family

Thursday 13

CELEBRATION IN THE OAKS CHILDREN'S ART WORKSHOP. New Orleans Botanical Gardens, City Park, 483-9415. Children create one-of-a-kind Christmas ornaments. Free with admission. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday-Friday.

Saturday 15

PAPA NOEL CHILDREN'S TEA. Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Lobby Lounge, 921 Canal St., 524-1331. Papa Noel shares tea and stories with children. Admission $22. 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

JINGLE BELL JAM. Louisiana Children's Museum, 420 Julia St., 523-1357. Holiday event with dancing, storytelling and treats. Admission $6 adults and children. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

STUFFIN' OUR STOCKINGS WITH SONGS! Children's Castle, 501 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 468-7231. Dennis and Company offer a selection of holiday songs. Tickets $3.50 adults, $2.50 children and seniors. 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

TEDDY BEAR TEA AND STORYTELLING. Fairmont Hotel, Blue Room, 123 Baronne St., 522-2303. Storyteller Yule Log Parade, delights kids with Christmas stories and teddy bears. Tickets $20 adult tea, $26 champagne tea, $17 children's tea. 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, through Dec. 23.

VISIT WITH SANTA. Fairmont Hotel, 123 Baronne St., 522-2303. Kids can visit with Santa in his sleigh and see a life-size gingerbread house. Free admission. Saturday-Sunday, through Dec. 23.

COME JOIN THE CIRCUS. Lee Circle YMCA, 920 St. Charles Ave., 949-6593. New Orleans School of Circus Arts offers workshop on circus performing. Admission $5-$20. 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday 16

MAKE AND TAKE NATURE CRAFT DAYS. Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, I-10 Read Blvd. exit, 242-1889. Make colorful holiday bird eggs. Tickets $2 members with admission, $3 non-members with admission. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

special events

Tuesday 11

CANAL PLACE CONCERT SERIES. Shops at Canal Place, 333 Canal St., 522-9200. Holiday entertainment by the Ray Abrams Elementary School Choir. Free admission. 11 a.m. to noon.

GUEST BARTENDER AT BULL'S CORNER. Bull's Corner, 316 Hammond Hwy., 832-0017. Sheriff Harry Lee plays bartender to raise funds for his "Preserve the Flag" program. Free admission. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

ERACISM. PJ's Coffee and Tea Company, 3000 Magazine St., 862-0008. Members facilitate discussions on improving race relations. Free admission. 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

CATHEDRAL CHRISTMAS CONCERTS. St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, 522-5730. Christmas concert by Charlotte Lang and Angela Mannino. Free admission. 8 p.m.

Wednesday 12

CANAL PLACE CONCERT SERIES. Shops at Canal Place, 333 Canal St., 522-9200. Holiday entertainment by the Benjamin Franklin high School Choir. Free admission. 11:30 a.m. to noon.

CELTIC CHRISTMAS. O'Flaherty's Irish Channel Centre & Pub, 514 Toulouse St., 529-1317. Experience Christmas Celtic style through song and food. Reservations required. Admission $12 and $17. 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

MUSIC IS FOR EVERYONE. East Bank Regional Library, 4747 Napoleon Ave., Metairie, 800-480-4361. Classical performance by Evan Drachman on cello and Doris Stevenson on piano. Free admission. 7 p.m.

ARTSPEAK. Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp St., 528-3805. Artist-led discussion with John Barnes Jr., Larry Nevil, Bradley Sabin and moderator Christopher Fischer. Free admission. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

SACRED MUSIC CONCERT. Orpheum Theatre, 129 University Pl., 523-6530. Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra performs with the Irvin Mayfield Quartet, Aaron Neville and Defeayo Marsalis. Tickets $20-$35. 7:30 p.m.

AN EVENING OF DANCE. Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Center, 1724 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 525-2767. Program by Ryan McPartland and Bonnie LaCroix featuring a variety of dancing styles. Call for tickets. 8 p.m.

