The Grand and Secret Order of the Obituary Cocktail

Locations are posted on our facebook page

The Grande and Secret Order of Obituary Cocktail is a French Quarter and beyond Group of Friends with no agenda or organizational structure. Just a good place to meet you neighbors.

A little history for those of you who just joined OBIT. Gatherings started in 1999, made up of mostly French Quarter residents, just after the first edition of the book Obituary Cocktail by Kerri McCaffety was published. Since that time, the group has gathered at most, if not all, of the bars in the book. If you have not read the book, you should. It is an excellent social history of New Orleans as it developed around and was influenced by the saloons. Of course we all know we are doing this because of our appreciation for the architecture and history of the great bars and saloons of New Orleans.

At some gatherings there have been as few as twenty and at others there have been more than one hundred. Some have tried to predict how many will be at different locations. Others have attempted to relate the number at gatherings to the type of bar, however, there seems to be no pattern. One of the highlights for OBIT in past years was traveling in a group on a private bus trip to great saloons located in outlying neighborhoods and a gathering at San Miguel, Mexico.

After all the saloons in the book had been visited and some more than once, the group started going to bars not in the book, but suggested by people at the gatherings or by email. The only requirement to be a participant in OBIT is to attend a gathering. Then do not expect any efficiency, organization, governing boards, structure, by laws, organizational meetings, budget, elections, goals, objectives, required attendance rules or a responsible leader or even a leader, because none of those exist. However, Obit is a great place to make friends who appreciate a fun gathering.

If you can fit into such a loose and unorganized structure, you will enjoy OBIT. Just keep your expectations low and be on time to the gatherings, because they are over in 45 minutes to an hour.

We can be found at www.facebook.com/groups/obituarycocktail.

I'll drink to that......

Using alcohol and other drugs carries risks. Alcohol and drugs impair your judgement, making you more likely to hurt yourself or others, to have trouble with the law, to do poorly at work and school, and to have relationship trouble. Alcohol and drugs also have specific health risks: they can damage major organs, increase your risk of cancers, and even cause death.