Caroline Cotto Now Featuring Her New Song Cherry Red

Caroline Cotto, New Orleans singer/songwriter, presents Cherry Red, a manifesto for freedom, truth and rock n’ roll. In homage to her Puerto Rican heritage as well as their determination, resilience and passion. 

Imagine leaving your country in search for beauty, love and truth. That’s exactly what Caroline Cotto was brave enough to do after her 22nd birthday. She toiled away in the NYC music scene for years before she left to live in Paris and explore Europe for artistic opportunities to enrich her writing and music. She dreamed by the Seine, wrote in cafes and wandered the Louvre for hours. She describes this as her own beautiful version of the Lost Generation. Caroline then lived in London playing bluesand soaking up the history of her rock heroes before moving to New Orleans.

Caroline Cotto is an artist who has thought deeply about her experiences. Her poetic lyrics and soulful voice weave the story of a woman on a journey to her salvation, a woman who has sacrificed the familiar for her dreams, a woman with incessant curiosityand desire to better herself and the world.  

Check out her video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrFJOb4OLNY

Thanks for visting. Feel free to post comments below.

Sondra Carpenter

The Mardi Gras Girl

Happy Mardi Gras Day 2021!

Well folks it's that time again, it's Mardi Gras Day. Here's the last chance to get your party on since tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. So do it pandemic style and social distance from home so the only mask you'll need is your Mardi Gras mask!

Hope you've enjoyed the posts, feel free to let me know in the comments below what you'd like to see covered here.

Thanks for visiting and stay tuned for more Mardi Gras, culture, traditions and history here throughout the year!

Sondra Carpenter

The Mardi Gras Girl

 

Send Love To The Second Line In New Orleans

Unfortunately the pandemic has hit New Orleans extremely hard and lot of the people impacted are of color. Another project of the Krewe of Red Beans, a nonprofit organization, is called Feed The Second Line. 

The second line refers to the folks who are the culture bearers, the people who make up the Black Mardi Gras experience like the Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs, Mardi Gras Indians, Baby Doll groups, musicians and other artists throughout New Orleans.

The elders receive rides to get their vaccines through younger musicians for hire.  Also donations go to local restaurants to order meals which allow those businesses to stay open. Then the meals are delivered to the elders in the communities where it's most needed.

To support our culture bearers during this difficult time visit:  https://www.feedthesecondline.org  Please donate what you can.

Photo credit: NY Times, City of New Orleans, courtesy of Crista Rock. Member of the Young Men Olympians Benevolent Association, a Social Aid and Pleasure Club.

Thanks for stopping by. Leave comments on what you'd like to see here. 

Sondra Carpenter

The Mardi Gras Girl

Hire A Mardi Gras Artist

Since the pandemic has totally wrecked the Mardi Gras season for 2021 a lot of artists have had a difficult time with getting work. But New Orleans is the city that will hold it's own no matter what happens. So a project was created by the Krewe of Red Beans where anyone can arrange to hire an artist. 

Parades are on hold this year but houses are being decorated with all sorts of theme for Mardi Gras. The Hire A Mardi Gras Artist utilizes crowd funding where you can go to their site and make a purchase or donate. They then use the funds to hire local laid off Mardi Gras workers, musicians and artists. Instead of parade floats they are contracted to transform houses into works of Mardi Gras creativity and unique beauty for all to see.

Check out https://hireamardigrasartist.com/ and help support the artists!

Thanks for visiting, please feel to leave comments. 

Sondra Carpenter

The Mardi Gras Girl

Krewe Of Bacchus Mardi Gras Mobile App 2021

There are several krewes, which what the different groups are called that run floats and provide entertainment for Mardi Gras parades, and one of the largest is called Bacchus. It's named for the god in Greek mythology of wine and vegetation.

Bacchus was the son of Zeus and was thought to show mortals how to make wine. The krewes all have their own themes and usually follow cultural and mythological icons. 

This year due to the pandemic, Mardi Gras celebrations are still going on, just a lot quieter this year. The Krewe of Bacchus has an app which you can download for free to your phone to enjoy the Carnival season virtually. The Throw Me Something Bacchus! mobile app can be installed on Android at Google Play Store or on iPhone from Apple's App Store. You'll find fun stuff like virtual Mardi Gras throws, king cake, music and more for all ages. 

So check it out and share. Thanks for visiting, have fun!

Sondra Carpenter

The Mardi Gras Girl

Carnival Season Starts January 6, 2021

 

The Carnival Season officially starts today, January 6, 2021 and the last day is Fat Tuesday, February 16, 2021. Remember to get all your partying and celebrating in since Ash Wednesday is the following day. That means you'll have to wait all the way until NEXT YEAR!

To get this Mardi Gras season started off right check out the Kermit Ruffins video below. Get into the swing of things with this song Do The Fat Tuesday From Kermit Ruffins & The Barbecue Swingers Live from Basin Street Records.

The next few posts will cover apps and other virtual services for you to enjoy Mardi Gras 2021. Covid-19 is NOT gonna stop Mardi Gras, we just have to celebrate safely! Make sure to check out the post on how to enjoy Mardi Gras at home, just click here.

Comment below on what you'd like to see. Thanks for visiting!

Sondra Carpenter

The Mardi Gras Girl

Have Mardi Gras Fun At Home

Just because the pandemic has shut down a lot of events, it doesn't mean you can't enjoy the Mardi Gras season from home wherever you live. All you need to get started are a few things like:                                              

* Mardi Gras themed masks (preferably in the Mardi Gras colors, purple green and gold) or anything creative

* Lots of strands of beads in the Mardi Gras colors and any other color you like

* Decorations like confetti, banners or streamers

For drinks, you'll want to have the Hurricane. Food is usually typical New Orleans dishes like red beans and rice or dirty rice; or even a seafood gumbo. For sweets try pralines or a king cake.

As for music we have plenty of options for Mardi Gras and New Orleans tunes to get your Mardi Gras party rolling. Here's a link to a previous post to get your mojo going. Click here!

Remember you can go ahead and get your celebration started, Mardi Gras Day, February 16, 2021 is the LAST day of the season. After that it's Ash Wednesday, so get your party started NOW!

Any questions or if you want to share, comment below. 

Thanks for stopping by, have fun!

Sondra Carpenter
The Mardi Gras Girl