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Beyond Bourbon Street, an Insider's Guide to New Orleans

Beyond Bourbon Street is the podcast where we explore the food, music, places, people and events that make New Orleans unique.
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Now displaying: January, 2018
Jan 31, 2018

Who Invented Mardi Gras?

In today's episode, we tackle a controversial subject - who invented Mardi Gras? Mobile or New Orleans?

My guest is Ted Flotte, with the Historic Mobile Preservation Society and Joe Cain Marching Society. Ted and I explore the history of Carnival and Mardi Gras in both Mobile and New Orleans.

 

On today’s show, you’ll learn...

  • About the many things Mobile and New Orleans share in common, including their founders
  • The history of Carnival and Mardi Gras in both places, and
  • How to look for the tell tale signs someone walking down the street may be a member of one of Carnival's most secret organizations!

All this and more on today's episode of the Beyond Bourbon Street podcast!

Resources

Recommended Reading
  • Ann Pond: Cowbellion; Masons and Mardi Gras; and Cain.  Ann Pond is originally from New Orleans, got her BA/MA from U.N.O. and PhD from U.S.M. Former Assistant Diector of the Gallier House.  These three books are well-researched and sourced to give an accurate account of the beginning of Mardi Gras in Mobile and New Orleans. Available on Amazon or Lulu.
  • Samuel Kinser: Carnival, American Style: Mardi Gras at New Orleans and Mobile. (1990) A Professor of History at Northern Illinois University gives his outsider, academic take. Available on Amazon.
  • Rosary O'Neill: New Orleans Carnival Krewes: The History, Spirit & Secrets of Mardi Gras. An insiders view of New Orleans krewes. Available on Amazon.
  • Jennifer Atkins, New Orleans Carnival Balls: The Secret Side of Mardi Gras, 1870-1920. Ditto. Available on Amazon.

Films

  • Order of Myths, Margaret Brown.  A behind-the-scenes look at many aspects of Mobile Mardi Gras. Watch on Amazon.
  • By Invitation Only, Rebecca Snedeker.  A more incisive and critical (New Orleans Magazine called it a "hatchet job") look at New Orleans krewes.  Available on newday.com.
  • Always For Pleasure, Les Blank. A classic.
  • All On A Mardi Gras Day, Royce Osborn

Photographic Books

  • Jeff and Megan Haller, and Eleanor Inge Baker: Bon Temps: Alabama's Mardi GrasAvailable online.
  • Kerri McCaffety: Masking and Madness: Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Other Books
  • Robert Tallant: Mardi Gras As It Was
  • Anything by Henri Schindler, Errol Laborde or Arthur Hardy (New Orleans), or Emily Staples Hearin (Mobile)
  • A History of the Strikers 1852- America's Oldest Mystic Society (1997);
  • The Mistick Krewe: Chronicles of Comus and his Kin (Perry Young, 1931)
  • Our Book of State — The History of the Order of Myths (1967)
  • Infant Mystics - The First Hundred Years (Caldwell Delaney/Cornelia McDuffie Turner, 1968)
  • If I Ever Cease to Love — One Hundred Years of Rex 1872-1971 (Charles Dufour/Lenoard Huber, 1971)
  • Without Malice — the 100th Anniversary of the Comic Cowboys (Samuel Eichold, 1989) 
 
Website and Glossy Magazines
 
 
 
N.B. Because our discussion focused on the historic ties between New Orleans and Mobile, these recommendations are concentrated on the krewes that were formed as a result. There are many other sources that could be included about Mardi Gras since 1900.  For instance, the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association has also had a King and Queen since 1940. Please check your local bookstores first.

Thank You

A huge thanks to Ted Flotte, with the Historic Mobile Preservation Society and Joe Cain Marching Society. Ted not only conceived the idea for this episode, but also provided the treasure trove of resources listed above.

Thanks to Liz Maute Cooke of Lionheart Prints for providing a space to record the episode. After we recorded, Liz decided to become our first sponsor - yay! Check out all the fabulous hand lettered cards, prints, and handmade goods made by New Orleans artists. Shop online or in person and use the code BEYONDBOURBON to get 5 bucks off any t-shirt. I am currently loving my "Who's Your Crawdaddy" shirt with a design hand drawn by Liz.

Want to Make Your Trip to New Orleans the Best Ever?

Of course you do!

If you’re planning a trip to New Orleans and want to cut through all the research we’re here to help. We offer a personalized travel consult. Here’s how it works:

You complete a brief questionnaire to help us get to know you and the experience you want to have in New Orleans. Next, we set up a 20-30 minute phone or video call. During the call, we get to know you a little better. We can clarify any questions and bounce a few ideas off of you to make sure we ‘re on the right track.

Finally, we prepare and deliver a pdf document with our recommendations for your trip. Depending on your needs the report will contain specific places to stay, eat and drink. It will also offer suggestions on things to do and see, all based on your budget and interests.

Sound good? Just go to http://www.beyondbourbonst.com/travel for all the details and a link to order the service.

Subscribe to the Podcast

If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts. If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.

Join Us on Facebook

We now have a Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your New Orleans experiences and engage with others who love all things New Orleans. Join us by going to www.beyondbourbonst.com/facebook

Contact Us

Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?

Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com

Thanks for listening!

Mark

Jan 17, 2018

Louisiana Plantation Country - a Trip Along River Road

In today's episode, we visit Louisiana plantation country. We'll travel along the stretch of river road from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. Along the way, we'll visit twelve plantations.

On today's show, you'll get...

  • An overview of each plantation, and an idea of what to expect.
  • Pointers for how you might approach the trip, depending on the amount of time you have to explore and what you hope to get out of your visit along the Mississippi River.
  • All the ins and outs of where to go, what to see, and how to get there.

