It is that time of year again, Mardi Gras time! Book your hotel rooms today or else you will have no place to pee on Mardi Gras day. If you are looking for the perfect hotel then check out the Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter. Walking distance to everything Mardi Gras. It is the only family run historic hotel in New Orleans and it is luxurious. Brian William’s from NBC news calls it his favorite place to stay in New Orleans.

If you haven’t visited for Mardi Gras before, I suggest you come the week prior to fat Tuesday and first start in the french quarter. The french quarter is where all of the parties are going on. On the Friday before Fat Tuesday go to Arnauds on Bourbon at around 12am and checkout some of the walking parades like the Divas or Friar Tucks. When you want to venture out of the French Quarter to catch a few big parades you can walk down St. Charles where most of them run. Here is a schedule for all of the parades around the entire city.

This parade schedule is subject to change pending the City of New Orleans Official determination of the exact dates and times of Mardi Gras 2010.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30

• Krewe du Vieux – French Quarter, 7:00 p.m.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31
Orleans / Jefferson

• Little Rascals – Metairie, 11:00 a.m

St. Tammany

• Perseus – Slidell, 1:00 p.m.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5
Orleans / Jefferson

• Oshun – Uptown, 6:00 p.m.
• Atlas – Metairie, 6:30 p.m.
• Cleopatra – West Bank, 6:30 p.m.
• Excalibur – Metairie, 7:00 p.m.
• Pygmalion – Uptown, 7:00 p.m.

St. Tammany

• Eve – Mandeville, 7:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6
Orleans / Jefferson

• Pontchartrain – Uptown, 1:00 p.m.
• Shangri-La – Uptown, 2:00 p.m.
• Caesar – Metairie, 6:00 p.m.
• Sparta – Uptown, 6:00 p.m.
• Pegasus – Uptown, 6:45 p.m.

St. Tammany

• Olympia – Covington, 6:00 p.m.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7
Orleans / Jefferson

• Alla – West Bank, Noon
• Carrollton – Uptown, Noon
• King Arthur – Uptown, 1:15 p.m.
• Barkus – French Quarter, 2:00 p.m.
• Rhea – Metairie, 2:00 p.m.
• Centurions – Metairie, 5:30 p.m.

St. Bernard

• Nemesis – Chalmette 2:00 p.m.

St. Tammany

• Dionysus – Slidell, 1:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10

• Druids – Uptown, 6:00 p.m.
• Thor – Metairie, 7:00 p.m.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11

• Babylon – Uptown, 5:45 p.m.
• Chaos – Uptown, 6:30 p.m.
• Muses – Uptown, 7:30 p.m.

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Classical

JANUARY 4-25

Trinity Artist Series: Albinas Prizgintas presents this eclectic concert series every Sunday throughout September at Trinity Church, 1329 Jackson Ave.

JANUARY 8

Beethoven No. 5: The opening motif of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 will draw you into this colossal work of drama and passion. Roussel Hall. 7:30p. (504) 523-6530, www.lpomusic.org.

JANUARY 10

Mahalia Jackson Re-opening Gala: Celebrate the re-opening of the Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts with a performance by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra followed by a performance of the New York City Ballet. 7p. (504) 522-0996, www.nobadance.com.

JANUARY 13

Beethoven & the Blues: Allen Toussaint will part of the program which includes Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, Carlos Miguel Prieto conducting. Mahalia Jackson Theatre. 6:30p. (504) 523-6530, www.lpomusic.org.

JANUARY 25

Beethoven Lost His Notes!: Head to Lupin Hall for a family concert series featuring the works of Beethoven and Haydn conducted by Rebecca Miller and Andrew Larimer. 3p. (504) 523-6530, www.lpomusic.org.

JANUARY 29 & 30

Brahms Symphony No. 2: Composed by Brahms during a visit to the Austrian Alps, the cheerful and expansive tone of the second symphony is likened by some to Beethoven’s “Pastoral” symphony. First Baptist New Orleans. 7:30p. (504) 523-6530, www.lpomusic.org.

Concerts

JANUARY 10

Celine Dion: The pop singing sensation plays the New Orleans Arena. 8p.

JANUARY 10

Lou Gramm: The original vocalist from Foreigner plays the Hard Rock Live in Biloxi. 7p.

JANUARY 11

Lil Wayne: Just in case you didn’t catch him at Voodoo Fest, see New Orleans’ own top-selling hip-hop artist at the New Orleans Arena. 7p.

JANUARY 16

Travis Tritt: The Grammy award-winning country musician plays the Hard Rock Live Casino in Biloxi, Miss. 8p.

JANUARY 17

Brad Paisley: The country music singer and songwriter out of West Virginia plays the New Orleans Arena. 7:30p.

JANUARY 23

Eagles: Still rocking away after more than 35 years on the stage, the legendary Eagles play the New Orleans Arena. 8p.

JANUARY 23

Kenny Rogers: The true famous country musician knows when to hold them and will play at the IP Casino Resort & Spa in Biloxi, Miss. 9p.

