Latest news with #LaurenHaydel
Axios
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Mardi Gras 2025 comes to a close with highs and lows
We marched, we danced and we saw how pretty we are during Mardi Gras 2025 in New Orleans. Let's take stock of what was so great — and could have been better — in this lengthy Carnival season. 🔥 Carriers of the torch: The Joan of Arc procession along with other Kings Day parades lighted the way for revelers looking to heal and find beauty after the Jan. 1 terror attack on Bourbon Street. Go deeper. ✊🏾 Most meaningful history-makers: The Krewe of ALLA, who took over Nyx's spot with their first Black king and queen — and brought a second-line club along for the fun. Go deeper. ♻️ Most hopeful sign: More krewes moving toward reusable throws. Crowd favorites: Cleo shirts, Freret fanny packs, Sparta light-up gliders and Bacchus socks. Go deeper. 🧈 Greasiest go-getter: Lauren Haydel of Fleurty Girl, who won Greasing of the Poles. She's also an Axios New Orleans reader. Woohoo! Shoutout to the Royal Sonesta for helping Chelsea knock out this bucket list item. Even better that she went home with the People's Choice award. Go deeper. 🧐 Most painfully accurate meme: This one about sidewalk versus neutral ground. Try to argue with it, but you can't. 🤯 Mind blowing-est fact: We hosted a Super Bowl during this Carnival season. An! Entire! Super! Bowl! During Mardi Gras! And we kept the lights on for the full game. Redemption! 🪑 Best seats in the house: The Chaissez Ladies, Les Bonnes Vivantes and Laissez Boys. ❤️🩹 Tiniest tribute you shouldn't miss: This 'tit Rex tip of the cap to Frankie Beverly, who died last year. ☁️ Teenage dream come true: Katy Perry, who got a key to the city from New Orleans Councilmember Helena Moreno when the star performed at the Endymion ball. Go deeper. 🐕 Most parade appearances without ever leaving home: Scrim. Was there a single krewe who didn't refer to the renegade pup? ⚜️ Most likely to become a New Orleans ambassador: Jameis Winston, whose love affair with the city continued as he played catch with Shaq on the Bacchus route. 🤩 Best treats: King cake remains undefeated. Here's to the classics and newcomers we tried this year: Hubig's, Bywater Bakery 's pineapple passionfruit, Pretty Funky Treats ' créme brulée and Dong Phuong 's king cake flight. ☔️ Biggest bummer: The weather, which caused nearly unprecedented cancellations and shifted parade schedules for Mardi Gras. Yes, but: It was mostly glorious until then. 🫣 Creepiest encounter: King Cake Baby popping up at the St. Roch Market for an Axios New Orleans happy hour. Thankfully, he's going back into hibernation ASAP. 🪳 Most likely to survive the apocalypse: The Krewe of Chads. 🚗 Silliest moment: Driving like "Mario Kart" around the barricades on St. Charles Avenue. Go deeper. 🤔 Priciest question left unanswered (so far): How did our hospitality industry fare this Carnival season? We've heard a couple rumors about hotel rooms being less in demand, but the final numbers will tell us what really happened. 🏆 The real MVPs: The cleaning krewes who follow behind every parade. We really, honestly, truly could not do this without you. Thank you. 🚮 Our next stop: The ARC donation bin after we sort through our loot. Drop-off locations. 🙏 Biggest sigh of relief: We were on high alert this season and we made it through without any major safety scares. Thank goodness. Officials are still making plans for what security will look like in the French Quarter going forward. 😆 Most likely to do it all again: Us! Mardi Gras 2026 is Feb. 17. Go deeper Photos: Celebrities at Mardi Gras Our full Mardi Gras coverage
Axios
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
What it's like to participate in Greasing of the Poles
Every once in a while, an opportunity comes along to do something totally off-the-wall, and I always try to say yes. So, when the Royal Sonesta team asked if I'd be up to participate in its annual Greasing of the Poles, I jumped in with both feet. Why it matters: Life is too short. Get greasy. Catch up quick: The Bourbon Street hotel started greasing its poles 55 years ago to keep overeager Mardi Gras revelers from climbing up onto its balconies. Over time, the tradition became competition. The hotel now taps four local celebrities to compete in greasing. It's mostly about bragging rights but also comes with a nice, engraved bottle of Champagne. This year's competitors included me, plus Fleurty Girl founder Lauren Haydel, food influencer Evelyn Bories and bounce king HaSizzle. What you asked: In the run-up to the big day last Friday, the No. 1 question I got asked was "How did they pick you?" The short answer? I asked. As a longtime friend of mine says, "Don't ever be afraid to ask." So, early last fall, I sent a note to the Royal Sonesta inquiring how people get chosen to compete. The answer, more or less, was an invitation. On the big day, I invited my best friend and my sister along to help me in my performance, which included a brief song and dance before the greasing began. We picked Britney Spears' "Gimme More," which we paired with newspaper/alligator themed-costumes and strutted our stuff. At greasing time, each of us competitors climbed a ladder held stable by a 610 Stomper and a Merry Antoinette. We got a branded vat of Vaseline, and we were off. Zoom in: It's stunning how a 2-minute performance can feel both very long and incredibly short. I laughed, I danced, I shimmied, I shook, I rubbed a stuffed alligator tail on a Vaseline-covered iron pole and then I laughed some more. In the end, Haydel was declared the 2025 Greasing of the Poles champion. 😏 She's an Axios New Orleans reader, too; I wouldn't want to lose to anyone else. And I did get my own bottle that named me the "People's Choice" winner. It wasn't announced on stage, but who cares?! I'll take it! The bottom line: This is your reminder. Sometimes, you just gotta go for it. Go deeper: Watch a replay of Greasing of the Poles.
Axios
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
How to watch Greasing of the Poles 2025
👋 Chelsea here. My Mardi Gras miracle starts at 10am today, and you can be there. What's happening: The Royal Sonesta asked me to be one of four contestants for Greasing of the Poles. Between the lines: I'm nervous. Are you nervous? Because I'm definitely nervous. Catch up quick: The Bourbon Street hotel started greasing its poles 55 years ago to keep overeager Mardi Gras revelers from climbing up onto its balconies. But over time, they've turned the tradition into competition. I'll be greasing alongside Fleurty Girl founder Lauren Haydel, food influencer Evelyn Bories and bounce king HaSizzle. One of us will walk away the 2025 Greasing champion. No pressure! What's next: See you there?
