Super Bowl Fun with Bands, Oyster Eating and Family Gras!!

Happy Weekend - Y'all!!!

Free Super Bowl Fun!!

All weekend long!!  Verizon Super Bowl Boulevard: Woldenberg Park at 1 Canal Street. Admission is free. It's happening from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Featuring a lineup of local music artists, popular food and beverage offerings, live national television broadcasts, interactive fan events and the iconic larger-than-life Super Bowl Roman numerals.

Verizon Super Bowl Boulevard is a marquee event "where Super Bowl lives," hosted on the grounds of Audubon Nature Institute's iconic Woldenberg Park. The Boulevard features a four-day lineup of local music artists, popular food and beverage offerings, live television broadcasts from the NFL Network, SportsNet and Comcast, and the Super Bowl roman numerals.

Free to the public, Verizon Super Bowl Boulevard will open today and runs daily until Super Bowl Sunday. Complementing the public entertainment, broadcast, and celebratory offerings on Super Bowl Blvd., fans of all ages will have opportunities to interact with numerous NFL and Host Committee partner events. The main attraction, the larger-than life XLVII Roman Numerals, standing at 30 feet high and over 100 feet wide. Celebrate New Orleans' Perfect 10th Super Bowl with a true New Orleans-style festival!

Friday, Feb 1
NFC Stage
11:00am: Lagniappe Brass Band
1:30pm: TBC Brass Band
4:00pm: The Iguanas
6:30pm: Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers
9:15pm: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

AFC Stage
12:15pm: Gal Holiday & The Honky Tonk Revue
2:45pm: James Andrews
5:15pm: Pine Leaf Boys
7:45pm: Walter "Wolfman" Washington & The Roadmasters

North End Zone Stage
10:15 & 11:40am: Tuba Skinny
1:05pm: Lagniappe Brass Band
2:40 & 5:50pm: Ingrid Lucia
4:05pm: Barbara Shorts
7:15pm: James Andrews
8:55pm: Leo Jackson& The Melody Clouds

South End Zone Stage
10:30am: TBC Brass Band
12:00 & 1:35pm: The Palmetto Bug Stompers
3:15pm: Gal Holiday& The Honky Tonk Revue
5:05pm: Mem Shannon
6:55pm: The Iguanas

Saturday, Feb 2
NFC Stage
12:15pm: John Mooney
3:00pm: Sunpie & The LA Sunspots
5:45pm: Tab Benoit
8:30pm: Rebirth Brass Band

AFC Stage
11:00am: Meschiya Lake
1:30pm: Creole String Beans
4:15pm: Lost Bayou Ramblers
7:00pm: Roddie Romero & The Hub-City Allstars

North End Zone Stage
10:45am & 12:25pm: Mahogany Brass Band
2:05pm: Meschiya Lake
3:40pm: John Mooney
5:30 & 8:25pm: Viváz
7:10pm: Betty Winn & One A-Chord

South End Zone Stage
10:45am & 1:55pm: Lars Edegran's New Orleans Jazz Band
12:20 & 3:30pm: Kristin Diable
5:05 & 8:25pm: Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band
6:45pm: Sunpie & The LA Sunspots


Sunday, Feb 3
NFC Stage
10:10 & 11:10am: Cynthia Girtley's Gospel
12:00pm: Soul Rebels

AFC Stage
10:40am: Charmaine Neville Band
12:30pm: Papa Grows Funk

North End Zone Stage
10:15am & 12:55pm: Treme Brass Band
11:25am: Tim Laughlin
South End Zone Stage
10:15am & 1:00pm: Washboard Chaz Blues Trio
11:30am: David Doucet Cajun Trio

Saturday Fun!!

Yes - it IS a "Hot Beaver" Oyster Eating Challenge over at Grand Isle on Fulton!! Grand Isle’s “HOT BEAVER” challenge is Saturday!!

The oyster competition kicks-off this Saturday at 11 a.m., and will pit 10 local New Orleanians against each other to slurp down a dozen raw oyster in two (2) minutes. The catch is that each oyster will be topped with a half-teaspoon of Beaver Brand Extra Hot Horseradish!

The promotion kicks-off this weekend, but will be ongoing in the restaurant moving forward -- so definitely an exciting promotion for locals and tourists alike.

If the contestants are able complete the challenge, Grand Isle will cover the entire tab (oysters and beer) and throw in a grand prize … a t-shirt to announce their victory, along with the official title of GRAND ISLE BEAVER BUSTER. You don't want to miss this one!!

Family Gras is happening Friday at 2:00 pm and Saturday 12:00 pm on the Neutral Ground of Veterans Memorial Boulevard -between Causeway & Severn (across from Lakeside Mall)
Admission: FREE (VIP, 2 Day Royal Pass available for purchase $99)

Family Gras is the perfect getaway for family. Family Gras traditionally takes place on the neutral ground (median) of Veterans Memorial Boulevard across from Lakeside Shopping Center in Metairie, Louisiana. An ideal location to see the pageantry of Mardi Gras and enjoy the outdoor concerts with Live Music on the Festival Plaza Main Stage by National Artists and Louisiana's own.

