Leap Year

French Wine Class

Introduction to French Wine Class

A lot of you have asked for us to start doing some classes. We’d like to start where we do the most of our drinking, FRANCE. Starting in March we will begin our Introduction to French Wine Class. It will take place over the course of 4 weeks on Wednesday nights in our private tasting room. Space is limited to 10 people so we expect the 1st class to sell out fast. We will taste and discuss 6 wines each week with the goal of making you more comfortable and knowledgeable about the wines of France.

Here’s a breakdown of the march classes:

Week 1 – Basic French White Wine

Week 2 – Basic French Red Wine

Week 3- More Serious French White Wine

Week 4 – More Serious French Red Wine

My friend Amie and I are signed up and ready, can't wait!

St Charles Avenue Mardi Gras

Gotta love the SAINTS spirit during Mardi Gras Getting excited that the Scottish bag-pipes are coming

Classic view of the neutral ground while Rex rolls

Marney and Amie in there gypsy attire finding more gypsies along the route

The cupcake Ladies

All ready to go at 7:30 am with my Scottish Lass attire!

Some crazy half-man/half-wolf Rex float!

Happy Mardi Gras

Here are some fun facts about Mardi Gras and this year's celebration:

• The 2012 Mardi Gras celebration will be the 200^th year for New Orleans
• The official colors of Mardi Gras are purple; which stands for justice, green; which stands for faith, and gold; which stands for power
• Louisiana is the only state that has made Mardi Gras an official holiday
• 4,000 tons of trash is usually collected each year just in the Central Business District and French Quarter after Mardi Gras
• There are 36,993 hotels rooms in New Orleans and the occupancy rate is usually in the 90^th percentile
• The bead throwing became a Mardi Gras tradition when a member of one of the Krewes dressed up as Santa Claus and threw glass beads as gifts. The bead throwing was so popular that it has continued on ever since

Sunday Night Parades

The day before . . .

Happy Lundi Gras! ...Or the "Fat Monday" before Fat Tuesday. Weeks of celebration lead up to the culmination of the holiday season tomorrow on MARDI GRAS DAY. So as the hours dwindle and the season of Lent draws near make sure to celebrate by channeling the spirit of New Orleans: eat, drink and be merry (preferably in costume)!!!

The day before Mardi Gras in New Orleans is no longer a day of rest before the big day . . . Lundi Gras is a relatively recently popularized name for a series of Shrove Monday events taking place during the New Orleans Mardi Gras. It includes the tradition of Rex, king of the New Orleans carnival, arriving by boat. This began in 1874, but the term Lundi Gras was not widely applied until 1987 when the arrival was brought back as part of a series of river-related events under the name of "Lundi Gras".

19th-century beginning

In 1874, 18 years after the beginning of modern Carnival celebrations in North America, Rex chose to have a grand arrival in New Orleans from the Mississippi River. Once on dry land, Rex and his royal court were placed in carriages and driven through the streets to City Hall. Therein, the mayor and various city officials would present King with the keys to the city and proclaim the rule of Rex in this mystical and temporary realm of Carnival. Typically, the proclamation decreed the beginning of Mardi Gras and Rex's reign at sunrise the following morning.

The Rex landing was a success, and quickly became a treasured part of the Carnival celebrations which was unique to New Orleans; no other country or parishes observed the Monday before Shrovetide. The landing continued until World War I stopped Carnival in New Orleans. When the parades again returned to the streets some two years later, the landing had fallen by the wayside, a seeming casualty of the 'war to end all wars'.

20th-century revival

In 1971 the landing was recreated for one time only to celebrate Rex's centennial. In 1987, Rex once again made a grand arrival on the Riverfront at the foot of Canal Street but now with the phrase Lundi Gras attached to the events which would include concerts and fireworks.

The King of Zulu also participates in the modern version of the event along while the Mayor of New Orleans usually attends as well to salute the two Carnival monarch and turn over symbolic control of the city for the following day.

I had planned to watch Iris and Tucks today at my friend Sara's house, but . . .

The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning, a tornado watch and a flash-flood watch for Southeast Louisiana and parts of Mississippi.

Thus, no parading for me today. Taking a break! Most parades have either been rescheduled or canceled, but Endymion is determined to still roll at 5:30. Good Luck to them!

Can you spot us in the crowd?

“Carnival Time” was an inspiration to Al Johnson from fellow musicians such as Professor Longhair’s “Go To The Mardi Gras,” and Lou Welch’s “Mardi Gras Mambo.” Al Johnson wanted a song the locals of New Orleans could relate to on Mardi Gras Day. With lyrics “the Green Room is smoking” and “the Plaza’s burning down,” were real places the locals knew about. Almost everyone in New Orleans at one time has referred to Mardi Gras as “Carnival Day.”

Greasing of the Poles & Ladies Krewe of Hermes Luncheon

It's official. Mardi Gras merriment may now begin. That's the word from New Orleans, where hotels in the French Quarter have been working on an interesting way to keep rowdy revelers from climbing the support poles that lead to the area's famed iron-lace balconies.

This tradition began 42 years ago when the Royal Sonesta celebrated its first Mardi Gras here in the French Quarter. Through the years, word of this tradition and continues to this day. It marks the start of a five-day long Mardi Gras weekend.

Actress Camryn Manheim, who was in New Orleans to shoot a movie, took the top honors in the event. She competed against four members of the Pussyfooters Dance Krewe.

Thomas Morstead, #6 of the New Orleans Saints, was one of the local judges. Morstead played a critical role in the Saints Super Bowl victory over the Indianapolis Colts in 2009. The lovely Joann (in PussyFooter attire), who always shows up to all the wonderfully unique NOLA Mardi Gras events!Oh, Mardi Gras in the Quarter! New Bedford Sea Scallops

Wood grilled with mushroom risotto and mushroom butter

During lunch, we got a PussyFooter flash mob dance performance! Hermes is known for an unusual and longtime tradition, the Walking Parade, held earlier that Friday in the French Quarter. After lunch with friends and fellow float riders, the members, dressed in suits and krewe ties and laden with beads to throw, spill from various restaurants and gather on Royal and St. Louis Streets. High school marching bands thunder to life and lead the procession through the Quarter on its way to dress for the night parade.

Happy Carnival Everyone!

Thursday Night Parades