Mardi Gras

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East Team's LeBron James, of the Miami Heat, throws a pair of Mardi Gras beads to the crowd during NBA All-Star game basketball practice in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

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Flambeaus parade down St. Charles Avenue during the Krewe of Orpheus Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans on Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

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The 460 riders of the satirical Krewe D'Etat turn onto St. Charles Avenue as they roll down the traditional Uptown route with their 22-float presentation titled "The Dictator's Reading Room" on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, in New Orleans during pre-Mardi Gras celebrations. (AP Photo/The Times-Picayune, Michael DeMocker)

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Rex, the King of Carnival, will make his traditional Mardi Gras appearance in New Orleans. With the Super Bowl on Feb. 3 and Mardi Gras falling nine days later, the Big Easy is gearing up for a massive celebration and influx of tourists that locals are calling "Super Gras." (Associated Press)

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Alternate delegate from Baltimore County, Maryland Gloria Murphy passes out Mardi Gras style beads as she and other delegates from Maryland take shelter from the spotty rain at Gaspar's Grotto. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Alternate delegate from Baltimore County, Maryland Gloria Murphy (left) gives a friendly kiss to Jerry Walker from the Anne Arundel County delegation as she passes out Mardi Gras style beads to people at Gaspar's Grotto. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Ann Miller (left) an alternate delegate from Baltimore County Maryland receives Mardi Gras style beads from fellow alternate delegate from Baltimore County, Maryland Gloria Murphy, as they and other delegates from Maryland take shelter from the spotty rain at Gaspar's Grotto as tropical storm Isaac delays the kickoff of Republican National Convention in Ybor City, Fla. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Alternate delegate from Baltimore County, Maryland Gloria Murphy passes out Mardi Gras style beads to fellow to people as she and other delegates from Maryland take shelter from the spotty rain at Gaspar's Grotto as tropical storm Isaac delays the kickoff of Republican National Convention. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Pete Fountain and Phyllis Landrieu toast the start of Mardi Gras as his Half Fast Marching Club begins its parade through the streets of New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012. This is the last day of the Mardi Gras celebration ending at midnight, after a day long celebration of parades, marching groups and people in costumes. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

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Lee Chance laughs as he shows off his collection of beads that he caught during the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club parade in New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day, Tuesday, March 8, 2011. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)