Stucky's 5-Course Mardi Gras Dinner for February 26: $12.95

Stucky's is located in Johnsburg, Illinois.

Served from 5 to 8 pm Wednesday.  I already have my reservations for this meal.

And, it is all you can eat.  And, just $12.95!!!!

FIRST COURSE:  Bayou Crab Chowder

SECOND COURSE:  Jambalaya with red beans & rice

THIRD COURSE:  Catfish with hush puppies

FOURTH COURSE:  Po Boy with pulled pork, slaw and fried pickles

FIFTH COURSE:  Beignets with caramel sauce

Salivating Just Thinking About It.  --RoadHog

Getting Our Mardi Gras On

Yesterday, Liz and I got our Mardi Gras on despite not being in Florida at Panama City beach for a second year in a row.  But, you can still have fun here in the Northlands if you want to.

We got out our Mardi Gras shirts.  Mine says "Got Beads?"   We then tapped into one of our bags of "caught" beads from the Mardi Gras parades we went to in Panama City and Panama City Beach.  We have quite a large collection, despite never actually trying to catch beads.

We drove to Bodi's Bakery in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, where we had ordered a King Cake and we also picked up a couple of their paczkis.  There was quite a rush of people in there getting paczkis.

Then we went to Donovan's Reef where we shared the King Cake with the folks there.  This is something we do for Mardi Gras every time we are up here for it.  Next, we went to Stucky's in Johnsburg, where they were having their own Mardi Gras party.    Kelly had a great internet station on playing seasonal music.  It was all Mardi Gras type music and some of the best I've ever heard.

Their Mardi Gras food, though, is going to be served on Wednesday as part of their 5-course family dinner.  I'll be there for it.  I'll list the courses in my next post in a little while.

It Was a Festive Time.  --RoadGras

I'd Celebrate That!!! March 5: Mardi Gras 2019 Today and Cinco De Marcho

Theses are from the Checkiday site which has more fays to celebrate and information about them.  I just pick out the ones of most interest  to me.

**  I'd celebrate that.

MARCH 5

CINCO DE MARCHO--  **  Marks the beginning of the season to train your liver for St. Patrick's Day, which will soon be here.  I didn't know of this one before this.  But, I have already been training for today, March 5, 2019, which is Mardi Gras.

MARDI GRAS--**  This year coming mighty late.

FUN FACTS ABOUT NAMES DAY--**    Look up interesting things about your name and other names.  You don't want to be in the Stink Hole Corner in Cribbage.

NATIONAL CHEESE DOODLE DAY--  **  Who doesn't like a cheese doodle now and then?

REEL FILM DAY--  This is for those old reel films you had to thread through a projector.  I never quite mastered the art so  my kids rarely saw a film in class.

NATIONAL POTTY DANCE DAY--  **   That little dance kids do when they need to go to  the bathroom.  I've done a variation of it outside the local tavern bathroom at times.  Come on buddy.  HURRY UP!!!

Drinking With A Purpose.  Well, That's My Excuse Anyway.  --RoadDog

TOP TEN TRIVIA:  with Jack DeRue.   J.C. Penney's middle name was Cash.

I'd Celebrate That!!! Feb. 11 to Feb. 14: Mardi Gras Season Begins Wesnesday

**   I'd Celebrate That.

FEBRUARY 11

CLEAN OUT YOUR COMPUTER DAY**  --  You're supposed to clean the outside and inside of your computer.  I can do the outside, but not going inside.  Too complicated.

NATIONAL DON'T CRY OVER SPILLED MILK DAY**--  If it's gone ot lost, get on with your life.

NATIONAL PEPPERMINT  PATTY DAY**   I sure love those.


FEBRUARY 12

LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY**  The 16th President.

NATIONAL LOST PENNY DAY**  --  What's the saying?  A penny saved is a penny _____.

PAUL BUNYAN DAY**  --   Always enjoyed that story when I was growing up.   That and Pecos Bill.


