Darling Readers,

Put up your events on the Bayoubuzz calendar of events or see what else is going on in this community.

With Hurricane Gustav behind us and Ike no longer presenting a threat, New Orleans have many reasons to celebrate. Our city and its residents are grateful that Gustav didn't unleash its fury and strength in our city, and we welcomed back the victorious return of our beloved Saints in their first home game of the season.

Many of our scheduled fundraisers were either cancel or postponed. But as our residents and workers start to return to our city, many restaurants are operating and many venues such as the New Orleans Museum of Art are opening their doors so we can resume our cultural/social life.

Before I go on listing all the fun events scheduled for this week, I want to express my condolence to the family of Robert Luther Flurry, Jr.. Dr Flurry, a chemist, a musician and a resident of the French Quarter will be missed. The funeral is this morning at 11 a.m. at Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church, 3900 St. Charles Avenue.  

On Tuesday, September 9, you will be able to attend two wine tastings. The first one starting at 6 p.m. will be at Dos Jefes Wine and Cigar Bar on Tchoupitoulas Street. Free for the ladies and $10 for the gentlemen.

The other will be “South of the Border,” by W.I.N.O (Wine Institute of New Orleans), 610 Tchoupitoulas Street at 7 p.m. $40 per person. You will be able to explore the wines of the Southern Hemisphere, from Chile, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. An average of 8 to10 wines are tasted in each class. Payment must be made in advance to guarantee reservation. 504-324-8000; info@winoschool.com .

The Southern Food & Beverage Museum (SoFAB) in the Riverwalk is inviting everyone to join them as they celebrate community through food, music, and wine. Their first Fall Music Series, Cinq a Sept, begins Tuesday, September 9. The inaugural event in this six-week series will feature music by The New Orleans Jazz Vipers, complimentary food courtesy of Restaurant August and a cash wine bar. This first event is from 5-7 p.m. and is complimentary with $10 museum admission.

The Museum will also feature on Saturday, September 13, W.I.N.O.’s founder, Brian Burkey, presenting “Location, Location, Location A Wine Seminar”. The $10 Admission Fee includes entrance to the Southern Food & Beverage Museum and The Museum of the American Cocktail as well as the festivities. Parking will be validated. Museum members free.

Wednesday night's Mid-Week in Mid-City will go on as originally planned at the New Orleans Museum of Art.  This week features a special University Night for college students, with live music by multi-instrumentalist Tony Seville, a free Colombian coffee tasting and presentation, and a free screening of Favela Rising, winner of 36 international film festival awards. The coffee tasting begins at 5 p.m. in the Great Hall, and the 80-minute Favela Rising is set for 6:15 p.m. in the Stern Auditorium. Saturday night's private preview reception for two new exhibitions, “Prints Past & Prints Present” and “Seeking the Light: Studio Glass by Luke Jacomb” also will go on as planned.

The Delgado Community College Foundation will  present this Wednesday, a forum/debate, moderated by WWL News Anchor Dennis Woltering, featuring four candidates for Orleans Parish District Attorney: Linda Bizzaro, Leon Canizzaro, Ralph Capitelli and Jason Williams. The event will begin at 10 a.m. at Delgado Community College, City Park Campus Building 11, First Floor, College Gymnasium, 615 City Park Ave. The event is free and open to the public.

 
Fredy Omar con su Banda is going to be recreating the “Red Room Experience” in the venue now known as the Cricket Club, starting Wednesday, September 10. Those of us who fondly remember Fredy’s regular Wednesday night gigs at the Red Room in the early 2000s will not want to miss this new “Red Room Experience” with the wonderful acoustics that made him and his band sound so fabulous! The Cricket Club is at 2040 St. Charles Avenue (the old Eiffel Tower) and the beat kicks in at 9 p.m. Viva la musica Latina!

 Harrison Avenue Marketplace Will Take Place as scheduled on Wednesday!

Le Chat Noir welcomes Amy Alvarez and Jefferson Turner in He Loves and She Loves: The Gershwin Music We Love." September 11-21, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sunday the 14th at 2 p.m. and Sunday the 21st at 6 p.m. Thursday the 11th tickets, only, available through-the Mystik Krewe of Satyricon by calling 525-4498. All other tickets are available through Le Chat Noir and are $28 (including a $5 bar credit). Make reservations by calling the box office at 504-581-5812.

Due to hurricane Gustav, Southern Rep is canceling the first week of performances of SPEECH & DEBATE, but they will pick up starting Wednesday with Free Night of Theatre , followed by previews every night at 8 p.m. until the Opening Night and a reception on Saturday, September 13  and on Sunday, September 14. Regularly scheduled matinee 3 p.m.

The schedule then continues with performances Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.  SPEECH & DEBATE will be extended an additional week, through October 5. If you had tickets for any canceled performance through this Sunday, September 7, a staff member will be contacting you shortly to reschedule your attendance date.  Tickets are usually $20 - $27 ($0 for “Free Night of Theatre, $18 for Previews, and $35 for Opening Night).  Tickets may be purchased online anytime at www.southernrep.com or by calling the Box Office at (504) 522-6545 noon to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.

