family
Tuesday 9
STAR SPANGLED BANTER. Esplanade Mall, 1401 W. Esplanade Ave., Kenner, 486-6116. Puppet troupe Porta-Puppet Players presents show dealing in American history. Free admission. 6 p.m.
TODDLER TIME. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929. Hear I Want to Be an Astronaut by Byron Barton and create night-sky pictures. Free admission. 1 p.m.
Wednesday 10
NURSERY RHYME TIME. Belle Terre Library, 5550 Belle Terre Road, Marrero, 349-5910. Puppet troupe Porta-Puppet Players presents interactive comedy. Free admission. 11 a.m.
Thursday 11
PAJAMARAMA. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929. Hear Purple, Green and Yellow by Robert Munsch and make life-size cut outs of yourself. Free admission. 7 p.m.
Friday 12
FAMILY NIGHT. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929. Learn simple drawing techniques for ages 5-up with ocean animals. Free admission. 7 p.m.
Saturday 13
MIDSUMMER MAGIC. Children's Castle, 401 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 468-7231, ext. 220. Magician Tom Meyer presents program. Admission $3.50 adults, $2.50 children and seniors. 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
special events
Wednesday 10
CELEBRATION OF LIFE WORLD FAMILY CONFERENCE. Hyatt Regency, 500 Poydras St., 659-4171. Pro-life conference featuring guest speakers, musical guests, a jazz parade, special Spanish-speaking and African-American segments, and Vita Festival, a youth music festival. Multiple events daily through Sunday.
NEIGHBORHOOD LECTURE SERIES. Preservation Resource Center, 923 Tchoupitoulas St., 636-3065. Lecture on neighborhoods of Vieux Carré and Algiers Point. Admission $5 PRC members, $7 non-members. 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS CARIBBEAN CONNECTION. New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, 916 N. Peters St., 589-4841. The musical and cultural connection of New Orleans and the Caribbean explored by park ranger Bruce Barnes. Free admission. 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS POETRY FORUM. 257 Bonnabel Blvd., 835-8472. Weekly poetry workshop sponsored by New Orleans Poetry Forum. Free admission. 8 p.m.
Thursday 11
BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING. Oakwood Center, 197 Westbank Expwy., Gretna, 361-1550. Blood pressure screening from staff of West Jefferson Hospital. Free admission. 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
GLITZ. Oz, 800 Bourbon St., 593-9491. Showcase of Las Vegas-style female impersonation with host Bianca del Rio and various performers. Admission $10. 9 p.m.
KINGS OF COUNTRY. Cowpokes, 2240 St. Claude Ave., 947-0505. Dance-party presented by Fe-Male Trouble with DJs, lip synch and contests. Admission $5. 9 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS ZEPHYRS. Zephyr Field, 6000 Airline Drive, Metairie, 734-5155. Zephyrs host the Oklahoma Redhawks. Tickets $5-$9. 7:05 p.m.
RUSSIAN SUMMER FESTIVAL. O'Flaherty's Irish Channel Centre & Pub, 514 Toulouse St., 286-1633. Celebrate Russian culture with international food offerings, a bazaar, open mic, dancing and live music. Admission $10. 7 p.m.
YAPPY HOUR. Jefferson Feed and Garden Center, 4421 Jefferson Hwy., 733-7387. Monthly social gathering for pets and pet owners, with wine and food. $10 donation benefits Jefferson SPCA. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday 12
A CONFEDERACY OF DANCES 4: HUMID. Contemporary Arts Center, Freeport McMoRan Theater, 900 Camp St., 528-3805. Sampling of modern dance pieces submitted by various New Orleans choreographers and live music. Tickets $12.50, $10.50 CAC members and seniors. Performances 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
ARTS FESTIVAL. Metairie Park Country Day School, 300 Park Road, Metairie, 849-3188. Annual Community Arts Festival with visual arts, music, dance, food, theater and more. Free admission. 6 p.m.
BASTILLE DAY SOIREE. Royal Sonesta Hotel, 300 Bourbon St., 568-0770. Bastille Day celebration and Alliance Francaise membership drive, with food, cash bar and live music with Olivier Bou Quartet. Tickets $20 Alliance Francaise members, free with promotional 2002 membership. 7 p.m.
FIDDLE CONCERT. Skyfire Theatre, 332 N. New Hampshire St., Covington, (985) 875-7577. Fiddle concert featuring Texas state fiddle champion Randy Elmore. Tickets $10 adults, $5 children under 12. 7 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS ZEPHYRS. Zephyr Field, 6000 Airline Drive, Metairie, 734-5155. Zephyrs host the Oklahoma Redhawks. Tickets $5-$9. 7:05 p.m.
PAJAMA PARTY. Igor's Buddha Belly, 4437 Magazine St., 891-6105. All-night dance party with DJs Tom Harvey and Marie-Josee, with drink specials for attendees in pajamas or lingerie. Free admission. 10 p.m.
Saturday 13
DOG-A-PALOOZA. McDonogh Park, Algiers Point, 362-8813. Canine-centered event with contests, celebrity judges, photographs and refreshments. Free admission. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
DOG WASH. Double "M" Feed, Garden and Pet Supply, 3212 W. Esplanade, Metairie, 733-7387. Dog wash to benefit Jefferson SPCA. $10. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
FRENCH MARKET CONCERT. French Market, 1008 N. Peters St., 596-3420. The Lil' Stooges Brass Band performs as part of weekly concert series. Free admission. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
GALA CONCERT OF RUSSIAN MUSIC AND DANCE. Loyola University, Roussel Performance Hall, corner of St. Charles Avenue and Calhoun Street, 286-1633. Concert and dance with more than 80 musicians of diverse styles, but with Russian emphasis. Tickets $14 advance, $15 door. 7:30 p.m.
GARDEN SALE. City Park, Pelican Green House, 483-9491. Annual sale of summer plants, including penta, salivas, shasta daisy and more. Free admission, prices range $2 to $15. 10 a.m. to noon.
JAZZ'N THE VINES. Pontchartrain Vineyards, 81250 Hwy. 1082 (Old Military Road), Covington, (985) 892-9743. Six-piece tango dance band Milonga performs. Picnic fare welcome, no outside liquor or pets. Admission $5. 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
MR. LEGS II. Club 735, 735 Bourbon St., 522-2124, ext. 13 or 15. Second annual fundraiser for Bridge House with contests judging men's legs, hosted by local DJs Bo and Beth from 105.3 The Zone. Tickets $10 advance, $15 door, includes food and open bar from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.. 7 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS ZEPHYRS. Zephyr Field, 6000 Airline Drive, Metairie, 734-5155. Zephyrs host the Oklahoma Redhawks. Tickets $5-$9. 6:05 p.m.
SATURN: LORD OF THE RINGS. East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie, 838-1100. Audubon Louisiana Nature Center Planetarium Curator Dennis Cowles presents program on the planet Saturn. Free admission. 3 p.m.
Sunday 14
CHOREOGRAPHERS SHOWCASE. Contemporary Arts Center, Freeport McMoRan Theater, 900 Camp St., 528-3805. Performances of dance pieces by various local choreographers, in connection with A Confederacy of Dances 4: Humid. $5 suggested donation. 2 p.m.
CITY PARK CONCERT SERIES. City Park, Popp Bandstand, 482-4888. Greater Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church and Henri Smith perform as part of summer concert series. Free admission. 4 p.m.
FETE POPULAIRE. Common Street between Baronne and Carondelet streets. Block party to celebrate Bastille Day with French cuisine from area chefs, games and live music from Annie Royer et les Garcons Musettes. Admission $2 adults, children under 12 free. 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS ZEPHYRS. Zephyr Field, 6000 Airline Drive, Metairie, 734-5155. Zephyrs host the Oklahoma Redhawks. Tickets $5-$9. 7:05 p.m.
Monday 15
PET BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING. Offices of Dr. Oprea and Dr. Douciere, 3100 Ridgelake Drive, Suite 303, Metairie, 733-7387. Counseling for handling the death of a pet, sponsored by Jefferson SPCA. Free admission, pre-registration required. 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Cooking demonstrations
Saturday 13
RENE BAJEAUX. Crescent City Farmers Market, 700 Magazine St., 861-5898. Bastille Day celebration with Rene Bistrot chef, live music by Dr. Will Robichaux, and Second Annual French Poodle Parade. Free admission. 8 a.m. music, 9 a.m. parade, 10 a.m. cooking demonstration.
auditions
Saturday 13
THEATER AUDITION. Rivertown Repertory Theatre, 401 Minor St., Kenner, 835-2186. Rivertown Rep's children's program, Imagine Theatre for Children, holds audition for adult actors and actresses, as directors George Sanchez, Chip Stelz and Wayne Daigrepoint search to fill roles in upcoming musicals Wizard of Oz, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Hans Christian Andersen. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
