The mystery device found Wednesday night near the World War II museum was designed for an explosion, but not the kind that the bomb squad is designed to protect against, according to NOPD.  According to spokesman officer Garry Flot, the device that shut down the streets in the area is supposed to produce a pyrotechnic display

Visitors of all ages love the World War II Museum's fighter jets and simulators, but for many local kids, the life-sized machines are more than just really big toys. GE employees, military, Medal of Honor recipient General Jim Livingston, and Sci Academy students gathered under the Boeing airplanes of the World War II Museum this morning to demonstrate the new educational tools developed from the GE Foundation’s $750,000 donation.

This Sunday, put on your beret and check out the French Film Festival at the Prytania, then catch some more French-inspired music with Bruce Daigrepont’s Fais Do Do at Tip’s. Later on, Eletronica fans can make a stop at One Eyed Jack’s for “The Drive Tour,” and bass heads can worship at the Dragon’s Den for Bass Church. Today in our state’s history, Professor Longhair’s single “Bald Head,” entered the R&B charts in 1950, and the late R&B singer Percy Mayfield was born in Minden, Louisiana.

For many festive Americans, Independence Day means patriotic bandanas, backyard barbeques, and recreational explosives. However, for a handful of New Orleanians, July 4 will take on a very personal meaning as their first day as United States citizens.

Today is Fourth of July! Celebrations at the National WWII Museum, the French Market and Riverwalk, Pontchartrain Park, Algiers Ferry Dock, Bayou St. John, and Mandeville. On this day in history, blues pianist Champion Jack Dupree was born in New Orleans (1910), trumpeter Shamarr Allen was born in New Orleans (1980), and our nation was born (1776).

Today, one free Wednesday concert series ends as another begins, hear guitar masters at the Old U.S. Mint, and send off Jean-Eric at their last show in New Orleans tonight at Siberia. On this day in Louisiana history, the first slaves arrived in Louisiana (1716), Jean Lafitte’s brother, Pierre, was arrested and accused of piracy by order of Gov. WCC Claiborne (1814), Dillard University was chartered in New Orleans (1869). Now, here's more about today's offerings:

Art imitates Life. However, sometimes, Life is much more important. Today, castmembers from HBO's Band of Brothers and The Pacific will be joined at World War II Museum by the actual veterans portrayed in the miniseries. Beginning at 4:00 PM, members of Easy Company and their counterparts from the Pacific Theater will field questions and chat with actors and patrons alike. The evening will also feature the premier of A Celebration of Heroes, a Spielberg film about all veterans.

Today, Norman Rockwell is the topic at the WWII Museum, Keith Sonnier talks sculpting light at NOMA and The Urban Voodoo Machine (+beaucoup others) play Allways Lounge. In purer times, Pilgrims boarded the Mayflower in Cape Cod, MA (1620), Jack the Ripper killed his last known victim, Mary Jane Kelly (1888), the first issue of Rolling Stone Magazine was published (1967), Spiro Agnew (1918), Tom Fogerty (1941), Susan Tedeschi (1970), and Sisco (1978) were born, and Charles de Gaulle died (1970); and it's World Freedom Day. So get liberated with these: