City Park hosts “Happy 3rd of July” again this year with festivities at the Great Lawn starting at 7:15 p.m. The program features a concert by the Marine Forces Reserve Band and ends with a big bang of fireworks over the Peristyle at 9. The Carousel Gardens and Storyland will also be open from 3 to 9 p.m., and food, beer, daiquiris and more will be available for purchase. Get your lawn chairs and blankets and head out early to get the best spot. Friends of City Park will also have special access to City Putt restrooms (with proof of membership).
Go Fourth on the River will kick off at 6 p.m. with a red, white and blue water show from the General Roy S. Kelly fireboat, plus the annual fireworks display along the Mississippi River at 9 p.m. More information and a special choreographed soundtrack is available here.
Vue Orleans is hosting a special exclusive event on July 4, 6 to 10 p.m. with beverages, light bites and an amazing rooftop view of the fireworks from the Mississippi River below. Limited tickets available and are on sale now at vueorleans.com.
Bingo!
The Rusty Nail hosts drag queen Katrina Waters for its first bi-weekly series of Drag Bingo Nights starting Thursday, July 6, from 8 to 10 p.m. It’s free to play but be sure to bring plenty of cash for tips and drinks. There will be fun and prizes and surprises!
The Write Stuff
As part of its Coffee & Craft series, Baldwin & Co. and the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival will host novelist Katy Simpson Smith (also a 2023 New Orleans Magazine Top Female Achiever) Saturday, July 8 at 10 a.m. The free writing workshop session will focus this time on the historical fiction, research, voice and more. Learn more about the session’s focus from Smith here.
Hungry Happy Hour
Hungry Eyes, the new 80s-inspired eatery from the mind of chef Mason Hereford and the Turkey and the Wolf team, recently announced its new martini happy hour. So get out the Aqua net and mark your Swatch watch for 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, with half off martinis and 25% off bottles of wine.
Coffee Coffee Coffee (and more)
Finally got to check out Junk Drawer Coffee on Magazine Street. The café and event space has plenty of iced drinks to keep you cool, small bites, sweet treats and more. Bring your laptop to get some remote work done in a relaxed environment or just chill. It’s all good.
Bagel Brunch (and beyond)
Special congrats and kudos to Flour Moon Bagels who recently was named one of the “Very Best Bagels in the U.S. (Yes, Outside New York)” by Bon Appetit magazine. If you haven’t had one of their amazing bagel creations, spreads, coffee, creative cocktails and so much more, what are you waiting for? I am a huge fan not only their tartines, but also the roasted carrot spread (of which I always buy extra to bring home to enjoy.)
