HAPPY MARDI GRAS - PARADES FOR TODAY!
Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, Krewe of Rex, Krewe of Argus, Krewe of Grela, Krewe of Lions, Krewe of Covington Krewe of Houmas and more... Truck parades include Krewe of Elks Orleans, Krewe of Crescent City, Krewe of Jefferson, Krewe of Elks Jefferson and more... - MARDIGRASPARADESCHEDULE.COM
Rex and his Queen Announced
Reigning as Rex 2011 is Herschel L. Abbott, Jr.., a New Orleans attorney and community leader, will reign as Rex, King of Carnival, 2011. Mr. Abbott came to New Orleans from Monroe, LA to attend Tulane University, where he earned Bachelor's and Juris Doctorate degrees. After service in the Air Force, including a tour of duty in Viet Nam, Mr. Abbott returned to New Orleans to practice law with the Jones, Walker law firm, where be became a Senior Partner and member of the Management Committee. The Queen of Carnival, 2011, is Miss Jane Yvonne White. a Dean's List anthropology major at Vanderbilt University. She attended Metairie Park Country Day School and graduated from Philips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hunter White III. - REXORGANIZATION.COM
Mardi Gras Parades for Monday, March 7, 2011
the Krewe of Proteus & the Krewe of Orpheus will roll on the uptown route in New Orleans while the Krewe of Zeus takes to the streets in Metairie and the, Krewe of Cleopatra is set to roll in Houma all on Lundi Gras - MARDIGRASPARADESCHEDULE.COM
Mardi Gras parades for Sunday March 6, 2011
SUPER SUNDAY! The Krewe of Okeanos leads off the day followed by the all foil floats of the Krewe of Mid-City which is then followed by The Krewe of Thoth. The evening promises a double header of Super Krewes leading off with the Krewe of Bacchus with Andy Garcia reigning followed by the rescheduled Krewe of Endymion. Metairie holds a double header of parades starting with Corps de Napoleon and followed by the rescheduled Krewe of Isis.- MARDIGRASPARADESCHEDULE.COM
Endymion to follow Bacchus; Saturday morning parades start earlier
The Superkrewe of Endymion will move its parade to Sunday, following the Krewe of Bacchus, krewe officials announced Friday evening.In addition, the Krewe of Tucks will move its parade from noon to 10 a.m. Saturday morning. Iris will still roll at 11 a.m. The Krewe of NOMTOC, which rolls in Algiers, will move out an hour earlier than scheduled - now rolling at 9:45 a.m. - WWLTV.COM
***ALERT***Time change for some parades
Hermes will begin at 5:30 p.m., Krewe d’Etat will follow at 6 p.m.,and the Krewe of Morpheus at 6:30, tonight's last parade along the Uptown route. We will keep you posted of all changes as they are made availabe to the parades in Metairie, Slidell and Mandeville as we receive that information - MARDIGRASPARADESCHEDULE.COM
Mardi Gras parades for Friday March 4, 2011
3 Parades hit the streets of New Orleans Today as the Krewe of Hermes starts the night off. Followed by the satirical Le Krewe d'Etat. Then look for the Krewe of Morpheus. In Metairie the Krewe of Centurions will take to the streets and the Original Krewe of Orpheus rolls in Mandeville followed by the brand new Krewe of Lyra. Look for the Krewe of Selene in Slidell. .- MARDIGRASPARADESCHEDULE.COM
Rain threat pushes Metairie's Krewe of Isis parade to Sunday evening
The Krewe of Isis, scheduled to parade on the regular Veterans Memorial Bouelvard route in Metairie on Saturday at 6:30 p.m., will instead parade Sunday. Kriss Fortunato, public information officer for Jefferson Parish, said Isis officials made the decision today based on the forecast of rain for the early part of the weekend. Isis is now set to follow the Corps de Napoleon parade, which is scheduled to start Sunday at 5:30 p.m. on the Veterans route. - NOLA.COM
Storms Could Cause Problems For Endymion; Route Changed
Stormy weather on Saturday could cause problems for Carnival parades, particularly one of the most popular parades of the season, Endymion. The krewe announced Thursday that it will change its route out of "an abundance of caution," skipping a short jaunt down Julia Street in the Central Business District and instead staying on St. Charles Avenue until St. Joseph Street, which is larger and easier to negotiate in the event of rain. - WDSU.COM • UPDATED ROUTE
Carnival safety top priority for city officials
Police and administration officials said personal portable bathrooms, sofas and other furnishings will not be allowed on neutral grounds, nor will people be allowed to rope off areas and ladders should not be placed in front of parade lines. Landrieu said last week city and state agencies took part in a table top exercise to test response times if a big emergency occurs while a parade is rolling. But he hopes violence isn’t a problem. - FOX8LIVE.COM
Mardi Gras parades for Sunday February 27, 2011
