New Toulouse

Maggie, Queen of the Carnival, sends Fond Greetings to Her Loyal Subjects in the Beautiful and Historic City of New Toulouse.

Her Majesty invites all of Her Subjects in New Toulouse and Bayou, and all their Friends and all other Sojourners in and around our fair city, whosoever they may be, to gather, from Far and Near, from High and Low, from Hither and Yon, to join the Colorful Parades, Regal Processions and Riotous Celebrations which will shortly unfold under our Carnival Banner.

She promises that the Revelry and Pageantry arranged for this Mardi Gras Season will surpass in Beauty and exceed in Merriment the most Joyous and Enthralling Spectacles of time Past, culminating in Her Grand Procession on

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 12 NOON
TO CELEBRATE THE GRAND FESTIVAL OF SAMEDI-GRAS

It is further commanded and ordained:

…that the Joyous Music of Carnival shall fill the Streets of our Beloved New Toulouse, Multiplying all Merriment;

…that Colorful Costumes, Elaborate Masks, and Outrageous Adornments of all kinds be the order of the day;

…that Dancing in the Streets, on Sidewalks, Balconies, yea, even upon the Rooftops, shall be greatly Encouraged;

…that Fair Weather and Blue Skies shall prevail, that the Multitudes might gather and celebrate without hindrance;

…that the Royal Constabulary of New Toulouse shall marshal the Grand Celebration with their Customary Skill and an appropriate Degree of Forbearance toward the Inevitable Hijinks and Tomfoolery;

…that the Keepers of Bars, Inns, Taverns, Grocers, Cigar Emporiums, Stables, Chinese Laundries, Bakeries, Seafood Merchants, Barber Shops, Bookshops, Print Shops, Gambling Halls, Dance Halls, Hospitals, Brothels, and Eating and Drinking Establishments in Her beloved City shall throw open their Doors to receive all Carnival Celebrants, of whatsoever degree or kind with our customary Good Fellowship, Warmth, and true Southern hospitality.

By Order of Her Majesty,
Queen Maggie

(Photo credit: Liza Veliz)

The Samedi Gras Parade Association is proud to parade under the rule of this year’s Queen, Miss Maggie Hawksby!

The oldest and most traditional of the New Toulouse parades, the floats of the Samedi Gras Parade wind their way through the streets of New Toulouse this Saturday, the 6th of February. Carter Denja, our emcee and DJ, will start the show at Laveau Square (heard throughout the city streets) at 11:30 AM, and the parade itself kicks off at noon.

The Samedi Gras Parade has been a part of the New Toulouse Carnival season since the founding of New Toulouse. Wild costumes, bawdy shenanigans, and general misrule are the rule as the citizens of New Toulouse cut loose before the somber Lenten season.

Avoid that uncomfortable feeling of kneeling in the confessional with nothing to confess! Join your neighbors and friends in Laveau Square this Saturday, and try to come up with something that will make them blush!

Henri Godenot is the mayor of New Toulouse and the Capitan of Capitans of this year’s Samedi Gras parade.

• Krewe Bayou Flavor Parade
• Saturday, January 30, 1:00 PM
• Starting point: Bayou Street and Shotgun Row

Featuring the Oh Lord What Is That marching band. This year’s theme is food, and all are invited to dress up in food-related costumes and join the parade. “Everyone’s in Krewe Bayou!”

• Zombies’ Surprise Ball
• Saturday, January 30, 2:00 PM
• Kari’s Bar and Dance, #1 Bayou Street

Hosted by the Ancient and Secret and Arcane Krewe des Zombies. Expect zydeco tunes on the phonograph, followed by a live performance by guitarist and vocalist Hogman.

• Dans la Mer
• Sunday, January 31, 1:00 PM
• Spiegel Hall ballroom (third floor)

The Krewe of Bast presents an undersea-themed masquerade ball featuring the piano stylings of New Toulouse’s own Zachh Cale. Revelers are encouraged to attend in “fishy fancy dress.”

The Secret and Royal Order of the Sleepless is proud to present the Queen of Carnival, Miss Maggie Hawksby!

According to the Elaborate, Ancient, and Arcane practices (well, Elaborate and Ancient, because Arcane voted for someone else), Miss Hawksby is elected the all-powerful Queen of Carnival.

