New Toulouse

WHAT: Founder’s Day
WHEN: Saturday, March 18, noon

The singer/guitarist Untolerable Bohemian will perform, and presumably the mayor will give a speech (and possibly jump into a bucket). Make for Laveau Square on Saturday and see for yourself.

New Toulouse has entered its ninth year in existence, and as is the custom, the mayor today gave a speech honoring the founders. In attendance this year was New Toulouse founder Miss Carricre Wind (also known as “Mama Cree”), whom Mayor Godenot asked to say a few words.

“Enri mentioned that there is a founder here with us today, and that is really really true,” said Miss Wind. “In fact, there is more than one! When Taloo was built, the grid was full of cities where everything was perfect and rigid … and stuck up! That was terrible, though, so we build a place where everyone can be whatever they are—cannons on roofs, flying cars, whatever—be as dirty or clean as you need or want to! So it’s always been that everyone here helps found the place, by adding to what was there and growing the weirdness more and more every year! Keep it up, you glorious people!”

Amid cheers, Mayor Godenot performed the ritual Founder’s Day “Leap of Faith” and landed squarely in the bucket, traditionally ensuring the city good luck for the year ahead. A performance by Mr. Zachh Cale, pianist and singer, near the No. 23 Firehouse was the highlight of the street party that followed, with lovely stage decoration and refreshments provided by Miz Kristine Jinx-Kristan.

Photo credit: Liza Veliz

Gigi Lapin lives in New Toulouse Bayou with her pet crawfish, Jimbo.

The Founder’s Day celebration took place on Saturday, March 7.

“Not a week goes by without some new person saying what a beautiful region we live in. Not a week goes by without hearing someone who lives here muse happily about the comfort and refuge they find here,” said Mayor Godenot. “It is my sincere pleasure to walk in the paths laid down by those wonderful women, Mama Cree and Miz Gabi. Join me in honoring our founders, and thank them by enjoying the beautiful places they have given us.”

The mayor’s “Leap of Faith” landed him squarely in the the bucket, traditionally ensuring another year of excellent luck for New Toulouse.

Following the ceremonial paying of the Lafitte’s rent meter, celebrants gathered on Bourbon for a street party.

Partygoers enjoyed the performance of visiting musician Mr. Bohemian, whose original songs in at least three different languages were an especially big hit.

Photo credit: Kristine Jinx-Kristan and Nikita Weymann.

A. Flyonthewall just wants to blend in.

Mayor Godenot

I would like to invite you to join me this weekend to celebrate the founding of New Toulouse seven years ago.

Festivities will begin at 12:45 PM on Saturday, March 7, with a speech and ceremony outside my home, and at 1:00 we will have a street party by the firehouse with a live concert by Untolerable Bohemian.

Please join me on March 7 to celebrate seven years of our fair parish!

—Henri

Everyone knows kraken don’t exist, but New Toulouse was full of grateful citizens waving kraken-shaped balloons on Saturday during the annual Founder’s Day celebration.

Six years after Carricre Wind rezzed the first prim of what would become Lafitte’s Old Primsmith Bar, Taloosters gathered under Mayor Henri Godenot’s balcony. After a speech honoring Mama Cree and her successor, Gabrielle “Miz Gabi” Riel, His Honor leapt from the balcony into a tiny bucket of water to cheers from the impressed crowd.

Then it was off to Lafitte’s, where Mayor Godenot paid the meter—a Founder’s Day tradition. (The bar, whose original structure has been replaced with a mesh build, was the first building in New Toulouse. )

The revelry continued with a picnic in the square. Miss Francesca Alva’s cheery decorations included a portrait of Mama Cree, and the festive atmosphere was rounded out by a fantastic set by DJ Cadence Carolina.

Residents told stories about the community’s early days and strange roads that lead to New Toulouse; e.g., “I came here to buy a machete and ended up owning a bar and dance club.”

More Founder’s Day photos can be found here: New Toulouse Founder’s Day on Flickr

Jane Moreaux is eternally grateful to the founders of our fair city and doesn’t believe in kraken, but can’t explain this.

Founder’s Week started off Saturday, March 2, with a reception celebrating the opening of the Art in the Park festival in the town square. Our own advice columnist, Maurice Nixon, hosted the party. The artwork of many talented artists was on display: that of T. S. Carson (as curated by Lazarus Morane), Maggie Hawksby, Adele Kling, Kristine Jinx-Kristan, Gigi Lapin, Maurice Nixon, Bryn Oh, and Melusina Parkin.

On the afternoon of March 9, citizens assembled at the house of Mayor Godenot to hear him speak from his balcony. “We come together to honor the tireless efforts and artistic vision of our Founders, Miss Carricre Wind and Miss Gabrielle Riel,” he said, to much applause. “Miss Wind, in the midst of Endless Destruction, conceived and built a city in a swamp. Her vision gave us New Toulouse, a dry place to live, to play, and to grow in the community of of our neighbors. Miss Riel conceived and built us a village in a bayou. She gave us our lovely New Toulouse Bayou, where we live and hunt and boat and play. Let us thank our founders for their vision and effort and enjoy these places they have given us!”

Following his speech, the mayor climbed up a ladder and leaped from a great height into the yard, landing in a bucket of water, which traditionally means a year of good luck for the city. The crowd was greatly enthused, and most made their way down the street to Lafitte’s for the Ceremonial Paying of the Founder’s Meter.

Then it was time for a street party in front of the firehouse, with entertainment by singer and pianist Kyle Bronsdon. Miss Mirri Rosca kindly decorated the area and set out refreshments for people to enjoy.

Overall, Founder’s Week was deemed a success, and the good people of New Toulouse look forward to another fine year.

Nikita Weymann lives in New Toulouse Bayou. She is disconcerted to be referring to herself in the third person right now.