Mayor Mitch Landrieu kicks off Mardi Gras countdown with king cake feast | NOLA.com

RUSTY COSTANZA / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE
With the assistance of his wife, Cheryl, left, and Leah Chase, center, Mayor Mitch Landrieu, right, cuts king cake during the City of New Orleans' annual king cake party to kick off the Carnival season at Gallier Hall in New Orleans on Friday, January 6, 2012.

Presiding over the mayor's annual Kings Day king cake party at Gallier Hall, Landrieu officially kicked off Carnival season -- which culminates with Fat Tuesday on Feb. 21 -- by presenting to the athletics directors of each school a gooey, oval-shaped pastry sparking with purple, green and gold sugar...

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