Yer One-Stop Shrove Tuesday Shopping Centre

The Irish Elk has got you covered, with both traditional and extra spicy flavahs.

Just as a piece of trivia, I am informed by highly partisan local sources that Mobile, Alabama was the location of the original Mardi Gras celebration as we think of it in these here United States, and that those bastards in New Orleans stole the idea from them. (My source's words, not mine.) Certainly Mobile still carries on its own party. I happened to be in town on Ash Wednesday last year after what I believe was a record attendance. The place was a mess and the stench quite overpowering.

Me? As I plan to give up all adult beverages for Lent (and no sneaky "Sundays don't count" this year!), I'm trying to decide whether to pull one last cork this evening or not.

UPDATE: Here is a bit on Mobile's claim to have held the first Mardi Gras in 1703. As a Virginny loyalist who knows that the First Thanksgiving actually was held at Berkeley's Hundred in 1619, two whole years before those miserable Puritans at Plymouth got around to overdone turkey, too many adult beverages and dozing off during the 3rd Quarter of the Cowboys/'Skins game, I know exactly how the good citizens of Mobile feel about pinched glory.