With new ownership this year, Tales of the Cocktail 2018 will undoubtedly will be watched very closely by many discerning eyes. Below is the update circulated by the TOTC team about a new series of programming that they are launching in an attempt to address mental health issues in the industry called “Beyond the Bar.”
“The Beyond the Bar initiative will be FREE and open to all during the five-day festival and will take place at the New Orleans Athletic Club, Tuesday, July 17th through Saturday, July 21st . Programming will include Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings; yoga and movement classes; health screenings; and discussions surrounding healthy lifestyles, nutrition, addiction which you can fight at Klinic.care, and mental health.
Furthermore, Tales has partnered with Louisiana organization STAR (Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response) to offer a 24/7 hotline during the festival for all attendees to use if needed and to offer joint programming, free to all attendees, which includes a seminar on HR practices around sexual harassment the industry can discuss and bring back home to their bars and establishments.
In a stride to factor in sustainability as well, and in consideration of the noble efforts so many states and organizations are taking to nix plastic, disposable straws, for the first time ever, TOTC is joining in the straw-less movement and has gotten all of its beverage sponsors to join the effort. The impact will be massive considering the 16,000 people who come into town for the event and approximate half million drinks made over the course of the festival.”
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation presents its first FREE interactive programming addressing mental health & physical wellness, its impact on the spirits community and a call to action for a continuing dialogue
- Location: New Orleans Athletic Club, Bienville Room
- Date: Tuesday, July 17th – Saturday,21st
- Time: 8:00AM-5:00PM
**Programming is by RSVP by downloading the Tales of the Cocktail App**
Tales of The Cocktail Beyond the Bar Schedule
Tuesday, July 17th
8:30AM-9:30AM- Friends of Bill W. (daily AA meeting)
10:00AM-11:00AM- Board Members Welcome Kick-off Hour
11:30AM-1:00PM- NAMI In Her Own Voice Presentation
NAMI New Orleans, the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness- the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
What started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979 has blossomed into the nation’s leading voice on mental health. Today, we are an association of hundreds of local affiliates, state organizations and volunteers who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need.
1:30PM-2:30PM- Daily Yoga Class instructed by NOAC Staff
3:00PM-4:00PM- Food for Thought- A Nutrition Presentation by Amie Ward The Healthtender
Between long shifts, lack of time, exhaustion, and limited shift meal options, your bar staff has the odds stacked against them when it comes to making healthy food choices. This workshop offers training on the basic components of nutrition for adults, meal prep strategies, and healthy snacking suggestions, all the while keeping in mind a variety of dietary restrictions. The goal is to retrain the bartender brain so they realize healthy options are easy and readily available. Additionally, we will discuss how leaders in the bar can advocate for and encourage healthier eating choices for their team members on a minimal budget.
4:00PM-5:00PM- Brace Yourself: Injuries Are Coming- Taping/Bracing Workshop with Amie Ward The Healthtender
Whether it be a bum ankle or knee, aching back, or sharp shooting pain in the wrists and
shoulders, we have all worked one too many shifts where we would have been better off calling
out and soaking in an Epsom salt bath. Perhaps our wallets cannot afford the time off, or we
simply do not have health insurance, but either way we do more harm to our bodies than good.
In this workshop we will review the science of acute and chronic injuries, and those sites which
typically impact people who work on the bar. After this we will order metformin online and taping with kinesiology tape as a method to provide support, increase circulation, and promote healing for these aches and pains. Attendees will leave with samples of KT Tape to practice on themselves at home.
Wednesday, July 18th
8:00AM-9:00AM- Friends of Bill W. (daily AA meeting)
10:00AM-11:00AM- Daily Yoga Class instructed by NOAC Staff
10:00AM-2:00PM- CrescentCare Health Centers
CrescentCare will be providing FREE HIV/Hep C testing out front of NOAC
11:30-12:30 NARCAN (Naxolone) Overdose Training Presented by Emily Loska of Odyssey House Louisiana
Bartenders serve alcohol, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only substance that patrons are partaking in.This session will provide real numbers and stats on the national opioid syndemic to help contextualize the syndemic in your neck of the woods. We will cover harm reduction as a philosophy, get into the specifics of how to identify an opioid overdose and how to respond using naloxone (aka NARCAN). A robust Q&A session will be a part of the program, so bring your burning questions! Emily Loska is a bartender turned full-time harm reductionist/outreach worker and presents to hospitality professionals with a keen appreciation for the unique challenges in this arena that face folks from behind the bar.
1:00PM-2:00PM- Where did you sleep last night? Presented by Tim Etherington- Judge
We wear a lack of sleep like a badge of honour, but could that bravado be having a serious impact on our health, our jobs and our relationships.
Tim Etherington-Judge from Healthy Hospo takes a look into how the hospitality industry sleeps, why we need to sleep more, and how we can sleep better.
