EP 242 - 2026 Mardi Gras Preview with Arthur Hardy
Beyond Bourbon Street, an Insider's Guide to New Orleans
Mark Bologna
4.9 • 916 Ratings
🗓️ 28 January 2026
⏱️ 41 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
As we've done for many years, today we're going to preview Mardi Gras 2026 with our friend Arthur Hardy. This one is especially sweet as Arthur is retiring after 50 years. We look back on his career, on the iconic Mardi Gras Guide he created, and look to the future and what this Carnival season holds for us.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | You're listed to Beyond Bourbon Street, an insider's guide to New Orleans. |
| 0:13.3 | Beyond Bourbon Street is the podcast where we explore the food, music, culture, places, and people that make New Orleans unique. |
| 0:20.6 | Whether you are planning a trip, |
| 0:22.3 | living in New Orleans, or simply wanting a taste of the Crescent City from wherever you are, |
| 0:26.6 | you've come to the right place. And now, your host, Mark Bologna. |
| 0:36.8 | Hey, all, this is Mark. Welcome to episode 242. Today's show is our annual Mardi Gras preview with Arthur Hardy. |
| 0:44.3 | The last show was a special one where we celebrated the podcast's 10th anniversary. If you missed it, go back and give it a listen. I think you'll enjoy it. |
| 0:51.6 | Before we jump in, let me talk about the people that make this show possible. Accidental Cajun experiences is an immersive culinary tour led by chef James Cullen |
| 0:59.8 | that takes you into the neighborhoods and behind the scenes. They focus not just on food, but the people |
| 1:04.8 | and cultures that created it, and they meet them along the way as they tell their stories. |
| 1:09.3 | Bite into a Calais or a Pauline-Stuff Ben-Yei and learn the history of the Calais ladies. |
| 1:14.4 | Taste the Creole hot sausage from a family who's been making it in the same neighborhood for 125 years. |
| 1:21.2 | Experience a Friday fish fry at a neighborhood bar that's been around since 1947. |
| 1:26.6 | Taste New Orleans like a local with a local. A leisurely |
| 1:29.8 | neighborhood walking tour with accidental Cajun experiences is the perfect way to spend a day in |
| 1:34.4 | New Orleans, whether you've never been or you're a frequent visitor. They also offer custom |
| 1:39.1 | experiences on request and can connect you with the best New Orleans has to offer. Chef James is also an award-winning photographer and is happy to add a photography package |
| 1:47.9 | onto any experience. So next time you're in New Orleans, come to see about us. |
| 1:52.2 | Access and old Cajun experiences, culture through cuisine, above ground, below sea level. |
| 1:57.7 | Our friends at Two Chick's Walking Tours were recently awarded the Trip Advisors' Travelers' Choice Award, |
| 2:02.8 | which is presented to the top 10% of tour operators in the world. |
| 2:06.9 | This is a designation that earned every year since I've been in business, which is noteworthy |
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