| By Bob Warren Well, it’s over. Now we put away the costumes, try to vacuum up the glitter and set our sites on other things (like St. Patrick's Day...) Mardi Gras 2022, the return of the region’s signature party after the COVID break of 2021, didn’t disappoint. You can relive the big day through these photos. (And start thinking about your 2023 costume – Feb. 21 will be here before you know it.)
Fry 'em: The end of Mardi Gras, of course, ushers in the start of Lent. Which for many means ashes on foreheads. And fish fries on Friday. Our dining ace Ian McNulty writes about a unique twist on that time-honored tradition.
Going maskless? Will the masks come off in New Orleans? Dr. Jennifer Avegno, the city’s health director, will hold forth on the city's COVID restrictions at a news conference later this afternoon. Be sure to check back with NOLA.com for more on this developing story.
More Karen: Karen Swensen, the former WWL-TV personality who stepped down last month, was on "CBS mornings" today to talk about what's next in her life. Check out what she had to say.
Pelican's push: Our Pelicans are making a push. Consecutive wins over Western Conference foes. And a game tonight at the Smoothie King Center against a very beatable Sacramento team. Mardi Gras might be done, but columnist Rod Walker says the Pels need to keep their party going.
Hoped you enjoyed today’s Lunch Line newsletter. Thanks for taking a break with us. Bob | 
