The Krewe of Muses is a crowd favorite. Fun floats include the giant stiletto, the bubble bath and the rubber duckies. I dance with the Pussyfooters and we were thrilled to be celebrating our 21st birthday with the Krewe that helped launch our group. The Pussyfooters were the first adult dance krewe to parade Mardi Gras since the Baby Dolls in the early 1900’s. The idea of adults dancing in the parades was such a hit that now there are over 50 groups. Continue reading
Tag Archives: muses
Krewe of Muses (& some Chaos)
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2022, parade
Tagged as floats, Knights of Chaos, krewe of chaos, Krewe of Muses, latonola, Laura Cayouette, mardi gras, muses, Muses shoe, new orleans, parade, Pussyfooters, Swin Cash
House Floats – Garden District
In the search for fabulous and festive house floats, I’ve already covered Magazine Street, the Irish Channel, Mid-City and the Lower Garden District. New Orleans has been celebrating Mardi Gras in a safe, socially distanced way with City Park’s drive-thru Floats in the Oaks stationary parade and “Yardi Gras,” thousands of homes and businesses throughout the city decorated as parade floats. Krewe of House Floats promoted this safe parade concept, encouraging people to use local businesses and artists to help decorate their places as house floats, or go DIY, then register on their map. The effect is the city basically looks like a drive-thru parade. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2021, parade, Uncategorized, walking
Tagged as #MaskUp, architecture, carnival, city park, Commander's Palace, COVID, covid 19, decoration, Floats in the Oaks, garden district, Garden District Book Shop, Harmony St, Harmony Street, historic architecture, history, house floats, irish channel, Krewe D'Etat, Krewe of House Floats, Krewe of Muses, latonola, Laura Cayouette, Magazine St, magazine street, mardi gras, Mardi Gras Day, mardi gras decoration, mask, masking, mid-city, muses, new orleans, new orleans city park, parade, Pete Fountain, Pussyfooters, Queen's Jubilee, social distance
Krewes of Muses and Babylon 2020
High wind gusts prevented Thursday’s parades from rolling, pushing 2 to Friday and one to Sunday’s schedule. With the addition of the Krewes of Muses and Babylon to Friday’s lineup, a 3-parade night became 5-parade marathon. Muses and Babylon rolled mostly without bands and dance groups to keep things moving quickly.
I was supposed to parade in the Muses 20-year anniversary parade with the pretty-in-pink Pussyfooters, Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2020, parade
Tagged as Babylon, beads, Bearded Oysters, carnival, floats, krewe, krewe of Babylon, Krewe of Muses, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, latonola, marching band, mardi gras, muses, Mythological Menagerie, new orleans, parade, Pussyfooters, Rolling Elvi, st. charles, throws
Krewes of Babylon and Muses Parades 2019
Because I dance with the Pussyfooters, I haven’t attended the Krewes of Babylon and Muses parades since 2013. Though I was fairly devastated to be too under the weather for hours of dancing, it was kinda wonderful to experience the Thursday parades as a spectator. The rain chased the start time forward and back, finally pushing the Krewe of Chaos out of the evening entirely. Hopes are that they will roll Monday instead. Babylon was beautiful and it was great touching base with meteorologist Margaret Orr as she drove past. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2019, parade
Tagged as Babylon, beads, Bearded Oysters, brass band, carnival, floats, Knights of Babylon, krewe, krewe of Babylon, Krewe of Muses, Krewe of Rolling Elvi, Krewe of the Bearded Oysters, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, Laissez Boys, latonola, marching band, mardi gras, Margaret Orr, muses, Muses shoe, new orleans, Organ Grinders, parade, paradetracker.com, Patricia Clarkson, Pussyfooters, Rolling Elvi, Saints, st. charles, throws
Jazz Fest Saturday
It was a gorgeous Saturday for Jazz Fest. Before heading to the stages, we passed through the craft area and saw creative shoebox floats and glittery Krewe of Muses shoes – a prized throw during Mardi Gras. There were also a few Mardi Gras Indians sewing beads and showing off this year’s suits. Big Chief FiYiYi, Victor Harris, showed us the incredibly detailed beadwork. Beautiful. We grabbed a requisite Panorama Fine Foods Crawfish Bread ($7) and Strawberry Lemonade ($5) then tried the refreshing Ajun Cajun Ninja Crab Sick & Cucumber Salad ($5) and Canseco’s Markets Cuban Sandwich ($8). Continue reading →
Filed under Concerts, Culture, decorations and costumes, festival, Local Cuisine
Tagged as Ajun Cajun Ninja, Allen Toussaint, Big Chief, Big Chief FiYiYi, brass band, Canseco's Markets, Catering Unlimited, concert, Crawfish Bread, floats, jazz fest, Krewe of Muses, latonola, mardi gras indian, muses, Muses shoe, music, new orleans, Panorama Fine Foods, parade, Restaurant, Richard Danielson, shoebox floats, shoes, Simon, Simon cup, soul rebels, Strawberry Lemonade, Terrance Osborne, throws, Ty Taylor, Victor Harris, Vintage Trouble, Woodrow Nash
Hermes, D’Etat & Morpheus with Thomas Morstead
One of the great things about Mardi Gras is that it serves as a gathering point. People have “their spot” and you know where to find them. And there are the annual house parties along the route. After Katrina, this was the only way some people had to find each other after having been washed away. When I was Pussyfooting in Muses, I knew where to look for friends and neighbors. Float riders send out notes to their friends letting them know which float they’ll be on and which side they’re riding – sidewalk side or neutral ground side – so they can give them special throws or shower them with beads. We come together at Mardi Gras, we find each other. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Charity, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2015, parade, the Saints
Tagged as carnival, floats, Greasing of the Poles, katrina, krewe, Krewe D'Etat, Krewe of Hermes, Krewe of Morpheus, Krewe of Muses, latonola, Le Krewe D'Etat, mardi gras, muses, Mystic Krewe of Hermes, new orleans, non-profit, parade, Pussyfooters, Saints, st. charles, Thomas Morstead, What You Give Will Grow
Watching Hermes, D’Etat & Morpheus with Thomas Morstead (Who Dat!)
