Posts tagged Super Bowl

Mardi Gras Update 12/17/12

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Lots of news to report, none of it huge, so I’m compiling it into one feature. Of course, the Super Bowl returns to New Orleans in the middle of the Carnival season, so the parades in Orleans parish are split up.

Super Bowl 2013 Tickets in New Orleans

Super Bowl 2013 Tickets in New Orleans

I’ve covered Slidell parades before, as the first couple of entries are about North Shore parades.

1. The Krewe of Claude, a parading krewe with 24 parades under its belt, has called it quits for 2013. No Slidell parade and no ball. Apparently membership had fallen to a point that neither event was possible. They promise to return for 2014, as they plan to pursue new members sooner rather than later. Last year the parade had around 12 floats and close to 200 members. In my crazier, wilder, younger Mardi Gras days, I used to take the family and guests to attend Claude, which runs very early in the season. We had a blast in those days, running to parades in Slidell.

Krewe of Claude 2011

Krewe of Claude 2011

2. For the past 25 years, the Original Krewe of Orpheus has rolled down the streets of Mandeville, throwing their signature pine cones. Unfortunately for Mardi Gras fans in Mandeville, the parade has been cancelled for 2013, according to Krewe Captain Brett Lowe,

Last week, the Krewe of Lyra announced they will not parade in Mandeville, but have moved its parade to follow the traditional parades in Covington Mardi Gras Day, the Mystic Krewe of Covington and the Lion’s Club.

However, Orpheus has no plans of moving. According to Lowe, “The Original Krewe of Orpheus will stick to Mandeville.”

In connection with the decision, Lowe issued a press release that stated, “On behalf of Board of Directors, it is with major disappointment that we must inform everyone of our decision not to ride on Feb. 8, 2013. We have experienced financial difficulties through a decline in membership over the past few years, which dictates our abilities to produce a quality parade that we are proud of. We are re-organizing and will ride in 2014.

Hoping to boost membership, the krewe will host a “rebirth party” on its previously scheduled parade night, Feb. 8, 2013. For more information, interested parties can email Lowe at kreweoforpheus@gmail.com.

The Mandeville all-women’s Krewe of Eve had extend an opportunity to Orpheus to parade behind their krewe on Feb. 1, but Lowe said that was not the route Orpheus wished to take. He thanked them for their offer.

“It was given in the true spirit of Mardi Gras, and we appreciate their kindness, and commitment to the community,” he said in a statement issued Tuesday.

Lowe stated the organization will continue to be a men’s krewe, and the re-organization party will replace the krewe’s annual ball Feb. 8, with women included as they would be at the ball. There will be a slight charge and interested parties should contact the krewe.

Regulations in the city of Mandeville requiring a minimum number of 150 riders paid a “slight part” in the group’s decision not to ride, according to Lowe. As with most parades throughout the area, a permit and insurance is also required.

The Original Krewe of Orpheus was founded in April 1987, a year after the Krewe of Eve had successfully made its debut. Its first parade was in 1988 with 13 floats plus local and regional marching bands. Its signature throw, the pineloon, was originally a pine cone covered in glitter, sitting atop a doubloon base. More recently, it was a plastic pine cone necklace.

Ironically, this past year was the 25th anniversary year with the theme “Orpheus’ Silver Lining.”

3. Orleans Parish’s Krewe of Orpheus announced 2013 plans- Leading the festivities and parade with Harry Connick, Jr. are other celebrity monarchs including star of the CBS hit show CSI New York, Gary Sinise; Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews; Animal Planet’s Tillman the skateboarding bulldog; and returning monarchs, Law & Order SVU’s Mariska Hargitay, and the Imagination Movers.

4. Harry’s got a new Mardi Gras album named Mardi Gras in New Orleans. That’s an original title if I’ve every heard of one!!

