Ash Wednesday is February 22 this year. The first day of Lent in the 46 days preceding Easter in the Christian religion, it's the start of fasting, sacrifice, and prayer for the faithful worldwide. So what do certain areas of the world that love a good party (but are also widely Christian) do? They throw decadent festivals in the days leading up to Fat Tuesday, the last day before Lent.
Whether you're into Cajun music, and girls trading a peep show for beads or Samba music, there's a place to party in Miami.
Mardi Gras
When you think Mardi Gras, you think giant
floats filled with Krewes throwing beads down Bourbon street in New
Orleans. Costumed revelers dance in the streets and catch beads while
giant vats of mud puppies boil, as a band plays zydeco music.
Dune Oceanfront Burger Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne is having an early Mardi Gras party this Sunday, February 19 at 3 p.m. Drink Hurricanes and nosh on traditional New Orleans fare like Andoille sausage ($19), mufalatas ($18), BBQ shrimp ($20), and oysters ($24 for a half dozen).
Fat Tuesday
is the home of frozen blender drinks mixed with grain alcohol, slurped
with a straw until first brain freeze, then a drunken stupor sets in.
Pretty much every night is Mardi Gras here, come to think of it, but on
Tuesday, February 21 plan to drink to live DJs and wear plenty of beads
around your neck. Both the Cocowalk location in Coconut Grove and the
South Beach location on Ocean Drive will be jamming with girls
displaying their wares for beads.
The Alibi celebrates Fat
Tuesday with an authentic crawfish boil, $5 Hurricanes, authentic New
Orleans jazz, poboys, beads, and king cake! Remember, whoever gets the
baby in the king cake has to pick up the tab next year! The fun starts at 5 p.m., Tuesday, February 21.
Hogzilla's Inspired Barbeque is
channeling the Big Easy on Tuesday, February 21, when Fat Tuesday comes
to this South Beach barbeque spot. Get your party on with plenty of
music, crawfish eating challenges, hot sauce contests, and a chance to
win a $100 bar tab. Ladies drink free from 9 to 11 p.m. and plenty of
beads will be tossed in the air.
The Fish House in Kendall
is hosting their annual Mardi Gras blowout celebration. Starting at 4
p.m.on Tuesday, February 21, watch thousands of crawfish straight from the Gulf get boiled
alive. Suck their little brains out while enjoying live music by The
Fish House All-Stars, starting at 6 p.m. Plenty of drink specials and
beads make this a party.
Carnavale
Carnavale in
Rio is called the world's biggest party. Tens of thousands of people
from all over the world take to the streets awash in a sea of color,
music, and beats. Some of the most beautiful people in the world samba
until dawn in celebration.
Sushi Samba Dromo is turning Lincoln
Road into Brazil on Tuesday, February 21, as samba dancers, drummers,
and dj's keep everyone on their toes. Sip a Carnavale cocktail, a mix
of Leblon cachaca, Domanine de Canton, fresh kiwi, and Champagne ($12),
while you watch a live feed of the original celebration in Rio de
Janeiro. A special Carnavale menu includes king crab palmito salad
($20), Copacabana crispy red snapper ($35), Carnavale rolls of tuna,
salmon, shrimp, yellow chimichurri, and Brazil nut ($15), and banana
splits ($14).
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