family
Wednesday 2
STORYTELLING. Oakwood Center, 197-33 Westbank Expwy., Gretna, 361-1550. Fairy tales with Diane de Las Casas. Free admission. 10:30 a.m.
Saturday 5
WILD ONES. Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, I-10 Read Boulevard Exit, 378-4116. Make a turtle craft and learn about turtles, tortoises and terrapins. Admission $12.50 member, $15 non-member. 10 a.m. to noon.
HANSEL & GRETEL. Children's Castle, 501 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 469-3236. Metropelican's opera tale for children, with Kitty Cleveland and Leslie Dolinger. Tickets $3.50 adults and seniors, $2.50 children. 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Sunday 6
GYOTAKU. Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, I-10 Read Boulevard Exit, 246-5672. Learn the art of Japanese fish printing. Admission $2 plus admission members, $3 plus admission non-members.
special events
Tuesday 1
ESPLANADE ENCHANTMENT. Various vendors in Esplanade Ridge, Treme, Bayou St. John and Gentilly, 822-1950. Special events and offers at area establishments for the holidays through Jan. 6. See ad in Gambit Weekly.
Wednesday 2
SPECIAL FORUM. Xavier University, Gold Rush Room, 286-8558. Women Organized and Mobilized for Empowerment Now hosts mayoral forum with moderator Norman Robinson. Free admission. 6 p.m.
CASINO CONCERT. Treasure Chest Casino, 5050 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 443-8000. Performance by Harvey Jesus & Fire. Free admission. 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Thursday 3
SPECIAL CONCERT. Frenchy Gallery, 319 Royal St., 561-5885. Performance by John Sinclair. Free admission. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
CARING OF ANTIQUES. Preservation Resource Center, 923 Tchoupitoulas St., 581-7032. Learn about long-term care and maintenance of antiques in this five-week series of lectures. Reservations required. Admission $5. 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
CASINO CONCERT. Treasure Chest Casino, 5050 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 443-8000. Performance by the Alleycats. Free admission. 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
CRESCENT CITY INTERNATIONAL DANCERS. Grace Episcopal Church, 3700 Canal St., 861-3346. No experience or partner necessary for this evening of European and Middle Eastern folk dancing. Admission $4 singles, $6 couples, $2 students. 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
PAT JOLLY'S "SILLY HAT" BIRTHDAY PARTY JAM. Tipitina's, 501 Napoleon Ave., 895-8477. The photographer, community activist and local music supporter celebrates her birthday with a "Silly Hat" Jam. Performers include the Down and Dirty Jazz Band, the New Orleans Jazz Vipers, the Panorama Jazz Band, the Pfister Sisters, and Bart and Neti, along with special guests Leigh "Little Queenie" Harris, Wanda Rouzan, Charlie Miller, George French, Henry Butler and Bunchy Johnson. Free admission for patrons wearing "silly hats." 9 p.m.
Friday 4
TIBETAN BUDDHIST TEACHING. First Unitarian Church, 2903 Jefferson Ave., 866-1747. Tibetan refugee and Buddhist monk Geshe Gelek teaches about the mind, compassion and anger. Donations accepted. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
CASINO CONCERT. Treasure Chest Casino, 5050 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 443-8000. Performance by the Rafters. Free admission. 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Saturday 5
SILVER, GLASS & PRINT EXHIBITION. New Orleans Glass Works and Printmaking Studio, 727 Magazine St., 529-7277. Open house and evening reception with artists and demonstrations. Free admission. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. preview, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. demonstration.
PHOTOGRAPHY PRESENTATION. New Orleans Public Library, 219 Loyola Ave., 529-7323. Special presentation by Herman Leonard on his career photographing jazz legends. Free admission. 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
CASINO CONCERT. Treasure Chest Casino, 5050 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 443-8000. Back-to-back performances by Profiles and Summer Breeze. Free admission. 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
EVENING WITH THE KINGS. New Orleans Sheraton, 500 Canal St., 821-9565. Third annual event to celebrate unity and the upcoming Zulu parade. Tickets $100. 7 p.m.
BALL ON THE BELLE. Bally's Casino, One Stars and Stripes Blvd., 240-5167. Liberty Bank fundraiser to benefit the United Negro College Fund, with entertainment by the Chi-Lites. Tickets $75. 8 p.m. to midnight.
TWELFTH NIGHT BALL. Harrah's Casino, Mansion Ballroom, 512 S. Peters St., 525-4498. Krewe of Petronius hosts this event to benefit the PFLAG Scholarship Fund. Tickets $25. 8 p.m.
Sunday 6
CATHEDRAL CONCERT. St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square. Davidson College Concert Choir and Chamber Singers perform as part of their holiday tour. Free admission. 4:15 p.m.
CASINO CONCERT. Treasure Chest Casino, 5050 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 443-8000. Back-to-back performance by Profiles and No Idea. Free admission. 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
TWELFTH NIGHT CELEBRATION. 2523 Prytania St., 524-8116. Friends of St. Alphonsus host this event. Tickets $100. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
TRINITY ARTIST SERIES. Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Ave., 522-0276. Pianist George White performs a program of Chopin, Beethoven and Prokofiev. Free admission. 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday 7
CHEFS' CHARITY FOR CHILDREN. New Orleans Hilton Riverside, Grand Ballroom, 2 Poydras St., 524-7285. Twenty-fifth annual event to benefit St. Michael's Special School, with demonstrations by area chefs. Tickets $35. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Tuesday.
CATCH THE MAGIC OF MARDI GRAS. East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., 838-1100 ext. 314. Lecture by Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy. Reservations accepted. Free admission. 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
CASINO CONCERT. Treasure Chest Casino, 5050 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 443-8000. Performance by Persuasion. Free admission. 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
