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Satchmo Summerfest
A summer tradition returns with the Satchmo Summerfest at the New Orleans Jazz Museum from July 30-August 1. The music lineup and the food and beverage menus for the 2021 event were not released by press time, but festival goers can expect plenty of both; Satchmosummerfest.org.
Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience opened on May 27. Exhibits will highlight how southern Jews were influenced by their communities and how they addressed issues of race and anti-semitism. The museum is still seeking artifacts for its exhibits. For more information, visit Msje.org.
The Premonition by Michael Lewis
Acclaimed New Orleans-born bestselling author Michael Lewis (“Moneyball,” “The Blind Side,” “The Big Short”) recently released his latest book, “The Premonition,” about the terrifying early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Lewis’ non-fiction thriller, he follows a cast of characters ranging from a 13-year-old girl whose science project revealed important insights into airborne pathogen transmission to a local public health officer who sees things the CDC misses, to a secret team of doctors called the Wolverines who dissented against the official response of the Trump administration.
The Kirkus Review gave “The Premonition” a starred review, calling it “an urgent, highly readable contribution to the literature of what might be called the politics of disease.” “The New York Times Book Review” wrote, “The lessons of ‘The Premonition’ apply to more than just the CDC – they tell us why government bureaucracies fail.”
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Bloodstains and Teardrops
In June, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux (the oldest living Mardi Gras Indian chief) released his latest album, “Bloodstains and Teardrops.” The album connects the music of slaves in Congo Square to the Caribbean and features guest artists like Tab Benoit, Michael Doucet, Johnny Sansone, and other Jamaican and Louisianian musicians.
Joyce Wildlife Management Area
Located 5 miles south of Hammond in Tangipahoa Parish, Joyce Wildlife Management Area (wlf.louisiana.gov/page/joyce) is a hidden gem for hunting, fishing, and birding/wildlife viewing. Bald eagles and osprey nest in and around the area, which is a site along the American Wetlands Birding Trail.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries built an elevated “swamp walk” boardwalk in 1990 to provide area visitors with a chance to view the interior of the swamp and all of its wildlife and vegetation. Visitors can enjoy the sight of red maple, wax myrtle, red bay, and cypress-tupelo. The trail is only 0.5 miles, so it’s accessible for families with children and open year-round.
