New Orleans is slowly opening back up, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had online until we’re 100%! Here are some of the events we’re most looking forward to in Virtual New Orleans this week:
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9
31st New Orleans Film Festival | All Week | Online | Price varies
The renowned New Orleans Film Festival is back for its 31st season. In order to adjust to the times we live in, all movies are being screened virtually, or in outdoor, open-air venues. The festival began Friday, November 6, and ends on the 22nd, so there’s plenty of great films and experiences for cinephiles to enjoy! Browse the catalog of movies/events you can access virtually. Some are free, others are approximately $10, or you can buy the unlimited pass for $160. After you purchase a movie, it is available for you to begin watching within the next 16 days. Click here for a full overview of everything the film festival has to offer!
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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. | Instagram Live and 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, NOVEMBER 10
Real World Science (For Educators) | Noon | Online | Free
Learn how to use stories from World War II to teach your students the science they need to know at the elementary and middle school level. Put best practices of teaching to use—5E model, formative assessment, and literacy strategies—with the Real World Science curriculum. Presented by the National World War II Museum.
Michael Watson Live at the New Orleans Jazz Museum | 5 p.m. | Facebook Live | Tips encouraged
The New Orleans Jazz Museum has a different musician or band performing every Tuesday. This week they’re featuring Michael Watson for an hour-long set. Don’t miss it!
Laura Cayouette in Conversation with Henry Griffin | 6 p.m. | Zoom (link sent after registration) | Free
The Second Edition of Know Small Parts has been updated to reflect changes in technology and the industry since the book’s original publishing. Rewritten during the COVID-19 pandemic, new chapters include a comprehensive look at self-taping and a chapter on #MeToo issues covering what to do if you witness an incident or experience harassment. You might know author Laura Cayouette from her roles in movies and TV shows such as Django Unchained, Kill Bill, Friends and many more! Listen in (and ask questions) as she discusses her book with Garden District Book Shop!
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For the Culture: Jeremy Charles with The Message| 7 p.m. | Facebook Live and Instagram Live | Tips encouraged
House of Blues has been hosting a series of New Orleans-based musicians, and this Tuesday they’re presenting a two hour-long set with the always excellent James Charles with The Message.
Clown Town TV: Season 2, Episode 7 | 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! This week you’re getting a special Election Day recap episode! Tune in via the Facebook page for Season 2, Episode 7 as well as to watch earlier episodes.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11
Live FitNOLA Class – Morning Motivation | Noon | Zoom | Free
The New Orleans Recreation Development Commission is leading virtual exercise classes every day of the week (often two or three times a day). This Wednesday morning, this 45-minute exercise class is focused on motivating you for a week full of fitness, 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, pilates, 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)
Art & Zen: Online Meditation Series | Noon | Zoom (link sent after registering) | 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 and you can learn more here. This week’s online meditation is inspired by Herb Roe’s work, Bramble Briar.
November Book Club at Garden District Book Shop | 6 p.m. | Zoom (link sent after emailing) | Free (Book can be purchased here)
Join the Garden District Book Shop’s monthly book club as they discuss Circe, by Madeline Miller. You can learn more here!
For the Culture with the Jamal Batiste Band | 7 p.m. | Facebook Live and Instagram Live | Tips encouraged
House of Blues has been hosting a series of New Orleans-based musicians, and this Wednesday they’re presenting a two hour-long set with the Jamal Batiste Band! They’re a renowned crew of music masters playing percussion-charged rock, funk, soul, gospel, hip hop and RnB around the world.
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Live FitNOLA Class – Pilates | 7 p.m. | Zoom | Free
The New Orleans Recreation Development Commission is leading virtual exercise classes every day of the week (often two or three times a day). This Wednesday evening, the 45-minute exercise 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, pilates, 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)
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12
On Deck of Patrol Torpedo Boat 305 (For Students and Educators) | Noon | Online (link sent after registration)| Free
Ahoy there, shipmates! Join museum educators for the ride of a lifetime on PT Boat 305! This patrol-torpedo boat served the US Navy in European waters from 1944 to the end of the war. Students will learn the history of this WWII era boat and the science behind how it works. Curators from The National WWII Museum will show students around the boat, discuss the restoration of PT-305 and even take them on the boat for a spin on Lake Pontchartrain. Students will be able to ask questions about WWII history, the boat, and museum careers. So climb aboard and register for this living history opportunity! Appropriate for grades 4–12 and ages 8 and up.
Licensing Music for Film and TV Workshop | 2 p.m. | Zoom (link sent after emailing) | Free
Join The Ella Project, the Guild of Music Supervisors, the New Orleans Jazz Museum, OffBeat Media for their latest virtual workshop on how to license music for film and television. Featuring the dynamic panel of musician Jon Cleary, music supervisor Joel C High, The Ella Project Co-Founder Ashlye Keaton and composer Jay Weigel — you can learn more about the event here.
Wheels of Courage: How Paralyzed Veterans from World War II Invented Wheelchair Sports, Fough for Disability, and Inspired a Nation | 6 p.m. | Zoom (link sent after registration) | Free
Join the National World War II Museum for an inspiring and enlightening conversation with author David Davis about an unforgettable tale of defying the odds and finding hope out of the carnage of World War II.
Jockomo Second Thursday Lecture | 6 p.m. | Zoom (link sent after registering or emailing) | Free
“Jockomo: The Native Roots of Mardi Gras Indians” celebrates the transcendent experience of Mardi Gras, encompassing both ancient and current traditions of New Orleans. The Mardi Gras Indians are a renowned and beloved fixture of New Orleans public culture. Yet very little is known about the indigenous roots of their cultural practices. For the first time, this book explores the Native American ceremonial traditions that influenced the development of the Mardi Gras Indian cultural system. Author Shane Lief reveals the complex story of exchanges that have taken place over the past three centuries, generating new ways of singing and speaking, with many languages mixing as people’s lives overlapped. Learn more here.
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.
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For the Culture with Natalie Cris | 7 p.m. | Facebook Live and Instagram Live | Tips encouraged
The For the Culture series continues with a performance by singer, songwriter Natalie Cris!
Sunpie & the Louisiana Sunspots | 7:30 p.m. | Facebook Live | Tips encouraged
Zydeco Thursday returns to Rock n Bowl in Mid-City. Bowling is open, but fortunately you can still watch the show’s stream on Facebook Live! This week you won’t want to miss Sunpie & the Louisiana Sunspots.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13
Cardio Blast Live Stream | 10 a.m. | Zoom (link will be sent upon registration) | Free
Join Footprints To Fitness for a free 30-minute 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!
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. This free online series, broadcasting to music fans around the world, highlights the rich culture and history of New Orleans.
Virtual Concert: HispaNOLA Live! | 3 p.m. | Facebook Live | Free
Welcome to HispaNola Live!, a weekly live music show presented by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy. Every week you’ll get the best in live music entertainment all while highlighting some of the city’s most influential Latin culture bearers. This concert features Los Nortenos del Sur!
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Virtual Happy Hour at Garden District Book Shop | 5 p.m. | Facebook Live and YouTube 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 conversation is with authors C. Jarrett Dieterle and Wayne Curtis about adult beverages and some of the crazy and hilarious in America that govern their consumption. You can purchase their book, Give me Liberty and Give me a Drink! 65 Cocktails to Protest America’s Most Outlandish Alcohol Laws here.
Fridays from the Funky Uncle! | 7 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 here later in the week to see who’s performing this Friday!
Live From Your Living Room: The Victory Six and the Victory Belles | 7 p.m. | LiveStream and Facebook Live | Donations encouraged
Join the National World War II Museum for a virtual concert celebrating all of our nation’s veterans. For 20 years, the Museum has preserved and shared the legacy of the brave men and women who fought for our freedom in the war that changed the world — a story that is more relevant today than ever. Your donation to the Museum’s COVID-19 Response Fund will allow them to continue telling these stories for generations to come.
Clay Cormier & the Highway Boys | 8 p.m. | Facebook Live | Tips encouraged
Mid-City Rock n Bowl has supplied tons of live streamed music throughout COVID. They’re open again for bowling, but they’re still hooking us up with virtual opportunities to enjoy live music. Tonight they’ve got a two-hour set with Clay Cormier & the Highway Boys!
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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.
