Thursday, January 4/The Orpheum Theater (129 Roosevelt Way): Now that the new year is here, it’s time to spice it up, and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra is doing just that with their “Romance and Fantasy” concert. Dedicated to his wife, the fiery, Spanish-tinged dances of Turina’s Danzas fantásticas herald in this concert’s theme of romance. Violinist Ray Chen will then performs Max Bruch’s ‘Scottish Fantasy’ for Violin and Orchestra as an interlude to the other romance-inspired pieces on the program. The concert ends with Prokofiev’s Suite from Romeo and Juliet, which was composed to accompany a ballet based on the age-old tale of romance and tragedy. Tickets start around $20, and you can purchase them here.
Saturday, January 6/Saturn Bar (3067 St Claude Ave): Let the dancing begin! Who are we kidding? It never ended. And now you can get your 80s dance groove on every first Saturday with the Purple Rain: 80’s Vinyl Dance Party. This is a total 80’s experience with lights, lasers, photobooth, 80’s visuals, and of course all of your favorite 80’s records. Vinyl record giveaways with your host DJ Shane Love will also be happening. The dancing begins at 10:00 PM, goes until 3:00 AM, and there is no cover. You can find full details here.
Saturday, January 6/Arthur Roger Gallery (432 Julia Street): The Arthur Roger Gallery is presenting, in collaboration with the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, an exhibition of photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe and George Dureau. The exhibition will be on view at Arthur Roger (434 Julia Street) from January 6 until February 17. The gallery will host an opening, which will be open to the public, on Saturday from 6:00-8:00 PM. You can find out more details here.
Sunday, January 7/Grow On (2358 Urquhart Street): Take a deep breath. Take a good stretch. And do it all with Self-Care Sunday, which is a weekly event featuring healing techniques and activities of all kinds. You can come by early to check out the farm, meet your community and settle in with yoga starting at 2:00 PM. There is a suggested donation of $5-$15, and you can find out full details here.
Monday, January 8/First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans (5401 S Claiborne Ave): It is time again for a good-old fashion hoe down, and now it’s happening in a church. Square Dance NOLA is back on Monday January 8 with guest caller Phil Jamison, who is a lifelong educator, old time musician, flatfoot dancer and dancer caller, as well as scholar and author of a recent book celebrated for exploring the non-European roots of square dancing. The fun begins at 7:00 PM with some Boot Talk, and then the dancing goes from 8:00 PM until 10:00 PM. Entry is $5 at the door, it’s BYOB, and there are also $2 red beans and rice available.
Monday, January 8/Three Keys (600 Carondelet): The Patois Film Festival has begun, and every Monday you can dive into a new world that projects before you. Conscious Cinema presented by Patois Film Festival will have screenings every Monday, and the films range from drama to documentaries with a constant touch on environmental or sociopolitical issues. There will be a special cocktail hour before every film, which means you can meet, mingle and have a drink before the 7:00 PM screening. You can RSVP for free at acehotel.com/patois, and you can find out more details here.
NOLAbeings Multimedia artist Claire Bangser created NOLAbeings as a portrait-based story project that marries... 
Voodoo in New Orleans: Reviving history: New Orleans fortune telling This article takes a deep dive into the history of Voodoo in New Orleans, its hybridization with Catholicism, and its present-day place in the city's culture. The author visits fortune-tellers in the French Quarter, using their guidance as a tool for introspection rather than a deterministic predictor of the future. Through her experiences in New Orleans, the author feels a mystical connection to both the past and the future. 