Krewe of Carrollton, Krewe of King Arthur, and the iconic Dog Parade Barkus will be sniffing the streets again, and more parades. A doubleheader of parades in Metairie including the Krewe of Rhea returning to the streets follows by the Krewe of Thor premiering it's new day and time ...- MARDIGRASPARADESCHEDULE.COM
Mardi Gras parades for Saturday February 26, 2011
Krewe of Pontchartrain, Knights of Sparta, and Krewe of Pygmalion are set to roll Uptown, While the Superkrewe of Caesar hits the streets of Metairie. A double dose of parades start the day on the Westbank with the venerable Krewe of Choctaw followed by the always enjoyable Mystic Knights of Adonis and lots more parades...- MARDIGRASPARADESCHEDULE.COM
Mardi Gras parades for Friday Ferbruary 25, 2011
Krewe of Oshun set to roll Uptown, While Krewe of Excalibur and Krewe of Atlas are set to roll in Metairie. the Krewe of Eve will celebrate 25 years on the Northshore and the Krewe of Cleopatra opens up the season on the Westbank and more...- MARDIGRASPARADESCHEDULE.COM
Landlord Wants To Evict Krewe Of Zeus
A Metairie landlord is pushing to evict the Krewe of Zeus from its den because of several months of unpaid rent.State Rep. Damon Baldone from Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes owns the warehouse in Metairie where the krewe keeps. He bought it from the krewe a few years ago, and now Baldone wants them out. "I cant keep paying for a float den," he said. "I've worked with them for a year and I can't get taken advantage of." Baldone said to date, the krewe owes him more than $200,000. The lease agreement and the rent report shows late or no payments since April of 2010. - WDSU.COM • WATCH VIDEO
9 blocks of Veterans Boulevard Neutral Ground off limits for Mardi Gras parades
With Metairie’s Mardi Gras parades kicking into high gear Friday night, spectators will find almost nine blocks of the Veterans Memorial Boulevard median largely off limits. Construction fences have been erected between Bonnabel Boulevard and Oaklawn Avenue to protect new landscaping, officials said. A beautification program has been under way for several years, said Sean Burke, Jefferson Parish's citizen services director. Officials hoped the late date for Mardi Gras this year would allow the landscaping to take hold before the parade season arrived. But an unusually cold snap in February delayed the work, he said. "We just ask (parade-goers) to bear with us,” he said. “We still have plenty, plenty areas for people to stand and enjoy the parades.”. - NOLA.COM
Andy Garcia to Reign as Bacchus 2011
It has been announced that Andy Garcia is Bacchus XLIII. The announcement was made at the World War II Museum. This years theme for Bacchus is "Bacchus Slautes America's Greatest Generation". He will join the ranks of other celebrities including Drew Brees, Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, James Gandolfini, Val Kilmer, William Shatner, Jean Claude Van-Damme, Hulk Hogan and Raymond Burr to reign as Bacchus. - MARDIGRASPARADESCHEDULE.COM
Zulu suit accuses company of trademark violations
The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club is suing a company it claims is selling counterfeit Zulu beads and other Mardi Gras paraphernalia without the krewe's permission. The suit filed Tuesday asks a federal judge to bar the Mardi Gras Beads Factory in Bridge City from selling any items bearing Zulu's trademarks. George Xia, who manages the business, says he hadn't seen the lawsuit but told a lawyer for the group that he will remove any Zulu-related products if they can specify which items infringe the trademarks. Zulu is a predominantly black group that, during the Carnival season, wears grass skirts and blackface makeup in parody of stereotypes from the early 1900s. - WWLTV.COM
Free concerts set for West Bank parade route
Amanda Shaw and Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. will headline free concerts along the West Bank parade route during the weekend before Mardi Gras. Amanda Shaw & The Cute Guys will perform Feb. 26 from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Terry Parkway and Carol Sue Avenue in Terrytown.Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters will perform at the same location Feb. 27 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. “We are looking forward to another exciting, family‐friendly Carnival season in Jefferson Parish,” Jefferson Parish Councilman Chris Roberts said in a news release announcing the concerts. “These talented local performers will give our parade goers another layer of fun at the parades.” The free concerts are the West Bank’s answer to Family Gras, which will be held Feb. 25, 26 and 27 in Metairie on the median of Veterans Memorial Boulevard between Causeway Boulevard and Severn Avenue. - NOLA.COM
Anderson Cooper, Kelly Ripa grand marshals for Endymion
