From left: British royalty, NBA royalty, Hollywood royalty. Unique Nicole/Getty Images; Ronald Martinez/Getty Images; Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
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Mardi Gras
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Trash lines the gutter on Bourbon Street, in the early hours of the morning after Mardi Gras, in New Orleans, Feb. 18, 2015. It's a beloved century-old Carnival season tradition in New Orleans — masked riders on lavish floats fling strings of colorful beads or other trinkets to parade watchers clamoring with outstretched arms. Gerald Herbert/AP hide caption
Warren Easton Charter High School's marching band members line up in formation. Their instruments, among many, include sousaphones, cymbals, and a drum section with snare, tenor and bass drums. Aubri Juhasz/WWNO hide caption
With the return of Mardi Gras marching bands, New Orleans' streets are full of magic
Just because the Mardi Gras parades are canceled, it hasn't stopped people's creativity. The "Little Shop of 2020 Horrors" house float is in the Algiers Point neighborhood of New Orleans. Phoebe Jones/WWNO hide caption
In A Year Without Parades, Mardi Gras In New Orleans Is All About House Floats
Bourbon Street is a sea of humanity on Mardi Gras in New Orleans in February. The city will not allow Mardi Gras parades in 2021. Rusty Costanza/AP hide caption
Krewe Du Kanaval Kanaval/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Krewe Du Kanaval Honors The Haitian Roots Of New Orleans
The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus's Tenth Anniversary Parade rolls through the streets of New Orleans on Saturday night. L. Kasimu Harris for NPR hide caption
All Nerddoms Welcome: The Intergalactic Krewe Of Chewbacchus Parades In New Orleans
New Orleans resident Annie Gibson parades dressed as Frida Kahlo with Krewe de Mayahuel, a Mardi Gras krewe organized by the Mexican immigrant population in the city. Adolfo Guzman-Lopez/KPCC hide caption
For Mardi Gras, A Parade Celebrates Mexican Immigrants In New Orleans
Restaurant workers dole out chicken fricassee at the "Taste of EatLafayette" festival in the sprawling Cajundome arena in Lafayette, Louisiana. Locals say Bourdain captured the subtleties of their culture and cuisine, even if at times some thought he overemphasized alcohol. Daniella Cheslow hide caption
Mardi Gras beads strewn on a New Orleans street. Gerald Herbert/AP hide caption
Though the Mardi Gras Indian who appears in Lemonade is a young woman, most people who mask and parade as part of the tradition are male. TIDAL hide caption
Mardi Gras Spectators in Mobile, Ala., in 2010. Buyenlarge/Getty Images hide caption
For Mardi Gras, Les Bon Temps Rouler In Mobile, Ala., Too
King cakes come in various interpretations around the world. In New Orleans, the baked treats are sugared with the official colors of Mardi Gras: purple, green and gold. And during Carnival season, the entire city falls under the sway of king cake obsession. Judi Bottoni/AP hide caption
Big Chief Tugga Cloud, 17, leads the Red Flame Hunters, a newer Mardi Gras Indian tribe that is also a youth outreach organization. Eve Troeh/WWNO hide caption
A Once-Guarded Tradition Spills Open In New Orleans' Streets
(Left) Sauerkraut and sausage (foreground) cook on the stove at the Hutte Restaurant. (Right) Diners Roxanne Singhisen and Nick Lockyer of Pittsburgh chat at the Hutte. Pat Jarrett for NPR hide caption
Semlor served at FIKA in New York City. "The interest [in semlor] is huge," says Lena Khoury, the Swedish cafe chain's director of strategy and communications. Courtesy of FIKA hide caption
The annual Courir de Mardi Gras in Mamou, La., in February 2008. In the Cajun country tradition, revelers go house to house, collecting ingredients for gumbo from local families. Here, the host tosses a live chicken from a rooftop for the participants to catch — which can be tricky, considering the festivities often begin with early-morning drinking. Carol Guzy/Washington Post/Getty Images hide caption
New Orleans police officer Patrick Schneider patrols Bourbon Street in the heart of the French Quarter on Saturday. Jason Saul/WWNO hide caption
French Quarter Sees Violent Crime Surge; Residents Demand Changes
Revelers dance on the street during a Carnival parade in the fishing village of Peniche, north of Lisbon, Portugal on Tuesday. Armando Franca/AP hide caption
A reveler shows off his mask during the Krewe of Okeanos parade in New Orleans on Feb. 10, 2013. Gerald Herbert/AP hide caption
Waitress Gaynell James serves up calas cake from the kitchen at The Old Coffeepot Restaurant in the French Quarter of New Orleans on Jan. 28, 2013. Gerald Herbert/AP hide caption