We’ve got your weekend: Get hot with discussions, food, and art

Food Truck Line-Up. (Photo: Wiki Commons)

Wednesday, August 14/7725 Cohn Street: You can join the ZigZag Group for a screening of I am Not your Negro, a film by Raoul Peck that envisions the book, Remember This House, which James Baldwin never finished. The Zigzag Group has met periodically over the last ten years to discuss texts and issues in philosophy, ecological thought, political theory, cultural critique, film criticism, and related fields from a radically critical and dialectical perspective. It is a project of La Terre Institute for Community and Ecology. The film and discussion will run from 7:00 PM until 10:00 PM. This event is free, and you can find out full details here. 

Thursday, August 15/Marigny Opera House (725 St Ferdinand Street): Sometimes it’s cathartic to watch other people stress out, and what better way to do that than with a Tennessee William’s Play. The Marigny Opera House is putting on The Glass Menagerie from now until August 17. If you haven’t seen or read this play think of this: A small apartment in St. Louis, a mother who is on the brink of losing it, a son whose already raw to the bone, and a sister in need of a suitor. And guess what happens? A suitor shows up, but everything rides on a dinner going perfectly well, and you can imagine that it doesn’t do exactly that. To see the outcome, you can purchase tickets (between $15-$28) and head to the theater at 7:00 PM. The play will end at 9:00 PM. 

Thursday, August 15/The Starlight (817 St. Louis): It’s time to give your ears a little luxury with some Night Water. Night Water is the music of Travis Bird, an omnivorous guitarist and writer of songs exploring meaning, identity, and musical energy and movement. Night Water evokes the solitude and mystery present in its familiar words: inviting, foreboding, filled with the possibility of shimmering insight in the dark. Influenced by touchstones of rock, folk, vintage pop, and tropicalia. Night Water also takes inspiration (and its name) from underground Soviet poet Vsevolod Nekrasov, a minimalist who contained powerful critiques within his poems and remained a dissident figure throughout his life. And even more than that, Night Water will be playing with Conor Donohue. The show begins at 10:00 PM, it’s free, open to the public, and you can find out full details here. 

Friday, August 16/Bar Redux (801 Poland Avenue): Happy Birthday to the King! We know there are a lot of kings in New Orleans, and on Friday night, Bar Redux will be celebrating the hip swiveling King. Okay, maybe that’s not a specific enough description. Specifically, you can celebrate the life of  Elvis Presley who died on August 16th, 1977. Bar Redux will be going all out with movies, concerts, and music. Blue Hawaii’s and Peanut Butter & Banana sandwiches with or without Bacon (on the specials board in addition to our regular menu items). They will also be screening King Creole and Viva Las Vegas, starting at 9:00 PM. There is no cover for this event, and you can find out full details here. 

Saturday, August 17/Loud Apprentice Auditions: Auditions for LOUD’s (a group of LGBTQ+ and ally youths creating original performances and learning about social justice) queer youth theater apprenticeship are here. If you are a young person (between 15-21) who is interested in getting paid to learn theater skills, then you will want to set up an audition for Saturday, August 17. The auditions run from 12:00 PM until 3:00 PM, and you set up your audition and find out full details by texting 510-301-2799. And don’t worry if you don’t have wheels, the organizers of LOUD will help get you where you need to go when you need to be there. 

Saturday, August 17/Deja Vieux Food Park (1681 Religious Street): Go like your chops (and maybe some actual chops) at the NOLA International Foodie Fest. This festival will boast International favors from local food trucks, restaurants, and pop up chefs. That means you can taste the world in one place at one time while enjoying live entertainment, specialty drinks and browsing the product vendors. The event is open to the public, and they suggest registering  with evenbrite registration while they last!  That means $5 presale after the free registration tickets are gone  and $10 at the gate the day of event. For a full rundown on the event, you can check out their event page here. 

Saturday, August 17/Second Story Gallery (2372 Saint Claude Avenue): The Second Story Gallery is presenting the exhibition Down in New Orleans, which opened on August 10. New Orleans based Documentary Photographer/Conceptual Artist Michael Alford explores the vast and renowned artistic talent of the
cities’ music culture. This solo exhibition represents a collection of photographs captured from 2012-present in the fabled music venues, stages, festivals and streets of New Orleans. This event is free and open to the public 

Saturday, August 17/Hi Ho Lounge (2239 Saint Claude Avenue): You know what’s not funny? Sweating so much. You know what is funny? No Lie Comedy, and they are back for another round of all black and all funny stand up. Hosted by Ashleigh Branch and headlined by Tekesha Fairley, their show “Melanated Mischeif” will feature
Lisa Smith, Rochelle McConico, Maegan Hodges, and Shaquita T. Griffin. The event starts at 8:30 PM, sharp, and doors open at 8:00. This event is free, but why not help support comedy and ladies and, you know, laughter! For more information about the show, you can check out their event page here.