FEBRUARY 13

BEGINNING OF MARDI GRAS SEASON** --  Well, I do love my Mardi Gras for so many reasons.  Though it looks like we won't be having it down at Panama City and Panama City Beach this year.

INTERNATIONAL PANCAKE DAY**  --What's a Mardi Gras without pancakes?

WORLD RADIO DAY** --  I don't know anyone who likes radio better than me.  I'm listening to WBRF, 98.1 FM Classic Country out of Galax, Virginia, right now, one of my favorite stations.

PACZKI DAY**  --   What's a Mardi Gras without those  good ol' Polish paczkis.


FEBRUARY 14

ASH WEDNESDAY--

LIBRARY LOVERS DAY**  --  Few places I enjoy more than a library.

NATIONAL CREAM FILLED CHOCOLATE DAY**  Like a box of chocolates, right Forrest?

VALENTINE'S DAY--  One of the biggest worthless events anywhere.   You do this everyday.  But it does make the greeting car, candy and flower folks mighty rich.

Mr. Radio Guy--RoadRadio

Just Got Back From PCB-- Part 7: Mardi Gras All Over Again

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10

Threat of rain all day.  Barb, Glen and I walked over to Aaron Bessant Park west of Pier Park and saw the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Aaron Neville.  You don't get much more New Orleans ('Nawlins) than those two.  Huge crowd despite threat of rain which didn't come, fortunately.  All the better to get us into the Mardi Gras mood.

On the way back we listened to Waylon Thibideaux and his band playing zydeco and Cajun in Pier Park.  Unfortunately, a real heavy, moisture-laden fog rolled in before the PCB Mardis Gras parade.  At times you couldn't see any of the buildings, but the parade went off anyway.  We missed the fireworks because of the fog.

RoadGras

Just Got Back From PCB-- Part 6: Patches, Sharkey's, Eat My Pasty, Donovan's and Fireworks

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9

Snow back home.  67 degrees here in PCB today.   Drove to Patches with Glenn and Barb.  They were impressed.  A real locals dive bar and hard to find, but worth it.  Went to Sharkey's and sat out at that great big tiki hit by the water.

Had dinner at the British joint called Eat My Pasty which, of course serves pastys, which British miners used to eat.  Also enjoyed English beer.

Went to Donovan's and then enjoyed the Mardi Gras fireworks off the pier.  We watched from the motel.

--RoadDog

Just Got Back From PCB-- Part 5: Mardi Gras Party, Usual Suspects Join Us and Bar Hopping

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8

Warm enough, but really strong winds made it uncomfortable.  Bought a new king cake as we had finished the first one.  Also some food for the Driftwood Lodge/Osprey Mardi Gras party held at noon.  It was outside, but the Osprey building blocked the wind so it was fine as far as comfort, even had to take my sweatshirt off.

We were joined by friends Glenn and Barb who got a room near us for a few days.  They'd just finished a Kentucky Bourbon Cruise and had never been to PCB so we will show them around.

We took them to Dusty's. Pamona Joe's and Donovan's.

--RoadDog

Just Got Back From PCB-- Part 2: Hitting the Bars and Mardi Gras

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 2

We arrived in Panama City Beach (PCB) around noon and checked into the Driftwood Lodge.   Went to Wal-Mart to stock up the beer and then drove the long, long way (distance, traffic and stoplights) out to the east end of PCB looking for a bar friends had told us about called Patches, but couldn't find it.

Disappointed as we were, we drowned our sorrows at Sharkeys, Pompano Joe's and finally, our favorite PCB watering hole, Donovan's Reef.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 3

Had breakfast at Burger King and did some shopping at Dollar Tree and bought a king cake at Winn-Dixie.  Hey, Mardi Gras after all.   And, Mardi Gras in both Panama City and PCB was a big reason we came down this early in February.

