Ready To Revel

Joan Rivers looks at beads during the Krewe of Orpheus parade in the Uptown area of New Orleans Monday, Feb. 23, 2009. Many revelers were getting an early start on the Mardi Gras celebration, the day long celebration through the streets of New Orleans officially held on the Tuesday before the start of Lent.

Actor Jim Belushi tips his hat from his float during the Krewe of Orpheus parade in the Uptown area of New Orleans Monday, Feb. 23, 2009.

Parade goers yell for beads and other trinkets at the Leviathan float goes down Napoleon Avenue during the Krewe of Orpheus parade in the Uptown area of New Orleans Monday, Feb. 23, 2009.

Bob Rue, from New Orleans, is already in his Mardi Gras costume as he walks through the French Quarter of New Orleans, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009.

Mike McGuire, from New Orleans, gets handed some beads during the Thoth parade in the Uptown area of New Orleans Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Carnival revelers were greeted with good weather for the weekend before Mardi Gras Feb. 24.

A rider looks to throw his beads during the Krewe of Bacchus parade in the Uptown area of New Orleans Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009.

Parade goers yell for beads and other trinkets during the Krewe of Bacchus parade in the Uptown area of New Orleans Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009.

Stephen Sullivan, right, and Sarah Brown, both from Atlanta yell for beads and other trinkets during the Krewe of Bacchus parade in the Uptown area of New Orleans Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009.

As the Bacchagator float travels down Napoleon Avenue, parade goers yell for beads and other trinkets during the Krewe of Bacchus parade in the Uptown area of New Orleans Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009.

Actor Val Kilmer waves from his float as he reigns as King Bacchus XLI during the Krewe of Bacchus parade in the Uptown area of New Orleans Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009.

Actor Val Kilmer throws doubloons from his float as he reigns as King Bacchus XLI during the Krewe of Bacchus parade in the Uptown area of New Orleans Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009.

A rider in the Thoth parade holds his beads before throwing them in the Uptown area of New Orleans Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Carnival revelers were greeted with good weather for the weekend before Mardi Gras, Feb. 24.

Parade goers yell for beads and other trinkets during the Krewe of Mid-City parade in the Uptown area of New Orleans Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Carnival revelers were greeted with good weather for the weekend before Mardi Gras Feb. 24.

Parade goers yell for beads and other trinkets during the Thoth parade in the Uptown area of New Orleans Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Carnival revelers were greeted with good weather for the weekend before Mardi Gras Feb. 24.

Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club 2009 King Tyrone Mathieu is seen during the 2009 club's coronation ball Friday, Feb. 20, 2009 in New Orleans. Housed in the city's massive convention center, 18,000 people turned out on Friday night to see the flamboyance the Carnival krewe serves up each Mardi Gras, and all of them, thanks to a strict dress code, were decked out in long evening gowns, tuxedos and tails.

Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club 2009 Mr.Big Stuff, Stephen Rue, is seen during the 2009 club's coronation ball Friday, Feb. 20, 2009 in New Orleans. Housed in the city's massive convention center, 18,000 people turned out on Friday night to see the flamboyance the Carnival krewe serves up each Mardi Gras, and all of them, thanks to a strict dress code, were decked out in long evening gowns, tuxedos and tails.

A rider readies his beads to throw during the Thoth parade in the Uptown area of New Orleans Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Carnival revelers were greeted with good weather for the weekend before Mardi Gras Feb. 24.

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