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Tag: Mardi Gras

  • Inside Shia LaBeouf’s Concerning, Erratic Behavior On Movie Set Months Before New Orleans Arrest – Perez Hilton

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    It’s been an unsettling week for fans of Shia LaBeouf.

    The talented but troubled actor was arrested in New Orleans on two counts of simple battery, and now new details are painting a fuller, more complicated picture of what may have been happening behind the scenes in the months leading up to it.

    According to reports out in TMZ on Wednesday night, Shia recently wrapped production on the indie film The Rooster Prince. For much of the shoot, insiders told the outlet that he was focused, prepared, and intensely committed to his craft. Those who have worked with Shia know he is capable of extraordinary dedication, of course. He dives deep, and doesn’t phone it in on camera. He lives inside his characters! That passion is part of what has made his performances so magnetic over the years.

    Related: Shia LaBeouf Was Allegedly ‘Terrorizing The City’ Before Chaotic Mardi Gras Arrest!

    But there were moments that left some colleagues quietly concerned, according to those same sources. They reported to TMZ allegations of intense mood swings and behavior that felt, at times, unpredictable. Nothing violent, apparently, and nothing that rose to the level of what we’ve seen this week. But it was enough that people on set wondered if something heavier might be weighing on him. Given his very public struggles in the past, those observations carried added weight.

    It’s important to note that Shia’s character in the film reportedly grapples with serious mental health challenges. And like we’ve said, anyone who has followed his career knows he commits fully to the emotional reality of a role. Thus, some believe what people witnessed may have been an extension of that immersion. And to that end, when you blur the lines between performance and personal truth, it can be difficult for outsiders to tell where one ends and the other begins.

    Still, the arrest this week shocked many. During Mardi Gras celebrations, Shia allegedly became involved in a fight outside a bar, leading to his arrest on two simple battery charges. This all comes after a major life shift: he purchased a home in New Orleans following his separation from his wife, Mia Goth.

    Ultimately, those who worked with him on The Rooster Prince told the outlet they hope he gets whatever help he may need. And we hope that for him, too. Whatever is going on, it sure sounds like this is not an easy time for Shia.

    For resources on mental health, visit https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help.

    [Image via WENN/Avalon]

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    Perez Hilton

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  • The Skinny On Mardi Gras In New Orleans

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    The skinny on Mardi Gras in New Orleans: history, parades, Zulu and Rex, and king cake fun.

    You have seen the photos, maybe watch the webcams, but here is the skinny on Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Carnivale, the festive season precedes Lent and has roots stretching back centuries in Catholic Europe. The word itself comes from the Latin carne levare, meaning “to remove meat,” a nod to the fasting and abstinence observed during Lent. Over time, communities created elaborate celebrations to indulge before the solemn season began. Two of the world’s most famous Carnivale traditions still flourish today: the masked elegance of Carnival of Venice and the electrifying samba parades of Rio Carnival. Both events blend pageantry, costuming, music, and public revelry — elements later defining Mardi Gras on the Gulf Coast.

    RELATED: Cannabis Is Quietly Reshaping Mardi Gras Culture

    In the United States, Mardi Gras first took root not in Louisiana but in Mobile. French settlers celebrated the holiday there as early as 1703, marking one of the earliest organized Mardi Gras observances in North America. Mobile’s early mystic societies and parading traditions laid the groundwork for what would evolve into a uniquely American festival. Yet it was downriver in New Orleans where Mardi Gras found its grand stage.

    New Orleans embraced and expanded the celebration throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, blending French, Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences into a spectacle unlike any other. By the mid-1800s, organized parades, masked balls, and social clubs known as krewes transformed Mardi Gras into a citywide cultural institution. Today, the season typically begins on Twelfth Night — January 6 — marking the end of the Christmas season and the start of Carnival. From that date through Fat Tuesday, the city hosts dozens of parades; in a typical year, more than 70 processions roll through neighborhoods across the metro area.

    Central to the celebration is the Krewe system. Krewes are private social organizations who plan parades, design floats, host balls, and select royalty such as kings and queens. Each krewe has its own history, traditions, and themes. Some, like Rex and Zulu, date back more than a century, while newer groups reflect the city’s evolving cultural landscape. Membership is often selective, and krewe identities are closely tied to neighborhood pride and social networks.

