BEST OF THE FESTS
Here’s what’s coming up in April and May
We love a festival, and spring heralds the commencement of the fairs-andfestivals season across the metro area. Whether you’re looking for barbecue, schnapps, crawfish, grilled calamari, or tacos, or something you can’t eat but still enjoy (like poetry and cigars), there’s a festival for that.
April and May are filled with scores of events, including our second-largest annual celebration, Jazz Fest the granddaddy of New Orleans music festivals.
Here are a few of the biggest ones you’ll want to add to your calendar
HOGS FOR THE CAUSE: April 4-5; UNO Lakefront Festival Grounds, 6801 Franklin Ave. in New Orleans. One of the largest barbecue and music fes-
tivals in the country, with more than 30,000 fans gathering, dancing to 20 bands and eating their way across 90 competing barbecue teams, the festival has raised millions of dollars to fight pediatric brain cancer Tickets start at $50. Kids 10 and under get in free. VIP packages are available. hogsfest.org.
BUCKTOWN SEAFOOD FESTIVAL: April 4-6; St. Louis King of France School, 1609 Carrollton Ave. in Metairie. Hours are Friday, 6-10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. The free event includes carnival rides, food vendors and live entertainment, including School of Rock and Contraflow.
VOLKSFEST 2025: April 4-6; 1700 Moss St., New Orleans. Friday hours are 4-10 p.m., Saturday, 1-10 p.m. and Sunday, 1-6 p.m. Deutsches
Haus will host the traditional German spring festival on the banks of Bayou St. John with German food and drinks, dachshund races, soccer shootouts, wine and schnapps tastings, a Maypole and music. Admission is $5 nonmembers; free for kids under 12 and Deutsches Haus members, plus one guest. deutscheshaus.org.
CROATIAN FEST: April 4-5; 220 Croatian Way (Avenue G) in Belle Chasse. The festival is hosted by the Croatian American Society. Hours are Friday 6-9 p.m., and Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Featured will be fresh local seafood, along with Croatian favorites like grilled calamari, grilled sardines, spit-roasted lamb and more. Other activities include live
ä See FESTS, page 2G
Getting rid of fleas may take more than just treating a pet
One of my colleagues recently asked me to write about fleas. It seems they have been an ongoing problem for her pup, and she has yet to find a way to get rid of these little blood suckers for good. Unfortunately our very humid south Louisiana climate is the perfect breeding ground for fleas. They are enemy No. 1 for our pets. Fleas are everywhere. Pets can pick them up outdoors, from other animals or when they get brought into the home on our shoes or clothing. Even if you don’t always see signs of them, fleas are lurking year-round. And when the temperatures rise, they come out in full force.
Fleas are also one of the hardest pests to control. No one is safe. No one. When they move in, they become a problem for the entire family They will attack not only the pets, but the yard and home, too.
Fleas are not just an itchy nuisance. They can pose a serious health threat to our pets. In addition to itching and irritation and making pets miserable, severe flea infestations can cause pets to become anemic due to blood loss. Also, intestinal parasites such as tapeworms are commonly spread through fleas. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the life cycle of a flea depends on how favorable the environment is. Fleas thrive in warm climates and usually (but not always) die in colder months. Since we are relatively warm year-round here, fleas are a constant threat.
Traci Howerton ANIMAL RESCUE
FILE PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD
Hogs for the Cause offers barbecue, music and more April 4-5 at the UNO Lakefront Festival Ground.
Musicians can get help managing their business sides at free workshop
BY JANE LEGROS Contributing writer
A free educational series aimed at addressing the challenges facing locals in the music industry is coming up in April, presented by the New Orleans Public Library along with the Mayor’s Office of Nighttime Economy and the Ella Project. The Music Census Sessions will focus on music business sustainability
The first session will be on April 2 from 2-4 p.m. at Nora Navra Library, 902 St. Bernard Ave., and will focus on building a music business plan. Featured speakers will be Axel Rosa from South 25 Entertainment and Amy Kirk Duvoisin from WWOZ. Attendees will learn how to treat their music careers like a businesses by creating a structured plan for growth. This session will cover defining your brand, setting financial and career goals and developing a roadmap for long-term success. The nonprofit Ella Project serves pro bono legal clients in matters of copyright, trademark, patent, contract negotiation, licensing, and for nonprofit incorporation. Visit nolamusiccensus. org/sessions for details.
about and explore ways to express their creativity, using blackout poetry, magnetic poetry kits, and more. This event is for ages 1118. Visit events.nolalibrary org to register Walk-ins are welcome.
Also on April 3, Latter Library will host a Poetry Night from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
POETRY MONTH: April is National Poetry Month, and the library is celebrating with books, programs, and events for all ages.
On April 3, teens are invited to a poetry workshop at 3:30 p.m. at Smith Library, 6301 Canal Blvd. Participants will learn
The event will feature readings from local poets published in the New Orleans Public Library’s own anthology, RENEWED. The anthology is curated through the library’s annual Adult Summer Fun Writing Contest, which opens for a third year on June 1. The library is located at 5120 St. Charles Ave. For more information about writing workshops and resources, including the RENEWED Anthology and National Poetry Month events, visit nolalibrary org/for-writers.
JOB HUNTING: Susan Salomone, from Workforce De-
FESTS
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Croatian music, traditional kolo dance performances, and a kids’ area. www.CroatianAmericanSociety.com.
NOLA CIGAR FESTIVAL: April 10-13; various locations. Cigar enthusiasts gather to celebrate the culture surrounding premium cigars. Activities include meet-andgreets, a car show, crawfish boil and the Black & Gold Ball. Tickets start at $100 via Eventbrite. www.nolacigarfestival.com.
NEW ORLEANS POETRY FESTIVAL: April 10-13; various locations. The 10th annual event starts with the Locals Night Opening Gala April 10, 7 p.m., at the Saturn Bar, 3067 St. Claude Ave. in New Orleans. Readings, roundtables, workshops and a small press fair will take place April 1213, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at the New Orleans Healing Center, 2372 St. Claude Ave. in New Orleans. Other events include an open mic session and a main event. Free. nolapoetry com.
FRENCH QUARTER FESTIVAL: April 10-13, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; around the Quarter. The free celebration features more than 20 stages and more than 60 food vendors, kicking off with a parade on Thursday at 10 a.m. The French Quarter Fest After Dark Series offers nighttime programming from 9 p.m. to midnight. After Dark tickets and Family VIP passes for sale. frenchquarterfest.org.
NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL: April 24-27 and May 1-4; Fair
CINCO DE MAYO FEST: May 5, 4 p.m. until; Lafreniere Park, 3000 Downs Blvd. in Metairie. The largest celebration of Mexican food and culture in the New Orleans area offers music on two stages, food, lucha libre wrestling, bull riding and a taco-eating contest. Tickets start at $25. VIP packages available. www cincodemayofest.com.
BAYOU BOOGALOO: May 1618; Bayou St. John at Orleans Avenue. Gates open Friday at 4:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Entertainment includes comedy, drag bingo, crawfish-eating contest and live music, including Big Freedia’s Gospel Revival and Honey Island Swamp Band. Tickets start at $39.50. Children under 12 are free with an adult. More details at thebayouboogaloo.com.
velopment and Career Solutions at Ochsner, will bring her personal job-searching experience, career success, and years of coaching experience to the library’s “Job Searching from A to Z: Getting the Job You Want and Need,” workshop series.
The series kicks off April 3 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Nora Navra Library with “Find Your Fit in the Job Market.” During this workshop, job seekers will learn how to research jobs and employers that match their preferences, skills, and income needs.
The library is located at 902 St. Bernard Ave. Visit events.nolalibrary.org to register
PLANT SWAP: Bring your clippings, propagations, cast off plants, unused seeds, and spare pots to swap and share with others at Hubbell Library’s Plant Swap on April 5. Stop by at 725 Pelican Ave. between 10:30 a.m. and
FLEAS
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Adult fleas use a dog or cat as a feeding ground for blood and breeding. They reproduce very quickly
If you spot one, know that there are many more nearby
Once they appear, flea eggs will also appear within as little as two days. These eggs may be laid on our pets in their fur, in the carpet in our home or outdoors in the grass, especially tall grass. Eggs will hatch within one to 10 days into larvae that live in carpeting, grass, etc. The larvae develop into pupae that hatch into adults. An adult flea will then emerge from the pupa and latch onto an animal, and the cycle starts all over again. One female flea can lay up to 2,000 eggs in her short lifespan. Where are they? Even if the fleas are not visible, it does not mean that they aren’t present. Fleas spend the majority of their time in the environment, not on the pet, so they can sometimes be difficult to lay eyes on. Check carefully for fleas or signs of flea dirt, which looks like coarsely ground pepper
If one animal in the household has fleas, it is safe to assume that all pets in the home have been infested. For every one flea found, there are hundreds of fleas, larva, pupa and eggs nearby
What’s the solution?
There are several flea medications on the market, but a visit to the veterinarian is the best source for preventing and getting rid of fleas. Not all flea medications
12:30 p.m. to browse the offerings and make your own seed bomb to propagate local wildflowers.
AUTHOR TALK: Hubbell Library will host author Danielle Del Sol on April 8 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. to discuss The Preservation Resource Center’s book “Painting the Town: The Importance of Color in Historic New Orleans Architecture.” Featuring images by award-winning photographer Chris Granger and essays by Susan Langenhennig, John Pope, Michelle Stanard Duhon, Sally K. Reeves, Dee Allen, and Michelle Shoriak, this book captures the city’s spirit with vivid photography, essays, and color advice. The library is located at 725 Pelican Ave.
Jane LeGros is the director of marketing and communications for the New Orleans Public Library
Grounds Race Course, 1751 Gentilly Blvd. in New Orleans. Fourteen stages with more than 5,000 performers. The 2025 festival will showcase Mexico’s music and culture Vendors will offer crowdfavorite foods and crafts in three marketplaces. Advance tickets through April 8 start at $89. Multi-day and VIP passes are available. www. nojazzfest.com. PLAQUEMINES PARISH SEAFOOD & HERITAGE FESTIVAL: April 25-27; 333 F. Edward Hebert Blvd. in Belle Chasse. The celebration of local seafood also includes live music, a 5K race, crafts, carnival rides and a kids tent. Friday hours are 6-10:30 p.m. Saturday hours are 11:30 a.m.10:30 p.m. Sunday hours are 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. plaqueminesparishfestival. com. OLPS TOMATO FESTIVAL:
April 25-27; 2320 Paris Road in Chalmette. Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church and School will host the festival of live music, local cuisine, games and rides. Friday’s hours are 5:30-11 p.m. Saturday’s hours are 11 a.m.10 p.m. Sunday’s hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Entrance fee is $5 per person per day, with OLPS students and kids under 12 free. Ride pricing is $30 daily or $65 for the weekend, with individual ride tickets available for purchase. www.olpstomatofest.com.
NOLA CRAWFISH FESTIVAL: April 28-30, 3-10 p.m. daily; The Broadside, 600 N. Broad St. in New Orleans. The 10th anniversary festival will offer boiled seafood and live entertainment. Tickets start at $64.95. Multi-day, VIP and Super VIP packages available. www.nolacrawfishfest. com.
GREEK FESTIVAL NEW ORLEANS: May 23-25; Holy Trinity Cathedral, 1200 Allen Toussaint Blvd. in New Orleans. Hours are 5-11 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday. Events include live music on the outdoor stages, kids’ activities, the Greek Festival Run/Walk Race on Saturday. Food offerings include traditional Greek pastries, entrees, and more. Tickets start at $10. www.gfno.com.
JEAN LAFITTE SEAFOOD FESTIVAL: May 30-June 1; Jean Lafitte Auditorium and Grounds, 4953 City Park Drive in Jean Lafitte. Louisiana food, a full weekend of live music, swamp tours, kayak rentals, carnival rides and an art walk. Swamp tours will also be offered. Children 12 and under are free. www lafitteseafoodfest.com.
are equal, and some overthe-counter products can be ineffective and even harmful to pets. If fleas have moved in, treating the pets alone may not be enough. Be prepared to seek out professional pest control to have the home and yard treated as well.
Events
APRIL 5: The Dachshund Dash will benefit ARNO, at 4 p.m. at Volkfest at Deutsches Haus, 1700 Moss St. in New Orleans. The registration fee is $25 on the day of the race and includes two entry tickets. Gates open at 1 p.m. For more info, email info@animalrescueneworleans.org.
Traci D. Howerton is the volunteer manager for Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO), a nonprofit, volunteerbased, no-kill shelter For more information on ARNO, visit www animalrescueneworleans. org.
