family
Friday 19
DINNER THEATER. True Brew Cafe,
200 Julia St., 524-8441. PortaPuppet Players present The Toymaker's Helper
with singing and puppets. Admission $14. 6:30 p.m.
Saturday 20
SNOWFALL FUN. City Park, across
from Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, 482-4888. Annual Celebration in the
Oaks tradition brings nearly 40 tons of snow to City Park. Free admission.
9 a.m. to noon.
MERRY FISHMAS. Audubon Aquarium
of the Americas, 1 Canal St., 581-4629. Holiday event features arts and
crafts projects, performer Johnette Downing and more. Free with Aquarium admission:
$14 adults, $6.50 children, $10 seniors. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.
special events
Tuesday 16
CHRISTMAS NEW ORLEANS STYLE. Various
locations, 522-5730 or (800) 673-5725. Monthlong celebration of uniquely
New Orleans holiday activities. Attractions include candlelight caroling, levee
bonfires, cooking demonstrations, jazz concerts, ethnic holiday offerings and
much more. Call or visit www.christmasneworleans.com
or schedule and information. Through Dec. 23.
JAZZ FESTIVAL. Armstrong Park, 589-4841.
Monthlong jazz celebration by The New Orleans Jazz National Historical
Park featuring concerts, films, tours and more. Visit www.nps.gov/neor
for more information. Through Dec. 31.
ERACE DISCUSSION. Whole Foods Market
Uptown, 5600 Magazine St., 899-9119. ERACE discusses "Bobby Jindal & Racism."
Free admission. 6 p.m.
HOLIDAY WINE TASTING. Brennan's
Restaurant, 417 Royal St., 525-9711. Chef Mike Roussel prepares dishes to
be paired with featured wines as part of Christmas New Orleans Style. Reservations
$35. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
FREE CONCERT. Irish Channel Action
Foundation, 1813 Magazine St., 525-1940. Concert features The Canal Boulevard
Baptist Deaf Church Choir, JELLO and the Southern Animal Foundation's little
Christmas Attired Pets for Adoption. Free admission. RSVP required. 7 p.m.
Thursday 18
HOLIDAY TEA. Longue Vue House and Gardens, 7 Bamboo
Road, 488-5488. Afternoon tea with tour of the decorated home and shopping.
Reservations $20 members, $25 non-members. 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS HORNETS. New Orleans
Arena, 524-HOOP. New Orleans Hornets host the Sacramento Kings. Tickets
$7-$272. 7 p.m.
HYSTERICAL HISTORY OF NEW ORLEANS. The
Club in the Fine Arts Center, 3916 Baronne St., 269-3922. David "The Nac"
Naccari presents a comical telling of New Orleans' unique history and culture
with Mike Strecker and Marion Wikholm. Tickets $10. 7:30 p.m.
CABARET SHOW. Le Chat Noir, 715
St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Natasha Ramer performs her show, Twenty Years
in America, about the struggles and triumphs of her life since her emigration
from Russia. Chris Wecklein directs. Tickets $20. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday.
LATIN NIGHT. Loft 523, 523 Gravier
St., 200-6523. Night to celebrate the AHORA project features a Latina fashion
show and the music of Fredy Omar con su Cuarteto. Free admission. 9 p.m. to
midnight.
Friday 19
HOLIDAY ON THE BOULEVARD. Ashé Cultural Arts
Center, 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 569-9070. Celebration featuring
Afro-Caribbean food, music, arts, performance artists, marching bands and more.
Free admission. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m.
to 7 p.m. Sunday.
CHRISTMAS SALE . Snake & Jake's
Christmas Club Lounge, 7612 Oak St., 861-2802. The "Bizarre" features gifts
and art by locals for holiday shopping. Free admission. 9 p.m. to midnight.
TRUE ROOTS: A TRIBUTE TO OUR ANCESTORS.
New Orleans Cultural Center, 1201 St. Peter St., 565-8072. The City
of New Orleans presents multi-day event honoring Haitian influence on local
and global culture. Includes Haitian art exhibit, "Blessing of the Drums," master
dance class, symposiums, book signings and more. For a full schedule, call or
visit www.new-orleans.la.us.
Saturday 20
HOLIDAY MARKET. Crescent
City Farmer's Market, 700 Magazine St., 861-5898. The Saturday market holds
"Festivus," an alternative shopping experience featuring local businesses selling
ecological goods. Free admission. 8 a.m. to noon.
