Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, sailing under the French flag with orders from Louis XIV to defend France’s claim on Louisiane, entered the mouth of the mighty Mississippi River Monday March 2, 1699. The following Tuesday, the two brothers rowed their boat ashore just 60 miles downriver from present-day New Orleans, and set up camp.

What happened that night,no one knows for certain. But if current trends are any indication, their “krewe” spent the better part of the evening getting magnificently bladdered on Bourbon, chowing down on some cassoulet, and exposing their chests for a booty of beads.

What we do know for sure is that the Gallic globetrotters christened their camp Point du Mardi Gras and commenced to celebrating the first “Fat Tuesday” in the New World.

Time to over-indulge, to over-imbibe, and to get it all over before Confession on Ash Wednesday.

What better place to accomplish these lofty goals than your one-stop shop for all of the above: The Cannon Brew Pub.

Due to the bungle with our brewing license, the Beer Board is looking a bit bleak, but we’ve still got plenty of spirits and good food for all you Masquerade Revelers out there. Come in for a hurricane (or three) and order up a Cajun Swamp Thing Pie, some Jambalaya Pasta, or my personal favorite, Chicken Bayou. Finish it off with a slice of Bourbon County Pecan Pie and your aperitif of choice, and you’ll have the fuel necessary to keep the wick burning well into the night.