The Sidewalk Side: St. Thomas Street in the Irish Channel

During Carnival, I stumble across a wonderful block in the Irish Channel, the 2800 block of St. Thomas Street. Although none of the nine houses on the block are painted purple, green and gold, they are so exuberantly colored they put me in the mood for a parade. Color, I discover, is just one of the elements that ties the block together. Take a look, for example, at the wide brick sidewalk, laid in a herringbone pattern.

Police blotter: Three robberies, a home invasion, a stabbing

Three robberies, a home invasion, and an assault were reported in Uptown neighborhoods this week, according to information released by the New Orleans Police Department. A 25-year old man was robbed early Wednesday (Feb 22) at St. Charles Avenue and Jackson, according to police. At about 1:30 a.m., the victim was approached by three men who pushed him to the ground before taking his property and fleeing. Two women and a man were victims in a home invasion on Tuesday (Feb 21) around 3 p.m. in Central City.

Public safety, crime reduction to be explored at Coffee on Your Corner

Public safety officials will take your questions on Thursday (Feb. 23) at the next Coffee on Your Corner with the District B Neighborhood Engagement Office. Representatives with the Violent Crime Task Force and with NOLA311 will meet with citizens. Mayor LaToya Cantrell formed the Violent Crime Reduction Task Force, under the command of Orleans Parish Communication District Executive Director Tyrell Morris, in January to strategize methods of crime prevention. Morris will present updates at the meeting, according to Kevin J. Kellup, the neighborhood liaison for District B. Kellup said 15 to 20 District B community leaders will also participate.

Rolling on Mardi Gras: Zulu, Rex, walking clubs, truck parades

The key to a good Mardi Gras Day is getting up early. There is so much fun to be had — don’t miss a minute.

And before you go out, put on a costume. It could just be a mask, a silly hat, a cape, something sparkly, feathers, glitter. Mardi Gras is not just a spectator event. You’re part of it, too.

The weather promises to be warm — one of the warmest on record. The National Weather Service predicts some patchy fog between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. Otherwise, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 80 and southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Have a safe and happy Mardi Gras, y’all!

Rolling tonight: Proteus and Orpheus top off Lundi Gras festivities

The all-day Lundi Gras festivities culminate with two spectacular parades, one a study in old-world elegance and another in contemporary opulence. National Weather Service tells us that clouds will roll in after a mostly sunny Lundi Gras, and patchy fog is expected after dark. The night will remain mild, with lows around 62. Krewe of Proteus

Presenting the second oldest parade in the Carnival lineup, the Krewe of Proteus adheres to tradition just it adheres to the chassis it has been using since the 1880s, when it was formed as an offshoot of the mystic krewes of Momus and Comus. It stopped parading for six years in the 1990s, returning to the streets again 1999.

One killed, four injured in shooting along parade route

One person was killed and four injured as the Krewe of Bacchus parade passed on St. Charles Avenue on Sunday night (Feb. 19), the New Orleans Police Department reported. The crowd gathered to watch Bacchus in the 1600 block of Terpsichore Street scattered, as people took cover to avoid the bullets. The parade continued to roll.

Rolling Sunday: Okeanos, Mid-City, Thoth and Bacchus

Four parades will roll through Uptown today and tonight (Feb. 19) — all back on their traditional routes. The Krewe of Thoth will be celebrating its 75th anniversary on its idiosyncratic Uptown route. The daytime parades will roll under mostly sunny skies, with a high near 65. For Bacchus tonight, it will be partly cloudy, with a low around 55 with a southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Rolling Saturday: Krewe of Iris soars, Krewe of Tucks tests the speed limit

The sun is expected to shine on today’s Uptown parades, Iris and Tucks. The Krewe of Iris, after all, has a special relationship with the goddess of the skies. The sun will warm the chilly temps, but only into the mid- to upper-50s, according to the National Weather Service. During the Krewe of Tucks parade, however, expect a steady rain of toilet paper to fall over the route. The Iris parade begins on the lakeside of St.