quote:

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Originally posted by Janine:
Spring break falls when for y'all?

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Spring break seems to always occur around St. Pat's day....

Don't ask, I don't!
 

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Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
If we're talking around St. Patrick's Day there'll be parades for that... and St. Joseph's Altars to see. And the gators will be getting active, swamp tours should be great.

We've got weeks and weeks to assemble a PLAN, here, so I'll pull info that would work over a stretch of time, and see who can come...

Here's mention of the 2013 Mardi Gras schedule in New Orleans. Here is a good list, featuring links to many of the big-city krewes' websites.

Houma offers a take on Mardi Gras I like. You can move around more.

A Sunday parade in Thibodaux can be a lot of fun, especially if we go visit St. John's Episcopal Church. They're on the parade route of at least the Cleophas & Chronos parades. I've enjoyed visiting with them in their historic church building, and sharing lunch, then watching the parades pass.

This Houma business will put up a schedule for the Houma parades soon -- meanwhile check the photos.

[ 02. July 2012, 02:25: Message edited by: Janine ]
 

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Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
Hotels on parade route New Orleans

Thibodaux/Lafourche website

Mardi Gras & Events calendars Houma/Terrebonne
 

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Posted by Ye Olde Motherboarde (# 54) on :
 
how much humidity do you get in February?
 

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Posted by Macgyver's Apprentice (# 603) on :
 
Interested. I'll need to look behind the sofa for some spare pennies.

February would make it more likely that I would be able to get the time off work (Scotland will still be in the depths of winter!).

Time to dive back behaind the sofa.
 

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Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
We might still have a little winter left in February. Maybe 50-60 degrees F at night and 60s-to-70s daytime? Unless we get a cool front, some rain... Or unless springtime tries to come early, as it does many years. We could have all the willows and swamp maples and Japanese magnolias and green clover and baby birds all thinking it's time to ROLL come mid-February.

There's just no way to know for sure, this far ahead.
 

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Posted by malik3000 (# 11437) on :
 
Wow, talk about planning ahead! I am interested too!

[ 03. July 2012, 06:41: Message edited by: malik3000 ]
 

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Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
I realize it's a long time away, but I need a lot of time to jiggle the dates around. I need to come up with a date range that's helpful to the most people.

Also, when we do peg it down a bit as far as exactly what and when, I'll firm up the plans and let folks know the costs -- keeping that as low as possible, I'm fond of low prices -- then anyone who wants to make early/cheaper reservations for flights or car rentals or hotel/motel/B&B rooms can do it. Or I'd help coordinate that.

So, any one who's interested, say so, in case Hosts feel it's too early to litter up their board with this February business. That way I'll have the closed thread to refer to.

Next up, I'll be posting the date ranges that will work best, and a list of sights/sites, activities, tours, parades, etc., so y'all can note your favorite choices.
 

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Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Janine:
I realize it's a long time away, but I need a lot of time to jiggle the dates around. I need to come up with a date range that's helpful to the most people.

Also, when we do peg it down a bit as far as exactly what and when, I'll firm up the plans and let folks know the costs -- keeping that as low as possible, I'm fond of low prices -- then anyone who wants to make early/cheaper reservations for flights or car rentals or hotel/motel/B&B rooms can do it. Or I'd help coordinate that.

So, any one who's interested, say so, in case Hosts feel it's too early to litter up their board with this February business. That way I'll have the closed thread to refer to.

Next up, I'll be posting the date ranges that will work best, and a list of sights/sites, activities, tours, parades, etc., so y'all can note your favorite choices.

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My niece was married in New Orleans a month ago. We rode The Crescent to get to NOLA and never bothered with a car rental. Cabs were cheap and it never took very long to walk to the other places. The hotel we stayed at gave us a big price break because there were so many folks there for the wedding.
 

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Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
One certainly doesn't need a car while in town. That's what streetcars are for.

I was thinking of stuff outside of town, also.

Captain Wendy says:

quote:

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"... about the fishing . . . it's difficult to have more than four people in the boat for that; and trying to mix a tour with fishing is difficult because some folks don't want to fish, others decide they'd like to try but they didn't buy a license, etc. I have found it just doesn't always work out well. The eco tours interest everyone, birders, photographers, sight seers..."

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'Course, if anyone really wanted to fish, we'd get'r'done, license and all.
 

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Posted by malik3000 (# 11437) on :
 
What Nick said. And the Southern Crescent is a neat way to travel. As for hotels that shouldn't be a problem for me in NO as I got people to stay with. Good move starting it early like this, Janine. Like you say it gives folks more time to juggle their calendars. I so much hope I can make it, "good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise!"
 

