DJ Equipment Causes Fire at Oz on Bourbon Street

NEWS — DJ equipment started a fire on the second floor of Bourbon Street bar Oz this afternoon. The bar was open, but only a manager and a bartender were in the club, and no one was injured. The sprinkler system kept the fire from spreading and fire fighters had it all under control within 30 minutes. [WWL]

SWITCHEROOS — Kirk Coco, founder of NOLA Brewing Company, is stepping down as CEO of NOLA Brewing. Chief Operating Officer Dylan Lintern, a 10-year veteran of the brewery, has taken over as president. [NOLA.COM]

BOOZE NEWS — Tales of the Cocktail’s new leaders are injecting $250,000 into grants during their first year behind the wheel. Caroline Rosen, the new director of the annual, multi-day spirits event, told Ian McNulty, “We want that to kick us off to set the tone. We are an organization that’s passionate to help, and as we introduce ourselves we’re putting the people we help at the forefront.” The organization has also issued a call for ideas regarding the grant funding. [ADVOCATE]

Also, people are stoked about bounce artist Big Freedia’s new wine. [NOLA.COM]

INTERVIEWS -- Speaking of bounce artists, Helen Freund interviews Rene “Chef Reero” Porche, the former bounce artist who runs the restaurant Ma Momma’s House of Cornbread, about her award-winning red beans and rice and how she got into the restaurant business. [GAMBIT]

Meanwhile, Ian McNulty interviews Leah Chase, the venerable queen of Creole cuisine and famous owner of Dooky Chase restaurant, and finds out that when she first moved to New Orleans, she’d never been inside a restaurant. [ADVOCATE]

EXPANSIONS — Specialty knife store, Coutelier, has expanded to Nashville with its second location. It opens today. [NASHVILLE POST]

COMING ATTRACTIONS — Virgin Hotels will open a new hotel in the Warehouse District with 225 rooms, plus a rooftop pool and lounge. Also, the Commons Club restaurant and bar will serve free cocktails during “nightly social hours.” The hotel’s anticipated opening is 2020. [BUSINESS TRAVELLER]

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• All Eaterwire Coverage [ENOLA]