New Orleans and Mardi Gras
full of Mardi Gras beads, G.J. Charlet via flickr /Artwork: designslinger]
Fat Tuesday, the literal translation of the French Mardi Gras, is underway in New Orleans.
Of course there are other famous celebrations going on in other parts of the world, Carnival in Rio, Carnivale in Venice, but here in the U.S., New Orleans is King. (Or Queen).
I made my first, and only visit to New Orleans the February before Katrina, to work on a
TV pilot. My Mardi Gras experience was a little bit overwhelming, and what I remember most were the beads. I know, it's kind of weird, but I couldn't believe the volumes of plastic beads in all shapes and sizes, and the brilliant colors. In some way it was like a bizarre acid trip. Beads swallowing up people's arms and necks, and tree branches weighted down by thousands of the plastic chains. After all the revelry, the trees along St. Charles Street looked like a giant, urban art installation.
We were there for 8 weeks, and since our hotel and offices were located just west of
Canal Street in the Central Business District (CBD), the French Quarter was just a simple stroll away. We filmed in 190-year-old Quarter buildings and mid-19th century Garden District homes. We did our laundry every Saturday morning at a laundromat in the Fauberg Marigny, and yes, we were even in the Lower 9th and beyond.
I don't know what the New Orleans of today must be like, but for the weeks I spent there,
the architecture, history, and culture of the city swept me up into her arms, and left an impression I will never forget. Every city is unique, but I have to say that New Orleans is a place completely unto itself. The food is wonderful, the partying never stops, but it is that French, Spanish, Creole architecture that sets the city apart from any other, and is New Orleans' crown jewel. So, on this biggest day of days, I salute you New Orleans, and thank you for giving me wonderful memories of your wonderful city.
(CBD), Sandy Girl via flickr; French Quarter, ang (3 Girls) via flickr /Artwork: designslinger]
Posted by designslinger at 2/24/2009 7:00 AM 
Categories: Cities, Architecture, History, Preservation
Categories: Cities, Architecture, History, Preservation
Thanks, come back someday!
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