Hone your cocktail knowledge at the annual Tales of the Cocktail, July 21-26, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel (921 Canal St.). There are a number of events cocktail enthusiasts can attend, such as the Tasting Rooms, where a person can sample a variety of alcohol and drinks; New Orleans Cocktail tours such as the Big Gay Bar Tour, Brandy/Bourbon/Bitters/Ice, Bourbon Street and How It Got That Way, and Absinthe; as well as business-oriented seminars such as what to consider if offered to be a partner in a bar. Sign up is recommended ahead of time for these and other events, as there is the possibility that events could sell out. talesofthecocktail.org; @Tales_of_the_Cocktail
Happy Birthday, USA!
Celebrate birth of our nation’s 248 years at one of the multitude of events happening before and on July 4, this most patriotic of days. More than one of these will have fireworks!
June 29: Slidell Heritage Festival, Heritage Park, slidellheritagefest.org
July 3: Happy 3rd of July, Goldring/Woldenberg Great Lawn at City Park, New Orleans, neworleanscitypark.org
July 3: Light Up the Lake for Independence Day Celebration, Mandeville (lakefront), visitthenorthshore.com
July 3: Uncle Sam Jam, Lafreniere Park, Metairie, visitjeffersonparish.com
July 4: St. Bernard Salutes America Celebration, Chalmette, Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center Grounds, 8245 W. Judge Perez Drive, visitstbernard.com
July 4: Go 4th on the River (Downtown), New Orleans Mississippi Riverfront, go4thontheriver.com; and 4th Fest in Crescent Park (Bywater), New Orleans Mississippi Riverfront, frenchmarket.org
July 4: Madisonville Old Fashioned 4th of July, Water Street (Tchefuncte River), visitthenorthshore.com
Kid Stuff
Looking for something for your children to do during the long, hot summer? Louisiana Children’s Museum (15 Henry Thomas Dr., City Park) beats the heat with programming that includes Froggy Fridays, which includes splash and play activities for toddlers (starts 10 a.m.) and children ages 4 and older (starts 11 a.m.) on Fridays, and Power Hours for ages 7 and up on Tuesday and Thursdays (starts at 1:30 p.m.) that include activities, games and design challenges such as creating a comic book, publishing a zine or designing a structure or sculpture over a number of visits. Reservations for a spot are strongly encouraged. lcm.org; @louisianakids
Rebel Yell
Prohibition (1919-1933) in the U.S. may have put a damper on drinking, but it didn’t quash America’s thirst for alcohol. “Rebellious Spirits: Prohibition and Resistance in the South” on view through Jan. 5, 2025, at the New Orleans Museum of Art (1 Collins C. Diboll Circle, City Park) explores the creative ways through design that people adjusted during that time. Cocktail shakers, liquor jugs, medicine bottles and cocktail glasses are among the items showcased. noma.org; @neworleansmuseumofart
French Dressing
Bastille Day is around the corner (July 14) and while there are celebrations going on around town, why not mark France’s national day — as well as its contributions to New Orleans culture — by enjoying some of its culinary contributions. The Grill Room at Windsor Court Hotel (300 Gravier St.; thewindsorcourt.com; @thewindsorcourt) is hosting a Bastille Day-themed dinner, July 12-14. The three-course meal includes escargot with herb toast and Spring radish; duck with wild mushroom cauliflower risotto, cassis reduction and citrus oil; finishing with an apple tarte tatin served with vanilla ice cream. King Brasserie & Bar at the Kimpton Hotel Fontenot (501 Tchoupitoulas; hotelfontenot.com; @kingbrasserienola, @hotelfontenot) has already been taking a culinary tour through France in 2024, and in July it set its sights on the French Basque region. Through Sept. 30, restaurant-goers can enjoy a menu featuring ingredients such as blue crab, shrimp, summer berries, among others in tantalizing dishes that will be paired with wines. Even your dog can be a date, but only on the outdoor patio.
