Upcoming Community Events in the New Orleans Area

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New Orleans Real Estate Investors Association Meeting

Thursday, November 20 from 6:45 - 9 p.m.

The New Orleans Real Estate Investors Association (NOREIA) meets every third Thursday of the month at 2431 Metairie Road. NOREIA assists our members in achieving their real estate investment goals by providing continuing education, motivation, inspiration and opportunity in a positive and mutually-supportive environment. Please visit our website at www.neworleansreia.com to learn more about the association and to get a coupon for free admittance to the meeting.

Obituary Cocktail Birthday Party

Thursday, November 20 from 7 - 9 p.m.

Author and photographer Kerri McCaffety celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the release of her first book, Obituary Cocktail: The Great Saloons of New Orleans. Since its publication in 1998, this beautiful documentary of the city’s historic watering holes has won two national publishing awards, was named Book of the Year by the New Orleans Gulf South Book Sellers Association, and inspired both the Southern Comfort Cocktail Tour and the festival, Tales of the Cocktail. A group of the book’s fans even established an enduring social club known as The Grande and Secret Order of Obituary Cocktail Drinkers. Please join Kerri McCaffety at the Napoleon House to toast the book’s decade.

The same evening, the Napoleon House Bar (500 Chartres Street) will hold a special event to honor Obituary Cocktail from 7 to 9 p.m. To commemorate the 10-year anniversary, master absinthe distiller Ted Breaux has created a cocktail he calls "The Obituary Decade." Breaux’s new concoction features a healthy dose of his own lucid absinthe, and will be launched at the Napoleon House event.

Music, Cake and Poetry

Friday, November 21 at 7 p.m.

The Tekrema Center for the Arts invites you to join us for an evening of heavenly music, fine wines and delectable desserts at our new location at 5640 Burgundy Street in the Lower 9th Ward. For more information, call Tekrema at (504) 247-2612.

Press Street's 24-Hour Draw-a-thon

Saturday, November 22 from 6:30 a.m

Come and join the folks of Press Street, a literary and visual arts collective, for 24 hours of drawing at The Green Room above the Green Project, located at 2831 Marais Street (enter on Press Street). Enjoy free P.J.'s coffee and Hubig's pies. All drawing materials will be provided. The event is free and open to the public and artists of all ages. For a full schedule, go to press-street.com or call (504) 250-7975.

Legal and Health Care Decisions Fair

Saturday, November 22 from 9 a.m - 1 p.m.

You are invited to participate in a Legal and Health Care Decisions Fair at Touro Infirmary, 1401 Foucher Street, in the President's Room, located on the second floor of the hospital. The fair is free and open to the public, and is brought to you by The New Orleans Bar Association's Young Lawyers Section, in connection with the American Bar Association and in partnership with Touro Infirmary, New Orleans Legal Assistance, the New Orleans Pro Bono Project, the GNO Fair Housing Action Center and the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency. For more information, go to www.neworleansbar.org.

Second Annual North RampART Festival

Saturday, November 22 from 11 a.m - 4 p.m.

Showcasing more than 20 local visual artists and food vendors, the second annual North RampART Festival will be held along North Rampart Street in front of Louis Armstrong Park. With live music by the Tremé Brass Band, L'Ivoire Spectacle featuring Seguenon Koné, Sunpie Barnes & the Louisiana Sunspots, the New Orleans Young Traditional Brass Band and Walter "Wolfman" Washington, the festival is free and open to the public. The children's area will feature interactive arts programs and other surprises! For more information, go to www.northrampartmainstreet.org.

Carver High School Class Reunion Picnic

Saturday, November 22 from 11 a.m - 7 p.m.

Carver High School will be holding its 50th Anniversary Class Reunion Picnic at Sampson Park, 3100 Louisa Street. The event will feature the Carver High School Marching Band and other groups, as well as entertainment, food and crafts. For more information please contact Karl Washington at (504) 994-8459. "Rams Forever!"

Louisiana Music Factory In-Store Performance

Saturday, November 22 at 4 p.m.

