Topic starter
19/02/2010 6:34 pm
Greetings From New Orleans !
Well , Mardi Gras 2010 has come and gone but without leaveing a lasting impression on the thousands and possibly millions of people who attended and or viewed and made this Mardi Gras such a memorable one . At one point it was hard to distinguish between the actual true Mardi Gras festivities , balls , parades and other related events and the Saints victory parades and all the other related celebrations that merged together to make this such a memorable time of year . There is just so much going on in this city and community that makes this area so very unique and makes it stand out so well from any other city in the world ! My advice to anyone that has NOT come to New Orleans and or the Mardi Gras , and has NOT had the opportunity to yell to a passing parade to , " Throw Me Something Mister ", is that you really owe it to yourself to take the time and to spend the money to experience just what this area has to offer ! WOW , this town really knows how to throw a party !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
Topic starter
19/02/2010 6:45 pm
More Mardi Gras Pictures !
Greetings From New Orleans ,
Just a few more Mardi Gras pictures and if anyone is interested in more I'll be happy to forward my collection to you !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
19/02/2010 10:57 pm
Ted: I'd be interested in more pix...
Cap'n Walnut
Topic starter
20/02/2010 9:41 am
Tom , As requested......................................... ....
Greetings From New Orleans ,
Tom , as requested here are a few more Mardi Gras pictures .
These shots were all taken in the vicinity of the French Quarter and the Moon Walk .
Hope you enjoy !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
Tom Schiffer;20455 wrote: Ted: I'd be interested in more pix...
Cap'n Walnut
Topic starter
20/02/2010 3:55 pm
More Mardi Gras Pictures
Greetings From New Orleans ,
Just a few more Mardi Gras pictures .
Hope you enjoy !
Ted Davisson
Ted Davisson;20456 wrote: Greetings From New Orleans ,
Tom , as requested here are a few more Mardi Gras pictures .
These shots were all taken in the vicinity of the French Quarter and the Moon Walk .
Hope you enjoy !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
20/02/2010 4:25 pm
Ted,
Doesn't look as crowded as in past years (pre-Katrina). Is the tourism still down? Back in '07 we stayed a few days before our first DQ trip, and got some fantastic deals on hotel and food (stayed at the St. Peters, very nice family run joint).
S'
David D.
20/02/2010 9:36 pm
Tourism
Yes, David, tourism is still down. There aren't as many conventions as pre-K although the individual travel is improving. As a concrete example: the NATCHEZ ran 3 trips a day, 7 days a week, with 400+ passengers most trips pre-K. Now she runs 1 trip a day for sure, adds a dinner trip on weekends, and adds a second day trip when groups are booked in advance, or if there is a big convention or happening in town. A passenger count of 400 on a trip would be great these days. Her charter business is holding pretty steady, although that too is less than pre-K. Second concrete example: tours of my house, the Beauregard-Keyes on Chartres are way down, some days only 4-5 admissions. We still have about the same number of weddings and other receptions, but those are from locals. From what I saw on the Parade Cam on Fat Tuesday, the crowds didn't look as big at that one location, but remember we had been celebrating for over a week from the Saints, and I was at that parade and guarantee that was a big, though local/regional crowd. One of the big problems in getting tourism back is the mistaken perception that the tourist attractions aren't all open or as they were pre-K. That is not true - except for shorter hours or fewer trips due to lack of customers(vicious cycle). In fact, the tourist area has been very normal since about 6 months after Katrina. There is much to be rebuilt in the NOLA metropolitan area, but the tourist section is not among that. Hopefully the huge new addition to the National WWII Museum(formerly the D Day Museum) will help attract more visitors. The best thing a person can do now to help NOLA recover is to come visit and support the tourist attractions like the NATCHEZ.
20/02/2010 9:50 pm
Judy,
Once again, you are right on the money. I remember being in N.O February 2006 and the French Quarter was fine and open for business. A lot of people don't realize that the French Quarter wasn't even touched by the flooding (the French started building there for a reason!!) I'm not trying to promote my family's business, but I will promote the city as a whole any chance I get. I know I might be preachin' to the choir here, but I wish the good word would get to more people. Much thanks to the Saints for getting the ball really rolling!
21/02/2010 2:06 am
post-K
There was quite a bit of grousing nationally when the Carnival Season and Mardi Gras went on in 2006, albeit in abbreviated fashion. What 'they' didn't realize is that MG is a major business in the NOLA area, a year-round venture for many people and companies, and that to not celebrate it would have further financially hit New Orleanians. And yes, after 6 solid months of gutting and starting the rebuilding of their lives, they deserved a respite. The MG festivities that year were basically participated in by locals, due to the lack of hotel space and the perception that it wasn't worth coming to visit yet. Sadly that perception still exists, although many have come to realize that there is indeed much to do and enjoy in New Orleans, just as in pre-K days. While NOLA isn't for everyone, you'd be surprised how many different venues there are for people of varied interests - it isn't just Bourbon Street and booze and boobs. And as we have lamented on this .org board the passing or temporary layups of so many steamboats in these last couple of years, we need to be thankful we still have the NATCHEZ and BELLE still in operation - but our gratitude won't pay their bills!
21/02/2010 5:13 am
There certainly is a wide variety of things to do in the FQ. We had 3 days there, and wished we had more--and I don't drink! But I sure at a lot of great food. If you are looking for somewhere to go, do consider the FQ with a Natchez trip too. Great museums, good "tourist traps" and fantastic eating places! Some very historic!
S'
David D.
Topic starter
22/02/2010 10:23 pm
Believe It Or Not !
Greetings From New Orleans ,
David , your right in one respect , in the pictures I have been posting it does appear that the Mardi Gras 2010 crowds were some what thinner than years past , but according to NOLA.COM , the overall crowds were actually much larger than years past . Remember that Mardi Gras includes the entire New Orleans , metropolitan area and not just the French Quarter .
Also , as bezar as this sounds , one of the barometers that are employed to measure the size and success of any given Mardi Gras is the amount of garbage or trash that is collected . It was also reported in NOLA.COM that
this Mardi Gras 2010 , over 8,000 tons of garbage was collected as opposed to 4,ooo tons of garbage that was collected in years past .
So Go Figure , the success of Mardi Gras is judged by the amount of trash !!
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
David Dewey;20458 wrote: Ted,
Doesn't look as crowded as in past years (pre-Katrina). Is the tourism still down? Back in '07 we stayed a few days before our first DQ trip, and got some fantastic deals on hotel and food (stayed at the St. Peters, very nice family run joint).
S'
David D.
