Loving Tremé

I first started hearing about this show after reading Dr. Kaila Story (miss you Dr. K) raves about it on her FB thread one day.  I tuned in and fell in love with it since I spent two years of my childhood living on the West Bank, visited the city a lot during the late 80's-early 90's and have a godsister who still lives in the area.


The show I'm talking about is HBO's Tremé (trah-may) that's produced by the same creative team that gave you The Wire.    It's set in post-Katrina New Orleans and it comes on at 10 PM ET on Sundays.    And good news for you Tremé fans, it has been renewed for a third season.

The series takes its name from the Tremé neighborhood, one of the oldest in the city of New Orleans.   It's the neighborhood where free people of color congregated in the city's early history.    It is also the center of African-American culture and Creole culture and where the brass band tradition was born

Season one was set three months after Hurricane Katrina's August 2005 arrival and began with an 80 minute episode.   Season Two picks up 15 months later. 

Interestingly enough, one of the characters, trombonist Antoine Batiste, is played by New Orleans native Wendell Pierce, who is also busy rebuilding low cost housing in his old Ponchartrain Park neighborhood.

The series is also filled with New Orleans references since the writing team likes to be as accurate as possible.  New Orleans Times-Picayune writer Dave Walker also does a Tremé Explained column in which he breaks down all the New Orleans speak, cultural references, and local locations where the series is shot.

So yep, I'm impatiently waiting for tomorrow's episode.  
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Katey Red On Treme

I've been getting hooked on HBO's drama Treme, which is set in post Katrina New Orleans.

Season 2 action is set ten months after Hurricane Katrina blew through town and has been pretty interesting in terms of following the various characters in the series in addition to associating them with the real life people woven into the story.

This week's episode is entitled 'Does Santa Claus Get the Blues?' and in addition to seeing Christmas post Katrina New Orleans style, one of the real life people that was woven into this episode was sissy bounce rapper Katey Red.

I understand she appeared in a Season one episode and was just following along with the action when I saw the recording studio scene and an artist texting on her cell phone in it as the producers are imploring her to start rapping.

As they panned in had an OMG moment when I realized it was her.

See, told y'all we Black transwomen can do anything we set our minds to. 

Hmm...definitely staying tuned to Treme.

Hypocrite Alert- Grant Storms Busted

One of the things I've noted about our Forces of Intolerance haters is that many of them are either insecure with their own gender identity or sexuality or have seriously creepy issues of their own.

One of those in this camp is Grant Storms.

He's a fundie pastor that if you go to New Orleans' French Quarter will see loudly using his bullhorn to decry and condemn any in his opinion sinful behavior, and is a loud critic of the Southern Decadence party that happens in the French Quarter on Labor Day weekend. 

Well, it seems that Storms is another one of those hate pastors who ain't practicing what he screeches.

The 53 year old Storms was busted by Jefferson Parish Sheriff's deputies on an obscenity charge  in Metairie, LA when two witnesses caught him in a local park touching his junk in a van near the children's carousel.

Hypocrisy meter at maximum strength for this one.
   
Eewwweh.    And you people bear false witness on us and call transpeople a danger to society?   More like you fundie Christians are

Hurricane Katrina 5th Anniversary

Today is the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katina's devastating landfall in the New Orleans area.

I was pissed off when it happened then and I'm still angry about what happened to New Orleans in the wake of this disaster. And don't even get me started on Karl Rove using this tragedy for GOP political purposes.

New Orleans is one of the unique treasures of America, and it took a major blow.

It has half the population nowadays and the 2010 Census will reveal just how much population the Big Easy lost.

The aftermath of Katrina has profound social and political consequences as well. Rove went into this with the intent of turning Louisiana red and suceeded. In his zeal to do so, he may have sowed the seeds to turn Texas into a swing state thanks to all the people displaced from New Orleans who relocated to Dallas and Houston.

Thanks to all those New Orleans evacuees who stayed here combined with Latino population growth, our population in Houston finally surpassed 2 million. If it's confirmed by the census, it will trigger the addition of two more city council seats.

We Gulf Coast residents also take hurricane evacuation warnings seriously now.

We also know another affect it had-It highlighted the GW Bush administration's gross incompetence and putting a bright media spotlight on the failure of conservapolicies. It was a factor in helping eject the GOP from federal power and giving the Dems control of Congress in 2006.

So on this fifth anniversary, let's pray for and remember the people who lost their lives during and after the storm and never forget what happened to New Orleans.

Who Dat Gonna Be NFL Champs!

The New Orleans Saints were founded in 1967 and have endured 43 seasons of good, bad and ugly football. After Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005 and wrecked the Superdome, it wasn't even certain that the Saints would even be playing their future NFL games in New Orleans.

Today you can call them NFL champions after playing and winning in their first Super Bowl appearance.

