by Moxie Sazerac

While it’s true that burlesque and live music go together like sunburn and mango freezes, there are just a few select offerings for this year’s festers. This Saturday April 28 brings the return of Mistress Kali’s Freaksheaux to Geaux to the All Ways Lounge and Marigny Theatre. The circus flavored show, originally conceived as a one off fundraiser now cultivates the best in traveling and local sideshow and burlesque.

Around the holidays, a basket of pralines takes the form of good will from person to person. But this is also a time to think of about the youth among us who stand to gain and make merry from small contributions. On Christmas Eve Eve this Friday, two events turn the spotlight on the city with a little more noise than Santas ringing bells. At House of Blues, Home for the Holidays raises money for a NOCCA fund that helps aspiring aritsts, and the New Orleans Bingo Show turns Tip's into the Island of Misfit Toys to give kids a little holiday cheer.

July 15, when the Rosetta Stone was discovered in Rosetta Village, Egypt (1799), when Ralph waldo Emerson delivered the Divinity School Address at Harvard Divinity School (1838), when Continental Airlines commenced operations (1934), when Gianni Versace was murdered outside his home in Miami, Florida (1997),  when Rembrandt (1606), Linda Ronstadt (1946), Arianna Huffington (1950) and Forest Whitaker (1961) were born, and when Anton Chekhov died (1904). So get secular, get couture, go online, and go out and get some of this packed schedule:

June 13, when Martin Luther married Katharina von Bora against the Roman Catholic Church's celibacy rule (1525), when Rhode Island became the first colony to ban the importation of slaves (1774), when the first sodium vapor lamps were installed (1933), when the Supreme Court ruled that criminal suspects first and foremost had to be informed of their constitutional rights, in the Miranda vs. Arizona decision (1966), when Christo (1935), Steve-O (1974), and the Olsen Twins (1986) were born, and when King of Swing Benny Goodman died (1986). Today, either get down with a ‘Full House’ marathon at home, or go out and do this:

During JazzFest there's plenty of music to see, but with the constantly conflicting cubes, chances are high that you'll miss a few. Luckily, there are plenty more shows at night, and most of them feature very special lineups. It's the kind of thing that makes us want to create NOLA music trading cards, or start a fantasy league. In addition to our Fest picks, check in with NOLA Defender everyday during the Fest to see what's going on at night. Click through for today's: