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!!

Happy Weekend with Awards, Stompers, Pee-Rades and Loads of Music!!

It's time to start you're Mardi Gras kick-off weekend - what's going on?!

Friday Fun!

Celebrate OffBeat Magazine's 25th anniversary at the 2012 Best of the Beat Awards! Tonight at 6:00 pm at Generations Hall (310 Andrew Higgins Blvd.)
Featuring performances by:
• Mannie Fresh & Dee-1
• The Revivalists
• Big History
• Ingrid Lucia & special guests
• Debauche
• Helen Gillet's Accordion-off
Plus...A once in a lifetime tribute to the legends of New Orleans R&B led by Ernie Vincent featuring the music of Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Frankie Ford, Jean Knight, Robert Parker, the Dixie Cups and Al "Carnival Time" Johnson.

The 3rd Annual Sweet 610 Debutante Ball is upon us! Tonight you're gonna dance until your golden shoes fall off. This year’s theme is “Headbangers Ball” and will once again be held at the Sugar Mill located at 1021 Convention Center Blvd. from 8pm to Midnight. This year’s theme is sure to bring some incredible costumes, but rest assured, you’ll still hear your favorite 80’s dance music! You will dance the night away to the radical sounds of Band Camp and DJ Hammer. We’ll have food from your favorite local restaurants, an Open Bar and Draft Beer from Budweiser. Most importantly, you’ll get to see the 610 Stompers’ 2013 dance moves for the very first time. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door.

The Bywater neighborhood remembers musicians tonight with a block party between Vaughn's (4229 Dauphine) and BJ's Lounge (4301 Burgundy) at 6:00 pm with Little Freddie King, Meschiya Lake, King James and the Special Men, R. Scully’s Rough 7, the Lonely Lonely Knights, the Dana Abbott Band, the Chinese Drywall Band, Krewe de Guza and the New Orleans Hellhounds, the permutation of the Morning 40 Federation that backed dirty bluesman Andre Williams on his 2008 New Orleans-recorded album "Can You Deal With It?" Please check out Alison Fensterstock's article - here.

Saturday Fun and Music!

Beer and Music!

Of course, there's more pre-parade partying to be done!!

It's a Party with NOLA Brewing Company for the Release of Flambeau Red Ale. The day has finally arrived to enjoy "Louisiana's Best Beer" (as rated by Beer Advocate)! Come on out to Maison on 508 Frenchmen to enjoy a pint with us and pregame for Krewe du Vieux. There will be live music (Stooges Brass Band from 2-3:30pm and Shotgun Jazz Band 4-7pm!), giveaways and Flambeau will be on special from 2-4pm for $3/pint. Yea for beer!!

Parades!

After all the beer and music it's time for the pee-rades!!  Krewe du Vieux gets kickin' in the Marigny at 6:30 pm with the theme "Krewe de Vieux Comes Early"...This satirical group has some of the best costumes, floats and kooky throws you'll ever see in all of Carnival!  There's a new route this year so click on the link so you don't miss out on the craziness!!  http://www.kreweduvieux.org/parade.html

A newer Krewe - Krewe DeLusion follows immediately after Krewe du Vieux, and joins in on the satirical fun.  This group also starts down Royal Street, but turns a block  earlier and in the opposite direction on St. Peter St., then two more  rights on Bourbon and St. Philip streets, then back towards the Marigny  on Decatur before ending just across Esplanade Avenue.

More Music!


Frenchmen Street is kickin' with music after the big peerades!  d.b.a. (618 Frenchmen) has Meschiya Lake & The Little Big Horns at 7:00 pm and then come on back for the late show with George Porter Jr. & His Runnin' Pardnersat 11:00 pm - they're sure to please (there's a small cover for the Chief - but you don't want to miss the show

The Spotted Cat (623 Frenchmen) has a triple header starting early  with Russell Welch Band at 3:00 pm, Panorama Jazz Band at 6:00 pm and top off the night with Meschiya Lake & The Little Big Horns again at 10:00 pm!!

And curb your parade hunger for food and music over at Three Muses (536 Frenchmen)...Get some  yummy food and listen to the sounds of the Hot Club of New Orleans at 6:00 pm and stay on for the Gal Holiday at 10:00 pm.

Vince Vance, the legendary singer with the Mount Everest hair, will have his annual 39th birthday Celebration and roast Saturday night, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Rock 'n' Bowl (3000 S. Carrollton Ave.)  Starring the birthday boy himself Vince Vance and also starring… New Orleans treasures Meschiya Lake, Irma Thomas, Ingrid Lucia, Debbie Krantz, Amanda Shaw, Faith Becnel and Aaron Foret!!

Sunday Fun and Music!

It's Super Bowl Sunday, but let's have some fun before the game too!!

Brunch and Music!

