New Orleans and nearby parishes prepare for a vibrant Independence Day weekend with ESSENCE Fest, riverfront fireworks, ...

Chef Michael Gulotta adds a finishing touch to the Banh Xeo Battered Shrimp appetizer at MoPho, on City Park Avenue in New Orleans. The restaurant serves food until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The New Orleans metro area is set to celebrate National Night Out Against Crime with several block parties scheduled.