Wine Dinners, Barrel Proof For Beginners, & More

MARIGNY— More on Arabella Casa di Pasta's move into the Borracho space, with owner Mowgli Pierlas telling The Times-Pic he's applied for a liquor license with hopes to offer Italian wines/craft cocktails. Also on tap: a make-your-own cannoli bar, and a bigger menu, given that they'll have a bigger kitchen. Meanwhile, the Tasting Room is currently interviewing chefs to do small plates. [NOLA.com]

UPTOWN— Wine mania has officially hit New Orleans, but Ian McNulty reports that Patois is hosting a non-NOWFE wine dinner tonight with the husband/wife team behind Vending Machine Vineyards (makers of Double Shotgun, Horror Show and more) Neil Gernon and Monica Bourgeois. Call (504) 895-9441 for details/available seating. [Advocate]

LGD— Because Barrel Proof's whiskey list is mindboggling at 150+ selections, Sarah Baird recommends starting off with these three: organic French single malt Brenne, the smoky Balacones Brimstone, and Belgium's own The Belgian Owl. [Gambit]

UPTOWN— Robert Morris reports that Roly Poly on Tchoup and Jefferson will close by the end of the month with "demolition of its building looming on the horizon." Meanwhile, Morris also reports that Tulane dive The Palms could very likely be stripped of their liquor license after an off-duty bartender was accused of raping a woman in the storeroom. [UptownMessenger]

The men's room at Barrel Proof [Photo: Brasted]