Anderson Cooper, Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos, Pat Benatar and the rock band Train are expected to ride in this year’s Endymion parade as grand marshals. Veternan CNN journalist Anderson Cooper will be joined by "Live! with Regis and Kelly" host Kelly Ripa, whose show is a favorite on WWL-TV. Ripa's husband, actor Mark Consuelos, will ride in the parade as well, krewe officials announced. Also joining Ripa, Cooper and Consuelos will be rocker Pat Benatar and local musician Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, a Grammy nominee this year. - WWLTV.COM
City to hold lottery for vendor permits along Mardi Gras parade routes
The city will hold its annual lottery for Mardi Gras fixed location permits, on Feb 10 at 1:30 p.m. in the lobby of the Civil District Court Building. For the vendors, Mardi Gras season officially starts Feb. 25 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Fat Tuesday, March 8. Vendors will be permitted to sell items two hours before the start of a parade and two hours after the parade ends. All participants must submit a lottery registration card and a $1,000 sales tax deposit in the form of a certified check or money order made payable to the City of New Orleans. Registration cards may be picked up at City Hall, 1300 Perdido St., Room 1W14, or can be found online. - NOLA.COM
Are you Goddess enough to roll with the Muses?
This is a once in a lifetime chance for a woman to ride in the 2011 Krewe of Muses Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans on Thursday, March 3, 2011. Join 872 riding Muses for the annual and much anticipated parade… and jump ahead of the 1,000+ Muses on the wait list! Ask anyone who has rolled with the Muses…It’s absolutely Inspirational! This year's charity ride benefits the St. Bernard Project.Auction Ends Jan 22, 2011 16:00:28 PST - MARDIGRASPARADESCHEDULE.COM
West Bank Carnival krewes Alla, Cleopatra could get parish money Two West Bank krewes would receive a total of $25,000 from Jefferson Parish for this year's Carnival parades under agreements the Parish Council is expected to approve Wednesday. But a separate item on the agenda would ban such expenditures in the future.The Krewe of Alla would receive $15,000 while Cleopatra would get $10,000 in hotel and motel tax revenue under resolutions proposed by Councilman Chris Roberts, who has steered parish funding to West Bank krewes since 2005. The practice would be banned under an ordinance proposed by Councilman Byron Lee, who wants to prohibit the parish from entering into such cooperative endeavor agreements with krewes, festivals and social clubs. - NOLA.COM
Phunny Phorty Phellows Herald the arrival of the 2011 Carnival Season Carnival Officially begins with the ride of the Phunny Phorty Phellows on Twelfth Night.The Phunny Phorty Phellows will board at the RTA streetcar barn, located on Willow Street, at 6:30 p.m. on Twelfth Night, Thursday, January 6th, 2011. The Phunny ride will begin at 7:00 p.m. sharp The streetcar, which, traditionally, is still bedecked in it’s yuletide dressings, will leave the station for a route that will take the partying Phellows on the St. Charles Streetcar line past Lee Circle and turnaround at Canal and then back to the barn. You can’t miss the streetcar, it’s the one with the really noisy party inside and a big sign hanging from it reading: “It’s Carnival Time!”. Look for members passing out special commemorative beads from the streetcar. The beads celebrate the 30th year of their modern day ride.(pic in article) - MARDIGRASPARADESCHEDULE.COM
This brand new look at Carnival's oldest parading organization colorfully documents the 140-year history of Rex. The story of Rex's fanciful Carnival Kingdom-its royalty and traditions, its Processions and Imperial Receptions, its crown jew- els and rich art-is a story best told in pictures. Rex: An Illustrated History of the School of Design presents more than 250 images, most not previously published, to illuminate that visual history. As the Rex Organization's Archivist, Dr. Hales has helped collect, assemble and display images and artifacts documenting the Organization's nearly 140 years of history. He is the author of several articles on the history of Carnival and the School of Design. Hales has practiced pediatrics in New Orleans for 35 years and is a member of the Clinical Faculties of the Tulane and Louisiana State University Schools of Medicine. - WVUE.COM - BUY BOOK - ARTHUR HARDY ENTERPRISES
Suits remain on file against Mardi Gras float production company
