CLEVELAND, Ohio — Mardi Gras is about more than partying like a fool, but we’ll leave that to the pious to sort out.
Hallelujah for debauchery, gluttony and revelry, weird masks and crazy beads!
French for “fat Tuesday,” Mardi Gras caps the carnival season by honoring the gluttonous. In Brazil, days of bacchanalian revelry result in the fattest man in town being crowned king of carnival. In France, fat oxen are paraded through towns and villages.
In Cleveland, there are any number of places and parties to satisfy your indulgences running through Tuesday. Here are some…
Cleveland’s Brazilian Carnival 2017 at The Music Box, 1148 Main Avenue, Cleveland; 216-242-1250; musicboxcle.com/event/clevelands-2017-brazilian-carnaval: This TropicalCleveland bash – 9 p.m. Saturday — is more than one last grasp before Lent. It celebrates Brazil and brings it to life in Cleveland. Now in its 14th year, the soiree incorporates aspects of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Bahia. The last one is the culturally rich state known for its rhythmic music, located on the Atlantic coast of Brazil – which leads us to the Carnival No. 14, which boasts a “Bahia Salvador Carnival” theme. The bash will roll out the Marcio Mendes and The Mix Brazil Band” playing a mix of traditional and modern Brazilian Carnival Music, as well as Brazilian drum group Samba Joia, the Spirit of Samba troupe and DJ Sambucada. Yes, there will also be Caipirinha specials running all night, to go with beads and masks. $20, general admission; $30, table seating.
Bourbon Street Barrel Room, at 2393 Professor Avenue, Cleveland, 216-298-4400; bourbonstreetbarrelroom.com: Uh, you can keep the beads and finish my Hurricane. I’ll take that Pimm’s Cup and Sazerac, especially on Fat Tuesday. Luckily, this Tremont ode to The Big Easy serves both, along with a wide range of elixirs and Creole and Cajun favorites – not to mention an all-out party vibe on Mardi Gras. It will start early, at 11 a.m., with a real-deal display of Louisiana gluttony… a Crawfish Eating Contest. The bash also rolls out deals on Abita, a Mardi Gras king cake, live music, a crawfish boil, 10,000 beads, masks, hats. Delgado’s Blues Band performs 2-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.
Mardi Gras Crawl at Flats East Bank, various locations in the Flats East Bank project: No, this isn’t Lake Ponchartrain or the French Quarter. But the Flats East Bank will bring of the Big Easy to the banks of the Cuyahoga. At noon Saturday, the entertainment district will roll out the music, beads, booze and masks. The $10 “passport” gets you into 10 bars and eateries in the area and access to food and drink specials served with music. Alley Cat Oyster Bar will pair jambalaya and hurricanes with music by Austin Walkin’ Cane — Wire and Wood Blues (2-4 p.m.). The Big Bang will host dueling pianos show 1-4:30 p.m. Beerhead will serve up party favors and a themed food-and-drink menu to go with music by the Modems (playing 2-5 p.m). Magnolia will roll out the saxophones, while WXYZ does giveaways and live music. For more info, go to facebook.com/events/367105857000690.
Fasching at the Hofbrauhaus,1550 Chester Avenue, Cleveland, 216-621-2337; hofbrauhauscleveland.com: Wait, you mean the Hofbrauhaus is getting even more party-hearty? The downtown beer hall will host its annual Bavarian-style Mardi Gras bash. Fasching has roots that go back to the 13th century, when fools were allowed to rule the town. Women were also often put in charge during that time. These days, Angela Merkel runs Germany year-round. The bash will feature beads, music, dancing and some kind of tomfoolery.
House of Blues, 308 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, 216-523-2583; houseofblues.com/Cleveland: The HOB’s Cajun-themed restaurant is doing Mardi Gras daily food and drink specials through March 4. Tuesdays feature live music starting at 6 p.m., along with complimentary King Cake Cupcakes.
Fat Tuesday at Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar, 28601 Chagrin Boulevard, Ste. 900, Woodmere; 216-896-9020; paladarlatinkitchen.com/locations-cleveland: This lively Nuevo Latino spot has perfected this Carnival indulgence thing. On Tuesday, Paladar’s annual bash will roll out a festive list of drinks and food, starting with $5 Brazilian Red Sangria and Caipirinhas. The theme continues with Jalapeno Spiced Ceviche, Brazilian Shrimp & Mussell Stew and Brazilian Baby Back Ribs and an array of Carnival staples. Justo Saborit provides the live music, 8-11 p.m.
