Welcome to the official website for NOLA Pyrate Week – THE Pyratical celebration of culture, art, food & entertainment in New Orleans. Join us as we rebuild, renew and rise up! (All news follows this post!)

NOLA Pyrate Week happens every spring at about the same time…this one is Mar. 26 thru Apr. 4, 2010

Forms are available for Volunteers to sign up and help rebuild with lowernine.org (dates are Tues. Mar. 30, Wed. Mar. 31, Thurs. Apr. 1)

The Dutch Alley Invasion (Sat. Mar. 27 & Sun. Mar. 28) is going to be a spectacular part of NOLA Pyrate Week thanks to our good mates the Land Of NOD Experiment who are organizing & hosting it!

As we are a not-for-profit group, we can always use a hand with donations, deals and the like…helps out the volunteers who work so hard and helps spread the word far and wide to make this event – and all it stands for – a roaring success! In the end it’s all about showing people everything that New Orleans has to offer -  Art, Music, Food, History, Culture and the Diversity of it’s Communities!

All news, events and other special announcements will follow this one…ye can follow the Captain on Twitter, join the Quartermaster on Facebook – the Bos’un is EVERYWHERE, but mostly here.

NOLA Pyrate Week – Take what ye can, GIVE something back!™

Easter Parade Needs Foster Parents

Adorable, somewhat unruly 2-year old is in need of help.

It is with a breaking heart that I report it looks like my beloved little Easter Parade might have to go into foster care for a while.

Now we all know that it takes a village to raise a child. As its single parent, I have become increasingly unable to provide for all its care and feeding.

Between the Saints and Mardi Gras and the recession, support for the parade has fallen off (we’re already down $400 from last year), and it can no longer be brought up in the style to which it has become accustomed. We believe in angels, and hope they manifest themselves soon.

Please let me know, by Wednesday noon, if you can help. Specific suggestions below.

Thanks,
Mama Kathy
http://GoodchildrenCarnivalClub.org

P.S. We’re still planning on a Doll Party this Saturday, and will never abandon the Good Friday party; both events make us happy and remind us why we had this baby in the first place!

Specific suggestions:

1) Raise $100 from an entirely new source (current list available).

We need at least $2,000 total, and the most I can actually count on right now is $300. Drop dead date is March 26 for police, and March 29 for insurance. But there are certain steps that need to be taken immediately (permit, promotion) — and I need to be sure before I put out the money and resources.

2) Raffle prizes and tickets.

We need some BIG prizes, and to sell at least $400 in tickets by March 25.

3) Time + transport during the week to run/help run errands, help with flyering, etc.

I’m available, just takes a long time to walk everywhere!

4) Let us know you care. By tomorrow. Please. We love you!

http://GoodchildrenCarnivalClub.org

This years French Quarter Pyrate Parade theme is “It Takes A Pillage” and features the original Krewe Of Pyrates (complete with bead cannons), the spectacular Noisician Coalition, many walking Krewes and special guests!

Besides his multitudinous talents as a very busy part of the NOLA music community for the last 23 years, McMurray is deeply committed to GIVING BACK to his city. He has paid his dues more than once – washed dishes, dug ditches, sold his guitar to survive, nearly died from a mysterious ailment, been a substitute teacher…founder/co-producer of ChazFest (New Orleans original 9th ward music festival alternative); the Fifth Season Cinema Tuesday nights in the summer; the Schatzy band; the Happy Talk Band; 00Doug/Alex, 007, Royal Fingerbowl, The Tin Men – and of course the shanty singing Valparaiso Mens Chorus (just to name a few). He’s performed around the world, but is firmly rooted in his beloved New Orleans Bywater community with his wife (artist Kourtney Keller) and their cats; supporting his community with his time, talent and ability.

His latest album is titled “How To Be A Cannonball”.

For the first time in the 43 year history of the team, the New Orleans Saints are Super Bowl Champions!

Super Bowl XLIV (44), Feb. 7, 2010 – 31/17

The SAINTS have shown the spirit of NOLA & Louisiana…
We RISE UP, STAND STRONG & HOLD FAST! WHODAT

We are still taking volunteer applications to work with lowernine.org
A few hours of yer time can help rebuild a family home, a community, a city. Though experience is helpful for many jobs, it is not required – all that is required is the will and determination to DO. The fine folk at lowernine.org (all volunteers themselves) can train ye to help with a variety o’ tasks…something as simple as planting a tree is a step toward revitalizing a community.

Here is a video that one volunteer compiled during her time with lowernine.org – a short trip through the Lower Ninth Ward community that punctuates why YOUR help is still needed.

Watch this LowerNine.org Video (Nov. 2009) (Thank ye to Miz Hayes and all those who give o’ their time and energy!)

New Orleans Saints NFC Champions!

It’s about far more than football – it’s a focal point for everyone in New Orleans (Louisiana even) to haul together, stand up together, SHOUT together and be share in the strength that this spirit generates. If we can pull together like this for a game, imagine what else we can accomplish? As a state, a city, a COMMUNITY…a large portion of “New Orleanians” were not born here – be they were re-born here; loving the good in this city, the CULTURE, the creativity, the diversity, the history. While we shout “WHODAT say dey gonna beat dem Saints?” think of it really as “WHODAT say dey gonna beat dis city? NOBODY dat who!” Like the Gators in Barataria, we don’t just survive, we’ll outlive ye all… This video explains it nicely – The Soul Of New Orleans …and if ye’ve never seen a Second Line in full force, THIS is how ye do it! The Men & Women Of Unity