New Orleans Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday is THE tourist and local extravaganza in New Orleans. The noblesse oblige historic parade krewes with the old white kings and young debutante queens throwing beads to the masses is a hard swallow even as the parades have become more ubiquitous and even somewhat more democratic in …
Tag: mardi gras
New Twists for Mardi Gras
New Orleans The song goes, “have you ever been to Mardi Gras,” and I can honestly say, “been there, done that!” I’m somewhere between Carnival-skeptic and agnostic. Historically, the city can’t live with it and can’t live without it. There’s almost nothing about its mainline history that isn’t abhorrent and reeking of noblesse oblige, …
Music as a Barometer of Our Times Calls for a Better Man
New Orleans It’s Mardi Gras in New Orleans. I helped my son open up at Fair Grinds Coffeehouse for the regulars. Once or twice a year it’s “training day” all over for me. I’m help, just not great help, but I don’t mind getting bossed around. It’s fun to see everyone, wish them well. …
The Dilution of Class Privilege on Mardi Gras
New Orleans Mardi Gras season is rough for year round residents. It’s not the going to parades but navigating the parade routes so that regular work and life maintains its semi-normal routine. It’s also stomaching the symbols. Mardi Gras marks the beginning of Lent on the Christian calendar with Easter forty days away. Historically, Mardi …
Personal Parade
New Orleans At the crack of dawn something was passing in front of the house. There was some solitary shuffling, some rattling, a shout of “come on!,” and the deep, hollow blare of a long horn. I didn’t move a muscle. No reason to heed any of this. Today is Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and …