We got your weekend: Prose, paddlewheels and a pub crawl

Wednesday / We remember Maya: New Orleans’ MelaNated Writers Collective, a group of local writers of color, pays tribute to the late great American writer and poet Dr. Maya Angelou with an evening of readings and recollections of her work. The celebration takes place at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Cafe Istanbul, 2312 St. Claude Ave. Refreshments will be served, and there will be a cash bar.

Saturday / Get your pirate on: It’s summer, the kids are out of school, and you’re already pulling out your hair. When it comes to summer family outings, the Steamboat Natchez has got you covered. Family Fun Day offers a family cruise aboard the last authentic steamboat to sail down the mighty Mississippi. There will be entertainment, games for the family, a caricaturist, pirates, clowns, face painters, trivia contests and more. It takes place Saturday, June 7, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. (boarding starts at 2). The cost of the cruise is $15 for adults, $7.50 for kids 6 to 12.Reserve at 504-569-1401 or www.neworleanssteamboat.com/FamilyDay/reserve2014.html.

Saturday / Counting beans: A few seats remain for Saturday’s forum at The Historic New Orleans Collection on the international and local history of coffee. Culinary historian Jessica B. Harris will moderate talks and panel discussions at the event, From Dancing Goats to Green Mermaids: Coffee and New Orleans. Speakers include Mark Pendergrast, Patrick Dunne, John T. Edge, Lolis Eric Elie, Poppy Tooker, and representatives from Westfeldt Brothers Inc. and Baby’s Coffee. The event will conclude with a café brûlot demonstration at Tableau Restaurant, a short walk away. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p .m. at the Williams Research Center, 410 Chartres St., and registration is required. Rates are $40 per person or $30 for THNOC members, teachers, and students. Call (504) 523-4662 to register by phone.

Stompers lead the way in a Saturday pub crawl (Photo: Infrogmation of New Orleans, Wikicommons)

Saturday / Uptown throwdown: You don’t have to wait for Saints season to get your fix of powder-blue shorts, blazing red jackets and stellar booty-shaking. Indulge in some shoulder-to-shoulder moves with NOLA’s favorite all-male dance team at the third annual 610 Stomper Ball Crawl. This year’s event, titled A Streetcar Named Da’ Fire, involves a bar-to-bar trek (1 to 10 p.m.) that includes stops at The Kingpin, Grit’s Bar, F&M’s, Fat Harry’s, Superior Seafood and Le Bon Temps (in no particular order). You can register and purchase tickets for $40 on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Ball Crawl starting point across from Grit’s Bar, 530 Lyons St. in Uptown New Orleans. Proceeds will benefit Team Gleason.

Saturday / It started at Leo’s in Bywater, moved to the infamous upstairs at Mimi’s in the Marigny, and is now at the Hi-Ho Lounge in the Marigny. Hustle! with DJ Soul Sister takes place every Saturday from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. at the club at 2239 St. Claude Ave. DJ Soul Sister on the turntables, you on the dance floor. Underground disco, rare groove, old school, boogie, true school hip hop, fusion jazz movers and groovers, more bounce to the ounce, more fun for your bun. Or at least that’s how Soul Sister explains it. Oh, and there’s no cover.