A Toast to New Orleans and YOU- Dec 18-25 : Christmas without Tear/ The Nutcracker/ NOCCA's Home for the Holiday - Feliz Navidad /Happy Christmas and more....

A Toast to New Orleans and YOU- Dec 18-25 : Christmas without Tear/ The Nutcracker/ NOCCA's Home for the Holiday - Feliz Navidad /Happy Christmas and more.... Good afternoon my darling family and friends. It's a beautiful, cool Monday, December 18! Our beloved New Orleans community is elated about the fabulous victory of the Pelicans and the Saints. Congratulations! I am grateful for the incredible memorable week, and I am looking forward to all the holiday festivities that this new week will bring! “Every day, think as you wake up: Today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it.” — Dalai Lama XIV-HAPPY HOLIDAYS! This past week of December 11-17 was full of fun-filled events. Of course, the highlight of my week was my annual spectacular sold-out Round Table Luncheon at Briquette's. The entertainment, the food, the festive costumes, the cuisine, the sparkling champagne, the delicious strawberry margaritas courtesy of Jorge Lauriano Jr. made it a very memorable one. Put down in your calendar that the next RTL will be a jazzy Mardi Gras 2024 RTL and will be cohosted by talented roommate Rick Tringali on Friday, January 19 at noon at the historic New Orleans Jazz Museum. More details and a press release will follow. Photos by Frank Stansbury, Antony J. Tusa Jr. Sergio Cabrera and others. May be an image of 8 people and hat shopMay be an image of 3 peopleMay be an image of 4 people, dirndl and hat shop Check out this link by Sergio Cabrera : Margarita Bergen's Christmas Round Table Luncheon 12.15.23 Alvin Albe and Virginia Boulet's Holiday Party at the Basin Street Station was spectacular as in the past! May be an image of 10 people I enjoyed being the guest of my darling longtime friend Congressman Troy Carter Sr. at his "Christmas on the River Fundraiser and Christmas Party."May be an image of 4 people What a fun 50th Birthday party for my darling friend Christi Stanford May be an image of 2 people, lighting and christmas tree https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/photos-caroling-in-jackson-square-in-the-new-orleans-french-quarter/collection_67ce58d8-9d4c-11ee-a897-cbe36d949ce5.html#1 Photos: Caroling in Jackson Square in the New Orleans French Quarter The annual "Caroling in Jackson Square" Sunday Dec. 17, 2023. www.nola.com https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/local_events/photos-christmas-parade-toy-giveaway-bring-holiday-spirit-to-new-orleans-east-residents/collection_9df382a0-9c73-11ee-8a87-4b7c266c0d58.html#1 Photos: Christmas parade, toy giveaway, bring holiday spirit to New Orleans East residents / www.nola.com https://myemail-api.constantcontact.com/Monday-December-18---2023.html?soid=1102589984427&aid=Om1YONvFHvA https://myemail-api.constantcontact.com/Monday-December-18---2023.html?soid=1102589984427&aid=Om1YONvFHvA If you want to see the entire LaFete Newsletter, please press on today's link Today's Link https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/eat-drink/new-orleans-bars-restaurants-christmas-cocktail/article_71b413dc-99fb-11ee-967c-53822ccf2c9d.html TheNutcracker" Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater The NOCCA Foundation, The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate, and the family of Daniel Price invite you to Home for the Holidays on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. This annual concert event will be held at House of Blues New Orleans, located at 225 Decatur Street. Home for the Holidays is a night of spectacular art and music benefiting the Daniel Price Memorial Fund for Aspiring Artists, which honors the memory of NOCCA alum Daniel Price (Visual Arts, 1993). The fund was established following Daniel's death at the age of 28 while protecting his wife from an assailant. Daniel's fund is part of the NOCCA Foundation's Student Success Program, which provides NOCCA's young artists with year-round support for training, supplies, and college scholarships. Patron Party: 6:30pm - 8:00pm Home for the Holidays kicks off with a patron party from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. Gold- and Silver-level patrons will be treated to back-to-back performances by two New Orleans legends: Irma Thomas and John Boutte! Both Gold and Silver patrons will enjoy a buffet dinner