Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Happy Mardi Gras 2017!

Darlings, Happy Mardi Gras 2017



My body is sore but I have been having so much fun. This is the first time in a long time that I did not have to work at the gallery so I have been attending as many balls and parades as I want to without having to worry about work. I feel blessed. 
Before I share my past experiences and what the upcoming events are, I want to make sure that you put in your calendar that my next Round Table Luncheon is Wednesday, March 15 at noon at the Royal Orleans Hotel.  The theme is "It is Festival Time" and, as such, I am inviting the organizers of the French Quarter Festival, Jazz & Heritage Festival, Tennessee Williams Literary Festival, New Orleans Bravo Association to discuss the upcoming Mad Hatter's and the "When the Stars Align." I also would like to tie the Luncheon to the upcoming WYES' 60 Years and Still Groovin's Gala. So please pull out your ‘60s attire and join us.


Email Judy.LeBlanc@BourbonOrleans.com to confirm. RESERVATIONS AND PREPAYMENT IS REQUIRED. Walk-ins will not be accepted as the hotel will only prepare meals for the number of guests that have made reservations.
Darlings, I started my second Mardi Gras week by attending the annual Mayor's Mardi Gras Ball at Gallier Hall. It was a lovely, delicious and entertaining evening since guests were able to see the Krewe of Druids and the Krewe of Nyx parades. At the Krewe of Nyx, the largest female krewe in New Orleans, my darling friend Irma Thomas was the Grand Marshal and she looked radiant.  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154109453725870.1073742800.581200869&type=1&l=71287ee20e
On Thursday, it was the annual Krewe of Hermes Gala Ball/Dinner and, as in the past, it was spectacular. It was held at the ballroom of the Hilton Riverside .https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154111531265870.1073742801.581200869&type=1&l=dc51aa60c5 
WOW! Friday before Mardi Gras is an incredible experience. I started it by attending the annual Greasing of the Poles at the Royal Sonesta Hotel. I roamed the French Quarter and visited Arnaud's and Antoine's before joining my friends at Galatoire's They had invited me and had paid $500 per seat when they bought the table at the auction to benefit the Galatoire's Foundation as well as Edible Schoolyard New Orleans and the Good Shepherd School.https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154118483280870.1073742803.581200869&type=1&l=40fa057cc0
Edible Schoolyard is an organization dedicated to improving the long-term well-being of their students, families, and school community, by integrating hands-on organic gardening and seasonal cooking into the school curriculum, culture, and cafeteria programs.
The Good Shepherd School has, as its mission, helping low-income, urban youth in order to realize their fullest potential as productive members of society by providing them with an extended-day, year-round, quality education, integrated with personal, moral and spiritual development, and continued guidance during the students' further education
Last night I was invited by the Captain of the Krewe of  Orpheus to attend the spectacular Orpheuscapade XXIV at the Ernest Morial Convention Center.
Tonight, Mardi Gras Day 2017, I am looking forward to getting in my costume and along with Duchess Chiquita Bergen we will roam the French Quarter before I get ready to attend the annual Rex Ball at the Sheraton!
Beautiful photo taken by Michael Langford at my request of the Royalty of the culinary Krewe of Lafcadio, King Chef John Folse and legendary Chef Leah Chase.
Image may contain: one or more people, hat and outdoor


Looking beyond Mardi Gras, there are some exciting events coming up that I’m going to love attending. Of special interest to me is a series of concerts coming up at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in the French Quarter highlighting Spanish and Latin American music. The series, titled “Music of Hispanic Inspiration,” will be the theme of this year’s annual series of six free Thursday evening concerts leading up to Easter presented by the Bishop Perry Center in cooperation with St. Louis Cathedral and the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
The series kicks off Thursday evening, March 2, at 6:00 at St. Mary’s, 1100 Chartres Street in the French Quarter. The first featured artists in the series will be guitarist Javier Olondo and his group, Ashe Son. 
Alfred Lemmon, director of The Williams Research Center of The Historic New Orleans Collection and an authority on the music of Spain and Latin America, will give a brief talk introducing the series. Five other Hispanic-themed concerts, all on Thursday evenings at St. Mary’s through April 6, will follow this one. Here is the full lineup:
Thursday, March 2: Javier Olondo and Ashe Son
Thursday, March 9: Mariachi Jalisco
Thursday, March 16: Peter Collins, solo pianist
Thursday, March 23: Eduardo Tozzato quartet
Thursday, March 30: Jay Kacherski, solo guitarist
Thursday, April 6: Paul Weber and Krewe de Voix Chamber Chorus
Although the concerts are free and open to the public, donations are encouraged to help the Bishop Perry Center fulfill its mission of aiding the estimated 15,000-20,000 disadvantaged New Orleans citizens it serves annually. Please give generously to this mission.
 Talking about Latins. here is a video of "Que Pasa in New Orleans" when i was crowned as the Mardi Gras Mambo Queen 2017.
link February 28, 2017

