As we arrive at Longue Vue House of Gardens, we can hear ladies laughing and celebrating the wonderful weather on their parade day. Nikki, a club member, makes an announcement “It’s a beautiful day for an uptown Second Line ladies, lets show them how VIP do it”. The main room of Longue Vue is full of parade outfits covered in plastic, ladies applying final touches of make up, kids putting on their outfits and women toasting glasses of mimosas symbolizing it’s VIPDAY. Tamara, the club’s founder/president, walks in with the hat designer and reminds the club members of the time. “It’s 10 o’clock, we’re taking pics @11am. Don’t be late”.
Three Mercedes Sprinter vans pull up in the parking lot as the ladies admire the uniqueness of their beautiful hats this year. Tamara makes the announcement to meet in front of the mansion to take group pictures and to proceed to the vans immediately, “We will be on time this year”.
11:45 am
As the Sprinter vans exit Ponchairtrain expressway @ the St Charles exit, we noticed the traffic building up around the Neautral Ground Bar & Grill. VIP Ladies and Kids’ Second Line this year was the first uptown Second Line prior to Mardi Gras, so the street was out. N.O.P. D. stopped the traffic to let the vans through. The ladies and kids jumped out the vans dancing their way into the restaurant. Outside the restaurant the crowd was growing, photographers checking their exposure, food vendors prepping their food and the brass bands blowing random notes. The excitement and anticipation was definitely in the air to see VIP Ladies come out the restaurant to officially start the Second Line.
12:30pm
The doors of the restaurant swings open as Sporty’s Brass Band is playing ?. The first to come out the door is Kwisha. As Kwisha showed her footwork to the sounds of The brass band, she paused and posed for the large group of photographers. One by one, the ladies and kids exited the restaurant to officially kick off VIP’s 17th annual second line. A trolley leads the second line followed by the queen float and, VIP Kids with hot 8 brass band, VIP Ladies with Sporty’s Brass Band and the large crowd of spectators on the sidewalk dancing. Tourists on a crowded streetcar starred, danced and took pics as the second line proceeded down St Charles.
2:30 PM
The Second Line was now in full effect. The crowd instantly got bigger when Big 6 Brass Band joined the parade at Second & Dryades. The sidewalk crowd seemed to dance in sequence to the sounds of the brass band. NOPD raced ahead of the second line to block traffic on South Claiborne Avenue and Toledo street. The Second Line was now on its last leg, the queen and Jr. Queen stepped off their floats to join the second line. The crowd seemed to walk faster when the end was in sight. As the grand finale of the Second Line, Big 6 Brass Band & Hot 8 Brass Band started playing toward each other in the front of Tapps Lounge. What a beautiful day it was. #VIPDAY
