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The 2023 Essence Festival of Culture is once again happening in New Orleans this summer. The annual event is typically held around the Fourth of July weekend, so you can expect a lot of fireworks, if you know what I mean.
Read our review of the 2023 Essence Fest.
Attendees can find festival information, sign up for updates, and purchase weekend packages or single-day tickets at Essencefestival.com. You can also experience the festival virtually on Essence.com.
Essence Fest: What To Know This Year
The 2023 Essence Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola will present three days of parties, panels, concerts and more all based around and at the New Orleans’ Caesar’s Superdome.
The event will wrap its evening concert series with a night-by-night line-up of musicians, performers, and Hip-Hop and R&B legends.
This year’s festival marks our first-ever, all-Black women in Hip-Hop headliner line-up of Ms. Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott and Megan Thee Stallion, which has been previously announced. Here’s what to expect each day of Essence Fest in New Orleans:
Friday, June 30
Ms. Lauryn Hill will headline and take music-lovers back 25 years, when the iconic 5x Grammy-winning The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill album dropped, with a very special performance to celebrate its milestone anniversary.
Attendees can also expect to see highly anticipated performances from some of the pioneers of Hip-Hop curated by Doug E. Fresh including Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, KRS-One and Slick Rick. In addition, hitting the stage that night will be performances from Tems, Tobe Nwigwe, Jagged Edge and Ari Lennox, hosted by Deon Cole and musical sounds by DJ Clark Kent.
Saturday, July 1
On Saturday, will be sure to show attendees how to ‘work it’ as the first female in Hip-Hop to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Missy Elliott, graces the center stage for a can’t-miss performance! From Philadelphia to the French Quarter, an injection of Philly Soul will pierce through this year’s festival, when the one and only Jill Scott rocks the mic, to bring some Brotherly…and Sisterly Love.
West Coast All-Stars Ice Cube, DJ Quik, Ice T, Yo-Yo, Lady of Rage, J.J. Fad and E-40, will remind, and show, the city of New Orleans that California knows how to party. Jermaine Dupri will curate a special “The South Got Something to Say” performance highlighting some of the biggest Hip-Hop artists from the ATL with Ludacris, T.I., Gucci Mane, Lil Jon and Big Boi.
The second night in the concert series will also include R&B hits from Monica and Coco Jones, hosted by Affion Crockett & Spice Adams, with DJ Kid Capri on the Wheels of Steel.
Sunday, July 2
To close out the festival’s evening concert series on Sunday, July 2nd, 3x Grammy Award-winning artist Megan Thee Stallion, will hit the stage and get attendees in the right mood for a ‘hot girl summer’!
Radio icon Angie Martinez is bringing a golden celebration of the women who changed the face of Hip-Hop and influenced culture with a curation of performances by Eve, Salt-N-Pepa, Remy Ma, Trina and New Orleans’ own Mia X. Afrobeats hitmaker and Grammy-award winning artist Wizkid will join the closing night along with R&B songstress Muni Long and Nigerian singer-songwriter Kizz Daniel, hosted by Abbott Elementary breakout star Janelle James with throwback jams and remixes, to keep the party going from DJ Spinderella.
Also on the schedule of events, is celebrity stylist Johnny Wright with an announcement.
Where To Stay For Essence Fest
New Orleans hotels are quickly filling up for Essence Fest. If you’re looking to book in New Orleans, here are some rates we’re seeing two weeks from the event:
- Bourbon Orleans Hotel — $484 a night
- Holiday Inn Downtown — $585 a night
- Hotel Mazarin — $385 a night
- La Pavillon — $302 a night
- The Roosevelt New Orleans — $502 a night
Final Word
As one of the top festivals in the city, Essence Fest always draws thousand of people to New Orleans, which helps the local economy.
The city draws more than 130 events a year, according to its Chamber of Commerce. Many of these events are conventions, but a good number are festivals as well.
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The Essence Fest this year is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory for many reasons.
Celebrity hairstylist Johnny Wright is one of many celebrities who are scheduled to appear at the event, where he will announce his upcoming 11-city Naturally You Tour, inspired by his bestselling book “Natural and Curly Hair for Dummies.”
