Mardi Gras to go on, but specifics murky

[MaineDem]

NEW ORLEANS --Mardi Gras organizers promised Wednesday to roll out the city's signature celebration in February despite the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Tourism officials, float builders and parade hosts appeared before the City Council to insist the annual pre-Lent celebration -- part family party, part Bacchanalian blowout -- returns this winter.

"We have to do this," said Councilwoman Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson. "We can't afford to miss a beat."

Mardi Gras organizers said about 25 groups are planning to stage their parades, about a half-dozen fewer than normal. Besides that, they offered no specifics on scaling back the celebration that culminates on Fat Tuesday, which falls on Feb. 28 next year.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/10/12/mardi_gras_to_go_on_but_specifics_murky/?rss_id=Boston.com+%2F+News

[brainshrub]

1. Gee, I'm torn about this.

On one hand, this may not be the right time for a festival. On the other hand, if the locals want a party, I think Americans should make an extra effort to go this year. It would certainly help the local economy.

[annabanana]

2. I think they shoul go as "all out" as they can...

It will be a shout out to all displaced New Orleanders (?) And a call to life.

[KamaAina]

7. I kind of like "New Orleanders"

it sounds like "oleanders", which appear in the Louis Armstrong classic "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?" (I do.)

The more generally accepted term is "New Orleanian" (new or-LIN-ee-in), but yours is much more creative. (Hint: I used to be one, and have lately discovered there's no "used to" attached to that.)

[NashVegas]

3. I Just Hope All the School Kids Are Back

For me what made Mardi Gras was the marching bands. Those kids just rocked the place.

[ret5hd]

4. but what will the right reverend fallwell (et al) think?

how many baptist churches (81 at last count by my info) have to be destroyed by a god with very bad aim before we get the message?

[Old Vet]

5. Absolutely, Just let the locals FIX their own town, Give the locals

first pick on jobs and contracts, Its the right thing to do.

[struggle4progress]

6. Corporate sponsors possible for Mardi Gras

<snip> The city has vowed Mardi Gras will go on, even if it means getting help from Corporate America to pay for city-provided services such as additional police officers and sanitation workers.

"There has always been a fight not to commercialize Mardi Gras," Thomas said. "But right now we are going to consider every option to try to see how we can have a world-class Mardi Gras even if it's scaled back. There isn't anything that we're not going to take a look at." <snip>

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2005-10-15T002229Z_01_YUE501333_RTRUKOC_0_US-HURRICANES-MARDIGRAS.xml&archived=False