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Posted by Belle Ringer (# 13379) on :
 
Whoopie! I've never been to N.O. Love to join y'all, any dates.
 

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Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
Plenty to do round-about as well.

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve boat tour up Bayou Lafourche to Madewood Plantation

This is a report from the start of the 2012 crawfish season; things are flexible, depending upon the weather, so we could very well have a good season going when we Meet in Feb. 2013. Of course, if the season isn't rolling well at that time, we'll just have to make do with 50,000 other possible meats and vegetables cooked in every imaginable way.
 

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Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
Thinking about it.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Janine:
...So, any one who's interested, say so, in case Hosts feel it's too early to litter up their board with this February business. That way I'll have the closed thread to refer to. ...

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I think we'll let it run a bit longer whilst you get an idea of numbers, etc. and then we'll give it another think.
 

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Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Janine:
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve boat tour up Bayou Lafourche

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So no white water rafting among the gators, then?

What are the jazz-spotting possibilities in NO around then?
 

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Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
If you need white water speed, perhaps we could find an airboat tour.

Potential for jazz never lets up in town. It will be findable whenever.
 

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Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
We've been invited to "pass a good time" at historic St. John's Episcopal Church.

quote:

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From: St. John's Episcopal Church

Dear Janine,

Sunday, February 10, St. John's will have a potluck lunch after the 10:30 service and watch two parades roll by that afternoon. Hope you all can join us and pass a good time!

LaDonna,
Interim Secretary
Organist

St. John's Episcopal Church
718 Jackson Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301

website: www.stjohnsthibodaux.org

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Invited by the organist, no less.
 

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Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
(example of second-line here)

"Jazz was a gift from America to the rest of the world..."
 

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Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
The 2013 Superbowl is in New Orleans, and falls during Mardi Gras season. Folks in the industry are saying people targeting the Superbowl need to book hotel rooms a year in advance.

I don't think we need to worry about it quite that much/that early, but we do need to have a rough idea, by the Fall, when it comes to where we'll sleep that night, what we want to do on what days.

Friends have reminded me of all the dear little bed-and-breakfast places available within walking distance of the French Quarter. Also, there are chain hotels right on the St. Charles parade route.

I'll get up a list of activities and photo-op-rich places, in and out of town -- most of which costs little or nothing to do -- and I'll PM all who express interest -- results will be cooking over the next couple weeks.
 

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Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
Wouldja believe some of the B&Bs are already booking up? Superbowl in the midst of Mardi Gras is a potent mixture. Something like the cute little Elysian Guest House, with its possibilities of room combinations for up to 8 people -- and the hot tub out back -- yay!-- was looking promising, but they're just about full up already. We'll see what further digging brings up.

I'm looking at the Royal St. Charles:
videos
photos

Given their location -- St. Charles is a major parade route, and on the streetcar line, and walking distance to all sorts of fun stuff -- I think we could do some semi-affordable rooms there. At least most of the year we could. They haven't loaded their rooms rates yet that far ahead. I'd not mind a two-double-bed room at all, if I get to be someone's roommate. Unknown so far if the Football God will join us for all the fun -- but, it's a possibility, since his work is changing this week. I'd do a queen room for us I think.

One of my doctors has said he'd rather locate guests in Houma and truck them into New Orleans, than try to put a group in New Orleans in the last week of Mardi Gras. I see his point -- unless by some miracle I got a room right on the blessed parade route! That might be fun.

Of course, there's no law says we have to be in New Orleans ON Mardi Gras Day. One needs to love a gigantic crowd to enjoy the city on the very day. The fun starts January 6th, with listed parades by Friday, January 25th, through February 12th. And we've always got the option of seeing and doing things in the city, whether or not we actually go to a parade -- there's always the country parade at St. John's in Thibodaux.

Still looking. It's fun. Rather like shopping.
 

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Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
I'm now finding the B&Bs still have rooms, some in great places and probably good deals -- but they tend to require a 5-night stay.
 

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Posted by Ye Olde Motherboarde (# 54) on :
 
I was thinking Houma and watching the Thibodeaux celebrations myself, but we could go to NAWLINS for one day.

P. S. you do know that you have to have some teeshirts made up for this ship meet, Janine
 

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Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
Oh, yes, we must at least a day-trip into New Orleans at some point. If we want the luxury of manageable crowds, I'm thinking a weekday, early-ish -- Since the Super Bowl is Sunday, Feb. 3rd, by Tuesday 5th or Wednesday 6th, the restaurants and shops may have recovered a bit ... Shopping, eating (hah), touring the graveyards or the Garden District, hitting the WWII Museum, the Zoo, the Aquarium...

