Holiday fun for families and grown ups abounds on the Northshore this weekend!

Slidell kicks off the family fun with Christmas Under The Stars in Griffin Park.  The Slidell Little Theatre presents ‘A Christmas Carol’ every weekend through December 21st, and this weekend the Delta Festival Ballet performs ‘The Nutcracker’ with the help of the Slidell Symphony and the LPO at Northshore Harbor Center.  Festive holiday parades take place in both downtown Covington and the Village of Folsom, with a special Santa on the River celebration in Madisonville.

And there’s holiday fun for adults too!  The Junior League of Greater Covington repeats their popular Holiday Martini Tour featuring four professionally decorated homes in The Sanctuary of Mandeville, and the St. Tammany Art Association hosts their annual Starry Starry Night fundraiser in downtown Covington.  And if it’s holiday shopping you’re in the mood for, the annual Arts and Crafts Expo at the Covington Fairgrounds promises to be bigger and better than ever this year.

For details on these events and more, visit the weekly or monthly events calendar pages on this website.  And don’t forget to check out our Day Trippin’ page this week for info on the annual Festival of Trees in Franklinton! 

COCKTAIL RECIPE OF THE WEEK:  Want to impress your friends with a variety of sophisticated martini cocktails, just like the ones served on this weekend’s JLGC Martini Tour, but don’t know how?  It’s easy!  All you need is a bottle of your favorite vodka, and a supply of American Beverage Marketer’s Master of Mixes martini mixers.  These fabulous mixes come in a variety of flavors including chocolate (mix with vodka and a splash of peppermint schnapps for a holiday classic!) and sour apple (add vodka and a cherry for the perfect red and green holiday martini!).  To learn where you can purchase ABM’s mixers locally, to find recipes, and shop their webstore visit www.abmcocktails.com, or www.masterofmixes.com.  Just pour, shake and serve . . . it’s the simplest way to entertain in style this holiday season!!

Saturday, October 25th, put on your costume and come support a great cause at the Animal Assistance League of Slidell’s Halloween Gala!  This event takes place at the charming Palmettos on the Bayou Restaurant and Bar near Heritage Park in Slidell.  Tickets are $65 per person and are on sale now. Admission includes buffett dinner, open bar, live music with the Joe Krown Band, a costume contest, door prizes, a silent auction and much more!  All proceeds benefit the Slidell Animal Shelter. You may purchase tickets at Palmettos (1901 Bayou Lane, 985-643-0050), the Slidell Animal Shelter, and Double M Feed Store OR call Bridgette at 985-640-1385.

And now that you’re in the Halloween party mood, check out our cocktail recipe of the week . . . the Finest Call Bloody Mary!  Finest Call Bloody Mary Mixes include three options:  Premium, Extra Spicy (made with habanero peppers), and Loaded (a “California style” mix made with horseradish and jalapeno peppers).  Finest Call Bloody Mary Mixes are the favorite of professional bartenders everywhere . . . just add your favorite vodka.

And if you’re not a vodka drinker, you can still scare up some great Finest Call bloody cocktails using other spirits:  Add gin to conjure up a Bloody Maggy, tequila to enjoy a Bloody Maria, and Irish Whiskey to create a Bloody Molly.

To learn more about Finest Call Cocktail Mixes, download detailed recipes, and shop the webstore visit www.finestcall.com.

The 19th Annual Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival takes place October 17-19 along the beautiful Tchefuncte Riverfront in historic Madisonville.  The annual fest benefits the Lake Ponchartrain Basin Maritime Museum.

The fun begins with a Maritime Mania Patron Party on Friday evening from 7:30 to 10:30 at the Museum.  Guests can attend this year’s patron party with a “Pirates of the Tchefuncte” theme by purchasing $75 tickets in advance.  The party will feature delicious food from area restaurants, tempting cocktails courtesy of Diageo Brands, and live music provided by (appropriately!) Live Bait.  This is a not-to-be-missed outdoor party, with dancing under the stars along the beautiful riverfront and a rumored appearance by the festival’s official sponsor, Captain Morgan of Captain Morgan Rum.  Pirate garb is encouraged and there will be a contest!  For more info and to purchase tickets, call the museum at 985-845-9200 or visit www.woodenboatfest.org.

Beautiful wooden boats of all kinds and sizes will be on display both in and out of the water at this year’s festival.  Also featured will be arts and crafts booths, live music all day in front of Town Hall, great food and of course, festive cocktails featuring Captain Morgan Rums.  Land vehicles will also be represented with a Classic Cars Cruise In featuring over a hundred cars from around the country.  New this year is the ‘Playful Learning Area’ where children can create their own nautical pennants, participate in an environmental-learning activity using underwater robots, and play maritime bingo.  And the highlight of the festival each year is the ‘Quick and Dirty’ Boat Building Contest, where participants are given only 24 hours to build a sea-worthy vessel to race along the Tchefuncte.  Participating crews will parade from the Main Street ballfield to the river lauch, led by Captain Morgan and the winners of the Maritime Mania Patron Party’s costume contest.  The parade begins at 2pm on Sunday to be followed immediately by the race.  Be sure to bring your camera for this one!!

The fest activities take place from 10 to 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday.  Admission is $10 per person, and $5 for seniors 65 and older.  Children under 12 and uniformed military personnel are admitted free.  Admission to the Maritime Museum is free with a festival wristband.  Off-site parking is available with shuttles running from the Marriott Courtyard on US 190 to the festival continuously.  For a complete schedule of festival events visit www.woodenboatfest.org. 

FINEST CALL Cocktail Recipe of the Week!

In honor of this week’s Wooden Boat Festival, our recipe features Captain Morgan Rum and Finest Call Cocktail Mixes!  To learn more about Finest Call mixes, and to shop their Webstore visit www.finestcall.com.

The FINEST CALL Raspberry Mojito

1 1/2 ounces of Captain Morgan Rum; 2 ounces Finest Call Mojito Mix; 1 ounce Finest Call Raspberry Puree Mix.  Top with club soda, and garnish with lime and fresh mint.  Enjoy this ‘Quick ‘n’ Tasty’ recipe for delicious taste and no muddling required with Finest Call Mojito Mix!