COMMUNITY EVENTS
SYMPHONY BOOK FAIR POP UP: The Symphony Book Fair will host a pop-up sale on Jan. 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the warehouse at 623 Distributors Row, Suite F, in Elmwood. Bargains include fiction, history, religion and cookbooks. A selection of artwork also will be available. lpovolunteers.org.
EXPUNGEMENT SESSION: Reservations are being accepted for this event, which partners Southern University Law Center and River Parishes Community College for an expungement event for St. John Parish residents on Feb. 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the RPCC Reserve Campus, 181 Regala Park Road in Reserve. Residents can have their criminal records reviewed to determine eligibility for expungements. Bring a valid driver’s license, a background check from Louisiana State Police, a certified copy of minutes and a certified bill of information. Space is limited. (225) 278-1332.
BURNS NIGHT: The NOLA Project will host an evening of poetry, play reading and party celebrating Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, on Jan. 25, 6 p.m., at Jacob Schoen & Son, 3827 Canal St. in New Orleans. It will include the U.S. premiere reading of “The Ghosting of Rabbie Burns,” a musical romcom. Free; RSVPs requested. Suggested donation of $20. www.nolaproject.com/burnsnight
MATH WORKOUTS SUPER BOWL EDITION: Kids in grades 3-6 can make connections between math and sports through games on Jan. 29 and 30, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., in the meeting room at the Nora Navra Library, 1902 St. Bernard Ave. in New Orleans. A light dinner will be provided. Register online at nolalibrary.org.
MARDI GRAS
KING CAKE AND CONVERSATION: WYES will host the third annual afternoon of king cake tasting and interesting conversation with local Carnival groups and historians on Jan. 25, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., in the Kornman studio at the WYES Paulette and Frank Stewart Innovation Center for Educational Media, 916 Navarre Ave. in New Orleans. Tickets start at $30 via Eventbrite. www.wyes.org/events
“HIDDEN TREASURES OF THE LOUISIANA STATE MUSEUM:” The Friends of the Cabildo and the Louisiana State Museum will sponsor an exclusive behind-the-scenes viewing of historic costumes and other rarely seen artifacts for one night only, Jan. 30, 5:30 p.m., at the Louisiana State Museum Collections Facility, 1000 Chartres St. in New Orleans. Spaces are limited; reservations are required. Tickets start at $20. friendsofthecabildo.org
KING CAKE WORKSHOP: New Orleans Culinary Hospitality Institute will host a workshop with author Matt Haines and chef Martha Gilreath on Jan. 28, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on Feb. 18, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at NOCHI, 725 Howard Ave. in New Orleans. Participants will learn the history of the pastry and bake their own king cake. Tickets are $85. www.nochi.org.
CULTURE AND CONCERTS
FRIENDS OF THE CABILDO CONCERT: Marcia Ball starts the new year’s concerts on Jan. 24, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, 400 Esplanade Ave. in New Orleans. Tickets start at $25. nolajazzmuseum.org.
HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE: The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, 818 Howard Ave. in New Orleans, will host Mark Wygoda, speaking on “My Father’s Journey from Warsaw Ghetto Smuggler to Chattanooga Home Builder,” on Jan. 23, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Free. msje.org/event.
INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY: The National WWII Museum will commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp on Jan. 27, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at 945 Magazine St. in New Orleans. Holocaust survivor Jack Cohen and an exhibit by photojournalist Erez Kaganovitz will be featured. Free but registration is encouraged. www.nationalww2museum.org.
BOOKS
VINTAGE COOKBOOK SALE: Nunez Community College, 3710 Paris Road in Chalmette, will hold a sale of duplicate books from the SoFAB Research Center and other donated books. The sale will be held in the lobby of the library on the Nunez campus Jan. 22, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. www.southernfood.org/research-center
“THE MEETING OF AIR AND WATER”: Author Sharon LaCour will sign copies of her debut novel at Blue Cypress Books, 8123 Oak St. in New Orleans, 6:30-8 p.m. on Jan. 23. There will be a discussion and book signing. www.bluecypressbooks.com.
