Toomeys Mardi Gras Beads and Masks Blog

Tips for watching a Mardi Gras Parade for the first time

toomeys — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:31:27 +0000

For millions of people around the world, parades are the highlight of a day, week, or even year. Parades are parties where everyone get’s involved. One of the best examples would be Mardi Gras, where several parades a day can take place. It is one big celebration and everyone is involved, whether you are working with the city to prep for and regulate the parade, a Krewe member who is tossing parade throws to the crowd, a member of the marching band, or just one of the parade goers waiting anxiously to see what treasures they will go home with. Today, we want try and provide some tips for the parade goers, specifically newcomers who may not know how to properly prepare for the enormous celebration known as Mardi Gras.

Watching and participating in a Mardi Gras parade can either be one of the most memorable events you attend or it can be one of the most disastrous experiences. It all depends on how you plan for it. We have searched the web and asked veteran parade goers what they think are some important things to keep in mind when planning to attend a Mardi Gras Parade. The following are just a few of the things that you can keep in mind that will help make sure your night of Mardi Gras Bead hunting is a memorable one in a positive way.

1.Lodge near the parade route.

Probably one of the best things you could do for yourself is to have a place to stay that is within walking distance of the parade route. This eliminates the need for having to drive and also takes care of one of the other tips, which is having a preplanned meeting place should you separated from your party. If you are one of the lucky ones to get a room on the parade route then that is all the better. Watching the a parade from your balcony has some unique advantages. To get the best rates and location be sure to plan far enough ahead when booking the room.We can tell you that in the world of Mardi Gras, a month or two before Mardi Gras is not planning ahead, think more like a year in advance.

2. Carpool

If you are not lucky enough to get lodging near or on the parade route, try to carpool. The more people that car pool the less congestion there is before and after the parade. This cuts down on delays and potential accidents from happening. Make sure the person driving your carpool is a “Designated Driver”. Know the local laws and regulations for parking, you do not want to end the night by finding out you car has been towed. Also be sure to educate yourself on where the safe place to park for a parade is, you don,t want to end the night finding out your car has been vandalized either. Be sure you know your way back to the car, you do not want to end the night carrying around a bunch of parade throws while searching for your car.

3. Know the area

Before immersing yourself into the crowds and confusion of a Mardi Gras Parade, take the time to learn the layout of the area you will be in. Kno the names of the main streets that run through the area. If at all possible have a map of the area saved on your phone or at least a pocket map. Here are a few examples of some things you will want to be able to locate.

Police Station – In case of emergency
Medic Station – In case of emergency
Starting and ending point of the parade – Most of the time you can use this knowledge to see the same parade at least twice.
Where you parked – so you can get home
Coffee Shop – For the pick me up
Store – Never know what you need to buy on the go

4. Camera

Make sure you bring a camera! Whether it is video or photo, you will want to have this experience recorded. Be sure to bring along a comfortable sized camera that you can strap to your wrist or waist. The crowds go into a frenzy when the Mardi Gras Beads start flying and you do not want to get bumped into and see your camera hit the ground. Make sure you have an empty memory card with plenty of memory. Once you start seeing all the crazy floats, costumes and different outfits people will be wearing you will find yourself snapping way more pictures than you intended to.

5. Dress appropriately for the weather and amount of walking you will be doing.

After you have figured if you are staying on the parade route or if you are parking near it, the next thing you need to do is try and estimate how far you will be walking total. If it is more than 100 feet then you need to make sure you wear comfortable shoes. Mardi Gras parades will generally involve quite a bit of walking for the average person. Walking around during Mardi Gras is kind of like being out in the sun, sometmes you are burned before you realize how long you have been out there. Same with the walking, you can walk a mile or two and not even realize it. You do not want blisters keeping you from scrambling for all the cool Mardi Gras trinkets that will be thrown your way. Also make sure you know what the weather is going to be and dress for it. you do not want your fun interrupted by constantly having to rub your arms because you are cold. You also do not want to spend the parade lugging around extra coats and jackets you really didn’t need.

