family
Tuesday 31
TODDLER TIME. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929. Dig for seashells, make scratchy starfish, and enjoy beach treats at beach storytime. Free admission. 1 p.m.
Wednesday 1
PUPPET MUSIC REVUE. Fine Arts Center, 1733 Constantinople St., 269-3922. Dinner theater for kids, featuring 12 rollicking Broadway-style original musical numbers. Call for reservations. Admission $10 (includes dinner). 7 p.m.
Thursday 2
PAJAMARAMA. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929. City Scapes: Listen to Black Cat by Christopher Meyers, then make a mural inspired by the story. Free admission. 7 p.m.
Friday 3
TRAVELING THROUGH BOOKS. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929. Experience the culture of Ghana with Kids to Africa. Free admission. 7 p.m.
Saturday 4
DISCOVERY GARDEN. Longue Vue House and Gardens, 7 Bamboo Road, 488-5488. Learn about the beginning of plant life as you sprout seeds and taste seed sprouts. Activities take place in a cool room. Admission $5 for children and adults. 10 a.m. to noon.
CHILDREN'S CONCERT. Children's Castle, 501 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 468-7231 ext. 220. Brass musician Howard Pink demonstrates various horns, including French Horns, animal horns, hunting horns, a 15-foot Alphorn, and his world-famous musical garden hoses. Admission $3.50 adults, $2.50 children and seniors. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
CHILDREN'S CONCERT. Maple Street Bookshop, 7529 Maple St., 861-2105. Sing-along with Johnette Downing. 1 p.m.
AFTERNOON ART. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929. Tying your shoes can be fun with shoelaces decorated by you! Free admission. 3 p.m.
special events
Tuesday 31
CHRISTMAS IN JULY BENEFIT. Omni Royal Orleans Hotel, Grand Salon, 621 St. Louis St., 524-6464. The French Quarter Business Women's Network is celebrating those who benefit from Crescent City Shelter for Battered Women and Their Children, and other charitable projects of the organization. A donation of $35 includes a lunch and an opportunity to participate in the Christmas Auction, which includes items like a Ritz Carlton Spa visit, a cruise on the Steamboat Natchez, and various hotel stays in the French Quarter. Call for reservations. 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday 1
LIBRARY SHOW-OFF. New Orleans Public Library, 219 Loyola Ave., 596-2570. An exhibition of art and writing created by New Orleans Public Library staff, on view in the main library. A reception will be held at the Loyola branch at 1 p.m. Aug. 4. Both the exhibition and the reception are free and open to the public. Call for more information. Through Aug. 25.
POETRY WORKSHOP. Rosa Keller/Broad Branch of New Orleans Public Library, 4300 S. Broad Ave., 835-8472. For anyone interested in poetry, bring 15 copies of an original one-page poem. Participants read their work and are critiqued. Free admission. 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
THE ARMSTRONG DANCE PROJECT. Dillard University, Cook Theatre, 2601 Gentilly Blvd., 522-0996, ext. 21. "Creative Investigations" open studio. Choreographer Donald Byrd invites the public to drop in for a behind-the-scenes observation of the creative process as he and his dancers explore new ways of responding to Louis Armstrong's music through dance. Free admission. 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Thursday 2
LOUIS ARMSTRONG CONFERENCE. Old U.S. Mint, 400 Esplanade Ave., 280-6680. Participants may attend panels, including a special panel by the biographers of Armstrong, events, concerts, and other activities associated with the conference. Conference includes a Thursday evening reception (open bar) at the Palm Court Jazz Café to kick off the fun. Continental breakfast is included in the morning before the panels. Conference registration is $50, and it includes panels, continental breakfasts, the Palm Court concert, and the Friday night Club Crawl. Call for more information and to register.
THE ARMSTRONG DANCE PROJECT. Dillard University, Cook Theatre, 2601 Gentilly Blvd., 522-0996, ext. 21. "Creative Investigations" open studio No. 2. Choreographer Donald Byrd demonstrates the creative process as he and his dancers explore new ways of responding to Louis Armstrong's music through dance. Question-and-answer session follows. Free admission. 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
WINE TASTING. Martin Wine Cellar, 714 Elmeer Ave., 899-7411. California Vintage 1991 Revisited hosted by Geoff Warden. Reservations required. Admission $45 per person. 6:30 p.m.
INTERNATIONAL DANCERS. First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 5401 S. Claiborne Ave., 861-3346. Move to the rhythms of the world. No experience or partner necessary. Admission $2 students, $4 singles, $6 couples, first-timers free. 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Friday 3
CLUB J. Jazzland Theme Park, Intersection of I-10 and I-510, exit 246A, 253-8100. Jazzland dance party for teens ages 14-21. Free with park admission. Tickets $31 adults, children taller than 48 inches, $25 children under 48 inches, and seniors. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
JAZZ AND POETRY ESPRESSO. Morning Coffee Place, Plaza Mall, 5700 Read Blvd., 241-0052. An open-mic poetry event. Featured poet: Dae from Jackson, Miss., with live jazz by Doug Thompson. Free admission. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
THE ARMSTRONG DANCE PROJECT. Dillard University, Cook Theatre, 2601 Gentilly Blvd., 522-0996, ext. 21. "The Dance Project: A Dance Diary" features choreographer Donald Byrd a dance "diary" of the company's week of work exploring interpretations of Louis Armstrong's music. The group also will present excerpts from Byrd's jazz-inspired piece, In a Different Light: Ellington. Free admission. 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 4
BODYBUILDING COMPETITION. Tulane University, McAlister Auditorium, 885-7855. Louisiana native Katie Uter is the guest performer. Competition in open, novice, teen, masters, 40s, 50s, and 60s categories. Top five qualify for nationals. Call for registration, tickets, or contest information. 9 a.m.
