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I will be there from Feb 19th through the 26th.If you have any suggestions for a first timer please let me know.
Christopher -
A few tips -
Monday, Lundi Gras (feb. 23) is a huge Zulu festival along the Riverfront. Zulu is the krewe with the most legendary parade on Fat Tuesday. On Lundi Gras around sunset there is a great moment where the King of Rex comes over by boat and the mayor hands over control of the city to him for the remainder of Mardi Gras (till midnight Tuesday night.) Then the King and court of Zulu comes over and exchanges gifts with King Rex and his knights. Rex and his nights stay completely masked, and Zulu has these amazing archetypes in the court like Mr. Big Stuff and the Witch Doctor.
It is completely and uniquely Mardi Gras, and free and open to all.
That night are two major parades - Proteus (the last of the old-time flambeau parades (lit by torches) and Orpheus, the biggest, showiest parade with the hugest floats.
On Fat Tuesday there are multiple layers of nthings to do all day, which is part of the beauty. If you love the alternative side of life, there is the artists's walking krewe The Society of St. Anne, which parades through The Bywater and Marigny beginning at about 10 AM and rolls into the Quarter about noon. (Look for them on Royal Street).
If the gay/drag/big costume side appeals, you'll want to be on St. Ann Street by noon for the Bourbon Street Awards - or just their aftermath.
If you want to see the two big parades Zulu and Rex, you'll need to be at least at Canal Street by noon.
Definately end up on Frenchmen Street at night and stay off Bourbon as much as possible past 6 PM. People are incredibly wasted by then, and it only gets uggier. On Frenchmen, the tribes that you'll want to be with converge in a big street party.
And definately stash some food in your room as most restaurants wisely choose to close on Mardi Gras night, and the waits at others can be staggering. The scene at Angeli on Decatur is about as good as dinner gets that night, and there's a lovely brunette transexual waitress whose career and transformation we've been following for years now.
Wear comfortable shoes, lock up everything possible in your hotel safe, and have a great time! Hope to see you there..