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Just one more day to get king cakes! (Sawyer & Co.)
Though the original Mardi Gras may be across state lines, Austinites are bringing the celebration to the Lone Star state.
On March 1, Mardi Gras celebrations will commence the day before Ash Wednesday, marking a rich celebration before fasting season and Lent begin. Though the centuries-long tradition includes crawfish, parade floats and colored beads in New Orleans, you can still find a taste of one of the biggest parties in the U.S. near you.
Here's where you’ll be able to get your taste of Mardi Gras magic.
The Boat ATX | 10931 Stonelake Blvd.
Laissez les bons temps rouler with The Boat ATX’s Mardi Gras celebration on Tuesday. Drink specials, a Louisiana-style crawfish boil, gumbo and live performance by Gumbo Ya Ya, known for its New Orleans-inspired groove, from 7-10 p.m. await.
Mardi Gras at Dreamland Dripping Springs | 2770 US-290
Celebrate Fat Tuesday in true New Orleans fashion in the heart of the Hill Country with Mardi Gras food, drink specials, throws and beads. The party kicks off on Tuesday with an all-acoustic performance from the Hill Country Ramblers at 5 p.m. before giving the stage over to The Time of the Night Brass Band at 7 p.m. If you can’t make the Tuesday night party, Dreamland Dripping Springs is going to re-up the celebration on Saturday with a pickleball tournament, more drink specials and an all-day party.
Gumbo Cookoff at The Good Shepherd Episcopal School and Parish Life Center | 3201 Windsor Rd.
If you prefer to spend your Mardi Gras enjoying some grub, The Good Shepherd Episcopal School is holding its annual gumbo cookoff, complete with jambalaya courtesy of Parish’s Chef Robert, king cake, pancakes and crafts for the kids. Tickets run $10 for adults and free for children. The event is still looking for cooks to volunteer by the end of Feb. 28 and the event runs from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday.
King cakes at Sawyer & Co. | 4827 E Cesar Chavez St.
Though typically eaten on Jan. 6 to commemorate three wise men visiting baby Jesus after his birth, the historical pastry stays on tables through Mardi Gras. Known for its New Orleans flavors and Texas hospitality, Sawyer & Co. is accepting orders for its flaky, cream cheese-frosted pastry through March 1.
Mardi Gras at Whisler’s | 1816 E 6th St.
To surround yourself with crawfish boils and brass bands, head over to East Austin's Whisler’s for a Fat Tuesday to remember. The celebration will begin after the bar opens at 2 p.m. with king cakes galore and tunes from the Boss Street Brass Band from 7-10 p.m. Cover is free!
Laissez les bons temps rouler, or, let the good times roll!
Popular
(Moriah Wilson/Instagram)
Austin police are investigating the killing of Moriah "Mo" Wilson after she was found with gunshot wounds inside an Austin home.
Wilson, a gravel and mountain bike racer, was visiting Austin from Colorado in preparation for the Gravel Locos race on Saturday taking place in Hico, a small town 2 hours from Austin.
On Wednesday, her roommate came home and found Wilson unresponsive with "a lot of blood near her,” police said. It is now being investigated as a suspicious death. No further information on the suspect or motive behind the killing are available at this time.
Wilson recently had become a full-time biker after winning a slew of races in the past year.
(Pexels)
Some of your favorite Instagram filters can’t be used in Texas anymore and Austinites are sounding off on social media.
Meta, Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, announced on Wednesday that certain filters would no longer be available in Texas.
The change is a result of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit against Meta, alleging the company uses facial recognition technology that violates laws in Texas. A release from Meta says it stopped using facial recognition tech in November 2021 and denies Paxton’s allegations.
Some Austinites bemoaned the shift, saying some of their favorite filters were now unavailable.
This was my FAVORITE filter on @instagram and they done removed it cause I’m in Texas ! Like wowwwwww pic.twitter.com/uX60hdIC0Q
— Pinkyy Montana (@inkstar_pinkyy) May 11, 2022
i heard that instagram filters got banned in texas? what the actual fuck y’all better give me my favorite filter back
— lia 🤍 (@liatootrill) May 11, 2022
loved this stupid filter sm i hate texas pic.twitter.com/DXr9mmUc64
— birthday boy jeno 🎂 (@beabtox) May 12, 2022
But more often than not, locals joked about the ban.
Texas women seeing the filter ban on IG pic.twitter.com/yDMcP3Qtsr
— Christian (Anabolic) Flores (@christian_flo24) May 11, 2022
So, the state of Texas has banned filter use on IG? THE END IS NEAR. 😂
— THE FRANCHISE! Франшиза (@NYCFranchise718) May 12, 2022
And some in-between chose to show off some natural beauty.
I live in Texas, but no filter needed. 😉 pic.twitter.com/A6teRgYMKn
— bad and bruja (@starseedmami) May 11, 2022
filter, no filter..texas women still reign supreme.
— 🎍 (@_sixile) May 11, 2022
Finally, some are trying to cash in on the opportunity.
Texas IG users- if you want to filter your picture cashapp me $1.50 $ErvnYng
— Gemini (@ervn_y) May 11, 2022
Meta said it plans to create an opt-in system for both Texas and Illinois residents, who are facing the same issues.
