TGIF w/Beer, Wine, Musical Celebrations & More!

Hey Everybody - hope you're ready for a fun Friday in NOLA!!

Get your beer on with Abita's Can Release Pub Crawl starting up at 6:00 pm.  Be among the first ever to drink Abita out of cans! Join up for the pub crawl through some of New Orleans' best bars as Abita unveils Amber, Purple Haze and Jockamo IPA cans before they're available in stores and bars. Each beer purchased during the pub crawl is only $2!  Click to register online.

Start the party at...
The Bulldog
3236 Magazine St.
6pm-8pm (registration)
Serving Abita Amber

Then make your way to...
Balcony Bar
3201 Magazine St.
8pm-9pm
Serving Abita Jockamo IPA

Finish the party at...
Rendezvous
3101 Magazine St.
9pm-10pm
Serving Abita Purple Haze

Always a fun way to kick things off.  It's the weekly wine tasting over at Cork & Bottle (Orleans at Moss St.) - from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Tonight's tasting is very special with ports and reds and special host Rupert Symington, Managing Director of Symington Estates - Symington Family Estates, renowned for its Vintage Ports, is the oldest family owned Port shipper and the largest landholder in the Douro Valley with over 2,500 acres of vineyards.  You don't want to miss this one!

Check out Friday Night at NOMA with Artfully Aware tonight from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm!

• Music - The evening begins with a performance by the the Guardians of the Flame. Michael Watson, the musical director of Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse, will play with a four-piece band, and the New Orleans Dance Collective will perform an inspiring dance piece based on unity.
• Writing - Visitors can interact with professional writers and artists from A Studio in the Woods, catch a literary reading organized by the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society, listen to original poetry and prose read by students from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, view photography that reflects the Sierra Club’s local environmental efforts, hear speakers from the Young Leadership Council and watch short films selected by FosterBear Films that explore the vital role of the arts in society.
• Art Activity - There is also an opportunity to become a part of the Mardi Gras tradition by helping a Zulu Krewe member decorate coconuts! All materials will be provided. Coconuts must be left behind for the Zulu Krewe member to use during the parade. Prizes will be awarded for the top three coconuts. A second Mardi Gras inspired art activity will also be available to take home as a souvenir.

*The cost of this event is free with regular admissions. Prices range from: $10 for adults; $8 for seniors, students, and military members; and $6 for ages 7-17.

Remember Michael Aaron with a Memorial and Second Line tonight.  Raise a glass to our dearly departed comrade Michael Aaron.  Food & music starts at Vaughn's Lounge (800 Lesseps) at 6:00 pm then 2nd Line to B.J.'s (4301 Burgundy) at midnight where the Rough 7 will close it out with a bang.
Performances at Vaughn's include:
Happy Talk Band, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Egg Yolk Jubillee, King James, Paris, Rob Cambre (solo on M.Aaron's lapsteel), Chinese Drywall, Brock Norman Brock, and more...

You still don't know what to do?

Head on over to Chickie Wah Wah on Canal for their happy hour and a triple header of music this evening.  Come on by around the 5 o'clock hour and music with Pfister Sisters startin' up at 5:30, and stay on for Paul Sanchez and Davis Rogan at 8:00 pm and top off the evening with The Geraniums at 10:00 pm (no cover!!) - there's a small cover for Paul and Davis - but you know it's worth the dinero!  Come hungry too - there's delicious pizza and other yummy items being served up!

And there's more good music in Mid-City (almost Uptown) over at Rock 'N Bowl (3016 S. Carrollton) for Amanda Shaw plus Sound Track Mind at 9:30 pm!!  Remember if you eat at Ye Olde College Inn right next door you get a discount to the show!  Happy rockin' and bowlin'!

Stop by the newly reopened Circle Bar (1032 St. Charles) for some really good Russian and Brass Band Music...it's Debauche with Slow Danger Brass Band at 10:00 pm (I think it's a $5 cover - but you don't want to miss it!)

Need more music??  Then go to Frenchmen Street!

You can get started early at the Spotted Cat (623 Frenchmen) with Brett Richardson at 4:00 pm, and the New Orleans Cottonmouth Kings at 10:00 pm.

d.b.a.'s (618 Frenchmen) got The Hot Club of New Orleans at 6:00 pm it's FREE, but don't forget to tip the band!! And stay on for Ike Stubblefield with PapaMali & Johnny Vidacovich at 10:00 pm...there's a $10 cover, but you don't want to miss the show!!

Alrighty, well that should keep you busy this evening and tomorrow...If you're looking for more fun stuff to do...check out the WWOZ Livewire -  http://www.wwoz.org/new-orleans-community/music-calendar and tune in today from 11-2 pm for the Louisiana Music Party with my hubby Bill deTurk!!


www.gratisnola.com