Krewe de Vieux tonight
When was Carnival’s golden age? Take a look around — we’re living in it | The Lens
C.W. Cannon one of my favorite columnists, talks of our current Carnival period as a golden age with more democratic and satirical characteristics than we experienced in the late 20th century, where whites-only krewes had their way and superfloats flourished which led to the demise of many of the small neighborhood parades. I’ll tell him how much I appreciate this on the downtown parade routes that I am sure to see him on over the next few weeks..
Russian literary critic Mikhail Bakhtin, in a book about folk culture influences on the great Renaissance French writer Rabelais, outlined a theory of Carnival based on ancient and medieval traditions. Centuries later, it’s remarkable to witness how the “carnivalesque” spirit he details lives on so palpably on the other side of the world. A few of the key attributes Bakhtin ascribes to Carnival are a satirical impulse of a bawdy kind that he calls “grotesque realism,” the inversion of normal prevailing social hierarchies, and mass participation.
In light of principles like these, it’s a no-brainer that the latest city ordinance supports, rather than inhibits, the ancient foundations of Carnival tradition. Even here in New Orleans, one of the prevailing social strictures upended by Carnival has been segregation in public settings. Blocking off and segregating swaths of the public space for members-only parties doesn’t jibe with the carnivalesque injunction to cast off social distinctions and rub shoulders with strangers for a limited period of time.
When was Carnival’s golden age? Take a look around — we’re living in it | The Lens.
Orleans Street
(it becomes an avenue when it gets a neutral ground past Basin Street)
Orleans Street
Beaten musician Doug Potter awakens, moves to Touro Infirmary for therapy
Mardi Gras Costume House
Link to a great picture on nola.com this week of my pal Tracy Thomson standing in her studio. Her gorgeous hats, potholders, bags (and more) are available daily at Dutch Alley Cooperative, a local artist cooperative found in the French Quarter (Dumaine at the river). The rumor is that if you check in with her early enough in the year, you might just be able to get on her list to purchase a unique Mardi Gras costume designed and hand sewn by Tracy herself. Tracy has also vended at JazzFest in the Contemporary Crafts area for the last 20 years and was one of my premier Festivus vendors for the five years that we ran that market in the mid 2000s.
Spanish Quarter 1763-1800
Feb 10 marks the anniversary of the Spanish takeover of the colony until 1803. This led to Spanish style architecture in the “French” Quarter, since the two great fires (1788 and 1794) happened during their regime. As a descendant of Portuguese settlers (via the Canary Islands) to southern Louisiana, I represent that history.
From The Historic New Orleans Collection’s Facebook page.
new week, new rewards from Waking Up in Dreamland
Project Update from Little Queenie:
we’ve had great week! people have joined the campaign from all over the USA, as well as from canada and australia, and some of you have increased your pledge amounts, for all of which i am SO very grateful. the clock ticks on, so please urge friends and family to join us in the coming days, and when you do, please remind them that every pledge is eligible for rewards.
speaking of those…most of y’all already know i’m a louisiana girl; in my birth land, the vast majority of people feel nekkid roaming around unless they have a vessel on/in hand filled with some refreshing beverage or other. last week, as i read one email and social media post after another from the sportsman’s paradise complaining of this seemingly endless cold season, i realized i couldn’t let any of my backers welcome the heavily-anticipated springtime without something special to tote their potables in style–so everybody who contributes receives at least one Little Queenie go-cup. they bear the LQ logo designed for me by nola artist mark andresen printed on 12-ounce cups in some lovely hey-that’s-MY-drink colors.these are not available anywhere else on earth. you know you’ll be wanting some up in your patio/pirogue/picnic!
for just one lucky high-roller, a shrine featuring st louis di prima will be part of your package! this handmade piece honoring the seminal new orleans musicmaker is one of a kind, just like da man himself, and is available with a $750 pledge.
i’ve been asked about the vintage LQ cds offered at the $100-and-up levels.in order to make sure you don’t receive something you might already own, i’ve created some discs containing material NO ONE has. more about those later.
thanks again to each and all for your support.
yours,
French Quarter block by block 
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