Posted by: Meghan Jones
in Mardi Gras News on Feb 15, 2010
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NEW ORLEANS | Well, it's finally here, the pinnacle of Carnival season, and you've got your ladder, your fried chicken and your costumes in hand. But where are you gonna go?
Well, there is the premier option if you're from out of town, which is, of course, Bourbon Street and French Quarter revelry. The crowds will be plentiful, the beads will be abundant, and you're likely to get an eyeful of things you didn't think were allowed in public. With little ones, the parades in Metairie and Uptown are much more family friendly, with stuffed animals, toys and hundreds of truck parades tossing out countless goodies.
Posted by: Nancy Brister
in Mardi Gras News on Feb 15, 2010
Mardi Gras came to America in 1699, when Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville arrived at the mouth of the Mississippi River on March 3rd - Shrove Tuesday. Mardi Gras had been celebrated in France since the Middle Ages, so, when Iberville set up camp on the west bank of the river, about 60 miles south of where New Orleans is today, he named the site in honor of the holiday being celebrated that day, "Pointe du Mardi Gras" (Mardi Gras Point). Mardi Gras has been closely linked to Louisiana's cultural heritage since that day.
During the 1700's, pre-Lenten masked balls and festivals were common in New Orleans while it was under French rule. However, when the city came under Spanish rule, the custom of masking was banned. This prohibition continued until 1823, when the governor was finally convinced to permit masked balls. In 1827, street masking was again legalized.
Click here to see the full Historic New Orleans photo gallery!
Posted by: Meghan Jones
in Mardi Gras News on Feb 12, 2010
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Ad man Tom Martin is the president of Zehnder Communications, a local, award-winning agency known for its innovation and creative thinking. This Mardi Gras, he is proving his company's characteristics to be true. Martin has rounded up a group of web-savvy folks from around the country and will attempt to use social media to change the outside world's (read: anywhere not here) concept of our Carnival celebrations.
His mission: To use mommy bloggers, food writers and Tweeted photos of families enjoying Mardi Gras to make people realize that Fat Tuesday does not have to be a half-naked, debauchery-filled drunk-fest. Especially not if you have children. His main method: the website MyMardiGrasExperience.Com and, of course, Twitter.
What started as just an innocent idea now has backing from major companies both local and national, like Tabasco and Sheraton, and his pet project has been written about in prestigious advertising magazine, AdAge. It's all come pretty far from last year's Mardi Gras, when Martin started this revolution all by himself and in the humblest of places.
Posted by: Meghan Jones
in Mardi Gras News on Feb 12, 2010
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It's a beloved Carnival-time tradition that has been carried out for generations: Find out when Arthur Hardy's Mardi Gras Guide is available, and as soon as it is, go get you one from the nearest drugstore.
Of course, time passes and things change, sometimes for the worse and sometimes for the better. As of a decade or two ago, you could no longer pick up your Mardi Gras Guide at a K&B, a definite negative. As of this year, though, in an exciting change for the better, you don't have to physically go pick up your Mardi Gras Guide at all... there's a new app in town!
Local digital designer Orin Dodge of Calliope Digital got together with Mr. Mardi Gras himself and created an application for the iPhone that has all of the perks of the beloved annual glossy with much less heft to carry around in that Mardi Gras backpack you wear all week long. What's in that thing, anyway?
Posted by: Kim Ranjbar
in Mardi Gras News on Feb 12, 2010
Like many non-natives, king cake was virtually unknown to me before I moved to New Orleans almost seven years ago. The first time I tasted the colorful pastry, I nearly bit into the baby hidden inside my slice. Of course, my co-workers found the incredulous look on my face particularly hilarious. Why would any sane person stick a plastic baby inside a cake? Oh, I had so much to learn.
Since the 18th century in New Orleans, folks down here have been celebrating Epiphany and Twelfth Night with King cakes. It has become customary for whoever finds the trinket – representative of the baby Jesus, yet another thing I had to wrap my head around - to provide the cake for the next celebration. In a season that lasts over a month, that’s a whole lot of king cake! Thank goodness there are so many different ones to choose from all over the city.
