family
Friday 31
KID'S NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY. Louisiana Children's Museum, 420 Julia St., 523-1357, ext. 204; www.lcm.org -- The museum hosts a family New Year's Eve party with a noon countdown to 2005. Crafts, face painting, music by the Imagination Movers, balloon launch, party favors and a toast to the New Year. Blood drive available for visitors 17 and older. Advanced tickets $2 per person for LCM members, $8 per person. All day-of-event tickets $10, depending on availability. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
NOON YEAR'S EVE. Audubon Zoo, 6500 Magazine St., 581-4629; www.auduboninstitute.org -- First-ever party features giveaways by sponsor Radio Disney, apple cider toast at noon, and live music by Amanda Shaw and Triple Image. Zoo admission $11 adults, $7 seniors and $6 children ages 2-12. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday 3
CHILDREN'S CHORUS. Grace Lutheran Church, 5800 Canal Blvd., 488-5973 -- Auditions for New Orleans Children's Chorus and Youth Chorale for 2004-2005 season, for singers ages 5-18. Call for appointment; auditions held Monday-Friday.
ongoing
READ OFF FINES. All Jefferson Parish libraries, 838-1100; www.Jefferson.lib.la.us -- Library patrons 18-under can reduce and eliminate library fines by reading. Every 15 minutes spent reading in library earns $2 credit. Older children read silently, younger children read to adults, toddlers listen to stories. Ends Thursday.
special events
Tuesday 28
WWE SMACKDOWN. Kiefer UNO Lakefront Arena, 522-5555; www.wwe.com -- Professional wrestling with card that includes champion JBL among many others. Tickets $21.50-$41.50. 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday 29
NEW ORLEANS HORNETS. New Orleans Arena, 525-HOOP; www.hornets.com -- Hornets host the Phoenix Suns. Tickets $10-$218.50. 7 p.m.
Friday 31
SUPERSTAR OZ WEEKEND. Oz, 800 Bourbon St., 593-9491; www.ozneworleans.com -- Weekend party begins with DJ Barry Harris, diva Kim English, MC Bianca del Rio, champagne toasts and more New Year's Eve, plus DJs and other attractions Saturday-Sunday.
LATIN NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY. Coyoacan Cocina Mexicana, 1432 St. Charles Ave., 525-9996 -- Five-course meal of Mexican cuisine plus complimentary champagne. Live Latin jazz with Patrice Fisher & Arpa. Cost $75 per person. Call for reservations and seating times.
NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION. Minacapelli's Dinner Playhouse, 1540 E. Lindberg Drive, Slidell, (985) 788-2729 -- Six-course dinner followed by dancing with entertainment by Starr Webb. Cost $50 per person; cash bar. 8 p.m.
REX ROOM NEW YEAR'S PARTY. Rex Room, 401 Bourbon St., 581-6665 -- New Year's Eve party featuring catered buffet, open bar and balcony access. Tickets $75. Call for reservations. 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
HELLO 2005. Club 360, World Trade Center top floor, 2 Canal St., 585-8900 -- Party features DJs, catered food including smoked turkey and raw oysters, live music, view of fireworks and more. General admission tickets $80, VIP tickets $130, include open bar. 9 p.m.
POP-A-CORK. City Park, Pavilion of the Two Sisters, 483-9376; www.friendsofcitypark.com -- Party features five-course gourmet buffet, open bar, live music, dancing, party favors and champagne and dessert at midnight. $100 per person. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
STARRY NIGHT GALA. New Orleans City Club, 1525 St. Charles St., 524-3203 -- Overture to the Cultural Season presents its New Year's Eve black tie gala with music by Celebration. Call for reservations. Tickets $125 per person. 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
STEAMBOAT GALA. Steamboat Natchez, boards at Toulouse Street Wharf, 586-8777; www.NewOrleansSteamboat.com -- River cruise features holiday hors d'oeuvres, food stations, open bar, champagne toast, party favors and live music by Ivy. Reservations required; private rooms available. $155 per person. Boarding 9:30 a.m., departs 12:30 a.m.
SYMPHONY IN THE SKY. Jackson Brewery, 600 Decatur St., 630-4604 -- Annual baby drop and fireworks show. Free. Midnight.
Saturday 1
YALE WHIFFFENPOOFS. Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Ave., 670-2520; www.trinityc.net -- Vocal ensemble from Yale University perform traditional and original a cappella works. Free admission. 7:30 p.m.
KAMBEN. Mahalia Jackson Theatre of Performing Arts, Armstrong Park, 606-8241/296-1626 -- Allahbatu Traditional African Dance and Drum Company present Kwanzaa concert depicting life in traditional African village through dance, song, drumming and vignettes. Tickets $10 adults, $5 children and students, children under 6 free. 7 p.m.
