On Bourbon Street in the New Orleans French Quarter, shouting "Throw me something, Mister," has never been enough. Flashing a bit of skin has traditionally been in.

But this year, more women than ever were willing to bare it all for beads.

Monday Night Madness On Bourbon Some say the amount of "flashing" in the French Quarter has increased, bringing with it a growing reputation that that's what Mardi Gras is all about.

Bourbon Street partier Maria Stark of Springfield, Ma., said Monday that she has a little of the show-it-all-attitude because she knows "what the deal is."

Reveler Ray Olson of Seattle -- like hundreds of others --brought a video camera to Bourbon Street on Carnival weekend to record "the deal." "It's important to have a video camera to pick up all the fun that we have down here," he said. "Mardi Gras is the best thing in the world."

Last year, New Orleans police cracked down on public nudity and faced strong criticism from revelers who say flashing breasts is all part of the fun.

This year, police said that they would only make arrests if the nudity posed a public safety hazard. That policy resulted in 236 arrests for lewd conduct. Just 15 of those arrested were women.