Grab your coat and grab your hat, baby
Leave your worries on the doorstep
Just direct your feet
On the sunny side of the street

Can’t you hear the pitter-pat
That happy tune is your step
Life can be so sweet
On the sunny side of the street

Hard to argue with Louis Armstrong (and writers Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh), isn’t it? And if you know about the sunny side (or the Smiley Side, if you prefer) of Spanish Town—the road, the neighborhood, the Mardi Gras Parade, and the Society for the Preservation of Lagniappe in Louisiana (SPLL) Board—it’s equally hard to argue with the decision to honor the late, great Smiley Anders with the 2025 Spanish Town Mardi Gras theme of, “In Smiley Town, Smiley Says . . .”

Smiley Anders was well on his way to becoming a beloved member of Spanish Town, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; America the Beautiful, and the worldwide stage (or close enough to it for this fan!) when the recorded history of the Spanish Town Mardi Gras (STMG) Parade kicked off in 1981 with “kids beating on cardboard boxes” (according to the official STMG Web site).

Fast forward to the 10^th STMG parade in 1990 (themed “What a Long, Strange Trip it’s Been”), and the first “Best of Smiley” book was published: “Best of Smiley: Good, Better, Best Columns 1979–1990” (which, as the title states, hits the highlights of his first decade or so of absolutely delightful columns).

From the Amazon blurb advertising Smiley’s first book: “Smiley is a joyful little cherub of a man and his work exudes wit and character. He’s the kind of guy you just want to ‘belly up to the bar’ with. And you really haven’t lived until you’ve seen him at Spanish Town Mardi Gras in his pink tu-tu and red pumps [with] Katherine Scales Anders, ‘current wife’ aka ‘Lady Katherine.’”

By that time, Smiley was not only a highly revered Spanish Town resident, friend of SPLL, and Baton Rouge icon; he was STMG royalty! Smiley Anders was named King of the Mardi Gras in 1984 (themed “*$@# Big Brother [because, ya know, the novel “1984”]).

What a king he was—and always will be in the hearts, minds, and history of SPLL and those who love it and love King Smiley! (I actually heard ca. 2002 that Smiley was in fact such a benevolent ruler and an apt representation of Baton Rouge’s oldest neighborhood and biggest Baton Rouge Mardi Gras celebration, the SPLL Board seriously considered asking him to be the 2003 Queen of Spanish Town so he could once again rule over the Pink Path Party while being king again was not possible. I guess he declined, and Spanish Town got stuck with Queen Alainna Matens . . . who I happen to know has been a 15-minutes-of-fame-milking flamingo ever since.)

Charles Fish Fisher, Spanish Town legend (and now deceased Board member), served as Grand Marshal the year Smiley was King. Fish is also the person who nominated Alainna for Spanish Town Queen when Smiley declined the nod in late 2022. Alainna was in college then and working part time at Steve Fuller’s Thirsty Tiger Tavern. Back then “The Advocate” building and the Thirsty Tiger Tavern were neighbors, and SPLL’s old guard would hold their Board meetings at the Tavern, where rumor has it much merriment was made by the king makers (and queen makers, and grand marshal makers), et al. (Full disclosure: I know this, dear reader, because STMG Queen Alainna 2003 and your author are one and the same. She’s me. I’m that flamingo, and my 15 minutes are not up!)

Smiley’s next book, “Smiley!: A Laughing Matter,” came out in 2012 and (again, from Amazon), “ . . . not only contains funny stories from his columns published between 1991 and 2000, but also an account of his life, from his early days as a spoiled brat in Natchez, Miss., to his high school and college days in Baton Rouge and his journey in journalism that culminated in his award-winning column. Here you’ll find Cajun jokes featuring Boudreaux and Thibodeaux, tales of Louisiana politicians both free and incarcerated and a somewhat less than serious look at the ‘Gret Stet’ of Louisiana and its colorful citizens. It’s as much fun as Mardi Gras, without the hangover.”

And so, through the decades of Smiley isms and Red Stick revelry, SPLL and the STMG faithful thrilled to honor our gone but never forgotten unofficial Poet Laureate of Spanish Town (Smiley sure did love a limerick) have a treasure trove of pearls of wit and wisdom to inspire the 2025 celebrations culminating in the Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade slated to roll at noon on Saturday, March 1.

Smiley passed away in May of 2024, after 50 years of award winning columns. But Spanish Town Mardi Gras—and Smiley’s legacy—must go on! (Of note: A third book, “Smiley and Friends,” was published in 2020. No spoilers for you on that one; go check it out! Literally . . . Check it out while East Baton Rouge Parish still has libraries.)

Just remember, what Smiley’s still mourning community, friends, family, and the SPLL Board hope to see rolling through the streets of Spanish Town and downtown Baton Rouge March 1 is indeed (to the best of this “Krewe of Wuz, Has Been and Draggin’” Queen’s knowledge)  “The Best of Smiley!”

If you have never attended SPLL’s annual Parade Awards and Charity Donations Party, you may not know (but definitely should be overjoyed to learn) SPLL has donated over 1.4 million dollars to local charities to date. No wonder SPLL so passionately appreciates everyone that attends the fundraising events (and Smiley so enthusiastically embraced the true overall mission of the madness).  If you weren’t sure what it’s really all about, now you know! And as every good G.I. Joe fan can tell you, “Knowing is half the battle.”

Please join SPLL and Smiley’s community in celebrating the culture, diversity, and far reaching ripples of positivity and brotherly love for fellow Baton Rougeans that today’s Spanish Town Mardi Gras represents for one and all. Come on down; everybody is welcome—just as Smiley would surely want to see it play out as his charming, cherished neighborhood is transformed into Smiley Town!

Because in Smiley Town, Smiley says, “Baton Rouge is a beautiful city to me.”

 

And all the people said amen.