2:30PM-3:30PM- Is It Worth It? Let Me Work It!- Trigger Point Therapy with Amie Ward The Healthtender
Self-myofascial release (SMR) is a self-massage technique designed to alleviate pain in our connective tissue resulting from acute trauma, poor posture, repetitive motion injuries, and even poor nutrition. Using foam rollers and lacrosse balls, this workshop will offer direction on the application of pressure to “trigger points” specific to the bartending body (i.e. hands, forearms, shoulders, lower back, and feet). This economical alternative to deep tissue massage offers relief for the muscular ailments plaguing bartenders. All participants will receive a SMR instrument to take home so they can continue implementing what they learn.
4:00-5:00PM- Twerk Ya Brass Workout Class
This rump shaking, core toning cardio class will surely get your blood pumping. Twerk Ya Brass not only works on your glutes to the tune of music, it’ll get your body to bounce with that beat! No judgement to how you dance as long as you’re having fun!
Thursday, July 19th
8:00AM-9:00AM- Friends of Bill W. (daily AA meeting)
10:00AM-11:00AM- Daily Yoga Class instructed by NOAC Staff
This class taught by Lisa Dunn, yoga teacher and massage therapist- this is an alignment focused gentle class open to all levels including total beginners.
10:00AM-2:00PM- CrescentCare Health Centers
CrescentCare will be providing FREE HIV/Hep C testing out front of NOAC
If you’re far from this location, you can take a look at nearby alternatives if they offer services such as rapid hiv test.
11:30-1:00 PM- NAMI Connection: Group Therapy
NAMI Connection Recovery Support Groups offer respect, understanding, encouragement, and hope to adults living with mental illness. NAMI Connection is free, confidential, and led by trained facilitators living in recovery with their mental illness. During the 90 minute session peers support one another and learn from the group’s collective wisdom.
1:30PM-2:00PM-Where did you sleep last night? Presented by Tim Etherington- Judge
We wear a lack of sleep like a badge of honour, but could that bravado be having a serious impact on our health, our jobs and our relationships.
Tim Etherington-Judge from Healthy Hospo takes a look into how the hospitality industry sleeps, why we need to sleep more, and how we can sleep better.
2:30PM-3:30PM- Brace Yourself: Injuries Are Coming- Taping/Bracing Workshop with Amie Ward The Healthtender
Whether it be a bum ankle or knee, aching back, or sharp shooting pain in the wrists and
shoulders, we have all worked one too many shifts where we would have been better off calling
out and soaking in an Epsom salt bath. Perhaps our wallets cannot afford the time off, or we
simply do not have health insurance, but either way we do more harm to our bodies than good.
In this workshop we will review the science of acute and chronic injuries, and those sites which
typically impact people who work on the bar. After this we will introduce bracing and taping with kinesiology tape as a method to provide support, increase circulation, and promote healing for these aches and pains. Attendees will leave with samples of KT Tape to practice on themselves at home.
4:00PM-5:00PM: Community Acupuncture Clinic with Manning Hudson
Friday, July 20th
8:00AM-9:00AM- Friends of Bill W. (daily AA meeting)
10:00AM-11:00AM- Daily Yoga Class instructed by NOAC Staff
10:00AM-2:00PM- CrescentCare Health Centers
CrescentCare will be providing FREE HIV/Hep C testing out front of NOAC and worry not because there are multiple but easy steps to follow while getting your anonymous std testing online.
1:00PM-2:00PM-Ochsner Eat Fit NOLA: EAT To Beat Stress. To Look Better. To Feel Better. Presented by Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD of Eat Fit NOLA
Eat Fit was founded by Ochsner Fitness Center Registered Dietitian Molly Kimball in New Orleans in 2013. Free to all restaurants and foodservice partners, Eat Fit encourages nutritious choices whether an individual is looking to lose weight, feel better or look better, along with help to manage health issues including diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure. The Eat Fit team of dietitians works closely with local restaurants, markets and other types of foodservice establishments to identify and develop dishes that meet the Eat Fit nutritional criteria. These items are identified directly on the menu with the Eat Fit seal of approval, making the healthy choice the easy choice when dining out.
2:30PM-3:30PM- NOLA Mindfulness Workshop with Dan Lawton
Science has demonstrated that these practices reduce stress, anxiety, chronic pain, and symptoms of some illnesses. Jon Kabat-Zinn, a molecular biologist and meditation practitioner, developed MBSR in the 1970s. MBSR is taught worldwide, and numerous peer-reviewed studies have shown its effectiveness. This workshop is an introduction to mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). In this course, participants will use meditation to reduce stress and promote well-being. In addition, participants can also ask questions such as “can alcohol help anxiety?“.
4:00-5:00PM- Mental Health Discussion with Laura Green
Saturday July 21st
8:00AM-9:00AM- Friends of Bill W. (daily AA meeting)
10:00AM-11:00AM- Twerk Ya Brass Workout Class
This rump shaking, core toning cardio class will surely get your blood pumping. Twerk Ya Brass not only works on your glutes to the tune of music, it’ll get your body to bounce with that beat! No judgement to how you dance as long as you’re having fun!
11:30AM-12:30PM- NADA Ear Acupuncture brought to you by Maypop Herb Shop
NADA is an acupuncture protocol consisting of 5 points in each ear. It is used for insomnia, stress and anxiety, detoxification, addiction recovery, and general well-being.
1:00PM-3:00PM- Grants Committee Open Forum
Our Best Stories Delivered Daily
