I’ve loved dancing with the Pussyfooters in the annual Krewe of Jingle holiday parade for years. Sadly, the parade didn’t survive the pandemic, so organizers from various local organizations came together to create the first ever Children’s Hospital Holiday Parade. The float builders at Kern Studios created Louisiana and New Orleans-centritc floats like alligators and Mr. Bingle. TV cameras were set up throughout the city to report the action. Floating balloons (like in the Macy’s parade) were added to the many dance krewes and school bands crowds have come to expect. Continue reading
Tag Archives: the Pussyfooters
Inaugural Children’s Hospital Holiday Parade
Filed under Carnival, Charity, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, parade
Tagged as 610 stompers, beads, Blaine Kern, Bryan Batt, Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital Holiday Parade, Dolly Parton, Downtown Development District, El Lucha Krewe, Femme Fatale, Femme Fatales, floats, french quarter, holiday parade, Jingle parade, Kern, Kern Studios, Krewe of Dolly, Krewe of Iris, Krewe of Jingle, Krewe of Jingle Parade, Krewe of the Rolling Elvi, La Lucha Krewe, latonola, Laura Cayouette, Lucha Krewe, Mande Milkshakers, mardi gras, Margaret Orr, Mr. Bingle, Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale, new orleans, parade, Pussyfooters, Rolling Elvi, Roux La La, Rudolph, Sassyracs, Smokey Mary, The Beyjorettes, the Pussyfooters
Krewe of Boo Parade 2022
Dancing in Brian Kern’s Krewe of Boo parade has become my favorite Halloween tradition. Judging by the thick crowds from the French Quarter to the CBD, it seems to have become a favorite for many. Every year, I especially love all of the children in adorable costumes lining the route, smiling and waving.
The first time I danced in a major parade with The Pussyfooters, was in 2013. The Pussyfooters are a non-profit body-positive group of over 100 women-over-30 in pink corsets who dance in Mardi Gras parades and partner with around 50 non-profits and events throughout the year. Continue reading →
Filed under Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, parade
Tagged as Big Easy Roller Derby, Cherry Bombs, Crescent City Fae, dance, french quarter, Halloween, Halloween costume, Halloween decorations, Krewe of Boo, latonola, Laura Cayouette, Mande Milkshakers, Muff-A-Lottas, new orleans, NOLA Cherry Bombs, parade, Pussyfooters, Roux La La, Streetcar Strutters, the Pussyfooters
Krewe of Carrollton – Behind the Scenes!
The 4th oldest Carnival parading organization (after Rex, Proteus, and Zulu), Krewe of Carrollton is a fairly traditional parade with big floats and lots of bands and dance krewes. I was so excited to strut down St. Charles with my Pussyfooters sisters for the first time since 2020 – that I could barely sleep the night before. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Charity, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2022, parade
Tagged as 610 stompers, Baby Dolls, carnival, Carrollton, Cherry Bombs, Dames de Perlage, Dames du Perlage, Femme Fatale, Krewe of Carrollton, latonola, Laura Cayouette, mardi gras, new orleans, NOLA Cherry Bombs, parade, Pussyfooters, the Pussyfooters
Krewes of Freret & Themis Parades
The Krewe of Freret is fast becoming one of my favorites of the season. The Krewe paraded for 40 years until the 90’s then was reborn in 2011. Some members of the new Krewe are the children of the previous membership. Grammy-nominated Trombone Shorty rode on his Trombone Shorty float with the super-long trombone prop.
The goddess, Themis, represents order and justice and is a perfect match to follow the diversity-and-activism-driven Krewe of Freret. Locals know the story Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Charity, Culture, decorations and costumes, entertainment industry, free events and lagniappe, Mardi Gras 2022, parade
Tagged as Allen Toussaint, Alter Egos, beads, Big Freedia, Crescent City Fae, Dames de Perlage, Derrick Tabb, Femme Fatale, Grammy, Krewe of Freret, Krewe of Themis, latonola, Laura Cayouette, mardi gras, music, new orleans, parade, professor longhair, Pussyfooters, roots of music, the Pussyfooters, The Roots of Music, Themis, trombone shorty, Trombone Shorty float
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
Easter 2021
Though New Orleans is busier than it’s been in a year, Easter had to go without our fabulous day of parades once again. Like with Yardi Gras’ house floats, some homes and businesses turned their places into festively decorated floats. Restaurants and churches were open for masked and distanced indoor seating. Our plans revolved around me wearing my fabulous new hat. A week or so ago, a package arrived with an Easter-bonnet-worthy hat in the hot pink and vibrant orange colors of my parade dance krewe, the Pussyfooters (about 100 women over-30 who dance in Mardi Gras and other parades and serve in non-profit events year round). Continue reading →
Filed under Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, Local Cuisine, Mardi Gras 2021, parade
Tagged as bonnet, Chris Owens, Chris Owens Easter Parade, Chris Owens French Quarter Easter Parade, Chris Owens Parade, Easter, Easter bonnet, Easter Parade, Easter Sunday, french quarter, Gay Easter Parade, latonola, Laura Cayouette, mardi gras, new orleans, parade, Pussyfooters, Ruby Slipper, the Pussyfooters
Parades! Oshun, Cleopatra & Alla
New Orleans has been celebrating Carnival since January 6th. Even if you didn’t attend the Joan of Arc Parade or wait to see the Phunny Phorty Phellows streetcar pass on St. Charles, the 6th was the day we could all officially eat King Cake. Every day. The parades begin 2 weeks earlier now but the Uptown parades are the official kick-off of parade season with the Krewes of Oshun, Cleopatra and Alla rolling. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Culture, decorations and costumes, free events and lagniappe, history, Mardi Gras 2020, parade
