As you recover from your weekend, ease into work with regular gigs from Oak to St. Claude, a Dalai Lama film series on Oretha Castle Haley, and a signing of Julia Reed’s new culinary adventure chronicle. On this day in 1864, Union troops burned Alexandria to the ground. Now, more to do this Monday.

Once you finish shopping at the Farmer’s Market, rest up for a night full of author events, live music, and more going on all over the city. Happy Birthday to Wild Magnolias Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr., birth name “Gerald Dollis,” born on this day in 1981. Now, more to do this Tuesday.

Mardi Gras parades kick off tonight! Before you head to Krewe du Vieux, check out literary events, theatre, MicroFest tours, and more. On this day in 1994, Aaron Neville’s album The Grant Tour was certified Platinum. Now, more things to keep you busy until you hit the streets of the Vieux Carre! 

by Cate Czarnecki

In New Orleans, it's all about the places you'll go. Whether it be a theoretical journey into the use of space in communities, a physical trip to discuss the new Tulane on-campus football stadium, or even a coroner's experience with the Great Beyond, go forth this week and explore your literal and metaphysical environments. There is also a Winston Churchill symposium. 

by Mary-Devon Dupuy

You've made it halfway through the week, but there's a handful of authors that hope all your brain power isn't used up yet. The rest of the week on the local lit calendar features a Pulitzer Prize-winning author bringing us a taste of Canada, college girls at Octavia Books, and a local scribe calling No Takebacks. Click through for details on the remainder of the week on the page:

by Leon Perniciaro

Book events abound in New Orleans this week, with topics ranging from the Banana King Sam Zemurray to William Styron’s Sophie’s Choice and everything between. In particular, check out Octavia Books for Michael Parker’s The Watery Part of the World, a historical novel about pirates and slavery and all sorts of other unsavory things. Later in the week, stop by the Garden District Book Shop to hear about Cajun assassins and other toothy ne’er-do-wells. Finish the festivities off with a heady documentary and discussion of Henry Louis Gate Jr’s troubles and their racial ramifications. Here's the mental menu:

Cory MacLauchlin is on a tour of New Orleans that includes meetings everywhere but under the Woolworth's clock. Over the weekend, he answered questions after a screening of a documentary about John Kennedy Toole. Early this week, the Confederacy of Dunces author's most recent biographer will get the floor to himself with two apperances scheduled to talk about his book, Butterfly in the Typewriter.

Around this time of year, David Sedaris is usually associated with his oft-rehashed curmudgeonly classic about the erosive effects of elf duty, The Santaland Diaries. But, as it turns out, Sedaris is the author of other works, and A.J. Allegra has Santaland covered locally anyway. So, when the acclaimed essayist rolls into the Garden District Book Shop Tuesday, the focus will turn to animal anxiety instead of Macy's Mayhem.

A little lockout would've never bothered a mountain of a man like Shaq. Even while pummeling defenses, the legendary Center ran sidelines as a cop, actor, video game kung-fu fighter, locker room comedian, rapper and even posted a late turn as an academic. The Big Shaqtus is now taking a turn as an author, and the LSU alum (and recently bronzed icon) is bringing his roadshow to the Garden District Book Shop for a stop next weekend. On Dec. 3, Basketball's Big Daddy will bring his new memoir, Shaq Uncut: My Story, to Prytania Street's Garden District Book Shop for a signing event.

by Brad Rhines

New Orleans chef-lebrity John Besh steps out of the kitchen and into the limelight today with the release of his second tome on local cooking, My Family Table.  Besh will be making the rounds to promote his new book through the end of the year, starting with a few signings and appearances around town this week before making stops in New York, Texas, and Alabama, with a heaping helping of TV appearances undoubtedly thrown in along the way.