“THE EXILE’S SONG”: Author Sally McKee will sign copies of her book on Jan. 23, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Historic New Orleans Collection, 520 Royal St. At 5 p.m., at HNOC’s Williams Research Center, 410 Chartres St., there will be a preconcert talk about Edmond Dédé’s “Morgiane,” the earliest known surviving full-length opera written by a Black American composer. At 7:30 p.m. at St. Louis Cathedral, 615 Pere Antoine Alley, Musical Louisiana will present the premiere of “Morgiane.” Free. hnoc.org/musical-louisiana-2025
“THE COAT CHECK GIRL”: Author Laura Buchwald will celebrate the release of her novel in discussion with Norman Woolworth on Jan. 28, 6 p.m., at the Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St. in New Orleans. Audience Q&A and book signings will follow. www.gardendistrictbookshop.com.
GREAT WRITERS SERIES: The Carole Barnette Boudreaux ’65 Great Writers Series will host Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marilynne Robinson on Jan. 28, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Lake Theatre, Lake Residence Hall at Tulane University, 31 McAlister Place at Willow Street in New Orleans. There will be a reception with food and beverages after the talk.
“PENS ACROSS THE POND: KATE CHOPIN AND THE IRISH WITHIN”: Authors Rory O’Neill Schmitt and Rosary O’Neill will be joined by Robert Hull, consul general of Ireland, to celebrate St. Brigid’s Day and to discuss their book on Jan. 29, 6 p.m., at the Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St. in New Orleans. Copies of the book can be reserved via Eventbrite. www.gardendistrictbookshop.com
FUNDRAISERS/GALAS
610 STOMPERS DEBUTANTE BALL: The Ordinary Men with Extraordinary Moves will host a fundraiser on Jan. 25, 8 p.m., at the Fillmore New Orleans, 6 Canal St. in New Orleans. This year’s theme is “610 Movie Night: Be Kind, Rewind!” and features an open bar, live music, an award-winning costume contest and hot-n-ready, late-night pizza. Dress is ‘80s and ‘90s movie attire. The exclusive VIP party starts at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $75 via Eventbrite. www.610stompers.com
SIPPIN’ FOR SCHOLARSHIPS: The Rotary Club of New Orleans will host a Roaring ‘20s fundraiser on Jan. 30, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., at Rosy’s Jazz Hall Events and Catering, 500 Valence St. in New Orleans. The event includes live music, live and silent auctions, a glitter bar and getaways and door prizes. Tickets start at $175. Proceeds fund scholarships awarded to deserving local high school seniors dedicated to their education and communities. https://us.givergy.com/Sippin2025/?controller=home
SPORTS
SPRING SPORTS REGISTRATION: The St. Charles Parish Department of Parks and Recreation will hold online registration for baseball (5-14), softball (5-16), T-ball (5-6), AAU track and field and spring tennis (8-14) now through Jan. 25. All registrations must occur with the individual’s affiliated booster club except for spring tennis and AAU track and field. www.scpparksandrec.com.
CLASSES
PEOPLE PROGRAM NOLA: Registration is open for classes for seniors. The spring semester runs Jan. 21 to May 15 on two campuses, 2240 Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans and 6201 Stratford Place in Algiers. The class fee is $200 for unlimited in-person course enrollment; the online-only class fee is $150. peopleprogram.org.
WALKING TOUR GUIDE CLASS: Applications are being accepted for the 2025 Friends of the Cabildo Walking Tour Guide Class. Classes start March 10. Almost 100 hours of class time across one month provide an overview of New Orleans history, architecture and culture. The walking tour guide class is offered one time per year at the Cabildo, 701 Chartres St. in New Orleans. friendsofthecabildo.org.
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