Chatting Books Online Day 298. Today's recommendation is actually a magazine rather than a book. There may not be parades during Mardi Gras this year but by gosh there is Arthur Hardy's Mardi Gras Guide.
The subtitle of this year's edition , the 45th annual edition, says it all. That subtitle is "No Parades? No Problem. Do it Different. Do it Safe.". I have to say the moment I saw the stack of this year's magazine arrive it made me happy to see a little bit of normalcy amidst so much change . It also made me so proud to see the indomitable entrepreneurial spirit of this magazine and it's publisher. Take away parades - no problem. This magazine is just as packed as ever even without the usual parade maps, maybe even more so. With letters from crew captains and announcements of return dates for next year. With so much history of Mardi Gras past - including the history of those Mardi Gras that have gone paradeless in the past. There are great articles about some of the krewes and marching bands and even info on a new book coming out about some of the alternative krewes and marching clubs that have popped up over recent years (Our copies of that book will arrive soon and I'll let you know what I think).
I have read this year's issue cover to cover and I enjoyed every page. It gave me hope that the world will return to that which we know and love and who knows maybe even with a bit of newness added in (maybe decorated houses and parading in place will become a permanent addition).
The magazine is 128 pages and sells for $5.99 a copy.
