The Sunday before Mardi Gras, there are always parades throughout the day before Bacchus in the evening.  Along St. Charles Avenue, both sides of the avenue and the entire neutral ground (median) was filled with people having  picnics, barbecuing, playing music and enjoying the beautiful day.

It was as if Mardi Gras began in earnest when the Saints won the NFC Championships; parties were held throughout the city — any excuse to party in New Orleans! — new songs were even created.  My nephew recorded a song “Party in the M.I.A.” in his sound studio; and it took off on the radio.  The girl who sang the song was invited to many places throughout the city to sing the song and crowds were always gathered dressed in their Saints-themed shirts — fleur de lis, “Who Dat” … and black and gold.  People who don’t know one another are high-fiving; after the NFC win the happiness was palpable.  Our office went to a Saints store — Geaux for the Gold — and all picked out Saints jerseys and shirts …. even for our dog … Saints fingernails … and of course, “Who Dat” Saints car flags.

After the Superbowl, you would have thought it was Mardi Gras day …. tenfold.  We watched the game in our home with family and every time a touchdown was scored, fireworks would go off around the city.  After the game, I ran outside and stood on the picnic table — people were coming out of their home and running up and down the streets, fireworks were going off in every direction.  We watched some of the post-game show and took a ride to the French Quarter — it was closed to traffic but 2 hours later, I recorded the sounds on Canal Street — cars honking, people yelling “Who Dat”, people second-line parading, and hanging out of the windows of their cars.  It was amazing and impossible to describe.

The Saints parade was held on Tuesday; the number of people at the parade far exceeded the number of people in the city.  I took pictures of people on top of roofs and watching the  Saints parade from every level of  multi-level parking garages.   The city is positive and happy; we are enjoying the moment; living the dream.

This year, Drew Brees was the captain of Bacchus .. and as he paraded down St. Charles Avenue,  he stopped to toast Sean Peyton who was parading the very next night as captain of Orpheus.  Tom Benson, owner of the Saints football team, was in the Endymion parade.  As the Zulu parade passes now, many Saints players are on the floats. Jimmie Felder is the King of Zulu this year; and Rex will follow with Robert Hunter Pierson, Jr. as King.

Today, Mardi Gras Day, the unofficial theme of the day is Saints because we still feel the euphoria.   Zulu is throwing black and gold footballs as one of its throws. Every parade has a tribute to the Saints; and many costumes do, too.  One of my favorites is a pig with wings — it’s funny to see male news announcers on TV dressed in pink with wings and pig noses !  Another is the pig (hat) whose wings flapped whenever the man pulled the string.  Another great group was a family off fleur-de-lis’s.   Their head peeked out of the top of the fleur de lis … each costume said something different … “Bless you, Boys!” “Believe Dat!”

I will put up the audio file and pictures of the above this week when I return to the computer!

Fans will definitely flock to the streets for the chance to see Drew as King and hope to catch some special doubloons or beads from him or at least catch one of his great smiles.

Hail King Brees!

• The 2010 Mardi Gras celebration marks the 173rd year of parading in New Orleans.
• The 2010 parade season will be the fourth since Hurricane Katrina occurred, and will be sure to mark the highest number of visitors to New Orleans since.
• A film entitled Mardi Gras will be released in theaters on February 19, 2010 – three days after Mardi Gras day.
• Mardi Gras 2010 happens two days after the Chinese New Year for 2010.
• The oldest Mardi Gras krewe, Rex, will mark it’s 138th year of parading.

As Mardi Gras day draws nearer, we’re sure to see many more interesting developments. Until then, we can’t wait until Fat Tuesday!

1. Our Mardi Gras Indians page. We’ve got some very interesting info about the traditions and “how it all works”.

2. Videos of Mardi Gras Indians.

3. Books about Mardi Gras Indians. The book Mardi Gras Indians is a wonderful place to begin, and the book Big Chief Harrison and the Mardi Gras Indians is a biography that will allow you to see through the eyes of a former Chief.

These are some good resources to get you started. But there’s only one way to really see what the Mardi Gras Indians are all about: come to New Orleans during Mardi Gras, and see for yourself!

