59th Street Mardi Gras Italiano Festival: Celebrate Bella's first annual Mardi Gras on the Hill with an all-day block party with music, karaoke and games. Sat., Feb. 25, 10 a.m. Bella's, 5838 Southwest Blvd., 314-644-1777.
9th Street Abbey: A tent will be set up outside from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with Cajun cuisine, hurricanes and beer; inside will serve same from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the Zydeco Crawdaddies perform. Sat., Feb. 25, 11 a.m., $5. 9th Street Abbey, 1808 S. Ninth, St. Louis, 314-621-9598, www.pattylongcatering.com.
Al Hrabosky's Mardi Gras: Start off with the Mardi Gras Parade at Al's and end your night there too with their DJ. Sat., Feb. 25, 10-3 a.m. Al Hrabosky's Ballpark Saloon, 800 Cerre St., St. Louis, 314-241-6969, www.alsballparksaloon.com.
Broadway Oyster Bar's Mardi Gras Party: Thursday, Feb. 23 is the Dogtown All-Stars' Mardi Gras Party; Friday, it's the Zydeco Crawddaddies' 10th Anniversary Mardi Gras Masked Ball — all costumed and masked customers get a free drink on the patio, Johnny Fox plays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Loyal Family Costume Mardi Gras Ball starts at 6 p.m. featuring Jupiter Jazz, Brothers Green, Big Thumb USA and more inside the heated tent; Saturday, Dangerous Kitchen plays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Gumbohead from 7 p.m. to close; and on Fat Tuesday, Big Bamou plays from 9 p.m. to close, $5 cover for most events. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811, www.broadwayoysterbar.com.
Cajun Buffet: Fat Tuesday's buffet includes Jambalaya, sausage, beans and rice, mostaccioli, hot links and po' boys. Tue., Feb. 28, 5-9 p.m., $9.95. Norton's, 808 Geyer, St. Louis, 314-436-0828.
Charter Communications Mardi Gras Grand Parade: Soulard salutes the small screen in this year's parade that travels from Broadway and Chouteau Ave to the heart of Soulard. Sat., Feb. 25, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Club Buca's Mardi Gras: St. Louis' premiere nightclub on the Landing is home to the official Mardi Gras Parade after party; also open Fat Tuesday. Sat., Feb. 25, 2 p.m., 314-231-2822. Club Buca, 710 N. 2nd St. (on Laclede's Landing), St. Louis, 314-231-BUCA.
Delta Dental Mardi Gras, Zoo Style: A family-friendly celebration at the Living World at the St. Louis Zoo with music by Bob Case; kids can make their own masks and watch performances about the importance of dental care. Sun., Feb. 26, 12-3 p.m., free. Saint Louis Zoo, Forest Park, St. Louis, 314-781-0900, www.stlzoo.org.
Eighteenth Century Costume Ball: Celebrate Mardi Gras as the settlers did at this costume ball. Sat., Feb. 25, 7-11 p.m., $8. Knights of Columbus Hall-Cahokia, 100 E Fifth, Cahokia.
Fat Tuesday featuring the Bud Light Party Zone: Parade begins at 6:30 p.m.; Dr. Zhivegas performs. Tue., Feb. 28, free, 314-771-5110, www.mardigrasinc.com. Kiener Plaza, 7th & Market streets, St. Louis.
Fete du Bon Vieux Temps: Step back 200 years in time and celebrate Mardi Gras like the French settlers did; exhibits, tours and presentations abound at the state historic sites. Sat., Feb. 25, 2-5 p.m., free. Cahokia Courthouse State Historic Site, 107 Elm (Hwy. 157 & Rte. 3), Cahokia, 618-332-1782.
Freddie's and JJ's Clubhouse Mardi Gras Shuttle: Be safe and leave your driving woes to the Freddie's and JJ's Clubhouse shuttle. Sat., Feb. 25, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., $2. Freddie's, 4112 Manchester, St. Louis, 314-371-1333.
Gladstone's Mardi Gras: Schedule includes karaoke beginning at 9 p.m. Fri., Feb 24; music by Casual Labor from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Catfish Willie at 7 p.m. on Sat., Feb. 25; Chicago Bob starts at 7 p.m. on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 28. Gladstone's, 1800 S. 10th, St. Louis, 314-231-6339.
