Friday, April 25, 2014

BILL'S 2014 JAZZFEST PICKS - DAY 1



Good Morning Music Lovers!  It’s the most wonderful time of the year; no Andy Williams, not Christmas, Day 1 of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the unchallenged greatest music and culture event on the planet!
My hot picks –
If you are feeling Latin, start off with Rumba Buena; If you want to go Cajun, dance by Jimmy Breaux & Friends.  Next you can compare the traditional  French-Louisiana sounds of Geno Delafose with the Zydecajun style of Wayne Toups. I think Seeing Wayne at my very first JFest in 1994 changed my life.  Stay in the Acadiana grove with Steve Riley or check out 3 distinctly different sounds at about the same time: Laura Mvula, Brass-a-Holics, and Honey Island Swamp Band.  Take a break with the cool sophisticated stylings of Sasha Masakowski at Lagniappe (that’s the stage with seating!) before checking out not your typical rock star, Shamarr Allen.  Check out the interview of Carlos Santana 3:15-4 in the Grandstand.  It’s Eric Lindell next and my “Under-the Radar” pick, The Infamous Stringdusters.  Close out with Aurora Nealand and 2 classic sides of American music – Public Enemy or Santana!
Remember to practice the “Walk By”, stroll by the many different stages to see bands that you have never heard of for a song or two.  I promise that you will discover something fabulous you never even know existed.  Whatever adventures lie before you, remember to Go Hear Some Live Local Music!

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Happy Tuesday with Fresh Food, Mardi Gras Art Party, and Lots of Music in NOLA!

Happy Tuesday!

Farmer's Market and Fresh Food!
You can get your day started off right with a trip to the Farmer's Market!  Visit the Crescent City's Farmer's Market at University Square (200 Broadway) from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm for the freshest veggies, fruits and seafood.This month the Market is double happy to welcome La Hillel's Kitchen once again for the month of February. Come enjoy the (hopefully) warmer weather and a healthy lunch at Tuesday market. Your choices include falafel in pita with israeli salad, a cup of roasted tomato soup with quinoa, a slice of banana bread, or some flavorful hot chai tea.
Eat local and find more fresh veggies at the Hollygrove Market.   You can go by their location at 8301 Olive Street Monday  thru Friday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sundays 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  They also have home delivery if you can't make it to the Market - Click here to find out how - http://www.hollygrovemarket.com/content/5669

In the "Box"!

-Pesticide Free Arugula (Frank Fekete Farms, Hungarian Settlement, LA)
-Green or Savoy Cabbage (Frank Fekete Farms, Hungarian Settlement, LA)
-Carrot Bunch (Glaser's Produce Farm, New Roads, LA)
-Pesticide Free Collards (Frank Fekete Farms, Hungarian Settlement, LA)
-Pesticide Free, Hydroponic Tomatoes (Tomott's, Larose, LA)
-Pesticide Free Sweet Potatoes (Pointe Coupee Minority Growers Co-op, Pte. Coupee Parish)
-Raw Sugar (Three Brothers Farm, Youngsville, LA)
-Pesticide Free Turnips OR Beets (Frank Fekete Farms, Hungarian Settlement, LA)
-Double Share of Naturally Grown Blood Oranges (Landrum Farms, Plaquemines Parish)
-Naturally Grown Shiitake Mushrooms (MSNP, New Hebron, MS)
-Naturally Grown Navel Oranges (Landrum Farms, Plaquemines Parish)

Carnival Fun Time!

Mardi Gras Preview Party Art Show tonight at Crescent City Brewhouse (527 Decatur St.) from 5:00 to 7:00 pm - Bring on the beer and beads! Join us for the opening of a an art show with FREE great brews and food. Five local artists showcase their work on the Brew House walls including:
Simon of New Orleans
Mark Kirk of UP/Unique Products
Luis Colmenares

Good Music Tonight!

It's going to be a beautiful night on the Avenue at The Columns Hotel (3811 St. Charles Ave.) - Grab a cocktail and enjoy the sounds of guitar man John Rankin at 8:00 pm

Get your self to Mid-City and to Chickie Wah Wah (2828 Canal St.) for piano master Jon Cleary at 8:00 p.m., and be sure to stay on for The Yakiniku All-Stars featuring June Yamagishi at 10:00 pm - it's going to be a great double header of music at Chickie's!

