I took part in the Saint Ann's Parade... from Marigny to the French Quarter. It was nice to be something other than an observer, and I didn't care that there were no fancy doubloons being thrown.
But first, a bit of Zulu, the parade traditionally done in blackface (sort of)
Zulu started at 8 AM... and went on for a long time. I only caught one thing... a mini-frisbee. Unlike others, this parade had a sort of tailgating aspect to it... clearly a family affair, smaller in scale, and more about community.
I also caught two cups... and promptly gave one away.
I left after a few floats to catch up with my friends Dale and Dave in Faubourg Marigny (The Marigny Suburb) just outside the French Quarter. The goal was to follow a parade of home-grown costumes. If I had known better I would have created a more elegant costume. For example:
Dave got dressed up a bit...
As did a couple at their B&B... I guess they'd be house organs then? They had a small cassette player playing Bach under their frock.
Folks were gathering in Marigny, just milling around.
this is us...
He looks super!
At some point things started to move...
I bet his name is Jack...
These women were dressed as "Air Nagin" flight attendants... hoping Mayor Nagin flies away soon.
Once in the French Quarter, there was a costume competition...
Costumes are from the various balls...
This one was from a ball called "things that have vanished"
The French Opera house burned down almost a century ago.
And K&B was the local drug store chain.
By the way, the other costume was De-gas-ga a sort of combination of lady gaga and Degas.
It was a zoo in the French Quarter!
There were lots of others in line... but the crowd was a CRUSH... so we took a few snaps and split (or actually popped out of the crowd like watermelon seeds!)
Charlie, reporting from Mardi Gras!
"Merry Christmas!"
want more? Here's a pre-K view of the parade:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHg7ZUtK
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