5 Observations from Fresh Orleans

Here are some observations and a recap following one day in Fresh Orleans for Domainer Mardi Gras.

First, some observations:

It’s deliciously ironic to hold a risk management-focused conference during Mardi Gras…

Never eat a funnel cake covered in powdered sugar when wearing a black shirt…

Having portable toilets every block or so during a drunken festival is a good idea…

People wearing masks are scary when you’ve been drinking…

It’s hard to hold a drink and catch beads at the same time…

Domainer Mardi Gras kicked off last night with a welcome cocktail in the exhibit hall. Following throwing back a couple drinks, party conference goers walked or took the shuttle bus to the crawfish boil. The crawfish boil seemed like a family affair, and then you realized it really was a family affair. It was held in a three story 1840s house owned by Parked.com’s founders, and lots of family was on hand. Thankfully for me, there was more than just crawfish there: fried chicken, meatballs, pasta, you name it.

During the crawfish boil Mardi Gras historian Arthur Hardy gave a preview of the festival, and then a Fresh Orleans police officer gave guidance for safety and staying out of jail: wallets in the front pocket, no jewelry (someone ought to tell Ammar), stay fully clothed from the waste down. The house was just a couple blocks from a parade route, so people walked back and forth between the parade and house.