New Orleans hosts a flotilla of international tall ships next week for the kickoff of Sail 250, which is part of the country's 250th birthday celebrations.

Why it matters: The 12 ships will be open for free public tours along the Mississippi Riverfront.

The big picture: The vessels start arriving May 27. They'll be open to the public Thursday, May 28, through Sunday, May 31.

• The official welcome ceremony is at 1pm May 27 and includes a 21-gun salute and a military flyover, according to New Orleans & Co., the city's tourism arm and one of the sponsors.
• There's also a fireworks show at 9pm May 30 and a seafood cook-off Sunday at Delacroix restaurant.

Zoom in: The vessels will be docked along the riverfront from the Bywater to the Crescent City Connection.

• Sail 250 is one of the largest gatherings of tall ships in the world, organizers say.
• The ships are from the U.S., Chile, Peru, Colombia, Uruguay, Sweden, the Netherlands, Argentina and the U.K.
• See photos and details about the vessels.

If you go: Expect airport-style security screenings. IDs are required to board the U.S. Navy ships.

• Guests must wear closed-toe shoes, organizers say.
• The event is family-friendly, but children need to be at least 5 years old to tour U.S. Navy ships.

What's next: The ships leave Monday, June 1, for Norfolk, Virginia; Baltimore; New York and then Boston.

Share this

Louisiana is hosting several other America 250 celebrations and exhibits.

✍️ A rare Louisiana Purchase agreement is in Baton Rouge. The document bears Napoleon Bonaparte's signature.

• The exhibit is on display until July 11 at the old Louisiana State Capitol. Admission is free.

🌭 Jefferson Parish hosts a patriotic celebration June 14 in downtown Gretna. It includes a parade, music, relay races and a nighttime drone show. (Facebook)

🇺🇸 The Cabildo has a new America 250 exhibit that highlights Louisiana's decisive yet often-overlooked role in winning American independence.

• It includes two rare portraits of Bernardo de Gálvez that were transported from Mexico. The exhibit is here through May 2027.

🧠 The Historic New Orleans Collection has a new augmented reality exhibition called "American Revolution." It's here until January.

• Guests can step into 20 defining moments of the nation's founding through 360-degree reconstructions, a press release says. Admission is free.

Gov. Jeff Landry is visiting Greenland as President Trump's special envoy. The national headlines haven't been kind so far.

• He's facing backlash after reportedly telling Greenlandic children to visit the Louisiana Governor's Mansion for "all the chocolate chip cookies you can eat." (Washington Examiner)
• His offers of MAGA hats and a selfie were turned down. (New York Times gift link)
• Greenlandic officials also took issue with an American doctor traveling with the governor to assess their health care system, the NYT reports.

What they're saying: "We sent this idiot to Greenland?" Esquire columnist Charles P. Pierce asks.

• "Jeff Landry — whose constituents want him recalled — is not even close to the right person to smooth things over," Esquire's headline reads.

Fast-growing Southern metros offer the best job opportunities for new college graduates, according to a new study.

The big picture: Birmingham, Alabama, and Tampa Bay, Florida, top the list, based on payroll processor ADP's ranking of 20-something hiring rates, wages and affordability.

Yes, but: New Orleans and Metairie were ranked as the fifth-worst place for new grads.

• The metro has a 2% hiring rate, ADP says. The annual wage estimate is $43,632, compared with $59,004 in Birmingham.
• Salt Lake City; San Diego; Riverside, California; and Portland, Oregon, were also ranked at the bottom.

The rest of the top 10 metros are:

• San Jose, California
• Columbus, Ohio
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• Tulsa, Oklahoma
• San Francisco
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Charlotte, North Carolina
• New York

The bottom line: Entry-level hiring is rebounding this spring — but in a tough job market, young professionals' prospects may depend on the role, sector and location, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Share this

🤳 The Louisiana Republican Party launched a social media campaign this week to counter grassroots efforts to recall Gov. Jeff Landry and state Attorney General Liz Murrill. (Shreveport Times)

• The line to sign the petition at Bywater Bakery wrapped around the block over the weekend.
• Murrill has taken the lead in several Republican-backed efforts to overhaul local government in New Orleans. (The Times-Picayune 🔒)

🔎 Kenner mayoral candidate Diane Schnell says she'll challenge the election results, alleging problems with voting machines. (WDSU)

👥 House Majority Leader Steve Scalise endorsed Julia Letlow in the U.S. Senate runoff against state Treasurer John Fleming. (Fox 8)

• U.S. Sen. John Kennedy says they are both "fine people," but he doesn't plan to get involved. (Fox News)
• The winner of the Republican runoff will face either Gary Crockett or Jamie Davis in November's general election. (Results)