Category Archives: New Orleans Events

Luck of the Irish: St. Patty’s Day Celebrations in New Orleans

March 10, 2013 – 9:20 am

Catching Cabbage!

Ask any native New Orleanian about their heritage, and you might be surprised by how often you’ll hear “Irish” as an answer. The large population of Irish folk has spurred long-standing traditions in the city to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day each year (ever heard of the Irish Channel neighborhood?). Donning their green, New Orleanians partake in various feats of revelry, from Irish food and parades to random kisses and the infamous green beer and catching all the ingredients for an Irish stew.

Many different Irish bars host their own version of a St. Patty’s Day party. Parasol’s just a few blocks off of Magazine St hosts their famous annual block party with lots of music, beer and food, which starts on Thursday, March 14th and continues on Saturday, March 16^th and Sunday, March 17^th. Tracey’s on Magazine St hosts their own annual celebration with lots of green beer and plenty of entertainment on the same days as Parasol’s. During the parades farther down on Magazine St, bars like the Bulldog and Balcony Bar host huge parties as well with plenty of green beer, jello shots and the like. read more »

Tags Irish Channel St. Patrick's Day Club, Parasol's, St. patrick's Day Parade in new Orleans, Tracey's on Magazine St. | Permalink | Comments Off

New Orleans Events

After the Super Bowl

February 8, 2013 – 2:27 pm

We waited, and we watched while our city was transformed for the 2013 Super Bowl; and we wondered whether it would all be worth it. YES, it was! So exciting that Super Bowl XLVII, between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens, happened right here, where we don’t just know how to throw a party, we live a party. For our tenth ever Super Bowl, now at the renamed and renovated Mercedes-Benz Superdome, we postponed a few Carnival parades, but the Super Bowl’s magic took over. The weather was beautiful, and the whole town was scrubbed, shiny, and dressed up in its best clothes. Is New Orleans “back?” Yep, big time! It was enough to make us cry during the game. What about those commercials? read more »

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New Orleans Events

4th of July in New Orleans

June 27, 2012 – 10:11 am

It’s about to be the Fourth of July. Again. Our town was here before the American independence from Britain, but we’re not counting that, because we weren’t in the country then anyway. Heck, some people think we’re still not really American! And we had our own war, in a way, here—the War of 1812, featuring the famous Battle of New Orleans. That war in many ways made America a unified country, and we’re celebrating the bicentennial of that this year.

Nonetheless, we love the Fourth of July. With the Mississippi River as the launching pad, we set off fireworks from dueling barges (we used to have duels here, too, under the famous Dueling Oaks in Audubon Park). We call that one Go Fourth on the River, and you can get a terrific view from ACROSS the river in Algiers Point. But the official location is Woldenberg Park, and it’s free. The fireworks show this year is Sunday at 9PM.

Tags Beast of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin, Court 13, Fourth of July in New Orleans, Go Fourth on the River, Joy Theater, Woldenberg Park | Permalink | Comments Off

New Orleans Events

Celebrating Juneteenth at Congo Square, New Orleans

June 20, 2012 – 5:09 pm

The 19th of June is “Nineteenth,” a holiday begun in Texas and originating from President Lincoln’s proclamation that slaves were emancipated. He made the announcement New Year’s Day, 1863, but in Galveston, Texas, the slaves didn’t get the word until June 19, 1865, when 2000 Union troops came to town to enforce the Proclamation. Two years late is a long time for news to spread, even in the 19th century across Texas, and rumor has it that slaveholders didn’t let them know until then. The slaves there began celebrations with barbecues and picnics at churches, and the tradition spread.

Tags African-American Museum on Governor Nicholls, Congo Square New Orleans, emancipation. slavery, Freedom Day, Juneteenth, Treme | Permalink | Comments Off

New Orleans Events

Bicycle Second Line May 2012

May 9, 2012 – 11:22 am

We are a particularly bike-friendly town here in New Orleans in many ways. The streets are level—no hills! And the city itself is small and compact enough to get around in easily. According to the 2009 United States Census, New Orleans is ranked sixth of cities with populations over 250,000, having the largest percentage of workers using a bicycle to commute to their job. Bicyclists account for 2.47 percent of all the city’s commuters.

In the last couple of years, the city has increased bike lanes and promoted bicycling as an environmentally-friendly and economical way to get around. It’s part of a national trend—and has anyone been to the gas station lately? Wow, gas prices are high. Before Hurricane Katrina, there existed seven miles of shared lanes, bike lanes, and bike paths throughout the city. Now there’s much more—see http://nolacycle.noladata.org for a map of New Orleans bike facilities, highlighting potholes, traffic projects, and everything that might make a difference to somebody on two wheels. Also, the long-awaited Lafitte Corridor project is under way between the French Quarter and Lakeview, transforming a 3.1-mile strip into a stunning public park.

Tags Bayou Boogaloo, Bicycle Second Line 2012, bicycling in New Orleans, Bike Easy, Lafitte Corridor | Permalink | Comments Off

New Orleans Events

NOLA Navy Week

April 18, 2012 – 10:26 am

The country was young in 1812, but Louisiana had already been around for a while. Although we achieved statehood only on April 30, 1812, we had been a colony under France from 1699-1763 and Spain from 1763-1803. With the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, of course, Louisiana became an American possession. Although it was rough going at first, with the Louisiana Catholic French and Spanish Creole culture colliding with the Americans, we all pulled together when the country went to war. In many ways, America gained its identity as a nation during the War of 1812. Certainly, that’s when our “song” was written– what later became our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner.

This week, we get to relive those events of 200 years ago, when the very young United States of America went to war with England in the War of 1812. Louisiana played a part in the war, of course, and NOLA Navy Week is kicking off the commemoration of the war this week, from April 17 through April 23. Similar celebrations will take place in Norfolk, New York, Cleveland, Boston and Baltimore, but we get the honor of beginning and ending the celebration. In 2015, on the bicentennial of the Battle of New Orleans, there’ll be another celebration. And that’s only appropriate, because the British were out to get us here in 1812, and we stood our ground at the Battle of New Orleans, Battle of Lake Borgne, and another assault in Algiers and later at Fort St. Philip in lower Placquemines Parish before the British finally gave up.

Tags Battle of New Orleans, Bicentennial of the Battle of New Orleans, Class A Tall Ships, NOLA Navy Week, War of 1812 | Permalink | Comments Off

New Orleans Events

Become Artfully AWARE

January 26, 2012 – 4:24 pm

Becoming Artfully AWARE: Linking Local and International Communities through the Arts. The special event will be held at New Orleans Museum of Art Friday, February 3rd, 5pm – 10pm

Hear live music by Irvin Mayfield Jazz Playhouse’s Musical Director, Michael Watson, and be amazed by a cultural performance from Guardians of the Flame, Mardi Gras Indian Tribe.

View exhibitions from Ogden Museum of Southern Art & Contemporary Arts Center of New Orleans. Marvel at artwork & photography created by Professional Artists from New Orleans & around the world including: Latin America, Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia.

Tags Contemporary Arts Center, Faulkner Society, Guardians of the Flame, Irvin Mayfied, Mardi Gras Indians, New Orleans Museum of Art, Ogden Museum of Southern Art | Permalink | Comments Off