PET OF THE WEEK
Don’t let his size fool you. Lil Bear is a little guy with a big personality. This 5-month-old Jack Russell
mix is full of energy, always bouncing, jumping and zooming with his favorite toys. He loves playing with other dogs, too, and is always the life of the party If you’re looking for a fun, spunky and lovable puppy, Lil Bear is your guy To learn more, email adopt@animalrescueneworleans.org
PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD
Carré,
PHOTO BY GRANT THERKILDSEN Short but mighty dachshunds will test their speeds at Volksfest, April 4-6 at Deutsches Haus in New Orleans.
PROVIDED PHOTO
terrier
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
Musicians can get help managing their careers in a workshop series at the Nora Navra Library.
“Shell's RootsRun Deep in St.Charles Parish. To us,beingagood neighbor means morethan safely clocking in and out;itmeans actively supporting theplacesand communitiesthathavebeen thefoundation of our business fornearly acentury.”
TAMMYLITTLE | General Manager,ShellNorco
In honor of ShellNorco's 95thanniversary,ninety-fiveemployees partnered with thePontchartrain Conservancytoplant1,000 treesat Wetland Watchers Park in St.CharlesParish.
Thesetrees will help fortifythe Lake Pontchartrain shoreline,createnew wildlife habitat, and supportlocalair quality.Atthe event,Shell NorcoGeneral Manager Tammy Little announced a$175,000 donation to theSt. Charles Parish Parksand Recreation Department to helprebuild thepark’spier,which wasdamaged in Hurricane Ida.
shell.us/louisiana
STAFF PHOTOS BY SCOTT THRELKELD
The 43rd Louisiana Irish-Italian Parade rolls in Metairie.
Italian Grand Marshal Charles Marsala hands out flowers.
Frenchie the dog and owner Louie Corzo dress for the occasion.
Emily Aslett catches a loaf of bread.
Parc Curtis, 7, who brought his own basket, catches a banana.
Robi Luquet, 11, right, catches a lemon.
Eyes on the prizes
The 50th Louisiana Crawfish Festival took over the Frederick Sigur Civic Center in Chalmette recently, with rides, games and lots of juicy crustaceans.
Big Easy Wing installs officers, honors two members
Staff report
The Big Easy Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, an aviation education unit based at New Orleans Lakefront Airport and one of more than 100 units nationwide, recently installed new officers and recognized two members with awards. William Triay was presented with the Ubert Terrell Distinguished Service Award for outstanding dedication to the wing and for his assistance in flight events. Roger Jeffrey received the David Oreck Unit Performance Award for his dedication and service to the wing’s education program. Harold Buchler is wing leader and Bill Alverez is executive officer New officers include Alverez, Roger Jeffrey,
PROVIDED PHOTO
Big Easy Wing officers for 2025 front row from left, are Bill Alverez, Roger Jeffrey, Harold Buchler and Terry Clausing Back row, James Mydris, Rick Wood, Shirley Colomb and Kris Caldwell.
Buchler, Terry Clausing, James Mydris, Rick Wood, Shirley Colomb and Kris Caldwell.
Learn about Lafayette, the French
who fought for American independence
Cyril Lagvanec, Ph.D., will talk about the legendary Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier de Lafayette at 7 p.m. April 8 at the East Bank Regional Library 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.
The Marquis de Lafayette (Sept 6, 1757 – May 29, 1834) was a French aristocrat, military officer, politician and liberal thinker He volunteered to join the Continental Army, led by Gen. George Washington, in the American Revolutionary War. Lafayette was permitted to command Continental Army troops in the decisive Siege of Yorktown in 1781, the Revolutionary War’s final major battle that secured American independence. After returning to France, Lafayette became a key figure in the French Revolution of 1789 and the July Revolution of 1830.
Chris Smith LIBRARY LAGNIAPPE
Lagvanec is the curator of the AmericanItalian Research Library located on the second floor of the East Bank Regional Library
PITOT HOUSE TALK: Stacey Pfingsten, executive director of the Louisiana Landmarks Society and Pitot House, will discuss the historic house at 7 p.m. April 10 at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W Napoleon Ave., Metairie.
The Pitot House celebrates 225 years this year One of the few West Indiesstyle houses remaining in Louisiana, it was home to the first U.S. mayor of New Orleans, James Pitot, and his family 18101819. The only colonial Creole country house in New Orleans that is open to the public, the building was purchased in 1964 by Louisiana Landmarks Society, an architectural preservation nonprofit, which uses the house as its headquarters. The Pitot House is a National Trust Partner in Preservation.
SATURDAY WRITER’S CLINIC: Two local authors
— Madeline Landry and Sharon LaCour — will be the featured speakers at the Saturday Writer’s Clinic April 12 at the East Bank Regional Library 4747 W Napoleon Ave., Metairie.
9:30 a.m. – “Perceptions in Writing” with Madeline Landry
Here’s how she explained the session. “As a writer, it fascinated me to learn about the perception process in graduate school,” Landry said. “This is why a book or story means something to us as readers. This is why a book or story doesn’t mean the same thing to me when I read it as a young adult compared to when I read a year or many years later This is why a book or story changes us as writers and changes our readers. This seminar is about
SPRING REVIVAL: Dr. M.C. Zeno will lead the revival, “Revived and Renewed by the Word of God,” at St. Joseph Missionary Baptist Church, 236 Robinson Ave. in Marrero, on April 2 and April 9. Guest speaker on April 2 will be Dr. Robert Myers, pastor of Greater Emmanuel MBC and
how that process works.”
Landry received a Master’s in communication studies from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2006 and has taught at the college level. She continues to teach online and is a freelance writer for local media.
11 a.m. — “Point of View” with Sharon LaCour Point of view refers to the perspective that the narrator holds in relation to the events of the story
The three primary points of view are first person, in which the narrator tells a story from his own perspective (“I went to the store”); second person, in which the narrator tells a story about you, the reader or viewer (“You went to the store”); and third person, in which the narrator tells a story about other people (“He went to the store”). Each point of view creates a different experience for the reader, because, in each point of view, different types and amounts of information are available to the reader about the story’s events and characters.
LaCour’s stories and essays have been published in the Xavier, Sheepshead, Chautauqua and Arkansas Reviews, among others. Her debut novel, “The Meeting of Air and Water,” was a novel-in-progress finalist in the William Wisdom-William Faulkner novel competition in 2019.
ASTRONOMY: C Gregory Seab, Ph.D., will discuss “The State of the Universe 50 Years of Big Bang Astrophysics, at 7 p.m. April 2 at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. His presentation occurs as part of the regularly scheduled meeting of the Pontchartrain Astronomy Society, which meets at the library on the first Wednesday of each month. Seab is an emeritus professor of physics at the University of New Orleans.
