The New Orleans Center for Creative Arts is an icon in our city – and for good reason! It was founded in 1973 to offer intensive art instruction for high school students in Classical Music, Creative Writing, Culinary Arts, Dance, Jazz, Media Arts, Musical Theatre, Theatre Design, Vocal Music, Visual Arts and other academic areas, and NOCCA is now known all over the world. We are so proud to feature their largest fundraiser, “Art & Soul” on our May cover. This year “Art & Soul” will be held on Saturday, May 13, at NOCCA’s Chevron Forum (2831 Chartres St.) with a Patron Party starting at 6:30 p.m., the Gala at 8 and the Twilight Party (for those 35 and under) at 9. Thanks to Chairs Ben and Jeanette Jaffe and Laura and John Sillars, who promise fantastic food from NOCCA’s Culinary Arts students as well as some of New Orleans’ best restaurants. Guests will enjoy great music from The Preservation Hall All-Stars, Sweet Crude and Cha Wa, and both silent and live auctions featuring artwork, vacation packages and more! Purchase your tickets today by calling 940-2851.
Mother’s Day is almost here and What’s Hot will give you great ideas for the moms and mothers-to-be in your life, including jewelry, clutches, shoes and more. Mother’s Day is always a great day to brunch with the whole family; look to our piece featuring 11 favorite places to treat Mom to a special meal to find your perfect spot.
Our guide to your best summer skin will give you tips and introduce you to new technologies from local experts. Everyone wants to keep up with the latest so that we can look as good as possible for all of the fundraisers we’ll attend, so read on!
Be sure to check out our Registry of Charitable Events: May-August 2017. We are “the place” to make sure that when you’re planning a new fundraiser, your date isn’t full of other nonprofit events; you won’t want to be just one of five, you want to stand out! If you don’t see your event there, or you want to get a start on planning your fall event, submit it to: MyNewOrleans.com/CharitablEvent.
Speaking of fabulous galas, there are so many in New Orleanians’ private homes – maybe yours is next. Look to our feature on hosting a gala at home to get tips from local experts and advice from those in the know!
But if you don’t want to throw your event in your home, Parlor at the Pontchartrain is a newly renovated event space at the Pontchartrain Hotel (2031 St. Charles Ave.), and is open now! Exposed brick, toile accent walls and gorgeous chandeliers give it an Old New Orleans feel. Visit ThePontchartrainHotel.com/space/the-parlor-at-the-pontchartrain or call 323-1400 to learn more.
Enjoy the start to your summer,
Beverly Reese Church
“Brass N Glass,” Friday, May 19, 6-9 p.m., is YAYA’s annual spring party celebrating its public access glass studio. This free event at the YAYA Arts Center in Central City (3322 LaSalle St.) includes live music, glassblowing demonstrations and a showcase of artwork created by youth artists. Proceeds from all sales of artwork and glassware directly support YAYA’s free afterschool programs for creative young people across New Orleans.
Learn more by visiting YAYAInc.com.
