Live in New Orleans or nearabouts? Looking for a party — something to get you out among the living after being cooped up for several days thanks to Alex’s rain-athon? I’d suggest heading up to Tip’s for tonight’s Gulf Coast benefit, which is just one of dozens taking place around the world today.

At just $15, the price is very right, and you can give cleanup volunteers a hand by bringing along a bag of supplies from your utility closet (full details below). Coco, Ivan, and I will see y’all there.

And just to be perfectly clear: no, I will not be performing. You’re welcome.

Supplies for Dirty Birds Collection at Tipitina’s during tonight’s Gulf Coast Benefit

Date: Tonight, Thursday, July 1, 2010

Time: 7:30pm – 11:30pm

Location: Tipitina’s Uptown, 501 Napoleon at Tchoupitoulas

Description: In support of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuaries Program, Tipitina’s is pleased to announce a collection point this Thursday July 1st for the supplies most needed by the Gulf Response Involvement Team (the wildlife cleaners).

BTNEP is currently looking for:

Clorox Wipes
Plastic Measuring Tapes (like ones used for measuring fabrics/sewing)
Knee-high Rubber Boots
Duct Tape
Large CLEAR Plastic Storage Bins with LATCHABLE lids
Solid Foam Camping Mats (for cutting to line turtle cages)
Yellow Kitchen Cleaning Gloves
Safety goggles/glasses
Bug Spray
Aveeno face sunscreen
Coppertone spray sunscreen
Zip Ties/Cable Ties
Heavy Mil Lawn Trash Bags
Hand Saws
Blue Tarps
Ratchet Straps
Bungee Cords
Nets (all shapes and sizes for catching wildlife)
Ziploc Bags (gallon and quart-double zipper seal for preserving samples, NOT THE KIND WITH THE SLIDE CLOSURE)
GPS Units
Baby wipes
Orange soap hand cleaner soap
Binoculars
Dry Bags (Dufflebag Style)
Grease Pens
Mechanical Pencils
Clickable Sharpies
Waterproof Paper
All-in-one Printer & Copiers
1” & 2” 3-ring Binders
Printer mailing labels
Scissors
Large Ice Chests
DC to AC Power Inverters
Bolt Cutters
Box Cutters
3 gallon Lawn Sprayers
Plastic Folding Tables
Heavy Mil Visqueen Plastic Roles
Rope
Large Rubber Trash Cans with Lids
Garden hoses
Leatherman Multi-tools
Waterproof Digital Cameras
2 GB SD memory cards
Digital Video cameras
Pliers
Mustang Lifejackets
Rain gear
Chest Waders
Nitrile gloves
Gauze pads
Forceps
Mini hand-held propane torches
8” x 10” dry erase boards and markers
Disposable sterilized scalpels
Clipboards with internal storage
Letter Sized File folders
Large Backpacks for making field kits
Pelican Cases
Aluminum foil
Small ice chests
Small hard-plastic swimming pools
300 gal Rubbermaid Tanks
Electrical Tape
Hand Soap (soft soap)
Bleach
48” wooden stakes (1” x 2”)
¼” Yellow twisted nylon rope (minimum 100’ lengths)
Solar power units
Plastic sheet protectors (8.5” x 11”)
White copier paper (8.5” x 11”)

Ransack the house, empty the closets, go borrow something from your neighbor (kidding) or stop by a store on the way to the show. There will be a collection point by the Tip’s Walk of Fame. Come donate something to help clean these dirty birds then go shake a tail feather to Galactic, Ivan Neville, Coco Robicheaux and more.

There’s more info at VOLUNTEER.BTNEP.ORG. See ya tonight!