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Hello New Orleans! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. 

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: First TIL therapy for melanoma, Holi parade and celebration, and TRNSCND music festival + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is something I wish I had before a late-night emergency vet visit left me with a $10,000 credit card bill. It’s cheaper than Netflix… and means you never have to choose between your pet and your savings. It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up – get started here.

📰 In the news

A milestone in cancer care: New Orleans’ Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center recently delivered Louisiana’s first TIL therapy for advanced melanoma, using a patient’s own immune cells. The FDA approved TIL therapy in 2024 — read the full story.

Shaping the region’s innovation future: New Orleans’ Entrepreneurship Council, launched last fall, brings major players together to boost local startups and talent, with Tulane Innovation Institute leader Kimberly Gramm serving as chair — read the full story.

Spring outdoor cinema returns: Pontchartrain Conservancy will screen The Goonies at the New Canal Lighthouse on March 6. It is part of NORD Movie in the Park and free for the first 250 guests — get all the event details.

Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week:

• Experience TRNSCND’s immersive music festival
• Catch beads at Irish Channel parade
• Sashay with Les Beaux Chapeaux brigade
• This top-tier home warranty is 50% off right now

🐾 One pet emergency can cost $10,000+

Together with our sponsor Spot Pet Insurance

Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache.

From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving.

As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Spot.

It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% on qualified vet bills. It was too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. Sign up today.

🫶 We got your back

Small plates, big vibes: When cravings hit for shareable Latin Caribbean flavors, Baru Bistro & Tapas delivers with croquetas that vanish, split-worthy arepas, and seriously good sangria. It’s relaxed, lively, and built for passing plates, best with a bite-stealing friend for a low-key midweek upgrade.

Weekend adventure check: From rain shells to trail shoes and a dialed pack fit, Massey’s Outfitters keeps your kit ready, plus they fix bikes and rent kayaks when the bayou calls. A low-key local standby whenever New Orleans weather says, “outside now.”

Make it a movie night: Indie gems, crowd-pleasers, a legit bar, and a couple of pinball machines… The Broad Theater makes a cozy night out feel easy. Grab popcorn, settle in, and enjoy films in a spot that actually feels local, with just enough buzz to keep things fun.

Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.

📆 Fun for the whole fam

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🦞 Crawfish Boil @ Port Orleans Brewing Co. | Thursday (3/5) at 3:30 PM – Peel season is on at Port Orleans as Gulf Coast Crawfish Co. boils crawfish, shrimp, and all the fixings by the tray, plus to-go by the pound. Bring the crew, order a lager, then peel, sip, repeat from Mardi Gras to spring.

🎶 Johnette Downing @ Dutch Alley Performance Space | Friday (3/6) at 11:00 AM – Round up the littles and your coffee, then head to Dutch Alley for Johnette Downing’s jazz-to-zydeco sing-along, free on first Fridays. The kids two-step, you clap on two and four, and everyone learns why the King Cake baby keeps showing up; seating is first come.

🧚 French Fables & Fantasies @ New Marigny Theatre at Church Of Arts & Sciences | Friday (3/6) at 6:00 PM – Take a break from the usual brass and catch the LPO spinning French fables at New Marigny Theatre, with Daniela Candillari at the helm. Expect Ravel’s glow, Poulenc’s Babar, and a hometown salute from Malcolm Parson, elegant, witty, and unabashedly local.

🌈 Holi Parade and Celebration @ Washington Square | Sunday (3/8) at 10:00 AM – Ready to trade your Sunday best for something you can stain? The 3rd annual NOLA Holi parade rolls from Washington Square Park and back with music, dancing, and a color free-for-all, think a second line, brighter. Wear white, bring a towel, leave grumpy at home.

🌽 Cornhole With The Pelicans @ Smoothie King Center | Sunday (3/8) at 11:30 AM – Warm up your aim at the Smoothie King Center with a big open blind draw, ACL regional points, and real payouts, then cool down with Pelicans vs. Wizards. $35 entry, prizes include 100 level seats and swag, and yes, pre-registration is required.

🎺 Jazz in Coliseum Square Park @ Coliseum Square Park | Sunday (3/8) at 1:00 PM – Coliseum Square Park is back to its best self, with Sunny Side shaking off the Mardi Gras hangover and laying down free, all-ages jazz under the oaks. Pack a picnic, your favorite humans, and the dog. Bring cash for tips, because talent isn’t free.

🖼 A Vanishing Bounty @ The Historic New Orleans Collection | Wednesday (3/11) at 4:30 PM – After-hours at HNOC means wandering A Vanishing Bounty with Cajun dance lessons, a live Cajun string band, and a clever scavenger hunt. See if your two-step still remembers, then toast Louisiana’s coast with complimentary cocktails, free light bites, and people-watching. Free admission, registration encouraged.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account
• Treat yourself: Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

📻 New Orleans report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 79°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 5%

Patchy fog before 7am. Mostly sunny. High near 79, with temperatures falling to around 76 in the afternoon. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Patchy fog after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 79°F – Low: 67°F – Precip: 29%

Patchy fog before 8am, then a chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.

Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

This house is wild

Esplanade Avenue elegance defines this restored 1892 French Quarter home, showcasing a grand double parlor with soaring ceilings, plaster medallions, and chandeliers. A chef’s kitchen pairs with a primary suite offering a wraparound balcony and heated marble bath, plus a third-floor six-person sauna. A lush courtyard anchors a cabana kitchen, five independently metered studios, and gated parking near parade routes.

Take a peek inside →