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1 the "official" dish from 18 an enjoyable experience at French Quarter Festival. New for 2012, the festival is pleased to welcome the New Orleans Guardian Angels Bike Team to French Quarter Festival. Bike teams will patrol the French Quarter and Riverfront and will also provide EMS support. Guardian Angels work closely with the New Orleans Police Department. The TGIF Thank Goodness it s Festival! kickoff fundraiser takes place Wednesday, April 11, from 6-9pm at the House of Blues, with Jon Cleary and the Philthy Phew in the Music Hall and Traditional Jazz in the VooDoo Garden. In order to keep French Quarter Festival free and open to the public, the organization relies heavily on the contributions of sponsors and partners, beverage and merchandise sales, and vendor fees. For 2012, the festival is thrilled to welcome back Capital One Bank, as Presenting Sponsor. In collaboration with BMI, French Quarter Festival welcomes back for its third year the BMI Singer Songwriter Stage at The Historic New Orleans Collection on Royal Street. Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) is an American performing rights organization that represents more than 400,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music and more than 6.5 million works. On Saturday and Sunday of the festival, the BMI Songwriter Stage will feature the region s finest up-and-comers also welcomes the return of dance lessons at the French Market Traditional Jazz Stage; Zydeco dance lessons at the Cajun Zydeco Riverfront Stage; and second line dance lessons in the Children s Headquarters near Audubon Aquarium. Between musical breaks, festival patrons are invited to learn traditional dance-styles such as the Charleston, Swing, Zydeco and Second-line. Instructors from NOLA Jitterbugs will demonstrate and educate visitors on these various dance styles. Festival Sponsors for the 29th annual French Quarter Festival as of February 9 include: Capital One Bank (Presenting Sponsor), Abita Brewing Company, WWL-TV, Tropical Isle, Rouses Market, Harrah s Foundation, French Market Corporation, Chevron, New TUMS Freshers, Louisiana Office of Tourism, City of New Orleans, Brown Foundation, Musician s Performance Fund, Louisiana State Museum, PJ s Coffee, nola.com, Louisiana Lottery, House of Blues, Hotel Monteleone, United Airlines, Pat O s on the River, Hard Rock Café, Windsor Court Hotel, [continued on 22] GayNewOrleans.COM SouthernDecadence.COM Feb , 2012 The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM 21

2 the "official" dish...from 21 BMI, Court of Two Sisters, Tulane Medical Center, Tulane Hospital for Children at Tulane Medical Center, Hermann Grima House, Applitite, Musical Legends Park, New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park, Rolland Lock and Safe, Pelican Ice, SDT, OffBeat Magazine, Where Y at Magazine, New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, NOLA Jitterbugs, NOTV, NOLA Baby & Family Magazine, Musical Legends Park, Preservation Hall, The Historic New Orleans Collection, St. Louis Cathedral, Irvin Mayfield s Jazz Playhouse, NewOrleans.com, Louisiana Cookin, Kids and Family New Orleans, IntheKnowla.com, Where Magazine, Curve Magazine, Ambush Magazine, New Orleans Magazine, Louisiana Life Magazine, Acadian Profile, MyNewOrleans.com, St. Charles Avenue Magazine, New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles, 96.1 The River, WYNK, WFMF, and 1150AM WJOB. French Quarter Festival is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc., (FQFI) the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, which also produces Satchmo SummerFest in August and Christmas New Orleans Style in December. For more information about any of these events, call or visit 29th Mardi Gras Mask Market Feb The historic French Market will be the site for retail specials and commemorative items, special events, and general Mardi Gras cheer throughout the month of February, culminating in the 29th annual Mardi Gras Mask Market alongside the Farmers Market Feb. 17th-20th, 11am-6pm with live music, food booths, kids activities, and artisan masks for sale from over a dozen specialty mask vendors from New Orleans and around the country. Retail shops will be handing out commemorative Mardi Gras fans (featuring the French Market Mardi Gras logo) with purchases at Shops at the Upper