Monday, April 27, 2026

Heads up for pet parents: An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.*

Backyard bliss and bites: The Chloe’s pool in New Orleans is open for Summer 2026, with day passes and VIP cabanas plus a dedicated chef serving 3 Dips Fries and the Twin Stack Burger -- see passes, cabanas, and menu.

Shark Tank-style pitch contest: Small businesses can apply for the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center’s WIN Pitch Smart Retail Ready competition. Applications close May 8 at 5 p.m. The showdown happens June 11 -- see how and when to apply.

Bridging eras through jazz: New Orleans’ Jazz Generations Initiative has unveiled its 2026 cohort, curated by Dr. Courtney Bryan, debuting at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro tomorrow, April 28, with two sets exploring generations -- get all the details.

The bill everyone over 50 should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*

Retirees are making moves: After gold's best year in nearly five decades, more folks than ever are moving part of their savings into precious metals. Not all of it... just enough to hedge against inflation. AHG put together a free guide that explains how it works -- grab your copy here.*

Goth gift upgrade: Because sometimes your living room needs a little lair energy, Boutique Du Vampyre hooks you up with custom fangs, hand-poured candles, tarot decks, eerie dolls and curiosities crafted for perpetual spooky season. Perfect for last-minute gifts or refreshing your everyday New Orleans goth vibe.

Your week just got saucier: Craving something fun that feels actually-NOLA? The AllWays Lounge & Cabaret packs burlesque, drag, live music and delightfully odd variety into intimate rooms with big personality, the kind of spot where your Tuesday night suddenly turns epic and you remember why you live here.

Quirky home upgrade alert: Stock up on conversation starters at The Shop: Oddities at Unique NOLA, where vintage uranium and carnival glass sit next to curated curios, taxidermy, wet specimens, and hand-made Hoodoo staples like Madame M’s dressed candles, gris-gris, and voodoo dolls. Great when your shelves need stories.

The slower you walk, the more it works: Tai Chi walking is trending online. Turns out it's centuries old — slow deliberate steps, paced breath, attention on the body. Thirty minutes a day burns fat, lifts your mood, and builds balance. No gym, no treadmill, no pounding on the joints. Take the quick quiz to see if it fits, then use code BASELOCAL for a discount on the coaching plan. *See how it works →

Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old).*See what it covers →

Selling your house doesn't have to take months: If you need to sell quickly — because you're downsizing, relocating, or just ready to close this chapter — Liz helps seniors sell their houses fast. As-is. No repairs, no showings, no drawn-out back-and-forth. You pick the closing date. *See how it works →

Unknown-number calls aren't random: Scammers don't just pick numbers out of a hat. They pay data brokers a few bucks and get everything they need to harass you, trick you, rob you, or steal your identity outright. Incogni removes all of your personal info from these data broker sites and keeps an eye out to make sure it stays gone for good. *Get protected →

For women who've been feeling off for years: The fatigue, the weight creeping up, the mood swings, the sleep that won't hold. Turns out most of those "it's just aging" problems are actually caused by hormones, and proper HRT can get you back to feeling like yourself. The catch? You can't get it without a full hormone panel and a doctor who understands what those numbers mean. Most women never get either, but Hone Health gives you both. *See how it works →

🎉 Gallatin Street Fest @ New Orleans Jazz Museum | Monday (4/27) at 12:00 PM – If you’ve been craving the city’s soundtrack, Gallatin Street Fest is a free, daylong hang at the Jazz Museum with local greats, eats, a bar, and merch and vinyl from Gallatin Street Records. Bring the family, leave with bragging rights and a new favorite 45.

🎹 WWOZ Piano Night 2026 @ House Of Blues | Monday (4/27) at 5:00 PM – Think your ears can handle five hours of keys? More than two dozen pianists light up a Jazz Fest tradition, from boogie-woogie to gospel, all to keep WWOZ, our community radio, thriving. It sells out, so snag GA, the VIP Byrd’s Nest, or sponsor.

🌿 Birdcage Terrarium Workshop @ We Bite Rare & Unusual Plants | Wednesday (4/29) at 5:30 PM – This advanced workshop turns a birdcage into a stage, as Carlos Detres guides composition for a vibe between natural history and strange theater. You get a premium birdcage case, driftwood, a tropical plant, and guidance, not Pinterest. Only six spots, so call dibs.

🎶 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Weekend 2 @ Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots | Wednesday (4/29) at 7:00 PM – Jazz Fest's second weekend is taking over the Fair Grounds, with Widespread Panic, Lainey Wilson, Eagles, Teddy Swims, and a brass-fueled blowout from New Breed Brass Band. Bring a hat, a koozie, and your fest stride, so crawfish bread lines move faster when you dance.

⭐ May the 4th Be With You @ Audubon Aquarium | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – May the 4th energy, but make it aquatic at Audubon Aquarium. Their divers are doing underwater lightsaber-style duels in Maya Reef, interstellar decor abounds, and character photo ops await, so throw on a costume and enjoy, included with general admission or memberships.

🥕 Community Farmers Market @ St Paul Lutheran Church | Saturday (5/2) at 12:00 PM – Saturday in the Marigny means bumping into neighbors and leaving a church lot with more okra than plans. Hit the St. Paul Lutheran parking lot on Burgundy for real farmers, fresh produce, and easy conversation, then feel smug supporting Bywater, St. Roch, and beyond.

🏇 Run for the Roses: Kentucky Derby Watch Party @ New Orleans Spring Fiesta Association Townhouse | Saturday (5/2) at 2:30 PM – Break out the seersucker and your most competitive hat. We're watching Derby in a grand French Quarter townhouse, with mint juleps, comfort fare, some drama, Tim Nielson’s tunes, and low-stakes bets that thrill, supporting NOSFA’s museum, so your second julep counts as culture.

This rare Uptown compound sits on over half an acre along Audubon Boulevard, near Audubon Park and Tulane, a corner-lot retreat with L-shaped architecture around palms, citrus, and a heated pool. Nearly every room opens to a covered loggia. A glass-atrium kitchen flaunts a hand-painted French tile mural and Sub-Zero/Wolf, joined by a Venetian-plaster den, elevator, and climate-controlled three-car garage.