Arnez J shakes up the Big Easy Comedy Festival

Arnez J

Arnez J’s act is, in a word, energetic. The veteran comedian is a blur onstage, jumping between impressions of his mom to a dancing uncle to a whole family of rednecks he once met at a baseball game. The physicality of Arnez J’s act makes perfect sense when one considers that before becoming a standup comedian, … Continue reading →

New Orleans events calendar, May 23-29, 2013

PROPELLER 2013 GALA: 6 p.m., investor hour; 7 p.m., gala, Propeller Incubator, 4035 Washington Ave., New Orleans. Highlights from the Propeller Accelerator Fellows, small plates, beer & wine, entertainment and silent auction. Cocktail attire. Investor Hour and gala, $80; gala, $35, advance; $40, door. http://propellergala.eventbrite.com or http://gopropeller.org. CAF RED TAIL … Continue reading →

New Orleans stages calendar, May 23-29, 2013

“THE ADVENTURES OF BUTT BOY AND TIGGER”: 8 p.m., The Elm Theatre, 220 Julia St., New Orleans. $15. (504) 218-0055 or http://www.elmtheatre.org. “NEXT TO NORMAL”: 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Freeport-McMoRan Theater, The Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp St., New Orleans. Performance by Southern Repertory Theatre. (504) 522-6545. Continue reading →

New Orleans Arts Calendar for May 23-29

BENEITO’S ART: 3618 Magazine St., New Orleans. Jazz, blues and Carnival-themed oil paintings by Bernard Beneito. Gallery hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. (504) 891-9170. CALLAN CONTEMPORARY: 518 Julia St., New Orleans. Gallery hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. “Systems” by James Kennedy, on view through May 25. For more … Continue reading →

Don’t Miss events for May 23-29, 2013

Photo provided by 19 Fund -- Donald Harrison Jr. will organize the 19 Fund benefit at Tipitina's for victims of the Mother's Day shooting.

Benefit aids victims
of Mother’s Day shooting Tipitina’s hosts a concert to raise money for the 19 Fund, aiding the 19 victims of the May 12 Mother’s Day second-line shooting. Brass bands, Mardi Gras Indians and other musicians and entertainers will perform. At … Continue reading →

Cripple Creek tackles fair housing with ‘Clybourne Park’

Monica R. Harris and Emilie Whelan in

Most theatrical performances inspire some sort of emotional reaction, but most times once the play is over the emotion fades into the darkness of the empty theater. In the spring of 2006, Andrew Vaught and Andrew Kingsley founded Cripple Creek Theatre Company in an effort to compel audiences to use that emotion to exact social change. Continue reading →

Volunteers, scientists add up for BioBlitz, festival in Marrero

Photo provided by National Park Service -- Palmettos and Spanish moss are prevalent at the Bataria Preserve in Marrero.

If there’s a scientist in you just waiting to jump out, head to BioBlitz this weekend. There, volunteer teams will be working alongside real scientists to count alligators, catch insects, spot birds and examine aquatic invertebrates within the 23,000 acres of the Barataria Preserve in Marrero. The preserve is part of the Jean Lafitte National Historical … Continue reading →

Audra McDonald stars in ‘Broadway at NOCCA’ series

Audra McDonald

When the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts Institute (NOCCA) began putting together plans for a “Broadway at NOCCA” series, organizers had big dreams as to whom they wanted to bring to Lupin Hall, the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts’ main performance venue. They dreamed big, and they got big, as in five-time Tony Award-winner Audra … Continue reading →

Birdfoot Festival stages chamber music concerts, classes

Photos provided by Birdfoot Festival -- Jenna Sherry

In its earliest years, chamber music was played privately for royalty and the elite. Even when it moved into concert halls, access was limited to those who could afford the luxury. A New Orleans-based organization is seeking to make chamber music accessible to the average person. In keeping with that mission, the Birdfoot Chamber Music … Continue reading →

New Orleans Music Calendar for May 16-22

THURSDAYS AT TWILIGHT SERIES: 5 p.m., gates open; 6 p.m., performance begins, New Orleans Botanical Garden, City Park, 1 Palm Drive, New Orleans. With James River Movement. $10, adults; $3, children ages 5-12. http://www.neworleanscitypark.com. OGDEN AFTER HOURS: 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Ogden Museum of Southern Art, 925 Camp St., New Orleans. Featuring Ignatius Saxophone … Continue reading →

