Mardi Gras Night at Wine Country Inn’s Jazz 777 Club

Celebrate Mardis Gras 2009 in Grand Junction and Palisade, Colorado

"Laissez les bon temps roulez!” (Let the good times roll!) is the theme of Mardi Gras night at the Wine Country Inn on Saturday, Feb. 21.

Join in the revelry, which will include Bourbon Street’s famous Hurricane cocktails, hot food and hotter jazz from 8 to 11 p.m. in the hotel’s Vineyard Room.

Live music will spotlight Influx Jazz Quartet, a popular local band which will provide instrumental jazz for listening and dancing. (Influx was booked after the Miles Ahead band had a conflict and had to cancel.)

"Influx is a great group," says Event Coordinator Juliann Adams. "They can handle everything from Miles Davis to light jazz and danceable tunes. They may even break out into some Dixieland for Mardi Gras."

Guests can celebrate one heck of a New Orleans-style “fais do-do.” Loosely translated, that’s French for dance ‘till you drop. Hear great jazz, grab a drink and dance the night away with friends.

Mardi Gras 777 will offer a cash bar, bar menu, and those famous Hurricanes, which are amazing concoctions of lime juice, passion fruit syrup and rum. There is a $5 cover charge. Everyone 21 and over is welcome.

To encourage responsible drinking and safety, the hotel is offering an optional special room rate of $77.70 for a standard room for two, including a complimentary pass to Mardi Gras 777 for those who prefer to stay over instead of driving home. The room night is not required for enjoying Mardi Gras 777.

“We had such a good turnout for our first Jazz 777 night, we realized that there is a real need for a music venue that’s fun and affordable,” explains Anne Tally, co-owner.

“My Mom is a native of Louisiana, I attended college in New Orleans, and our GM logged some years in the hotel business in the state, so we have some knowledge of Mardi Gras!”

Tally adds that guests can parley the Mardi Gras room special into a two –night weekend getaway by coming in on Friday and visiting wineries, art galleries and studios, shops, restaurants and other attractions on Saturday before the big party.

For those who are not familiar with Mardi Gras, here is a brief explanation: Shrove Tuesday on Feb. 24, is the climax of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Mardi Gras, like other annual carnival celebrations around the world, precedes Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent, a somber observance leading up to Easter.

No reservations are required to attend Mardi Gras 777, but guests who prefer to stay over should give the hotel a call to book accommodations at the special rate. Parking is free.

The Wine Country Inn is located at 777 Grande River Dr. Palisade (Exit 42 Off I-70). Phone numbers are 970-464-577 and 888-850-8330.