Block Party at Manning's; Pop-Up Italian at Lilette

WAREHOUSE DISTRICT—Archie Manning, the patriarch of New Orleans' most illustrious football family, will be on-hand this Friday, Dec. 7 from 5 - 8 p.m. in the courtyard of his eponymous restaurant to kick-off this week's "First Fridays" series on Fulton Street. For $20, visitors can enjoy the Abita Beer Christmas Ale Tap's special holiday sampling of brew, shrimp and grits with andouille gravy courtesy of Grand Isle, and an expansive tasting menu from other Fulton Street restaurants like Ruth's Chris, Gordon Biersch, and Besh Steakhouse. [EaterWire]

POP-UPS—On Monday, Dec. 10 at 6:30 pm, Lilette will again host an Italian, family-style pop-up dinner at which everyone sits cozily together and passes food around (tone-deaf uncle in a sweaty undershirt not included). The menu, created by head sous chef Edward Charles, is four courses (including course-by-course wine pairings) for $60. [EaterWire]

CHARITY WIRE—The John Besh Foundation would like to sell you a pair of chef clogs this holiday season. Of course, these are no ordinary chef clogs?proceeds will go towards a holiday fundraiser geared towards helping New Orleans-area recipients of the Chefs Move Scholarship cover the cost of expenses they'll incur while attending a nine-month culinary or pastry program at the International Culinary Center in New York. Oh, and the clogs are totally tax deductible. [Times-Pic]
Courtyard at Manning's. [Photo: Facebook]