Two more incidents involving the illegal possession of guns were reported while the Bacchus parade rolled Sunday evening on Uptown route, police reports show. Continue reading »
A 26-year-old man was shot several times inside an Audubon Street home early Monday morning, according to police reports. Continue reading »

Owen Courreges
I really just wanted to write a fluff column about parking during Mardi Gras. That’s all. The message was going to be: “Don’t park too close to the corner because it cuts visibility and causes accidents, particularly in times of high traffic.”
Instead, I’m going to write about how easy it is to fall victim to police misconduct, particularly when taking photographs in public. Continue reading »

A rider in the Krewe of Bacchus hands a strand of beads to a parade-goer on Napoleon Avenue. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
Defying predictions of torrential storms in New Orleans — and amid reports of a destructive tornado in nearby Hattiesburg, Miss. — the Krewe of Bacchus presented its 2013 theme of “Bacchus Sails the Seven Seas” on Sunday evening under relatively clear skies. Continue reading »

A member of Skinz N Bonez marches down Magazine Street during the Krewe of Okeanos parade. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
Dodging dire predictions of rain, the Krewe of Okeanos rolled with their “Getaways” theme on Sunday morning, followed by the Krewe of Mid-City’s presentation of “It’s About Time” and the Krewe of Thoth’s salute to kings.

Mr. Bingle reigns over the Krewe of Mid-City “Holiday Time” float on Magazine Street. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

A rider on the Krewe of Thoth “King of the Jungle” float finds a kindred spirit in the Henry Clay Avenue crowd. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
With thunderstorms expected across New Orleans from Sunday morning until Fat Tuesday, many of the remaining parades will strive for earlier start times, officials announced Saturday afternoon. Continue reading »
Police reported four more gun cases along St. Charles Avenue as parading on the Uptown route resumed this week — one on Wednesday night and three on Thursday, according to crime maps. Continue reading »
A 22-year-old woman on Bourbon Street got into what she thought was taxi but was then raped by the driver and dropped off in Central City, and police are now seeking the public’s help in finding him. Continue reading »

A rider in the Krewe of Tucks tosses beads on Napoleon Avenue. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
The Krewe of Iris celebrated festivals throughout the state of Louisiana on the Uptown parade route Saturday, followed by a subversive history lesson from the Krewe of Tucks.

The Iris “Crawfish Festival” float rolls on Napoleon Avenue. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
Fire broke out at the F&M Patio Bar around 2:30 a.m. and was brought under control about half an hour later, according to a report by our partners at WWL-TV.

The Krewe of Hermes’ “Masque of Beauty” float rolls on Napoleon Avenue. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The Krewe of Hermes led off Friday’s parades with “The Theatrical Baroque;” Le Krewe d’Etat followed with “The Dictator’s Reading Room,” and the Krewe of Morpheus had a “Night at the Movies” on the Uptown route.

Le Krewe d’Etat’s “Friday Nights Float” lampooned both Tulane’s ambitions in building a new football stadium and the Uptown residents who opposed it. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

Image from “Support NOLA’s Most Badass Assault Survivor” fundraising website.
Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Jazz Band will perform their annual jazz worship service Sunday morning at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church, joined this year by the two other congregations that share the building, Redeemer Presbyterian and St. Stephen’s Anglican. Continue reading »

Craig Giesecke
Now that the Super Bowl has passed and the temporary Disneyfication of our city has been taken down, we’re back to the normal seasonal crazy through Fat Tuesday next week. In our household, it means even more than in most years because we’ll have family staying with us through the entire time. By “family,” I mean my daughter and her boyfriend and a childhood friend of my daughter, so it’ll be a bon temp indeed around here. Continue reading »

The Krewe of Muses debuted their new “Sirens” float on the Uptown route Thursday evening. (Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com)
The massive crowds that lined the Uptown route Thursday night saw the Knights of Babylon explore the “Land of Dreams,” the Knights of Chaos skewer politicians of every stripe, and the Krewe of Muses combine visual theatrics with a witty series of puns on “Makin’ Groceries.”

The Knights of Babylon’s “Jesters” float rolls up Napoleon Avenue. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

The Chaos “Scallywag” float took advantage of former Mayor Ray Nagin’s legal woes. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

Richard Barnes (via NOPD)

Detective Derrick Williams (left) of the city’s sex-crimes unit and two crime-scene techs recover evidence Monday evening from a gas station at Claiborne and Toledano after a rape and kidnapping in the Garden District. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

Christopher Davis (via opcso.org)

15-year-old suspect whose name has not been released. (image via NOPD)
Three teens — ages 15, 16 and 18 — were arrested in connection with Monday’s rape and kidnapping after the youngest suspect’s family members turned him in for questioning Thursday, authorities said. Continue reading »
With more than a dozen parades still to roll on the Uptown route, the Coliseum Square Association is seeking the donation of snacks to distribute to the police officers who work long shifts along St. Charles Avenue. Continue reading »
A dollar store on Earhart Boulevard was robbed at gunpoint Wednesday morning, authorities said, and a man was shot several times in the Dixon area between Hollygrove and Mid-City. Continue reading »

Allan Katz and Danae Columbus
Danae’s Mardi Gras is not complete without the annual trek to Gallier Hall for the Mayor’s Ball. Lucky for us, Gallier Hall is only four blocks from our office, so Danae walks over.
Last night’s event — as usual — was an outstanding gathering, a great place to people watch and do business. His Honor of course was present along with most of his senior staff and the majority of the City Council — LaToya, Cynthia, Jackie, Kristin and Susan — and their husbands. Danae overheard Mayor Landrieu speaking to a national journalist about the willingness of investors to bring their money to New Orleans, since the Mayor never misses an opportunity to promote the city. Honorary Dutch Consul Connie Willems, new president of the Consular Corp, was talking about how foreign governments are placing more emphasis on trade in this region. Continue reading »