http://conta.cc/2mFEQqM
LaFete News
Editor / Publisher: Frank Stansbury
lafete11@att.net
504-450-1955

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Happy Mardi Gras to all our viewers around the world! Here is the Mardi Gras Mambo 2017 at the New Orleans Museum of Art featured on Que Pasa New Orleans!


Tuesday, February 21, 2017

A joyful Toast to a happy and Safe Carnival Season 2017

It is Carnival Time in New Orleans!

Warriors of the Krewe of Zulu with Mardi Gras Mambo King Juan LaFonta, Queen Margarita Bergen,  and Directors of the Cervantes Foundation: Brenda Melara and javier Olondo. 

OMG, my body is sore but it is not every weekend that I go from being a former Queen of Krewe of Cork II and X to the Queen of Mardi Gras Mambo at NOMA to being part of the Tableau for Krewe of Stars and then being  a Wench for the Mystic Krewe of Barkus at Louis Armstrong Park. I loved every minute of it and I feel blessed to live in New Orleans and being so much part of it. 

This upcoming week is going to another hectic one since, on Thursday, I will be going to the Annual Krewe of Hermes Ball at the Hilton.  On Friday, I am going to start my busy day at the Royal Sonesta New Orleans, which will host its annual “Greasing of the Poles” at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 24. The public is invited to gather at the main entrance of the recently renovated hotel at 300 Bourbon Street to view the Mardi Gras spectacle.

I will then join my friends who purchased a table and invited me to join them at the annual Friday Luncheon before Mardi Gras at Galatoire's.
That evening, I am invited to the annual Kevin Kelly's Masked Ball. On Monday, I will be attending the annual Krewe of Orpheus' Orpheuscapade XXIV at the Convention Center. On Tuesday, I will be dressing in Mardi Gras costume and will be going from party to party, accompanied by Duchess Chiquita Bergen and will culminate my evening at spectacular Rex Ball. 
But before I got into the swirl of the Mardi Gras Festivities, I enjoyed very much attending the awesome  11th annual concert presented by The Historic New Orleans Collection and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra at the St. Louis Cathedral was awesome!. Titled “Uniquely New Orleans: The Classical Tradition and Jazz”, the concert featured LPO Music Director, Carlos Miguel Prieto, conducting, Vernel Bagneris as the narrator, Emmanuel Arakélian, organ; Germaine Bazzle, vocalist; Christopher Pell, clarinet; and James Dapogny and Ronald Joseph, piano.The cathedral was full and everyone enjoyed the Free lovely concert.https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154089038865870.1073742794.581200869&type=1&l=5604ae72f3
I also attended The French Quarter Business Association Brunch at Antoine's Restaurant which was very informative and delicious.My darling friend Mark Romig, the President and CEO of The New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation was the featured speaker. He spoke about the upcoming tricentennial of the City of New Orleans and how we can get involved.

A video of the Mardi Gras Mambo  at the New orleans Museum:https://www.facebook.com/ada.cosiogort/videos/10202573293211663/ 





link February 21, 2017

http://conta.cc/2kHLDU6
LaFete News
Editor / Publisher: Frank Stansbury
lafete11@att.net
504-450-1955


www.mardigrasneworleans.com
Click on the Mardi Gras krewes below for further information and interactive routes for each parade. For family-friendly fun try Family Gras, a FREE celebration of ...
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EXHIBITION SHINES LIGHT ON WOMEN'S KREWES IN CARNIVAL
The Louisiana State Museum, in partnership with the Krewes of Iris, Muses and Nyx, will present Iris and the Goddesses of Carnival, an exhibition commemorating the centennial of Iris and exploring the evolution of women's krewes in New Orleans from the 1890s to the present. The exhibition opens to the public Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at the Presbytère, 751 Chartres Street in New Orleans' Jackson Square.
Iris and the Goddesses of Carnival features rare artifacts from the museum's vast collection as well as from various lenders, including the earliest-known existing Iris queen's dress, worn in 1941 by Irma Cazenave, wife of Count Arnaud Cazenave, on loan from Arnaud's restaurant. This newly restored gown will be on display with five other costumes; two dozen original costume sketches from several krewes; rare photographs from the late 1800s and early 1900s; and ball favors, invitations and dance cards from the early 20th century.
"The Krewe of Iris boldly paved the way for other women's krewes," said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. "The tremendous surge in participation in Mardi Gras by women is a testament to their success. We wish Iris the best of success for the next 100 years."
Named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow, the Krewe of Iris is the oldest women's carnival organization in New Orleans. At the time of its 1917 founding, men's groups ruled Mardi Gras festivities, sponsoring all of the parades and most of the balls. But just as women campaigned for the vote and sought expanded roles in public life, they also carved out new social spaces. Iris built upon two decades of women's efforts to create carnival organizations. The first full-scale women's krewe, Les Mystérieuses, held its premier ball in 1896, attracting notice in the press, which pronounced the event "novel" and an "attractive social success."
Pioneering groups like Les Mystérieuses and Iris transformed carnival for women. Over the course of the next century, more women's krewes joined the fun, from numerous societies in the early 1900s to 21st century parading clubs, such as Muses, Nyx and Femme Fatale. Iris and the Goddesses of Carnival will offer a detailed overview of that history, highlighting the first women's parade, held by the Krewe of Venus in 1941, and the now-forgotten krewes of years past, including the Mittens, the Mystic Maids, Empyreans, Titanians and more. Long-lived parading krewes such as Shangri-La, Rhea and Cleopatra will provide another important part of the chronicle of women and carnival.
Original tableau ball artworks executed by Spangenberg Studios; paintings inspired by the Iris, Muses and Nyx parades; and the very first Muses shoe from their inaugural 2001 parade will make this exhibition sparkle with the spirit of the many women's krewes that have left their mark on carnival history. For additional information, see the Iris and the Goddesses of Carnival promotional video, image highlights of the exhibition, and exhibition fact sheet.
Open through December 2018, Iris and the Goddesses of Carnival is part of the Women of New Orleans: Builders and Rebuilders exhibition initiative of the nonprofit Nola4Women, launched in honor of New Orleans' tricentennial. Visit nola4women.org for more information. Visit LouisianaStateMuseum.org for updates on exhibit-related programming.

