My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra at the Stage Door Canteen was amazing! Not only was the music fantastic, but all of the performers did a great job dancing and entertaining the crowd with facts and funny stories about Sinatra's life. The show runs through to mid-May, and I highly suggest seeing it if you're as big of a Sinatra fan as I am. The other events of the week aren't quite as refined as the show, so get ready to go outside and sweat.
It's definitely a change of pace from torch songs, but Wednesday night is the time-tested metal band Master at Siberia with Sacrificial Slaughter, Demonic Destruction, and more at 10 p.m. for $12. And start your weekend off right with true New Orleans music at the Howlin' Wolf on Friday night. Rebirth Brass Band and Gravy Flavored Kisses perform at 9 p.m. for $15.
Have fun and help out Saturday is Hogs for a Cause taking place at the new fairgrounds at City Park beginning at noon. Eighty teams from across the nation are battling in five categories to be named the most delectable barbeque of the fest. Another childhood ailment fundraising cause is taking place that day at two locations. St. Baldrick's will have a head-shaving party at Finn McCool's at noon and at the Deutches Haus at 5 p.m. The events are free to attend.
Sunday is the last parade of the season. The Irish-Italian parade rolls down Veterans Memorial Blvd. at noon. It's also the WYES Chocolate Sunday at Harrah's Casino. You'll be supporting your local non-profit television station, and for $35, you can eat and drink your fill of delicious chocolate confections from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. If you can't stomach that much sweetness, you can sample the multitude of foods available during the Roadfood Fest in the French Quarter on both Saturday and Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. Food vendors and food trucks will line the French Market and have their fine foods for you consumption. Just don't fill up at one tent! You can grab some grub then attend the annual Stella Shouting Contest at Jackson Square on Sunday at 4:15 p.m. As a part of the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, screamers will compete to win the love of Stella, or Stanley, by shouting their names as loudly and emotionally as they can.
