When is a brunch more than a brunch? When it’s at Virgin Hotels New Orleans (550 Baronne St.), which has been upping the see-and-be-seen quotient at its bar, pool and Commons Club restaurant, where these two Halloween-themed events are: Oct. 28 is the “Brunch and Boos” with mimosas and a DJ, while the next day is the Boolesque Brunch hosted by Trixie Minx, which includes a two-course prix fixe menu, with an additional caviar and champagne pairing, a choice of two burlesque shows at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., and an Elektra Cosmetics pop-up. Reservations recommended. virginhotels.com/new-orleans; Instagram: @virginhotelsnola
Cities of Dead Reawaken
When are cemeteries not scary? Turns out, year-round in New Orleans, where the “Cities of the Dead” with their above-ground tombs are renowned for their distinct architectural styles and the who’s who — think Louis Prima — buried there. Save Our Cemeteries, an organization that is dedicated “to cemetery preservation, promotion, restoration, and education,” offers tours of Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery; Pitot House and St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 (or just the cemetery) and St. Roch Cemetery. saveourcemeteries.org; Instagram: @saveourcemeteries
Ahoy, Madisonville!
Sailors, boat fans and those who like their afternoons spent on dry land will all find something to like at the Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival, Oct. 15 and 16. Set on the banks of the Tchefuncte River in Madisonville, the festival hosted by the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum showcases painstakingly restored wooden and classic boats, music, food, crafts and crowd pleasers such as the Quick ‘n Dirty Boat Building Contest and Parade and the “Anchors Away” Cardboard Boat Regatta. lpbmm.org/woodenboatfestival
Beer, Bratz and Schnapps, Why Not?
Time to get the lederhosens and dirndls out and perfect those Chicken Dance moves, Oktoberfest New Orleans has returned, Oct. 7-8; Oct. 14-15; Oct. 21-22. Presented by Deutsches Haus at its headquarters (1700 Moss St.,) along Bayou St. John, the festival celebrates German culture through beer, wine, liquor, food (personal favorite: the red cabbage), crafts, song, dance, and contests such as the Massskrugstemmen, a.k.a. the beer-stein holding contest. oktoberfestnola.com; Instagram: @noladeutscheshaus
City History Revealed During Archives Month
Do you know that the city of New Orleans’ Notarial Archives Research Center has documents going back to the 1700s? That your house’s history is probably in it? October is the center’s official Archives Month with tours Oct. 13, 18 and 20, and an exhibition kick-off Oct. 3. Classes include “Introduction to Historical Records,” Oct. 11 and “Title Chain Seminar,” Oct. 27. (Pre-registration required.) The center, which is run by the Hon. Chelsey Richard Napoleon, Clerk of Civil District Court, is open year-round for research and is located in the Lands Record Division (1350 Poydras St., Ste. 360). Don’t’ forget to check out the virtual blog! orleanscivilclerk.com; 504-407-0106
