We’ve got your weekend: Comedy, summits, sewing, exhibits, and crafts

Friday, April 6/Poor Boys Bar (1328 St. Bernard Avenue): Black Girl Giggles are back, and this time with Lauren Malara. Lauren Malara is a NOCCA alum who went on to receive a degree in Acting from The Theatre School at Depaul University. Previously, Lauren has taught and performed with the famed Second City Theatricals and acted as Training Center Manager of ComedySportz Chicago. In July of 2018, she was crowned The Funniest Person in New Orleans by the Hell Yes Fest, and now you can see her at 7:00 PM on Friday. This event is free and open to the public. 

Friday, April 6/Saint Charles Ave. Baptist Church (7100 St. Charles Ave): A first of its kind in the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana, a summit, hosted by formerly incarcerated women, will bring local and national advocates together to address the humanization, family, and dignity issues of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women. There will be many workshops and gatherings, which you can check out here. It all begins on Friday, April 6 at 6:00 PM and ends on Sunday, April 8 at 12:00 PM. This summit is free and open to the public. 

Saturday, April 7/Uptown Needle and Craftworks (4610 Magazine Street): Have you always wanted to sew but felt intimidated by the needles, the machines, and something called a whip stitch? We know the feeling. The great thing is, there is a entry class happening this Saturday. The workshop is a low-pressure, casual, and creative atmosphere, so it can be a great opportunity to jump into sewing for the first time, or to become more proficient in your sewing expertise. The workshop runs from 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM, it costs $45, and you can purchase tickets here. 

Saturday, April 7/City Park Shelter #1: Are you ready to get up and ride? Nola To Angola is hosting a “Ride and Cookout for Prison Justice” on Saturday. The bike ride begins at 10:00 AM (meet at shelter #1 in City Park), and the cookout will begin at 1:00 PM (all are invited, even non-riders). This event is a fundraiser for 4 local organizations: Women With A Vision, Congreso, VOTE, and the First 72+. It begins with an 8-mile social ride. They will leave City Park’s Shelter 1 at 10:00 AM and meander through the city, with breaks where the partner organizations will share information about their work. If you want to join, you can register here. 

Saturday, April 7/Abita Brewing Tap Room (166 Barbee Road): Crafting and beer? Why not? Abita Brewing will be hosting their craft market, and they’ll have craft vendors, Abita brews, and food from Old School Eats Foodtruck and Frytastic. It all begins at 11:00 AM and goes until 4:00 PM. For full details, you can check out their event page here. 

Saturday, April 7/Crescent City Boxing Gym (3101 Erato Street): We’ve all heard it said before, and now there is an art exhibit to honor the exclamation of The Rent Is Too Damn High! This is an art-based festival event featuring an exhibition and catalogue publication that celebrates the New Orleans tricentennial and creates a platform for Black New Orleanians to use art, history and culture to make meaning of the city’s tricentennial legacy, and, ultimately, to shape it. It begins at 6:00 PM, tickets are $10, and you can purchase them here. 

Saturday, April 7/Mahalia Jackson Theater (1419 Basin Street): We often give suggestions of placing to dance with “We’ve Got Your Weekend,” but this time, how about a place to watch some amazing dancing. The New Orleans Ballet Association will present a special 40^th anniversary program by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. This audience favorite (it’s so good!) is back by popular demand; and this will be a presentation of master works from four decades of its illustrious history. It all begins at 8:00 PM, tickets range in price, and you can purchase them here.