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| Mass Ave hosts annual Mardi Gras Mambo Celebrate an exciting Downtown tradition as the sixth annual Mardi Gras Mambo returns to Mass Ave Feb. 25! This year’s event will do more than celebrate Mardi Gras; it is dedicated to the people of New Orleans affected by Hurricane Katrina as well as three important Mardi Gras icons from Indianapolis and New Orleans. Mass Ave will start the celebration early. The Chatterbox Jazz Club, located at 435 Massachusetts Ave., kicks off the festivities Feb. 18 with a performance by New Orleans’ own Batiste Brothers. This night of authentic New Orleans jazz, funk and R&B begins at 10:30 p.m. The Mardi Gras Mambo parade kicks off Feb. 25 at 2:30 p.m. at the YMCA at the Athenaeum. Expo Design has designed four floats, which honor the hurricane victims and three Mardi Gras and Indiana jazz legends. The Shortridge Middle School Band along with the “Jazz Legends” float will pay tribute to legendary Indiana Avenue jazz saxophonists Pookie Johnson and Jimmy Coe. School 91’s AYS Program and Flanner House children will ride an African drum float decorated with masks. Another float will be dedicated to Tootie Montana, known as “the greatest Mardi Gras Indian who ever lived.” The float will carry Montana’s relatives as well as Robin Williams-Hawks, Mardi Gras cultural ambassador. A fourth float will feature a Russian theme in honor of Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff, who chose the official Mardi Gras colors of Purple, Green and Gold for the Krewe of Rex in 1883. In addition to floats, spectators can see 14 AYS Krewes, made up of students from AYS, Inc.’s after-school, kindergarten and early childhood programs. AYS started the parade in 2001 as a means of showcasing the multicultural aspect of the AYS curriculum. Other parade participants include a YMCA kids Krewe, Krewe of Barkus (krewe of dogs) sponsored by Three Dog Bakery, Indymeows Krewe (krewe of cats), four Agape miniature horses (34 inches tall) and an Indianapolis Fire Department Fire Engine. Four horse drawn carriages, sponsored by Silver in the City, Nestle Inn, The Frame Shop and a racehorse rescue group called Friends of Ferdinand, will also participate. Activities will continue throughout the afternoon and evening! Stroll up and down the Avenue as you visit the unique shops, restaurants and bars. Adults are then invited to a Mardi Gras Ball at LAMP Fine Art Gallery at 8 p.m. Dance to music, enjoy food and drink and celebrate in style. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |