family
Wednesday 31
HARRY POTTER BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. Borders Books, Music & Cafe, 3131 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 835-1363. Crafts, activities, birthday party games and cake to celebrate Harry Potter's birthday. Free admission. 2 p.m.
Thursday 1
SUMMER CONFERENCE. Delgado Community College, Student Life Center, City Park Avenue, 586-8509. The 18th Annual Summer Conference hosted by Greater New Orleans Association for the Education of Young Children. This year's theme is "2002 -- Backward or Forward It's the Same, Quality Care Is Our Game," featuring speakers, workshops and more. Full conference $60 members, $75 non-members; single-day $35 members, $40 non-members, students $30 members. All on-site registration. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Friday, 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.
Saturday 3
DIG, DO, DISCOVER. Longue Vue House and Gardens, 7 Bamboo Road, 488-5488. Learn about the beginnings of plant life. Admission $5 children and adults. 10 a.m. to noon.
PORTA-PUPPET PLAYERS. Oakwood Center, Dillards, 197 Westbank Expwy., Gretna, 361-1550. Children's troupe performs Gepetto's Story (11 a.m.) and Goldilocks' Experience (noon). Free admission.
THE BIGGEST LITTLE SHOW ON EARTH. Children's Castle, 401 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 468-7231, ext. 220. M.T. Noggin the Clown and his trick dog Baloney perform as part of Circus Day. Admission $3.50 adults, $2.50 children and seniors. 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
COMIC BOOK WORKSHOP. Latter Library, 5120 St. Charles Ave., 596-2625. Workshop led by local artist Vernon Smith for ages 13-17. Participants asked to bring pencil, eraser and sketch pad. Free admission. 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
PAPER BAG PUPPETS DAY. City Park, Storyland, 483-9381. Create your own paper-bag puppet, with supplies provided. Free with $2 admission to Storyland. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
SONGWRITING WORKSHOP FOR TEENS. Gentilly Branch Library, 3000 Foy St., 596-2644. Lessons in songwriting with instruction by local musicians Jim McCormick and Blake Amos. No instrument required, bring notebook and pen. Free. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday 5
ASTRONOMY CAMP. Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, I-10 exit 244 Read Blvd., 246-5672, ext. 4116. Summer camp with focus on astronomy for ages 13-16. Registration deadline Aug. 2. $140 members, $150 non-members. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily through Friday.
AUDUBON WILDERNESS PARK SUMMER CAMP. Wilderness Park, River Road past English Turn Country Club, English Turn, 246-5672, ext. 4116. Summer camp for ages 7-9, with this week's program "Nature's Magic," studying nature up close. Audubon Institute members $95, non-members $105. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, through Friday.
SUMMER ART CAMP. Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp St., 528-3805. One-week session for children ages 6-13 to learn in all disciplines with instruction from New Orleans artists. $125 CAC members, $175 non-members. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, through Aug. 16.
special events
Tuesday 30
BREAKFAST BRIEFING. Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Versailles Ballroom, Poydras Street at Mississippi River, 525-4152. Discussion on the Orleans Parish School Board's search for new superintendent, sponsored by the Bureau of Governmental Research with guest speakers. Free admission, reservations required at 525-4152 or mhogan@bgr.org. 8 a.m.
SUMMER TEASE. Dante's Kitchen, 736 Dante St., 861-3121. Biweekly event featuring food and drink specials, art and live music today by Debbie Davis. 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
NETWORK NIGHT. Musee Conti Historical Wax Museum, 917 Conti St., 523-5652. Event hosted by New Orleans Multicultural Tourism Network with discussions about tourism industry and networking. Free admission. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
WINE TASTING. Stella, 1024 Chartres St., Provincal Hotel, 899-7411. Wine dinner hosted by Howard Brown with pairing menu for $65 per person. Limited seating, reservations encouraged. 7 p.m.
Wednesday 31
BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR. Aquarium of the Americas, 1 Canal St., 581-4629. Aquarium visitors are offered a unique perspective of marine life and exhibits, courtesy Aquarium experts, complete with tour-ending souvenir and view of a penguin feed, question/answer session or admission to interactive stage shows. $10 adults, $5 kids 2-12 (in addition to regular admission prices); Aquarium members receive $2 discount. 2:30 p.m. today and 9:30 a.m. Saturday, through Sept. 2.
NEW ORLEANS JAZZ WOMEN. New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, 916 N. Peters St., 589-4841. Park ranger Bambi Sears leads discussion on the history and legacy of local women in jazz. Free admission. 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
LA/SPCA MEET AND GREET. Algiers Regional Library, 3014 Holiday Drive, Algiers, 944-7445, ext. 217. Social event to learn more about volunteer opportunities with LA/SPCA. Free admission. 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
JAZZ VIBRATIONS AND LIBATIONS. Maximos Italian Grill, 1117 Decatur St., 586-8883. Benefit for The Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp, featuring performances by Jon Faddis, the 2002 Jazz Camp faculty including Edward "Kidd" Jordan, Alvin Batiste, Germaine Bazzle and more. Tickets $300 for patron level (reservations required), $200 grill room, and $100 general admission. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Thursday 1
BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING. Oakwood Center, Customer Service desk, 197 Westbank Expwy., Gretna, 361-1550. Blood pressure screening sponsored by West Jefferson Hospital. Free. 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
SUMMER TEASE. Dante's Kitchen, 736 Dante St., 861-3121. Biweekly event featuring food and drink specials, art and live music today by Debbie Davis. 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
WINE TASTING. Martin Wine Cellar, 714 Elmeer Ave., Metairie, 899-7411. "The Hills Are Alive with Austrian Wines" tasting hosted by Marc Pelletier. $25 per person. 6:30 p.m.
