The Fifth Annual NOAGE Gala, “NOAGE in the Enchanted Wood,” will be on Friday, November 22, 7:00-10:00pm at Audubon Nature Institute’s Cajun Ballroom (6500 Magazine St.). Tickets are available now at www.noagenola.org. New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders is a local nonprofit organization working to improve the lives of LGBT older adults through services, education, and advocacy. All funds raised at the gala will benefit NOAGE.
Fifth Annual NOAGE Gala Tickets
The Gala will be hosted at Cajun Ballroom at the Louisiana Swamp Exhibit on Friday, November 22, 2019 (7:00 PM – 10:00 PM). All proceeds benefit New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders (NOAGE).
Dr. Jody Gates and Marilyn McConnell are the honorees of this year’s NOAGE Trailblazer Awards, which will be presented at the gala. Jody and Marilyn have been trailblazers for the LGBT community for decades, and they remain on the forefront of advancing civil rights for us through their activism and their support of various organizations on both the local and national levels. We are all deeply grateful to them for their work on behalf of our community, and this is an opportunity for all of us to show up for them as they have shown up for us time and time again over the years.
NOAGE will also honor Jason Tudor, who is the recipient of the Community Impact Award. Jason is a co-founder of NOAGE, and was the President of the Board of Directors from 2015 to 2018. He now lives in Miami, where he works for AARP, so we’re very excited to welcome him back to town for the NOAGE gala.
This year’s theme is “NOAGE in the Enchanted Wood,” and the suggested dress attire is fairy tale fabulous. Whether you’re coming as Prince Charming or Shrek, Cinderella or her stepmother, Dorothy or the Wicked Witch of the West, Beauty or the Beast, we welcome you to arrive dressed to enchant. (dressy casual is OK too!)
The event will begin with live entertainment by one of New Orleans’ best local jazz trios, Ysrael. DJ Kerem will get us all out on the dance floor after the awards ceremony. There will be an open bar all evening, and amazing food. You can also pick up some great Christmas gifts at the silent auction.
Finally, your ticket to this event is an investment in your future. NOAGE is the only organization in Louisiana dedicated to providing services and advocacy for LGBT older adults, and we need your support to make sure that this organization continues to thrive for years to come. I look forward to seeing you there!
A very special shout-out to this year’s NOAGE gala sponsors: Gilead, Big Easy Sisters, Berkshire Hathaway, Home Instead, Avita Pharmacy, Southern Flex, Smirnoff, Stonewall Sports, CrescentCare, Galloway Law Firm, Peoples Health, Ochsner Pride, Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network, Sir Speedy, John Groth, Catherine Roland, Ralph Bailey, David Green & Randy Trahan, and David Bernard & Charles Urstadt.
Thanksgiving Events
Thanksgiving can be tough. Maybe everyone in your family has political views that clash with yours, and they don’t hesitate to bring them up. Or maybe you live away from family, or have lost the family members you really wish you could be with, and so you’re facing the prospect of being alone on Thanksgiving. Have no fear. I’ve got you covered!
Get an early start to Thanksgiving with friends and chosen family at NOAGE’s monthly potluck at St. Anna’s Parish House (1313 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans) on Wednesday, November 20, 6:30-8:30pm. Please bring a dish if you are able, and also consider donating a nonperishable food item for St. Anna’s food pantry. The potluck will be in the church’s parish house (the building adjacent to the church, at the corner of Esplanade Ave. and Marais St.).
On Thursday, November 21, at 7:00pm, The Four Seasons Bar (3229 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, LA) will be hosting a Friendsgiving potluck. Turkey will be provided, so just bring a side dish.
On Sunday, November 24, from 4:30-6:30pm, the Corner Pocket will be hosting a pre-Thanksgiving meal. They will be providing food, but guests are welcome to bring a side dish.
On Wednesday, November 27, 7:00-9:00pm, there will be a Thanksgiving potluck for transgender and gender nonconforming people (and allies who are either personal friends, relatives, or significant others) at the LGBT Community Center of New Orleans (2727 S. Broad Ave.). Turkey will be provided, so just bring side dishes or vegan/vegetarian fare.
There are plenty of options on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 28). At 1:00pm, Café Lafitte in Exile (901 Bourbon St.) will be hosting a Thanksgiving meal; food will be provided by the bar. The Phoenix’s (941 Elysian Fields Ave.) annual Thanksgiving Day potluck will be at 2:00pm, and GrandPre’s (834 N. Rampart St.) will be hosting their potluck at 4:00pm. The potluck at Crossing (439 Dauphine St.) will also begin at 4:00pm. If you’re still hungry at 7:00pm, the Friendly Bar (2301 Chartres St., New Orleans) potluck will get going just in time for the Saints v. Falcons game.
Please note: Most of the bars I contacted do request that if you plan to bring a dish, please let them know in advance what you’ll be bringing. Either stop by before Thanksgiving Day, or contact them via Facebook Messenger.
If you know of any other LGBT-friendly Thanksgiving events that I haven’t included here, please shoot me an email at info@noagenola.org, and I’ll be sure to share it with the NOAGE mailing list and on social media.
Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