New Orleans Arts Calendar for May 16-22

FRIDAY NIGHTS AT NOMA: 5 p.m., New Orleans Museum of Art, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, City Park, New Orleans. Lecture by Lisa Dennison and a screening of “Beasts of the Southern Wild” in the garden. (504) 658-4100 or http://noma.org. BENEITO’S ART: 3618 Magazine St., New Orleans. Jazz, … Continue reading →

New Orleans music calendar, May 9-15, 2013

THURSDAYS AT TWILIGHT SERIES: 5 p.m., gates open; 6 p.m., performance begins, New Orleans Botanical Garden, City Park, 1 Palm Drive, New Orleans. With Leah Chase and Cindy Scott. $10, adults; $3, children ages 5-12. http://www.neworleanscitypark/garden. OGDEN AFTER HOURS: 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Ogden Museum of Southern Art, 925 Camp St., New Orleans. Featuring Jimmy … Continue reading →

New Orleans stages calendar, May 9-15, 2013

“DREAMGIRLS” FEATURING SPECIAL GUEST JENNIFER HOLLIDAY: 8 p.m., Lawless Memorial Chapel, Dillard University, New Orleans. All proceeds will go toward student scholarships. $25. http://dillard.edu. “THE ADVENTURES OF BUTT BOY AND TIGGER”: 8 p.m., The Elm Theatre, 220 Julia St., New Orleans. $15. (504) 218-0055 or http://www.elmtheatre.org.

New Orleans art calendar, May 9-15, 2013

AWARDS RECEPTION: 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Garden District Gallery, 1332 Washington Ave., New Orleans. Awards reception for Louisiana Watercolor Society International Exhibition, on display through May 25. Gallery hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. (504) 891-3032. OPENING RECEPTION FOR JOEL PICKFORD-PHOTOGRAPHS OF SOUTHERN LOUISIANA: 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Octavia Art Gallery, 4532 Magazine … Continue reading →

A carnivore’s guide to Jazz Fest

Advocate photo by Scott Gold --   Alligator Pie from  Cajun Nights Catering

For me, a shameless carnivore of the highest order, meat is always my first thought when I hit the food areas at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival with a hungry belly and a wallet full of cash. And since you, like me, might not be able to indulge in every single meaty delight at … Continue reading →

Jazz Fest offers international flavors

Advocate photo by Scott Gold --  Bennachin Restaurant offers poulet fricassee, jama-jama and fried plantains.

Some folks — first-time festers, for certain — might not realize that the cuisine available at the Fair Grounds doesn’t begin and end with Cajun and Creole classics. The offerings for festival revelers looking for a taste of the exotic do not disappoint, as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is … Continue reading →

Don’t miss events for New Orleans, May 2-8, 2013

Photo provided by Disney on Ice -- Merida in Disney's 'Brave,' in Disney On Ice.

DISNEY ON ICE AT LAKEFRONT ARENA Disney on Ice presents “Rockin’ Ever After,” nine performances at the UNO Lakefront Arena featuring ice skating, musical scenes from Disney and Pixar movies such as “The Little Mermaid,” “Brave” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Thursday-Sunday, $20-$65; tickets available at (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Continue reading →

New Orleans stages calendar, May 2-8, 2013

DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS “ROCKIN’ EVER AFTER”: UNO Lakefront Arena, 6801 Franklin Ave., New Orleans. Check website or call for showtimes. $18-$65. (800) 745-3000 or http://www.Ticketmaster.com or http://arena.uno.edu. “THE ADVENTURES OF BUTT BOY AND TIGGER”: 8 p.m., The Elm Theatre, 220 Julia St., New Orleans. $15. (504) 218-0055 or http://www.elmtheatre.org.
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New Orleans events calendar, May 2-8, 2013

“WAIT WAIT... DON’T TELL ME!” LIVE: 7 p.m., AMC Elmwood Palace 20, 1200 Elmwood Park Blvd., Harahan. Quiz show host Peter Sagal and judge/scorekeeper Carl Kasell welcome panelists Paula Poundstone, Mo Rocca and Tom Bodett. http://www.amctheatres.com. WHITNEY ZOO-TO-DO: Audubon Zoo, 6500 Magazine St. New Orleans. Silent auction, … Continue reading →