family
Tuesday 27
SUMMER READING PROGRAMS. All Jefferson Parish library locations, 838-1100, ext. 241 -- Jefferson Parish Children are invited to 'Get Buggy About Books,' and teens can 'Get Wired in the Library,' with programs providing a fun way to maintain reading skills. Call for times. Now through Aug. 6.
DOG DAYS OF SUMMER. Louisiana Children's Museum, 420 Julia St., 523-1357 -- Families can make bandanas and biscuits for shelter dogs and their own dogs, design picture frames for pets, enjoy presentations from canine experts and more. Tickets $7 nonmembers, free for members and children under 1. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.
Saturday 31
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HARRY! Louisiana Children's Museum, 420 Julia St., 523-1357 -- To celebrate Harry Potter's birthday, children can make potions, wizard hats, wizard wands, enjoy a magic show by Jayson Morrison and learn about owl species with Sally Farrell. Tickets $7 nonmembers, free for members and children under 1. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
PORTA-PUPPET SHOW. Dillard's at Oakwood Center, Children's Department, 197 Westbank Expwy., Suite 33, Gretna, 469-7019 -- Porta-Puppet Players presents 'The Pet Doctor's Dilemma' about a retiring veterinarian who needs the help of his audience to cure his remaining patients. Magic and comedy by Smiley the Magician and balloon-sculpting and face-painting by Jazzmo and Jazzie the clowns. Free admission. 11 a.m.
MIDSUMMER MAGIC. Children's Castle, 501 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 468-7231, ext. 220 -- Enjoy a performance by Irwin Royes, the world's smallest magician. Reservations encouraged. Tickets $3.50 adults, $2.50 children ages 1-17 and seniors 55-over. 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Monday 2
RICE IS LIFE! Louisiana Children's Museum, 420 Julia St., 523-1357 -- Children can celebrate the end of the Mua rice season in Vietnam by making rice jewelry, bags, recipes and shakers. Tickets $7 nonmembers, free for members and children under 1. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday.
THE WIGGLES. Kiefer UNO Lakefront Arena, 6801 Franklin Ave., 522-5555 -- Popular children-friendly musical group from Australia performs. Dog-friendly donations to the LA/SPCA are encouraged. Tickets $16.50-$31.50. 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
special events
Tuesday 27
OIL/MIXED-MEDIA WOKSHOP REGISTRATION. Colonial Country Club, 42 Colonial Club Drive, Harahan, 443-2482 -- Register for Al Federico's Oil/Mixed Media Workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Aug. 24-28. Limited to 20 students. Call to register. Registration deadline Aug. 9. Registration $100, with balance due two weeks before workshop. Overall workshop fee $225.
SALUTE TO SISTERHOOD MONTH BRUNCH. The Court of Two Sisters, 613 Royal St., 522-7261 -- Bring one or more of your sisters to the Court of Two Sisters' jazz brunch, and the restaurant will donate the proceeds from one of the diners' meals to the Little Sisters of the Poor Mary Joseph Residence for the Elderly in Algiers. Reservations recommended. Buffet $25. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, through Saturday.
CRESCENT CITY FARMERS MARKET. Crescent City Farmers Market, 200 Broadway St., 861-5898 -- Caf&233; de Mello will host the Green Plate Special. Call for more info. Free and open to the public. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
SAVING WEDNESDAY'S CHILD EXHIBIT. The Williams Research Center, 410 Chartres St., 598-7171 -- Items on display from the Children's Bureau Archive reveal how the organization confronted issues such as child labor, abuse, neglect and prostitution. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, through Oct. 1.
POOLSIDE POTION COCKTAIL TASTING. Martin Wine Cellar, 714 Elmeer Ave., Metairie, 896-7300 -- Enjoy a casual reception tasting of mojitos, frozen hurricanes and more, with artisan cheeses and culinary delights from Martin's chefs. Tickets $17, advance registration required. 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday 28
CRESCENT CITY FARMERS MARKET. Crescent City Farmers Market, between Gov. Nicholls Street and French Market Place, 861-5898 -- Enjoy a cooking demonstration in addition to shopping at the market. Free and open to the public. 11:30 a.m.