These are just 5 of many tips that can be followed to make sure your Mardi Gras Parade experience is the best possible. The key to it all is to make sure you plan, plan, plan. Stay safe and Happy Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras Parade Schedules & Routes in Mobile, AL

toomeys — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:41:21 +0000

It’s Mardi Gras time once again, well for some it is here. It may seem that it is still a long time away for others, however for people in the industry, Mardi Gras is well under way. Mardi Gras has many attractions including Masquerade Balls and Parades. Today we are talking parades! Parades allow you to hit the street s and be showered with Mardi Gras Beads, Moon Pies and many other types of Mardi Grow throws. However, if you do not know when and where these parades are, well then you will be left empty handed. But don’t worry we are here to tell you all about where to stand for the parades in Mobile, AL “Home of the Original Mardi Gras”.

Parades can take place during the day as well as during the night. As with anything in life it is all about location, location, location. If you want to make out with the most Mardi Gras Beads then you need to be in the know about what day Mardi Gras Parades in Mobile, AL take place. You also need to know where they will be rolling so you know where to stand.

Mobile, AL has 4 main parade routes. There is Route A, Route B, Route C, and Route D. Most all of the parades that you will see on the parade schedule provided on our site roll on Route A unless otherwise noted. On our Mardi Gras Parade Schedule page you will find links to interactive Google maps that have each parade route outlined so that you know exactly where to go. If you see any changes or additions that need to be made, just drop us a line! Happy Mardi Gras! CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE PARADE SCHEDULE AND ROUTE PAGE.

Blocos during Carnival in Rio de Janeiro

toomeys — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:51:39 +0000

There are several aspects of Carnival that make up the overall experience. Here in the United States we have Mardi Gras, where you will see floats parading down the street and throwing Mardi Gras Beads, Moon Pies, and many other fun trinkets that people carry home with them. Carnival in Rio has some things that are alike and some things that are different. Our topic this week that is related to Carnival in Rio de Janeiro will be Blocos.

Some say that Blocos can start as early as November and go all the way through Carnival. Wait, we are still not exactly clear on what a Bloco is. Ok, so a Bloco is simply the groups of people and street bands that get together and celebrate on a particular day. The word Bloco includes pretty much everything used in the celebration. Grand stands, people, and the bands are all included when someone speaks of a Bloco.

Common ordinary people are the life of Blocos and many Blocos started out by a few friends simply deciding to go out and celebrate together. It is common to hear of Blocos that started out as a few friends drinking and celebrating, turn into a crowd of thousands over time. Being the popular expression of the free Rio de Janeiro Carnival, most Blocos do contain a group of people with similar interests or beliefs, Samba dancers and a marching street band. Members of the Bloco can show up in costume, regular clothes, bathing suits or anything else they can imagine!!

Blocos definitely have their share of observers, however they really encourage participation. Be sure to grab a cool costume or mask and jump right in. There is really no excuse not to because there are street vendors there selling costumes and mask for those that forgot to bring one. The sizes of Blocos vary greatly. They can range from a very small crowd all the way up to about 2,000,000 people, which is an estimate of how many people show up for Cordão do Bola Preta. It is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, Bloco around.

Whether you plan your trip for carnival season or end up an accidental tourist who walks into the middle of a Bloco, it is best to just join in and let the flow take you for as long as you can stand it. Who knows, maybe one day you and a Krewe of your friends will start a Bloco to express your beliefs and similarities in celebration of Carnival.

Bulk Mardi Gras Beads

toomeys — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:17:26 +0000

Mardi Gras beads are one of the most popular trinkets in the world. They have different meanings for different events throughout many countries and cities across the world. There are as many designs as there are uses. The beads are purchased by Mardi Gras Krewes to throw during their parade route, by party planners for decorations and by artists to add to sculptures and other art creations. We could go on all day compiling a list of things that different customers use the beads for all year around. There is however, one question that is pretty common, “What is the most popular bead for the money that I can get the most of?” This question is what we will answer today.

Mardi Gras parades are put on by many different groups and organizations most commonly known as Mardi Gras Krewes. They plan year round for their parade and put a lot of work and effort into making sure everything is as grand and extravagant as possible. From their Krewe costumes all the way to the decorating and painting of the Mardi Gras floats. They could quite possibly be the number one consumer of the most popular bead seen at all the Mardi Gras Parades in places like New Orleans, LA and Mobile, AL. What is the most popular bead? We will tell you after we look at two more genres of consumers that love this bead.