JANUARY 31

Johnny Winter: The legendary blues guitarist, singer and producer comes to Harrah’s for a special performance. 8p.

Festivals

JANUARY 2

Sugar Bowl: Even if you’re not a big football fan, there will be plenty of activities and festivities going on around town when Hawaii and Georgia square off in the Superdome. www.sugarbowl.com.

JANUARY 6

Twelfth Night: Celebrate the official start of the Mardi Gras season with a parties and events around the city, including the annual Krewe of Phunny Phorty Phellow’s streetcar ride.

JANUARY 8-10

Battle of New Orleans Anniversary: Take a trip out to the Chalmette Battlefield and relive the Battle of New Orleans with re-enactments, living history encampments and more. (504) 589-3882, www.nps.gov/jela.

JANUARY 30-31, FEBRUARY 6-7

Western Heritage Days: Enjoy a variety of western themed events including cowboy gun fights, trail rides, a stick horse rodeo, parades and more. (800) 456-7952, www.visitlakecharles.org.

New Years Eve

THROUGH JANUARY 6

Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights: Make a weekend trip up to Natchitoches for one of the finest and largest Christmas festivals in the South. There will be plenty of lights, entertainment and food along with trolley and carriage rides. (318) 352-8072, www.christmasfestival.com.

DECEMBER 31

New Year’s Eve Fireworks Cruises: Ring in the New Year aboard the Cajun Queen, (504) 529-4567, www.neworleanspaddlewheels.com, or the Steamboat Natchez, (504) 586-8777, www.neworleanssteamboat.com.

DECEMBER 31

New Year’s Eve on the River: Welcome 2009 on Decatur St. and along the banks of the river with a massive fireworks show and the dropping of the baby.

Special Events

THROUGH JANUARY 18

Prospect.1 New Orleans: Witness the largest biennial of international contemporary art ever organized in the United States. For more information, a schedule and list of locations, visit www.prospectneworleans.org.

JANUARY 1-29

Ogden After Hours: Visit the Ogden Museum every Thursday evening for live entertainment by a variety of local musicians.  www.ogdenmuseum.org.

JANUARY 3-31

Gretna Farmer’s Market: Head to Gretna every Saturday for a farmer’s market featuring food and wine vendors and cooking demonstrations. 8:30a-12:30p. www.gretnala.com.

JANUARY 10

Sankofa Marketplace: Held every second Saturday of the month in the Lower 9th Ward, this market features fresh produce, arts and crafts, live music, health screenings, children’s activities and more. www.sankofamarketplace.org.

JANUARY 17

Bywater Art Market: The fun art market features paintings, pottery, glass, furniture and more. 9a-4p. www.bywaterartmarket.com.

JANUARY 18

Benefit for BJ Crosby: Some of New Orleans finest musicians, including Irma Thomas, Germaine Bazzle, John Boutte and Tops Chapman, perform and pay tribute to BJ Crosby (Lady BJ). There will also be a silent auction before the concert. Harrah’s. 6p. www.harrahsneworleans.com.

Theater

JANUARY 2-18

Renew Year’s Eve Revue: Enjoy an original cabaret show starring Ricky Graham and take a look at New Orleans’ struggle back to life. Le Chat Noir. Fri.-Sat. 8p, Sun. 6p. (504) 581-5812, www.cabaretlechatnoir.com.

JANUARY 14-FEBRUARY 8

Dying City: It first seems to be a story of a wife and brother left grieving after a soldiers baffling death in Iraq but as the layers are peeled away, we find a tender, raw and complex portrait of three very different people. Southern Rep Theatre. (504) 522-6545, www.southernrep.com.

JANUARY 30-31

The New Orleans Bingo Show!: Clint Maedgen and his Mardi Gras style carnival revelry comes to Le Chat Noir. 8p. (504) 581-5812, www.cabaretlechatnoir.com.

JANUARY 30 & 31

Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet: This ballet company has stepped up to become one of the most dynamic forces on the dance scene and offers audiences a thrilling dance adventure where athletic movement integrates ballet with contemporary and popular styles. Freda Lupin Memorial Hall, NOCCA. 8p. (504) 522-0996, www.nobadance.com.

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The 40th annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will be held at the New Orleans Fair Grounds on April 24 – 26 and April 30 –May 3, 2009. Tickets are $40 with the gate price set at $50. Children ages 2 – 11 are $5.00 in advance and at the gate. Go here to purchase tickets.

Premium tickets for the “Big Chief Experience,” and the newly-created “Grand Marshall VIP Pass,” packages that includes Festival admission with re-entry privileges; access to special viewing areas at major Festival stages and in some tents; the limited-edition official Festival poster; access to an air-conditioned hospitality lounge; special access to restrooms and beverage concessions; parking, if desired; and more are available here.

Search OffBeat’s Jazz Fest database to find out when and where your favorite band or type of music is playing at the Fest. Go here to download printer-friendly pdfs of the Jazz Fest map and stage schedules. Go here to see alphabetical listings of all acts playing at the Jazz Fest arranged with stage and time info included.

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