Christmas

Shop locally, online or in-person, for the holidays on Small Business Saturday and beyond

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This year — even more than ever — it’s important to shop local for the holidays. Just a 10% shift to local shopping injects millions of dollars into our local economy. 

StayLocal, along with its member businesses — independent locally owned shops, restaurants, markets and more — will welcome holiday shoppers across the city and the Greater New Orleans area this Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28 from 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. 

During this difficult year for small retailers and restaurants, the #ShopSmall message is essential. Holiday shoppers are encouraged to increase the amount of support they give local businesses by choosing to shop local online and by shopping early this November and December. 

A visit to StayLocal’s online directory of certified locally owned businesses provides customers a way to connect to local business. The directory can also be sorted by Black-owned businesses.

city government

How to get your Christmas tree recycled

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Twelfth Night is the official end of the Christmas season, as well as the beginning of the Carnival season. So it’s time to take down the Christmas trees. If you want your tree to be recycled, here’s what you need to do:

• Remove all ornaments, tinsel, lights and the tree stand. • Place the tree at the location of your regular garbage collection before 5 a.m. on your second regularly scheduled second collection day. That’s either Thursday, Jan.

city government

City skipping trash pickup on Christmas, but adding makeup day for recycling

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There will be no curbside trash or recycling collection on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. Curbside trash collection will resume on the next regularly scheduled collection day. If you have Wednesday and Saturday garbage pickup, your trash will be picked up Saturday as scheduled. For areas with Wednesday recycling collection, Metro Disposal and Richard’s Disposal will conduct special collection days after Christmas (for all those cardboard boxes and wrapping paper). Metro Disposal will collect recycling on Thursday, Dec.

food and drink

Kristine Froeba: Centuries-old Creole Bread Pudding, an easy and decadent New Orleans holiday tradition

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In New Orleans, family recipes that date back several generations are being pulled from well-worn family journals and put into play. We are a city that holds an unflinchingly tight grip on our family traditions and history. With Louisiana’s unique food culture and some family roots going back 300 years, that history includes old Creole recipes that have been passed down for well over a century. We already know our tablescape differs from the other 49 states on any given day. But on the holidays, our fare is markedly different from the rest of the nation.

arts, books and music

What’s open and what’s closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

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By Sue Strachan, Uptown Messenger

After the gift giving, feasting and family bonding – hopefully without a dose of politics over the dinner table – the stir crazy hours set in. To keep good tidings this holiday season, this list shows what is open and closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It includes major attractions, movie theaters and events. Christmas Eve
Attractions
Aububon Nature Institute (Audubon Zoo, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Aquarium of the Americas, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Theater last show, 3:40 p.m.; Butterfly Garden & Insectarium, 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.; and Nature Center, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., trails 3:30 p .m.)

Holiday Spectacles
Miracle on Fulton Street: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

NOLA Christmas Fest (Ernest N. Morial Convention Center): 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The Polar Express Train Ride (Union Passenger Terminal): First ride 10:40 a.m.; last ride: 8:40 p.m.

CLOSED: Audubon Zoo Lights, Celebration in the Oaks

Museums
Hermann-Grima & Gallier Historic Houses, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

New Orleans Museum of Art, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Ogden Museum of Southern Art, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, 10 .m. – 3 p.m.

CLOSED: Contemporary Arts Center, The Historic New Orleans Collection, Louisiana Children’s Museum, Louisiana State Museums (Cabildo, Presbytere, 1850 House, Madame John’s Legacy), McKenna Museum of African Art, National World War II Museum, New Orleans African American Museum

Farmer’s Market
Crescent City Farmers Market at Tulane University Square: 9 a.m to 1 p.m.

Movies
The Broad Theater: “Cats,” “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” “Frozen II,” “Queen & Slim” and “Parasite.”
Check schedule online for times.

arts, books and music

‘Tunes for Toys’ benefits Trombone Shorty’s toy drive (Photos)

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On Thursday, Dec. 19, Gia Maione Prima Foundation and J.P. Morgan Chase presented “Tunes for Toys” at Tipitina’s. For the price of one unwrapped toy, fans could see the Trombone Shorty Academy band, New Breed Brass Band and Hot 8 Brass Band. All of the toys collected were donated to Trombone Shorty’s toy giveaway, Toys from Troy, at his alma mater, Warren Easton High School. The toys will be given away at Warren Easton today in an event hosted by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and featuring Santa Claus as well as the Trombone Shorty Academy players.

arts, books and music

“Nutcracker” performed at Tulane on Sunday with diverse, multi-generational cast

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The Christmas classic “Nutcracker Suite” will grace the stage at Tulane University’s Dixon Hall with two performances on Sunday. New Orleans Ballet Association presents Tchaikovsky’s holiday adventure in a new one-hour production on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

This magical journey — from enchanting parties, dramatic battles and dancing dolls to a whimsical visit in the Land of Sweets — is brought to life in a multi-generational performance by a diverse cast of more than 200 participants ages 6 to over 70. The cast includes students from the Broadmoor Arts and Wellness Center as well as NOBA’s nationally award-winning 28-year partnership with NORD. “This very special intergenerational production gives our community dance program participants, both youth and senior citizens, the opportunity to showcase their talents on stage together in a timeless classic that the whole family can enjoy,” said New Orleans Ballet Association Executive Director Jenny Hamilton.

events

St. Charles Avenue homeowners light up majestic oak trees after hiatus

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By Sue Strachan, Uptown Messenger

What’s large, has limbs and is enveloped with 70,000 small white lights? Three majestic oak trees across from the Academy of the Sacred Heart on St. Charles Avenue. After a year’s hiatus, these Instagram holiday favorites can be viewed from the street, illuminated by an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 strands of lights — for a total of 70,000 lights, according to Rick Farrell, the St. Charles Avenue homeowner who wraps the trees in light for the Christmas holiday.

business

Shop local stores for your holiday gifts during Small Business Saturday

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On Saturday — between Black Friday and Cyber Monday (make that Plaid Friday and Cider Monday) — local retailers and shoppers celebrate the low-key, hyper-local Small Business Saturday. It’s a national event bringing millions of Americans out to shop for holiday gifts at their favorite small businesses, to explore friendly, creative local shops and to support the local economy. Small Business Saturday draws tourists and locals to come out in a show of support for the stretches of shops and restaurants throughout New Orleans’ neighborhoods. This year marks the 10th anniversary of this  tradition, and StayLocal New Orleans is marking it with all the news you need to know from shop owners and their fans. Enjoy shopping along Oak Street, Magazine Street, Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, the French Quarter, Bayou Road, the CBD and other local business corridors with small shops.

arts, books and music

Arts Market and Caroling at Palmer Park planned for this weekend

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The Carrollton Area Network is be hosting the 11th annual Caroling at Palmer Park on Sunday, Dec. 16, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Before the Christmas caroling, there will be Christmas shopping in the park. The Palmer Park Arts Market will be held both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The park is bordered by South Carrollton Avenue, South Claiborne Avenue, Dublin Street and Sycamore Place, at the end of the St. Charles streetcar line. The Arts Market is the Arts Council’s free, open-air marketplace of artwork by New Orleans and Gulf Coast artists, featuring between 80 and 130 local artists.