Running Game
If you can’t make it to Spain for the annual encierro, check out the French Quarter instead. The annual San Fermin in Nueva Orleans festival replicates the world-famous Pamplona, Spain, event – substituting Big Easy Roller Girls for actual bovines. Festivities begin on July 12 with a Marques de Caceres Wine Dinner; Friday features “El Txupinazo,” a pre-party featuring Spanish food and drinks at Champions Square; Saturday is the “bull” run; and Sunday is the “El Pobre de Mi” (“Poor Me”) grand finale, which features a tapas brunch menu by Vega Tapas Cafe and the fourth-annual Ernest Hemingway Talent Contest: Be on the lookout for lookalikes and skits. Saturday is undoubtedly the festival’s most popular event; be sure to wear white with a red sash and don your finest mustache for the occasion. Information, NolaBulls.com
Bright in White
Aug. 4 is Whitney White Linen Night, where New Orleanians are encouraged to sport their finest white linen and celebrate the city’s bustling art scene in the Warehouse/Arts District, adjacent to the French Quarter. The event, which is akin to an extended block party, showcases some of the city’s hippest galleries, many of which offer light bites and complimentary wine. It is a fun annual tradition whether you’re an art connoisseur in search of your latest living room centerpiece, an amateur who just likes to look or somewhere in between. The official after-party will be held at the Contemporary Arts Center. Information, NewOrleansArtsDistrict.com
Summer Cocktails
Quiet summers are a thing of the past, and this summer New Orleanians have much to raise a glass to, including Tales the Cocktail, an annual festival that’s celebrating its 10th anniversary. With humble beginnings, the festival is now world-famous, as it draws internationally known mixologists (including homegrown heroes), cocktail aficionados and really just anyone who appreciates a good drink. The fête will feature smattering of events, including competitions, seminars, tastings and parties at locations downtown.
Information, TalesOfTheCocktail.com
Tribute to a Legacy
When the Beastie Boys’ Adam “MCA” Yauch passed away in May, local producer, emcee (aka MC), songwriter, singer and DJ Jermaine Quiz of Jealous Monk had already been planning a tribute to the 1990s hip-hop trio that had so heavily influenced his career. In “Sabotage: A Tribute to the Beastie Boys,” Quiz, along with Flow Tribe members KC O’Rorke, Blake Quick and Russell Olschner; Gravity A’s Andrew Meehan; saxophonist James Martin; and Matt Peoples from the M@ Peoples Collective will honor the legacy of the Beastie Boys at One Eyed Jacks on July 14.
The tribute concert will feature full-band versions of classic Beastie Boys songs, focusing on their hit album, Licensed to Ill. Opening acts will include Micah McKee performing acoustic, as well as a performance by A String Project, led by James Hausman. Information, SimplePlayPresents.com.
How would you describe your genre? Jermaine Quiz: I play in different bands, spanning genres. And most of those groups blend, combine and mash up countless genres throughout our sets.
What are you most looking forward to about the show? JQ: Playing all my favorites from Licensed to Ill with a killer live band. KC O’Rorke: I’m looking forward to putting our own stamp on the Beastie Boys music. We’re not trying to just cover what they did but bring our own interpretation to their songs and lyrics. I look at my performance personally as a blend of where New Orleans “Yat” meets Brooklyn “B-Boy.” We have people from all aspects of the local music community involved. Ron Richard’s Simple Play Productions is putting on the event. It took on added significance after MCA passed away. We had the date booked for a month prior to his death, but the timing is just eerie. We want to make sure this show honors MCA and all the great music the Beastie Boys put out.
How did Adam Yauch influence your career?
M@ Peoples: MCA was a pioneer. He brought a rock ‘n’ roll edge to the hip-hop scene, and that’s still prevalent in the genre today. He was all attitude. His personality comes through in every line he ever delivered, bringing new meaning to the “it’s not what you say, but how you say it” mentality. As a white emcee, I can never overlook that he was the first credible white rapper to break out in the business.
July 1, 6 and 7. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Shakespeare Festival at Tulane); Tulane University. Information, NewOrleansShakespeare.tulane.edu
July 4. Go 4th On the River; Woldenberg Riverfront Park. Information, Go4thOnTheRiver.com
July 5-8. Essence Music Festival; Mercedes Benz Superdome. Information, Essence.com
July 6, 13, 20, 27. The Tipitina’s Foundation presents Free Friday Series; Tipitina’s Uptown. Information, Tipitinas.com
July 8. Aaron Lewis in concert; Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts. Information, MahaliaJacksonTheater.com
July 10-13, 16-20. The Emperor’s New Clothes; Rogers Memorial Chapel (Tulane University). Information, PatchworkPlayersNola.com
July 12. Indigo Girls + The Shadowboxers; Tipitina’s Uptown. Information, Tipitinas.com
July 12. The Wooden Wings with The Vettes and Enharmonic Souls; One Eyed Jacks. Information, OneEyedJacks.net
July 12-13, 23-26. New Orleans Zephyrs home games; Zephyr Field. Information, milkb.com
July 17. Debbie Davies in concert; Maple Leaf Bar. Information, DebbieDavies.com
July 20-22. Windsor Court Princess Tea; Le Salon (Windsor Court). Information, GrillRoomNewOrleans.com
July 23 and 30. Waiting Around: The Restaurant Musical; AllWays Lounge. Information, TheAllWaysLounge.net
July 27. Nicki Minaj in concert; UNO Lakefront Arena. Information, ArenaNewOrleans.com
Aug. 3-5. Satchmo Summerfest; various venues downtown. Information, fqfi.org
