Washington -- Imagine the confusion of unsuspecting tourists who booked a room this weekend at the Washington Hilton Hotel. They'll walk into the hotel and find the lobby bar renamed, the 65th Parish, lots of people wearing colorful beads and dozens of queens and princesses in tiaras. "It's a little crazy," admits Sen. David Vitter, R-La., in his first...
Washington -- Imagine the confusion of unsuspecting tourists who booked a room this weekend at the Washington Hilton Hotel. They'll walk into the hotel and find the lobby bar renamed, the 65th Parish, lots of people wearing colorful beads and dozens of queens and princesses in tiaras.
"It's a little crazy," admits Sen. David Vitter, R-La., in his first year as Captain of the Washington Mardi Gras. "But it's also wonderful. It's a celebration of Louisiana life."
Vitter's debut as Captain didn't come without challenges. Despite draconian efforts, Vitter said, the Mystic Krewe of Louisianans, which puts on the annual Washington Mardi Gras celebration, was unable to change the date of this weekend's festivities, which, in case you haven't noticed, coincides with Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans.
As a result, Vitter said, attendance is a little short of the usual 3,000 attendees, though final numbers aren't yet in. "But we still have a great crowd and I'm happy to say we'll end the weekend in the black," Vitter said.
Sen. Mary Landrieu, left, and Sen. David Vitter
Still, some are heading back to New Orleans a little early, including Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., who is skipping Saturday night's ball and parade to get ready for the Super Bowl. That means her annual Mardi Gras karaoke competition, in which more than a few Louisiana congressional staffers and reporters have embarrassed themselves, won't take place until next year.
Those filling up their plates Thursday night with oysters on the half shell, jambalaya and Gulf shrimp, seemed to be having a good time.
"This is insane," said Emily Claire Castille, outfitted in full regalia as befitting her title as the Queen of the Troubadours Mardi Gras Ball in Lafayette. "I've never been to anything like this. It is great that we can share our unique Louisiana culture with people who aren't from Louisiana and that so many people from Louisiana can celebrate here in Washington. It's a great event."
"A lot of fun, a lot of excitement, a lot of partying," said Trudy Graves, a medical center administrative assistant in Washington D.C. "The food is great and the people are all in a good mood."
The only downside, she said: "I know that the partying is even crazier in New Orleans. I wish I could be there."
Fred Radewagan, a consultant who represents business interests in American Samoa and other South Pacific nations, said when he got an invitation to come to the Louisiana Life party, which begins Mardi Gras weekend with huge platters of Louisiana food, along with spirits, he instantly accepted.
"Louisiana is one of my favorite places in the world," Radewagan said. "My wife was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1988 in New Orleans if I had a vote we'd have the convention there permanently from now on. There's no better place. Certainly, no place that is more fun. And this is sort of a reminder of that."
Still, Radewagan had another reason for being there - one that has led some government watchdog groups to express concern about the Mardi Gras weekend.
"It's a great place to network with other people, including members of Congress, in a social situation," Radewagan said. "You can buttonhole a member for a minute or two and talk to them about your concerns - certainly not in a heavy way - but just to maintain good relations."
Defraying the costs are business sponsors, including Entergy, AT&T and the Jones Walker law firm.
Vitter said he sees the three-day extravaganza, which includes a Captain's dinner, as a massive celebration of Louisiana food and culture. It culminates with a big Saturday night parade and ball. It's a chance, he said, to show Louisiana culture to business and political leaders who he believes will come away with a better impression of his state.
Vitter, who is replacing Landrieu as Washington Mardi Gras captain, said he has a "history of loving Mardi Gras."
At ages 8 and 9, Vitter was the founder and director of his neighborhood Mardi Gras Parade Atlantis. At age 12, he was a page for Dorianas.
And in the summer of 1977, when he was 16, Vitter worked at Blaine Kerns, painting Mardi Gras floats. He admits his bosses only trusted him to paint with white primer, leaving the more intricate, and less permanent, work to others.
Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, is captain this year, and he chose the Mardi Gras king and queen: The king is Martin Svendson, a Baton Rouge businessman and part-time operator of a Black Angus cattle ranch in Argentina; and the queen is Laura Elisabeth Kelley of Baton Rouge, a featured soloist for the St. James Youth Choir.
"Washington Mardi Gras is an opportunity to showcase our rich culture, thriving economy and the warm people of Louisiana," Cassidy said. "This year's theme, La Bonne Terre acknowledges that Louisiana's good earth provides us with natural resources, world famous seafood, fertile land producing bountiful crops and much more. It is my privilege as chairman to lead this celebration."