As readers of this blog know, I’m suffering a major time crunch blogging this year. This has been my busiest, most amazing Mardi Gras ever! I’ve gotten to watch the parades many ways this season – as a regular parade-goer and while dancing with the Pussyfooters in Muses and Thoth and even from Quentin Tarantino’s float in Orpheus. But last Friday was my first time watching from a balcony on the route. At last year’s Greasing of the Poles at the Royal Sonesta, I met the Pussyfooters. It was the beginning of an amazing journey into sisterhood and silliness. This year, I met Saints punter Thomas Morstead. The next thing I knew, we were meeting his wife and friends, eating good food and enjoying the super-crowded parades from his balcony. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Charity, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2014, parade, the Saints
Tagged as carnival, d'etat, Derrick Tabb, floats, Greasing of the Poles, Hermes, Krewe of Morpheus, Krewe of Muses, Krewe of Thoth, latonola, Le Krewe D'Etat, marching band, mardi gras, muses, Mystic Krewe of Hermes, new orleans, orpheus, parade, paradetracker.com, Pussyfooters, Quentin Tarantino, rebirth brass band, roots of music, Royal Sonesta, Saints, Thomas Morstead, thoth, who dat
Muses Parade as a Pussyfooter!
This is my 5th full Carnival season in New Orleans but this year’s Krewe of Muses parade was my first time ever dancing in a Mardi Gras parade. It was amazing, like walking through the “Looking Glass” and becoming part of a wonky world full of mystical creatures – where it’s perfectly normal to see Elvis on a motor scooter or a unicorn/bicycle. It’s a place where I fit right in wearing a pink corset and white combat boots because now I’m a Pussyfooter! We had to line up very early and the last parade always rolls late so we spent a couple hours staying warm by dancing or huddling in swarms of pink ruffles and lace. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Charity, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2014, parade, walking
Tagged as beads, Bearded Oysters, Blush Ball, Camel Toe Steppers, Cherry Bombs, Cliff Bars, dancingman504, Django Unchained, Favorite Parade, floats, jellybeans, John "Papa" Gros, K Paul's, koozies, krewe, Krewe of Muses, latonola, marching band, mardi gras, Metro, muses, Muses shoe, music, new orleans, parade, paradetracker.com, Pussy Wagon, Pussyfooters, Rolling Elvi, thoth, throws, Zulu coconut
Preparing for Mardi Gras
Carnival season is days away and the city is bustling in preparation. Bunting, wreaths and decorations in purple, green and gold are going up on homes and stores. The potholes on St. Charles are being filled to make ready for floats to roll. Krewes are meeting to discuss upcoming parades and balls. Bands and dance troupes are practicing in parks and fields. Bleachers are being constructed and barricades are piling up on corners along the route.
Every year, I’ve used this time to redecorate my Christmas tree and wreath and bead my fence. This year, I have a much longer list because this year – I’m in 3 of the parades! Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Charity, Concerts, Culture, decorations and costumes, entertainment industry, Local Cuisine, Mardi Gras 2014, moving, parade
Tagged as 610 stompers, acting, Arthur Hardy, Autism Society of Greater New Orleans, Bearded Oysters, carnival, decorations, Django Unchained, Greasing of the Poles, John "Papa" Gros, Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, Krewe of Orpheus, latonola, los angeles, mardi gras, Mardi Gras Guide, Mardi Gras tree, Mondo, muses, new orleans, orpheus, Oui Dats, parade, Pussyfooters, Quentin Tarantino, Restaurant, Squeal, Sugar Mill, thoth
Krewes of Babylon, Chaos and Muses Parades
Last year, I had very little time to luxuriate in Mardi Gras madness. Django Unchained was ramping up to arrive on Ash Wednesday and I was traveling and working hard to prepare for filming. This year, the movie is out and it’s a hit – #1 globally 3 weeks in a row, 2 Golden Globe wins and 5 Oscar nominations including Best Picture. I can hardly believe I’m a part of it. But between the movie and my new book, Know Small Parts: An Actor’s Guide to Turning Minutes into Moments and Moments int a a Career, I’m again traveling and working hard during Mardi Gras. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, history, Mardi Gras 2013, parade
Tagged as 2013, 610 stompers, 9th Ward, band, baton twirler, Bearded Oysters, Big Easy Roller Girls, Camel Toe Steppers, Cherry Bombs, dancers, dancingman504, Django Unchained, Edna Karr, flambeau, float, floats, G.W. Carver, high schools, Kipp Renaissance, krewe, L.B. Landry, latonola, marching band, Marching Dead Rock Stars, mardi gras, Martin Behrman, McMain, muses, music, new orleans, O. Perry Walker, parade, paradetracker.com, Pussyfooters, Rolling Elvi, Sirens, Sophie B. Wright, St. Augustine, st. charles, Stooges, throws, Walter L. Cohen, West Jefferson, Xavier