Why we risk living in New Orleans

We’re not blind to the steamy weather during the five-month summer, or the risk of hurricanes in the late summer, or the mosquitoes, or the crime year-round. But there’s a season that makes it all worthwhile. It’s the spring, when the weather is usually perfect and there’s music everywhere you turn. For instance:

• The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, held the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May. But if you don’t want to shell out $35 or $45 for a ticket, there are some free alternatives. Such as ...

• The French Quarter Festival, where the music is free and the ambience is perfect. The FQF happens this weekend, April 13–15. Information is here; the program is here. (Hat tip to Ashley Morris.)

• Wednesday at the Square, a free 2½-hour concert held every Wednesday between April 4 and June 20 inclusive, during happy hour at Lafayette Square. Headliners include recent Grammy winner Irma Thomas, the Radiators, Sonny Landreth, BeauSoleil, Trombone Shorty, and Walter Wolfman Washington.

There are many other reasons why we love this city, which I’ll expound on some other time. Today, it’s about springtime and the music.

If you’re willing to live dangerously for the pleasure of seasons like this, maybe you can be one of us.

Comments

[Andrew Lilly]

Lest we forget, the Tchoups Bar-A-Thon is during this season, as well.

[da po' boy]

I like that as a tourism (or resident recruitment) campaign:

Come to New Orleans. Live Dangerously.