MARDI GRAS NEWS
Posted: January 30, 2012

*The 26th annual KREWE DU VIEUX (www.kreweduvieux.org) parade rolls at 6:30 on Saturday, February 4 with its theme, Crimes Against Nature. Expect a bawdy and hilarious procession that is designed for adults, not kids. For those who wonder how KDV gets away with some of its outrageous themes and antics, the answer is simple: by city ordinance, this is not a Mardi Gras parade and therefore does not have to obey regulations followed by Carnival krewes. This fact (plus its small size) is also why the group is permitted to march through the French Quarter, where Mardi Gras parades are banned. By law, Mardi Gras parades take place within the 12 days that precede Fat Tuesday, which KDV does not.

*As previously announced on this site, the KREWE OF BRID walking club will not parade this Friday night (February 3) in Lakeview.

*In the Times-Picayune's special 175th anniversary pullout section published yesterday, a feature on flambeaux claims that the KREWE OF GRELA (which is out of business) uses the lighted torches. I cannot recall seeing flambeaux in this parade, which rolled for more than half-a-century in the morning!

*Speaking of mistakes, the Mardi Gras Guide made a big one - The KREWE OF SLIDELLIANS will roll at 1 PM in Slidell next Saturday (February 4), not on January 29 as we published.

*When we released the first Mardi Gras Guide in 1977, there were 51 major parades in the metro area. Krewe captains and founders who were active in 1977 and still head up their parades in 2012 include the leaders of BACCHUS, CLEOPATRA, ENDYMION, ISIS, PONTCHARTRAIN, and THOR. They are to be congratulated for their contributions to Carnival.

*My interviews with representatives of more than 40 krewes will begin to air online and on the air next Monday during the morning program (4:30-7:00) and also during the 4 PM and 5 PM news. WDSU will also be tracking more than 30 parades. The station has promised to show clips of every major parade in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany and St. Bernard Parishes, February 10-21. Expect live shots from the Zulu, Endymion, Bacchus and Orpheus balls. Fat Tuesday WDSU will offer wall-to-wall coverage, including enhanced views of Zulu and Rex.

* For 25 years it was been my pleasure to appear with Peggy Scott and Errol Laborde on the Carnival edition of Steppin' Out on WYES-TV Channel 12. This year's program will air on February 9 at 7 PM, February 12 at 10 AM and 8 PM, and on February 14 at 11 PM.

*Did you Know? FORTY YEARS AGO the final Mardi Gras parade rolled through the FRENCH QUARTER. In 1973 parades were banned in the Vieux Carre.

ONE MONTH OUT
Posted: January 22, 2012

* History was made last night at the annual Endymion Coronation Ball when the 2012 queen, Erica d'Aquin (granddaughter of the Captain), selected-by blind draw-the club’s first African American king, George B Lafargue Jr.

* Will fireworks fly at this week's Jefferson Parish Council meeting? Several captains are upset with new regulations that will affect their parades, and they may show up to say so.

* If New Orleans is awarded the 2013 Pro Bowl, Carnival parades, already pushed back a week by the Super Bowl in New Orleans, should not be affected.

* Correction: The Claude parade in Slidell is set for next Sunday, January 29, not today, as listed in the Mardi Gras Guide

* One of the most enjoyable of my Mardi Gras endeavors is helping promote each parade by interviewing its captain for WDSU-TV. The two-minute segments will appear on-line and will air on TV near the parade date. So far we have filmed 32 captains in their dens or headquarters, and have a dozen scheduled for this week. Stay tuned.

MARDI GRAS NEWS
Posted: January 12, 2012

A recent ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY conducted by Tulane University concluded that the City of New Orleans gets an 8-to-1 return on every dollar spent on services provided for Mardi Gras.

ANNA MARIE SOTO, the captain of the Krewe of Rhea, died on New Year’s Eve of heart failure. She will be missed.

The CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL GUILD'S MARDI GRAS MAMBO BINGO is scheduled for Tuesday, February 14 at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner. The annual event is the Guild's foremost fundraiser and continues to grow each year. Call Nicole Marinello at 504-896-9373.

The KREWE OF MUSES is using eBay (http://r.ebay.com/HNtGSS) to auction a ride in its 2012 parade with the proceeds benefiting cancer survivor organization, 2012 C4YW Conference. Prizes includes the ride plus costume, mask, a small package of throws, entry to the riding-members-only pre-party and the post-parade party featuring Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Bidding ends on Sunday, January 15th at 6 p.m. Contact Jeanne at info@kreweofmuses.org or (504) 269-1422 with any questions.