Endymion Parade 2012: Slideshow

Here’s a slideshow of a few pictures I took mainly before Endymion Parade rolled because weather conditions at beginning of parade were less than ideal and as weather got better I was too busy trying to get beads and throws.

Dont Rain on Our Parade...



Our Camp



A view of the Neutral Ground



Got up early Saturday. Watched Special Morning Weather Report on TV at hotel...was not looking good: call remained for 100 percent "chance" of rain starting late am and going into late afternoon or even early evening. 2 of the early (noon) parades had already rescheduled. So far the biggest parade of them all- Endymion- was still scheduled to roll at 4:15pm. Last year this parade was cancelled due to rain and rescheduled- as well as moved from its traditional Mid-City route which was a really big deal..so far tho looked like the parade would still be on today. Our plan was to have some breakfast then cab it (Canal Streetcar and buses were not running due to parade) up to sis's house which is only 1 block off the beginning of the Endymion parade route. I realized we were close to Mother's Restaurant so that's where we went for breakfast- as we ate our biscuits,sausage and eggs- we noticed a group of Endymion krewe members waiting in line- costumes and bags in hand- so was really looking more and more like the parade was going to be a go..Finished breakfast and made our way up to my sister's. Canal Street and all streets along the parade route had folks setting up their spots for the parades...Some people had tents, chairs, ladders or whole campsites. These actually started appearing about 3 or 4 days before today- people down here take parades- and especially this parade- pretty seriously. There also were parking lots along the route with RVs and other parade "campers"- this was gonna be something special...Around noon, arrived at sis's and we decided we should go mark out a spot on the route. I found some old paint cans, a piece of wood and a tarp and we headed over to the avenue. Crowds were continuing to gather- despite the dire weather forecast- and we spoke to a group who had been camping out since the nite before (one young guy said his older brother pays for them to have their own port-o-potty if they will stay out overnite and "guard" the family spot). Anyway, we found an empty spot (there were'nt many- people had even taken to spray painting the grass with their marks in order to save a spot) and set up our camp (see picture at top). That done we went back to sis's house to wait and see re: weather..Right now was nice and warm- overcast but not raining...more and more people were gathering- but it was only 1 o'clock...still a few more hours til parade to start..While hanging out at my sister's we kept an eye on weather report-everything pointed to the worst weather coming right before parade time-in fact it was now being reported that the parade had been pushed back to 5:30 from 4:15pm to try and get better weather but all indications were the parade was going to roll. About 3:30 pm it started pouring- we were lucky because we were sitting inside but there were hundreds-maybe even thousands- who were congregated on the neutral ground (ie grass median down the parade route) or along the streets who were now getting wet. The rain slowed and then re-started for the next hour. Finally, around 4:30 we decided to head over to our spot- we took our umbrellas and other rain gear. Just about 5:30 when the parade was to roll it started to rain again- not pour but it was coming down pretty good. At this point- the parade was going to roll no matter what..and roll it did- the first couple of floats came by and they were empty of people- because of the rain the royal court and King and Queen were not on the float (Note: this is a "super krewe" with almost 1500 riders; they have a huge after parade party in the SUPERDOME!...they drive their floats right into the stadium and have their big party with thousands of krewe members and their families). The parade continued and the rest of the floats did have riders and there were lots of throws. After a while the rain tapered off and it was just wet. Everyone who was out on the route had a good time and cheered on the riders and the numerous high school marching bands who had braved less than ideal weather to put on a show. All in all, it worked out but definitely not the best conditions for a parade.
See video below of BEFORE the parade as the floats are being moved into position.

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. 

Yeah you ride...

21 days from today the Krewe Of Mid-City parade is going to roll. This year's theme is "Apocalypso: Party at the End of the World." A few facts about the Krewe. Based in the Mid City Neighborhood of New Orleans (see info here) this krewe is the 5th oldest continously parading organization of the New Orleans Mardi Gras season. This year's parade will be the 79th. It is a daytime parade and the krewe's signature floats are decorated in colored foil which I'm told on a sunny day are quite a sight to see (go here for pictures). At this point, I may be assigned to the band float (see picture belowfrom last year's parade) which is positioned early in the parade-coming right after the Royal Court- and features a brass band playing on the float for the duration of the parade. No other krewe uses this colored foil decorating technique which is a lost art save for the Mid City's float artist Ricardo Pustanio who learned his craft early in his career under a member of the world famous float-making family the Kerns. Another interesting fact is that this was the first krewe to feature animated floats -which at the time was accomplished by-believe it or not- having boy scout volunteers concealed within the floats pedaling stationary bicycles attached to cables and other mechanisms that moved various devices. All in all it is a krewe with a long, proud and unique parading history and I am honored to be taking part in this year's parade. Hail Mid-City! Pour la joie de vivre!