Kick off to Carnival Season!

Mardi Gras is still 12 days and 3 hours away, but we are officially in the midst of carnival season.

Walking through stores, you'd think it was Christmas all over again...except in New Orleans, Christmas doesn't seem to hold a candle to the importance of this locally cherished holiday.

Last weekend we were only steps away from the Krewe du Vieux parade, which rolls through the Marigny and Bywater (our new neighborhood!).

Throws

Accessories

What?! You don't regularly stock king cake flavored cheap vodka? 

...and tacky cups to house your too-sweet drinks in?

Risers EVERYWHERE downtown.

If they're going to block the sidewalks, at least they're kind enough to make the fences pretty...check out the purple, green, and yellow pattern that will now line the streets for 3 weeks.

We never get to watch parades from anything this fancy. We usually just walk up and down the streets, pushing our way to the front when we can. This is pretty much V.I.P.

Krewe du Vieux

 Unlike the grand, beautiful floats that roll during the bigger Mardi Gras parades, this one is a bit on the obscene side. What you see rolling past our friends' balcony there is a giant BOOB.

With one parade under our belts already, it's time to stock up on plastic cups, purple and green clothes, and a tolerance for excess food and alcohol.

Let the parties begin!!