First, get geared up with photos from the Mardi Gras celebration in Kemah...

...and the one in Galveston.

Learn a little bit about the Venetian origins of Mardi Gras in Jeremy Parzen's history-minded post.

Pretend you're in the Big Easy and head to one of the sultry spots on Altamese Osborn's list of Houston's five best jazz clubs.

Better yet, head to The Big Easy Pleasure and Social Club, where the haunted jukebox often plays John Cleary and old zydeco favorites on its own.

Visit with Houma native Lisa Carnely at the newly renamed Cajun Stop, where she'll be throwing an all-night Mardi Gras party starting at 6 p.m. with beer, beads, booze and bugs (for only $6.50 a pound).

Or check out the old Mardi Gras Grill/new Woodrow's Heights for a massive Fat Tuesday parking lot party that includes a full menu of specials like Turbo Dog chocolate cake with pralines, Oyster Stout beer-battered shrimp, King Cake martinis and $3 Abita drafts starting at 5 p.m.

You can also get down and dirty on some mudbugs at one of Houston's top 10 crawfish joints...

...or slurp up some oysters at one of the many restaurants around town currently offering killer deals on the Gulf goodies.

Gather up your friends and try to defeat the 24-inch shrimp po-boy at Beaucoup Bar & Grill (and order them a few rounds of crawfish bread and beer while they watch you lose).

Try one of the flavored King Cakes at Whole Foods Market -- our favorite is the cinnamon...

...or take Robb Walsh's recommendation and pick up the best King Cake in Texas from Rao's Bakery in Spring at 6915 Cypresswood (since it's too late to order one from Gambino's).

Last but not least, don't take any of the advice on Rich Connelly's list of how to celebrate Mardi Gras at home -- but do remember to laissez les bon temps roulez wherever you may be.