New Orleans Free and Frugal Events This Weekend - Katrina Anniversary Edition

This weekend there will be a huge focus on the 5th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and with that, several events around town commemorating it.  Here are a few:

On Saturday from 2-8pm, the group Rebuilding Together will hold a block party at Lafayette Square to celebrate their restoration of 50 damaged homes in Gentilly.

Author Michelle O'Brien will sign her Katrina-themed children's book Twas the Night Before the Storm on Saturday from 11am to 1pm in the lobby of the Metaire Office Towers at 433 Metairie Road.

Celebrate first responders and "Share the Moon" on Saturday from 11:30am to 8:30pm in Jackson Square, and from 1-6pm at Le Petit Theatre with music (Grandpa Elliot, Full Steam Brass Band, and others), and free refreshments (including Ben & Jerry's ice cream!) at the Le Petit stage.

From noon until 3pm on Sunday, the St. Bernard Animal Shelter is hosting a free event to encourage shelter pet adoption.  This event will include face painting, snoballs, a pet photo contest, and adoption specials.

Finally, it might be cathartic for some of us to participate in a Jazz Funeral for Katrina.  On Sunday at 1pm, the Monteleone Hotel will sponsor a jazz funeral procession to Jackson Square, complete with a casket and a second-line jazz band.  Following the funeral march, there will be a memorial service at St. Louis Cathedral.

However you plan to commemorate the anniversary, please remember those who lost everything, including those who lost their lives, and those who still have not been able to come back home.

New Orleans Free and Frugal Events This Weekend

Are your kids fans of the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" book series?  If so, you'll want to take them to Octavia Books on Saturday.  The "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" Truck Bookstore Tour will make it's stop there from noon to 1:30pm on Saturday to celebrate book 5 in the series.

Your musically-inclined kids have yet another chance to play with a real jazz band!  On Saturday from 11am to noon, kids can drop in at the New Orleans Jazz Historical Park with their own instruments and play with the Storyville Stompers Brass Band!

On Sunday, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art is hosting its annual free fair.  From 10am to 3pm, take the family to the Ogden for a "Coastal Celebration" which will include music, dancing, craft-making, and of course, art!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mid-week events

It's Wednesday again - that means free admission for all to the New Orleans Museum of Art!  From 12pm to 8pm, enjoy free admission to the museum, and at 6pm experience the Ancestors and Descendants exhibit walk through with the curator.

Also, don't forget about Wednesdays on the Point in Algiers - there are only three left.  This Wednesday's scheduled entertainment is Anais St. John with the Prohibition Jazz Band.

Head to Zephyr field in Metairie on Thursday for the Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest.  Test your skills in the batting cages or mobile video game arcade, or see if you have what it takes for the big leagues in the radar gun pitching challenge.  This event starts at 4pm and runs until the Zephyrs game at 7pm.

Enjoy your week - and let's hope the rain stays away!

New Orleans Free and Frugal Events This Weekend

Ok, so they didn't win Thursday night, but that's no reason not to head out and cheer on the Saints this weekend as they continue training camp.  The Saints will have open practices at their facility on Airline Drive Saturday through Thursday, including two practices against the Houston Texans Wednesday and Thursday.  Check here for the complete schedule.

On Saturday, gather up your children and their musical instruments and head to the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park.  From 11am to noon, kids can bring their instruments and play music with a real live jazz band - this week it's the Storyville Stompers Brass Band!

While you're over that way, head over to the Old U.S. Mint (400 Esplanade Avenue) for a school supply giveaway sponsored by the Dinerral Shavers Educational Fund.  From noon to 4pm, enjoy live music, food, health screenings, a performance by Mardi Gras Indians, and appearances by Dora and Elmo!  If you plan to attend, please bring a donation of canned goods for Second Harvest Food Bank.

And don't forget, Sunday is Target Free Sunday at the Louisiana Children's Museum. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

CSN Stores Review

At the end of June, I posted a preview here about a review opportunity I had been offered with CSN Stores.  Because CSN has SO MANY different products, it was hard to choose just what I wanted to try out!  I eventually settled on this OMNI Panel Versatile Stainless Steel Grilling Platter from Cuisinart.  Outdoor cooking is something that both my husband and I love to do - especially during the summer.  This platter consists of a pizza stone (grilled pizza, anyone?), cedar plank (for fish), and a stainless steel grate (for veggies). 

