Gloucester may not be New Orleans, but that doesn't mean we can't host our own celebrations of Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday to set the stage for today's Ash Wednesday — and the start of the Christian season of Lent.
Grammy winner saxophonist Charles Neville and Henri Smith's New Orleans-style band were on hand for a grand Mardi Gras party Tuesday evening at Latitude 43's Minglewood Tavern, with a concert that raised money for a group of Cape Ann students who will travel to New Orleans to help rebuild homes in the city ravaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Prior to that, however, Latitude's daytime Mardi Gras party for kids featured a traditional Mardi Gras gala with dancing, second line, beads, masks, Cajun food, and balloons.
Ten percent of all proceeds — including ticket sales, food and drink — benefited the YMCA program called "Y Teens Rebuild New Orleans III," the third year of a YMCA service-learning program.
During the April school vacation week, the YMCA will bring 26 teens and seven adult chaperones to New Orleans. Each of the past two years, the YMCA brought 16 teens; this year, the group will be joined by almost 40 additional teens and chaperones from the North Shore for a workforce of more than 70 volunteers.
As in the past two years, the group will collaborate with the St. Bernard Project. The group also will plant trees to help restore the bayou while they learn about the history and culture of New Orleans.
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