Alexander McQueen, Ensemble, Natural Dis-tinction, Un-natural Selection Collection, Spring/Summer 2009. Courtesy RKL consulting, (photo by: Mattias Lindback)
Wednesday, February 21/New Orleans Museum of Art (1 Collins Diboll Circle): It is time to embrace fashion. Who are we kidding, New Orleans does this already, and now the NOMA is showcasing rare pieces from one of the world’s largest private collections of Alexander McQueen fashion. The exhibit is called A Queen Within: Adorned Archetypes, and it’s on view from February 21 through May 28, 2018. NOMA’s first major fashion exhibition will feature contemporary designers showcased in an immersive gallery presentation. This exhibition’s bold couture explores different archetypes of femininity, and how these mythic characters manifest through storytelling in fashion over the past decade. Remember, Wednesdays are free at NOMA for New Orleans residents. Check out their website for details.
Wednesday, February 21/BJs Bywater (4301 Burgundy Street): Blood Jet Spring Season of 2018 kicks off celebrating one of our New Orleans own local print makers and publishers as they celebrate the release of Matchbook journal Vol 4. At this release night, Matchbox dioramas by local poet and artist Madeleine Lavoie will be on display. There will be tiny treats for your hands and mouths and big love for all of your other senses at this poetry series on Wednesday. It all begins at 8:00 PM, and you can get full details here.
Friday, February 23/Music Box (4557 N. Rampart): New Orleans Airlift is hosting Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen in the Music Box Village with local Afrobeat orchestra Kumasi and special guests. They are doing one show per night, and the concerts will be both Friday and Saturday night. The doors will open at 6:30 PM with the concert beginning at 8:00 PM. Tickets will run you $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For full details on the event and to order tickets, check out their event page.
Saturday, February 24/Mahalia Jackson Theater (1419 Basin Street): We never tire of love stories in New Orleans, and one of the greatest love stories/tragedies is taking the stage. The New Orleans Ballet Association is hosting Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo’s Roméo et Juliette. In this production, the star-crossed lovers gets an exotic French twist with the interpretation by choreographer and director Jean-Christophe Maillot. The performance is at 8:00 PM, tickets range in price, and you can find those tickets and more information about the ballet here.
Saturday, February 24/The Contemporary Arts Center (900 Camp Street): Valentine’s Day is over, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t loads of activities for you and your sweatheart. In fact, The Contemporary Arts Center, has their premier annual gala, SweetArts 2018, this Saturday from 7:00 PM until midnight. The evening includes cuisine and cocktails from local restaurants, a contemporary art auction, entertainment by Crescent City Aerial Arts, DJ Lil Jodeci, Black Magic Drumline, and art experiences by designer and artist Ellen Macomber, photographer Jose Cotto and “cubs the poet.” There’s even an after party for the sweethearts that like to stay out late. For more inforamtion and tickets, you can visit the CAC’s website.
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. 