FAIRS, FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

The latest festival and event news from New Orleans and Louisiana

LITERARY EVENTS

Garden District Book Shop 2727 Prytania St. Steven and Rebekah Hren discuss and sign "The Carbon Free Home: 36 Remodeling Projects to Help Kick the Fossil-Fuel Habit, " 5-7. Free. Call 895.2266.

Octavia Books 513 Octavia St. Jack Pendarvis discusses and reads from his novel "Awesome, " 6. Call 899.7323.

Rusty Costanza / Times-PicayuneJoseph Prows of New Orleans dances to the sounds of Mo'LASSES at the 2007 Satchmo Summer Fest at the U.S. Mint on Saturday, August 4, 2007. The festival continuous Sunday.

2008 Satchmo SummerFest Event Schedule

Wednesday, July 30

Satchmo Art Show and reception (open to public, art for sale) - Crescent City Brewhouse

The Feliciana Nature Society will hold their annual Feliciana Hummingbird Celebration on Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26, 2008 in St. Francisville & West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana.

The event will include a Friday evening speakers and the opportunity to observe hummingbirds up close as they are banded at two private homes in the St. Francisville area and one other home for viewing and light refreshments.

Hummingbird-friendly plants as well as crafts and birding optics will also be available for sale.

Ted Jackson / Times-PicayuneMusician, historian, urban researcher, developer and preservationist Jack Stewart leads a lecture Friday on New Orleans jazz at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park during Satchmo Summerfest.

2008 Satchmo SummerFest Seminar Schedule

All events take place at the Old U.S. Mint - Free and open to the public

Thursday, July 31

George Avakian Keynote Address - "Living with Pops."
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

The legendary record producer and executive George Avakian talks about his many and varied experiences with Louis Armstrong, and explores the parallels between Satchmo's philosophy and his own life.

Rusty Costanza / Times-Picayune10 year old Gabrielle Snyder, right, dances along with Mo'LASSES at the 2007 Satchmo Summer Fest at the U.S. Mint on Saturday, August 4, 2007. The festival continuous Sunday.

2008 Satchmo SummerFest Music Schedule

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2

Traditional Jazz Stage

11:00-12:00 Tim Laughlin
12:15-1:30 Connie Jones Crescent City Jazz Band
1:45-3:00 Yoshio Toyama & the Dixie Saints
3:15-4:30 Chris Clifton & His Allstars
4:45-6:00 Preservation Hall Jazz Band Tribute to John Brunious

Starting in 1928, the Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo is the oldest fishing rodeo in the United States!

The rodeo will include big game, shoreline, spear-fishing and tag-release divisions. Music and of course, seafood are on tap as well.

This year Antoine's Restaurant will host the 'Red Beans and Ricely Yours' luncheon during Satchmo SummerFest.

This event is named for the way in which Louis Armstrong signed all his correspondence, and is a fundraiser for French Quarter Festivals, Inc.

Mix and mingle with fascinating and famous panelists who will present Satchmo Summerfest seminars during the festival - including legendary record producer George Avakian; Armstrong House Museum Director Michael Cogswell; Gary Giddins - award-winning critic and author of 'Satchmo'; trumpeter and scholar Randy Sandke; Yoshio Toyama aka 'Satchmo of Japan', and more.

Keith I. Marszalek / NOLA.comTimes-Picayune Food editor Judy Walker reports live from this year's Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans.

Tales of the Cocktail has come and gone and thousands of those loving all things in a martini-glass are now on their way home.

But fear not, you can relive the sights and sounds (if not the sips) of this years festival.

Check out Judy Walker's Tales of the Cocktail event blog, and NOLA.com's photos.

SPECIAL EVENTS

21st Annual Spillway Classic Trail Run Bonnet Carre Spillway pavilion, north of Airline Drive, Norco. The 3-mile run covers a challenging course atop the levee and down into the Spillway with watery troughs, log jumps, hairpin turns and more, 8 a.m. Awards to top finishers as well as to the muddiest individuals and the muddiest team. Runners must wear shoes at all times. Registration is $25. Call 467.8626, www.runnotc.org.

Tales of the Cocktail Hotel Monteleone and other French Quarter locations. The culinary and cocktail festival ends today. For a list of events, prices and a schedule of seminars, visit www.TalesoftheCocktail.com.