Pictures, Pictures, and More Pictures

To wrap up the 2012 Carnival/Mardi Gras season. Offered up, mostly without comment, because they really do speak for themselves.

The Krewe Of Tuck:

The Krewe of Tucks first began in 1969 as a group of Loyola University students.

The name "Krewe of Tucks" comes from the name of an uptown pub where two college students decied to start their own krewe after failing at their attempt to become white flambeaux carriers. The parade has grown immensely over the years. In 1983, the parade became a daytime event, and in 1986 the parade's course finally reached downtown.

The Krewe Of Zulu: Early in 1909, a group of laborers who had organized a club named "The Tramps," went to the Pythian Theater to see a musical comedy performed by the Smart Set. The comedy included a skit entitled, "There Never Was and Never Will Be a King Like Me," about the Zulu Tribe...

That is how Zulu began, as the many stories go...

Years of extensive research by Zulu's Historian staff seem to indicate that Zulu's beginning was much more complicated than that. The earliest signs of organization came from the fact that the majority of these men belonged to a Benevolent Aid Society. Benevolent Societies were the first forms of insurance in the Black community where, for a small amount of dues, members received financial help when sick or financial aid when burying deceased members.

Conversations and interviews with older members also indicate that in that era the city was divided into wards, and each ward had its own group or "Club." The Tramps were one such group. After seeing the skit, they retired to their meeting place (a room in the rear of a restaurant/bar in the 1100 block of Perdido Street), and emerged as Zulus. This group was probably made up of members from the Tramps, the Benevolent Aid Society and other ward-based groups.

While the "Group" marched in Mardi Gras as early as 1901, their first appearance as Zulus came in 1909, with William Story as King.

The group wore raggedy pants, and had a Jubilee-singing quartet in front of and behind King Story. His costume of "lard can" crown and "banana stalk" scepter has been well documented. The Kings following William Story, (William Crawford - 1910, Peter Williams - 1912, and Henry Harris - 1914), were similarly attired.

1915 heralded the first use of floats, constructed on a spring wagon, using dry good boxes. The float was decorated with palmetto leaves and moss and carried four Dukes along with the King. That humble beginning gave rise to the lavish floats we see in the Zulu parade today.

Just wandering around on Mardi Gras (plus some good shots of my neighborhood, too!):

The "repent or burn" crowd had a small, but friendly, counterpoint

They were walking toward us when I said "Strike a pose, boys."

Yes, it *is* a centaur. And before you ask, wheels.

Chalk footprints. Because, why not?

Fourth of July Randomness

In light of the holiday, I thought I would spend a little time outside today. Enjoy summer. All that happy crap. So, I grabbed my camera and out I went. Sadly, I still haven't gotten close enough to the porcupine to capture him on film/digital/whatever it is in my camera now. Here's what I did get:

Really beautiful, fake looking clouds. And a mysterious looking ball thingy. Given that we are on a decommissioned Air Force base and it is so obviously not Epcot, I can't help but wonder what is/once was hidden in there.

The coolest birdhouse ever. Complete with denizen.

This...metal...wire...thing...attached to the fire hydrant. I got nothing here, people. Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome.

And my personal favorite. Can't quite see it? Here:

Kinda makes you want to get on that bus and ride, just to see where you end up, doesn't it?