by M.D. Dupuy

Many New Orleanians have been less than pleased with the Times-Picayune’s recent shift from daily publication, but no one challenged Steven Newhouse to a duel or even staked outside of his office to beat him with a cowhide. Disgruntled readers reacted differently in the late 1800’s, when The Mascot, which will be the subject of a Wednesday night presentation, was still active.

Today in New Orleans, Jazz in the Park brings the music back to Congo Square, the Louisiana State Museum explores a sensationalist NOLA newspaper of yore and the Louisiana Philharmonic tackles the toughest piano piece in the world. It's the birthday of Louisiana's (and America's) first African-American governor, P.B.S. Pinchback (1837), Zydeco legend Cleveland Chenier (1901) and trumpeter Teddy Riley (1901). Now back to today:

The year eighteen hundred twelve was not only the year of its namesake war, nor was it merely the year that Louisiane gained her place among these United States. In 1812, the first steamboat completed traveling the length of the Mighty Mississippi to make port in New Orleans. The journey, undertaken by the steamboat's architect and Teddy Roosevelt's great uncle Nicholas Roosevelt, took more than four months to completes.

Today, the Alabama Shakes bring a dose of old fashioned rock 'n soul to the Quarters, Marigny locals hold a benefit for an outta town DJ and the federal flood is discusses along gender lines. On this day in history, the War of 1812 really ended (really). The conflict's final skirmish even beyond the Battle of New Orleans at Chalmette - wrapped up at Ft. St. Phillip in what is now Plaquemines Parish. Don't think today is over before checking these out:

Today, Dr. Richard Anthony Lewis talks photos at the Louisiana State Museum, Biz Markie DJs at Maison and Mr. Gnome plays at Siberia. In equally celebratory times, prohibition came to an end (1933), President Polk confirmed the discovery of god in California, triggering the Gold Rush of ’49 (1848), New York became the first city to ban artery-clogging trans fats at restaurants (2006), O.J. Simpson was sentenced to 33 years in jail for an armed robbery at a hotel (2008), Walt Disney was born (1901), and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died (1791).

by Danielle del Sol

Pioneering female jazz bandleader and Bourbon Street bar owner Yvonne “Dixie” Fasnacht passed away on Sunday. She was 101 years old.  Miss Dixie, as she was known in the French Quarter, lived in the Vieux Carre for decades until this past year. She got her start in showbiz as a child, learning clarinet at Francis T. Nicholls School, painting the Saenger Theater’s advertisements and signs and paling around New Orleans music haunts with the Boswell Sisters.

September 14, when Handel completed the Messiah (1741), when Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner” (1814), when the UN established its headquarters in NYC (1948), when Elizabeth Ann Seton became the first American saint (1975), when the MLB’s entire season was canceled due to a strike (1994), when Margaret Sanger (1879) and Nas (1973) were born, and when Patrick Swayze died (2009). It's no Hallejulah Chorus, but the following aren't so bad either:

July 20, when the first unit of the Women’s Army Corps began training during WWII (1942), when the Special Olympics was founded (1968), when Colombia declared independence from Spain (1810), when Sioux leader Sitting Bull surrendered to U.S. federal troops (1881), when Cormac McCarthy (1933), Natalie Wood (1933), and Vitamin C (1969) were born, when Bruce Lee died (1973) and National Friend’s Day in Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. Makes some new amigos today at these happenings:

July 14, when Parisians stormed the Bastille, and celebrated the constitutional monarchy in la Fête de la Fédération (1789, 1790), when The Sedition Act came into law (1798), when shoemakers Sacco and Vanzetti were convicted of killing their company paymaster and his guard (1921) when the U.S. officially withdrew $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 bills from circulation (1969), when Jane Goodall arrived in Tanzania to begin her chimp study (1960), and when Bernie Madoff set foot in North Carolina’s Butner Federal Correctional Complex to begin his 150-year term; it’s when Woody Guthrie (1912), Gerald Ford (1913), and Ingmar Bergman (1918) were born, and when Billy the Kid was murdered (1881). That's all history, click through to find out what's going on in the present.

The Sun is high, it’s Mid-July, but there’s lots to do in the culture zoo. This week’s Speakeasy Roundup, features an appearance by the author of So Much Pretty, a look back at Haiti after the recent earthquake, a final look at an African Art exhibit and more.