Get Lit: Generative Writing Series: 1000 Words of Summer Live Event

Join our monthly Get Lit group to hang out with your writing community and do some sprinting! If you’ve never done writing sprints before, there’s only one rule: get as many words on the page as you can before 20 minutes are up. We’ll run three writing sprints—one full ......More

Join our monthly Get Lit group to hang out with your writing community and do some sprinting! If you’ve never done writing sprints before, there’s only one rule: get as many words on the page as you can before 20 minutes are up. We’ll run three writing sprints—one full hour. So come to our Get Lit with your work in progress and leave with words on the page! This event is FREE and open to all writers. No RSVP necessary.

Miel Brewery 405 Sixth St, New Orleans, LA 70115

2026 Build Your Skills: ALICE

​PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED In Partnership With:      In collaboration with the United Way New Orleans East Prosper......More

​PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED In Partnership With:      In collaboration with the United Way New Orleans East Prosperity Center, we’re bringing together leaders from the Gulf South LGBTQ+ Chamber, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana, and the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber for an important conversation centered on ALICE, Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, and how this growing population impacts our businesses and communities. ALICE represents hardworking individuals and families who are employed yet still struggle to afford basic necessities. During this panel discussion, we will explore how ALICE households shape our local workforce, consumer base, and overall economic stability, along with what business leaders can do to better support and engage this vital segment of our community. This collaborative event is designed to spark meaningful dialogue, share real world insight, and highlight practical strategies that strengthen economic mobility across our region. Join us to deepen your understanding, connect with fellow leaders, and be part of building a stronger, more resilient business community.  Speakers: Edward Smith Chairman of the Board of Directors New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce Edward B. “Coulon” Smith, born in New Orleans and raised in Angie, Louisiana, blends rural and city roots. A proud graduate of Varnado High and Southern University, he holds degrees in Law Enforcement, Sociology, and Social Science, along with an honorary doctorate in Humanities. He served 18 years with Baton Rouge’s Department of Juvenile Services before joining New Orleans Job Corps and currently works with HANO. A dedicated member of Omega Psi Phi since 1999, he also proudly serves in the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club as the 2022 Witch Doctor. In addition, he holds leadership roles on several boards including the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce (current Chairman), the Urban League of New Orleans, and the Sewerage & Water Board Selection Committee. Mr. Smith credits his mother’s love and God’s grace for his success and lives by the motto that every dream starts in the heart.   Daniel Ardito Board President Gulf South LGBTQ+ & Allied Chamber of Commerce Daniel Ardito is a clinical and operations professional with a background as a Behavior Interventionist in adolescent healthcare and early learning. He is known for building and implementing structure, improving data driven systems, and creating lasting results. He serves as the 2026 President of the New Orleans LGBTQ+ & Allied Chamber of Commerce, where he focuses on strengthening diverse connections and supporting a more inclusive business community across the region. Michelle Aguirre Chairwoman Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana Foundation Michelle Aguirre is the Director of Prevention and Education Services for La Voz de la Comunidad Coalition and a recognized community leader dedicated to advancing health, education, and economic opportunity throughout Louisiana. She serves as Chair of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Louisiana Foundation, Chair of Child Evangelism Fellowship Louisiana, and Chair of ECCO Community Center. She is also a Board Member of Seeds of NOLA and the Ready Start Network. Michelle's expertise includes community engagement, coalition building, nonprofit leadership, trauma-informed community development, and culturally responsive outreach. Through her work, she helps connect organizations, families, and communities to resources that create lasting impact and opportunity.   Photography provided by: Chamber events are professionally photographed for our marketing purposes. By attending, you agree to being photographed and that these images may be used in print and digital marketing for the New Orleans Chamber of commerce.

