It's kickoff time: Carnival kickoff, that is. Twelfth Night begins the official Carnival season and a chance to eat king cake (after midnight Friday), get in the parade mode and get ready for the fun that is Mardi Gras.
From left to right: Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan and Elijah Wood at a previous Fan Expo event.
Three days of fun, fantasy and a bit of fur are in store at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for FAN EXPO, the playground for those into comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming and cosplay. With a slew of industry entertainers expected, like Elijah Wood, Charlie Cox, Katee Sackoff, Bruce Campbell, Danny Trejo, Sonequa Martin-Green, Vincent d'Onofrio, Jonathan Frakes and Sofia Boutella, the festival of fans will be a hot place to see and be seen. There are signings, panels, exhibits, cosplay events and much more. The expo runs 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $38. Get in on the fun and fantasy here.
Reenactors, representing United States Southern District regulars, fire their muskets during the commemoration of the 208th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, at the Chalmette Battlefield in Chalmette. The event featured living history demonstrations, musket and cannon-firing demonstrations, fife and drum lessons, and a kidÕs camp. This yearÕs event will feature a wreath-laying ceremony and speakers on Sunday, beginning at 11:30 a.m. (Photo by Scott Threlkeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
A weekend of activities will be held at the Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery, 8606 W. St. Bernard Highway, for the commemoration of THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS, the skirmish fought in the War of 1812 just south of present-day New Orleans. With cannon and musket demonstrations, living history demonstrations, games, storytelling and more, the National Park Service facility comes to life Friday through Tuesday. Friday is a school day, with demonstrations for students throughout the day and living history demonstrations that range from fire making to wood working. Saturday is more of the same. The actual wreath laying is Monday at 11:30 a.m. Parking is at the St. Bernard Parish Government Complex, 8201 W. Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, with free shuttles. Get a taste for the historic nature of the event here.
Best-selling author, chef and nutritional psychiatrist DR. UMA NAIDOO will be signing and giving away her book "Calm Your Mind With Food: A Revolutionary Guide to Controlling Your Anxiety" Friday at noon at Melba's, the po-boy purveyors and literary champions at 1525 Elysian Fields Ave., New Orleans. Known as "The Mood Food MD," Naidoo has also written "This is your Brain on Food." Yummy topics, indeed. Check out the eatery here.
Conductor Matthew Kraemer makes his debut with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra at the Orpheum Theatre in New Orleans on Thursday, September 14, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com)
It's back to Bach in Covington when the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra strikes up the composer's work for NORTHSHORE CLASSICS: BACH BRANDENBURG CONCERTO NO. 3. Fuhrmann Auditorium is the spot Friday at 7:30 p.m. with a pre-orchestra talk at 6:30 p.m. and additional works by Theofanidis, Fuller, Tansman and Telemann. Music director Matthew Kraemer has the baton for the concert at 128 W. 23rd Ave. in the Greater Covington Center, with tickets starting at $13. Lend an ear here.
Brittney Crayton will reprise her role as Celie in "The Color Purple," the musical, at Cutting Edge Theater.
"THE COLOR PURPLE," Alice Walker's story of Celie, a Black woman living in the South in the first half of the last century, opens Friday at 8 p.m. at Cutting Edge Theater, 767 Robert Blvd., in Slidell. Some of the hallmark numbers of the show include the anthemic "I'm Here," the ribald "Push the Button" and the tender "What About Love." Taking the role of Celie is Brittney Crayton, with Thais Kitchen as Shug and Sam Warren as Mister. The show runs at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Jan. 27, with tickets starting at $32. Take a closer look at the "Purple" here.
The Phunny Phorty Phellows celebrate Carnival on 12th Night at the Carrollton Streetcar Barn in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. The Phellow's are a historic Mardi Gras organization that first took to the streets in 1878 and ceased parading in 1898. The group was revived in 1981. They were known for their satirical parades and today's krewe members costumes often reflect topical themes. One Carnival historian has referred to the PPP as the "Dessert of Carnival." (Staff Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Carnival gets off on a roll (literally) down the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line Saturday at 7 p.m. when the PHUNNY PHORTY PHELLOWS strike out from the Willow Street car barn with music, costumes and revelry as the self-proclaimed "Heralds of Carnival." The rollicking, rolling gathering perambulates down the avenue to Harmony Circle, heads over to Carondelet Street, up to Canal Street, then returns to St. Charles Avenue for the trek back to the barn. Phollow the Phun here.
Mannie Fresh DJ'd the Funky Uptown Krewe's St. Charles streetcar ride in 2019.
Close on the heels (or is the wheels?) of the Phorty will be the FUNKY UPTOWN KREWE in a streetcar rolling along a similar route that has the group spinning around Harmony Circle and heading to Fat Harry's at 4330 St. Charles Ave. "Saturday Night Fever" will be the theme for the Twelfth Night Ride, with DJ Mannie Fresh getting the disco-dressed divas digging the sounds. Look for this fun and funky group to be tossing their signature decorated vinyl records and other "FUK" swag. Get in on the rocking good fun here.
The Joan of Arc parade begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6.
Steeped in the history and lore of the "Maid of Orleans," the KREWE DE JEANNE D'ARC parade rolls Saturday through the French Quarter mainly on Chartres Street, passing the Joan of Arc statue and ending at Jackson Square in honor of Joan's birthday, promoting the French saint and the Franco-New Orleans connections. Honorary characters portrayed in the parade include Marley Marsalis as Joan, Hanna Kreiger-Benson as Queen Yolande and Louis Michot as King Charles VII. The parade rolls at 7 p.m. Allons, enfants!
It was a packed church at the 200th mass of thanksgiving honoring victory in the Battle of New Orleans. The mass was held at Our Lady of Prompt Succor at the national shrine dedicated to her honor on the campus of Ursuline Academy in New Orleans on Thursday, January 8, 2015. (Photo by Chris Granger, Nola.com | The Times-Picayune)
An evening of sounds and shrines will be on tap at Ursuline Academy Saturday at 7 p.m. for "TWO TREASURES: THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR AND THE MUSIC OF NEW ORLEANS." The concert commences the 100th anniversary of the church at 2701 State St., dedicated to Mary, whose intercession has been sought by New Orleanians for "quick help" dating to such calamities as the fire that devastated the French Quarter in 1788 (but spared the convent) and the Battle of New Orleans. The concert will feature Sarah Jane McMahon, Tim Laughlin, Jim McCormick, Philip Manuel, Lulu Reeks and Jesse Reeks with the music of the city. Get more information on the shrine and the concert here.
SMASH -- "The Cost of Art" Episode 104 -- Pictured: (l-r) Savannah Wise as Jessica, Megan Hilty as Ivy Lynn, Jenny Laroche as Sue, Katharine McPhee as Karen Cartwright, Leslie Odom Jr. as Sam Strickland -- (Photo by: Patrick Harbron/NBC)
The Broadway and television star presents "AN EVENING WITH MEGAN HILTY" at the Lafon Performing Arts Center in Luling. Known for her turn as the star in "Smash," the story of an ingenue's efforts to land in the spotlight, she has also played in "Annie Live!" and "Wicked." Tickets are $45 for the Saturday show at 7:30 p.m. at 275 Judge Edward Dufresne Parkway, Luling. Get tickets and directions to the evening with this "Smash" here.