OUR HOME & PARTNER VENUE:
THE TIGERMEN DEN
A BYWATER CULTURAL CENTER
The Tigermen Den is a community space and cultural center, dedicated to supporting the Bywater neighborhood’s artists through live music events, an emerging artist incubator, and Art Camp 504. We offer a family-friendly environment and our historic venue is available for both public and private events.
The Tigermen Den is not a bar, but instead a family friendly, dog friendly, and sober friendly space to experience local and touring musicians from all over the world. With seating, refreshments, and a focus on community, every visit supports New Orleans culture, local artists, and Art Camp 504 scholarships!
BUILDING HISTORY
Once a Creole dry goods store in the 1830’s, a general store in the 1920's and soul food restaurant from the 1960's-90's, The Tigermen Den is now an inspiring project of preservation and community collaboration. In 2011, while still undergoing renovations, an all-female band ‘The Tigermen’ moved into the apartment upstairs and used the vacant downstairs rooms for rehearsal. The band naturally started referring to their new home as ‘The Tigermen Den’ and the goal of becoming a community arts and events space was ignited by these impassioned sisters.
WOMEN OF THE TIGERMEN DEN
This beautiful, almost 200 years old building possesses a rich history of powerful female entrepreneurs who loved their community. The Tigermen Den building has always been, since its genesis, a female owned and operated business.
Built by a father for his daughter, in the early days of the Bywater's formation in the 1830's. You could still see the river from Royal st. Where small fruit tree fields stretched between the scattered homes. Many immigrants moving to New Orleans found their way to the Bywater as the French Quarter filled. She ran the store and fed the neighborhood.
Later, Ms.Turner opened up a soul food restaurant in the 1960’s with her husband and even after a racist neighbor shot her husband dead in front of the building, she stayed open for business to feed the neighborhood all the way until 1997 as ‘Ms Turner’s Bar + Restaurant'. She served $2.50 lunch plates to dock workers stationed just a few blocks away on the Mississippi River.
Since New Orleans was the last stop for many barges that came down the Mississippi in the 1800's, these sturdy boats would be disassembled at the docks that now border the famous Bywater Neighborhood. Because of proximity and necessity, the wood planks would be repurposed to build homes all across the Bywater. The "barge" board proved to be the perfect wood for a town that would flood, as it could withstand the waters, and is what now gives the interior of the Tigermen Den it’s unique aesthetic.
In 2011, while still undergoing renovations, an all-female band ‘The Tigermen’ moved into the apartment upstairs and used the vacant downstairs rooms for rehearsal. The name of the building found itself between chords and melodies. The band naturally started referring to their new home as ‘The Tigermen Den’ and the goal of becoming a community arts and events space was ignited by these impassioned sisters.
Today, with a member of the band at the helm we carry on the torch by having the same name and maintaining the goal of serving our musical and artistic community. We are filled with a desire to host life-affirming gatherings that bring neighbors together and continue to preserve a time-honored space that invites it’s guests to listen to the walls and contribute to it’s ongoing story.
PROGRAMMING:
Listening Room + Porch Concerts
The Tigermen Den Concert Series offers an accessible, family-friendly, and dog-friendly space for the Bywater neighborhood to enjoy performances by local and touring musicians, both indoors and outdoors. Outdoor concerts are free and open to all, and we encourage attendees to tip the band and support by purchasing albums and merch. Seating is first-come, first-served. Indoor performances create a true listening room experience, with no loud bar chatter to compete with the music. The acoustics of our historic barge-board walls are perfect for horns, drums, acoustic strings, and piano.
Mardi Gras & Halloween Pop-ups
Looking for the perfect costume? The Tigermen Den has you covered! Our annual Mardi Gras and Halloween pop-ups feature a fantastic selection of costume treasures from a variety of vendors who’ve been collecting gems for years. Held in our beautiful, historic space, we’ve been hosting these pop-ups for over 12 years and will continue bringing the costume magic to the neighborhood as long as we’re standing!
Cajun & Jazz Brunches
Join us for our Sunday Cajun & Jazz Brunches, where we celebrate culture, support local artists, and preserve tradition. The whole family is welcome to enjoy seating, food, drinks, dance lessons, and merriment. Kids and dogs get in free!
PRIVATE EVENTS - A SPACE LIKE NO OTHER:
The Tigermen Den is an intimate and historic venue hidden in the heart of the Bywater. An endearing corner property with no sign, built in 1833, The Tigermen Den will amaze your guests and pique your imagination with what you discover inside.
If you're looking for a unique, artistically curated, indoor venue with a courtyard for your event, The Tigermen Den is waiting for you. From plated dinners or brunches of 20-45 persons to mixed standing and seating for 45 65 and standing room only cocktail style receptions of 70-85, we can to help you curate eccentric and intimate ceremonies, wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners or welcome parties.
WHEN YOU CAN'T HAVE IT AT YOURS, HAVE IT AT OURS.
When you choose to host your special day with us you are helping make our space an affordable option for local artists musicians and culture contributors. Our limited private event calendar is what supports our continued ability to offer low cost and free space to our arts community.
