While residents are doing their best to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, 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:
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11
Publishing Louisiana: LSU Press as Champion of Louisiana Culture | 11 a.m. | Zoom (link sent after registering) | Free
Named the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanity’s 2020 Champion of Culture, LSU Press has published nearly 3,500 titles since 1935. Join 64 Parishes Editor in Chief Erin Greenwald and LSU Press Director Alisa Plant for this free program on the press’s role in expanding public understanding of and access to high-quality scholarship in the fields of southern and Louisiana history, fiction, literary studies, southern foodways, and more. This event is part of LEH’s series highlighting the 2020 Humanities Awards winners. The previous two events are available for their Facebook page.
Quarantunes Virtual Concert | 2 p.m. | Facebook Live | Tips encouraged
Every Friday at 2 p.m., 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. This week features Marina Orchestra — a New Orleans-based Caribbean Rock fusion project helmed by singer songwriter Justin Powers. Much like other prominent rockers of yore like David Byrne of Talking Heads and Paul Simon, Marina Orchestra cleverly weaves between genres creating a rollicking and groovy style of rock that is distinctly original.
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 the Shop is joined by author Farrah Rochon — who has written more than 36 romance novels! Her newest, The Boyfriend Project hit shelves last June. You are invited to ask questions and join in on the conversation as they talk books, romance, Louisiana, and more!
Golden Hour: Panorama Jazz Band “Staying Home for the Holidays” | 6:30 p.m. | Facebook Live | Tips encouraged
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park presents the Panorama Jazz Band. New Orleans clarinetist Ben Schenck organized a combo with the original concept to perform New Orleans Traditional Jazz and add an occasional number from the Caribbean or Eastern Europe. Before long, however, the musicians in the band gradually became more fascinated by Jewish klezmer, the Creole beguines of Martinique and folk music from the Balkans and Latin America.
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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 features the beloved Little Freddie King!
CatchBack at Rock n Bowl | 8:30 p.m. | Facebook Live | Tips encouraged
Rock n Bowl has hosted tons of great virtual shows over the last seven months. Don’t miss this 90-minute set with CatchBack!
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12
Virtual Concert with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra | Ongoing | Website (link sent after ticket purchased) | Season Subscription for $115 (monthly payments available)
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra has a full season of music planned for the year! This is one of their Orpheum Session Series concerts and includes pieces by Felix Mendelssohn, Fanny Mendelssohn and Franz Joseph Haydn! The link to the concert is available Friday evening, but you can listen to it for several weeks after that. Learn about this and future concerts here.
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New Orleans Writers Workshop | 1 p.m. | Zoom (link sent after purchasing ticket) | $40
The New Orleans Writers Workshop has so many great class offerings for accomplished and aspiring writers to take. This Saturday, instructor Tia Clark is leading a two-hour session on setting. All stories take place somewhere, but setting is often viewed as an afterthought. In this one day class, students will look at ways to make their setting feel inevitable, and just as necessary as character, plot, dialogue, etc. The class will use examples from poetry and fiction as writing prompts to generate dynamic setting descriptions. Students can expect to leave with a few project beginnings and/ or with ideas to push settings to do more in current works-in-progress.
GLAM U for Teens | 1 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 Saturday afternoon there is a one-hour fitness session for teenagers! To join in on Zoom, use the link above and enter the Meeting ID (334-196-3309) and Password (BeFitNOLA).
Porch Fest! | 4 p.m. | Facebook Live | Tips encouraged
Anais St. John and Harry Mayronne Sr. are back for another round of Saturday tunes. This week’s theme means we’ll be hearing the best of the legendary Donna Summer!
Tipitina’s TV Season 2: Dragon Smoke | 8 p.m. | Nugs.tv (link sent after purchasing ticket) | $14.99
Tipitina’s has been hosting their Tipitina’s TV series on Saturdays, featuring some of their favorite musicians. This week features Louisiana’s own, Dragon Smoke — formed out of the Jazz Fest “Superjam” tradition. You can purchase tickets for just $14.99.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13
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.
For the Love of Music | Noon | Facebook Live | Tips encouraged
Tune in for an all-day concert featuring bands and musicians from the Gulf Coast! There will be performances and interviews and 100% of the proceeds will benefit regional musicians struggling as a result of the COVID pandemic. For a full listing of performances — or if you’d like to perform — check out this page.
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New Orleans Saints — Week 14 | 3:25 p.m. | FOX, WWL 870 AM / 105.3 FM, the Saints app | Price Varies
Who Dat Nation tunes in as their Saints hope to build on their 10 – 2 season so far! This week they go head-to-head in Philadelphia against the lowly Eagles.
Charcuterie Class with Randazzos | 3:30 p.m. | Online | $35
Join in for an hour of cheese and fun. Kyla from Randazzo’s Italian Market in Denham Springs will be teaching all her tips and tricks on making a charcuterie board. It’s $35 for the class and must be paid in advance via Venmo. You will get to take home a 10 inch bamboo tray to enjoy at home with the family. Kyla will provide everything so just bring yourself and be ready to have some fun. You can find more information here.
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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.
