Fat Tuesday in America's Finest City

Mardi Gras in San Diego's heavily homo Hillcrest neighborhood was a mix of county fair, street festival and circuit party.

The celebration covered two blocks along University Avenue - much smaller than the main Mardi Gras celebration downtown in the Gaslamp Quarter.

In New Orleans, Mardi Gras is known as The Greatest Free Show on Earth. But here in San Diego, they charge $20 a head to get into the Hillcrest Fat Tuesday party.

There were a few people in costume.

Construction equipment substituted for street-side balconies.

A little flesh.
Lots of beads.

And plenty of places to pee. (Finding a bathroom in New Orleans on Mardi Gras is so tough there's even a song about it.)