The Vie Side: Women in Jazz, Art Flea Markets, Zoological Orchestrations

FRIDAY-SUNDAY / Scat some jazz: New Orleans is no stranger to music festivals. This weekend brings Nola Girl Jam, a weekend festival celebrating women in jazz. The festival includes jazz performances, dance troupes, and concerts. On a more interactive level, there are social dances and informal hang out sessions. Who couldn’t use a jazz dance lesson? Bust out your best Mad Men style for the vintage costume contest and party like a sailor on leave at the Hot Jazz Happy Hour.

SATURDAY / Little piggies went to market: This Saturday, the Contemporary Arts Center is presenting Creative Flea. It’s not a bed bug with an aptitude for aesthetics, but rather a flea market featuring second-hand items of the creative community. Vendors range from chefs and artisans to musicians and artists. This is a chance to get a truly unique item from the local creative community. If that’s not enough to get you out of bed at 9:30 AM, there will also be food trucks outside. Grab some mobile breakfast and do a little shopping. Get one-of-a-kind items from one-of-a-kind people.

SUNDAY / Elephants in the room: The LPO is presenting their final family concert of the season this Sunday at 3 PM. The performance is animal-themed, but with a New Orleans twist. Actor Vatican Lokey and guest conductor David Torns will be reading poetry written by the LPO musicians themselves. Aside from wonderful music and an entertaining show, representatives from the Louisiana SPCA and the LPO musicians will be available to talk to families after the performance. In addition, if music about animals gives you a hankering to see the real thing, there will be a drawing for four passes to the Audubon Zoo.

Anna Shults is associate editor of NolaVie.