STLGph From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8977 posts, RR: 27 Posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 1640 times:
Officials from St. Louis Mardi Gras, Inc. plan to meet with representatives from the Mayor of St. Louis' office and St. Louis Convention & Visitors Bureau within the next week to begin major restructuring and prep work for the 2006 Mardi Gras celebration, in light of a cancellation of Mardi Gras 2006 in New Orleans, which is highly expected.
The annual St. Louis Mardi Gras celebration is rated the world's third largest Mardi Gras celebration, and second largest in the United States, behind New Orleans, with over 1 million in attendance with with nearly 2 weeks of activities, and the world's largest Pet Parade.
The celebration usually takes place in the Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis, located southeast of downtown and close to the riverfront. After Soulard "shut downs," the crowds typically move up along the river to the LaClede's Landing district, an area of nightclubs, bars, and restaurants, in the northeast quandrant of the downtown area.
If the crowds from a cancelled Mardi Gras New Orleans migrate to St. Louis, attendance could jump to over 3 million people. Officials will discuss the possibility of moving the "designated" Mardi Gras area from Soulard up along the riverfront up to the LaClede's Landing district. Other changes include possibly changing some of the regulations and laws temporarily to reflect those that are in New Orleans. Officials hope this would avoid rioting and provide more crowd control.
It is expected St. Louis officials would invite New Orleans organizers and vendors to take place and work the St. Louis event.
Eternal darkness we all should dread. It's hard to party when you're dead.
TedTAce From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 1592 times:
Quoting STLGph (Thread starter): It is expected St. Louis officials would invite New Orleans organizers and vendors to take place and work the St. Louis event.
I should hope so.. it might not be a GENUINE MardiGras, but anything they can do to make it as close to normal as possible ought to be done.
Saigonhouston From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 390 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1580 times:
Mardi Gras 2006 is still few months away. My plan was cancelled for this Labor day weekend in New Orleans. It's a Southern Decadence circuit party weekend.
Sad, sad, sad......there is no other city in US has more fun than New Orleans during Mardi Gras event. It's time to look into Sydney Australia for Mardi Gras.
AsstChiefMark From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1567 times:
From a psychological standpoint, Mardi Gras HAS to happen in some form.
It doesn't make sense to a lot of people, but the resumption of traditional leisure and entertainment activities is vital to peoples' mental health. It's the same reason why the military has USO shows and holiday events on the front lines during a war. In the middle of of insanity, people need something sane to anchor themselves to.
STLGph From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8977 posts, RR: 27 Reply 4, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1564 times:
Quoting Saigonhouston (Reply 2): It's time to look into Sydney Australia for Mardi Gras.
Why?? Sydney doesn't even compare to St. Louis!
Quoting TedTAce (Reply 1): I should hope so.. it might not be a GENUINE MardiGras, but anything they can do to make it as close to normal as possible ought to be done.
I have to say they do a pretty good job here. One of the biggest differences is unfortunately the parade. It has the spirit of the one in New Orleans, but the floats here are basically flat bed semi trucks rolling down a street.
There are discussions as to how to generate revenue at Mardi Gras 2006 to raise money for the Katrina efforts.
It is feared the city might become overrun next year during Mardi Gras, especially with its close proximity to many large midwestern cities.
Eternal darkness we all should dread. It's hard to party when you're dead.
STLGph From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8977 posts, RR: 27 Reply 6, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1529 times:
Quoting MKEdude (Reply 5): Mardi Gras in St. Louis? There's just something wrong with that.
Obviously you've never been. It's quite nice.
Eternal darkness we all should dread. It's hard to party when you're dead.
Cptkrell From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 2550 posts, RR: 14 Reply 7, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 1515 times:
Maybe they'll consider Memphis. Wasn't Mardis Gras originally (USA) celebrated in Memphis? Regards...Jack
STLGph From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8977 posts, RR: 27 Reply 9, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 1493 times:
Quoting Cptkrell (Reply 7): Maybe they'll consider Memphis. Wasn't Mardis Gras originally (USA) celebrated in Memphis? Regards...Jack
Apparently that idea has been tossed around in the last few days. Memphis officials fear a run over of crowds on Beale Street regardless if they have "official festivities" or not.
I heard Memphis is already preparing itself to host "Jazz Fest," in case that event must be moved next year.
Eternal darkness we all should dread. It's hard to party when you're dead.
