Drinking Big Easily

Several items courtesy of Murph:

The Big Apple will raise its glasses to the Big Easy -- not for toasts, but to collect money for more than 80,000 hospitality workers from the hurricane-ravaged city.

In addition to New York, bars around the country also have promised to mix cocktails to help the Louisiana bartenders and hotel, casino and restaurant workers facing unemployment.

Four New York-based cocktail experts are spurring the "Save New Orleans Cocktail Hour" -- a two-hour nationwide drinking session scheduled for next Saturday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Each $10 drink -- Big Easy classics like the sazerac, the ramos gin fizz and the Pimm's cup -- will be served with a set of free Mardi Gras beads.

New York bartenders stepped forward first, with dozens of establishments from Soho's tony new Pegu Club to the Central Park's Tavern on the Green and the lively Havana Central, agreeing to participate in the fundraiser.

Organizers said the effort is spreading quickly and now includes the Sierra Gold tavern in Las Vegas, a half dozen businesses in Washington, D.C., and more in Arlington, Va., and Silver Springs, Md...

Amtrak trains are now flowing out of the city with evacuees. (finally--I wish they'd tried this BEFORE the storm).

Murph's Musical Charity Drive--yes, there are more pressing matters right now, but once we're past the immediate crisis, I think this is a good idea.

And--here's a status report on some of the more famous NOLA locations.