Top Festively Gay Things to Do This Week (June 8 – 14, 2015)

Every week I will spotlight five fabulously fun and gay happenings that you may be interested in doing in and around NOLA. This week’s choices are:

#1. Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Join the historic French Market for an evening of festive summer fun as they celebrate the opening of tomato season with the Summer Harvest Gala: A Creole Tomato Festival kick-off party at the historic French Market from 6:30-10:00 p.m. at the historic French Market pavilion at Barracks Street, across from the Old U.S. Mint. A quintessential southern foodie experience served family-style will be prepared by Justin Devillier, Executive Chef of La Petite Grocery and Balise, and a team of award-winning chefs including: Slade Rushing, Executive Chef Brennan’s; Vishwesh Bhatt, Executive Chef of Snackbar and Corporate Chef of City Grocery Restaurant Group (Oxford, MS); Rebecca Wilcomb, Chef de Cuisine of Herbsaint; Kristen Essig, Executive Chef of Meauxbar. A cocktail reception featuring handcrafted cocktails and hand-passed hors-d’oeuvres by Cane and Table will begin the evening from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The seated dinner will begin right after under the French Market pavilion featuring live music by Creole String Beans. Tickets are $150 per person with all the proceeds going to fund the growth of The French Market’s new twice weekly farmers markets. Please contact Jeremy Smith via email with questions at jsmith@frenchmarket.org.

#2. Friday, June 12, 2015

Does a romantic evening under the stars being serenaded by gorgeous Italian singers sound amazing to you? Well this is your opportunity to experience this beautiful event of arias at Opera in the Piazza at the Piazza d’Italia (377 Poydras Street) starting at 7 p.m. Singers are from the New Orleans Opera Association (NOOA), members of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and NOOA director Todd Simmons. Enjoy delicious Italian treats provided by St. Clair Wood Fired Pizza and La Divina Gelato, along with wine and beer. Concert donation: $10/person in advance and $15/person at the door. Children under 10 years old enter free. Please bring your own chairs. Advance tickets are available until 4:00 p.m. on June 12. VIP Tickets: $50/person (includes reserved seating and 2 drink tickets). Special valet parking is available at the Lowes Hotel for $10. For tickets or more information, go to www.americanitalianculturalcenter.com.

#3. Friday, June 12, 2015

One of my favorite local breweries has cause for celebration. NOLA Brewing is hosting their Tap Room Grand Opening from 5 – 11 p.m. They are ready to debut their brand new building located in the building next door to the brewery at 3001 Tchoupitoulas Street. This two-story tap room boasts two bars, 24+ taps and an upstairs patio overlooking the Mississippi river and port. Food will be available to purchase by McClure’s Barbecue and the parking lot is on the corner of Eighth and St. Thomas Street. Entertainment will be provided by NICK and the Ovorols with special guest Ed Williams from the Revivalists and the Colin Lake Band.

#4. Saturday, June 13, 2015

Please join the continued fight for equality at the 23^rd annual Louisiana HRC Gala. The VIP reception is from 5 – 6 p.m. followed by the general reception and the dinner and awards beginning at 6:45 p.m. There will also be a silent auction. Jim Obergefell, the main plaintiff in the historic marriage equality case at the Supreme Court, will be the featured speaker at the dinner. To purchase tickets, please go to hrc.org/louisianadinner.

#5. Saturday, June 13, 2015

Fashionistas prepare for a fabulous night of glamour at Couture for a Cause – A Fashion Affair for the Heart. Back for a second year, this much touted event is set to take place at stylish NOLA nightclub, The Metropolitan from 7 – 10 p.m. The evening promises to deliver a premiere social experience for guests. The event, an innovative fashion show, is being produced and hosted by two powerhouse female entrepreneurs and benefits the American Heart Association (AHA). One half of last year’s hosting team, Shirah Ray, has returned to lead this year’s event. The local boutique owner, known to many as “Queen of Scene” is bringing a new partner into the fold this year. Reality-show celebrity, Anicka Jones Marshall, who recently appeared on HGTV’s hit home-improvement competition show, Flipping the Block” is coming on board, joining Ray in this important cause. She too is a local business owner having founded interior design firm, AJM Design+Build.The Metropolitan is located at 310 Andrew Higgins Drive. Tickets start at $25. To purchase tickets, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/couture-for-a-cause-fashion-affair-for-the-heart-tickets-16276975873?aff=eac2

This week we have a little lagniappe for you on the top five list this week:

#6. Saturday, June 13, 2015

Go back in time to your prom when the Krewe of Amon Ra presents Shake Rattle and Roll: Prom Night! Amon Ra is one of the oldest gay carnival organizations celebrating their 50^th year The event is form 8 – 11 p.m. at Pelican Bay (1701 Elysian Fields Avenue). There will be music, food, specialty malts, a drag show, photo booth, auction and the infamous King and Queen of the Prom Pageant. Anyone can enter the pageant, just bring in an auction item and collect the most money from the guests and you can be a winner baby! Celebrity hosts for the evening is Marshal Harris and Becky Allen.   Tickets are $20. For more information, go to www.kreweofamonra.com.

#7. Saturday, June 13, 2015

Just right down the road from New Orleans is our wonderful state capital (Baton Rouge). They are celebrating their pride at the 2015 Baton Rouge Pride festival. There is free admission to all events from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Baton Rouge River Center Exhibition Hall located at 275 South River Road. They have a great entertainment lineup again this year including The Austin Baptist Women, Pocket Aces, The Krewe of Divas and many more. There will also be the community resource fair, blessing of relationships, kids’ area, food and drink. Visit their new website: www.BRPride.org for the latest details, schedules and more information as the year progresses. Also, please bring a nonperishable food items to donate to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.

The stick around after the free afternoon of Baton Rouge Pride events for “Pride After Hours” with a live band, DJ and special guests. They’ll be music by Mia Borders and her band, as well as DJ Cameron Kelly, and some more hilarious entertainment by the Austin Baptist Women. There will be concessions and cash bar, plus lots of dancing and fun. Tickets are $10 in advance or $20 the day of event, available through the Baton Rouge River Center Box Office (no extra fees), Ticketmaster (regular fees apply), and their website (above) or from Baton Rouge Pride team members (no extra fees).

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Tony Leggio

Tony Leggio is a born and raised New Orleanian. He has over 20 years of event management experience having produced over 5,000 events locally and nationally. Tony has received numerous awards for his outstanding achievements in the hospitality industry. Besides his professional career, Anthony has played an active role in the community.He has served Event Chair of Art Against AIDS for the No/Aids Task Force for the past ten years and was honored as Humanitarian of the Year in 2010 by the organization. He is also a freelance writer who has written for USA Today, as well as several local publications.He also writes a column regularly In Ambush Magazine, plus is part of Gambit’s Big Easy Theatre Committee.Tony is a social butterfly of New Orleans that not only knows how to put on a great event but also knows how to enjoy one.

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