Right down the street the Spotted Cat (623 Frenchmen) has a triple header with no cover - Andy Forest at 4:00 pm, Meschiya Lake & The Little Big Horns at 6:00 pm, and top off the evening with the Smokin' Time Jazz Club at 10:00 pm!

There's more fun on Frenchmen over at d.b.a. (618 Frenchmen) with the The Treme Brass Band at 10:00 pm - there's a $5 cover for the show - but you know you don't want to miss it!

Top off the evening over at the Maple Leaf Bar on Oak Street...with the REBIRTH Brass Band - they come on around 10:30ish - there's a cover, but you'll be glad you paid and stayed up late!! 

Have a wonderful Tuesday and for more fun shows and events going on click on the WWOZ Livewire - http://www.wwoz.org/new-orleans-community/music-calendar!



www.gratisnola.com

Friday, January 31, 2014

Happy Weekend - Five Fun Things to Do in NOLA - 1/31/2014

Five Fun Things to do in NOLA this Weekend!

Friday!

Wine Tasting Fun!

Vino!

It's the weekly wine tasting over at Pearl Wine Company (Orleans at Moss St.) - from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.  Come out and taste the Wines of Marchesi de Frescobaldi before you buy. Plus! Galen Crippin, Director for Frescobaldi Wines of Italy, will be on-air with WGSO's The Wine Show with Tim McNally!

And you can double your wine tasting fun! Check out Swirl located on Ponce de Leon right off Esplanade and enjoy five FREE fabulous wines at 6:00 pm. Be sure grab a delicious small plate while you're there!



Mississippi Rail Company at Gasa Gasa Tonight!

Come out tonight to Gasa Gasa on Freret Street at 9:00 p.m. to celebrate New Orleans' own Mississippi Rail Company's launch of their new single, "Big Bad Wolf". (Listen to the new track, here: http://bit.ly/MRCrelix.)
*The band's unique blend of soulful blues breathes fresh, youthful energy into classic New Orleans roots music - moving music forward via a vehicle of the past. To celebrate a year of new tunes, Mississippi Rail Company will headline a hometown show in New Orleans at Gasa Gasa with support from the Coyotes.
For tickets visit: http://tktwb.tw/1geSsQF and for more on the band visit: www.mississippirailcompany.com. Come on out for a fantastic evening of live music on Freret Street!


If you love New Orleans classic music, then head on over to BJ's Lounge (4301 Burgundy) this evening for some down home Blues guitar - Tonight is the one and only Little Freddie King - Blues man Little Freddie is a member of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, and 42 year regular at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival - don't miss out on this Louisiana legend!  The fun starts up at 10:30 pm!!!




Saturday!

Freret Market! Start your weekend off at the Freret Street Market (corner of Freret and Napoleon) for more than 90 vendors with loads of food, produce, art, collectibles, pet adoptions, music and appearances by the Big Easy Roller Girls.  The market runs from noon to 5:00 pm and musical performances include - The Upstarts at Noon, Louisiana Hellbenders at 1:45 pm, and Caesar Brothers Band at  3:30 pm!  For more info visit www.freretmarket.org





The House of Blues (225 Decatur Street) celebrates their 20th Anniversary Saturday night as the longest running HOB in the country. Come out for the FREE party at 9:00 p.m. with headliner Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers plus Colin Lake. It's going to be a night of festive fun on Decatur Street - Don't miss out!




Alrighty, well that should keep you busy this weekend...If you're looking for more fun stuff to do...check out the WWOZ Livewire -  http://www.wwoz.org/new-orleans-community/music-calendar and tune in today (Friday!) from 11-2 pm for the Louisiana Music Party with my hubby Bill deTurk!!

Friday, January 24, 2014

Happy Weekend - Five Fun Things To Do In NOLA - 1/24/2014

Five Fun Things to do in NOLA this Weekend!

Come out tonight for Good Spirits NOLA at The Other Bar (5039 Freret St.) from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. and help support Women with a Vision, Inc.   **Enjoy unlimited spirits and cocktails, with 100% of proceeds benefiting a different good cause or non-profit organization of New Orleans each month. Admission includes open bar, plus light refreshments (mini chocolate cake pops from Pure Cake) and a silent auction. $20 per person. Presented by DJ Soul Sister and The Other Bar, and hosted by Soul Sister. Give back. Bottoms up. (And best of all, free Skee-ball!)
*Help support Women with a Vision, Inc., improving the lives of marginalized women, their families, and communities through advocacy, health education, supportive services, and research.


Tonight come celebrate The Lunar Lagniappe Party to Benefit  Eden House! The Krewe De Lune is hosting its second annual fundraiser at The Rusty Nail (1100 Constance) from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. Their goal is to raise $5,000 to benefit Eden House, which is a two-year residential program for women who have been commercially and sexually exploited. Join in for live music by Les Autres, DJ Ann Heatwave: New Orleans, a performance by The Star-Steppin' Cosmonaughties, and raffle prizes. Get there early for some complimentary Moon Shooters, our specialty mixed shots. It's gonna be Lunetastic y'all!
**Tickets can be purchased via PayPal by sending $10.00 per ticket to the email krewedelunepayments@gmail.com.


For more fun on Saturday it's the 2nd Annual Abita on the Avenue starting up at 4:00 p.m. - price $0.00! It's that time of year again, Abita fans! Stroll to six great spots along St. Charles Avenue in one evening, all while enjoying some amazing Abita Beer. The 2nd Annual Abita on the Avenue will feature your favorite Abita brews and special cask conditioned Abita creations at every location. Every Abita on the Avenue participant will receive a detailed map and beer list upon registration. After regstration, you're free to wander to all the locations on the Avenue and enjoy the great Abita brews. Several lucky registrants will be chosen at random to receive a very special Abita prize basket, so register now today!

Registration check-in 3:30-5:00pm
 Avenue Pub
 1723 St. Charles Avenue

Serving: Abita Select Hop-Gator, Carver/Darden Pilsner 
and cask conditioned Oak Aged Abbey Ale
*Then stroll to---
Taco’s and Beer 1622 St. Charles Avenue

Serving: Abita Purple Haze
 and cask conditioned Amarillo Hopped Restoration Pale Ale
*Slice Pizza 
1513 St. Charles Avenue

Serving: Abita Amber 
and cask conditioned Centennial Hopped Jockamo IPA
*Lucky’s 1625 St. Charles Avenue
Serving: Abita Mardi Gras Bock
 and cask conditioned Spiced Turbodog
*Blind Pelican 1628 St. Charles Avenue

Serving: Abita Grapefruit Harvest IPA and cask conditioned Spiced Turbodog
*Irish House 1432 St. Charles Avenue
Serving: Abita Mardi Gras Bock and
 cask conditioned Amarillo Hopped Restoration Ale
To pre-register for this event online, you must be a registered user of abita.com.


Vince Vance, the legendary singer with the Mount Everest hair, will have his annual 40th Birthday Celebration and roast Saturday night, from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at Rock 'n' Bowl (3000 S. Carrollton Ave.)  Starring the birthday boy himself Vince Vance and also starring… New Orleans own Louisiana Legends show featuring: Meschiya Lake, Sasha Masakowski, Kathy Savoie, Debbie "Tomato" Krantz, Alexis Marceaux, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson, Phat2sday, NOLA Bikini Team




Top off your Saturday night at Tipitina's (501 Napoleon) with John "Papa" Gros Funk Anniversary Show at 10:00 p.m. It's gonna be an aggregation of amazing musicians with (of course) John "Papa" Gros, Rob Mercurio, Brian Stoltz, Eric Bolivar and many more. So come on out and get your funk and groove on! (Tix are only $15)


Alrighty, well that should keep you busy this weekend...If you're looking for more fun stuff to do...check out the WWOZ Livewire -  http://www.wwoz.org/new-orleans-community/music-calendar Have a wonderful weekend!


www.gratisnola.com

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Happy Wednesday with King Cake, Cocktails and Art - Plus Fine Music 'Round Town!

Happy Wednesday!

Juan Francisco Adaro

Come enjoy king cake, cocktails and some fine art at the Sibley Gallery (3427 Magazine) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.! Enjoy the evening with cake, libations and the artwork of Juan Francisco Adaro. If you miss out tonight be sure to come by on Saturday evening from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. for the artist's reception!


And of course there's lots of great local music around town this evening!