    Fat Tuesday, the final and most anticipated day of Mardi Gras, carries its own traditions. Only two parades roll in New Orleans on the day: the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club and the Krewe of Rex. Zulu, known for its hand-decorated floats and prized painted coconuts, represents African American cultural heritage and community philanthropy. Rex, founded in 1872, crowns the symbolic King of Carnival and established the city’s official Mardi Gras colors: purple for justice, green for faith, and gold for power.

    RELATED: How Marijuana Can Heighten Intimacy With Your Partner

    No Mardi Gras season is complete without king cake, a ring-shaped pastry decorated in those same royal colors. Inside each cake is a tiny plastic baby, and tradition holds whoever finds it must host the next king cake party. Bakeries across the city produce thousands each day during Carnival, making the dessert as central to the season as beads and brass bands.

    At the stroke of midnight on Fat Tuesday, the revelry ends. Police clear the streets, bars close, and the city symbolically shifts from indulgence to reflection. Ash Wednesday dawns, Lent begins, and New Orleans returns to its everyday rhythm — at least until Carnival comes again.

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    Sarah Johns

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  • Cannabis Is Quietly Reshaping Mardi Gras Culture

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    How cannabis is quietly reshaping Mardi Gras culture, as millennials trade hurricanes for THC seltzers and balanced Carnival experiences.

    For generations, Mardi Gras in New Orleans has been synonymous with exuberant parades, bead throws, brass bands, and free-flowing alcohol. From the krewes rolling down St. Charles Avenue to the packed revelry of Bourbon Street, the Carnival season has long been fueled by hurricanes, hand grenades, and go-cups carried through the French Quarter. But as cultural attitudes shift and younger generations redefine celebration, cannabis is quietly reshaping Mardi Gras culture.  Marijuana, hemp, cod and low-alcohol alternatives are quietly reshaping how people experience the greatest free show on Earth.

    RELATED: Data Shows People Like Cannabis Before Intimacy

    Mardi Gras traces its roots to medieval Europe and Catholic traditions marking the last indulgence before Lent. When the celebration arrived in Louisiana in the 18th century, it evolved into a uniquely New Orleans blend of pageantry, music, and community. Over time, drinking became embedded in the festivities. Public consumption laws in New Orleans—famously permissive compared to most U.S. cities—helped cement the image of Carnival as a marathon of cocktails and street parties stretching from Twelfth Night to Fat Tuesday.

    Yet today’s younger revelers are changing the script. Gen Z and many millennials are drinking less than previous generations, driven by wellness trends, mental health awareness, and a desire for more mindful social experiences. Instead of chasing the next sugary daiquiri, many are opting for cannabis products, THC-infused beverages, and low-ABV cocktails allowing them to stay present and energized through long parade days.

    The rise of cannabis culture—particularly in legal states and through hemp-derived THC beverages available in parts of the South—has introduced alternatives aligning with these preferences. Lightly dosed THC seltzers and cannabis mocktails offer a social buzz without the heavy hangover, while low-alcohol spritzes and bitters-based drinks provide flavor and ritual without excess. For many, this shift reflects a broader move toward balance rather than abstinence.

    Safety is another factor shaping this new era. Mardi Gras crowds can swell into the hundreds of thousands, with shoulder-to-shoulder conditions along parade routes and in the Vieux Carré. Lower alcohol consumption can mean greater situational awareness, fewer medical incidents, and a more comfortable experience navigating dense crowds. Public health experts have long noted excessive drinking contributes to accidents and altercations at large events; a moderation-minded approach may help reduce these risks.

    RELATED: How Marijuana Can Heighten Intimacy With Your Partner

    None of this means the end of traditional revelry. The sound of a trumpet echoing down Royal Street, the cry of “Throw me something, mister!” and the joy of catching beads under a balcony in the Quarter remain unchanged. But alongside the classic purple, green, and gold festivities, a quieter transformation is underway. Younger celebrants are embracing options letting them laissez les bons temps rouler—let the good times roll—without sacrificing well-being.

    As Mardi Gras continues to evolve, cannabis and low-alcohol beverages are becoming part of the cultural mosaic, offering new ways to celebrate while honoring the spirit of Carnival. In a city which thrives on reinvention, this subtle shift may be just another chapter in New Orleans’ long tradition of adapting the party to the times.

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    Anthony Washington

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  • The Strong Drinks Powering Fat Tuesday

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    New Orleans comes alive for Carnival, fueled by music, parades, and the strong drinks powering Fat Tuesday keeping revelers dancing all day and night.

    Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a marathon, not a sprint. While the season spans weeks of parades, masked balls, and street parties, the final days — Lundi Gras and Fat Tuesday — are fueled by indulgence, tradition, and Laissez les bons temps rouler…and here are the strong drinks powering Fat Tuesday.

    Before Lent begins at midnight on Fat Tuesday, revelers embrace a last hurrah. From Bourbon Street to neighborhood parade routes, sugary, high-proof drinks have become the unofficial mascot of Carnival season. They’re portable, festive, and designed to keep pace with a day often beginning before sunrise and ends when the clock strikes twelve.

    RELATED: Data Shows People Like Cannabis Before Intimacy

    King Cocktail: Dessert in a Glass (With a Kick)

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 oz Cognac Park VS
    • 0.75 oz Kringle Cream Liqueur
    • 0.75 oz pecan syrup
    • 0.75 oz cream
    • 2 dashes cherry vanilla bitters

    Create

    1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
    2. Add ice and shake vigorously.
    3. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Why it’s strong: Cognac plus liqueur creates a deceptively smooth drink and goes down fast — much like King Cake itself.

    Police & Thieves Swizzle: Parade-Ready Potency

    Swizzles are a Caribbean cousin to New Orleans’ famous rum drinks, and this version leans fully into Mardi Gras decadence. Crushed ice softens the blow, but make no mistake — this cocktail is “stiff as hell.”

    Ingredients

    • 2 oz English Harbour 5-year rum
    • 1 oz fresh pineapple juice
    • 0.75 oz fresh lime juice
    • 0.5 oz Giffard Banane du Brésil
    • 0.5 oz Taylor Velvet Falernum
    • 0.5 oz Cruzan Blackstrap rum
    • 4 dashes Angostura bitters
    • Mint for garnish

    Create

    1. Shake the rum, juices, banana liqueur, and falernum without ice.
    2. Strain into a Collins glass filled with crushed ice.
    3. Float bitters and blackstrap rum on top.
    4. Garnish with a large mint sprig.

    Why it’s strong: Multiple rums layered together create depth — and a surprisingly high alcohol content.

    RELATED: This Natural Cannabinoid Makes You Feel Happy

    Easy Hurricane: The Bourbon Street Classic

    No Mardi Gras drink list is complete without the Hurricane, the iconic French Quarter cocktail known for its fruity flavor and formidable strength. This simplified version is perfect for home celebrations.

    Ingredients

    • 2 oz dark rum
    • 1 oz light rum
    • 1 oz passion fruit juice
    • 1 oz orange juice
    • 0.5 oz lime juice
    • 0.5 oz simple syrup or grenadine

    Create

    1. Fill a shaker with ice and add all ingredients.
    2. Shake well and pour into a tall glass over fresh ice.
    3. Garnish with an orange slice and cherry.

    Why it’s strong: Two types of rum plus sweet juices make this drink dangerously easy to sip — a hallmark of Bourbon Street favorites.

    Mardi Gras is famous for excess, but the real magic lies in the music, parades, and sense of community. Pace yourself, hydrate, and remember: the celebration ends at midnight on Fat Tuesday, but the memories last long after the beads are packed away.

    Whether you’re parade-hopping in New Orleans or hosting your own Carnival gathering, these super-strong cocktails deliver the bold flavors — and punch — worthy of the season’s grand finale.

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    Anthony Washington

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  • The Bayou Princess Bonanza: Free Mini Mardi Gras Meet and Greet at Cabarrus Brewing Co. Feb. 15 – Charlotte On The Cheap

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    Rice Family Community Events is hosting The Bayou Princess Bonanza: Mini Mardi Gras Meet and Greet on Sunday, February 15, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Cabarrus Brewing Co., 329 McGill Avenue NW, Concord, North Carolina.

    This is a free event.

    Bring the whole family and enjoy a magical meet-and-greet with The Bayou Princess, who will be greeting guests, taking photos, and sharing her New Orleans spirit right in Cabarrus County.

    Event Highlights:

    • Free Meet & Greet with The Bayou Princess (no ticket required!)
    • Free Mardi Gras Beads for all guests
    • Lively Mardi Gras atmosphere with festive music and family fun
    • Food and drinks available for purchase from Cabarrus Brewing Company

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