Mind Your Mardi Gras Manners

Soulard, Mo-Soulard residents love a party, and at their 25th annual Mardi Gras, they once again invite uncounted thousands to join them for the celebration. But just as Soulard plays a gracious host to the region's best party, the neighborhood also expects its guests to mind their Mardi Gras Manners. Once again this year, no bottles, no cans, and no coolers will be allowed at Soulard Mardi Gras. Revelers are encouraged to party responsibly, so we can all have fun. Together, we are making a safe and enjoyable series of events for the whole region.

Soulard resident and St. Louis Excise Commissioner Bob Kraiberg will be working to combat underage drinking at Soulard Mardi Gras, with the help of state liquor control agents, who again will be assigned to Soulard on Grand Parade Day and on Fat Tuesday. Although the Soulard Community Gardens benefit from these youngsters' good efforts after their conviction, the needs of the gardens could be met without them.

Speaking of needs being met-shouldn't 450 portable potties be enough? Sadly, not for some, so residents and visitors will also note the "No PP" signs adorning the neighborhood again this year. Our efforts to highlight this issue for the past several years have made progress, and police will again be issuing summonses for, well, failing to use one of them.

Please also remember the parking restrictions on Charter Communications Grand Parade Day, Saturday, February 21. Again this year, the "Red Zone" area of Soulard, from Lafayette to Ann and 7th to Gravois is closed to vehicular traffic on Grand Parade Day, and no on-street parking will be allowed in this area. Only Soulard residents with valid Parade Day Parking Permits will be allowed to park in the "Yellow Zone" south of Ann Ave.

"Yellow Zone" parking permits will be mailed to Soulard households (2 per household) on January 31. Residents who don't receive their permits may also pick them up from February 9-16 at the Mardi Gras, Inc. office, 1013 Ann Avenue from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Ample parking is available in Downtown St. Louis, or in Soulard, east of Broadway. MetroBus will again provide shuttle service to Soulard on Charter Communications Grand Parade Day, Saturday, February 21. Shuttles will run regularly from the Savvis Center Metro Station to Soulard and back.