Festivals
Southern Decadence can trace its roots back to a humble going away party in 1972. Now, 51 years later, it has morphed into New Orleans’s largest LGBTQ+ festival. This year’s iteration of the six-day event kicks off this Thursday, Aug. 31. Decadence’s website bills the festival as a “non-stop party,” with most of the action centered in the many French Quarter bars and clubs. Visitors should make an effort to catch the Southern Decadence’s main parade on Sept. 3, the final day of the festival. Fortunately for revelers, the parade and most other events are free. Expect this year’s Southern Decadence to be yet another amazing celebration of queer culture.
Sports
The Tulane University Green Wave football team is preparing to kick off its 2023 campaign. This Saturday, Sept. 2, the squad starts week one of the college football season with the highest expectations they’ve ever seen in over two decades. This unprecedented buzz is thanks to the team’s improbable season the year prior, which culminated in a Cotton Bowl win and a 12-2 record. In the wake of their Cinderella season, the Green Wave lost important parts of its winning team, including running back Tyjae Spears and linebacker Dorian Williams, to this year’s NFL draft. Despite the personnel losses, hopes remain high in New Orleans, mainly due to the return of quarterback Michael Pratt and offensive lineman Sincere Haynesworth. Saturday’s contest against regional foes University of South Alabama will provide a glimpse into what the future holds in store for the newly vaunted team.
Music
The New Orleans Jazz Museum is welcoming accomplished jazz drummer Gerald French to the institution’s weekly “New Orleans Music Fridays” event. On Sept. 8, the New Orleans native will take center stage at the museum’s performance center for the second time this year. French’s storied career includes performances at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the French Quarter Festival. French currently plays with The Original Tuxedo Brass Band and The Dixie Cups. Nicknamed “The Giant” due to his unique style of drumming, the percussion virtuoso’s performance should be on every jazz enthusiast’s radar.
Markets
City Park is the jewel of the Lakeview District. Its natural beauty, enhanced by live oaks and other native plants, is rivaled by few. The green space is no stranger to fun events such as farmers markets, music performances and family-friendly workshops. On Sept. 9, the nonprofit organization Arts New Orleans will stage their monthly art market on the Goldring/Woldenberg Great Lawn. Over 30 regional artists will be showcased, with mediums that range from paintings to ceramics. Patrons will have a wealth of choices to pick from for purchase.
Literature
Walter Isaacson has one of the most prolific resumes of all time. Throughout his decorated career, the New Orleans native has served as the CEO of CNN, editor of Time Magazine and president of the Aspen Institute. Now, he is a history professor at Tulane.
Always a skilled writer, Isaacson has written numerous bestselling biographies. This year, his newest work hits shelves on Sept. 12. Its person of interest is Elon Musk, one of the most divisive figures in the world right now. Some herald the tycoon as a tech genius, while others disapprove of his penchant for conspiracy theories and bigoted statements. The book “Elon Musk” should be a fascinating dive into the psyche of a complicated man.
Galleries
New Orleans museums have seen an increase in visibility this summer. The widely publicized “Museum Month” granted select museum members free admission to participating institutions in the month of August.
A popular exhibit in the New Orleans Museum of Art was one of the main draws for patrons. Fashioning America: Grit to Glamour showcases American clothing through the lens of cultural shifts across the country. Spanning centuries, this stunning presentation features over a hundred pieces of fashion essential to the fabric of American society. The exhibit is open at the NOMA until Nov. 26.