<p>The day after tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, so tomorrow is Mardi Gras - Fat Tuesday! I'm in the cold Northeast, so there won't be any doubloons, beads, crewes, or Girls Gone Wild, but my god-daughter at Tulane is having a blast!</p>
<p>Dang! I was going to post at midnight with an "Allow me to be the first to wish you all a happy Fat Tuesday....!"</p>
<p>Hey! Don't forget about us - we have the original Mardi Gras - where's Tabbyzmom, we can argue about this! She's probably gone skiing or to Disney World, that's where lots of the transplants go, if she's a native, she may be riding.
Yesterday was Joe Cain day - champagne and whiskey in the cemetary - Happy Mardi Gras!</p>
<p>Oh, my son is in full Mardi Gras mode, experiencing his FIRST ever as a freshman at Tulane. I hope to survives until Wednedsay!! LOL</p>
<p>I hope he has a great time (doesn't drown, I think it is going to rain here :()</p>
<p>Though I'm in the NE, we always order a King Cake from Haydel's Bakery in New Orleans - omigosh, it is SO GOOD that I "sliver" it out of existence ("Oh, I'll just have one little sliver....and maybe just a tiny second helping....and maybe just an itty-bit bit more...")! :)</p>
<p>Here in the metro Detroit area, tomorrow is Paczki Day...I guess we have all the Polish bakeries in Hamtramck to thank for this tradition. I guess I need to skip dinner tonight, so I can indulge tomorrow!</p>
<p>cangel, I'll take up the gauntlet. Even conceding your argument that you had the first Mardi Gras celebration in the U.S. (which I will never concede, but never mind), that's like arguing that St. Stephens was the first capitol of Alabama. First doesn't always mean best :) </p>
<p>I miss MY Mardi Gras, down the bayou in Southwestern Louisiana, which was always more authentic than the New Orleans chaos. I also miss the two-day holiday (although when I was in college we could never figure out why people expected us to be in class on Ash Wednesday. . . )</p>
<p>Right now, my major project is with a Caribbean company!! I've got Monday, Tuesday, AND Wednesday off for Carnivale!!!</p>
<p>Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, first you guys stole the French capitol in the New World, then you stole Mardi Gras, we know. Only Joe Cain was brave enough to thumb his nose at those D*** Yankee occupation forces, and Bring Back Mardi Gras. Where in SW LA?, my husband was born in Lafayette, and his family is from the Bayou Lafourche area, although he mostly grew up in Alabama. The outlying festivities are better than the NO chaos, that's why, despite the well meaning efforts of the Alabama State Tourism folks, we try to keep a low profile down here. I spoke to a young man today who was driving home tonight to Houma, he's supposed to ride on a float tomorrow.</p>
<p>And Houma is where I went to HS -- South Terrebonne, Class of '79. Houma's celebration has actually become much bigger since then, with several Krewes, plus all the stuff down in Chauvin and Montegut. A friend of mine keeps bugging me to join one of the Krewes, but I can never justify the expense just to fly down for a weekend of riding a float (well, among other things . . . but I'm not sure my brain cells can handle that type of partying any more).</p>
<p>Wow, small world, DH's parents grew up in Cutoff and Golden Meadow, I think his Mom went to high school at LaRose, and his Dad at Golden Meadow, but that was in the 50s, DH graduated in '77. Yeah, I guess it would be a bit much to fly down from Delaware - you should get them to send you a king cake from Gambino's (I think that's right) or that great bakery in Golden Meadow - Happy Fat Tues.</p>
<p>..which means "farewell to meat!" For Lent I was thinking of giving up CC, but I just can't do it! :)</p>
<p>Cangel -- The cake from Canatta's in Houma arrived Friday. Happy Mardi Gras everybody.</p>
<p>Cangel,
I grew up in the city where you now live. I spent many a Fat Tuesday standing in front of the Hotel named for a certain seafaring fellow, padding my pockets with peanut butter taffey. Now I understand it's all moon pies and beads. The best part was just getting a holiday from school. Happy Mardi Gras!</p>
<p>Thanks Chloe, you might find downtown sadly changed, but some areas of the waterfront are looking up. The rain held off today, and the temp was perfect about 70. Happy Mardi Gras to you!</p>