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Yes, the King Cake (one of the most prominent Mardi Gras traditions) is something you can always have if you’re a big Mardi Gras fan like I am. King Cake and cafe au lait in the morning are great, and one of the things I love during Mardi Gras season. But when it’s the middle of the year, I can’t go to my local bakery and pick up a king cake.

So there are two options: bake one myself or order one. There are lots of recipes available online if you do a simple search for “king cake recipe” or “make king cake”. I’ve seen “traditional” recipes which are great but if you look there are some bread-machine recipes as well.

To get one with little effort, you can always just order one. It’s the easiest way to get a King Cake any time of year, and you know it’ll be delicious. I recommend Cannata’s King Cakes – a many locals swear by Cannata’s as being the superior product, and they ship year-round.

Once you get your King Cake in hand, you need something good to drink. You can’t go wrong with cafe au lait – brew some Community coffee and you’re set.

We came really close to having a perfect Carnival. The krewes did their part (Zulu even ran a little ahead of time). The weather was great. The crowds were large. The parade quality was improved. Police and sanitation did their part. All it took was two miscreants with guns to put a pall on the event, but damnit, we cannot empower thugs to ruin something that is so grand and such a celebration of the city.

Congratulations to the police for apprehending them so quickly. Kudos to medical workers for dealing with the victims (thankfully no fatal injuries). Shame on the criminal justice system for allowing two guys with records to be on the streets unchecked, though there is new evidence of reform within the system.

We know that the solutions to crime are long-term, though that won’t help us for next Mardi Gras. But if we want to take a stand against the bad guys and to save our city, lets look hard at why guns are so easily available to those who are so willing to use them.

MOST IMPROVED PARADE
The Krewe of Pontchartrain provided proof that you do not have to be big and rich to have a good parade. It is more important to just do the little things right. The krewe had a parade with style and wit.

BLESS THEM FATHER
Archbishop Alfred Hughes has distinguished himself in one way compared to his predecessors. He is the first bishop to be satirized on Carnival floats. The church-closing controversy got the barb on two floats, one in the Ancient Druids parade and again with Chaos. A marching group in Le Krewe D’Etat also spoofed the church arrests. In the Quarter, there were several masked groups that carried the same theme.

BEST SUPER KREWE
As always, a toss-up. We’ll give the edge to Bacchus for its fanciful “Creatures of the Imagination” theme, but Endymion is looking a lot better and Orpheus remains as one of Carnival’s prettiest parades.

BEST WALKING GROUPS
Muses is like a grand meal made better with lots of great appetizers. No krewe has as good of a mix as Muses with its various groups including the Rolling Elvi, the Pussy Footers and the Lady Godivas. The groups are fun to look at without being distracted by a barrage of beads.

BEST SATIRICAL PARADE
Chaos had lots of good material but suffered from wagon breakdowns. (That is one of the problems with having three parades on one night. A delay in a parade effects the one behind it, though Chaos’ ancestry is one that certainly lays claim to the Thursday night slot).

Muses had a good idea with a James Bond theme (Muses 009, “License to Swill”) and I loved the theme float with the silhouette of a live gun toting Bond Woman.

I will give the edge to Le Krewe D’Etat for the quality of its design and the wickedness of its messages.

Add in the wit of the Krewe of Tucks and we are indeed in the golden age of satire.

BEST TRADITIONAL NIGHT PARADE
Proteus presented a pretty and elegant parade that was so old style that it even borrowed from its 1909 theme about Welsh Folk tales. The parade was a visual wonder for those who appreciate the early Carnival.

BEST TRADITIONAL DAY PARADE
Thoth is doing a great job, this year evoking a nautical theme. I give the nod to Zulu, however, for having an extremely colorful parade and for, (thank you, thank you) moving efficiently and on time. When parades move well they become more enjoyable for everyone involved.

CATEGORY OF ITS OWN
Mid-City continues to look spectacular with its unique style utilizing foil in a way no one else does. It is not the biggest or most opulent parade, but in its own way it is the prettiest.

