Washington, D.C. - June 23, 2006

Easy Come, Easy Go

The Red & The Black

Like many, you react to Mardi Gras with a combination of disgust (no, I will NOT show you my breasts) and reckless abandon (oh, there are beads involved? Check out these C cups!).

So it’s with a mixture of relief and sadness that you accept the holiday comes but once a year.

Unless, that is, you go to The Red & The Black, a just-opened bar and restaurant that serves up good gumbo, jazz, and Cajun flavor all year round.

Named for the Stendhal novel and built in homage to the city after Katrina, the nightspot is a tribute to New Orleans and French culture. It’s a sleek scene with black walls and a long bar, but it’s divey enough that you can settle down in one of the red booths and make new friends Southern style.

Fill up on traditional red beans and rice; wash it down with the city’s signature cocktail, a Hurricane (of course). After you’re done, venture upstairs to hear indie bands play or head out to the patio for some fresh summer air.

Just make sure you’re wearing a bra.

The Red & The Black, 1212 H Street NE, between 12th and 13th Streets (202-399-3201 or redandblackbar.com).