For the four people that ventured to my home page last year, I salute you.  This year, however, Mardi Gras is getting considerably more attention.  Last year, I stayed in one room with seven other individuals (two double beds, everybody's butt was hanging off the bed).  Not one person ventured out during the day, and we spent the majority of our time recovering from the drinking the night before.  All in all, an experience that I needed to stamp in my book of life, but not one that I would have ever wanted to repeat.  But then I met Brenda and we wanted to be there for Valentine's Day.  Without delaying too long, although it was in almost January when I made the reservations, I searched the internet for Bed and Breakfasts in New Orleans.  This is when I came across Bed Breakfasts and Beyond, and even more importantly, Mandevilla.  I had already looked at many of the hotels in the area (most of which were booked) and discovered that I was not going to find a place in New Orleans during Mardi Gras which was going to be cheaper then $100, and require less then a three night stay.  Mandevilla cost a little bit above the cheapest room and was not located in the French Quarter, but made my stay infinitely more pleasant.  To find out more about Mandevilla, please click on the photograph.
    Brenda and I went to New Orleans to spend a romantic get away during one of the biggest parties of the year, "Mardi Gras".  So many amazing things happened during our stay, all of it by accident too.  Let me tell you how to make your Mardi Gras as successful as it can be, by sharing these things with you...

    One hour before the Sparta parade began, Brenda and I found ourselves eating at Copelands (hint #2) off of St. Charles Ave.  The Sparta parade began a block from Copeland's and quite a few of the krewe members were eating at a table next to us.  Krewe members are the people who stand on the floats during the parade and throw down beads and other assorted goodies.  Some police were also eating in the adjoining room and the krewe members (in loud clown-like costumes) thought that it would be hilarious to get a photograph of the policeman arresting them.  I eagerly agreed to take the picture for them then got a photograph of them with my girlfriend.  When their float came around, "ZENOBIA", they recognized us and generously showered us with very nice beads.  Brenda and I also found that these guys were great people just to hang out with.  The Sparta parade was one of the better parades that we attended (check hint #5 for more details).

II.  Eat at Copeland's
    Copeland's (off of St. Charles Ave.) has incredible Cajun cuisine, amazingly friendly service, and the food is not outrageously priced.  For $11, you can be served a big and satisfying meal.  The place tends to be filled quickly after 5PM for dinner, so make sure to arrive ten minutes early.  If you are really lucky, you will get a chance to meet Flo.  Flo was our waitress the night of the Sparta parade.  Make sure you ask her about her ladder, the one she uses during the parades.  She'll give you some inside tips about where to go for the best beads, and make outstanding suggestions about what entries are the best to eat.  She'll even give you directions to parades with beautiful floats that are miles away, but worth the drive.  Remeber:  eggplant pirogue with noodles-> if you are a seafood lover, you can't go wrong.

III.  Lucky Dogs!!!
    The food of choice for the many people that flock to the streets of New Orleans during Mardi Gras.  Lucky Dogs can be purchased at any of the vendors with the red "Lucky Dog" carts on Bourbon Street.  Don't order one with pickle relish, unless you REALLY like pickle relish.  The relish is too sweet and when mixed with their chilly can give so strange side affects.  Lucky Dogs can do many things, depending on when you eat them.  Many people use them as a way to expell much of the alcohol they consumed that night.  We tend to refer to those lucky dog fanatics as "Lucky Chunks".   Earlier in the night, the dog has an amazing "stick with you" quality and can actually lower the chance of being sick through alcohol consumption.  The vendors don't know why the hot dogs are considered "lucky", and I've found that it is best not to press the issue.  Don't order the hot dog plain.  You miss the point of trying this delicate tradition if you do that.  If nothing else, it sometimes helps to seek shelter from rain by waiting under a "Lucky Dog" umbrella.  In any case, don't miss out on this New Orleans tradition of "Lucky Dogs".