This is one of those weekend that I wish I had a clone to be able to attend the marathon of fun social /cultural soirees that include the  New Orleans Museum of Art's Love in the Garden, NewOrleans.com's Re-launch party at Tipitina;  La Petite Theatre's Encore Gala  hosted by Bryan Batt and Patricia Clarkson, The Big Top Gallery's  Circus, Circus, Circus; Bonnie Broel's  A Debut on the Avenue and NO/AIDS Walk .

Unfortunately, the annual  Overture to the Cultural Gala rescheduled for Sunday, September 27  has been cancelled.  

Fortunately,The New Orleans Museum of Art is hosting LOVE in the Garden--featuring live music, dancing, open bar and cuisine from 40 local restaurants--on Friday, September 26.

Now in its fourth year, Love in the Garden has become one of  The New Orleans Museum of Art's most popular annual events, with delectable dining from 40 of the city's finest restaurants, an open bar, live music, and dancing under the stars and the oaks in the city’s most romantic setting, the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. This year’s music will be provided by The Boogie Men and the John Rankin Trio. Tickets for Love in the Garden start at $50 for NOMA members and $60 for non-members ($75 at the door). To order tickets or for more information, visit www.noma.org/love.

Ten New Orleans-based artists will be honored at the event for their contributions to the city's cultural life: Wayne Amedee, Nicole Charbonnet, Jeffrey Cook, Garland Robinette, Elaine Gleason, Joann Greenberg, Beth Lambert, Auseklis Ozols, Richard Thomas and Martin Welch. 

Oktoberfest at The Deutsches Haus-200 S. Galvez Street

Oktoberfest starts on Friday, September 26th and ends on Friday, October 31.
The festival is held every Friday from 3 pm to 1 am, and every Saturday from 6pm to 1 am. Deutches Haus was formed in 1928 as a benevolent and social organization.

The spirit of "Gemütlichkeit" pervades the Deutsches Haus year-round, but it is especially prominent for our Oktoberfest celebration featuring live bands, great traditional German cuisine, German beer, wine and schnapps, dancing in the Biergarten, favorite folksongs, and delightful souviners from Germany.

 THRILLUSIONS® will be back at New Orleans Harrah's Theatre with a brand new show, "almost" starring Rod Stewart, Prince, and Tina, featuring Award-Winning Illusionist James Brandon & the Thrillicious Dancers. The engagement is for four nights only, September 25, 26, 27 & 28. 
 
 NewOrleans.com Launch Party-Friday, September 26, 2008 at 9pm. There will be a very special night of Music, Food and and fun as New Orleans.Com celebrates its rebirth with  at Tipitinas starting a 8 p.m. Entertainment by
Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indians, 504 Brass Band,  Anders Osborne w/Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone & Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Big Sam’s Funky Nation All-Star Band f/Kirk Joseph, w/appearances by Kermit Ruffins, Marva Wright, Cyril Neville

And if you can’t make it to Tip’s you can join the party at NewOrleans.Com! . 

The Polo Club Lounge, on the second floor of the Windsor Court Hotel, named by Zagat as one of New Orleans’ best bars in the city, 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. No Cover Charge. This Saturday, they are welcome back beautiful chanteuse  Anais St John with a Perrier Jouet Champagne Party that I sure you do not want to miss.

Fridays, September 26 - Leah Chase, 9 p.m.-12 midnight

Saturday, September 27 - Anais St. John returns to The Polo, 9 p.m.-12 midnight

Sunday-Wednesday - Pianist Jim Harris, 6-10 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday - Pianist Michael Pellera, 7-11 p.m. Thursdays; 7-9 p.m. Fridays; 6-9 p.m. Saturdays.

"All Shook Up" performances run Thursday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, 2 p.m., through October 5 at the Westwego Performing Arts Theatre. Don't miss this rock-and-roll retelling of Shakespeare's The Twelfth Night to the music of Elvis Presley! Featuring Rich Arnold, Chase Kamata, Meredith Long and Kris Shaw, "All Shook Up" is produced in association with the Allenberry Playhouse of Pennsylvania and directed by Claude Giroux of the Allenberry Playhouse.

