Tillman's Trickster & Krewe de Spaniards

Gavin and I met my dad and grandmother at the Tillman's Trickter's parade. The parade has always been very small but this year it seemed even smaller than normal. There were only three floats with members and the rest of the parade was advertisements and various groups from the community. I was not very impressed but we had fun anyway.

Read the Article from the Mobile Register
Community Carnival parades take center stage
Crowds enjoy festivities outside downtown Mobile
Sunday, January 23, 2005
By ELIZABETH STUART and PENELOPE McCLENNY
Staff Reporters













After we left there we drove across the bay to Malbis for the Krewe de Spaniards parade. They had the parade in the new Eastern Shore shopping center. I have never been to a Mardi Gras parade in a shopping center before. I don't think that is a very good setting. The parade was pretty good. The members threw a lot and there was a pretty big crowd. However, I don't know who came for the parade and who was there shopping and walked outside to see what was going on. The Spaniards rented a few of the Conde floats from last night. The floats actually looked better in the daytime than they did last night.

Read the Article from the Mobile Register
Mall parade brings out the crowds
Krewe's seventh parade, staged at Eastern Shore Centre shopping mall, draws thousands more than last year's procession
Monday, January 24, 2005
By PENELOPE McCLENNY
Staff Reporter












We are not going to the Krewe de Carnival parade because I have two balls tonight and have to get dressed now.

Toomey's Mardi Gras Warehouse

Toomey's has been around for several years now and I love that store. In my opinion they have the best selection and best prices of all the Mardi Gras throws places in Mobile. Last year they moved to their new, bigger and better location. They have murals painted on the walls of Mardi Gras scenes. I noticed when I was in there my picture from long ago was in one of the murals. I have a picture of the mural somewhere when I find it I will post it here.

Well the first Mobile parade is tonight. I will post pictures tomorrow. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Watch the Video
1/20 - Makin' Mardi Gras at Toomey's pt. 1

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1/20 - Makin' Mardi Gras at Toomey's pt. 2

Visit Toomey's Online Store

Alcohol Free Zones and more

News from WKRG Channel 5

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Alcohol Free Zones
Andrew Findley
News 5 at 10pm
Jan 20, 2005

News from WALA Fox 10

Read the Article
Mardi Gras Parking
1/20/2005
Denise Hrdlica


Read the Article
Remember the Rules for Mardi Gras
1/20/2005
Denise Hrdlica



News from the Mobile Register

Read the Article
Check labels on the Moon, uh, the marshmallow pies
Friday, January 21, 2005


Read the Article
Hang on to your hat
Friday, January 21, 2005
By RHODA A. PICKETT
Staff Reporter

Slow week and more news

Well this is a slow week. Most all of the meetings and rehersals are done. I still have to try on my costumes and bag my throws. There will still a few more open houses and parties. The first Mobile Mardi Gras parade is Friday. I should have a lot of pictues to post after this weekend.

Here is some more Mardi Gras news from the Mobile Register.

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University researcher reports direct spending from Mobile Carnival at $227M
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
By LEE DAVIDSON
Staff Reporter

News from NBC 15

Read the Article
Mobile's Primary Mardi Gras Color? GREEN
Last Update: 1/18/2005 11:35:59 PM
Posted By: Ron Reams

Watch the Video
Mobile's Primary Mardi Gras Color? GREEN
Last Update: 1/18/2005 11:35:59 PM
Posted By: Ron Reams

Carnival Royalty

Each year the Mobile Carnival Association chooses King Felix and his queen and the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association chooses King Elexis and his queen. Read the article below from the Mobile Register.

Read the Article
Civic-minded monarchs to reign over Carnival
Thursday, January 13, 2005



Here's Darwin from NBC 15 reporting on the jewels of Mardi Gras
Watch the Video
1/13 - Makin' Mardi Gras with Darwin: At Dynasty Collection

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1/13 - Mardi Gras: Crowning Acheivments

More Mardi Gras News

From NBC Channel 15

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Royalty
Last Update: 12/21/2004 10:14:54 AM
Posted By: Devin Walker


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Mardi Gras Balls
Last Update: 12/21/2004 10:15:24 AM
Posted By: Devin Walker


Read the Article
African American Mardi Gras in Mobile
Last Update: 12/21/2004 10:15:50 AM
Posted By: Devin Walker


Read the Article
From thoughts to throws: a look at Mardi Gras floats
Last Update: 12/21/2004 10:25:45 AM
Posted By: Devin Walker


Read the Article
Mardi Gras History
Last Update: 12/21/2004 10:22:02 AM
Posted By: Devin Walker


Read the Article
Mardi Gras safety tips and need-to-know info
Last Update: 12/21/2004 11:38:49 AM
Posted By: Devin Walker


Read the Article
Joe Cain
Last Update: 12/21/2004 10:25:04 AM
Posted By: Devin Walker


Read the Article
Mobile hosting Gulf Coast's oldest Mardi Gras
Last Update: 12/21/2004 10:23:56 AM
Posted By: Ron Reams


Read the Article
Mardi Gras Floats
Last Update: 1/3/2005 1:54:30 PM
Posted By: Devin Walker

Meetings, meetings, meetings

Last week consisted of lots of meetings to finalize last minute details for the upcoming ball. Wednesday we had a room meeting the a general membership meeting on Thursday, followed by a parade committee meeting on Friday at lunch. Thursday night was a very crowded meeting. After the meeting a lot of us went to The Executive Lounge for some drinks.

Parades, Float Barns and Balls

On Saturday Gavin and I got up and went to Dauphin Island to see the Island Mystic's parade. The Island Mystics are a smaller organization even though they are the older of the two Dauphin Island organziations. My dad came down and brought my grandmother. We got a spot in about the same location where we stood last week. There was a tree there and we decided to decorate it for the occasion.















Once the parade passed by us we jumped in the car and raced back to Mobile to attend the Conde Cavalier's open house. There were lots of people there and it was a lot of fun.



We left there and I went home to get ready for the Osirus ball. The Osirus is by far my favorite Mardi Gras ball. This is a gay organization and several of my good friends including my brother in law are members. The table decorations are very elaborate and we always get there early so that we can walk around and see them all. There theme was Constant Cravings. There was a table with the Middle Bay Lighthouse as the centerpiece with a working search light on top. Another table had a Krispy Kreme sign. Our table was fast food and had a huge pack of french fries. We got favors of sour gummy fries, little burger erasers and other things.

The Osirus is know for their elaborate and amazing tableaux. They did not dissapoint this year. It was unbelievable. The King and Queen were presented first and their outfits were unbelievable. The first person was 'Chocolate'. He had a very Brazilian style costume with a rhinestone bikini and huge feathered headdress. There were several mini floats and a Krispy Kreme truck. I wish I could have taken pictures because the elaborate costumes and props are hard to describe but there are no cameras allowed.

Float Barn

On Sunday we attended the open house at the float barn for one of my organizations. There were lots of games for the kids and we got to look at our floats for our theme 'Wicked Women'. There was a band and a DJ and lots of food and refreshments. I stayed until the end.