BNAflyer78 From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 258 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 1488 times:
Quoting Cptkrell (Reply 7): Maybe they'll consider Memphis. Wasn't Mardis Gras originally (USA) celebrated in Memphis? Regards...Jack
IIRC, the first Mardi Gras celebration in the US was actually in Mobile....they still have quite a large Mardi Gras scene there.
MKEdude From South Korea, joined May 2005, 1008 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 1488 times:
St. Louis is not a horrible place but it is not New Orleans, and all the parade floats, beads, and purple and yellow bunting will not make it so. The thing that made Mardi Gras in New Orleans so special was the complete abandon of inhibition and responsibility. St. Louis just oozes Midwestern reserve. Will the city fathers shut down the entire city to give way to tens of thousands of loud drunken revelers?
"You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline." Frank Zappa
STLGph From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8977 posts, RR: 27 Reply 12, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 1479 times:
Quoting MKEdude (Reply 11): The thing that made Mardi Gras in New Orleans so special was the complete abandon of inhibition and responsibility. St. Louis just oozes Midwestern reserve.
Uh, have you been?
Quoting MKEdude (Reply 11): Will the city fathers shut down the entire city to give way to tens of thousands of loud drunken revelers?
Well, is there much of a choice?
It's Mardi Gras. Millions flock there every year. If #1 is suddenly out of comission. What is the next logical choice? Flock to #2. You're looking at going from 1 million or so visitors to perhaps over 3 million. Something has to be done and prepared in advance to keep order in case this happens.
Eternal darkness we all should dread. It's hard to party when you're dead.
Srbmod From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 16888 posts, RR: 51 Reply 13, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 1472 times:
I wouldn't be surprised if Savannah tries to hold one next year since Fat Tuesday is about 2 and a half weeks before St. Patrick's Day.
Xpat From United States of America, joined Nov 2004, 634 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 1463 times:
I have to agree with STLGph, St. Louis is a nice town (when being shown around by a local). If they want to host Mardi Gras 2006, they had better start building some hotels quickly. I don't know how many hotel rooms the greater St. Louis area has vs. New Orleans, but I'm quite certain there is quite a variance in the number of rooms available for sale. I'm trying to research this as this thread piqued my curiousity about this.
Update: The variance of hotel rooms is not as great as I thought. St. Louis offers approximately 35,000 hotel rooms vs. New Orleans at 38,000. Links for those of you who find things like this interesting.
MKEdude From South Korea, joined May 2005, 1008 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1443 times:
Quoting STLGph (Reply 12): Quoting MKEdude (Reply 11):
The thing that made Mardi Gras in New Orleans so special was the complete abandon of inhibition and responsibility. St. Louis just oozes Midwestern reserve.
Uh, have you been?
To both, yes.
Quoting STLGph (Reply 12): Quoting MKEdude (Reply 11):
Will the city fathers shut down the entire city to give way to tens of thousands of loud drunken revelers?
Well, is there much of a choice?
Yes, not to have it. St. Louis city leaders won't OK this kind of party. Imagine it, bars open 24-hours, women flashing their tits, the city shut down for an entire week. Great fun, but not the type of clean, Disney-ish, family friendly fun people in St. Louis are going to go for.
St. Louis can be a fun town. I've been to Lacledes landing, and I've been to "The Hill" (is that right?) But the truth is this when it comes to parties New Orleans is Major League and St Louis is A-ball.
"You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline." Frank Zappa
STLGph From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8977 posts, RR: 27 Reply 16, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1443 times:
Quoting Xpat (Reply 14): St. Louis offers approximately 35,000 hotel rooms
Now is that just in the near metro area or within an hour's drive, or the city itself? Do you know how this is measured? I see in your profile you work for the hotel industry. Just curious. Thanks.
Eternal darkness we all should dread. It's hard to party when you're dead.
Xpat From United States of America, joined Nov 2004, 634 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (7 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1421 times:
Quoting STLGph (Reply 16): Do you know how this is measured?
I'm not 100% sure but I believe whatever the local Chamber of Commerce or the Convention & Visitors Bureaus designate as being part of a metropolitan area. It possibly varies city to city the exact radius. For example in the Washington, DC you can drive about 1.5 hours in certain directions from the CBD and still be considered part of the greater metropolitan area.
The only thing we have to fear is the sky falling on our heads. -Asterix
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