TOYS FOR TOTS DONATION DRIVE: Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans will host its annual toy donation drive and breakfast on Dec. 13, 8:30 a.m., at the Lifestyle Appliances Showroom, 800 Clearview Parkway, Suite B in Harahan. Tickets are $10. Guests are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy. An additional toy donation site through Dec. 13 is the HBAGNO office, 2424 N. Arnoult Road in Metairie. www.hbagno.org.
THRIVE CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVES: Donations are being accepted for toy giveaways to be held Dec. 16, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at 3320 Johnny Jackson Jr. Blvd. in New Orleans, and Dec. 23, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at 3600 Desire Parkway in New Orleans. The drives are sponsored by Thrive, in partnership with DePaul Community Health Centers, Aetna, Walmart and Propeller. www.thrivenola.org.
GET MOVING TOY DRIVE: Jefferson Parish Transit will collect toys through Dec. 18. Residents can drop off donations Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Jefferson Transit Administration Building, 21 West Bank Expressway in Harvey, or at the donation bus at Veterans Memorial Square, across from Lakeside Mall at 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd. in Metairie. www.jptransit.org.
WINTER COAT DRIVE: Jefferson Performing Arts Society and Jefferson Parish Schools are sponsoring a drive through Feb. 4. Coats for ages 4 to 14 can be donated at Jefferson Performing Arts Center 6400 Airline Drive in Metairie Dec. 16-17, noon to 4 p.m., and at Westwego Cultural Center 177 Sala Ave. in Westwego Jan. 25-Feb. 4, one hour before showtimes. Details at www.jpas.org.
STILL/MOTION: This one-day festival of photography in film on Dec. 14, 11:30 a.m.-10:15 p.m., will be held at the Broad Theater, 636 N. Broad St. in New Orleans. It will showcase three feature films, one Louisiana short film and a special event with New Orleans filmmaker Simon Blake. Tickets are $12. www.thebroadtheater.com.
FAMILY FUN DAY: The free day of activities, including musical performances, arts and crafts, interactive Prime Time story time, will take place Dec. 16, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Helis Foundation John Scott Center, 920 Lafayette St. in New Orleans. Registration is available through Eventbrite. www.thehelisfoundation.org.
WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA: Francois de Lery Chapter, D.A.R., will sponsor the wreath ceremony Dec. 16, 11 a.m., at the Chalmette National Cemetery 8606 W. St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette.
COVENANT HOUSE LUNCHEON: St. Rita Cascia Catholic Church in Harahan and the Knights of Columbus Marquette Council are seeking donations of prepared items for the annual Christmas Day luncheon for teens at Covenant House New Orleans. The luncheon serves approximately 180 residents of the house, which provides safe, stable housing to homeless and many trafficked teens, as well as to their young children. Those interested in donating should call or text Eddie Rafidi at (504) 382-0389 or Kelley Rafidi at (504) 382-7651.
CULTURE AND CONCERTS
MUSIC AT THE MUSEUM: The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra presents “Pigments” by composer Spencer Zahn, with vocalist Dawn Richard, on Dec. 14, 6 p.m., at the New Orleans Museum of Art, 1 Collins Diboll Circle in New Orleans. Tickets start at $38, $10 for students. lpomusic.com.
BACH: WACHET AUF!: The Krewe de Voix chamber choir will hold a concert Dec. 16, 3 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Ave. in New Orleans. $15 suggested donation. www.krewedevoix.com.
PROFESSOR LONGHAIR BIRTHDAY SHOW: Celebrate Fess’s 106th birthday with Ivan Neville on Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, 400 Esplanade Ave. in New Orleans. Tickets are $65; $50 for Friends of the Cabildo members. nolajazzmuseum.org.
BOOKS
LETTING IN AIR AND LIGHT: New Orleans writer Teresa Tumminello Brader, will sign her memoir about her art-forger uncle William Toye, on Dec. 16, 2 p.m., at Blue Cypress Books, 8123 Oak St. in New Orleans. bluecypressbooks.com.
HOW THE GRINCH LOST CHRISTMAS: The Dr. Seuss Christmas fable will be read Dec. 20, 11 a.m., at Barnes & Noble, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd. in Metairie.
SCHOLARSHIPS
SPARTAN SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIPS: Applications are open through Dec. 31 for six $1,000 college scholarships awarded by the Spartan Society, made up of the Knights of Sparta and the Mystical Order of the Phoenix. The scholarships are open to all high school seniors who have taken initiative with service on their high school campus and in the community and who plan to enroll in college in fall 2024. Recipients will be named in January. mootp.org/flames-of-the-future/.
