New Orleans: Events and Things to Do

In New Orleans, even Wednesdays seem like Weekends. Live music, festivals, theater, dance, museum exhibitions, sports… the list goes on and on. There’s something fun (and often FREE) every day and every night in New Orleans.

Thumbnail image for The Best View of Mardi Gras In New Orleans

The Best View of Mardi Gras In New Orleans

by Stephen Maloney February 2, 2012 Arts & Culture

OK, Mardi Gras is the biggest and best free show on the planet. Anyone can walk up to the parade route and get more or less the same show as anyone else. But there’s a better way to see the parades in New Orleans, especially on Mardi Gras Day. For as little as $5, you can purchase a ticket …

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Thumbnail image for The Organ Grinders: Crashing a Mardi Gras Parade Near You

The Organ Grinders: Crashing a Mardi Gras Parade Near You

by Nikki Carter February 2, 2012 Arts & Culture

In case you’ve somehow forgotten, let me remind you that Krewe du Vieux is this weekend! In my mind, this officially kicks off the Mardi Gras season and this year, I couldn’t be more ready for the festivities. After watching a parade or two, you may start to wonder: who are these amazing people having so much fun shaking their …

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Thumbnail image for GoNOLA Recommends: 5 Things To Do In New Orleans This Weekend

GoNOLA Recommends: 5 Things To Do In New Orleans This Weekend

by Sally Tunmer February 1, 2012 Arts & Culture

On one hand it feels like it was just yesterday and on the other it seems like we’ve been growing gray hairs waiting, but either way Mardi Gras has arrived! This weekend is very exciting as it’s the first parade of the Carnival season! Surrounding the Krewe du Vieux parade are pre and post parties and in addition, this weekend …

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Thumbnail image for GoNOLA Top 5: Best Mardi Gras Throws

GoNOLA Top 5: Best Mardi Gras Throws

by Sally Tunmer January 31, 2012 Arts & Culture

There’s an indiscriminate, irrepressible urge that comes over a person during a Mardi Gras parade. It causes anyone that succumbs to it to lose all control, knocking down women and children in the way without hesitation. The condition I’m referring to is bead lust. A typical sufferer of bead lust is all around. It could be the lady in the …

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Thumbnail image for Dress To Impress at the Mardi Gras Bourbon Street Awards

Dress To Impress at the Mardi Gras Bourbon Street Awards

by Sara Hudson January 30, 2012 Arts & Culture

New Orleans embraces its own. Running of the Bulls, for example, started out as a handful of friends with a hankerin’ to declare superiority over Spain and spank people in the streets. Today thousands participate. Po-Boy Fest, Red Dress Run, even Jazz Fest all had similarly humble origins. New Orleans is the city where we see the unique and raise …

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Thumbnail image for GoNOLA Flickr Pick of the Week: Mardi Gras Super Krewes

GoNOLA Flickr Pick of the Week: Mardi Gras Super Krewes

by Sally Tunmer January 28, 2012 Arts & Culture

Even though Carnival officially starts on Twelfth Night, for some it’s not until the first bite of king cake or the first catch of a bead. If you’re not already in full Mardi Gras mode and are compulsively monitoring how much longer you’ll have to wait for Fat Tuesday (23 days, 10 hours and approximately 5 minutes at the time …

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Thumbnail image for GoNOLA TV Presents: A Mardi Gras How-To Guide

GoNOLA TV Presents: A Mardi Gras How-To Guide

by Sally Tunmer January 27, 2012 Arts & Culture

With Mardi Gras just around the corner, it’s important to be prepared. Mardi Gras isn’t as easy as it looks. Sure, it’s the world’s greatest party, but locals know a secret or two to outlasting the weeks of celebration. Comfort, endurance and toilet access are key to making Mardi Gras the best experience possible, and every year inevitably Mardi Gras …

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Thumbnail image for GoNOLA Top 5: Mardi Gras Parades

GoNOLA Top 5: Mardi Gras Parades

by Sally Tunmer January 24, 2012 Arts & Culture

While many claim to have a favorite Mardi Gras parade, whether its small or big, day or night, everyone can agree on what the main events of Mardi Gras are. These five parades are the most prestigious and the most sought after, and with good reason. Most of the parades on the list have seen Carnival through almost its entire …