WeFREE concerts, FREE Mardi Gras parades! Fabulous Flambeau Food Court & Beverage Zones, Kid-friendly activities - The Andes Rock Climbing Wall, the Bubble Blast (Walk & Play inside a giant hamster ball as it floats atop a pool of water), shop the Art Walk, and more. If you prefer an "up close & personal" experience with backstage access and premium stage viewing, access to VIP food & beverage, the VIP Royal Pass is available for purchase online at Ticketmaster.com for $99.00 per person. Pass is valid for both Friday & Saturday.

Costuming encouraged...come out for Fun Friday wearing your carnival colors, and join us Sports Saturday wearing your favorite team colors!
No Outside Food & Beverage Allowed / No Pets Allowed
No Skateboards / No Bikes on grounds (bike rack will be available)

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1
Amanda Shaw 2:00pm-2:45pm
Fitz and the Tantrums 3:05pm-4:10pm
Katie Armiger 4:30pm-5:20pm
Soul Asylum 5:40pm-7:00pm
Creedence Clearwater Revisited 7:20pm-8:30pm

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013
Big Bad VooDoo Daddy Rattle Them Bones
20th Anniversary Tour 12:00pm-1:00pm
Cowboy Mouth 1:20pm-2:20pm
ZZ Ward 2:40pm-3:30pm
Blues Traveler 3:50pm-5:15pm
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons 5:35pm-7:30pm

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!!  And be sure to tune in to WWOZ today from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm with my hubby Bill deTurk!!!


www.gratisnola.com

Weekend Fun w/a First and Fresh Fridays, Cocktails for Dogs, Christmas Fun, Markets and Holiday on the Boulevard!

Happy Friday and TGIF!!

Friday Fun

Don't miss the First Friday on Fulton Street (right around the corner from Harrah's) tonight from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The special festive evening includes a special sampling selection from the Abita Beer Christmas Ale tap in the Manning’s Courtyard, along with featured guest Archie Manning!! Grand Isle will be serving up shrimp & grits with andouille gravy alongside other tastings from Fulton Street neighbors including - Ruth’s Chris, Manning’s, Gordon Biersch and Besh Steakhouse!! All this yummy fun is just $20.00 per person and includes a featured glass of wine. There's also going to be entertainment from The Hot 8 Brass Band!
*Be sure to stop in at Grand Isle for their holiday happy hour from 4:00 to 7:00 pm and check out their brand new festive drinks tonight and all season long: Under the Mistletoe Martini, Hot Apple Cider and Peppermint Martini - Ho! Ho! Ho!

Come let the dogs out at Spun Crossroad's Fresh Friday!  Experience fresh, local, seasonal produce under the backdrop of fresh, local specialized art, all while helping out a local non-profit!  Tonight it's Think DOG, it's Friday!  A FREE event at the New Orleans Healing Center (2372 St. Claude Ave.) from 7:00 to 10 pm.  There's going to be libations created by Yolanda Butler, mixologist extraordinaire with a "Battle of the cockTAILs", cast your ballot by seleting from two fresh delicious drinks that will have your tail wagging!  There will also be cooking demos by Fatoush!  Proceeds from all the fun will go to Dag's House!!

Tonight is Finn's Christmas Party and Tacky Sweater Contest at Finn McCool's Irish Pub (3701 Banks Street). There's a festive evening in store for you with FREE DRINKS and FREE FOOD plus:
- 5 to 7 pm: Tree trimming...bring in your best handmade ornament...get a delicious free drink and try to win a $20 bar tab
- 7 to 9 pm: Come sit on Santa's lap and get a wee hug from Mrs Claus. You'll get something whether you've been naughty or nice.
- 7 to 9 pm: Help the IRISH NETWORK NEW ORLEANS and THE FRENCH AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE at their meet and greet. Bring an unwrapped gift for "TOYS FOR TOT'S" or a pair of kiddies pajamas and book for THE PAJAMA PROJECT"
- 10pm: A Free drink for every tacky sweater wearer...who will win the Contest
- 9 to Midnight... Sing along to the tunes of Aine O'Doherty and Danny Burns

It's Toys for Tots at the Irish House (1432 St. Charles) all day long! There's a toy drive all day long, and anyone who brings a toy gets the military and service discount. Tonight Comedy Fusion will also be a part of the Toy Drive. The comedy show features RedBean, James Cusimano, Jonah Bascle and J.D. Sledge - Admission is $15 at the door or $5 with an unwrapped donation of a toy!

Saturday Fun!

