Another wave of COVID has much of the country on lockdown, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had online until we’re pandemic-free Here are some of the events we’re most looking forward to in Virtual New Orleans this week:
MONDAY, DECEMBER 28
Gardening Masterclass on Lettuce | Noon | Zoom (link sent after registering) | Free
From seed to harvest, this masterclass will cover all of the essentials you need to know to grow lettuces all year round. Check here for a full listing of what the class will cover.
Learn How to Become a Digital Marketing Professional | 5:30 p.m. | Zoom (link sent after registering) | Free
Are you interested in learning how you can jump-start a career in digital marketing? Attend an info session to hear about the Loyola University Digital Marketing Bootcamp. This event is open to anyone who is looking for a career change, to enhance understanding or to gain new skills in this growing arena, and you can learn more here.
Crayton’s Leadership & Scholarly Services (CLASS) for Teens | 6 p.m. | Zoom | Free
Teenagers can join this hour-long youth leadership class hosted by the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission. There are also classes available on Tuesday and Wednesday. To join in on Zoom, use the link above and enter the Meeting ID (334-196-3309) and Password (BeFitNOLA). Learn more here.
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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. | Facebook Live | Tips 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!
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29
The Broad Theater Hosts Virtual Cinema | All Week | Kino Marque and Vimeo | Purchase tickets (see below)
Broad Theater is open for business, but if you’re not ready to step into a theater just yet, they’re partnering with Kino Marquee Vimeo, who are bringing you a rotating selection of movies directly to your home. There are multiple ways to stream the movie (which can be purchased at any time and watched for five days after the purchase). This week there are three selections and you can click on the following links to find out how to purchase tickets for Oliver Sacks: His Own Life, Jazz on a Summer’s Day, and Call Me Brother.
Virtual Winter Holiday Art Camp for Grades 2 – 5 | 9:30 a.m. | Zoom (link sent after registering) | $50 for each session (or $180 for all four sessions)
Schools may be out for kids, but learning and art-making continues! Ogden Museum’s Winter Holiday Art Camp participants will bring their imaginations to life with creative and engaging activities. Kids will craft unique charcoal portraits, miniature gemstone sculptures, cut-out paintings, multimedia collages and unique seasonal craft objects inspired by current exhibits and the jubilee of the season. Each three hour session will also include a 15-30 minute playful movement exercise, ranging from yoga or calisthenics to a dance party or even clowning basics! Projects are fun, inventive and new every day. Learn more here!
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Urban South Virtual Live Trivia | 7:15 p.m. | Zoom (link sent after registering) | Free
Challenge Entertainment hosts trivia every other Tuesday. Participating is limited to 20 teams, with each team receiving a maximum of five logins. Have your team captain direct message Challenge Entertainment on Facebook and they’ll reply with the Zoom link that can be shared with your teammates. The link goes live at 7:15 and the game begins at 7:30 with prizes that include gift cards and plenty of Urban South beer!
NOLA Resistance on Tiptinas.TV | 8 p.m. | Tipitinas.TV | Tips encouraged
Tipitinas is excited to host this live stream performance by the band NOLA Resistance! The performance is free, but don’t forget to tip the musicians!
New Orleans Pelicans vs Phoenix Suns | 9 p.m. | Fox Sports; TNT; 100.3 FM
Our Pels are off to Phoenix to take on the Suns. Let’s geaux Pels!
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30
JingleRing Live with Santa! | From November through January 4 | Online (link sent after purchasing ticket) | $24.95
Here’s a super-safe and fun way for your kids to meet Santa, Mrs. Claus, Black Santa and Black Mrs. Claus from the comfort of your own home! Spots are booking up, so you should reserve one fast. You can learn more here and here. Spots are available every day this week, from Monday through the weekend.
Live Kids Cooking Classes | 4 p.m. | Zoom and Facebook Live | Free
Every other Wednesday at 4 p.m., kids 7 – 11 years old — or adults young at heart — are invited to cook along with Miss Jennie from the Southern Food & Beverage Museum. Classes are an hour long and this week they’re making sugar cookies with natural fruit frosting! You can find the recipe here.
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Live Stream at Buffa’s | 6 p.m. | Website | Tips encouraged
Buffa’s Lounge has streamed a steady dose of live music from their backroom. Join Leslie Cooper and Harry Mayronne with Doyle Cooper for a jazz set this Wednesday evening!
Live at Carnaval Lounge | 6 p.m. | Facebook Live | Tips encouraged
The Jamie Lynn Vessels Band is playing a New Years Eve-Eve show — Jamie’s last of 2020 — live streamed from Carnaval Lounge on St. Claude Avenue!
New Orleans Virtual Kwanzaa | 7 p.m. | YouTube Live and Facebook Live | Free
The New Orleans Kwanzaa Coalition and the New Orleans Public Library African American Resource Collection are presenting a virtual local Kwanzaa celebration each night at 7 p.m. from December 26 through January 1st. Each night will feature some incredible guests from the community including poets, artists, dance companies and more! You can learn more about these special events here.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31
Family Stargazing Party | 7 p.m. | Zoom (link sent after making $5 minimum donation) | $5 minimum donation
The INFINITY Science Center is hosting a virtual New Years Eve cosmic start party. Once you register for the event and make a minimum $5 donation, you’ll be sent a link to the Zoom event. Note: you must make your donation by December 30th, so don’t wait!
New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma Thunder | 7 p.m. | Fox Sports; 100.3 FM
In their second game of the week, the Pelicans are swinging through Oklahoma in a clash against the Thunder.
Festing in Place: Happy New Year from New Orleans | 7 p.m. | Website and 90.7 FM | Donations encouraged
Join WWOZ in ringing in the New Year New Orleans style! They’ll help you celebrate safely by featuring some of the best live performances from years past. On New Year’s Eve, transport to intimate venue performances with some of the biggest names from New Orleans music including Aaron Neville, Irma Thomas, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Henry Butler, and more. Then they’ll be welcoming in 2021 with a three-day “Fest in Place” featuring classic and recent performances from New Orleans music festivals, clubs and WWOZ studio sets!
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New Years Eve Record Release Party | 8 p.m. | Facebook Live | Free
Help ring in the New Year and celebrate the release of David Treadway’s new record titled, “I’m Really Strange.” The album comes from a combination of influences including pop, rock, funk, jazz and music from the ‘80s, 90s and ‘00s. You can learn more here!
NYE in NOLA | 9 p.m. | Nugs.TV (link sent after purchasing ticket) | $29.99
This New Year’s Eve, Crystal Hot Sauce and Tipitina’s will present “NYE in NOLA,” a multi-artist and multi-venue livestream hosted by actor/entertainer John Goodman. This citywide party is a joint-production being broadcast from Tipitina’s, Chickie Wah Wah, d.b.a., The Howlin’ Wolf, and The Maple Leaf. Each venue will present a new artist every hour, welcoming the start of 2021 in each time zone as the night rolls on. There will be performances by Galactic, Rebirth Brass Band, Dumpstaphunk, Anders Osborne, and Samantha Fish, with Special Guests Ani Di Franco, George Porter, Jr., Kermit Ruffins, and Big Sam!
FRIDAY, JANUARY 1
Quarantunes Virtual Concert | 2 p.m. | Facebook Live | Tips encouraged
Every Friday at 2 PM, the New Orleans Jazz Museum hosts virtual concerts with an exciting mix of talented Jazz musicians, all performing from their homes. The free online series, broadcasting to music fans around the world, highlights the rich culture and history of New Orleans.
Virtual Happy Hour: Book Club Edition | 5 p.m. | Facebook Live | Free
Do you want to read more in the new year? Have you ever thought about joining or starting a book club? If so then this is the Happy Hour for you! During this interactive conversation Garden District Book Shop will talk all things book clubs with Angelique White-Miller, founder of NOLA Expressions Book Club, and Caroline Bergeron, founder of In Bed With Books.
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Fridays from the Funky Uncle! | 7 p.m. | Twitch, YouTube Live and 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. This week they’re featuring Cristian Duque, Erica Falls, and Kirk Joseph’s Backyard Groove with Big Chief Gerald Paige!
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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.
