Mardi Gras 2011: Where to Go to Celebrate Fat Tuesday in Westchester County

Not everyone can go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, but that doesn't mean a little bit of New Orleans can't come to you! If you live in Westchester County area, there are plenty of places to celebrate Fat Tuesday in style! Here are my picks of some of the top places to get your ragin' Cajun on!:

The Bayou, Mount Vernon

"The Bayou Restaurant features New York's best authentic cajun food and the top live blues and zydeco artists in the northeast." The Bayou brings a taste of New Orleans to New York on a nightly basis, so you know it's the top place to be to celebrate Mardi Gras the right way! And for their biggest night of the year, The Bayou wants to you to celebrate Fat Tuesday with them along with CJ Chenier & The Red Hot Lousiana Band. CJ Chenier is widely regarded as one of zydeco's best singers, musicans and live performers.

There are three seatings scheduled for the night and reservations are avalaible for 6:00, 8:00 and 10:00 pm. Reservations include: four course dinner (featuring only their top items!), an appetizer of your choosing, their famous house salad, a dinner of your choosing and a slice of King Cake, prepared and baked by their own Pastry Chef extraordinaire, Michele. Feel free to come dressed in Mardi Gras attire. If you don't have anything, there will be plenty of beads, masks, dubloons and more to go around!

Event Date: Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Price for Event:$55.00 per person (exluding tax and gratutity) for dining. $20.00 cover if you're just going to the bar.

Location:The Bayou Restaurant, 580 Gramatan Avenue, Mount Vernon , NY 10552

Contact: Call for info or reservations: (914) 668-2634

Fax - (914)663-8339

Email - thebayouny@aol.com

http://www.bayourestaurantny.com

Thirsty Turtle, White Plains

Mardi Gras comes a little early to Thirsty Turtle this year! Join Turtle for their Mardi Gras Bash Weekend, on Saturday March 5, 2011. DJ Jason Smith will be spinning the hottest dance music live and there will be cash prizes and giveaways all night. Drink specials start at 9 pm with $2.00 drinks until 11 pm! So start the party early for a jump start and being the prize winner of their bead contests! A chance to win $300 in cash & prizes!

Then on actual Fat Tuesday, be sure to stop by Kelly's Pub (located right next to Thirsty Turtle) for more bead contests and drinks specials all night long! Cash prizes awarded to the person with the most beads! Also available: $6 Coors Light Pitchers, $5 Bomb Shots, $3 Hurricane Shots and $7 Fish Bowls all night.

Event Date: Saturday, March 05, 2011 (Thirsty Turtle)

Tuesday, March 08, 2011 (Kelly's Pub)

Price for Event: $5 Cover Charge from 9 -11. After 11:00 pm, $7.00 for ladies and $10 for men on Saturdays.

Location: 201 E. Post Road, White Plains, NY 10601

Contact: Phone - 914.993.0505

Fax - 914.993.6459

Email - Mcody@thethirstyturtle.net

http://www.thethirstyturtle.net

Empire City Casino, Yonkers

Every Tuesday Night at Empire City Casino is ladies night! Empire Club Ladies Members receive a Lucky Ladies Bonus Package, including $7 free play, $10 off food and be sure visit the Entertainment Lounge, 5pm-9pm, for Ladies only 2-for-1 drink specials and Karaoke starting at 7:30pm.

And for Mardi Gras only, stop by the Entertainment Lounge from 2:00 - 5:00 pm for the musical stylings of Peter Lawrence and the Dixie Land Band! Start Mardi Gras off right and enjoy some good old fashioned Dixie music before hitting the slot machines and cashing in on your ladies night prizes!

Event Date: Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Price for Event: No Cover Charge

Location: Empire City Yonkers Raceway, 810 Yonkers Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10704

Contact: Phone - (914) 968-4200

Email - info@yonkersraceway.com

http://www.yonkersraceway.com/

Bearsville Theater, Woodstock

Visit the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock for some authentic N'awlinz music! Come see Dr. John & the Lower 911 perform on Mardi Gras. Dr. John is universally celebrated as the living embodiment of the rich musical heritage exclusive to New Orleans Adorned with voodoo charms and regalia, a legend was born with his breakthrough 1968 album Gris-gris, which established his unique blend of voodoo mysticism, funk, rhythm & blues, psychedelic rock and Creole roots. Dr. John garnered Grammy award wins in 1989, 1992, 1996 and 2000. In 2004, his musical love letter to the city of New Orleans, "N'awlinz Dis Dat or D'udda," was awarded the prestigious Académie Charles Cros 57ème Palmarès award in France. It was the first time since the 1970s that an artist from North America received the award. He has also received six other nominations over the years.

In 2007 he was nominated for a Grammy for "Sippiana Hericane," his Hurricane Katrina benefit disc. Other awards include the American Society of Young Musicians 2007 Trailblazer Award. After Hurricane Katrina, Dr. John immediately stepped up to the plate with both generous relief fund-raising concerts and recordings and angry public words of protest, including his 2007 Grammy-nominated "Sippiana Hericane," his Hurricane Katrina benefit disc, followed by his 2008-release "City That Care Forgot," which won him a Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album. On Tuesday, March 08, you can be a part of the amazing New Orleans experience and watch this wonderful performer in his element.

Event Date: Tuesday, March 08, 2011 (Doors are at 6:30, Show starts at 8:00)

Price for Event: (Ticket Prices Vary) $70 Golden Circle, $55 Reserved Seating, $40 General Admission

Location: 291 Tinker St., Woodstock, NY

Contact: Phone - (845) 679-4406

To Purchase Tickets - http://ssl.radiowoodstock.com/upload/index.php?route=product/product&path=54&product_id=243

http://www.bearsvilletheater.com/

Here's wishing you all a happy, wild, fun & safe Mardi Gras! Now go get those beads!