Happy V-Day with Vino and Some Love Music!!

It's a lovely Thursday - Happy Valentine's Day!!

Thursday Events

Start you're evening off with some romantic vino!!

Don't miss out on the weekly wine tasting at Cork and Bottle (3700 Orleans ) about 5:00 pm in Mid-City - Taste some amazing wines.  So, come sip, shop and get your wine and purchase your favorite wine for 10% off! You can also stop at Clever (right next door) for a great Valentine's Day cocktail after attending the free wine tasting.

Special Valentine's Day Flite Nite at Swirl Wine Bar (3143 Ponce de Lone) so start your evening with a bubbles flite at the bar! Try four delicious sparklers including the staff favorite Jean Velut Brut Champagne for $15. Don't feel like a full flite of bubbles? Just add the Jean Velut or any of the featured bubblies into a flite of your choice! We'll also have chocolate plates available with 3 different selections from Bittersweet Confections for $8. No reservations neccessary, just pull up a seat at the bar and pick up your boarding pass! They're starting at 5:30 just in case you have early dinner plans!

Love Concert!

It's a romantic evening of music at the Ogden Southern Museum of Art (925 Camp St.) - Ogden after Hours. The concert kicks off at 6:00 pm as the Ogden presents Dr. Valerie Francis and Dr. Wilfred Delphin.  Dr. Valerie Francis performs locally, nationally and internationally. Leading roles to her credit include: Aida, Bess, Serena, Magda, Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, Musetta, Madame Euterpova, Madama Butterfly and Carmen. Dr. Wilfred Delphin is one half of the internationally renowned piano duo Delphin and Romain, which debuted in 1977 at Carnegie Hall!  Tonight the O BAR's celebrates February with the O-Margarita! *Remember with your Ogden membership all of these excellent concerts are FREE!!!  And....my hubby Bill deTurk will be doing the interview today - so you definitely don't want to miss it!

House Party!

It's a Valentine's House Party y'all - with Keith Burnstein and Lynn Drury! They've been having so much fun playing duo shows around NOLA and the Gulf Coast that we decided to share the love on Valentine's Day. So join them at their friends, Jake and Allisyn(and Camille)'s house, for a great night of Lynn and Keith originals, played in an intimate setting (1316 Joliet Street). They'd love to see you there! Doors at 7pm - Concert will be two short sets starting at 8pm SHARP.
Please bring $10 suggested donation for the artists and a snack or drink of your choice. It's a potluck house party yall!

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

Happy Vendredi Gras!!!!

Happy Vendredi Gras!!!

The Krewe of Hermes kick off the parades Uptown at 6:00 pm!! The founding fathers of Hermes were local businessmen who formed and incorporated their organization in 1936. The first ball and parade were held in 1937. As per tradition, the Hermes captain leads the procession in full regalia on a white horse.  Often named one of the most beautiful carnival parades of the season....you don't want to miss this one!



Le Krewe d'Etat rolls at 6:30 pm...The highly satirical krewe keeps its theme secret until the parade rolls. The name is a pun on "coup d'etat", which is the takeover of a ruling party by an outside force. The krewe "heeds only edicts from their Dictator, whose identity is never revealed." The organization's most coveted throw is a strand of glow-in-the-dark beads with green eyeballs.

The famed Budweiser Clydesdales will lead the parade up the longer Uptown-to-Downtown route, an idea initiated by the D'Etat captain. Nearly a dozen marching bands (St. Augustine, Brother Martin High School, Citadel's Summerall Guard, Central Lafourche High School, the St. Charles Streetcar Band and others) are also scheduled to provide musical accompaniment as the parade sojourns through town.  The identity of the "Dictator," as the D'Etat monarch is known, is never revealed. He will ride on his own signature float, followed by the Dictator's Banana Wagon, the High Priest float and others.



Established in 2000, the Krewe of Morpheus is named for the god of dreams and follows d'Etat at 7:00 pm! The krewe strives to be both inclusive in membership as well as provide parade goers an 'old-school' parade experience. Morpheus is one of the largest co-ed krewes in the area and kicks off the long weekend leading up to Mardi Gras.



And after the parades you got music!!!

Sorry, folks, I'm feeling lazy...the morning after parades will do that to you...don't forget the free shows at the Howlin' Wolf the next few days - Check out Chickie Wah Wah's (2828 Canal) Endymion party tomorrow (great place for music, food and clean bathrooms!!)

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

Happy Jeudi Gras!!

Happy Jeudi Gras Everybody...the parades keep on rolling along!!