Party planners are always pushed to have super creative and unique ideas for their customers. Their customers depend on them to create a memorable and fun event that all of their guests will love. Creativity depends upon the planner’s ability to think outside the box and use new resources to create a decorative and fun look that will wow the guests. This is where the beads come in, whether you call them Mardi Gras beads, Throw Beads, Parade Beads, or just decorative craft beads. They work. So what is this bead? We will tell you right after we discuss on more niche that uses these bulk beads.

Art is a very broad word that is used to describe many creations from the minds of countless people across the world. There is always room for new materials to create with. Some artists will use acrylics, some will use discarded materials, or some will use purchased materials. Among all of this art is a form of art known as bead art. Cheap beads in bulk are used in the creation of many art forms. They are melted, glued, and molded into many different things. Art can sometimes be a trial and error process, so being able to buy a large amount of beads for little money, allows the artist to experiment without much cost. So, what is this famous, popular, cheap bead sold by the bulk that everyone uses? Now, we will tell you.

The number one choice of beads is the 33” 7mm global cut bead. The reason that they are so popular is because they are sold in such high quantities so you get a bulk discount. Some of the other beads that you will find sell for one to three dollars each. Not a bad deal, depending on what you plan to do with them. The M1107 (That is the product code for the 33” 7mm bead) comes in many colors and can be bought for $6.90 a bag. There are 12 dozen to a bag of beads. That’s a whopping 144 beads for $6.90 (depending on when you read this, prices may vary) and they are also sold for $28.00 a case (again, depending on when you read this, cost could vary), a case contains 60 dozen beads. That’s 720 pieces in once case for $28.00.

It is easy to see why the 33” 7mm global cut Mardi Gras beads are the standard bead for parades all around. As well as the choice of bead for anyone who needs to buy a large bulk amount of beads for low prices. Besides being inexpensive they are available in many solid colors and bags of mixed colors. Red, Blue, Silver, Gold, Black, Purple, Green, and Gold are just some of the colors available in the 33” 7mm global cut Mardi Gras beads. Be sure to visit us today so that you know what other wonderful things we have to offer you.

2012 New Year’s Celebrations in Masks

admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:34:56 +0000

The year 2011 is coming to a close and making way for the New Year, 2012. Celebrations, fiestas, galas, and masquerades will take place around the world. There will be fine dining, buffets, and hors d’oeuvres. Be it mystery or whimsical many of the festive celebrations will have one thing in common, masks. No extravaganza is complete without some sort of mask such as a venetian mask on a stick. Whether it is at a local mansion or in front of a symphony orchestra there is a style of masquerade mask to fit your needs.

The art of masking can be traced to many areas of celebrating, especially Mardi Gras along with the beads. New Year’s Eve is no exception and 2012 is the time to experience it firsthand. Costumed party goers around the world spend just the right amount of time selecting the mask that’s just right for the theme of their gala. Don’t limit your time for selection by waiting till the last minute to choose the mask you love because you were thinking more about champagne and cocktails.

One popular style of mask is a Venetian mask on a stick. Women love these elegant masks for complementing their evening attire. Being on the stick allows for the lady to hold the mask as close or as far away as she needs to so as not to cause disarray in her makeup. The masks on a stick also serve as a stylish accessory to be held throughout the night. Masks on a stick can be as plain or as ornate an elegant as you please. They are often adorned with lace, jewels and feathers to complete their beautiful presence.

While the mask on a stick is a popular item, it does not mean that at the end of 2011 when people are ringing in the New Year of 2012 there won’t be any competition. Regular masks that are not on a stick hold just as much popularity and mystique when it comes to celebrations on hotel Balconies or in sophisticated ballrooms. The mask will have a tie ribbon or elastic band attached to the mask so that mask will stay affixed to your face. Leaving your hands free to enjoy spirits and dining.

You can take the mask off whenever you want or you can leave it on for the whole night of mystery leading right up to the New Year’s Eve kiss you have been waiting for. However you decide to celebrate the New Year, be sure you don’t drop the ball by forgetting to pick out the right mask to fit your costume and style.

Carnival 2012 – Let’s Explore Rio de Janeiro

admin — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:10:10 +0000

Rio de Janeiro or Rio as a lot of people know it, will be the subject of upcoming blog entries as we explore the world seeking out all of the variations of Mardi Gras, Carnival, or Carnaval. We are sure to find many more names for this type of celebration as we go. Our first stop on this virtual tour of 2012 celebrations is Rio de Janeiro.

Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city of Brazil and is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro. It garners the title of 6th largest city in the Americas by having a population of approximately 6 million people. Located in Brazil on the coast of the South Atlantic Ocean, Rio de Janeiro is a hub of culture for Brazil and considered by many as Brazil’s primary tourist attraction. Receiving the most visits of any South American city, it is the home to many attractions such as the Corcovado and Sugarloaf mountains. However, the attraction we are going to learn about in upcoming posts is the 2012 season of Carnival or Carnaval and its history.

There are a lot of similarities between Carnaval and Mardi Gras. There are many distinctions as well that Carnival boasts. We will explore the how the streets of the favelas have an outpouring of support for the Blocos and Bandas that many people say is really the life of Carnival. Rio Carnival is a 4 day celebration that starts on Saturday and ends on Fat Tuesday. The many Blocos and Bandas during this time of year make it one of the biggest events around.

What about the parading and throws? Are there bulk Carnaval beads thrown throughout the parades? Are Carnival throws a huge part of the celebrations or are they more focused on artistically expressing themselves through Carnival masks, dress and music, such as Samba? We will soon find out as we travel (virtual) to Rio de Janeiro to learn all about Carnival 2012 or Carnaval 2012. However you know it, we are sure you will be excited to learn all about their traditions.

Mardi Gras 2012 in Baldwin County, Alabama

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:56:05 +0000

It’s that time of year again, when we are preparing for the Mardi Gras season. Mardi Gras 2011 was a wonderful season for everyone we spoke with and we are looking forward to an even better season for Mardi Gras 2012. As you all may or may not know we are located in Mobile, AL ,the home of Mardi Gras. we are right across the bay from Baldwin County where they celebrate Mardi Gras big time! To better serve our local customers in Baldwin County who live in cities such as Daphne, Fairhope, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, we open up a seasonal store every year in Baldwin county. This year it is planned to open on January 03, 2012. Call 251-450-5012 for details.

We are looking forward to the Baldwin County Mardi Gras season to as big as ever for 2012. We have the Baldwin County 2012 Mardi Gras Parade schedule listed on our site as well as the 2012 Mobile Mardi Gras Parade schedule. You can find it by following this link: http://www.toomeys-mardigras.com/parade-schedule.html

The Baldwin County Mardi Gras store will sell beads of all kinds including the bulk Mardi Gras throw beads that you find in all of the parades in Mobile, New Orleans and other carnivals throughout the world. The most common of the bulk beads are the 33″ 7mm global cut beads. These beads come in a wide variety of solid colors,assorted colors, and specific mixes such as the traditional purple, green, and gold.. They are sold by the bag (144 pieces) for $6.90 and they are sold by the case (720 pieces) for $28.00. These cheap beads make sure you get the most bang for your buck!

Poly Deco Mesh

The Baldwin Bounty Mardi Gras Store will also be selling a wide variety of specialty themed hand strung beads. These beads feature many different styles, sizes and themes. You will be able to buy them by the piece or by the dozen. You will also find many items to fit all of your decorating needs. One of the more popular items you will find is the Deco Poly Mesh. They come in rolls that measure 21″ x 10 yards and start at $5.95 a roll! What a deal!

There will of course be plenty of Mardi Gras Masks and other items for you to buy in bulk. There are many things to be found at Toomey’s Mardi Gras whether you shop at the Gift shop in the Mobile Carnival Museum, the seasonal store in Daphne, our main store in Mobile, AL or online at our website www.toomeys-mardigras.com. You can find all of our contact information here: http://www.toomeys-mardigras.com/aboutus.html

Happy Mardi Gras!

Christmas 2010

toomeys — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:44:59 +0000

Christmas is right around the corner, so it’s time to get your decorations ready. Don’t be the only house on the block without something on your front door.

