Last spring break, Andrea Simonelli indulged with the best of them at Mardi Gras, drinking Cuervo Boats - Jose Cuervo, Malibu rum and ice - out of fishbowls and partying with her best friend.
And although the New Orleans celebration, chock full of elaborate gaudiness, body parts and bright plastic beads, doesn’t fall on MSU’s spring break this year, she plans to do it all again.
“We fell in love with the place,” said Simonelli, a political theory junior. “You’re completely bogged down here with rules and things to do, and for a few days a year you can really let go. It’s not exactly cheap, but we’ve been saving since we got home last year.”
A lot of students can’t drop everything and go. They’ve got class, work and just enough money to not eat macaroni and cheese about two nights a week.
But, if the essence of Mardi Gras truly grabs your spirit, there’s still hope.
Southern Comfort, which claims New Orleans as its homeland, will offer two lucky people seats on a desirable Bourbon Street balcony during this year’s Mardi Gras celebration.
The catch? Send a video of yourself doing something zany or unique, unleash some insane talent or memorable stunt. Think MTV’s Jackass, except “tasteful.”
“After we go through the main pile, we’ll pick out five winners,” said Derek Meier, a public relations representative for Edelman, a public relations firm that handles Southern Comfort. “We’ll send those five to New Orleans the week before Mardi Gras.
“Members from the cast of New Orleans Real World and several VIPs will judge the videos and select one winner.”
The grand-prize winner will receive airfare and accommodations for two to New Orleans from Feb. 24-27. The winner will also receive two VIP spots on the “SoCo” Bourbon Street Balcony, and a chance to hang with Real World exes Danny, Kelly and Jamie.
Mardi Gras, which always falls 40 days plus six Sundays before Easter, is commonly dubbed “the greatest free show on earth.”
As of Tuesday, roughly 50 videos had been entered in this national competition. Videos must be postmarked by Jan. 29, Meier said.
“They’ve been tasteful so far,” Meier said. “We’ve had some people in rainbow clown wigs smashing pumpkins, a woman that bent her arm around her head somehow and someone who rode down the escalator on her head.
“And we prefer no nudity, preferably no cussing,” he said. “Also, no drugs and blatant display of alcohol abuse. Other than that, you can do whatever you want.”
Although Simonelli already has Mardi Gras plans, she said she’d be tempted to enter a contest such as this, perhaps pulling a stunt out of her gymnastic training of years past.
“(Mardi Gras is) better than Disney World, it’s the happiest place on earth,” she said. “I was surprised that even couples come down to enjoy the madness.”
Simonelli said that, despite rumors, Mardi Gras isn’t the drunken orgy its reputation may suggest.
“It’s not entirely about the flashing, drag queens and beads,” she said. “It’s just about letting go of everything you’re supposed to and doing everything you’re not supposed to do at once.”
Videos can be sent to “The Southern Comfort What Would You Do to Stand Out at Mardi Gras?” Semifinalist Contest, Attn: D. Meier, 200 E. Randolph Drive 63rd floor, Chicago, IL 60601.