UWSELA Prosperity Center - New Orleans East Campus

Mickey Gil (1937-2010), the Jewish Queen of Gay Mardi Gras

From 1986 until his passing in 2010, Mickey Gil – a multilingual and theatrical gay Jewish From the 1980s through the early 2000s, Mickey Gil was one of the most unforgettable figures in New Orleans’ gay Carnival scene. A multilingual, theatrical, and larger-than-life g......More

From 1986 until his passing in 2010, Mickey Gil – a multilingual and theatrical gay Jewish From the 1980s through the early 2000s, Mickey Gil was one of the most unforgettable figures in New Orleans’ gay Carnival scene. A multilingual, theatrical, and larger-than-life gay Jewish immigrant, Gil came to the city in 1982 after living in Vienna and Manhattan—and quickly made his mark. Known for his elaborate costumes, sharp wit, and thick Israeli accent tinged with Viennese German, Gil served as captain, emcee, and creative force behind some of the city’s most celebrated gay Mardi Gras krewes, including Petronius and his own later creation, the Mystic Krewe of Satyricon. This talk brings Mickey Gil’s fascinating story to life, situating him within the broader history of Jewish American drag and New Orleans’ gay Mardi Gras traditions. Drawing on archival footage, costume designs, and oral histories from Gil’s friends and collaborators, the presentation offers a vivid portrait of a Jewish immigrant who embodied both the brilliance and contradictions of queer performance in the South. Golan Moskowitz is Associate Professor of Jewish Studies at Tulane University and a core faculty member of Tulane’s Grant Center for the American Jewish Experience. Golan is the author of Wild Visionary: Maurice Sendak in Queer Jewish Context (2020) and has published several articles and book chapters on post-Holocaust memory and Jewish literature, art, and film. He serves as Book Review Editor for Holocaust and Genocide Studies and as Director of the annual Jewish American & Holocaust Literature (JAHLit) Symposium. Golan’s forthcoming book, a cultural history of Jewish American drag performance, is under contract with NYU Press.

Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience 818 Howard Avenue, New Orleans, 70113

New Orleans VC Fast Pitch — Pitch. Connect. Fund!

"This event is designed to help founders build relationships, secure capital, and accelerate growth while showcasing the incredible innovation happening throughout the Gulf South.”— Scott Kelly

The Shop Workspace, 900 Camp Street, Third Floor New Orleans, LA

2026 Pokémon North America International Championships

After a successful two years in the world-class city of New Orleans, The Pokémon North America International Championships (NAIC) will return the weekend of June 12, drawing thousands of fans and top Pokémon players from around the globe, as they compete in the three-da......More

After a successful two years in the world-class city of New Orleans, The Pokémon North America International Championships (NAIC) will return the weekend of June 12, drawing thousands of fans and top Pokémon players from around the globe, as they compete in the three-day event for a prize pool of over $500,000 and the title of Champion. As part of the event, badged attendees will have the opportunity to capture photos with Pikachu and friends, a chance to participate in the Play Lab Trading Card experience, shop merchandise at the Pokémon Center pop-up shop, and much more.??

ernest n. morial convention center

Angels' Place Cocktail Clash

The First Annual Angels' Place Cocktail Clash will take place on Friday, June 12, 2026 starting at 7 pm on the 3rd Floor of Canal Place at 333 Canal Street in New Orleans. This is a fundraiser for the non-profit Angels' Place . Guests will be treated to a friendly compe......More

The First Annual Angels' Place Cocktail Clash will take place on Friday, June 12, 2026 starting at 7 pm on the 3rd Floor of Canal Place at 333 Canal Street in New Orleans. This is a fundraiser for the non-profit Angels' Place . Guests will be treated to a friendly competition with local restaurants, bars , and cocktail lounges with their best signature drink. Lite bites will also be available. There will be a small auction and raffle with a DJ and a photo booth. Angels' Place is a local nom-profit helping children with life threatening diseases and their families with life threatening diseases. Angels' Place currently assists almost 70 children and their families throughout Louisiana at Ochsner Hospital and LCMC Manning's Children's Hospital. Come have a great time enjoying great food and drink helping us help our kids.

