June 26, when the United States Post Office Department was established by the Second Continental Congress (1775), when President Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947, creating the CIA, the Department of Defense, the Air Force, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the U.S. National Security Council (1947), when Truman a year later desegregated the U.S. military (1948), Geroge Bernard Shaw (1856), Mick Jagger (1943), Kevin Spacey (1959), and Sandra Bullock’s (1964) birthdays, and Diane Arbus’ last day (1971). Here's what's happening in the now:

This week's Speakeasy password is "outside the comfort zone." Public talks this week see a burlesque queen getting literary, the state treasurer talking health care, and the Orleans Parish sheriff talking real estate. Click through to see what's goin' on.

July 25, when the Berlin Airlift began (1948), when Puerto Rico became a U.S. Commonwealth (1952), when the first test tube baby was born (1978), and when Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France for the first time (1999). It's the birthday of Walter Payton (1954), Iman (1955) and Matt LeBlanc (1967), and the last day of Frank O'Hara (1966) and Big Mama Thornton (1984). Click "Read More" for NOLA's own happenings.

Storyville may be long gone, but here in the Big Sleazy, we have a strong enough local burlesque scene to fill out any night of the week. Nevertheless, anyone looking for a rousing revue will have their calendars cleared for this week's appearances by the genre's Queen, Dita Von Teese. Along with stripping and stockings, Teese's stopover will also feature a book (or, wherever) signing.