Once again, Mardi Gras was unfortunately not a reason to stop the violence. As the Knights of Chaos were rolling on St. Charles just before 8 p.m., two men were shot near the corner of Carnival's prime thoroughfare and Erato St., New Orleans police said. The two men, ages 17 and 19, were shot near the corner of Erato St. Injuries were described as minor and non-life-threatening. According to a press release, police stationed near the parade route heard gunshots, and saw a 16-year-old man book it from the scene. 

This week, ditch your headphones and get on your dancing shoes. Aura Fedora talks to local musicians Big Sam, Paul Sanchez, Khris Royal and Luke Hudleston about their Mardi Gras schedules, and some of this weekend's main after-dark events.

With the hour of superkrewes approaching, Guest Writer Jeff Bostick of Library Chronicles digs into the City's laws about Mardi Gras parade route encampments, and pinpoints the parties who are truly responsible for upholding them.

Today, a trifecta of Mardi Gras marches down St. Charles Ave. offer a mix of the traditional, the satirical and the spectacular. Knights of Chaos and the Krewe of Babylon roll first, making way for the long-awaited ladies of the Krewe of Muses. Click through for details:

Tonight, Carnival rolls full steam with Knights of Babylon, Krewe of Chaos, and Krewe of Muses, Yeasayer’s Chris Keating fronts the Eiffel Society’s Electronic Takeover Masquerade, Oscar Nominated Shorts continue to screen at the Prytania. But just last year, Lil’ Wayne garnered 588,243 ‘Likes’ on Facebook, earning him a Guinness World Record for “most Likes on a Facebook item in 24 hours’. Beat that, Mardi Gras:

With Carnival's biggest weekend upon us, the time has come to address that age-old parade route question: Where's the nearest bathroom?

NoDef's Christilisa Gilmore stopped by the Glitterage to get a preview of the throws and theme of this year's Krewe of Muses parade.

Today, a new krewe debuts on Mardi Gras' main drag. The Mystic Krewe of Nyx proves there's plenty of room for the ladies in the Carnival night, and the Mystic Krewe of Druids takes their annual ride. Click through to learn more:

Today, we get back to the Mardi Gras with parades on the Avenue. Elsewhere, Cirque du Soleil does the King of Pop, The Lemonheads perform at One Eyed Jack's, and Oscar Nominated shorts continue to screen at the Prytania. But in 1895, 9” of snow fell in New Orleans, record distributor/label owner/producer Joe Banashak was born (1923), and Federal Judge S. Wright ordered desegregation of N.O. schools with “all deliberate speed” (1956). Now back to today:

by Shay Sokol

A Marigny coffee shop with a very loyal following is trying its hand at King Cakes this year. Who Dat Coffee Café on the corner of Mandeville and Burgundy Streets is serving personal-sized mini and whole plain-cinnamon King Cakes for the first time with simply good results.