The Iguanas celebrate the release of their new CD, If You Should Ever Fall on Hard Times, with a free in-store performance at the Louisiana Music Factory at 210 Decatur Street in the French Quarter. For more information, see the Louisiana Music Factory website or call (504) 586-1094.

New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival

Sunday, November 23 at 10:30 a.m.

The 2008 New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival will feature two stages with live music, arts and crafts, a silent auction, a children’s section with games and prizes, a po-boy photo booth, panel discussions covering the history of the po-boy and, of course, the best tasting po-boys in New Orleans. Po-boy panel discussions will begin at 10:30 a.m., and eight of New Orleans' best bands will perform live between noon and 6 p.m., including The Rebirth Brass Band, The Iguanas, Walter Washington, and Amanda Shaw & the Cute Guys.

The Lunch Box in the Musicians Village

Wednesday, November 26 from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Join Liese's Living Room and the Village Copper Thieves for a weekly picnic with free live music in the 1800 block of Bartholomew Street (three blocks north of Claiborne Avenue). Bring your lunch and hang out in the heart of the Musicians Village with neighbors and volunteers who are continuing to build the village.

St. Andrew's Day NOLA

Saturday, November 29 at 4 p.m.

This year St. Andrew’s Day comes to New Orleans. You are invited to celebrate New Orleans' first-ever Andrzejki (Polish for St. Andrew’s Day Festival) at Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits, 600 Poland Avenue. Festivities begin at 4 p.m. and will continue until after midnight. Brought to you by NolaBulls, the same people who orchestrated the Running of the Bulls in the French Quarter, the festival features lots of activities for all ages to enjoy.

For only $5, guests will be treated to face-painting, future-telling, a scavenger hunt and much, much more. The Rolling Elvi will be in attendance to offer advice, and the Big Easy Roller Girls will be on hand to inform and entertain. All Scots and Poles, Cajuns and Creoles will join together at 6 p.m. for the bagpipe-led procession to the miraculous image of St. Andrew. The faithful will be welcome to leave offerings before returning to Bacchanal’s spacious garden. The parade is followed by more continental traditions, such as a kielbasa-eating contest and mud-wrestling matches! Gourmet food will be prepared by Chef Stephen Stryjewski of Cochon Restaurant, and beer offered alongside wine, whiskey, scotch, and of course Sobieski Vodka. Na zdrowie!

For more information, visit www.nolabulls.com. Nola Bulls, LLC was founded in 2007 and is a provider and promoter of entertainment and cultural events in the New Orleans area.

"The Last Days of Judas Iscariot"

Tuesday, December 2 through Sunday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7 at 2 p.m.

The LSU Department of Theatre presents "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot" at the Hatcher Hall Theatre on Fieldhouse Drive on the LSU Campus in Baton Rouge. The play was written by Stephen Adly Guirgis and is directed by George Judy and Scott Woltz. Tickets are $6.00 and can only be purchased at the door. For further information, call the LSU Department of Theatre office at (225) 578-4174 or visit the LSU website at www.theatre.lsu.edu.

Set in a corner of downtown Purgatory, a darkly comic, imagined world between Heaven and Hell, "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot" is a thought-provoking courtroom fantasy in which an appeal is launched to clear the name of Christ’s most notorious disciple. In a time-bending trial marked by raw and beautiful contemporary language, we meet a cast of flamboyantly street-savvy characters, both famous and infamous. Sigmund Freud, Mother Teresa, and Satan, among others, take the stand to prosecute or defend one of history’s most infamous betrayals and, in the process, take us to the heart of our own questions about spirit, love, and despair.

First Annual New Orleans Songwriter’s Festival

Friday, December 5 and Saturday, December 6

The inaugural New Orleans Songwriter’s Festival will be held at various locations around New Orleans, with proceeds to benefit The New Orleans Musicians Clinic. Anyone interested in participating in the event, and businesses interested in sponsorship should send and email to songbird5678. We need more help to make this a great event! For details, see www.nosongfest.com, or go to The New Orleans Songwriting Festival's MySpace page.

