Just in time for Lent’s end, there is a Dyngus Day celebration on St. Claude. Also in the Marigny, folk trio Pyeya is performing for this week’s musical meditation. On this day in 1970, the first annual Jazz Fest began at Armstrong Park. Performers included Mahalia Jackson, as well as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Now, more to do this Monday.  

According to NOPD, at 3:30a.m. on Saturday morning, one unlucky pedestrian found themselves a victim of New Orleans' crime problem. Police said that the man was walking down the 1200 block of Chartres St when an unknown male crossed the street and punched him to the ground.

Police are reaching out to the public for help in their search for a missing mother and her two children. According to the NOPD, 26 years old Damica James last spoke with her mother on Friday, April 18th. Neither she nor her children, Chaniya Marshall, 3 and Jeremy Collier, 1 and been seen of heard from since.

Two more parades are in store for the afternoon. The Quarter has one more procession in store, and it's the most colorful. This afternoon, the annual Gay Easter Parade kicks off from Armstrong Park. Over on St. Claude, the Good Children Social Aid & Pleasure club is bringing their unique DIY creations down the corridor. Full details and weather follow.

Uptown eatery Patois (6708 Laurel St.) recently launched a new late-nite Sinatra-esque lounge. With the exacting standards of the Chairman of the Board staring down at them with piercing blue eyes, the establishment raised the bar on their already excellent bar program. General Manager Lorenzo Reef taught NoDef a trick or two about mixing a modified Vieux Carre.

Happy Easter! Today featuyres parades for every taste. After mass, the first round kicks off. In the Quarter, the immortal Chris Owens once again holds her annual Easter Parade. Uptown, the Original Pigeon Town Steppers and Pigeon Town Lady Steppers will stut their stuff with a traditional second line. Click through for routes and details.

Happy Easter! Religious and secular folks can find a parade that suits their needs this afternoon. Following the floats, Americana singer/songwriter Todd Snider is performing at Tipitina’s. Gulf Coast residents continue to recover from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which happened four years ago today. On a lighter note, find out where to celebrate Easter Sunday.  

With the help of wildlife experts, it appears whooping cranes are readjusting to Louisiana life. Biologists said this week that a whooping crane laid eggs in the Bayou State for the first time in more than 70 years.

Marc Morial has moved on to become president of the National Urban League, but the former mayor still maintains his residency views. Following the New Orleans City Council's decision to do away with a City rule that required police officers, firefighters and other public safety workers live in Orleans Parish, Morial issued a lengthy statement calling the decision a "cop out."

Vinyl junkies often get up on Saturday morning in search of a gem, but Saturday morning offered added reason to rise. Every April, Record Store Day brings a bevy of new and special edition releases nationwide. The Day also provides a reason to celebrate the local, independent shops that keep the music available.

Two men forced their way into a house Friday afternoon in the University area, according to Tulane police. About 3 p.m., a man who is not affiliated with the university answered the door of his home, which is located on Broadway St. near Spruce.

This Easter weekend, there is Earth Day Fest, an Easter Keg Hunt from NOLA Brewing, and a book reading and signing for a local author’s new  courtroom drama. On this day in 1960, Gov. Jimmie Davis was elected. Now, more to do this Saturday.

After all the Good Friday crawfish is digested, the Crescent City Classic is set to send New Orleanians scurrying through the streets to get them hungry for Easter. To make way for the thousands of runners that will head out for the 36^th annual 10K, the City is shutting down streets from the French Quarter to City Park. 

Ray Nagin is still facing off with the feds over money. A lawyer for the former NOLA mayor is disputing how much payoff money he should have to forfeit as a result of his conviction on corruption charges earlier this year, according to court papers filed Friday.

by Trey Monaghan 

Saturday is the Crescent City Classic, a race I have run more times than I can remember.  I plan to run it yet again, and I truly don't know why. I'm not running it to set a personal record,  or to impress a lady, or even to feel good. I'm just running to run. Over the past year I have become addicted to the run, and tomorrow is just another chance to feed that addiction.

There is no better costume than a bunny for a bar hop, and the tall-eared hoards will take to the streets this Saturday night. Bunarchy will usher in Easter with a Saturday night bar crawl through the Marigny, with proceeds going towards NOLA’s Ark Animal Rescue.