Canal Place Mall ( 3rd Floor) 333 Canal Street , New Orleans

New Orleans Vaping Town Hall

Please join The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL), a program of the Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC) and the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), in partnership with the New Orleans Health Department (NOHD), as they host a regional town hall f......More

Please join The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL), a program of the Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC) and the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), in partnership with the New Orleans Health Department (NOHD), as they host a regional town hall focused on addressing one of Louisiana’s most urgent public health concerns: youth vaping. The event will take place on Monday, June 15, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. CT at the Junior League of New Orleans, located at 4319 Carondelet Street, New Orleans. The event is free and open to the public and will be led by community members, health professionals, public health experts, educators, planners, and local and state leaders, examining practical, evidence-informed strategies for preventing youth vaping and reducing access to tobacco products among young people. Featured Speakers Include: • Dr Jennifer Avegno, Deputy Mayor Health and Human Services, New Orleans Department of Health & Human Services • Matthew Willard, New Orleans City Councilmember At-Large • Shelina Davis, CEO, the Louisiana Public Health Institute • Robert Rivers, Executive Director, New Orleans City Planning Commission • Jeanie Donovan, Deputy Director, Population Health & Disease Prevention, New Orleans Department of Health & Human Services • Taslim van Hattum, Interim Director of the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco Free Living • Eric Weinzettle, Director of Advocacy, American Lung Association Click here to register today or click on the image below to secure your spot.

Junior League of New Orleans, 4319 Carondelet Street, New Orleans

Using Mythic Structures in Character, Plot, and Worldbuilding

Workshop leader: Bryan Camp Floods. Vampires. Shapeshifters. Cataclysms. These are just a few of the narratives that cycle throughout human storytelling, from culture to culture and from the ancient world through to today. In this lecture and workshop, we'll discuss a v......More

Workshop leader: Bryan Camp Floods. Vampires. Shapeshifters. Cataclysms. These are just a few of the narratives that cycle throughout human storytelling, from culture to culture and from the ancient world through to today. In this lecture and workshop, we'll discuss a variety of mythic structures and how they can inform and inspire character, plot, and setting. Attendees will participate in a few generative writing exercises, which can be used to begin a new piece of writing on a blank page or inspire a fresh perspective on in-progress work. This event is free and open to the community. No RSVP required.

Courtyard Brewery 1160 Camp St New Orleans, LA 70130

Access to Capital Series: Lender Connect

A rare opportunity for founders to learn about the local lending landscape and connect with a dozen lenders. Join StartupNOLA and Startup NOIR NOLA for a closer look at the debt-financing landscape in New Orleans. This is a rare opportunity for founders ......More

A rare opportunity for founders to learn about the local lending landscape and connect with a dozen lenders. Join StartupNOLA and Startup NOIR NOLA for a closer look at the debt-financing landscape in New Orleans. This is a rare opportunity for founders to connect directly with more than a dozen banks, CDFIs, and technical assistance providers that are actively supporting businesses in our market.   Featured lenders & partners: b1BANK Credit Human First Horizon Bank Gulf Coast Bank and Trust Company Hancock Whitney JD Bank Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) JPMorganChase Liberty Bank Louisiana Small Business Development Center Newcorp OnPath Credit Union Regions Bank TruFund Financial Services

NOLA Brewing & Pizza Co. 3033 Tchoupitoulas Street New Orleans, LA 70115

Bureau of Governmental Research - Breakfast Briefing

The Population Question: How Can Economic Development Help Greater New Orleans Grow?  Greater New Orleans is positioned for growth. While our region has experienced population decline, strategic economic development, targeted business attraction, and workforce investme......More

The Population Question: How Can Economic Development Help Greater New Orleans Grow?  Greater New Orleans is positioned for growth. While our region has experienced population decline, strategic economic development, targeted business attraction, and workforce investment can create pathways to help reverse this trend and unlock new opportunities. Join local leaders as we explore how economic growth initiatives are already reshaping our region's future, and what we can do now to build a thriving, more prosperous greater New Orleans. Moderated by Rebecca Mowbray, President & CEO at BGR, the panel will include: Annalisa Kelly, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Policy, JEDCO Walter J. Leger III, President & CEO, New Orleans & Company  Dr. Jenny Mains, Deputy Mayor of Economic Development, City of New Orleans  

Ochsner Sports Performance Center (Saints Cafeteria) 5800 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA, 70003 Parking Details Please enter the parking lot by the Guard Shack.There will be a barricade sign reading "Saints Event" by the parking entrance.