Carolina Gallop's Fashion Show Extravaganza has been postponed from September 10 to Wednesday, October 1, from 7-11 p.m. at the Blue Nile, 532 Frenchmen Street. Call 948-BLUE. Details will follow.

On Thursday, September 11, the Ogden After Hours is presenting vocalist Margie Perez.
Margie is a dynamic and vivacious performer specializing in a versatile blend of Blues, Pop, New Orleans Funk, and Latin music. 6-8 p.m., Lobby Atrium of The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, 925 Camp Street; info@ogdenmuseum.org .

The Polo Club Lounge, 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.

Fridays, September 12, 19 & 26 - Leah Chase, 9 p.m.–12 midnight

Saturdays, September 13, 20 & 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). No Cover Charge.

Sunday Champagne Jazz Brunch in the New Orleans Grill The Christopher Kohl Trio.

The weekly gathering of the Obituary Cocktail Society is at its usual time of 6-7 p.m. at Tomatillo's, 437 Esplanade Ave. 945-9997.

Jefferson Performing Arts Society’s 13th Annual Pasta & Puccini Gala will take place Friday September 12, 7:30 p.m. in Harrah’s Casino Theater, 8 Canal Street. Proceeds from this annual fundraiser will benefit JPAS children’s programs that reach over 10,000 youth throughout five parishes in the Greater New Orleans area. These programs include the JPAS Children’s Choir & Chorale, programs and special performances for school groups, and traveling arts outreach programs that integrate the arts into the curriculum and cater to at-risk youth.  For tickets, or for more information contact coordinator Valerie Hart at 504-885-2000 ext. 212 or visit www.jpas.org .

On Friday, September 12, “Secrets in Lace” presents Bustout Burlesque in The Mystick Den. Envision the sultriness of a classy jazz club, add a touch of edgy attitude and embrace a bit of nostalgia for that retro feel, and you’ll get a sense of the “new” Mystick. The Royal Sonesta’s premiere entertainment venue has a sexy new look that will be showcased with the return of a vintage burlesque production to the swanky Bourbon Street location.

Producer, creator and burlesque historian, Rick Delaup, will present a special production of Bustout Burlesque that will run for  consecutive Fridays through October 17. Two shows will be presented each evening at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.  For more information on the Royal Sonesta Hotel, please call the hotel directly at 504-586-0300 or visit www.sonesta.com .

SABA JAWDA -Venture oil on canvas will be presented on Friday, September 12 from 6-9 p.m. at Perrin Benham Gallery, 1914 Magazine Street. 504-565-7699.

Friday, September 12, Great Show at UNO: Sammy Figueroa and his Latin Jazz Explosion. 7:30 pm at UNO Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.

My darling friend, vocalist Maryflynn Thomas is back at Andrea's singing this Saturday from 8-11p.m. at Andrea’s Capri Longue in Metairie.

NO/AIDS Task Force Annual Walk will be held on Sunday, September 14, in Audubon Park. This year, NO/AIDS hopes to raise $200,000 to assist the men, women and families that NO/AIDS Task Force serves. Now in their 25th year of service to the greater New Orleans area, NO/AIDS is continuing to expand to meet the growing needs of the HIV affected population

The NO/AIDS Walk is open to anyone who wishes to participate. You can register for the walk online at http://www.noaidswalk.com/. You can fundraise and walk as an individual or gather friends, family and co-workers and form a team. Teams are their best fundraisers each year, and a great way to give back to the community while having fun at the same time. For businesses and organizations, teams are a great way to promote the work you do.

Mark your calendar and break out your blue suede shoes! JPAS is "All Shook Up!" Join the Jefferson Performing Arts Society as they celebrate the opening of their 31st Season at the "All Shook Up" Block Party on September 13, 3-7:15 p.m. on historic Sala Avenue around the Westwego Performing Arts Theatre, 177 Sala Avenue in Westwego.  Don't miss out on the FREE fun at this fabulous fifties block party featuring live music, a vintage car show, and fun and games for the whole family! Stick around for the opening night performance of "All Shook Up" at 7:30 p.m.  To reserve your opening night tickets call 504-885-2000. The Block Party is a free event, open to the public.  Don't miss your chance to dunk Dennis! Swing by the JPAS dunking booth and try your luck at dunking Dennis Assaf, JPAS Artistic Director.  

Please put in your calendar that the monthly Round Table Luncheon will be Wednesday, September 17 at noon at Begue's Restaurant of the Royal Sonesta Hotel. The Luncheon will salute the 2008 Cultural Season and representative from the New Orleans Ballet, the New Orleans Opera, The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and Prospect One have been invited. The $35 per person is all inclusive and includes complimentary parking and wine. We MUST HAVE confirmed reservations and entree selections for all guests attending the Begue's Round Table Luncheon. For reservations, please contact Noel Scallan at 504-553-2220 or email nscallan@royalsonestano.com .Seating is limited and I encourage our guests to come at 11:30 a.m. so they can network. 

And, finally, I have to give a good plug to my dear friend Bonnie Broel who does so much for the New Orleans historical and cultural community. Bonnie’s House of Broel Foundation Fundraiser, originally scheduled for Saturday, September 27 is still on! 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.
 
Have a great week and stay safe.  Please follow this link for additional information regarding help for Gustav:  

Margarita at margaritabergen@hotmail.com