Despite reports that their differences had been settled, Barry Kern's suit to oust his father as head of the family company remains on file in Orleans Parish Civil District Court. The suit, filed Oct. 1, sought to appoint "a receiver to manage and/or dissolve" Blaine Kern Artists (BKA) which produces Mardi Gras floats and runs the internationally-famous Mardi Gras World. A separate suit filed in Orleans Parish is also ongoing. In it, Mardi Gras World LLC (MGW) is suing Blaine Kern and BKA, claiming that BKA has violated its licensing agreement and moved property from MGW's warehouse on the Mississippi riverfront. That petition for injunction was filed Sept. 15 and claims that the defendants "removed inventory from the plaintiff's business and have threatened to continue to remove inventory." MGW and BKA have a licensing deal, a copy of which was attached to the petition, that grants MGW "exclusive license" for all property - including floats, props, costumes and sculptures - possessing a "Mardi Gras theme." - LOUISIANARECORD.COM
A family feud that threatened to derail next year's Carnival parades is over. Mr. Mardi Gras and son are back together again. "We are very happy to be here and to announce that we've come to a resolution of our differences and that we're going to move forward as a company and a family," said Barry Kern. Last week, Kern filed a lawsuit seeking to oust his father Blaine Kern from the float building empire he founded more than 50 years ago. The younger Kern claimed his father mismanaged the business, leaving it "technically insolvent." The elder Kern shot back, saying he fired his son last month for running the family business into the ground. Tuesday, Blaine Kern admitted that previous disagreements between him and his son caused a temporary cash flow situation. "The captains candidly were dubious about what was going to go on themselves and they got together, I guess, and they all said, 'hey look, we're not giving you any money right now until you guys get together,'" said Blaine Kern. Those same Mardi Gras captains from Rex, Bacchus and Endymion tricked the Kerns into attending a secret meeting. Blaine Kern said it was Bacchus founder Pip Bennan's idea. - WWLTV.COM
Mardi Gras business royalty mired in Kern family lawsuit filed by son
Claiming that his father, the legendary Carnival impresario Blaine Kern, is no longer fit to run the business he founded 53 years ago, Barry Kern filed suit Friday with the hope of seizing control of the company that makes floats for many of the most prominent parading krewes, including Rex, Bacchus, Zulu and Muses. The suit, filed in Civil District Court and assigned to Judge Michael Bagneris, depicts Blaine Kern Artists as a company in crisis. The Algiers firm has been unable to meet payrolls and repay loans, the suit says, and it has had to furlough employees. Within the past month, according to the suit, company checks have bounced. Barry Kern lays much of the blame for the turmoil at the feet of Holly Brown Kern, 34, whom the 83-year-old Kern married in July. She is his fourth wife. - NOLA.COM
Mandeville gets new Mardi Gras krewe
Mandeville has a new Mardi Gras krewe. The Krewe of Lyra, an all-women’s krewe, will roll March 4, 2011, behind the Krewe of Orpheus. The krewe, which serves as both a social krewe as well a professional networking organization for local ladies, was formed earlier this year. It lists its main purpose as promoting “fun, friendship and festivity.” - THESTTAMMANYNEWS.COM
Mona Lisa and Moonpie wants new logo
The irreverent and hilarious Krewe of Mona Lisa and Moonpie in Slidell has put out the call to all artists and aspiring artists to come up with a new design for the 2011 Carnival season. The krewe is known for its whacky and satirical themes. They are one of only two night parades in Slidell, and they walk through the streets of Olde Towne with decorated grocery carts and children’s wagons as floats. Krewe spokesperson Suzie Hunt said the contest is open to everybody, and the winning design will be put on the krewe’s poster, T-shirts and their Web site. There are several rules for the contest. All designs must have the krewe’s 2011 theme, “Mona’s Book Club”, the krewe’s name, the year 2011, and must be reproducible using 1 to 4 colors, but remember, white is not considered one of the four colors. The maximum size of the design must be 7.5 inches by 10 inches, and must also include the date February 25, 2011, which is the date when the krewe will roll. - SLIDELLSENTRY.COM
Carnival krewes and city officials in Slidell have agreed to use a single route for most parades during the 2011 season
Meanwhile, the two sides will continue to discuss the imposing of clean-up fees on krewes, as well as plans to shorten the length of Slidell's eight-parade season by two weeks. Large krewes will begin their parades at 1 p.m. at Fritchie Park, roll on Pontchartrain Drive, Front Street and Gause Boulevard, and disband in a new manner, Public Works Director Mike Noto said. Floats will turn onto Lindberg Drive, which will be closed to traffic, with float riders disembarking at the commuter parking lot on that street. The method in which float riders will receive passes to park their vehicles at the lot is still being hashed out. - NOLA.COM
