Of Drag Queens and the New Orleans Saints

 

Remember the drag queen moment I mentioned last week? Well, that moment is definitely continuing as we close in on Labor Day and Southern Decadence weekend in our fair city.

On Saturday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. the grand Windsor Court Hotel (Le Salon at Windsor Court Hotel, 300 Gravier St., 596.4773, windsorcourthotel.com) will host an LGBTea with live performances by Kookie Baker and her special guests and bottomless mimosas. Reservations are $75 and guests must be 21 or older to attend.         

On Sunday from 11a .m. – 2 p.m. drag performers will again take center stage during a lively brunch soiree at The Parlor, located inside the Pontchartrain Hotel (2031 St Charles Ave.). “Louisisna Eats!” radio host Poppy Tooker and CrescentCareNO/AIDS Task Force, will host Poppy’s Pop-Up Drag Brunch to celebrate the launch of Tooker’s newest book Drag Queen Brunch (August 2019; Rainbow Road Press). A portion of the proceeds will go toward Crescentcare’s Food For Friends – a meal-delivery program, which has served people living with AIDS and cancer in the greater New Orleans area for over 35 years. Priced at $85 per person (including tax and gratuity),the three-course brunch will include delectable dishes and bubbly cocktail pairings. Drag sensations in attendance will include Laveau Contraire, Starr Alexander, Mistie Bonet, Lana O’Day and Jessica Champagne, all of whom appear in the book, which will be available for purchase and signing.

The Saints are coming back with a vengeance, kicking off the regular season on Monday, Sept. 9. A host of area restaurants and gathering spots have created WHO DAT watch party specials to keep things festive.

Every game day will mean an all-day happy hour at both Toups South (1504 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., toupssouth.com) and Toups’ Meatery (845 North Carrollton Ave., toupsmeatery.com). Available exclusively at the bar, guests can enjoy $5 wines-by-the-glass; $7 signature cocktails; and an array of Chef Isaac Toups’ Happy Hour snacks ($5-$7) including pommes frites served with malt vinegar aioli; sourdough biscuits with crab fat butter; pork rinds; and, of course, cracklins. Also on offer, Bubbles & Crack ($10) – a glass of sparkling wine with half a bowl of cracklins; and Baller Black and Gold cocktails. Created by beverage director Bryson Downham, these Saints-inspired cocktails are $20 each and feature the Thomas Handy “Falcon’s Blood” – a Sazerac variation with Averna amaro and angostura bitters; and George T Stagg “Negra y Oro” – bourbon with raw cola syrup, black pepper tincture, and lemon oil, garnished with a slice of charred pickled pineapple.

At Compère Lapin (inside of The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, 535 Tchoupitoulas St., comperelapin.com) Saints fans can enjoy a plethora of game day specials highlighting the brand-new cocktail program by newly appointed Head Bartender Jordan Deis. Exclusively available on game days, offers include $12 Paint It Black & Gold – Coffee Infused Mezcal, Amaro, Vermouth Rouge;  $12 Who Dat-quiri – brandy, rum, amaretto, apricot, coconut, Becherovka; $9 Melonious Funk – Bolden local vodka, melon shrub, citrus, spiced salt; and frozen $9 Ramos Gin Freeze – gin, citrus, orange blossom, oat cream. Additional offerings include $9 Sazeracs; $3 Dixie Light or Urban South Paradise Park Lager; 50 percent off all Sherry by the glass; $17 Whiskey Flight (3x 1oz pours); and $26 Select Whiskey Flight (3x 1oz pours).

Just steps from the Superdome, on all game days Copper Vine (1001 Poydras St., coppervinewine.com) will welcome all revelers with $25 Mimosa Pitchers.

Have a great weekend, everyone. Use it to celebrate the people and the community you love.

 

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