NEWS + NOTES

THREE COLORS TRILOGY

NEW ORLEANS FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL The New Orleans Film Society is presenting the 25th annual New Orleans French Film Festival at the historic Prytania Theater, March 11-17, with additional films available to watch virtually.

Highlighting the festival will be director Krzysztof Kieslowski’s acclaimed “Three Colors Trilogy,” featuring the films “Red,” “Blue” and “White.” The color choices were intentional, as they represent the three colors of the French flag.

There will also be approximately 20 other French-language films screening as part of the festival. The complete festival lineup and schedule is available at NewOrleansFilmSociety.org. New Orleans Film Society members will receive discounts on all festival passes and individual tickets.

The festival also helps usher in the return of the Prytania Theatre. New Orleans’ oldest functioning movie theater sustained serious roof damage during Hurricane Ida that took several months to repair. Support your local movie theaters in what has been a tremendously difficult two years for them.

HOGS FOR THE CAUSE Hogs for the Cause is back, taking place April 1-2 at the Lakefront Arena Festival Grounds. Aside from the mouth-watering array of pork products available, there will also be a strong musical lineup including Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers, Galactic and Glen David Andrews. Proceeds from the event benefit pediatric cancer patients. hogsfest.org

CHERYL GERBER PHOTO IRISH CHANNEL ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE Because of print deadlines, there is of course the possibility this could get canceled, but we will cross our fingers and pray the Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Parade returns on March 12 after last parading in 2019. m.facebook.com/events/ 206100878109208

SEE THIS

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YLC WEDNESDAY AT THE SQUARE The beloved outdoor concert series YLC Wednesday at the Square returns to Lafayette Square in the CBD, 5-8 p.m. on Wednesdays for 10 weeks starting on March 16. ylcnola.org

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NEW ORLEANS BOOK FESTIVAL AT TULANE March 10-12, at Tulane University, authors will converge Uptown for the New Orleans Book Festival. There will be fiction and non-fiction readings, panel discussions, symposia and keynote speeches. Bookfest.tulane.edu

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“THE PRICE IS RIGHT LIVE” If you have ever dreamed of playing on hit TV game show “The Price Is Right,” now is your chance! On March 20, the Saenger will host the interactive live version of the show. It will not be televised, but it will be exciting! saengernola.com

THE NEW ORLEANS BUCKET LIST: 100 OFFBEAT ADVENTURES IN THE CRESCENT CITY” When you live in a city, you tend to take certain things for granted and you miss things a visitor might make a top priority (for example, I’ve still never eaten at Commander’s Palace). In the book “The New Orleans Bucket List: 100 Offbeat Adventures in the Crescent City” by L.M. Adkins, there are a wide variety of choices for a local to pursue whenever they feel like being a tourist in their hometown.

Some of the adventures are things any local will have already done (like eat a snoball or a po-boy), but there are others that even lifelong locals may have missed (visiting America’s first licensed pharmacy, take a class in glitterology, listen to music at Preservation Hall, drink at the Carousel Bar or listen to the Singing Oak.)

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“SHREK THE MUSICAL” In what is sure to be fun for the whole family, the Jefferson Performing Arts Society is putting on a production of “Shrek the Musical,” adapted from the blockbuster 2001 film. Shows will be at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center from March 11-20. jpas.org

LISTEN TO THIS

On March 19, legendary singer/songwriter Bob Dylan is coming to the Saenger Theater as part of his “Rough and Rowdy Ways” worldwide tour. saengernola.com

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, please check all event websites for the most up-to-date information.

The Florida Coast Beckons Travelers

An easy drive from New Orleans, the Florida coast beckons travelers with attractions that delight the senses, from the feel of emerald waters lapping at your toes and the sounds of seagulls to the taste and smell of seafood fresh off the grill and the sight of sunsets bursting with color. Beyond its beaches, Florida has so much to offer guests – historical and cultural museums, award-winning restaurants, eclectic shops, nature preserves, and endless opportunities to create lasting memories with loved ones at the abundant vacation rentals, expansive resorts, luxury hotels, and picture-perfect camp sites along the water. Visit Florida this spring, and experience true coastal bliss.

FLORIDA’S FORGOTTEN COAST

Florida’s Forgotten Coast is calling you back to the Florida you remember. This quiet Northwest Florida region features sparkling beaches, tranquil bay waters, and scenic rivers. The area supports a seafood and eco-tourism industry in the coastal communities of Apalachicola, Carrabelle, Eastpoint, Alligator Point, and St. George Island.

Visitors here enjoy nature’s salty bounty via fishing, kayaking, swimming, hiking, and camping. Boat ramps and canoe/kayak launches abound for easy access to hundreds of miles of rivers and coastal shallows. Accommodations range from luxurious beachfront vacation rentals to primitive camping facilities.

