Checking in on Sidebar in Mid-City; Gracias Latinos

MID-CITY— Courthouse area bar and lounge Sidebar is open for business, and Gambit's Helen Freund reports on its early days. The bar is closed on the weekends, "because weekend business has been dismal," and opens at 3pm on the weekdays. The developing cocktail menu has drinks named for legal luminaries, such as "the Thomas Holley, named after the inventor of the legal pad. The drink combines rye, dry curacao, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and sage syrup and is garnished with a sage leaf and a sea salt and sugar rim." Scotch, rye, and bourbon are well represented, with a wine and beer list. Snacks and cold plates will be rolled out in the coming weeks. [Gambit]

CENTRAL CITY— Casa Borrega is coming back from its summer break this week (August 24-28) with a street party called Gracias Latinos on Saturday, August 29, which will honor all the Latino immigrants who came to New Orleans in the wake of the storm and helped rebuild. The event runs from 3-8pm and there will be live music, community speakers, and food and drink to purchase. [Facebook]

FRENIER— The Crab Trap plans to reopen after three years closed due to Hurricane Isaac, Ian McNulty reports. On the west shore of Lake Pontchartrain, just outside LaPlace, Crab Trap proprietor Louis Lipps plans to once again sell "boiled shrimp, crabs and crawfish according to the season and a version of barbecue shrimp (and also barbecue crab) that has proven enduringly memorable." The new spot (just across the street for the original location) will also serve wine and beer, and have an air-conditioned upstairs level. [Advocate]