Bakery Open Houses, Independence Day in Mandeville

GERT TOWN & BROADMOOR?As part of the Bread Baker's Guild of America's third annual Guild Wide Bakery Open House, two local bakeries will be flinging their doors open tomorrow, June 29, so that the smell of hot 'n fresh carbs can lure you out of your weekend torpor. Gracious Bakery + Cafe at 1000 S. Jefferson Davis Parkway will host its open house from 8 to 11 am for nonprofessional bakers wanting to learn some sick break-making skills, and then at 3:30 pm, Bellegrade Bakery at 3609 Toledano will show visitors owner Graison Gill's top-secret bread making process. [NOLA.com]

MANDEVILLE?Fourth of July in Mandeville just got a little more festive, thanks to a resolution from Councilwoman Carla Buchholz recently passed by City Council: for one day only, the city has decided to loosen food restrictions along the lakefront and allow revelers to consume food and beverages on the huge, grassy tracts of land along Lakeshore Drive. [NOLA.com]

CENTRAL CITY?Cafe Reconcile and Food Dat are going to raffle off an entire Smart Car tomorrow, June 29, from 6 to 8:00 pm. Tickets to the Drawing Event are currently going for $60, and the event will feature an open bar and "heavy hors d'oeuvres." [Eventbrite]

CBD?Two festivals loom large on the New Orleans horizon. The Second Harvest Food Bank will be putting on an expanded version of the Burgers, Bourbon and Beer festival in August (complete with about 14 local burger joints that include Tru Burger and Company Burger), and the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival will hit Lafayette Square October 18-20. Though the Burger fest will announce its finalized lineup in the coming weeks, the Blues & BBQ Fest is currently seeking applications from restaurants and caterers who want to be vendors at the free festival. [NOLA.com]

Outside Gracious Bakery and Cafe [Photo: Eater]