Hi New Orleans, we made it to Thursday! In today’s fun-for-grown-ups edition: Waterfront festival lineup, a haunted cocktail experience, and culture bearer funding + plenty of reasons to put on real pants this week.
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01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Waterfront festival lineup revealed: ODESZA, Carl Cox, and Steve Angello will headline We Belong Here’s New Orleans debut at Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park, November 13 to 15. Presale starts today at 12 PM CT -- see the full artist list.
City leaders demand answers: New Orleans City Council sounded the alarm Tuesday over lagging Sewerage and Water Board maintenance projects, pressing for answers as delays mount and neighborhoods face longer waits for repairs citywide -- see the council's concerns.
Supporting local traditions: One-time $250,000 funding will support New Orleans culture bearers and groups, with $125,000 for individuals via second-line clubs and Super Sunday representatives. A public celebration will be held June 17 -- learn about the culture funding.
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill:If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest -- this one's $150 off right now.*
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with Lemonade*. Highlights this week: |
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03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Treasure hunt, leveled up: If your living room could use a little wow, wander M.S. Rau for museum-caliber art, jaw-dropping estate jewelry, and antiques you’ll brag about at your next crawfish boil. Family-run since 1912, it’s the rare French Quarter stroll that actually improves your taste.
Spice up your history: New Orleans Storyville Museum turns our city’s not-so-secret past into a smart, self-guided romp with artifacts, theatrical sets, and a multimedia brothel parlor that connects vice to the birth of jazz. Perfect when you want culture with a wink this week, no tour group required.
Global flavors, local soul: Plates Restaurant & Bar keeps the Warehouse District interesting with shareable dishes riffing on the cultures that built New Orleans, sourced from Gulf seafood and Louisiana farms and paired with Old World wines. Ideal for date night, friend catchups, or any “one more plate won’t hurt” kind of mood.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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The fitness trend that doesn't require leaving your living room: Chair yoga is having a moment, and for good reason. It's low-impact, easy on the knees and back, and you do the whole thing seated. No floor, no equipment, no studio. A quick quiz turns it into a personalized plan built around your body and goals, then adjusts as you build the habit. *See your plan →
Plastic and wood are no good: Every time you use a plastic cutting board, microplastics end up in your food. You can’t see it, but it's happening and it’s gross. Wood isn't any better since it absorbs bacteria so deep into the grain you can’t get it out. More than 50,000 people have already ditched both for something better. *See what they're using instead →
The card that pays you to pay down debt: Most balance-transfer cards skip the rewards. Most rewards cards skip the long 0% intro APR. This one has both — 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), plus 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and up to 6% in a category you pick. No annual fee, and there's a $200 bonus after $1,000 in spending in the first 90 days. *Worth a look →
Premiums are up roughly 46% since 2021: Home insurance has outpaced inflation for years, and renewals rarely move in your favor. Rather than take the new number on faith, FinanceBuzz lets you match your home with top-rated insurers and compare quotes side by side — free, in about two minutes. Even if you decide to stay put, you'll know you checked. *See your options → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar New Orleans for grown upsThe best events and nightlife experiences for adults this week. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🍷 NOWFE Wine Dinner @ Tujague's Restaurant | Thursday (6/11) at 6:30 PM – Treat yourself to a NOWFE wine dinner that earns the hype, five courses with Kobrand pairings featuring French heavy hitters. Lump crab with watermelon, crispy pork belly, petit filet, and a Grasshopper pie sendoff, all for $90, plus tax and tip.
🍸 First Annual Cocktail Clash @ Angels' Place, Inc. | Friday (6/12) at 7:00 PM – Canal Place is shaking and stirring for a Cocktail Clash where your vote counts, and your drink does good. Sip inventive pours, swap a few knowing nods with fellow regulars, and help Angels' Place support families facing the unthinkable, one generous round at a time.
👻 Tales of the Macabre @ The Mortuary Haunted Mansion | Friday (6/12) at 7:00 PM – Finally, a haunted mansion that understands priorities, with lore, lighting, and a proper pour. Wander through four eerie tableaus while tale tellers serve New Orleans and bayou folklore, and a macabre mixologist builds a three-part cocktail pairing. The spirits are lively, the goosebumps earned.
🎸 Matt Schofield @ New Orleans Jazz Market | Friday (6/12) at 7:30 PM – New Orleans Jazz Market is hosting Matt Schofield, the British blues ace who makes six strings confess their sins. Expect molten tone, pocket-deep grooves, and solos that breathe, not preen. Real-deal sound, civilized seats, and a night you will actually remember.
🪴 Ceramic Garden Stack June Session @ Wrenworks Art Studio (Kenner) | Saturday (6/13) at 3:00 PM – Trade screen time for clay time with a chill, once-a-month workshop where you build a whimsical, layered ceramic garden stack. Drop in anytime, and this round tackles pinch pots, globes, and patience, with a two-parter because even clay needs a nap between sessions.
🏛 Sicilian History Tour of the French Quarter @ 1850 House Museum Store | Sunday (6/14) at 10:00 AM – Trade your usual Quarter saunter for a guided wander that shows how Sicilian grit, groceries, and gumption dragged the neighborhood back from postbellum doldrums. It is a new tour, rain or shine, leaving the 1850 House. Local history with flavor, no ghost stories, just receipts.
🎳 Breakthrough New Orleans Rock 'n' Bowl Celebration @ Rock'n'Bowl | Sunday (6/14) at 1:30 PM – Grab your bowling shoes and meet me at Rock 'n' Bowl for Breakthrough New Orleans, an afternoon of strikes, live tunes, and bragging rights, all backing tuition-free programs for local kids and future teachers. It's $40 a head, cheaper than therapy, and way more fun. Live music & entertainment:
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — Announcement In case you missed itWe opened The Insiders’ Club last week and hundreds of folks have already joined (seriously… can’t thank you enough!!). For a few bucks a month, The Club gives you every newsletter ad-free on your schedule, plus members-only updates to help you stay connected to your community. The Weekly Events Roundup is my favorite feature. You get one email a week with all the best events and nothing else cluttering it up. Want only that? Skip the daily emails and turn the rest off. Join the club → |
07 — The New Orleans report Weather forecastToday — High: 90°F — Low: 78°F — Precip: 19%
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2pm and 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Southeast wind 0 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 78. South wind 0 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 90°F — Low: 78°F — Precip: 31%
A slight chance of rain showers between 7am and 10am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Southeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 78. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. This house is wildDesigned in 1910 by architect Jordan McKenzie, this corner beauty pairs historic charm with a smart 2021 refresh. Think sweeping staircase, wood floors, oversized windows, and a renovated kitchen with a large island and dine-in space. Six bedrooms, a luxe primary suite, finished attic space, rear porch, and roomy yard round out the appeal.
Take a peek inside → |
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