Bringing Bourbon Street to Seneca Street In Oil City… What?

We are stupid excited right now. There is something fun and strange in the neighborhood for February. Our little town never ceases to amaze us especially when it comes to having fun.

Look, if you would have told us a few years ago that we’d be helping prep an event in Oil City that is part of a a full-blown Mardi Gras celebration on Seneca Street, we probably would have laughed and then immediately asked where to sign up.

Honestly, we are so incredibly stoked about this. There is something so special about watching this town wake up and start doing cool, vibrant stuff like this. It’s exactly the kind of energy we dreamed of when we joined Art Night At The Exchange. Seeing the community come together not just for a drink, but for a shared experience is why we love being here.

So, What’s the Big Deal with Mardi Gras?

If you aren’t from New Orleans, you might just think it’s an excuse to wear plastic beads and eat cake. And, I mean, it is. But at its heart, Mardi Gras (or “Fat Tuesday”) is the ultimate “last hurrah.” It’s that one day where you’re supposed to live it up, eat the rich food, dance in the street, and be as loud and colorful as possible before the quiet of the spring season kicks in. Also, the season of Lent begins. Historically, Lent is a forty day period of fasting, reflection, and giving things up, so this is the last party for a while.

It’s all about the phrase Laissez les bons temps rouler which means let the good times roll. It’s a reminder to stop taking life so seriously for a night and just enjoy the people around you.

The Seneca Street Takeover

The fact that we’re doing a Mardi Gras Crawl right here in Oil City on Tuesday, February 17th is just perfect. We’ve got this epic lineup: Billy’s, Cork n Screw, Double Play, McNerney’s, and us at The Exchange. The goal? Hit every spot, grab a festive snack or a drink, and collect a different colored bead at every door. By the end of the night, the goal is to be draped in beads and high on good vibes.

We Don’t Do “Basic” Disguises

Klee and I were talking, and we realized: if we’re going to do a crawl, we can’t just show up in our everyday hoodies. We need to look the part.

So, on Wednesday, February 11th, we’re doing a Mardi Gras Mask Making night at the exchange. We’re skipping the cheap plastic stuff. We’re going to get into the feathers, the sequins, and the bold paints to help you make something that actually feels like a piece of art. We’ll have two craft cocktails ready for you, some good music playing, and we’re just going to hang out and create.

We want to see Seneca Street filled with custom masks and smiling faces. This town has so much soul, and we can’t wait to see it on full display.

Let’s make some memories and maybe a little bit of a mess.

Stay creative, Rafi & Klee