TAX HELP: University of Holy Cross students and Entergy volunteers will offer free tax assistance to Entergy customers Feb. 24, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m., in the UHC Moreau Center, 4123 Woodland Drive in New Orleans. UHCâs free tax prep will continue every Saturday through April 6 (except March 9 and 30). www.uhcno.edu.
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GUMBALAYA COOK-OFF: The St. Angela Merici Menâs Association will sponsor a cooking competition on Feb. 24, 4:30-9:30 p.m., at the school, 835 Melody Drive in Metairie. Tickets include gumbo, jambalaya/pastalaya and lagniappe tastings prepared by cooking krewes. Tickets are $20 adults; $10 children, with 5 and under free. www.stangelaschool.org/.
BOOK SALE: The Friends of Jefferson Public Library’s first warehouse sale will be held Feb. 24, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave. in Metairie. Purchase prepackaged boxes — children’s literature, romance or fiction (combination of hardback and paperback) — for $5 per box. Cash only; boxes sold sight unseen. Proceeds benefit the Jefferson Parish Library. FriendsJPL@yahoo.com or (504) 445-2665.
COOK-OFF FOR THE COAST: The event raising awareness about coastal restoration will be held Feb. 24, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at Docville Farm in St. Bernard Parish, 5124 E. St. Bernard Highway in Violet. Teams prepare dishes featuring wild game found in Louisianaâs coastal wetlands. Proceeds benefit the Chandeleur Sound Living Shoreline Program. coastcookoff.com.
PLANT SALE: City Park Conservancy will hold a plant sale March 1-3, 9 a.m.-noon, at the Pelican Greenhouse at City Park, 2 Celebration Drive in New Orleans. Plants start at $3. Availability lists are posted Tuesday before the sale. (504) 483-9437 plants@nocp.org.
ARTS MARKET: City Park Conservancy will hold its monthly arts market March 9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Goldring/Woldenberg Great Lawn at City Park, 8 Victory Ave. in New Orleans. The market features more than 30 local and Gulf South artists who showcase handmade works. artsneworleans.org.
BIG BASS FISHING RODEO: The 75th annual fishing rodeo, the oldest freshwater rodeo in the country, will be March 23 at 56 Dreyfous Drive in New Orleans City Park. Other activities include a fishing competition for grades 7-12; a competition for kayakers and nonmotorized vessels on Bayou St. John; and Fishtival, a free event with a DJ and more. Registration opens at 6:30 a.m., with the Fishtival 9 a.m.-noon. Tickets start at $10. neworleanscitypark.org.
ST. JOSEPH ALTARS
ARCHBISHOP CHAPELLE HIGH SCHOOL: Altar viewings will be from noon to 8 p.m. March 18-19 at the gymnasium, 8800 Veterans Memorial Blvd. in Metairie. An altar blessing will be held at noon March 18, and a rosary at 7 p.m. On March 19, Tupa Tupa will be at noon, with lunch following in the cafeteria. Viewings will be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m. www.archbishopchapelle.org.
CULTURE AND CONCERTSÂ
REMEMBER OUR HERITAGE: The St. Joseph Missionary Baptist Church Library Ministry, including the Westside Youth Choir and St. Joseph MBC’s Youth/Young Adult Choir, will perform the musical, âOur History in Song,â on Feb. 23, 7 p.m., at the church, 236 Robinson Ave. in Marrerro. www.stjosephbaptistchurch.org.
POPP UP MUSICAL STORYTIME: The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra series returns to Popp Bandstand at City Park, 54 Dreyfous Drive in New Orleans, on Feb. 24, 10:30-11 a.m., with cellist David Rosen. Free neworleanscitypark.org.
THE TRAIL THEY BLAZED: A traveling exhibit from The Historic New Orleans Collection will be on view through March 4 at the Blaine Kern Library at the University of Holy Cross Algiers campus, 4123 Woodland Drive in New Orleans. The exhibit features more than 40 quotes and sound bites from New Orleans and Lower 9th Ward participants in the local civil rights movement and highlights the 1963 march on City Hall. www.hnoc.org.
MUSICAL LOUISIANA: LâARRIVEE: The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra will perform featuring the Ursuline Manuscripts and chamber ensembles Variant 6 and Filament, Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m., at St. Louis Cathedral, 615 Pere Antoine Alley in New Orleans. lpomusic.com.
NEW ORLEANS WOMEN IN MUSIC: The concert series, held each March during Womenâs History Month and sponsored by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, will feature women performers at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center, 1225 N. Rampart St. in New Orleans. Performers are Susan Cowsill, March 1; Mikayla Braun, March 2; Margie Perez, March 8; Dawn Richard, with Charm Taylor opening, March 9; Anna Moss, March 15; and Tarriona Ball Poetry, with Indys Blu opening, March 16. Doors open at 7 p.m.; concerts begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10; registration required. events.jazzandheritage.org.
ABOVE THE FOLD: âAbove the Fold: The History of Newspapers in Louisianaâ will be presented by The Historic New Orleans Collection, 520 Royal St. in New Orleans, on Feb. 24, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Speakers will explore how the medium has evolved from the decades leading up to the Civil War to the present day. $25-$75 through Eventbrite. www.hnoc.org.
