The Congo Square Rhythms Festival is a free cultrual event held every November in Armstrong Park. It includes local musicians in every genre, including New Orleans Funk, Cajun/Zydeco, Jazz and R&B. There's always dancers as well, including traditional African Dancers, and the Mardi Gras Indians. This year it's on Novembr 15th.

This Saturday, November 7th and Sunday, Novmeber 8th the place to be is the Audubon Zoo. It's time for Swamp Fest. There's lots of music, food and crafts and a fun time for all. As an extra bonus, the weatherman says the weather will be beautiful.

November 6th is grand opening of the long awaited expansion of the National World War 11 Museum. The original museum named the National D-Day Museum has already expanded into a one of a kind museum dedicated to America's Greatest Generation, and was re-named The National World War 11 Museum. Now it's expanded even more and is worth setting aside an entire day to enjoy.

Add another great event to your plans for Halloween in New Orleans. Gay Halloween or Twisted Seasons has a great weekend planned for a good cause. Find out the details.

Anyone who knows New Orleans knows that Lafayette Square is the place to be on Wednesday afternoons in the Spring and Thursday afternoons in the Fall for free concerts, great food and fun crafts. Lafayette Square is a great place to be in New Orleans. So, I thought it might be time review a little of the history of Lafayette Square.

Here comes the Voodoo Music Festival. As always, just in time for Halloween. This year there's a great lineup. So, spend your Halloween in New Orleans this weekend.

For some early Halloween fun in New Orleans, don't miss the big parade of the Krewe of Boo. It will happen on October 24, 2009 at 7 pm and will roll though the French Quarter and end up at Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World for even more fun.

Here in New Orleans, we have a great time at Halloween. It's always fun to hear about traditions in other places. Here are some stories from my fellow About.com guides about Halloween in their neck of the woods.

When folks think about New Orleans, many pleasant images come to mind. Among the top images has got to be the fabulous food! New Orleans has always been blessed with an abundance of renown chefs and John Besh is at the top of the list. His awards are too numerous to be mentioned here but you can understand why they were merited if you dine at any one of his restaurants, like August, or Luke. There is one other thing that is most welcomed and unusual about a visit to one of Besh's establishments, there is no corkage fee if you bring your own bottle of wine! So peruse your collection and bring a bottle or two with you when you go!

John has decided to share his culinary talents with us in the form of his new cookbook, My New Orleans: The Cookbook by John Besh. This book is 384 pages and weighs in at about 5 pounds! It is chock full of recipes, photos and stories provided for our reading and cooking pleasure. The cost is $45 (hardcover) and well worth the price.

A sample of some of the recipes are Crabmeat and Frog Etoufee, Slow Cooked Baby Goat, Bourbon Pecan Pie and Warm Crawfish and Aritchoke Salad. There are hundreds of other recipes that even the most cooking challenged among us can master.

Love great wine, great food and great entertainment in a beautiful park pavillion? Then get out to City Park tomorrow night for the 7th annual Red, White and the Blues gala. There are over 150 fine wines, and food from several gourmet restaurants, plus great entertainment.

Here's the details.