Trombone Shorty

Trombone Shorty

5. My own Krewe du Vieux is building their floats, my own Krewe of Underwear’s float is taking shape beautifully, can’t show any photos yet. We roll January 19, 2013!!

 

 

 

Mardi Gras 2013 Bears Down On Us!!

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Really looking forward to Carnival in New Orleans 2013. It’s the first one I’ve ever experienced without my wife by my side. We were both huge Mardi Gras fans. Fat Tuesday is February 12, which is rather early.

Ash Wednesday is always 46 days before Easter, and Fat Tuesday is always the day before Ash Wednesday. Easter can fall on any Sunday from March 23 to April 25, with the exact date to coincide with the first Sunday after the full moon following a spring equinox! If you’re still confused, get out that calendar with the printed holidays on it- it’s the day before Ash Wednesday!

Nevertheless, it’s 72 days to Fat Tuesday, so here we go!! I’m very excited about my own krewe, KdV, or Krewe du Vieux. I’m in the Krewe of Underwear, and we march January 19, 2013!! Most years when we march it’s quite cold, but a couple of years recently, it’s been really warm. We are the only krewe to march in the historic French Quarter and Faubourg Marigny, all our floats are pulled by mules, and only brass bands provide the parade music, with a brass band between each float. KdV is an adult only parade, since we feature very ribald floats. The satire isn’t what the problem is, it’s the vulgarity factor.

Krewe of Underwear 2009

Krewe of Underwear 2009

The Super Bowl is being played in New Orleans this year, and the game is right during the parade season. Some parades have been moved to the first half of the season. The season is split!!

May march with the Society of Saint Anne in the Marigny. Never have, but I need to change my routine, as my long time partner is not with me.

Krewe of St. Anne Revelers

Society of St. Anne Revelers

2013 Parade Season Split in Two by Super Bowl!!!

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2012 Super Bowl Tickets

2012 Super Bowl Tickets, Indianapolis, IN

As was the case for Mardi Gras 2002 after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, the 2013 parade season will be cut in two, with the first week of Carnival beginning Jan. 25 instead of Feb. 1. That will be followed by a nine-day break in parading as football fans, city officials, the tourism industry and police turn their attention to Super Bowl XLVII (47)

The Super Bowl is Feb. 3, and Mardi Gras 2013 falls on Feb. 12.

The parade season will pick up again after the big game. Traditionally, the official Carnival season consists of 12 consecutive days that culminate on Fat Tuesday.

A handful of Krewes must change their parading days to suit the new schedule.

Parades rolling on Friday, February 1, Oshun and Cleopatra, move to January 25. Parades rolling on Saturday, February 2, Pontchartrain, Sparta and Pygmalion, move to January 26. Parades rolling on Sunday, February 2, Alla, King Arthur, and Carrollton, move to January 27.

As a result of the schedule changes in 2002, some krewes had to scale back in size. The 11 krewes forced to change their schedules received financial compensation from the NFL. The details of the settlement were confidential, but the krewes asked for $550,000, or $50,000 per krewe. The NFL also paid the National Automobile Dealers Association $7.5 million that year to move its meeting to the Super Bowl’s original slot.

 

Krewe of King Arthur

Krewe of King Arthur

 

Schedule courtesy Tulane.edu.

