Celebrating Cinco de Mayo in Connecticut
Five Fun Ways to Celebrate Mexican Culture
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It’s Cinco de Mayo (meaning May 5th) a celebration of Mexican heritage. Its origins derive from the Mexican state of Puebla, where the Mexican army defeated the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Celebrated through the US and Mexico, it’s more or less become a way to celebrate Mexican culture by drinking and eating Mexican food, that is very similar to St. Patrick’s Day. If you just happen to be in Connecticut today and have no plans, here are some ways ideas to help get you in the Cinco de Mayo spirit.
1. Cinco De Mayo Fiesta with The Indobox and Business Casual Disco at Arch Street Tavern
If you’d like to skip the usual two-for-one drink specials that usually pop up on Cinco de Mayo and do something that actually gets you moving, check out Boston dance-rock band The Indobox, playing Saturday, May 5, at 9pm at 85 Arch Street in Hartford. Teamed with the three artists that form Business Casual Disco, Arch Street promises that every show will be “a wild dance party.” Tickets run from $8-$10 for those 21 and older; visit www.archstreettavern.com for tickets and more info.
2. Cinco De Mayo at Mohegan Sun
The Shops at Mohegan Sun casino are celebrating Cinco de Mayo from 8pm until 2am on Saturday. In addition to the usual gambling and upscale food options, like Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain and Todd English’s Tuscany, there will be a DJ, salsa dancers, a mariachi band, and mechanical bull rides for those whose appetite for adventure has been whetted by all the margaritas that are sure to be about. Mohegan Sun casino is located at 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard in Uncasville; for more information, visit www.mohegansun.com.
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3. Gladys Knight at Foxwoods
For those in the eastern Connecticut area, Saturday night also brings a chance to see one of the queens of R&B live in concert. Seven-time Grammy award winner Gladys Knight appears at 8pm at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods casino with special guest Brian McKnight. Although this concert technically has nothing to do with Cinco de Mayo, it’s still a chance to see a living legend, and perhaps even hear “Midnight Train to Georgia” if you’re lucky. Tickets are from $35-$55, and are available at www.foxwoods.com/entertainment.aspx. Foxwoods is located at 350 Trolley Line Boulevard in Mashantucket.
4. Red Lulu’s Cinco De Mayo All-Day Block Party
Anyone looking for a really Cinco de Mayo-themed Cinco de Mayo Party should head down to Fairfield County, where Norwalk’s gothic Mexican bar and restaurant Red Lulu Cocina & Tequila Bar hosts a block party from noon until 2 a.m. on Saturday. Beginning at 12:30, Mexican rock band PANA plays a three-hour set, followed by a DJ and funk rock. Food is available, of course, as are $5 margaritas all day. A dance party closes out the festivities starting at 10pm. There is no cover charge for the Block Party, which takes place in the parking lot across from Red Lulu (128 Washington Street, Norwalk). For more information and a menu, visit http://redlulumexican.com or www.ctbites.com/home/2012/4/28/red-lulus-cinco-de-mayo-all-day-block-party.html.
5. Food!
Maybe you’re not looking for concerts or dance parties; maybe all you want is some good, old-fashioned Mexican food and alcohol on Cinco de Mayo. Connecticut has plenty to offer in that area, starting with Agave Grill’s specials on Dos Equis Drafts and Avion tequila. The restaurant, located at 100 Allyn Street in Hartford, will also have an ice luge on Saturday, for patrons who are into that.
Another high-profile Hartford bar, The Russian Lady, has its own Cinco de Mayo party starting at noon, with a taco bar, building-wide pub crawl, and something called “lime bowling,” which probably involves limes.
Various other restaurants around the state, such as Wood-n-Tap, Taqueria Tavern, Oaxaca Kitchen, Margaritas, and the Litchfield Saltwater Grille feature food and drink specials for Cinco de Mayo on their Saturday menus. Chances are, if you check out any of your favorite restaurants, they’ll have something celebratory going on, because no one wants to miss out on great food this weekend. Happy eating!
–Sarah Alender is a Contributor to The Free George.
The Free George is the online magazine and visitors’ guide of Upstate NY, covering things from Albany to Lake Placid, including Saratoga, the Lake George region and the Adirondacks. Check out our City Blogs section for our extended coverage areas as well.