Last weekend was bookended with amazing events: on Friday night we attended the Fat Friday Mardis Gras Party Benefit and on Sunday we watched the Oscars at the W Time Square, followed by a DJ set from Connor Cruise.
The Fat Friday Party took place at the Angel Orensanz Foundation and included the great jazz music and BBQ New Orleans is known for, along with interactive art created by Calling All Parties, NYC’s genre-defying interactive art collective. The event was an equal mix of charity and revelry—a righteous combination of live brassy Mardi Gras music, New Orleans food, dancing beaus and beauties, and a big fat dose of NOLA Love. Proceeds from the gala went to support a number of charitable organizations: participatory art organization FIGMENT (NYC), the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and The Roots of Music (NOLA), and The Innocence Project. 
Below are the dishes we enjoyed from Village Pourhouse, Tres Carnes and SideBAR:
“CAJUN TACOS” (Tres Carnes)
MIni White Corn Tacos w/ Smoked Local Andouille Sausage
Poblano Lime Crema & Pickled Onions
“RICE & BEANS” (V) (Tres Carnes)
Yellow Rice + Blackeyed Black Beans
Roasted Red Pepper Sofrito
“CREOLE WINGS” (Village Pourhouse)
Hot & crispy wings dusted with Cajun Spices
with Smoky Sweet Ranch Sauce
“SHRIMP ROLL” (Sidebar)
Chilled, spiced shrimp dressed with
Remoulade, green onion, celery & chives
Served in a mini split top brioche bun
An Oscars Viewing & After Party was held at the Living Room of the Times Square W Hotel, where guests cheered for their favorite films to music by celebrity DJ Connor Cruise.
TV Personality Nene Leakes hosted an exclusive Oscars Viewing Party at Samsung 837, the brand’s newly opened experiential flagship in NYC’s Meatpacking District. The Fashion Police judge stunned in a Pedram Couture dress and Giuseppe Zanotti shoes and bracelet. As the award show played on world’s largest multimedia digital screen extending three-stories tall, Nene shared her thoughts on all of the red carpet fashions, and toasted the award winners with Samsung 837 guests.
- On Friday, February 26 hit maker Lil Jon returned to Stage 48 (605 W. 48th Street) to take over the stage with DJ Toro from 92.3FM AMP Radio, which broadcast live.
