Mardi Gras comes early this year. The world's biggest party starts today, Tuesday, in New Orleans and spills out of Louisiana to infect the country with an atmosphere of wild festivity. Today is also the day when millions of Americans vote in primary elections to nominate a new president. Can there be a connection?

No matter what your political leanings, February is a great time to celebrate Louisiana's cheerful French Creole Architecture >>

^{New Orleans cottage photo © Maria Rodriguez}