It’s Fat Tuesday folks, the day the Big Easy lets loose in one last explosion of revelry before the onset of Lent. It is, in short, the last day of Mardi Gras. Here, courtesy of Mardi Gras New Orleans, are some tips as to how to wring the most out of the day, and wake up in decent shape come Wednesday morning:
– Plan your transportation.
Commercial parking lots fill up fast, and they’re expensive. Cabs are hard to come by. Get a good map of the city and remember that New Orleans is a “checker board city,” safe neighborhoods in which to walk can be within a few blocks of those that aren’t. Talk to your hotel concierge. Watch out for parking tickets. Don’t even think of parking on medians—they call them ‘neutral ground’ down here. Same for parking within 15 feet of curb corners, or along t parade route within three hours of its start.
– Get to the parade route early.
One second a good spot is empty, the next it’s full. For some of the biggest parades, get there as many as four hours ahead of time. Don’t move any unoccupied chairs of ladders along the route and claim the spot for yourself. Very bad form, and you just might anger the person whose site you’re taking.
– Give the police a break.
These guys tend to get overworked during Mardi Gras. Usually, they’re pretty accepting of strange behavior during the celebrations – but don’t push it. If an officer tells you to do something, just do it. It’s okay to drink beer on the streets, as long as it’s in a can or bottle. Glass bottles are verboten. If you’re underage, don’t drink. The police enforce the age ban pretty religiously.
– Catch the throws, but don’t reach down to grab ‘em.
Yell lustily at the folks on the flats to toss you some beads or doubloons. They’re usually right on target. Watch out. People tend to jump in front of you to intercept the passes. Whatever you do, don’t bend over and pluck the loot from the streets. At best, you’ll get your fingers tromped on. At worst, you could really get hurt. These floats can be massive, and they don’t stop on a dime.
– Don’t run in the street.
Look, the loot is simply plastic. Your life and limbs are worth more than that. If you’re looking for a free place to stay, like jail, just jump over a barricade and get chased by a cop.
– Be careful near the floats.
If you lift your kid on your shoulders so they can see what’s happening be careful. Crowds ebb and swell, and people can trip. It’s easy to get knocked over.
Plan ahead, watch yourself and stay sane. Do those things and Fat Tuesday can be a lot of fun.
Story by Jerry Chandler
(Image: www.mardigrasneworleans.com)