Head on over to Frenchmen Street for a double header at d.b.a. (618 Frenchmen) - They've got an early show with the The Tin Men at 7:00 pm with no cover, and stay on for more with Walter "Wolfman" Washington at 10:00 pm - it's a $5 cover, but you know the Wolfman is worth it!

Have fun in Mid-City when you head on over to Chickie Wah Wah (2828 Canal) for another double header of music this evening! It's Meschiya Lake & Tom McDermott at 8:00 p.m. and John Fohl & Johnny Sansone at 10:30 p.m. - doesn't get much better than that on a Wednesday night!

And there's more good times in Mid-City over at the Banks Street Bar (4401 Banks)!  Tonight it's Wednesday night regular Major Bacon and as always they got some FREE BLTs - tonight at 10:00 pm...you can never get enough of the bacon and no cover!!

Looking for some dinner and then some music for dessert?  Rock 'N Bowl (3016 S. Carrollton) can help you out!  Get an entree' over at Ye Olde College Inn and then get a half price ticket to the show right next door at Rock N' Bowl....Tonight - it's swing night with piano man Joe Krown at 8:00 pm!!

Have a wonderful Wednesday and for more fun shows and events going on click on the WWOZ Livewire - http://www.wwoz.org/new-orleans-community/music-calendar!


www.gratisnola.com



Tuesday, January 21, 2014

It's Another Fresh Veggie Tuesday Along With Some Fresh Music in NOLA!

Happy Tuesday!

Farmer's Market and Fresh Food!
You can get your day started off right with a trip to the Farmer's Market!  Visit the Crescent City's Farmer's Market at University Square (200 Broadway) from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm for the freshest veggies, fruits and seafood.This month the Market welcomes La Hillel's Kitchen to the Green Plate Special. This week they're menu includes a falafel in pita with Israeli salad; roasted tomato soup with quinoa; or an organic brown rice bowl with tofu curry or chicken and veggies. Finish up (or start your day!) with tasty banana bread and a cup of hot chai tea.

Eat local and find more fresh veggies at the Hollygrove Market.   You can go by their location at 8301 Olive Street Monday  thru Friday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sundays 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  They also have home delivery if you can't make it to the Market - Click here to find out how - http://www.hollygrovemarket.com/content/5669

In the "Box"!

-Naturally Grown Shiitake Mushrooms (MSNP, New Hebron, MS)
-Organic Pecans (Inglewood Farm, Alexandria, LA)
-Pesticide Free Carrot Bunch (Pointe Coupee Minority Growers Co-op, Pte. Coupee Parish)
-Pesticide Free Collards (Frank Fekete Farms/Glaser's Produce Farm)
-Green Onions (Glaser's Produce/Perrilloux Produce)
-Naturally Grown Herbs (Community Gardeners @ HMF, The Vintage Garden Farm)
-Double Share of Naturally Grown Blood Oranges (Alford Farms, Plaquemines Parish)
-Brown Jasmine Rice (Cajun Grain, Kinder, LA)
-Double Share of Sweet Potatoes (Pointe Coupee Minority Growers Co-op, Pte. Coupee Parish)
-Pesticide Free Satsumas (A & K Citrus, Braithwaite, LA)
-Double Share of Naturally Grown LA. Sweet Oranges (Alford Farms, Plaquemines Parish)
-Pesticide Free Green or Savoy Cabbage (Frank Fekete Farms/ Glaser's Produce Farm)

Good Music Tonight!

It's going to be a beautiful night on the Avenue at The Columns Hotel (3811 St. Charles Ave.) - Grab a cocktail and enjoy the sounds of New Classic Jazz Trio featuring John Rankin, Tom Sancton, and Clarence Johnson III at 8:00 pm

Get your self to Mid-City and to Chickie Wah Wah (2828 Canal St.) for piano master Jon Cleary at 8:00 p.m., and be sure to stay on for The Yakiniku All-Stars featuring June Yamagishi at 10:00 pm - it's going to be a great double header of music at Chickie's!

Right down the street the Spotted Cat (623 Frenchmen) has a triple header with no cover - Andy Forest at 4:00 pm, Meschiya Lake & The Little Big Horns at 6:00 pm, and top off the evening with the Smokin' Time Jazz Club at 10:00 pm!

