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SPECIAL EVENTS LISTINGS 01 14 03 Respond to this Story family Tuesday 14 DINNER THEATRE FOR KIDS. Esperanza, 13899 River Road, Luling, (985) 785-1399, ext. 3. Musical comedy by the Porta-Puppet Players with program "An Evening with Aesop" covering Aesop's fables. Call for ticket prices. Supper 6 p.m., show 7 p.m.   Friday 17 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BIRTHDAY. Barnes & Noble, 1601B Westbank Expwy., Harvey, 263-1482. Celebration of the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr., including reading of Whoever You Are by Mem Fox. Free admission. 7 p.m.   Saturday 18 DIG, DO, DISCOVER. Longue Vue House and Gardens, 7 Bamboo Road, 488-5488. "Indoor Herb Gardens" program. Admission $5 adults, $5 children. 10 a.m. to noon. HANSEL & GRETEL. Children's Castle, 501 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 468-7231, ext. 220. Annual performances of children's opera by the Metropelican Opera Company, the educational ensemble of the New Orleans Opera Association. Tickets $3.50 adults, $2.50 children. 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., through Jan. 25. HARRY POTTER BOOK CLUB. Barnes & Noble, 1601B Westbank Expwy., Harvey, 263-1482. Meeting of Harry Potter book club to discuss the books, movies and play trivia games. Free admission. 2 p.m. WINNIE THE POOH CELEBRATION. Barnes & Noble, 1601B West Bank Expwy., Harvey, 263-1482. Reading of Winnie the Pooh stories. Free admission. 7 p.m.   special events Tuesday 14 JAZZ AND SPOKEN WORD THROW DOWN. Sweet Lorraine's, 1931 St. Claude Ave., 945-9654. Spoken word with open mic featuring poet Karama Sadaka and live music by Coup d'Fire. Admission $5. 9 p.m. to midnight. Wednesday 15 NEW ORLEANS HORNETS. New Orleans Arena, 525-HOOP (4667). Hornets host the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers. Tickets $7-$265. 7:30 p.m. WILLIAM YELVERTON. Nunemaker Auditorium, Loyola University, 865-3492. Loyola's Montage Series continues with Yelverton, a classical guitarist who mixes jazz, folk, Latin and flamenco into his work. Free admission. 7:30 p.m. Thursday 16 WINE TASTING. Martin Wine Cellar, 714 Elmeer Ave., Metairie, 899-7411. Tasting led by guest speaker Olivier Bernard of Domaine de Chevalier. Cost $30 per person. 6:30 p.m. Friday 17 NEW ORLEANS HORNETS. New Orleans Arena, 525-HOOP (4667). Hornets host the Chicago Bulls. Tickets $7-$265. 7:30 p.m. Saturday 18 SELF-PUBLISH AND PROMOTE YOUR BOOK CONFERENCE. 210 Baronne St., suite 914, 581-9940. Authors Carole Pierce (Jump Now Look Later... Achieve What You Really Want) and Monica Pierre (Found My Soul in a Sweet Potato Patch: Living a Life of Victory) discuss steps involved in self-publishing. Registration $299. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. BUILDING BRIDGES EDUCATORS' EXPO. Grace King High School, 4301 Grace King Place, 243-3395. Inaugural expo hosted by Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Louisiana Environmental Education Association to link teachers, museums and other educational organizations. Free admission. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. BYWATER ART MARKET. New Orleans Conservation Guild, 3301 Chartres St., 944-7900. Monthly exhibits of local and neighborhood artists' paintings, pottery, photography, sculpture and more. Free admission. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. LIVING A SPIRITUAL LIFE. First Unitarian Church, 2903 Jefferson Ave., 866-1747. Tibetan Buddhist teaching program led by ordained monk Geshe Gelek. Donations welcome. 10 a.m. to noon, or 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. MISS CRESCENT CITY NEW ORLEANS CONTEST. University of New Orleans, Performing Arts Center, 391-0271. Contest for Miss Crescent City New Orleans, official preliminary contest leading to Miss Louisiana and Miss America contests. Tickets $10, proceeds benefit the Miss Crescent City New Orleans Scholarship Fund. 7 p.m. AHN TRIO. Lupin Hall, NOCCA/Riverfront, 2800 Chartres St., 940-2900. Three Korean-born sisters, all graduates of Juilliard, perform old and new works, including everything from Haydn to the Doors. Tickets $20. 8 p.m. POLYESTER PRINCE ROAD SHOW. Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center, 1724 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 525-2767. Also known as the Super Super 8 World Tour, this show (presented by Paolo Davanzo) features several short film works. (For schedule, visit www.zeitgeistinc.org.) Admission $6 general, $5 students/seniors, $4 members. 