-LouisianaTravel.com-

Exhibition Fact Sheet
Description: The Louisiana State Museum, in partnership with the Krewes of Iris, Muses and Nyx, will present Iris and the Goddesses of Carnival, an exhibition commemorating the centennial of Iris and exploring the evolution of women's krewes in New Orleans from the 1890s to the present. The exhibition features rare artifacts from the museum's vast collection as well as from various lenders, including the earliest-known existing Iris queen's dress, worn in 1941 by Irma Cazenave, wife of Count Arnaud Cazenave, on loan from Arnaud's restaurant.
Exhibition Dates:
 Feb. 10, 2017 - Dec. 30, 2018
Exhibition Location:
 The Presbytère, second floor, 751 Chartres Street, New Orleans
Exhibition Hours:
 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays - Sundays
 Closed Mondays and state holidays
Admission:
 Adults: $6
 Students, senior citizens, active military: $5
 Children 12 and under: Free
About the Exhibition:
 Named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow, the Krewe of Iris is the oldest women's carnival organization in New Orleans. At the time of its 1917 founding, men's groups ruled Mardi Gras festivities, sponsoring all of the parades and most of the balls. But just
as women campaigned for the vote and sought expanded roles in public life, they also carved out new social spaces. Iris built upon two decades of women's efforts to create carnival organizations.
 Over the course of the next century, more women's krewes joined the fun, from numerous societies in the early 1900s to 21st century parading clubs, such as Muses, Nyx and Femme Fatale. Iris and the Goddesses of Carnival will offer a detailed overview of that history, highlighting the first women's parade, held by the Krewe of Venus in 1941, and the now-forgotten krewes of years past, including the Mittens, the Mystic Maids, Empyreans, Titanians and more. Long-lived parading krewes such as Shangri-La, Rhea and Cleopatra will provide another important part of the chronicle of women and carnival.
 Iris and the Goddesses of Carnival is part of the Women of New Orleans: Builders and Rebuilders exhibition initiative of the nonprofit Nola4Women, launched in honor of New Orleans's tricentennial. Visit nola4women.org for more information. Visit LouisianaStateMuseum.org for updates on exhibit-related programming.
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Don't miss Café Reconcile's Mardi Gras kickoff! 
Come to Reconcile on Tuesday, February 21st from 11 AM - 2:30 PM and pay any amount you wish for your meal. All donations support the 100 youth we serve yearly.
Reconcile's current students from Class 1 of 2017 are working hard and excited to show off their skills in our café!
"Pay What You Can Day" Menu
~Entrees~
Smothered chicken
With rice & gravy and Collard Greens
Fried Oyster Salad
Spring mix, crumbled bleu cheese, tomatoes,
Cucumbers and Vinaigrette Dressing
(Vegetarian Upon Request)
Fried Catfish
With mac & cheese and green peas
~Desserts~
King cake bread pudding
White Chocolate Chip Brownie

Cafe Reconcile, 1631 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70113
Mark your calendars for future "Pay What You Can Day" events: March 14th, April 11th, May 16th, June 13th, July 11th, August 15th, September 12th, October 17th, November 14th, December 12th.



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New Orleans Museum of Art
1 Collins Diboll Circle
New Orleans, LA, 70119 
504.658.4100 

AN EXHIBITION OF 18TH-CENTURY VENETIAN ART PRESENTED EXCLUSIVELY AT NOMA OPENS FEBRUARY 17
A Life of Seduction: Venice in the 1700s conjures one of Italy's most fabled destinations: a gloriously theatrical setting for festivals, balls, processions and Carnival revelry. The NOMA exhibition is especially timely for New Orleans art lovers and pleasure seekers with a taste for dramatic cultural displays. A Life of Seduction immerses visitors in the spectacle of 18th-century Venice: the era of Casanova, Vivaldi, Tiepolo, and countless others who spread Venetian taste throughout the world.

The exhibition continues through May 21 with a rich array of lectures, films, and festivities. NOMA curator Vanessa Schmid wrote about the exhibition for Arts Quarterly.
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STEPPIN' OUT "It's Carnival Time" premieres on WYES-TV/Channel 12 
 Repeats  Feb. 23 at 11:30pm and Feb. 28 at 9am.
Host Peggy Scott Laborde, along with Carnival historians Arhur Hardy and Errol Laborde, provide their annual overview of the upcoming Mardi Gras season. Hardy is the publisher of Arthur Hardy's Mardi Gras Guide, now in its 41st year. Errol Laborde is the author of many Carnival-related books, including Mardi Gras: Chronicles of the New Orleans Carnival.

Among this year's topics is the 100th anniversary of the Krewe of Iris, the continued popularity of the king cake, philanthropy in Mardi Gras and an update on Carnival ball locations. Attention will also be paid to the evolution of 12th Night, the kickoff of the season, with more Mardi Gras- related events.
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Royal Sonesta
Royal Sonesta New Orleans' 47th 'Greasing Of The Poles

Royal Sonesta New Orleans will host its annual "Greasing of the Poles" on Friday, Feb. 24, at 10:00 a.m. The public is invited to gather at the main entrance of the recently renovated hotel at 300 Bourbon St. to view the Mardi Gras spectacle.

All invited and encouraged to come decked out in shining and shimmering golden costumes or attire. This year, WGNO ABC 26's Kenny Lopez will serve as master of ceremonies.


