Does anyone know what kind of Mardi Gras celebrations were

[peacetalksforall]

held in New Orleans - did corporate entertainment news cover anything? How about DU?

[Selatius]

1. It's mainly a local affair, but it's slowly getting back to pre-Katrina levels.

Last year attendance dropped off dramatically because it was less than a year after the storm. This year it was still below pre-Katrina levels, but attendance was better this year. It's simply not the same.

The only one who deserves blame is the government.

[ClintonTyree]

2. Last year's had a definite theme to it...

government ineptness, blue tarps, MREs, Brownie, Bush and Cheney were big hits and of course biting satire if FEMA, Katrina and Rita. I didn't go this year so I don't know if the satire level was as high. I'm glad things are starting to get back to a little near normal. New Orleans in the one city in the country where I feel comfortable, like I'm not crazy. Everyone is crazy in NOLA so I fit right in. ;)

[youngdem]

3. Sure.

No corporate sponsorships. The board in charge of trying to find a sponsor to defray police costs was not successful.

The crowds were about 85% of pre-Katrina levels. The weather was perfect throughout (rained hours into Wednesday).

The parades themselves were pretty much back. Some were a few floats shorter than their biggest, but most would be hard pressed to show you it wasn't a normal Mardi Gras.

The crowds were HEAVILY tourist this year, as opposed to largely displaced locals and homesick/patriotic Louisiana natives last year.

There was a pretty great vibe the first week, but the second week was very negative - lots of fighting, rude territorial behavior, a few shootings after parades, and again, lots of fist fights.

Good sign I guess. Seems like it's back, for better and for worse.

Come on down for Jazz Festival and French Quarter Festival, everyone.