The holiday rush has us all bundled up and bustling about as we prepare for the big days of being with family, friends and loved ones. While all this bustling keeps our mind occupied with (hopefully) glad tiding of comfort and joy, sometimes we miss what’s happening about the Crescent City. But we’ve been looking over the list of news out there and checking it twice. Here’s what we have in our bag for you this week.

Hard Rock developers seek to take down 3 nearby buildings

The developers of the Hard Rock Hotel that partially collapsed are seeking to take down three nearby buildings as part of the demolition plan for the site, according to a report from the New Orleans Advocate | The Times-Picyune | NOLA.com. The plan would tear down two century-old structures — two on Canal Street and one on Iberville Street. The nearby buildings are owned by the major partners in the Hard Rock project, the newspaper said. (NOLA.com)

Entergy bills expected to rise

Louisiana utility regulators are studying ways to handle a coming increase in monthly electric bills tied to Entergy’s building of new electricity generating plants, according to a report from The Associated Press. Entergy says it needs to eventually spend an estimated $10 billion to $12 billion to replace its units, costs passed on to customers. (WDSU-TV)

After school bus crash, school district to ‘explore options’ for safety

After a school bus crashed injuring nine students last week on Interstate 10, New Orleans public schools said it will explore options to increase bus safety, according to a report from The Advocate | The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com. New Orleans Public Schools Superintendent Henderson Lewis Jr. said in a statement that it’s clear efforts to ensure bus safety have fallen short. Lewis said he has directed his staff to investigate how the district can ensure schools are using only the “highest quality bus operators,” the newspaper reported. (NOLA.com)

Blue Bikes to go electric

Upgrades are coming for New Orleans’ bike-sharing program — Blue Bikes. The system will switch from pedal bicycles to electric bicycles that can go as fast as 20 mph in an upgrade next month, WWLTV reported. Blue Bikes is also increasing the number of bikes on the streets from 700 to 900, and making them available in more neighborhoods. (WWLTV)

Quick Hit Headlines

• Why the Convention Center in New Orleans has delayed awarding its architect contract (NOLA.com)
• Garyville Christmas Eve bonfires feature giant 78-foot gator (WDSU-TV)
• The taking of our New Orleans riverfront (The Lens)
• Sean Payton’s ‘worry about your meat’ quip makes the menu at a New Orleans restaurant (NOLA.com)

What to do this week

Monday

Segunda-Feira | 7 p.m. | Auction House Market | $10 for class and social, $5 for social only

This is New Orleans’ first and only Afro-Brazilian kizomba-zouk dance class and club night. Intended for dancers of all levels, the drop-in classes are designed to expose students to a wide range of topics, like urban-tango fusion, konpa, coladeira, and tarraxo-osteo, incorporating plenty of drills to take your technique to the next level. Taught by Peter JS (kizomba) and Tina Singh (Brazilian zouk), plus frequent guest instructors to keep things interesting.

Tuesday

Prytania’s Very Merry Christmas | 9 a.m. | The Prytania Theater | $8

Celebrate the Christmas season by watching A Charlie Brown Christmas on the big screen. There will be crafts and cupcake decorating.

Wednesday

Chanukka/Christmas Final Bagel Blow-Out | 9 a.m. to noon | Bywater Bakery | Free

Bywater Bakery is known for serving up some extraordinary bagels every Wednesday down in the Bywater. The problem is it’s also known for serving up some extraordinary king cake every Carnival season. Something has got to give. Wednesday will represent the (temporary) changing of the guard. Stop by to grab the last batch of bagels until after Mardi Gras with live music and dancing.

Thursday

Brass-A-Holics at the Jazz Playhouse | 300 Bourbon Street | 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. | $20

Steeped in the deep musical culture of New Orleans, the Brass-A-Holics bring a heavy dose of go-go funk to the New Orleans brass sound. In a blending of musical cultures stemming from cities separated by more than a thousand miles, the live show takes the New Orleans brass band culture and infuses it with the electricity of Washington D.C.’s go-go.

Friday

New Years Eve Headdress Workshop | 6 to 8 p.m. | NOLA Craft Culture | Class starts at $45

Want to stand out from the crowd at your New Year’s Eve party? This sip and make class features two headpiece options: a fascinator or a champagne headdress.

Our Stuff