WWII DISCUSSION GROUP: Bryan Wallace, Harahan’s chief of staff, will discuss the “Ghosts of Harahan/Harahan and World War II,” at 7 p.m. April 3 at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. He will talk about Camp Harahan/Plauche, as well as the 10 men from Harahan who died during the war MUSIC: The New Aurora Saxophone Ensemble performs a concert title “Big Screen, Little Screen,” at 7 p.m. April 7 at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.
Chris Smith is manager of adult programming at the Jefferson Parish Public Library
FAITH NOTES
Second Mount Calvary MBC. Guest speaker on April 9 is Troy D. Smith Sr., pastor of True Vine MBC of Hahnville. Services will be held at 7 p.m. (504) 341-4858. “SEVEN LAST WORDS OF CHRIST”: The Lott Quartet will perform Joseph Haydn’s or-
be April 15 at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with a preconcert talk at 7 p.m. crescentcitychambermusicfestival.com/ spring-concerts.
JEFFERSON PARISH
CHRIST THE KING: Dinners at the church, 535 Deerfield Road in Terrytown, will be served April 4 and 11 5-7:30 p.m. The menu varies each week. (504) 361-1500 christkingterrytown.com.
DIVINE MERCY PARISH: KC Council 14822 will sell drivethru dinners at the church 4337 Sal Lentini Parkway in Kenner, on April 4 and 11, 3-7 p.m. or until sold out. Dinners are $15 a plate. April 11 menu will include a fried shrimp option. Drinks are $1. (504) 467-6221 divinemercyparish.org.
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP: KC Stoulig Council 3528 will host dinners every Lenten Friday except Good Friday, 4-7 p.m., at the church, 1908 Short St. in Kenner. Drive-thru pickup is available. www olphla.net. OUR LADY OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE: Drive-thru dinners will be served at the church, 8617 W. Metairie Ave. in Metairie on all Fridays of Lent except Good Friday, 4-7 p.m. or until sold out. Catfish plates or crawfish pie plates are $10. Pint of shrimp etouffee is $7. Individual crawfish pies are $4. Bread pudding is $3. oldp org. ST. AGNES: The Men’s Club will host dinners in the Marquette Activity Center at 3410 Jefferson Highway in Jefferson on April 11, 5 p.m. Plates are $15. Family bingo will be included on April 11. (504) 833-3366, www.stagnesjefferson.org.
ST. ANGELA MERICI: Dinners will be held April 11, 5-8 p.m., at the church, 901 Beverly Garden Drive in Metairie. Fish plates are $12 for adults, $10 for children. Drive-thru available. Grilled fish or fried shrimp plates are $14, soup is $5, and cheese pizza or fries are $3. (504) 835-0324, stangela.org.
ST. MATTHEW’S: St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, 6017 Camphor St. in Metairie, will hold a dinner on April 4, 4:30-7 p.m. Adult plates are $14, and children’s plates are $8. Drive through, take out and dine in are available. stmatthewsumc.com.
ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA: The church at 105 Bonnabel Blvd. in Metairie will host dinners on April 4, 5:30-7 p.m. Fish, shrimp or combo plates are $15 plates, and softshell crab dinners are $18. (504) 8359343, scschurch.com.
ST. CHRISTOPHER THE MARTYR: The Men’s Club will host drive-thru dinners on April 4 and 11, 6 p.m., at the church, 3900 Derbigny St. in Metairie. Fish or shrimp dinners are $14, and combo plates are $15. www.stchristophermensclub.org.
ST. EDWARD THE CONFESSOR: St. Edward Association of Men will host dinners on April 4, 5-8:30 p.m., at the church at 4921 W. Metairie Ave. in Metairie. STEAMevents.org.
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER: KC 8546 will offer dinners onApril 4, 6:30-8 p.m., at the school, 444 Metairie Road in Metairie Adult plates $15, children’s plates $10. Seafood gumbo is $10. Cheese pizza is $2 per slice. Desserts will be sold by Daughters of Isabella. Cash or credit cards accepted. (504) 957-3348, church.stfrancisxavier.com.
ST. JOACHIM: The church will hold drive-thru dinners every Lenten Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., except Good Friday at 5505 Barataria Blvd. in Marrero Fish plates are $10, shrimp plates $12, combo plates
ST. ANN CHURCH AND SHRINE: Dinners will be served April 4 at 4940 Meadowdale St. in Metairie. The KC Council 3465 will sponsor March 7 and 21, 5:30 p.m., dine-in only. Plates are $12. An April 4 menu will be announced later. The St. Ann Men’s Club will sponsor dinners on March 14 and 28, 5:30 p.m., drive-thru or dine-in, and on April 11, 5:30 p.m., drive-thru only Fish or shrimp plates are $12, and combo plates are $15. stannchurchandshrine.org.
$14. (504) 341-9226, www stjoachimmarrero.org.
ST. JOHN PAUL II CHURCH: The church will sell lunch, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and dinner, 5-7 p.m., on Lenten Fridays except Good Friday at 6851 River Road in Waggaman. Dine-in or takeout. Gumbo is $12, fried or blackened fish plates or shrimp and grits are $15. Homemade dinner rolls. jpiiwestbank.org.
ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER: Knights of Peter Claver 267 will host dinners on April 11, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., behind the church at 453 Pine St. in Marrero. Plates are $15 and include fish, baked spaghetti and other specialty options. (504) 994-9975, www stjworker.church.
VISITATION OF OUR LADY: The church, 3520 Ames Blvd. in Marrero, will host dinners to dine in or take out on April 4 and 11, 5-8 p.m. Seafood plates are $10-14. vol.org.
ORLEANS PARISH
ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC: The church at 300 Ptolemy in Algiers will host dinners April 4 and 11. Fish plates are $15, gumbo is $8, hush puppies and crawfish balls are $3, and drinks are $1. allsaintschurchnola.org.
GOOD SHEPHERD PARISH: KC Council 3411 will sell drivethru dinners at the Basilica of St. Stephen, 1025 Napoleon Ave. (Gen. Pershing Street at rear of church). Dates are April 4 and 11, 5-7 p.m. Cost is $12 per plate. (504) 239-1297, www.goodshepherdparishnola.com.
HOLY NAME OF MARY AND SANTA MARIA: KC 1724 will sell dinners at the church, 342 Olivier St., on April 4 and 11. Fish dinners are $15, combo plates are $16, and shrimp plates are $17. (225) 226-9813,holynameofmarynola.org.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE: The Knights of Peter Claver 394 will hold dinners at the church, 411 N. Rampart St., on April 11, 10:30 a.m. until sold out. Cost is $10 per plate. judeshrine.com.
