New
in New Orleans
Saturday, April 11th, 2026
Good morning, New Orleans. Here's your local news at a glance for Saturday, the 11th of April.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Hogs for the Cause, a local charity event led by founders Rene Loupre & Becker Hall, has begun today in New Orleans to provide fun activities and community support for a good cause. Fox 8
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Chef Adolfo Garcia Jr. and partner Sophia Petrou Garcia opened their new restaurant Dolfy’s at 4508 Freret St. in Uptown. The eatery serves Basque-inspired dishes that blend Spanish traditions with local flavors and operates Wednesday through Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m. Biz New Orleans
- ➤ The Monarch, a 34-key boutique hotel, will open Wednesday, April 15 on St. Charles Ave in a 19th-century Italianate building once home to Dixie’s Bar of Music, operated by sbe Entertainment Group. Rooms begin at $275 per night + reservations open next week. New Orleans City Business
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ The 54th Annual Ponchatoula Strawberry Fest began today with plans for 300,000 guests over a three-day weekend — police from 12 parishes will help manage the crowd as vendors and entertainers prepare to welcome visitors. Fox 8
- ➤ Hondo Rodeo Fest comes to the Superdome this weekend with a $1 million rodeo starting at 5 p.m. and star-studded concerts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday; a *free family Street Fest* runs in Champions Square from noon to 5 p.m. WWL-TV
- ➤ The Broadside will host Who Fab Fest on Sunday, Apr. 12 from 1-5 p.m. at the New Orleans Pride Center, offering an all-ages celebration with musical acts including Mia Borders, Rescalla, BJ So Cole and Drugstore Lipstick, plus artisan booths, food vendors and activities for children. Verite News
- ➤ New Orleans-born editor Paul Trévigne used his pen to fight racial injustice before the Civil War — he edited papers that championed equal rights and helped build early support for civil rights. His influential work laid a foundation for future challenges to segregation. Verite News
- ➤ The New Orleans Poetry Festival and Small Press Fair will take place from April 16 to April 19 at the New Orleans Healing Center on St. Claude Ave. The free event will include a bookfair and a happy hour with local cultural activities across multiple venues. WWNO
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ A new analysis by Greater New Orleans, Inc. finds the Louisiana International Terminal in Violet will, upon full buildout, generate over $33 million in annual tax revenue and add more than 4,300 jobs to boost St. Bernard Parish public services + initial phase revenue is projected for the 2030s. Biz New Orleans
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, Louisiana’s commissioner of higher education, will address graduates at the University of Holy Cross commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 17 at noon at the John A. Alario Event Center in Westwego. Graduation weekend begins Saturday, May 16 with a Mass and Awards Ceremony. Biz New Orleans
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ IV Waste has been awarded a six-month contract to provide trash collection & street cleaning in the French Quarter and Downtown Development District starting Dec. 23, ensuring service continues during court proceedings over a rival sanitation deal. The deal is worth about $3.1 million for this period. WWL-TV
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Powerboat racing returns this weekend at Lake Pontchartrain with the New Orleans Powerboat Grand Prix at the Bonnabel Boat Launch (off Metairie), running from 9 a.m. Saturday to 7 p.m. Sunday; the event doubles last year’s field with more boats and jet skis competing for a $2 million prize purse. NOLA.com
- ➤ LSU senior Flau'jae Johnson has been invited to the WNBA Draft and is projected to be picked 5th to the Chicago Sky; she will attend the event in New York City Monday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at The Shed at Hudson Yards. WRNO
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Anna Laura Quinn Live Performance
4:30-8:30 p.m. — Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro — Free entry — Enjoy a happy hour concert with Anna Laura Quinn.
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Pump Action Co-Headline Tour
9 p.m. — Gasa Gasa — $15 — Experience the high-energy funk rock of Pump Action and The Retrograde with soaring guitar solos and engaging grooves.
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The Ven Aqui Show Featuring Kai De Lua
8-12 p.m. — Gasa Gasa — Tickets $7 — Enjoy a vibrant night of music with Kai De Lua in a fantastic local venue.
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French Quarter Festival 2026
11 AM - 8 PM — House of Blues New Orleans — $449+ — Experience the vibrant culture of New Orleans with exclusive VIP amenities at the French Quarter Festival.
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Justin Hayward: The Story In Your Eyes Tour
8-9:30 p.m. — Orpheum Theater New Orleans — Tickets available — Experience the iconic music of Justin Hayward live in New Orleans.
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Grayson Brockamp's Wildlife Duo Concert
4:30-6 p.m. — Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro — Free entry — Enjoy a lively happy hour concert featuring local talent in a vibrant setting.
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Bored Teachers Comedy Tour: Is It Friday Yet?!
3-6 p.m. — Orpheum Theater New Orleans — Tickets available — Experience hilarious teacher-comedy that resonates with anyone involved in education.
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ASI Show fASIlitate 2026 New Orleans
Apr 20-23 — The Windsor Court — Registration required — A premier hosted-buyer event fostering meaningful connections in the promotional products industry.
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John 'Papa' Gros Solo Performance
6:30-7:30 p.m. — Ellis Marsalis Center for Music — $15 General Admission, $45 Reserved, $5 Student — Experience the vibrant sound of New Orleans through the music of John 'Papa' Gros.
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Jill Butler's Joyride
5-6 p.m. — Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro — Free entry — Enjoy a delightful happy hour concert featuring Jill Butler's Joyride.
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Reveal the authorAbout New in New Orleans
Welcome to the New in New Orleans, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the New Orleans, Louisiana community. If you like the New in New Orleans, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in New Orleans.
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