2026 Ribbon Cutting: Matcha Magic

Matcha Magic is a woman and minority-owned, plant-forward matcha café located in Downtown New Orleans. We specialize in handcrafted matcha beverages made with organic matcha sourced from Shizuoka, Japan, alongside smoothies, açaí bowls, and elevated toast options. Every......More

Matcha Magic is a woman and minority-owned, plant-forward matcha café located in Downtown New Orleans. We specialize in handcrafted matcha beverages made with organic matcha sourced from Shizuoka, Japan, alongside smoothies, açaí bowls, and elevated toast options. Every drink is whisked to order using traditional techniques, offering a balance of quality, wellness, and intentional preparation. Our mission is to create a space that fosters community, connection, and feel-good fuel through thoughtfully sourced ingredients and a modern approach to matcha culture.   We’d love to highlight the health and wellness benefits of matcha, including its natural antioxidants, sustained energy from caffeine paired with L-theanine, and its ability to support focus without the crash often associated with coffee. At the same time, we bring a fun and approachable twist by incorporating creative, New Orleans-inspired flavors that can transform your matcha into an elevated sweet treat. This balance of functional wellness and indulgent, locally-inspired offerings allows us to appeal to both health-conscious guests and those looking for a unique, flavorful experience.   Refreshments / Specials: We will be offering mini matchas and smoothies for attendees.  Purple Rain: lavender + ube + matcha sweet cream  Strawberry Matcha: house-made strawberry puree + milk + matcha  Dreamsicle Smoothie: pineapple + mango + milk + coconut oil + agave + lemon juice Perfect Date: banana + dates + almond butter  + milk   

2000 Tulane Ave Suite A New Orleans, LA 70112

Reading New Orleans Book Club Meeting

A quarterly book club in partnership with The Garden District Bookshop at The Rink Join Third Lantern Lit board and community members as we explore the stories and authors that define New Orleans. Each quarter, we’ll focus on a novel or story that takes place (at least ......More

A quarterly book club in partnership with The Garden District Bookshop at The Rink Join Third Lantern Lit board and community members as we explore the stories and authors that define New Orleans. Each quarter, we’ll focus on a novel or story that takes place (at least in part) in the Crescent City. We’ll explore different genres and time periods, reading the visions and histories of the many and varied individuals who call New Orleans home. Participants are welcome to enjoy their own copy of that quarter’s selection or purchase a copy of the chosen book in advance from The Garden District Bookshop at The Rink. Then, join us for book-themed cocktails and conversation at The Rink where Bar Epilogue will be open and serving yummy cocktails, mocktails, and light bites. Summer 2026 Reading New Orleans Selection A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole Published in 1980, eleven years after the author’s death, this novel won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction . It is considered a literary masterpiece by many for it’s zany approach to the timeless themes of loneliness, isolation, and the frustration of daily living in a consumer-driven society. For others, the book is a frustrating literary experience, mostly due to its lack of story arc and the obnoxious and often offensive beliefs of its main characters. “A masterwork . . . the novel astonishes with its inventiveness . . . it is nothing less than a grand comic fugue.” –The New York Times Book Review “The fact that Ignatius Reilly is a ‘true genius’ and an obnoxious asshole at the same time, and to roughly equal degrees (with the asshole clearly having the upper edge), is an essential part of the overall comic vision.” -Jonathan Rosenbaum, The Soho News “[Ignatius J. Reilly is a] huge, obese, fractious, fastidious, a latter-day Gargantua, a Don Quixote of the French Quarter. His story bursts with wholly original characters, denizens of New Orleans’ lower depths, incredibly true-to-life dialogue, and the zaniest series of high and low comic adventures.” –Henry Kisor, Chicago Sun-Times What do you think? Join us on Thursday, June 18 to talk about it!

Garden District Bookshop at The Rink 2727 Prytania Street New Orleans, LA, 70130