Celebration in the Oaks Preview Party

Celebration in the Oaks returns to City Park. It's just a walking tour this year, but it does feature a two-story tall Mr. Bingle (a distant cousin to the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man).

The preview party is Wednesday, December 7, from 7-10pm at the Botanical Garden. Food and Drink from over 50 restaurants and bars, 10 different bands, and a whole lot more. Tickets are $50 per person at the door or in advance Monday through Friday from 1-3pm at the City Park Tennis Center (cash or check only).

Visit the City Park website for more info.

Don't Tell Anybody About This

Okay, I hesistate blogifying* this, but I figured y'all would appreciate knowing. Just don't go spreading it around too much...

Vaughans, this Thursday (12/1):
Rebirth Brass Band, 9pm
Kermit Ruffins, 10pm

This is going to be big.

*If "Blogify" is not yet a word, it should be.

Sights from the Woldenberg Park concert

Just what the city needed-- a free concert at Woldenberg Park yesterday (11/26). Jon Cleary, Kermit Ruffins, Jon Boutte, Walter Wolfman, and a whole lot of folks on the stage and in the crowd.

Scott Aiges with Harry Shearer

Kermit Ruffins toots his own horn

Jon Cleary ablaze at the keys

Uncle Lionel dancing away

Support our Libraries

New Orleans Community sells Christmas trees to help keep library open

The New Orleans community of Algiers has reactivated "Algiers Friends of the Library" in an effort to sustain services at the Cita Dennis Hubbell Public Library. The Hubbell Public Library is one of three libraries now open in the entire city of New Orleans.

The Friends community group will host a "Holiday Fest" Thanksgiving weekend to help raise money for the library. The Fest will be help Saturday, November 26th from 9AM to 4PM. The event will be held at the Cita Dennis Hubbell Branch Library in historic Algiers Point, 725 Pelican Street at Belleville.

The Fest will include an Art Market with works by the local ARTINA artists, a baked goods sale, and, of course, Christmas trees and wreaths. There will be music from 10AM to 1PM, and Santa will be on hand for photos with the kids.

The trees are fresh cut Fraser Fir and White Pine, ranging between 4 feet and 9 feet tall. There will also be handmade pine and fir wreaths, pints of Algiers Honey and fresh cut Algiers kumquats.

A portion of the sales from the event will go to the library.

Volunteers and Fest Participants should contact Kathy Ellery at 392-6908.

For more information, contact: Janet Giselson at 368-1989

Crescent City Farmers Market Returns Tuesday

Just in time for Thanksgiving cooking (or warming up a tv dinner as the case may be), the Tuesday Market at the Crescent City Farmers Market returns this week at the parking lot at Uptown Square.

Swing on by from 9a-1p and check out the fruits, veggies, breads, seafood, baked goods and more from area farmers, fishers, and bakers.

Support local merchants. Check out http://www.crescentcityfarmersmarket.org/ for more info and an updated list of what's tasty.

Audubon Zoo is back this Friday!

Here's some good news from the Audubon Zoo straight from their site at auduboninstitute.org. Come out and make faces at the monkeys.

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Audubon Zoo will reopen on November 26! To welcome everyone home, the Zoo will be open to Audubon Nature Institute members only on Friday, November 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Then, for the weekend of November 26 and 27, the Zoo will be free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Following the Thanksgiving weekend, Audubon Zoo will be open on the weekends only from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and regular admission rates will apply.
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The Ultimate Thanksgiving Weekend Party

Mark your calendars for this Saturday...

Putumayo World Music and Southern Comfort are throwing a great party on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. It's "Down By The Riverside," a free concert of Thanksgiving, Saturday, November 26, from 1-5pm at Woldenberg Park.

Celebrate the music and culture of New Orleans with Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers, Jon Cleary with Walter "Wolfman" Washington, John Boutte, Wanda Rouzan, and other special guests.

It gets underway with the Hot 8 Brass Band leading a second line beginning at 10am from Sweet Lorraine's (1931 St. Claude) and going down Esplanade, Decatur, and Canal to the River.

For more info check out www.neworleansmusiciansrelief.net.

Oh Yes, This Will be a Fun Thanksgiving Eve

This from the Times-Picayune and Nola.com...

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On Wednesday, November 23, at Tipitinas, World Leader Pretend will present "Thanksgiving: The Musical," a theatrical rock hybrid. The production, says drummer Arthur Mintz, is "very loosely based" on the narrative of the original Thanksgiving. "It's Pilgrims, Indians. . .and Fred LeBlanc. It will be hilarious."

LeBlanc, of Cowboy Mouth fame, is among the scheduled special guests. Bryan Spitzfaden, a theater veteran who occasionally performs with the Bally Who, is the designated narrator. Mintz's wife, singer-songwriter Theresa Andersson, is Pocahontas.

