Ballin'....





...My last post was about the Muses parade which is the Thursday before Mardi Gras..that brings us to Friday night and the Krewe of Mid-City "Bal Masque"...My wife and I got up Friday morning at my sisters in New Orleans' Mid City neighborhood and prepared to transition to our downtown hotel for the next three nites to be closer to all of my pre-parade krewe activities. So we re-packed our bags and grabbed our formal wear (the Mardi Gras balls are very formal- tuxedos and floor length gowns are required). We called a cab (NO Travel Hint: United Cabs is the way to go- put this number in your phone if you are going to New Orleans: 1-504-522-9771. Call 'em and they will pick you up anytime of day or nite ). Cab got us to the Sheraton down on Canal Street in the Central Business District. Hotel was a bit of a madhouse, but we were able to get checked in and our room was ready early which was a bonus. Turns out our room was on the 44th floor (see view at bottom of post) which is literally the highest I've ever been in New Orleans (pun intended). Anyway we dumped our bags and then headed out to do some walking around in the French Quarter and to find something to eat (dinner would not be served at the ball until 10pm). We ended up eating at one of our favorite places Bourbon House on Bourbon St. near Canal (NO Travel Hint: If there is a long line at the Acme Oyster House, go up the street towards Bourbon St to Bourbon House; it is usually a lot less crowded; they serve the same P&J Oysters at the oyster bar and they have a killer shrimp creole; oh, and don't forget to ask for bread- they give you a little loaf of fresh french bread w butter which is fantastic). Anyway, after eating we headed back to hotel to hang out til we needed to get dressed. We invited our friends who had 2 kids in the Royal Court to come up and use our room to get ready as well. Then it was time for the ball. It was held in one of the huge hotel ballrooms- tables were set for 690 people and most importantly there was an open bar. (The ball started at 7pm; dinner was scheduled for 10pm and apparently there are a group of folks who traditionally stay to the end of the party which was to be 3AM!). Anyway, the ball was interesting- we ended up seated at a table with the King of the krewe since our friends were friends of the King and his wife and they did not have other family. (My friend joked that I had nowhere to go but down since here I am, a first timer, never even having thrown a bead, sitting with the King at the ball). The first part of the proceedings was the "tableaux" which is a narrated introduction and procession that formally introduces members of the royal court, the captains and other officers of the krewe (all in costume) and of course the King and the Queen. The narration followed this years theme ("Apocalypso: Party at the End of the World") and included a promenade by female royal court members whose dresses corresponded to each of the floats in the parade decorated to represent different countries and their traditional dances. Anyway, these proceedings went on for about 2 hours and culminated with a formal walk by the king and queen and their court around the ballroom floor to greet their subjects. (Note: Photography was not allowed, so unfortunately I can't share any pictures of the goings on). After this was over, their was an opportunity for all to approach the King and Queen on their thrones to pay respect before returning to our seats for dinner. That concluded the formal portion of the nite- the bar re-opened, dinner was served and the dance music began. If there is one thing New Orleans people (or people visiting New Orleans) know how to do it is to have a good time. Immediately after dinner ended, the dance floor was full of folks - young and old- having a good ol' time and we joined right in. Alas, around midnite, my wife and I headed back upstairs to our room..The end of another good day.