It's a Great Weekend to Eat Local, Slurp Some Oysters, Enjoy a Hurricane, and Party on the Lake!

Happy Weekend Everybody!!

Friday Fun!

Tonight - is the kick-off party for the 2013 New Orleans Eat Local Challenge from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Downtown Rouse's on Baronne!  Come sign up for the eat local challenge or pick up registration packets and enjoy local foods and local ingredient cocktails.  The party is on Rouses’ Rooftop Gardens of their downtown store, and it's a celebration of NOLA Locavores’ Eat Local Challenge! Get excited for a month of reducing the distance between you and your food while learning about the environmental, health, and economic benefits of eating locally sourced foods!
*Chefs Jack Treuting, Alex Harrell of Sylvain, Nathaniel Zimet of Boucherie, and Jeff Mattia of the American Sector will be working together to create an all Louisiana local ingredient feast. Dishes include Duck and Andouille Gumbo, and Duck Fried Rice. Ingredients were sourced from Hoffstadt Farms, Liuzza Produce Farm, Covey Rise and Jazzmen Rice. Cocktails will be served by Old New Orleans Rum, Donner Peltier Distillers and Atelier Vie. Wines will be provided by Pontchartrain Vineyards and Becnel Vineyards.

Saturday Fun!

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 - Honeypots at Noon, John Mooney at 1:45 pm and Tin Men at 3:30 pm!  For more info visit www.freretmarket.org

Hurricane Party! Time to head down to Pat O's for and drink your cares away! June 1st marks the first day of the 2013 Hurricane Season, and to commemorate, Pat O’Brien’s (718 St. Peter) will hold their annual Hurricane Season Kick-Off Partry from from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. They'll be serving up half-priced Hurricanes - Come on down for the fun!

Parade! If you're hanging out in Mid-City this evening, be sure to be on the look out for the Krewe of Palmyra and they presents the “Palmyra Gets Lei'd”!!  All Hail -King Palmyra VIII – Lee Mullikin, Queen Palmyra – Gina Christina and Big Kahuna – Norton Hirsch. The Caravan de Baucherry (aka parade) starts at Palmyra and S. Bernadotte St. at 4:00 pm with legendary brass band Egg Yolk Jubilee!!

Weekend Festivals!

It's oyster time and there's no better place to appreciate this beautiful delicacy then the Oyster Festival

at Woldenberg Park!!  There's going to be amazing food, a stellar line-up of music and of course oyster shucking and eating contests - fun!  Don’t miss out on the contests.  Acme Oyster House sponsors the Oyster Eating Contest, whose winner last year slurped up 47 dozen raw oysters, and P&J Oysters sponsors the Shucking Contest, which pits local restaurant shuckers in a test of their skills. In addition, the New Orleans Fish House sponsors the Largest Oyster Contest, as judged by the oyster’s length, width and weight.

Check out the Oyster Fest music schedule below, and click here for all the festival events and food listings.

Saturday, June 1st

10:30 – 11:45 a.m. The Stooges Brass Band
12:00 – 12:45 p.m. P&J Shucking Contest
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. The Mulligan Brothers
2:15 – 3:15 p.m. Shamarr Allen & The Underdawgs
3:45 – 4:45 p.m. Rose Falcon
5:15 – 6:30 p.m. Joe Nichols

Sunday, June 2nd

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Zion Harmonizers
11:45 – 1:00 p.m. Acme Oyster House® Oyster Eating Contest
1:15 – 2:30 p.m. Brass-A-Holics
3:00 – 4:30 p.m. The Revivalists
5:00 – 6:30 p.m. The Gin Blossoms

This weekend is also the 24th Annual - Back to the Beach Festival - the Lake Pontchartain Basin Foundation's signature event - will be held Saturday 3:30 pm to 11:00 pm and Sunday 10:00 am to 9:00 pm in Kenner's Laketown (where Williams Boulevard meets the Lake). The two-day Festival has something for everyone: a family atmosphere with New Orleans' best live music, out-of-this-world food from local caterers, arts & crafts vendors, and lots of children's activities. It all kicks off with a Run/Walk on Saturday evening, and the weekend is jam-packed with a Bikes at the Beach motorcycle rally, a Car Show, Fishing Rodeo and much more - all while helping to Save Our Lake & Coast!   For more info click: www.saveourlake.org
*Tickets - Adults: $10, Students with ID: $8, Children (12 & under): $4
*Parking will be available on the festival grounds for $5 per vehicle

Saturday

Groovy 7 - 3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
The Yat Pack - 5:05 pm - 6:15 pm
Contraflow - 6:35 pm - 7:45 pm
Supercharger - 8:05 pm - 9:20 pm
Chee Weez - 9:40 pm - 11:00 pm

Sunday

Bobby Cure & the Summertime Blues - 11:45 AM - 1:10 PM
The Wiseguys - 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
The Boogie Men - 3:25 PM - 4:55 PM
Bucktown All-Stars - 5:20 PM - 6:50 PM
The Top Cats - 7:15 PM - 8:45 PM

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!!



www.gratisnola.com

Weekend w/a Market, a Parade, Artmoor & Festin'!

Happy Weekend - so much to do!

Market Fun!

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 - Washboard Chaz Blues Trio at Noon, Billy Iuso and the Restless Natives at 1:45 pm and Los Po-Boy-Citos at 3:30 pm!  For more info visit www.freretmarket.org

Special Event!

Come celebrate everything Broadmoor this weekend with "Artmoor"; the gala celebrating the first of a series of a monthly rotating art exhibitions at the new Broadmoor Community Center (part of the new Rosa Keller Library). Located at the corner of Fountainbleu and Napolean Aves. (4300 South Broad St.)   All art will be for sale and a portion of the proceeds will support future art exhibits.
*Featured artists include:  Kim Welsh, David Bourg, Natalie Hutzler, Judy DiGeorge, Claudia "Mardi Claw" Gehrke, Matthew Peck, Kimberly Edwards, Crystal Shelton, Miki Glasser, Miriam Waterman, Louis and Elly Maistros and Maggie Mae.
*Musical entertainment graciously provided by Amasa and Ayla Miller, Margie Perez, Bouba Sissoko, Lusher Charter School musical theater students, plus more!  Join us in this celebration of the art, culture and beauty of this unique neighborhood and wondrous city!

And don't forget the WYES - International Beer Tasting tonight - check out yesterday's blog for all the info!

Parade!

If you're hanging out in Mid-City this evening, be sure to be on the look out for the Krewe of Palmyra and they presents the “Palmyra Sunsplash”!!  All Hail -King Palmyra VII – Jim Cripps, Queen Palmyra – Liz Fredrickson and Grand Ganja – Larry Kantlehner. The Caravan de Baucherry (aka parade) starts at
Palmyra and S. Bernadotte St. at 5:00 pm with legendary brass band Egg Yolk Jubilee!!

Festivals and Music!

It's oyster time and there's no better place to appreciate this beautiful delicacy then the Oyster Festival at Woldenberg Park!!  There's going to be amazing food, a stellar line-up of music and of course oyster shucking and eating contests - fun!  Check out the schedule of oyster excitement below, and click the link for all the festival fun! www.neworleansoysterfestival.org

Saturday June 2nd
Treme Brass Band - 1:00pm till 2:15pm
P&J Oyster Shucking Contest - 2:30pm till 3:15pm
Rockin' Dopsie - 3:30pm till 5:00pm
Benjy Davis Project - 5:30pm till 7:00pm
Wet Willie - 7:30pm till 9:00pm

Sunday June 3rd
Zion-Harmonizers - 2:30pm till 1:30pm
Acme Oyster House Oyster Eating Contest - 1:45pm till 3:00pm
Kermit Ruffins - 3:15pm till 4:30pm
Bonerama - 5:00pm till 6:15pm
Irma Thomas - 6:45pm till 8:00pm

Take a break from the oysters and head on over to the the Louisiana Music Factory (210 Decatur).  They've got a full afternoon of concerts!
In the Country at 2:00 pm
Mario Abney at 3:00 pm
The Limit at 4:00 pm
Chip Wilson at 5:00 pm
While you're there be sure to pick-up your Dad the gift of music for Father's Day!!

This weekend is also the 23rd Annual - Back to the Beach Festival - the Lake Pontchartain Basin Foundation's signature event - will be held today 3:30 pm to 11:00 pm and Sunday 10:00 am to 9:00 pm in Kenner's Laketown (where Williams Boulevard meets the Lake). The two-day Festival has something for everyone: a family atmosphere with New Orleans' best live music, out-of-this-world food from local caterers, arts & crafts vendors, and lots of children's activities. It all kicks off with a Run/Walk on Saturday evening, and the weekend is jam-packed with a Bikes at the Beach motorcycle rally, a Car Show, Fishing Rodeo and much more - all while helping to Save Our Lake & Coast!   For more info click: www.saveourlake.org
*Tickets - Adults: $10, Students with ID: $8, Children (12 & under): $4
*Parking will be available on the festival grounds for $5 per vehicle

Saturday

Gal Holiday - 3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
Vivaz - 5:05 pm - 6:15 pm
Contraflow - 6:35 pm - 7:45 pm
Louisiana's LeRoux - 8:05 pm - 9:20 pm
Chee Weez - 9:40 pm - 11:00 pm

Sunday

Bobby Cure & the Summertime Blues - 11:45 AM - 1:10 PM
The Wiseguys - 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
The Boogie Men - 3:25 PM - 4:55 PM
Bucktown All-Stars - 5:20 PM - 6:50 PM
The Topcats - 7:15 PM - 8:45 PM

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!!



www.gratisnola.com