I felt so lucky to have chosen Brian's place and the lower 9th to stay in - its a great area - away from all the tourist guff and yet close enough to everything to do and be whatever you want in NOLA. I cycled everywhere and it was bliss - get off take the odd picture, have coffee (breakfast at Satsuma) have a beer and just nose around - then come back to a great, relaxed space - other people were also staying there and everyone was cool, social, interesting and somehow you know that Brian could host a cardboard box and it would be a great place to be - he's generous of mind and spirit and just so easy to get along with that i felt i'd been living there for ages. He's also a talented singer songwriter - i would take the opportunity to listen if you get it.
As for the more mundane stuff - some of the houses around are still trashed from Katrina - don't let this put you off - its a safe neighbourhood with very -let say animated - neighbours :-) but they're all very cool. Its about a 5 minute cycle ride to Bywater and maybe another 10 to Frenchman and then French quarter. I loved watching the drawbridge let the barges through as i waited to go to the across each day, the sound of the trains, the curious kids on the porch... I had a great stay and recommend you do yourself a favour too - stay here and not somewhere chintzy and touristy - its sooo worth it!