If Ever We Cease

I don't think anyone could have anticipated.... that Carnival 2006 could have been pulled off as well as it was. This is still a town where debris lines the streets for weeks at a time, where the traffic signals function sporadically at best, where the 24 hour diner closes at 4:00.... and this is in the good part of town. But there we were shouting and cheering, dancing and drinking, feeling almost normal for the first time since... well... you know. This Carnival was a homecoming for the displaced, a reuninon for separated families and friends, a massive pep rally for a town sorely in need of one. It may also have been a mirage.. but at least for now let's call it a welcome one.

I was particularly pleased that we were able to show the several first-timers we had in tow this year a full-blown Mardi Gras without having to do too much explaining to them of what was missing. There were some things missing, the St Aug band uniforms, real flambeaux carriers (I saw a lot of white guys out there), shriners... but these are small details. The essence of the thing was there.

Fat Tuesday is always easy to do from my place. Mardi Gras day is made up of so many layers of simultaneous scenes and events that taking it all in can be a challenge. My location allows one to sample a little bit of everything. We caught Zulu on Jackson Avenue (where they belong.. can't believe the city almost didn't let them roll there). Menckles bought a large bottle of Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill wine from a man selling it out of his trunk. Dad got a coconut. (The smug bastard actually made the rider wait for him to finish dancing before he decided he was ready to collect his prize from her.) Next we crossed back through the neighborhood to Second Street where the Wild Magnolias are headquartered. We weren't there very long before the Golden Comanches arrived precipitating a standoff complete with chanting and drumming and lots and lots of photography. Next it was back to St Charles for Rex and the few truck floats that folks could muster this year. Oh and, yes, there were certainly red beans involved. Finally Menckles and I walked down to the Quarter where we drank the day away at r's place. Like I said, a little bit of everything. Oh but you just came to see the pictures anyway.


Waiting for Muses with the infamous purple wig


The equally infamous funnel cake


This is the Piano Lady. She has been a French Quarter fixture for as long as I can remember.. always on one or another corner playing that casio and singing badly. On Sunday, we found her in front of the Walgreens on St Charles. If I have this Youtube thing figured correctly you may even be able to catch the performance below





Mardi Gras Day always has a knack for bringing out the pirates.. and their hearty wine coolers


These days all the kids are getting their own floats. Where's yours?


Menckles: "If you want to be a real cool art fag you'll get a picture of the crowd reflected in one of those tubas."
Jeffrey: "Eh it'll never work."


Golden Comanches arrive at Second Street


Here come the Big Chief


I learned later that this was actually none other than Mr. Clio. I also learned that there was some mysterious assembly of NOLA bloggers along the parade route at some point... could have been right under my nose.


You know, one of these years that guy is going to go as something other than Sammy Knight... just not this year.