In case you live outside New Orleans, or under a rock within it, the Tennessee Williams Festival is this week. Taking place downtown in the French Quarter, in and around the Hotel Monteleone, it’s a blast — and this year’s program has some absolute knockouts, including the Melanated Writers Collective performing this Friday night. Tickets are still available, but after Wednesday, you’ll have to get them at the door. I promise: they’re worth it.

This just in, from this afternoon’s contest:

The MSPOL 2013 State Finals Contest – held on Thursday, March 7 – will be broadcast by Mississippi Public Television on Saturday, March 9, following the basketball tournament – probably around 4PM. Our new 2013 State Champion is Akane Little, a senior at Starkville HS. Second place went to senior Denzell Jones from Water Valley HS and third went to Bailey Brilley, a junior at St. Joseph Catholic HS in Madison.

Congratulations to Akane and to all the other contestants!

The Oxford American has just posted a brief essay regarding the question of royal abdication. No, it’s not Edward VIII we’re talking about — though I like to think he would be amused by the comparison.

The Mississippi state finals of the Poetry Out Loud competition, for which I am honored to serve again as a judge, are this coming Thursday, March 7th, at the Mississippi Public Broadcasting studios. Last year we sent our state winner, Kristen Dupard, on to the national championships — to win them — so for any poetry lovers in the Jackson area, come on down. It’s a fantastic afternoon and a joy to spend time in the company of such wonderful, talented contestants. More details are available at the MAC website.

Thanks again to all who came out last night at Tulane, and thanks again to Melissa Dickey and to A Studio in the Woods for such a lovely evening. Across town, Room 220 is hosting a book launch event at Press Street Headquarters (3718 St Claude) this coming Thursday, featuring a new collection of fiction by Nathan C. Martin, called We’re Pregnant. More details are available here.