News and information from the New Orleans area
Archive for January, 2016
30th EDITION OF KREWE DU VIEUX ROLLS!!
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2016 KdV wristband and wooden doubloon featuring Queen Big Freedia!
The 2016 edition of Krewe du Vieux (KdV) rolled in the French Quarter, Marigny and Central Business District last Saturday night at 6 pm before a large and adoring crowd. Many of the parade viewers wore a costume piece or two, showing their Mardi Gras enthusiasm on a cold, somewhat blustery night. New Orleans’ own Queen of Bounce, Big Freedia, ruled as Krewe du Vieux Queen. Freedia is a hip-hop artist, reality TV star, and transgender rights advocate.
This year’s parade was dedicated to two fallen titans of New Orleans culture, chef Paul Prudhomme and singer Frankie Ford. The seventeen sub-krewes each presented their own versions of the XXX theme. The subkrewes- the Krewe of C.R.U.D.E, Krewe of Space Age Love, Krewe of Underwear, Seeds of Decline, Krewe of Mama Roux, Krewe of L.E.W.D., Krewe of Drips and Discharges, Krewe of K.A.O.S., Knights of Mondu, T.O.K.I.N., Krewe rue Bourbon, Krewe du C.R.A.P.S., Mystic Krewe of Spermes, Mystik Krewe of Comotose, Mystic Krewe of Inane, Krewe du Mishigas, and Krewe of SPANK.
KdV 2016 Float
Marching along with the Krewe of Underwear through the historic French Quarter and Marigny, with Egg Yolk Jubilee playing Mardi Gras tunes and other party classics like the Commodore’s Brick House, life couldn’t be finer. As I’ve written before, participating in a Mardi Gras parade as a rider/walker is a New Orleans experience not to be missed. Krewe du Vieux is unusual with all their mules and brass bands, no other krewe utilizes the roughly 20 mules and brass bands KdV does. Some floats (K.A.O.S) utilize a tricycle to move their float forward. What those krewes have against mules I don’t know. Maybe they love mules so much they don’t want to put them through the KdV experience. That’s a question for another entry.
No studio is hired to produce the 20 odd KdV floats; volunteers from each sub-krewe are responsible for building their own. Each sub-krewe is allowed to interpret the main theme as they see fit. Over time, amateur float builders gain serious float building experience, so the floats get better and better over time.
For most Mardi Gras krewes, the pre-parade party, the parade, and the ball are glorified drinking opportunities. Many but not all krewe members drink throughout the entire 8-10 hour process. It’s a daunting process but one of the most fun days of the year for most.
As an escort for Underwear, I’m not supposed to drink during the pre-parade party or the parade, and I don’t. I find as I’ve gotten older, I do better with 3 hours of drinking than 10. Even though a double gin and tonic at the Civic during the ball was $14 plus tip, I ended up having a couple and supplementing that with some vodka I purchased at a little store outside the Civic before going in.
George Porter Jr and his Runnin’ Pardners with special guests Walter Wolfman Washington and Billy Gibbons, guitarist and lead vocalist of ZZ Top, were somewhat generic in their song selection but still over the top fantastic.
The Civic had no food and a no outside food rule. That means one needed to find food somewhere off premises which wasn’t that easy in my estimation. While I’m on the topic of food, the food at the Underwear pre-parade party, except for the homemade dessert I made, was entirely store bought fried chicken fingers, finger sandwiches, some powdered doughnuts and some Zapp’s potato chips.
I personally took the time to make a beloved homemade dessert because I think the world of my krewe and want them to eat well and I was a bit disappointed at all the store bought food.
ZZ Top Guitarist and Lead Vocalist Billy Gibbons
KdV 2016 Float 1
KdV 2016 Float 2
KdV 2016 Float 3
KdV 2016 Float 4
KdV 2016 Float 5 Krewe of Underwear!
KdV 2016 Float 6
KdV 2016 Float 7
KdV 2016 Float 8
KdV 2016 Float 9
KdV 2016 Float 10
KdV 2016 Float 11
KdV 2016 Float 12
KdV 2016 Float 13
KAZOOZIE FLOOZIES!!
09 years
Kazoos purchased from Le Jouet for Kazoozie Floozies KdV 2016 March
Who are the Kazoozie Floozies? A group of New Orleans women who play the kazoo and create and sing risque lyrics to well known pop tunes. Formed in 1984 by the now deceased, legendary Ellen Abrams, the Floozies march in parades (Krewe du Vieux, Molly’s at the Market- Jim Monaghan’s- French Quarter Halloween Parade, and Molly’s at the Market Irish Parade), perform for store openings, and other notable events. Liz Scott Monaghan, Jim’s last wife, called the Floozies a rowdy song group, a fitting description.
Favorite Floozie ditties include- Getting It Up Is Hard To Do, Hey Quick Spender, Down On Decatur Street, Bye Bye Paycheck, Grand Old Fag, Hey Dock Booker, and Gen-U-Wine Floozie.
It a city full of so much over the top musical talent, you have to love a group that features the kazoo! Everyone can hum, therefore everyone can play the kazoo beautifully. The Floozies elevate the kazoo to great musical heights.
Among the epoch events the Floozies have participated in include legendary New Orleans philanthropist and party giver Mickey Easterling’s Birthday Party for none other than the amazing Robert Goulet and the Opening of the now closed Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum. They annually celebrate a woman’s right to drink on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, aka Bomb Your Mom Day. The Floozies made an appearance or two, courtesy of Jim Monaghan, at the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians annual Mardi Gras ball in Washington D.C.
Almost original Floozie Sue Rapasky recounts that sterling night at Easterling’s Party for Robert Goulet. Says Rapasky, Easterling made us use the service entrance and refused to feed us dinner, but Robert Goulet treated the Floozies like royalty. He was really sweet! Easterling’s house was memorable- the guest registry was in the bathroom!
Memorable Floozie themes include the Perve Patrol, the Douchettes, and the Spanking Team- a dollar for a spanking!
The following four photos are from another wordpress blogger, latonola. Thanks for the great photos!
Kazoozie Floozies
Kazoozie Floozies Banner
Kazoozie Floozies Parading
St. Patrick’s Day Floozies in Green!
A kazoo is a type of instrument known as a mirliton (not militon, or vegetable pear, or chayote), which uses a resonating membrane to amplify sound. It belongs in the percussion family of instruments and can be made in a number of ways. Derived from the ancient African mirliton, the kazoo was first manufactured during the 1800s. Today, it is primarily a plastic, toy instrument, which is fun and relatively easy to play.
Green Kazoo
The modern day kazoo was invented by Alabama Vest during the 1840s. He drew up the plans for the instrument and had it made by a clockmaker named Thaddeus Von Clegg. In 1852, they demonstrated their kazoo at the Georgia State Fair, and it became a popular instrument in that region. In the early 1900s, a method for large-scale kazoo manufacture was developed by Emil Sorg and Michael McIntyre. McIntyre later started selling kazoos in 1914 and received a patent on the process in 1923. He went on to found the Original American Kazoo Company which is still in operation today. Later, the plastic kazoo was developed and it is now the standard material from which most kazoos are made.
2016 ODE to KREWE du VIEUX!!
09 years
Mystic Ponies Aerial Troupe with New Orleans Bingo Show!
It’s a very short Mardi Gras season this year with Fat Tuesday one week from the earliest date (February 3) possible. For 2016, February 9 is early early. That makes KdV early early rolling on Saturday, January 23, 2016 at 6 pm. That’s this Saturday and I’m in the parade! What’s the 2016 theme for the most ribald krewe of all of Mardi Gras? Krewe du Vieuxxxx is Rated XXX!!
The route has changed again, and there’s no doubling back as in most years. We march straight through the Faubourg Marigny and French Quarter, past Canal Street and Poydras, to the Civic Theater, 510 O’Keefe Street.
I’m a long time Escort for the Krewe of Underwear. It’s a really fun job, guarding our float and mule and making sure our krewe is moving without any undue delays. Escorts are supposed to do their jobs mostly sober, so if anything goes wrong, you’ll have your wits about you. I don’t drink booze until the parade is over, making me an ideal Escort.
2016 Krewe du Vieux Map
The KdV Ball has two storied New Orleans bands, George Porter Jr and his Runnin’ Pardners and Walter Wolfman Washington. The 2016 Queen of Krewe du Vieux is FUSE reality show star and Bounce legend, Big Freedia. This is shaping up to be a super KdV party! KdV has three distinct parties on parade day. First is the pre-parade party, complete with beer, food, and live music; next the actual parade, with all the excitement that brings; and finish with their ball, complete with booze, food and more top shelf New Orleans live music. The ball has a down and dirty brass band jam and additional entertainment by the Mystic Ponies Aerial Troupe.
