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It’s a mystery - to the Times-Picayune at least - why police harassment of backstreet culture in New Orleans continues, and who is behind it and why.

First, in every city that I know, the mayor runs the police because it’s the mayor who appoints the police chief. One word from the mayor and the word would trickle down: leave the Indians and second lines alone, or if there is a reason for communicating, do it with the same respect you’d afford people attending the opera or symphony.

Treme seems to be the battleground now. It must have to do with real estate and the desire of the city to “gentrify” north of Rampart. Why they think it’s necessary to kill the culture of the Treme in the process - one of the most culturally significant places in North America (and the world) - is another great American mystery.

Destroy what’s great to replace it with…what exactly?

Click here to read the latest police outrage

Arc of Greater New Orleans, a local organization that provides employment to people with handicaps, announced that it collected 33 TONS of mardi gras beads for recycling this year. (more…)

This is my last post for the 2008 Carnival season…Enjoy!

More from the Muses Parade. Butterflies.

One of countless local school marching bands. Everyone talks about “troubled youth.” Why don’t these disciplined, dedicated kids get any credit?

A variation on the marching band theme. On Mardi Gras, numerous “freelance” groups parade through the Quarter at will. This was one of my favorites.

A Brazilian drum troop took a stroll through the Quarter too.

The Panorama Brass Band filling a quiet spot during Muses with some brass-ified reggae

I drove down Napoleon several hours before the Mardi Gras parades started.

Yes, that is living room furniture lining the parade route. People here take their parades very seriously.

What’s with the ladders?

The ones with milk crates on the top with one side cut out are for kids. The other ones are for big kids who are really into getting beads.

Note two things:

1. This is HOURS before the parade starts. The actual crowd was much, much bigger.

2. These parades are family and community events. Don’t buy the negative mass media BS about New Orleans.

New Orleans is the last real American city. No malls. No Disney-fied entertainment. Strong communities. Lots of family owned businesses. Just the kind of place Corporate Amerika would like to erradicate.

Shot with a $95 Pure Digital video camera while driving my car. (Not something I recommend doing at home!)

The car radio provided the sound track - “Do whatcha wanna” by the Rebirth Brass band, I believe.

I shot these two at DBA on the weekend before Mardi Gras 2008.

Japanese documentary about the Mardi Gras Indians.

Some footage from the Muses Parade, one of over 25 major parades during Carnival season in New Orleans. This is just a tiny slice of the parade and I don’t even show the floats which are significant.

From: http://www.kreweduvieux.org/

The Krewe du Vieux is a non-profit organization dedicated to the historical and traditional concept of a Mardi Gras parade as a venue for individual creative expression and satirical comment. It is unique among all Mardi Gras parades in the city because it alone carries on the old traditions of Carnival celebrations, using decorated, hand or mule-drawn floats with satirical themes, accompanied by costumed revelers dancing in the streets to the sounds of jazzy street musicians. We believe in exposing the world to the true nature of Mardi Gras - and in exposing ourselves to the world.

‘NOTE: new parade starting time: 6:30 PM. Please start your drinking early.’

Bands that accompanied this year’s Krew de Vieux parade:

• Kirk Joseph
• Trombone Shorty
• Treme Brass Band
• Paulin Brothers Brass Band
• TBC
• Stooges Brass Band
• Free Agents Brass Band
• Hot 8 Brass Band
• James “12″ Andrews
• Da Truth Brass Band
• Rebirth Brass Band
• Panorama Brass Band
• The Jazzmen
• Charles Joseph
• Down N Dirty Jazz Band
• The Soul Rebels
• New Birth Brass Band
• Bone Tone Brass Band

Hitching the mules to the floats.

TOOTIE’S LAST SUIT is a film about Allison “Tootie” Montana, former Chief of Yellow Pocahontas Hunters, and is showing this weekend at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City.

Montana masked Indian for 52 years, longer than any other Mardi Gras Indian.

Tootie’s was not only respected as a peerless artist and cultural leader, but also as a peacemaker who helped move the New Orleans Mardi Grass Indian tradition away from physical violence to artistic accomplishment and competition.

More about the film: Tootie’s Last Suit

At Mardi Gras in New Orleans, you can watch a parade - or be in one.

Here’s some video from Frenchman Street, a cool spot far from the tourist zone, with lots of great live music clubs (the Spotted Cat, DBA, Snug Harbor etc.)

The first video is from Lundi Gras night. I have no idea who these folks are, but I love them! They were out Mardi Gras night too providing the tunes for a non-stop dance party.

Next: I found this on YouTube. It was shot on Mardi Gras Day itself. Glad to see it. I was over on Canal watching the Zulu Parade. (Can’t be in two places at once, but I know where I’ll be next year!)