In and Around Baton Rouge

Catch Jason Isbell in concert at The Manship on Sunday.

• Thursday: PITCHERS & PUCCINI, Lucy's: Opera Louisiane is thinking outside the box with "Pitchers and Puccini" at Lucy's in downtown Baton Rouge, where vocalists will hold court with casual performances, games, drink specials and good eats... READ MORE

• Thursday: JEWEL OF THE STATE GALA, Old State Capitol: This soirée promises live entertainment from Ned Fasullo and the Fabulous Big Band Orchestra, plus a raffle of a white gold and pavé diamond necklace that reflects the architectural design of the building... READ MORE

• Saturday: ECO-FRIENDLY FASHION, West Baton Rouge Museum: The WBR Museum and LSU’s Division of Textiles, Apparel Design, and Merchandising are teaming up to showcase the handiwork of select graduate students. Kate Daniel has designed an eco-friendly reversible cocktail dress collection made from “green textiles” of locally grown materials... READ MORE

• Sunday: JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT, The Manship: As a member of Drive-By Truckers, Jason Isbell was the underused secret weapon, a top-notch songwriter. On his own, Isbell mines similar territory but now has a place to show it off… READ MORE

• Sunday: MOZART ON THE LAKE, White Oak Plantation: Leave the cooking for this seated dinner to Chef John Folse, and relax amidst blossoming gardens while the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra performs the work of Mozart and other composer luminaries... READ MORE

• Opening Sunday: TALE OF TWO CITIES, LSU Museum of Art: Eugene Atget and Berenice Abbott were each inspired by their surroundings, Paris and New York, respectively. This exhibit examines the work of the two artists who were inextricably linked to each other and to the development of modern photography… READ MORE

New Orleans & points southward

Show off your seersucker sensibility for a good cause on Friday.

• Friday—Sunday: MID-CITY BAYOU BOOGALOO, New Orleans: Before the sizzling summer heat sets in, the Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo invites all to the banks of beloved Bayou St. John for a family-friendly festival of live music on three stages, delicious food, art… READ MORE

• Friday: SIPPIN' IN SEERSUCKER, The Shops of Canal Place: My oh my, it must be a Southern summertime. How can you tell? The seersucker, of course. An evening of Southern art, cocktails, light cuisine, raffle prizes, fashion and shopping to benefit the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.… READ MORE

• Saturday: MAIN STREETS OF LOUISIANA, Plaquemine: Writer Anne Butler and photographer Henry Cancienne will stop by the Iberville Museum this weekend to give a presentation about their recently published book, Main Streets of Louisiana. Butler notes, “Having to choose a favorite Main Street community is like having to choose a favorite child... READ MORE

• Sunday: FAUBOURG MARIGNY HOME TOUR, New Orleans: The fortieth annual Home & Garden Tour offers a look at the treasures hidden behind the façades of some of New Orleans' oldest homes. In addition to the tour, there will be an art market in Washington Square Park… READ MORE

Westward to Lafayette and thereabouts

• Thursday—Sunday: COCHON DE LAIT FESTIVAL, Mansura: The folks in Mansura would like you to drop by for their annual pig roast … all four tons of it. That’s how much cochon de lait—slow roasted over open pits—will be served up one plate at a time as this community celebrates its signature culinary delight... READ MORE

• Saturday: MIGRATORY BIRD FESTIVAL, Ville Platte: Join the birds flocking to the leafy respite of the Louisiana State Arboretum for a celebration of International Migratory Bird Day, and have the opportunity to learn about our feathered friends and their conservation… READ MORE

• Saturday & Sunday: LOCAL FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE, Lafayette: The Acadiana Center for the Arts presents its second annual Local Filmmakers Showcase this weekend, featuring films that were written, directed, edited or produced by Louisiana natives or those with strong local ties... READ MORE

The St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Mississippi Gulf Coast environs

Meschiya Lake & The Little Big Horns will drop in the Dew Drop this Friday night.

• Friday: MESCHIYA LAKE, Mandeville: The historic Dew Drop Jazz & Social Hall, the venerable 116-year-old rural jazz venue, will welcome Meschiya Lake & The Little Big Horns, part of the resurgence of traditional jazz and social dance shows in New Orleans... READ MORE

• Saturday: DRAGONS ON THE TCHEFUNCTE, Madinsonville: Here comes a super fun outdoors event that will breathe fire onto the lazy Tchefuncte River. This 2,500-year old Chinese sport involves twenty team members paddling in unison to a drummer’s beat in a long, narrow boat decorated with a dragon’s head and tail... READ MORE

• Sunday: MOTHER'S DAY HOME TOUR, Mandeville: The Old Mandeville Historic Association invites all moms and their loved-ones to the third annual "Mother's Day in Mandeville" Home Tour. Charming cottages and bungalows will welcome visitors... READ MORE

Events in the Felicianas, Natchez and other points northward

Neptunia, coneflower, and poppy... oh my! At Kisatchie National Forest this Saturday.

• Saturday: WILDFLOWERS IN KISATCHIE, Winnfield: Kisatchie National Forest will host its annual Celebrating Wildflowers Event with a prairie tour in the Winn Ranger District. David Moore, Kisatchie's Forest Botanist, will point out native prairie plants including Blue Sage, Blue-Eyed Grass... READ MORE

• Saturday & Sunday: SKIRMISH AT CEDAR GROVE, Natchez: Save the date for this living history Civil War reenactment at historic Cedar Grove Plantation. Skirmishes both days, with a ladies tea, a cochon de lait... READ MORE

• Sunday: ARTS FOR ALL STUDIO TOUR, St. Francisville: If mom's an art lover, your Mother's Day plans just got made. The Arts For All Studio Tour in West Feliciana Parish will take participants inside the studios of Murrell Butler, Michael Miller... READ MORE

Milwaukee Art Museum

Summer in the City. And Out.
Published May 10

Here's another deal for the brave of heart and quick of wit. Or at least quick of decision. AirTran has a sale that ends today offering excellent fares to three interesting summer destinations from New Orleans. Fly round-trip to Atlanta for $138, and while I don't think of Atlanta as a particularly appealing summer destination, in 90 minutes you can be up in the Georgia mountains. Fly round-trip to Baltimore or Milwaukee for $198…READ MORE.