1) The New Orleans Recreation Department Commission will be hosting a number of Back to School Expos around the city in August, including two this weekend at Lyons Recreation Center (624 Louisiana Ave) and Stalling Recreation Center (4300 St. Claude Ave). Get all the details, including other upcoming expos that may be closer to you, at the NORD website. They start at 9a.

2) Get your red on because the official NOLA Red Dress Run is back on Saturday, August 11. The organization has now given away more than $2 million to hundreds of local charities. 100% of the proceeds from this event go to local charities, which is why they want to make sure all participants are registering in the official event. "Everyone needs to understand that just hanging in the Quarter in a dress is lame and anyone who does that is missing something truly great," the official website says. 

3) If red isn't your color, Dirty Linen Night starts Saturday at 6p along Royal and Wilkinson Streets. Don your dirty garments from last week's White Linen Night and get out there to support local artists!

4) We are less than one month away from the WWOZ Groove Gala! It's happening on Thursday, September 6 from 6:30 - 10:30p with performances from Irma Thomas, Dr. Michael White, Amanda Shaw, Treme Brass Band, Doreen Ketchens, Gregory Agid Trio, Joe Krown, and Michael O'Hara. Tickets available now.

This is not your average gala! For one, we'll be wearing New Orleans festival attire (think BayouWear, sundresses, straw hats, how ya gonna clap koozies, and more). There'll be fabulous food and drinks (provided by Dickie Brennan Restaurants) and music representing much of what WWOZ is all about: traditional jazz, Louisiana music, brass bands, New Orleans blues, traditional New Orleans piano, gospel and contemporary jazz. All food and drink included in the ticket price. See you at Tableau and Le Petit Theatre next month!

5) Louis Armstrong may have never become a household name if not for the ambitions of his second wife, Lil Hardin Armstrong-- a supremely talented musician in her own right. She was a member of the Hot 5 and Hot 7, and composed a number of their biggest hits. Learn more about this fascinating woman in our newest Tricentennial Music Moment.