There are fun things to do Houma-way before and after Super Bowl Weekend (tours of swamps and plantations at least, some live music and maybe a little dancing at the Jolly Inn or the Bayou Delight).

When we roll into the weekend of Sunday Feb 10th there's the church-and-food-and-parades with St. John's in Thibodaux. Then anyone who has to leave could go on, if s/he must -- but there'd still be the big "Lundi Gras" and Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans, if anyone wants to see (or photograph) the crowds & maskers.

(Those who made it out my way for the Hallowe'en Meet had the perfect balance of crowds & costumes, I think, not quite the mass mayhem of Mardi Gras, then. Still just as many mostly naked people...)

As for T-shirts... oh, baby. Y'all jes' wait.

[ 10. July 2012, 20:54: Message edited by: Janine ]
 

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Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
OK, plans coalescing...

Headquarters: Plantation Inn

At $69.95 a night, especially if anyone wants to share a double-full or double-queen room, that's a pretty affordable place. They have smoking and non-smoking available; the earlier the reservations are made, the more likely we get the bed assortment and smoking status we want. They've always been extra-nice to me and any guests I've placed there.

I specifically asked about higher prices at holiday times, and was told the $69.95 price would hold. I will get something in writing about that. (Even if the price went up to $80 or $90, as I've seen it do in local hotels during post-disaster hotel booms, that's still much less than the big-city hotels in New Orleans.)

I'm placing "heart of the Meet" from at least the Tuesday after the Super Bowl -- that would be Tues. Feb. 5th -- through the following weekend (Sat Feb. 9th and Sunday Feb. 10th), if not through Fat Tuesday, itself. Anyone who can only come part of that time, or who needs to come earlier or stay longer -- I'd be so pleased! -- PM me so we can hammer out details.
 

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Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
Picture this:

Morning run, out into the marshes and channels, to run crab traps!

* Blue Crab
* Formerly Blue Crab

The easy way! (I have no idea who Jason is, just envy him his location )
There's always this method, or we could stick our necks out...


Depending upon the weather, of course. Some years we'll have a settled Springtime already by mid-February, and some years it's still spitting Winter.
 

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Posted by Belle Ringer (# 13379) on :
 
What a lot of work you have done, and what a fantastic price, two in a room for $70 (plus tax?) Sounds like a go to me!
 

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Posted by Belle Ringer (# 13379) on :
 
Would a little further away from superbowl be cheaper, say for a night downtown, stay up all night (or as late as old folks can stay awake) at jazz clubs and walk back to hotel? Houston ISD spring break is mid March, don't know when anyone else's is.

But probably the whole spring break season is expensive, N.O. is a spring break magnet. The price you found is amazing.
HISD calendar
 

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Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
That price is for the Plantation Inn, which is 45 minutes outside of New Orleans. We are a bedroom community for the city, in some ways, though we have enough tourism and industry and so on all our own.

Because of the span of Mardi Gras season -- it's a whole season here, not just a Tuesday -- and because this year the Super Bowl is smack in the middle of that season -- prices in New Orleans will be on the high side, and many places will demand more than a single night's stay. But, I think the chain hotels will still do a single night. Can look into which date and prices.

And of course there's past Mardi Gras on into March and on to Easter. No law says Shippies can't come then.

But for now, I figure just after Super Bowl to just after Mardi Gras, with at least a day in the city in the mix, and day parade in New Orleans if not a night one, and that one night in a hotel (on St. Charles I hope, probably best option)... Or, for hunting jazz venues, maybe deliberately looking for a non-parade night will be best.

I shall continue to cogitate.
 

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Posted by JB (# 1776) on :
 
Motherboard says that a tour into the old cemeteries was very interesting, especially Marie LaVeau's grave.
 

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Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
Yes, I like those walking tours, especially if you luck into an extra-colorful tour guide. But they're all very good, even the "normal" ones.

There's always the nighttime tours... with either a pirate or a vampire as your guide.
 

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Posted by Belle Ringer (# 13379) on :
 
Oh, bopping myself on the head, I was thinking mardi gras Easter, not mardi gras Lent! No wonder I'm scratching my head about March and you're fixed on mid-Feb.

We can't all be brilliant all the time. Some of us barely make it for a glimmering moment on occasion.
 

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Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :
 
That's why I make a lot of lists. I usually lose most of them, but some stick with me.
 

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Posted by PataLeBon (# 5452) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Belle Ringer:
Oh, bopping myself on the head, I was thinking mardi gras Easter, not mardi gras Lent! No wonder I'm scratching my head about March and you're fixed on mid-Feb.

We can't all be brilliant all the time. Some of us barely make it for a glimmering moment on occasion.

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