Thanksgiving is right around the corner and there are many things to be thankful for here in the Crescent City. One reason being all the festively gay things to do.
#1. Tuesday – Sunday, November 17 – 22, 2015
BreakOUT!, along with partners in New Orleans and across the country, will take to the streets to celebrate the lives of 22 trans women murdered and countless other trans and gender non-conforming youth who lost to deportation, suicide, interpersonal, and state violence this year, most of whom were women of color. Building on the tradition of Trans Day of Remembrance, they will also take this time to celebrate the resilience and resistance shown by queer and trans youth of color every day.
The events include:
NOVEMBER 17th, 7-8:30pm: PANEL DISCUSSION “My Existence is Political: Talking Trans”
BreakOUT! is partnering on a panel with Women with a Vision, Inc., which is part of their discussion series, “My Existence is Political,” covering topics of importance to Black women. Panel will take place at the CANO’s Creative Space at the Myrtle Banks Building, 1307 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.
NOVEMBER 20th, 11am-2pm: TRANSGENDER MARCH OF RESILIENCE
The Transgender March of Resilience (TMOR) will begin November 20th at Louis Armstrong Park at 11 am. We will then march to City Hall for a press conference & action at 1pm led by Queer and Trans youth of color!
NOVEMBER 21st, 7pm-11pm: KIKI FOR A CAUSE
Then, on November 21st, Our TMOR Kiki for a Cause will take place at The Pelican Bay Restaurant, 1701 Elysian Fields Ave. The event will feature amazingly talented Queer and Trans youth of New Orleans along with community allies eager to showcase their support and fundraise for BreakOUT!’s Building Our Power Institute. $12 Early Bird Tickets available online or $15 suggested donation at the door. (No one turned away due to lack of funds.) More information at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tdor-kiki-for-a-cause-tickets-19155205736
NOVEMBER 22nd, 3pm-5pm: HEALING DRUM CIRCLE
Lastly, join us as we close out the weekend of events with a healing drum circle and African dance with the Congo Square Preservation Society at Congo Square, Armstrong Park.
For more information about any of these events visit www.youthbreakout.org.
#2. Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Come join the Krewe of Petronius for the culinary delights of Chef Ron Lafrate at Chef Ron’s Gumbo Shop (2309 N. Causeway Blvd.) for their next “Gout de Petronius.” Dinner begins promptly at 7 p.m. so come a bit earlier. See krewe members for tickets as seating is limited or reach out to them on Facebook at Gout de Petronius, Dinner with Friends. The dinner includes a Four course meal consisting of Seafood Gumbo, Mixed Green Salad with Italian Vinaigrette, Choice of: Chicken, Prime Rib, or Fish and Bread Pudding. The costs is $40 per person all inclusive; alcoholic beverages a la carte.
#3. Thursday – Sunday, November 19 – 22, 2015
I am thrilled to finally see this Tennessee Williams play. Written in 1966 and labeled as part of a double-bill of one-act plays entitled Slapstick Tragedy, this later play by Tennessee Williams takes place in the New Orleans French Quarter on Christmas Eve 1948. On a night filled with carols, misfits, sailors, hookers, cops, quarter rats, grifters, secrets, betrayals, and wine, Trinket Dugan is a Texas oil heiress and cancer survivor hiding away at the Silver Dollar Hotel. Celeste Delacroix Griffin is a hustler in every sense of the word who—by discovering a deep, dark secret of the heiress Dugan—jumpstarts the two on a humorous journey that will, in all hopes, resuscitate their friendship in just enough time to share a mystical experience that will change their lives. In doing so, it demonstrates how thin the line is between the dreadful and the joyful in a clever character rendering of humanity’s penchant for finding a laugh in tragic circumstances
Bringing to life the classic character Trinket Dugan is the legendary actress Mink Stole, who got her start in film working with John Waters, and who has since evolved to be one of his renowned Dreamlanders, having been featured in all of Waters’ films to date. Tickets are $35 General Admission|$25 CAC Members in advance and 40 General Admission|$30 CAC Members at the door. Times are Thursday, November 19, 2015 – 7:30pm; Friday, November 20, 2015 – 7:30pm; Saturday, November 21, 2015 – 7:30pm and Sunday, November 22, 2015 – 2:30pm. For tickets www.cacno.org.
