fat tuesday

Here I am in Fat City on Fat Tuesday, having landed soft. I knew something vague about beads, but there are a lot of Mardi Gras traditions I had no inkling of. For one thing, did you know that there are Mardi Gras colors? Guess what they are? Yes, even Rubbermaid wants a piece of the action. Also there's King Cake—don't get left holding the baby, which means you'll be bringing the cake next time! The one above is actually a highly evolved version with chevre, apple and caramel filling. And about the beads, I had no idea that they hang from the trees year round here from missed throws. Or that there are throws that are "gets" or that the people on the floats pick someone out in the crowd, look them in the eye and throw to them personally (until the floaters get too drunk, at which point it becomes scattershot). Or that schools are closed and streets are shut down and the parties go on for weeks. Or that people discuss their high concept banana costumes for months. Or that Bourbon Street smells like skunked beer and vomit most of the time despite the street sweepers. Or that there are krewes from artsy to fartsy, black to white and everything in between. Or that the Rex krewe, which started it all, wears what look like colored satin Klan outfits. Or that some people parade in body paint and little else (perhaps not today because it's 36 fucking degrees out—bummer!). Yes, it's a scene. I'm about to hold my breath (and maybe my nose) and plunge in. We'll be attending the alternative/indie/Williamsburg South fete in Bywater, but if you want to check out mainstream, here's one of many live cams on Bourbon St.