ST. DAVID: The church will hold dinners every Friday during Lent except Good Friday at 5617 St. Claude Ave., 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Catfish or shrimp plate is $13. Combo plate is $15. stdavidnola.com.
ST. DOMINIC: On April 11, 6-8:30 p.m., the church will hold a dine-in or takeout dinner at 775 Harrison Ave Shrimp St. Dominic is $15. Shrimp, fish or combo plates are $15 for adults and $10 for kids. Cheese pizza is $3 per slice. (504) 482-4123, stdominicparish.com.
ST. JOSEPH CHURCH: The church will hold a fish dinner on April 11, 6 p.m., at 1802 Tulane Ave. Donations will be accepted. stjosephchurch-no. org. ST. JOSEPHINE BAKHITA: The church at 3501 N. Miro St. will hold dinners on April 4 and 11, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Plates are $13. (504) 945-3186, sjbnola.org.
ST. MARIA GORETTI: The church, 7300 Crowder Blvd., will host dinners on April 4 and 11, noon-5 p.m. Plates of fried or baked fish are $15. www.smg-nola.com
ST. MARTIN DE PORRES: The church at 5601 Elysian Fields Ave. (at Prentiss Avenue) will hold dinners, 10:30 a.m.5:30 p.m. or until sold out, on all Fridays in Lent except Good Friday. Plates of fried or baked fish are $15 plates. (504) 908-8279, smdpnola. com.
ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE: The church, 6828 Chef Menteur Highway, will hold dinners on April 4 and 11, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Plates are $12. (504) 242-8820, www.stpaultheapostlechurch-nola.org.
MATER DOLOROSA: The church will host its dinners at 1231 Dublin St. (corner Plum Street courtyard), on April 11, 5-8 p.m. Cost is $15 per plate. (504) 813-4913, www.mdolorosa.com.
ST. PETER CLAVER CHURCH:
The Knights of Peter Claver Council 50 will hold drive-thru dinners at the church, 1923 St. Philip St., on April 4 and 11, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Plates are $12.
ST. RAYMOND AND ST. LEO
THE GREAT: The church, 2916 Paris Ave., will hold dinners on April 4 and 11, 11 a.m.4 p.m. Plates are $14 and include a drink. (504) 945-8750, stpeterclaverneworleans.org.
TOUPS FAMILY MEAL: Throughout Lent, Toups Meatery, 845 Carrollton Ave in Mid-City New Orleans, will host $26 lunch specials, beginning at 11 a.m. and featuring wild-caught fried catfish, hushpuppies, potato salad. All proceeds go directly to Toups Family Meal, the 501©(3) nonprofit organization founded by chef Isaac and Amanda Toups and dedicated to fighting food insecurity in New Orleans. www.toupsfamilymeal.com.
PLAQUEMINES
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL
HELP: Dinners will be held all Fridays of Lent except Good Friday, 5:30-8 p.m., at 8968 Louisiana 23 in Belle Chasse. Drive-thru is available. olphbc.org.
ST. BERNARD PARISH
OUR LADY OF LOURDES: The church at 2621 Colonial Blvd. in Violet will host dinners on April 4 and 11, 5-8 p.m. www olol-church.com.
ST. BERNARD: The church, 2805 Bayou Road in St. Bernard, will serve dine-in dinners on Fridays in Lent, March 7 to April 11, 5-8 p.m. Dinners/po-boys start at $16 with options including fried fish, fried shrimp, stuffed crab, seafood platter plates, shrimp or fish po-boys, seafood gumbo, crawfish pies, shrimp jambalaya and shrimp fettuccine. (504) 281-2267, stbernard-stbla.com.
ST. CHARLES PARISH ASCENSION OF OUR LORD: 1809 Greenwood Drive,
LaPlace: April 4, 11, from 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Drive-thru plates, $13, two large pieces of fish, fried or grilled, with Cajun-boiled corn and potatoes. Mike Abbate, (504) 388-2452.
ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA: The church, 234 Angus Drive in Luling, will host dinners on April 4 and 11, 5-7 p.m. Fish or seafood gumbo plates are $13. (504) 810-0011 stanthonyluling.org.
ST. CHARLES BORROMEO: The church, 13396 River Road in Destrehan, will serve drivethru dinners only on April 11, 4-7 p.m. Plates are $15. (985) 764-6383, scblittleredchurch. org.
ST. JOAN OF ARC: 346 Fir St., LaPlace (KC Hall). Every Lenten Friday except Good Friday, 3-7 p.m. Drive-thru. Hot dinners include $14 fresh Des Allemands catfish plate with corn, potatoes, hush puppies; $15 plate of either Gulf of Mexico shrimp; or combo of fish and shrimp with corn, potatoes, hush puppies. Also, $14 plate of cold shrimp pasta. More info, Jared Cazenave, (504) 487-2412.
ST. MARK: Dinners will be held at the church’s Father Cote Center, 10773 River Road in Ama, on April 4 and 11, 5-7 p.m. Dine-in or takeout. Plates will include shrimp, fish or shrimp stew options. Phone orders start at 4:30 p.m. (504) 470-2489, stmarkama.com.
ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL: The church will serve dinners on April 4, 4-8 p.m., in the parish hall, 15405 U.S 90 in Paradis. (504) 343-7315 or (504) 343-7315, stmichaelparadis.org.
ST JOHN OUR LADY OF GRACE: The church, 780 Louisiana 44 in Reserve, will host dinners every Friday of Lent except Good Friday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., 5:30-7 p.m.
olgcommunity.com.
AREA FISH FRIES
STAFF PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD
Steam rises from a basket of piping-hot crawfish at Today’s Ketch Seafood booth.
STAFF PHOTOS BY SCOTT THRELKELD
Festgoers check out food offerings during the 50th Louisiana Crawfish Festival.
SCHOOLS
Mount Carmel students raise money by giving new life to formal dresses
Staff report
Students at Mount Carmel Academy in New Orleans are continuing their efforts to make formal attire more accessible while supporting their community This
initiative, launched several years ago by Claudia Ortega’s Spanish IV students, collects gently worn formal dresses and resells them at an affordable price. The program provides students with budget-friendly options for school danc-
es, promotes sustainability by giving dresses a second life and raises funds for class field trips and local nonprofit organizations. This year, students sold 50 dresses, with proceeds supporting a field trip exploring Spanish culture in
New Orleans. The remaining dresses were donated to Puentes New Orleans, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering the inclusion of Latinos in public, political and socio-economic life.
