Post-bop jazz pianist Cedar Walton, who's played with everyone from John Coltrane to Art Blakey, kicks off the CAC's 'Jazz America' series on Friday.
Wednesday 12
THE RABBIT'S HOUSE. Storyland, City Park, 483-9381. City Park's Storyland Players presents this puppet show based on an African tale about a mysterious stranger who has taken up residence in Mr. Rabbit's house. Admission $2. 10:30 a.m. Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.
Saturday 15
FALL STORIES. Discovery Gardens, Longue Vue House and Gardens, 7 Bamboo Road, 488-5488. Enjoy the beginning of fall with "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie" and "The Way to Wyatt's House." Admission $5 adults and children. 10 a.m. to noon.
BIRTHDAY BUBBLE BASH. Louisiana Children's Museum, 420 Julia St., 523-1357. Louisiana Children's Museum celebrates 15 years with a new traveling exhibit "Boing!" Bubble performances, audience participation, and cake and ice cream are included. Shows free with museum admission. Admission $6 adults and children over one year. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
MAW MAW & PAW PAW MELODIES. Children's Castle, 501 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 469-3236. Singer/songwriter Philip Melancon presents classic tunes and his own creations that portray the wonders of grandparents. Admission $3.50 adults, $2.50 children and seniors. 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Sunday 16
FAMILY ART WORKSHOP. New Orleans Museum of Art, City Park, 488-2631. Children and their adult companion will learn about the beauty and surprise of the Faberge eggs. Participants will create their own sparkling boxes to hide a special trinket. Registration required. Admission $5 per family for museum members, $6 per family plus museum admission for non-members. 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
ARTHUR'S OFF TO SCHOOL PARTY. Borders Books Music & Cafe, 3131 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 835-1363. Join in for a day of Arthur fun with Borders' national drawing and writing contest for pre-schoolers to fourth graders. Free admission. 3 p.m.
special events
Tuesday 11
LUNCHEON. Plimsoll Club, World Trade Center, 2 Canal St., 529-1601, ext. 271. Luncheon honors the World Trade Center's 2001 Award for Outstanding Achievement in International Business recipient, Yves Richard, president/CEO of EADS Sogerma of France. Call 529-1601, ext. 271 for ticket information. Noon.
MUSIC LECTURE. Loyola University, J. Edgar Monroe Library, 523-6530. Loyola music historian Alice Clark will host this lecture on the era and music of the great castrati singers. Free admission. 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday 12
COLD READ. Le chat noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Features readings of new scripts and other works. Free admission, one drink minimum. 6 p.m.
WESTBANK CRESCENT CITY FIRE CRUSADE. Greater St. Stephen West Bank location, 2100 Ames Blvd., 244-6800. Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church hosts this spiritual crusade. Free admission. 7 p.m., through Friday.
ARTSPEAK. Contemporary Arts Center, Freeport McMoRan Theater, 900 Camp St., 528-3805. This monthly series of artist-led discussions is back for its sixth season. Presenters include Kimberly Dummons, Adam Farrington and James Vella. Moderator is Jaqueline Bishop. Free admission. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
D-DAY MUSEUM LECTURE. National D-Day Museum, 945 Magazine St. at Andrew Higgins Drive, 527-6012. Special presentation outlining the efforts of a team of scientists who have located the remains of shipwrecks and vehicles underwater off the D-Day beaches in Normandy. Free admission. 7 p.m.
LECTURE. Tulane University, Chastant Room, University Center, 314-6218. Learn about the case of a predominantly African-American dockers' union under attack by the state of South Carolina and the worldwide campaign to defend its members. This was the same union that led the fight against the state's flying of the Confederate flag. Free admission. 7:30 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS POETRY FORUM. 257 Bonnabel Blvd., 835-8472. Weekly meeting. Free admission. 8 p.m.
Thursday 13
DRESS FOR SUCCESS. Hyatt Regency Hotel, 500 Poydras Plaza, 569-8467. Dress For Success hosts its third annual breakfast to showcase the programs and participants. Guest speaker Alex Garfield has been an active supporter of the program. Tickets $35. 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
ART LECTURE. New Orleans Museum of Art, Evelyn Burkenroad Education Center, Second floor, 483-2639. "The Art of Early Imperial China" will include a discussion of the famed terra-cotta army of the first emperor Qin Shihuangdi and a look at examples of tomb sculptures from the 2nd century B.C. to the 9th century A.D. Registration required. Admission $7 non-members, $5 members. Noon.
BEATLES LECTURE. Dixon Recital Hall, Tulane campus. Beatles author/historian Bruce Spizer offers an audio/visual presentation, "Beatlemania in 1960s America." Free admission. 4 p.m.
Friday 14
WORLD MUSIC AND CHANT. New Orleans Yoga Center, 4842 Perrier St., 894-0024. Vocalist Sean Johnson and instrumentalist Hans Gruenig present music inspired by the music of India and Ireland. Admission $10 general, $8 students. 7 p.m.
CEDAR WALTON. Contemporary Arts Center, Freeport McMoRan Theater, 900 Camp St., 528-3805. CAC's "Jazz America" series presents Cedar Walton, a musician who has been central to the rhythms of post-bop jazz, playing with John Coltrane and Freddie Hubbard. Admission $15 CAC members, $20 non-members. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
HOITY TOITY. Le chat noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. A repeat reading of the original movie script written and directed by mikko. Mikko calls the story "Sewerage and Water Board challenges Batman and Robin." Tickets $10 plus tax. 8 p.m.
Saturday 15
INTER-FEST 2001 & EXPO. Armstrong Park, 581-2860. The International Music & Cultural Foundation presents "An Exercise in Multiculturalism," a two-day festival featuring music from Caribbean Flamzz, Kostini, Alianza Flamenca, Kermit Ruffins, Los Sagitarios, Little Freddie King and much more. Call 581-2860 for ticket and showtime.
FLY FISHING CLASS. Lakeside Outfitters, 3213 17th St., Metairie, 834-8474. Beginning fly fishing class with discussion of equipment and techniques, plus outdoor practice. Instructors are Orvis certified. Admission $125, includes equipment and lunch. Registration required.
CRESCENT CITY BIRD CLUB. Boat Launch, Hwy. 11 at Bayou Sauvage, 586-1381. Participate in Beach Sweep, a worldwide beach cleanup whose local leadership is the Pontchartrain Basin Foundation. Volunteers should meet at boat launch. 9 a.m. to noon.
'THREADS' DEMONSTRATION. East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., 838-1100. Jefferson Parish Library will host this second annual demonstration by a variety of groups, including the Crescent City Needlework Guild, the Half-Fast Knitters, the Weavers' Guild and the Gulf States Quilting Association. Free admission. 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WINE TASTING. Martin Wine Cellar, 3827 Baronne St., 899-7411 (Uptown); 714 Elmeer Ave., Metairie, 896-7300. Vaqueros executive chef Eric Mayfield (Uptown) and Chef Susan Spicer of Wild Flour Breads (Metairie) present demonstrations and samplings. Noon to 2 p.m.
ST. ALPHONSUS ENRICHMENT SERIES. St. Alphonsus Art & Cultural Center, 2045 Constance St., 482-0008. Friends of St. AlphonsusSt. Alphonsus Art & Cultural Center host Father Byron Miller and the program "Seelos, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow." Free admission. 2 p.m.
FILM APPRECIATION WORKSHOP. New Orleans Video Access Center, 4840 Banks St., 488-9192. Robert Adler, fine artist and film enthusiast, will screen some of the earliest examples of moving images on film. Registration required. Admission $25 general, $15 NOVAC members. 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
CELEBRATE ITALIAN CULTURE. Slidell Museum, 2020 First St., Slidell, 985-646-4375. The Slidell Museum celebrates Italian culture and heritage with a traveling exhibit on loan from The American Italian Museum & Library of New Orleans. Opening reception features free spumoni ice cream from the Old Town Slidell Soda Shop. Free admission. 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
FINE WINES AND FANTASTIC VIEWS. Bank One Center, 201 St. Charles Ave., 523-3939. Friends of the Cabildo present a night of fine wines, delectable foods and a selection of silent auction items. Tickets $50 per person. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
CATACOMBS. First Baptist Church, 1400 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 466-5381. First Players presents this three-act story of persecution, faith and survival. Free admission. 7 p.m. Saturday-Monday.
GEORG GRAEWE QUARTET. Contemporary Arts Center, Bank One Theater, 900 Camp St., 528-3805. This performance kicks off the CAC's Awake Nu avant-garde jazz series. Graewe and countryman Frank Gratkowski are joined by percussionist Hamid Drake and bassist Kent Kessler. Admission $10 CAC members, $12 non-members. 8 p.m.
WILL DURST. Le chat noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Show featuring political satirist, with proceeds benefiting Covenant House, as part of the New Orleans Comedy Festival. Tickets $12. 8 p.m.
OPEN MIC. Le chat noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Leslie Martin and other guest pianists accompany all singers on the Cabaret Room Stage. Free admission, one drink minimum. 10:30 p.m.
Sunday 16
XAVIER FACULTY RECITAL. Xavier University, Recital Hall, Music Bldg., 483-7596. James Oakes will perform the works of Alfredo Casella and Gian Francesco from his modern piano repertoire. Oakes was educated at Wheaton, Juilliard and Catholic University and has been at Xavier sine 1971. Free admission. 4 p.m.
THIRD SUNDAY CONCERT SERIES. Christ Church, 120 S. New Hampshire St., Covington, 985-892-3177. A new season of concerts begins with a program by the New Leviathan Oriental Fox-Trot Orchestra. Free admission. 5 p.m.
TRINITY ARTIST SERIES. 1329 Jackson Ave., 522-0276. Program of Mozart, Schubert, Bliss and others performed by Ken Kussman on clarinet, Steven Blackmon on piano and soprano Amy Pfimmer. Free admission. 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
LIT CITY PRESENTS. Café Brasil, 2100 Chartres St., 861-8832. Evening of poetry, dance and music featuring the dancers of Happensdance, the winner of the 2001 Faux-Faulkner Contest, and individual poets. Admission $5. 8 p.m.
auditions
Saturday 15
RAISIN. Delgado Community College, City Park Campus, Building 1, Drama Hall, 483-4817. Open auditions for African-American actors, singers and dancers, ages 10-50, for the musical Raisin, based on Lorraine Hansberry's classic family drama, A Raisin in the Sun. 1 p.m. Saturday, 7 p.m. Monday.