A JOKE GONE LIMP
I have always been a big fan of Krewe du Vieux. It comes closest to depicting what the early carnival parades were like when they were smaller and moved through the French Quarter. Because it marches early in the Carnival season, it is not governed by the same laws that the other parades must follow, hence it gets to parade in the Marigny and the Quarter, where the audience is a bit more adult. I have no problems with biting satire and sexual suggestiveness. Both themes have long been a part of Carnival tracing back to its ancient roots, which include the Roman orgies. What I do object to is stale humor and that is what has happened to Krewe du Vieux, where penis depiction has been so common that it has long lost its shock value. The krewe is really a confederation with individual groups building their own floats, some of which are truly clever without relying on genitalia for a cheap laugh. Other groups need a shot of creative Viagra. I am still a fan of the krewe. Just show us something different.

BEST COSTUMED GROUPS MEANDERING THE QUARTER AND MARIGNY ON MARI GRAS
Here is where the real spirit of Carnival resides. Praise to:
• Society of St. Ann
• Ducks on Dixieland
• Mondo Kayo
• Cosmic Debris

BEST OVERALL PARADE
Rex remains best. No one does it better than the King of Carnival. The parade was well timed, smart and a visual wonder. Rex’s signature floats including the Boeuf Gras, the bandwagon and His Majesty’s throne float are among Carnival’s best. The sight of the Rex riding lieutenants in costumes of purple, green and gold is one of my favorites in all of Carnival. The theme, which celebrated spring, was joyful. Rex’s Web site, the best in Carnival, has become an educational tool for developing the theme. Rex does it right, presenting a parade fit for a king.

BEST DATE TO REMEMBER
FEB. 16
MARDI GRAS, 2010

Reprinted with permission of the author.

ERROL LABORDE’S BOOK, KREWE: THE EARLY NEW ORLEANS CARNIVAL- COMUS TO ZULU
Books are now available at most area book stores and can also be ordered via E- mail at gdkrewe@aol.com or (504- 895-2266)

WATCH INFORMED SOURCES, FRIDAYS AT 7PM, REPEATED AT 11:30 PM.WYES-TV, CH. 12. NOW ON WIST RADIO, 690 AM, THE ERROL LABORDE SHOW, 6PM FRIDAYS; 7AM SATURDAYS; 8AM and 5 PM SUNDAYS.

Send us your pics, videos, stories and anything else you may have picked up along the way during your stay here in New Orleans. Chances are we will feature them on the site. Please remember to keep it clean, and family friendly, y’all.

As for the team here, we couldn’t have had a better time. From dressing up in costume as a ballerina, clown or a even a tree, we made the most of our Mardi Gras celebration. We had the best time catching Endymion from the stands at Michaul’s, walking down Royal Street during Fat Tuesday, and taking it all in on the balcony of the Royal Sonesta.

Check out our photo gallery for more!

And don’t forget to come back next year, Fat Tuesday, February 16th, for Mardi Gras 2010!

Since Fat Tuesday is the final day of the Carnival Season, make plans to arrive no later than Saturday, February 13th, 2010 to enjoy a long weekend of Mardi Gras festivities!

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“Each year at 6 p.m. on Lundi Gras, Rex arrives at Spanish Plaza on a United States Coast Guard vessel and proclaims the official start of Mardi Gras,” says Lynn Walters, senior general manager of Riverwalk Marketplace. “The Lundi Gras celebration is a grand, New Orleans tradition embedded into the fabric of both locals’ and tourists’ traditions of honoring carnival season. We are proud and honored to again host this celebration at Riverwalk Marketplace.”

The 2009 Lundi Gras entertainment schedule is as follows:

3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Living Legends Brass Band
Living Legends Brass Band is a musical group dedicated to the revival of traditional New Orleans Jazz, as well as pushing the musical envelope by producing a cutting edge “funk” sound for all music lovers. All original members share the common bond of being taught music by the great Edwin H. Hampton who fostered their love for jazz and music in general at St. Augustine High School of New Orleans. After their individual departure from high school, each member advanced their musical careers through different paths. Soon after, thru their love of music and fate there began the Living Legends together in New Orleans. Since then, the members have been dedicated to the musical education of young kids as well as performing for lovers of New Orleans jazz/funk in the region.

4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters
Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. is the son of Alton Rubin Sr. He played in his father’s band starting in the early 1980s and became the leader of the group after his father’s death in 1993. The family’s roots are in Carencro, but Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. is based in New Orleans. He and the Zydeco Twisters tour the United States and Europe.

