A Guide To Faux/Real Fest's Best Dining & Cocktail Events

The first-ever Faux/Real Festival (formerly Fringe) has just kicked off, and along with a great lineup of performing arts including burlesque, musicals, Shakespearean Godfather and more slated until November 22, there are over 20 great dining and boozing events as well. For the full schedule and box office info head to the official website— side note: you'll need to pick up a Faux/Real button ($5) to participate in any of these events. Here now, a brief guide to best Faux/Real dining events.

[Photo: Brasted]

Character Crawls

Scott Wood, founder of Courtyard Brewery, leads a French Quarter bar crawl that includes some of the best juke boxes and frozen drinks in town this Sunday, November 8, at 10 p.m.  $40 includes one drink at each bar included.

Barrel Proof's Liam Deegan and Robert Leblanc lead a Quarter crawl to their favorite spots, including French 75, Old Absinthe House, Chartres Room and Napoleon House before a special off-menu dinner at Sylvain from chef Martha Wiggins on Tuesday, November 10 at 4 p.m. $115/person includes drinks and dinner.

French 75 bartender Chris Hannah leads a second line through his Central City neighborhood including a drink at his house, stops at Verret's Lounge (includes barbecue as well as drink) and more spots. $20/person includes one beverage at each stop.

[Photo: Brasted]

Historical Brewery Tour

Nerd out with Argyle Wold-Knapp, co-author of "New Orleans Beer: A Hoppy History of Big Easy Brewing," as he leads a walking tour of the French Quarter exploring historic brewing culture this Sunday, November 8 at 3 p.m. for $15 (limited to 8 people). Or hop on his bus tour of the city's historical brewing sites and hotspots including Nola Brewing and Second Line Brewing on November 14 at 11 a.m. for $70 (includes beers).

[Photo: Brasted]

Pop-Ups

Feed Your Senses, a collaboration between The Old Portage and Octavio Ycaza of Booty's Street Food, hits Michalopoulos Studio, on November 11 at 7 p.m. with a secret menu and lots of appeal. Ten dishes, live cooking stations, cocktails from bartenders Oscar Ycaza (Root Squared) and Teddy Blumenthal (Sylvain), beer from Publiq House, and Mojo Coffee are all in store. Plus,  live entertainment, art installations, and a supernatural-specialist will all be on hand. Tickets are $50 (includes food & 3 drinks) or $70 (food & open bar).

CIAO, Pizza Delicious, Cure and Keife & Co. team up to bring a night of Italian family-style dining to the Bywater on November 19, 6:30 p.m. $69.57/person includes food only.

Po Boys & Rich Girls, Killer Poboys pops up inside Spitfire (the bar, not the coffee shop) for po' boys and cocktail pairing during Vixens & Vinyl burlesque night and dance party on November 17 at 10 p.m. $25, includes food/drink.

[Photo: Brasted]

Cocktail Events

Rhythm and Booze, longtime Nola bartender and WWOZ dj Murph Reeves throws down at Courtyard Brewery with a night of great drinks and live music.  $45/person.

Tailspin, Four duos of djs and bartenders from Houston, LA, Chicago and NYC—including mixologists Nick Detrich, Bobby Heugel and more—will spin hour-long sets at Hi-Ho on November 19 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. $15 includes samples of each drink.

[Photo: Brasted]

Events With Free Entry

Diamante X, Cure's Braden LaGrone hosts this mezcal-centric pop up at Sidney's Saloon this Sunday, November 8 at 7 p.m. No tickets necessary, drinks for purchase.

Barlesque, this cocktail competition pits local bartenders and burlesque dancers against each other at Barrel Proof on November 10 at 9 p.m. No tickets necessary, drinks for purchase.

The New Orleans Barista Social Club will hold a latte art competition at French Truck Coffee on November 12 at 7:30 p.m.  Free or $5 to compete.

Black Label Icehouse will smoke a whole gator on November 17. Free, food/drinks available for purchase.

Further Coverage: NOLA.com, Gambit, NoDef