opinion

Owen Courreges: Photography is not a crime

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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. It was last Thursday and the Muses Parade was rolling.  I was coming back to use my bathroom when I arrived at my intersection to see a bicyclist, who had evidently been struck by a Yellow Cab.  He was being attended to by several bystanders and appeared to be moving, although he’d taken a nasty hit – the windshield of the cab was smashed on the passenger side. I avoided the scene at first and went back to my house on the far corner.  After using the facilities I ventured out again and spoke to another bystander about what had happened.  Based on the scene, it appeared that the bicyclist had been proceeding southbound on the left side of Josephine Street and come out from behind an SUV parked almost flush with curb on the westbound lane of Prytania. I’m no traffic expert, but although it appeared that the bicyclist lacked right-of-way and had been proceeding illegally against traffic on the left side, a major cause of the accident was the illegally parked SUV.  With the SUV parked there, visibility was nil.  With proper visibility, the cab probably would have had time to stop, or the bicyclist could have seen the cab and not proceeded. Parking too close to the intersection and blocking visibility, particularly with larger vehicles like SUVs, can turn run-of-the-mill traffic violations into serious accidents.  I’ve seen it time and time again at my intersection.

Carnival

Bacchus sails the seven seas storm-free (photo gallery)

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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. For live reactions and photos from the route, see our live coverage below.

events

Okeanos has a getaway, Mid-City contemplates time and Thoth toasts the kings

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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. Krewe of Okeanos

Krewe of Mid-City

Krewe of Thoth

See below for our live coverage from the route of all three parades. Krewes of Okeanos, Mid-City and Thoth

city government

Parades to roll early because of rain

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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. Okeanos will roll at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, followed by Mid-City and Thoth, and Bacchus may roll earlier than its planned 5:15 p.m. start time as well, if possible, city officials said. On Monday evening, Proteus will roll a half-hour earlier than usual, at 4:30 p.m., followed directly by Orpheus. The krewes of Rex and Zulu will still start at their usual times Tuesday morning, officials said. Meanwhile, city officials are also asking float riders and parade goers to avoid the areas of South Claiborne and Napoleon Avenue where drainage work has already begun.

crime

Four gun cases reported on Uptown route during Wednesday, Thursday night parades

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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. The Wednesday-night case was reported at 9 p.m. at Calliope and St. Charles, reports show. On Thursday night, the first gun case was reported at 8:30 p.m. in the 1400 block of St.

events

Krewe d’Etat gives a reading list, Hermes gets baroque, and Morpheus goes to the movies

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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. Krewe of Hermes

Le Krewe d’Etat

Krewe of Morpheus

For live comments and photos from the route Friday night, see our live coverage below. Krewes of Hermes, d’Etat and Morpheus (live coverage)

events

Craig Giesecke: Life inside the parade box

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We live inside the parade “box,” meaning we’re pretty much confined to our neighborhood at parade time. I think it’s absolutely glorious. It’s the most sublime time of the year for this household, made even better by the arrival of family and friends who have returned for a few days from out of town.

events

Muses make groceries; Babylon dreams and Chaos goes overboard

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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.” Knights of Babylon

Knights of Chaos

Krewe of Muses

To see our live coverage from the route, see below:

Live coverage of the krewes of Babylon, Chaos and Muses

events

Coliseum Square neighbors collecting snacks for NOPD officers working parades

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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. The association is delivering the snacks each day — so there is no such thing as too much — but they hope to have the majority collected by Sunday, said project organizer Marianna Roll. “The officers work long hours while we enjoy the parades and the snacks help them make it through the long days and nights,” the association said in an email to members. “The officers prefer healthy snacks that they can keep in their pockets and munch on when they are hungry.