It’s been 2 long years since floats rolled down St. Charles – and it’s wonderful having our Mardi Gras back! We’ve been parading since Jan. 6th but the Krewes of Oshun, Cleopatra and Alla were the first to roll giant floats spewing beads, plushies, cups and more. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Amelia Earhawts
Oshun & Cleopatra Parades 2022
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2022, parade
Tagged as Amelia Earhawts, beads, Krewe of Alla, Krewe of Cleopatra, Krewe of Oshun, latonola, Laura Cayouette, mardi gras, Muff-A-Lottas, new orleans, oshun, parade, Pussyfooters, Rolling Elvi, Sirens, Sirens of New Orleans
Krewe of Boo Parade 2021
It’s been over a year and a half since New Orleans hosted a big parade with floats – since Carnival 2020 – so the crowds were out in droves for Brian Kern’s Krewe of Boo Halloween parade. Meters’ bassist George Porter, Jr. served as King, and the Grand Marshal was rapper, producer, DJ Mannie Fresh. I dance with The Pussyfooters, a non-profit body-positive group of over 100 women over-30 in pink corsets, so my only chance to see all the floats and attractions is during the lineup. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, parade
Tagged as 610 stompers, Amelia Earhawts, Amelia Earthawts, beads, Brian Kern, clydesdales, costume, costumes, COVID, covid 19, Crescent City Fae, DJ Mannie Fresh, Femme Fatales, french quarter, George Porter, George Porter Jr., Halloween, Halloween costume, Halloween parade, Krewe of Boo, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, latonola, Laura Cayouette, Mande Milkshakers, Mannie Fresh, mardi gras, Muff-A-Lottas, new orleans, NOLA Cherry Bombs, pandemic, parade, Pussyfooters, Rolling Elvi, Sassyracs, the Pussyfooters, vaccinated
Krewe of Iris 2020
Established in 1917, Krewe of Iris is the oldest all-female krewe and they truly set the standard. The queen wears a traditional beaded gown, jeweled crown a wide, ostrich-feather-trimmed, lace collar. But it’s the rest of the royal court that sets this krewe apart with their sequined gowns topped with giant, elaborately beaded collars depicting different themes. I especially like the Maid in the Saints collar and her Duke’s matching Pelicans cape.
Their floats are gorgeous. My favorite was back – the woman’s face with long hair flowing, purple irises nested in the locks. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2020, parade, Uncategorized
Tagged as Amelia Earhawts, bagpipers, bagpipes, beads, carnival, floats, high school, Iris parade, krewe, Krewe of Iris, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, latonola, marching band, mardi gras, music, new orleans, NOLA Cherry Bombs, parade, Rolling Elvi, Saints, st. charles, throws
Festigals Step Up Parade
The Festigals Step Up Parade is the city’s largest women’s second-line parade. The parade is part of the Festigals weekend gathering of women creating opportunities for networking, education, fundraising and, of course, New Orleanian fun. A fundraising event, this year’s stroll raised thousands for the New Orleans Area American Heart Association.
Festigals was my first parade as a Pussyfooter 7 years ago Continue reading →
Filed under Charity, Culture, decorations and costumes, festival, free events and lagniappe, parade
Tagged as amanda shaw, Amelia Earhawts, Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge BeignYAYS, BeignYAYS, Bosom Buddies, Bosom Buddies & Breast Friends, brass band, Femme Fatale, Festigals, Festigals Step Up Parade, french quarter, krewe, latonola, Mande Milkshakers, Missing Ingredient, Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale, new orleans, New Orleans Area American Heart Association, Oui Dats, parade, Pussyfooters, second line, Sirens, Step Up, Step Up Parade
Parades! Krewes of Oshun & Cleopatra
Friday’s parades kick off a weekend full – starting with the Krewes of Oshun & Cleopatra. I get like a kid at Christmas this time of year so the night was made even better by sharing it with friends and their tiny tots. Oshun features many school bands and youth dance troupes. The parade used to roll solo to much lighter crowds. Since adding Cleopatra to the evening, the crowds have filled in substantially.
Cleopatra likes to coat the crowd in blinkies leaving a trail of lighted medallions, headpieces, bracelets, swords and more. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2019, parade
Tagged as Amelia Earhawts, beads, carnival, Disco Amigos, floats, krewe, Krewe of Cleopatra, Krewe of Oshun, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, latonola, marching band, mardi gras, music, new orleans, oshun, parade, paradetracker.com, Pussyfooters, Rolling Elvi, Sirens, st. charles, throws
Krewe of Boo 2018
Though it sprinkled off and on, the warm New Orleans weather brought out huge crowds for the Krewe of Boo parade. “Chief Spookster” Brian Kern’s “greener” take on throws includes locally-made throws and food items like Pralinettes from Aunt Sally’s, Chee Wees from Elmer’s Fine Foods and PJ’s Coffee packs. Spooktacular floats were separated by marching bands and marching groups including Tap Dat, Big Easy Rollergirls, Krewe des Fleurs, Organ Grinders, Muff-A-Lottas, Roux La La, Amelia EarHawts, Krewe of Rolling Elvi, 610 Stompers and the Pussyfooters!