ART MARKET. Markey Park, Piety and
Royal streets, 944-7900. The Bywater Art Market offers paintings, pottery,
jewelry, furniture and more. Free admission. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
LOUISIANA PURCHASE REENACTMENT. The
Cabildo and Jackson Square, 589-3882. Closing ceremonies for the Louisiana
Purchase Bicentennial recreates the signing of transfer papers at the Cabildo
and the hoisting of the American flag for the first time over Louisiana Purchase
lands. Living history experts in period dress and uniform portray French, American
and Spanish soldiers and politicians, plus a drum and fife band, will recreate
the event. Free admission. 10 a.m.
NATIVE AMERICAN MARKETPLACE. Dutch
Alley, Dumaine and Decatur streets, 522-2621. The French Market Corp. hosts
Native American artisans from several Louisiana tribes as part of Louisiana
Purchase Bicentennial celebrations. Vendors showcasing traditional crafts will
set up in the market; the event also features live music and dance from The
Bayou Eagles and Kostini from noon to 3 p.m., storyteller GrayHawk Perkins 3
p.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
GREAT BALL REENACTMENT. Old U.S.
Mint, 400 Esplanade Ave., 866-3049. The Louisiana Historical Society and
Bunch and Club reenact the Great Ball hosted by French official Pierre Clement
Laussat in 1803. Live music from the early 19th century by Deacon John. Period
attire or black tie required. Tickets $75 each. 8 p.m. to midnight.
HOLIDAY CONCERT. UNO Lakefront campus,
Performing Arts Center, Recital Hall, 280-6381. The New Orleans Gay Men's
Chorus presents the revue "Let Heaven and Nature Swing." Advance tickets $12,
$15 at door. 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday.
MENORAH PARADE. Chabad House, 7037
Freret St., 866-5164. Chabad Lubavitch of Louisiana holds the Mobile Menorah
Parade, featuring floats and throws. Free admission. 8 p.m.
BICENTENNIAL GALA. The Cabildo,
701 Chartres St., Jackson Square, 568-6968. Friends of the Cabildo celebrates
the Louisiana Purchase with gala that includes food and cocktails, live music,
an auction and more. Black tie. Tickets $75. 8 p.m. to midnight.
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL. The Big Top,
1638 Clio St., 569-2700. 3 Ring Circus presents "Immaculate Deception,"
an interactive art happening with music, modeling and printmaking. Call for
admission. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Sunday 21
FLEA MARKET. Mermaid Lounge, 1100 Constance St.,
524-4747. Monthly market features merchandise such as CDs, books, clothing,
collectibles and goods offered by local artists, musicians, and nonprofits.
This month: Apolkalypse Now plays polka. Free admission. Noon to 5 p.m.
BRUNCH THEATER. W Hotel New Orleans,
the Great Room, 333 Poydras St, 207-5018. Ricky Graham and Bianco del Rio
perform their original play, Mrs. Claus' Not So Silent Night. Music by
Harry Mayronne Jr. Tickets $35. Brunch 12:30 p.m., show 1:30 p.m.
BENEFIT CONCERT. Boomtown Casino,
4132 Peters Road, Harvey, 366-7711. More than 20 local bands hold concert
to raise money for Angel's Place, a nonprofit organization to help terminally
ill children. Features the Molly Ringwalds, the Topcats, Mixed Nuts, No Idea,
Bag of Donuts and others. Donation $5. 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT. St. Louis Cathedral,
Jackson Square, 525-9585. The St. Louis Cathedral Concert Choir along with
members of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra holds its annual Christmas concert.
Free admission. 5 p.m.
TRINITY ARTIST SERIES. Trinity Church,
1329 Jackson Ave., 525-4847. Weekly concert series. This week: Trinity Taize
Ensemble performs. With original music by Albinas Prizgintas. Free admission.
5 p.m.
CHRISTMAS FLING. Harrah's Casino,
512 S. Peters St., Mansion Ballroom, 533-6000. I'm a Dancer hosts the holiday
dance party featuring many professional dance exhibitions. Advance tickets $10,
$12 at door. 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
JAZZ CONCERT. Snug Harbor, 626 Frenchmen
St., 949-0696. Vocalist and songwriter Arlee Leonard performs "Celebrating
Life, Celebrating Love" with her quintet. Tickets $15, student discount available
for second set. 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Monday 22
RED CROSS CLASS. American Red Cross, 2640 Canal St.,
620-3105. Community CPR class teaches how to recognize an emergency, rescue
breathing and CPR. Registration $60. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