The product was great, and arrived in perfect condition, but let me just tell you about my ordering process.  I placed my order online with CSN on a Saturday afternoon, and the box was on my doorstep TUESDAY morning!  Free shipping was offered on the product I chose to review, so I was blown away by the speed in which it arrived to my house!  Oftentimes when ordering online, I've found that "free shipping" often equates to "whenever we get it to you".  That is certainly not the case with CSN Stores!

When I say the CSN has an incredible amount of products, I'm not kidding!  In fact, my younger son's school supply list calls for Crayola Washable Markers in Tropical colors.  I looked all over the place locally for them without any luck.  I was able to find them online, but everywhere I found was charging more to ship than they cost!  Everywhere except CSN, that is.  I found said markers on the CSN website, and what did they charge me to ship?  Twenty-six cents.  Yes, less than the cost of a postage stamp!  I don't know how they do it, but CSN really came through for me with this product (which, incidentally, should be on my doorstep in the morning).

So, CSN has a new customer in me, and I urge you to take a look at their offerings - you will not be disappointed!

FTC Disclosure: The featured product(s) in this post was purchased using a gift certificate provided to me free of charge by the company. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone.

Happy "Madden Gras"!

On Monday, head down to Fulton Square to celebrate Madden Gras - the party marking the release of the EA Sports Madden NFL '11 video game.  This free event starts at 11am and is open to the public.  Enjoy live music, play your favorite EA Sports games, and see sports stars including Joe Horn, Deuce McAllister, and Rickey Jackson - the first Saint to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame!  At 7pm, check out the Madden Gras parade as it rolls from Decatur, onto Bourbon, and ends at the Jackson Square main stage where Galactic will entertain the crowds.  Whether you're a Saints fan, a gamer, or a music fan, you'll be sure to be entertained at Madden Gras!

More Events this Weekend!

If you've got a little gas in the car, take the family west on I-10 to Baton Rouge to enjoy the Pennington Balloon Championship!  Check out the balloons, and head over to the Children's Village to enjoy music, face painting, pony rides, and more! The festival runs Friday through Sunday, with most events on Saturday.

Also in Baton Rouge this weekend is LSU Fan Day!  On Sunday, LSU fans can head to the Maravich Assembly Center and the Carl Maddox Field House to meet and greet LSU soccer, cheerleading, and football teams.  The kids' area will open at 1pm in Lot L (next to the Field House) and gates to the facilities will be open from 3pm until 5:30pm.

Finally, from 9am until noon on Saturday, take the kids to your nearest Home Depot store for the latest Kids' Workshop.  This weekend, make a school bus pencil holder!

Enjoy your weekend!

New Orleans Free and Frugal Events This Weekend

Friday through Sunday, head downtown to celebrate the 10th annual Satchmo Summer Fest!  In addition to 4 stages with live music, this free festival includes various seminars and discussions, as well as a children's area with activities such as making a second line umbrella and decorating a Zulu coconut!  The festival runs from noon to 7pm through Sunday.

Head to the Maple Street Book Shop Saturday from 11:30am to 1pm, to meet Rosemary Smith, children's book author, as she signs her book Lizzie Walks On the Wild Side. 

If art's your thing, leave the kids with a sitter and head out to the warehouse district Saturday night dressed in your stylish white linen to celebrate Whitney White Linen Night.  The party starts at 6pm with live entertainment and free admission to the art galleries in the Arts District.  If you go, remember to not wash your white linen afterwards so you'll be ready for next weekend's Dirty Linen Night on Royal Street!

Have a wonderful weekend!

What to Do on Wednesday...

It's Wednesday again - time for free admission for all to the New Orleans Museum of Art!  Tonight, enjoy a free screening of the award-winning (and the most popular Taiwanese film), Cape No. 7, at 6pm.  Also tonight, from 6-7pm, meet local woodworking artist Peg Martinez.

Wednesday also means Wednesdays on the Point in Algiers.  Tonight from 6-9pm, enjoy a free show by Amanda Shaw!

If you're a member of the Audubon Institute, head to the Aquarium of the Americas tonight from 5-8pm for SEAlebration!  Open only to Audubon members, SEAlebration will feature live music, feedings, aquarist chats, and kids' activities.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!