‘Leslie’s List’ For The Holidays
My email inbox is brimming with business holiday happenings. Enjoy reading through my list, and checking it twice, so you don't miss out on the following festive functions including a Downtown NOLA Saturday Shopping Spree with South Market snow, a Mexican Christmas tamale fundraising dinner at Cochon, dressing up in holiday attire for the Celebration in the Oaks Run/Walk, a ribbon-cutting at the new $35 million, 126,000 square-foot Franklin Avenue Baptist Church – East, the family-friendly Drag Brunch at Pythian Market, military member admission deals for NOLA ChristmasFest and how to score a private piano lesson with Harry Connick, Jr.
• The 38th International WorkBoat Show returns to New Orleans through Friday, Nov. 30, at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (MCCNO), Halls F – J.
More than 13,000 professionals from the maritime industry will return to town for North America’s largest commercial marine trade show and conference. The 2018 International WorkBoat Show is expected to attract more than 1,000 exhibitors and nearly 13,000 visitors from 45 states and 29 countries.
This year, the WorkBoat Show will include the first of its kind WorkBoat Think Tank. Moderated by the editors of WorkBoat magazine and WorkBoat.com, this interactive feature will bring breaking news, hot topics and thought-provoking conversation to the forefront. The WorkBoat Think Tank, located in the Collaboration Zone presented by New York Life, is where professionals can interact with industry leaders, ask tough questions and gain insight into everyday challenges.
This year’s conference is projected to generate an economic impact of more than $16.4 million.
The International WorkBoat Show has been held in New Orleans for the past 38 years.
CREDIT: International WorkBoat Show
• The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and radio station WWOZ will present “Guardians of the Groove,” an exhibit showcasing the work of 14 photographers. The opening reception takes place Friday, Nov. 30, from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., and the exhibit will be on display through Thursday, Jan. 31, at the Jazz & Heritage Gallery, 1205 N. Rampart St.
The exhibit features images that capture life at the WWOZ studios, New Orleans cultural events, second-line parades, live music events and Jazz Fest.
Featured photographers include:
• Kichea S. Burt
• Michele Goldfarb
• Olivia Greene
• Keith Hill
• Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee
• Mike McAndrew
• Eli Mergel
• Black Mold
• Leon Morris
• Mac PoKempner
• Bill Sasser
• Charlie Steiner
• Leona Strassberg Steiner
• Jamell Tate
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation is the nonprofit that owns the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell. The foundation uses the proceeds from Jazz Fest and other raised funds for year-round programs in education, economic development and cultural enrichment.
The Jazz & Heritage Gallery’s regular opening hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• The magic of the season starts Downtown with the Downtown NOLA Saturday Shopping Spree presented by the Downtown Development District (DDD), The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk and Harrah’s New Orleans.
On Saturday, Dec. 1, from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., enjoy entertainment, shopping, restaurant specials and South Market Snow – a new holiday tradition in the South Market District offering prizes, live music and snow before the Krewe of Jingle parade.
Starting at 11:30 a.m., the Kinfolk Brass Band and Carl Leblanc will entertain those in the South Market District to watch snow falling at a 12-foot Christmas tree in the plaza of The Beacon, 1000 Girod St. This wintery celebration at the South Market Snow Gifting Tree ceremony is where visitors will have the chance to take home one of 100 different deals and gift cards from South Market restaurants and retailers. One lucky winner will walk away with the grand prize of a staycation from Ace Hotel New Orleans.
Participating businesses include Aglio, Arhaus, Barre3, Blanc Beauty Bar, Blaze Pizza, Company Burger, The Daily Beet, Hairloft, Higherpower NOLA, Lukka Boutique, Magasin Kitchen, Maypop, Simplee Gourmet, Stonefree, Willa Jean and Zeus’ Place.
South Market is located just a block away from the route for the Downtown Development District’s Krewe of Jingle parade that starts at 1:00 p.m.
Where Y'Acht perfroms in front of Harrah’s Casino at 2:30 p.m.
The DDD was created by the Louisiana Legislature in 1974 as the nation’s first assessment-based business improvement district (BID) to provide enhanced services in economic development, cleaning and safety.
• On Monday, Dec. 3, Copper Vine, 1001 Poydras St., will introduce lunch with culinary delights from Executive Chef Mike Brewer. Available Monday through Friday, from 11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., the lunch menu will include Copper Vine favorites along with lunchtime fare such as blackened redfish poor boy with butter lettuce, heirloom tomato and court bouillon; smoked salmon with creamed dill and leek sauce and served with toast points; carpaccio with Tabasco pickled strawberries, pea shoots, snow peas and shaved radishes; and a Cuban sandwich featuring pork belly, Chisesi’s ham, pickled peppers, provolone and honey mustard.
Copper Vine also offers a Happy Hour Monday through Friday from 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. That menu features $5 glasses of Copper Vine red and white blends, half off bottles of wine on tap and snacks starting at $5.
Popcorn is always complimentary.
Copper Vine’s blackened redfish poor boy
CREDIT: Brandt Vicknair
• Cochon, 930 Tchoupitoulas St., is hosting “A Mexican Christmas Tamale Dinner,” a fundraising event to benefit the Link Stryjewski Foundation’s mission to nourish, educate and empower the youth of New Orleans.
On Thursday, Dec. 6, at 6:30 p.m., Chef Eddie Hernandez of Taqueria del Sol in Atlanta and Tennessee will prepare the menu featuring tamales, a part of the traditional Mexican Christmas celebration of Las Posadas, which commemorates Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter before the birth of Jesus.
Chef Hernandez recently published a new cookbook, “Turnip Greens & Tortillas: A Mexican Chef Spices up the Southern Kitchen,” dedicated to Southern fare with a Mexican flair.
“Eddie and I have been planning to do a dinner together to celebrate his new book,” said Chef Stephen Stryjewski, co-founder of the Link Stryjewski Foundation. “Since tamale-making is a Mexican Christmas tradition, bringing people together to make new friendships and strengthen old ones, we thought this would be the perfect time.”
Chef Eddie Hernandez, a drummer, firefighter, mayor and celebrated Mexican chef who has earned numerous culinary awards and nominations, will prepare tamales for “A Mexican Christmas Tamale Dinner,” to benefit the Link Stryjewski Foundation.
CREDIT: Angie Mosierf
• Canal Place, 333 Canal St., will host its first ever “Dress Fête: 300 Years of Fashion,” a design competition and culminating celebration for Canal Place’s Style Board Class of 2018, on Friday, Dec. 7, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., on the second floor.
This year’s theme honors the New Orleans tricentennial with each member’s design focusing on various decades, open to interpretation throughout the city’s 300 years. The event will feature cocktails, light bites and live music from the 1800s, 1900s and 2000s, as well as the design competition among the 2018 Style Board members based on their creativity, representation of New Orleans, representation of their decade and a popular vote from event attendees.
The Style Board members have been paired with established fashion mentors in the New Orleans community including New Orleans Fashion Week founder Tracee Dundas; jewelry designer and cast member of “Southern Charm New Orleans” Reagan Charleston; Dashing Darlin’ blogger Angelle Marix; actor, model and blogger Michelle West; Milligan Movement blogger Caitlyn Milligan; Haute Off the Rack blogger Jennifer Palpallatoc; and visual designer Bently Graham.
Canal Place’s Style Board is a student-focused initiative aimed at providing opportunities for local Louisiana college-age students to become involved in the decision-making process of the fashion industry. Style Board’s goal is to provide a platform for its members to directly influence the services and offerings of Canal Place and to offer the opportunity for Style Board members to meet and learn from New Orleans fashion industry insiders (Style Board mentors).
The students’ final design projects will be featured in Canal Place throughout December.
This year’s Dress Fête will honor the New Orleans Tricentennial with each Canal Place Style Board Class member’s design focusing on various decades, open to interpretation throughout the city’s 300 years.
CREDIT: Canal Place
• Le Petit Theatre, 616 St. Peter St., is kicking off the holiday season with its first annual production of Charles Dickens’ beloved tale, “A Christmas Carol,” from Friday, Dec. 7 – Sunday, Dec. 23.
In addition to spreading holiday cheer, the company intends to make this production – the classic tale of miserly and menacing moneylender Ebenezer Scrooge learning lessons in love, generosity, and redemption as he is visited by a host of spirits on Christmas Eve – a perennial favorite for generations of New Orleanians.
Le Petit Theatre is also mounting its first Fête de Fezziwig, a family fundraiser chaired by Shon Cowan Baker and Robin Bordelon Borne. On Saturday, Dec. 8, beginning at 12:30 p.m., this benefit event features cocktails and mocktails, light bites and holiday treats, a silent auction, ornament making, face painting, and a special matinee performance of “A Christmas Carol” at 2:00 p.m. Participants will also have the opportunity to take photos with costumed performers before the show and a chance to meet Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and more post-performance. All proceeds benefit Le Petit Theatre.
The company is continuing its LPT TheatrePLUS outreach during this production with the following events:
• Sunday, Dec. 9 – Behind the Curtain: Join members from the creative team for a discussion immediately following the show.
• Thursday, Dec. 13 – Bike Night: Free valet bike parking with Le Petit Theatre and Bike Easy at 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 14 – Student Matinee at 10:00 a.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 16 – Book Club: “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Le Petit Theatre is partnering with Octavia Books this year; purchase the books at Octavia Books and enjoy a 20 percent discount.
Le Petit Theatre’s season continues in 2019 with “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” opening Friday, Jan. 18, “Baby Doll” opening Friday, March 15, and “The Pianist of Willesden Lane” opening on Friday, May 10.
Le Petit Theatre has been a cornerstone of the New Orleans arts community since 1916 and impacts more than 30,000 people annually through its mainstage productions and educational programming.
• Thousands of runners and walkers are encouraged to dress in holiday attire for the Allstate Sugar Bowl “Celebration in the Oaks Run/Walk” and costume contest in City Park on Saturday, Dec. 8, with the festivities starting at 2:00 p.m. on Victory Avenue with a costume contest at 2:45 p.m. and the run/walk scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
Race officials expect more than 2,500 costumed runners and walkers to participate in this year’s two-mile event. Participants will be treated to gumbo from Blue Runner, hot chocolate and coffee from Community Coffee and a special appearance from Santa Claus.
Following the race, all runners and walkers will receive early exclusive access to the park’s traditional “Celebration in the Oaks” holiday lighting event with more than an half million decorative bulbs and festive exhibits.
Entry into the Celebration in the Oaks Run/Walk is $25 in advance and $30 on race day for adults. Children aged four to 10 can register for $10. Children three and under run and walk for free.
Registration includes food, drinks, free pictures with Santa and a long-sleeved official holiday-themed race shirt. In addition, runners’ and walkers’ bibs get them early access to Celebration in the Oaks beginning at 4:00 p.m.
“The Celebration in the Oaks Run/Walk is the perfect holiday family outing,” said Eric Stuart, Crescent City Classic race director. “Families can unwind for the holidays and enjoy hot gumbo and the popular family picture taking with Santa. You get to do your workout with the race and then have early access to “Celebration in the Oaks” all for a great value.”
The Allstate Sugar Bowl “Celebration in the Oaks Run/ Walk” is produced by the Allstate Sugar Bowl Crescent City Classic and is part of the Crescent City Classic Race Series – with the premier race being the Crescent City Classic 10K that takes place on Saturday, April 20, 2019.
CREDIT: Crescent City Classic
• Twenty-five months after breaking ground to begin work on its new church home in New Orleans East, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church (FABC) will celebrate the completion of its new $35 million sanctuary on Sunday, Dec. 9, at 8110 I-10 Service Rd., off the Crowder Blvd. I-10 exit.
Dedication services will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the entrance of the church at 9:00 a.m. At 10:00 a.m., a dedication program will precede the Sunday worship service in the sanctuary. New Orleans East and all city residents are invited to the celebration.
The new church building features a 3,500-seat sanctuary and multi-purpose building, which will house the FABC children’s and youth churches, multiple Sunday school classrooms, a fellowship hall, conference rooms, kitchen facilities and offices for the church’s pastors and administrators.
“We’ve come this far by faith in our creator – God the Father,” said Fred Luter, Jr., FABC senior pastor. “Our church family will continue its mission of exalting the Savior, equipping the saints and evangelizing the sinner as a new facility in the heart of New Orleans East.”
The 126,000 square-foot building was constructed by Core/Livers Construction with architectural support from Visioneering and Hewitt & Washington architects. The construction was aided by participation from 30 percent DBE sub-contractors, many who are members of the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church congregation.
The new edifice features a 132-foot tower topped by a 15-foot cross, destined to become a beacon of hope and revitalization for the New Orleans East community.
The Dedication celebrations will include:
• Sunday, Dec. 9 – 9:00 a.m. ribbon-cutting and 10:00 a.m. worship service
• Monday, Dec. 10 – Wednesday, Dec. 12 – Dedication services at 7:00 p.m. nightly
• Monday, Dec. 10 – Pastor Breonus Mitchell will preside
• Tuesday, Dec. 11 – Bishop Paul Morton will preside
• Wednesday, Dec. 12 – Pastor Lance Watson will preside
• Sunday, Dec. 16 – New Sunday worship time begins with a worship service from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., and a new members Sunday School class will take place from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The new $35 million, 126,000 square-foot Franklin Avenue Baptist Church – East features a 132-foot tower topped by a 15-foot cross.
CREDIT: Franklin Avenue Baptist Church – East
• Join Broussard’s, 819 Conti St., for a series of special holiday Santa Brunches with all of the fixings including festive food, music and fun from Friday, Dec. 14 – Sunday, Dec. 16, and Friday, Dec. 21 – Sunday Dec. 23.
Enjoy brunch favorites including shrimp and crab Benedict, steak and eggs and raspberry mascarpone stuffed pain perdu.
Santa Claus will be the guest of honor, and those who dine will be able to take a photos with St. Nick, enjoy the music of a live jazz trio, engage in DIY ornament crafts for children, and write a letter to Santa and get one back.
Spread the cheer and bring an unwrapped toy to benefit children in need through The New Orleans Mission.
• Musician Harry Connick, Jr. has been honoring his New Orleans roots this year with a “New Orleans Tricentennial Celebration” tour paying musical homage to his hometown in cities ranging from Paris to London to Memphis. The tour will bring Connick home for a special performance of “A New Orleans Tricentennial Celebration… Holiday Edition” on Saturday, Dec. 15, at the UNO Lakefront Arena, 6801 Franklin Ave. Proceeds from this concert will benefit the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music which Connick co-founded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to help underserved youth and musicians in the city’s Ninth Ward and across the broader New Orleans community.
Located in the Ninth Ward, at 1901 Bartholomew St., the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music broadens opportunities for underserved children, youth and musicians. It provides a safe, positive environment where underserved children and youth develop musically, academically and socially. The center also delivers strategic assistance and tools to Village musicians that can enhance their professional growth and offers opportunities for musicians throughout the city of New Orleans to perform and record. The Ellis Marsalis Center for Music deeply values its connection to the surrounding community and endeavors to be an ongoing source of information and cultural inspiration to residents of the Ninth Ward in particular, and to the broader New Orleans community as a whole.
In addition to the concert, Connick is offering a few once-in-a-lifetime fan experiences to further support the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music:
•A $1,000 VIP Package for the Saturday, Dec. 15, concert which includes a private VIP entrance to the concert, a pre-show reception with food and beverage, a gift bag to include Harry Connick, Jr. CDs and merchandise, reserved floor seating available for purchase or an upgrade to reserved floor seating if you already have tickets and an after-show reception where you will meet Connick and take a photo together.
• The $15,000 Ultimate Fan Experience includes an exclusive opportunity to have Connick give you a personal one-hour piano lesson at the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in New Orleans or in New York City. For your personal archive, you will be allowed to take a few photographs and a brief video during the lesson. This package also includes two reserved floor seats and the above VIP Package for Connick’s New Orleans concert.
Proceeds from these purchases will support the Ellis Marsalis Center’s yearlong music education program.
To purchase VIP Packages or a private piano lesson with Harry Connick, Jr.
For a $15,000 donation to the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music you can take a private piano lesson with Harry Connick, Jr., and the Center will be able to provide nutritious snacks and meals for the summer programs for one year.
CREDIT: Leslie T. Snadowsky
• Downtown food collective Pythian Market, 234 Loyola Ave., is hosting a very festive Drag Brunch on Sunday, Dec. 16, from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. The family-friendly brunch will feature live holiday-themed performances by queens Taze-Ya Ballz, Gia GiaVanni and Lana O’Day, along with cocktail specials from Bar 1908 and sumptuous brunch items from the market’s 13 vendors including cochon du lait Benedict from Fete Au Fete; shakshuka served with sous-vide eggs at Little Fig; Meribo Pizza’s brunch pizza with white sauce, bacon, caramelized onions, cheesy eggs, apple jelly, truffle oil and parmesan; Breakfast Tacos – flour tortillas with melted cheese, scrambled eggs, and choice of meat/veggies from La Cocinita; and a traditional Jamaican breakfast – ackee and salt fish with yellow yam, banana and dumplings at 14 Parishes.
• The New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) will be holding several upcoming registration sessions in three parishes (Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard), beginning Monday, Dec. 17, for its Spring 2019 tuition-free dance classes for students aged four to 18.
NOBA, in partnership programs with the New Orleans Recreation Development (NORD) Commission, Broadmoor Improvement Association, St. Bernard Parish School Board and Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy, will offer classes in ballet, tap, hip hop, jazz and modern dance taught by NOBA’s professional faculty.
The semester will culminate with fully produced concerts at the Lyons Rec. Center and Tulane University’s Dixon Hall.
NOBA’s nationally award-winning education programs have provided more than 55,000 tuition-free dance classes to more than 22,000 participants. The after-school programs are designed to cultivate a child’s appreciation for the arts, while building life skills, including self-esteem, discipline, confidence and teamwork that speak to the child’s individual growth.
NOBA annually offers more than 5,000 tuition-free classes, performances and workshops to participants of all ages.
No dance experience is necessary to register for the free classes.
Registration sessions include:
• Monday, Dec. 17, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Rosenwald Rec. Center – 1120 S. Broad St. (Central City)
Joe W. Brown Rec. Center – 5601 Read Blvd. (New Orleans East)
• Tuesday, Dec. 18, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Behrman Rec. Center – 2529 General Meyer Ave. (Algiers)
Tremé Recreation Community Center – 900 N. Villere St. (Tremé)
• Wednesday, Dec. 19, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Cut-Off Rec. Center – 6600 Belgrade St. (Algiers/ Westbank)
Stallings St. Claude Rec. Center – 4300 St. Claude Ave. (Bywater/ St. Claude)
• Thursday, Dec. 20, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Broadmoor Arts & Wellness Center – 3617 General Pershing St. (Broadmoor)
Lyons Rec. Center – 624 Louisiana Ave. (Lower Garden District/ Irish Channel)
• Tuesday, Jan. 8, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Gernon Brown Rec. Center – 1001 Harrison Ave. (Mid-City, City Park)
• Thursday, Jan. 10, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy – 2504 Maine Ave. (Kenner)
• Monday, Jan. 14, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Chalmette High School Cultural Arts Center – 2600 Palmisano Blvd. (Chalmette)
Limited spaces are available, and classes are filled on a first come, first served basis. There is a $10 processing fee (cash only) due at the time of registration.
No dance experience is necessary to register for NOBA’s Spring 2019 tuition-free dance classes for students aged four to 18.
CREDIT: The New Orleans Ballet Association
• Military members and first responders who bring their official, valid IDs will receive half-off admission, $10, on Fridays for tickets purchased at the door at this year’s NOLA ChristmasFest. The 12-day special holiday event, based in downtown New Orleans, displays thousands of dazzling lights and dozens of Christmas trees decorated by local businesses every day from Thursday, Dec. 20 – Monday, Dec. 31, including special hours on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and until 9:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Hall H.
The sixth annual NOLA ChristmasFest, the largest indoor holiday event along the Gulf Coast, announced an expansion of which will now encompass more than 325,000 square-feet to accommodate new attractions and make room for more family-friendly holiday fun. Nearly 45,000 visitors from across the South enjoyed the 2017 Christmas festivities.
There will be a real ice skating rink and ice slides, holiday characters, amusement rides, themed inflatables, arts and crafts and much more. The Gingerbread House exhibit, Kringle Carousel, Winter Whirl, Snowball Fight Area, Snowy Summit Climbing Wall and other favorites will be back under one roof at this year’s NOLA ChristmasFest.
New attractions this year include Breakfast with Santa events, Bouncy, billed as “the World’s Tallest Snowman,” and Snowzilla, Jr., providing attendees with a thrilling slide down a 90-foot ramp. Other attractions such as polar golf, curling games and a step-inside snow globe for selfie photos will be added to NOLA ChristmasFest this year. The expanded floor plan will also provide ample space for family gatherings, birthday parties, and corporate events.
Keepsake photos with Santa will be available for purchase through 3:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Face painting, edible cookie decorating, food and drink and a selection of holiday gifts will also be offered for purchase.
