Essence: It’s all inside! Get outside and check out the city, y’all!
Independence Day, aka the “Fourth,” is hitting us on Saturday, concurrent, as usual, with the annual Essence Festival.
Personally, I really like the Essence lineup this year, but if I had my way, Prince would play every damn year.
It’s just a tad too soon to be talking about the 10th anniversary of Katrina, but hey, Essence survived it, and saw that New Orleans was the only place to throw its “party with a purpose.” I don’t care what Lyle Lovett says about Houston—when Essence was held in Houston, well, it just wasn’t the same. So let’s get those Essence Festers out more into the city!
One thing I wish the Essence promoters would do is to have more activities outside the Superdome and Convention Center and the immediate surroundings. There are sure a lot of interesting cultural things in this city that Essence-goers could appreciate, but unless you get ‘em outside those two “cultural” buildings (Dome and Convention Center), well, in effect Essence could be held in any old place, as much as visitors see of the real New Orleans (and I don’t mean just Bourbon and Canal Streets). Most of it’s inside…I get it. It’s hot. But still.
There are a bunch of private parties that take place in local clubs and venues, but this isn’t enough doesn’t expose Essence folk to the real city we know and love. How about a French Quarter Stage for Essence, or one at Mardi Gras World overlooking the river? Get ‘em out of the dome and convention center and into the real New Orleans!
Happy Fourth! Stay safe and enjoy Essence Fest.
Who are you looking forward to seeing at this year’s Essence Festival?