There's more fun on Frenchmen over at d.b.a. (618 Frenchmen) with the The Treme Brass Band at 10:00 pm - there's a $5 cover for the show - but you know you don't want to miss it!

Top off the evening over at the Maple Leaf Bar on Oak Street...with the REBIRTH Brass Band - they come on around 10:30ish - there's a cover, but you'll be glad you paid and stayed up late!! 

Have a wonderful Tuesday and for more fun shows and events going on click on the WWOZ Livewire - http://www.wwoz.org/new-orleans-community/music-calendar!



www.gratisnola.com

Friday, January 17, 2014

Happy Weekend - Five Fun Things to Do in NOLA - 1/17/2014

Five Fun Things to do in NOLA this Weekend!

Starlight Racing at the New Orleans Fairgrounds (1751 Gentilly Blvd.) - Groove on down to the sounds of Groovy 7! Gates open at 4:00 pm and the first post is at 5 p.m. The band takes to the Clubhouse stage at 7 p.m. and DJ Digital in the Miller Lite Beer Garden spins nonstop until after the last race.
Admission and Parking:
*General Admission to Fair Grounds for Starlight Racing is $10.
*Admission to the Clubhouse or the Miller Lite Beer Garden is an additional $15.


Celebrate OffBeat Magazine's 20th Anniversary Best of the Beat Awards! Saturday at 6:00 pm at Generations Hall (310 Andrew Higgins Blvd.)
Featuring performances by:
Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen featuring Nigel Hall
Glen David Andrews
Brass-A-Holics
Cheeky Blakk
Feufollet
Robin Barnes......and More!
Plus...An All-Star Tribute to Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Cyril Neville featuring the Swamp Funk Band (Cranston Clements, Willie Green, Norm Caesar and Charlie Wooton) with special guests: Art Neville, Allen Toussaint, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr., Papa Mali, Yadonna West, Charmaine Neville, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr. and many more! Tickets also include food from more than 20 New Orleans restaurants! For more info and tickets click here!


Join the Pussyfooters for the Blush Ball 2014 on Saturday night from 9 pm to 2 am at the Cannery (3803Toulouse Street). This party with a purpose features Big Sam's Funky Nation, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & the Wild Magnolias, Quickie Mart, and special performances by the Pussyfooters. Fabulous items will be raffled. This signature event hosted by the Pussyfooters all-female marching group is a fundraiser for Metropolitan Center for Women and Children. Tickets available here  and at Miss Claudia's on Magazine Street, and at all Fleurty Girl locations. Tickets are $40 in advance, $45 online and at the door.


The 9th Annual Queen's Balls will be held Saturday at  the Blue Nile (532 Frenchmen). Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes will rock your crowns off starting at 10:00 pm. To start, Queen's Cake!!! There will be a Queen's costume contest between sets. This is "Drag Queen" contest...Girrrrrrrl...There's gonna be hairy chests, furry legs and fuzzy beards in black mini skirts!!! And for all you ladies, EVERYONE is a Queen at the Queen's Balls. PRIZES GALORE. Show up for the Swingingest Sorrie` this side of Sweet Chalmette. Remember.......THE KINGS MAY HAVE THEIR DAY BUT THE QUEENS HAVE GOT THE BALLS!!


Please come on out to the inaugural Freret Street Oyster Jam - a celebration of bivalves during their seasonal peak, at the Publiq House and parking lot at 4526 Freret St. Presenting a Day of salty Louisiana oysters, New Orleans roots music, oyster Inspired art and playoff football. The outside portion of THIS EVENT IS ALL AGES AND FAMILY FRIENDLY!!!!

THE MUSIC
The "salty" grooves of Raw Oyster Cult
The unusual excellence of The New Orleans Suspects
The majesty of the Mardi Gras Indian Orchestra
plus special guest MC

THE ART
One of a kind works of oyster-inspired original art from local artists including:
Michael Guidry
Pompadour Productions
To pre-purchase tickets (and save yourself $5) click here!


Alrighty, well that should keep you busy this weekend...If you're looking for more fun stuff to do...check out the WWOZ Livewire -  http://www.wwoz.org/new-orleans-community/music-calendar and tune in today (Friday!) from 11-2 pm for the Louisiana Music Party with my hubby Bill deTurk!!