Mardi Gras - Family Fun?

It seems like we just put our throws up from last year's parades but the time is almost here once again to dig out that purple, green and gold.

Mardi Gras 2016 will begin as usual on King's Day, January 6 with the traditional Krewe's of
Phunny Phorty Phellows on the streetcars in Uptown and the Krewe of Joan of Arc in the French Quarter.

Contrary to common thought, there is much more to Mardi Gras than the 3 B's  (beer, beads and the showing of a certain part of a female's body).  It can and is family fun if you know where to go or more importantly where to stay away from.

This little guy got into the festivities very quickly.  Slidell, LA where the Mardi Gras parades are family fun.

Rule #1 - be alert those beads can sting if they hit you.  Slidell, LA Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras, Slidell, LA - interactive parades are family oriented. 

In the weeks between Jan. 6 and Mardi Gras Day many family parades roll not only in New Orleans, but in the suburbs such as Slidell and Metairie where you can experience the season like the locals do.

To help you plan your visit, here is the parade schedule for Mardi Gras 2016.
http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/schedule.html

Tim and I will be happy to give you the inside track have a fun filled experience.  see our website: woodridgebb.com and book your fun filled parade experience.

B&B's are a better way to stay, so while visiting Southeastern Louisiana, stay at Woodridge Bed and Breakfast - play hard, sleep well! Debbi & Tim Keepers of the Inn and Concierge to your perfect getaway!

King Cake - what's that?

There is always something delicious coming out of the kitchens in New Orleans and this time of year is no different.  With the festivities of Mardi Gras comes the tradition of King Cake.  A coffee cake of sorts with cinnamon and topped with icing in the colors of the season - purple, green and gold.  Some cakes are filled with cream cheese while others with strawberry or other rich berry flavors.  Oh, see that little baby resting in the center of that king cake?  That is the 'prize'.  When attending a king cake party, the baby is tucked inside the cake.  The lucky person that gets the piece with the baby gets to through the next party.  It is usually one each week through the season (season starts Jan. 6 and runs to Mardi Gras Day, aka Fat Tuesday or the day before Ash Wednesday (the beginning of the Lent). 

I was lucky enough to get to see one bakery in action,  Big Easy Grill LLC located in Pearl River.  And even luckier to get a king cake (see above) fresh out of the oven.  Let me tell ya - YUM doesn't do it justice.  Best king cake ever!  Ok, my mouth is watering for another bite, gotta go!

B&B's are a better way to stay, so while visiting Southeastern Louisiana, stay at Woodridge Bed and Breakfast - play hard, sleep well! Debbi & Tim Keepers of the Inn and Concierge to your perfect getaway!

Slidell Mardi Gras Museum - Part of the 100+ things to do

B&B's are a better way to stay, so while visiting Southeastern Louisiana, stay at Woodridge Bed and Breakfast - play hard, sleep well! Debbi & Tim Keepers of the Inn and Concierge to your perfect getaway!

A new spotlight just opened in Slidell, Louisiana.  Yes, Slidell does host Mardi Gras parades and they are family friendly too, but since we are not known for our events, most of those lining our streets for the parades are locals.  This provides visitors a real unique view of what Mardi Gras really means.

But now visitors and locals alike can capture the spirit and take in the beautiful details of what our Krewes (aka clubs) spend much of the year doing.  Slidell has just opened their own Mardi Gras Museum which is filled with costumes, throws, pictures and other memorabilia.  

Jeannine Adam, Our dear friend, posing with her Queen's gown and mantle.

The museum is open FREE to the public Wednesdays -Saturdays.  
For more information see:  http://www.nola.com/community/st-tammany/index.ssf/2013/02/slidell_mardi_gras_museum_make.html


B&B's are a better way to stay, so while visiting Southeastern Louisiana, stay at Woodridge Bed and Breakfast - play hard, sleep well! Debbi & Tim Keepers of the Inn and Concierge to your perfect getaway!

Mardi Gras, Family Fun??? Why YES!

The question that rarely gets asked because so many think that what they see on TV (the Bourbon Street scene) is what Mardi Gras is all about.  I am hear to not only tell you but show you that Mardi Gras is FAMILY FUN, you just need to know where NOT to go.

This past weekend I headed to Slidell for Krewe of Perseus and happened to spot a cute little guy on his dad's shoulders...both having the time of their lives.  Here are some pics of the parade & the duo: 

 The skinny is to not bring children to the French Quarter, Canal Street or streets connected during a Mardi Gras parade or festivities.  If you want to see the New Orleans parades without having others expose more than you wish to see, the Uptown area or better yet, St. Charles from the beginning of the route to Lee Circle is the best area.  The crowds do get crazy but the real crazies seem to navigate near the Quarter.

For real family fun, try the suburbs like Metairie, Westbank and the Northshore areas of Slidell, and Covington.  The suburbs provide real family fun and most of their parades roll the 2-3 weekends before Mardi Gras.  Metairie and Covington also host Mardi Gras day parades, fun for all ages. 

B&B's are a better way to stay, so while visiting Southeastern Louisiana, stay at Woodridge Bed and Breakfast - play hard, sleep well! Debbi & Tim Keepers of the Inn and Concierge to your perfect getaway!

A taste of Spring

Isn't it amazing what happens when the temperature starts warming up. Everyone takes to the outdoors to freshen their property with evidence of spring cleaning by the overfull garbage cans at the roadside. Ha yes, it is soon to be spring.

In south Louisiana it is no different we just have to plan our cleaning around all the festivities of the season which take up most of our weekends. A parade here, the ball on Saturday night, the weekly King Cake party, the list goes on. Yes it is Mardi Gras time.
Want to take in Mardi Gras but hate the thought of large crowds and all that you have seen on TV? Well come to Slidell this weekend:
Friday night parades by Krewe de Paws at 6 p.m. followed by Mona Lisa and Moon Pie at 7 p.m.; Saturday at 6 p.m. - Krewe of Titans parade, and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. - Krewe of Dionysus. Next Friday (March 3) take in the lovely Selene Parade - 6pm.
We have a couple... of rooms left - make it a weekend.

Getting back to spring cleaning - Here's a pic of the freshly painted swing under the oaks at Woodridge Bed and Breakfast. Picture yourself here then make it happen!

We look forward to your visit.
Debbi
Woodridge Bed and Breakfast

Slidell/Pearl River Louisiana
Celebrating 13 years of Innkeeping