundreds of e-mails of support for the display, compared to just 10 complaints about the display. The mall's marketing manager Tricia Thriffiley said she personally received more than 500 e-mails.

Posted: **Fri Dec 02, 2005 8:22 pm**

lol - go figure!! I'm going to Lakeside tomorrow.

Posted: **Fri Dec 02, 2005 8:44 pm**

That's wonderful! I'd say the 10 to 500+ ratio speaks volumes, so I'm glad they listened.

Posted: **Fri Dec 02, 2005 8:49 pm**

sunny wrote:lol - go figure!! I'm going to Lakeside tomorrow.

I'm going to try to stop by on Sunday

Posted: **Fri Dec 02, 2005 9:04 pm**

YES!!! I was hoping they would put it back up... Can one of you guys take some pics and post them on here??? Cause, living here in NC, I cant join in on the humor in person...
Thanks,
Timmy

Posted: **Fri Dec 02, 2005 9:06 pm**

brunota2003 wrote:YES!!! I was hoping they would put it back up... Can one of you guys take some pics and post them on here??? Cause, living here in NC, I cant join in on the humor in person...
Thanks,
Timmy

I'll bring my camera tomorrow

Posted: **Fri Dec 02, 2005 9:09 pm**

sunny wrote:
brunota2003 wrote:YES!!! I was hoping they would put it back up... Can one of you guys take some pics and post them on here??? Cause, living here in NC, I cant join in on the humor in person...
Thanks,
Timmy

I'll bring my camera tomorrow

THANKS!!!

Posted: **Fri Dec 02, 2005 11:20 pm**

I might check it out when I'm off.

Posted: **Sat Dec 03, 2005 1:27 am**

Sunny...we want a pic of you riding the train after your visit to santa! :lol:

Posted: **Sat Dec 03, 2005 7:12 am**

CajunMama wrote:Sunny...we want a pic of you riding the train after your visit to santa!

I'll do my best, mama!

Posted: **Sat Dec 03, 2005 8:52 am**

We need a shot of humor around here....it's been so depressing the past few months. If we can't laugh at ourselves who can we laugh at?

Maybe I'll see some of y'all around? :lol:

Posted: **Sat Dec 03, 2005 3:44 pm**

I forgot my camera at home! Lots of people were taking pictures and chuckling over it.

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 8:01 pm**

I brought mine, give me a little while and I'll have some of the pictures up. People were all over it.

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 8:09 pm**

Looking forward to it.

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 8:32 pm**

Here ya go! Notice the signs between the railroad tracks, how the citizens of Katrina Ridge thank everyone for their support, and the various refrigerator graffiti. The helicopter was whirring around overhead in circles. Everybody I saw was either taking pictures or laughing. A NOLA friend of mine tells me he heard the complaints were from out-of-towners. Figures.

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 8:57 pm**

Hilarious... :lol:

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2005 9:16 pm**

thank you so much for posting those pics, they are true and funny!!! :lol:

Posted: **Mon Dec 12, 2005 1:08 am**

Absolutely, completely, and perfectly on point and true to the reality!! Thanks for the pics HK - and ain't it the truth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:lol:

STORM2K

Katrina-themed mall Christmas display resurrected

Katrina-themed mall Christmas display resurrected