SCHOOL NOTES
St. Bernard Parish Terrific Teachers for 2025 are, front row from left, Candice
THE WILLOW SCHOOL: Eighth grader Jayden Michael Gardere has been named a 2025 Louisiana Student of the Year finalist for Region 1. The state program recognizes exceptional fifth, eighth and 12th grade students for achievements in academics, leadership and service. Gardere maintains a 4.0 unweighted GPA while taking courses including Advanced Honors Geometry. He is a member of the band, Key Club, Young Life Club and the basketball teams. He is a second-degree black belt and assists in the New Hope Baptist Church media ministry BENJAMIN FRANKLIN HIGH: Akshita Sridhar, a senior at Franklin, has been named a finalist for the Louisiana Student of the Year. A National Merit finalist, she achieved a perfect 36 on the ACT and a 1590 on the SAT and earned a first-place sweepstakes win at the Academic Games National Tournament. Sridhar is co-captain of the varsity softball team, and co-president of the Southeast Louisiana Youth Council. Her paper on using machinelearning models for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is under revision by the “National High School Journal of Science.” LOUISE S. MCGEHEE SCHOOL: Catherine Cresson, chair of the science and math departments, has been honored with the 2024-2025 H. William Christ Educator Prize, presented by the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools. It recognizes educators who exemplify excellence in creative teaching and programming. Cresson has been at McGehee for 15 years. She launched the upper school robotics program, and her middle school robotics team won the STEM Legacy Award at the National WWII Museum’s robotics competition last spring. Cresson will be formally honored at the 2025 ICGS Conference in Philadelphia on June 23-25. LAKE FOREST ELEMENTARY: Lake Forest has been named a National ESEA Distinguished School by the Louisiana Department of Education. Lake Forest was one of only 100 schools nationwide to earn this recognition in 2024. This is the third time the school has received this national distinction for Exceptional Student Performance and Academic Growth. Lake Forest ranks as the second highest-scoring K-8 school in Louisiana and the top-performing K-8 school in Orleans Parish. Mardele Early is Lake Forest CEO
ST. BERNARD PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS: The St. Bernard Chapter of Kiwanis recently
Banks.
Lake Forest Elementary Charter School administrators celebrate being recognized as a National ESEA Distinguished School. From left are April Hartman, instructional facilitator; Ryan DeRousselle, executive director of school quality; and Mardele Early, CEO
hosted a Terrific Teacher Awards Dinner, recognizing outstanding teachers. Those honored were Amanda Falgout, Arabi Elementary; Justin Reed, Arlene Meraux Elementary School; Jodie Georgusis, Chalmette Elementary School; Jennifer McCloskey, J. F. Gauthier Elementary School; Caroline Miller, Joseph J. Davies Elementary; Candice Perez, Lacoste Elementary School; Kiyuntia Caffrey, W. Smith Jr. Elementary; Aleshia Riley, Andrew Jackson Middle School; Gabrielle Smith, N. P Trist Middle School; Lesley Campo, St. Bernard Middle School; Jawyan Banks, C.F Rowley Alternative School; Monica Hentze, Chalmette High School; and Braquet Sandrock, Our Lady of Prompt Succor School.
ST. BERNARD SCHOOLS: Registration is open for the free 2025-2026 preschool program for 4-year-olds. Children age 4 by Sept. 30, and those with disabilities, experiencing
homelessness or in foster care and are residents of St. Bernard Parish are eligible. www.sbpsb.org. (504) 2673310 or (504) 301-2000.
BROTHER MARTIN: The Dionysians drama club will present “Newsies,” Disney’s musical about a New York City newsboys’ strike on April 3, 4, 5, 10 and 12 at 7 p.m., with a matinee April 12 at 2 p.m. The site is the campus auditorium at 4401 Elysian Fields Ave. in New Orleans. Reserved seating is $20, and general admission is $15. Tickets can be purchased at the door with cash or check. brothermartin. com/drama. FIRSTLINE SCHOOLS: Talented in theater students present the live version of Disney’s popular animated film “The Little Mermaid” April 11-12 at Langston Hughes Academy, 3519 Trafalgar St. in New Orleans. Friday’s curtain is 6 p.m., with a patron party at 5 p.m. Saturday’s curtain is 11 a.m. Tickets start at $2 through ParentSquare.
Students and teachers from St. Mary’s Academy at work at Second Harvest Food Bank during the school’s day of service.
St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans holds day of service
Students at St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans in grades 8-12, along with faculty, staff, administration and alumni, participated in the third annual Venerable Henriette Delille Day of Service.
Volunteers partnered with local organizations including St. John Berchman, Second Harvest Giving Hope, St. Joseph the Worker Church, NORD-Joe Brown Rec Center, NORD-Milne Rec Center, NORD-Morris F.X. Jeff Rec Center, NORD-Lyons Rec Center, NORD-Andrew P Sanchez Rec Center, Peace by Piece New Orleans and St. Peter Claver Church.
The service event culminated in the Boiling with a Twist SMA alumnae crawfish boil, at which current students worked alongside alumnae to serve and celebrate the school’s long-standing tradition of community engagement.
Sridhar
PROVIDED PHOTO
Perez, Lesley Campo, Jennifer McCloskey, Monica Hentze, Gabrielle Smith, Karen Braquet-Sandrock and Katherine Lemoine, of the parish school board; back row, Amanda Falgout, Justin Reed, Caroline Miller, Kevin Hoffman, Aleshia Riley and Jawyan
PROVIDED PHOTO
Cresson Gardere
PROVIDED PHOTO
Spanish class students working to collect formal dresses included, from left, Selin Greer, Elianna Tay, Olivia Prange, Miya Jackson, Lily Francingues, Angel Patel, Lucy Quintana, Gianna Fortunato and Caroline DeRamus.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Easter photos with bunnies will help support rabbit rescue and the Jefferson SPCA
BY ANNETTE SISCO Staff writer
Adorable photos with bunny rabbits will be available just in time for Easter as BunnAgain Rabbit Rescue teams up with Yelba Lobo Photography on April 5 for a photo pop-up. Jefferson Feed, Pet & Garden Center, 4421 Jefferson Highway, will host the fundraiser for rabbit rescue Photos will be taken from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m to 3 p.m. with a seasonal background, featuring bunnies hopping in the frame.
“Dress in your Easter best and make magical memories while helping rescued rabbits find loving homes. Spread the word and
hop on over,” the event announcement says.