The George French Trio is playing Thursday through Saturday from 5:15-8:45 p.m. at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, 921 Canal Street on Trois Lounge. The guest drummer is Herman Jackson. Jeremy Davenport plays at Melague and Armand St. Martin at the Library and for the Brunch.
     

Last week, I was fortunate to attend the opening of the Royal Sonesta Hotel's Secrets in Lace Presents “Bustout Burlesque” in The Mystick Den with shows at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. The authentic 1950s-style burlesque production, starring Kitty Twist, Foxy Flambeaux, Praline DuPree, Lola Van Ella, Debbie Davis and Dante the Magician (with special guest star, former Bourbon Street Burlesque Queen Wild Cherry), will run through October 24. Please call 504-586-0300 to purchase tickets in advance. Don’t miss it! It’s a great, fun show produced by Rick Delaup.

The Obituary Cocktail Society is meeting this Friday from 6-7 p.m.at Broussard's Restaurant, 819 Conti Street.

This Saturday, the monthly market presented by the Arts Council of New Orleans features creatively crafted items from paintings, ceramics, and woodwork to handmade jewelry, candles from 10 a.m.; to 4 p.m. Live performances in the Music Tent include Gypsy Jazz by the Courtyard Kings at 1:00 pm, followed by Bob French's Original Tuxedo Brass Band at 2:30 pm.

 My friend Bonnie Broel’s fundraiser for the House of Broel Foundation is on Saturday, September 27. Bonnie has taken her St. Charles Avenue mansion, near the corner of Jackson Avenue in the Garden District, and turned it into a museum featuring her exquisite doll house creations. You have to see it to believe it! And now she is trying to raise funds for her foundation to keep this historic and scenic landmark operating.

“A Debut on the Avenue II” will kick off on the 27th at the House of Broel, 2220 St. Charles Avenue, with a Patron Party from 7-8:30 p.m., followed by a Gala from 8:30-11 p.m. World renowned Chef Andrea Apuzzo of Andrea’s Restaurant in Metairie will be cooking and demonstrating, and food will be provided by some of the city’s most renowned restaurants, including Antoine’s, Arnaud’s, Muriel’s, Café Giovanni, Zea’s and more. Music and entertainment will be provided by the Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra, pianist/humorist Philip Melancon, Rocky Troxler, Jay Cavalier, Moscow Nights and sultry vocalist Suzaune Yee McKamey. Open bar courtesy of Glazer’s Family of Companies.. Come in cocktail attire or get into the spirit by dressing as a “Living Doll.” For more information or to make reservations call Bonnie at 522-2220 or 494-2220. Checks and credit cards accepted.

 Saturday, September 27 features Encore! A Fete for Le Petit Theatre.  Darlings, you do not want to miss this repeat performance of last year’s fabulous performance. Encore once again will be hosted by our very own Academy Award-nominated actress Patricia Clarkson and renowned Broadway actor Bryan Batt. There will be great performances as well as some fabulous action items. For reservation call 522-9958.

Saturday, September 27, Hispanic Heritage Month and Smithsonian Magazine's Museum Day

Special this season Louisiana State Museum invites the public to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Smithsonian Magazine's Museum Day on September 27 with "Across the Border".  This program invites families to dance together with Javier Juarez, former principal dancer of Folklorico de Mexico. Then guests can tour the Cabildo, Presbytere and other LSM properties free of cost with their Smithsonian Museum Day Pass available at www.smithsonianamag.com.

 On Saturday, September 27 from 7 p.m. ­ until, 3 Ring Circus Arts Education Center will present its first annual block party celebration entitled: Circus, Circus, Circus. The fun-filled evening will begin with a Patron Party at 7 p.m. featuring the music of local songstress, Anais St.John with the Street Carnival beginning at 8 p.m. in front of the The Big Top gallery at 1638 Clio Street.

The night will feature 3 exciting stages (2 circus rings on Clio Street and one in The Big Top) of music; delicious food and whimsical circus snacks by local restaurants; refreshing spirits; circus games and revelry; live and silent art auctions; fabulous raffle prizes and fun for everyone who's a kid at heart. Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit 3 Ring Circus Arts
Education Center, celebrating 5 years under The Big Top and as a non-profit 501(c)3 arts organization and 10 years as 3 Ring Circus Productions, a roving art production company that has created "art-mosphere" in
non-traditional settings.