Southeast Gears & Cheers, 23333 Aurora Road, Bedford Heights, 440-232-0029; segearsandcheers.com: This biker-themed joint with the car-parts decor and happy-go-lucky party vibe feels like Mardi Gras most nights. Come Tuesday, Gears & Cheers will kick it up a notch or two or three with a Louisiana-themed menu (you know, like shrimp po boys, gumbo, crayfish pizza) to go with music by Code Blue. 7-10 p.m.
Taste of N’Awlins at Salmon Dave’s Pacific Grille, 19015 Lake Road, Rocky River; 440-331-2739; salmondaves.com: This classy but homey spot casts a wide net with its menu, which makes for an easy transition into Mardi Gras season. I say season, because Dave’s offers a Big Easy-themed menu through the end of March. It will also host a Fat Tuesday bash that rolls out beads and live jazz by the Dave Kasper Quartet.
Revolution Brass Band at SoHo, 1889 West 25th St., Cleveland, 216-298-9090; sohocleveland.com: Must say, this place won me over with the basket of complimentary Charleston Chews when you walk in. But SoHo – short for Southern Hospitality — rolls out po-boys, pulled-pork and catfish sandwiches to go with a stellar drink list named after Southern towns, like the smooth, warm New Orleans. Bring it on: SoHo will host its annual Mardi Gras bash 7-11 p.m. Tuesday with music by Revolution Brass Band – a band of horn-mongers that channels New Orleans jazz through a contemporary setting.
Mardi Gras Brunch at Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo Road, Cleveland; 216-383-1124; beachlandballroom.com: Yes, this brunch – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday – will boast Big Easy staples. But it will also feature DJs Fishtruck and Alright spinning tunes from the 9th Ward of New Orleans, the colorful, culturally-rich region of the city that spawned Fats Domino.
Mardi Gras Superbash at Brothers Lounge, 11609 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland; 216-226-2767; brotherslounge.com: Yup, this show serves the works: New Orleans food, tons of beads, a costume contest and Daddy Longleg’s Homegrown Revival doing its thing. The band will roll out its brand roots, jazz, Latin, Afro-Funk and soul – not to mention face-paint and belly dancing. $5. 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Mardi Gras at Merwin’s Wharf, 1785 Merwin Avenue, Cleveland, 216-664-5696; clevelandmetroparks.com/Merwins-Wharf/Merwins-Wharf1.aspx: Who knows what the temperature is going to be Feb. 28, but warm and sunny will make this spot with the scenic views of the city and the river a hit come Mardi Gras. To boot, Merwin’s is hosting a party that boasts a Fat Tuesday menu and live music by Blues Chronicles. 5-9 p.m.
Mo’ Mojo Mardi Gras at Nighttown, 12387 Cedar Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-795-0550; nighttowncleveland.com: Nighttown is getting a jump on Fat Tuesday with this Friday celebration. It features six-piece zydeco and world-music “pardi gras” outfit Mo Mojo, as well as Brazilian transplant Moises Borges. $15. 8:30 p.m.
Fat Tuesday with Tricky Dick at Around the Corner, 18616 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, 216-521-4418; atccafe.com: We can dress up the dawg and roll out themes, but in the end it’s all about a party-hearty time. Guaranteed to go down at ATC, which hosts a Fat Tuesday bash that features crab races, music by Trick & the Cover Ups and, no doubt, the guzzling of Hurricanes. 7 p.m.
Monday Mardi Gras Madness at Kan Zaman,1616 W 25th St, Cleveland; 216-621-2222, facebook.com/kanzaman: This worldly spot on West 25th is known for its Middle Eastern and international nights – including, of course, its longstanding tango Mondays. So let’s hear it for a tango Carnival. This night-before party pairs the Argentinian dance with Carnival masks, king cakes, beads, music, games and New Orleans party favors. 7 p.m. Monday.
Fifth Annual Cleveland Kurentovanje Festival, at East 55th Street and St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland: A kind of Slovenian Mardi Gras, the pre-Lent event will bring a parade, Slovenian food and drink, cultural performances and, yes, those fuzzy Kurents – mythical Slovenian monsters that scare winter away. The parade and festival starts noon Saturday in the area. A lot of the partying will take place and continue into the evening at Sterle’s Country Home (1401 East 55th Street) and Goldhorn Brewery (1361 East 55th St.). The latter will also host a Kurentovanje eve party at 6 p.m. Friday. For more info, go to tinyurl.com/hr6tjnu.
Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.
