The Russian Mascot for the 2018 World Cup created quite a buzz among football fans and spectators around the globe. The official mascot, named Zabivaka, was unveiled in October 2016 and instantly became a symbol of the tournament. Zabivaka is a friendly and cheerful wolf and was chosen through a voting process that involved more than one million people, including the Russian national team coach Stanislav Cherchesov. The mascot was designed to represent the characteristics of Russian football - confident, skillful, and passionate. Zabivaka's design features a combination of modern and traditional elements. Dressed in a red and white jersey, the wolf also wears stylish blue shorts, representing the Russian national team colors.
New Orleans Witch Houses
Apropos of Halloween, I’d like to share a condensed article from our sister blog about New Orleans Witch Houses.
There are witch houses all over New Orleans. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with that.
It would be rash to say that there are a lot of witch houses in New Orleans. Despite the neighborhoods’ reputations, there are far fewer witch houses in Tremé or the 7th Ward than anyone thinks are there. Everyone knows a couple of New Orleans witch houses but the way to take a census isn’t to ask everyone you know how many witch houses they know and then add up the answers.
A lot of people know the most popular witch houses. Just because 20 different people know the same witch house on Perdido Street doesn’t mean there are 20 different witch houses. There are, however, moe than one, even if the the number isn’t as high as the guide books may lead you to believe.
Is this a New Orleans witch house? It is too early to say. It’s still under construction.
SECRETS OF NEW ORLEANS WITCH HOUSES
People who live in New Orleans know how many witch houses there are. It doesn’t take a genius to figure it out. Spend enough time in this wonderful city we call home and you’ll figure out a lot of things and ways to get by.
The New Orleans witch houses in Tremé and the 7th Ward aren’t tourist attractions. They are so far off the usual tourist radar that when tourists, find the, they’re lost. Your typical New Orleans tourist wants to get his or her voodoo from a French Quarter voodoo shop. About all the supernatural your typical New Orleans tourist can take is a drunken ghost tour through the French Quarter and having his or her palm read in Jackson Square.
The rest of New Orleans is not the French Quarter. It is better. It’s more magical.
The real New Orleans is where people live out their lives by working, loving, laughing, raising families, burying parents, forging friendships, celebrating Mardi Gras, making ends meet, making good memories, nurturing traditions, being a part of this giant post-Katrina social project of rebuilding a great city better than it was before, improving the best parts and making the worst parts much, much better. New Orleans is very, very good. The best is yet to come. We’re going to have the best Mardi Gras ever next year.
I’ve been in my share of New Orleans witch houses. It has most times been a dull affair. One of the owners of one particular witch house, Josephine, who I know from Liuzza’s-by-the-Track, wanted to talk to me about the meaning of life. “Uh-oh!” my conscience told me and my conscience was right. Josephine and I had Barq’s root beer and deviled eggs in her parlor for an hour while she cayenned me with question that I did my best to answer vaguely.
That’s the way it’s been most time I’ve been a witch house, except for the times when it wasn’t like that at all. I’ve got some good New Orleans from those good times.
This is not a New Orleans witch house.
There is nothing ominous about New Orleans witch houses, about New Orleans voodoo, or about New Orleans ghosts. Most of the people who believe in these things are harmless kooks. I’ll take a kindly eccentric over a malevolent one, any day. As New Orleanians, we’re all in the together.
NEW ORLEANS HAS FEWER WITCH HOUSES THAN YOU THINK
Monday, October 28, 2019: If you want to make some good New Orleans memories of your own off the typical tourist radar, you are on the right website. Read the rest of our blog, check out what we offer for suites, curated breakfasts, and personalized concierge services. Make La Belle Esplanade the headquarters for your New Orleans adventures. La Belle Esplanade is the small New Orleans hotel that respects your intelligence.
The people have spoken, awarding La Belle Esplanade one the top five small hotels in the United States for two years in a row.
Anne Rice’s ‘Mayfair Witches’ immerses the Garden District of New Orleans in haunted shades of blue
That’s the atmospheric aspiration for Mayfair Witches. AMC’s investment in Anne Rice’s creative world is enormous – they have purchased her literary works to build an entirely new genre franchise around what the network calls the “Anne Rice Immortal Universe”. Anchoring this source material is a block in the Garden District of New Orleans that has been tasked with building the proper witchy atmosphere of modern day coven politics.