Get all your holiday presents at the Piety Street Holiday Market at the Old Ironworks (612 Piety) - Saturdays 12/8 and 12/15..Piety Street Market decks the halls for *two* big holiday markets. Creative art, handmade jewelry and crafts, homemade goodies, vintage collectibles, flea market finds & great local music with:
Saturday, December 8: Jesse Reeks
Saturday, December 15: Frenchmen String Trio
12/8 & 12/15: New Orleans Nightingales: Ingrid Lucia & Friends

And you don't want to miss Freretstivus!! A true holiday celebration on Freret and Napoleon from Noon to 5:00 pm....There's gonna be a 90 local vendors, selling food, art, jewelry, and collectibles. Please shop locally for the holiday season.
This fun fest features:
*The Airing of Grievances. Win a prize if your grievance is selected!
*Feats of Strength. Tug of war with the Big Easy Roller Girls.
*Freretstivus Pole. Unadorned, of course.
*Regifting Booth. Give one. Take one.
*Pet Adoptions from Zeus' Place
*FREE live music by with - 3 Piece Spicy at Noon - ChaWa at 1:45 - Parishoners at 3:30...Don't miss out on the fun!!

It's that time again boys and girls. The Very Bad Santa Crawl 2012!! No matter if you've been naughty or nice all year. It's time to get your RED on and bust loose in the Quarter. And...What a Deal! Only $5 and what do you get for this? A Very Bad Santa button for your collection, discounted drinks at all stops, ladies dancing on the bar at Coyote Uglies, no cover charge to Barely Legal with VIP access - saving you up to $25, and a number of surprises along the way. What a night!  Santas, Elves, Reindeer Games, Ho Ho's, and YOU!  Want to pay now and get it over with? Only $5 online, and $10 day of because you are making us work when we want to be partying. If you pay online, your wristband will be waiting for you when you show up. https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=HSK6U56HX7E8U


All Weekend Long Fun!

Celebrate Holiday on the Boulevard! For the thirteenth consecutive year, music and merriment are the order of the day as Ashé Cultural Arts Center (1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.) lights up the boulevard with musicians, actors, merchants, and the community, creating an astonishing holiday family festival and marketplace in Central City New Orleans. All entertainment is indoors, free and open to the public. Check out the amazing schedule of events below:

FRIDAY
10:00 am Kwanzaa Demonstration with the iconic Mama YéYé Imagination Tour (dance & drum workshop) with Bamboula 2000
Noon Community Leaders Luncheon and Open House
7-10 pm “Healing Force” CD Release Party

SATURDAY
Noon – 8:00 pm | Vendor Marketplace
Noon Ashé’s Kuumba Institute
12:45 pm Ashé College Unbound
2:00 pm Green Charter School Dancing Dolls & STV Dancers
2:30 pm Lucky Lou with F & S
2:45 pm Cfreedom
3:00 pm Black Kold Madina
3:45 pm Rudy Mills & The Caribbean Funk Band
5:00 pm Bamboula 2000 with special guests Guardians of the Flame Mardi Gras Indians
6:30 pm The Healing Force All-stars featuring Kidd Jordan, Germaine Bazzle, Rev. Lois Dejean
Kalamu ya Salaam, Monica McIntyre, Morikeba Kouyate, Carol Bebelle

SUNDAY
1:00 pm – 7:30 pm | Vendor Marketplace
1:00 pm Golden Voices Community Choir
1:30 pm John Mosley & Friends
2:15 pm Gina Brown
3:15 pm Phat Word
4:00 pm Lloyd Daly & Friends
4:45 pm Michaela Harrison
5:30 pm Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Orchestra
7:00 pm Zion Trinity

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 be sure to tune in to WWOZ today from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm it's the Fund Drive and time to pledge with my hubby Bill deTurk - remember to support "your live local music" station!!!


www.gratisnola.com

Weekend Fun - More Tales, Henry's & Island Aid!!

Okay everybody, I'm going to have limited access to my computer today.....but there's loads of fun going on and I don't want you to miss it!!....Be sure to check out the daily Tales Tasting Room schedule at Tales of the Cocktail (this may be causing my computer problems)!!...there is great free stuff going on daily through Sunday!!

Also, do not forget about the big Henry's Bar (5101 Magazine) 110th Anniversary Block Party celebration going on Saturday early Saturday afternoon through the evening...this should not be missed. Come celebrate 110 years of Henry's Uptown Bar! Admission is free. There will be three bands on an outside stage: 3rd Line Brass Band, John Lisi and Deltafunk, and Weathered! Music from Henry's famous jukebox will be played in between bands. Cochon de Lait and Jambalaya will be available for purchase. So stop by for a little bit or stay all day. This will be the party of the century with a few hundred of your closest Henry's friends!!

And of course...you have to head on down to Grand Isle on Saturday for the big benefit concert!!!!

ISLAND AID FESTIVAL

CHECK OUT THIS AMAZING LINE UP and click on the link for more info on the big day!!

DOORS OPEN @ 10:45am

STAGE I

12:15pm - 1:15pm AMANDA SHAW & THE CUTE GUYS
2:15pm - 3:30pm LITTLE RIVER BAND
4:45pm - 6:00pm LEANN RIMES
6:30pm - 8:00pm THREE DOG NIGHT

STAGE II

10:45am - 11:15am HURRICANE LEVEE BAND
11:30am - 12:15pm THE WISEGUYS
1:15pm - 2:15pm THE TOPCATS
3:30pm - 4:45pm DOUG KERSHAW
The location is on the Beach, across from the Grand Isle Community Center, Grand Isle, LA

Have a good one and for more good stuff going on this weekend check out the WWOZ Livewire!!