Friday, December 5

8 p.m. - 12 a.m.: Massive Songwriter's Open Mic
The Blue Nile, 532 Frenchmen Street
Come one, come all to showcase your songs to music industry professionals. All genres welcome! Hosted by Barbara Cloyd of Nashville's Bluebird Cafe.
10 p.m.: Special Guest
The Blue Nile, 532 Frenchmen Street

Saturday, December 6

3 - 5 p.m.: Pro Writers Round
The Blue Nile, 532 Frenchmen Street
Features Ralph Murphy, Susan Cowsill, Jim McCormick and Mary Gauthier. Come meet the pros in person!
8 - 10:30 p.m.: Headliner Concert
House of Blues, 225 Decatur Street
Featuring Jimmy Webb, Cassandra Wilson, Zachary Richard and more to come! See you there, and live the music!!

City of New Orleans Recycling Drop-Off Event

Saturday, December 6 from 9 a.m. - noon

The City of New Orleans holds monthly recycling drop-off events on both sides of the Mississippi River. The location on the West Bank is the public library at General DeGaulle and Holiday Drive. On the East Bank, you can go to North Claiborne Avenue at St. Peter Street, in the neutral ground. They don't accept glass or household hazardous waste containers. For more information, please see the City of New Orleans' website.

Great Artists Collective Hosts a "Thank You New Orleans" Party

Saturday, December 6 from 6 - 9 p.m.

Great Artist Collective, 815 Royal Street, is hosting a party to celebrate New Orleans' support of our Artist Collective Gallery. There will food and wine, and all the artists will be on hand to greet and meet the public. We are home to more than 50 local artists, including glass, furniture, painting, metal, pottery, one-of-a-kind clothing and jewelry by Earring Lady. We invite you to dine with us, have a glass of wine, and find that perfect imaginative Christmas gift or the piece of art that will make your home "New and Exciting" all over again. Having you share our Two-Year Anniversary Party is our way of saying "Thank you New Orleans!" for being our patrons. Come and enjoy!

DesCours

Wednesday, December 10 through Sunday, December 14

The American Institute of Architects, New Orleans chapter will host the second annual DesCours event, bringing five days of architecture, art, design and music to New Orleans, from December 10th to 14th. This year’s event will include 16 installations by internationally recognized architects and artists located within hidden spaces of the French Quarter and Central Business District including courtyards, lobbies and walkways.

Architects and artists include: AEDS (Ammar Eloueini), Jacob Brilhart + Frank Stevens, the collaborative architecture factory (the-caf), Evelina Domnitch + Dmitry Gelfand, Graffiti Research Lab, IwamotoScott Architecture, Khoury Levit Fong (Rodolphe el-Khoury + Robert Levit), kmostudio, Allison Kudla, Marty McElveen, The Mutable Line Collaborative (Marianne Desmarais, Michelle Gay, Liz Sargent), Nano, Peter Tolkin Projects, TZ.CO. (Thaddeus Zarse + Clare Olsen), and more. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit www.descours.us.

Black Nativity

Friday, December 12 and Saturday, December 13 at 7 p.m.

The Tekrema Center for the Arts will present a first in New Orleans. Tekrema Dance Theater with special guests presents a staged reading of Langston Hughes’ "Black Nativity" at the Tekrema Center, 5640 Burgundy Street in the Lower 9th Ward. The afternoon will hold a holiday decoration workshop for children. For more information, call Tekrema Center at (504) 247-2612.

Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival

Saturday, December 13 from 9:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation presents the Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival, at 1225 North Rampart Street in the Faubourg Tremé. Featured performers include The Tremé Brass Band, The Heritage School of Music Allstars and John Boutté in a special set with Paul Sanchez, Leroy Jones and Todd Duke. Plus, there will be plenty of gumbo, with cooking demonstrations by Leah Chase and Alfred Singleton. Food vendors include Li’l Dizzy’s, Dookie Chase, Olivier’s Creole Restaurant and Dunbar’s Creole Cooking, so bring your appetite! The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.jazzandheritage.org.

Jazz & Heritage Holiday Bazaar

Saturday, December 13 from 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Sunday, December 14 from 12 - 6 p.m.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation presents a holiday sale of the finest in official Jazz Fest collectibles: t-shirts, posters and more, plus fine locally-produced hand-made crafts. The sale will take place at the Jazz & Heritage Gallery, 1205 North Rampart Street. For more information, visit www.jazzandheritage.org.