BunnAgain Rabbit Rescue is devoted to educating the public about the care of rabbits, along with rescuing and fostering abandoned pet rabbits. A primary focus is warning the public that rabbits live a long time, are not especially easy to care for and have special dietary and veterinary requirements. A chocolate rabbit or cuddly stuffed animal is a better Easter gift for a child, rabbit rescuers say Photo sessions with bunnies will be offered for a $50 donation. All proceeds benefit BunnAgain Rabbit Rescue & Education and the Jefferson SPCA. For more information, visit facebook.com/BunnAgain/.
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS
beverages, boiled crawfish and more available for purchase. Suggested donation of $10 to $20 at the gate, with proceeds directly benefiting T.R.E.E.’s mission. treetalk.org.
MOVIES
OVERLOOK FILM FESTIVAL: The celebration of all things horror will take place April 3-6 at the Prytania Theatres at Canal Place, 333 Canal St. in New Orleans, and the uptown location, 5339 Prytania St. This lineup includes 47 films from 10 countries, as well as five live presentations and three immersive experiences, including a selection of retro screenings of classic films. Passes start at $350. overlookfilmfest.com. HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL: Tickets
with
building, burrowing and digging with tools and toys. Also, live entertainment on two stages, an obstacle course and a Kid Wash for the end-of-day cleanup. Family package tickets start at $130. lcm.org.
Take your pick from two crawfish boils coming up in Algiers: at the Algiers Courthouse, April 5; and at University of Holy Cross, April 12. There’s also a boil at Tulane.
CRAWFISH BOIL: The Friends of the Algiers Courthouse will provide food, fun and live music at its big crawfish boil from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. April 5. The fundraiser supports projects such as the newly completed restoration of the courthouse’s landmark tower clock. Tickets are $25; buy them at the event, at 225 Morgan St.
CRAWFEST: The Tulane student-run music, food and arts festival will be held on the Berger Family Lawn, 29 McAlister Drive in New Orleans, on April 5, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Live entertainment will be provided by Lost Bayou Ramblers, Olivia Barnes, Pocket Chocolate, Cardinal Bloom, Quarters of Change and Rattlesnake Milk. Admission, $20, includes tons of crawfish. www.tulanecrawfest. com. TREASURES FROM THE POINT: The porch sale, sponsored by the Friends of the Ferry, will offer more than 90 locations in the Algiers Point neighborhood starting at 8 a.m. April 5-6. SPRING TOUR OF HOMES: The Preservation Resource Center’s tour will feature six Algiers Point homes and the newly restored Mount Olivet Episcopal Church. Tour hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 5-6. Tickets start at $35; see prc.org for details.
SECRET GARDENS TOUR: Patio
Planters
place on the University of Holy Cross New Orleans campus, 4123 Woodland Drive in Algiers, on April 12, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Team registration is $150. Winners will be announced in the categories of best crawfish, best corn, best potatoes and best sausage. Admission is $25 in advance; $40 at the gate, including all-youcan-eat crawfish. Children 10 get in free. www.uhcno.edu/crawfish.
EASTER
EGG SCRAMBLE: City Park Conservancy will host the annual egg hunt April 13, 9:30 a.m. to noon, in the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park and Storyland at City Park, 1 Palm Drive in New Orleans. Children will be provided with bags to hold the eggs they collect from among the 36,000 hidden throughout the Carousel Gardens. Recommended for children 8 and younger. Storyland will be reserved for toddlers. Tickets are $25 for guests over 36” tall and include unlimited Amusement Park rides. Admission affords all-day access to Carousel Gardens, opening to the public at noon. neworleanscitypark.org.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
HERITAGE DAY: The annual event at Destrehan Plantation, 13034 River Road in Destrehan, will take place April 4, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with handson activities, demonstrations, reenactments and music and dance related to 19th century life in south Louisiana. House tours are available starting at $10. www.destrehanplantation.org.
SUPER TAX DAY: Entergy New Orleans will offer its customers free tax preparation at upcoming events throughout New Orleans. Qualified Entergy customers can walk in and receive assistance from IRS-certified volunteers. The events will be held at Algiers Regional Library, 3014 Holiday Drive, and at the University of Holy Cross, Saturdays through April 12. www.uhcno.edu or www.entergy.com/freetaxhelp.
GENFEST: The City Archives and Special Collections will host GenFest on April 5, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Dillard University’s Professional School and Sciences Building, 24 East Road in New Orleans. The event will feature exhibits from regional genealogical, historical, cultural and preservation organizations, along with local experts and a panel on this year’s theme, creating community and history with one another. A new Housing Authority of New Orleans digital photograph collection featuring images spanning 1940s1970s will be unveiled. nolalibrary co/GenFest2024.
HIBISCUS SHOW AND SALE: The New Orleans Hibiscus Society will host a show and sale on April 13, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Alfred Bonnabel High School, 2801 Bruin Drive in Kenner Free.
NOLA’S GOT TALENT: Victory Church, 5708 Airline Drive in Metairie, is accepting applications through May 2 for a talent competition, to be held in conjunction with the annual Feed the Multitudes free food festival.
Applications include an entry form and audition video, to be submitted online. Selected entrants will perform live in front of a panel of judges on June 6 or 13 at 7 p.m. Five finalists will be chosen to perform live on July 4. Winners will be decided by a panel of judges. First prize is $3,000, second prize is $2,000, and third prize is $1,000. www.feed-themultitudes.com/talent-search.
CULTURE AND CONCERTS
NEW ORLEANS RAGTIME FESTIVAL: The 10th anniversary of the event dedicated to promoting the musical legacy of the Ragtime movement will be held April 3-6. Venues, performers and prices vary each day, and tickets are available through Bon Temps Tix. neworleansragfest@ gmail.com.
FRIENDS OF THE CABILDO CONCERTS: Tickets, $80-$175, are on sale for the three remaining shows of the 2024-25 season, held at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, 400 Esplanade Ave. in New Orleans. Performers are The Iguanas on April 4 and Sonny Landreth on April 17. www.friendsofthecabildo.org.
THURSDAYS AT TWILIGHT: The musical series returns from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to the Pavilion of the Two Sisters in the Botanical Garden, 1 Victory Ave. in City Park, New Orleans. On April 10, entertainment will be provided by Bon Operatit! and Mediterranean Pasta and on April 17 by The Ladies of Soul and Red Beans. Tickets are $15. NewOrleansCityPark.org.
