NOWFE's Economic Impact: $5.4 Million

The 2007 New Orleans Wine & Food Experience had an economic impact of $5.4 million.

National WW II Museum Features Battle of Midway

The D-Day Museum, now known as the National World War II Museum, is hosting an exhibit on the Battle of Midway. The museum continues its emphasis on the Pacific theater. Midway, in which U.S. naval forces crushed a Japanese attempt to seize the strategic island 65 years ago this month, is widely viewed as the turning point in the war against Japan.

New Orleans Seafood Festival

The New Orleans Seafood Festival is this weekend in the Quarter.

New Orleans Wine and Food Experience

The New Orleans Wine and Food Experience (NOWFE) is this weekend. The event includes vintner dinners hosted at restaurants around town, the Royal Street Stroll street-wide block party, grand tastings with samples from winemakers and local chefs, seminars and other wine-oriented events. The NOWFE website is here.

Zurich Classic Starts Tomorrow

They're back at the TPC Louisiana this year.

Wednesday at the Square

The Wednesday evening concerts in Lafayette Square start today with The Iguanas. Schedule here.

Occupancy Rate Near Sellout for Carnival

More than 95 percent of the city’s 30,000 available rooms had been reserved for Mardi Gras weekend, up from 92 percent during Carnival’s first weekend.

Endymion to Return to Mid-City in 2008?

Errol Laborde interviewed Mayor Nagin on PBS last night, and Nagin sounded very optimistic about Endymion returning to Mid-City next year. New Orleans bloggers are ready for Endymion to return to its home. See here, here, here, here and here.

Arthur Hardy's Blog

Arthur Hardy's Mardi Gras blog.

Mardi Gras Parades

Uptown: Zulu (8:00ish), Rex (10:00), Elks Orleans (11:30) and Crescent City (after Elks).
West Bank: Grela (11:00 and Choctaw (noon).
Metairie: Argus (10:00), followed by Jefferson Trucks and Elks Jefferson.
Covington: Lions (10:00), followed by Covington.

Lundi Gras Parades

Uptown: Proteus (5:15) and Orpheus (5:45).
Metairie: Zeus (6:30).

Sunday Parades

Uptown: Okeanos (11:00), Thoth (11:30), Mid-City (2:00) and Bacchus (5:15).
West Bank: Adonis (12:00).
Metairie: Napoleon (5:30).

Saturday's Parades

Uptown: Iris (11:00), Tucks (12:30) and Endymion (4:30).
West Bank: NOMTOC (10:45).
Metairie: Isis (6:00).

Friday Parades

Uptown: Hermes (6:00), Krewe D'Etat (6:30) and Morpheus (7:45).
Metairie: Aquila (7:00) and Jason (7:30).
Mandeville: Orpheus (7:00).
Slidell: Selene (6:30).

Thursday's Parades

Uptown: Babylon (5:45), Chaos (6:30) and Muses (7:30).

Errol Laborde's Carnival Lists and Notes

Link here for lots of Carnival info.

Wednesday's Parades

Uptown: Druids (6:00).
Metairie: Thor (7:00).

Navy Destroyer Visits New Orleans for Carnival

The Navy destroyer USS Mitscher is scheduled to arrive in New Orleans on Friday for a six-day port call associated with Mardi Gras. The Mitscher will be berthed at the Gov. Nichols Street Wharf and will be open for visits Saturday through Mardi Gras from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Today's Parades

Uptown: Carrollton (noon) and King Arthur (1:15).
French Quarter: Barkus (2:00).
West Bank: Alla (noon).
Metairie: Rhea (3:30) and Centurions (4:15).
Chalmette: Nemesis (2:00).
Slidell: Dionysus (1:00).

Saturday's Parade Schedule

Uptown: Pontchartrain (1:00); Shangri-La (2:00); Sparta (6:00); and Pegasus (6:45).
Metairie: Caesar (6:00).
Covington: Olympia (6:00).