Birthing New Music

The folks in Shreveport's Blanc et Noir Marching Society know a good thing when they hear it. They are terrific supporters of The Red and Black Brass Band from Grambling.

This week's show (February 25, 2009) on American Routes features young musicians in brass bands who are taking Louisiana's roots music into the 21st century.

Mardi Gras may be over for now but there's always next year. By joining Blanc et Noir Marching Society in Shreveport you can help this new/old form of marching band music continue to grow. Imagine that. Shreveport is a part of the vibrant Louisiana music scene and not just the Other Side.


Thank you Talbot Hopkins for the cool video of The Red and Black Brass Band in the 2009 Krewe of Highland parade.

Mardi Gras Parade Season

Krewe of Centaur info. Krewe of Barkus and Meoux. Krewe of Gemini website.

And our favorite is the Krewe of Highland. That parade is set for Sunday February 22, 2009.

What Does Your Mardi Gras Costume Look Like?

Join a krewe this Carnival season. Two of the best outfits in SB Land are Blanc et Noir Marching Society and Krewe of Highland.

Fat Tuesday is February 24 in 2009.

Bloggers

RRBJ has a section over to the left that says Red River Area Bloggers. We need to do a better job of updating it because there a couple of interesting reads we don't have listed. Voice of Schleuss is one. We just added Highland neighbor Deb. Don't know why don't have Loren Demerath's down.

If you want to be added to the list we do have some rules. We'd like for you to have been blogging for a couple of months before we list you (we're still pouting because Nadine hasn't updated since February).

Trudeau always has good reads listed on his two main blogs Shreveport and Faces. Did you know he also blogs here and here? It's fun finding these almost secret blogs. Almost as much fun as walking the dog at night in South Highlands just so we can look in the windows of all the houses that have the lights on and no drapes hanging. We are peeking in!

Until Next Year...

Mardi Gras was too early this year. 2009 has Mardi Gras falling on February 24. Click on the pics to see the details.

Highland Gras!

Krewe of Highland rolls this Sunday. Trudeau has some more info. RRBJ has eaten too much King Cake and we can't type no mo...

Party in Da Streets!

Believe it or not it's not too late to join a Krewe this year. Blanc et Noir is very affordable and wants you!

Krewe of Centaur Parade is this Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Krewe of Barkus and Meoux Parade is Sunday afternoon at the Riverview Park near the Barnwell Center. Krewe of Gemini is a week from Saturday on February 2 at 4:30 p.m.

The best parade rolls though the historic part of town on Sunday, February 3. The Krewe of Highland gets ta steppin' at 2 p.m. For more about SB Land Mardi Gras click here.

Hey remember the outhouse parade last year at RRBJ? Ahh, good times.

Dress Up

Just six months until the January 26, 2008 Krewe of Centaur Parade! What is your costume for the upcoming Mardi Gras season? If you haven't started making yours, get cracking! Think fun, vibrant, sarcastic, sassy and party time!

The Krewe of Gemini Parade is February 2. For other important dates click here. For pictures of Shreveport Mardi Gras fun go here.

Poo-rade Photo Essay

Hey! Throw me something, Mister! On second thought, maybe not...

All types of Mardi Gras parades roll through Shreveport but this one is a little different. It's a photo essay of the portable toilets that line the parade route used by the two big Krewes, Centaur and Gemini. You'll find them along Clyde Fant Parkway, Shreveport Barksdale Highway and East Kings Highway.

On the bright side -- they don't reek. Red River Blog Jam got close for some of these pics and not a single fetid odor did we sniff. Perhaps the malodorous rendering plant could use a couple of these to contain their stink.

Big Pig: A Month to Celebrate in Shreveport Bossier

Oodles of reasons to party in February: Super Bowl Sunday, Black History Month, Chinese New Year, Mardi Gras and Valentines.

One of the newest additions to Shreveport Mardi Gras is the Blanc et Noir Marching Society. Don't miss out on their costume workshop this Saturday morning at Artspace.

The African-American History Parade is also this Saturday.

2007 is the year of the Pig. The Chinese New Year 4705 begins February 18 and is a major holiday for the Chinese as well as the Japanese, Koreans, Mongolians, Vietnamese, Tibetans, the Nepalese, and the Bhutanese.

How large is Shreveport Bossier's Asian population? Sizeable enough to support three Asian markets. Pictured above are fried egg rolls from Danh's Garden on Youree Drive located in the same shopping strip as Bao Chau Asian American Supermarket.