Mardi Gras - the best time to be a New Orleanian
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Most folks think of Mardi Gras as the crazy party atmosphere of Bourbon Street featured on the news and a few episodes of "Cops". But Mardi Gras is so much more than that. In fact, I have attended every Mardi Gras here since 1982 except in 1988 because I was in the academy. I have never been to the French Quarter or anywhere near Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras and I have no desire to go there. Mardi Gras to me and my friends is the parades, the splendor of the Krewes who work all year to put on their best show.
The only difference this year is that we live here now and don't have to drive back and forth from Baton Rouge or points west to enjoy the Carnival season. Because of this, we've been able to make parades that we've never seen before. We haven't been to all of them but we're shooting for that next year.
Today we attended the parades of Okeanos, Mid-City, and Thoth. They roll back-to-back beginning at 11 am on the Sunday before Mardi Gras. We spent five hours on the parade route and came home a bit sunburned but it was all worth it.
Captain of Okeanos
King of Okeanos
Queen of Okeanos
Okeanos Title Float
Captain of Mid-City
King of Mid-City Silky Sullivan, owner of Silky O'Sullivan's Pub on Beale St. in Memphis. Silky is the inventor of the famous bucket filled with what can only be described as hooch. I was fortunate enough to share a bucket o' hooch with my dear friends Kim and Lisa a year or so ago. I was happy to be able to thank Silky for the hooch today.
Just as a reference, the Bucket called The Diver in this photo is the Bucket O' Hooch to which I referred. The man in the photo is not Silky but rather a regular of the pub called The Admiral.
Queen of Mid-City
King of Thoth
Queen of Thoth
I love this city.
The only difference this year is that we live here now and don't have to drive back and forth from Baton Rouge or points west to enjoy the Carnival season. Because of this, we've been able to make parades that we've never seen before. We haven't been to all of them but we're shooting for that next year.
Today we attended the parades of Okeanos, Mid-City, and Thoth. They roll back-to-back beginning at 11 am on the Sunday before Mardi Gras. We spent five hours on the parade route and came home a bit sunburned but it was all worth it.
Captain of Okeanos
King of Okeanos
Queen of Okeanos
Okeanos Title Float
Captain of Mid-City
King of Mid-City Silky Sullivan, owner of Silky O'Sullivan's Pub on Beale St. in Memphis. Silky is the inventor of the famous bucket filled with what can only be described as hooch. I was fortunate enough to share a bucket o' hooch with my dear friends Kim and Lisa a year or so ago. I was happy to be able to thank Silky for the hooch today.
Just as a reference, the Bucket called The Diver in this photo is the Bucket O' Hooch to which I referred. The man in the photo is not Silky but rather a regular of the pub called The Admiral.
Queen of Mid-City
King of Thoth
Queen of Thoth
I love this city.
