Bring Fall in with Concerts in the Courtyard

The Historic New Orleans Collection might be the best NOLA museum that you’ve never heard of. The Historic New Orleans Collection is a museum, research center, and publisher dedicated to the preservation of the culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South region. The Collection’s museum is located at 533 Royal Street, and houses changing exhibitions in the Williams Gallery as well as the permanent collection in the Louisiana Historic Galleries. The Collection also operates The Williams Research Center, located at 410 Chartres Street. It is at The Williams Research Center that The Collection’s holdings are made available to researchers; the archives are comprised of more than 35,000 items, including documents, manuscripts, photographs, prints, drawings, and other artifacts.

My favorite thing about The Historic New Orleans Collection is the Concerts in the Courtyard series, in its third year. Held each spring and fall, the Concerts in the Courtyard are an affordable, fun way to enjoy live music and cocktails in a charming French Quarter setting. Anyone that visited the BMI Songwriter stage during French Quarter Festival discovered what a wonderful, intimate music venue the HNOC courtyard is. The concerts attract a diverse crowd, young and old. Admission is $10, which includes three complimentary cocktails. The concerts are free for members, and memberships start at $35 (if you attend four concerts, you come out ahead!).

The fall series kicks off this Friday, September 24 at 6 PM with music from jazz clarinetist Tim Laughlin. Concert-goers will enjoy delicious libations from Old New Orleans Rum. Future concerts will feature Jason Marsalis on October 15 and Paul Sanchez on November 19, which will include beer from NOLA Brewing. Doors open at 5:30; the concerts are from 6-8 PM. Concerts go on rain or shine, but in the event of rain they will be moved indoors. While you are at the concert, be sure to check out the current exhibit in the Williams Gallery, “Mignon Faget: A Life in Art and Design,” which opened September 22. This exhibit celebrates the 40-year career of local jewelry designer and artist Mignon Faget. The artistry of her textiles, jewelry, prints, linoleum blocks, drawings, and glassware are all on display. I hope you get a chance to check out both the exhibit and the concerts this fall.

Concerts in the Courtyard

September 24, October 15, November 19 6-8 PM

The Historic New Orleans Collection

533 Royal Street

New Orleans, LA 70130