WADE RATHKE is the founder of ACORN, Chief Organizer at ACORN International, and Author of "Nuts & Bolts", "Citizen Wealth", "Global Grassroots", and "The Battle for the 9th Ward".
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 …
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, …
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. …
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 …
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 …