Nothing is back to normal in New Orleans. The French Quarter had no real damage, so partying goes on there 24 hrs a day. Nothing has changed there. Most hotels are up and running, so that is not a problem. Most of the time the water is drinkable, electricity and gas are up and running. Public transportation has not returned, but for a few bus routes. Of course, the dome is OK because everyone wants football. The outskirts of the city still look like a war zone, although the city is beginning to bulldoze some of the abandoned buildings/houses. Crime is through the roof. Murders happen daily, but as the PTB say, it is druggies killing druggies, so dont' worry about it. We didn't want those folks around anyway.
If you stay in tourist areas and don't venture out of them, you should be fine.
