Today, head to City Park for an Iris Festival, learn about the bizarre world of Louisiana politics, and pick your team for the Women’s Final Four! On this day in 1997, Wynton Marsalis became the first jazz composer to win a Pulitzer Prize for “Blood on the Fields.” Now, more to do this Sunday.

Today, Wednesday at the Square goes down da Bayou, Lawrence N. Powell, author of The Accidental City speaks on his book at The healing center, and Ben Sandmel discisses his biography of Ernie K-Doe at the Garden District Book Shop. This day in history, New Orleans falls to Admiral Farragut's US Fleet (1862),  "King of Cajun Singers" Vin Bruce was born in Cut off (1932)

This week, ditch your headphones and get on your dancing shoes. Aura Fedora talks to local musicians Big Sam, Paul Sanchez, Khris Royal and Luke Hudleston about their Mardi Gras schedules, and some of this weekend's main after-dark events.

After the 'nog is sipped, cabin fever has been known to sit in. Since the weather outside is far from frightful, why not head out to town. There's music, movies, and, of course, mass.

CBD - Last season, the Hornets brought fans into the Hive on the backbeat of the ever-present "I'm In" campaign, which featured Rebirth Brass Band's "Do Whatcha Wanna." But once fans arrived, their aural intake is highlighted primarily by that age-old musical query: "Who let the dogs out?" But, this year, the sounds will be more "Salty Dog."

Today, the Critical Mass Bike Ride will depart from Jackson Square, Big Sam will play Tip's, and Khris Royal will play the Maple Leaf. But years ago, The Magic Flute, Mozart’s last opera, premiered in Vienna (1791), Hubert Cecil Booth patented the vacuum cleaner (1901), Cesar Chavez founded the United Farm Workers (1962), Cheers’ premiered on NBC (1982), and the first images of a live giant squid in its natural habitat were taken, just South of Tokyo (2004), Truman Capote was born, in New Orleans  (1924), and a 24 year-old James Dean died (1955), and International Translation Day.

Sure, we sent them the horns and the swing. The funk and the kings (of the street). But this year, NOLA exported some seriously diverse music from the provinces to the nation.