6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Arrival of Rex, King of Carnival & Fireworks

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The Topcats
The Topcats, who bill themselves as “The Hardest Working Band in the New Orleans Area”, have been a dominate force on the New Orleans Music scene for over 21 years now! Specializing in party music from the 50’s to current hits, The Topcats play an average of 250 shows a year, ranging from concerts and clubs to fairs, festivals, and weddings. Variety of styles and an emphasis on fun and fan participation have allowed the members of The Topcats to make a full time living playing music with unmatched professionalism and reliability!

Lundi Gras at Spanish Plaza is a free music event for attendees of all ages. Delicious New Orleans food and drinks are available for purchase from the vendors on the Spanish Plaza. Absolutely no ice chests and pets are allowed on the Spanish Plaza during Lundi Gras festivities.

Carnival is a fragile season that is often threatened, though I am amazed at how the spirit seems to survive. There are signs that people really do care and really want the season to have class, significance and style. They even have the guts to reject the corporate thumbprints that are now placed on most of life’s other events. In recognition of that spirit, here are four reasons to be thankful for this Carnival season.

4. Marching groups in the Quarter. By mid-afternoon on Mardi Gras, there is a mood shift in the Vieux Carré. By then the crazies and the drunks have passed out, and the male college students with their primal yells mercifully suffer from laryngitis.

From the distance there are the sounds of tambourines, drums and haunting chants. In spots, the Quarter takes on a medieval character as marching groups wind their ways through the neighborhood. The Society of St. Ann (named after the street, not the saint), having begun its trek in the Marigny, works its way to Canal Street to see Rex and then travels back, glistening in costumes worthy of the Venetian Carnival. Another group, the Ducks of Dixieland, pull off a double satire dressed as ducks who are themselves satirically costumed. With each outbreak of music along the way, the Ducks stop to dance. Even among ducks, it’s hard to keep the spirit down.

3. Momus’ spirit survives. When the Knights of Momus stopped parading due to the fallout from the 1991 Carnival ordinance controversy, Carnival lost its one satirical krewe. In an age in which some cheesy new krewes were applying generic themes to whatever floats could be rented from the float builders’ lots, Momus bothered to make a statement, using its floats to poke fun at the events of the day. Momus’ loss was a huge one, but at least the sprite beneath its jester’s cap escaped and now manifests itself in three krewes; Muses, Le Krewe d’Etat and (most of all) the Knights of Chaos, which looks and acts a lot like what Momus was. (The Knights even depart from Momus’ former float den and parade on Momus’ former Thursday night timeslot. In some ways, the krewe’s satires “out-Momus” Momus. Chances seem remote that Momus will ever parade again, but its influence is now thrice as nice.

2. Al Johnson. Here’s one of the good guys of Carnival. In 1959 Johnson first recorded one of carnival’s rhythm and blues classics, “Carnival Time.” The song begins with a staccato horn blast followed by Johnson wailing:

The Green Room is smokin’
And the Plaza’s burnin’ down,
Throw my baby out the window
Let the joints burn down
All because its Carnival time
Everybody’s having’ fun

For a whole bunch of sticky legal reasons, the rights to Johnson’s songs wound up in someone else’s control. Legal battles have been waged through the years. Several years ago, Johnson was finally recognized as having the rights to his song. Because the recording is so old and so regional, he won’t make much money from it, but at least he can say it is his. This year is the song’s 50th anniversary, an event that is even being celebrated with a state lottery scratch-off card. May that bring lots of luck to Al Johnson. He deserves it.

1. Beating back commercialism in New Orleans. Many have tried. Several years ago a company wanted its product recognized as the official wiener of Mardi Gras, and a few beer companies and radio station push it to the edge in a couple of parades, but for the most part New Orleans has taken its stand against commercialism in Carnival parades. Not only is it against the law, but the law is enforced. No thank you Nokia, wrong-number dot-coms, Carnival in New Orleans, if not in some suburbs, remains as an American oddity, a public spectacle that is not sold on the marketplace but paid for by the participants.

Krewe: The Early New Orleans Carnival-Comus to Zulu is available at all area bookstores. Books can also be ordered via e-mail at gdkrewe@aol.com or (504) 895-2266.

Reprinted with permission of the author.