Esplanade Holiday Fest

Saturday, December 13 from 4 - 8 p.m.

The Faubourg St. John Merchant’s Association (FSJMA) is thrilled to announce its annual Esplanade Holiday Fest to be held on the 3100 block of Ponce de Leon Street between Esplanade Avenue and North Lopez Street. Fun, food, drink, and dancing in the street! Don’t worry about a babysitter, bring the kids! Local artists will display and sell their art for early shoppers and collectors. Music is provided by Spaceheaters and Creole String Beans. Spaceheaters is a Southern-style R&B/soul and funk band. Creole String Beans has been jamming it up for years in the Crescent City with a brand of swamp pop that inspires dancers of all ages and skill levels.

A children’s activity table will be provided with materials for coloring and drawing. Santa will arrive on a horse drawn carriage between 6 and 7 p.m. to throw candy canes. This event has grown in popularity and numbers every year. Everyone is welcome. Participants include DeBlanc’s Pharmacy, Asian Pacific Café, Café Degas, Terranova’s Supermarket, Daniel’s on the Bayou, La Vita, Canseco’s Grocery, Swirl Wines, Lux Spa, Pal’s Lounge, and Fair Grinds Coffeehouse.

Dutch Alley Artist Co-op Presents “Draw, Design and Donate”

Through Sunday, January 18, 2009

The Dutch Alley Artist Co-op, in conjunction with www.NewOrleansThanksYou.com, hosts a satellite exhibition during the Prospect.1 New Orleans Art Biennial. For the exhibit, titled “Draw, Design and Donate,” participating co-op members have designed works of art incorporating New Orleans images and expressing thank to all who have contributed to the recovery and rebuilding of New Orleans and the Gulf South. The Dutch Alley Artist Co-op is located at 912 North Peters Street, and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, please call (504) 412-2990.

Dutch Alley Artist Co-op members creating works for the exhibitions are: Jeni Genter, Tammy Schwall, Wanda Wiggins, Tracy Thomson, Kim Parker, Dan Fuller, Tammy Gaulter, Susan Charles, Nevada Barr, Michael, Joy Gauss, Kelly Magee, Carol Flannery, Sabine Chadborn, Val Wozniak, Linda Lesperance, Ric Rolston, Sandra Mann, Helen Reese, Linda Sampson and Gerald Haessig.

Proceeds benefit A River of Hope, a project of Headwaters LLC, that has sent more than 400 volunteers on many trips to New Orleans to provide re-building and mental health referral services. For more than three years, the organization has worked primarily in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward and in Saint Bernard Parish. More information is available at www.ariverofhope.com.

The Upper 9th Ward Farmers Market / Bywater Market

Every Saturday

The market takes place every Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. inside the Holy Angel Convent’s parking lot at 3500 St. Claude Avenue. For more information or to participate as a food vendor, call Margery at (504) 343-3505 or the market office at (504) 482-5722. Good health begins with good food. The market offers free Yoga classes from noon to 1 p.m. inside the Chapel. “We are excited to be the oldest of the ‘new’ markets to open after Katrina,” said the market manager. “We are here to serve the Marigny/Bywater Community along with the surrounding areas,” Margery added.

Stitch and Bitch Knitting Circle

Every Sunday

The Stitch and Bitch Knitting Circle meets every Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. at La Divina Café e Gelateria, 621 Saint Peter Street, between Royal and Chartres Streets. The meeting is open to all, experienced knitters and novices alike. Come join us, have some coffee and make some new friends!

Call for Nominations for Youth Advisory Board

Operation REACH is seeking energetic middle and high school youth from the greater New Orleans area who are looking to make a difference in the community. The Gulfsouth Youth Action Fund is a youth philanthropy initiative that engages youth as leaders and empowers them with the resources to make strategic investments in their peers and communities. The Gulfsouth Youth Action Fund is a program of Operation REACH, Inc., a local community education resource that engages, empowers, and inspires children, youth and families through informal learning. To nominate a young person in your community, email awilson@thegyac.org or call (504) 529-1922 today.

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