Mardi Gras 2011: How to Party Like a True New Orleanian

This year, Fat Tuesday falls on March 8, but the party’s already in full swing down in the Big Easy. And we can’t think of a better way to get an inside look at Mardi Gras than to ask two New Orleans natives who’ve taken the local art scene by storm—and who fell for each other along the way. (In true New Orleans style, they met for the first time at the PoBoy Festival, though it took a subsequent encounter—and a shared love of Thai food—for the sparks to fly.)   

Kate Grace Bauer & John Michael Rouchell (Left Photo Credit: Amy Jett Photography)

Kate Grace Bauer is an artist, puppeteer (seriously!—she’s been performing in the puppet-theater adaptation of “Fantastic Mister Fox”), actor, marketing consultant and lifestyle blogger. Kate’s beau is John Michael Rouchell, the singer and songwriter of the band MyNameIsJohnMichael. He’s played at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (“Jazz Fest”), Austin City Limits Music Festival, Voodoo Fest, Music City Roots and much, much more. The couple lives together in downtown New Orleans with their black pug, Miles Davis.

We got together with Kate Grace Bauer and John Michael Rouchell and asked them to share some of their favorite (and craziest) Mardi Gras celebration memories with us: You’ll find out who makes the city’s best Mardi Gras king cakes, how to catch more beads than your friends at the parades and why the smell of stale beer and stink bombs can still make their hearts sing.

The Inside Source: How would you guys explain New Orleans Mardi Gras to someone who’s never been?

Kate Grace Bauer: Carnival season is the most beautiful and decadent marriage of music, dance and a sincere celebration of the joy of life.

John Michael Rouchell: Our best indigenous music (from marching bands to brass bands), most absurd and beautiful costumes and some of the best revelry in the world all takes place in the street amidst the gorgeous New Orleans landscape. It’s decadent; it’s over-the-top; it’s 100% New Orleans. If you think it’s just Bourbon Street, you’re missing the point.

The Inside Source: What marks the real beginning of Carnival season for you?

John Michael Rouchell:  The king cake is the beacon. Krewe du Vieux is the official start, I think.

The Inside Source: So for Mardi Gras party novices, what is this “king cake?”

Kate Grace Bauer: King cake is a bit of heaven. A circular cake—my favorite was the original from McKenzie’s [a famous New Orelans bakery that went out of business]—with cinnamon threads topped with icing and purple, green and gold sugar.

The Inside Source? Where can I get the best king cake in New Orleans now?

Kate Grace Bauer: This one’s a tie for me: It’s between Cannata's (in Houma [about one hour outside of New Orleans]—hard to get in a pinch) and Langenstein’s (much closer, in Uptown New Orleans).

The Inside Source: Where did you grow up watching the Mardi Gras parades?

Kate Grace Bauer: I grew up on Napoleon and St. Charles in Uptown New Orleans, so I always watched them from Napoleon. In high school, we moved to Seventh Street [in the Garden District] and would watch all up and down St. Charles Avenue—the intersecting street was contingent upon your grade level (hah!).

John Michael Rouchell: My folks used to get a room at the St. Charles Inn in Uptown New Orleans. It was ground zero for my youth during Carnival.

New Orleans Celebrates Mardi Gras(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The Inside Source: Where do you go to see the New Orleans Mardi Gras parades now?

Kate Grace Bauer:  Outside my parents’ condo on St. Charles Avenue in Downtown New Orleans.

John Michael Rouchell: Downtown. My favorite thing is to walk down to the Indians [African-American Carnival revelers who dress up for Mardi Gras in outfits influenced by Nativa American ceremonial attire] on Mardi Gras day. It’s become my biggest ritual. It’s truly the most beautiful and my favorite day of the year.

The Inside Source: Do you have a favorite Mardi Gras parade?

Kate Grace Bauer: Bacchus.

John Michael Rouchell: Zulu.

New Orleans Saints Quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees #9 reigns as King of Bacchus accompanied by his wife Brittany on the King's float in the 2010 Krewe Of Bacchus Mardi Gras parade (Photo by Skip Bolen/WireImage)

King Zulu waves to the crowd as his parade passes along Canal Street on Mardi Gras day (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The Inside Source: How about a favorite Mardi Gras float?

Kate Grace Bauer: King Kong, Momma Kong and Baby Kong in Bacchus.

John Michael Rouchell:  The satirical floats in Krewe du Vieux are always great for a laugh.

The Inside Source:  What makes a great New Orleans Mardi Gras parade outfit?