Explore a quiet shoreline or hike, fish, or relax on family and pet-friendly beaches. Discover maritime history blended with a laid-back scene of local art, shopping, music, and restaurants serving fresh Apalachicola Bay seafood.

Check out local insider tips through a new web video series and download the app to stay up to date on events and specials at FloridasForgottenCoast.com.

HISTORIC PENSACOLA

Experiencing Historic Pensacola is a must-do for any spring getaway to America’s first multi-year European settlement. Located downtown, just minutes from Pensacola’s world famous sugar-white beaches and emerald-green waters, the Historic Pensacola site is nestled within the footprints of the original Spanish and British forts as well as in the heart of today’s waterfront dining, shopping, and entertainment scene.

The walkable complex shares the stories of Pensacola’s rich heritage through museum exhibits, guided home tours, and engaging, period-dressed living history interpreters. This nine-acre site includes the Pensacola Museum of History, Pensacola Museum of Art, Pensacola Children’s Museum and much, much more. You can enjoy seven days of Historic Pensacola experiences through the “One Ticket, Seven Days to Explore” ticketing plan.

For hours and ticket information, visit HistoricPensacola.org.

HOMEOWNER’S COLLECTION VACATION RENTALS

Exclusive to Seaside, Florida properties, Homeowner’s Collection Vacation Rentals is now the largest rental company in Seaside, representing over 150 private vacation homes. Homeowner’s Collection now represents The Court, just out of an extensive 18 month renovation, a boutique hotel in Seaside that’s unlike anything else in the area. We connect visitors with cottage rentals that turn your Florida vacation into a dream come true. We offer properties ranging from one bedroom condos to six bedroom cottages, all in the heart of Florida’s scenic Highway 30A.

To view properties and plan your Seaside vacation, visit homeownerscollection.com or call 1-855-411-1557.

HOTEL EFFIE

You’ll find an extraordinary treasure nestled between the white sandy beaches and emerald-green water of the Gulf of Mexico and the living shorelines of Choctawhatchee Bay in Northwest Florida. Vibrant and elegant, comfortable, and refined—a beautiful, new luxury 250-room hotel invites you to experience southern elegance with thoughtful design and exquisite detail. It’s a fresh take on a coastal Florida hotel featuring smart solutions for the modern traveler.

Taking inspiration from the locale, the fully appointed rooms and suites of Hotel Effie will welcome guests with a complement of amenities. The vibrant community of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort and its 2,400 acres of lush landscape and coastal beauty is the perfect backdrop for the southern luxury of Hotel Effie. With more than 45 years of tradition, the deeply rooted community has so much to offer as the picture-perfect vacation destination. Hotel Effie is a new and exciting part of it all. And so are you. Learn more at HotelEffie.com.

PARADISE BEACH HOMES

For six years in a row, Paradise Beach Homes has been voted the Best Vacation Rental Company by readers of the Pensacola News Journal in the annual Best of the Bay awards. Pensacola owners and guests have benefitted from over thirty years of experience and professionalism that has earned the company a five-star guest and owner rating. With an increase in demand, Paradise Beach Homes now offers two beautiful locations with vacation rentals on both Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach.

Whether you seek a condo, townhome, classic beach cottage, or luxury gulf front home, Paradise Beach Homes offers the perfect vacation option for every budget. While specializing in vacation rentals, Paradise Beach Homes also offers event-friendly homes that have been used for making unforgettable family memories through weddings, family reunions, company retreats, and other events.

Your vacation should be relaxing from the start, and guests checking in at Paradise Beach Homes’ convenient and centrally located offices are met with a personal touch that has become the exception rather than the norm in today’s increasingly corporate rental environment. Plan your vacation today at ParadiseBeachHomes.com.

VISIT SOUTH WALTON

With 26 miles of stunning sugar-white sand beaches and 16 unique beach neighborhoods, each with its own personality and style, South Walton offers endless opportunities for visitors to find their perfect beach.

Nestled in Northwest Florida along the Gulf of Mexico, South Walton is easily accessible from New Orleans, making it the ideal destination for a weekend getaway or an extended stay. South Walton is set apart by its unmatched natural beauty. Vast nature preserves create a relaxed respite not often found in similar destinations, offering adventure-seekers more than 200 miles of hiking and biking trails, four state parks, a 15,000-acre state forest and 15 rare coastal dune lakes.

Unique landscapes, eclectic shops, luxury accommodations and an abundance of award-winning dining options (200-plus restaurants) are all part of South Walton’s distinctive character and relaxing atmosphere.

Learn more at VisitSouthWalton.com. •

South Walton, Florida