Kaleidoscope

N'awlins-Style!

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Published: Mar 2, 2011

[ kaleidoscope, n'awlins-style ]

party band

The Wild Bohemians take partying seriously. Director of Mayhem/accordionist Ben Laden wins the prize this year in terms of miles traveled to make the group's annual Mardi Gras throwdown, Tuesday at World Café Live (March 8, worldcafelive.com): He's coming all the way from Israel to get down with his crew of revelers. The lineup's ever-changing, but the Bohos' sounds — and their costumes — will be reliably rowdy.

—Mary Armstrong

swanky soiree

Fat Tuesday wasn't always about boobies and beer bongs. Indie event promoter Vintage Muse, which hosts monthly theme parties across the city, classes up a generally wastoid holiday with Friday's New Orleans: 1920s Mardi Gras at the M Room (March 4, vintagemuse.tumblr.com). Expect live music, burlesque performances, craft tables, Mummers and more — plus a $2 discount for vintage attire. And no, a shirt made of plastic beads and Scotch tape doesn't count.

—Carolyn Huckabay

charity ball

If you can't be in the French Quarter for Mardi Gras, you can still throw some beads around in Philly — all while racking up change for charity. The Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania hosts their fourth annual Mardi Gras Gala Friday (March 4, efepa.org), featuring music by Tribeca Grand and N'Awlins-style libations and grub. Proceeds benefit epilepsy awareness programs and Camp Achieve, a summer camp for kids with epileptic and seizure disorders. Topless flashers can't top that.

—Bianca Brown

workshop

For party stores across the country, Mardi Gras is a cash cow. And while prefab garlands and paper plates are festive enough, when it comes to masks, there's no substitute for DIY. Bring the kids and revisit your own macaroni-and-glue days at PAFA's mask-making workshop this Sunday (March 6, pafa.org/faa). Sequins, beads, feathers and other supplies are provided, but it's up to you to mold these pieces into something befitting Fat Tuesday.

—Eric Schuman

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