Saturday, December 24, 2005
Monday, November 28, 2005
No Plans for New Orleans krewe in Mobile
No plans for New Orleans krewes in Mobile
Crescent City will have a shortened season, but most societies have say they will be able to parade
Saturday, November 12, 2005
By PENELOPE McCLENNY
Staff Reporter
New Orleans' Mardi Gras season will likely be shortened to six days, but local Carnival organizers said there are no confirmed reports that Crescent City societies will bring their parades to Mobile.
Arthur Hardy, publisher of New Orleans' Mardi Gras Guide and a member of the Mayor's Mardi Gras Advisory Committee, said preliminary plans are to reduce the city's parade schedule from 12 days to six. A final decision, which will come from Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Superintendent Warren Riley, is scheduled to be made at a Nov. 21 meeting, Hardy said.
Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 28. Next year will mark New Orleans' 150th year of the celebration.
Crescent City will have a shortened season, but most societies have say they will be able to parade
Saturday, November 12, 2005
By PENELOPE McCLENNY
Staff Reporter
New Orleans' Mardi Gras season will likely be shortened to six days, but local Carnival organizers said there are no confirmed reports that Crescent City societies will bring their parades to Mobile.
Arthur Hardy, publisher of New Orleans' Mardi Gras Guide and a member of the Mayor's Mardi Gras Advisory Committee, said preliminary plans are to reduce the city's parade schedule from 12 days to six. A final decision, which will come from Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Superintendent Warren Riley, is scheduled to be made at a Nov. 21 meeting, Hardy said.
Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 28. Next year will mark New Orleans' 150th year of the celebration.
Come Home to Mama!!
Mobile - The "Mother of Mystics," may host some New Orleans
(MOBILE, Ala.) November 10 -- The Mardi Gras celebration you’ve known for years in Mobile could be a lot different in 2006. That’s because officials have announced New Orleans Mardi Gras season will be shortened considerably. The upcoming parade season will last only six days, as that city recovers from Hurricane Katrina.
Click the title link to read the entire article and see the video.
(MOBILE, Ala.) November 10 -- The Mardi Gras celebration you’ve known for years in Mobile could be a lot different in 2006. That’s because officials have announced New Orleans Mardi Gras season will be shortened considerably. The upcoming parade season will last only six days, as that city recovers from Hurricane Katrina.
Click the title link to read the entire article and see the video.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
La Joie De Vivre (The Hearty Enjoyment of Life)
La Joie De Vivre is a brand new Mobile Mardi Gras organization. I found their website while surfing the web and then went about the task of finding out who they were and more about the organization. It is an interesting group. You can see their website by clicking on the title of this post.
They are a spin off of Marquis de Lafayette which is a non-parading group. I don't know the details as of yet as to what caused the split or if there was a slit. I do know however that this organization is open to men and women. They also plan to parade with the Le Krewe De Bienville parade on the Sunday before Mardi Gras Day. They are setup very differently from most other organizations. Their dues are very low at only $200 but you have to buy your own costume. This concept is much like that of a non-parading organization. The difference is that they pay their dues in quarterly payments and if you don't join until the third quarter then your dues would be $100 for that year. After the annual meeting any monies over $50 per member is deducted from each member's next years dues. This is a very strange concept to me. One thing that they are doing which I do like is the way they give free tickets to members. A lot of societies give a certain number of sets of ball tickets to each member just because they are a member. In La Joie they use a point system. You can earn points by coming to events and meetings and by getting involved on committees and the board. That means if you don't support the organization they you don't get any tickets and you have to buy tickets for your guests.
It will be interesting to see how this organization does over the coming years. My father has already been contacted to work the door for them at their ball this year will take place on February 18th at Azalea Hall. I am hoping to attend this ball as well.
They are a spin off of Marquis de Lafayette which is a non-parading group. I don't know the details as of yet as to what caused the split or if there was a slit. I do know however that this organization is open to men and women. They also plan to parade with the Le Krewe De Bienville parade on the Sunday before Mardi Gras Day. They are setup very differently from most other organizations. Their dues are very low at only $200 but you have to buy your own costume. This concept is much like that of a non-parading organization. The difference is that they pay their dues in quarterly payments and if you don't join until the third quarter then your dues would be $100 for that year. After the annual meeting any monies over $50 per member is deducted from each member's next years dues. This is a very strange concept to me. One thing that they are doing which I do like is the way they give free tickets to members. A lot of societies give a certain number of sets of ball tickets to each member just because they are a member. In La Joie they use a point system. You can earn points by coming to events and meetings and by getting involved on committees and the board. That means if you don't support the organization they you don't get any tickets and you have to buy tickets for your guests.
It will be interesting to see how this organization does over the coming years. My father has already been contacted to work the door for them at their ball this year will take place on February 18th at Azalea Hall. I am hoping to attend this ball as well.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
This is why I do this.
I received an email today from a fellow Mobile Mardi Gras person. I get these often. This is the reason I do my website. I have removed his name due to the rules of the mystics.
I just wanted to let you know how much I like your website. Even in the middle of October I like to look at the pictures of mardi gras 2005. I thought I was the biggest Mardi Gras nut but I may be wrong. You actually have a picture of me on a float in your 2005 archive. Keep up the good work and look forward to the 2006 Mardi Gras season which is right around the corner.
I don't have a clue how to scan pictures but if I ever learn I will pass them on. I am the last guy bending over up top on the first themed float picture in the OOM's. Again I enjoy the site and do visit often.--
I just wanted to let you know how much I like your website. Even in the middle of October I like to look at the pictures of mardi gras 2005. I thought I was the biggest Mardi Gras nut but I may be wrong. You actually have a picture of me on a float in your 2005 archive. Keep up the good work and look forward to the 2006 Mardi Gras season which is right around the corner.
I don't have a clue how to scan pictures but if I ever learn I will pass them on. I am the last guy bending over up top on the first themed float picture in the OOM's. Again I enjoy the site and do visit often.--
Friday, October 14, 2005
Friday, July 29, 2005
Southern Legislator Parade
Well I tried to win the raffle for the spots to parade in both of my Mardi Gras organizations but no luck. However, being the true Mardi Gras person I am there was no way a parade was going to roll with me not being a part of it when I could be. Everyone said they were so sorry that I didn't have a spot but I told them the parade is not here yet I WILL find a way. Last night around 10pm I finally called the right person and got a spot. I rode with the Order of Angels. They are a new group that began in 2002. The only person I knew was the guy that told me that I could ride. I was a little worried that some of the members would not want me there but I found out that they were wonderful people and I had a great time parading with them. If I could afford another organization I would join in a minute.
Anyway, I had two client meetings today. I drove 30 minutes to Grandbay this morning for the first meeting then back downtown to load my float then back to Theodore for the second meeting another 20 minutes away and then back downtown to get dressed in my costume to head to the parade.
I got downtown to the auditorium around 5 and met up with a bunch of the girls from one of my organizations. We tailgated out of the back of one of the girls SUV and drank champage and beer. We were told that the parade was going to roll 15 minutes early so we headed to the floats only for the parade to roll 15 minutes late. The bands would not get out of the buses until the rain stopped. No big deal. Everyone got off their floats and we had basically a street party for about 30 minutes.
Finally the parade rolled and there was a good crowd that turned out despite the weather. The people with the convention seemed to be really enjoying the show.
I did take a couple of pictures but because I was on the float I could not get a lot. My dad performed a wedding (he is a minister) and then headed down for the parade and he took a lot of pictues. He is going to email them to me so I will post them later.
Anyway, it was a great evening.
This is a bunch of people having fun before the parade.
A view from the top of the float I was on as the parade started to roll.
Anyway, I had two client meetings today. I drove 30 minutes to Grandbay this morning for the first meeting then back downtown to load my float then back to Theodore for the second meeting another 20 minutes away and then back downtown to get dressed in my costume to head to the parade.
I got downtown to the auditorium around 5 and met up with a bunch of the girls from one of my organizations. We tailgated out of the back of one of the girls SUV and drank champage and beer. We were told that the parade was going to roll 15 minutes early so we headed to the floats only for the parade to roll 15 minutes late. The bands would not get out of the buses until the rain stopped. No big deal. Everyone got off their floats and we had basically a street party for about 30 minutes.
Finally the parade rolled and there was a good crowd that turned out despite the weather. The people with the convention seemed to be really enjoying the show.
I did take a couple of pictures but because I was on the float I could not get a lot. My dad performed a wedding (he is a minister) and then headed down for the parade and he took a lot of pictues. He is going to email them to me so I will post them later.
Anyway, it was a great evening.
This is a bunch of people having fun before the parade.
A view from the top of the float I was on as the parade started to roll.
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Welcome to Margaritaville
I went to a dance for one of my Mardi Gras organizations. It was a lot of fun.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Mobile International Carnival Ball 2002
I have been invloved in a civic organization here in Mobile since 1991 called Mobile International Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Inc. (M.I.C.A.T.) This organization has held the Mobile International Carnival Ball off and on over the course of it's existence. The ball was not held every year due to the way the event was setup. Conflicts and elections with host countries caused the event to be held about every other year. In 2002 MICAT was not receiving the funding that it once had and some people wanted to dissolve it. That was also the year of Mobile's 300th birthday and the city was planning events to celebrate all year. A commitment had been made several years earlier that MICAT would hold a ball or event to honor visitors from Canada. We had a meeting and with less that $25,000 in the bank most people said we there was no way we would be able to put on a ball. Luke and I as well as my dad did not agree. We told the rest of the board to give us a few weeks and we would put together a plan and a budget to show them we could pull this off. The date the even needed to happen was just under three months away so time was more of an issue than money but we were sure we could do it. To make a long story short we not only put on the ball but it was one of the best ones ever.
