Community events
NOLA GEN FEZT: NORD’s free music festival, open to ages 13-18, will take place 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on June 17 on the Lafitte Greenway, North Claiborne to North Carrolton avenues in New Orleans. Register at Eventbrite; email confirmation required for entry. For more info, go to nordc.org/parks/lafitte.
"YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN": The River Region Drama Guild will present its summer musical at the River Region Performing Arts and Cultural Center, 15146 River Road in Norco. Performances are June 22-24 at 7:30 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee on June 25. Performances June 29-30 and July 1 are at 7:30 p.m. Tickets, $15 adults and $10 students, can be purchased at rrpa.org. More info at rrpa.org.
FAMILY GAME NIGHT: NORD will host a night of board games, card games and more on June 23 at the Milne Rec Center, 5420 Franklin Ave. in New Orleans, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event is free and open to all ages. More info at nordc.org.
WEGO COOKERS: The local chapter of the Louisiana Dutch Oven Society will meet June 17 at Pavilion 7 in Bayou Segnette State Park, 7777 Westbank Expressway in Westwego. Set up begins at 9 a.m. Food is ready for sampling by 11:30 a.m. Free, but park fees apply, $3 for people under 62. Call John Heiken at (504) 756-1853 or email jheiken209@gmail.com.
CRESCENT CITY COIN SHOW: The show will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 30 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 1 at the Columbus Room, 3310 Florida Ave. in Kenner, including buying and selling, appraisals and a precious metal coin raffle. Free. For more info, call Rick Demers at (504) 464-1995.
PARC DES FAMILLES SPRAY PARK: The spray park's 16 water features at 6101 Leo Kerner Lafitte Parkway in Marrero are open daily, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., until Aug. 13. Call (504) 349-5000 for more information.
ORMOND SPRAY PARK: The park, at 1901 Ormond Blvd. in Destrehan, is open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. For information, see scpparksandrec.com or call (985) 783-5090.
FESTIVALS
WOODMERE FESTIVAL: The free event will take place June 17, 1-7 p.m., at Woodmere Playground, 4100 Glenmere Blvd. in Harvey, with live entertainment, including DJ Polo, 4 x 4 Connection and Dave Lemon. There will also be free seafood, access to community resources and an interactive kids’ area. See more information on Facebook at Woodmere Festival.
ESSENCE FESTIVAL OF CULTURE: The annual festival takes place June 29-July 3 at the Caesars Superdome, 1500 Sugar Bowl Drive, and the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention Center Blvd. Performers include Monica, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Megan Thee Stallion, Doug E Fresh and DJ Spinderella. The Essence Film Festival will also take place June 30-July 2. Tickets start at $214.50 and are available at essencefestival.com.
CULTURE AND CONCERTS
CAJUN-ZYDECO SUMMER CONCERTS: The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation presents Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band on June 16 and Balfa Toujours on June 17. Both concerts start at 8 p.m. and will be held at the Jazz & Heritage Center, 1225 N. Rampart St. in New Orleans. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets, $10, through Eventbrite. For more info, go to events.jazzandheritage.orgs.
TWILIGHT AT LONGUE VUE: Colgate Collective plays June 21, 5-7 p.m., at Longue Vue House & Gardens' Spanish Court, 7 Bamboo Road in New Orleans. Bring drinks, snacks and picnic seating for the casual, open-air showcase. $10, $5 for members. Information and tickets at longuevue.com.
BOOKS
'COYOTE TALES' STORYTIME: Author Amelia Koch Lochridge and illustrator Sam Crosby will lead storytime based on their first book, "Coyote Tales," set in New Orleans, at 11 a.m. June 17 at Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St., New Orleans. There will also be coyote masks for kids to color and refreshments. More info at www.gardendistrictbookshop.com.
'THE GALVESTON DIET': Dr. Mary Claire Haver, board-certified OB-GYN and certified culinary medicine specialist, will be at Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St. in New Orleans, at 5 p.m. June 17 to discuss her book and the facts and myths around menopause. More information is available at www.gardendistrictbookshop.com.
'KISS ME IN THE CORAL LOUNGE': New York Times bestselling author Helen Ellis will discuss her book of essays, "Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge: Intimate confessions from a Happy Marriage," with local author Sue Strachan on June 20 at Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St. in New Orleans. The event starts at 6 p.m. with iced tea and Southern fare. More info at www.gardendistrictbookshop.com.
'THE ONLY ONE LEFT': New York Times bestselling author Riley Sager will be at the Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St. in New Orleans, June 22 to celebrate the release of his new book. The event starts at 6 p.m. with cocktails, a discussion, and book signings. Tickets, $35 or $40 for couples, through Eventbrite. More info at www.gardendistrictbookshop.com.
