Food Festin’
On the heels of Jazz Fest, which is ostensibly about the music – but many just go for the food – May brings us several festivals that are primarily about the food, but there’s music and other things, too. The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (May 20-23, NOWFE.com) hosts events for foodies and winos of all taste levels, including the Royal Street Stroll, a sophisticated wine and food crawl through the street’s shops and galleries; the Grand Tasting, a massive food and wine tasting; and wine dinners at restaurants around the city. Also in May are the New Orleans Greek Festival (May 22-24, GreekFestNola.com), where you can enjoy the day’s special Greek entrée, a baklava sundae and a ouzo daiquiri along Bayou St. John, and New Orleans Oyster Fest (May 30-31, NewOrleansOysterFestival.org), where the city’s best oyster purveyors assemble.
Boogaloo’s Back
Still fun and free in its 10th year – a feat for any annual event – Bayou Boogaloo (May 15-17) presents a full, but laid-back, festival on Bayou St. John. Festival offerings include food and drink stands and an extensive art market stretch along the bayou, anchored by a music stage that this year features local legends Mannie Fresh, Rotary Downs and more. Information, TheBayouBoogaloo.com
The Art of Carnival
For those missing New Orleans Carnival, the Contemporary Arts Center offers a taste of Carnival celebrations in other parts of the world in its show En Mas’: Carnival and Performance Art of the Caribbean. Centered around commissioned performance pieces during the 2014 Caribbean Carnival season in six different countries, the exhibition considers the larger social and political implications of Carnival costuming and performance – a connection that’s certainly familiar in New Orleans. The exhibition is open through June 7. Information, CacNo.org/En-Mas
CALENDAR
through May 10. The Music Box Roving Village at City Park Presented by The Helis Foundation, City Park. Information, NewOrleansAirlift.org
May 2, 9, 23. New Orleans Voodoo games, Smoothie King Center. Information, SmoothieKingCenter.com
May 5. Pixies in concert, Civic Theater. Information, CivicNOLA.com
May 6, 13, 20, 27. Wednesday at the Square concert series, Lafayette Square Park. Information, WednesdayAtTheSquare.com
May 8. Ogden Museum of Southern Art’s Sippin’ In Seersucker, The Shops at Canal Place. Information, OgdenMuseum.org
May 8-23. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts. Information, RivertownTheaters.com
May 15. New Kids on the Block, TLC and Nelly in concert, Smoothie King Center. Information, SmoothieKingCenter.com
May 16. Bette Midler in concert, Smoothie King Center. Information, SmoothieKingCenter.com
May 17. Comedian Marc Maron, Joy Theater. Information, TheJoyTheater.com
May 22-June 6. Merrily We Roll Along, Le Petit Théâtre. Information, LePetitTheatre.com
