I am looking for this fun-filled weekend with performances by the Jungua -Descendants of the Dragon at Harrah's, Kid Rock at the New Orleans Arena, the Red Dress Run, the Dirty Linen Night, the Sunday Swing at The National WWII Museum and the lovely New Orleans Opera's Junior Committee's The Dejavue Summer Party..
Today, I have been invited to the performance of Jungua-Descendants of the Dragon at Harrah's. I have been so fascinated by the Olympics at Beijing that I am looking forward to seeing the Chinese monks and acrobats demonstrate their homeland's culture in lavish costumes and scenery. The performances will be tonight, Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m. at Harrah's. Tickets are $35 and are available by calling 504-533-6600 or through ticketmaster.
Kid Rock along with Lynyrd Skynyrd plus Rev Run and Back Door Slam kicks off his Rock 'n' Rebels Tour at the New Orleans arena at 6 :30 p.m.
The Historic New Orleans Collection is presenting New Orleans Antiques Forum until Sunday, August 10 at the The Historic New Orleans Collection's- BoydCruiseWilliamsResearchCenter,410 Chartres Street, in the French Quarter.
The Forum is presenting four days of lectures and tours dedicated to the study of the southern decorative arts. The program will feature preeminent scholars from the field, including Thomas Savage, Winterthur Museum & Country Estate; Robert Leath, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts; Cybèle Gontar, Graduate Center, The City University of New York; Alexandra Kirtley, Philadelphia Museum of Art; Thomas Jayne, Thomas Jayne Studio; Elle Shushan, Fine Portrait Miniatures; and Suzanne Turner, FASLA, Suzanne Turner Associates. The schedule and events are on line at www.hnoc.org or call 523-4662.
This week WYES' “A Season of Good Tastes” is taking place at Sugar House Restaurant - Friday, August 8, 7 PM Dinners are $85 per person including tax and tip. If you want to see the menu and the list of restaurants participating visit http://www.wyes.org/. Reservations at (504) 840-4886.
This Friday the Ritz Carlton is presenting dance lessons starting at 8 p.m at the French Quarter Bar. $30 cover charge for General Admission; $50 VIP includes lesson, 1 ticket for signature drink and valet parking. Reservations required at 504-670-2828. You can reserve a table but there is $50 per person minimum bar tab.
The Polo Club Lounge at the WindsorCourtHotel is jazzin’ it up every Friday and Saturday with the hot entertainment series, "Playin’ At The Polo," featuring popular local musicians performing a repertoire of sophisticated jazz. See the schedule below:
Fridays, August 8, 15, 22 & 29, - Ed Perkins -9 p.m. – 12 midnigh
Saturdays, August 9, 16, 23 & 30 -Leah Chase-9 p.m. to Midnight
Sunday – Wednesday-Pianist Jim Harris,6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Polo Club Lounge Entertainment & Afternoon Tea -Thursday - Saturday-Pianist Michael Pellera
Sunday Champagne Jazz Brunch in The New Orleans Grill presents :The Christopher Kohl Trio
Fredy Omar is playing this Saturday,August 9 with the full band at Hookah Cafe,500 Frenchmen Street at 10 :30 p.m. and on August 15, at 10 p.m. at Lazzisa,2106 Chartres St, in the Marigny.
Don't miss seeing Gutenberg- The Musical! Directed and starring Sean Patterson & Gary Rucker at the Southern Repertory Theatre, third floor, One Canal Place. at 8 p.m. Call 525-4498 for reservation.
The Obituary Cocktail Society is meeting this Friday as always from 6-7 p.m. at Chateau LeMoyne Hotel Lounge, 301 Rue Dauphine - 581-1303. Obers are morning the loss of one of their first follower: Jack Dennis. My deepest sympathy to Ginger. This is the weekend that most of the obers are flying to San Miguel de Allende and the gathering will be at the Sierra Nevada- Parque Restaurant, Hospicio 42 where last year along with my roommates I hosted a wonderful gathering. I hate to miss it, but as you all know, I am looking for a job to supplement my Realtor Job.
I want you guys to think of me, when you are looking for a house to sell or buy and for apartments and art gallery such as the beautiful gallery that I am listing at 830 Royal Street. E-mail me at margaritabergen@hotmail and I will send you a list of my listings.