THERESA ANDERSSON. Mermaid Lounge, 1100 Constance St., 524-4747. New Orleans Recycle for the Arts hosts this benefit concert. Tickets $5. 9 p.m.

Thursday 13

CANAL PLACE CONCERT SERIES. Shops at Canal Place, 333 Canal St., 522-9200. Holiday entertainment by Richard Fleming, the New Orleans Blend, and Karen Rose. Free admission. 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m.

BIG BAND CHRISTMAS CONCERT. New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Visitor Center, 916 N. Peters St., 877-529-9677. U.S. Marine New Orleans Big Band performs holiday favorites. Free admission. 3 p.m.

HOLIDAY HISTORIC HOME TOUR. Various landmarks throughout city, 522-5730. Self-guided evening tour with stops including the Gallier House, Beauregard-Keyes House, and the Old Ursuline Convent. Tickets $15 adults, $5 children. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

GUEST AUTHORS. NOCCA/Riverfront, Kirschman Artspace, 2800 Chartres St., 940-2859. Creative Writing Department hosts a reading by local authors and discussion of their experiences teaching in Prague. Free admission. 7:30 p.m.

AFFINITY. The W Hotel, Great Ballroom. Cocktail party, raffle, fashion show, dance exhibition and live entertainment to benefit the Louisiana Quality of Life Foundation, a nonprofit educational organization comprised of volunteer workers devoted to instituting cancer prevention through carcinogen education. Tickets $25. Call 415-1001. 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

CRESCENT CITY INTERNATIONAL DANCERS. Grace Episcopal Church, 3700 Canal St., 486-1723. European and Middle Eastern folk dancing. No partner necessary. Tickets $4 singles, $6 couples, $2 students. 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

CATHEDRAL CHRISTMAS CONCERTS. St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, 522-5730. Christmas concert by Peter Claver. Free admission. 8 p.m.

Friday 14

AYALA BAR JEWELRY EXHIBIT. New Orleans Museum of Art, 1 Columns de Ball Circle, 488-2631. Unique jewelry on display and available for purchase. Admission $6 adults, $5 seniors and students. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Sunday.

CANAL PLACE CONCERT SERIES. Shops at Canal Place, 333 Canal St., 522-9200. Holiday entertainment by St. Leo the Great Elementary School Choir and Alice Hart Elementary School Choir. Free admission. 11 a.m. and noon.

CAROLING ON DECATUR. Bienville Place Park, corner of Bienville and Decatur streets. Holiday caroling and festive dancing in the French Quarter. Free admission. 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

SAN FRANCISCO PLANTATION CANDLELIGHT TOUR. San Francisco Plantation, 2646 Hwy. 44, Garyville, (985) 535-2341. Tour an authentic 1856 plantation for an old-fashioned Christmas celebration. Tickets $12 adults, $5 children. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

BLACK HISTORY ART CONTEST. Cox Communications Service Center, 2120 Canal St., 734-7345. Seventh annual children's contest to celebrate Black History Month. Deadline 5:30 p.m.

CELEBRATION IN THE OAKS. City Park, 483-1700. Celebrate the holiday season in City Park with a walking or car tour through holiday displays. Admission $8 car/family van, $3 person walking tour. 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., through Jan. 6.

HOLIDAY OF LIGHTS. Tammany Trace, 21411 Koop Drive, Mandeville, (985) 867-9490. Second annual Christmas display featuring a 90-foot tunnel of lights. Free admission. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

CATHEDRAL CHRISTMAS CONCERTS. St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, 522-5730. Christmas concert by the McDonogh #35 Concert Choir. Free admission. 8 p.m.

Saturday 15

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA. Hard Rock Café, 418 N. Peters St., 529-5617. Buffet style breakfast with Santa. Reservations required. Tickets $11. 9:30 a.m.