First up this evening are the Knights of Babylon at 5:45 pm....Formed in 1939 by professional men of New Orleans, the Knights of Babylon proudly adhere to traditional float design, which has remain unchanged for over 60 years. Also according to tradition, they continue to light floats with flambeaux and ride on 12-man floats. The king's float is drawn by a team of mules, followed by 12 riding lieutenants. Collectors of Mardi Gras throws are expected to line the route in droves, in quest of Babylon's exclusive jester heads and hats, Knights of Babylon backpacks, Knights of Babylon lighted disc necklaces, soft baseballs, cups and doubloons.



Following right behind is the highly secretive Knights of Chaos, formed by former members of the Knights of Momus, first paraded on the traditional Uptown route in 2000 and does not unveil its theme until the procession takes to the streets.

Baseball-type collectible cards, depicting each float and with a description of that particular title, will be thrown by Chaos members. This tradition began in 2006 and was the first of its kind in the history of Carnival throws.  Plentiful beads and trinkets are also promised, including Chaos Orange Demon lighted beads, plus plush Chaos knights, float-specific cups and more. Also expected to be thrown to spectators will be doubloons and many trinkets signifying the generosity of the riders.



And rounding up the evening the Krewe of Muses rolls on a slightly different parade route (see below), named for the daughters of Zeus and patrons of the arts and sciences, is New Orleans' only all-female night parade. The parade has become one of Mardi Gras' favorites, thanks not only to its humorous and biting parade themes, but also for its sought-after throws....SHOES!!



And AFTER the parades there's free music!!!


At the Howlin' Wolf (828 S. Peters) every night after the parades thru Lundi Gras!!  Check out the line-up! 
Thursday  - The Revivalist
Friday - Rebirth Brass Band plus Jermaine Quiz
Saturday - Rebirth Brass Band plus Papa Grows Funk
Sunday  - Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk
Monday  - George Porter Jr and the Runnin' Pardners plus Derrick Freeman's Smoker's World

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

Happy Mercredi Gras with Pee-rades, Art and Music!

Happy Mercredi Gras - Hope everyone is having a wonderful week - parades are getting in full swing!!

Wednesday Pee-rades!!

Head on Uptown tonight for a double header of parades this evening!!  The Krewe of Druids, named for the ancient order of Celtic priests, rolls at 6:30.  The theme remains a secret until they roll!!

The Krewe of Nyx, immediately follows Druids.  Get excited for the second annual roll of the all-women parade named for the Greek goddess of the night!  It's another secret theme for this 26 float krewe..so get out there to check the ladies out tonight!

Wednesday Fun Stuff!

Carnival Art Show tonight at Crescent City Brewhouse (527 Decatur St.)! Join us for the opening of a carnival art show with FREE great brews and food before heading to parades. Five local artists showcase their work on the Brew House walls including:
Simon of New Orleans - Folk Art
Mark Kirk of UP/Unique Products - luminated wall art and chandeliers
Sontiga Reid Hall - Surrealist Paintings
Sarah Ferguson - Portraiture
Hayley Gabertavage - Fine Art

Experience an Evening of Cultural Indulgences at it's new location in the  Jazz Club at the JW Marriott (614 Canal Street) from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tonight's event features Creative Mardi Gras Masks and Headpieces by local artist Cely Pedescleaux- plus music from Tony Seville, a spirit tasting with complimentary hors d’oeuvres....Make a purchase of $1,000 or more by  Artist tonight and the JW Marriott will give you a 1 night complimentary stay in the Presidential Bi-Level Suite a $1,500 value!! (Parking is available at a special event Rate of $5 on Common Street)

Wednesday Evening Music

After your Uptown parades head on over to Dmac's Bar and Grill (542 S. Jefferson Davis Pkwy) for a Mid-City Mix Up with Papa John Gros and Lynn Drury at 9:00pm. Lynn and John Gros roll you into that Mardi Gras spirit tonight!

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

Happy Tuesday w/Pre-Mardi Gras Fun with Veggies and Music!

Happy Tuesday!

Farmer's Market!

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. Today for the Green Plate Special Chef Lisa Barbato  will be there the whole month of February to preview her soon to open café, Rivista. Look for it on Magazine Street in March. Until then, enjoy Lisa's themed lunches all month long! This week, Lisa is taking us on a trip to Jerusalem with spiced goat casserole with eggplant and sweet potatoes; chickpea soup with homemade pita; roasted cauliflower and hazelnut salad with pomegranate; spicy beet, leek and walnut salad with arugula; and for dessert, orange almond syrup cake and honey-pecan fingers....yum!

And if you want more fresh veggies head on over to the Hollygrove Market.   You can go by their location at 8301 Olive Street between Noon and 6:00 pm.  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" today!