George Porter, Jr
NEW ORLEANS, LA – MAY 03: Walter “Wolfman” Washington and the Roadmasters performs during the 2014 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at Fair Grounds Race Course on May 3, 2014 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Scott Legato/WireImage)
Big Freedia in NYC!
BRASS BAND LIST FOR 2016 KREWE DU VIEUX
Lagniappe
Pinettes
Kinfolk
TBC
New Birth
Jazzmen
Bone Tone
Young Fellaz
Paulin Bros
Baby Boyz Brass Band
Stooges Brass Band
One Mind
Panorama
The Tornados
Free Agents
Treme Brass Band
Egg Yolk Jubilee
Hot Eight Brass band
Down and Dirty
Krewe du Vieux is a very unusual krewe. Members design and build the floats themselves. Members don’t ride on the floats, but walk behind the float, handing out throws to the crowd. Over time, KdV amateur float builders gain practical experience and build high quality floats. Mules pull the floats, and sub-krewes design and make their own throws. It’s an adults only parade that some parade goers bring their children to. I don’t really understand that, if you cannot find a baby sitter, stay home if you have children.
2016 New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade Schedule!!
09 years
NOMusicMan at KdV 2015
Krewe of Underwear 2015 Float
KdV2015 Title Float- Begs For Change!
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Sat, January 23, 2016
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| Krewe du Vieux (Mature themed) | 6:30 p.m. | French Quarter | |
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Sun, January 24, 2016
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| Little Rascals | Noon | Metairie | |
| Perseus | 1:00 p.m. | Slidell | |
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Fri, January 29, 2016
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| Cork | 3:00 p.m. | French Quarter | |
| Oshun | 6:00 p.m. | Uptown | |
| Cleopatra | 6:30 p.m. | Uptown | |
| Eve | 7:00 p.m. | Mandeville | |
| Excalibur | 7:00 p.m. | Metairie | |
| Athena | 7:30 p.m. | Metairie | |
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Sat, January 30, 2016
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| Mystic Knights of Adonis | 11:45 a.m. | Westbank | |
| Knights of Nemesis | 1:00 p.m. | St. Bernard | |
| Pontchartrain | 1:00 p.m. | Uptown | |
| Choctaw | 2:00 p.m. | Uptown | |
| Freret | 2:30 p.m. | Uptown | |
| Knights of Sparta | 6:00 p.m. | Uptown | |
| Pygmallion | 6:15 p.m. | Uptown | |
| Caesar | 6:00 p.m. | Metairie | |
| Olympia | 6:00 p.m. | Covington | |
| Chewbaccuhus | 7:00 p.m. | Marigny | |
| Titans | 6:30 p.m. | Slidell | |
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Sun, January 31, 2016
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| Carrollton | Noon | Uptown | |
| King Arthur | 1:00 p.m. | Uptown | |
| Alla | 1:00 p.m. | Uptown | |
| Dionysus | 1:00 p.m. | Slidell | |
| Tchefuncte | 2:00 p.m. | Madisonville | |
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Wed, February 3, 2016
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| Druids | 6:30 p.m. | Uptown | |
| Nyx | 7:00 p.m. | Uptown | |
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Thurs, February 4, 2016
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| Knights of Babylon | 5:45 p.m. | Uptown | |
| Knights of Chaos | 6:15 p.m. | Uptown | |
| Muses | 6:30 p.m. | Uptown | |
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Fri, February 5, 2016
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| Hermes | 6:00 p.m. | Uptown | |
| Le Krewe D’etat | 6:30 p.m. | Uptown | |
| Selene | 6:30 p.m. | Slidell | |
| Morpheus | 7:00 p.m. | Uptown | |
| Centurions | 7:00 p.m. | Metairie | |
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Sat, February 6, 2016
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| NOMTOC | 10:45 a.m. | Westbank | |
| Iris | 11:00 a.m. | Uptown | |
| Tucks | Noon | Uptown | |
| Endymion | 4:15 p.m. | Mid-City | |
| Isis | 6:30 p.m. | Metairie | |
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Sun, February 7, 2016
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| Okeanos | 11:00 a.m. | Uptown | |
| Mid-City | 11:45 p.m. | Uptown | |
| Thoth | Noon | Uptown | |
| Corps de Napoleon | 5:00 p.m. | Metairie | |
| Bacchus | 5:15 p.m. | Uptown | |
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Mon, February 8, 2016
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| Proteus | 5:15 p.m. | Uptown | |
| Orpheus | 6:00 p.m. | Uptown | |
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Tues, February 9, 2016 FAT TUESDAY
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| Zulu | 8:00 a.m. | Uptown | |
| Rex | 10:00 a.m. | Uptown | |
| Elks Orleanians (Truck Parade) | Follows Rex | Uptown | |
| Cresent City (Truck Parade) | Follows Elks Orleanians | Uptown | |
| Grela | 10:00 a.m. | Gretna | |
| Argus | 10:00 a.m. | Metairie | |
| Krewe of Jefferson (Truck Parade) | Follows Argus | Metairie | |
| Elks Jeffersonians (Truck Parade) | Follows Krewe of Jefferson | Metairie | |
Twelfth Night Arrives; Carnival 2016 Kicks Off!!
