Mardi Gras 2007
Yesterday, we spent the day in uptown New Orleans attending 4 parades for Mardi Gras (click, left, to watch a brief slideshow). We shared a spot with some friends on “the neutral ground” (what Michiganders call “the boulevard strip”) at Napolean and Chestnut, which was near the beginning of all the parades (the crowed being rated “G” or “PG”); they eventually wind their way through the city and pass through the French Quarter on Canal Street (the crowd being rated “R” or even “NC-17″).
We watched the Okeanos, Thoth, Mid-City, and Bacchus parades, the last one being a night parade.
But wait! There’s more:
James Gandolfini, who plays the Mafia boss on the Emmy and Peabody-winning HBO series The Sopranos, …arrived in New Orleans to begin his reign over one of the city’s biggest Mardi Gras parades [Bacchus]…Gandolfini was crowned Bacchus XXXIX, as such he will ride in Sunday night’s parade and rule at the Carnival Krewe’s ball.
Yes, indeed. Gandolfini (below, left, click for larger image from the Times-Picayune) was high atop the very first float, wearing a white toga and a black homburg, throwing doubloons by the fistful to the crowd. Later on, down the line, we spotted his fellow cast member John Ventimiglia — Artie Bucco! — on another float accompanied by the actor who plays one of Junior’s flunkies. Steven Schirripa who plays Bobby “Bacala” Baccalieri.
In between parades, we went back to the car and unloaded about 20 pounds of Mardi Gras beads. But along the way, we spotted a 6-piece jazz band giving an impromptu concert on the front-porch of a house at Jena & Chestnut streets. It was terrific! Two trombones, a trumpet, drums, tuba and a guitar. They were riffing on two songs: Dr. John’s “Must Have Been The Right Place (But It Must Have Been The Wrong Time)” and the Stones’ “I Used To Love Her (But It’s All Over Now).” There were about 100 people standing outside the fence around the yard (and an equal number inside) watching, listening and dancing. What a show!
Mardi Gras 2007: “In being some days in preparation, a splendid time was guaranteed for all.”
P.S. I’ve got some video and as soon as I can edit it, I’ll bring it here for you.
UPDATE: Here’s the multimedia photo and video gallery from the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