Friday, August 8, Becky Allen in The Queen of Bingo- to benefit the Jefferson Children's Advocacy Center The Jefferson Performing Arts Society and Krewe Des Sept Productions is proud to present three special fundraiser performances of Becky Allen in "The Queen of Bingo" to help The Jefferson Children's Advocacy Center provide a comfortable, child-friendly environment as the assist children from abusive homes. Performances are August 8-10 at the Teatro Wego! Dinner Theatre, 177 Sala Avenue in Westwego. An Opening night Extravaganza kicks off this limited run on August 8. Hosted by local personality Spud McConnell, the night includes dinner and drinks. Please call 504-400-8949 to reserve tickets.
On Friday, August 8-As the summer heats up, plan to chill out at the Oasis Bar at the Pool in the Royal Sonesta Hotel. Check your stress levels at the door and ascend the elevators to the hotel's 3rd Floor Pool and Terrace area where Chef Peter Page will be grilling specially selected menu items just for you. Allow our bartenders to prepare your favorite summer cocktail You will experience the cool Latin rhythms of Riccardo Crespo's music as you settle in to enjoy informal modeling this week by - Fleur de Paris presents custom couture hats and elegant women's clothing. While there you should check talented vocalist Betty Shirley, Quartet - Women in Jazz -The Mystick Den, Royal Sonesta Hotel, 300 Bourbon Street. 9:00 p.m. to 12 midnight. No Cover charge.
Armand St Martin appears solo on the Steinway every Friday and Saturday night at the Ritz Carlton Cigar Bar on the 3rd floor from 6 to 11 p.m. $25/per or private membership.
You do not want to mis: Bugsy Malone, Jr. through August 10 at NORD. -Where else would pint-sized gangsters get whacked with silly string? Only at the NORD/ Crescent City Lights Youth Theater production of Bugsy Malone, Jr., the rollicking tongue-in-cheek tribute to the 1920’s gangster flick. Bugsy Malone, Jr. NORD Ty Tracy Theatre in Gallier Hall at 545 St. Charles Ave. The production runs through August 10 with performances on Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Ty Tracy Theatre on the 1st Floor of Gallier Hall, 545 St. Charles Ave. (enter via Lafayette St.). Tickets are $15 general admission and are available online at http://www.crescentcitylights.org/. For more info or for group sales, contact 504-598-3800.
Red Dress Run takes place on Saturday, August 9 at 1 p.m.. starting at Ernest Cafe,600 St. Peters Street. You can register on line at www.nolareddress.com and the registration includes beer, food and red dress giveaways for $50.
On Saturday, August 9, from 10 a.m.--1:00pm at WoldenbergRiverfrontPark,the musicians of New Orleans are producing a recording and video of the song, We Shall Not Be Moved, featuring some of New Orleans' best players,singers and choirs, along with national celebrities. The project is designed to heal, uplift and unify the people of New Orleans---and the world---
We're expecting national media coverage for the launch of the WSNBM video on YouTube August 29th.
It is important that everyone be represented: from dock workers to the social elite; from Zulu to Rex; from debutantes to Indians; from students to business leaders; from Uptown to the Lower 9 to Lakeview to the East. We would like to have 2,000 to 3,000 people in the crowd, so PLEASE INVITE EVERYONE YOU KNOW.
Everyone is asked to bring: water, sunscreen, a hat or parasol.Dress: Clothing that best represents how you see yourself in our community, from seersucker suits to t-shirts and jeans ... you decide. If you're bringing a group, please wear something that identifies you as a group (like uniforms or t-shirts).
On Saturday, August 9, the Deutsches Haus, 200 S. Galvez St is hosting a Gulasch Party at 7 p.m. to introduce the grand marshal for the 2008 Oktoberfest Parade. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 years and younger. the price includes dinner, dessert, drinks and coffee. Call 485-6454. Enjoy it.
The eagerly anticipated Dirty Linen Night is taking place Saturday, August 9 along the 200 to 900 block of Royal Street, Jackson Square and Dutch Alley Artists Co-op at Dumaine Street from 6 p.m. on . Participants are invited to wear their dirty linen from last week or wear pirate or wenches costumes. The 7th annual Dirty Linen Night, an annual art walk in the French Quarter that invites you into the artist-owned studios, galleries and unique shops in the French Quarter,, where free libations provided by Glazer of New Orleans will be waiting for you. Fredy Omar's Latin Jazz Quartet will perform at the Dutch Alley Artist's Co-Op at the foot of Dumaine Street and Decatur St, and other musical performances will occur throughout the route. Casual summer dress. Dirty martinis, Dirty rice, and the New Orleans Roller Girls will perform. 6 to 9. Look out for the pirates and wenches of New Orleans See list below:
This year’s event will feature beverages provided by Glazer’s Companies of Louisiana, celebrating seven years as the original sponsor. The founders of Dirty Linen Night have also partnered with the non-profit organization BORN, to bring awareness of the organizations efforts. For more information about Dirty Linen Night, please call (504) 453-3664.
ROYAL STREET
237 Royal Street - Royal Passage - Acme Pale Ale
241 Royal Street - Angela King Gallery - Vox Vodka Martinis
316 Royal Street - Bryant Galleries - Tapena Garnacha
318 Royal Street - French Art Network / Galleria Bella - Tapena Tempranillo
433 Royal Street - Martin Lawrence Gallery - Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noir
Roaming - Bearded Oysters
Roaming - The Pussyfooters
Roaming - Crew of Jean LaFete
Roaming - Alex Burke
505 Royal Street - Wellington & Company Fine Jewelry - Pearl Vodka Dirty Martini
526 Royal Street - Feet First - Estrella Lager
536 Royal Street - Kako Gallery - House White Wine
537 Royal Street - Rumors, LTD - Smirnoff Mojitos
540 Royal Street - Elliot Gallery - House Red Wine
541 Royal Street - French Art Network / Galleria Bella - Perrier Sparkling Water
601 Royal Street - Toulouse Royale Gifts - Chateau St Jean Chardonnay
604 Royal Street – Maude - Pranqster Golden Ale
606 Royal Street - New Orleans Crab Bag - Beringer Chardonnay
611 Royal Street - Ginja Jar - Yellowtail Sparkling
612 Royal Street - Le Jardin - Chatreuse Orange Sunburst
623 Royal Street - Antiques de Provence - Rene Barbier Wine
626 Royal Street – Peacocks - Chopin Vodka Dirty Martinis
600 Block - Papa Frog's - African Drum & Dance
Royal & St Anne - Info & Door Prize Table - Wenches of the F Q
700 Royal Street - Forever New Orleans - Martin Weyrich Moscoto
Live Music - Ash
712 Royal Street - The Latin Quarter - El Tesoro Margaritas
713 Royal Street - Galerie Dalroy - 10 Cane Rum Grapefruit Margarita
717 Royal Street - Vena Art Gallery & Studio - Tanqueray Rangpur
721 Royal Street - Rodrigue Studio - Chandon Sparkling Rose
729 Royal Street - Gem De France - Kronenbourg 1664
736 Royal Street - Robert Guthrie Gallery - Barefoot Pinot Grigio
738 Royal Street - Gallery Rinard - Chandon Pinot Noir Rose
738 Royal St - Live DJ
812 Royal Street - California Drawstrings - Old Stock Ale
815 Royal Street - Live Music - Street Gumbo
818 Royal Street - Casell Gallery - Crown Royal
819 Royal Street - Lyon & Lyon Fine Art - Felluga Pinot Grigio
824 Royal Street - Hove' Parfumeur, LTD - PAMA Liqueur Coolers
827 Royal Street - Painted Alive Gallery - Barefoot Bubbly
827 Royal - Live Body Art Demo
830 Royal Street - aNZIE aDAMS Fine Art Gallery - St Germain Liqueur / Barefoot Bubbly
831 Royal Street - Matthew Peck Gallery - Ciroc Grapetini
832 Royal Street - All Amzie All the Time - Nuvo
800 Block - Dave Boodakian - Live music
906 Royal Street - Animation Gallery Royal - El Mayor Margaritas
910 Royal Street - Fredrick Guess Studio - Effen Vodka Martinis
918 Royal Street - RabDab - Scrimshaw Pale Ale
924 Royal Street - Sabai Jewelry - Barefoot Pinot Grigio
927 Royal Street - Royal Sundries - Blue Star Wheat
927b Royal Street - Pamela's Living Room - Barefoot Shiraz
934 Royal Street - Fifi Mahoney's - Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc
936 Royal Street - Michelle Elmore Gallery - Luna Dirty Screw
900 Block - Big Easy Roller Girls
1022 Royal Street - Starling Books - Hpnotiq Summer Cooler
1028 Royal Street - Al Wagner - Absolut Summertime
1029 Royal Street - Off the Beaten Way - Buena Vista Chardonnay
1036 Royal Street - Nadine Blake - Sauza Margaritas
1000 Block - Black Mafia Productions
JACKSON SQUARE
St Anne & Chartres - Info & Door Prize Table - Wenches of the FQ
806 Chartres Street - The Voluptuous Vixen - Official 2008 Dirty Martini
808 Chartres Street - Violet's - Beringer Blush Sparkling
Stanley's Peter Live Music - Water Glasses
829 Chartres Street - Trashy Diva - Smirnoff Bloody Mary
839 Chartres Street - Photo Works, LLC - Beringer Cabernet
513 St. Ann - The Little Toy Shop - Shingleback Sparkling Shiraz
517 St Ann - Ma Sherie Amour - Shingleback Shiraz
523 St. Ann - The 1850 House - Kronenbourg 1664
St Anne & Chartres - Live Music - Willow
532 St. Ann - Creole Delicacies - Appletinis
514 St. Peter - Eye on the Square - Non Alcoholic Drinks
518 St. Peter - Oh Susannah - Clois du Bois Pinot Grigio
534 St. Peter - Muse - Rene Barbier Red
DUTCH ALLEY ARTISTS CO-OP
912 N. Peters Street - Tito's Dirty Martini
Live Music - Fredy Omar
Dutch Alley - Info & Door Prize Table Wenches of the FQ
Painter Reggie Ford will be creating a large scale painting, live in Dutch Alley.
Chateau Sonesta Hotel offering $99 rate 8/7-11, 2008. including a coupon book valued at $150 offering discounts to area attractions, restaurants, bars, etc."Don't drink and drive" stay at the Chateau for Dirty Linen Night!!
August 10 is SUNDAY SWING-– Music by Lionel Ferbos and the Palm Court Jazz Band-1 p.m. -4 p.m. The National WWII Museum, 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans, Kick up your heels at The National World War II Museum, 945 Magazine Street with Sunday Swing. Professional swing dancers from Hop, Swing and a Jump will be on hand to provide coaching for dancers of all levels while local musicians play World War II era hits. While there make sure you see the special exhibitions, “Reel To Reel: Hollywood & WWII” and “Schindler: Unlikely Hero of the Holocaust.”
On Sunday, August 10, The Junior Committee of the New Orleans Opera Association cordially invites you to their Annual Summer Party at Dominique's at The Maison Dupuy Hotel,1001 Rue Toulouse in the French Quarter from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
Entertainment will include the gypsy jazz of Vavavoom,as well as performances by local swing dancers. Dress is summer cocktail.Cost is $25 for Juniors, Associates, and their guests,$35 for all others.
Please call Gina to make reservations and pay by credit card,(504) 529-2278 extension 227 -For more information, please email juniors@neworleansopera.org
Please put in your calendar: August 13- Round Table Luncheon at Begue's of the Royal Sonesta Hotel.
The monthly Round Table Luncheon will be held, Wednesday, August 13 at noon, at Begue's Restaurant of the Royal Sonesta Hotel.
The invited guest speakers are:
Mary Beth Romig, Director of Communications and Public Relations
of the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau
Sandra S. Shilstone, President & CEO of New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation
Toni Rice of New Orleans Multicultural Tourism Network
$35 per person includes three-course gourmet luncheon, wine, champagne and complimentary parking.
For reservations, please contact Noel Scallan at 504-553-2220 or email her at nscallan@royalsonestano.com
Congratulations to Chef John Currence, Oxford, Mississippi! He beat out 14 other prestigious chefs from across the nation to be crowned King of American Seafood at the 2008 Fifth Annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off! It was a spectacular battle between great culinary talents at the Louisiana Foodservice EXPO, but at the end of the two day contest, only Chef Currence became Seafood royalty. And that's no title to take lightly. In second and third place winners were Brian Landry of Galatoire Restaurant representing Louisiana and Tafari Campbell of Maryland.
Tales of the Cocktail announces Behind the Bar Photo Exhibit New Orleans bars to be preserved in photo exhibit.
Photographers are being summoned nationwide to assist in preserving the culture and history of New Orleans as part of the work of The New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society. I have been having a ball photographing some of my favorite mixologists creating their spirited libations.
Darling friends, 
