We didn't actually meet Joanne, but we were only there for one night. It was easy to find, and the neighborhood was ok. It's much quieter than the French Quarter, but I didn't feel like it was somewhere I'd walk alone at night. (Mostly due to construction and road closures making maps unreliable).
The room was nice, the bed comfy and the puppies friendly. I loved the back yard/deck area. Definitely a good place to spend a night while travelling.