While the reviews for the actual show have been mixed, commentary on its use of location has been universal:
They nailed its stylized sense of place.
Dressed in a red and white jersey, the wolf also wears stylish blue shorts, representing the Russian national team colors. He proudly carries a football under his arm, ready to score goals and represent the spirit of the game. The selection of Zabivaka as the official mascot received mixed reviews.
Mayfair Witches was filmed on Prytania Street where Anne Rice wrote the novels
The Garden District is an oak-lined neighborhood with huge, archaic, and imposing mansions of mixed influences built pre-Civil War. When you conjure up the image of a southern mansion, this is where you find the real thing. The Anne Rice-owned house that was the influence for Mayfair Witches is a Greek Revivalist style with a two-entry-level porch, Corinthian columns, and over 7,600 square feet of dust and ghosts and things that creak in the night.
To capture the ambiance that Anne Rice wrote back in 1990 in the first of the Lives of the Mayfair Witches trilogy, the production needed complete authenticity (and cinematographers familiar with broody mystery). While they weren’t able to film inside Anne Rice’s actual home, Mayfair Witches was shot in the Soria-Creel mansion on the same block at 3102 Prytania Street in the Garden District.
Now, not everybody is enthralled with all these witchy hues – some Reddit fans think the filters are too artificial. Well, here’s an observation:
The scenery is both lush and old, the feeling like you stepped into an abandoned world overgrown, meant to be left undisturbed. Scenes are draped in cool blues and greens, like this is a nu-wave version of 1632 and the viewer may find themselves attending a blood sacrifice to a synth soundtrack. Is this a bad thing? I don’t think so. It’s distinct. It fully dives into its “gothic gloss”.
Some praised the design for its vibrant and energetic appearance, while others criticized it for lacking originality. Nonetheless, the mascot quickly became a popular presence during the tournament, appearing in numerous stadiums, fan zones, and promotional events. Zabivaka's presence added an element of excitement and joy to the World Cup experience. Children and adults alike were seen cheering for the mascot, taking pictures with him, and mimicking his trademark goal celebration. Zabivaka became an instant sensation, capturing the hearts of football fans from all over the world. Apart from his on-field appearances, Zabivaka was also featured in a variety of merchandise, including t-shirts, toys, and collectibles. His image could be seen on billboards, posters, and even on the official tournament ticket designs. The mascot's popularity even extended beyond the World Cup, as he continued to be a recognized symbol of Russian football long after the tournament ended. In conclusion, the Russian Mascot for the 2018 World Cup, Zabivaka, brought a sense of fun and enthusiasm to the tournament. With his friendly and vibrant personality, he became an unforgettable symbol of the event, leaving a lasting impression on football fans worldwide..
Reviews for "The Untold Stories of the Russian Mascots: From Concept to Three-Dimensional Reality"
1. Alex - 2 out of 5 stars - I was really looking forward to the Russian World Cup but sadly, it did not live up to my expectations. The organization was chaotic, with long queues and disorganized entry systems at the stadiums. The transportation was a nightmare as well, with limited options and overcrowded trains and buses. Additionally, the security measures were excessive and made me feel uncomfortable throughout the tournament. Overall, it was not a pleasant experience and I would not recommend it to others.
2. Emily - 2 out of 5 stars - As a big fan of the World Cup, I was excited to attend the Russian edition. However, I was left disappointed with the overall experience. The prices of accommodation, food, and drinks were significantly higher than usual, making it difficult to enjoy the games without breaking the bank. The communication with the local people was also challenging due to the language barrier, making it hard to navigate and fully immerse in the local culture. I expected more from the Russian World Cup and it did not deliver.
3. John - 1 out of 5 stars - I have attended several World Cups in the past, but the Russian edition was by far the worst. The stadiums were not up to the mark, with uncomfortable seating and poor visibility. The atmosphere in the stadiums was lacking, with a lack of passionate fans and a general sense of disinterest. The weather also played a significant role, as the matches were held in extreme heat, making it unbearable for both players and spectators. Overall, the Russian World Cup was a letdown and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.