by Elaina Patton

Outside Molly’s at the Market, the night was beginning as pre-paraders slowly trickled in and around the bar, anticipating the 6pm roll time of Friday's annual Jim Monaghan St. Patrick's Day Parade. Tourists found each other among the throng, exchanging well-intentioned, and somewhat ill-in-taste, jokes and rounds of shots. Locals, a little more sobered at the beginning of the night, mostly moved in groups of festive neon green.

Today, the GOP primary touches down in New Orleans as Newt Gingrich makes an appearance on Carrollton, St. Patrick's Day inches ever closer as Edwin Edwards marshals a parade through the Quarter, Andrew Bird whistles at the Howlin' Wolf and more! Happy birthday to trumpeter- composer Charlie Miller, who turns 74 years young today. A vet of Dr. John's early band, Miller went on to work with BB King, Thelonious Monk and was a member of late night bands on TV. Now back to today:

Mark your calendars. Your next chance to see Louisiana's favorite governor-turned-convicted felon-turned-Facebook user in New Orleans will be on the eve of St. Patrick's Day. Edwin Edwards will prove once again that he can still reign over the green as he takes a turn as Grand Marshal in the annual Jim Monaghan's St. Patrick's Day Parade, which starts and ends at Molly's at the Market on March 16. EWE will be joined by his wife Trina, and revelers who will no doubt be eager for a kiss on the cheek from the Silver Fox. 

In the traditional Catholic calendar, Mardi Gras festivities are supposed to give way to a season of repentance. But around here we get one day of ashes, then it's time for crawfish boils, fish fries and St. Patrick's Day. With Fat Tuesday having fallen about as late as it can this year, the holiday that presents seemingly every older man in the city with an excuse to kiss young women on the cheek is just getting tacked onto the early spring revelry. The Irish-inspired festivities get going tonight with Jim Monaghan's annual St. Patrick's Day parade through the French Quarter. Things get rolling at 6:30 p.m. at Molly's at the Market on Decatur St.