FUNDRAISERS/GALAS
SIPS & SPIRITS: The New Orleans African American Museum will host a happy hour fundraiser on Dec. 14, 6-9 p.m., in the museum’s historic gardens, 1418 Gov. Nicholls St. in New Orleans. Tickets, which start at $50, include dinner, cocktails and live entertainment. www.noaam.org/sips.
CLASSES
AARP SMART DRIVER CLASS: The class will be presented Dec. 13, 5-9 p.m., at the Ochsner/Elmwood Fitness Center in the Elmwood Shopping Center, 1200 S. Clearview Parkway in Harahan. It's open to anyone age 50 and older. Those completing the course may qualify for a discount on car insurance. Registration is $20 for AARP members; $25 for nonmembers. Registration is required. (504) 828-3962.
LEARNING BEFORE LUNCH: Peter Yaukey will talk on Louisiana’s wetland bird habitats, massive migratory movements, huge bird concentrations and the central relevance to avian mysteries and enigmas on Dec. 14 at UNO’s Homer L. Hitt Alumni Center, 2000 Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. with coffee and pastry, and the presentation begins at 10 a.m. Free; annual membership is $25 per person, $30 per couple or a $5 donation for an event. www.learningbeforelunch.com.
CUSTOM PUZZLE WORKSHOP: Grades 2-12 can learn the engineering design process and woodworking skills to create a wooden puzzle of their own design at this Electric Girls workshop, Dec. 16, 9 a.m.-noon, at the UNO College of Engineering building lecture hall, 2000 Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans. Registration is required; fee is $50. www.electricgirls.org.
PHOTO LEARN: PhotoNOLA will sponsor a day of free talks, seminars and workshops around photography on Dec. 16, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, 925 Camp St. in New Orleans. photonola.org.
MEETINGS
JEFFERSON CHAMBER: The Jefferson Chamber Young Professionals will host a holiday networking event Dec. 13, 5:30 p.m., at Garrison Kitchen + Cocktails, 2928 Metairie Road in Metairie. Raffle proceeds benefit Angel’s Place, a nonprofit helping children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Free for Jefferson Chamber members; $20 for nonmembers. jeffersonchamber.org.
NARFE: The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association Vernon N. Landry Chapter 1398 will hold its annual Christmas luncheon on Dec. 13, 11 a.m., in the Sicilian Room of Rocky and Carlo’s Restaurant, 613 St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette. All active and retired federal and postal employees are invited. Following lunch and an officer swearing-in ceremony and caroling, a gift auction will be held, with all proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Association. Guests are asked to bring two gender-neutral gifts, valued at $10 or more. pamela.e.marks1953@gmail.com.
REPUBLICAN WOMEN’S CLUB OF JEFFERSON PARISH: The December luncheon and installation of officers will be held Dec. 14 at Chateau Golf and Country Club, 3600 Chateau Blvd. in Kenner, with registration and networking at 11 a.m. and lunch at 11:45 a.m. Tickets are $38. Attendees are asked bring an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. Reservations at rwc.jeffparish@gmail.com.
GRIEF IN THE HOLIDAYS: Kim Smith, bereavement coordinator and chaplain at Heart of Hospice, will present a free session sponsored by Be Well-Come Together on Dec. 16, 10 a.m. RSVPs are recommended. (504) 368-2525 or bewellcometogether@gmail.com.
ST. BERNARD VOLUNTEERS FOR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY: The Christmas meeting will be held Dec. 21, 10:30 a.m., in the Sicilian Room at Rocky & Carlo’s Restaurant, 613 W. St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette. Those participating in the gift swap would bring a wrapped gift.
CAMPS
HOLIDAY WINTER ART CAMP: A three-day holiday arts and crafts workshop for grades 2-5 will take place Dec. 18-20, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, 925 Camp St. in New Orleans. Cost per day is $70 for members, $75 for nonmembers. Spaces are limited; registration required at ogdenmuseum.org.
WINTER SOLSTICE CAMP: Students ages 5-10 can spend the holiday break exploring the gardens, creating art and playing games at Longue Vue House and Gardens, 7 Bamboo Road in New Orleans. Camp runs Dec. 18-22, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. each day. Fees start at $200. longuevue.com.