8 p.m. TWILIGHT AT TWELFTH NIGHT. Pontchartrain Center, 4545 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 468-7293. Mardi Gras kick-off celebration with mini-parade, catered food and drinks, music by the Joe Simon Jazz Trio, "Off the Record" Mobile DJ and headliner the Convertibles, introduction of 2003 Twelfth Night Court, and more. Black-tie attire; proceeds benefit Rivertown museums and cultural attractions. Tickets $50 per person. 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. DJ RUMBLE. The Whirling Dervish, 1135 Decatur St., 568-1111. DJ contest of mod and rockabilly styles between DJs Kristin, Johnny Dollar, Ruckus and Matty, plus lowbrow art, original fashions and vintage Vespas on display. Admission $4. 10 p.m.   Sunday 19 LOUISIANA LONG DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIP. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Facility, Leake Avenue at Burdette Street, 482-6682. Races of 30K and 10K for runners, 30K for race-walkers only, with championships by age and gender divisions. Registration $15 New Orleans Track Club members, $18 non-members. 7:30 a.m. 30K race-walk, 8 a.m. 30K and 10K runs. AT THE SOLARIUM CONCERT SERIES. Bultman Solarium, 3338 St. Charles Ave., 528-3805. The New Orleans Saxophone Quartet featuring Astral Project's Tony Dagradi, along with Aaron Fletcher, Brice Winston and Alonzo Bowens, performing original compositions by Dagradi and jazz classics by Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington and John Coltrane. Free admission. 3 p.m. TRINITY ARTIST SERIES. Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Ave., 670-2520. Concert featuring program "The Great Love Story of Robert and Clara Schumann" with narrator Olivia Bamforth, pianist Dane Evans and soprano Ellen Frohnmayer. Free admission. 5 p.m. LYRIC DANCE ENSEMBLE. The Columns Hotel, 3811 St. Charles Ave., 361-3809. Original choreography by Isadora Duncan with dancers Stephanie Condon, Merrie Kidd, Maureen Sharpe, Susan Sanborn, Jina Curtis and Nanette Ledet. Donations welcome. 6:30 p.m. INBAL MEGIDDO AND SALEEM ABBOUD ASHKAR. Dixon Recital Hall, Tulane University, 865-5267. The Israeli violoncellist Megiddo and the Palestinian guitarist Ashkar meet for a concert co-sponsored by the Ferber Family of Houma Foundation, the Jewish Endowment Foundation and the Office of Cultural Affairs for the Consulate General of Israel in New York City. The duo will perform works by Beethoven, Shostakovich, Bach, De Falla and David Popper. Free admission. 7 p.m. WALK-IN MOVIE NIGHT. W French Quarter Hotel, 316 Chartres St., 581-1200. Screening of My Big Fat Greek Wedding in the W's courtyard. Heaters and blankets provided. Admission $10, proceeds to benefit Academy of the Sacred Heart. Doors open 7 p.m., movie begins at 8 p.m. NEVER GO BACK. Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center, 1724 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 525-2767. In commemoration of the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, Planned Parenthood presents these pro-choice films: When Abortion Was Illegal: Untold Stories; From Danger to Dignity; and Never Go Back: The Threat to Legalized Abortion. Admission $10 general, $6 students/seniors/members. 8 p.m.   Monday 20 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WEEK FOR PEACE. Dillard University, 2601 Gentilly Blvd., 865-2344. Seventeenth-annual celebration with this year's theme "Rising from the Ashes: Rebuilding America through Non-Violence" to commemorate the work of Martin Luther King Jr. First in weeklong event is interfaith service at Dillard University. Free admission. 10 a.m. PACIFICA QUARTET. Dixon Hall, Tulane University. The Friends of Music Series continues with the Pacifica Quartet performing with pianist Ursula Oppens. Tickets $18. Pre-performance lecture begins at 7 p.m., performance at 8 p.m. cooking demonstrations Tuesday 14 GREG SURREY. Crescent City Farmers Market, 200 Broadway St., 861-5898. Chef of Surrey's Juice Bar offers demonstration of Spanokopita or meatloaf plus side dishes as part of Farmers Market "Green Plate Special" series. Free admission. 10 a.m.   Saturday 18 DANNY GALINDO. Crescent City Farmers Market, 700 Magazine St., 861-5898. The French Table chef offers demonstration. Free admission. 10 a.m. Other Stories This Week in Arts & Entertainment: A&E Feature Case Studies Art Review Au Naturel Theater Review Control Issues Arts Listings