RHYTHM & ROSES CONCERT SERIES: The weekly series of outdoor concerts at the Historic BK House & Gardens, 1113 Chartres St. in New Orleans, will feature Cubanborn singer-songwriter Yusa April 3. French Quarter Festival bands will perform April 10. New Orleans
fiddler Amanda Shaw will perform April 17. Limited seating; bring chairs. Shows start at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $25. www.bkhouse.org.
EVENING IN THE ROUND: Tickets are on sale for the April 4 concert by three-time Grammy winner Linda Davis at the Gretna Cultural Center for the Arts, 740 Fourth St. in Gretna. The acoustic night of songs and stories will include special guest Lang Scott. The doors open at 7 p.m., and the concert begins at 7:30. Tickets start at $60 via Eventbrite. (504) 363-1552.
JEFFERSON CHORALE: The choral group, under the direction of Louise LaBruyere, presents “Be the Peace, Bring the Joy,” a concert on April 3, 7:30 p.m., at Good Shepherd Church, 5122 W. Esplanade in Metairie. The program will also be presented April 6, 3 p.m., at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church, 531 Avenue A in Westwego. Free. THE HUNT FOR NAZI-LOOTED
TREASURES: The National WWII Museum’s April dinner with a curator will feature a presentation by staff members Rhea Miner and Erin Scheaffer on the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program — popularly known as the Monuments Men and Women — scholar-soldiers
who identified, recovered and repatriated stolen objects during and after the war. The dinner is April 8, 6:30 p.m., 945 Magazine St. in New Orleans. Tickets, on sale through April 6, include a three-course dinner and start at $77. www.nationalww2museum.org.
LPO MARKET NIGHT: The LPO will be joined by guitarist, songwriter and founding member of The Revivalists Zack Feinberg to perform his original songs on April 9, 5:30 p.m., at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, 1426 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. in New Orleans. Tickets start at $40. lpomusic.com.
BOOKS
“HOME OF THE HAPPY: A. MURDER ON THE CAJUN PRAIRIE”: Author Jordan LaHaye Fontenot will celebrate the release of her true crime book in conversation with Alexandra Kennon Shahin on April 2, 6 p.m. at Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St. in New Orleans. Audience Q&A and book signings will follow. Reserve books through Eventbrite. www.gardendistrictbookshop.com.
“THE CALL”: Author Cathy Schieffelin will be at Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St. in New Orleans, on April 4, 6 p.m., to sign copies of her debut work. Books will be available for purchase. www gardendistrictbookshop.com
“COVEN”: Author Soman Chainani will sign copies of his first graphic novel for middle-grade readers at Octavia Books, 513 Octavia St. in New Orleans, on April 6, 4-5 p.m. www.octaviabooks.com.
“SECRET NEW ORLEANS”: Writer Chris Champagne will sign copies of his newest book on April 6, 1 p.m., at Blue Cypress Books, 8123 Oak St. in New Orleans. www.bluecypressbooks.com.
“MARDI GRAS AT MIDNIGHT”: Author Mary Walsh will celebrate the release of her book, the third in the Big Easy Collection, on April 9, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Lafitte Hotel and Bar, 1003 Bourbon St. in New Orleans. The event will feature book signings and light refreshments. Free with reservations via Eventbrite.
FUNDRAISERS/GALAS
YAYA ART LIVE: Young Audience of Louisiana will host a live painting fundraiser on April 5, noon to 4 p.m., at Urban South Brewery, 1645 Tchoupitoulas St. in New Orleans. Art students from Young Audiences Charter Schools, Lincoln Elementary School for the Arts and West Jefferson High School will pair up with professional New Orleans artists Ceaux, Alison Cline, Emre Karaoglu and Heather Mattingly. The festivities will include a food truck, kids’ art area, and more. www.ya4la.org/ artlive.
TREE FETE: Teaching Responsible Earth Education, a nonprofit dedicated to hands-on, outdoor science education, is celebrating 30 years April 12, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., at Bargeboard NOLA, 530 Powder St. in New Orleans. The event includes live music and a silent auction, with
and
ers and activists. The festival pass and PATOIS membership are $90. www.patoisfilmfest.org.
NORD MOVIES IN THE PARK: Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” sing-along will be screened April 4, 6:30 p.m., on the side field at Rosa F. Keller Library and Community Center, 4300 S Broad Ave. in New Orleans. LAKESHORE MOVIE NIGHT: Lakeshore Library, 1000 W. Esplanade Ave. in Metairie, will screen “Civil War” on April 2, “Twisters” on April 9, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” on April 16 and “Blue Beetle” on April 23. All films will be shown in the library commons at 6 p.m.
MEETINGS
EAST JEFFERSON GENERAL HOSPITAL AUXILIARY: The group will meet April 10, 2 p.m., in the Esplanade Room 2 at the hospital, 4200 Houma Blvd. in Metairie. RSVP is requested. (504) 779-9970. REPUBLICAN WOMEN’S CLUB: The Republican Women’s Club of Jefferson Parish will meet April 10 at the Metairie Country Club, 580 Woodvine Ave. in Metairie. Registration opens at 11 a.m., with lunch and the program starting at 11:45 a.m. Guest speaker is Cade Brumley, Louisiana state superintendent of education. The 2025-2026 essay contest scholarship winners will be presented. RSVPs are required. RWC.ofJeffparish@gmail.com.
SPORTS CRESCENT CITY CLASSIC: Registration is open for the 10k road race, one of the oldest in the nation. The event, scheduled for April 19, starts at Caesars Superdome and finishes at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Registration starts at $45 through April 16. runsignup.com/Race/LA/ NewOrleans/CrescentCityClassic. SWIMMING LESSONS: The NORD Commission will offer free swimming lessons April 7-26 for ages 6 months through adults. Registration is March 31-April 5. nordc.org/activities/aquatics.
CLASSES
LEARNING BEFORE LUNCH: The April 10 meeting will focus on New Orleans music in a discussion led by Matt Sakakeeny of Tulane University and author of “Marching On: Music and Hope in the Time of Crisis.” The location is UNO’s Homer L. Hitt Alumni Center, 2000 Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans. The presentation begins at 10 a.m. Annual membership is $25 per person, $30 per couple/double or a $5 donation for an event. www.learningbeforelunch. com.
CAMPS
FILE PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER
Mike Seago walks with a passionfruit plant and a gardenia plant during the Spring Garden Show at the Botanical Garden in New Orleans in 2024 This year’s show is April 5-6
FILE PHOTO
FILE PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER
Juliana Cranesi, 1, poses for her Easter pictures with a white rabbit from BunnAgain Rabbit Rescue at Jefferson Feed.