#4. Thursday, November 19, 2015
Get your Thanksgiving Feasting on early at Toby and Sandy’s Thanksgiving Dinner with a Purpose at the Bourbon Pub from 6 – 9 p.m. The cost is either a $5 minimum donation or 5 canned goods for entry. Come out and help feed those that are not as fortunate. The Bourbon Pub is located at 801 Bourbon Street.
#5. Thursday, November 19, 2015
The holidays are in the air at the FRENCH MARKET ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING at Washington Artillery Park directly across from Jackson Square. Come out for this festive kick-off to the holiday season. The event schedule includes:
4:45 pm: Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Brass Quartet
5:30 pm: Caroling with New Orleans Opera Association
6:00 pm: Tree Lighting
6:10 pm: Secondline with the New Wave Brass Band to a special concert at St. Louis Cathedral by Dillard University Choir
#6. Saturday, November 21, 2015
It’s Pride Pub Crawl time! Join New Orleans Pride for the best Pub Crawl of the year starting at 6 p.m. Registration is open to 150 participants only. Be sure to register now as we have sold out the past 2 years. The cost is $20. This is how it works: You will stop at 8-12 bars where the first 100 people to the bar will get a FREE shot. We stay at each bar for 15 minutes so you have time to purchase a drink and support the venues sponsoring the crawl. The crawl starts at the 700 Club (700 Burgundy St.). All participants will receive the 2015 collector Pride Shirt. To buy tickets go to www.NewOrleansPrideFestival.com.
#7. Saturday, November 21, 2015
Peep. Show- Queer Art of New Orleans is a collection of erotic artwork curated by Jeremy Novy of four artists currently living and working in New Orleans. The exhibit will be at Hyph3n-Art (1901 Royal St.) and brings together the works of Jeremy Novy, Skylar Fein, Paul Rizzo and James Concannon. The exhibit focuses on artist interpolations of erotic art of the 70’s and 80’s often found in Pornography of the time, through stenciling, print making, painting, sculpture and installation. Though queer art is a strong movement in and of itself in many other cities, there have been very few gallery shows of this kind in New Orleans. New Orleans has long been a safe haven of free and open expression and we feel it is important to include this community in the New Orleans art scene. The show is from 8 p.m. to midnight. This show will be 18+ and will display both erotic and non-erotic works. Music will be provided by Uncle Jim.
#8. Saturday, November 21, 2015
Jack Inman presents Unleashed! A twisted EXTRAVAGANZA featuring your favorite Drag Kings, Drag Queens and everyone in between at Cutter’s (706 Franklin Ave.). This month it’s Naughty November so be prepared to get down and dirty with us. There is no cover and definitely participate in their monthly and super naughty contest. Come out for an unforgettable night of entertainment featuring Mr. Jack Inman, Solitaire, Lady Godiva, Napoleon Bonerparte, Brad Arsenaux, Lady Juliet and more.
#9. Saturday, November 21, 2015
Come try 21 different Grower Champagnes and Sparklings from around the world at Bacchanal (600 Poland Ave.) for Bubbly Fest. Pick the perfect wines for the Holiday Season and groove to the sounds of the Red Organ Trio in our cozy heated courtyard. $10 wristband gets you full access to one of our fanciest tastings of the year.
#10. Sunday, November 22, 2015
The Mystic Krewe of Satyricon and Queen Satyricon XI host an afternoon of “Hanky Panky” fun at Grandpre’s (824 North Rampart St.) from 2 to 5 pm to benefit the krewe’s bal Masque XIV. Come out in your best Bandana Inspired Attire and join the Krewe as we present an all you can eat buffet and Live “Beef” Cake Auction just in time for your Thanksgiving Guests. Please join them for a $10.00 donation to the Mystic Krewe of Satyricon. All you can eat buffet, Cake Auction, 50/50 raffle, Hanky Panky Fun and more.
#11. Sunday, November 22, 2016
Get ready to eat one of NOLA’s most prized delicacies – The Po-Boy. Come enjoy the 9th ANNUAL OAK STREET PO-BOY FESTIVAL presented by Abita Beer from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Oak Street business corridor in the neighborhood of Carrollton will be transformed into one of the most unique festivals in the world, the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival. This event features some of the finest restaurants, artists and musicians in the Crescent City, all coming together in appreciation of one of New Orleans most distinct and delicious creation- The legendary Po-Boy Sandwich. Over 40 different food vendors will be serving up their own take on this tasty classic while some of the best local bands in town provide the soundtrack. On top of all the fantastic food and music, Po-Boy Fest is also excited to add the return of an Arts Market. For more information, go to http://poboyfest.com.