It’s not that we want tropical storms or even whatever-the-hell-that-just-was, but if we can follow 3 days of being shut in to small spaces while the wind and rain fight their way in with revelry and lively groupings (groupings, I said groupings) running the streets for the Southern Decadence event, I can get over it.
Southern Decadence
Category Archives: holidays
I love our Southern Decadence
New Orleans always comes up its it’s own version of a holiday. Labor Day, which most Americans celebrate with a cookout or a trip to a beach, is no different. Southern Decadence is a wild, joyful and colorful celebration by the gay community held in the French Quarter for the weekend, culminating with a parade next Sunday. (well, of course, activities continue past that parade, but for bystanders, it’s time to go home.)
Decadence is more than 40 years old, and my understanding is that it started with a group of friends that held a party in the lower Quarter and it morphed to the bars, as most parties held in the Quarter do.
Now, it’s a huge economic boost to the city and as much support and thanks as other event organizers get for returning to the city post Katrina, the gay community that has always spent millions visiting our city deserve thanks too! After all, many of these visitors were stuck in town in the aftermath of Katrina, and so many of the gay Quarter businesses stayed open and serving during and others reopened quickly after.
With a 70 plus year old mother living across the street from one of the wilder gay bars, I can tell you that it’s possible to live quietly and yet with some needed joi de vivre because of this community being here.
So, get to the Quarter on September 2 and watch a great time being had and have a little yourself….
Carnival days
After the rain passes today, we expect 3 days of glorious Mardi Gras weather, and like millions of other people, I wil spend most of it in and around the French Quarter. Will meet up with friends and family and do things like Stanley’s for gumbo, coffee at Cafe Du Monde, and drink at the updated Carousel Bar,see a parade and hear some music. And just bike around admiring costumes and running into people and catching up.
Carnival is not about getting so drunk that you can’t stand up or flashing body parts or screaming “WOOOO” as you walk down the street. It’s about friends and creative energy and social time while forgetting your cares for a few days. Welcome.
Christmas trees delivered
French Quarter holiday food and music
2 of my favorite holiday events:
Reveillon, a Creole Dining Tradition
Participating Restaurants
Throughout December (dates vary)
Creole families of yesteryear celebrated this traditional dining custom twice during the holiday season – on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Today’s Reveillon has been expanded to include various dates during December so that everyone can share in this special holiday meal. Menus have been adapted to combine ageless Creole cuisine along with more contemporary New Orleans dishes, but the spirit of the past remains. Reveillon menus and featured dates for participating restaurants may be found here
St. Louis Cathedral Christmas Concert
St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square at Chartres Street Free.
The 2011 Concert Schedule
Thursday, December 1 — Ellis Marsalis
Sunday, December 4 –Tom McDermott and Connie Jones
Monday, December 5 — Friendly Travelers
Tuesday, December 6 — Ronnie Kole
Sunday, December 11 — Rachel Van Voorhies
Monday, December 12 — Philip Manuel & the Shades of Praise
Tuesday, December 13 — The Faubourg Quartet
Wednesday, December 14 — The Preservation Hall Allstars Present a Creole Christmas
Sunday, December 18 — St. Louis Basilica annual Christmas Concert ( at 5 p.m.)
Monday December 19 — Dan Vappie
Tuesday, December 20 — Irvan Mayfield
Wednesday, December 21 — St. Peter Claver Gospel Choir
and more events here:
Events
French Quarter block by block 