Carnival

One of the biggest differences I've noticed about this city since I've returned post-Katrina is that people are more apt to celebrate rather than feel they are above it. I recall distinctly the moaning and groaning of a lot of locals who didn't seem the slightest bit interested in Mardi Gras celebrations, but now; it's a different story. People plot their costumes in advance, chart their hours to make it to their favorite events and put forth an almost Herculean effort to make sure that they are a part of it. It's one of the better changes I've seen, this coming together.