Joanie's Mardi Gras Celebration: Karaoke at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 23; a Mardi Gras Party Package with a heated tent, unlimited Cajun buffet, beer, well drinks and hurricanes, beads and official poster, private Port-a-Potties and a DJ for $100 a person on Saturday, February 25; and live music with Oliver Johnson beginning at 7 p.m. on Fat Tuesday, February 28. www.joaniespizzeria.com. Joanie's Pizzeria, 2101 Menard at Russell (In Historic Soulard), St. Louis, 314-865-1994.
Lafayette Pub's Mardi Gras: Start off the day with kegs and eggs breakfast buffet from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.; throughout the day and night there's barbecued pork along with stilt walkers, midgets, dozens of hot painted women, DJs, giveaways and beads galore. Sat., Feb. 25, 7 a.m. Lafayette Pub and Grill, 1551 South 7th, St. Louis.
Lagniappe's Private Mardi Gras Party: Reserve your spot ahead of time at this party with music, food, beads, beer and hurricanes in a clean, warm environment; limit is 200 people. Sat., Feb. 25, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., $45. Lagniappe's, 2501 S. Ninth, St. Louis, 314-771-2090, www.lanyaps.com.
Lucas School House Mardi Gras Celebration: Heated-tent party with food, drinks and restrooms; live music by Brian Curran from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Mojo Syndrome 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Jake's Leg from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sat., Feb. 25, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Lucas School House, 1220 Allen Ave., St. Louis, 314-621-6565.
Lynch Street Bistro's Mardi Gras: A DJ spins on parade day. Sat., Feb. 25, 2-8 p.m. Lynch Street Bistro, 1031 Lynch, St. Louis, 314-772-5777, www.lynchstreetbistro.com.
Mardi Gras Celebration at the Sheldon: Trumpeter Bob Ceccarini and pianist Pat Joyce celebrate Mardi Gras with a swinging New Orleans-style jazz performance; ticket price also includes coffee and pastries at 9 a.m. Tue., Feb. 28, 10 a.m., $10 to $12, 314-534-1111. Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, 314-533-9900, www.sheldonconcerthall.org.
Mardi Crawl: This all-ages urban crawl winds through 20 mall stores in St. Louis Centre; listen to 65 local and national music acts; tickets limited, available at St. Louis Centre Administration Office, Streetside Records and MetroTix; see website for updated details. Thu., Feb. 23, 7 p.m.-1 a.m., $15-$25, www.mardicrawl.com. St. Louis Centre, 6th and Locust.
Mayor's Mardi Gras Masquerade 2006: This black-tie, who's-who affair is a charitable event produced by the Mardi Gras Foundation Inc., sponsored by Anheuser-Busch and hosted by Mayor Slay. Fri., Feb. 24, 7 p.m.-midnight, $100-$500, 314-622-4000, www.stlouismayorsball.org.
Mystic Knights of the Purple Haze Ball: Dress up and get down with guests Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band; food available for purchase; costume contest for the honor being crowned king and queen of the ball; 21 and up only. Fri., Feb. 24, 8 p.m.-1 a.m., $20 in advance, cash only. Casa Loma Ballroom, 3354 Iowa Ave., St. Louis, 314-664-8000, www.casalomaballroom.com.
Off Broadway's Mardi Gras Events: Parade Day's band is Ceremony of Darkness. Sat., Feb. 25, $5. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-773-3363.
The Shanti's Mardi Gras: On Thursday, there's a crawfish boil in a heated tent from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with music by Paul Jarvis starting at 9 p.m; Friday Digglers Lounge plays from 8 p.m. to midnight; the Schwag plays at 2 p.m. Saturday; and on Fat Tuesday, the Shanti welcomes Phil Stendek. The Shanti, 825 Allen, St. Louis, 314-241-4772.
Soulard Bastille's Mardi Gras: After Saturday's parade, there's a dance party on the streets with a live DJ and beads tossed every hour on the hour from noon to 8 p.m. Sat., Feb. 25, 12-8 p.m. Bastille Cobalt Grill, 1027 Russell, St. Louis, 314-664-4408.
A Tribute to Maltauius, the God of Beer: Celebrate the opening of Square One, Lafayette Square's newest brewery by honoring the Irish god of beer for Mardi Gras all weekend with no cover charge. Square One Brewery, 1727 Park Ave., St. Louis, 314-231-2537.
