While the rest of the newsroom is busy covering current news my desk is swamped with Mardi Gras and Pilgrimage.

Mardi Gras in Natchez is a great holiday. With all three of the krewes growing and holding larger parties and parades it has become a big draw to our town. And of course none of our retailers are upset about that. And when something benefits our retailers it benefits all of us, whether you are involved in the actual activity or not.

Spring Pilgrimage seems to be something that most people are busy with or not involved with at all, or so they think. I have heard people say that this particular event doesn’t affect them in any way, and I think they are wrong.

As a one-time merchant in downtown Natchez I can remember clearly how happy all those spring visitors would make my cash register. After all it’s not we locals who usually take carriage rides, stay in local hotels or buy pralines from the street vendors.

Actually spring Pilgrimage offers many opportunities for we Natchezians to shine and it doesn’t have to involve the Confederate Pageant or a hoop-skirt.

When you notice people who are obviously lost (it’s not hard to tell, especially when they are huddled over a map) stop and offer directions. The streets in this town can be confusing, especially with all of our one-way signs and streets that change names halfway through town.

Or when you are trying to get down a street and there is a big tour bus unloading, take a minute to smile. Don’t honk at them; instead count to five — OK, count to 10.

And then there is my personal favorite, you know, when traffic is backed up because a tourist is standing in the middle of the road taking a picture of a big, big, big house with a little, little, little camera. Try to keep in mind that our antebellum houses are everyday to us, but they certainly aren’t to the rest of the world.

In the years I have lived in Natchez I have seen both good and bad things about Pilgrimage. The one thing you can’t deny about it is that it is an economic plus for our town. And again I would have to say that anything that helps our economy, helps us all.

— In case you haven’t seen any of the bright pink posters downtown this is a reminder about &uot;Upstairs Downtown, Rooms with a View V.&uot;

This tour of downtown apartments is in its fifth year and is sponsored by the Natchez Downtown Development Association.

Tickets for the tour are $10 and they include a tour of five apartments and hors d’oeuvres at Biscuits and Blues restaurant. They can be purchased in advance or the day of the tour at Natchez Downtown Development office at 108 South Commerce St. or at Antiques and Interiors at 414 Main St.

The addresses involved this year are, 319 Main St., 105 North Pearl St., 716 Franklin St., 634 A Franklin St. and 625 D Franklin St. All proceeds will benefit the NDDA.

— I have heard that the students at Cathedral are well prepared for their performance of &uot;Bye Bye Birdie&uot; due to open later this week. This is a great group of actors and will prove to be a great source of family entertainment.

— I am looking for recipes for chess squares. If you think yours or someone you know has a special one I would love to have it for an upcoming story.

Christina Hall is the lifestyle editor at The Democrat. She can be reached at 442-9101, ext. 249 or by email at christina.hall@natchezdemocrat.com