January 6 is King’s Night and the Carnival season in New Orleans begins. There’s already a lot scheduled, so read on about selected happenings and a TVD exclusive announcement from one of your favorite krewes.
For the last two decades, I have traditionally begun the Carnival season by heading over to the Streetcar barn on Willow Street and watching the Phunny Phorty Phellows get ready for their annual party ride around the St. Charles Avenue loop. I am not alone in believing that this is best way to mark the beginning of the revelry that concludes on Fat Tuesday. They begin arriving after 6 PM and the streetcar full of costumed riders leaves at 7 PM.
But for some reason, the Big Daily thinks that parading with the upstart krewe of Joan of Arc is a better idea. They even put the krewe on the cover of the Lagniappe. With the French Quarter overrun by BCS fans, checking out the PPP seems like a no-brainer to me.
If you are one of those short attention span readers who never click the jump—be advised, there’s something special below—click the jump!
TVD is proud to be the first to bring you the entertainment lineup for this year’s Krewe du Vieux ball! The 26th annual Krewe du Vieux Doo will feature a super group called Walter “Wolfman” Washington’s Afunkalypse! Led by New Orleans’ favorite guitar slinger, the group also includes killer players like Ike Stubblefield on B-3 organ, CR Gruver on keys, Jeff Watkins and Jimmy Carpenter on saxes, Antonio Gambrell on trumpet and Jay Sanders on bass.
If that’s not enough to get you to break out the glue gun and glitter and get started on your costume, guess who is the special guest? Wait for it…. Fred Wesley of James Brown fame will be on trombone!
And there’s more—the fanciful krewe is bringing those hard-partying Bywater boozers the Morning Forty Federation out of retirement to play the late night set!
Tickets are $30 for the shindig, which goes down on February 4 at 2830 Royal Street. They will be available at Up in Smoke, Plum, Petcetera, Bacchanal and other fine establishments early next week.
Later tonight, Al “Carnival Time” Johnson gets you in the mood at Buffa’s Lounge and the Queen’s Balls takes place at the Maple Leaf Bar. If you haven’t checked out this costume party yet, it’s a winner with special prizes for dressing up like a queen—guys too! Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes provide the entertainment.