MUSIC WORKSHOP. St. John Lutheran Church, 3937 Canal St., 865-8203. Musica da Camera's Early Music Summer workshop will address the question: What are the choices faced by early music performers? The workshop is for lay folk, musicians, and those focusing on medieval music. Call for more information. Cost $30, $25 for Musica da Camera supporting members. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
VIDEO PRODUCTION WORKSHOP. New Orleans Video Access Center, 4840 Banks St., 486-9192. Geoff Douville, director of photography for many award-winning video productions, will discuss planning a shoot, camera operation, compositions of shots, and more. Participants will take a hands-on role in the workshop. Course fee is $60 for non-members, $50 for NOVAC members. Call for reservations. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
CULINARY COMPETITION. Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, La Nouvelle Ballroom, 483-4208. A judged culinary competition with medals and cash prizes awarded in 12 categories. Public is invited to the Parade of Chefs and Grand Tasting, where they have the chance to sample nearly 100 dishes, and sample complimentary wines. Delgado Jazz Band entertains. Tickets to Grand Tasting are $65, $75 at the door, reserved tables of 10 are $600. Call to purchase tickets. 7 p.m.
LIONS CLUB PARTY. Celebrations, 2700 Gen. DeGaulle Drive, Algiers, 394-1200, ext. 201. Come pass a good time with the Algiers Lions Club. Music by Bruce Daigrepont and his Cajun Band, and refreshments included. Bring your own liquor (ice provided). One plate of jambalaya with admission. Admission $10. 8 p.m. to midnight
SINGLES DANCE. The Alexander Room, 3200 Ridgelake Ave., Metairie, 887-9932. Singles-only dance with DJ Mark Sanders. Bring your own liquor (soft drinks and ice provided). Strict dress code enforced. Tickets $8 at door. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Sunday 5
THE ARMSTRONG DANCE PROJECT. Old U.S. Mint, 400 Esplanade Ave. 522-0996, ext. 21. "Satchmo Summer Festival Panel Discussion: Jazz and its Influence on the Arts," featuring choreographer Donald Byrd, sculptor Martin Payton and writer Kalamu ya Salaam. Hosted by WWOZ's Maryse Dejean. Free admission. 1 p.m.
NIGHT OUT KICK-OFF PARTY. Laketown, 5050 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 712-2200. The Second Annual National Night Out Kick-Off Party will feature safety and tactical demonstrations by more than 30 metropolitan area police, military and safety agencies. Activities for kids will include the Jefferson Parish Fire Department's "Smoke House," a maze designed to teach kids the proper techniques to escape a burning building. Vince Vance and the Valiants entertain. Register to win a $200 gift certificate. Free admission. 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
TRINITY ARTIST SERIES. Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Ave., 670-2520. Clarinetist John Celestin and pianist Peggy Fransen perform selections by Debussy, Kachaturian, Milhaud and Stanford. Free admission. 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday 6
ARGENTINE TANGO. Rock 'n' Bowl Café, 4135 S. Carrolton Ave., 592-8256. Planet Tango of New Orleans hosts a weekly tango dance every Monday. Admission $5, lessons $10 each. Beginners lesson 6:30 p.m., intermediate lesson at 7:30 p.m., dance party 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
PET BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING. Offices of Dr. Oprea and Dr. Douciere, 3100 Ridgelake Drive, Suite 303, Metairie, 733-7387. Sponsored by the Jefferson SPCA, for those grieving the death of a beloved pet, or for those whose pet is terminally ill. Free admission. Call for registration. 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
cabaret
Tuesday 31
KIKI LE BONBON. Le chat noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. A rework of the fabulous campy show, reminiscent of Vaudeville. Dorian Rush returns as Kiki le Bonbon. Tickets $12. 8 p.m.
Wednesday 1
JAZZ CONCERT. Le chat noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Cornetist Chris Tyle and his quartet play the music of jazz icon Bix Beiderbecke. Tickets $10. 9 p.m.
Saturday 4
NOIR AND WHITE. Le chat noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Featuring a live mannequin tableau on stage, displaying vintage white linen fashions for White Linen Night. Jazz pianist Butch Thompson entertains. The party continues into the open-mic cabaret, with food and wine. Tickets $16. 6 p.m.
OPEN MIC FOR SINGERS. Le chat noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Leslie Martin accompanies all comers to the Cabaret Room Stage. Free admission. 10:30 p.m.
