Twelve of the nineteen years of my life has been spent living on the Northshore of New Orleans. I've lived from Slidell to Madisonville, and I'm just blessed for the amazing memories I've made over the years. For a few people, the Northshore may be boring, but I never get bored. Here are seven reasons why being from the Northshore rocks.
1. The sunset views of Lake Pontchartrain are truly breathtaking.
You know you're a Mandeville kid when you take sunset pictures on the Lakefront. Who could blame you?
2. Ian Somerhalder is from the Northshore, too.
The Covington native and his family opened the Mandeville pizza restaurant McClain's in 2012, and he occasionally visits the restaurant when he's in town.
3. Friday night football on the Northshore > Friday night football anywhere else.
Yes, that also includes Friday night football in Texas. Also, YOU CAN'T QUIET THE RIOT.
4. A few LSU athletes are also from the Northshore.
In football, place kicker Trent Domingue went to St. Paul's School in Covington. Volleyball outside hitter Katie Lindelow and soccer forward/midfielder Delaney Sheehan are both Mandeville High School alumni.
5. There's lots of great shopping on the Northshore.
The Fremaux Town Center in Slidell opened last fall, and later this year, the Dillard's in North Shore Square will relocate there. In addition, the Whole Foods in Mandeville will open in early 2016. In the words of the Jonas Brothers, "It's about time."
6. Even some of our Odyssey writers are from the Northshore.
Grace Valentine, a writer at Baylor University, went to Fontainebleau High School in Mandeville, and Kameron Newton (a writer at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) and Caroline Santopadre (managing editor at Birmingham-Southern College) went to Mandeville High. Go check out their articles because they totally rock.
7. There really is no party like a Northshore party.
Mardi Gras parades on the Northshore are just as good as the parades in New Orleans, and the festivals might be even better. Except for Jazz Fest, of course. And maybe the French Quarter Festival.
In conclusion, being from the Northshore is definitely a party in the U.S.A.
