Researching for a novel paralleling The Den, I came upon the closest mirror to our beloved neighborhood. Its name is certainly appropriate enough:

Desire Area is the name of it. Its environs also go by the names "The District" and "Dirty D."

It is notoriously crime-ridden, far and away the worst neighborhood in New Orleans. Vigilante gangs once seized the entire housing project block from the cops, and held it against siege for a short while. Demolition, neglect and, most recently, Hurricane Katrina have turned Desire into a living ruin.

Here are some images from this real life reflection of our dear, deranged Den:

The Desire Projects

Desire Street

The Old Desire Club

A House in Desire

Pleasure Street

More to come.