PERFUMER'S WORKSHOP. Bourbon French Parfums, 525 St. Ann St., 522-4480. Observe the mixing of fragrances with free samples. Free admission. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

CANAL PLACE CONCERT SERIES. Shops at Canal Place, 333 Canal St., 522-9200. Holiday entertainment by Richard Fleming, Julio & Cesar, and New Orleans Blend. Free admission. 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.

LA/SPCA HOLIDAY PET PHOTO. Jefferson Feed, Pet and Garden Center and Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World, 233 Newton St., Algiers, 944-7445. Holiday photos of your pet. Fee $25. Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Jefferson Feed; Noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, by appointment Sunday at Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World.

ERACISM. Café Reconcile, 1631 Oretha Haley Blvd. 862-0008. Members facilitate discussions on improving race relations. Free admission. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

PHILIP MANUEL'S CHRISTMAS SERENADE. New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Visitor Center, 916 N. Peters St., 877-529-9677. Philip Manuel performs contemporary jazz for the holiday season. Free admission. 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

5K RUN/WALK THROUGH THE LIGHTS. Tammy Trace Trailhead, Highway 59 and Koop Drive, Mandeville, (985) 867-9490. Walk or run through the Holiday of Lights. Fee $15 adults, $10 children. 4 p.m.

ART FOR THE SOUL OPENING. Art for the Soul Art Gallery, 5206 Magazine St., 779-6569. Gallery opening features Holly Kem Suseri, member of Gumbo Krewe, who donates a portion of sales to New York rescue workers. Free admission. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

CANDLELIGHT TOUR. Laura Plantation, 2247 Hwy. 18, Vacherie, 888-799-7690. Candlelight tour of the plantation in Creole Christmas decorations. Reservations required. Tickets $15. 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

NEW ORLEANS BLACK CHORALE. Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 4423 LaSalle St., 486-7485. Annual Christmas concert performance. Free admission. 7 p.m.

CHANUKAH ON THE AVENUE. Congregation Temple Sinai, 6227 St. Charles Ave., 861-3693. Celebrate Chanukah with the lighting of the menorah and Chanukah songs. Free admission. 7:15 p.m.

THE NUTCRACKER. Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 400 Phlox St., Metairie, 885-2000. Holiday ballet classic with special guest performers. Tickets $25-$27 adults, $12 students and children. 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

CATHEDRAL CHRISTMAS CONCERTS. St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, 522-5730. Christmas concert by the Pfister Sisters. Free admission. 8 p.m.

BENEFIT CONCERT. Mama's Blues, 616 N. Rampart St., 488-4463. John Sinclair and His Blues Scholars perform with others to benefit the publishing of his book, Fattening Frogs for Snakes: Delta Sound Suite. Admission $10. 8 p.m.

HANDEL'S MESSIAH. Orpheum Theatre, 129 University Pl., 523-6530. Symphony Chorus of New Orleans performs the classic with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets $11-$52. 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday.

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION. Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World, 233 Newton St., Algiers, 366-0214. Buffet dinner with entertainment by Marva Wright. Tickets $75 person. 8 p.m. to midnight.

MENORAH PARADE. City Park, downtown and the French Quarter, 866-5164. Annual parade celebrates the festival of Chanukah with decorated cars and music. Free admission. 8:30 p.m.

Sunday 16

FRENCH QUARTER "MASKARADE" EXPERIENCE. Maskarade, 630 St. Ann St., 568-1018. Create a holiday mask, with instruction by a professional. Tickets $8. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

CANAL PLACE CONCERT SERIES. Shops at Canal Place, 333 Canal St., 522-9200. Holiday entertainment by Judy Seghers and New Orleans Blend. Free admission. Noon and 2 p.m.

CHRISTMAS BUFFET & AUCTION. Cowpokes, 2240 St. Claude Ave., 525-4498. Krewe of Petronius annual event with auction. Free admission, $5 buffet. 1 p.m.