PRINCE HALL MASONS AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT: The Amistad Research Centerâs Conversations in Color series will kick off Feb. 24, 12:30-2 p.m., with a discussion between Kathe Hambrick, ARC executive director, and Ralph Slaughter, Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Louisiana Prince Hall Masons. Site is the ARC, Tilton Hall, Tulane University Reading Room, 6823 St. Charles Ave. in New Orleans. Free; register online tinyurl.com/ycywpp55.
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS: Alexandrea Weis, the award-winning author, screenwriter, and historian talks about her friendship with Tennessee Williams on Feb. 27, 7 p.m., at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., in Metairie. Co-sponsored by the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. (504) 838-1100 or www.jefferson.lib.la.us.
AI AND THE FUTURE OF HISTORY: Margeaux Randolph will lead a discussion on leveraging AI to preserve historical documents, images and artifacts and to explore cultural heritage. Randolph is co-founder of Kr8 Ventures software development company. The event is Feb. 28, 5:30-7 p.m., at the ARC, Tilton Hall, Tulane University Reading Room, 6823 St. Charles Ave. in New Orleans. Free; register online at tinyurl.com/d6cpjejm.
BOOKS
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BOOK ONE NEW ORLEANS: Mona Lisa Saloy, author of “Black Creole Chronicles,” will launch 2024 programming with a reading from her book on Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. in Room 407 of the Earl K. Long Library at UNO, 2000 Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans. onebookonenola.org
THE GUILD OF WIZARDRY & WHIMSY: The monthly fantasy book club will meet March 5 at Blue Cypress Books, 8123 Oak St. in New Orleans. Â at 6:30-8:30 p.m. www.bluecypressbooks.com.
“THE COUNTERFEIT COUNTESS”: Author Elizabeth White and radio host Peter Ricchiuti will discuss her latest book, “The Counterfeit Countess: The Jewish Woman Who Rescued Thousands of Poles During the Holocaust,” on Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. at Blue Cypress Books, 8123 Oak St. in New Orleans. www.bluecypressbooks.com.
“THE AMERICAN DAUGHTERS”: Author Maurice Carlos Ruffin will discuss his newest novel and sign copies on Feb. 27, 6 p.m., at Baldwin & Co. Bookstore, 1030 Elysian Fields Ave. in New Orleans. Tickets for the event start at $32.50 through Eventbrite and include a copy of the book. www.baldwinandcobooks.com.
“TENNESEE WILLIAMS 101”: Author Augustin J. Correro will discuss his book Feb. 28 at 7 p.m., at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., in Metairie. Co-sponsored by the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. (504) 838-1100 or www.jefferson.lib.la.us.
“FIRST LIE WINS”: Author Ashley Elston will discuss her book and its adaptation with Oscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer on Feb. 29, 6 p.m., at Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St. in New Orleans. RSVP encouraged. www.gardendistrictbookshop.com.
SCHOLARSHIPS
SBVFC SCHOLARSHIPS: The St. Bernard Chapter of the Louisiana Volunteers for Family and Community is accepting applications for its scholarship program through March 31. Four $1,000 scholarships will be awarded for the fall 2024 school year. A graduating senior attending any metro New Orleans high school, who is a resident of St. Bernard Parish and a U.S. citizen, is eligible. heartsy1@aol.com.
FUNDRAISERS/GALASÂ
LARK IN THE PARK: City Park Conservancyâs fundraiser will be held March 8, 7-11 p.m., at the New Orleans Botanical Garden + Pavilion of the Two Sisters, 1 Victory Ave. in New Orleans. It features live music, food and specialty cocktails. VIP preview party at 7 p.m.; gala at 8 p.m. with music by Raw Deal. General admission tickets are $100, with 35 and under tickets $75. one.bidpal.net/lark/welcome
ST. BERNARD SPORTS HALL OF FAME: The induction and awards ceremony will be held March 9, 7 p.m., at the Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center, 8246 W. Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette. Guest speaker will be DD Breaux, former LSU women’s gymnastics coach. Tickets are $60 at shorturl.at/cruw5. Info at stbernardhalloffame@gmail.com.
WINE FETE: The fundraiser benefiting the Hermann-Grima + Gallier historic houses will be held March 22 in the French Quarter at Hermann-Grima House Courtyard, 820 St. Louis St. in New Orleans. The patron party is 6-7 p.m., and the main event is 7-10 p.m., with wine, live music, food, specialty cocktails and a silent auction. Tickets start at $125. hgghh.org.
CLASSES
TOUR GUIDE CLASS: Applications are being accepted for the Friends of the Cabildo Walking Tour Guide Class, set to begin Feb. 26. The 100-hour course on New Orleans history, public speaking skills, and the mechanics of leading a walking tour will train volunteer tour guides to staff FOC French Quarter walking tours. The four-week class meets 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The cost of the course is $250. (504) 523-3939 or barbara@friendsofthecabildo.org.
AARP SMART DRIVER CLASS: The class will be Feb. 21, 5-9 p.m., at the Ochsner/Elmwood Fitness Center, 1200 S. Clearview Parkway in Harahan. This class is open to all age 50 and older. Those completing it will receive a certificate that may qualify them for a discount from their automobile insurer. Cost is $20 for AARP members, $25 nonmembers. (504) 828-3962.
MEETINGS
NARFE: The Vernon L. Landry Chapter 1398 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees will hold its monthly luncheon March 13, beginning at 11 a.m., in the Sicilian Room at Rocky and Carlo’s Restaurant & Bar, 613 W. St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette. All active and retired federal and postal employees are invited. pamela.e.marks1953@gmail.com.
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