Sunday 2
TRINITY ARTIST SERIES. Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Ave., 670-2520; www.trinityc.net -- Chicago pianist Paul Schrage performs works by Bach, Liszt, Copland plus jazz, folk and Motown. Free admission. 5 p.m.
ongoing
CELEBRATION IN THE OAKS. City Park, 483-9415; www.neworleanscitypark.com -- Annual holiday attraction with miles of lighted displays, arts and crafts, food, children's activities, special exhibits and more. Admission for driving tour $12 per vehicle; walking tour $5 per person with children ages three and under free. 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. nightly through Jan. 2.
volunteer
AUDUBON NATURE INSTITUTE. 212-5377 or 378-4115; www.auduboninstitute.org -- Volunteers needed at Audubon Zoo, Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species and Audubon Louisiana Nature Center. Many positions available, from behind the scenes to educating visitors. Training sessions begin in January.
road trip
Thursday 30
THE COMMODORES. Grand Casino, Biloxi, Miss., 265 Beach Blvd., (800) 354-2450; www.ticketmaster.com/venue/221706/ -- See the band that brought us 'Brick House' and 'Three Times a Lady.' Tickets $29.95-$34.95. 8 p.m.
Friday 31
ROY CARRIER'S FAMILY FESTIVAL. Offshore Lounge, 227 Perry Drive, Lawtell, (337) 939-9879 or (202) 486-0821; http://users.erols.com/ghayman/promoters.page.2.htm -- Roy Carrier's Seventh Annual Carrier Family Festival of Zydeco Music featuring Roy Carrier & the Night Rockers, Keith Frank, Dikki Du & the Zydeco Crew, Goldman Thibodeaux, Zydeco Force and more. Tickets $10 a day or $25 for all three days. Friday-Sunday.
PEACH DROP CELEBRATION. Underground Atlanta, 50 Upper Alabama St., Atlanta, Ga., (404) 523-0507; http://www.peachdrop.com/home.html or www.underground-atlanta.com -- New Year's Eve celebration featuring an 800-pound peach, family entertainment and music by Sister Hazel, Edwin McCain and others. Free admission. Noon to 4 a.m.
OAK ALLEY NEW YEAR'S DINNER. Oak Alley Plantation Restaurant and Inn, 3645 Hwy 18, Vacherie, (225) 265-2151 or (800) 442-5539 -- Two seatings for multiple-course candlelight dinners prepared by Chef Tracie Chiquet at the historic Oak Alley Plantation. The first seating is a six-course meal for $85 per person including dinner wines, champagne, tax and gratuity. The second seating is an eight-course meal for $100 per person including the same plus party favors. Reservations required. First 5:30 p.m., second 9:30 p.m.
KOOL & THE GANG. Beau Rivage Resort and Casino, Beau Rivage Theatre, 875 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, Miss., (228) 386-7111; ticketmaster.com -- Kool & the Gang perform on New Year's Eve. Tickets $39.95-$59.95. 8 p.m.
THE NEVILLE BROTHERS. Beau Rivage Resort and Casino, Beau Rivage Theatre, 875 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, Miss., (228) 386-7111; www.ticketmaster.com -- The Neville Brothers perform on New Year's Eve. Tickets $59.95, includes party favors and champagne. 11:30 p.m. Saturday 1 RONNIE MILSAP. Grand Casino, Biloxi, Miss., 265 Beach Blvd., (800) 354-2450; www.ticketmaster.com -- Ronnie Milsap in concert. Tickets $9.95-$14.95. 8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.
NEW YEAR'S AT CARTER PLANTATION. 23475 Carter Trace, Springfield, (225) 294-7555; www.carterplantation.com/about.htm -- New Year's Eve party featuring music by the Boogie Men, open premium bar, Revillion hors d'oeuvres, champagne toast and breakfast buffet. Limited reserved seating for first 300 people. Tickets $100 plus tax. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
theater
CHRISTMAS ON BROADWAY. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Beau Rivage Theatre, Biloxi, Miss., (888) 567-6667; www.beaurivage.com -- Christmas show featuring chorus girls, singers and dancers performing the holiday classics and Broadway's holiday musicals. Tickets $12.95 general admission, $7.95 for kids 12 and under. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday.
DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Grand Casino, Biloxi Grand Theatre, Biloxi, Miss., 885-2000; www.jpas.org -- Jefferson Performing Arts Society presents the Broadway hit based on the animated feature. Kenneth Beck directs Stuart Metcalf and Savannah Wise. Tickets $19.95-$24.95. 8 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday.
galleries
NORTH BEACH INTERIORS. 104 North Beach Blvd., Bay St. Louis, Miss., (228) 463-1170 -- A Diverse Selection of Work, paintings by Anthony DiFatta, through Jan. 1, 2005.
museums
MISSISSIPPI MUSEUM OF ART. 201 E. Pascagoula St., Jackson, Miss., (866) VIEW-ART; www.msmuseumart.org -- Mississippi Watercolor Society Grand National Watercolor Exhibition, 60 works from throughout the nation, through Jan. 9, 2005.
MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON. 1001 Bissonnet St., Houston, Texas, (713) 639-7300; www.mfah.org -- Royal Portraits: Manwar painting from the royal collection of the Mehrangarh Museum in Jodhpur, India, through Jan. 2, 2005; Kenneth Noland: The Nature of Color, through March 6, 2005.
