Could Mardi Gras Become 'Mardi Petite'?

Ah, the wonderful sounds of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The krewes (social clubs) parading up and down the streets- mostly on the traditional Mid-City and Uptown route along South Carrollton Avenue, and into the Garden District on St. Charles Avenue. Trinkets getting tossed to screaming fans (some of them showing their melons...you know, girls, there's a street for that. Just when you cross Canal from Carondelet, then just go to the 700 and 800 blocks of the street that's mistakenly believed to be named for a Kentucky-based alcohol drink). All the major krewes- Zulu; Endymion; Muses; and the King of Carnival, Rex- endear over two million fans yearly (I know. I attended three of them in the early 2000's).

And the other parishes in the Bayou state- and as far as Mobile, Alabama- get in on the act as revelers give in to fleshly desires the day before Ash Wednesday.

But this year, it looks like Fat Tuedsay may be a bit less fatter as two krewes in suburban New Orleans have cancelled their parades. The krewe of Aquila, in Jefferson Parish cancelled their parade last month, and now, the Krewe of Gladiators, in St. Bernard Parish- just to the east of New Orleans and Orleans Parish- have called it quits on their parade. Both krewes cite the bad economy, which means that it could be a bit less laissex les bon temps rouler down in the Big Easy- which is apparently looking more like the 'Big Queasy'.

Click on the title for the full story from WDSU News Channel 6, the NBC affiliate in New Orleans.

(C) 2009, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.