It’s been a week since Tales 2018 (7/17-7/22). Given the good and the bad this was one of the best!  As any good procrastinator, I waited till a few weeks before Tales to search for lodging. The first place I looked was The Monteleone; $490/night! Wow! So I looked around and found that most hotels were either booked or too far off Bourbon St where most of the events and pop-ups occur. So I did the evil thing any industry professional can do during TOTC and got an Airbnb a mile or so away from Bourbon. As for transportation, I was looking to ride Megabus since it’s cheap and I don’t have to worry about driving. Well, after fourteen straight shifts to cover for the days I’d be gone I found myself too tired to work on someone else’s’ schedule and I rented a car instead.

I drove six hours (or less) to get to NOLA and got there just before midnight on Thursday night. That’s where shit got slanted. Before leaving Houston I sent a message to my host at Airbnb, who had already confirmed the reservation, about parking on property. I then get on the road and cruise all the way to Baton Rouge before even thinking about that message. I check and nothing. He hadn’t answered. Once I’m in NOLA I check again, and nothing. Long story short that asshole Winston never answered my messages or the ones from Airbnb so my reservation got canceled with 100% refund, and a new place to stay. Yeah! Fuck that guy!

Registration this year collected more information than previous years and was more advanced overall. The wristbands had a chip that you tapped on a column/cube at the entrance of the tasting rooms and that is how you were able to get in.

The first night for me was Friday and Disco Noir was the main event (at least for me since I planned on drinking as little as possible) and it was a blast. However, it didn’t go without its setbacks. That night I left with the keys to the Airbnb and locked out a friend that was staying with me. Not out of any malice or selfishness but simply out of aloof drunken and lack of pre-game planning, it happened. It has happened to me at previous Tales not to mention just the night before I had been in the same situation.

Saturday was a food day for me so picked up a couple of beautiful ladies at the Carousel bar and headed out to Peche (actually they were some Houston locals who I’d hung out with the night before). Gotta tell you Peche was wonderful! Maybe it was the company, but everything was excellent! The bottle of sparkling rose, the fish, sides, oysters, brussels sprouts, everything! Great service. It was the experience I was yearning for on my way to NOLA.

That night we ended up in two places for live music, one I will not mention because I waited 5-10 minutes for a drink and never got one. Four bartenders behind the bar working intermittently in 2-3 minute intervals. When I walked away there were at least three other people waiting that had been there longer than me. The band, however, sounded great and I could tell the owner was losing money for no good reason. The next spot however, incredible! The Spotted Cat did not only have an amazingly entertaining band but it also had attentive bartenders and a lively crowd! Small place but the energy was all-encompassing. This is where we met Lucas who was having a hell of a time on the dance floor (i.e. any space you could muster in front of the stage or anywhere else). This place and dinner were the highlights of my weekend.

That same night a great guy and someone I would like to think of as a friend was awarded Best Bar Mentor at  TOTC Spirited Awards. Andy Seymour was recognized for his many years of helping industry personnel become industry professionals. Congratulations Andy,