Luke wrote most of the script for the show which he centered around our emblem and HG Wells traveling to different periods in Mobile's carnival history. I will take you through the show with the pictures.
Darwin Singleton from one of the local TV stations narrated.
Scott Eldrige as HG Wells and Carlitta Wimberly as Carnivale' our emblem.
MOWA band of Choctaw Indians and reinactors recreate the scene at Twenty Seven Mile Bluff the site of the first Mardi Gras celebration. They dance to a Indian friendship dance called Stealing Partners and pull people from the audience to join in.
Luke wrote most of the script for the show which he centered around our emblem and HG Wells traveling to different periods in Mobile's carnival history. I will take you through the show with the pictures.
Darwin Singleton from one of the local TV stations narrated.
Scott Eldrige as HG Wells and Carlitta Wimberly as Carnivale' our emblem.
MOWA band of Choctaw Indians and reinactors recreate the scene at Twenty Seven Mile Bluff the site of the first Mardi Gras celebration. They dance to a Indian friendship dance called Stealing Partners and pull people from the audience to join in.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Moonpie Recipe
I found this on my computer. I don't know where it came from unless it is something my dad wrote for a tv cooking show he did a while back to promote our cookbook. Anyway here is a sneak peak into our book. I thought it was neat.
Mardi Gras, one of the Gulf Coast’s oldest celebrations. If you have lived in Mobile for any extended period, it is likely you have heard of this event. The desert that I will be showing you how to prepare today is Banana Butterscotch Elexis. This particular recipe comes from the cookbook ‘Death by MoonPie’. The author of this confectionary compilation is Doris Dean, with production by Lillian Dean and Wayne Dean. The inspiration for this desert came from Elexis the first, the original King of The Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association.
The last float has rolled down Government Street and downtown is littered with the memories of another fabulous Carnival season. As you walk sadly back to your car with a garbage bag full of throws, you wonder ‘What am I going to do with all of these MoonPies’! Well, there is no need to worry; I will show you one way to diminish your domestic stock of MoonPies. Now let’s put on those sequined aprons, and let the good times roll!
The first thing you need to do is gather together a few of those mystical treats, four to be exact, and follow me into the kitchen. If you are reading this I guess you followed my first instructions and found your way to the kitchen. You will just need to gather together a few more ingredients to get started. These ingredients are as follows: one cup of dark brown sugar, two tablespoons of light cream, three tablespoons of butter, one-eighth teaspoon of vanilla extract, four bananas, one-half cup of whipping cream, and one-fourth cup of chopped nuts. As I said you will need four MoonPies, not to be confused with the more common party pies, but they will work also. You will also need a small boiler, a fork, a spoon and four individual desert dishes.
We are ready to begin our carnival creation. First cut each MoonPie in half through the center. Next, place one-half of each MoonPie in one of the individual desert dishes, puncturing each pie all over with a fork. This last step is to make sure our delectable topping seeps into every pore. Now slice one banana over each MoonPie half. Then you are ready to prepare the butterscotch topping. Combine in your small boiler; the dark brown sugar, light cream, butter and vanilla. Cook over a low flame if you are using a gas range or a low setting if you have an electric stove. Stir constantly until the sugar is melted and bubbling. Now pour the mixture over the MoonPie halves and place the other half of the MoonPie on top. Finally, spoon on the whopped cream and nuts to top it off. This should be served immediately.
If you are looking at a table full happy revelers then I guess you have followed the instructions correctly. If you thought this recipe was delicious and simple to prepare then you need to take a look at the cookbook mentioned in the first paragraph ‘Death by MoonPie’. This book contains MoonPie recipes for all occasions as well as many historical facts about Mobile Mardi Gras. When all your friends start asking you, what do you want with those MoonPies, give them a wink and a hearty Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!
Mardi Gras, one of the Gulf Coast’s oldest celebrations. If you have lived in Mobile for any extended period, it is likely you have heard of this event. The desert that I will be showing you how to prepare today is Banana Butterscotch Elexis. This particular recipe comes from the cookbook ‘Death by MoonPie’. The author of this confectionary compilation is Doris Dean, with production by Lillian Dean and Wayne Dean. The inspiration for this desert came from Elexis the first, the original King of The Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association.
The last float has rolled down Government Street and downtown is littered with the memories of another fabulous Carnival season. As you walk sadly back to your car with a garbage bag full of throws, you wonder ‘What am I going to do with all of these MoonPies’! Well, there is no need to worry; I will show you one way to diminish your domestic stock of MoonPies. Now let’s put on those sequined aprons, and let the good times roll!