Pontalba and the Colonnade along Decatur. Shoppers can also enter to win a shopping spree at the French Market. French Market s Facebook page will be the site of mask photography contests as part of the Mardi Gras 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 handmade 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 for a full music schedule, 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 Pavilion, 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 schedule is available at Mask vendors will showcase their wares Friday-Monday (Lundi Gras) 11am to 6pm alongside the Farmers Market between Ursulines and Gov. Nicholls including Jacklyn Grageda Best, Cris Chapman, Jane Clugston, Wendy Drolma, Ann Guccione & Judy Trapp, John McBride, Melissa Neyrey, Laura C. Roe, Semmerling & Schaefer Mask Studios Richard Thompson, Carl Trapani, Diane Trapp and Vincent Ur. Children's actitivies are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday only 12noon to 3pm including face painting, balloon art, and craft booths for kids to make handmade masks, second line hankies, and other carnival crafts, hosted by local artists and groups, including YA/YA under the pavilion in the Farmers Market. It's free! There are special Mardi Gras items and events at retail shops, from local children s author book signings of Mardi Gras picture books at A Tisket A Tasket to Mardi Gras themed artwork, hats, and jewelry at Dutch Alley Artist Co-Op. Check out the Mardi Gras jewelry at the newly relocated Blue Alligator Designs, now at the Shops at the Upper Pontalba on Jackson Square. Like our Facebook page and follow us on FrenchMktNOLA for updates on other retail specials and spotlights. Loretta s Pralines has their specialty praline king cakes as well as traditional king cakes available for counter top pick up in their French Market counter (where they also sell fresh baked goods and pralines!) Order for pickup or delivery by calling There are free concerts and films at the New Orleans National Historical Jazz Park, including these special events Mardi Gras weekend: Friday, Feb. 17th, 2pm 3:30pm at the Old U.S. Mint across from the flea market at Barracks Street: A Carnival themed concert including special guests Spy Boy Irving Honey Banister and Al Carnival Time Johnson; Saturday, Feb. 18 and Sunday, Feb. 19th, 11am to 4pm, take a break from the Mask Market and parading and go inside the Jazz Park at the Dutch Alley Visitor Center between Dumaine and St Phillip Streets, next to Galvez Restaurant and enjoy free jazz films all day. Hidden Treasures: Decorative Arts Edition Presented by Friends of the Cabildo March 27 & 29 Join the Friends of the Cabildo as the Louisiana State Museum s impressive Newcomb Pottery Collection is opened for an exclusive behind-the-scenes viewing of one of the most significant American potteries of the first half of the 20 th century. Katie Hall, Curator of the Decorative Arts for the Louisiana State Museum, will guide you through an in-depth look at the distinct designs and artistry of the Newcomb potters, usually off limits to the general public. The tours will also provide a preview to the Newcomb Pottery exhibit at Madam John s Legacy in late Hidden Treasures of the Louisiana State Museum: Decorative Arts Edition takes place Tuesday and Thursday, March 27 th and 29 th. Tours are at 6pm and 7pm at the Louisiana State Museum s Collection Storage Facility, located at 1000 Chartres Street in the French Quarter. Cost is $20 per person, or $15 for Friends of the Cabildo members. Reservations are required, and space is extremely limited. To reserve your space, please contact Rebecca Duckert at Future behind-the-scenes tours are planned focusing on the Museum s visual arts, decorative arts, science and technology, Louisiana music, and manuscripts collections. Friends of the Cabildo is a private non-profit volunteer group that provides financial and volunteer support for the Louisiana State Museum, its projects and its property. Since incorporating in 1956, the Friends of the Cabildo has grown into a large statewide membership organization, a dynamic and motivating force in broadening and supporting the aims of the Louisiana State Museum. 22 The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM Feb , 2012 Official ficial Gay Mardi di Gras Guide GayMardiGras.COM

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