American lobster: The new Chinese New Year delicacy39 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2015

NEWMardi ORLEANS: Members of the Alcorn State University Band Grasmarch in the Krewe of Proteus Mardi Gras paradein in New Orleans, MondayNew. The day is known as Lundi Gras, the dayOrleans before Mardi Gras. — AP Glitzy balls, then the parades

evelers in evening gowns and tuxedoes danced its inspiration from the Lower 9th Ward, a New Orleans Bentley. Ordinary folks took to dressing up. Friends into the wee hours Tuesday at glitzy balls, kicking district devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. “It all Alexandra Sergutin and Ashley Dornier of New Orleans Roff the annual Mardi Gras bash that spills costumed started down there,” he said of the Louisiana neighbor- said donning elegant gowns for the Carnival balls is one merrymakers into the streets of New Orleans for partying, hood where levees broke and surging stormwaters splin- of their favorite Mardi Gras activities. parades and trinkets tossed from floats. tered wooden homes. But after Katrina, he said, “Life is Al Johnson, singer of the catchy Mardi Gras tune going on.” Celebrities and celebrity watchers are also Celebrations “Carnival Time,” served as grand marshal of the Red Beans around at Mardi Gras and this year was no exception. “It feels good to be a part of that tradition. It really and Rice foot parade, a Monday prelude to the all-out The cast of the CBS crime drama “NCIS: New Orleans” does. It touches your heart,” said Sergutin, draped in col- revelry known as “Fat Tuesday.” He also joined in eating got to experience Mardi Gras firsthand as they rode in the orful beads. “ ... You’re a part of something amazing and spicy traditional fare of red beans and rice before attend- Orpheus parade late Monday, tossing beads to revelers big.” Around daybreak Tuesday, retired clarinetist Peter ing the Orpheus Ball, one of several as the partying lining city streets before heading off to the ball. Their Fountain was to help kick off the citywide party. began in this Mississippi River port. Mardi Gras episode airs Tuesday night at 8 p.m. CST. Now 84, Fountain no longer makes the walk of 10 Johnson told The Associated Press his catchy song - Other celebrities joining in the Orpheus revelry were miles or so of his Half-Fast Walking Club, which he helped now synonymous with the annual Carnival seasons - got comedian Ron White and country music star Dierks found more than half a century ago. And the threat of overcast skies and high temperatures in the 50s - on the cool side for south Louisiana winters - wasn’t expected to Taylor Kinney and attend the 37th Annual deter revelers coming out en masse - and later thronging Kennedy Center Honors in Washington. Lady Gaga the French Quarter. announced on her Instagram account Monday that she “At least it’s not as cold as last year,” meteorologist Phil and Kinney are engaged. — AP Grigsby said. “Last year was cold and rainy. This year at least will be dry.” The 2014 Mardi Gras was the coldest ever in March, Lady Gaga with a high of 42 degrees, said Robert Ricks, who pre- pared the National Weather Service’s Mardi Gras history webpage. engaged Celebrations also were scheduled throughout south Louisiana and in coastal Mississippi and Alabama, sharing op diva Lady Gaga announced to the world Monday the traditions brought by French Catholic colonists in the that she is getting married-to an actor she met mak- 18th century. In Louisiana’s swampy bayou parishes, cos- Ping a video, in which she wore her mother’s wedding tumed riders on horseback go from farm to farm, collect- dress. The 28-year-old superstar, who has become as ing ingredients for a huge community gumbo. known for her extravagant outfits as for her music, revealed After Fountain’s group early yesterday, parade groups the engagement by showing a simple, heart-shaped ring follow, including the “krewe of Rex, king of Carnival,” who that fiance Taylor Kinney gave her. wears a golden crown and carries a golden scepter. That “He gave me his heart on Valentine’s Day, and I said YES!” group features some of the season’s most wildly fantastic Gaga said in a caption to the picture she shared with her floats. After Rex come two groups of “truck floats” by the 5.5 million followers on Instagram. hundreds flatbed trailers decorated by costumed riders - Gaga met Kinney in 2011 when filming the video for whether families, clubs or other social groups. “You & I” in the open fields of Nebraska. Despite the roman- The parades all wind down late yesterday afternoon tic title, the video was full of disturbing imagery including and outdoor celebrations cease at midnight, when the simulated torture of Gaga. solemn Catholic season of Lent begins. New Orleans In a foreshadowing of the relationship to come, Gaga police ride horseback down the French Quarter’s revealed that she wore her mother’s wedding dress for the Bourbon Street to clear the last tipsy revelers at the end, video. It also showed Gaga-clad as a mermaid-having sex A float rider throws beads from his float during the Krewe of Proteus Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans. signaling the party is over for another year. — AP with Kinney. Kinney popped the question to Gaga, an Italian American whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, over a Valentine’s Day dinner at the New York restaurant Joanne Trattoria which is owned by her parents, according to celebrity magazine Us Weekly. Kinney, 33, has acted in a range of television shows, such as “ Fire,” and films. He had a recurring role on the television series “The Vampire Diaries” and played a Navy SEAL in “Zero Dark Thirty,” Kathryn Bigelow’s contro- versial thriller about the killing of Osama bin Laden. Gaga started off in the New York underground before her 2008 debut album “,” with its infectious dance sound and her racy persona, became an unexpected global smash hit. Her success was fueled by the popularity of her song “Poker Face,” in which Gaga hints at her bisexuality and boyfriends’ struggles to understand it. Gaga became known for her sexually charged live shows as well as her outrage-inducing attire, including a dress made of raw meat that she wore to the MTV Video Music Awards in 2010. More recently, Gaga has sought to show herself as more than a sensational persona. She has teamed up with 88- year-old for an album of jazz standards, “Cheek to Cheek,” accompanied by a tour with little of her Barker Curry, 4, cheers to floats for beads and trinkets, while his cousin Sophia Curry, 3, right, Members of the all-male dance group “The 610 Stompers” pose for a photo with past on-stage theatrics. — AFP looks at one of her trinkets, during the Krewe of Proteus Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans. parade-goers during the Krewe of Proteus Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans.