Southern Decadence Parade

They never announce the parade route prior to its actual start. Our new entertainment correspondent was um, off getting entertained... In years past, the parade might wend its way through alleys and side streets or even a hotel lobby or local restaurant. I think those days are over though as the newspaper reported the attendance at over 100,000 people.

Which way did they go, Doc?

I got to the start of the parade about a twenty minutes before its scheduled 2pm start. Lots of people were milling around. The three grand marshals had their own little balcony with a horrible P.A. system set up. I don't know what it is about parochial drag queens, but the instant they get within the gravitational pull of a microphone, they get compelled to hear themselves natter on at such a volume. The kit was only about a 500 watt system to begin with and after the second queen got on the microphone, the mids were so full of static, I knew the speaker blew a cone. (Can you tell I've had to set up sound systems for the last fifteen years?) Anyway, my point is... I couldn't understand anything she was saying. Neither could anyone around me, so I just milled about taking photos...

Even Butt Pirates have parrots

I love when couples dress alike, because it's so easy for same sex couples to remain anonymous or invisible. By dressing alike, they tell the world that "hey, we're together". It doesn't take much thought to throw on some floral leis and a bird, but at least these guys were having fun at the parade together.

Feathers are so... exotic?

When I saw these two, I thought they were recycling their Mardi Gras or Carnaval costumes, but hey recycling is hyper cool so I took this pic.

When the parade finally did get underway, they were all going away from me! I was at the start of the end of the parade. Last year I slept and ate and caught the tail end of it and this year I thought I did everything right to see it all. Oh well, like so much of life, what's really meant for you can't move past you. Knowing that didn't stop me from trying to chase down the scarecrows with the trombones, but I did see some really creative contingents...