Have your cocktail — and learn about it, too — at Tales of the Cocktail, July 20-25. This leading world-class cocktail conference welcomes industry professionals and spirits enthusiasts to discuss, learn and sample at educational seminars, networking events, tastings, wellness programs and cultural experiences. Among the offerings are “Meet the Distillers,” a signature event to meet the makers and taste 15 spirit brands; “Spirited Dining & Drinking,” which partners brands with New Orleans restaurants; “Pig & Punch,” presented by The Bon Viviants, featuring creative punches and food from Hogs from the Cause; and “Louche: The French Quarter Absinthe Tour,” where the history of absinthe and the city are explored.
talesofthecocktail.org; @tales_of_the_cocktail
Seas the Day
Ahoy! The Bower Yacht Club has got its sea legs, with a bewitching transformation of The Bower Bar (1320 Magazine St.) into a nautical escape, where the sea-side ambiance is complemented with summery cocktails and cuisine. Drinks such as the rum mango Old Fashioned, frozen Lillet lemonade, the Below Deck Gimlet and the Painkiller — a combination of rums, citrus and coconut cream — set cocktails’ sails, while fried clams and lobster rolls recall New England summers and caviar service adds a sophisticated touch. thebowernola.com/the-bower-bar; @bowernola
TGIF Harmony
Tipitina’s (501 Napoleon Ave.) has rolled out another musical summer of Free Fridays! The shows (21 years and older) continue through August, with this month featuring: July 4, Soul Brass Band, Vegas Cola; July 11, Erica Falls, Ghalia Volt; July 18, Flow Tribe, LeTrainiump and July 25, The Quickening, Paris Avenue. Doors open at 8 p.m., shows are 9 p.m. No tickets needed, general admission. tipitinas.com/freefridays, @tipitinas
A Stirred Story
What does the combination of gin, absinthe and vermouth have in common with New Orleans? A drink, the Obituary Cocktail, that was invented in the French Quarter — and now there’s a book about it, too! “The Obituary Cocktail,” debuts on July 18 at Garden District Book Shop (The Rink, 2727 Prytania St.) with seasonal flair with music, food and, of course, the Obituary Cocktail, as well as other libations from Bar Epilogue. Published by LSU Press, the book is part of its Iconic New Orleans Cocktails series, and author Sue Strachan will be on hand to sign copies. gardendistrictbookshop.com; @the.gardendistrictbookshop
Saber Style
Impress your friends (and even yourself) by learning the art sabering a champagne bottle at Summer Saber Fridays at Brennan’s (417 Royal St.), 2 p.m.-6 p.m. Restaurant General Manager Christian Pendleton — himself a “Confrerie du Sabre d’Or” — will teach attendees how to open a bottle of bubbly with a saber (or sabre), which is a sword. Tickets are $75 per person and includes a pre-selected bottle of bubbly and saber lessons, tax and gratuity included. brennansneworleans.com; @brennansnola
