On this Labor Day, we celebrate our workforce by taking a day off. In the Crescent City, Southern Decadence roars at full steam toward its closing, the restaurant musical plays again and all our favorite Monday gigs return - as long as the bars hang onto their power. On this day in Louisiana history, the Battle of Queue de Toture broke out near Rayne between a Calesciu vigilante and others (1869) and Zydeco accordionist and bandleader Terrance Simien was born in Mallet (1965). Now back to today:

Isaac may have wiped out power from most of New Orleans, but he couldn’t touch the gay Mardi Gras. The Quarter stayed bright and shiny Friday and Saturday with the fabulous men and women of Southern Decadence. As it would be any year around this time, the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann was full of buttocks-less chaps, fishnets, banana sacks, burly bears, lovely ladies, and rainbow clad allies in from out of town to enjoy the country’s largest gay festival. They're ready to keep going through Sunday with a parade.

The annual meeting of the flocks will not happen on Labor Day weekend this year. Instead, second liners and costumed revelers will have to wait until Halloween for a Rampart St. encounter. The Social Aide and Pleasure club, Black Men of Labor, rescheduled their massive parade through Treme for Oct. 29. However, today's Southern Decadence parade is still on, according to NOPD. The parade will only be for walking, and, whatever else. But there won't be any floats. The annual procession lines up at the Golden Lantern at 2 p.m. Check out the rest of today's Decadence events after the jump.

Amidst the talk of Tropical Storm Lee, the Hurricane that is Southern Decadence has come to town. While the talk is often of parades, whistles, and drag queens. Decadence is incredibly significant as an economic driver. In the current year alone, Decadence is projected to infuse $150 million into the New Orleans economy. Hotels, restaurants, and bars are certain beneficiaries, but many other merchants are scrambling for the lot in some unusual ways.

Decadence is always a wet weekend, so this year is no different from any other. Rubbers were no doubt flying off the shelves as partygoers prepared for today's events in the huge downtown soiree. Check out the schedule after the jump:

The spiritual home of Southern Decadence lies on Royal at the Golden Lantern. But the Labor Day weekend bash spreads throughout downtown New Orleans to bars, clubs and even the neighborhood Country Club. Click through for today's rundown of Decadence events.

Reminding us that it's more fun to be a teenager than to deal with one, Tropical Deppression 13 is threatening to take the wind out of our Labor Day weekend. Nevertheless, the rubbers are ready and the happenings about town are still scheduled. Get out your gulashes and get down to these:

Just in time for Decadence, now you don't have to stop sucking on your hand grenade just because you got busy. That's right, kids; Tropical Isle is rolling out Hand Grenade flavored condoms. Now tourists, can take home decorative cups, but nothing needing penicillin! In an effort to insure this product was ready for popular consumption, NoDef procured a sample and sent it across the street to our Lab.

Southern Decdence begins today, meaning thousands of LGBT will flock to New Orleans for a weekend of revelry. Rain is in the forecast, but that's nothing unusual for Labor Day weekend in New Orleans.

You're a pastor who once protested the gay Mardi Gras and public sex, and you were arrested for obscenity after you were spotted masturbating in a public place. Sounds like a pickle with only one solution: Press Conference! Grant Storms gave the public a timely updated on his life today from the parking lot of a Metairie motel. According to WDSU-TV, he opined about battling a pornography addiction, and said he is currently not living at home. He also apologized for railing against Southern Decadence. Then there was the part about the masturbation. He called himself a hypocrite, but said he wasn't watching the children. Coverage here.