OffBeat's Best of the Beat Awards!

One of my favorite nights of the year, the 2005 OffBeat Best of the Beat Awards will take place Saturday, January 21, at the House of Blues. Honoring the best in New Orleans music, the event features two stages of music plus food from a number of restaurants including including the Gumbo Shop, Whole Foods, Slice, Juan’s Flying Burrito, Mona’s, Custom Catering, Powell’s, Fresco, the Hookah Café, the Praline Connection and the House of Blues. Tickets (available at Ticketmaster and the House of Blues Box Office) are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Proceeds go to the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic and MusicCares. For more info, including the list of great performers, visit OffBeat.com

Weekly Wine Tastings at Cork and Bottle

This evening, (Thursday 1/12), come on down to Mid-City (you'll be hearing that a lot, soon) as Cork & Bottle resumes their weekly free wine tastings. Normally, the tastings coincide with the Thursday Crescent City Farmers Market, but since it will be a while before those start up again (they're only doing the Tuesday market at Uptown Square), you can just come out and drink. Check it out from 4:30-6:30 at 3700 Orleans Avenue in the shops at the American Can Company.

Then, check out Ogden After Hours from 6:00-8:00pm at the Ogden Museum, this week featuring Al "Claiborne Street is Rocking from One Side to the Other, the Joints are Jamming Packed and I'm About to Smother all Because it's Carnival Time" Johnson and Louisiana Rockabilly great Jay Chevalier. It's a new collaboration the Ogden is doing with the folks at the Ponderosa Stomp.

One More Southport Hall Plug

One more plug for Southport Hall since they've got a good lineup of music coming up.

Friday 1/13: Kim Wilson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds
Saturday 1/14: Marcia Ball
Fri and Sat 1/20 and 1/21: Subdudes CD Release Party
Sunday 1/22: Benny Grunch

and the ever-popular Bike Night featuring the lovable and kosher Pig Pen and the Porkchops every Wednesday from 8-11pm.