family
Saturday 3
EXPLORING THE WORLD OF SCIENCE. Oakwood Center, 197 Westbank Expwy., Gretna, 362-1900. Fun Science for Families Day offers 50 booths staffed by science teachers and area scientists with various hands-on science activities, as well as the Louisiana Children's Museum's STARLAB. Free admission. 10 a.m.
LA RONDA DE LA CHARANGA ... LET'S PLAY! Children's Castle, 501 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 468-7231, ext. 220. Cucaramacara Puppet Theater of Costa Rica performs. Admission $3.50 adults, $2.50 children 17 and under and seniors. 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
special events
Tuesday 29
JAZZ BARBECUE. Norwegian Seamen's Mission, 1772 Prytania St., 525-5570. Annual event features live music by Swedish big band ensemble Kustbandet, led by Jens Lindgren. Admission $15. 7 p.m.
GABRIEL FAURE'S REQUIEM. University of New Orleans Performing Arts Center Recital Hall, 280-7469/280-6381. Sean Wallace directs the UNO Chorale and Privateer Chorus, along with members of the LPO, in a concert to benefit UNO music scholarships. Tickets $8 general, $7 UNO community, $5 seniors 55 and over and students with ID. 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday 30
FINANCING THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE. Historic New Orleans Collection, 533 Royal St., 523-4662. Lecture and discussion with curators concentrates on certain aspects of the exhibition A Fusion of Nations, A Fusion of Cultures. Free admission. 12:30 p.m.
ALLEN TOUSSAINT. Mint Music store at the Old U.S. Mint, 400 Esplanade Ave., 523-6468. New Orleans songwriter/musician/ producer will be on hand signing CDs, posters and more. Free admission. 1 p.m.
STORYTELLING THROUGH JAZZ. New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Visitor Center, 916 N. Peters St., 589-4841. "Musical rangers" Matt
Hampsey and Bruce Barnes use performances to introduce audiences to ways that
storytelling is used in music. Free admission. 3 p.m.
SCOTT SALTZMAN OPEN STUDIO AND TURKEY FRY. 134 S. Pierce St., 486-7222. Photographer presents works and performance imagery in a relaxed environment. Free admission. 3 p.m.
WEDNESDAYS AT THE SQUARE. Lafayette Square, 561-8927. Marcia Ball performs. Free admission 5 p.m.
CLEAN AIR AND CRAWFISH. Ashé Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha
Castle Haley Blvd., 539-9495. Forum on tobacco and the African-American community offers information, plus free crawfish for the first 50 attendees. Free admission. 6 p.m.
Thursday 1
NEW ORLEANS STRING PROJECT. 2826 and 3365 Esplanade Ave.; 2817 and 3330 Grand Route St. John; Stallings/Gentilly Playground. Fundraising performances for donations to help provide music lessons to city children. Donations accepted. 5 p.m. today through Sunday.
THURSDAYS AT TWILIGHT GARDEN CONCERT SERIES. City Park, New Orleans Botanical Garden, 483-9386. Thursdays
through May 29. New Orleans Musica da Camera presents "Songs of a Parlour Entertainment," featuring
music brought to the city by the Ursulines. Free with admission to the Botanical
Garden, $5 adults, $2 children 5-12. 5 p.m.
JAZZ AND DESSERT EVENING. Norwegian Seamen's Mission, 1772 Prytania St., 525-5570. Annual event features Scandinavian desserts and a concert by Don Vappie and his Creole Jazz Serenaders. Admission $10. 7 p.m.
GREEK FOLK DANCE LESSONS. Grace Episcopal Church, 3700 Canal St., 486-1723. Crescent City International dancers offers lessons Thursday evenings from now until Greek Fest. First timers free; no experience or partner necessary. Tuition $4 singles, $6 couples, $2 students. 8 p.m.
Friday 2
JIMINY CRICKETS! THE STORY OF CLIFF "UKULELE IKE" EDWARDS. New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Visitor Center, 916 N. Peters St., 589-4841. Jon Pult shows film clips, plays music and tells stories about one of the pioneers of the scat vocal style. Free admission. 3 p.m.
ZOO-TO-DO. Audubon Zoo, 6500 Magazine St., 861-6160. Elegant fundraiser features fine food and drink, prize raffles and live entertainment by KC and the Sunshine Band, among others. The event also features the grand opening of the zoo's new endangered species carousel. Individual tickets $195 general, $155 Audubon Nature Institute members. Patron tickets start at $550. 8 p.m.
Saturday 3
ORVIS NEW ORLEANS FLY FISHING SCHOOL. Uptown Angler, corner of Julia and Camp streets, 529-3597. Small classes meet the first Saturday of every month. This month: Intro to Fly Fishing. Tuition $150. 9 a.m.
CRAWJAM. Norwegian Seamen's Mission, 1772 Prytania St., 525-5570. Annual event features all-you-can-eat crawfish plus spirited jazz with Scandinavian musicians and New Orleans singer Topsy Chapman. Admission $15. 8 p.m.
GRASSROOTS! HIP-HOP MOVEMENT. The Neighborhood Gallery Theater, 1410 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 481-5959. Truth
Universal presents the premiere of "New Orleans' Finest" video, with open mic
following live performances by Divine True Earth, the Ill Relatives and Epatomed.
Admission $5. 10 p.m.
Sunday 4
JAZZ SERVICE. Norwegian Seamen's Mission, 1772 Prytania St., 525-5570. Church
service features musical performance by Tricia Boutté and her band. Free
admission. 11 a.m.
BROADWAY GALA VIII. Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 400 Phlox St., Metairie, 885-2000. Family-friendly fundraiser features performances by the JPAS Children's Chorus and Youth Chorale, with proceeds funding the chorus's spring tour. Admission $15 general, $5 students. 2 p.m.
Monday 5
PLANTS OF THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE. City Park, New Orleans Botanical Garden, 288-6444. Showcase of plants and growing techniques from the era of 1803. Through Aug. 31; call for guided group tours. Free with admission to the Botanical Garden, $5 adults, $2 children 5-12. 10 a.m.