Drove to Panama City for the St. Andrews Mardi Gras parade and collected a whole lot of beads even though we weren't really trying to get them.

We "found" patches on the way back, and it was everything we had heard it was, a locals favorite and quite the dive bar with patches of military, fire departments and police all over the interior.

Went to Donovan's, something we did every day we were in PCB.

Getting Into the Swing of Things.  --RoadDog

Sure Enjoying the Music Here at the Driftwood Lodge on the Gulf of Mexico

The dj started playing his music about an hour and a half ago for out joint Mardi Gras party with the Osprey next door.  We'll be having Cajun food and all sorts of music this afternoon in honor of next Tuesday's Mardi Gras.  I myself am groovin' out to it right now while typin' away on this here laptop.

The waves of the Gulf of Mexico are crashing along the shore about 200 feet from where I sit.  The sun is shining and it is at least 77 degrees.  Not a bad way to spend a February 23rd.

The dj is also playing Motown and oldies.  Just the thing for us oldsters.

Good Times On the Beach.  --RoadDog

The Best of Louisiana Music-- Part 2: "Mardi Gras in New Orleans"

6.  LES FLAMMES D'ENFER (THE FLAMES OF HELL)--  Eddie LeJeunne,  D.L. Menard and Ken Smith
7.  BIG CHIEF, PT. 1--  Professor Longhair
8.  MOJO HANNAH--  Aaron Neville

9.  J'AURAID DU T'AIMER (I SHOULD HAVE LOVED YOU)--  Jimmy C. Newman and Cajun Country
10.  CARNIVAL TIME--  Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias
11.  IMITATION OF LOVE--  Johnny Adams

12.  OPELOUSAS SOSTAN--  Mamou
13.  BLACK DRAWERS--  Chuck Carbo
14.  HOT TAMALE BABY--  Buckwheat Zydeco

15.  MARDI GRAS IN NEWORLEANS--  Dirty Dozen Brass Band
16.  SO SWELL WHEN YOU'RE WELL--  James Booker

17.  STREET TALK--  Bo Dollis and Willie Tee with Dr. John
18.  BLUES DU SAOULARD (DRUNKARD'S BLUES)--  Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys
19.  WATCH THAT DOG--  John Delafose and the Eurnice Playboys

Name That Tune:  "I Can Hear the Jukebox Play."  --RoadDog


YOU KNOW IT'S JULY IN FLORIDA WHEN:  You burn your hand opening the car door.


"Opelousas Sostan"

The Best of Louisiana Music-- Part 1: "Your Mama Don't Know"

From the second-line beat of New Orleans rhythm and blues, to the exuberant street music of the brass bands and Mardi Gras Indians, to the bayou dancehall sounds of Cajun and zydeco, there's no place like Louisiana for good time music.  Here are 19 of the best Mardi Gras  party tracks ever, performed by many of Louisiana's best-known artists."

If you're only going to get one CD of this kind of music, this is the one I would recommend.  It is put out by Rounder records "The Best of Louisiana Music"  CD AN 08.  Copyright 1993.

1.  BON TEMPS ROULER--  Beausoleil
2.  I NEVER FOOL NOBODY BUT ME--  Ira Thomas

3.  LOOK-KA PY PY--  Meters
4.  YOUR MAMA DON'T KNOW--  Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas
5.  IF YOU'S A VIPER--  Rebirth Brass Band featuring Kermit Ruffins

Name That Tune:  "You See me There, Well I Ain't No Fool."  --RoadDog


"Bon Temps Rouler"

Mardi Gras.. Again: All that King Cake

Well, we got our fair share of King Cake yesterday and got our beads.

We drove to Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and bought a huge and delicious King Cake at Bodi's bakery downtown.

They make an excellent cake for $23.  And, it is huge.

Sadly, Sal didn't have any Louisiana/Mardi Gras food, nor were there any Hurricane or Grenade specials at Donovan's Reef.

