Happy Mardi Gras!

Happy Mardi Gras from your friends at the Dog Denizens of Genesee Park (DDGP)! French for "Fat Tuesday", Mardi Gras represents the celebration between the Epiphany and Ash Wednesday. It's booze, beads and

Americans first celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans on March 3, 1699. Official parade organizations -- starting with the Mystick Krewe of Comus in 1856 and the Krewe of Rex in 1872. (The Free Dictionary defines "krewe" as "groups with hereditary membership whose members organize and participate as costumed paraders in the annual Mardi Gras carnival.")

Here in Seattle, our Fat Tuesday celebration has evolved to a "family friendly" event... "safe and sane" debauchery, a true oxymoron.

If you aren't inclined to step out to Pioneer Square to hang out with the family-oriented celebrants, stay home with your dog and celebrate with a package of Zatarain's jambalaya and batch of Hurricanes:

Traditional Hurricane Recipe

• 2 oz light rum
• 2 oz dark rum
• 2 oz passion fruit juice
• 1 oz orange juice
• ½ oz fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon simple syrup
• 1 tablespoon grenadine
• Garnish: orange slice and cherry

Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a Hurricane glass filled with ice. Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice.

Party on, Wayne.