Bars are closed again and the maximum size of group gatherings has been reduced, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had online while get those COVID cases back under control. Here are some of the events we’re most looking forward to in Virtual New Orleans this week:
FRIDAY, JULY 24
Cardio Blast Live Stream | 10 a.m. | Zoom (link will be sent upon registration) | Free
Join Footprints To Fitness for a free 30 minutes cardio workout in partnership with FitNOLA and the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission. The class is designed for all levels so bring the whole family!
Mental Health vs Mental Illness Discussion | 1 p.m. | Zoom (link sent after registering) | Free
Join Healing Minds NOLA for a discussion with mental health experts Dr. Jeffrey Geller and Dr. Margie Balfour on what constitutes serious mental illness (SMI) and what does not. They’ll discuss the differences between mental health and mental illness, explore where the overlap is, and leave plenty of time for Q&A! Learn more about Dr.s Geller and Balfour here.
DU Culture with Cocktails by POP | 3 p.m. | Instagram Live | Free
Dillard University is chatting with Deniseaa Taylor, founder of Cocktails by POP. She’ll discuss her story, including how she went from her Los Angeles fashion industry life to an entrepreneurial career incorporating hip hop, black history and iconic black films into innovative and fun cocktails.
“Twice Upon a Time” Art Exhibit | 4 p.m. | Facebook Live | Free
Join LeMieux Galleries for a Facebook live event with artists Kris Wenschuh and Leslie Staub. They will discuss and answer any questions about their exhibition “Twice Upon a Time” that is currently on view at the gallery.
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Anders’ Island | 6:30 p.m. | Facebook Live | Tips encouraged
The inimitable Anders Osborne welcomes you to his “desert island” this Friday night. He’ll be playing his favorite isolation tunes, both covers and originals. He also wants you to leave your favorite songs about your favorite desert island / being alone songs in the comments section on his Facebook event page.
Live FitNOLA Class – Zumba | 7 p.m. | Zoom | Free
The New Orleans Recreation Development Commission is leading virtual exercise classes every day of the week (often, both, in the evening and during the day). This Friday at 7 p.m., the class is focused on Zumba, but classes throughout the week are all different. Check out a list of the full offerings here and here to find out when they’ll be leading classes in pilates, yoga, fitness, line dancing, swing, hip hop and much more! To join in on Zoom, use the link above and enter the Meeting ID (334-196-3309) and Password (BeFitNOLA).
Fridays from the Funky Uncle! | 7:30 p.m. | Facebook Live | Tips encouraged via PayPal, GoFundMe or Venmo
“Friday’s From the Funky Uncle!” is a webcast featuring New Orleans Funk Musicians playing live to raise money for all members of the entertainment community in New Orleans who are in need. Check back later in the week to see who’ll be this Friday’s artist!
Love Birthdaympo: A Distanced Dance Party! | 8 p.m. | MixCloud Live | Tips accepted
Love Tempo has been a reliable source of online fun for most of the pandemic, and this show’s going to be extra fun because it’s DJ Paul Oswell’s birthday weekend! He’ll be playing synth, pop and club classics from the 70s, through the 00s, and there’s no video required (though you can put it on if you want). Listen to the show like it’s a radio station, or dance virtually with your closest friends. Whatever you prefer!
SATURDAY, JULY 25
Broadmoor Demands Racial Justice | 9 a.m. | Zoom (link sent after registering) | Free
The Broadmoor Improvement Association is hosting a half-day summit to ground attendees in the lived realities of race in their bodies, facilitate deeper conversation about Broadmoor’s history with racism, and generate an action plan to learn from other neighborhood models about how to create community healing. The summit will last from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Virtual Music Therapy Advocacy Training | 9:30 a.m. | Online (link sent after registering) Free
Join the Louisiana Music Therapy Task Force for a morning of virtual advocacy! They’ll discuss the implications and process for achieving legislative recognition within our state, the work done so far and future plans for Louisiana, and engage participants in a legislative action making contact with state legislators.
Small Business Tax Strategies to Save! | 10 a.m. | Online (link sent after purchasing ticket) | $29.99
Local tax professional Kemberly Washington will lead a 75-minute class on smart tax strategies for your small business. She’ll cover grants and loans available to small business owners, how to pick the right tax entity to save you thousands of dollars, how to minimize your tax liability, how to save taxes by setting up retirement accounts, oft-overlooked tax deductions, and ways to reduce tax penalties.
Porch Fest: The 1930s | 4 p.m. | Facebook Live | Tips encouraged
Anais St. John and Harry Mayronne Sr. are back for another round of Saturday tunes. Last week they performed this music of the 1920s, and this week’s hour-long set is all about their favorite tunes from the 1930s!
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Live Music from SideBar NOLA | Every night | Website | Tips accepted here
SideBar NOLA has live local music streaming for you nearly every night of the week. For a full listing of their performances, check out this page. Tonight the always-fun New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars are performing with Aurora Nealand at 9 p.m.!
The Evening Show at the Royal Frenchman Hotel | 7 p.m. | Facebook Live | Donations encouraged
The Royal Frenchman Hotel is starting a weekly online music series hosted by Jay Anderson. They’re kicking the series off with Josh Paxton — a modern jazz pianist that Dr. John called “F*&%in’ blessed!” He’ll play some tunes and tell you a little bit about his music and what inspires him. Tune in!
Krampus in July — A German Luau at Home Edition | 7 p.m. | Facebook Live | Free, and donations to Feed the Second Line are encouraged
Every event the women and men of Krampus put together is a lot of fun, which is why missing out on Krampus in July would have been a huge bummer. Fortunately you won’t have to, because the Krewe of Krampus is putting together a virtual party for the ages. They’ll help you set up your own German Luau and provide an online dose of live music, belly dancers and more. Check out their website and Facebook event on how you can donate to some great causes and buy locally for Saturday’s set-up!
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SUNDAY, JULY 26
“Race for Profit” — Online Summer Book Club | 11 a.m. | Zoom (register here) | Free
The New Orleans Renters Rights Assembly and Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative are teaming up to host a three-month book club focused on Dr. Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor’s must-read book, “Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership.” This book deconstructs the levels of systemic racism and white supremacy at the root of homeownership within our society.
Japan-NOLA Jazz Performance Series | 1 p.m. | Instagram Live and Facebook Live | Tips encouraged
Haruka Kikuchi has been in New Orleans since 2014 and has made a name for herself as a superstar trombonist. Watch her perform with Yoshitaka “Z2” Tsuji on keyboard and special guest Nobu Ozaki on bass.
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Sunday Swing Livestream from Allways! | 9 p.m. | Facebook Live | Tips encouraged for the band and the bar.
The Allways Lounge & Cabaret’s popular Sunday Swing is back — but this time they’re in livestream form! The evening will be hosted by the New Orleans Swamp Donkeys jazz band. Join in for some stellar music, and maybe even dust off those dancing shoes!
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See? There’s tons going on! If you can afford it, please be sure to tip the band/performers/DJ/teachers/etc. Many of them are battling lost gigs as a result of the pandemic, and are working very hard to keep us entertained during the unique times.
Remember, send me an email if you have an event you’d like me to add for next week’s round-up!
WRITER MATT HAINES LIVES IN NEW ORLEANS. FOLLOW HIM FOR ALL THINGS GOING ON IN NOLA — DURING TIMES OF PANDEMIC AND OTHERWISE — AT MATTHAINESWRITES.COM, AND ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER.