0The Joan of Arc parade rolls in the French Quarter and the Phunny Phorty Phellows (PPP) down the St. Charles Streetcar line. The Phellows leave the Willow Streetcar Barn precisely at 7 pm and Joan of Arc parades downtown also at 7 pm. My own parade, Krewe du Vieux, rolls very early this year, since Fat Tuesday is very early, February 9.
The original PPP first paraded in the 19th-century. It followed behind REX on St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras Day and its symbol was an owl. In 1981, WYES Producer Peggy Scott Laborde and her husband Errol Laborde, along with their friends brought back the PPP name informally, tossing beads from a streetcar to herald the start of the Carnival season. Soon the streetcar krewe solidified and legitimized.
Joan of Arc parades in honor of St. Joan and New Orleans’ French cultural heritage. Here’s their route-
Joan of Arc Parade Route 2016
Twelfth Night is also the unofficial start of the King Cake season, which does seem to informally start before the New Year rolls around! A huge amount of King Cakes are sold through February 9, or Fat Tuesday 2016. Uber has gotten into the act, partnering with Haydel’s Bakery for the second year in a row. From 10 am to 2 pm on January 6, Uber app users just needed to ask for a King Cake instead of a car. Only traditional, unfilled King Cakes are available from Uber’s service.
In 3 weeks, my own krewe, Krewe du Vieux (KdV), rolls in the Marigny and French Quarter.
Marching in a parade is what living in New Orleans is all about. I’ve been in Krewe of Clones, Tucks, and now Krewe du Vieux. Mardi Gras is lots of fun as a spectator sport, but joining the parade changes things big time. The fun, comradeship and excitement of belonging to a Mardi Gras krewe cannot be beat. It’s a top drawer New Orleans experience.
From the KdV web site- The Krewe du Vieux was founded in 1987, born from the ashes of the fabled Krewe of Clones. The Clones began in 1978, based out of the Contemporary Arts Center. This ‘Art Parade’ became wildly popular for their imaginative and creative street performance art. By 1985, the Krewe of Clones had grown to 30 sub krewes and over 1,500 marchers. After the Clones imposed rules designed to create a respectable Uptown parade, Craig “Spoons” Johnson of the Krewe of Underwear and Don Marshall of Le Petite Theatre du Vieux Carre conspired to form a new parading Krewe. Their intent was to bring back parading in the French Quarter in the free-wheeling style of the Clones without myriad rules and expenses. Free from the constraints of decorum and reality, KdV was established as a official parade.
The next paragraph is from Wikipedia.com–
The Krewe du Vieux is perhaps simultaneously the most individualistic and the most traditional of all New Orleans parading krewes. It has no large tractor pulled floats like the larger krewes, using only old-style, small, human-drawn or mule-drawn floats interspersed with marchers on foot. It has no recorded music blaring from boom box trucks, for the Krewe du Vieux uses music only from live bands. The floats are handmade and decorated by members of the respective sub-krewes, often with themes satirizing local politics and customs, sometimes of a bawdy nature — in such aspects arguably closer to early-19th-century Carnival traditions than any other Krewe currently parading. The Krewe du Vieux is the only Krewe still allowed to parade through the French Quarter (other than some small walking Krewes on Mardi Gras Day); krewes with larger floats have been prohibited in the narrow streets of the old town since the 1970s.
Krewe du Vieux Mule
Happy Mardi Gras!!!