Mardi Gras Season in the Pearl District
It’s Mardi Gras season in the Pearl District!
Lucky for us, there are plenty of places to celebrate. So, grab your mask and beads and explore a few of Portland’s best locations to eat, drink and be merry!
Image: NY Times
What is Mardis Gras?
Mardi Gras (literally French for “Fat Tuesday”) is a celebration on the last Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. Fat Tuesday gets its name because, for almost a millennium, people have eaten a large, fatty feast before the austerity of Lent.
The tradition has been around for a very long time. The First American Mardi Gras actually predates the city of New Orleans by almost 20 years!
Mardi Gras Fun Facts:
What does “Laissez les bon temps rouler” mean?
The unofficial motto of Mardi means “Let the good times roll” in Cajun French.
Why are the beads purple, gold, and green?
The beads represent the official colors of Mardi Gras:
Purple symbolizes justice.
Green signifies faith.
Gold represents power.
What is a “Krewe”?
A krewe is a group that organizes the Mardi Gras parades. In Portland, we are lucky to have the Mysti Krewe of Nimbus formed in 2010 to celebrate Mardi Gras in the City of Roses.
What is a “King Cake”?
Iconic King Cake is a ring of sweet pastry covered in lots of icing and purple, yellow, and green sprinkles. The colors represent justice, faith, and power, just like the beads. Traditionally, placed inside the cake was a tiny plastic baby, which meant Baby Jesus or prosperity, depending on your beliefs. Regardless, it is considered good luck to bite into the slice with the plastic baby.
Celebrate the taste of Mardi Gras in the Pearl District
The Pearl has some of the best restaurants, bakeries, and bars in Portland.
NOLA Doughnuts:
Start your Mardi Gras off right with NOLA Doughnuts. If you were on top of your game and ordered your King Cake, you're ready to celebrate. If you missed out this year, you’ll know where to go next year, and if King Cake is not on the agenda, then drop by for sugar-covered beignets.
NOLA Doughnuts
110 NW 10th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 895-6350
Open Thurs - Sunday, 8am - 3pm
Screen Door - Pearl District
Serving Fine Southern Food Since 2006. Looking for a place to enjoy southern cooking? Check out Screen Door's Family Style menu, including the Mardi Gras Feast!
1131 NW Couch
Portland, OR 97209
503.542.0882
Brunch: Everyday 9am-2:30pm
Dinner: Wed-Sun 5pm-9pm
Mon & Tue: closed for Dinner
Traditional Mardi Gras Cocktails
Whether you’re celebrating Mardi Gras out in the Pearl or hosting a Mardi Gras party at home, we’ve listed a few essential Fast Tuesday classics for your repertoire.
Hurricane:
The Hurricane boasts two servings of rum, and enough fruit not to notice! It was actually created at Pat O’Brien’s in New Orleans in the 1940’s!
Milk Punch:
Eggnog’s non-seasonal sibling, milk punch is a brunch drink that has been popular as long as Mardi Gras has.
Sazerac:
As of 2008, the Sazerac is the official cocktail of New Orleans!
Originally, this drink was made with brandy, but the American version -which uses Peychaud’s bitters, another New Orleans invention- substituted rye whiskey!
Where to get a classic Mardi Gras cocktail in the Pearl:
We’re lucky to live in a town with so many amazing bars! Here’s just a few to get that festive beverage:
Boasting a six-page cocktail menu, Teardrop has a lot of artisan cocktails for every palette!
River Pig is a classic community watering hole with delicious food and drink and some great community history! Check out What’s A River Pig on our blog.
Swing by for a whole menu of classic drinks and tasty treats! They even have baked brie!
Pink rabbit has a great selection of classic drinks and killer new twists on old favorites! Not to mention a frosé!
Serving highbrow cocktails with a down-to-earth attitude, Vault Cocktail Lounge has an all-day happy hour on Sundays!
Have a safe Mardi Gras and remember, as they say in New Orleans, to “Leave a little sparkle wherever you go.”
The Pearl District Portfolio - Distinct creative office and retail space located in Portland’s original creative district.
We take pride in our community and are committed to ensuring this mixed-use district continues to function as a vibrant center of art and culture, urban housing, and creativity.
Through the adaptive reuse of our eight buildings, we continue to honor the district's history while providing a range of spaces unique and unequaled in Portland.
More information: pearldistrictportfolio.com.
