City won’t restore Thoth’s traditional Uptown route, Times-Picayune reports

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The city will not readjust the Krewe of Thoth’s 2022 route to allow the parade to bring Carnival to patients in medical institutions along its idiosyncratic path that includes Henry Clay Avenue, Doug MacCash reports in The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate and NOLA.com. The New Orleans Police Department does not plan to accommodate krewe officials’ proposal to remove the downtown section of the parade to keep its traditional route deep into the Uptown neighborhood, Mayor’s Office spokesperson Beau Tidwell told MacCash. “The routes announced in December will stand for this season,” Tidwell said.

events

Phunny Phorty Phellows toast the start of 2022 Carnival season (photo story)

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A small but enthusiastic crowd cheered the Phunny Phorty Phellows as a streetcar packed with revelers left the Willow Streetcar Barn on Thursday (Jan. 6) for the krewe’s ride through Uptown signaling the start of the Carnival season. The route was shortened to the loop between Willow Street and Erato, due to construction in the downtown area. But krewe members were happy to be back after last year’s cancellation. “We are so pleased to be riding through uptown New Orleans.” said Krewe Captain Peggy Scott Laborde in a press release.  “We will travel a route that is the path of many Mardi Gras parades, so it’s only fitting that we honor them with our ride.

Mardi Gras

Blindsided by route change, Krewe of Thoth wants to cut parade in half to stay Uptown

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Krewe of Thoth officials say they are willing to sacrifice the downtown half of their parade to keep their traditional route deep in the Uptown neighborhood, where they bring Carnival to patients at Children’s Hospital and other institutions. “Hopefully, we can adjust it,” said Penny Larson, spokesperson for the Krewe of Thoth. “If we have to, we’ll cut the end off.” The historic parade route begins at Tchoupitoulas and State streets, then traverses Henry Clay Avenue before turning right on Magazine Street, where it rolls until turning on Napoleon Avenue. Under the city’s revised 2022 parade routes, the krewe will line up at Napoleon and Prytania Street.

opinion

Viewpoint: Crime and Covid will not mix well with Carnival

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It’s Twelfth Night. I rushed out this morning to the King Cake Hub’s annual Carnival Kick Off Party, held this year at Zony Mash Beer Project. As I surveyed all the offerings, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of impact Mardi Gras will have on Covid and crime, both of which continue to break records. Carnival should be a record-breaking event as well. People are tired of being cooped up and want to celebrate.

Mardi Gras

After pandemic losses, Magazine Street businesses were counting on Carnival parade revenue. Then the routes changed.

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While most New Orleanians are glad the parades will return to the streets for the 2022 Carnival season, the route changes will hurt many of the small businesses along Magazine Street. The 2022 routes, announced on Tuesday by Mayor LaToya Cantrell, eliminate the  stretch of Magazine Street from Jefferson to Napoleon Avenue, where nine krewes begin their procession, and the longer stretch of Magazine from Henry Clay Avenue that the Krewe of Thoth commands. Instead, these parades will all line up at Napoleon and Prytania Street. The owners of Tito’s Ceviche and Pisco at 5015 Magazine were expecting the revenue from the parade-viewing crowds to help with their financial recovery from the pandemic. “Mardi Gras parades are a financial boost for us,” said Tito’s co-owner Tatiana Lock.

Mardi Gras

Carnival 2022 parade changes leave out Magazine Street, Thoth’s altruistic route

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All Carnival krewes will see route changes for 2022 Mardi Gras, Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced Tuesday (Dec. 21). The Magazine Street leg of many parade routes has been eliminated, she said at a press conference. Magazine Street — where neighbors gather for a more laid-back parade experience — is a favorite viewing spot for many Uptown residents. The changes are necessary, officials said, because of staff shortages in the city’s public safety agencies, including the police, emergency medical and fire departments.

Hollywood leading man Josh Duhamel to reign as Bacchus LIII

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Actor and director Josh Duhamel will reign as Bacchus LIII on Sunday, Feb. 27, Clark Brennan, captain of the Krewe of Bacchus, announced on Monday (Dec. 20). 

“We at Bacchus are so excited to once again present a first-class parade with the legendary Josh Duhamel, a fabulous king who is already destined to be a crowd favorite,” Brennan said. “After a tough two years, the citizens of New Orleans and our visitors from around the world are ready to celebrate. We are also committed to supporting our local musicians who have been struggling.” 

Duhamel starred in the Netflix original series “Jupiter’s Legacy” and made his directorial debut with “The Buddy Games” which he also co-wrote, co-produced, and starred in.

Krewe of Iris

Krewe of Iris celebrates its new home with disaster relief event

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The Krewe of lris and Kern Studios announced last month the completion of the Krewe of lris dens at 3038 Earhart Blvd. and 1212 S. Roman St. To mark the grand opening, the Krewe of Iris and Kern Studios had planned to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony honoring the Krewe of Iris Dens on Monday (Sept. 13). Given the recent impact of Hurricane Ida on the krewe’s members and Louisiana home, the event has been postponed.

business

Nola Flora, Peony in full bloom on Magazine Street

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Both Nola Flora and Peony Fine Clothing on Magazine Street have incorporated large flowers in their storefront floats this Carnival season. 

The already festive building at 4536 Magazine St. where Nola Flora is located is eye-catching enough, but it just got enhanced. Their storefront float theme is the shop’s name and it features giant flowers and a flowering vine going up the front and side of the building. Nola Flora is located on the Uptown parade route, so when parades were cancelled for this year, it was  truly discouraging. But being good New Orleanians, they took the bad stuff that came their way, covered it in glitter and kept on going.

arts, books and music

How Ceaux’s Carnival poster series reflects the Black Mardi Gras experience

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Every year since 2016, New Orleans-born-and-raised multimedia artist Courtney “Ceaux” Buckley, of Axiom Gallery on Freret Street, has been painting vibrant and detailed posters that depict the Black Mardi Gras experience. Through this annual poster series, Buckley said, he not only aims to provide a representation of the Black experience during Carnival season, but that he also intends to normalize it. “I don’t think we should always be presented like a big deal,” he said. “These things go on all the time, every year, it’s recurring.”

He adds that it is important for Black people from New Orleans to see representations of their culture in this more generalized way opposed to only packaged news stories and documentaries. Inspiration and communal Black experiences

Buckley said that the poster series was inspired by childhood photos lost in the levee failures after Hurricane Katrina.