Happy Fat Tuesday!

If you’re still looking for ways to observe some Mardi Gras/carnival traditions, here are some tips – thanks to those who responded to my inquiry yesterday.

For king cake, the traditional good-luck pastry, try Monti Belle’s at 4740-B Old Pineville Road in Charlotte. www.montibelles.com
Or, try Cajun Yard Dog in the Arboretum shopping center, 8036 Providence Rd.

For a taste of New Orleans, check out Boudreaux’s Louisiana Kitchen restaurant in NoDa (501 E. 36th St., www.boudreauxs.com), or Cajun Queen in Elizabeth (1800 E. 7th St., www.cajunqueen.net).

CANS bar is hosting a Fat Tuesday party tonight (Tuesday) from 5-11 p.m. featuring costumes, prize giveaways, and food and drink specials (500 W. 5th St., www.cansbar.com/charlotte).

And this Friday, Charlotte Outdoor Adventures (www.choa.com – it’s a good group for newcomers) is sponsoring a Mardi Gras bar crawl that begins at Dixie’s Tavern, 301 E. 7th St. in uptown, at 6 p.m. The festivities are open to non-members; find details here.