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.

Southern Decadence 2018

Southern Decadence is 5 days of costumes, parties and parades celebrating the LGBT community. Marking their 47th year, an M.C. reminded the crowd the event has been around since being gay was illegal.  Now, the long weekend attracts over 210,000 people and creates a $250 million economic impact – making it one of the top 5 annual events in New Orleans.

Good weather held out for most of the Sunday parade, save one fairly brief and cooling shower. Drag queens, dance troupes, pride groups and other revelers took to the streets in costumes

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

The Pelicans Season 2018

I was never much of a basketball fan. In college, I knew Patrick Ewing, David Robinson and the late, great Len Bias. But I never saw them play. Over the years I met Scotty Pippin, John Salley and more – but I still never went to a game. I attended 2 Hornets games when I first moved to New Orleans. They were fun but I felt I’d gotten the idea, amazing athletes playing a ball game with a lot of running. Like soccer. I was always a football fan.

Then the Bensons, the couple who owned the Saints, bought the Pelicans. Tom put his wife Gayle in charge of remaking the game day experience. 

Mardi Gras = Fat Tuesday

Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday in French) effectively splits the city into 2 groups – parade-goers and costumers. The fabulous and feathered Krewe of Zulu starts the parades with an early morning roll across the city. We caught the beginning floats, but closer to the end of the route when they’d already been going for hours. Spike Lee handed out beads as did an entire float of Saints.

We’re costumers so we left early and headed into the French Quarter so my husband could become a wrestling taco.

Krewe of Thoth Parade

I normally dance with the Pussyfooters in the Krewe of Thoth parade, but this year I had to settle for cheering them on. The good news is I got to see the Egyptian beauty of Thoth for the first time in years. For Krewe of Thoth history and more CLICK HERE.

The weather cleared up and a neighbor sump-pumped the moat that had separated us from the floats

Krewes of Okeanos and Mid-City Parades

The Krewe of Okeanos parade rolled in the rain to sizable crowds. It was warm and the forecast promised clearing skies. Our spot was flooded due to the recent freezes cracking pipes. Later, a neighbor bought a sump pump and drained the street but our morning was spent slogging through over half a foot of water to get to the floats. There’s something about rainy parades that’s special. When I’m watching them, I always admire the people suffering on the floats, dancing drenched and playing wet instruments.