According to the special powers associated with Carnival Royalty, Miss Maggie can grant pardons to criminals, make wishes come true, control the weather, and fly.

Please join us in honoring Miss Maggie.

Vive La Maggie!

—The Sleepless Knight

The Sleepless Knight is.

The freak weather conditions that hit New Toulouse last Sunday left most people unscathed. One citizen, however, is still counting the cost. Miss Frannie of the Green-Eyed Fairy had to cancel her swamp stomp with DJ Tabasco. “I’ve had to replace all my stock,” she told me. This reporter probed further and found that the losses were caused not by the weather, but instead by the owner drinking herself into a stupor to ease the pain she felt.

Luckily Taloosters are made of stern stuff, and the event is on again this Sunday between 12:00 noon and 2:00 PM. Miss Frannie was reminded that she is captain of Krewe Bayou, although she told me she has no recollection of being appointed or volunteering. It was decided to make the postponed event a Krewe Bayou Carnival kick-off event. Mardi Gras colors and mayhem are encouraged.

The Green-Eyed Fairy is located at #2 Bayou Street.

Lou Carew loves his Mardi Gras krewe.

January 5
New Toulouse City Hall

Happy New Year, and happy Carnival season!

Today, Twelfth Night, is the start of the Carnival season. Expect fun, frivolity, and a little government-authorized naughtiness.

I encourage you to dive into this Carnival season with both feet, and participate to the fullest.

Join a krewe, or form your own, and decorate a float for the Samedi Gras parade.

March, ride, or dance in the Krewe Bayou parade.

Paddle, sail, or motor a gaudily decorated boat in the Krewe du Canard boat parade.

Have a Mardi Gras ball, debut and fete your secret officers, share your secret handshake, and make outlandish promises that are automatically null and void on Ash Wednesday.

Here is this year’s Carnival schedule:

• Twelfth Night: January 5
• Krewe Bayou parade: January 30
• Samedi Gras: February 6
• Lundi Gras: February 8
• Mardi Gras: February 9

The informal mania of the Krewe Bayou parade takes place on Saturday, the 30th of January. Anyone can join and march in the Krewe Bayou parade, because “Everyone is in Krewe Bayou.”

The Krewe du Canard boat parade is like the Samedi Gras parade, but the floats in the boat parade actually float. This parade is normally held on Lundi Gras.

The big formal parade in New Toulouse is the Samedi Gras parade, which will occur this year on Saturday, February 6.

Visit the Research Room at City Hall for krewe and parade information and free stuff!

Happy Carnival season!

Mayor Godenot

Henri Godenot is the mayor of New Toulouse and the captain of Krewe des Zombies.

This old bird has seen a lot of odd things floating in the waters of New Toulouse, but on Lundi Gras there was a new addition to the flood of Carnival activity: the Krewe du Canard held a little bayou regatta. The vessels were varied, ranging from Blake Palmer’s fishing boat, to Henri Godenot’s float-styled pirogue, to whatever sort of Jules Verne-type craft the Whitefalcons were piloting. Admiral Callidus Waydelich showed up in an inner tube; one would suspect the Mondragons had more impressive naval technology than that, especially after seeing that flying elephant float they made for Samedi Gras.

The parade sailed along the river, amusing the spectators on the deck of the Mama Cree. Then the Duck Armada sailed back to its home pond, and the krewe members went to the Toulouse Caboose, where they proceeded to get polluted. DJ Q got them dancing, Doc Avalon got them drinking, and Lundi Gras may never be the same, especially if the boat parade becomes a regular Carnival event.

Maggie Hawksby swam with the ducks and snapped these photos: Flickr set.

Avis Picayune is a tough old bird.

It is commanded that the residents of New Toulouse adhere to the following decree:

… that all who visit the capital city and its bayou shall be greeted with the utmost hospitality, as all who visit are potential future residents;

… that creativity and imagination shall never cease and the muse of these originalities shall be applied as investment to the capital city;

… that the liveliness and festive spirit shall continue throughout the year.

I bestow on the capital city and its residents fair winds, serene skies, and joyous days ahead.

Farewell,

King Blake

Many thanks to Miss Natascha Randt for yet another recording of parade mayhem!