Marti Gras, where not everywhere is a celebration

In the Bible it says Jesus spent 40 days in the desert before beginning his public ministry. Today during the holiday of Lent believers practice self-denial of material objects such as no chocolate for 40 days or like that movie where Josh Hartnett gives up sex for 40 days and 40 nights. But before this religious journey begins there is a day of celebration called Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday where you indulge yourself on food, drink, and celebration before Ash Wednesday. Our minds are filled with images of Carnival, beads and boobs, colorful misshapen masks and goofy costumes, parades, and perhaps New Orleans. February 16, 2010 was Mardi Gras, but University blvd and Fourth Ave. were not filled with celebrating people, partying for lent.

The first stop was the Auld Dubliner on University blvd. Inside is dark mahogany coloring, dimmed lights, and tall tables in the center. The bar is extensive, taking up the entire wall and appears to hold any type of liquor and mixed drink that someone would ask for, plus a few surprises like their famous harry potter shot. The liquid is blue, a slice of lemon with sugar on top of the glass, served on a plate. The bartender lights a match and lights the shot, teasing the flame, making it spark and rise and stretch by sprinkling stuff on top, looked like sugar.

On the little stage near the door stood 2 guys, a blonde with a checkered sweater vest with a guitar and a brunette with a pink bandana and sun glasses on the key board. Their music was hard to follow, it was everywhere and didn’t seem as if the guys heard each other or were aware that they were playing the same song. You recall that episode of FRIENDS when Ross finds his old keyboards from college and plays for the group. He thinks he has a gift of great value while his friends are biting their lips and sinking down in their chairs. Random sounds of video game zooms and beats produced by the keyboards did not make for melody.

The rest of the night entailed refusing to pay a 5 dollar cover at Gentle Ben’s on University blvd and playing a round of pool at the Hut on fourth Ave. Surely New Orleans has hogged the spirit of this holiday.