Be sure to check out our listing of festivals in June and July!

Treasures of Napoleon Exhibit

The Louisiana State Museum hosts Treasures of Napoleon, an exhibition open now through Aug. 3rd in the Old U.S. Mint. Treasures of Napoleon offers visitors an amazing opportunity to see beyond the myth of Napoleon Bonaparte and gain an understanding of this complex figure as a man. The exhibition includes over 250 extraordinary artifacts that trace this seminal historic figure's life.

African Drum Class for Beginners

Learn proper hand techniques for playing the djembe. There will be some discussion of African culture, and there will be other African percussion instruments used in this class. Classes will be held every Friday at 6:30 p.m. at the Sound Cafe, 2700 Chartres St., New Orleans.

St. John's Eve 2008

Monday, June 23rd, 7 p.m.: Sallie Ann Glassman and La Source Ancienne Ounfo celebrate St. John's Eve with their annual ceremony on the footbridge over Bayou St. John (near Cabrini High School). For the Vodou Ceremony, please wear all white and bring a white scarf or rag for your head. (It will get dirty.) Bring an offering for Marie Laveau. She likes flowers, blue and white candles, Creole foods, hair ribbons and hair dressing supplies (she was a hairdresser), Vodou-esque items (Voodoo dolls, potions, gris-gris bags, etc.), or images of Marie Laveau.

St. John's Eve Eve: the same ceremony will be held Saturday, June 21st at 7:00 p.m. at the International House Hotel, 221 Camp St. in New Orleans.

Audubon Insectarium

The Audubon Insectarium is now open in the U.S. Custom House, located at 423 Canal Street. The Audubon Insectarium invites visitors into the exotic — and sometimes unbelievable — insect world. The facility features 23,000 square feet of exhibit space inside the U.S. Custom House building, with more than 70 dynamic exhibits.

Neighborhood Housing Services Fundraiser

Monday, June 23

On June 23, comedian and actor Eddie Izzard will make a stop out of his hugely successful “Stripped” tour to perform a benefit concert to help low and moderate-income citizens of New Orleans become sustainable homeowners.

The one-night-only benefit presented by WestBeth Entertainment in association with The Jefferson Performing Arts Society, will take place on Monday, June 23, at 7:30 p.m. at McAlister auditorium at Tulane University. One hundred percent of proceeds will be going to Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans. Following the comedian's lead, Ticketmaster has agreed donate a portion of its ticket fees to the Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans. Tickets go on sale Sunday, June 8, through New Orleans Ticketmaster at (504) 522-5555 or www.ticketmaster.com. There will be a special reception with Izzard after the show for "Producer's Circle" ticket holders.

Neighborhood Housing Services has been a 501(c)(3) nonprofit for 30 years, providing comprehensive services for first-time homebuyers and existing homeowners through counseling, classroom training, loan packaging, and construction management services. The mission of Neighborhood Housing Services is to revitalize New Orleans neighborhoods by increasing the number of homeowners and reducing the number of substandard or vacant houses through renovation into sustainable and productive homeownership. In addition to its citywide efforts, NHS engages in comprehensive community development within targeted neighborhoods to improve the quality of life and promote commercial redevelopment.

The St. Charles Avenue Streetcar Celebration

Saturday, June 28

The Arts Council of New Orleans, RTA, and the Carrollton Area Network are creating a grand celebration for the return of the St. Charles streetcar to its traditional route.

On Saturday, June 28th beginning at 9:00 am at Carrollton and St. Charles in the Riverbend — concluding at 10:00 am in Palmer Park, witness the ceremonies commemorating this historic event along Carrollton Avenue, then stay for a day of festivities at the Arts Market of New Orleans.

The Porta-Puppet Players present Vatican Lokey in "Dr. Seuss on the Loose" at 10:30 a.m. in the Kids Tent. Puppet-making crafts after the show. Also, streetcar storytelling and coloring in the Carrollton Area Network booth. Live performances in the Music Tent by Loose Marbles at 1:00 p.m., followed by the Kaya Martinez Quartet at 2:30 p.m.

For more information about the Arts Market of New Orleans, please call (504) 523-1465 or visit artscouncilofneworleans.org.

Pride Fest

Saturday, June 28 & Sunday, June 29

PARADE: June 28th at 4:30 p.m. Washington Square Park (Elysian Fields at Royal Street). The parade will step-off promptly at 4:30 p.m. In planning for parade day, we encourage participants to be at the site, the Elysian Fields side of Washington Square Park, at 3:30 pm. Bring coolers with an appropriate supply of throws, snacks and beverages for your group.

Gay Pride is a free festival open to the public with music, food, and craft booths. Come to Washington Square Park on Saturday, June 28 & Sunday, 29th, enjoy good food and entertainment and hear great music from any place within the park, and even on the parade route. A sampling of performers includes Charmaine Neville, Big Chief Doucette, Lisa Lynn, Mr. and Ms. Gay Pride and the Starrlight Girls review.

Trinity Church – 1329 Jackson Avenue – New Orleans

Sunday, June 29 – 8th Annual Independence Day Music Festival

Starts at 3 p.m. and ends at 6 p.m. with a three-hour patriotic festival in honor of World War II veterans. The festival will feature a color guard and rousing patriotic music and dance, including The Navy Band of New Orleans, Delfeayo Marsalis, rhythm & blues sensation Topsy Chapman & her trio, and Albinas Prizgintas performing patriotic hymns.

Musicians Team Up for Sunday Services

Sunday, June 29

Music is the spice of spiritual life at Parker Memorial United Methodist Church, 1130 Nashville Ave., where Michael Skinkus and Ralph Gipson will perform Sunday, June 29th at 11 a.m.

Skinkus, a percussionist and educator, performs locally in several genres of music, including funk, jazz, Latin, rock and folk rhythms. Appearing with Skinkus will be Gipson, a jazz and Latin keyboardist. The duo appeared together this year at Jazz Fest with the award-winning Latin band Fredy Omar con su Banda. "I believe their improvisational style will demonstrate the divine mystery of musical worship arising from the Source of all creativity," the Rev. Dr. William Thiele, pastor, said.

A free pot-luck luncheon will follow this Sunday's worship service. The public is invited to attend. For information, visit www.parkerchurch.net on the web.

The Upper 9th Ward Farmers Market / Bywater Market

Every Saturday

The Market takes place every Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. inside the Holy Angel Convent’s parking lot at 3500 St. Claude Avenue. For more information or to participate as a food vendor, call Margery at (504) 343-3505 or the Market Office at (504) 482-5722. Good health begins with good food.

The Market offers free Yoga classes from noon to 1 p.m. inside the Chapel. “We are excited to be the oldest of the ‘new’ markets to open after Katrina,” said the market manager. “We are here to serve the Marigny/Bywater Community along with the surrounding areas,” Margery added.