The Day After

At exactly midnight, Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, police ride through the French Quarter in a ceremonial parade, clearing revelers from alchohol- drenched Bourbon Street.

Clean- up after Mardi Gras is very important: political careers rise and fall over who gets the clean-up contract. Trash collection in AGC is no laughing matter. The issue dogged former mayor Ray Nagin, and delighted the Times- Picayune, who had a field day with it.

Most of these photos are from the Pic, and are taken by Michael DeMocker, one of their fine staff photographers.