AN EVENING WITH KALYNN BAYRON: The New York Times bestselling author of "You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight" will read and sign her new young adult book at Blue Cypress Books, 8123 Oak St. in New Orleans, on June 23 at 6 p.m. More info at www.bluecypressbooks.com.
SPORTS
SUMMER LEAGUES: St. Charles Parish Department of Parks and Recreation will host coed cabbage ball and men’s softball leagues this summer. Registration fee is $300 per team and is first come, first served. Games will be played on Wednesdays beginning in August at the West Bank Bridge Park, 13825 River Road in Luling. Registration runs June 1-23. Register at www.scpparksandrec.com.
FUNDRAISERS/GALAS
DEATH BY CHOCOLATE…NOT BREAST CANCER: Krewe de Pink's chocolate and champagne fundraiser, June 17, 5:30-9 p.m. at the Schoen Mansion, 3827 Canal St. in New Orleans. VIP tickets are $100 in advance only. General admission is $60 in advance and $75 at the door. . Tickets can be purchased at www.krewedepink.org.
CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT: The Sons of the American Legion Harvey/Marrero Post 222 will host a tournament on June 25, starting at 12:30 p.m., at 4101 Patriot St. in Marrero. The event will include awards and prizes for winning teams, plus food and beverages for sale. Proceeds will benefit programs of the Sons of the American Legion. For more info, call Herbert Cretini Jr. at (504) 352-5658 or Vincent LeBlanc at (504) 400-7984.
CLASSES
INTRODUCTION TO STAND UP: The NOCCA Foundation will sponsor a crash course in stand-up comedy with NOOCA alum and faculty member Lauren Malara on June 26, 5:30-7 p.m., at Press Street Station, 600 Homer Plessy Way in New Orleans. Cost is $30. Reservations through Eventbrite. See noccafoundation.org.
WRITING WORKSHOP: A five-day intensive writing workshop, "Elements of Craft, led by writer Jessica Kinnison, runs June 19-23, 7-8:30 a.m., via Zoom. The class will include movement exercises, points of craft and writing prompts for those at all levels and genres. Cost is $100. Register at neworleanswriters.org.
GUN SAFETY: The New Orleans Police Department is offering free gun safety classes. A limited number of safety locks and safes will be distributed. For more information, call (504) 658-5858.
- June 16: 7 p.m., Morris F.X. gym, 2529 Gen. Meyer Ave.
- June 23: 7 p.m., St. Bernard gym, 1500 Lafreniere St.
KITTEN YOGA: The East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave. in Metairie, will host a free yoga class for ages 12 and older at 10 a.m. June 26 with kittens scampering around the room. Felines available for adoption from Jefferson Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will be on-site to meet and greet. For more info, call (504) 889-8143 or email wcsmith@jplibrary.net.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERIES: “Transitions and Self-Esteem in Children,” the last of three child development workshops, will be from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 12 in the Nunez Community College Fine Arts Center, 3710 Paris Road in Chalmette. Free, but space is limited. Registration deadline is Aug. 5. To register, contact CDYC program chair Kathy Huff at (504) 278-6288 or khuff@nunez.edu.
SMART DRIVER: People 50 and older who complete the four-hour AARP Smart Driver class will receive a certificate that may qualify them for a car insurance discount. The next class will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. June 14 at Ochsner/Elmwood Fitness Center in Elmwood Shopping Center, 1200 S. Clearview Parkway, Harahan. The cost is $20 for AARP members and $25 for others. To register, call (504) 828-3962 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
FREE EXERCISE CLASSES: The nonprofit Be Well — Come Together is organizing free exercise classes modified for all levels from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at 2525 Apollo Ave., Harvey. No registration is required. For information, call (504) 368-2525 or email bewellcometogether@gmail.com.
MEETINGS
NARFE: Vernon N. Landry Chapter 1398 will hold its next monthly luncheon meeting at 11 a.m. June 14 in the Sicilian Room of Rocky and Carlo’s Restaurant, 613 St. Bernard Highway. All active and retired federal/postal employees are invited. For more information, email pamela.e.marks1953@gmail.com.
NORDC DESIGN MEETING: The city and the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission hold a public meeting to review the design for the Pecan Grove Recreation Center renovation project at 7607 Chef Menteur Highway. The meeting will be held at St. Mary's Academy, 6905 Chef Menteur Highway, June 14 at 6 p.m. More information at nola.gov.