Margarita Bergen: A Toast to New Orleans: August 19- 24‏

Darlings,

Greetings, from the lovely Emerald Coast, where I am taking a brief holiday with Duchess Chiquita and her canine friends, Oedipus and Vivi. My friend Michael calls our sojourn, a vacation for the dogs. We love taking the dogs along, letting them run and play with each other.

A decade ago, I was able to spend summers in Ibiza, Spain or San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Not anymore. The social scene is a social whirl during the summer months as well. I find that as I get older, the heat makes me lethargic and takes my stamina away.

Last week was a very exciting one.

The Royal Sonesta Round Table Luncheon was superb. Our August luncheon celebrated local authors whose recent works pay homage to New Orleans’ rich cultural heritage.

Real estate writer, photographer and licensed New Orleans tour guide Angela Carll discussed her recent work “Where Writers Wrote in New Orleans.” Then Nathaniel Rich, author of “Odds Against Tomorrow, revealed insights into his critically acclaimed novel that explores a near-future world on the brink of natural catastrophe that is so well researched, it hardly feels like fiction. Michael Mofiftt, a Chicago native who grew up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and has lived in New Orleans for most of his adult life, is a well known businessman and cultural activist talked about the new memoir, “Granddad's Dictionary,” which centers on the values which made America exceptional.

Finally, author Laura Roach Dragon delved into her coming-of-age novel “Hurricane Boy,” which depicts the traumatic events of Hurricane Katrina from an adolescent’s point of view. Entertainment was shared by talented Becky Allen and Cari Roy with Jim Walpole on the Piano.

That evening I enjoyed very much the lovely Bon Operatit at the Four Points by Sheraton on the site of the Old French Opera House at Bourbon and Toulouse streets. Prior to Bon Operatit, I stopped by Bourbon Heat, where there was a huge fundraiser for Alanna Romain - an employee that hit along with her family in a rash of fire. Last week the music & hospitality communities came together to help raise money for Alanna Romain and her boys. They raised nearly $10,000. Bravo!

I finally made it to Doris Metropolitan Restaurant. After reading all the rave reviews and friends asking me to go, I called up my friend Barbara Ballard and asked to join me for lunch at one of New Orleans's Best New Restaurants and I was so happy that we went. Barbara has spoken to me about how much she loved it and how much I will enjoy the charming co-owner Itai, which I did.

Doris Metropolitan is located where the old Alpine Restaurant used to be, at the corner of Chartres Street and Wilkinson Row. Israel-born partners Itai Ben Eli and Doris Riba have done an incredibly awesome transformation of this historic building. It features one of the prettiest interiors, a great bar, a patio, as well as an impressive menu that features dry aging beef, incredible appetizers and delicious fish dishes. It also features an incredible wine list and the wines are displayed all along the wall. I had one of the best lunches ever and I got the opportunity to enjoy the delicious steak tartar, the aged beef steak, the bread with delicate truffle butter and other seasoned butters. The staff was extremely helpful and got to meet the owners and the managers. Have you ever gone to a place that you just cannot wait to come back to? This is one of them and I just cannot wait to go there to have the Tuna Tartare and some of the highly recommended dishes.

Delicious Lunch at Doris Metropolitan (17 photos)

I must confess that the highlight of my week was on Saturday night when I went see the 25th Anniversary Tour of The Gipsy Kings. They were superb! I am still singing their contagious music. I saw so many friends and they were having a great time as you will see by the photos. I was invited backstage by talented artist Anna Gil, a friend of the Gipsy Kings and I loved meeting all of them and their manager who was celebrating his birthday. In case you did not know, they are French Gypsies from Arles, France and they are all related.

This week, we continue celebrating Coolinary New Orleans - Celebrating Dining in America's Most Delicious City - August 19-31.

On Wednesday, August 20, Wednesday at The Point is presenting Mississippi Rail Company,

Johnny Sansone/Collin Lake, DJ Rik Ducci and Speaker Name. Concerts are held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Algiers Ferry Landing, 200 Morgan Street, New Orleans.

On Thursday, August 21, AllWays Lounge & Theatre presents the local premiere of “Bug,” a play by Tracy Letts which centers around a waitress and a Gulf War veteran struggling with substance abuse, paranoia and conspiracy theories. Playwright Letts has won critical acclaim for his Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play "August: Osage County," which was recently adapted into a movie. The local production of “Bug’ runs Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. through August 23. Advance tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com.

Thursdays at Twilight Concert Series presents, on August 21, Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue at the Botanical Gardens in New Orleans' City Park.

On Thursday, August 21, I am looking forward to going to the New Orleans Auction to see the preview of the impressive collection of vintage Designer Hats from the Estate of Mickey Easterling that will be auctioned off on August 23-24. The preview reception on Thursday is from 5 to 7 p.m. at 510 Julia Street.

On August 23, at 7:00 p.m., House of Blues New Orleans announces the 1st Annual Brewsiana - Craft Beer and Music Festival. The celebration brings together the best of Southern Louisiana with its finest brewers of craft beer, top rising bands, and tastiest foods to the main stage at House of Blues, The Voodoo Garden courtyard, and Crossroads at House of Blues Restaurant and Bar.

On Sunday Aug 24, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m., NOLA Brewing Co. at 3001 Tchoupitoulas Street invites the entire entrepreneurial community to help us kick off the 2015 Entrepreneur Season with the first ever Entrepalooza. The Idea Village team will be posted up at NOLA Brewery from noon until 4 p.m., celebrating the start of another year of action and impact along with the founders and teams of local ventures: Audiosocket, Better Day Health, Bioceptive, ChapterSpot, Cordina, Federated Sample, Kickboard, mSchool, NOLA Brewing, StaffInsight, TurboSquid, Tutti Dynamics, zlien, and more... Join them for live music, cold beer, and great company.

Darlings, have a great week and do forget to SAVE: Wednesday, September 3 for the Annual Royal Sonesta Round Table Luncheon Saluting the Cultural Arts at Noon. It is going to be very special because we have invited representatives from NOMA, LPO, The NO Opera, NO Ballet, Jefferson Performing Arts Society and the theme will be th Beetles to commemorate their visit to New Orleans and the special celebration by WYES. The entertainment will be by talented Leslie Castay and Cliff Johnson;

PHOTOS :

Dog Days of Summer 2014 (18 photos)

Dog Days of Summer 2014 (18 photos)

Darlings, the “dog days of summer” are defined by the Urban Dictionary as time in the summer where it is so hot or humid that the dogs go crazy by barking or howling. Another definition is the sultry part of the summer, supposed to occur during the period that Sirius, the Dog Star, rises at the same time as the sun: now often reckoned from July 3 to August 11.

Well, all we know is that it was time to take Duchess Chiquita Bergen, Vivi and Oedipus for a real dog vacation. Fortunately Mama Bergen as well as Michael needed a brief vacation as well so we searched and found places that welcome Canine companions in the beautiful Emerald Coast. One of those place is Sea Spray Condominiums, Ft. Walton Beach and a great restaurant with the best view in town, Harry T's Lighthouse at the Destin Harbor Boardwalk Village.

— at Destin Harbor Boardwalk.

25th Anniversary Tour of Gipsy Kings (53 photos)

Peter Himberger manager of the Gipsy Kings celebrated his birthday after the concert .

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152175649675870.1073742300.581200869&type=1&l=78aa757786 25th Anniversary Tour of Gipsy Kings (53 photos)

Bon Operatit!

Tonight, it was the last concert of this season for Bon Operatit! at Four Points by Sheraton French Quarter. Once again, the free concert was one of the loveliest night I have spent. (5 photos)

Royal Sonesta's August Round Table Luncheon 2014 (29 photos)

Darlings another great day and night in my beloved New Orleans . I started my day by hosting the August 's Royal Sonesta Round Table Luncheon. AS in the past - it was one of the best according to the guests. What made it so superb was the s... See More

— atRoyal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans.

Month of August

Cool Down with COOLinary August 2014

COOLINARY NEW ORLEANS - CELEBRATING DINING IN AMERICA'S MOST DELICIOUS CITY!

During the month of August, enjoy 2-3 course lunch menus for $20 or less and 3 course dinner menus at $35 or less at over 50 award winning restaurants. Experience cuisine that delights your palate and is an integral part of the history, fabric and culture of New Orleans.

More and more restaurants are signing up every day so be sure to check back often. It's going to be a delicious summer! Don't forget to ask for the Chef's COOLinary Menu.

http://www.coolinaryneworleans.com/

Wednesday, August 20

Presents: Mississippi Rail Company,

Johnny Sansone/Collin Lake, DJ Rik Ducci and Speaker Name.