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Thumbnail image for Mardi Gras Lubrication: The Greasing of the Poles

Mardi Gras Lubrication: The Greasing of the Poles

by Liz Genest Smith January 23, 2012 Arts & Culture

Believe it or not, in this particular case, “greasing the poles” is not a naughty euphemism. New Orleans is irreverent, but, c’mon! We do have standards! Having said that, this very public, annual Mardi Gras event does involve women, Vaseline, and poles. But fear not, everyone involved is fully clothed and relatively well-behaved for the execution of this utilitarian task …

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Thumbnail image for Krewe du Vieux Doo: A Mardi Gras Ball for All

Krewe du Vieux Doo: A Mardi Gras Ball for All

by The Red Streetcar January 20, 2012 Events

Mardi Gras is described as the world’s largest party. And with good reason – all you need to do to take part is wander down the street to a parade route, watch the parade go by and shout “throw me something, Mister!” No tickets to buy, no cover charge to pay – nothing. But watching a parade is really only …

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Thumbnail image for GoNOLA Top 5: Daytime Mardi Gras Parades

GoNOLA Top 5: Daytime Mardi Gras Parades

by Sally Tunmer January 17, 2012 Arts & Culture

It may be hard to fathom that there is an alternative to the MTV version of Mardi Gras centered around neon colored alcoholic beverages and exposed breasts. While there is plenty of that to enjoy on Bourbon Street, there is actually a tamer side to Mardi Gras. Carnival maintains its time-honored traditions as a celebration for all ages, families and …

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Thumbnail image for Raising Laughs Through Comedy Awareness in New Orleans

Raising Laughs Through Comedy Awareness in New Orleans

by Sara Hudson January 16, 2012 Arts & Culture

When the gods get together to lounge around, eat grapes and peruse their official annals of Most Fun Places To Go Visit, New Orleans always rises to the top of the heap. After all, New Orleans has drawn travelers from across the world for hundreds of years seeking its outlandish fun and ability to laissez les bon temps roule. …

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Thumbnail image for New Orleans Around the Web | Week of January 9

New Orleans Around the Web | Week of January 9

by Sally Tunmer January 13, 2012 Arts & Culture

This week, New Orleans made appearances in blogs, message boards and travel logs buzzing about the NFL playoffs, the ultimate science fiction conference known as Wizard World and reflections on outstanding memories from New Orleans. And, as always, there’s plenty of eye candy to satisfy – or perhaps intensify – a longing for New Orleans cuisine. Enjoy some light leisure …

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Thumbnail image for GoNOLA Top 4: Satirical Mardi Gras Parades

GoNOLA Top 4: Satirical Mardi Gras Parades

by Sally Tunmer January 10, 2012 Arts & Culture

Satire is a deep rooted value in New Orleans Mardi Gras traditions honored in many if not all parades. Making fun of ourselves, our government and the world in general is a sacred practice and a big part of the joy of Mardi Gras. There’s nothing like the giddy feeling of anxiously awaiting the next float in a parade to …

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Thumbnail image for GoNOLA Recommends: 5 Things To Do In New Orleans This Weekend

GoNOLA Recommends: 5 Things To Do In New Orleans This Weekend

by Sally Tunmer January 4, 2012 Arts & Culture

You thought there would be a break after all the holiday and New Year celebrations in New Orleans? That’s cute. This is a big – no huge – weekend in New Orleans. Not only is there the first Saints post-season playoff game and all the tailgate parties preceding the big BCS game on Monday, but more importantly, Carnival season officially …

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Thumbnail image for We Got The Beat: OffBeat Honors the Best in New Orleans Music

We Got The Beat: OffBeat Honors the Best in New Orleans Music

by Sally Tunmer January 2, 2012 Events

Even though the New Year is upon us, the musical strides of 2011 in New Orleans continue to be applauded. The Best of the Beat Awards are kind of like the New Orleans Grammys – and not to mention share a nominee with the actual Grammy Awards: Rebirth Brass Band – presented by the New Orleans music authority, OffBeat Magazine. …

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