If you go
If you couldn’t make it to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, there are plenty of options to celebrate locally. Here are a few:
Bourbon Street Bash at Rumors: Live music, drink specials, beads — you get the idea. Details: 4 p.m. to midnight. $5. 1900 M St. NW; 202-466-7378; rumorsrestaurant.com
Mardi Gras at Acadiana: This Louisiana-themed restaurant is celebrating with a special four-course prix fixe menu for $45, $5 specialty cocktails and New Orleans Street Fare at the bar. Details: 901 New York Ave. NW; 202-408-8848; acadianarestaurant.com
Mardi Gras at Fat Tuesday’s: Heck, the name of this Fairfax bar translates into Mardi Gras. Check out 10 bands starting at 3 p.m. Details: 10673 Braddock Road, Fairfax; 703-385-5717
Mardi Gras at Heaven & Hell: Presented by Hot 99.5, this Adams Morgan bar will feature live music and drink specials. Details: $10. 2327 18th St. NW; 202-667-4355; clubheavenandhelldc.com
Mardi Gras on King Street: Fish Market in Alexandria is celebrating Mardi Gras for five days, starting with live music and food and drink specials Tuesday. The fun concludes on “Fatterday Saturday” with live music, a DJ, a masquerade ball and a charity bead toss for multiple sclerosis. Details: 105 King St., Alexandria; 703-836-5676; fishmarketva.com
To celebrate Mardi Gras, one not need to be in New Orleans. All it takes is some good food and drink and live music to have a good time. “I think it’s a cross between there being a lot of New Orleans transplants and people with roots in the area,” Jason Crawford said when asked why Mardi Gras is so popular in D.C. Crawford is the lead singer of local band Higher Hands, which is headlining the Bourbon Street Bash at Rumors on Tuesday, one of a number of local celebrations.
“People like to party,” Crawford said. “It’s a great excuse.”
Crawford cites high-energy music as a key component to Mardi Gras fun, and compares D.C.’s own Go-Go music to that of beats that come out of Louisiana.
“If I’m not playing, I like to see music,” he said. “I’m a big music lover. I’ve always looking for that kind of vibe.”
While music is a big part of Fat Tuesday, food is probably bigger. Fish Market in Old Town Alexandria is celebrating Mardi Gras for five days, through Saturday.
“It’s the middle of February, and there’s not a lot going on,” said Jesse Maas, Fish Market general manager. “I wanted to celebrate the cuisine of New Orleans.”
Fish Market will offer Louisiana-inspired dishes, drink specials, a live band Tuesday and live music Saturday, which Maas is dubbing “Fatterday Saturday.”
“They party all day and night,” Maas said. “We’re seeing if we can get a little bit of a tradition.”
In D.C., the Louisiana-themed restaurant Acadiana is offering both food and drink specials at its bar, as well as a special four-course meal.
“It’s the people that are willing to have a good time,” Acadiana Executive Chef Brant Tesky said. “Obviously, you want to have good food and drink.”
It was just more than a week ago that the Saints won the Super Bowl. Acadiana held a viewing party, and Tesky sees no chance that fans of the city are tired of celebrating.
“They’re always ready to party,” he said with a laugh.
