Thursday / Botanists can party, too: Who knew? Thursday night, at 6:30 PM, Longue Vue House and Gardens (7 Bamboo Road) will host the Drunken Botanist Lecture (sounds like a paradox, right?). New York Times bestselling garden author Amy Stewart will speak on the history of humanity’s transformations of plants into alcohols. Her speech will be preceded by a 45-minute cocktail tasting in the garden and followed by a book signing. You can purchase tickets here for $45.
Saturday / This little piggy went to Washington Square: You may have heard a little buzz in the media about this tiny under-the-radar convention in town — Tales of the Cocktail, I think it’s called.While most of the events require tickets, there are a few free options. One freebie favorite is Pigs and Punch, which will be held from 11AM to 5PM on Saturday at Washington Square Park. The punch, pork, games, and music are technically all free; however, you are encouraged to purchase a t-shirt for $30 to benefit New Orleans KIPP charter schools. For the complete lineup of Tales of the Cocktail events, visit the official site.
Saturday / Pop-up politics, pictures, and performance: With all the food and drink events happening around town this weekend, your brain may need a kick-start and your belly and liver may need a break. Saturday, Latino Immigrants & the Reconstruction of New Orleans, a pop-up gallery by performance and visual artist José Torres-Tama, opens from 6 – 10 PM at Barrister’s Gallery (2331 St. Claude Ave.). Torres-Tama’s works, photography and mixed-media drawings, examine the human rights of Latino immigrant workers in New Orleans, as the Immigration Reform debate presses on in DC. The event will also feature a video on immigration issues by filmmaker Alberto Romero, as well as a performance by Torres-Tama. The exhibit runs until July 31. It is free and open to the public.
Saturday / They want you to be a couch potato: Calling all Arrested Development geeks, groupies, and junkies: Your training (i.e. your unhealthy obsession) has been vindicated. On Saturday, at 7 PM, Bruno’s Tavern will host an Arrested Development Geeks who Drink Mega-Quiz. Teams are capped at six persons, with a fee of $5 per player. The winning team will receive half of the total registration pot. There will also be prizes for best costume and best illusion, so don’t fall short on your groupie spirit. Arrive a little early on Saturday to register.
Now sit yourself down on the couch, turn off your phone, call in sick to work (in all fairness, it does involve family crises), and get ready to cram for the Arrested Development olympics.
Chelsea Lee is assistant editor of NolaVie. Email comments to her at chelsea@nolavie.com.
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