Happy Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday", referring to the practice of indulging and eating rich foods on the last night before the fasting of Lent begins at midnight, when Ash Wednesday begins. In New Orleans, Mardi Gras is about fun and celebration … parades, floats, people-watching, food, drink, music and all forms of entertainment. Mardi Gras revelers wear wild and crazy costumes and/or traditional colors of purple, green, and gold. Many wear beads caught during parades. Families with their kids are everywhere, and both locals and visitors have a fantastic time. Mardi Gras has been called the party New Orleans throws for itself, and invites everybody else to attend!

Carnival Season Begins on 1/6/2021!

Epiphany, on January 6, has been recognized as the start of the New Orleans Carnival season since at least 1900; locally, it is sometimes also known as Twelfth Night. Carnival season is a time for eating, drinking and partying before the 40 days of Lent, characterized by sacrifice and fasting. Carnival is filled with parades, balls, parties and other celebrations culminating in Mardi Gras, which is French for “Fat Tuesday”. Mardi Gras always occurs on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, and Carnival ends at midnight on Fat Tuesday, as Lent begins.

Krewe of Boo!Krewe of BOO! Zombie Run / Halloween Parade / Costume Party

Krewe of BOO! New Orleans' Official Halloween Parade celebrates a weekend of festivities and has become a tradition for tens of thousands of people.​ Happening the weekend before Halloween weekend, Krewe of BOO! is more than just a parade. It's a weekend full of events starting Friday afternoon through late Saturday night.​ Friday's events begin with the Royal Luncheon to the Jazz Second Line through the French Quarter to an afternoon Happy Hour at Pat O'Brien's, ending with the Captain's Party Friday night.

Saturday starts with the early morning New Orleans Zombie Run through the Warehouse District. Paraders line up in the afternoon and the Krewe of BOO! Parade rolls at sundown with V.I.P. Viewing Parties hosted along the parade route. It all ends with a blowout costume bash at the post-parade afterparty, The Monster Mash.​

Krewe of BOO! Royal Luncheon / Jazz Second Line / Happy Hour at Pat O's / Captain's Masquerade Ball

Krewe of BOO! New Orleans' Official Halloween Parade celebrates a weekend of festivities and has become a tradition for tens of thousands of people.​ Happening the weekend before Halloween weekend, Krewe of BOO! is more than just a parade. It's a weekend full of events starting Friday afternoon through late Saturday night.​ Friday's events begin with the Royal Luncheon to the Jazz Second Line through the French Quarter to an afternoon Happy Hour at Pat O'Brien's, ending with the Captain's Party Friday night.

Saturday starts with the early morning New Orleans Zombie Run through the Warehouse District. Paraders line up in the afternoon and the Krewe of BOO! Parade rolls at sundown with V.I.P. Viewing Parties hosted along the parade route. It all ends with a blowout costume bash at the post-parade afterparty, The Monster Mash.​

Tales of the Cocktail - 9/20 - 23/2021

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is pleased to announce the dates for Tales of the Cocktail® 2021 (TOTC). The world’s largest cocktail conference will return for its 19th year from September 20 – 23, 2021. 

TOTC2020 marked the Foundation’s first foray into converting its annual festival into a digital conference, a decision born out of necessity due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. For 2021, the Foundation is offering a digital format once again to prioritize the health and safety of its attendees and ensure a global audience has complimentary access to participate in its programming. While the festival will largely be digital in September, the Foundation is leaving the door open for local activations in global markets wherever it proves both safe and valuable for attendees.

Click here for the link to the TOTC YouTube Channel!

16th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Early on the morning of August 29th, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Louisiana delta region and the Mississippi coast. The storm surge brought enormous damage to the Gulf Coast and, when the levees around New Orleans failed, a great number of fatalities. This tragedy does not define the region, but we must never forget. Let’s hope Hurricane Ida is not as strong as forecast, and everyone and everything we love emerges unharmed. Stay safe y’all!

By Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC - http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_rec.php?id=7938, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=307289