The first thing you need to do is gather together a few of those mystical treats, four to be exact, and follow me into the kitchen. If you are reading this I guess you followed my first instructions and found your way to the kitchen. You will just need to gather together a few more ingredients to get started. These ingredients are as follows: one cup of dark brown sugar, two tablespoons of light cream, three tablespoons of butter, one-eighth teaspoon of vanilla extract, four bananas, one-half cup of whipping cream, and one-fourth cup of chopped nuts. As I said you will need four MoonPies, not to be confused with the more common party pies, but they will work also. You will also need a small boiler, a fork, a spoon and four individual desert dishes.
We are ready to begin our carnival creation. First cut each MoonPie in half through the center. Next, place one-half of each MoonPie in one of the individual desert dishes, puncturing each pie all over with a fork. This last step is to make sure our delectable topping seeps into every pore. Now slice one banana over each MoonPie half. Then you are ready to prepare the butterscotch topping. Combine in your small boiler; the dark brown sugar, light cream, butter and vanilla. Cook over a low flame if you are using a gas range or a low setting if you have an electric stove. Stir constantly until the sugar is melted and bubbling. Now pour the mixture over the MoonPie halves and place the other half of the MoonPie on top. Finally, spoon on the whopped cream and nuts to top it off. This should be served immediately.
If you are looking at a table full happy revelers then I guess you have followed the instructions correctly. If you thought this recipe was delicious and simple to prepare then you need to take a look at the cookbook mentioned in the first paragraph ‘Death by MoonPie’. This book contains MoonPie recipes for all occasions as well as many historical facts about Mobile Mardi Gras. When all your friends start asking you, what do you want with those MoonPies, give them a wink and a hearty Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!
My Seventh Joe Cain Day Parade
I was looking through some old pictures and found these. This is from the Joe Cain Day parade when I was six years old. I have been parading in this parade since I was 2 weeks old so this was my seventh parade in this organization. How many people have paraded in more that 65 Mardi Gras parades before the age of 35? Please I want to know leave a comment. I had my picture in the paper the first time I ever paraded with a caption 'Mobile's youngest reveler'. My love and dedication to Mardi Gras has not diminished since that day.
Back then the parade ended with a celebration and picnic in the Church Street Graveyard. It was that way for many years until some people started complaining. I have so many wonderful memories of Joe Cain back then. Oh and I am officially a charter member of the Joe Cain Society and have the certificate to prove it.
In the early day their were tons of people that walked in the parade. We walked every year. I love walking in that parade because you are right there with the crowds of people and you can interact with them more. Years later after my dad became the emblem, Chief Slacabamarinico, we rode in the wagon leading the parade. Even then some years I would roller skate behind the wagon or get on and off the wagon during the parade. In recent years I decided to start walking again.
Anyway, here are the pics I thought they were neat. The other people in the pictures are my mom and dad and my sister is in the stroller. She was a about a year old. In the picnic picture my Aunt Liss who passed away last year was with us.
Back then the parade ended with a celebration and picnic in the Church Street Graveyard. It was that way for many years until some people started complaining. I have so many wonderful memories of Joe Cain back then. Oh and I am officially a charter member of the Joe Cain Society and have the certificate to prove it.
In the early day their were tons of people that walked in the parade. We walked every year. I love walking in that parade because you are right there with the crowds of people and you can interact with them more. Years later after my dad became the emblem, Chief Slacabamarinico, we rode in the wagon leading the parade. Even then some years I would roller skate behind the wagon or get on and off the wagon during the parade. In recent years I decided to start walking again.
Anyway, here are the pics I thought they were neat. The other people in the pictures are my mom and dad and my sister is in the stroller. She was a about a year old. In the picnic picture my Aunt Liss who passed away last year was with us.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Friday, June 17, 2005
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Sunday, May 01, 2005
WBC Summer Swarm
After months of planning we held our annual Summer Swarm for the Wanna Bee Club. All but one member was in attendance. We 'swarmed in' our newest member Dorothy. This makes our membership full. So all of you out there who want to join you are out of luck. We held our party at Charlotte's house again this year. We ordered two cases of champagne and everyone brought anything else they wanted to drink. Tammy and Craig made two gallons of really strong Hurricanes for everyone. They were great. We started with sausage and Hooters hot wings and the first case of champagne. Dorothy arrived at 5:00 right on time and a little while later the swarming ceremony began. Because of a tragedy Jennifer had to leave so Dana filled in as our bee. We presented Dorothy with the official organization bracelet and recited the pledge. She accepted membership. We had hamburgers for dinner and most of the other case of champagne along with the hurricanes. We had a terrific time. This is my favorite group. We have the best ladies in Mobile.
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