Happy Fat Tuesday!

The bon temps, they are a rollin' -- down New Orleans way, it's the most wonderful time of the year. Though hit hard by Hurricane Katrina, the Big Easy is strutting its stuff today and celebrating the fact that life goes on. Finish that oyster poboy and hit the streets, because today is the show of shows (and tonight is the party of the year) in Louisiana.

• Mardi Gras for Beginners - Learn about Mardi Gras in New Orleans for beginners -- what Mardi Gras is, when it is, about parade history, and what's up with those beads from New Orleans natve, Sharon Keating, of About.com

• Mardi Gras - About Mardi Gras in New Orleans from Nola.com: New Orleans' newspaper's site, Nola.com, is the bible of Mardi Gras -- much of what you need to know about Mardi Gras parades, Mardi Gras parties, Mardi Gras planning and New Orleans Mardi Gras history.

• Mardi Gras Parade Schedule - New Orleans is a city that loves its parades, and Mardi Gras is a great excuse to put on parade after parade

• Read about Mardi Gras in New Orleans

Roll on, Big Easy.

_{Photo: gutterjim}