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Satchmo SummerFest Is Coming Up!

He’s one of New Orleans’ favorite sons, famous for his cornet and trumpet improvisation, throaty scat singing, and bold personality--so it’s only fitting that we honor Louis Armstrong with a music festival each summer around the time of his birth. Armstrong grew up poor in uptown New Orleans when that neighborhood was called "Backatown," raised by his mother and her relatives after his father left the family. He made a bit… Read More »

New Orleans History Lesson: Part Two

Need a primer on New Orleans’ long and storied past? Experience New Orleans offers a two-part snapshot of what happened where in New Orleans, from the city’s founding to the present-day. Whether you’re a NOLA native or new visitor, we bet you’ll learn something! Facing Down Difficulty We left New Orleans at the turn of the century, when the Crescent City was making strides toward expansion and industrialization. Despite its… Read More »

New Orleans History Lesson: Part One

Need a primer on New Orleans’ long and storied past? Experience New Orleans offers a two-part snapshot of what happened where in New Orleans, from the city’s founding to the present-day. Whether you’re a NOLA native or new visitor, we bet you’ll learn something! Starting Out The Gulf South was first inhabited by Native Americans, starting as early as 1000 B.C.E. This would be a pretty long history if we… Read More »

Essence Fest 2012’s Lineup Packs a Punch

This weekend, Essence Fest returns to downtown New Orleans, and it’s bigger than it ever has been, expanding to five full days of contemporary black American music and culture. Legendary soul queen Aretha Franklin headlines, along with Keyshia Cole, Mary J. Blige, D’Angelo, Trey Songz, Eve, the Pointer Sisters, Kirk Franklin and more! Franklin is expected to be honored with Essence’s “Power Award” for her contributions to African-American music. The… Read More »

Go 4th On the River!

We celebrate a lot of things here in Louisiana, from antiques and alligators to wooden boats and zydeco. So it’s nice when the rest of the country gets to join in! On Wednesday, July 4, the Crescent City--and every other American city--celebrates freedom. In 1776, America declared her independence from Britain; New Orleans had been around for over fifty years already, and Louisiana wouldn’t become part of the United States… Read More »

Celebrating Plantations

Close your eyes for a moment. Imagine you’re sitting on a wide wooden porch, crisp breeze blowing through the wooden railing. Maybe you’re sipping a cool mint julep. The porch overlooks a grand vista: twin lines of majestic oaks disappearing into the distance, gardens fading into fields on either side. This was plantation life for some in the early 19th century. For others, it was decidedly less comfortable. These were… Read More »

What’s the Point?

For some New Orleanians, visiting the West Bank is like crossing the Atlantic. It’s a whole different world, especially in the historic community of Algiers, which is almost as old as New Orleans’ French Quarter! Here’s a bit of info on an often-overlooked area of New Orleans. Originally founded in 1719 as a slaughterhouse location and powder storage site, Algiers is said to get its name from its proximity to… Read More »

New Orleans Fun & Free, Part 1

New Orleans is a great place to find entertainment of any kind. It could be live music, a cooking demonstration, an enterprising street performer, a play or, of course, a parade. Often, though, we may find ourselves spending a bit more than we’d like on these diversions.  We want to help you Experience New Orleans without experiencing wallet burnout, so we rounded up our favorite free activities, venues and events… Read More »

Jazz Fest Highlights: Second Weekend

The best of the Fest, day by day. Thursday, May 3 The second weekend of Jazz Fest started off with a talent-packed Thursday lineup. Flow Tribe, the Dukes of Dixieland, Ani DiFranco, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and more highly anticipated acts performed for eager crowds–and all before 6PM. After the early-bird dinner hour came and went, stages across the Fair Grounds were shaken by sets from the mesmerizing Florence +… Read More »

Theater Thursday: Kids Edition!

  (Image via JPAS.org) During festival season in New Orleans, it can be easy to forget that there are kid-friendly events going on, too. For a change of pace, try this upcoming children's show in Covington! How I Became a Pirate May 4 at 9:45AM, 11:15AM and 7:30PM May 5 at 11AM and 2PM May 6 at 2PM $20; $15 kids Greater Covington Center's Fuhrmann Auditorium, 317 N. Jefferson Ave.,… Read More »