Dispatch From New Orleans

Mardi Gras Misconceptions

If you've never been to New Orleans during January and February, you may believe a few misconceptions about Mardi Gras:

Misconception: Everyone involved with Mardi Gras is drunk all the time.

Truth: Many of us in New Orleans don't drink alcohol at all! Instead, we enjoy the food of New Orleans (gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, crawfish), and eat many King Cakes and drink a whole lot of coffee. At Community Coffee, you can get a limited edition brew called Carnivale Cake. It's a medium roast with touches of vanilla and cinnamon. For more Mardi Gras-ness, try a gift set with a Mardi Gras traveling cup.

Misconception: Mardi Gras consists of one a big parade.

Truth: In fact, Mardi Gras is a whole season that begins on the 12th Night after Christmas and lasts until Fat Tuesday, which is the day before Ash Wednesday, the day Lent begins. The dates this year are Jan. 6 to Feb. 16. During the last two weeks of Mardi Gras there are dozens of parades all over New Orleans and neighboring parishes. You could literally go to a parade every night for two weeks. See the parade routes.

Misconception: Mardi Gras takes place in the French Quarter.

Truth: In fact, the French Quarter has very little to do with the Mardi Gras parades that take place all over town. Sure, the French Quarter is hopping with people staying at the wonderful hotels there and eating at the world-class restaurants. But except for the Krewe de Vieux, which is a walking parade, none of the big parades take place there.See the parade schedule.

Halloween in New Orleans

From the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau: Krewe of Boo October 24 Created by New Orleans' own Blaine Kern, Sr., the Krewe of Boo has a charitable cause - to benefit the First Responder's Fund of New Orleans. Join us in having a great time for a great cause. more...  Star Wars™: In Concert October 27, 2009 Star Wars™: In Concert is a unique multi-media event featuring music from all six of John Williams’ epic Star Wars scores. The production features a full symphony orchestra and choir, accompanied by specially edited footage from the films displayed on a three-story-tall, high-definition LED super-screen. more... Boo at the Zoo October 23-25 Bring your little ghosts and goblins to Audubon Zoo this year for Boo at the Zoo! This annual Zoo extravaganza is a fun-filled Halloween event for children featuring trick-or-treat houses, entertainment and more...  Boo Carre October 23-25 The French Market hosts a series of events leading up to Halloween. Click here for a full list of activities, including hayrides, a pumpkin procession and more. Vampire Film Festival October 23-26, 2009 Vampire Film Festival is descending upon New Orleans for the first time! The four-day International Film Festival features more than 50 films in the Vampire, Gothic and Mythic genres. more... Voodoo Music Experience 2009 October 30-November 1 Voodoo moves to Halloween weekend! This year's festival features 150 bands on eight stages with artists such as Lenny Kravitz, Eminem, Jane's Addiction, Widespread Panic and many more. Halloween New Orleans October 29-November 1 Celebrate with four days of exciting parties in the Big Easy all benefiting Project Lazarus! This year's theme of "Twisted Seasons" gives every night of the event a different seasonal backdrop, each with a little twist of Halloween New Orleans! more... Ritz-Carlton Goblin Tea October 31 Bring the kids to the Ritz-Carlton in Halloween costumes to enjoy a Trick-or-Treat scavenger hunt, a cookie decorating table and Halloween music. more... Halloween Tea at Fairchild House B&B October 22-31 Calling all ghosts, witches, wizards and more to an afternoon tea filled with a crackling good time featuring craft making, cookie decorating, storytelling and much more. more... Take a Haunted Tour Haunted sights, cemeteries, voodoo, vampires and more! Audubon Insectarium Audubon Insectarium showcases the largest group of animals on the planet, insects! Stop by to visit the creepy crawly world of bugs! more...  Visit a Voodoo Shop Shop for potions and voodoo dolls as you walk through the halls of a spiritual voodoo temple. more...

via www.neworleanscvb.com

And now for a little creole cajun zydeco magic

Turn it up!