We’ve got your weekend: Time to get decadent!

Wednesday, August 28/The Ogden Museum (925 Camp Street): Do you love getting these weekend updates about the quirky cultural events happening in New Orleans because do we have the place for you. Culture Collision is taking place on Wednesday night from 5:30-8:00 PM at the Ogden Museum of Art. This is when dozens of arts and cultural non-profits set up tables all in one space, give out free swag, and tell you all about the events happening for teh season. Oh, and come by and say hi to ViaNolaVie; we’ll have a gift for you that doesn’t suck (you’ll get this pun when you see the gift)! For a full rundown on Culture Collision, you can check out their event page here. 

Wednesday, August 28/Antenna (3718 St. Claude Avenue): We have lost many greats this year, and one of these burning lights was Toni Morrison. Antenna is holding a vigil (a period of intentional sleeplessness. an occasion for devotional observance on the eve of a holy day) on Wednesday in Morrison’s honor. You can join Room 220 for an evening of observance and exchange featuring a literary playlist curated by journal editor, Kristina Kay Robinson. Community contribution to the programming of the observance are encouraged and welcomed. There will be some light refreshments, and you are encouraged to bring a candle and/or white rose if you feel inclined. This event is free and open to the public, and you can find out full details here.

Thursday, August 29/Hotel Peter and Paul (2317 Burgundy): Bodied Research will be in New Orleans on Thursday. This a movement workshop that takes on some mind wrenching questions like: How can the tropes and craft of drag performance be deconstructed and utilized to embody a deeper and ultimately authentic performance of self identity? How can this process serve as a way to live through and embody the trauma of marginalization in a way that is powerful, pleasurable and guided by agency? In this movement workshop Gregory Dorado will facilitate play, exploration, and share creative process questions from his upcoming new work. All levels of dancers/movers are welcome at the workshop, which begins at 4:00 and goes until 7:00 PM. This event is sliding scale $15 – 25, and you can find out full details about the pricing and the event’s details here.

Thursday, August 29/Lower Garden District: Now that the New Orleans season is starting to swing in full effect, you’ll want to be booking tickets for what’s to come in September. Winter Circle Productions (WCP) and Freewater is holding their block party on September 28, and on the lineup they have rappers DaBaby, Rico Nasty, Shordie Shordie and Grip, plus dance music producers RL Grime, What So Not, Graves, and TVBOO.  Local support is rounded out by Mhadi G, Kenneth Brother, Trigem (Spicy Bois), Stone Cold Jzzle, Lango and Nameless.  The specific venue and time for the block party will be revealed closer to September, but you can count on two stages, art installations, food and beverage vendors, custom interactive experiences, big production, exclusive merchandise releases, various VIP offerings and summer block party vibes. Pre-sale tickets are open, and you can register for presale here.  

Friday, August 30/Brennan’s (417 Royal Street): It’s Southern Decadence weekend, and you can kick off the decadence with some bubbles and books at Brennan’s. In celebration of the launch of Drag Queen Brunch, a new book by culinary historian, media personality and award-winning author Poppy Tooker and famed photographer Sam Hanna – Brennan’s restaurant will host a one-of-a-kind celebratory bash. Tooker has teamed up with world-famous Brennan’s and their Bubbles at Brennan’s Happy Hour. Books will be available for purchase and signed by Tooker and some of the Drag Beauties throughout the event. This special Happy Hour, which runs from 4:00-6:00 PM, offers deeply discounted sparkling bottles, bubbly cocktails and bar bites. They’ll also have Elektra Cosmetic Glitter Bar and Chandon sparkling specials with a rainbow of juice add-ins.  At 5:00 PM, Tooker and the beauties will take center stage in Brennan’s courtyard where they will saber a bottle of champagne and offer generous pours. We love the sound and taste of generous pours, so go get decadent! 

Saturday, August 31/Drifter Hotel (3522 Tulane Ave.): You know the great thing about it still being sweltering hot in New Orleans? All the afternoon pool parties that transition into evening pool parties, and Saturday after-evening (also Friday and Sunday), Trax Only is taking over the Drifter Hotel for Southern Decadence weekend. That means three days of pool parties, DJs, and performances. On Saturday night, they will have Divoli S’vere, BE3K, and B. Ames; plus, if you call the Drifter and mention Trax Only, you’ll get a 15% discount on rooms (you know, in case you need the option). The pool party begins at 12:00 PM and goes until 6:00 PM; tickets start at $40; and you can find out full details about the event here. 

Saturday, August 31/Joy Theater (1200 Canal Street): GrrlSpot’s biggest and best events of the year happen during Southern Decadence, and this one is taking place at the historic Joy Theater. Fleurt! will feature performances by world  burlesque performers and DJ’s in the beautiful and newly renovated theater of Canal Street. This year will be their biggest event yet, with more performers, more space, more bars, more womxn, more of everything you’ll need to remember this experience for years. It all begins at 9:00 PM, tickets range between $10-$45, and you can find out full details here. 

Sunday, September 1/French Quarter: You know how we have Monday, September 2 off of work because of labor abuse? Well, we are giving you a reason to sleep in that morning, and it’s called Southern Decadence. There are parties and parades all weekend long, which you can check out via their website, and don’t forget about the mega parade that happens on Sunday, starting at 2:00 PM. The parade starts near Barracks and Royal Street and ends near Bourbon and St. Philip Streets. Don’t forget your whip or at least a small bit of leather!