2013 Orleans Only Parade Schedule

Day Date Krewe Route
Friday January 6, 2013 Phunny Phorty Phellows Uptown Streetcar Route
Friday January 6, 2013 Krewe of Jeanne d’Arc French Quarter
Saturday January 19, 2013 Krewe du Vieux Marigny/French Quarter
Friday January 25, 2013 Krewe of Oshun Uptown
Friday January 25, 2013 Krewe of Cleopatra Uptown
Saturday January 26, 2013 Krewe of Pontchartrain Uptown – Napoleon
Saturday January 26, 2013 Krewe of Choctaw (1 year only) Uptown
Saturday January 26, 2013 Knights of Sparta Uptown – Napoleon
Saturday January 26, 2013 Krewe of Pygmalion Uptown – Napoleon
Sunday January 27, 2013 Krewe of Carrollton Uptown – Napoleon
Sunday January 27, 2013 Krewe of King Arthur Uptown – Napoleon
Friday February 1, 2013 Krewe of Cork French Quarter
Sunday February 3, 2013 Mystic Krewe of Barkus French Quarter
Wednesday February 6, 2013 Krewe of Ancient Druids Uptown – Jefferson
Wednesday February 6, 2013 Mystic Krewe of Nyx Uptown – Jefferson
Thursday February 7, 2013 Knights of Babylon Uptown – Napoleon
Thursday February 7, 2013 Knights of Chaos Uptown – Napoleon
Thursday February 7, 2013 Krewe of Muses Uptown – Jefferson
Friday February 8, 2013 Krewe of Hermes Uptown – Napoleon
Friday February 8, 2013 Le Krewe d’Etat Uptown – Jefferson
Friday February 8, 2013 Krewe of Morpheus Uptown – Jefferson
Saturday February 9, 2013 Krewe of Iris Uptown – Napoleon
Saturday February 9, 2013 Krewe of Tucks Uptown – Napoleon
Saturday February 9, 2013 Krewe of Endymion Mid-City
Sunday February 10, 2013 Krewe of Okeanos Uptown – Jefferson
Sunday February 10, 2013 Krewe of Mid-City Uptown – Jefferson
Sunday February 10, 2013 Krewe of Thoth Uptown – Henry Clay
Sunday February 10, 2013 Krewe of Bacchus Uptown – Napoleon
Monday February 11, 2013 Krewe of Proteus Uptown – Napoleon
Monday February 11, 2013 Krewe of Orpheus Uptown – Napoleon
Tuesday February 12, 2013 Krewe of Zulu Uptown – Jackson
Tuesday February 12, 2013 Rex, King of Carnival Uptown – Claiborne
Tuesday February 12, 2013 Elks Krewe of Orleanians Uptown – Claiborne
Tuesday February 12, 2013 Krewe of Crescent City Uptown – Claiborne

Now I’m a member of Krewe du Vieux, and it really is a blast to be in a krewe. I love Mardi Gras from the street perspective, but belonging to a Carnival Krewe, that’s a whole other level of fun. We get to march in the historic French Quarter and Faubourg Marigny. Our super satiric, ribald floats are adults only. Our floats are pulled by donkeys and each float has it’s own brass band! The Hot 8 Brass Band was in front of us in 2012 and they kicked butt and I mean they kicked butt. The entire miles long route was an excuse for these brass warriors to take our entire Krewe of Underwear to a new party parade level, which energized the crowd as they passed.

2012 New Orleans Mardi Gras Forecast!! part 1, Sports Influence

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Indianapolis 2012 SuperBowl XLVI Logo

Carnival 2012 ends February 21, 2012. By that time, one hell of party will take place. There are developments in the sports world that will help build the crescendo that occurs on Fat Tuesday.

LSU is playing for all the marbles against hated rival Alabama, whose butt they already kicked, 9-6! That’s why LSU is rated number 1, and Alabama is rated number 2.  Next, the Alabama coach Lou Saban, used to coach LSU, before he left to go to AL.  AL’s only loss this season is to LSU, and LSU is undefeated. That creates a lot of excitement for the BCS championship game in the Superdome January 9th.  I predict LSU will win this game.

The New Orleans Saints are on a bit of a roll themselves. Quarterback Drew Brees beat a 27 year record for most yards thrown in a single season  (completed passes only). The great Dan Marino held that record.

The Saints are finishing the season very, very strong. Both the offense and defense are rolling over each team, game after game as the regular season finishes up. The team’s superior conditioning is paying off with less injuries and a higher level of play as the season winds down.

