Hello Cocktail Lovers! Do you all have plans for Monday evening? I didn’t think so; I have an idea. If you love a yummy cocktail with bit of history back as much as I, this event can satiate many of your needs. On Monday July 14, 2014, the Museum of the American Cocktail (MOTAC) will hold its fabulous annual fundraiser at the internationally famed Windsor Court Hotel.

I do not know how things are in your whiskey world, but in my friendly neighborhood liquor store times are tough. Trying to find a bottle of Buffalo Trace or Weller’s, for example, has been akin to finding a non-inebriated soul Saturday night on Bourbon Street. Fortunately, into this suffering world comes a hero on angel’s wings.

Angel’s Envy is a new bourbon in the Louisiana market inspired by an inaugural member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. Legendary Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson spent a lifetime crafting fine spirits and this is his masterpiece. The 5% of spirit lost each year during barrel aging is called the “Angel’s Share.” After tasting this finished bourbon, Lincoln joked that we had finally gotten a better deal than the angels. And so Angel’s Envy was born.

Today, Thursday June 12, The City That Sobriety Forgot – New Orleans – will join restaurants and bars across Americas commemorating Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins. It was on this day in 1973 that he passed on to the great tattoo parlor in the sky. Three venues in New Orleans – Spitfire (627 St. Peter Street / 225.384.0655), Tracey’s (2604 Magazine Street / 504.897.5413), and Mimi’s in the Marigny (2601 Royal Street/ 504.872.9868) – will be celebrating his legacy with $4 “Old Ironsides” cocktails, a signature drink with Sailor Jerry, pineapple juice and a splash of soda.

NOWFE 2014 and The Big Gateaux Show –

Burlesque & Babycakes on Bourbon!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  No Andy Williams, not Christmas, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the unchallenged greatest music and culture event on the planet.  I hope you have had a spectacular 2 weeks and paced your partying; one more great day ahead at the Fairgrounds.  For the record, I want Bruce Springteen’s passion and energy.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  No Andy Williams, not Christmas, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the unchallenged greatest music and culture event on the planet.  I hope you have remembered your sunscreen and paced your partying; one more great day ahead at the Fairgrounds.

Good Morning Music Lovers!  It’s the most wonderful time of the year; no Andy Williams, not Christmas, Day 1 of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the unchallenged greatest music and culture event on the planet!

My hot picks –

Opening in 1990, Fausto’s Bistro is celebrating their 24^th Anniversary this year.  Aimee and I went there for our own anniversary dinner this January.  We are always excited to try one of the many great restaurants in the area together for the first time.  With well over 1,300 open locally, we will likely not run out of options anytime soon.

We made a reservation for dinner on a Monday night at 7.  The cozy dining room was not at all crowded when we arrived.  I imagine it could get a little tight when the place is full.  The décor looks exactly like you would expect a family run Italian restaurant to look.

Some of the best whiskey in America, food from Dickie Brennan, and beautiful women in various states of undress, do I really need to say more to entice you to one of premiere parties of the Summer here in New Orleans?  But there is more, the party also features aerialists, a lingerie fashion show, music with Linnzi Zaorski and Jayna Morgan, and topless oysters serve by a mermaid… seriously.  All of this fun and more is to support the Contemporary Arts Center.

The CAC was founded in 1976 as an artist-run and artist-driven community collective, today it is one of a handful of nationwide arts organizations that has remained solvent and successful while serving a truly multi-disciplinary mission.  Their mission remains dedicated to the presentation, production, and promotion of the art of our time

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  No Andy Williams, not Christmas, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the unchallenged greatest music and culture event on the planet.  I hope you remembered your sunscreen yesterday and were not fooled by the perfect temperature and cloudy skies.

My hot picks, dedicated to Callie –

Ease into today with a bite to eat and a seat in Economy Hall for the 101 year old Lionel Ferbos.  Then there is the only in N. O. band Bonerama and the Panorama Jazz Band.  Throw in some Rebirth Brass Band, Jon Cleary, and the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band’s tribute Bob French, whom we lost this year.  If you are the sort to plant yourself in one spot, I present, for your enjoyment either Fais Do Do (Lost Bayou Ramblers, Dwayne Dopsie, and Andrew Bird) or Acura (Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars, Allen Toussaint, and The Bard of Oyster Bay, Billy Joel).  Today’s “Who dat?” pick is Magary Lord of Bahia.