2-14-10 Bacchus Parade - Love is In the Air title float
Friends:
On the Sunday before Mardi Gras, Antonio and I always join friends for a Dimanche Gras celebration, hosted by our good friend, Harold Rihner. We eat at the classic and classy New Orleans restaurant, Antoine’s. We had a lovely lunch with Joe and Jane, Mike and Lyndell, Harold and Lisa, and John and Kathleen. Antonio and I are in the middle of the picture.
2-14-10 Our Dimanche Gras Celebration with friends hosted by Harold Rihner, 2nd from the right
This year, Harold booked us in the Proteus room, a gorgeous private dining room dedicated to the Krewe of Proteus, especially the queens. Proteus is the second oldest New Orleans Mardi Gras parade and has been in existence since 1882. In mythology, Proteus is the Shepherd of the Oceans.
2-14-10 The Proteus Room at Antoine's Restaurant
After a sumptuous feast, we walked through the French Quarter.
2-14-10 Dianne in front of a Ferrari
Our ultimate goal was to get to the Hotel Intercontinental, where we had Grand Stand tickets to view the Bacchus Parade. Walking through the French Quarter on Mardi Gras weekend is always fun. There are many interesting characters along the way…
2-14-10 Antonio behind a golden mime
There are even those that cry out, “Let them eat cake!”
2-14-10 No way! Is that Marie Antoinette?!!!
After visiting with our friend Petros at the Country Flame Restaurant on Iberville, we went to the Hilton on St. Charles, where our friends had a room, to change into “parade” clothes. This meant lots of layers as the weather was unseasonably cold and windy. In fact, I totally bundled up!
2-14-10 Dianne, feeling like a popsicle
Once at the Grand Stand, I met a nice couple, Mervin and Frieda from Ruston, who shared their spot with me at the front of the Grand Stand, so I could take pictures for this blog! Thank you so much, Mervin and Frieda! You rock!
2-14-10 Mervin and Frieda, the nice couple I met from Ruston, LA
The theme for Bacchus was “Love is in the Air” to honor Valentine’s Day, since the parade fell on the lovely holiday this year. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints Quarterback and Super Bowl XLIV MVP, was this year’s reigning king. Crowds whipped into a frenzy when his float cruised by.
2-14-10 Saints Quarterback Drew Brees, King of Bacchus
Drew Brees’ wife, Brittany, was also on the float throwing trinkets to the adoring crowds.
2-14-10 Drew Brees' wife, Brittany
Normally, I love watching the marching bands from all the schools but this year, the bands didn’t play and dance a lot near our Grand Stand.
2-14-10 Southern University marching band
The floats were beautiful but some of my favorites are perennial favorites – the traditional Bacchus floats that appear year after year such as Queen King (King Kong’s wife).
2-14-10 Bacchus Parade's Queen Kong
The Baccha-Whoppa float, an annual super float in the shape of a whale, stopped right in front of us. There were some unusual delays in the parade and huge gaps between floats.
2-14-10 Bacchus Parade - Baccha-Whoppa
Two of the riders were directly in front of me and I was able to converse with them. They were fun guys and gave us lots of throws. They were even nice enough to pose for me!
2-14-10 The coolest riders on Baccha-Whoppa
Bacchatality is another favorite float. It features riders from the hospitality industry in New Orleans. The float is decorated with foods that are mainstays in Louisiana: crawfish, hot sauce, etc. It is a three caboose float that can hold tons of riders.
2-14-10 Bacchus Parade - Bacchatality float
I love the float that featured the iconic “The War Is Over!” kiss. So sweet!
The floats were so cleverly titled to correlate with the Krewe’s theme “Love is in the Air” and so beautifully decorated. All of the riders matched their floats with corresponding costumes.
2-14-10 Bacchus is the God of Wine
Although less goodies were thrown this year than in year’s past, the floats were gorgeous and I loved partying downtown, despite the chilly temperatures (people left the parade en mass because of the cold weather). It was another fun, memorable Dimanche Gras. Thank you, Harold and Lisa, for a spectacular celebration!
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
