Weekend Fun with Hogs for the Cause, St. Baldrick's, and Festivals Galore!

Happy weekend and we deserve it!!

Weekend Festivals and Fun!!

The delicious smell of pork and the amazing sounds of music are filling the air over at City Pork (a/k/a City Park) tomorrow for Hogs for the Cause! This pork lovers paradise includes 80 competing BBQ teams plus lots of beer, food and trucks and of course music! The musical line-up is spectacular with the Lost Bayou Ramblers, Rebirth Brass Band, Robert Randolph and the Family Band with special guest Anders Osborne and more!! And remember all the money goes to a worthy cause - to aid families with children suffering from pediatric brain cancer. So get high on the Hog for a very good cause! Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate - Gates open at 11:00 am - for more info click here.

Celebrate St. Baldrick's Day and help out kids with pediatric cancer.  There are two big events going on Saturday where you can have some fun and help out!!  Come on over to Finn McCool's Irish Pub (3701 Banks Street) at noon for some head shaving, some Irish fun and libations!

And no worries, if you can't make Finn's there's more head shaving fun at the Deutsches Haus (1023 Ridgewood Drive) with an after party with the Mustard Brothers. Shavings will be from 5 pm to 8 pm with numerous activities for kids while heads are shaved for donations. So if you have some extra funds you can spare, please visit www.stbaldricks.org and donate either to the event or to a team.  (Rumor has it that a really hot Pussyfooter - Ms. Kathleen Ford - will be shaving her head for the cause!!)

And if you happen to be in the Quarters head on over to the French Market for the Nola Food Fest!  The flavorful fest runs Saturday 11:00 am to 7:00 pm and Sunday 11:00 pm to 6:00 pm.  Four blocks in the French Market will be lined with dozens of top Food Fest cooks from New Orleans and all of Louisiana as well as from all across America, each offering a unique specialty. This is NOT typical and expected festival fare: it is a taste of America's most celebrated dishes, all gathered in one place: a foodie's dream. Portions are right-sized and priced to provide everyone a chance to taste the maximum number of great regional eats as they stroll through the French Market inhaling delicious smells that range from real Texas pit barbecue to Pecan Pie to artisan boudin sausage made by Cajun country's most beloved butchers. There is no admission fee - just bring plenty of appetite!  For more info visit here.

And while your in the Quarter head on over to Armstrong Park for the Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival - Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 am to 7:00 pm. Popular Brooklyn-based bhangra funk band Red Baraat and the great Cuban percussionist/singer Pedrito Martinez will be among the featured performers at the sixth annual Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival, in Armstrong Park. The Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival is one of the cultural enrichment events produced and presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation. This event showcases the music and culture of the African Diaspora, tracing the musical voyage from Africa to the Caribbean and the Gulf South. Free admission and for more info click here.

And for all you crawfish lovers out there the Louisiana Crawfish Festival (8245 W. Judge Perez Dr.) continues all weekend long in beautiful Chalmette!  You don't want to miss the endless crawfish dishes, the crawfish races, rides, crafts and plenty of great music!!  For more info visit: www.louisisanacrawfishfestival.com

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!!



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Saturday w/Blues, Oktoberfest, Latin Fun, Dogs & Cats!

Good Morning and Happy Saturday - and time to celebrate some beautiful weather and some fun fests...oh yes, and I can't forget - GEAUX TIGERS!!

The Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival at Lafayette Square celebrates it's 6th annual festival today and tomorrow starting up at 11:00 am!! The Fest is New Orleans' premier showcase of Southern blues and soul - with two stages of music, a dozen vendors of outstanding barbecue and a massive crafts fair featuring hand-made works by artisans from throughout the region. The festival is free and open to the public!! Check out the line-up below and click the link above for all the festival fun!

SATURDAY, OCT. 15
Camp Street Stage
11:00 am to 12:00 pm Washboard Chaz Blues Trio
1:15 pm to 2:15 pm Jimmie Duck Holmes
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm South Memphis String Band
5:45 pm to 6:45 pm Mel Waiters

St. Charles Ave. Stage
12:00 pm to 1:15 pm King James & the Special Men
2:15 pm to 3:30 pm Little Freddie King
4:30 pm to 5:45 pm Tab Benoit
6:45 pm to 8:00 pm Kenny Wayne Shepherd

SUNDAY, OCT. 16
Camp Street Stage
11:00 am to 12:00 pm Voodoo Blues Challenge Winner Ed Wills & Blues 4 Sale with guest Chance Casteel
1:15 pm to 2:15 pm Homemade Jamz
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm Super Chikan & Watermelon Slim
5:45 pm to 6:45 pm Marcia Ball

St. Charles Ave. Stage
12:00 pm to 1:15 pm Eric Lindell
2:15 pm to 3:30 pm Luther Kent & Trick Bag
4:30 pm to 5:45 pm The Campbell Brothers
6:45 pm to 8:00 pm Bettye LaVette

Ready to get your Chicken Dance on?! You know the Deutsches Haus Oktoberfest can help you out...They may night be in Mid-City anymore, but all the fun is happening for the next two weekends in Rivertown in Kenner (Williams Blvd. and the River).  From Noon till 11:00 pm on Saturday and Noon till 8:00 pm Sunday!  Admission is $6.members + 1 guest enter free
Children 12 and under enter free, Active military enter free and Lederhosen / Dirndl - Get in Free on Sundays!

And of course lots of Beer! 23 different beers 12 German, 5 European, 2 local and more....Beer & wine tasting on Saturday, October 15 & October 22 (to sign up for beer/wine tasting visit http://www.deutscheshaus.org/)

And lots of Food!
Schnitzel Sandwich - Schnitzel with black forest ham and Swiss cheese on a Kaiser roll
Hot soft pretzels
Flammkuchen - German Pizza Grilled Bratwurst,
Knockwurst, and Weisswurst on a bun
Grilled Brat burger on a Kaiser roll
Grilled Cheese burgers
Grilled Kielbasa on a stick
As well as daily specials...
And as always lots of chicken dancing with the Oomp Pah Pah Band!

Celebrate Latin culture all weekend long at Carnaval Latino the fun is happening over at Mardi Gras World (1380 Port of New Orleans Place).  It's a celebration of extraordinary Latin music and the Hispanic heritage and culture, presented by the non-profit Hispanic American Musicians and ArtistsCultural Association(H.A.M.A.C.A.).

Carnaval Latino 2011 will include: Top headline entertainment; Music and folkloric dances from Spain, Portugal and the Americas; An extensive array of Hispanic and creole food and drinks; Visual arts and interactive entertainment and activities for people of all ages. General admission is only $10!  Click on the link above for more info and check out the music schedule below.
Saturday
~El Jeffrey~12:45am-2:00am
~Banda Blanca~11:00pm-12:30am
~Sonora Dinamita~9:45pm-10:45pm
~La Makina~8:00pm-9:30pm
~Little Phas~6:00pm-7:00pm
~Los Astros de America~5pm-6pm
~Rumba Buena Band~4pm-5pm
~Grupo Recuerdo~3pm-4pm

Sunday
~Carmen Jara~8:30pm-9:00pm
~Los Cadetes de Linares~9:00pm
~La Chanchona~8:00pm-8:30pm
~El Ejemplo~7:00pm-8:00pm
~Banda Blanca~6:00pm-7:00pm
~El Sheriff~5:00pm-5:45pm
~Grupo Sensacion~4pm-5pm
~Los Froggies~3pm-4pm
~Julio & Cesar~2pm-3pm

If you and your pups a looking for a little fun and fashion...then Bad to the Bone - Rescued on the Runway is just for you tonight at the Eiffel Society (2040 St. Charles) from 6:00 to 9:00 pm! The evening includes live music with Calvin Johnson and Chapter Soul, a Halloween fashion show with adoptable dogs from six local non-profit animal rescues.  So bring your dog out for a night on the town & to support animal rescue. Cash door prizes, dog and human costume contest, great food, free giveaways, pet photography, gorgeous models, and lots of fun.  Admission for this doggylicious evening are $20 for humans and $15 for pets...go to http://www.petceteraneworleans.com/ for discounted pre-sale tix!

