Starting The Party

Gloria Lam of New Orleans passes out Mardi Gras beads during the Krew of Cork parade through New Orleans' French Quarter on Friday, Feb 17, 2006. About 400 wine enthusiasts participated in the annual parade.

Tracy Thomson, left, and Janine Hayes pose, Friday, Feb. 17, 2006, after appearing in the Blue Tarp Costume Fashion Show at the Lundi Gras Blue Tarp Celebration at Antoine's Restaurant in New Orleans. Designers put together fashions using blue tarps to express dismay that so much of New Orleans is still covered in tarps. The event raised money for the Campaign to Save Costal Louisiana.

Josh Galjour, left, from New Orleans, holds a sign up that reads "Thanks for Parading" during the Pegasus Parade on St. Charles Ave. in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb 18, 2006. To the right is Jennifer Cocherham from Houma, La. Parades were shorter and the crowd attendance was lower than in the past.

Ophelia Harton, left, watches her grandson, Alonzo Fletcher, 5, both from New Orleans, catch a strand of beads during a parade in front of the boarded up Copeland's Restaurant Saturday Feb. 18, 2006. The restaurant is still closed after Hurricane Katrina, despite what the "open" graffiti claims. Mardi Gras season is in full swing in New Orleans.

Mardi Gras revelers throw beads from a balcony on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans on Saturday Feb. 18, 2006.

Erica Hearn tries to catch beads during the XXIII Krewe of Janus Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday Feb. 18, 2006, in Monroe, La.

A float rolls down Judge Perez Highway past a pile of debris during the Knights of Nemsis Mardi Gras parade in Chalmette, La., Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006. The parade rolled through one of the areas of St. Bernard Parish that was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Iray Nabatoff from Ackworth, N.H., pokes fun at FEMA with his costume during the Knights of Nemsis Mardi Gras parade in Chalmette, La., Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006.

Rows of FEMA trailers sit as a float goes by on Judge Perez Highway at the Knights of Nemsis Mardi Gras parade in Chalmette, La., Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006.

Bob rides in his own float made by his escort and owner John Aslak from New Orleans during the Krewe of Barkus Parade, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006, in New Orleans' French Quarter. The annual parade is open to all dogs and their human escorts.

A Chihuahua named Bean, escorted by her owner Lisa Taylor, not pictured, rides her float dressed as the Cowardly Lion from the "Wizard of Oz," during the Krewe of Barkus Parade, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006, in New Orleans' French Quarter. The annual parade is open to all dogs and their human escorts. The theme of the parade was "Wizzard of Pawz ... There's No Place Like Home."

Mark Gstohl, of New Orleans, dressed as Glenda the Good Witch, pushes his dog Chloe during the Krewe of Barkus Parade, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006, in New Orleans' French Quarter. The annual parade is open to all dogs and their human escorts. The theme of the parade was "Wizzard of Pawz ... There's No Place Like Home."

Mardi Gras floats damaged by Hurricane Katrina and unable to be used in Mardi Gras festivities sit in a damaged warehouse at Massett and Company, Inc., Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, in New Orleans' Ninth Ward. Massett and Co., a supplier and maintainer of Mardi Gras floats, is operating with only six people working instead of the normal 40 this time of year.

Mardi Gras floats, damaged and rendered unusable by Hurricane Katrina, sit in a damaged warehouse, Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, at Massett and Company, Inc., in New Orleans's Ninth Ward.

A member of the Marry Mates screams at the crowd during the Marry Mates and Mobile Mystical Ladies Mardi Gras parades Monday, Feb. 20, 2006 in downtown Mobile, Ala. The pre-Lenten blowout continues along the Gulf Coast culminating in Fat Tuesday celebrations on Feb. 28th.

The Bay City Brass Band frontman leads band members as they play during the Marry Mates and Mobile Mystical Ladies parades in downtown Mobile, Ala., during Mardi Gras festivities Monday, Feb. 20, 2006.

A member of the Order of Venus throws beads to crowds gathered along the streets of Mobile, Ala., during the Order of Venus and the Order of LaShe's Mardi Gras parades Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006. Parades continue along the Gulf Coast this week until Fat Tuesday celebrations on Feb. 28.

Members of the Order of Venus throw trinkets to crowds gathered along the streets of Mobile, Ala., as the Order of Venus and the Order of LaShes roll along the Mardi Gras parade route, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006.