re: Questions about Mardi Gras from a first timer.

Thursday and Friday uptown and downtown are stacked with parades at night so factor that in on the rstaurant scene. Saturday night is the only night uptown does not have parades so everyting above Lee Circle will be good if you want to skip Endymian .....which a lot of people uptown will do

Frenchman area like the Marigny will be crazy but if you move down into Bywayer you can check out lots of cool places like Baccanal