Grab some delicious brunch and some great music over on Esplanade Avenue at the Backroom at Buffa's (1001 Esplanade) with Some Like it Hot stirrin' up the pot at about 11:00 am...And don't forget about The Columns Hotel (3811 St. Charles) on the other Avenue with some more yummy brunch and Chip Wilson!  Nothing like some Bloody Marys and some great music!

After brunch take a "free ride" over the might Mississippi to the Old Point Bar (545 Patterson) in Algiers...they've got the Brent Walsh & Romy Kaye at 3:30 pm!  Stay on for the big game too!

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



www.gratisnola.com

TGIF w/Stompers, Offbeat Awards & Lots of Music!

Hey Everybody - hope you're ready for a fun Friday in NOLA!!

Check out The Where Y'Art? event this evening over at the New Orleans Museum of Art starting at 5:00 pm with Gallery & Exhibition Tours, lots of fun activities and music!! Join the panel discussion, "The Artist as Collector" moderated by John Bullard in collaboration with the exhibition "NOMA 100: Gifts for the Second Century." The event is FREE with museum admissions. $10 Adults, $8 seniors, students, active military, $6 children ages 17 to 7, children 6 and under are free.

• 5:30 pm  to 8:00 pm: an art making activity for the kiddies
• 6:00 pm: Lecture with Spanish architect, Rafael Moneo - (works include the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles)
• 5:30 to 8:30 pm: Music by the Patrice Fisher
• 7:00 pm: Artist Talk with Katie Holden

Bust out your "Member's Only" jacket, parachute pants, and leg warmers tonight for The Sweet 610 Debutante Ball 2, appropriately themed "Electric Boogaloo". The 80s inspired event will be held at The Sugar Mill, 1021 Convention Center Blvd., beginning at 8:00 pm and will benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Louisiana chapter. Guests will enjoy culinary delights from New Orleans' finest restaurants, open bar, a live performance from Band Camp and jamming to the groovy tunes by DJ Hammer. Plus, there will be a costume contest with prizes for the best 80s glam garb. The highlight of the evening will come when The 610 Stompers, the all-male dance krewe with a mission of giving back to the community through dance and entertainment, take the stage to debut their new 2012 dance moves. Tickets are $40 until the day of the event and $50 at the door. Tickets are available online through Eventbright (www.eventbrite.com/event/2635142783/esearch?srnk=1); via phone at 504-455-5194; from any 610 Stomper or at the door the night of the event.

Tonight OffBeat Magazine celebrates the best of Louisiana music at its Best of the Beat Awards Show and party at Generations Hall (310 Andrew Higgins Blvd. in the Warehouse District) from 6 p.m. to midnight. There will be delicious food from many New Orleans restaurants - and check out the musical line-up!!

Front Room
6 p.m. – Aurora Nealand and the Royal Roses
7 p.m. – Glen David Andrews
9:45 p.m. – Lost Bayou Ramblers
10:45 p.m. – Big Freedia

Back Room
7:15 p.m. – the Soul Rebels
8 p.m. – The Awards Ceremony
9:30 p.m. – GIVERS
10:30 p.m. – George Porter & His Runnin’ Pardners and Friends
For more info and to purchase tix click: http://offbeat.com/store/Back-Issues/2011-Best-of-the-Beat-Ticket/prod_376.html


You still don't know what to do?

Head on over to Chickie Wah Wah on Canal for their happy hour and a triple header of music this evening.  Come on by around the 5 o'clock hour and music with Tom Marron, Sinead and Daron  startin' up at 5:30, and stay on for Paul Sanchez and Alex McMurray at 8:00 pm and top off the evening with John Mooney with Uganda at 10:00 pm - there's a small cover for Paul, Alex and John - but you know it's worth it!  Come hungry too - there's delicious pizza and other yummy items being served up!

And there's more good music in Mid-City (almost Uptown) over at Rock 'N Bowl (3016 S. Carrollton) for Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Review at 9:30 pm!!  Remember if you eat at Ye Olde College Inn right next door you get a discount to the show!  Happy rockin' and bowlin'!

Need more music??  Then go to Frenchmen Street!

You can get started early at the Spotted Cat (623 Frenchmen) with Brett Richardson at 4:00 pm, Washboard Chaz Blues Trio at 6:00 pm, and the New Orleans Cottonmouth Kings at 10:00 pm.

Right down the street you have another trio of shows at BMC (1331 Decatur)...with El de Orazio and Friends at 3:00 pm and Dana Abbot at 10:00 pm!!

d.b.a.'s (618 Frenchmen) got Tuba Skinny at 6:00 pm it's FREE, but don't forget to tip the band!! And stay on for Grayson Capps at 10:00 pm...there's a $5 cover, but you don't want to miss the show!!

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