NIGHT OF JAZZ VIBRATIONS AND LIBATIONS. Maximo's Italian Grill, 1117 Decatur St., 586-8883 -- New Orleans Arts and Cultural Host Committee presents a dinner benefiting the Louis 'Satchmo' Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp, with performances by Chico Hamilton, Edward 'Kidd' Jordan, Alvin Batiste and others. Call for reservations. Tickets $300 patron level, $200 Grill Room, $100 general admission. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS POETRY FORUM. 257 Bonnabel Blvd., Metairie, 835-8472, 467-9034 -- Weekly workshop on poetry readings. Free admission. 8 p.m.
ARTURO & JOE'S OLDE SCHOOL JAZZ 'N POETRY. Edgelake Bar, 7126 Hayne Blvd., 975-6676 -- Weekly poetry reading with open mic. Cover $3. 8:30 p.m. sign-in, 9 p.m. reading.
Thursday 29
GOLF TOURNAMENT. Eastover Country Club, 5689 Eastover Drive, 245-7347 -- The Louisiana Restaurant Association hosts its 20th annual golf tournament, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the LRA HostPAC and Education Foundation. Call for more info. Registration must be in advance. Registration $1,000 platinum sponsor, $750 foursome and hole sponsorship, $600 foursome, $500 gold sponsor, $150 silver sponsor. 8:30 a.m. registration, 10 a.m. shotgun start.
WINE TASTING. Crescent City Farmers Market, 3700 Orleans Ave., 861-5898 -- Enjoy a tasting of a variety of wines. Free admission. 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
OGDEN AFTER HOURS. Ogden Museum of Southern Art, Stephen Goldring Hall, 925 Camp St., 539-9600 -- Enjoy a live, funk/rock performance by Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes. Tickets $10 nonmember adults; $8 nonmember seniors over 65 and students with ID; $5 UNO students with ID and children ages 5-17; free for children under 5 and members. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
WINE TASTING. Martin Wine Cellar, 714 Elmeer Ave., Metairie, 896-7300 -- Mike Kennedy will host a tasting with eight different wines varying from $18.99 to $120 a bottle. Reservations required. Registration $30. 6:30 p.m.
SIX-COURSE WINE-PAIRING DINNER. La Cote Brasserie, 700 Tchoupitoulas St., 613-2350 -- Enjoy a six-course meal with wines by Trevor Jones Winery and Glazer Companies of Louisiana. Limited seating. Reservations required. Menu $70. 7 p.m.
17 POETS. Gold Mine Saloon, 701 Dauphine St., 586-0745 -- Weekly reading series with open mic format for poets, singers, musicians, storytellers and dancers. Free admission. 8 p.m.
BELLY UP TO BYBLOS. Byblos Restaurant, 3218 Magazine St., 894-1233 -- Enjoy belly dancing from the Sisters of Salome and $3 martinis every Thursday in July. Call for more info. 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
LIP SERVICE. The 4th Edition, 2613 Jasmine St., 669-2999 -- Featuring poetry, visual arts and games, with entertainment by DJ Slab 1. Call for this week's guests. Cover $6.90. 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Open run.
Friday 30
COLUMBIA STREET BLOCK PARTY. Columbia Street, Covington, (985) 892-1873 -- Dine in one of Covington's restaurants or stop at the St. Peter Parish Knights of Columbus food booth on Columbia Street and enjoy a display of classic cars, talent from students of Covington High, and musical entertainment by The Funk Factory. Proceeds from the food booth benefit the local Knights of Columbus. 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
GOSPEL FEST. Beacon Light International Church, 1937 Mirabeau Ave., 436-4253 -- Presented by the Bridge City Correctional Center for Youth, with musical guests Praise N Motion, Bridge City Correctional Center for Youth Boys Chorus, St. Thomas Missionary Baptist Church Choir and more. Proceeds benefit special programs for the youth. Call for more info and ticket venues. Tickets $5 adults, $2 children 13-under. 6:45 p.m.
