Other Destinations
Lost Coyote, at the intersection of Claiborne Ave. and Esplanade Ave. features burlesque on Saturday during brunch. Vivi Noir produces this event and it features a dazzling array of performers and excellent food and drinks. Plus they have a heated pool!
The Country Club, in the Marigny, has a long standing drag brunch that never fails to entertain. We love the multitude of zany, sexy, and hilarious performers that roll through every time. The food and drink are not to be missed.
Burlesque also played a significant role in shaping American attitudes toward sexuality, autonomy, and freedom of expression. Performers used costume, choreography, and character to reclaim ownership of the gaze, presenting sensuality not as something hidden but as an art form worthy of applause. This empowerment resonates across eras: the boldness of burlesque artists helped pave the way for later movements in feminism, queer performance, and body-positivity. It challenged the idea that sexuality must be controlled or silenced, instead presenting it as playful, theatrical, and profoundly human.
In the 21st century, New Orleans has become one of the leading centers of neo-burlesque, a movement that honors the past while reinventing the form for modern audiences. Performers celebrate body diversity, gender fluidity, and artistic experimentation, making burlesque a platform for empowerment and self-expression. This contemporary renaissance continues to cement New Orleans as a city where burlesque is not only entertainment but also an important cultural force—one that echoes the city’s values of resilience, creativity, sensuality, and joy. Burlesque remains a living, breathing art form in New Orleans, carrying forward a legacy that is both historical and vibrantly present.
what about burlesque brunch?
Tease&Toast at Pulcinella!
Pulcinella! at 1300 Saint Bernard Avenue in New Orleans, serves up a Sicilian-inspired brunch menu and the scintillating Bella Blue’s Tease&Toast every Saturday starting at 10:30AM.
Bella Blue performed roughly every 45 minutes, and its is the perfect destination for birthdays, roasts, bachelor/bachelorette parties, or just to kick back with a friends over mimosas.
There is no cover charge, but bringing tips for the dancer helps ensure you get extra special attention at your table.
New Orleans has always been deeply intertwined with burlesque, serving as one of the country’s most vibrant—and historically significant—burlesque cities. From the Storyville red-light district in the early 20th century to the Bourbon Street nightclub era of the mid-century, the city fostered a nightlife culture where music, dance, satire, and sensuality intersected. Jazz musicians and burlesque dancers performed side-by-side, influencing one another and contributing to the city’s reputation as a place where artistry and seduction coexist in harmony. Legendary clubs like the Sho-Bar became iconic stages for dancers whose names now live in the lore of New Orleans entertainment history.
Burlesque in New Orleans has also been shaped by the city’s unique blend of cultural traditions: carnival pageantry, costuming, street parades, Creole aesthetics, and a deep love for performance. The city’s embrace of theatricality makes it an ideal home for modern burlesque revivalists who draw inspiration from vintage glamour, Mardi Gras excess, and contemporary artistry. Today, New Orleans hosts festivals, revues, and world-renowned performers who keep the tradition alive—often infusing it with humor, political commentary, queer identity, and storytelling that reflect the city’s ever-evolving culture.
