Boston Mardi Gras Celebrations Include Everything Except Floats, Beads, and Nudity


Not that highly intoxicated college kids need another reason to take off their shirts in public, but there are legions of hard-working Bostonians who really need to let down their hair once in a while. February 24th brings this year’s Fat Tuesday celebration, and it may be one of your last chances to fall down a rabbit hole of debauchery if you’re looking to clean yourself up before Lent. Don’t worry, non-Catholics, you’re invited as well. The following is our investigation as to where you can laissez les bon temps rouler:

Harvard Square hot spot UpStairs on the Square certainly knows how to party in style; they’ll be hosting a soiree with authentic New Orleans jazz to shake it to all night. The eats are creole, and the crowd is guaranteed to be sporting the necessary Mardi Gras masks. $40 buys you a three course meal and bona fide ticket to party N’awlins style.

Down at cozy Beacon Hill mainstay 75 Chestnut, area residents will trade their bow ties and pearls for feathers and sequins. Feast on jambalaya and crawfish etouffee while sipping on themed cocktails. While this may not be the crowd often associated with out of control parties and flashy outfits, at least it’s an evening to hop outside their comfort zone. Don’t miss society doyennes named Bitsy and Muffy downing shots and doing risque things for beads.

Over at Jody Adams’ Rialto in the Charles Hotel, you can slip on a boa and sequined mask in the name of charity. The cocktails will be New Orleans style, and for one night only the cuisine shifts from Italian to that of the deep south with Louisiana-inspired Maine shrimp and free bruschetta. However, don’t go too crazy with holiday spirit; nobody wants Fat Tuesday to result in deathly hung-over Wednesday morning.

Upstairs on the Square [Official Site]
75 Chestnut [Official Site]
Rialto [Official Site]

[Photo: Citypages]

Boston Mardi Gras Celebrations Include Everything Except Floats, Beads, and