and open bar during the patron party, plus a fabulous silent auction featuring artwork by NOCCA alumni who've received the Daniel Price Award. Patrons will also have all-night access to the Parish Room, where there will be an open bar from 8pm until the end of the Home for the Holidays concert. Our 80 Gold-level patrons will receive reserved seating in the House of Blues lounge for the entire evening. May be an image of 9 people and text that says 'PE02 HOME or The HOLIDAYS An unforgettable night music and art to benefit the Daniel Price Memorial Fund for Aspiring Artists The Soul Rebels Wednesday, December 20, 2023 House of Blues New Orleans Irma Thomas Tickets & details at NOCCAFoundation.org/holidays Cimafunk Kermit Ruffins NOCCA The C Cimes Dicauune Preservation Hall All Stars JohnBoutte John' https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/nola-christmasfest-celebrates-10-years/article_568dd892-99f9-11ee-be1c-238ed687ac47.html https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/nola-christmasfest-celebrates-10-years/article_568dd892-99f9-11ee-be1c-238ed687ac47.html NOLA ChristmasFest is back for its 10th year. Here's what to know. NOLA ChristmasFest celebrates its 10th anniversary Dec. 21-30 as it brings a winter wonderland to the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention Center Blvd., in New Orleans. www.nola.com https://www.operacreole.com/event-details-registration/chevalier-and-charlotte-masked-ball Event Details & Registration | OperaCreole www.operacreole.com https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/eat-drink/new-orleans-la-restaurants-open-on-christmas-day/article_45ebd788-9de5-11ee-bdc4-777e478f256c.html#tncms-source=the-latest https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/eat-drink/new-orleans-la-restaurants-open-on-christmas-day/article_45ebd788-9de5-11ee-bdc4-777e478f256c.html#tncms-source=the-latest https://parade.com/health/hoda-kotb-tip-for-managing-holiday-stress Hoda Kotb Has an Incredible Tip For Managing Holiday Stress We'll definitely be doing this. parade.com https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/looking-for-christmas-lights-these-metairie-kenner-homes-have-impressive-displays/article_57972a4c-9ac9-11ee-be46-931b27c72634.html#tncms-source=entertainment-headlines Looking for Christmas lights? These Metairie, Kenner homes have impressive displays For decades, Christmas lights in Metairie may have been visible in space thanks to Al Copeland's famous Folse Drive display. www.nola.com https://www.nola.com/sponsored/lafayette_convention_and_visitors_commission/experience-a-cajun-christmas-extravaganza-in-lafayette-with-holiday-festivities-for-the-whole-family/article_57172422-9539-11ee-bf19-73621371570d.html#tncms-source=dontmiss-2 https://www.nola.com/sponsored/lafayette_convention_and_visitors_commission/experience-a-cajun-christmas-extravaganza-in-lafayette-with-holiday-festivities-for-the-whole-family/article_57172422-9539-11ee-bf19-73621371570d.html#tncms-source=dontmiss-2 Experience a Cajun Christmas extravaganza in Lafayette with holiday festivities for the whole family If you’re looking for a way to celebrate the holiday season with your family in an atmosphere that is both festive and laidback, the Lafayette area has plenty to offer. www.nola.com https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/pets-can-be-stressed-by-the-holiday-season-too/article_49a7c962-9620-11ee-9e72-1738a31a5f2d.html#tncms-source=entertainment-featured They may not know it's Christmastime, but pets can be stressed by season, too. / www.nola.com https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/eat-drink/new-restaurants-in-the-new-orleans-area-to-try-in-2024/article_90e2760c-9534-11ee-8748-d38cb30489d7.html#tncms-source=featured-2 Ian McNulty: New restaurants around New Orleans I loved this year: Try them in 2024. Tumultuous times mean change, and so it was in the New Orleans restaurant world in 2023. There have been many closures and a high number of restaurants changing hands. www.nola.com https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/mardi_gras/mardi-gras-king-cake-season-nola/article_4186dd7c-9b75-11ee-8f58-5355e22ce536.html#tncms-source=featured-2 When does king cake season start, and is it 'illegal' to eat them early in New Orleans? If you live in New Orleans, then you know New Year's resolutions don't really begin until Ash Wednesday. www.nola.com