NEW ORLEANS (AP) --Parade fans camped along St. Charles Avenue, beer trucks lined up on Bourbon Street and revelers milled from bar to bar -- all signs that this city's Carnival season was rolling toward its annual Mardi Gras climax.
"This is it baby," said 22-year-old Paul Perrin of Dallas, part of a group sleeping in lawn chairs and debris along the St. Charles streetcar tracks. "You're either ready or you stay home. It's no place for the weak."
Fireworks, musician Harry Connick Jr.'s lavish Orpheus parade and concerts by the Mississippi River were all on tap Monday evening. On Fat Tuesday, 11 parades would roll beginning at 8 a.m. and continue until dark.
Business was brisk in the French Quarter, although down from previous years, merchants and bartenders said. Both the weather --thick gray clouds hung over the celebration Monday --and the fact that the annual pre-Lenten bash falls early this year, were blamed.
"It's definitely off," said Fallon Daunhauer, a bartender at Johnny White's in the French Quarter. "I think both things hurt. It's not the best weather and it's so early. Too close to Christmas, not close enough to spring break to get the college kids in."
Still, workers rushed Monday morning to stock up and clean up for the final time before Wednesday.
Piles of trash bags were hauled out, cases of drinks were hauled in. "We've got to get it done and get out of here before noon," said Phillip Ocburn of Crescent Crown Distributors. "After that, forget it." A half-block row of portable toilets lined the front and back of the stately Louisiana Supreme Court building, high fences blocked off the entrances, beads, beer cans and trash littered the grounds.
Beverly and Chester Lott munched beignets Monday morning. The Mississippi couple had already seen five parades and what they called some fantastic street theater.
"We love it. It's the best time you can have anywhere," said Beverly Lott, who wore a huge orange wig. "We came for the first time last year, and plan to be back every year."
A daylong party was held on the banks of the Mississippi River with music and the landing of the faux royalty for the Zulu and Rex parades, the two biggest to roll Tuesday.
The only problem was the 50 percent chance of rain in Monday night's forecast.
"Rain? Who cares," said Tina Black, 30, of Los Angles. "As long as it doesn't get cold. I have a really skimpy costume and I hate cold."