The Amazing Acro-Cats Halloween Spooktacular continue at The Shadowbox Theatre (2400 St. Claude) with only two days left of Halloween spooky fun running through tomorrow. If you think it's difficult housebreaking a kitten, imagine training one to ride a skateboard. Shows are at 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, with 10 p.m. performances on Fridays and Saturdays and 4 p.m. matinees Saturdays and Sundays (they've added a 1:00 pm matinee on Sunday too!)  Click on the link to purchase tickets: http://www.theshadowboxtheatre.com/Shadowbox/Tickets.html

That should keep you pretty busy today, but for more fun stuff to do and more music...check out the WWOZ Livewire - http://www.wwoz.org/new-orleans-community/music-calendar!



www.gratisnola.com

Ooompah Pah Pah and Some Beneficial Fun!

Good Morning Everybody - Here's some fun stuff going on this Saturday!

Head on down to the Deutsches Haus (1023 Ridgewood Dr.) at 1:00 pm for a day of German Fun! There will be entertainment by Lorelei and Schatzi with special guest Gary Trumet of the "Sauerkaruts" - It's going to be fun filled day of accordion music, dancing, Gernam Volkmusic, Polka and lots of oompah pah pah!! And don't forget to come hungry for German food too! Admission is $10 per person, children 12 and under get in FREE!

If you're in the Quarter this afternoon be sure to stop by the Louisiana Music Factory (210 Decatur) for the in-store concert at 2:00 pm with The Reklaw Collective and The Big Way...and while you're there don't forget to check out there amazing CD and album collection upstairs. You'll be sure to go home with some great music!

If you want to take a little trip across the Lake (or hey, you may already be there!)  Tonight is the Harvest Festival and Outdoor Music Concert at Pontchartrain Vineyards (81250 Old Military Road, in Bush)  The Louisiana Purchase Bluegrass Band performs at 6:30 pm.  Gates open at 4:00 pm with grape picking (be sure to bring scissors or garden shears), and a bbq dinner at 6:00 pm.  Tickets are 430 for picking, dinner and concert, $20 for dinner and concert, and $10 for concert only.  For more info call
985-892-9742.

Tonight from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at the Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center (1618 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd) - Nashville INVADES NOLA! With live painting, live short films, live body painting, live poetry, a surreal costume contest, red beans & rice and a slew of art from Charles Bennett, Jeff Bertrand, Dustin Dirt and Brandt Hardin! All this for only a $5 donation at the door!

Benefits Tonight!!

There are a couple great benefits tonight - so, go out and spend your money on a worthy cause and have some fun too!

It's Mr. Legs XI from 6:00 to 10:00 pm at Generations Hall (310 Andrew Higgins Dr.) to benefit the Bridge House and Grace House substance abuse programs. Your ticket includes an open bar from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and delicious food!!  The show features contestants competing for the title Mr. Legs, with entertainment by Johnny J. and the Hitmen, the 610 Stompers, The Rolling Elvi and the Muff-a-lottas. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door, and $50 for VIP tix. Click on the above link for more info on the event!

The St. Jude Benefit Concert is tonight at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts (801 N. Rampart).  The concert features Irma Thomas, Gina Brown, Michael Baptiste, Jo "Cool" Davis, Judy Spellman and some surprise guests!!  Proceeds benefit the St. Jude Community Center and tickets are $25 - $35.  Call 235-5389 for more info, or purchase your tickets through Ticketmaster.   You don't want to miss this one!!

A few more pay events than free this Saturday, but if you're pocket book is hurting, you can always cruise Frenchmen Street for some great music and no cover at The Spotted Cat, The Apple Barrel and The Maison (to just name a few), but as always don't forget to tip the band!!!

Have a great Saturday - and for more fun event be sure to click on the WWOZ Livewire!