There are just weeks until Fat Tuesday. Now would normally
be a busy time preparing for parades, attending balls with your krewe, and
practicing those dance moves with your troupe.As we get closer to the day, the temptation to gather and have a regular
Mardi Gras is getting harder to resist. Every day—multiple times a day, if
we're being honest—we have to remind ourselves that this is not the time to let
down our guard. So much of Mardi Gras is a community experience. That's why the
imperative right now is to keep our communities healthy, so that we can have a
Mardi Gras with all our friends and family again soon. Here are six things that
you can enjoy while masked and socially distanced. We've even got a few ways
you can bring some Mardi Gras into your own kitchen.
New
Orleans Ice Cream Co.'s King Cake Ice Cream
First,
bring some flavor to your
freezer by having a bite of New Orleans Ice Cream's King Cake Ice Cream. A pint of this rich cinnamon ice
cream packed full of king cake pieces and loaded with sprinkles will brighten
your day and is available at local grocery stores, including Dorignac's,
Rouses, and others. Look for the fleur-de-lis logo with the ice cream cone in
the middle, and load up on other N'awlins flavors, such as Bananas
Foster, Café Au Lait and Beignets, and Ponchatoula Strawberry. More
info at neworleansicecream.com
St.
Tammany's Celebrations
Next, St. Tammany's Carnival season features
virtual, outdoor, and small-group activities. Just 40 minutes north of the
French Quarter in Covington, residents are decorating
their houses as floats with "Rollin' on the 3
Rivers." Some of the places showcased on their Facebook include Gone
Phishin' in Flower Estates, Honey's House of Sunflowers, and a glowing
beacon in the dark on N. Vermont, lit up with low-voltage LED lights, of which
four are solar-powered. The Krewe of Mardi Paws tags
along too, decorating dog houses. For
more info, visit LouisianaNorthshore.com.
Parish's
King Cake Coffee
For Mardi Gras in your morning mug, try a cup of
king cake coffee from Parish Coffee. This delightful mix of cinnamon and sweetness is also available
in decaf. Visit the Parish Coffee website and have this Carnival treat shipped
to friends around the country. Other local flavors that will perk
you up include Louisiana Cane Sugar, Louisiana Caramel Praline, and Mardi Gras
Creme—all available in regular and decaf.More caffeinated information at parishcoffee.com.
Zulu
Exhibition at Lakeside Mall
Is Zulu your favorite krewe? If so, then make
your way over to Lakeside Shopping
Center, where the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club will be providing a
significant piece of Carnival history through the exhibition of their famed
parade costumes, showing now through February 19. Seeing
the garments up close will only deepen your admiration for the artistry put
into every inch of each headdress.3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie,
(504) 835-8000, lakesideshopping.com.
Sazerac
House Events
Sazerac House is hosting events,
offering cocktail kits for curbside pickup, and holding workshops. In-person
sessions include a Spirited Head Dress Workshop and a guided tasting titled "Drink
& Learn: Carnival Traditions." Each session includes drinks, snacks, and
materials. You can even bring home items that catch your eye from the design
classes, so that you can perfect your look later. Visit SazeracHouse.com for complete details.
King
Cake Hub
Finally, can't decide where to get your king
cake? Swing over to the King Cake Hub,where you can choose from 65 different varieties of king cake
from over a dozen bakeries, including Caluda's, Gambino's, and others. To help
you with your "Quarnival," new options for curbside pickup and a
partnership with DoorDash are available. While you enjoy at home, tune into
their Mardi Gras TV channel on their website for entertainment, history, news,
concerts, good conversation, and anything New Orleans.636 N. Broad St., kingcakehub.com
