It’s a fine day for theatre, with opera at Mahalia Jackson and Fringe Fest all over the city. Head to Saturn bar for some music and dancing tonight, and catch Papa Mali on Oak. On this day in 1972, Baton Rouge police killed Southern University students Denver A. Smith and Leonard Douglas Brown during a nonviolent protest.

by Mary-Devon Dupuy

Lovers of the macabre and the counter-culture should mark their calendars this week. It’s Creepy Fest in the Big Easy, and local bands are fanning out from July 11-15 (note that includes Friday the 13th) and filling bars with gore, horror, and of course, punk rock. From tonight on, the Hi-Ho, the Circle Bar, The Big Top, Siberia, Saturn Bar, and Checkpoint Charlie’s are taking turns hosting the city’s creepiest acts.

July 11, when Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities was published (1859), when The U.S. Marine Corps was created by an act of Congress (1798), when Big Ben chimed for the first time (1859), when Vice President Aaron Burr shot and killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel (1804), when Tijuana, Mexico was founded (1889), when Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird was first published (1960), when E.B. White (1899) and Lil’ Kim were born (1975), and when George Gershwin died (1937). So read some lit., eat a crumpet, drink a Horchata, and see some French films, which are among these offerings:

June 1st, when Anne Boleyn was crowned Queen of England (1533), when Kentucky (1792) and Tennessee (1796) were admitted as the 15th and 16th states, when Simon and Garfunkel's "Mrs Robinson" hit numero uno (1968), when CNN began broadcasting (1980), and when General Motors filed for bankruptcy (2009). It’s Marilyn Monroe (1926) and Alanis Morissette’s (1974) birthday, and Helen Keller (1968) and Yves Saint Laurent’s (2008) last day. It’s also National Day Against Homophobia in Canada. Oh and uh, the beginning of Hurricane Season in New Orleans. Buckle up--

May 13th, the birth of the LSU Tiger’s star outfielder, and Lafayette’s own Lyle Mouton (1969). Lyle played for the Tigers from 1989-1991, leading the team to the College World Series three consecutive years in a row. He then continued on in the Major Leagues, playing for the Chicao White Sox. After burning through the Baltimore Orioles, the Milwaukee Brewers, and a brief Japanese sting with the Yakult Swallows (only playing one year with each team), Mouton ended back down south with the Florida Marlins, who he played with until retiring in 2001. Happy Freaky Friday: