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:
MONDAY, AUGUST 3
Natasha Trethewey – Memorial Drive | 5 p.m. | Zoom (link sent after ordering book) | $27.99
Join Octavia Books for a very special early evening online with Natasha Trethewey, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and former Poet Laureate of the United States, featuring her new book, Memorial Drive — a chillingly personal and exquisitely wrought memoir of a daughter reckoning with the brutal murder of her mother at the hands of her former stepfather, and the moving, intimate story of a poet coming into her own in the wake of a tragedy. She will appear in conversation with University of New Orleans English Professor Randy Bates.
Live Music from SideBar NOLA | Throughout the evening | Website | Donations encouraged
SideBar NOLA has live local music streaming for you seven nights a week (and oftentimes more than once per night). For a full listing of their performances, check out this page.
Jokes and Poems with Mike Birbiglia and J. Hope Stein | 6 p.m. | Zoom (link sent after purchasing book) | Purchase hardcopy or audio book (with Garden District Book Shop as partner store)
Join Garden District Book Club for an exciting private Zoom event with bestselling author and award-winning comedian Mike Birbiglia, along with poet J. Hope Stein! They’ll be discussing their book, The New One: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad — full of laugh-out-loud funny observations about parenting and life in general. This is going to be a great conversation!
View this post on Instagram
The Eric Merchant Trio at Buffa’s | 6 p.m. | Website | Tips encouraged
Buffa’s Lounge has streamed a steady dose of live music from their backroom during quarantine. The Eric Merchant Trio is on stage this week. Merchant is an accomplished jazz guitarist who teaches at both UNO and the University of Southern Mississippi.
Live with Helen Gillet | 7 p.m. | YouTube, Instagram Live and Facebook Live | Donations encouraged via PayPal, Venmo or Bandcamp
Helen Gillet and her cello are one of the most popular acts in town. While the effects of this pandemic linger, you’re able to hear her every Monday from the comfort of your own couch. Tune in for her weekly set that alternates between light, beautiful and wild.
Robin Barnes Presents #SongBirdatHome | 7 p.m. | Instagram Live and Facebook Live | Donations encouraged
Join Robin Barnes, the Songbird of New Orleans and her husband Pat Casey every Monday night for a one-hour set as they bring a concert right from their living room to yours!
Zumba Live Stream | 7 p.m. | Zoom (link sent after registering) | Free
The New Orleans Recreation Development Commission has partnered with Footprints to Fitness to offer a free 60-minute zumba class on Zoom! The class is led by a dance instructor and is cardio-focused, but appropriate for all levels. Register here and you’ll receive a link to the Zoom class.
National Day of Action: Safe Schools, Healthy Schools, Equitable Schools Panel Discussion | 7 p.m. | Zoom | Free
Louisiana Educators United is inviting you to participate in a national day of action to demand safe, healthy and equitable schools. This panel of educators, parents, and community advocates will discuss: demands for safe learning during the COVID-19 pandemic; how we can return to schools that are safe for our children teachers and communities; and equitable learning; bridging the technology and achievement gap. They’ll also open up the forum for questions and comments. Don’t miss this two-hour session!
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4
Live FitNOLA Class – Pilates | 10 a.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 Tuesday morning, the class is focused on pilates, 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 Zumba, yoga, fitness, line dancing, swing, hip hop, senior fitness and much more! To join in on Zoom, use the link above and enter the Meeting ID (334-196-3309) and Password (BeFitNOLA).
NOCHI Together | 5 p.m. | Zoom (link sent upon registration) | $5 – $20 donation
Twice a week, the New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI) hosts a cooking class led by a local chef and focusing on a specific cuisine. This Tuesday, Chef Emma Sanchez of Bacchanal will help viewers prepare a delicious menu that includes Amberjack, Tuna or Salmon Conserva with Horseradish Vinaigrette Croccantini. Once you register, you’ll receive an ingredient list and a recipe so you can prepare yourself to cook along with your chefs. Learn more here.
Treme-Lafitte Brass Band Live from the New Orleans Jazz Museum Balcony | 5 p.m. | Facebook Live | Tips encouraged via PayPal or Venmo
The New Orleans Jazz Museum has a different musician or band on their balcony every week, and this week features one of the best: local legends, the Treme-Lafitte Brass Band!
Virtual Walking with Whiskey | 5 p.m. | Online (link sent after registering) | $56
Join The Sazerac House’s house distiller for an in-depth journey through the whiskey-making process and learn how to make a signature Sazerac Rye cocktail. Sessions are approximately 30 minutes and include a virtual tour and cocktail idemo. Be sure to register here 24-hours before the class to guarantee a spot.
View this post on Instagram
Julie Pennell – Louisiana Lucky Virtual Book Launch | 6 p.m. | Zoom (link sent after registering) | Free
Julie Pennell in conversation with Kristy Woodson Harvey discussing her book, Louisiana Lucky, about three sisters who win a huge lottery prize and learn what it truly means to be lucky. The event will also feature a raffle for a Café du Monde gift basket — so maybe you, too, will get lucky!
Level 1 – Absolute Beginner Adult Tap | 7 p.m. | Zoom (link will be sent upon registering) | 1 class for $15; 6 classes for $80; 12 classes for $150
If you’ve never taken a tap dance class, or have had less than six months of classes, this is the class for you. Absolute Beginner Tap is an introductory level tap class designed for adult students looking to enjoy an engaging rhythmic workout in a fun and positive environment! Each week you will receive a 45-minute live virtual dance class, as well as access to weekly supplemental practice videos. Check out the left side of this page for the full listing of adult classes offered by HEIDITAPS.
For the Culture with Troy Sawyer and The Elementz | 7 p.m. | Facebook Live and Instagram Live | Tips encouraged
House of Blues has been hosting a twice-weekly series of New Orleans-based musicians, and this Tuesday they’re presenting an hour-long set featuring Troy Sawyer and The Elementz — featuring a medley of sound infused with funk, rock, soul, jazz and latin influence.
Clown Town TV Premier Party: Episode 18 | 8 p.m. | Facebook Live | Tips and donations accepted on PayPal and Venmo
Clown Town features a rotating cast of queer NOLA Clowns as well as special guests from afar! It’s a little bit sideshow, a little bit vaudeville and plenty of New Orleans charm! Tune in via the Facebook page for Episode 18 as well as to watch earlier episodes.
Louis Armstrong Birthday Jam with New Orleans Jazz Legends | 8 p.m. | Facebook Live | Free
Celebrate Satchmo’s birthday as the New Orleans Jazz Revival presents a two-hour set with local legends Wendell Brunious, Matt Lemmler, Steve Masakowski, Jamil Sharif
Goat Notes Present: Guitar is Dead Live Stream | 10 p.m. | Facebook Live or Twitch | Tips to go to the New Orleans Safety and Freedom Fund
The Goat is presenting a weekly streaming series of intimate events featuring their favorite local bands. This week they’re presenting Guitar is Dead — a band performing art rock and experimental jazz with flavorings of punk and psychedelia. It’s going to be a great late-night show!
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5
Art & Zen: Online Meditation Series | Noon | Zoom (link coming soon, check here) | Free, but a $5 donation is encouraged if you are able
Every Wednesday at noon, join the Ogden Museum for a live seated 30-minute mindfulness meditation inspired by a work of Southern art. This online meditation program is led by Ogden Educator and yoga and meditation instructor, Mikhayla Harrell! All experience levels welcome.
Virtual Happy Hour at Garden District Book Shop | 5 p.m. | Facebook Live | Free
Each week during the pandemic, the Garden District Book Shop has hosted a virtual happy hour featuring New Orleans authors and literary lovers. This week’s author is Nathaniel Rich, who has written three novels and the nonfiction book, Losing Earth: A Recent History. Rich is also writer-at-large for the New York Times Magazine; his essays on literature appear regularly in the Atlantic, Harper’s, and the New York Review of Books. Swing by the virtual happy hour for great insight, conversation and the opportunity to have your questions answered!
Virtual Educator Open House | 4:30 p.m. | Online (link sent upon registering) | Free
The Pontchartrain Conservancy is hosting a free virtual event featuring 12 local organizations that will cover many of the fun and innovative virtual programs available to educations in Southeast Louisiana for the upcoming school year!
View this post on Instagram
Virtual Tasting with Jungle Bird | 5 p.m. | Online (link sent after registering) | $45
Join The Sazerac House to learn how to make a Jungle Bird — a cocktail created by the Kuala Lumpur Hilton for their 1973 grand opening. The hotel’s bar was called The Aviary, and the cocktail was probably named in honor of the exotic birds kept in a netted area beside the bar. The session is approximately 45 minutes, and participants will need to register and set up curbside pick-up of the ingredients needed to prepare this historic (and delicious) drink!
Leslie Cooper and Harry Mayronne with Doyle Cooper at Buffa’s | 6:30 p.m. | Website | Tips encouraged
Buffa’s Lounge has streamed a steady dose of live music from their backroom. Every Wednesday you can watch Leslie Cooper and Harry Mayronne performing great traditional jazz music with some surprises thrown in.
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 Wednesday 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).
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6
Economic Summit | 8:30 a.m. | Website or Facebook Live | Free
Topics during this 60-minute panel discussion will focus on tourism and hospitality, trade and the economy and economic development. Panelists are Brandy Christian, chief executive officer of the Port of New Orleans; Greg Feirn, CEO of LCMC Health; Michael Hecht, president and chief executive officer of GNO Inc.; and Jerry Reyes, general manager of The Westin New Orleans Canal Place.
