Get set to celebrate in New Orleans and Curacao 

Some call it "The Greatest Free Show on Earth." We're talking about the Mardi Gras. Only three weeks left between now and Fat Tuesday, so preparations for the 312-year-old  festival are well underway.

More than 60 parades are scheduled to roll through  Greater New Orleans in March,with  many of them taking place simultaneously. These range from French Quarter  groups (known as krewes) such as  Pete Fountain's infamous Half-Fast Walking Club (of which actor John Goodman is a member) to "super krewes" like Orpheus, whose ornate floats cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and take months to build. The Krewe of Endymion, meanwhile, includes celebrities Anderson Cooper, Kelly Ripa and Pat Benatar, who will all serve as royalty.All the information you need is at www.mardigrasday.com.

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Curacao's Carnival has been called the Mardi Gras of the Caribbean. Through March 8, visitors will join thousands of spectators in lining island roads for the Tumba Festival, with views of intricately-costumed groups dancing in competition to the Tumba beat, an Afro-Caribbean-Latin music hybrid. The Grand Carnival Parade on March 6, marks the peak of the celebration and concludes with the Grand Farewell Parade on March 8.  In addition to street parades, the monthlong celebration includes beauty pageants and parties galore. Through March 15, a Curaçao NOW! package can be booked, for a free night’s stay and other  amenities at participating properties.For more information, visit www.curacao.com or www.curacaocarnival.info. 

Trivial question

What does Mardi Gras mean in English?  (Answer somewhere below.)

Check out India's royal wealth with this Toronto package

The Fairmont Royal York hotel in Toronto is featuring a  Royal Maharaja Package, with tickets to  "Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts," on exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario through April 1, 2011. The package starts at $219 and includes two tickets to the gallery and a one night hotel stay. The exhibition looks at the splendor of India's Royal Courts, featuring over 200 works of art created for India's  kings, including artwork, tapestry, thrones, weapons and jewels. Call 800-441-1414, or visit www.fairmont.com/royalyork.

Fascinating fact 

Little Rock, Ark., was originally known as Arkopolis.

Candy Man sweetens hotel stay at Chicago's Ritz

The Ritz-Carlton Chicago, A Four Seasons Hotel, has teamed up with a local sweet shop, Candyality, to present The Candy Man. Dressed in a red- and white-striped jacket and matching hat, this sweet felow will bring his traveling candy cart right up to guests rooms. He delivers to rooms by appointment between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. daily and offers his sweets -- gummy, chocolate, sour, crunchy and sweet candies -- at $5 per half-pound.  For hotel information, visit www.fourseasons.com/chicagorc or call 312-266-1000.

Search Amazon.com for Candy 

Worth quoting

“Boy, those French. They have a different word for everything.” -- Steve Martin

Free breakfast for Waikiki food donors

Waikiki's Ala Moana Hotel is giving a complimentary buffet breakfast to guests who bring in a donation for the Hawaii Foodbank. Visitors staying at the hotel who contribute six cans or five pounds of food from now to April 3  willget  a coupon for breakfast at the in-house eatery, Plantation Café. For hotel information, call 800-446-8990 or visit www.alamoanahotel.com.

Trivial answer

Mardi Gras, which is French, translates to Fat Tuesday, so called because of the feasting that takes place. In the Christian calnedar, the day is known as Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins (and feasting ends) on Ash Wednesday.