the "official" dish from 18 vendor fees. For 2012, the festival is breaks, festival patrons are invited to thrilled to welcome back Capital One learn traditional dance-styles such as an enjoyable experience at French Bank, as Presenting Sponsor. the Charleston, Swing, Zydeco and Quarter Festival. New for 2012, the In collaboration with BMI, French Second-line. festival is pleased to welcome the New Quarter Festival welcomes back for its Instructors from NOLA Jitterbugs Orleans Guardian Angels Bike Team third year the BMI Singer Songwriter will demonstrate and educate visitors to Festival. Bike teams Stage at The Historic on these various dance styles. will patrol the French Quarter and Collection on Royal Street. Broadcast Festival Sponsors for the 29th an- Riverfront and will also provide EMS Music, Inc.® (BMI) is an American per- nual as of support. Guardian Angels work closely forming rights organization that repre- February 9 include: Capital One Bank with the New Orleans Police Depart- sents more than 400,000 songwriters, (Presenting Sponsor), Abita Brewing ment. composers and music publishers in all Company, WWL-TV, Tropical Isle, The TGIF ‘Thank Goodness it’s genres of music and more than 6.5 Rouses Market, Harrah’s Foundation, Festival!’ kickoff fundraiser takes place million works. On Saturday and Sun- French Market Corporation, Chevron, Wednesday, April 11, from 6-9pm at day of the festival, the BMI Songwriter New TUMS Freshers, Office the House of Blues, with Jon Cleary Stage will feature the region’s finest of Tourism, City of New Orleans, Brown and the Philthy Phew in the Music Hall up-and-comers. Foundation, Musician’s Performance and Traditional Jazz in the VooDoo 2012 also welcomes the return of Fund, Louisiana State Museum, PJ’s Garden. dance lessons at the French Market Coffee, nola.com, Louisiana Lottery, In order to keep French Quarter Traditional Jazz Stage; Zydeco dance House of Blues, Hotel Monteleone, Festival free and open to the public, the lessons at the Cajun Zydeco Riverfront United Airlines, Pat O’s on the River, organization relies heavily on the con- Stage; and second line dance lessons Hard Rock Café, Windsor Court Hotel, tributions of sponsors and partners, in the Children’s Headquarters near beverage and merchandise sales, and Audubon Aquarium. Between musical [continued on 22]

GayNewOrleans.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM • Feb. 14-27, 2012 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 21 the "official" dish ...from 21 Mask vendors will showcase their wares Friday-Monday (Lundi Gras) 11am to 6pm alongside the Farmers Market BMI, Court of Two Sisters, Tulane Medical Center, between Ursulines and Gov. Nicholls including Jacklyn Grageda Tulane Hospital for Children at Tulane Medical Center, Best, Cris Chapman, Jane Clugston, Wendy Drolma, Ann Hermann Grima House, Applitite, Musical Legends Guccione & Judy Trapp, John McBride, Melissa Neyrey, Laura Park, New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park, Rolland C. Roe, Semmerling & Schaefer Mask Studios Richard Thomp- Lock and Safe, Pelican Ice, SDT, OffBeat Magazine, son, Carl Trapani, Diane Trapp and Vincent Ur. Where Y’at Magazine, New Orleans Metropolitan Children's actitivies are scheduled for Saturday and Sun- Convention and Visitors Bureau, New Orleans Tour- day only 12noon to 3pm including face painting, balloon art, and ism Marketing Corporation, NOLA Jitterbugs, NOTV, craft booths for kids to make handmade masks, second line NOLA Baby & Family Magazine, Musical Legends hankies, and other carnival crafts, hosted by local artists and of the 20th century. Katie Hall, Curator Park, Preservation Hall, The Historic New Orleans groups, including YA/YA under the pavilion in the Farmers of the Decorative Arts for the Louisiana Collection, St. Louis Cathedral, Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Market. It's free! State Museum, will guide you through Playhouse, NewOrleans.com, Louisiana Cookin’, Kids There are special Mardi Gras items and events at retail an in-depth look at the distinct designs and Family New Orleans, IntheKnowla.com, Where shops, from local children’s author book signings of Mardi Gras and artistry of the Newcomb potters, Magazine, Curve Magazine, Ambush Magazine, picture books at A Tisket A Tasket to Mardi Gras themed usually off limits to the general public. New Orleans Magazine, Louisiana Life Magazine, artwork, hats, and jewelry at Dutch Alley Artist Co-Op. Check out The tours will also provide a preview to Acadian Profile, MyNewOrleans.com, St. Charles Av- the Mardi Gras jewelry at the newly relocated Blue Alligator the Newcomb Pottery exhibit at Madam enue Magazine, New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles, Designs, now at the Shops at the Upper Pontalba on Jackson John’s Legacy in late 2012. 96.1 The River, 101.5 WYNK, 102.5 WFMF, and Square. Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @ Hidden Treasures of the Louisi- 1150AM WJOB. “FrenchMktNOLA” for updates on other retail specials and ana State Museum: Decorative Arts French Quarter Festival is produced by French spotlights. Edition takes place Tuesday and Quarter Festivals, Inc., (FQFI) the 501(c)3 nonprofit Loretta’s Pralines has their specialty praline king cakes as Thursday, March 27th and 29th. Tours organization, which also produces Satchmo well as traditional king cakes available for counter top pick up are at 6pm and 7pm at the Louisiana SummerFest in August and Christmas New Orleans in their French Market counter (where they also sell fresh baked State Museum’s Collection Storage Style in December. For more information about any of goods and pralines!) Order for pickup or delivery by calling Facility, located at 1000 Chartres Street these events, call 504.522.5730 or visit www.fqfi.org. 504.944.7068. in the French Quarter. Cost is $20 per There are free concerts and films at the New Orleans person, or $15 for Friends of the Cabildo 29th Mardi Gras Mask Market National Historical Jazz Park, including these special events members. Reservations are required, Mardi Gras weekend: Friday, Feb. 17th, 2pm– 3:30pm at the Feb. 17-20 and space is extremely limited. Old U.S. Mint—across from the flea market at Barracks Street: he historic French Market will be the site for To reserve your space, please con- A Carnival themed concert including special guests Spy Boy retail specials and commemorative items, tact Rebecca Duckert at 504.523.3939. Irving “Honey” Banister and Al “Carnival Time” Johnson; Satur- special events, and general Mardi Gras Future behind-the-scenes tours T day, Feb. 18 and Sunday, Feb. 19th, 11am to 4pm, take a break cheer throughout the month of February, culminating are planned focusing on the Museum’s from the Mask Market and parading and go inside the Jazz Park in the 29th annual Mardi Gras Mask Market alongside visual arts, decorative arts, science at the Dutch Alley Visitor Center—between Dumaine and St the Farmers Market Feb. 17th-20th, 11am-6pm with and technology, Louisiana music, and Phillip Streets, next to Galvez Restaurant—and enjoy free jazz live music, food booths, kids activities, and artisan manuscripts collections. films all day. masks for sale from over a dozen specialty mask Friends of the Cabildo is a private vendors from New Orleans and around the country. non-profit volunteer group that provides Retail shops will be handing out commemorative Hidden Treasures: Decorative Arts financial and volunteer support for the Mardi Gras fans (featuring the French Market Mardi Louisiana State Museum, its projects and Edition Presented by Friends of the its property. Since incorporating in 1956, Gras logo) with purchases at Shops at the Upper the Friends of the Cabildo has grown into Pontalba and the Colonnade along Decatur. Shoppers Cabildo March 27 & 29 oin the Friends of the Cabildo as the Louisiana State a large statewide membership organiza- can also enter to win a shopping spree at the French tion, a dynamic and motivating force in Museum’s impressive Newcomb Pottery Collection is Market. broadening and supporting the aims of the French Market’s Facebook page will be the site of Jopened for an exclusive behind-the-scenes viewing Louisiana State Museum. mask photography contests as part of the Mardi Gras of one of the most significant American potteries of the first half Madness campaign. Find us as “French Market New Orleans” to stay informed and to enter to win Mardi Gras gift baskets from the French Market. The Farmers and Flea Markets, open daily, will be offering everything from fresh king cakes to hand- made secondline umbrellas, masks, and Mardi Gras photography, artwork, and jewelry. Come get your picture in front of the iconic French Market arch, recently adorned with Mardi Gras masks. New Mardi Gras decorations fill Dutch Alley where the usual white string lights will shine purple, gold, and green. Fleur de lis ornaments hanging from the oaks at Washington Artillery Park across from Jackson Square have also had a “Mardi Gras re-do” and will sparkle with the traditional color trio. Visit www.frenchmarket.org for a full music sched- ule, photos, and links to mask vendor websites and images. Fan us on Facebook “French Market New Orleans” to stay posted on updates, contests, and event and retail announcements throughout Mardi Gras season. During Mask Market Feb. 17th-20th, music will be featured at the Farmers Market and Dutch Alley Pavil- ion, including performances by: Russell Batiste, Joe Cabral, Carlo Ditta, Kid Merv, Joe Krown, Cullen Landry & The Midnight Streetcar, Ingrid Lucia, New Wave Brass Band, John Sinclair and more. Full sched- ule is available at www.frenchmarket.org.

22 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Feb. 14-27, 2012 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM GayNewOrleans.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM • Feb. 14-27, 2012 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 23 24 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Feb. 14-27, 2012 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM GayNewOrleans.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM • Feb. 14-27, 2012 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 25