Smoking, Drinking will continue in Mardi Gras "family zone"

[LuvNewcastle]

http://www.nola.com/mardigras/index.ssf/2011/02/slidell_city_council_kills_pro.html


Questioning both its legality and necessity, the Slidell City Council on Tuesday shot down a proposal to permanently outlaw drinking and smoking in front of Bethany Lutheran Church during Carnival parades.


However, an ordinance passed in 2008 banning revelers from indulging in alcohol or tobacco in a “family zone” in front of the church on Gause Boulevard during the Krewe of Selene, on March 4 this year, is still on the books.
Council members Sam Abney, Sam Caruso, Joe Fraught, Kim Harbison, Lionel Hicks and Jay Newcomb voted to kill the legislation. In favor were Dwayne “Buddy” Lloyd, who introduced it; Council President Landon Cusimano and Bill Borchert.
Opponents of the measure argued that existing ordinances already outlawed rowdy, drunken behavior. They also doubted whether the city of Slidell could outlaw smoking tobacco on Gause, a Louisiana roadway.

[AlabamaLibrul]

1. Not sure how "family zone" any of Mardi Gras really is - as a regular participant n/t

[LuvNewcastle]

3. Really. Mardi Gras ain't Christmas. n/t

[Edweird]

2. Take your kids to Disney World if you want 'family zone'.

[SoCalDem]

9. Exactly.. In a perverse sort of way, all the "family" shit is part of Vegas "troubles"

About a decade or so ago, someone" decided that Vegas needed to be "family-friendly", and all/most of the hotels & resorts there started catering to the family business, then came the NO-SMOKING nannies, and although we don't go there more than a couple of times a year, we could see a real difference.

Places that you used to NEVER just walk right in & get seated, had lots of empty tables, the casinos were not all that crowded, except in the smoking sections..

Over the years, the no-smoking sections seem to have gotten smaller (at the places we go), but there has been a lot fewer tourists going there.

Of course all these "changes" happened to coincide with the growth of casinos elsewhere, but when Vegas tried to be Gambling Disneyland, a lot of the adult crowd found other things to do and other places to go.,

We are close enough so that lots of people used to decide on a whim to have Grandma watch the kids & they would scurry off to Vegas for a weekend..Not so much after the family thing.. My friend said it best.."Why should we give our kids a weekend at Grandmas, so we could drive 400 miles & spend our weekend with other people's kids?"

Kids have never been allowed in the casinos, so that did not change, but what did change was that in all the restaurants & hallways & pools, there they were (abandoned by their gambler parents) running around ..

Vegas hotels do have babysitting services, but I did not see evidence that they were very useful.

[xchrom]

4. who's taking their kids to mardi gras?

i shouldn't ask.

[LuvNewcastle]

6. You wouldn't believe how many do.

I have friends here in Biloxi who have a big party every Fat Tuesday with plenty of booze, a band, and all the grandchildren. The kids enjoy eating king cake and candy while the parents get drunk. It's kind of funny in a perverse sort of way. Nothing bad has ever happened.....

[xchrom]

10. i have no problems with kids seeing the parents party in certain situations.

kids going with parents to a bar and grill, house party, etc -- it's mardi gras that makes no sense to me.

huge crowds -- out of control behavior{which i personally enjoy} -- people flashing boobs and dicks left and right.

if i had children -- not where i would take them.

[MountainLaurel]

17. Outside the French Quarter

Most of MG is pretty much a family event, except for all the drinking (in that case, I guess it depends on your family). No naked people, nothing raunchy. Just floats throwing beads and toys and cups at you, marching bands, flambeau, celebrities, et al.

[Poboy]

5. Thats Slidell. Figures. Come to N.O. for the actual Mardi Gras.

[AlabamaLibrul]

7. Oh please! Come to Mobile for the actual Mardi Gras!

[Poboy]

13. haha

:hi:

[LuvNewcastle]

8. I'll be there on the Sunday before Fat Tuesday.

I haven't been to N.O. for Carnival in years, but I really want to do it this year. I have friends coming down from up north and I expect it will be a great time.

[Poboy]

12. That would be the night Endymion rolls. Don't miss it. Monday check out

Orpheus. St. Charles is a good area/spot. Just throwing things out.

[LuvNewcastle]

14. I usually do watch the parades from St. Charles

when I go to New Orleans -- much nicer there. I'd love to see Orpheus, as I've never been to an Orpheus parade, but I'm not sure if we'll be in the city on Tuesday. I thought Bacchus rolled on Sunday; do Bacchus and Endymion parade on the same day? Either one would be great, but I was just wondering.

[MountainLaurel]

15. Bacchus is Sunday

Endymion is Saturday in Mid-City.

[Poboy]

16. Sorry, got my dates mixed!

[kenny blankenship]

11. What could be more family friendly than breast baring? Are we not mammals?

[Taverner]

18. I can see it coming - Family Friendly Folsom Street Fair...

[LuvNewcastle]

19. That is hilarious! n/t