Joan did her THANG today!

When Joan said "I was born for this" she meant she was born to crown the Dauphin the King of France. She made it happen--AND attended his coronation with the banner she carried on the battlefield. Because this was (pun intended) her "crowning achievement", it's something we need to remember her for first and foremost, rather than the most common image of her as a burning martyr. For this reason, we intend to crown a king on Twelfth Night at the Joan statue at the end of the parade route. We already have the King cake...we just need a King!

Our friend Ben Kennedy, fellow Joan blogger, writes all about the coronation and Joan's role in it here: http://saint-joan-of-arc.blogspot.com/

Local columnist calls Joan "The New 'it' Girl!"

http://www.nola.com/rose/index.ssf/2009/07/joan_of_arc_is_the_new_it_girl.html

Thank you Chris Rose for recognizing Joan as a hipster--and relevant! He gives the krewe a great shout out about our book club, starting tomorrow tonight.

And, he says, in typical NOLA style, the only thinking left to do is to name a drink after her.

Well...we actually have a cocktail contest in the works...we met recently with our sponsor hotel, The Bienville House Hotel, and their restaurant, Iris, about a Joan of Arc cocktail contest for December 6th, one month out from the parade as a way to get the word out about our new route! Look for our tents at the Bienville statue and come out and drink and vote!

Julie, our art director, has been texting me drink ideas for months...come taste and choose...cinammon flavored holy water...hmmm!

Joan goes postal!

We have gone 20th century with a post office box so you can contact us via envelope regarding membership, send us your information to propose panels and workshops for the Joan of Arts Fete (see website for additional details), send us cool packages and postcards (i.e., should you be traveling to Domremy or Rouen anytime soon), and anything Joan-related!

THE JOAN OF ARC PROJECT

P.O. BOX 56815

NEW ORLEANS LA 70156-6815

Check out the website for additional information on ways you can get involved with us:

http://www.joanofarcproject.org/

"Let Them Eat Cake" event at the French Market, featuring Joan!

http://videos.nola.com/times-picayune/2009/07/let_them_eat_cake_bastille_day.html

Joan of Arc for Mayor of New Orleans!

Today in the Quarter I saw some people sporting "Brad Pitt for Mayor" t-shirts.

But I have a better idea.

Why not Joanie on the Pony for Mayor? Why not someone who stands for something? Why not a fierce female who is honest rather than so many of our politicians who couldn't hold a flame to her?

How about a 598-year-old female who knows how to fight and believes in herself and can inspire rather than embarrass? Why not a leader who doesn't care for money or glory and who obeys her own Voices? Last year an Oklahoma town elected a 19 year old for Mayor...Joan was 19 when she died and she'd already saved her country and crowned a King. Quite a resumé.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-05-13-student-elected-mayor_N.htm

Could she be any worse than any living politician? I think not. So I say...let the games begin. Joan for Mayor. Write her in!

Bastille Day events with Jeanne d' Arc!

Celebrate Bastille Day at the French Market with Krewe de Jeanne d'Arc!

Sunday, July 12 2:00-4:00 p.m. “LET THEM EAT CAKE!” EVENT at the Market Café
Tuesday, July 14 10:30-11:00 a.m. WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY at the Jeanne d’Arc statue

New Orleans, July 7, 2009---The French Market will celebrate Bastille Day twice: on Sunday, July 12th, and on Bastille Day Tuesday, July 14th. Both events, appropriate for the entire family, are free and open to the public. Come down to the Market and celebrate liberté, égalité and fraternité with your fellow New Orleanians!

Indulge in some Francophile fun on Sunday, July 12th, for a tongue-in-cheek nod to Marie Antoinette's infamous line that inspired the French Revolution, "LET THEM EAT CAKE!" for a complimentary cake and champagne party and costume contest at The Market Cafe's outdoor patio. Special guests dressed as Napoleon (MIKKO, Living History Project), Joan of Arc (Caye Mitchell, Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc), and a mime impersonating Marcel Marceau will be present; guests are encouraged to dress as these famous French people or any French character of their choice (Marie Antoinette, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Cyrano de Bergerac etc.). Located adjacent to the New Place de France where the Jeanne d'Arc statue stands at Decatur and St. Phillip Streets, The Market Cafe will serve special French menu items in honor of Bastille Day.


SUNDAY JULY 12TH “LET THEM EAT CAKE!” The Market Café 1000 Decatur St.

2:00-4:00 p.m. Pierre Pichon Gypsy Swing Trio plays French Gypsy Jazz
2:30-p.m. Champagne Toast and Le Marseillaise sing-a-long led by Napoleon and Joan of Arc
3:00 p.m. Complimentary cake served
3:15 p.m. French character costume contest*: OPEN TO ALL AGES!

********Costume contestants must come dressed by 2:30 to register for the contest. The winner will receive a gift basket of Francophile items from French Market retail stores valued at $200.**********


Tuesday, July 14th “LA FETE NATIONALE FRANCAISE” Place de France

10:00 a.m. Guests arrive at the Jeanne d’ Arc Statue at Decatur and St. Phillip Streets
10:30 a.m. Welcome speech from Cecile Andry, president of Council of French Societies (in French, then in English)
10:40 a.m. Olivier Brochenin, Consul General of France in Louisiana
10:45 a.m. Amy Kirk Duvoisin, Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc
10:50 a.m. Ken Ferdinand, French Market Corporation
11:00 a.m. Toast and singing of Le Marseillaise
Join us for breakfast* at The Market Café afterwards!
*Breakfast optional and not complimentary.

Honor Bastille Day in a ceremonial fashion with The Council of French Societies and The Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc on Tuesday, July 14th. His Honorable, Olivier Brochenin, Consul General of France in Louisiana, will speak and lay the wreath at the statue of Jeanne d’Arc. Ken Ferdinand, Executive Director of the French Market, will offer a toast. Complimentary wine and champagne will be served to guests for the toast and singing of Le Marseillaise and complimentary cupcakes will be served by the Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc, featuring Caye Mitchell dressed in armor as Joan.

To view parking and maps, visit http://www.frenchmarket.org/.

OPEN FOR KREWE MEMBERS!

Last year we were a bit renegade, which was all well and medieval, but this year we are charging dues to be able to pay for things like insurance and more throws, finer costumes and more birthday candles for Joan. Doesn't she deserve 598 rather than 50? (And if we could go back in time, we'd use the money to pay for her lawyer! Or, wait. As someone pointed out to me recently, she may have been WORSE off if she'd been represented!)

If you are interested in joining us, please send me an email at stjoankrewe@yahoo.com and tell me a bit about yourself, why you want to join, what kind of costume you already have or intend to wear, and I'll send you the p.o. box for mailing us your dues as well as other details and dates. We want everyone to have a specific role for walking with us, so either suggest a few or if you want to be assigned something, great! We have plenty of roles we want to fill...from executioner to angels.

KREWE DE JEANNE D'ARC PARTICIPATION LEVELS:

$250 Royalty...you support Joan and send her and her army into battle. Because of you the parade and fete will be possible and parade participants will be well armed with throws and lovely stuff! You will be invited to the krewe party and have all membership benefits, plus a special soiree just for royalty honoring the crowning of the Dauphin (which really occurred on July 17 but whew that's hot so we'll do something in the winter for ya..)

$100 The Army. You are a member of Krewe de Jeanne d'Arc and will be armed with throws and plenty of faith and good company. You will walk with us but must provide your own costume. You may participate in the Krewe Party on January 5th at the Bienville House Hotel for a fee. You will be invited to key organizational meetings, will receive email updates, and must come to one informational meeting in December.

$50 Peasant. You can join at this level as an individual walker OR as a family (limited to 5 which equals $10 per member.) You will need to provide your own throws and costumes and we will provide workshops for those who want ideas and guidance about making handmade throws. You will receive email reminders and must attend one informational meeting in December.

$10 Bastard! You support Joan and the Army from afar and get a bumpersticker that says: PROUD TO BE A BASTARD! Krewe de Jeanne d'Arc to wear proudly on your armor or armored vehicle. You can't walk with us but you please join us at the beginning or end of the parade for our Bienville statue send-off and/or Joan statue soiree.

Contact Amy at stjoankrewe@yahoo.com with any questions!