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It’s Friday, New Orleans! Let’s finish this week strong.
In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: Sail 250 tall ships, Women’s Leadership Summit, and Holi parade + a stacked lineup of events this weekend.
Today’s sponsor (FinanceBuzz) built a free comparison tool that helped me cut my car insurance premiums in half. It took about 3 minutes, and honestly… I wish I’d done it sooner. If you haven’t shopped around in a while, you can easily check the best rates here.
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📰 In the news
Inspiration for every career stage: JLNO hosts its 6th Women’s Leadership Summit today at the InterContinental New Orleans Hotel, themed Conditioned for Courage. Expect sessions on leadership, finance, wellness, and giving. Tickets $150, lunch-only $115 — see sessions and ticket options.
America’s 250th voyage begins: New Orleans will host the first stop of Sail 250 May 28 through June 1, bringing tall ships and U.S. naval vessels to the Mississippi River for a maritime celebration — get all the details.
Regional grocery changes ahead: Winn-Dixie at 5400 Tchoupitoulas will close later this month to become ALDI, and employees get first shot at jobs. The Metairie location on Veterans Memorial Boulevard is set to close — see what’s changing and when.
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.
Someone Googled you this week: Whether you’re dating again, selling something locally, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up. Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.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 all that up – learn more here.
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Craveable comfort, plant-style: When that red beans-and-mac craving hits, Sweet Soulfood delivers classic flavor, all vegan. Orange cauliflower, jambalaya, cashew mac, plus rotating plates that taste like home without the dairy. Easy pickup when cooking feels exhausting, and even your non-vegan buddy will end up “just trying a bite.”
Culinary antiques, anyone? For cabinets that crave character, Lucullus Antiques offers French copper, handsome serving pieces, and quietly grand furniture that turns weeknight dinners into occasions. One standout detail can lift a room… maybe your table, maybe a shelf… and the patina tells stories without shouting.
Brows + bling, handled: Aura & Ink makes brows and bling easy. Get soft, natural microblading, subtle freckle tattoos, and a delicate forever chain in one stop for a low-key glow-up that lasts. Friendly, detail-obsessed, and appointment-based, it’s ideal for a midweek treat without the chaos.
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📆 Around town this weekend
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.
🎶 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.
🛍 March 7th Freret Market @ Freret Market | Saturday (3/7) at 11:00 AM – If you’ve been meaning to remember why you love this neighborhood, hit the monthly Freret Market for local art, food, and music. It’s that sweet spot of stroll, sample, and people-watch, where you’ll run into half your contacts, and leave with hot sauce and pottery.
🍲 Open-Hearth Cooking Class @ Hermann-Grima House | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – Trade the air fryer for fire, and learn to cook like your great-great-somebody in a open-hearth class for 2 to 4 people. With history pros, you will wrangle 19th-century Creole recipes, snacks, and historical sips over coals, no plugs, then eat there or take home.
🖼 First Saturday Art Walk on Magazine Street @ Magazine St, New Orleans, LA, United States | Saturday (3/7) at 5:00 PM – Magazine Street’s First Saturday Art Walk is throwing open 15 galleries after hours for a free wander through local art, live music, and exclusive promos. Think cultured bar crawl energy, go-cup in hand, with familiar faces, good conversation, and zero pressure to speed-appreciate.
🌈 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.
🎺 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.
🏺 Ceramic Garden Stack March Session @ Wrenworks Art Studio | Sunday (3/8) at 3:00 PM – If your garden needs a glow-up the deer can’t snack on, March’s session lets you make flowers, spacers, and filler bits for a layered garden stack, then paint last month’s piece. Drop in, $75, all materials included, and it counts as therapy.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🔥 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.
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📻 New Orleans report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 81°F – Low: 68°F – Precip: 32%
Patchy fog before 7am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between noon and 3pm. Mostly sunny. High near 81, with temperatures falling to around 79 in the afternoon. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 82°F – Low: 68°F – Precip: 46%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms between noon and 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
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