They ain't the Aints no more.

In a Super Bowl for the ages the Saints turned a 10-6 halftime deficit, gutsy play calling and stout defense into a memorable 31-17 win and a well deserved championship for the long suffering Saints fans.

Mardi Gras has already started, but this party will probably be going on until tomorrow morning and maybe into next week.

Congratulations Saints. Way to geaux!

Saints Are Geauxing To The Super Bowl!

44 years of football frustration was lifted on one majestic kick in the Superdome Sunday as the New Orleans Saints beat the Minnesota Vikings 31-28 in overtime on Sunday to claim their first NFC Championship and a trip to Miami for the Super Bowl XLIV.

The Mardi Gras parades may not be starting for another week, but the partying got an early start after Garrett Hartley's 40 yard overtime kick went through the uprights.

The city that has hosted four Super Bowls is in the unfamiliar position of scrambling to get tickets to watch their beloved Saints play in one.

And in light of all the drama the city has gone through post-Katrina, they deserve it.

Who Dat Going To The NFC Title Game?

The Superdome has hosted many historic events since it opened in 1975. It has hosted six Super Bowls, three NCAA Mens Final Fours, the 1988 Republican Convention, a mass by Pope John Paul II, is the host stadium for the Sugar Bowl, several BCS Title games, and the annual Bayou Classic tilt between Grambling and Southern.

But next week it will host its first ever NFC Championship game as the New Orleans Saints blasted the Arizona Cardinals 45-14 to earn their second trip ever as a franchise to the NFC title game. The Saints will play the winner of the Dallas Cowchips-Minnesota Vikings game later today.

The Saints are the number one seed in the NFC playoff bracket, which means the NFC road to the Super Bowl goes through them if they keep winning. But Who Dat Nation was a little nervous about the fact that the Saints came into this playoff game after the bye week with three straight losses in their final NFL regular season games.

Twenty seconds into it they found themselves trailing 7-0 after a 70 yard touchdown run by Tim Hightower stunned the raucous Who Dat Nation Superdome crowd into nervous silence.

The Saints struck back with three consecutive touchdowns in 6:36 to forge a 21-7 lead. Arizona scored another touchdown early in the second quarter to narrow the Saints lead to 21-14, but a 44 yard bomb to Devery Henderson followed up by a two yard pass to Marques Colston broke the game open.

Reggie Bush added to an already stellar day with a third quarter 83 yard punt return for a touchdown to close out the scoring. Bush had 84 yards and a touchdown rushing, 24 yards receiving and 109 yards on three punt returns.

Ever since coach Sean Payton arrived in New Orleans, the Saints have cast aside their lovable losers image and have been building toward elite NFL team level status. The Saints are one of five NFL teams who have never played in the Super Bowl, and this win put them one step closer to earning a trip to Miami and scratching their names off that list.

Geaux Saints!

The Saints Are Marching With A 7-0 Record

Who dat? Who dat? Who dat say they gonna beat dem Saints? Who dat? Who dat? Who dat say they gonns beat dem Saints?

So far nobody on their 2009 NFL schedule has.

I'm a happy camper right now football wise. My high school and collegiate alma maters are having banner seasons right now. My Texans are 5-3 and have a huge game coming up up the road from me with the Indianapolis Colts for the AFC South lead.

And the New Orleans Saints, my other fave NFL team is 7-0.

You're not misreading that. The New Orleans Saints are 7-0 and leading the NFC South Division after a wild 35-27 Monday Night Football victory over the Atlanta Falcons that probably set off major partying in the French Quarter last night.

And yes, they are my other fave NFL team because I lived on the West Bank as a toddler for two years.

In a sense, the Saints are my connection to the New Orleans part of my life besides my godsister Angela and her family, and my former IAH flight attendant co-workers who live there.

As I stated in the Who Dat post, the Saints are as much a part of New Orleans life as chicory coffee, beignets, jazz and Mardi Gras.

The Saints even echoed their nomadic fanbase in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, playing their 2005 'home' games in San Antonio and limping to a 3-13 record that season while the hurricane damaged Superdome was being repaired.

But since they moved back into a renovated Superdome, picked up a new coach, new GM, and made some smart player acquisitions such as quarterback Drew Brees, Jeremy Shockey, Jonathan Vilma and Marques Colston, the New Orleans Saints have been climbing towards elite status.

In 2007 they won their first NFC South title and made it all the way to the NFC Championship game before falling to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field..

So far this edition of the Saints looks like they have the tools to go all the way with an explosive offense and a suffocating defense.

After knocking off the Falcons last night they have a favorable rest of the season schedule. If they keep winning, they can secure Dome field advantage and set themselves up nicely for a memorable NFL playoff run.

It would be fitting for an NFL city that has hosted multiple Super Bowls if their beloved hometown team gets to march right into Miami's Dolphin Stadium on February 7 and play in Super Bowl XLIV for an NFL championship.