Expect covers spanning Black Sabbath to "Rent," augmented by new, Thanksgiving-inspired instrumentals. Also look for costumes, a stage set, puppetry and other surprises. "It's the first part of a trilogy," Mintz said. "Next year we'll add lasers."

Thanksgiving: The Musical at 9pm, Ellipsis at 11pm.

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It looks like Tips is starting their live music schedule sooner than expected. Their website shows Rebirth on Friday 12/2, Kermit Ruffins on Saturday 12/3, and the Radiatiors with Johnny Sketch for two nights on 12/9&10. It also shows Cajun Fais Do Dos (okay, really help me out-- what's the plural of fais do do?) on Sundays throughout.

Bywater Art Market Returns this Saturday

Saturday, November 19th, 2005
Bywater Art Market Returns 9am – 4pm
Markey Park Piety and Royal Streets, New Orleans
Free Open to the Public
Original affordable art
All artwork is original – no prints or reproductions
All by local and regional artists
Musical entertainment by Gayla LeJeune
http://www.bywaterartmarket.com/bam/index.htm

Gretna Heritage Fest This Weekend

I guess the Gretna folks are letting people cross the bridge now.

http://www.gretnafest.com/ this weekend, 11/18-20.

If nothing else, it's a good excuse to go to Kim Son.

A Big Weekend at the Ogden

One of the many shining spots in the rebirth of the city has been the reopening of the Ogden Museum. Their Thursday Ogden After Hours series has been the place to be, and this weekend the museum has a number of exhibition openings, a book release party, a filmmaking lecture, and a live performance by New Orleans Blues master Chris Thomas King!

Check it out, and sign up for a membership or renew your existing one.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17
OGDEN AFTER HOURS, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Chris Thomas King
New Orleans blues artist Chris Thomas King is a triple threat-- musician, actor and business entrepreneur-- but if you look at all his talents, he is really much more than that. As a musician he plays electric guitar, acoustic guitar, steel guitar, bass guitar, dobro, piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B-3 organ, drums and he sings! In the studio he is a producer, an arranger and an engineer. As an actor he has made his mark in films and TV. And as business entrepreneur he has spearheaded a record label, based in his home town of New Orleans, reflecting his own artistic sensibilities as well as signing artists with a compatible point of view. One of most recognized and successful blues artists of his generation, the Ogden Museum is happy to have him live in the Museum atrium this Thursday night.

Also Thursday evening ... the Museum welcomes the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, as the organization celebrates the release of a special issue of Cultural Vistas.
The magazine, produced in the immediate aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, will feature related essays by Anne Rice, Richard Ford and Wynton Marsalis, with photographs by David Rae Morris, Cheryl Gerber and Louis Sahuc. The new issue will also feature of history of Louisiana's Tabasco industry, the New Orleans coffee trade, and "No Man's Land," the lawless territory in western Louisiana.

Ogden After Hours is open to the public on Thursday evenings from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., and is free to Ogden Museum members and $5 for UNO students, faculty and staff. Regular admission applies to the general public.

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19
MISSING, MIGRATIONS .. COMING BACK
Book Release and Signing of Phillip Collier's Missing New Orleans and the Unveiling of Four New Exhibitions
6:00 - 9:00 p.m., complimentary admission

The Museum celebrates the release of Phillip Collier's Missing New Orleans, created in collaboration with Collier, and with the support of the Goldring Family Foundation. Originally slated for publication on Wednesday, August 31, 2005, the original book remains intact as a pictorial history of the city, offering images and stories of places, entities and events that were once a vital part of the fabric of this city, but because of natural disaster or man's decisions are no longer in existence. Nothing in the original book has been changed. What has been added, however, is an epilogue that hopes to record in words and photographs what has been rendered missing since Monday, August 29, and the devastation from Hurricane Katrina. The photographs were taken by David Rae Morris, a photographer in the Ogden Museum Collection, in the immediate aftermath of the storm.

Join us for the official release of this very special publication, with text by J. Richard Gruber, the Museum's Director, and local writers Jim Rapier and Mary Beth Romig, and a foreword by Pete Fountain. The publication's team will be signing books throughout the evening.

Special exhibitions unveiled Saturday evening include:

Missing New Orleans
An exhibition of images, artifacts and memorabilia from throughout New Orleans history, in conjunction with the newly-released publication of the same name

The Trail of Tears: Benny Andrews' Migrant Series
The national premiere of the second in the series by Andrews, honoring the migration of Native Americans from their Southern homeland to regions across the country

Do You Know What It Means? ... The Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Featuring the photography of David Rae Morris, taken in the days and weeks following the storm, including the Mississippi Gulf Coast

Coming Back: Artists Respond
Showcasing specially commissioned works by more than 40 artists from the Museum Collection, originally created for the Museum's gala O WHAT A NIGHT's auction, the works celebrate the Museum's trademark "O" logo or a relief from the historic H.H. Richardson-designed Taylor Library

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
A Conversation with filmmaker Harold Sylvestre and composer Jay Weigel
Sylvestre has created the film "NOLA," based on the threat to the city of New Orleans by Hurricane Ivan in September, 2004. Sylvestre joins Weigel, director of the Contemporary Arts Center, and composer of the film's score, to discuss the process of film-making, and the ever present topic of New Orleans and hurricanes as they relate to the film. Excerpts from "NOLA" will be shown.

Hard Drive at Checkpoint Charlie's Friday

Since this was the first email sent to rebirthcafe@yahoo.com, I figured I'd give these guys a plug. I haven't heard them and metal is generally not my cup o' tea, but hey, I appreciated the email!

The 80s metal band Hard Drive is playing a free show along with special guest Flood Stage this Friday (11/18) at Checkpoint Charlie's, 501 Esplanade. It's the band's first gig back in the city, and they have shows coming up in Gretna, Metairie, and Houma.

Check out their site at http://harddriveweb.topcities.com/default.htm

More from Vaughans

As previously blogged, Vaughans is back with live music (but still no Kermit!) with shows on a number of nights. This Wednesday, 11/16, Washboard Chaz takes the stage at 9pm, Friday night, 11/18, it's The Hotwings at 9:30pm, then Saturday night at 10pm, check out Corey Henry and the Young Fellas.

They're at 4229 Dauphine Street, but nobody ever knows how to give directions there. Call 504-339-4659 for more info.

A Sunday Stroll on Royal Street

This info courtesy of Quarter Crawl

This Sunday (11/13), a number of Royal Street shops and galleries are having special events including free snacks, refreshments, and special deals. Take a stroll down Royal Street (the weather should be nice), and support local merchants!

• Hotel Monteleone- 214 Royal Street- free hors d'oeuvres at the Carousel Bar from 3-6pm and free champagne with the buffet at Le Cafe.

• Erzulie's Magical Boutique- 807 Royal- free refreshments and wine all day

• Rab-Dab Clothing & Gifts- 918 Royal- free wine while you shop

• New Orleans Crab Bag- 606 Royal- free wine and cheese

• Tommy's Flowers- 933 Royal- free wine

• California Drawstring/Southern Cotton Co.- 812-814 Royal- enjoy a Mango Margarita and take 20% off everything in the store.

• Historic New Orleans Collection- 533 Royal- food, music, and a special presentation by noted expert John Magill on the history of floods in New Orleans, 2-4pm

• Ginja Jar- 611 Royal- "sweets for the sweet"

• Bergen Putman Gallery- 730 Royal- free wine & cheese

• Galleria Veronese- 619 Royal- wine and finger sandwiches

• Wellington & Company- 505 Royal- free Mimosas and 20% discount for active-duty military, police, and veterans

Veterans' Day

Okay, this doesn't fall within the guidelines of "what's hip and happening in the city," but as a public service, I would like to point out that today, as you may know, is Veterans' Day. It is not "Veteran's Day," as I have seen it listed in many places including this morning on CNN Headline News. I would assume that the day is designed to honor all Veterans, not just one.

Just a public service... Of course, I think today used to be called Armistice Day, but that's a whole 'nother blog. We now resume our regularly unscheduled posts.

The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra Comes Home

Must be Sweeps Week... The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra led by Irvin Mayfield returns home next week for a number of special events, all free, culminating in the premiere of a new composition, "All The Saints." (Does that include Mel Gray and John Fourcade?)

Tuesday and Wednesday (11/15 & 11/16) from 5:30-7:30pm, NOJO holds a happy hour jam session at the Wyndham Hotel, in the 11th Floor Lobby Lounge.

Wednesday at 4pm, there will be a second-line parade departing from St. Louis Cemetery at Basin and St. Louis then going to North Rampart, Toulouse, Decatur, and Iberville, ending up at the Wyndham.

Thursday at 7pm, the concert premieres at the Christ Church Cathedral, 2919 St Charles Avenue. The event will be filmed for PBS. Following the event, NOJO will head to Snug Harbor at 10:30pm where they will jump in and jam along with the Ricky Sebastian Trio. This definitely will be worth checking out if only to watch Ricky and Irvin try to share the same stage for the first time since Ricky left Los Hombres Calientes. Should be interesting...