Johnny will make the official announcement during the Essence Festival in New Orleans on Saturday, July 1st, alongside his premiere partner MYAVANA at their Hair Lab in the Ernest Morial Convention Center. The tour will officially kick-off on Friday July 7, 2023, in Chicago,.
The tour will consist of panel discussions featuring some of the country’s leading hair experts, thought leaders, and industry visionaries. With a focus on diversity and inclusion, this tour is designed to empower attendees to embrace their natural beauty and promote self-love and acceptance. Whether a naturalista or not, Johnny invites all races, genders, and backgrounds to join him on this exciting journey of self-discovery and transformation.
“The ‘Naturally You’ tour is not just about embracing our natural beauty, it’s about dismantling the harmful ‘isms’ that have plagued our society for far too long,” said Johnny Wright. “It’s time to heal from colorism, racism, and lookism, and this tour is a movement towards that goal. I can’t wait to connect with my fellow sisters and brothers and share what it truly means to be Naturally YOU.”
Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy an engaging cocktail hour, mix & mingle, all the while exploring Johnny’s curated vendor’s row, featuring hair, beauty and lifestyle brands he loves. It’s an excellent opportunity for attendees and vendors alike to connect, sell their products, while having a fun and exciting experience.
The premiere partner of the “Naturally You” tour is powered by MYAVANA, a groundbreaking black female founded and run beauty tech company that pioneered scientific intelligence hair analysis, that uses AI technology to analyze your unique hair type, texture, and condition to establish your unique Hair ID. In addition to its revolutionary hair strand analysis Myavana prescribes personalized product recommendations to address your unique hair care and styling goals eliminating the guesswork and stress out of caring for textured hair, potentially revolutionizing how women will make hair product purchasing decisions going forward.
Final Word
If you plan on visiting the city for New Orleans, you should know that the area you’re staying in is safe.
Expect to indulge in many foods that New Orleans is known For, including Gumbo, Beignets and more.
Read about things to see and do in New Orleans.
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If you’re traveling for the summer, now is the time to save big when it comes to your hotel stay. As you know, New Orleans has the best hotels in the Southeast, but now the offerings are even better.
Through September 30, 2023, guests at Four Seasons can receive a complimentary extra night when booking the Third Night Free offer.
How To Get The Third Night Free At Four Seasons In Nola
This means more time to spend in the room enjoying the Hotel’s kid amenities including a decked-out children’s tent and game library; more time to enjoy the Hotel’s two signature restaurants where kids under five always eat free; more time to lounge at the Hotel’s rooftop pool; and, most importantly, more time to make memories as a family.
Book the Third Night Free offer here.
Where Is Four Seasons New Orleans Located?
Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans is conveniently located just blocks from the historic French Quarter at 2 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130. Here is a map to help you find it.
Steps from the Hotel’s front door, families can dive into an underwater world at the Audubon Aquarium, which reopened this summer following a $41 million renovation to include new exhibits, an insectarium and butterfly garden. Located on the Hotel’s rooftop is Vue Orleans, an immersive attraction and observation deck bringing New Orleans past and present into sharp focus.
Final Word
Staying at a Nola hotel is the best way to beat the summer heat. The Four Seasons’ rooftop pool deck, home to the largest hotel pool in the city at 75-feet long, is surrounded by chaise lounges, a refreshing poolside bar and four cabanas available for daily rental.
The Hotel’s resort style pool deck is the place for family fun. Just in time for vacation season, the Hotel has launched a variety of cabana packages to fit groups of all types from a family package with pool toys and refreshing popsicles to a party package with frosé and eco-sunglasses.
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New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston may have lost the starting job to the new quarterback from Las Vegas, but he believes he’s still able to lead an NFL team.
“I’m still preparing for when my opportunity presents itself because I still believe I”m a starting quarterback in this league,” he told the media. “But right now, my role is to serve Derek and be the best teammate I can be.”
“I’ve just had some unfortunate injuries in the past few years, so this is just where I am right now is focusing on getting healthy … and serving this team and organization the best that I can.”
