Looking for the lively atmosphere of Bourbon Street? What about the soul-warming plates that make up the famed cuisine of New Orleans? Across Tampa Bay, follow CL's working guide to Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday — the Feb. 28 culmination of Carnival season (which began Jan. 6) and a celebration that's become synonymous with NOLA — to achieve ultimate merriment.
Bar Crawl Nation: Mardi Gras Drink your way around downtown St. Pete in party beads and feathered masks, starting at Caddy's on Central (registration takes place from 8 to 11 p.m.). The bar hop, which drew 1,500-plus participants last year, offers a free cover and exclusive specials at 10 bars and clubs — Yard of Ale and 260 First among them. Use the souvenir mug to sip, and track your progress with the crawl's official scorecard. Admission can be purchased online. $24.99-$34.99. Feb. 25, 8 p.m.-2 a.m. 217 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, barcrawlnation.com.
Big Easy Bar Home to crawfish boils every second Saturday of the month, the Big Easy is a fine place to spend the celebratory occasion locally. Pair your brews and specialty cocktails with anything from this Ybor City spot's Cajun menu and you're good to go. Feb. 28, 4 p.m.-3 a.m. 1704 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa, 813-248-3444.
Cajun Cafe on the Bayou This local dining spot serves up Louisiana specialties on the regular — which gives diners all the more reason to stop by in honor of Mardi Gras. Typically closed on Tuesdays but making an except for Mardi Gras, the restaurant's varied lineup includes dishes like Alligator Sauce Piquant and Cajun sausage links with red beans and rice, as well as craft ales on draft and in bottles. Go get you some; Cajun Cafe's taking reservations by phone (and email) for groups of five or more. Feb. 28, 4-10 p.m. 8101 Park Blvd. N., Pinellas Park, 727-546-6732.
Chief's Creole Cafe Enjoy a hearty helping of Chief's crawfish, corn, sausage and potatoes during the Creole Crawfish Boil & Blues. The restaurant's pre-Mardi Gras event on Sunday will also feature live blues sounds from Sarasota Slim. Then, from the Fat Tuesday Crawfish Boil, guests can expect an evening of New Orleans-inspired sounds by the GrooveBoxx Band, plus more plates of crawfish, corn and potatoes. Tickets to both events, which include food, are up online. $30. Creole Crawfish Boil: Feb. 26, 6-9 p.m. Fat Tuesday: Feb. 28, 6-9 p.m. 901 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg, 727-498-8979, chiefscreolecafe.com.
Fodder & Shine Down oyster po' boys, crawfish from the in-house boil, and red beans and rice while sipping on NOLA-themed cocktails. Drink specials and music are in store for the Seminole Heights eatery's Big Easy-style party as well. Feb. 28, 5 p.m.-midnight. 5910 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-234-3710, fodderandshine.com.
Mardi Gras Cookout Beach Bar & Restaurant presents this fun, family-friendly get-together. In honor of the famously festive holiday, guests can choose jambalaya and crawfish boil entrees, or doughnut desserts, from the Bay Harbor Hotel's new executive chef Joe Garcia. All-day drink specials, stilt walkers, balloon artists, beads, fire spinners, and live performances by Doug South Band and Josh Higgins are also planned. Entertainment starts at 6 p.m. Feb. 28, 4 p.m. 7700 W. Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa, 813-281-8900, beachtampa.com.
Mardi Gras Pub Crawl Hosted by the GFWC St. Petersburg Junior Woman's Club, another bar hop around downtown St. Pete's 200 block. This one, now in its third year, is set to kick off at One Night Stand (where registration takes place from noon to 12:30 p.m.), then make stops at Caddy's on Central, Five Bucks Drinkery and other destinations. Tickets, available online, include drink deals and a free ticket for prize drawings at each location. The pub crawl has raised more than $5,000 over the past two years; proceeds from this year's event will benefit local organizations and will fund the club's charitable service projects. Encouraged to dress in purple, gold and green, all participants must have a proper ID. $25. Feb. 25, 12:30-5:30 p.m. 149 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg, gfwc-spjwc.org.
Punky's Bar & Grill Cajun grub from chef Frank Costelli Jr. in addition to the Grand Central District bar and grill's $4 Hurricanes, free masks, prizes and Best Damn Karaoke with Stormin Normie. Feb. 28, 6-11 p.m. 3063 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-201-4712, punkysbar.com.
Ricky P's Creole Kitchen Celebrate all week long with Ricky P's. A crawfish boil of mudbugs flown in from Louisiana, along with boudin sausage and buckets of Abita beer on special, are set for Friday. Saturday's special is Crawfish Monica, a New Orleans Jazz Fest favorite featuring crawfish tails and pasta in a creamy cheese sauce. Complimentary house-made beignets accompany the Sunday jazz brunch. And for Fat Tuesday, well, patrons land a free slice of king cake with a purchase. Don't forget to yell out, "Where y'at?" Feb. 24-26 & 28. 11002 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-821-4061, rickyps.com.
Roux This South Tampa restaurant, and its older sibling Dough, are showcasing whole and by-the-slice king cake from Louisiana-based Joe Gambino's Bakery. The beloved dessert comes with cream cheese or classic frosting, and if your slice has the baby inside, it's on the house. 4205 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, 813-443-5255, rouxtampa.com.
This article appears in Feb 16-23, 2017.