The perfect place to start is with a big fluffy garland. Two or three 9 ft long tinsel garlands in the traditional Christmas colors of red, gold and green will frame your front door beautifully. For an even more sophisticated look, add some metallic mesh to your display. A 10 yard roll will go a long way toward helping you creat a look that Martha Stewart would be jealous of.

If you’re the kind of person who likes to make their own decorations, you might want to pick up a garland to wrap around your homemade wreath. Add a ribbon and a few Christmas ornaments, and everyone will want to know where you got your one of a kind decoration.

And don’t forget about your Mardi Gras tree after Christmas is over. A nice purple or gold tinsel garland would look great wrapped around your tree. Pick up some lights in Mardi Gras colors, and toss some beads on the tree, and your Christmas tree can continue to decorate your home almost until Spring.

New Year’s Eve Celebrations

toomeys — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:20:57 +0000

Believe it or not, it’s only a few more weeks until New Year’s Eve. With the stress of getting ready for Christmas, it’s sometimes easy to forget to plan for New Years. Avoid that last minute search for party favors and decorations by stocking up now.

A good place to start is with balloons. Dropping lots of ballons in colors of black, gold, and silver at midnight is a great way to ring in the new year. And if you want to place a few balloons around the room for decorations, tie a champagne bottle balloon weight to 3 balloons of different colors to keep with the theme of the evening.

Have you ever been to a New Year’s Eve party without hats? Everyone has to wear a hat on New Years. Get yourself a nice black or gold top hat, and get some less expensive plastic ones for your guests. Don’t forget the feather boas. Or, you could pick up a Party Pack, which comes complete with hats, tiaras, noisemakers, ballons and throws.

You’re also going to need some confetti. Confetti is a great way to add to your decor without spending a lot of money. Just sprinkle a little on each table for a fun, festive look. Serpentine is also great for decorating, and for throwing at midnight. No one will believe you’ve been to a New Year’s Eve party if you don’t leave covered in confetti and serpentine.

Of course, there are always beads. Beads are a great way to dress up your guests, since you can buy them by the bag or case for a very reasonable price. Choose from a wide variety of beads that say “Happy New Year” or “Let’s Party!”, or a more simple silver and black top hat bead. Or simply scatter plain beads of gold, silver and black around the room to add to your decor.

Once you get the favors and decorations out of the way, you’ll have more time to focus on the food and drinks. Your guests will be sure to accept the invitation for next year.

Mardi Gras Decorations

toomeys — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:57:26 +0000

Mardi Gras decorations are definitely most prominent in the weeks leading up to and during Mardi Gras. People use a wide array of products to decorate their homes, cars, and yards. The decorations allow people to let everyone know that they are celebrating and sharing the joy of the Mardi Gras tradition that started here in Mobile, AL. However, as time goes on there are more and more people using the Mardi Gras Decorations throughout the year for all sorts of events and celebrations.

One of the more popular events that are using the Mardi Gras theme is weddings. Using products from our Mardi Gras line have become a very fun way for couples to put a unique spin on their wedding. The bride gets a special mask as well as the groom. The bridesmaids will all have masks that match. The groomsmen will all have masks that mach. In addition, decorations are used throughout the venue to create the mystique that the presence of Mardi Gras brings with it. During the reception and ceremony it is even common for the Wedding Party to pass out masks to all of their guests. It is fun for everyone involved.

Another fun event to see the Mardi Gras theme being used is at school dances. It is very exciting for all of these young adults, especially the girls, to choose just the right mask that matches their outfit. The masks can range from flamboyant and crazy to solemn and mysterious. For the girls there is even dainty and decorative. There is also a lot entertainment from picking out all of the other items that make a Mardi Gras themed party complete. Such as Mardi Gras boas, Mardi Gras garland, Mardi Gras plates, Mardi Gras cups and many other items to decorate the gym or event hall with.

These are just a couple of events that have started using the Mardi Gras theme. We basically have Mardi Gras decorations that can be used to make any event a huge success. We have many items to choose from such as wall banners, flags, streamers, serpentine, confetti, and partywares. Not only do we have all of these Mardi Gras decorations but we also have decoration for most every event throughout the year. If we do not have it, call us in advance and we can probably get it for you.