News and information from the New Orleans area
Posts tagged Carnival in New Orleans
Shangri-La Gives Up the Ghost!!
014 years
Krewe of Shangri-La Crest
Sad day indeed when the former mighty Queens of St. Bernard Mardi Gras, the Krewe of Shangri-La, ceases to exist as a parading Krewe!
My family had a real blast during Shangri-La’s heyday in St. Bernard, with over 1,000 Krewe members riding in a huge parade with around 38 units. I’m talking about the mid 1980s, when the Krewe was at their mightiest. By 1982, Shangri-La was the largest woman’s organization in the history of Carnival in New Orleans.
In another Mardi Gras life, I would see around 40 parades per season. I had my own crazy Mardi Gras posse- My wife Meg, her daughter Sharon, Sharon’s friend Tara, Tara’s brothers Hank and Eddie and Eddie’s friend Bruce. We’d go see the parades in New Orleans very early, then hit St. Bernard, or Metairie, which had more parades in the 80s. We’d go to Slidell, the West Bank, anywhere to catch a local parade. We’d catch some parades at the start, some in the middle, and some at the end. Fun, fun, fun was had by all.
We used to watch Shangri-La twice, once on St Bernard Highway, and then on Judge Perez Drive. You catch way more throws that way.
One year I took the Posse out to St. Bernard for the then fabulous Shangri-La. On the way out, the skies opened up and it began to rain cats and dogs. We persevered, as did the parade. It was warm that evening, we were young, and didn’t mind getting soaked to catch a few beads.
The parade crowd dissipated, and the route was almost devoid of any spectators. The krewe noticed we were almost the only folks out watching, and they dumped throws on us to show their appreciation. That is my wettest Mardi Gras Parade story, and I’ll never forget how generous the krewe was that night. It was the most throws we ever caught, and just about the most fun our posse ever had at the parades.
Shangri-La started in 1973 and paraded in Chalmette until 2000, when they moved to uptown to St. Charles Avenue. The krewe started admitting men into their ranks at this time.
St. Bernard was especially hard hit during Hurricane Katrina 5 years ago, receiving almost 25 feet of water, the most in the Metro Area. The population was slow to return, which severely impacted Shangri-La’s membership. Many members returned for the parade from out of town. 2 years ago, the krewe adjusted to the diminished membership by successfully transforming the street parade into a French Quarter carriage parade.
In 2010, a 45 unit parade ushered in Mardi Gras on the eve of Super Bowl 44. This was a very exciting time in New Orleans, and their final French Quarter stroll was fun.
During a July meeting, the Shangri-La Board voted unanimously to become a Social Club and continue their philanthropic plans. After 37 years, the once fabulous Shangri-La Carnival Club ceases parading. They live on the web at Krewe of Shangri-La.
HAPPY MARDI GRAS TO THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!
015 years
That’s it, just HAPPY MARDI GRAS TO THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!
Rex riding down St. Charles Avenue
2010 Mardi Gras Parade Schedule
015 years
Yes folks, it’s Carnival Time in New Orleans, which means parades, parades, and more parades. Here’s the 2010 Parade Schedule for the Metropolitan New Orleans area.
*ALL INFORMATION SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Wednesday, JANUARY 6TH
• Phunny Phorty Phellows – New Orleans
SUNDAY, JANUARY 17th
• Claude – Slidell 1:00 p.m.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 24th
• Slidellians – Slidell 1:00 p.m.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 30th
• Krewe du Vieux – French Quarter 6:30 p.m.
• Bilge – Slidell 12:00 p.m.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 31st
• Little Rascals – Metairie 12:00 p.m.
• Perseus – Slidell 1:00 p.m.
• Pearl River Lions Club – Pearl River 1:15 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5th
• Oshun – Uptown 6:00 p.m.
• Excalibur – Metairie 7:00 p.m.
• Atlas – Metairie 7:30 p.m.
• Cleopatra – Westbank 6:30 p.m.
• Eve – Mandeville 7:00 p.m.
• Hercules – Houma 6:00 p.m.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6th
• Pontchartrain – Uptown 2:00 p.m.
• Shangri-La – French Quarter 2:00 p.m.
• Sparta – Uptown 6:00 p.m.
• Pygmalion – Uptown 6:45 p.m.
• Caesar – Metairie 6:00 p.m.
• Chocktaw – Gretna 11:00 a.m.
• Adonis – Westbank 11:45 a.m.
• Push Mow – Abita Springs 11:00 a.m.
• Olympia – Covington 6:00 p.m.
• Mona Lisa & Moon Pie – Slidell 7:00 p.m.
• Tee Caillou – Chauvin 12:00 p.m.
• Aquarius – Houma 6:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7th
• Carrollton – Uptown 12:00 p.m. CHANGE- ROLLS 1 HOUR EARLY
• King Arthur – Uptown 1:15 p.m. CHANGE- ROLLS 1 HOUR EARLY
• Barkus – French Quarter 2:00 p.m.
