Mardi Gras float in New Orleans (Elise Thompson/LAist)
Tomorrow is Mardi Gras, and it's time to party down before the traditional Lenten fasting and abstinance we know you will all be observing. For those of us who can't make it to the Big Easy, there are plenty of great places to celebrate Fat Tuesday right here at home.
The original Farmers Market will be holding its traditional Carnival, with live music, beads and fun for the kiddies. The Gumbo Pot serves up a fantastic catfish po'boy and some of the best red beans and rice in town! Other restaurants will also be offering specials, as will the bars.
Amoeba Music will be celebrating Mardi Gras right there in the store with a parade that will spill out onto the streets. They promise live music, decorations, floats, masks, and beads (That's right - floats!). The action starts early at 3pm with the parade commencing at 4pm. A portion of the day's proceeds will be donated to Tippitina's Foundation and the New Orleans Music Clinic, so buy a Professor Longhair CD and get in the spirit!
Tomorrow night on the Westside party down at Liquid Kitty's Mardi Gras Soiree. This is the place to find authentic music. Live cajun, zydeco and New Orleans funk will be laid down by The Damn Well Please Organ Trio. Drink specials include Abita Beer, Hurricanes and Sazerac Martinis.
Dominick’s and Little Dom’s are celebrating Mardi Gras with a special Cajun-inspired dinner menu. New Orleans born Chef Brandon Boudet is cooking up Jambalaya, Crayfish Pie, File Gumbo (OK, I don't know if he uses file powder or okra, but it was irresistible), Mini King Cakes and Cochon de Lait Po'Boys (delicious, delicious pork). The menu will be offered tonight as well,
From 7pm-2am tomorrow, Rush Street will be offering a special selection of drinks including Hurricanes, Alabama Slammers and Mint Juleps. Masked "bead girls" will be tossing out party favors and trinkets (any Moon Pies I wonder?). There will also be a DJ and "Carnival-style pole room fun". I don't think this is one for the kiddies.
If you can hold off the party until the weekend, Long Beach is throwing a huge Mardi Gras celebration on Saturday the 20th with live bands, a second-line parade, fire dancing and a kid's costume contest. There will also be New Orleans specialties like Hurricanes, Crawfish, and Oyster Po'boys.
