More Mardi Gras Update

I have to dispute those who say crowds were light for Mardi Gras at the parades - they werent on my block. I've never seen more people, on Sun and on Tues. Granted Mon was a bit light. Saturday day crowds were healthily full, days are always a bit lighter. "Supercrewe Sunday" was comically crowded where we were, with throngs of what appeared to be LSU students milling on the other side of St. Charles Ave. Their DJ rotated primarily between Audubon Zoo, the LSU fight song, and "Hey Baby" an oldie by one hit wonder Bruce Channel. Down at Superior Grill a similarly festive group were seen line dancing in the street between parades at one point.


Tuesday brought out the best of the quarter, with popular costumes including blind FEMA/levee inspectors (with walking sticks), pirates (as always), gay cowboys (of course!), various costumes involving blue tarps and pieces of houses, fleur-de-lis type designs, and the usual cross-dressers. I dont know if it aired but Fox News recorded a hilarious interview with the blind levee inspectors as they explained their evaluation procedure for detecting leaks. Their panic at stumbling across a puddle of water in the gutter inspired a frenzy of stabbing at the ground with their walking sticks which seemed about as competent as recent performance of real levee inspectors.
Very popular as well were "chocolate city" costumes, Hershey bars, Willie Wonkas, and Charlie and Chocolate Factory references. We managed to also catch the Pete Fountain Half-Fast Marching Band on Bourbon St and were confused to see a much younger and thinner man playing clarinet. We later heard that Pete had not felt well and bowed out of the unit at the last minute this year. The weather was as close as you get to a 911 day in New Orleans on Tues, bright blue and not a cloud in the sky. I couldnt believe how many news reporters, photographers, and the like we saw, they were swarming everywhere.


In all it was a great Mardi Gras season and the French Quarter merchants I talked to all said they had a good take - better than last year. Mardi Gras was a bit toned down in the sense of 1. fewer marching bands 2. less nudity in the French Quarter 3. fewer and less elaborate drag queens at French Quarter Awards costume competition 4. Some krewes did not parade 5. Many restaurants still have reduced hours/services. It was also a glorious Mardi Gras for New Orleanians, as the spirit of New Orleans carries on despite our challenges and tragedies.