• Rhea – Metairie 1:00 p.m. CANCELLED
• Centurions – Metairie 5:30 p.m.
• Alla – Westbank 12:00 p.m. CHANGE- MOVES TO SATURDAY
• Knights of Nemesis – St. Bernard 1:00 p.m.
• Dionysus – Slidell 1:30 p.m.
• Hyacinthians – Houma 12:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10th
• Thor – Metairie 7:00 p.m.
• Ancient Druids – Uptown 6:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11th
• Babylon – Uptown 5:45 p.m.
• Muses – Uptown 6:15 p.m.
• Chaos – Uptown 6:30 p.m.
Krewe of Proteus, 2006 Mardi Gras
FRIDAY, February 12th
• Hermes – Uptown 6:00 p.m.
• Krewe d’Etat – Uptown 6:00 p.m.
• Morpheus – Uptown 7:00 p.m.
• Selene – Slidell 6:30 p.m.
• Orpheus – Mandeville 7:00 p.m.
• Aphrodite – Houma 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, February 13th
• Iris – Uptown 11:00 a.m.
• Tucks – Uptown 12:00 p.m.
• Endymion – Mid-City 4:15 p.m.
• Isis – Metairie 6:30 p.m.
• NOMTOC – Westbank 10:45 a.m.
• Bush – Bush 9:00 a.m.
• Salt Bayou – Slidell 2:00 p.m.
• Mardi Gras – Houma 6:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, February 14th
• Okeanos – Uptown 11:00 a.m.
• Mid-City – Uptown 11:45 a.m.
• Thoth – Uptown 12:00 p.m.
• Bacchus – Uptown 5:15 p.m.
• Corps de Napoleon – Metairie 5:30 p.m.
• Grand Isle Independent- Grand Isle 5:30 p.m.
• Tchefuncte – Madisonville 2:00 p.m.
• Terreanians – Houma 1:00 p.m.
• Montegut – Houma 2:00 p.m.
MONDAY, February 15th
• Proteus – Uptown 5:15 p.m.
• Orpheus – Uptown 6:00 p.m.
• Zeus – Metairie 6:30 p.m.
• Cleopatra – Houma 6:30 p.m.
MARDI GRAS DAY, February 16th 2010
• Zulu – Uptown 8:00 a.m.
• Rex – Uptown 10:00 a.m.
• Elks Orleans – Uptown11:30 a.m.
• Crescent City – Uptown after Elks
• Argus – Metairie 10:00 a.m.
• Elks Jefferson – Metairie after Argus
• Jefferson Trucks – Metairie after Elks
• Lions – Covington 10:00 a.m.
• Covington – Covington, after Lions
• Grela – Gretna 11:00 a.m.
• Bes – Gretna 12:00 p.m.
• Houmas – Houma 12:00 p.m.
• Kajuns – Houma follows Houmas
• Bonne Terre – Houma 3:00 p.m.
• Skunks – Lacombe 1:00 p.m.
• Chahta-Ima – Lacombe 1:30 p.m.
Carnival Krewes uphappy with Nagin's Parade Stand Cuts
015 years
by NewOrleansMusicMan
in Mardi Gras
Carnival krewes take offense to Nagin cutting Mardi Gras parade stands
by Dominic Massa / Eyewitness News
NEW ORLEANS – Mayor Ray Nagin’s decision to cancel the construction of reviewing stands for the parades is not sitting well with some Carnival krewes.
The reviewing stands at Gallier Hall would be among the casualties of the mayor’s cutbacks, which he announced last week, saying the budget passed by the City Council left him no choice.
Many Carnival krewes toast their royalty at Gallier Hall, and the captain of at least one parading organization said the decision not to build the stands is “a low point in diplomacy for the city’s relationship with Carnival.”
The captain of Sparta, who by tradition is masked, said his krewe is having to make plans for another spot to toast the queen and court.
“Mardi Gras does not ask from this city. We give to this city. We take back very little,” said Sparta’s captain. “And certainly we feel that the erecting of these very traditional stands is a very small gift that the city can give back to Carnival to say thank you for all that we feel we do for the city.”
Sparta’s captain said he was also insulted to receive an invitation to the mayor’s traditional king cake party to celebrate the Carnival kickoff on Jan. 6. He said he’s heard from several krewe captains who say they will decline the invitation.
Mardi Gras the Movie (2010) features Carmen Electra
015 years
The story:
Three college pals, depressed with their current social situation, decide to venture to New Orleans, a magical place where a man and his beverage can walk the streets undisturbed in pursuit of the happiness that has thus far eluded them.
Starring: Carmen Electra, Nicholas D’Agosto, Bret Harrison, Arielle Kebbel, Regina Hall, Josh Gad, Danneel Harris. Director: Phil Dornfeld; Studio: Screen Gems; Genre: Comedy; Rating: NR; Release Date: TBA 2010