A whole lot of folks got their first taste of King Cake, though.

Seven Second Jerry got the baby.

Bad For You, But, Oh, So Good.  --RoadDog

YOU KNOW IT'S JULY IN FLORIDA WHEN:  The birds need potholders to pull worms out of the ground.

Last Night, We had Our Annual Lundi Gras Celebration: "Party Town"

In other wirds, Fat Monday, the Day Before the Big Day.

Tom marker, on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM devoted his whole hour-long Bluesbreakers show to the music of Louisiana.  Always a must-listen show for me.

Here's what he played:

We will be driving to Twin lakes, Wisconsin in a short time and picking up our King Cake and going over to Donovan's Reef for own lil' Mardi Gras.

PARTY TOWN--  Marcia Ball
RED BEANS--  Snooks Eaglin
BONEYARD--  John Cleary

These next three songs written by Allen Toussaint:

A CERTAIN GIRL--  Ernie K. Doe
HOLY COW--  Lee Dorsey
RULER OF MY HEART-- Irma Thomas

These next two performed y Allen Toussaint:

YES WE CAN CAN--  Allen Toussaint
WHIRLAWAY--  Allen Toussaint

MEET DEM BOYS ON THE BATTLEFRONT--  Anders Osbourne and Big Chief Monk Bourdreaux
CAN'T STOP THE FUNK--  Neville Brothers
MARDI GRAS DAY--  Kermit Ruffin and Rebirth Brass Band

BASIN STREET BLUES--  Henry Butler

Name That Tune: "Driver of My Soul, Where Can You Be."  --RoadiGrasDog


"Ruler of My heart"

Well, Since It's Mardi Gras... ""Go To Mardi Gras"

Go to the WXRT website where they have "Five Classic New Orleans Songs to Celebrate Fat Tuesday."  Plus, the station is playing Mardi Gras music off and on all day.

IKO IKO (JOCK-A-MO)--  Dr. John

HEY POCKY WAY--  Meters

GO TO MARDI GRAS--  Professor Longhair

FIRE ON THE BAYOU--  Neville Brothers

WORKING IN A COAL MINE--  Allen Toussaint

Videos accompany all of them.

Let's Get Celebrating.  --RoadDog

Name That Tune:  "My Grandma and Your Grandma, Sitting By a Fire."



"Iko Iko"

It's Mardi Gras Day

We are on our way to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for our yearly observation of Mardi Gras.

We will stop at the local bakery in town to pick up a King Cake and then will have shrimp gumbo and Hurricanes at Donovan's.

Some music to get you in te correct mood.  These were played last night on Tom Marker's Blues Breakers show on WXRT which was called Lundi Gras in honor of Fat Monday.

MARDI GRAS MAMBO--  Hawkettes
I WENT TO MARDI GRAS--  Snooks Eaglin
GROOVE ME--  King Floyd

THE MONKEY--  Dave Bartholomew
MY FEETS CAN'T FAIL ME NOW--  Dirty Dozen Brass Band
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE PEACE--  C.J. Chernier

BLUE MONDAY--  Fays Domino
ROCKIN' PNEUMONIA--  James Booker
ALL ON MARDI GRAS DAY--  Kermit Ruffin

BREAKAWAY--  Irma Thomas
THE PARTY'S STILL GOING ON--  Marcia Ball
BACKNTOWN--  Trombone Shorty
SINGIN' THE BLUES--  Allen Toussaint

WXRT is playing New Orleans music all day today, every couple songs.  Give it a listen.

Bon Tons Roulet!!  --RoadDog

Beast Norm Peterson Qupotes:  What'll you have, Norm?  "Well, I am in a gambling mood Sammy, I'll take whatever comes out of the tap."  Looks like beerm Norm.  "Call me Nr. Lucky."

