Results tagged “Mardi Gras” from Intelligent Travel Blog

Mardi Gras has been synonymous with New Orleans for over 150 years, but the man behind some of the most stalwart traditions of Fat Tuesday is trying to change his city from a one-holiday town. Blaine Kern, the owner of Kern Studios, which produces 80 percent of the floats that zigzag through the city throughout Mardi Gras season, is on a mission to make New Orleans the nation's new Halloween capital. In 2007, he started the Krewe of Boo, a month-long series of events that culminates in a huge all-out Halloween parade. "We have cemeteries, voodoo parlors, haunted houses, and Gothic architecture," Kern said recently, enumerating the city's many creepy assets. With all that spooky stuff, it was a no-brainer for him to launch a new parade and encourage visitors to take part in the costumed revelry.

But the root of Kern's efforts isn't simply a passion for goblins and ghouls. He created the event as a way to raise money for his charity, The First Responders Fund, which helps house and support the city's fire, EMS, and police departments, many of which are still recovering from the impact of Katrina. "I found out that after Katrina most of the police were going home to trailers at night," Kern says. "The only way I know how to raise money [is to throw a parade]. " He has partnered with the Salvation Army and plans to construct 10 homes for first responders in the Algiers neighborhood of the city this year. This year's parade will be held on October 24th, at 7 p.m., followed by the annual Costume Exposé. Tickets to the party are $100, and all proceeds from both events go toward the fund.

[Krewe of Boo]

Photo: Krewe of Boo

Over the past few weeks, we've been featuring Mardi Gras Moments showing some of the highlights from New Orleans throughout the carnivale season. But today we change gears a bit as our resident expert Jenn Blatty offers a quick list of ways to stay out of trouble on Fat Tuesday.

Top 10 Things NOT To Do During Mardi Gras

1.    Do not stray from the crowds!  Even if someone who seems perfectly cordial and trustworthy invites you to a party "around the corner," or offers up his or her bathroom -- or you think you know a shortcut through a dark alley or dimly lit and empty street. If you are not surrounded by tourists, you are a perfect target for the New Orleans predators. Stay where the action is.
 
2.    Arrange a meeting point with your friends and family immediately upon arriving to the scene. It's easy to be separated from your group during the festivities, whether you're wandering through the zoo of people, or distractedly following the hot trail of a passing float for a pair of Mardi Gras underwear that you just HAVE to have. Do yourself a favor and pick out a rally point before this happens. 

3.    Do not carry your money, credit cards, or anything important tucked away in your back pocket, especially if you brave it up enough to hit Bourbon Street! This is the perfect opportunity to fall victim to the Mardi Gras pickpockets.

4.    Be wary of the scam artists! If someone approaches you with the question, "I bet you $100 I know where you got your shoes" or any question along those lines, do yourself a favor and do not wager! Even if you purchased your shoes on Mars, they will get you every time with the infamous answer: "on your feet." And at that point you may feel obliged to pay, because technically they are correct, aren't they? Sometimes it's even common to be forced into a service, such as someone offering a shoeshine, and before you know it they are shining your shoes and demand immediate payment (even if you said "no thanks" loud and clear). Avoid these folks as much as possible. The more you stall, the higher the chance of being pushed into a bad situation. Just keep on moving.

5.     Petting the police officer's horse is a serious no-no, unless you want to risk spending the night behind bars. The New Orleans cops are already more than likely irritated with the out of control and drunk tourists, especially the one who thinks it would be funny to slap and startle a horse. So even if you are just an animal lover wanting to reach out, keep your hands to yourself! It is not uncommon to be arrested for touching a cop's horse in any shape or form, so just don't do it.

For the past few days, IT editor Janelle Nanos has been blogging about her Mardi Gras Moments. But today she cedes the floor to our photo intern Jenn Blatty, a New Orleans native who has been to more celebrations that she can count. Here's her take on where to catch the festivities -- and stay tuned for her list of things NOT to do on the big day.

While Mardi Gras is a once in a lifetime "must do," it can be quite the overwhelming experience for everyone, even the New Orleans locals.  If you want to avoid the standard chaos of the tourists, avoid the French Quarter altogether. The place to be is in uptown New Orleans, on St. Charles Street in the Garden District area.  It offers a little more of the easygoing "laissez les bon temps roulez" (let the good times roll) temperament of the natives without the pushing and shoving that you are more likely to experience downtown.  The corner of Napoleon and St. Charles is a perfect starting point: from there you can walk to plenty of local hangouts and good eats (Parasol's, Fat Harry's, Igor's, Superior Grill), and even explore the historic Garden District homes or one of the famous New Orleans cemeteries, Lafayette Cemetery #1.  And if you like making new friends, you may even find yourself joining a local house party and catching beads above the crowds from a St. Charles Street balcony.

But for those of you who are tempted to stick your toe in the madness without taking the full plunge, ensure you hit Frenchmen Street in the Marigny. It's a perfect blend of the tourists who stumble over on foot from Bourbon Street, and the locals who just point blank love to go there for the live music and good times.

Photo: Jenn Blatty

Last month, IT Editor Janelle Nanos traveled to New Orleans to explore the culture and traditions of Mardi Gras. For four days, she spoke with the people behind the masks -- the ones who help make the celebration happen -- to get their stories and insider tips. She'll be blogging about her experiences through February 24th, when the official party begins. Check back for more Mardi Gras Moments throughout the coming weeks.

Larry Roy, the Minister of Fun for the Krewe of Zulu, at the official opening of the "Tramps to Kings" exhibit.

A few weeks ago, I went down to New Orleans to scope out the start to the Mardi Gras season. It was just a few days after Twelfth Night, when the season officially begins, and the city was already beginning to buzz. After arriving at the airport, I explained to my cabbie that it was my first visit to NOLA, and as he drove me into town he mentioned that the "only thing this city is serious about is having fun."

So I wasn't all that surprised to meet my two friends waiting for me in my hotel lobby, who urged me to hustle and get dressed - we had partying to do. I happened to arrive on the night of the opening of the new "Tramps to Kings" Zulu exhibit at the Louisiana State Museum, and so we hurried to the center of the French Quarter, where a celebration was in progress in Jackson Square. By the times we arrived, a jazz band had the audience swinging their hips, the warm night air had people spilling into the streets, and I'd already met a half-dozen locals who had welcomed me to town - and I'd only been in town for all of 20 minutes. I felt a little bit like when Annie arrives at Daddy Warbucks's mansion, and hummed a few lines of, "I think I'm going to like it here."