VIEUX CARRÉ HOME AND GARDEN TOUR. Throughout French Quarter, 568-9385. Patio Planters hosts a holiday tour through historic French Quarter homes. Tickets $10. 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

DANCE PERFORMANCE. NOCCA/Riverfront, 2800 Chartres St., 522-0996. NORD/NOBA Center for Dance Step-Up Ensemble and Apprentice Corps present selections from The Nutcracker. Free admission. 3 p.m.

TRINITY ARTIST SERIES. Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Ave., 522-0276. Performance of Mass in Time of War by Franz Joseph Haydn. Free admission. 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

THIRD SUNDAY CONCERT SERIES. Christ Episcopal Church, 120 S. New Hampshire St., Covington, 985-892-3177. Patrick Jacobs performs the works of Franz Schubert and John Ireland. Free admission. 5 p.m.

ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL BOYCHOIR CONCERT. Loyola University, Roussel Performance Hall, 6363 St. Charles Ave., 865-3492. Christmas concert by the choir. Tickets $10, $5 students. 6 p.m.

CAROLING BY CANDELIGHT. Jackson Square, 568-9385. Fifty-fifth annual holiday event. Free admission. 6 p.m.

LIVE NATIVITY. St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 616 Eleonore St., 899-5183. Christmas event with caroling and a petting zoo. Free admission. 7 p.m.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT. University of New Orleans, Recital Hall, Performing Arts Building, 455-9380. New Orleans Concert Band performs its 27th annual concert under the direction of Dr. Charles Taylor. Free admission. 8 p.m.

Monday 17

VO-DU MACBETH SHOWCASE. NOCCA/Riverfront, 2800 Chartres St., 940-2859. Workshops and special guests centered on the creative arts. Free admission. Call for schedule and times.

CANAL PLACE CONCERT SERIES. Shops at Canal Place, 333 Canal St., 522-9200. Holiday entertainment by the Holy Name of Jesus Elementary School Choir. Free admission. 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

CATHEDRAL CHRISTMAS CONCERTS. St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, 522-5730. Christmas concert by Sara T. Reed Concert Choir. Free admission. 8 p.m.

cooking demonstrations

Tuesday 11

JOHNNY WILLINGHAM. Crescent City Farmers Market, 200 Broadway St., 861-5898. Chef of Bull's Corner offers demonstration. Free admission. 11 a.m.

DARIN NESBIT. Le Petit Theatre, 616 St. Peters St., 522-5730. Chef from Palace Café cooks oyster dome soup. Free admission. 3 p.m.

Wednesday 12

GREG SONNIER. Le Petit Theatre, 616 St. Peters St., 522-5730. Chef from Gabrielle Restaurant cooks barbecue shrimp pie. Free admission. 3 p.m.

Thursday 13

JASON MILLER. Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré, 616 St. Peters St., 522-5730. Chef from The Bombay Club cooks Asian Pit Stickers with Ponzu Dip. Free admission. 3 p.m.

Friday 14

JAMES OVERBAUGH. Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré, 616 St. Peters St., 522-5730. Chef from the Grill Room at the Windsor Court cooks sweet corn and shrimp bisque with mascarpone-pecan beignets. Free admission. 3 p.m.

Saturday 15

BRACK MAY. Crescent City Farmers Market, 700 Magazine St., 861-5898. Cobalt chef offers a demonstration. Free admission. 10 a.m.

MICHAEL ROUSSEL. Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré, 616 St. Peter St., 522-9958. Chef from Brennan's Restaurant cooks shrimp Creole. Free admission. 3 p.m.

Sunday 16

KEVIN HACKETT. Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré, 616 St. Peters St., 522-5730. Chef from the House of Blues cooks Voodoo Shrimp. Free admission. 3 p.m.

Monday 17

JOSE MUNGUIA. Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré, 616 St. Peters St., 522-5730. Chef from Arnaud's cooks pasta with shrimp duarte. Free admission. 3 p.m.

cabaret

Sunday 16

JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS. Le chat noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Diane Lala gives holiday performance of songs by David Friedman, Frank Loesser and others. Tickets $16. 8 p.m.