Winston was the starter after Coach Sean Payton left the Saints at the end of the 2021 season. That next year, Winston took the reins of an offense with high expectations. In the first month of the 2022 season, Winston was injured in a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Veteran signal caller Andy Dalton starred at the helm for the rest of the season.
Can Winston Still Lead The Saints?
Only time will tell whether the Saints turn to Winston to lead their offense again. Winston was signed by the New Orleans Saints in 2020 as a backup quarterback behind Drew Brees.
Whether or not Jameis Winston becomes the starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints would depend on various factors, including his performance, the team’s evaluation of his skills, and any other quarterbacks on the roster or acquired by the team. It’s important to refer to the latest news, team announcements, and analysis from reliable sources to get the most up-to-date information on the status of Jameis Winston and the New Orleans Saints quarterback position.
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The affordability factor has become a major concern among many Americans. In one city — New Orleans — rents are cheaper than they’ve been in a while and continue to decrease.
A study from Rent.com shows that the Crescent City is among the big cities where rents have decreased.
Why Are Rents Decreasing Across The U.S.?
One major reason why rents are falling is because the construction industry is finally sufficiently rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic.
New rental units being built continue to make a difference as well as the fact that Louisiana happens to be one of the most affordable states in America.Where In The U.S. Are Rents Falling?
According to Rent.com, these metro areas have experienced the greatest decreases in rent prices over the past year.
- New Orleans-Metairie, LA (-14.95 percent)
- Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX (-14.33 percent)
- Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ (-9.63 percent)
- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV (-7.13 percent)
- Oklahoma City, OK (-6.43 percent)
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI (-5.96 percent)
- Birmingham-Hoover, AL (-4.54 percent)
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA (-4.02 percent)
- Memphis, TN-MS-AR (-3.57 percent)
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (-3.19 percent)
Final Word
Read where the cheapest apartments are in New Orleans.
While New Orleans is not one of the most expensive rental markets, you still need some strategy to score some cheap rent. Look for ways to reduce expenses and save more of the money you make.
Tired of renting? Here’s how to save for a home.
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Who doesn’t enjoy a nice, aromatic cup of streaming hot coffee in the morning or evening? The good news is you don’t have to go to Starbucks. Making a perfect cup of coffee at home can be easy and enjoyable with the right techniques and tools.
Here are some steps to help you make perfect coffee at home:
Choose High-Quality Coffee Beans
Start with fresh, high-quality coffee beans that are roasted to your liking. Look for beans that are recently roasted and have a strong, distinct aroma. Some of the best coffee beans are Blue Mountain and similar brands.
Grind the Coffee Beans
Grind the coffee beans just before brewing to ensure maximum flavor. For best results, take advantage of a mortar and pestle. A burr grinder is ideal, as it produces consistent, uniform grounds.
Measure The Coffee And Water
The next very important step: Getting the coffee and water right. For accuracy, use a scale to measure the coffee and water. A general rule of thumb is to use 1 to 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds per 6 ounces of water.
Heat The Water To The Right Temperature
Heat the water to the appropriate temperature for the brewing method you are using. For drip coffee, the water should be between 195°F and 205°F.
Use The Right Brewing Method
Choose a brewing method that suits your taste preferences. Drip coffee makers are easy and convenient, while pour-over methods such as the Chemex or Hario V60 offer more control over the brewing process.
Brew The Coffee
Now comes the good part: brewing the coffee. Typically, you’ll want to use 6 ounces of water with 1-2 tablespoons of ground coffee, depending on your taste.
After following those steps, you’ll have some great ground coffee in your cup!
Final Word
Pour the coffee into a mug and enjoy! You can add milk, cream, sugar, or other flavorings to suit your taste preferences.
By following these steps, you can create a delicious, perfectly brewed cup of coffee at home that rivals the quality of your favorite coffee shop.
Hmmm, wonder what goes with coffee. How about some beignets?
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The internet is a vast adventureland with millions of websites being created every day. You probably shouldn’t have, but you’ve visited half of those on your iPhone or Android phone.
This article will show you how to clear your phone’s search history for iPhone and Android.
Is It Better To Delete Or Clear Your Search History?
