Shortly after the Samedi Gras parade came to an end, Mardi Gras Queen Soto made a royal proclamation:
“Hey, are we doing anything on Tuesday?”
Her loyal subjects quickly made sure the answer was yes. Following a royal decree that, after all the effort put into the parade, throwing a party should involve very little work, the community decorated the riverboat Mama Cree for the occasion. With a stream of New Orleans music, twinkly lights, a bar, dancing, gambling, and games, the venue was open for all comers to relax and have a good time. The crowd came in waves throughout the night, including locals, friends, and visitors from other places. Entertainment included a stunning fireworks display, as well as the hypnotic fire-twirling talents of the queen herself.
This reporter cannot vouch for the accuracy of events later in the night, because after the party went on for two hours more than was planned and the liquor started flowing, I could have sworn I saw the fire chief doing an impersonation of a lobster and Queen Soto dancing with a pink flamingo. At any rate, the boat did not go down in flames, and none of the tourists went over the side, so from the mayor’s point of view the party was surely a success.
The revelry continued late into the night, ensuring that New Toulouse will start Lent off proper—with an epic hangover. Happy Mardi Gras, everyone!
(More photos can be seen on Flickr.)
Jane Moreaux would like to apologize for anything embarrassing she might have done during that couple of hours after the booze kicked in. She would also like to thank Mirri, Niki, Henri, Karima, Pazzo, Armand, and Soto for their contributions to a fun and low-stress event.