Hey Y’all, Art Talk! | 2 p.m. | Zoom (link sent after registering) | Free
Join the Ogden Museum for a series of engaging conversations about Southern art and artists! Museum Educator, Sara Echaniz, will lead a 30-minute in-depth participatory discussion about an artwork from Ogden Museum’s permanent collection and provide background information about the artist and artwork. This week, the class will focus on Southern photography and take an in-depth look at Civil Rights era photography by Ernest Withers.
Simple Tips for a Virtual Start: Lessons Learned from YouthForce NOLA | 2 p.m. | Online (link sent after registering) | Free
This summer YouthForce Nola conducted a virtual internship program for over 100 high school aged young people. Join them as they share what they’ve learned from switching from live to virtual instruction and gain some simple tips to help you virtualize your classrooms.
NOCHI Together | 5 p.m. | Zoom (link sent upon registration) | $5 – $20 donation
Twice a week, the New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI) hosts a cooking class led by a local or regional chef and focusing on a specific cuisine. This Thursday, Chef Jeremy Conner of Lafayette’s James Beard Award-nominated Spoonbill will help viewers prepare a delicious menu that you won’t want to miss. Once you register, you’ll receive an ingredient list and a recipe so you can prepare yourself to cook along with your chefs. Learn more here.
Father Ron’s 20 Minute Virtual Concert | 5 p.m. | Facebook Live | Free
Father Ron and Friends plays a short, 20-minutes set every Thursday. Tune in for some great folk music centered around a different theme each week.
Cannonball Wine Virtual Tasting | 6 p.m. | Zoom (link sent after registering) | $90
Martin Wine Cellar will be reviewing some of Cannonball Wine Company’s wines from their ELEVEN series. You can purchase four wines from that series for $90 prior to the event by stopping by the store or calling ahead (for pick-up or delivery).
View this post on Instagram
Edward Ball in Conversation with Dr. Lydia Pelot-Hobbs | 6 p.m. | Zoom (link sent after registering) | Free
Garden District Book Shop, Gulf South Writer in the Woods and New Orleans Center for the Gulf South presents National Book Award-winner, Edward Ball. He’ll be discussing his recently released book, Life of a Klansman — the story of a New Orleanian carpenter who joins the Ku Klux Klans in the years after the Civil War.
Small Business Virtual Town Hall | 6 p.m. | Online (link sent after registering) | Free
The Small Business Virtual Town Hall (SBVTH) provides an open forum to entrepreneurs, where they can connect with other professionals and learn about local resources. Each SBVTH will include a discussion based on topics pertaining to business development.
New Orleans Renters Rights Chat | 6 p.m. | Facebook Live or Phone Call | Free
Every Thursday, the New Orleans Renters Rights Assembly is hosting a call to educate New Orleanians about what’s going on with rental and mortgage policies, as well as organizing to create a more equitable world. You can call 504-517-5470 to listen in (Meeting ID: 299411967), or watch the livestream on Facebook (link above). There’ll also be opportunities to ask questions.
Fitness Fusion Class | 6:30 p.m. | Zoom link will be provided once you register | Register here and first class is free
Like a gumbo pot, health and wellness company Footprints To Fitness created their master Fitness Fusion class to provide something for everyone… a true fusion of kickass workout with a whole lot of New Orleans culture. More than just a workout, it’s an experience that combines yoga, pilates, strength training, weight training, cardio, and barre ALL IN ONE CLASS! This class will be live streamed on Zoom. Register on their website to receive a custom link to join. The first class is free & registration is also available on ClassPass. Footprints to Fitness have Zoom classes offered every day of the week, so give their schedule a look.
For the Culture with Water Seed | 7 p.m. | Facebook Live and Instagram Live | Tips encouraged
House of Blues has been hosting a twice-weekly series of New Orleans-based musicians, and this Tuesday they’re presenting an hour-long set featuring Water Seed — a band that mixes funk, soul and pop with an edgy style and progressive consciousness.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7
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!
Alternatives to Incarceration: Ending the Criminalization of Serious Mental Illness | 1 p.m. | Zoom (link sent after registering) | Free
The over-representation of people living with serious mental illnesses within the criminal justice system is a problem that has become impossible to ignore. However, what is harder to grasp is what to do about it. No two people understand the complexity of these issues better than the two guests — Judge Steven Leifman and John Snook — joining this conversation led by co-hosts Janet Hays and Eric Smith. There’ll be time for you to ask your questions, and you can read about the guests here.
View this post on Instagram
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!
———————————
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.
