Mardi Gras, literally "Fat Tuesday", comes early in 2008. February 5th marks the day itself, but the festivities start weeks before with parades, parties and exclusive masked balls – the events to attend if you’re the crème de la crème of New Orleans society. These Mardi Gras Balls are thrown by the secret societies (called Krewes) and are by invitation only. To gain entry, you’ll definitely need to pull some strings and be prepared to spend some doubloon$: they go all out for these elite soirees. But for most of us, Mardi Gras just means a lot of fun.

Since Shrove Tuesday is falling so early in '08, plan on bringing some warmer clothes; occasionally there are some light sprinkles, but that never stops the revelry. The first thing you’ll want to do is book your hotel. Devotees of the event book sometimes more than a year in advance, and hotels rooms are at a premium – both in price and availability. You’ll want to make sure you’re staying in an area that’s right for you as well – in the middle of the action, or perhaps someplace that offers a respite. Check out great accommodations options here.

Of course the center of the day itself is Bourbon Street. But savvy partygoers know that there’s fun to be had almost everywhere, from the streets of the French Quarter to Canal Street and St. Charles Avenue into the CBD and the Garden District. Make some time for a streetcar ride – the St. Charles Avenue streetcar is back up and running on November 11, 2007, and runs all the way uptown to Napoleon Avenue. Just be sure to check the parade schedules; several of the larger parades have routes on Canal and St. Charles Avenue, either in the morning or evening.

Before you go, grab a po-boy (a southern favorite) at Johnny’s on St. Louis Street in the Quarter, or a Muffaletta at the Central Grocery on Decatur Street. You’ll want to bring a friend or 2 – a muffalletta is not only delicious, it’s huge. No Mardi Gras is complete without a King Cake – a wonderful braided confection filled with cinnamon and cream cheese. But watch out for the tiny plastic baby baked inside! If you get it, you’re buying the next cake. It’s best to order ahead of time and have it shipped; Gambino’s Bakery has one of the best king cakes in the crescent city. Seafood is a staple of the New Orleans diet, and Pere Antoine’s (741 Royal St.) always promises a great meal.

Since you can carry a cocktail pretty much wherever you walk, there are literally hundreds of places to get your hurricane or daiquiri. The most popular bars are the Bourbon Pub, Oz, Good Friends, and Lafitte’s in Exile, all of which are located around the intersection of Bourbon and St. Ann Street in the Quarter. There’s always a big crowd at this intersection, and the beads will be flying.

Of course whenever attending a big event like this (if you can call it an event, the entire city is a party), safety is always important – so take a friend and be street smart. Keep your valuables in a safe place (most hotel rooms have safes these days) and be smart about how you carry your wallet or purse. There are millions of people visiting the city during this time of year, so having a traveling companion is a great idea. You’re both sure to make some new friends and as they say in the big easy – "laissez les bon temps roulez!"