This was my fifth year dancing with the Pussyfooters in the Halloween parade. For many dance and walking groups, it’s the first parade for their new members. Continue reading →
Filed under Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, parade
Tagged as 610 stompers, Alfred Richard, Amelia Earhawts, beads, Big Easy Roller Girls, Big Easy Rollergirls, brass band, Brian Kern, Dancing Man 504, dancingman504, Eli Mergel, floats, french quarter, Halloween, Halloween costume, Halloween decorations, high school, krewe, Krewe des Fleurs, Krewe of Boo, Krewe of Rolling Elvi, latonola, marching band, Muff-A-Lottas, muriel's, Muriel's Jackson Square, new orleans, Organ Grinders, parade, photos, Pussyfooters, Rolling Elvi, Roux La La, Tap Dat, throws, WWL
Festigals Parade
Festigals is a weekend gathering of women for networking, education, fundraising and New Orleanian fun. Their STEP UP to stop domestic violence parade (formerly the Stiletto Stroll) is the city’s largest women’s second-line parade. Festigals was my first parade as a Pussyfooter Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Charity, Culture, decorations and costumes, festival, free events and lagniappe, parade
Tagged as Amelia Earhawts, Carl Mack, carnival, Dames de Perlage, Dancing Man 504, dancingman504, domestic violence, Family Justice Center., Femme Fatale, Festigals, french quarter, krewe, latonola, Mande Milkshakers, mardi gras, Mardi Gras Museum, Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes & Culture, music, new orleans, New Orleans Family Justice Center, Nyxettes, parade, Pirates, Pussyfooters, second line, Sirens, stepup, Streetcar Strutters, Wonder Woman
Krewes of Muses & Iris Parades
No time to blog this year but wanted to share photos of the fun at the Krewes of Muses and Iris parades. I always love dancing with my Pussyfooter sisters in Muses. Both the parade and our group – the first modern-day adult parade dance troupe, debuted together in 2001. Photos include Krewe des Fleurs, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, the NOLA Cherry Bombs, Fat City Drum Corps, the Amelia Earhawts and much more! Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2018, parade
Tagged as Amelia Earhawts, bead bridge, beads, carnival, Cherry Bombs, Fat City Drum Corps, floats, high school, krewe, Krewe D'Etat, Krewe des Fleurs, Krewe of Iris, Krewe of Muses, Krewe of Nyx, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, latonola, marching band, mardi gras, Muses shoe, Mystic Krewe of Nyx, new orleans, NOLA Cherry Bombs, parade, Pussyfooters, Rolling Elvi, st. charles, throws
Mardi Gras 2017 Wrap-Up
We’ve heard it a lot in the last few days – this was the best Carnival (Mardi Gras season) in years. In fairness, a lot of it had to do with the extraordinarily wonderful weather. After the 50 degree rain-soaked Krewe of Cleopatra parade, most days were 70-80 and sunny with breezes. This year, I danced in 3 parades with the Pussyfooters. We were excited to debut our super-hero-inspired capes and signature pink corsets at the Cleopatra parade but mostly ended up covered in dripping-wet plastic sacks. That said, the crowds kept us inspired. Carnival parades are like a perpetual motion machine. The paraders bring energy to the crowds and the crowds bring energy to the paraders.
Though routines are set, each year I get to do new things at Mardi Gras and have new experiences. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2017, parade
Tagged as 100 Years, 610 stompers, Amelia Earhawts, Baby Dolls, behind-the-scenes, Big Easy Rollergirls, carnival, costumes, Dames de Perlage, Dancing Man 504, dancingman504, Disco Amigos, Fat City Drum Corp, flambeau, floats, french quarter, Frenchy, Harry Connick, high school, Jr, Kolossos, krewe, Krewe D'Etat, Krewe de Kolossos, Krewe de Lune, Krewe De Seuss, Krewe des Fleurs, Krewe du Vieux, Krewe of Alla, Krewe of Carrolton, Krewe of Choctaw, Krewe of Cleopatra, Krewe of Druids, Krewe of Femme Fatale, Krewe of Freret, Krewe of Hermes, Krewe of Iris, Krewe of King Arthur, Krewe of Morpheus, Krewe of Muses, Krewe of Nyx, Krewe of Orpheus, Krewe of Pontchartrain, Krewe of Proteus, Krewe of Pygmalion, Krewe of Sparta, Krewe of the Bearded Oysters, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, Krewe of Thoth, Krewe of Tucks, Krewedelusion, latonola, marching band, mardi gras, Mount Carmel Academy, Muff-A-Lottas, new orleans, NOLA Cherry Bombs, Nola Nyxettes, Nola Showgirls, Organ Grinders, Oui Dats, parade, Pussyfooters, st. charles, throws
Krewe of Iris – 100 Years
The oldest all-female krewe, Krewe of Iris was founded in 1917 and began parading in 1959. The bold and beautiful floats this year were inspired by the different parade themes across the krewes’ history. The court wore gorgeous sequined costumes with giant collars depicting cultural iconography. The queen was resplendent in a traditional beaded gown, jeweled crown and mask and regal lace collar. Sunglasses are a favorite throw with the hand-decoareted ones being the most coveted. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2017, parade
Tagged as Alfred Bonnabel Magnet Academy, Amelia Earhawts, beads, Cherry Bombs, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Charter High School, Elementary Krewe of Schaumburg, Fat City Drum Corps, floats, Gentilly Terrace, Gentry High School, high school, Hunters Lane High School, Indiola, krewe, Krewe des Fleurs, Krewe of Iris, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, Lafayette Academy Charter School, latonola, Laurel High School, marching band, mardi gras, McDonogh #28, mississippi, MLK Charter High School, Moss Point High School, Mount Carmel Academy, new orleans, NOLA Cherry Bombs, Nola Nyxettes, parade, ReNEW, ReNEW Schaumburg, st. charles, sunglasses, throws, W.J. Fischer Accelerated Academy, Yazoo City Marching Band