Another disappointment by the Saints but we must keep cheering on. Go Saints, Go!
Before I started tell you about all the events that attended and the ones that I am planning to attend, I must express my deepest sympathy to the family of Ruth Gonzalez Mullen, a lifelong Episcopalian, retired artist, art teacher and mentor to many, who died on Monday, December 21, 2009 at her home at the age of 70. Ruth was born in Havana, Cuba and was the sister of my darling friend, attorney Rommy Gonzalez. May Ruth Rest in Peace.
Last week I started my week by attending Dr. Jaimes Moise's wine tasting of his terrific line of Oregon Wine. I have never been at Swirl (on Ponce de Leon just off Esplanade) and I found it to be a lot of fun. So I am sure I will return.
I spent Christmas Eve with my brother Lorenzo at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Patton on St. Charles Avenue and it was, as always, delicious.
On Christmas Day, I was invited to hear clarinetist extraordinaire Tim Laughlin and his lovely wife Juliet on the French Quarter and it was just wonderful. He invited a lot of musicians and I understand that after Lorenzo and I left, they were jamming the night away.
The rest of the weekend I spent it with my darling Chiquita trying to charge my batteries for all the rounds of parties that I have been invited.
I am looking forward to attending today, December 29, the Cystic Fibrosis's fundraiser ,"Uncork the Cure'" at Republic and then on New Year's Eve I probably will be spending my evening at the Windsor Court, Lakefront and on Latin Night at Tomatillo's in the French Quarter.
By the way, on my way home from helping out at Casell Gallery at 818 Royal, I stopped to take advantage of Tomatillo's half price fajitas which is being featured every Monday night. They were delicious and so was the Tortilla Soup. For New Year's Eve they are featuring what I think is the deal of the year. For $65 per person, you can have Dinner and Late Night Buffet dinner, including live music by Julio and Cesar. You can actually book a table eat, go and see the fireworks and return for the early breakfast buffet that will be served until 5 a.m. For reservation call 945-9997.
For more details follow the calendar below.
Last week for Holiday Home and Courtyard Tours
Tuesday & Wednesday, December 29 & 30
10:00 & 11:00 a.m., 2:00 & 3:00 p.m.
Williams Residence, 533 Royal Street
Admission is $5 per person, free for THNOC members.
Cystic Fibrosis will present its annual fundraiser featuring Champagne tasting with live entertainment, food and dessert stations at Republic New Orleans, 828 St. Peters. VIP party will feature a live auction and high end champagne and sparkling wines from 7 to 8 p.m. Gala will be at 8 p.m. Contact: 455-5194
Thursday, December 31
Celebrate New Year's Eve Latin Style at Tomatillo's
Celebrations starts at 6:00pm and it does not end until 5 a.m. with buffet style breakfast. The price is only $65 per person including live music by Julio and Cesar, Buffet for Dinner and Breakfast and Chamapgne at Midnight. That is what I call a deal. 437 Esplanade Ave - 1 block from the fireworks! 437 Esplanade Avenue at Frenchmen Street. ONLY ONE BLOCK FROM THE FIREWORKS! Call for more Details & Reservations (504) 945-9997 or visit www.tomatillosnola.com.
Thursday, December 31
NEW YEAR’S EVE AT THE ROOSEVELT
New Years Eve at The Roosevelt will feature live music by the Tim Laughlin Jazz Band along with The Dawnbusters featuring Debbie Davis. Each couple will receive a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine with dinner. Guests will also enjoy a Champagne toast at midnight to ring in the New Year 2010. Tickets to New Years Eve at The Roosevelt are $199 per person, plus tax and gratuity, and include complimentary valet parking, party favors and a commemorative photo. To purchase tickets, call reservations direct at (504) 648-1200
Thursday, December 31
Maximo's Italian Grill-Holiday Party
In celebration of the coming of 2010, we ask you to toast your glasses with us as will be serving complimentary Prosecco all night. On every table will be festive party favors to commend the stroke of midnight. As twelve o'clock approaches, gather on our balcony and enjoy the firework display from the river.
This night, we will be offering our most popular dishes in addition to some of Chef's fabulous specials. 6 P.M.1117 Decatur Street.Reserve your table soon by calling 504-586-8883.
December 31
Ring in the New Year in Royal Style at the Windsor Court Hotel
Live music, special menu highlight night at The Grill Room Restaurant & Polo Club Lounge
The Windsor Court Hotel in downtown New Orleans is offering visitors and locals a chance to ring in 2010 in style with special live entertainment, food and a fantastic view of fireworks over the Mississippi River.
The Windsor Court's The Grill Room Restaurant is offering a special Prix Fixe dinner menu for New Year's Eve, featuring such choices as Crispy Snake River Farm Pork Belly, Grill Alaskan King Crab Salad, Lobster Bisque, Sautéed Local Red Fish and Grilled Filet of Angus Beef. There will be six seatings for the dinner, with early seatings at 5:30, 6 and 6:30 p.m. and late seatings at 8, 8:30 and 9 p.m. The price for early seatings is $79 per person and the late seatings are $150 per person. Late seatings include a special trip to La Chinoiserie Ballroom on the 23rd Floor of the hotel, where guests will be treated to a tremendous view of the fireworks display over the Mississippi, as well as a special dessert buffet and live music by The Westend Band. Dinner seating prices include validated valet parking.
The Polo Club Lounge will begin serving cocktails beginning at 11:30 a.m. on New Year's Eve and there will be live music starting at 5 with Zaza on piano, followed by Michael Pellera and his quartet beginning at 9 p.m. Le Salon in the Windsor Court lobby will hold Classic and Royal Tea Services at
11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on New Year's Eve.
To find our more about the New Year's Eve events, the special holiday menu and hotel rates and packages, visit www.windsorcourthotel.com. To make dinner reservations, call 504.522.1994.
December 31 New Year’s Eve 2009 Fireworks Cruise at Paddlewheeler Creole Queen
Celebrate with a delicious dinner on the River before venturing into the Quarter for your New Year’s Eve among the throngs of enthusiastic visitors and locals. Dressed in holiday attire the Steamboat offers a beautiful setting for a New Orleans buffet that includes soup, salad, fruit & cheese, carved items, a pasta station, desserts and much more. An optional bar is available with a staff of bartenders who can mix any and all of the concoctions made famous in New Orleans! Boarding opens at 6:00pm, Sailing 7:00-9:00pm, two dinner seatings. Reservations requested.
Thursday, December 31
New Year's Eve Celebration featuring Shannon Powell!
Host: Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse
No one knows how to throw a PARTY or kick off a NEW YEAR quite like Shannon Powell...Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse, Royal Sonesta Hotel
Join us as we ring in 2010 with the SHANNON POWELL QUARTET, 9pm-1am!
Please note: Seating and standing room are limited and determined on a first-come, first-served basis.
December 31 - January 3, 2010
3rd ANNUAL DANCE RENAISSANCE NEW YEARS FESTIVAL
During Dance Renaissance New Year’s festival, you and your friends will enjoy an action-packed weekend of FOUR NIGHTS OF DANCING featuring local live music and professional performances throughout city wide locations.
All parties have a theme (Masquerade Ball, Mardi Gras, Vintage). In addition, on Saturday and Sunday, you will be able to attend optional WORKSHOPS in Swing, Salsa, Tango & more, taught by world-class teachers coming from all over the world. http://dancerenaissance.com
Thursday, December 31
New Year's Eve Masquerade Ball
Vintage Uptown, New Orleans Dance Renaissance Masquerade Ball is a dance event with live music. Masques are highly encouraged. Evening dress or sophisticated costume required.
*Live Music featuring Zazou City
*Professional Dance Performances by World Champion dancers
*Complimentary midnight toast and party favors
*View the ball drop on our gigantic screen. Cash bar.
*Light buffet
Tickets: $45 before December 1, $55 before December 27.
January 1, 2010 76th Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic
Celebrating its 76th anniversary, this year's Sugar Bowl game on January 1, 2010, features the University of Florida Gators from the Southeastern Conference and the University of Cincinnati Bearcatsfrom the Big East Conference. Last year's Sugar Bowl Classic's estimated economic impact was $167 million.
January 1
OBITUARY COCKTAIL SOCIETY
Obers will gather at this great New Orleans saloon........The Clock Bar, 800 Iberville St. Phone: 586-0800. Always Friday 6:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M.
Sunday, January 3
Trinity Artist Series presents Crescent City Sound Chorus of Sweet Adelines International
Program of Favorite Songs celebrating the New Year. The Crescent City Sound Chorus is a 40 member women's singing group that specializes in four-part a capella "barbershop-style" harmony.
Sunday, January 3
Joan of Arts Fete
9 a.m. to 9 p.m.: A full day conference with free panels and $10 workshops culminating in a Jeanne d'Arc Cabaret. At Bienville House Hotel. Get educated and inspired for the parade! See http://www.joanofarcproject.org/ for schedule.
Wednesday, January 6 St. Joan of Arc Parade
6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Held on St. Joan's birthday, this Twelfth Night parade has a new route in its second year...from the Bienville statue at Conti to Chartres, across Jackson Square to St. Philip and her birthday party at Joan's statue at Decatur. See http://www.joanofarcproject.org/ for membership levels. YOU MUST BE A KREWE MEMBER TO WALK THIS YEAR! Levels start at $50.
January 6 -- March 3
OPERA ON TAP @THE INN ON BOURBON The New Orleans Opera Association presents the finest young local and regional singers in casual, 90-minute concerts of opera, Broadway and more from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Inn on Bourbon, 541 Bourbon Street. Free.
Wednesday, January 6 through Tuesday, February 16
MARDI GRAS 2010
It is New Orleans' premiere party season! It's time to enjoy life, party, and have a good time! It's irresistibly fun, vibrant, sarcastic, and sassy! If you understand how this city hums during the day and sings at night, you may be able to envision its celebration of Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras officially starts at Twelfth Night, which occurs 12 days after Christmas on January 6. There are several celebrations around the city, and it is a great day here in New Orleans. It means for us King Cake Lovers, that the bakeries around town will have King Cake for sale! Mardi Gras Day (which is also Fat Tuesday) is the last day of the Mardi Gras Carnival season. Mardi Gras day falls on a different day each year. It is always 46 days before Easter.
Twelfth Night is just another winter evening everywhere else, but in New Orleans, the night is alive with subtle native rituals that are still spared the gaudiness and encroaching commercialism found as the season reaches its end on Mardi Gras.
January 6
PHORTY PHUNNY PHELLOWS
The Krewe of Phorty Phunny Phellows heralds the Carnival Season. They hold their Krewe party each night after the traditional ride on the streetcar line. This group of costumed and masked riders will board the streetcar at 6:30 p.m. and leave the Street Car barn located on Willow Street in Carrollton at 7 p.m.
January 7
Jewtopia @ Le Chat Noir
The Mystic Krewe of Satyricon is sponsoring the first preview performance of Theatre 13’s production of Jewtopia, a new comedy by Brian Fogel and Sam Wilson, at Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., January 7 at 8 p.m. This is a benefit for the krewe. Tickets for this performance only are $25.00. For all other performances please call Le Chat Noir at 581-5812.
January 8 LOUISIANA MUSEUM FOUNDATION It promises to be a rockin' evening at the Louisiana Museum Foundation Gala in celebration of the exhibit “Unsung Heroes: The Secret History of Louisiana Rock ’n’ Roll” in the Louisiana State Museum's Arsenal Building (enter through the Cabildo). Tickets start at just $50, and proceeds go toward the Louisiana Museum Foundation's mission of helping fund the Louisiana State Museum's programs, exhibits, and collections.
Please put in your calendar:
January 12
ROUND TABLE LUNCHEON
The guest speakers will be Mardi Gras author Arthur Hardy, and Gary Solomon of Le Petit Theatre and the Solomon Theatre Group. Entertainment by Becky Allen, Jim Walpole and Joshua Walker. Sitting is limited. The three-course gourmet luncheon is only $35 and includes complimentary parking and wines to compliment the food. For reservation: Noel Scallan at 504-553-2220 nscallan@royalsonestano.com So please put it in your calendar.
Ongoing :
“DREAMS COME TRUE: ART OF THE CLASSIC FAIRY TALES FROM THE WALT DISNEY STUDIO” AT NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART - New Orleans Museum of Art's Dreams Come True showcases original artwork from legendary Disney animated films, including Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, and will feature a children's section celebrating Disney's connections with jazz music and the Crescent City. The artworks, on loan from the Walt Disney Studio Animation Research Library, are accompanied by film clips to demonstrate how individual sketches and paintings lead to a finished celluloid masterpiece.
Through Sunday, February 14, 2010 Let Freedom Swing!@ The Stage Door Canteen at The National World War II Museum All the songs and jazz, sass and swing of the 1940s in this original musical production starring The Victory Players! Eight terrific singers & dancers will put you In the Mood, with Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Jukebox Saturday Night, Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen and dozens more – the songs that bolstered the spirit of our soldiers and citizens during the war years, at home and abroad. Dinner and Brunch packages are available.$30
Wishing you the warmest, healthy, peaceful and prosperous 2010.
Darling friends,
