Darling readers,

Carnival Season is here!

The Phunny Phorty Phellows, as they has done in the past, heralded the 2007 Mardi Gras Carnival season.  I was there to witness it and felt a little envious because I wanted to be part of the fun streetcar ride. As I was thinking of this, I greeted my friend,  Mardi Gras historian Arthur Hardy. He urged me to attend the annual Twelfth Night Celebration for the hospitality industry at Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World in Algiers. I am glad I followed his advice since the huge party turned out to be a lot of fun. The soiree honored the Krewe of Alla's 75^th Anniversary and its monarchs: Maharajah Paul Leman and Maharanee Megan Ducote. It also honored Blaine Kern's 50^th Anniversary serving as Krewe Captain.

A fun exhibition that just opened up at the New Orleans Museum of Art is: The New Orleans Arts and Crafts Club: An Artistic Legacy. It is presented as part of a new partnership between The Historic New Orleans Collection and the New Orleans Museum of Art.. The exhibition includes paintings, watercolors, sculpture, ceramics, prints, and drawings by more than forty artists, including Josephine Crawford, Leonard Flettrich, Weeks Hall, Knute Heldner, Morris Henry Hobbs, Clarence Millet, Paul Ninas, William P. Spratling, Helen Turner, and Daniel Webster Whitney. Once you are there you need to see the exciting CARNAVAL! Multimedia Exhibition of Carnival Celebrations Around the World. The exhibition provides windows into eight communities in Europe and the Americas where Carnival is a high point of the yearly cycle. The exhibition is on view until January 21. Another exhibition that you need to see as well is the beautiful photographs of Mardi Gras Indians by Michael P. Smith. For more information visit: www.NOMA.org 

The other event that I attended was the first Krewe of Cork luncheon of this year. It was held at Peristyle Restaurant  in the French Quarter. I understand there are a few spots left for sparkling members to participate in this year parade. For more information visit: www.kreweofcork.com 

This week, there are going to be a lot wonderful cultural events that should keep us going prior to the Saints playoff game against the Eagles.

As a result of the playoff games, the elegant Fiesta Sinfonica of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra has been moved to Sunday, January 14 instead of the 13th. I understand there only a few seats left for the wonderful event that will be held at the Foundry. On Friday, January 12- FIESTA SINFONICA will take place at the Convention Center Theatre. Maestro Carlos Miguel Prieto is going to be conducitng with special guest : Paquito d' Rivera, the great clarinetist/saxophonist. For tickets call: 523-6530 or visit www.lpomusic.com

On Wednesday, the New Orleans Boat Show at the Ernest Morial Convention Center will feature more than 200,000 square feet of exhibition space showcasing the newest model, fishing seminars, etc.

A fabulous photograph exhibition:"Moments in Time: New Orleans at the Crossroad"  presented by the New Orleans Photo Alliance will open up at  the New Orleans Academy of Fine Art, 5256 Magazine Street on Saturday, January 13 from 6 to 8 p.m.  The exhibition  that has been curated  by Owen Murphy, Bryce Lankard and John Glenn is seen through the eyes of 15 local photographers, showcasing  the city's beauty and its blemishes with an eclectic range of artistic expression. The exhibition will run thru the end of February and then will then travel to the Jazz Festival in Tarragona, Spain to open in late March of 2007 and be on display for two months. For more info: www.photonola.org or http://neworleansphotoalliance.blogspot.com/

Another fun event is Tip's 29^th Anniversary on January 13. Among the featured musicians will be Marva Wright, Irma Thomas, Charmaine Neville, James Andrews, Troy "Trombone Shorty " Andrews, Walter "Wolfman" Washington and many others For more information visit http://www.tipitinas.com/

I would like to remind everyone that JPAS & Sandi Roads Production of Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling is taking place at TEATRO WEGO! DINNER THEATRE 177 SALA AVE. IN WESTWEGO from  January 5th-28th, on Fridays  and Saturdays 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm. Director Dane Rhodes has offered up a unique and powerhouse cast in the form of Danon Dastugue, Morla Gorrondona, Kerry Cahill, Angie Joachim, Sandy Bravender and Doris Methe. For tickets and reservations: 504-885-2000 www. jpas.org

The works of nine independent artists will be featured in an exhibition to be held January 14-27, in the lobby of the World Trade Center, Canal Street at the Riverfront, in New Orleans.  The show will officially open with a wine and cheese reception on Sunday, January 14 from noon to 3 PM.  The reception is free and open to the public. The more than eighty paintings in watercolor, oil, and mixed media are available for purchase.  A portion of the proceeds from the show will be donated to New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA).

The show will be the first for the group, which was initially scheduled prior to Hurricane Katrina. Five of the artists, Jo-Ann Adams, Katie Arimura, Joan Bonner, Belinda Knowles, and Marilyn Woolverton, live in New Orleans.  The other four artists Martha Guthrie, Susan Hotard, Lyle Morehouse, and Nell Tilton reside in Metairie.  All of the participating artists have shown work locally, nationally and/or internationally.  

Please visit my Photoshow to checkout all the fun events that I attended. You may be in one of them: http://www.photoshow.net/watch/cA8Wg2rd

Have a wonderful week!