Posted by: NewOrleans.Com Staff
in Mardi Gras News on Feb 12, 2010
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The Wedding of Venus and Mars with the Right Reverend Bacchus Presiding: What Vow Will You Make or Break?
Box of Wine -- the one and only little parade that dares to go where the big parades roll--wants you to join the parade this Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 3 pm at the corner of Washington and Saratoga. We will march down Washington, turn onto St. Charles Avenue, parade down to Clio, turn left on Clio and end at the Big Top.
This should prove to be an auspicious day as it is St. Valentine's Day, Tet (Chinese New Year), and Bacchus Sunday. With Drew Brees
riding as Bacchus, the route along St. Charles Avenue will be filled with spectators ready for the diverting spectacle of Box of Wine as it takes the route during the long lull between the end of Thoth and the beginning of Bacchus.
As exhibited in Tuesday's Saints parade and the Buddy D parade before it, the Saints aren't the only men in town with extraordinary moves worth showing off. Since the 610 Stompers, those "Ordinary Men with Extraordinary Moves," made their dancing debut at this year's Pussyfooters Blush Ball they've managed to attract the attention of a football-distracted city, make it onto SportsCenter and a Fox News national telecast, and inspire WWL’s Garland Robinette to try out for a coveted spot on their squad.
Posted by: Meghan Jones
in Mardi Gras News on Feb 11, 2010
According to the krewe website, the Muses parade, originally scheduled for tonight, has been re-scheduled for tomorrow night due to inclement weather. The Southshore forecast for this evening calls for temperatures in the upper 30s and an almost 100% chance of rain.
The Muses pre-party has also been moved to tomorrow, but the aMUSEment will be tonight as scheduled.
Posted by: Kim Ranjbar
in Mardi Gras News on Feb 10, 2010
To be perfectly honest, the first time I glimpsed one of Mistretta’s Mardi Gras posters at an art shop in the Riverwalk, it vaguely reminded me of 80’s artist, Patrick Nagel. Although Mistretta’s works are much more colorful and finely stylized than Nagel, the association was rather positive due to my teen obsession with Duran Duran.
Aside from flooding me with happy memories of my youth, Mistretta’s posters successfully evoked the abandon of Mardi Gras in all its evocative colors and sensuality. The only barrier to purchasing her 2002 “Mardi Gras Mambo” edition was a lack of funds at the time.
NEW ORLEANS | This Friday, February 12 at 10:00 a.m. sharp, Mardi Gras 2010 officially kicks-off in the French Quarter with the 40th Annual Greasing of the Poles. The Royal Sonesta Hotel at 300 Bourbon Street will present this unique New Orleans' spectacle on the Friday morning before the big Mardi Gras weekend. The event is a "must have must see" experience for all visitors to the Crescent City as well as seasoned Mardi Gras veterans.
Local historian and Mardi Gras authority, Arthur Hardy, describes the Greasing of the Poles as an event "performed with great style and a hint of mischief." The event captures the essence of the Mardi Gras spirit and always features surprise celebrity guests, great local music, and a whole lot of petroleum jelly!
According to the New Orleans Police Department, a New Orleans Saints Super Bowl parade is scheduled for Tuesday, February 9th at 5:00 p.m. See the whole team and Saints organization roll by on floats donated by several krewes around town.
Posted by: Margarita Bergen
in Mardi Gras News on Feb 01, 2010
Darlings, if there is one parade that I do not miss participating in it is the Mystic Krewe of Barkus.
My darling dog Tito Lindo, a purebred Mini Pincher was the 2009 Grand Duke of the Krewe of Barkus, as well as the perennial Royal Pooch of the Krewe of Cork. Unfortunately, my dream, and that of many of my friends to anoint Tito King of Barkus as he turned 10 in 2010 evaporated with his sudden death on July 4, 2009.
His replacement, sweet, effervescent Chiquita Linda, a Chihuahua, is making her debut as Duchess in the 2010 Barkus Parade. The Windsor Court Hotel is sponsoring Chiquita Linda. Her proud mother will be parading alongside her as her personal chef as the Mystic Krewe of Barkus goes Tailgating on Super Sunday, February 7.
