I’d fully intended to post on Saturday, but found the day get away from me all to quickly – and despite what you might guess, it wasn’t a Friday-night induced hangover to blame. Rather I found myself doing a bit more running to and from my condo to help some of the PyrateCon performers resolve some sound issues. Between that and making time for meals, the parade – and yes, perhaps just a little hangover nursing – Saturday came and went in a piratical blur.

Friday night saw the Dead Pyrate Ball at PyrateCon, as well as a seperate PyrateWeek Ball and a PyrateWeek Parade. Through sheer luck I happened to catch the parade, which was relatively short and notably passed directly through the PyrateCon grounds. The PyrateWeek Ball was very local based, with marching bands, several “real” and tourist pirates, and a few non-descript VIPs in cars (I believe the adjacent photo is of Lord David, a New Orleans pirate of some note.) Continue reading →

As expected, PyrateCon proper began last night, and it did so in true piratey fashion. The evening began quietly enough – something of a calm before the storm as I did some light bar-hopping with Skip and John of Skip Henderson and the Starboard Watch. Skip and John did some light impromptu pirate music at the Funky Pirate, much to the delight of the venue’s drunken patrons who were incredibly generous with their tips, and then we grabbed some quick rum at The Pirate’s Alley Cafe before hitting The Bourbon O – being the site of the PyrateCon kickoff party. We arrived to find things already well underway as the place was swarming with pirates, most of whom had only arrived in town a few hours prior. Music by the Pirates Charles got the night quickly moving, as did the obscene amounts of alcohol. Continue reading →

It’s Thursday at last! And whether folks are coming to support PyrateWeek, PyrateCon, neither or both – today is the day that I expect pirates to truly descend upon New Orleans. Not that we haven’t had plenty of scoundrels around town already – last night No Quarter Given held its 15th Anniversary Party at the Avenue Pub, only a short 10 minute street car ride from the French Quarter. The party was packed with pirates and reg’lar folk alike, with performances by Skip Henderson and the Starboard Watch, The Pirates Charles, and the Pirates McKenna. Continue reading →

Ahoy all! And here it is, my very first post from the heart of all things pirate (well, for this week anyways) – New Orleans, LA! I’d hoped to begin my daily coverage of PyrateWeek sooner, but two unfortunate circumstances intervened. First, my condo’s modem is fried, and second, I’m still recovering from a nasty bout of the flu, which has sadly forced me to bow out of most of the PyrateWeek happenings thus far. I was unable to assist in the volunteer efforts, and ditto of the late night debaucheries (but I’m well on my way to being in full gear come the weekend, fingers crossed.)

That said, tonight is the No Quarter Given Anniversary Party, which I have no intention of missing, so hopefully I can begin my substantive coverage tomorrow. But meantime, I wanted to let everyone know that I’m in New Orleans, alive and well, and looking forward to meeting up with those of you that can attend, and posting here for those of you that can’t!

~Bilge