“It’s the Mardi Gras Mambo …”
It's a Carnaval dance celebration at this year's Mardi Gras street party in Chinatown. (Photo courtesy Christopher Cook)
HONOLULU PULSE STAFF / honolulupulse@staradvertiser.com
The Chinatown party known as the Mardi Gras/Carnaval Street Festival is back this year with an even more pronounced Brazilian flavor.
That’ll be due to the introduction of “fustal,” or street soccer.
Long a popular pastime in the urban quarters of the South American country, three-on-three teams will play on two playing areas fronting the Little Village restaurant on 1113 Smith Street. Also look out for a couple of parades by batucada players (percussion ensembles) and samba dancers.
The soccer play, music, food, dancing and fun will go from 6 to 10 p.m. and admission is free ($3 wristbands will be sold to allow alcohol purchase for those 21 and over).
The music stage breakdown is:
>> New Orleans Gumbo Stage (Nuuanu Avenue and Chaplain Lane):
6 p.m. — Gyn & Melodie Soul featuring the Blue Light Funk Band
7 p.m. — Soul Revival Sound System
8 p.m. — Family Dinner
9 p.m. — John Cannizzaro & Delta Skelta
>> International Stage (Nuuanu Avenue and King Street):
6 p.m. — Saloon Pilots
7 p.m. — Royal Elephant Brass Band
7:15 p.m. — Timbaloha Samba
7:35 p.m. — Rolando Sanchez & the Latin Jazz Combo
8:30 p.m. — Philly Gumbo featuring James McCarthy
9:30 p.m. — Sambaloha Samba
>> Troubadour Stage (Hotel Street between Nuuanu and Bethel):
6 p.m. — Royal Elephant Brass Band
6:15 p.m. — John Cannizzaro
7:30 p.m. — Yoza
8:45 p.m. — Gumbo Ya-Ya
And the partying continues after the festival as area clubs and venues will be open from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. For those who purchase $10 wristbands (21 and over only), they can move freely in-and-out of places such as Ong King Arts Center, SoHo Mixed Media Bar, Mercury Bar, theVenue, The ARTS at Marks Garage, Bar 35, Nextdoor and the Manifest.
Besides the Chinatown bacchanal, other Fat Tuesday options include:
>> “Gordon Biersch Mardi Gras Madness Party” from 5 to 11 p.m. in Aloha Tower Marketplace, with costumed performers, a mudbug boil (that’s crawfish), Mardi Gras beads and live entertainment.
>> Hula’s Bar and Lei Stand, catering to gay clientele, will have a Mardi Gras celebration starting at 9 p.m. (no cover until 10 p.m. 21 and over, then it’s $5 general and $3 local ID, military and industry), with drink specials and a show by Derek Daniels Productions at 10. Hula’s is located in the Waikiki Grand Hotel, 2nd floor, 134 Kapahulu Avenue;
>> The gay nightclub “Phat Tuesday 2012″ at Fusion Waikiki from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. (21 and over) with DJ music, beads and an “outrageous” performance by Edna’s Showgirls. Fusion Waikiki at 2260 Kuhio Avenue, 2nd floor.