-Strawberries (Johnsdale Farms, Ponchatoula, LA)
-Brussel Sprouts (Fekete Farms, Hungarian Settlement, LA)
-Beets (Fekete Farms, Hungarian Settlement, LA)
-Kale or Chard (Fekete Farms/Garden Guy Produce)
-Navel Oranges (A & K Citrus, Braithwaite, LA)
-Cabbage (Monica’s Okra World, Garyville, LA)
-Beefsteak or Lorenzo Tomatoes (Tomott's, La Rose, LA)
-Pink Grapefruit (A & K Citrus, Braithwaite, LA)
-Turnips (Monica’s Okra World, Garyville, LA)
-Green Onions (Fekete Farms, Hungarian Settlement, LA)
-U-Pick: Lettuce Head, Salad Mix, or Radish (2 Acre Farm/Grow Dat Youth Farm/Monica’s Okra World)

Good Music Tonight!

There's a great musical evening on the Avenue at the The Columns (3811 St. Charles Ave.) at 8:00 p.m. tonight!  Have a fancy cocktail and listen to the guitar sounds of John Rankin.

Head on over to Mid-City and to Chickie Wah Wah (2828 Canal) for another great threesome with Tommy Malone (you know him from the Subdudes) with some special surprise guests at 8:00 pm!!

There's some fun on Frenchmen tonight too 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!

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!

It's a fun night over at the Maple Leaf Bar on Oak Street...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 - Get your Mardi Gras week started off right!! 

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

Happy Monday with an Art Show and Good Music!!

Happy Monday - Hope everyone survived the Super Bowl activities now it's on to more Carnival time!!

Special Event!

Throw Me Something Local: Awards Banquet & Art Show - By Bywater Art Lofts (3725 Dauphine St.) tonight from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. The Carnival season explodes with a February art show! I Heart Louisiana, an organization dedicated to preserving the ecological and economic health of Louisiana's people, culture, and wildlife, will be this month's host. It provides low-priced, high quality & locally produced parade products that strengthen the community by creating jobs and preserving cultural heritage. Artists will have on display Mardi Gras-themed masks, costumes, paintings, sculptures, and parade throws (and that's just the tip of the iceberg!).

In addition to the exhibition, the show will award prizes for the winners of the "Throw Me Something Local Mardi Gras Throw-Making Contest" (details for the contest can be found at:
https://www.facebook.com/IHeartLouisiana/info)
Food will be provided by Hollygrove Farm and Holly Tamale.
The show is sponsored by I HeartLouisiana.org, HBO, Stay Local, DancingMan504, Galeria Alegria, Green Project, Bon Castor, Krewe of Chewbacchus, Bearded Oysters, All Things Local Radio WGSO 990, Life City, Hollygrove Market & Farm, Dirty Coast, Louisiana Bicycle Festival, Abita Mystery House, Bywater Art Lofts, Krewe of Kolossos, and Nola Voodoo Cakes. Sooooo........Come on out and definitely plan on having a stupid great time!!!

Monday Night Music!

Head on Uptown and enjoy some cocktails over at the Columns Hotel (3811 St. Charles)....Tonight David Doucet of BeauSoleil fame performs at 8:00 pm!

There's good times in Mid-City over at Chickie Wah Wah (2828 Canal).  They've got an amazing Monday night show with Phil DeGruy & Cloud Sharp 9 at 8:00 pm and come hungry the kitchen is open with good food from the Sammich!

Lots of fun around Frenchmen Street!

Glen David Andrews is at d.b.a. (618 Frenchmen) for his Monday gig at 10:00 pm! So come on out and say hello, and enjoy the music!

Be sure to make a stop by the Spotted Cat (623 Frenchmen) early for this great line-up of music...Sarah McCoy at 4:00 pm, Dominick Grillo and The Frenchmen Street All Stars at 6:00 pm and be sure to stay on for the Krisitna Morales & The Bayou Shufflers at 10:00 pm!

And stop into Snug Harbor (626 Frenchmen) for one of the longest running performers in NOLA - It's Monday night with the Charmaine Neville Band at 8:00 pm - Yes, there's a cover, but Charmaine is worth every penny!  While you're there get a Monsoon (watch out their dangerous) and one of the best burgers in town!

To top off you're evening....you gotta go Uptown and over to the Maple Leaf (8316 Oak) for Papa Grows Funk at 10:00 pm - they'll get your Monday night funked up -remember there's a cover - but it's worth it!!!

Have a great one...and for more musical fun check out WWOZ Livewire - http://www.wwoz.org/new-orleans-community/music-calendar...until tomorrow!



www.gratisnola.com

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!!!


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