Mystic Krewe of Shangri-La will continue as the "Mystic Krewe of Shangri-La Social Club"
Mary Katherine Lonatro-Tusa, Captain of the Mystic Krewe of Shangri-La, announced that Shangri-La would cease parading in the City of New Orleans after a successful 37-year run. Mrs. Tusa stated that Shangri-La has been an integral part of the New Orleans Mardi Gras scene since 1973 and would continue as the Shangri-La Social Club. While the 2011 French Quarter Carriage Parade & Stroll has been cancelled, the philanthropic efforts of the krewe will not end! - MARDIGRASPARADESCHEDULE.COM
The
Gretna City Council has refused to issue the Krewe
of Bes a permit to parade on Mardi Gras 2011
Officials warned the Krewe of Grela that it could
be next on the chopping block. The council declined
Bes' permit application at its June 9 meeting,
citing the crew's inability to meet city standards
for parades on Mardi Gras. Officials awarded Grela
a permit for next Mardi Gras; however, Councilman
Vincent Cox warned the krewe that this was likely
the last year Grela would be allowed to parade
on Fat Tuesday because he believes the city isn't
getting enough return on its investment in the
parade. - NOLA.COM
Mardi Gras parades in Slidell should pay their own way, krewes are told
Saying that the cash-strapped Camellia City can no longer afford to shoulder the financial burden associated with parade season, Slidell municipal officials are asking parade krewes to share in the costs for staging, security and cleanup. - NOLA.COM
Zulu coconut lawsuit thrown out on appeal
In this personal-injury lawsuit, the injuries include a cut to the forehead, a loss of interest in Mardi Gras and nightmares of airborne coconuts. Daisy Johnson Palmer, a 74-year-old retired Orleans Parish public schoolteacher, wants the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club to pay for the bloody cut, and ensuing trauma, she says came from a coconut lobbed in her direction Feb. 28, 2006, as Zulu paraded down Canal Street. Twenty-three years ago, Louisiana added coconuts to the list of official Mardi Gras throws protected from personal injury lawsuits, ordering that the public assumes the risk of being struck "by any missile" traditionally thrown, tossed, or hurled by krewe members. But lawsuits persist, challenging the definition of "gross negligence" by a float rider -- the only exception to state law that provides immunity from liability in connection with Mardi Gras and other types of parades. - NOLA.COM
Float builders would get new civil suit immunity under House bill
The House Commerce Committee voted without dissent Tuesday to expand existing immunity from Mardi Gras-related civil lawsuits to include float builders and other service providers to krewes. Current law protects krewes or other parading organizations and their members from any civil actions arising from any loss or injury suffered during a parade except in cases of a "wanton act or gross negligence" or in cases where the defendant was driving a motor vehicle during the parade. House Bill 902 by Rep. Jeff Arnold, D-Algiers, would add "any service provider" of the krewes to the list of protected individuals and businesses. - NOLA.COMHouse approves bill 73-21 - NOLA.COM
About the Book Never before has the history of the Mardi Gras celebration been looked at this way. Errol Laborde focuses on the first 60 years of the organized celebration in New Orleans, a period that bridges the premiere parade of the Mistick Krewe of Comus and the founding of the Zulu organization. Along the way he discovers fascinating characters; including a poetic journalist who survived a bloody attack, an archduke looking for fun and a would-be king finding religion. Laborde also links an African War with Custer¹s Last Stand and disproves some of the conventional wisdom about Carnival¹s early history. This is the most important contemporary book on early Carnival history. And it fun to read too.
about Errol Laborde Errol Laborde is the Editor-in-Chief of Renaissance Publishing Company. In that capacity he serves as Editor/Associate Publisher of New Orleans Magazine and Editor/ Publisher of Louisiana Life Magazine.He also oversees several other company publications, including St. Charles Avenue and New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles.
Laborde is producer and a regular panelist on Informed Sources, a weekly news discussion program broadcast on public television station WYES-TV, Channel 12.
Laborde's
most recent books are Krewe: The Early Carnival from Comus to Zulu and Marched the Day God. a history of the Rex organization. He also wrote the text for a pictorial book, Mardi Gras- A Celebration and has published two compilations of his Streetcar local color columns, The Buzzard Wore A Tutu and I Never Danced With An Eggplant. BUY THE BOOK
