Ellen Byron

Mardi Gras Paradin’, Ellen Style

Greetings from New Orleans, where it’s Carnival Season. That’s right, Mardi Gras is one day – Fat Tuesday – but the partying in NOLA starts on the Epiphany, January 6. (Technically, partying is a year-round event here, but I’m talking MG specifics.) When hubby Jer learned this, he said, “Let’s not go for the actual day, when it’s insane there. Why not do the week or two before?” Brilliant! Then I met fellow mystery author Michael Rigg at Malice Domestic last year. He heard me namedrop my fave French Quarter bar, Patrick’s Bar Vin, and gifted me with a bead medallion from their parade group, the Krewe of Cork. I’ve always known you could pay to ride with krewes, but I give Michael credit for pushing me over the edge to “Let’s do it!” I went crazy and signed up for three krewes, breaking my travel bank using the excuse that it would be research for a Vintage Cookbook Mystery set during the Season. Mind you, I don’t have the deal yet for this but say a prayer I get one because $$$.

Anyhoo, first up was the Krewe of Cork on Friday, which began with free Bloody Marys and Screwdrivers, which I did not partake in to pace myself. Next up was lunch at the Court of Two Sisters, followed by the parade – no floats, instead we walked through the Quarter with a band. Within the Krewe were individual groups with fabulous costumes and great names.

Here I am with Michael, followed by great wine barrel costumes, and an adorbs group called the Baton Rouge Beignyays.

On Saturday, I float-paraded with the Krewe of Freret. I had my first Jell-o shot since college and was introduced to the wonders of liquor-flavored whipped cream.

Sadly, my next krewe, the Krewe of King Arthur, got rain-delayed to Tuesday, which is the day we’re leaving, and the cost of postponing a day was prohibitive. I was excited about doing throws with Michael, but instead I bequeathed him my bags of beads, toys, etc. I did get to go to the pre-party breakfast – in costume! It was fantastic. I snagged a pic with the Krewe queen and other pics of the king, who was having the time of his life. His brief speech ended with “I am Black history. I am King Arthur.”

Did I overbook? Absolutely. Did I have a fantastic time? A thousand percent. Would I do it again? Oh, y’all know it! Plus, both float krewes had a philanthropy element, which is wonderful.

I have so much more to tell you, but chargrilled oysters at Superior Seafood are calling to me. I’m sure I’ll share more in future posts. Until then, laissez les bons temps rouler! And forgive me if I don’t respond to your comments until late today. We’re off to visit the real Gaynell Bourgeois Moore (for you who’ve read the Cajun Country Mysteries) at the assisted living facility where she now resides near Baton Rouge.

Oh, and forgive all typos. I think I’m still high on that whipped cream.

Readers, would you ever do anything this crazy? If so, what? If not, what’s on your bucket list?

34 thoughts on “Mardi Gras Paradin’, Ellen Style”

  3. Loved this, El–so glad you’re having a great time. The colors of everything are fantastic–thanks for the fun pix for us folks at home. Will NOLA be this much of a party in August, lol? Looking forward to my first visit.

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  7. I love this so much, Ellen! The photos are fabulous. When I started writing regularly back in the day before I moved to mysteries, I found myself writing romance. That was a bit of a crazy plot twist!

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  9. Smart to go several weeks before Fat Tuesday–all the fun, minus the insanity of the last day.

    As for doing something crazy, like Dru Ann, if I’m with a group (talkin’ to you, Chicks), I’m much more likely to let it all hang out. (Remember the dance party at Bouchercon last year?)

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  11. I am always up for something crazy. It’s my motto. Who else would go in a hot air balloon ride, in Aspen, in December, when she’s afraid of heights? Just to see if she would do it! Why do you think I have my master’s degree? Just to see if I could finish.

    Obviously I’m down for whatever, whenever.

    I was at Mardi Gras one time. I was eighteen, and had no clue what was going on. What a missed opportunity!

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  12. We always stayed at the Best Western St. Charles Inn (which is not a Best Western I have heard) and frequently ate at Superior Seafood and everything was GREAT! We ate at so many great restaurants over the years going there, but there are so many more to eat at. Hopefully we will get there again. Glad you had a great time and were able to be on the Krewes. We went to the old NOLA airport (and art deco gem) to show it to some friends as we had been there before, and a Krewe was hosting a party. They let us look around anyway. So cool! Last time we ate at the Court of Two Sisters it was not that good unfortunately. My mother was a stewardess for Pan Am during WWII and her route was Brownsville, Texas to NOLA and she ate there often along with other places. I have the postcards that she sent. One of the most bucket list things that I did was parasailing in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. It was fantastic. The other was going to Peru for two-weeks by myself staying on the Amazon for a week and doing Peru, the other ruins and Machu Picchu along with the big cities in 1989. I swam in piranha infested water and played Tarzan on a vine in the Amazon. You go girl. Love NOLA!

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  13. I’m sorry I’m just now getting to this post, but HOW FUN!!! I loved living vicariously through your Mardi Gras adventures!

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