Top Ten Mardi Gras Oldies-- Part 2

#6. BIG CHIEF--PT. 2-- Professor Longhair. The "Fess" is a New Orleans legend. This was originally an instrumental, but Earl King added vocals. //// #7. DO WHATCHA WANNA-- PT. 3-- Rebirth Brass Band. Not an oldies cut, per se, from the mid-90s, but "emblematic of the city's rich brass-band traditions." //// #8. THEY ALL ASK FOR YOU-- Meters. One of three items on this list from the 1970s "homegrown funk period." //// #9. MARDI GRAS MAMBO-- Hawkettes. High school group which later mutated into the Neville Brothers. You know, "Down in New orleans where the blues was born, it takes a cool cat to blow a horn." //// #10. SECOND LINE-- Stop, Inc. Great march-dance for a Mardi Gras parade (If you're actually in a parade, you're first line. If you are drunk and dancing behind a float, you're in the second line, in case you're wonderin'.) //// Good Stuff. --RoadDog

Mardi Gras IV-- Part 2

The rest of the Mardi Gras IV cassette tape: COCONUT MILK-- Bo Dollis & the Wild Magnolias // WOOGIE BOOGIE-- George Parker, Jr. // CAN'T STRAIGHTEN UP YOUR MIND-- Chuck Carlos // OH SWEETNESS-- Snooks Eaglin // BREAKAWAY-- Irma Thomas //// ALLOUS A TEPATATE-- Balfa Toujous // PERE ET GAROON-- John Delafose // YOU USED TO CALL ME-- C.J. Chernier // EVERYTHING ON THE HOG-- Nathan //// JOHNNY BILLY GOAT-- Boozoos Chavis // WATCH THE DOG-- John Delafose // SUGAR BEE-- Boozoo Chavis. //// Some Mighty Good Louisiana Music If I Do Say So. --RoadDog

Top Ten Mardi Gras Oldies-- Part 1

From About.com Oldies Music by Robert Fontenot. //// 1. GO TO THE MARDI GRAS-- Professor Longhair. The King of All Mardi Gras songs and a breathtaking piano intro.. //// HEY POCKY WAY-- Meters. Strongest of several Mardi Gras classics. //// 3. STREET PARADE-- Earl King Captures the loose feel of Second Line better than any other song. //// 4. CARNIVAL TIME-- Al Johnson. His one and only hit, but he still bills himself as Al "Carnival Time" Johnson. Listen to it and you'll know why. //// 5. JOCK-A-MO-- Sugar Boy Crawford and His Cane Cutters. Most of you know it as "Iko, Iko" but what the song originally sounded like when it was "Raw Fifties R&B." //// Five More Tomorrow. --RoadDog

Mardi Gras in My Other Blogs

Yesterday and today, I posted Mardi Gras items in my RoadDog's RoadLog Blog, Tattooed On Your Soul World War II Blog, Cooter's History Thing and Not So Forgotten: War of 1812 Blog. //// In Case You've Not Had Enough. -- RoadDog

Mardi Gras IV: Music to Celebrate

Back when i was deejaying, I made several cassette tapes of some great New Orleans/Louisiana music suitable for Mardi Gras. I'm listening to Mardi Gras IV right now. Songs on it: NO CITY LIKE NEW ORLEANS-- Earl King // SOMETHING YOU GOT-- Earl King // DADDY DADDY DADDY-- Carol Fran Clarence // WHOLE LOTTA LOVIN'-- Fessa Longhair // SWANEE RIVER ROCK-- Snooks Eaglin //// CHERIE PETIT MONDE-- Balfa Toujous // NEW ORLEANS BEAT--Steve Riley // HOT TAMALE BABY-- Marcia Ball // ZYDECO LA LOUISIANNE-- Buckwheat Zydeco //// VALSE BEBE-- Beausoleil // I'M HERE-- Clifton Chernier // SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL-- Louisiana Playboys // TOUS LES TEMPS ON TEMPS-- Lynn August. //// And That's Just Half the Cassette Tape. --RoadDog