Kate Grace Bauer: Since Mardi Gras falls differently each year, sometimes it’s cold and other times it’s warm. This year Carnival is late, so the weather is perfect (70s and sunny). I always have to refer to my “Festival Dress” guideline here: comfortable shoes, a cute hairdo and minimal makeup. One fun accessory is good, but then again, you’re probably going to be somewhat draped in shiny plastic beads so it might get a little too overwhelming. Water is another great accessory. Oh, and a big fat smile.

The Inside Source: What’s your favorite thing you ever caught from a float?

Kate Grace Bauer: My parasol from Zulu. JM said that he wouldn’t take me to see the Indians unless I got this parasol from a Krewe [of Bacchus] member. I got it! And we saw the Indians! One of the best days of my life.

John Michael Rouchell: A coconut from Zulu. It’s a true honor to catch one. They are decorated by hand, not store-bought. That makes it truly special.

The Inside Source: What’s the New Orleans insider’s strategy for getting someone to throw something to you?

Kate Grace Bauer:  Ignore them. Then you’re sure to get pegged in the head by a sack of beads.

John Michael Rouchell: Often if you challenge their throwing ability, they’ll try to prove you wrong. Riding in a float makes people think they’re all powerful; therefore, trying to state otherwise makes them act, ya know?

The Inside Source: Have you ever ridden in a Mardi Gras parade? What was the craziest thing you saw?

John Michael Rouchell:  I did when I was younger. I won’t go into details, but I can assure you that folks do some really asinine things for plastic beads. Trust.

The Inside Source: What’s up with all those ladders that line the streets before a Mardi Gras parade?

John Michael Rouchell:  Those are lined up so that young kids can be higher up to see all the parades that pass. It’s a total New Orleans thing. I vividly remember sitting in them as a youngster.

The Inside Source: What’s your favorite song that marching bands play during Mardi Gras parades?

Kate Grace Bauer: I’m going to defer to JM here. A marching band can make anything sound good. My hips literally start shaking on their own accord when I hear a snare and some brass. It’s ridiculous.

John Michael Rouchell: St. Augustine, McDonogh 35 and O. Perry Walker always have an amazing way of playing my current guilty pleasures. It’s uncanny.

The Inside Source: What tastes or smells remind you of Mardi Gras?

Kate Grace Bauer: This is going to sound raunchy, but the smell of stale beer really sings Mardi Gras to me. Mmmmm … old Bud Light, baking on the asphalt.

John Michael Rouchell: As horrible as it is, I always think about the smell of stink bombs. I don’t know if those are still allowed or not, but that smell reminds me of being a young deviant roaming the streets during Mardi Gras.

The Inside Source: What are some must-have foods and drinks for a great Mardi Gras party?

Kate Grace Bauer: Popeyes chicken and biscuits, jambalaya, gumbo and king cake. Drinks: daiquiris and beer.

The Inside Source: What’s your favorite restaurant during Carnival?

Kate Grace Bauer:  Popeyes.

John Michael Rouchell: Anywhere I can get a table.

The Inside Source: Favorite bar during Mardi Gras?

Kate Grace Bauer:  I have to say I’m always happy to snag a daiquiri from somewhere, but no real favorite bar.

John Michael Rouchell: I do most of my drinking on the street.

The Inside Source: What’s your craziest Mardi Gras memory?

Kate Grace Bauer:   Deciding to go to Bourbon Street with my best friend our senior year of high school. We got separated and ultimately reunited at the Cats Meow karaoke-ing.

John Michael Rouchell: I’ve done some really foolish things—none more foolish than when a group of friends and I thought it would be a great idea to sleep out on the parade route.

The Inside Source: And favorite Mardi Gras memory?

Kate Grace Bauer:   Seeing the Mardi Gras Indians last year on Mardi Gras day. They are simply stunning—beautiful works of art.

John Michael Rouchell: The Mardi Gras morning that Ms. Antoinette K Doe (wife of famous R&B singer, Ernie K Doe, and owner of the Mother-In-Law Lounge) passed was the definition of what it meant to be a New Orleanian during Mardi Gras. There was a lot of celebration because that’s the only way we know how to grieve. Crying on the inside; reveling on the outside. It made me realize what Mardi Gras really is.

Whether you’re headed down to NOLA for your first-ever Mardi Gras or you’re just looking to throw a wild Fat Tuesday party in the comfort of home, check out these must-have Carnival finds (all for under $30!) that we located on eBay, where online auction sales of Mardi Gras items are up 62 percent and listings are up 66 percent in the past month: