White Linen Night
The Arts District of New Orleans is bringing one of the Crescent City’s iconic summer social events back with White Linen Night. It will be scaled down a bit this year, and some details were still being worked on with vendors and the city at press time, and yet, the party will go on. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, August 7 in the Warehouse District Galleries located in the 300-600 blocks of Julia Street, open from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. with an after party at the Contemporary Arts Center from 9 p.m. until midnight.
Individual galleries may choose to have safety protocols in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so the number of people in a given gallery at any time may be limited, and patrons may be asked to wear a mask while inside.
However, even a limited White Linen Night is a breath of fresh air after the trials and tribulations of 2020. Put on your best whites and enjoy the art at some of the city’s best galleries in a fun, social setting.
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Brick Universe LEGO Fan Expo
On August 14 and 15, visit Kenner’s Pontchartrain Center for the Brick Universe LEGO Fan Expo. Even if you’re not a LEGO builder yourself, you’ll marvel at the intricate constructions on display, which include Mt. Rushmore, Notre Dame de Paris, and much more. For more information and tickets, visit BrickUniverse.com.
New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
One of the Crescent City’s hidden museum gems on Chartres Street in the French Quarter. Located in a historic building, it showcases an extensive collection of artifacts on the history of pharmacy and healthcare in Louisiana. PharmacyMuseum.org
Better than Ezra at the House of Blues
Get excited, children of the 1990s, because the New Orleans’s own Better than Ezra is performing at the House of Blues on August 13 and 14 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their album “Friction, Baby.” Tickets can be purchased at HouseOfBlues.com.
The Hot 8 Brass Band at Howlin’ Wolf
New Orleanians have been without live music for too long, and if you want to make up for lost time, the Grammy-nominated Hot 8 Brass Band will be playing at Howlin’ Wolf on August 8. TheHowlinWolf.com
“Dream Girl” by Laura Lippman
Part-time New Orleans resident and best-selling novelist Laura Lippman (2019’s excellent “The Lady in the Lake” is worth your attention as well) returns with “Dream Girl,” a mystery/horror hybrid with echoes of Stephen King’s “Misery.”
60-something novelist Gerry Anderson is bedridden in his luxury high-rise apartment after seriously injuring himself in a fall. One night, he receives a call from a mysterious woman claiming to be the “real” version of the title character of his most famous novel, “Dream Girl.” But there’s no record of the call afterwards, so Gerry wonders if he’s succumbing to dementia like his mother did or if a woman from his past is trying to settle old scores with him.
In a starred review, “Booklist” wrote “This is both a beguiling look at the mysteries of authorship and a powerful #MeToo novel, but that’s only the tip of a devilishly jagged iceberg…
Louisiana Children’s Museum
The new Louisiana Children’s Museum in City Park had not been open long when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. But it is open once again, and it’s a wonderful choice for parents seeking an air-conditioned outing with their children in the sweltering August heat. There are plenty of fun, educational exhibits where kids can learn about local food, culture, nature and industry. LCM.org
