Carnival New Orleans News
News and information from the New Orleans area
Mardi Gras the Movie (2010) features Carmen Electra
016 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
Sydney AU Mardi Gras shake-up for 2010
016 years
Posted in: International Daily News
By GayNZ.cpm Daily News Staff
Sydney’s legendary Mardi Gras Parade and Party, traditionally held on the same night, are now planned on different weekends for 2010.
The Parade is scheduled for Saturday 27 February, then the Party will happen the following weekend – Saturday 6 March.
“In a move designed to make Mardi Gras an even more attractive event in the calendar of Sydneysiders and the world’s gay travelers, New Mardi Gras plans a more concentrated two-week festival, curated in tandem with its many arts partners,” explains Festival executive producer Danielle Harvey.
“A review of major arts festivals around the world showed they were typically two week festivals. By moving to two weeks we will be able to create a much more impactful experience for both local and international audiences.”
As part of the shorter festival, Sydney’s popular Fair Day will be held on Sunday 21 February, and the Harbour Party by the Opera House will be on the day after the Parade, on Sunday 28 February.
The Festival’s official 2010 theme will be ‘Mardi Gras’ History of the World’, aiming to incorporate LGBT people’s stories through the ages and provide a gay take on some of the great moments and figures of history.
Sydney AU Mardi Gras Festivities
New Orleans Hornets to hold Mardi Gras Night in January
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The New Orleans Hornets plan a Mardi Gras Krewe Night on January 20th 2010 versus the Memphis Grizzlies and another “Mardi Gras Night at the Hive” in February. The January event will offer Carnival clubs the opportunity to win prizes based upon their attendance and participation. The Mardi Gras Night at the Hive will feature a full Mardi Gras-themed game with a Hornets Mardi Gras parade at halftime.
Krewe turns to advertising in Jefferson Parish for riders
016 years
by NewOrleansMusicMan
in Mardi Gras
from Susan Edwards / Eyewitness News, sedwards@wwltv.com
METAIRIE, La. – Call it the thrill of the ride or a chance of a lifetime, but joining your favorite krewe and riding along during carnival season may no longer be as difficult or as exclusive as you may think.
Video: Watch the Story
Mardi Gras expert Errol Laborde said the times are changing.
“I think the image to a lot of people is it’s a big, exclusive deal, but that’s hardly the case,” Laborde said.
While some parading organizations are invitation only, there are several who are scrambling to attract anyone interested in membership and an unforgettable experience.
“With some of the krewes, you’re seeing more of an effort to find riders and it may or may not be totally related to the economy,” Laborde said.
Because of financial hardships, some krewes have feared 2010 could be a tough year to keep old members and attract new ones. Laborde said it’s simply too soon to tell if that’s the case; however, there are some unusual advertising techniques seeking the attention of interested riders.
Krewe of Argus in Jefferson Parish has been rolling on Fat Tuesday for more than three decades. Co-Captain Lawrence Chehardy said membership is at 400 right now, which is average for this time of year. They’re hoping that mass mailers will only boost interest and membership for the upcoming carnival season.
“Argus is a business, it’s a Mardi Gras krewe, but it’s a business. We have to watch how we spend money and certainly in these economic times it impacts everybody, but that said, we’re always looking for new members and new blood,” Chehardy said.
Chehardy said that over the years their website has contributed to successful parades, but the flyers were sent to residents along the Veterans Memorial Boulevard corridor as an added way to generate interest.
“We’ve gotten riders from outside Jefferson Parish, from out of country who have gone to the internet, did a search and found the Krewe of Argus and we’ve had them ride with us,” Chehardy said.
Unruly Mardi Gras tourist could get 29 years in prison
016 years
by NewOrleansMusicMan
in Mardi Gras
From nola.com:
by Brendan McCarthy, The Times-Picayune
Friday August 21, 2009
Headed for Mardi Gras, the tourist was rude and rowdy, ordering the stewardess to bring him another drink.
When he was denied more alcohol, Paul Henry Boritzer told a fateful fib.
He said he was an air marshal and a U.S. Airway pilot. Bad idea.
For that, Boritzer will face a federal judge who in December will decide on a sentence that, at its maximum, would put him in prison for 29 years and carry a $1 million fine.
Boritzer, 46, of New York City, was found guilty Thursday in federal court in New Orleans of interfering with a flight crew and impersonating a federal air marshal while flying from New York to New Orleans this year, according to U.S. Attorney Jim Letten’s office.
Bound for Mardi Gras, Boritzer apparently started his partying well before he got on the Jet Blue flight. Ten minutes after takeoff, he began walking about the cabin “in a loud and disruptive behavior, ” according to an affidavit filed by FBI Special Agent Steven Naum. The stewardess noted he smelled of alcohol and appeared drunk.
When she asked that he return to his seat, he pulled fake rank, saying he was with the feds. The real feds, however, later became involved. Any commercial flight is considered “special aircraft jurisdiction” of the United States under federal law.
Boritzer, who also goes by the name John I. Michaels, repeatedly argued with the flight crew and paced the plane’s cabin. The pilot was notified.
When the flight attendant delivered the pilot’s final order for him to sit down, Boritzer replied, “Who do you think you are?” according to court records. He followed up by calling her a “bitch.”
After his arrest, Boritzer signed a $20,000 personal recognizance bond and promised to refrain from alcohol and stay off commercial flights unless approved by his “pretrial services” officer.
He is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 9 by U.S. District Court Judge Carl Barbier.