For the most part, deleting and clearing your search history is the same thing. Doing so regularly will reduce your exposure to hackers as well as prolong the life of your device.
How To Clear Your Search History On The iPhone
The iOS makes it easy to access your browsing history in Safari, the iPhone’s default browser.
- To clear your history and cookies, go to Settings > Safari, and tap Clear History and Website Data. …
- To clear your cookies and keep your history, go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data, then tap Remove All Website Data.
You’ll know you’ve cleared your history when the setting turns gray.
How To Clear Your Search History On an Android Phone
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google app .
- At the top right, tap your Profile picture or initial. Search history.
- Choose the Search history you want to delete. You can choose: All your Search history: Above your history, tap Delete. Delete all time.
Final Word
There’s nothing wrong with surfing the web for important information or even for entertainment, but it’s also never a bad idea to delete your search history from tiem to time.
The truth is that deleting your search history is a good way to clear out the history and cache on your device.
Want to learn more? Read how to track a cell phone.
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Anytime you can get free donuts in New Orleans, it’s a sweet deal. doughnut shops will be in a giving mood on Friday, June 3 to celebrate National Doughnut Day.
Time for a quick history lesson: The holiday traces its origins to wartime America. It was in 1938 when the Chicago Salvation Army sought to honor the women who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I.
The war ended, but the tradition got sweeter and sweeter. Now, Americans annually give the donut its just desserts one day a year.
National Doughnut Day: Free Donut In New Orleans
Ready to find out where the donut deals are around New Orleans?
Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme is offering customers one FREE doughnut of choice, no purchase necessary. You can also enjoy a free original glazed doughnut at any Krispy Kreme location whenever you see the Hot Light on. Deal good through Donut Day.
Duck Donuts
The good folks at Duck Donuts will join the masses in celebrating National Donut Day. On Friday, June 2, every guest will receive one cinnamon sugar donut, in-store only, no purchase necessary.
Dunkin’ Donuts
Purchase any beverage and get a free donut (glazed, glazed chocolate, strawberry frosted with sprinkles, etc.) from any Dunkin Donuts in the city.
Shipley Do-Nuts
In honor of National Doughnut Day, Shipley Do-Nuts is giving customers a complimentary doughnut while supplies last.
Final Word
National Doughnut Day is the sweetest holiday of the year, but it’s not the only way to satisfy your sweet tooth. Here’s where to get the best ice cream in New Orleans.
But Nola also has trendy restaurants, pop-ups and time-tested landmarks that continue to draw big crowds.
Greater New Orleans’ food and drink scene continues to grow with no stops on the horizon. Ready to try something new?
Here Are The Best Places For Beignets In New Orleans
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You’ve got to take Dad somewhere special for Father’s Day in New Orleans. There’s even a restaurant called “Mothers,” but it’s not the only place you can go.
In this article, we’ll show you where you can take mom for Father’s Day in the Crescent City.
Mother’s Restaurant
401 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130 | (504) 523-9656
Here’s what one customer says about Mother’s: “Best jambalaya ever! I came here four years ago and texted my husband that I just ate the world’s best jambalaya. This time we came together for a friend’s wedding.”
eanie’s Seafood Restaurant
841 Iberville St, New Orleans, LA 70112 | (504) 581-1316
Here’s what one diner says about Deanie’s: “This place came highly recommended by locals. They give you so much food, the dinners are way too much for the average person. The catfish was so light and flaky and the breading is perfect and nicely compliments the fish! Its the best fried fish I’ve ever had! The barbecue shrimp is very good. It is not barbecue as we know it in Chicago. It is sautéed in this oily, buttery, aggressively seasoned sauce and my husband thoroughly enjoyed it! The spicy whole potatoes that they give you as a appetizer is pleasantly different from any appetizer we’ve had and they are very, very good!”
Coterie Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Here’s what one patron says about Coterie Restaurant & Oyster Bar: “I cannot say enough great things about this location. From the minute we walked in we were greeted warmly and seated immediately. Our server was incredible, she was so friendly and helpful.”
