On one hand it feels like it was just yesterday and on the other it seems like we’ve been growing gray hairs waiting, but either way Mardi Gras has arrived! This weekend is very exciting as it’s the first parade of the Carnival season! Surrounding the Krewe du Vieux parade are pre and post parties and in addition, this weekend is full of comedy, music and theater in New Orleans. Forget Christmas, this is the best time of the year!
Friday, February 3:
1. New Orleans Comedy & Arts Festival – The New Orleans comedy scene is on a role, first with the New Movement Theater’s 19 day comedy marathon and now with the fifth annual New Orleans Comedy and Arts Festival. For three nights from Wednesday, Feb. 1 through Friday, Feb. 3, there will be over 40 comedians performing at La Nuit Theater, featuring headliner Brody Stevens, who has appeared on The Late Late Show, Chelsea Lately and The Hangover. Each show is from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 4:
The NOLA Brewing Flambeau Red Ale (Photo courtesy of www.nolabrewing.com)
2. Krewe de Brew – To get properly conditioned for Krewe du Vieux, join NOLA Brewing on their Krewe de Brew bar crawl preceding the parade to celebrate the release of their Flambeau Red Ale. The crawl will be a mini version of the Krewe du Vieux route, starting at R Bar in the Marigny at 1:00 p.m. and making its way through Lower Decatur Street ending at Molly’s at the Market at 5:00 p.m. Enjoy drinking the complex and flavorful malt beer for a special price of $3, perfect for a crisp Mardi Gras night!
3. Krewe du Vieux (Doo) – The beloved local’s parade and the first of the Carnival season, Krewe du Vieux marches and rolls at 6:30 p.m. through the Lower French Quarter and the Marigny. Expect scandalous floats, scantily clad marchers and unabashed political and social themes and commentary. This is a truly unique and liberal parade and one of the most carefree of Carnival. If children are brought along, some eye shielding will be necessary. Following the parade at 9:00 p.m. is Krewe du Vieux Doo, a Mardi Gras welcome to all featuring music by local favorites Walter Wolfman Washington and Morning 40 Federation.
They Might Be Giants (Photo courtesy of www.theymightbegiants.com)
4. They Might Be Giants – For a night of pure sonic bliss, indulge in the sounds of the buoyant Brooklyn rockers They Might Be Giants. Revisit the good old days with hits from their 90s albums including the anthem that is “Flood” and each subsequent one leading up to their upcoming album “Join Us,” from which they’ve released four songs in advance. TMBG rock Tipitina’s at 10 p.m. Tickets are $22 in advance and $25 at the door.
Sunday, February 5:
5. Blue Man Group – Catch the last performance of the Blue Man Group at the Mahalia Jackson Theater at two shows on Sunday at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m. The theatrical group combines color, comedy, music and movement in a multisensory experience for the audience. Additional shows are from Wednesday, Feb. 1 through Friday, Feb. 3 at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 4 at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online.
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