Totally OT: Looking For Member Who Takes Their Child to Mardi Gras in NO

[tarheelmjfan]

I remember seeing a post on here a couple days ago that had trips to Mardi Gras in the signature. If I remember correctly, the poster had a 5 yr. old, or their child went to Mardi Gras the 1st time at 5 yrs. old. Anyway, we love NO, & want to go to Mardi Gras at least once. The thing that has kept us away is a fear that it will be too wild for us now that we're older. Also, we have a DS(14) & we're afraid to take him into the atmosphere. Then, I see that one of you has taken a much younger child, & I'm thinking it must not be as wild as we feared. If you're the member I'm referring to & you read this, I would love more info. on how a family can safely experience Mardi Gras. I told DH about the post & we're thinking we may go next year. Feel free to PM me.

PS: Kilee & Mbb, I know this is way OT. Please, forgive me! I tried looking back through the threads, but couldn't find the post I was looking for. I would have sent a PM, if I could have found who to send it to.

 

[kilee]

This doesn't seem to be getting any hits on the OH&A board. I am going to move it to the Community Board. I'm thinking even if you don't find that particular person, you're sure to find people who've been to Mardi Gras on the CB.

 

[justhat]

Well my husband is from New Orleans and his whole family still lives there and they all went and still go to Mardi Gras each year, including his 4yo niece and 2yo nephew. He's not home at the moment so I'm not sure what he'd say about it, but I know he'd have no objections to taking our daughter (who is almost 2) and he's really not about letting kids see inappropriate things. If you go to the parades, I'm sure there will be flashing cause it's just inevitable, but maybe prepare him for it in advance and it won't be such a big issue?

 

[missypie]

Are you relaxed about nudity? One time a gay male friend went and I saw his pictues. I can't believe the photo place developed them! (It was in the days before digital cameras.)

 

[rascalmom]

I think the Dis'r you are looking for might be Mrs. Kreamer - she posts on the Hurricane Katrina board sometimes.

 

[agnes!]

I'm with the above poster. Look on the Hurricane Katrina sub-board. It's up at the top of the Community Board.

good luck,
agnes!

 

[skuttle]

We brought DS to a mardi gras parade in New Orleans last year when he was 1.5 years old. We went to Orpheus. He fell asleep around his normal bedtime (8pm) and then woke up when the parade arrived (around 10pm) and made it until midnight when we left! He loved it and I never felt unsafe and we didn't see any nudity or other inappropriate behavior . We normally watch it towards the end of the parade and it's never very crowded. I think a lot of people not from this area get the wrong idea about NO mardi gras...it's not all ****s and booze everywhere!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Thanks all for the help! I'll look on that board.

justhat,
I would love to hear any tips your DH could provide.


missypie,
I have to admit that we're not comfortable at all with nudity. That's why I'm looking for a way to experience Mardi Gras on a PG level. Thanks for the warning.

 

[skuttle]

Looks like we posted at the same time! lol! There are definitely ways to enjoy mardi gras at a PG level.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

We brought DS to a mardi gras parade in New Orleans last year when he was 1.5 years old. We went to Orpheus. He fell asleep around his normal bedtime (8pm) and then woke up when the parade arrived (around 10pm) and made it until midnight when we left! He loved it and I never felt unsafe and we didn't see any nudity or other inappropriate behavior . We normally watch it towards the end of the parade and it's never very crowded. I think a lot of people not from this area get the wrong idea about NO mardi gras...it's not all ****s and booze everywhere!

Thanks for the info. After reading the signature on the Orlando Board, I was thinking we must have a misconception of what it's like. Sorry, but I don't know what Orpheus is. Where is the best place for a family to stay, during this time? There's lots of great places to stay in NO, but I have no idea which is better, if you're going specifically for Mardi Gras. Also, where's the best place to watch the parade from? I know you said at the end of the route, but I don't know where that is either. Sorry, I'm so clueless.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Looks like we posted at the same time! lol! There are definitely ways to enjoy mardi gras at a PG level.

We did it again!

 

[skuttle]

Orpheus is Harry Connick Jr's Mardi Gras parade. I have no idea what the parades are like now, after the Hurricane, but his parade used to end at the Convention Center (Most of the others end at the Super Dome, I believe) and we'd watch it at the Embassy Suites hotel...can't remember the name of the street.

I really can't give you too much specific info as I'm not from NO, but I just wanted to let you know that Mardi Gras can be done with a family.

 

[tink38]

It all depends on which part of the city you see the parades. In Metairie it is totally a family atmosphere. We see the parades on Bonnabel, but I'm not sure if they are rolling on that part of the route this year. Veterans is okay, but the closer you are toward the end of the route the better.
Being that I used to live 3 blocks from Bonnabel, DS has been to every Mardi Gras since he was a year old. New Orleans is a different story. The only nudity you will see is in the Quarter, and believe me, I've seen it. People don't normally flash in other parts of the city. I haven't been to a New Orleans parade in many years, mainly because I just don't feel safe. If you have any more specific questions, feel free to pm me. By the way, we'll be in town on the 25th to see Iris. This will be my 1st NO parade in about 15 years, lol. DH's cousins are riding so we are going to see them. We'll be doing Metairie that night.

 

[Southern4sure]

My 2 cents -

I grew up in Mobile which has Mardi Gras every year (Mardi Gras originates in Mobile). In Mobile, it is smaller then New Orleans with less alcohol and hardly any to no nudity. If you want to take children to experience Mardi Gras, I'd go to Mobile. You still get the bands, beads, moon pies, candy, coins, cups, flowers, stuffed animals and etc. thrown but smaller crowds, or at least it was before Katrina.

We never went to New Orleans for Mardi Gras bascially because you had about 1 million or more people there just for the parades. Both cities are beautifully decorated for this event so either would be nice for that factor alone.

 

[Barqs]

I am from Kenner which is the next city over from Metairie. I agree with what Tink said. The parades in Metairie are more tame than the ones in New Orleans. However if you do want to go to New Orleans, you just have to pick the correct location and it will be fine. I would advise anyone with children to stay away from the French Quarter. That is where the majority of the crowds will be, and you are very likely to see nudity there.
If you have anymore questions I will be happy to try and help you.

 

[bimshire]

Back in the 80's, I lived in Kenner and worked adjacent to the Lakeside Mall in Metairie. This is a great location to see the parades. We would stand on Severn and collect a whole lot of trinkets. On Fat Tuesday we would go into the city to see the Zulu parade and always got at least one decorated coconut. Just avoid Bourbon St. and you will have a great time. Also, I have seen kids of all ages at the parades. They especially love the marching bands.

Remember to put you foot on a doubloon before attempting to picked it up. That way you will still have your fingers when you get back home.

 

[TxJasmine]

We went to Mardi Gras for the first time last year. Our kids were 8 and 9 at the time. We went on the first weekend of Mardi Gras and saw the parades in Metairie. It was mostly families. In fact, before one parade, a transvestite/transsexual was marching down the street yelling out things, and the people in the crowd got very angry and told the person to leave and that the parade was for families. It was quite obvious that any kind of inappropriate behavior would not be tolerated at the family parades in Metairie.

We are going to Mardi Gras again this year. This time we will see the parades in Uptown. Hopefully everything will turn out okay.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

You can enjoy Mardi Gras with your family - you just have to be aware of where you take the kids. We have been to all the bigger parades - Bacchus and Orpheus on Napolean St, at the beginning of the parade - Lots of families in that area. I would not take the kids to the French Quarter or Jackson Square during the parades though.

And you can catch some of the Metarie or West Bank parades also for some family Mardi Gras atmosphere.

That said I think as an adult you need to experience Mardi Gras, French Quarter and all at least once in your life time. It is definately unforgettable - LOL. Can anyone watch the kids while you go?

 

[tink38]

Remember to put you foot on a doubloon before attempting to picked it up. That way you will still have your fingers when you get back home.[/QUOTE]


Excellent advice!!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

This is great advice! I had no idea the parades were also in Metairie. I know lots about Kenner & Metairie. My niece played in the AAU basketball championships there 2 yrs. in a row. I've been lost on almost every street there. It has been several years since we've been to that area though. Do the parades run in the NO Business District? We love Le Pavillon Hotel. Could we see them from there? Until I started reading your replies, I didn't know how little I knew about Mardi Gras. Obviously, I need to do a lot of research, before booking this trip. (I don't drink coffee. This would be a Diet Pepsi for me. )