Neyow’s Creole Cafe
3332 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70119 | (504) 827-5474
Here’s what one customer says about Neyow’s: “The wait time for this restaurant was long but it was definitely worth it! We got SO MUCH good! The only negative thing I can say about this place was that their food was a bit overly salty, which is why I’m trying it a 4 instead of 5. Otherwise everything was so good! For dessert, I recommend the Beignets Sticks or the Cheesecake. I also feel like we got a good amount of food! And our waitress was super dope!”
Herbsaint
701 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130 | (504) 524-4114
Come for the James Beard Award-winning Gumbo, stay for the Spaghetti.
Here’s what one diner says about Herbsaint: “The food deserve 5 stars, but I had to go with 4 because when we ate, almost everything was quite too salty. However we got there at almost 9pm with no reservation, and still they managed to give us a table, which was awesome. For VEGANS don’t be afraid to come eat here, the chef will prepare something at his discretion. And what I go it was Soo Good! My husband asked for 3 portion of short ribs, that’s how much he enjoyed them. My husband actually returned a dish back because it was too salty, and we appreciate that we were not charged for it. Service could have been more personable, but no complaints.”
Mr. John’s Steakhouse
2111 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130 | (504) 679-7697
Here’s what one diner says about Mr. John’s Steakhouse. “My husband and I celebrated our ten-year wedding anniversary and my birthday at this establishment last night. He had the Braised Pork Belly (appetizer) and Ribeye (entree). I had the Turtle Soup (appetizer, first time eating) and the Two Lobster Tails (entree). Our meals were cooked to perfection. The wait staff was cheery, friendly, and attentive. Ambience was so nice. I wanted to cry because everything went to so well. Tip: get your car parked by the valet. I would come back to eat here again. I highly recommend this restaurant.”
Chophouse New Orleans
322 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130 | (504) 522-7902
Here’s what one reviewer says about Chophouse New Orleans. “My husband made reservations for my birthday. The manager chose a bottle of champagne at my husband’s request and had a card from the staff waiting on us. The food was amazing. We had the crab cocktail appetizer, steak, fries, and the onions and mushrooms. It was all fabulous. Roshaun and Brandon were amazing at meeting all our needs.”
Heard Dat Kitchen
2520 Felicity St, New Orleans, LA 70113 | (504) 510-4248
Here’s what one customer says about Heard Dat Kitchen: “I’ve been to New Orleans 5 times now & last week was my first time eating at Heard Dat, but it’s by fart favorite meal I’ve had in Nola. Sooo good!”
Final Word
No matter what day it is, New Orleans is a quintessential food town, which means you won’t have to go far to find a good meal or a strong drink.
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Rental prices continue to be a mixed bag for most of America. After a steep rise in prices last year, rental units in many U.S. cities have begun to normalize a bit. With so much volatility, you may be considering buying a home, but that isn’t as affordable as it used to be either.
According to real estate site Home Bay, there are some major cities where it’s better to rent than buy a home.
Home Bay figured its data by compiling a ranking of cities based on their price-to-rent ratios, calculated by dividing the median home price by the median annual rent.
These Are the Best U.S. Cities To Rent In
The city with the highest price-to-rent ratio is San Jose, California (38), while the lowest is Pittsburgh (12), according to the report. Let’s look at the top 10 cities.
The 10 best cities to buy a home based on the price-to-rent ratio are:
- Pittsburgh, PA (price-to-rent ratio of 12)
- New Orleans, LA (12)
- Chicago, IL (12)
- Cleveland, OH (12)
- Memphis, TN (13)
- Miami, FL (13)
- Detroit, MI (14)
- Oklahoma City, OK (14)
- St. Louis, MO (14)
- Tampa, FL (14)
Why Have Rent Prices Dropped?
One big reason rent prices in the U.S. have dipped is that the construction industry has increased multi-family dwellings, according to real estate experts.
With the trend for multi-family construction trending upward, this will help the vacancy rate of rental properties, which could benefit renters if things continue as they are.
Final Word
Since 2019, the average rent has increased by more than $300, which is not good for your wallet. Wondering how much rent you can afford in New Orleans?
Use this Rent Affordability Calculator that allows you to enter some information to help you see where you stand.