IN CELEBRATION OF JULIA. Cobalt, 333 St. Charles Ave., 565-5595. Restaurant joins in national celebration of the 90th birthday of Julia Childs with guest Chef Michael Lomonaco. $150 for four-course dinner that includes wine, with proceeds to benefit Julia Child Endowment Fund. 7 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS ZEPHYRS. Zephyr Field, 6000 Airline Drive, Metairie, 734-5155. Zephyrs host the Fresno Grizzlies. Tickets $5-$9. 7:05 p.m.
GLITZ: THE ART OF ILLUSION. Oz Show Club, 800 Bourbon St., 593-9491. Las Vegas-style female impersonation in the tradition of the old My-O-My Club from the 1940s and '50s Lakefront era. Bianca Del Rio hosts and performs (as Cher), with entertainers including Nikki Rich (as Barbra Streisand, Bette Miller), Lisa Beaumann (Carol Channing, Liza Minelli), Blanch DeBris (Marilyn Monroe), and Teryl-Lynn Foxx (Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick). Admission $10. 9 p.m.
Friday 2
FRIDAY ON THE AVENUE. Office Depot, 1429 St. Charles Ave., 561-8846. Lenny McDaniel performs as part of monthly concert series. Free admission, food provided. Food and cash donations to Second Harvesters Food Bank welcome. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
JEAN LAFITTE SEAFOOD FESTIVAL. City Park Drive, Lafitte, (985) 689-2208. Annual seafood festival with food, drinks, amusement rides, bayou folk-life exhibits. Admission $2. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.
MEET THE CANDIDATES. Hotel Le Cirque, 936 St. Charles Ave., 304-3355. Part of NewOrleansBlack.com's First Fridays networking and social events, candidates for various elected city positions will be in attendance to meet and greet. 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. free admission, $10 after 7 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS ZEPHYRS. Zephyr Field, 6000 Airline Drive, Metairie, 734-5155. Zephyrs host the Fresno Grizzlies. Tickets $5-$9. 7:05 p.m.
Saturday 3
COMMUNITY CLEAN UP. Conrad Park, Hamilton Street between Olive and Forshey streets, 486-7485. Clean up by residents and volunteers of Carrollton and Hollygrove neighborhoods, sponsored by Carrollton Community Coalition. 8 a.m.
CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION POKER RUN. Player's Sports Bar, 3124 Loyola Drive, Kenner, 455-5194. Poker night with all proceeds benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. $15 per hand. 9 a.m.
COMPANION BIRDS. Crescent City Farmer's Market, 700 Magazine St., 861-5898. Bird enthusiast Ken Koenig discusses advantages of hand-feeding pet birds and bird care. Free admission. 10 a.m.
FRENCH MARKET CONCERT. French Market, 1008 N. Peters St., 596-3420. The Krewe of Dixieland Jazz Band performs as part of weekly concert series. Free admission. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS ZEPHYRS. Zephyr Field, 6000 Airline Drive, Metairie, 734-5155. Zephyrs host the Fresno Grizzlies, with Bobby Cure concert immediately following the game. Tickets $5-$9. 6:05 p.m.
CHILD CARE SEMINAR SERIES. Oschner Clinic Foundation, Brent House Conference Room, second floor, 1512 Jefferson Hwy., Jefferson, (800) 231-5257, option 3. Oschner for Children seminar covering child behavior and pediatric vaccines. Free admission. 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
BRIDGE HOUSE ANNIVERSARY DINNER. Bridge House, 1160 Camp St., 522-2124, ext. 13. Celebration of the 45th anniversary of Bridge House with food from Carlone's Restaurant, guest speaker Warren Bell and master of ceremonies Ed Daniels. $40 per person, with all funds supporting Bridge House's substance abuse program. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
CLASSIC COUNTRY DANCE. Abita Springs Town Hall, Level Street, Abita Springs, (985) 867-3323. Features live music with the Jim Oertling Classic Country Band and Potluck Cajun Country Band. $5 adults, $3 children. 7 p.m.
Sunday 4
FASHION SHOW AND BOUTIQUE SALE. Cafe Brasil, 2100 Chartres St., 286-0474. Fashion show and boutique sale of various vendors presented by Carolina Gallop, featuring singer Lela Cloud as part of Satchmo Summerfest. Free admission. 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME KICKOFF PARTY. Treasure Chest Casino, Williams Boulevard at Lake Pontchartrain, 712-2244. Event to celebrate and support National Night Out Against Crime with food, music and entertainment. Free admission. 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
PIANO CONCERT. Christ Church Cathedral, 2919 St. Charles Ave., 895-6602. Concert by pianist Sid Norris including works by Bach, Mozart and Chopin, part of the O'Donnell Summer Concert Series. Free admission. 4 p.m.
auditions
Saturday 3
FAIRYTALE FANTASIES. University of New Orleans, Drama and Communications Building, 864-1781. Roles being cast for J.W. Beckwith's film, with participants asked to have three- to five-minute monologue prepared. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. today, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
