Today, President Obama addresses the National Urban League, Tales of the Cocktail kicks off its 10th annual citywide festival, and Amanda Shaw & the Cute Guys perform on the last night of Wednesdays on the Point. On this day in history, late jazz trombonist Charles Christian was born in New Orleans (1885), late jazz cornetist Johnny Wiggs was born in New Orleans (1899), and blues scholar, former NOLA resident and WWOZ DJ John Sinclair was found guilty for possession of two marijuana joints in Destroit in 1969. Sinclair was sentenced to 10 years in jail, but was released after serving 29 months, when a massive rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan (attended by John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Allen Ginsberg, Jerry Rubin, Bobby Seale) called for his freedom. Now for today's rallying points:

President Obama Addresses the National Urban League (Morial Convention Center, 6:30pm-8:30pm) The Annual National Urban League Conference presents “Occupy the Vote: Employment & Education Empower the Nation,” a three and a half day event of lectures, career fair, young professionals summit and more. Tonight, the President will speak. All attendees are required to have a full conference registration badge, must enter Hall G and be in the security line by 4:00pm. Doors open at 4:30pm. Obama will also attend a House of Blues fundraiser at 3:30 p.m.

Tales of the Cocktail (citywide, all day) Today kicks off the 10th annual festival. Mixologists from around the world will descend upon New Orleans for five days of cocktails, cuisine and seminars, tasting rooms, competitions and showcases. Today’s schedule includes Absolut Bloody Mary Bar at the Mezzanine in Hotel Monteleone (8:30am-10:30am), the Cocktail Kingdom Pop-Up Shop at Royal Ballrooms A & B at Hotel Monteleone (9:30am-6:00pm), a seminar on how to open your own bar at the Riverview Room in Hotel Monteleone (10:00am-11:30am), OXLEY Gin Fresh Fruit Edible Cocktails at 200 Block Royal Street (12:00pm-2:00pm), and tons more.

Wednesdays on the Point (Algiers Ferry Dock, 6:00pm-9:00pm) This is the last night of the weekly Westbank summer concert series. Tonight, Amanda Shaw & the Cute Guys and St. Cecilia’s Asylum Chorus will perform. Food, drinks and live music is all that is required of a good time in New Orleans.

25th Annual Doll Festival (Hilton Riverside Hotel, all day) Today is the third day of the internationally-acclaimed festival, which includes early bird preview sale, premiere of the Doll & Bear Artists Showcase, 250 exhibit tables, and an appraisal clinic. Thousands of staring dolls.

2012 New Orleans International Piano Competition (Roussel Hall, Loyola University, 7:00pm)There’s going to be some tight key playing this week. Today is the third and final day of Semifinal Round I of Musical Arts Society of New Orleans’ international piano competition. Tonight, four contestants will perform 35-minute programs. Semifinal Round II will start tomorrow.