Circus, Circus, Circus will feature a variety of musical and circus acts including: Anais St. John, Rotary Downs, Davis Rogan, Fredy Omar, Michael Skinkus and Margie Perez, Fatter Than Albert, The Other Planet, Inferneaux Fire Performance Troupe, Billion Dollar Baby Dolls, Poisson Rouge, Billy Schotz and Whirly Bones, Claudia and Her Beir Gartners, Sarah the Bobcat,
Uncle Flim Flam¹s Ragtime Orleans Mechanical Music, Clockwork Elvis,Princess Stephaney and many more. Ringmasters for the evening include Jon Sazerac the Clown Pult, Comedian  Wild Bill Dykes and Bartlett Meeks.

The evening will also include a tribute to three very special Arts Patrons who have gone above and beyond in their commitment to keeping the cultural landscape of New Orleans alive and vibrant. They include: Dorian Bennet of
Dorian Bennet/Sotheby International Realty; Don Marshall, Executive Director of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation; and Echo Olander, Executive Director of KIDsmArt.
 

My darling friend, talented comedian Chris Champagne is doing his show "American Spleen" one last time Saturday,
8PM at the Fair Grinds Sept 27 $10 Cheap.  Please come if you can.

Orange Kellin and  Vernel Bagneris bring their classic jazz elation to Snug Harbor on Saturday, September 27. An extra bonus is the appearance of singer Topsy Chapman, also a former member of the hit musical "One Mo' Time". They are all accompanied by the New Orleans Joymakers which includes jazz masters Bunchy Johnson on drums, Steve Pistorius on piano, and Tom Saunders on bass and tuba. With Orange on clarinet and Vernel's exuberant voice and dance steps, this will be a joyful evening for all. Shows at 8 and 10 p.m.

HARRAH’S SWEATS TO THE OLDIES WITH NEW ORLEANS NATIVE RICHARD SIMMONS

Guests Invited to Work-Out with Richard Simmons Sept. 27 at Harrah’s Theatre

Sweat to the oldies with New Orleans native Richard Simmons at Harrah’s Theatre, Saturday, Sept. 27.

Get your heart pumping with Simmons, followed by a meet and greet session and photo opportunity with the workout legend. Registration begins at noon. The workout session with Richard Simmons begins at 2 p.m. Tickets for the workout are $20 and must be purchased in person during registration at the Theatre. Participants will receive complimentary Red Bull and Fiji water. Guests are encouraged to bring their own cameras.

More information about entertainment at Harrah’s New Orleans is available at www.harrahsneworleans.com. You must be at least 21 to enter.

Big Easy Rollergirls' Calendar Release Party

Start the season out right by hanging out with your favorite flat track ladies at the 2008-2009 BERG Calendar release party on Saturday, September 27, 2008! Festivities start at 9p with doors opening at 8p at Old New Orleans Rum at 2815 Frenchmen Street.

Entertainment will include dance music with DJ Facial Hair, burlesque, a fashion show with BERG and Dirty Coast Press merch, Belle BERG Devo, and BERG Dance Troupe. There will also be a raffle with prizes including gift certificates to Mulate's - The Original Cajun Restaurant, $100 to Olivier's Creole Restaurant, $50 gift certificates to Sun Ray Grill, several gift cards to The Ember's Steak House and passes to the Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours all generously donated by New Orleans TV.

My darling friend Javier Guitierrez and Acoustic Swiftness are performing this Saturday at 10 p.m.at Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar, 5535 Tchoupitoulas Street, 504 - 891-8500.

Sunday, September 28 is the NO/AIDS Walk. Registration at 8 a.m. Walk at 10 a.m.  Audubon Park Magazine Street - Shelter 10.

This Sunday, Trinity Artist Series is presenting at 5 p.m.:

Henry Lee, violinist & The Korean Chorale with Kent Jensen, cellist; Jesse Nolan, tenor: Albinas Prizgintas, pianist/organist & FRIENDS
Sundays at 5 pm  Free -Trinity Church - 1329 Jackson Avenue - New Orleans

Have a nice weekend 

 Margarita

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