Now that Halloween and Voodoo Fest have come and gone, it’s time to take a little breather from the no holds barred celebration. Not that it wasn’t a total blast, but in a city with non-stop action, it’s refreshing sometimes to turn the volume down a bit from 11. That’s not to say this weekend is uneventful, because that’s certainly not the case. With a food and music festival in the Bywater, an annual bookfair and a festival devoted entirely to the female gender, there’s unlimited opportunity to broaden your social and cultural horizons.
Friday, November 4:
1. New Orleans Bookfair Release Party – A spoken word hootenanny at The Marigny Theater in Allways Lounge will kick start the NOLA Bookfair this weekend. The party signifies the release of two books included in the next day’s Book Fair: “Y’all’s Problem” by Dirty Coast Press and “New Orleans: The Underground Guide V.2″ by UNO Press. Entertainment will be provided via The Rap Game, an amateur rapping competition, as well as songs and stories by members of Happy Talk Band, Rotary Downs and Black Market Butchers. If all of this isn’t reason enough to come, the $10 cover includes getting a book of your choice.
Saturday, November 5:
2. Mirliton Festival – The Mirliton Festival in the Bywater is the ultimate festival celebrating the unique and eclectic culture of the neighborhood. For one day, the Bywater’s exceptional restaurants – The Joint, Satsuma, Jack Dempsey’s, Sugar Park and more – will take on the challenge of creating a dish featuring the odd little green vegetable. Bacchanal will provide the perfect wine to pair with the culinary works and resident bands like Hurray for the Riff Raff, Happy Talk Band, Little Freddie King with Guitar Lightning Lee and the king of trumpet and BBQ himself, Kermit Ruffinswill provide the soundtrack for the day.
New Orleans ladies march in the YeMaYa parade at Ladyfest
3. YeMaYa Parade – The women-only walking parade as part of Ladyfest that’s closing out this weekend marches through the French Quarter, beginning at Buffa’s on Esplanade and Burgundy and ending with a party at Maison on Frenchmen St. Over 25 female krewes will be joining the parade, including the Cameltoe Lady Steppers, Lady Backjumpers, the Pussyfooters, Sirens of New Orleans and the women from New Orleans Ladies Arm Wrestling. Marching commences at 6 p.m.
4. NOLA Bookfair – Bibliophiles: rejoice! The 10th Annual New Orleans Bookfair is here! On the corner of Chartres and Frenchmen Streets surrounding FAB (Faubourg Marigny Art and Books) will be great literary finds and the kids’ space equipped with a sandbox, sidewalk chalk and a book making station. A few doors down at Three Muses and across the street at Washington Square Park will be readings. Also across the street, Café Brazil will be holding Boggle and Scrabble games all day. Come on out for an afternoon of some old-fashioned culture.
Sunday, November 6:
5. Sebadoh – ’90s lo-fi indie rock gods, Sebadoh, grace the One Eyed Jack’s stage Sunday night. Come hear the band that made the album “Bake Sale” famous and treat yourself to some rock therapy.
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