Event Pick of the Week: Zombies to invade Magazine Street

By Maggie Migliozzi

On Saturday, April 16, hordes of undead New Orleanians will awkwardly shuffle through Magazine Street bars. They’ll start off at The Balcony Bar at 7, then continue onto The Bulldog, Ms. Mae’s and finally they’ll use their deteriating vocal cords to sing karaoke at Igor’s Buddha Belly. Sound like a good time? All you need is a little blood splatter, some circles around your eyes and a bit of imagination to partake in the fun.

The idea for the first annual Zombie Pub Crawl first came to Amanda Gardiner following a Craig’s list ad in 2010 for a Lundi gras zombie crawl. After having such a blast at that event, the 41-year-old mother of two decided to try her hand at a Halloween zombie celebration, but there were problems.

“Our walk started around the time the Halloween parade was ending, so there were issues getting to the start location and it was hard to find parking,” says Amanda. “Also, we sort of blended since it was Halloween……some of us got separated because of the crowds.”

Instead of giving up, she used what she’d learned previously to design this Saturday’s pub crawl, which will include drink specials and happy hour at The Balcony, combining the magical realism of a zombie walk with the time-honored New Orleans tradition of drinking. The walk also takes inspiration from Mid-City’s Zombie Pub Crawl in November, which I can personally attest to being a lot of fun.

Anyone wishing to partake in the festivities should arrive at 7 p.m. on Saturday at The Balcony Bar & Café, 3201 Magazine St., for what promises to be a horrifyingly awesome night. For more information click here.