A couple of seasons ago, when the Saints won the Super Bowl, they won their division early and lost the last few games of the season. They earned the extra week off (bye week) and played at home. The rest was very important, as was playing in the Super Dome. This year, because they lost a few games in the beginning of the season, they probably won’t earn the bye week and home field advantage.

 

Drew Brees and Shaun Payton and Super Bowl Trophy!!

Drew Brees, Sean Payton and Super Bowl Trophy!!

All this adds to a huge Who Dat Nation push and buzz added to Carnival 2012.

On Sunday, Jan 23, the NFC Championship game will be played at 3:00 p.m. and the AFC Championship will be at 6:00.

Super Bowl XLV (45) will be at 6:30 p.m. ET on Feb 5 in Indianapolis. Mardi Gras is Feb 21. If we make it to the NFC Championship game, it’s within a month of Fat Tuesday.

I remember the year we won the Superbowl, Mardi Gras was as much a tribute to the Saints as could be. My number 1 parade that year was the special Saints Victory parade, which was so unique and traditional at once, it was a once in a decade parade experience.

Super Bowl Champs N.O. Saints Super Parade   AP

Super Bowl Champs N.O. Saints Super Parade AP

I march with Krewe du Vieux in early February with the Krewe of Underwear, and I remember screaming that Super Bowl victory season Who Dat to the World!! and high fiving everyone as I passed them. KdV rolls Saturday, February 4, with the Super Bowl Sunday February 5.

Chances are with the way we are playing, we’ll make it the Championship Game again. The team has won 9 in a row, and they are setting records game after game.

Today, for the last game of the season, on January 1, 2012, the Saints won 45-17 over the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers scored 17 points in the first half, and zero points in the second.  The Saints are on a major roll, and we have the home field advantage for the first playoff game. Here is the 2012 playoff schedule for January 7 & 8:

Saturday, Jan. 7
AFC: No. 6 Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) at No. 3 Houston Texans (10-6), 4:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
NFC: No. 6 Detroit Lions (10-6) at No. 3 New Orleans Saints (13-3), 8 p.m. ET (NBC)

Sunday, Jan. 8
NFC: No. 5 Atlanta Falcons (10-6) at New York Giants (9-7), 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
AFC: No. 5 Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) at No. 4 Denver Broncos (8-8), 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS)

 

Saints Super Bowl Party “SUPER”

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Super Bowl Champs N.O. Saints Super Parade AP

The consensus is in! The finest parade in recent New Orleans history, according to many eyewitness accounts, was last nights parade for the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl Champions 2010. Drew Brees stopped in Lucy’s Retired Surfer Bar after the parade & taught his Pre Game Countdown Chant to the crowd, watch it here: Drew Brees at Lucy’s

Here are some quotes about the parade from my Facebook Friends-

Ivan Neville Been 2 many parades, & the Saints parade was mos definitely the best parade ever!! WHO DAT!!  There’s no place like Nola!!!

Jared Zeller Time of my life last night…Carney, Payton, Young, Hargrove, Porter, Bush, Thomas, Colston, Morestead, Hartley, Roby, etc. the list goes on and on…

Jerry Who Dat Moran Likewise Jared, off the hook!!!

Bernie Cyrus Parade & new friends were awesome. Dat’s Who!

Katie Walenter The Saints marched in and I was in that number. Best parade ever!!!

Dave Jordan Last night was probably the greatest New Orleans experience I have ever had.  Except for, maybe, last Sunday.

Jerry Who Dat Moran So the Lombardi Gras Parade was off the hook last night….caught it at the beginning by the Dome, over on Howard…but the coolest part of the night was when Sean Payton’s jumped off his float on Thcoup and Poydras and somehow I wound up in the street with him running around and Second lining with the Lombardi Trophy…It’s all a blur at this point(as I am sure pics are)…..proceeded to follow his float down convention center blvd to the brigde……started my… long walk home with a smile on my face that still can’t be wiped off…Yesterday was a beautiful day! WHO DAT!!!


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