  This year's festivities will include appearances by the kings and royal characters from the Krewe of Zulu and the Krewe of NOMTOC, plus other special guests. Leroy Jones and the Original Hurricane Brass Band will entertain the revelers with performances of Carnival classics during the show, while New Orleans' original all-female marching group The Pussyfooters will deliver one of its signature special performances. Representatives from the New Orleans Saints including an NFL player, mascots Gumbo and Sir Saint and members of the Saintsations will also be in attendance.
         Greasing the landmark hotel's poles will be a cultural cross selection of contestants representing the distinctive character of New Orleans, hotel reps said. Fleurty Girl founder and 2016 People's Choice winning greaser Lauren Leblanc Haydel, Chef and Partner of Coquette Kristen Essig, Hillary Lowry of the Oui Dats de la Nouvelle-Orléans Mardi Gras krewe, and choreographer for the Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale, Tamika Jett, will go head to head for the namesake task, each vying for the first-place title based on the judging panel's scores. Contestants will also have the chance to win the coveted "People's Choice" award, based on crowd participation, response and applause.
         Celebrity judges for this year's event are NCIS New Orleans Producer Joseph Zolfo; renowned Cajun fiddle player, singer and actress Amanda Shaw; plus New Orleans' premier burlesque dancer and producer of four New Orleans-based shows Trixie Minx, the 2016 1st place greaser. Joining them will be Ignatius DeSandro, a Vietnam War Veteran representing the We Heart Veterans non-profit organization. As part of its corporate 'Culture of Caring', Royal Sonesta is proud to partner with We Heart Veterans to support its core mission of caring for aging veterans and their widows throughout the nation.

 "Greasing of the Poles" is free and open to the public.
         For prime viewing, spectators should plan to arrive early
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Lundi Gras on the Mississippi
Join us in celebrating the 31st Annual Lundi Gras on the Mississippi on Spanish Plaza Monday, February 27, 2017, 
12PM - 6:30PM!
 This event is open to the public and will feature live music, local food and drink vendors, fireworks over the river and the official arrival of Rex, King of Carnival.
 This year's Lundi Gras schedule is as follows:
12:15PM - King James & the Special Men
2:15PM - Big Sam's Funky Nation featuring Big Chief Monk Boudreaux
4:15PM - Cowboy Mouth
6:00PM - Arrival of Rex, King of Carnival
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WYES-TV To Broadcast 2017 Rex Ball, Meeting Of The Court For 21st Time 
Peggy Scott Laborde
NEW ORLEANS -WYES-TV/Channel 12, New Orleans' local PBS member station, will broadcast live one of the highlights of the Carnival season - the 2017 Rex Ball and the Meeting of the Courts of Rex and Comus on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m. The broadcast will repeat immediately after the initial airing.
         For those not in WYES' viewing area, the 2017 Rex Ball will be streamed live at www.wyes.org and on WYES' YouTube Channel (search 'WYES on demand'). Viewers in the Baton Rouge area can watch it live on LPB3 at 7:30 p.m.
         Host Peggy Scott Laborde along with Carnival historian Errol Laborde will provide coverage of the ball live from the Sheraton and Marriott Hotels in downtown New Orleans.
         Viewers will witness the pageantry of the balls and the historic Meeting of the Courts, which has taken place since 1882, plus hear from past and present Carnival royalty including this year's Carnival's King and Queen and Comus' Queen. Additional video features include a brief history of Carnival 50 and 100 years ago.
         Coordinating producer for the production is Barbara Sillery. Will Morrow is the director. Larry Roussarie is an editor. Executive producers are Peggy Scott Laborde and Jim Moriarty




Host Peggy Scott Laborde along with Carnival historian Errol Laborde will provide coverage of the ball live from the Sheraton and Marriott Hotels in downtown New Orleans.
Viewers will witness the pageantry of the balls and the historic Meeting of the Courts, which has taken placesince 1882, plus hear from past and present Carnival royalty including this year’s Carnival’s King and Queen and Comus’ Queen. Additional video features include a brief history of Carnival 50 and 100 years ago.
Coordinating Producer for the production is Barbara Sillery. Will Morrow is the director. Larry Roussarie is editor. Executive Producers are Peggy Scott Laborde and Jim Moriarty.