News and information from the New Orleans area
Mardi Gras
BARRY KERN SUES TO GAIN CONTROL OF BLAINE KERN ARTISTS
015 years
Blaine & Holly
I know Barry, Blaine Sr, Blaine Jr, and Holly Brown from many dealings. In 2006, I was asked to put together a Mardi Gras Music Compilation, and Blaine and Barry agreed to sponsor it. The next day, I’m called to a meeting at Mardi Gras World, and I’m told the CD won’t feature Professor Longhair and Al Carnival Time Johnson, but none other than Ms. Holly Brown.
Vince Vance from Vince Vance & the Valiants was called to produce the CD, and was asked to add a few of his excellent Mardi Gras tunes to the mix. Blaine sells the CD from a little stand for 5 years in his Gift Shops, so it probably sells fairly well. Holly was the new girlfriend at the time, and when she exerted complete control of the situation and Blaine, I knew she was a keeper.
Now, 5 years later, Blaine and Holly marry. Blaine fires Barry as Company President on August 31. Barry sues Blaine a month later, claiming Holly has been interfering with the business for years. Where was Kern Artists Executive Secretary Pixie Naquin in all this? Unfortunately, Pixie passed away recently, leaving the Kern men to their own devices, and that resulted in the lawsuit. You can see the huge role Pixie played as a peacemaker within the family now that she’s gone.
SAINTS PARADE KICKS OFF SAINTS SEASON
015 years
Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints
Thursday is the season home opener for the World Champion New Orleans Saints. They take on the Minnesota Vikings at 7:30 pm at the Superdome.
The NFL Play 60 Youth Football Festival is underway today at Woldenberg Park from 10:00 am to 2:45 pm It continues Thursday from 10:00 am – 11:50 am
The NFL Fan Zone is set up at the Jax Brewery parking lot. It goes from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm Wednesday and Thursday.
The Who Dat nation will get pumped up Thursday with a concert at 6:30 pm in Jackson Square. The kickoff concert features Dave Matthews and Taylor Swift.
The last Saints Parade, after they came home Superbowl Champs, was the highest rated parade of the season last Mardi Gras season. Only because the parade took place within the Carnival parade season could it be counted. Otherwise, it would have been a Special Event Parade.
The Krewe of NFL parade starts at 5:00 pm on Thursday. It leaves from Esplanade Avenue and North Peters Street, it continues down Tchoupitoulas Street ending on Julia Street. The parade includes ex-NFL Players, New Orleans chefs, actors and musicians. The parade is produced by Blaine Kern Studios and will feature seven floats and eight marching bands.
The New Orleans Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 to win Super Bowl XLIV. Drew Brees, who was named Super Bowl 2010 MVP, tied a Super Bowl record with 32 completions, hitting 32 of 39 for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
The Super Bowl was the highest rated TV program ever. I wonder how the ratings will be tonight? I would guess they will be quite high.
MARDI GRAS DAY ORLEANS PARISH MARCHING CLUBS
215 years
I love the Marching Clubs, they pop up all over the City and march to their own drummers. One of the most beautiful in terms of fantastic homemade costumes that have to be seen to be believed is the Societe de Saint Anne in the Marigny Bywater area.
6:45am Jefferson City Buzzards Uptown
7am Lyons Carnival Club Uptown
7am Corner Carnival Club Uptown
7:45am Pete Fountain’s Half Fast Walking Club Uptown
7:45am Mondo Kayo Social and Marching Club Uptown
10am Societe de Saint Anne Marigny/Bywater
10:15am KOE (Krewe of Elvis) French Quarter
11:00am Completely Mistick Krewe of Chartreuse French Quarter
2011 New Orleans Metro Area Mardi Gras Parade Schedule
215 years
Thursday, Jan 6
6pm Phunny Phorty Phellows – New Orleans’ only Streetcar parade!
6pm Joan of Arc Parade, French Quarter
Sunday, Feb 6
1pm Troy, Slidell
Sunday, Feb 13
1pm Slidellians, Slidell
Saturday, Feb 19
Noon Bilge, Slidell
7pm Krewe du Vieux, French Quarter & Marigny
Sunday, Feb 20
11am Lil’ Rascals, Metairie
1 pm Perseus, Slidell
Friday, Feb 25
6 pm Krewe of Pericles, Ponchatoula
6:30pm Cleopatra, West Bank
6:30pm Oshun, Uptown
7pm Eve, Mandeville
7pm Atlas, Metairie
7pm Gladiators, St. Bernard
7:30pm Pygmalion, Uptown
Saturday, Feb 26
Noon Alladin, West Bank
Noon Ponchartrain, Uptown
5:30pm Olympia, Covington
6pm Sparta, Uptown
6pm Caesar, Metairie
7pm Pegasus, New Orleans
7pm Mona Lisa, Slidell
Sunday, February 27
Noon Carrollton, Uptown
Noon Alla, West Bank
1pm Dionysus, Slidell
1:15pm King Arthur, Uptown
2:30pm Rhea, Metairie
5:30pm Centurians, Metairie
6pm Jupiter, Baton Rouge
Tuesday, March 1
6pm Ancient Druids, Uptown
6:45pm Morpheus, Uptown
Wednesday, March 2
6pm Saturn, Uptown
6:45 pm Muses, Uptown
7pm Thor, Metairie
Thursday, March 3
5:45pm Babylon, Uptown
6:30pm Chaos, Uptown
7pm Excalibur, Metairie
Friday, March 4
6pm Hermes, Uptown
6:30pm Krewe d’Etat, Uptown
6:30pm Selene, Slidell
6:30pm Aquila, Metairie
7pm Orpheus, Mandeville
7pm Aphrodite, St. Bernard
7:30pm Knights of Jason, Metairie
Saturday, March 5
9am Bush, Bush
11:30am NOMTOC, West Bank
Noon Iris, Uptown
12:30pm Ulysses, West Bank
1pm Tucks, Uptown
2pm MCCA, Bogalusa
4:15pm Endymion, Mid City
6pm Isis, Metairie
Sunday, March 6
10am Tchefuncte, Mandeville
11am Okeanos, Uptown
11:30am Thoth, Uptown
Noon Poseidon, West Bank
Noon Mercury, Metairie
1pm Adonis, West Bank
2:30pm Mid City, Uptown
5:15pm Bacchus, Uptown
5:30pm Napoleon, Metairie
Monday, March 7
5:15pm Proteus, Uptown
5:45pm Orpheus, Uptown
6:30pm Zeus, Metairie
Tuesday, March 8 HAPPY MARDI GRAS TO THE WORLD!!!
8:30am Zulu, Uptown
10am Rex, Uptown
10am Argus, Metairie
11am Elks Jefferson, Metairie Truck Parade
After Elks Jefferson, Elks Krewe of Jeffersonians, Metairie Truck Parade
11am Grela, West Bank
After Grela, Elks Gretna, West Bank Truck Parade
11am Lions, Covington
11am Elks Orleans, Uptown Truck Parade
After Elks Crescent City, Uptown Truck Parade
Noon Chactow, West Bank
1pm Skunks, Lacombe
1pm Chahta, Lacombe
1:30pm Folsom, Folsom