CHRISTMAS IN JULY FUNDRAISER. The Royal Sonesta, 300 Bourbon St., 598-1700 -- Enjoy a holiday buffet, silent auction and dancing, with honorary chair Lindy Boggs and music by Rebecca Barry and her band Bust. Proceeds benefit Crescent House, UNO scholarship fund for non-traditional female students, Lindy's Place and other projects. Reservations required. Tickets $45. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
LESBIAN CAFE. Fair Grinds Coffeehouse, 3133 Ponce de Leon St., 948-3222 -- Featuring readings from local lesbian poets and writers, followed by an open mic, tea, coffee and conversation. Free admission. 8 p.m.
POZAZZ. True Brew Cafe, 200 Julia St., 524-8441 -- Open mic with rappers, musicians, poets and singers. Sign up in advance. $5 admission. 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Saturday 31
TV SHOW AUDITIONS. New Orleans Centre, John Roberts School, 1400 Poydras St., 299-0900 -- Actors and actresses ages 8-17 can audition for a new, national TV show, Screen Test, which will air on the ABC Family Network. The winners will be sent to Las Vegas for the final auditions, where up to 100 males and females will compete for roles in a film. No experience needed. Call to schedule appointment.
NATIVE GAMES DEMONSTRATION. Wildlife and Fisheries Museum, 303 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 468-7231, ext. 220 -- Rose Behan, curator of the Cannes Brulee Native American Village and of Eastern Cherokee descent, will demonstrate to families the games native children played hundreds of years ago. Tickets $3 adults, $2.50 seniors, $2 children. (Tickets must be purchased at the Rivertown Exhibition Hall, 415 Williams Blvd., Kenner.) 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
PONTCHARTRAIN BEACH PUBLIC MEETINGS. UNO Research & Technology Park, Lindy Boggs Conference Center, Room 236, 565-8115 -- Public meeting held to formulate ideas to improve the Pontchartrain Beach. Free admission. 9 a.m. to noon.
HEALTHY COOKING DEMONSTRATION. Crescent City Farmers Market, 700 Magazine St., 861-5898 -- Get healthy with macrobiotic Chef Phyllis Parun at the Tabasco Chef's Corner. Free and open to the public. 10 a.m.
A TASTE OF ST. BERNARD. Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center, 8245 W. Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, 874-1921 -- An annual food-tasting/fundraising program sponsored by the Archbishop Joseph F. Rummel Council #5747 of the Knights of Columbus to benefit Children's Hospital and St. Bernard Parish Special Education. Featuring more than 50 restaurants. Tickets $15, free for children under 5. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
HOT OFF THE PRESS AUCTION. Renaissance Arts Hotel, Arthur Roger Gallery Project, 730 Tchoupitoulas St., 613-2330 -- Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, an exhibition and an auction of unframed works on paper including prints, monotypes, photographs and mixed-media creations to benefit KIDsmART. Tickets $25. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
SIX FLAGS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES. Six Flags New Orleans, 12301 Lake Forest Blvd., 253-8100 -- Featuring Motown, Temptations-style music from BRW. Call for more info. Free with park admission. 7 p.m.
Sunday 1
BRIDAL EXPO. Lakeside Shopping Center, 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 831-5288 -- Brides and grooms can register for prizes and discounts as they visit displays from 75 local wedding professionals. Free admission. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Monday 2
BEGINNERS WINE COURSE. Martin Wine Cellar, 714 Elmeer Ave., Metairie, 896-7300 -- A five-class wine course hosted by expert Marc Pelletier. Pupils will have the chance to sip six wines per class and learn about various wine-producing regions. Call for more info. Registration $75. Registration deadline 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1. 6:30 p.m. every Monday through Aug. 30.
