New Orleans Events | 01.01.09 - 01.15.09

As some of you know, I live in New Orleans. There is always something going on. There are festivals most weekends, live music, Prospect 1 (until January 18), great art, and there is always a party. The problem is that I don't do a very good job of keeping track of it all. To force myself to pay attention to what is going on around me, I'm going to do a best of New Orleans post every couple of weeks to highlight events in the community that I find interesting.

This post is going to cover from New Years through the 15th. Email me if I left anything out and I'll gladly include it.

01.02.09
The Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is played at the Louisiana Superdome at 7pm Central Time. In this year's installment Utah plays Alabama. Utah is going to get annihilated. I'll watch the first quarter and then put on Dexter.

01.03.09
12th Night Ball
The Mystic Krewe of Satyricon hosts an early seventh annual 12th Night Ball featuring silent auction, food and such. Advance tickets $20, $25 at the door. It is held at The Country Club at 634 Louisa St.

01.06.09
Feast of the Epiphany
The Feast of the Epiphany is the beginning of Mardi Gras Season. I'm going to head down to Randazzo's for my first King Cake of the season.

Joan of Arc Parade
All are welcome to join the inaugural Joan of Arc Parade as it rolls down Decatur Street to the St. Joan of Arc statue on St. Philip Street. This Twelfth Night parade features minstrels, horses, knights and more. Participants may wear medieval- and Renaissance-themed costumes. Sounds like a walking renaissance festival. It rools at 5pm.

Phunny Phorty Phellows Parade
The costumed and masked krewe will assemble on Twelfth Night at Canal Street Station (Canal & N. White) at 6:30pm. At 7pm sharp, the Phunny Phorty Phellows will board the streetcar and begin their ride to "Herald the Arrival of Carnival" down the St. Charles Ave. Streetcar Line.

01.08.09
194th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of New Orleans
There is a wreath-laying ceremony at Chalmette Battlefield, 10:00 a.m.

01.09.09
194th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of New Orleans
There is a living history encampment, cannon and musket firings, military drills, and campfire cooking (9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.). At 7:00 p.m. (note new time), St. Bernard Parish sponsors a reenactment of the December 23, 1814, night battle at historic Pakenham Oaks, just downriver from the battlefield.

01.10.09
194th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of New Orleans
There is a living history encampment, cannon and musket firings, military drills, and campfire cooking (9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.). As night falls, re-live the "night before the battle" during the Lantern Tour of the battlefield (tickets required; tickets go on sale December 1). All events free except for Saturday night Lantern Tour.