Colin Jost, of SNL’s “Weekend Update” performs stand-up at the Civic on Friday.
Friday / Funny guy : Colin Jost, SNL writer and co-anchor of the show’s “Weekend Update” will be performing a don’t miss stand-up set at the Civic Theatre. Doors open at 7 PM. Tickets start at 22.50. Read more about why Jost will likely become a household name in the near future here.
Saturday / Beer’lympics : Drink a few brewskis and bounce some balls for local pets The Humane Society of Louisiana, GymMatrix, and NOLA Brewing will co-host a Beer Olympics benefit at the brewery (3001 Tchoupitoulas) from 1 – 5 PM featuring seven “athletic” events that the athletically-disinclined can participate in, including: giant beer pong, frisbee, golf, crossword puzzle, and corn hole throws. Members of the winning team receive an engraved mug shaped like a beer barrel, a NOLA Brewing T-shirt, a tab for the brewery’s Tap Room, and a Transformation Membership at GymMatrix. Entry is $20 in advance / $25 at the door (includes beer and a seven day VIP pass to GymMatrix). Participants may register as “free agents” or teams of four. Costumes encouraged and leashed pup welcome. Proceeds will benefit The Humane Society.
Oyster Fest returns to Woldenberg Park this weekend.
Saturday / Sunday : Pearls of wisdom: The fests just keep on rolling. This weekend, New Orleans’ free annual Oyster Festival will be back at Woldenberg Park. Daily highlights include an oyster shucking contest at noon and set from The Bucktown All Stars at 2:15 Saturday and, on Sunday, an oyster eating contest at 11:45 and a aptly planned performance from Raw Oyster Cult at 5 PM. Don’t miss the oyster dressing stuffed mushrooms from Jacques-Imo’s, oyster pie from Borgne, and oysters and scallops in a white wine sauce from Antoine’s. The festival runs from 10:30 AM – 6:30 PM each day.
Saturday / Shane’s shout out : Eddie Roberts, Eric Bloom, Ron Johnson, Jermal Watson at the Maple Leaf Bar, 10:30 PM
Two recent NOLA transplants hold down an evening of modern funk this Saturday with the type of superjam typically reserved for Jazz Fest. Guitarist Eddie Roberts is no stranger to the dank halls of the Leaf, and Eric Bloom, trumpet man from Lettuce, has been playing some incredible Wednesday night sets there since he landed here around Jazz Fest time. Summer nights at the Leaf can’t be beat, and this is a perfect show to kick off the season.
Sunday / Boy meets grill : Richard Shilling, owner and founder of BBQ food truck Grilling Shilling, has partnered with My House NOLA and Good Eggs NOLA to bring in summer barbecue with a bang. The three will co-host a “Great American BBQ Pop-Up” in the Good Eggs warehouse (1746 A Tchoupitoulas). Shilling will be manning the girl, offering guests stacked plates of barbecue including: baby back ribs, coleslaw, corn on the cob beans, and collards for $15 / $25 for a plate plus an open beer bar. Guests are invited to arrive at 6:30 PM to mingle; dinner starts at 7. Tickets here.
NOLAbeings Multimedia artist Claire Bangser created NOLAbeings as a portrait-based story project that marries... 
Voodoo in New Orleans: Reviving history: New Orleans fortune telling This article takes a deep dive into the history of Voodoo in New Orleans, its hybridization with Catholicism, and its present-day place in the city's culture. The author visits fortune-tellers in the French Quarter, using their guidance as a tool for introspection rather than a deterministic predictor of the future. Through her experiences in New Orleans, the author feels a mystical connection to both the past and the future. 