TIBETAN BUDDHIST TEACHINGS. First Unitarian Church, 2903 Jefferson Ave., 821-8258 -- Weekly workshop on The Three Principle Aspects of the Path, with a DVD presentation by master teacher Lama Yeshe. No pre-registration required. 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. every Monday through Aug. 23. (Classes began July 26.)
volunteer
AUDUBON VOLUNTEER. 212-5194 -- Audubon Nature Institute is looking for new recruits over the age of 18 to work at one of Audubon's facilities. Orientation will be on Aug. 7 at 9 a.m. at the Audubon Zoo. Training begins Aug. 12 (the same day as the deadline). Call 212-5194 for more info.
GIRLS AND BOYS TOWN OF LOUISIANA. 949-9248 -- Volunteer as a mentor for this group and work with at-risk youth on materials, which will target specific reading and writing skills. Teaching experience not necessary. Call 949-9248 or email niuss@girlsandboystown.org.
call for artists
FAMILY HOMECOMING ESSAY CONTEST. (888) 767-4543 -- SOS Children's Villages-USA, dedicated to providing homes for 52,000 abandoned and abused children in 31 countries, is launching its second art and essay contest. Children under 17 can submit an essay before Oct. 1 about their family, why they feel safe at home and what's special about their community. Three national winners will be announced on Oct. 31 on the Web site www.sos-usa.org and will win new computers. Essays must discuss the founding principles of SOS Children's Villages: parents, siblings, home and community. The writer's name, address and phone number must be submitted by email to essays@sos-usa.org. Call (888) 767-4543 for more info.
INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION. www.songwritingcompetition.com -- Sonicbids and International Songwriting Competition have paired up with judges including Macy Gray, Branford Marsalis and Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs for the 2004 songwriting competition. Visit www.songwritingcompetition.com for more info or to submit entries. Enter by Aug. 31 and save on multiple song entries. Fifty winners in 16 categories will receive $100,000 in cash and prizes.
MONEY VISUAL ART SHOW AND COMPETITION. 569-2700 -- Artists, writers and theatrical troupes are invited to submit entries that comment on the theme of money: what it means physically, psychologically, personally and politically. All submissions will be considered for display in an art show Sept. 5 through Sept. 26. Each submission should include three slides of artwork or digital images on a CD. Music should be submitted by cassettes or CDs. All else should be submitted by mail or email. Mail entries to: 3 Ring Circus, 1638 Clio St. Deadline Monday, Aug. 15. $10 entry fee. Call for more info.
road trip
Thursday 29
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. Independence Park Theatre, 7800 Independence Blvd., Baton Rouge, (225) 216-0660 -- Justin Cerne directs Jamie Wax and others in Howard Ashman's classic about a florist's assistant who feeds an insatiable, bloodthirsty plant in exchange for winning over the love of his life. Tickets $17.50 adults, $12.50 groups of 10, students and seniors 55-over. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday.
Saturday 31
MOVIE AUDITIONS. Tara High School, 9002 Whitehall, Ave., Baton Rouge, 482-2229 -- Auditions for thousands of extras are being held for Glory Road. Bring a recent, non-returnable photograph and attend anytime between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at one of the open calls. Call for more info.
Sunday 1
HISTORIC WEAPONS DEMONSTRATION. Port Hudson State Historic Site, 236 Hwy. 61, Jackson, (888) 677-3400 -- Visitors will learn how Civil War weapons were loaded and fired and the differences in the weapons used by the Confederate and Union armies. Tickets $2 adults, free for children 12-under and seniors 62-over. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
ongoing
RED DREAM. The Beau Rivage Theatre, 875 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, Miss., (888) 566-7469 -- Featuring 42 Russian performers including dancers, comedians, trapeze artists, and fly boys. Call for more info. Tickets $19.95 and $24.95. 7:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, through Oct. 30.
TALENT 2004 REGISTRATION. Fox Performance Arts Center, 111 S. Washington St., Marksville (318) 253-8662 -- Register for this talent competition on Aug. 7 at 6:30 p.m. Competitors will be divided into six categories by age, and all contestants will be given four minutes to perform. Call for more info. Registration deadline Aug. 5. Entry fee $40 before Aug. 2, $50 after.
