We’ve got your weekend: So many places to learn

Aerial silks and flexibility that will make you cringe. (Photo: Rumata)

Wednesday, August 1-Saturday, August 4 (1430 St. Anthony): ATD New Orleans is hosting a beautification of the 7th Ward this week. There will be options to help with gardening, painting, bike repairs, and beautification of the Street Library site. Just as your bodies will be working, they will also be nourished with yoga, belly dancing, community singing, and more. Each day begins at 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM, and the final day on Saturday will end with a BBQ and hot dogs at 6:30 PM.

Wednesday, August 1/Treme Center (900 N. Villere Street): The New Orleans Peoples’ Assembly are putting on a dinner where you can break bread and get fed physically, mentally, and emotionally, as they offer discussions on community building, strategies for self care, information on their collective work and more. There will be free dinner, childcare, transportation assistance, and this month’s focus is: How our community is impacted by incarceration with a focus on women, and what we can do about it. The dinner and conversation begins at 6:00 PM, and you can find out full information here. 

Thursday, August 2/Jazz and Heritage Center (1225 North Rampart Street): Sync-up Cinema is back again to bring music, people, film, and fun together. On Thursday, the cast is stacked, and they’re starting off with filmmaker Lily Keber, who will screen an excerpt of her film Buckjumping, followed by a Q+A. Closing out the night will be Malik Vitthal, Director and co-writer of Imperial Dreams, his Sundance award-winning film starring John Boyega that also screened at the New Orleans Film Festival. Vitthal, in town filming his upcoming Paramount Players horror project Body Cam, will present an excerpt of Imperial Dreams, speak and take questions afterward. This all starts at 6:30 PM, it is free and open to the public, and you can find out full details here. 

Friday, August 3/The Elephant Collective (3610 Toulouse Street): It’s always nice when a collective comes together to bring you a sweaty time, and that’s exactly what the Elephant Collective is doing. For one night only, and with the gregarious theme camp, “Trifucta,” the collective is marking their ten-year anniversary by transforming their 25,000 square foot space into a visual, musical, and experiential treat. There will be three rooms of music, two full bars, circus performers, and a giant list of more spectacles and activities. The party begins at 9:00 PM, tickets are $15.00 (advanced) or $20.00 (door). For a full list of events and more information, check out their event page here. 

Saturday, August 4/The Drifter Hotel (3522 Tulane Avenue): Yoga, pool, drinks, and a tribe? What could this event be, you ask? Well, Join NOLA Tribe Yoga for upbeat power yoga, mimosas and full-on pool party every Saturday through Labor Day at The Drifter Hotel. Tickets are $15 and include a 60-minute Nola Tribe Yoga class, pool admission for the entire day (regularly $10), and a complimentary mimosa. Go get your flow on, then jump in the pool. There will be a live DJ and food truck starting at 12:00 PM. 

Saturday, August 4/Mid-City Yacht Club (440 Saint Patrick Street): We are often sassy or tongue-and-cheek with the weekend preview, but this entry comes with a heavy heart. If you have heard about the beating of Jorge Gomez, then you have probably asked the question that many have asked, “How can I help?” This is how: The Mid City Yacht Club will be hosting a small fundraiser for Jorge. If you have any goods or services that you would like to donate to a raffle or auction, please contact one of the bar staff or managers with details. All proceeds will go straight to Jorge to help pay for any medical, legal, and living expenses. If you don’t have any goods or services to donate, no worries because you can head over to the Mid-City Yacht Club on Saturday and throw some money down on one (or more) of the items they will have available.  It all begins at 4:00 PM, and you can find out full details here. 

Saturday, August 4/Central Business District: The linen night is here. White linen, of course! Julia Street and beyond will be bustling with food trucks, drink vendors, people sporting their white linen digs, and open gallery doors. If you are looking for some specialty stops (although, stopping in each and every gallery is part of the fun), from 7:00 to 10:00 PM, Where Y’Art will debut their latest exhibition at Hotel No. 77. This exhibition is, “Urbanism & Eccentricities,” and it is curated by local geographer and historian, Richard Campanella, in celebration of the city’s Tricentennial. There will be live music performed by Cole Williams Band and cocktails from Compere Lapin. A little drink, a lot of art, and maybe some dance? What else could motivate you to put on your best white linen? 

Saturday, August 4/Fly Circus Space (4820 Calliope Street): Artists will be hitting the air on August in the “Steam: Summer Student Showcase.” There will be silks, falling bodies, and beautiful arches all shown above your head. The students have been workshopping their pieces for the last two months, and so they’re varied, nuanced, funny, ridiculous, tragic, smart, and lovely. All those emotions all in one show? Yes, please. The showcase begins at 8:00 PM and goes until 9:00 PM. Tickets will cost you $15.00, and you can purchase them here. For more information on the event, check out their page here. 

Monday, August 6/New Orleans Drag Workshop (830 N. Rampart Street): If you didn’t get into the Cycle 8 Draguation Ceremony, you are not alone. The 8:00 PM show sold out within days, but 14 of the students and their evil Head Mister-ess have banned together and formed a blood oath, that’s right, a blood oath, and are committing to a second show. If you want to see beautiful designs moving around the bodies of beautiful people then you better get your tickets, which will run you $20 and can be purchased here. The show begins at 10:00 PM and goes until 12:00 AM.