Tagged as beads, carnival, floats, Joan of Arc, Kenny Lopez, krewe, Krewe of Alla, Krewe of Cleopatra, Krewe of Oshun, latonola, marching band, mardi gras, Muff-A-Lottas, new orleans, News with a Twist, parade, Phunny Phorty Phellows, Pussyfooters, Sirens, Sirens of New Orleans, st. charles, the Pussyfooters, throws, WGNO
Jazz Fest & Book Signing
I’ve gone to Jazz Fest as a music lover and as a volunteer in the beer booth but this was my first time going to sign copies of one of my books – my latest, The Secret of the Other Mother: A Charlotte Reade Mystery. I arrived early and started my day with the White Cloud Hunters Mardi Gras Indians playing traditional Indians songs and closing with my favorite, Indian Red. Just as the stage full of magnificent beadwork and feathers emptied, the Algiers Warriors Mardi Gras Indians parade began dancing past with the New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian Rhythm Section. More amazing beads and feathers! Continue reading →
Filed under Charity, Concerts, Culture, decorations and costumes, festival, Local Cuisine, parade
Tagged as Algiers Warriors, Allen Toussaint, Big Chief, Big Chief Bo Dollis, bo dollis, bonerama, Charlotte Reade, Charlotte Reade Mystery, child literacy, children's literacy, High Steppers Brass Band, Jazz and Heritage Festival, jazz fest, Lady & Men Rollers Social Aid & Pleasure Club, Lady Rollers, Love at First Bite, Lydia Benson, Mardi Gras Indians, Mystery, New Orleans Gulf South Booksellers Association, New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian Rhythm Section, NOGSBA, parade Algiers Warriors Mardi Gras Indians, Queen, Scene Boosters, Secret of the Other Mother, the Pussyfooters, The Revivalists, The Secret of the Other Mother, volunteering, White Cloud Hunters
King Cake
Twelfth Night sounds the alarm that Carnival is just around the corner, but it’s also the starter pistol for King Cake season. Throughout New Orleans, people have been eating King Cake daily for a week. Officemates take turns bringing in cakes from different bakeries. If they follow the tradition, whoever finds “the baby” buys the next cake. The plastic baby used to be a red bean when the tradition first came to New Orleans in 1870. The wreath of cinnamon-layered bread can be stuffed with cream cheese, strawberry jam, etc. and the whole works is topped with a white icing and sugar in the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power. Continue reading →
Filed under Carnival, Charity, Concerts, Culture, decorations and costumes, festival, free events and lagniappe, history, Local Cuisine, Mardi Gras 2015, shopping, walking
Tagged as Antoine's, bakery, Cake Cafe, carnival, Champions Square, concert, Dong Phuong, Haydel's, Hi-Do, King Cake, King Cake baby, King Cake Festival, latonola, Manny Randazzo's, mardi gras, music, new orleans, Ochsner, purple green gold, Pussyfooter, Pussyfooters, Restaurant, Rouses, shipping, sucre, Tartine, the Pussyfooters, Twelfth Night, Two Chicks Walking Tours, what the Mardi Gras colors mean
Our New Orleans Wedding and Second Line
If you’ve read this blog’s ABOUT page, then you know that one reason I moved to New Orleans after 18 years in Los Angeles was to find my mate. “I followed my heart here. My gut told me that everything I was looking for, denying myself while I furthered my career, was right here where I always wanted to be.” I met Andy at the Lost Love Lounge (yes, really) 8 months after moving here and we’ve been slowly walking toward the altar ever since. A few weeks ago, we finally tied the knot – New Orleans-style with everything from DancingMan504 and The Roots of Music to the Pussyfooters and “The Dude” (okay, he’s not New Orleans, but he abides everywhere). Continue reading →
Filed under Charity, Culture, decorations and costumes, entertainment industry, free events and lagniappe, history, Local Cuisine, parade
Tagged as about, Academy Award, aisle, armstrong park, Armstrong Park arch, bayona, Best Hot Dog, Bill Capo, Black & Gold, bourbon street, Brad Pitt, brass band, bride, Bridesmaids, C8King Photography, Cakes & Desserts by Monica, California Drawstrings, Carlos Gonzalez, Catherine King, ceremony, Chadrick Honore, Colton Clements, Commander's Palace, congo square, dancingman504, Darryl Young, deconstructed, Derrick Tabb, Django Unchained, Do Watcha Wanna, Dreamy Weenies, french quarter, Goorin Bros., Grammy, gris gris, groom, handkerchiefs, HBO, Henry Griffin, history, Jeff "The Dude" Dowd, Jeff Dowd, jump, Kimberly Rivers Roberts, latonola, legal, Lindanne Lewis, live feed, Livestream, local, los angeles, lost love lounge, Make It Right, Monica Anderson, muriel's, music, new orleans, Niki Hampton, NOLA, Nola Snow, NOLA-centric, NOPD, ordained, parade, parade route, parasol, Phat Word, photos, planning, police escort, Promenade Fabric, Promenade Fine Fabrics, Pussyfooters, Pussyhandlers, QT Pie, Raintree, Raintree Children & Family Services, Rebirth, rebirth brass band, Restaurant, Reuben Cheatem, roots of music, royal street, Saints, Salu, Second Line Handkerchiefs, shoes, sno-balls, Snoballs, So Good, Southern Comfort Cotton, Southern Cotton Company, Susan Spicer, the big lebowski, The Dude, the Dude abides, the Pussyfooters, The Roots of Music, TOMS, tradition, Tree Battles, treme, umbrellas, video, Voodoo, vows, wedding, wedding cake, wedding dress, wedding gown, wedding planning, Wendy Talley, who dat, Willy Picket, WWL