Katrina Plus Four

Today is the fourth anniversary of the devastating landfall of Hurricane Katrina in the New Orleans area.

I spent two years living on the West Bank and was there when Hurricane Betsy whacked the city in 1965. I still have friends and my godsister in the area.

I still find it amazing that four years later the GOP and assorted conservaidiots are still trying to have it both ways in the wake of this disaster. Eben on his way back to Texas in the waning days of his presidency Junior was trying to rewrite history and claim their response was timely.

The only timely response that came from the Bush misadministration was how many no bid contracts they could shovel at their cronies and how they could do a 'heck of a job' using this disaster for GOP political purposes.

On one hand they whine it wasn't their fault that Junior's goverment massively failed the citizens of New Orleans, it was Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin

The evidence says otherwise. Gov Blanco and Mayor Nagin did everything possible on their ends to prepare for the disaster.

It's all on you conservaboys and girls who hate government and routinely spout that 'government can't do anything right' conservaabull.

Maybe you should truthfully restate your pet phrase. It's CONSERVATIVE run governments that can't do anything right.

We still have New Orleans residents living in FEMA trailers while others were part of the largest relocation of African descended people since the Great Migration.

The area is still slowly recovering from the storm, but for many people it will never be the same as it was pre-Katrina.

Say a prayer today for the people that didn't survive the storm, and for the people in the area who are still struggling to rebuild their lives in the aftermath.

Zulu Parade Video

Since today is Mardi Gras Day and the party will be going on in New Orleans until midnight, couldn't let it slide by without posting some video of past Krewe of Zulu parades in honor of their 100th anniversary.

2008 Parade


2007 Parade


St Augustine High School Marching 100 Band


2008 Zulu Parade


Zulu forever!

Zulu 100th Anniversary

The Mardi Gras parades are in full swing down in New Orleans as the carnival season builds toward its Fat Tuesday conclusion, with one of the highlights of the season being the Zulu parade.

When I lived in New Orleans I was a toddler and barely remember them, but we did for several years have in a prominent place on one of our bookshelves a Zulu coconuts from the 1966 parade. Those coconuts will be even more prized when the Zulu parade kicks off the festivities on February 24 because this happens to be the centennial year of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club.

The internationally renowned Zulus have the the distinction of being the only predominately African American krewe to march on Mardi Gras Day, but it was a long road to get to that status.

They started as an outgrowth of members of Benevolent Aid societies prevalent in the Black community at the time and laborers who formed a local club called The Tramps. After seeing a comedy skit at the Pythian Theater about the Zulus in South Africa, they retired to their meeting place in a room behind a restaurant/bar in the 1100 block of Perdido Street and formed the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club.

The Zulus began officially marching as a group with their first king William Story in 1909, but according to the history of the group had been marching in parades since 1901. It constructed its first float in 1915 and was incorporated as an organization on September 20, 1916.

While Zulus are popular today, contribute to local charities, the Southern University Scholarship Fund, give Christmas baskets to needy families, participate in the Adopt A School program and their Zulu Ensemble choir is sought after for local events, they ran into controversy during the 1960's.

As the awakening of Black consciousness and pride grew during the Civil Rights Movement the costume of blackface and grass skirts was seen as demeaning. As the Zulus became targets of protests by many Black organizations membership declined to just 16 members before rebounding in the 70's. It also took a hit because of the Hurricane Katrina induced exodus that was reflected in 2008 Zulu King Frank Boutte being a Houston area resident.

The only other time a non-New Orleans resident was named Zulu King was when jazz trumpeter and New Orleans native Louis Armstrong got to fulfill a boyhood dream. He not only became an honorary member of Zulu in 1931, he presided over the 1949 parade.

It isn't the first time a celebrity has participated in a Zulu parade. In this year's parade, instead of covering it, CNN newscaster Soledad O'Brien will participate as Mrs. Big Stuff.

The Zulus are also the subject of a yearlong Louisiana State Museum exhibit at the Presbytere in Jackson Square called 'From Tramps to Kings: 100 Years of Zulu'.

It contains 3000 square feet of memorabilia on loan from Zulu members and back stories of the group's seven comic characters - the Witch Doctor, the Big Shot, Mr. Big Stuff, the Mayor, the Ambassador, the Governor and the Grand Marshal. The exhibit also features a ballroom tableau of former Zulu kings and queens in their elaborate costumes and headdresses. If you're planning a visit to the Big Easy soon, the exhibit will run through December.

The Zulus have witnessed and withstood seismic social changes, two world wars and hurricanes and still survive and thrive as an iconic part of New Orleans. Their membership includes everyone from laborers to mayors and doctors all united in the purpose of continuing Zulu's historic legacy forever.

Happy Anniversary Zulu.