For more info on All The Saints, check out www.thenojo.com/saints.html

Ellis Marsalis returns to Snug Harbor

George of Snug Harbor stayed throughout the storm and waited patiently for power to return to the Marigny. The club was one of the first to re-open in the city and October 14th was a very good day for the neighborhood. Tomorrow night (Friday, 11/11), Snug's musical patriarch Ellis Marsalis returns to the club, performing on piano with Jason Stewart on bass and Herman LeBeaux on drums. Check them out beginning at 9pm. (Photo by Jeff Strout)

The Buzz on Restaurant Openings

Originally, I was going to put info on notable restaurant openings here in this blog-o-rama, but Tom Fitzmorris' site has pretty much everything you need including an updated list of what's open around the area. Check it out at nomenu.com. Good to know the Food Show is back on the air, too.

A Surreal Moment on WWOZ

Kind of a surreal moment on WWOZ just now...

They're playing a repeat of a Saturday afternoon Brazilian show recorded sometime in the Spring. During the show, they played a promo detailing the membership levels for their Spring Fund Drive (which was in last March, but I guess it's never a bad time to donate to 'OZ). Then, the DJ came on and said she was ____ (I forgot her name), and that she was "sitting in for Katrina." Hmmm....

Maybe it's one of those you had to be there moments, but I found it rather interesting.

Rock 'n' Bowl and Vaughans are back!

Another good sign of life in New Orleans... Rock N Bowl is back with live music-- not sure if the bowling is back, but we'll keep you posted.

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Mid City Rock N Bowl opens with Eddie Bo on Thursday, November 10 beginning at 7:30 pm. Friday, Nov 11th, Johnny Jay and The Hitmen and on Saturday, Benny Grunch and the Bunch, also at 7:30. No cover for these shows
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Also, I thought this was a misprint when I saw it in the listings last weekend, but Vaughans is back open in the Bywater. Storyville Stompers play tonight, and hopefully Kermit will resume his Thursday night residency soon. The club didn't get flooded and it looked okay when I drove by there a few weeks ago, so I'm glad that they're back in action.

Savvy Gourmet parties every Saturday night

Our good friends at the Savvy Gourmet have been holding weekly repatriation parties every Saturday night from 7pm until at 4519 Magazine St between Jena and Cadiz. Check it out if for no other reason than they came up with the word "devacuation."

Ogden After Hours Thursday featuring Anders Osborne!

One of my favorite things to do on a Thursday is back. Two weeks ago, the Ogden Museum reopened with James Andrews playing to a crowd of over 600 people! The museum features "Ogden After Hours" every Thursday night with music, wine, and beer for museum attendees. For more info, or to become a member of the museum (highly recommended...), check out http://www.ogdenmuseum.org.

OGDEN AFTER HOURS - Anders Osborne
Thursday, November 10, 2005
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Professional singer-songwriter Anders Osborne, Grammy-nominee and Big Easy Award winner, brings his musical talents once again to the atrium of Stephen Goldring Hall. Osborne’s songs have been recorded by artists like Keb’ Mo’, Tab Benoit, Double Trouble, Dr John, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and many others who have garnered Anders’ Grammy Awards for songwriting and producing. His song "Watch the Wind Blow By," recorded by Tim McGraw, was No. 1 on the country-music charts, selling over 3 million albums.

UPDATE! (11/10, 11:41pm) This was a rockin' night at the Ogden-- a huge crowd of over 300 people. Chris Thomas King plays next Thursday night (11/17), then they take a break for Thanksgiving, then Theresa Andersson is on board for 12/1.

A great weekend coming up at the Maple Leaf!

Very very cool shows coming up this weekend at the Maple Leaf...

This Saturday night (11/12), Theresa Andersson makes her return to the New Orleans club scene (she played a set at Voodoo Fest a couple of weeks ago). It's been a long time since she's played in New Orleans, so it should be a lot of fun. She's also playing the after party for the Crescent City Fall Classic Road Race at Tad Gormley Stadium in City Park (where a number of volunteers spent last weekend cleaning), so this should be a good party.

Sunday night (11/13), Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes return to the Maple Leaf. Come check them out, and hope they play the cover of Bill Withers' "Lovely Day."

Veterans' Day D-Day Museum Event

Here's something good that's happening this Friday at the D-Day Museum. The museum got hit pretty hard by looters during the storm (they got in through the PJ's next door, took some computers and raided the gift shop), so it's good to know that they're getting back in action.

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Celebrate the American Spirit at the National D-Day Museum

Veterans Day Block Party
Friday, November 11, 10:00am-3:00pm
945 Magazine Street(corner of Higgins Drive)

Join us in honoring military heroes past and present with a special salute to the troops who secured our city - Active, Reserve, National Guard, Law Enforcement, Fire Fighters and Recovery Workers

A Free Community Event; Presentation of Colors; Music Food and Refreshments; Military Vehicles; Artillery; Military Re-enactors; Hands-on Family Activities; Prize Drawings for Museum memberships and merchandise

Where? The Museum building is not yet open, so join the festivities in front on Andrew Higgins Drive and in our parking areas.

When? November 11, 2005, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
www.ddaymuseum.org