Time Stamps

4:08     All the details of planning your visit to New Orleans Plantation Country
10:21    Should I bring children to visit the plantations?
12:38    Getting there
14:34    Where is New Orleans plantation country?
15:06    Early plantation life along the Mississippi River
18:13    Notes about the drive along river road
22:51    Specifics about the plantations
23:04    Group 1: Ormond and Destrehan (pick one for a half day trip)
24:54    Ormond
26:56    Group 2: target these for a day-long trip
27:26    Whitney
32:10    Laura
35:00    St. Joseph’s
36:27    San Francisco
38:24    Evergreen
39:50    Oak Alley
45:06    B & C Seafood - a great place to stop for lunch
46:54    Group 3: 1-2 hours away from New Orleans
47:25    Nottoway
52:17    Houmas House
53:56    Pochè
56:16    Magnolia Mound
 

Bus Tours and Group Excursions to Plantation Country

Here is a partial list of vendors who offer tours of Louisiana Plantation Country. I have not used any of these and cannot vouch for the quality of the tours.

Cajun Encounters

Cajun Pride

Grayline

Additional Resources Mentioned in This Episode

While doing research for this episode, I came across an excellent post on a website called Independent Travel Cats. While I have no connection to Jessica and Laurence, I enjoyed their extensive post about a trip they made to the same plantations we discussed today.

Thank You

A big thanks to my wife, Marie Bologna, who accompanied me on this trip along river road. Marie battled a cold the entire time, but was a great sport. She also helped me capture lots of images and even recorded audio notes afterwards to help make this episode rich with details.

Want to Make Your Trip to New Orleans the Best Ever?

Of course you do!

If you’re planning a trip to New Orleans and want to cut through all the research we’re here to help. We offer a personalized travel consult. Here’s how it works:

You complete a brief questionnaire to help us get to know you and the experience you want to have in New Orleans. Next, we set up a 20-30 minute phone or video call. During the call, we get to know you a little better. We can clarify any questions and bounce a few ideas off of you to make sure we ‘re on the right track.

Finally, we prepare and deliver a pdf document with our recommendations for your trip. Depending on your needs the report will contain specific places to stay, eat and drink. It will also offer suggestions on things to do and see, all based on your budget and interests.

Sound good? Just go to http://www.beyondbourbonst.com/travel for all the details and a link to order the service.

Subscribe to the Podcast

If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts. If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.

Join Us on Facebook

We have a (free!) Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your New Orleans experiences and engage with others who love all things New Orleans. Join us by going to www.beyondbourbonst.com/facebook

Contact Us

Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?

Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com

Thanks for listening!

Mark

Jan 3, 2018

Slavery in Louisiana - a Visit to Whitney Plantation

In today's episode, we learn about slavery in Louisiana. We visit Whitney Plantation, located in Wallace, LA 40 miles West of New Orleans. The Whitney is the only plantation whose primary focus is on the slaves who worked, lived, and died along this stretch of the Mississippi River.

My guest today is Joy Banner, Director of Marketing at Whitney. Joy is also a native of the nearby community and is a descendant of the slaves at Whitney.

On today’s show, you’ll learn...

  • About the people who were kidnapped, sold into slavery, and came to work at the Whitney and other plantations along River Road.
  • You’ll meet some of the slaves and hear their surprising connections to modern day New Orleanians.
  • You’ll gain insight into the conditions they endured, and what plantation life was like for the enslaved.
  • Most plantations along River Road were sugar plantations, so you’ll also learn about the process of making granulated sugar on a plantation.

"We ask African Americans to get over it, but we don’t really understand what the it is.”  - John Cummings, owner of Whitney Plantation

Time Stamps

5:30      Meet our guest, Joy Banner
6:45      Where is Whitney Plantation located?
10:00    Mission of Whitney Plantation
12:00    Slaves as chattel
19:15     Habitation Haydel and the origin of Whitney Plantation
22:30    Wall of Honor
26:00   Reality of slavery
36:00   Process of making granulated sugar on a plantation
44:00   Fantasy of plantation life
46:00   The story of Anna and her descendants
50:15    Life after Emancipation

Resources

Whitney Plantation - located in Wallace, LA 40 miles West of New Orleans. For more information about Whitney Plantation, visit their website.

Thank You

Thanks to Joy Banner for welcoming my wife and I to Whitney Plantation. Joy took us around the grounds on a day when they were closed, patiently answered all of our questions, then made time two days later for the interview.

Want to Make Your Trip to New Orleans the Best Ever?

Of course you do!

If you’re planning a trip to New Orleans and want to cut through all the research we’re here to help. We offer a personalized travel consult. Here’s how it works:

You complete a brief questionnaire to help us get to know you and the experience you want to have in New Orleans. Next, we set up a 20-30 minute phone or video call. During the call, we get to know you a little better. We can clarify any questions and bounce a few ideas off of you to make sure we ‘re on the right track.

Finally, we prepare and deliver a pdf document with our recommendations for your trip. Depending on your needs the report will contain specific places to stay, eat and drink. It will also offer suggestions on things to do and see, all based on your budget and interests.

Sound good? Just go to http://www.beyondbourbonst.com/travel for all the details and a link to order the service.

Subscribe to the Podcast

If you enjoy the show, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play Music or wherever you get your podcasts. If you do enjoy listening, please share Beyond Bourbon Street with someone who shares our love of New Orleans.

Join Us on Facebook

We now have a Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your New Orleans experiences and engage with others who love all things New Orleans. Join us by going to www.beyondbourbonst.com/facebook

Contact Us

Got an idea for an episode, have some feedback or just want to say hi?

Leave us a message at 504-475-7632 or send an email to mark@beyondbourbonst.com

Thanks for listening!

Mark

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