Celebrate Mardi Gras in NYC: Best Concerts, Events & Drink Specials

Celebrate Mardi Gras in NYC: Best Concerts, Events, and Drink Specials

February 26, 2014

Though, as non-New Orleans natives, our Mardi Gras celebrations are not as intricate as they are down there: with all the floats, throws, and parades; the food, music, costumes, and, yes, the drinking... doesn't mean we all can't have fun celebrating these next few days leading up to and including Fat Tuesday! Here's a look at some of the best Mardi Gras-themed parties, concerts, and feasts happening in New York City:

Mardi Gras Themed Concerts in NYC

The fifth annual Two Boots Mardi Gras Ball will again be at Bleecker Street's Le Poisson Rouge on Fat Tuesday (March 4th), with a first-rate music lineup headlined by the rowdy and wonderful Hungry March Band. Also on hand: Reverend Billy as your MC, and the Main Squeeze Orchestra. Should be lots of fun… and your admission will benefit the Lower East Side Girls Club.

This Friday the 28th the NOLAFunk Mardi Gras Ball lands at B.B. King in Times Square, featuring both Kermit Ruffins, and the High and Mighty Brass Band. Jazz at Lincoln Center gets into the carnival spirit with the American/Brazilian collective Nation Beat, which rocks the house with Brazilian maracatu drumming combined with New Orleans second line rhythms and funk.

Fat Tuesday Drink Specials

Tons of bars will have Fat Tuesday drink specials, but if you want to really let loose with tons of like-minded, twenty-something individuals, the Village Pourhouse on the Upper West Side and the East Village is your move. They'll be sporting $5 Hurricanes, 2-for-1 Abitas, and beads galore.

Also in the East Village and NOLA-centric all year round is Ninth Ward, which is a good bet for general raucousness and solid Southern-style eats. In a similar vein, Bourbon Street in Times Square is throwing on a masquerade ball on Saturday, March 1, as well as a Fat Tuesday party, both with face painting, masks, beads, music, and giveaways.

NOLA Inspired Food Celebrations

Delta Grill in Hell's Kitchen offers an all-you-can-eat Cajun buffet on Fat Tuesday–Crawfish Boil, Jambalaya, Red Beans and Rice, Chicken Creole, and so on, plus a free Hurricane, live music and more, for only $30. Also on Tuesday, the always-a-pleasure Back Forty on Avenue B will be adding NOLA-inspired treats, such as Smoked Duck Gumbo, Dirty Rice, Sazerac cocktails, and Bayouteche beer to their menu.

This Saturday, March 1, the very cool "culinary salon" City Grit in Nolita is firing up a Mardi Gras feast that'll include Gumbo Z'Herbes, Crawfish Etoufee, and King Cake. Meanwhile, in Soho, party-spot The Dutch, with its fabulous crowd and terrific food, is offering a special three-course Mardi Gras prix-fixe menu with choices like Fried Frog Legs, Blackened Tilefish, and Beignets with Caramel Sauce.

With so many options, how do you plan on celebrating Mardi Gras in NYC this year? Let us know in the comments if we missed any good events or specials!