Picayune Saints fans are swept up in “Fleur-de-lis, Who Dat Mania”

Local News

February 4, 2010

By Kathy Smyth Picayune Item Thu Feb 04, 2010, 08:03 AM CST

PICAYUNE — Paul’s Pastry Shop is used to being busy this time of year.

“During Mardi Gras season from January 2nd until Mardi Gras day, we’ll sell between 50,000 and 52,000 King Cakes,” said owner Sherri Thigpen.

King Cakes are a traditional New Orleans pastry consumed mainly during the Mardi Gras season from 12th Night through the day before Ash Wednesday.

Now, the bakery is also topping their traditional King Cakes with black-and-gold sugar in honor of the Saints, thus beginning what fans hope will become a new tradition for the Mardi Gras King Cake. The bakery is branching out with the new topping because the New Orleans Saints, whose colors are black-and-gold, are going to their first-ever Super Bowl.

Normally at this time of year, the bakery is in full Mardi Gras swing. The Saints going to the Super Bowl, though, has made this Mardi Gras even crazier than it is normally. Bakery employees have been taking orders for Super Bowl King Cakes, both in-store and over the bakery’s Web site.

The walk-in traffic is amazing to watch. Saints fans are looking to get their hands on anything that has a Saints’ logo on it, even if it means they plan to eat it later. On Thursday alone, the bakery was preparing to ship more than 200 King Cakes decorated in the Saints colors to 46 different states, even as far away as Hawaii and Alaska. Thigpen does want it known, though, that the bakery does offer Colts cakes also, but have only had orders for three so far.

Many local business have seen more business activity because the Saints have finally made it to a Super Bowl.

MeLinda’s Fine Gifts and More owner, Melinda Shaw, says that “business has been exceptional, a whole community coming together.” She has had tremendous success with shipping Saints-related items — people are wanting anything with a fleur-de-lis, the symbol decorating the Saints helmet. She has been shipping memorabilia to places such as Texas, South Carolina and has a special request for a fleur-de-lis mail box cover from a woman in Georgia.

Across the street from MeLinda’s, Galiano’s shop owner Debbie Galiano, said her traffic has increased immensely. People are flocking to her shop for her Saints and fleur-de-lis items.

She is featuring her “Disaint just a Breeze” t-shirts, designed by a New Orleans artist and sold exclusively at her shop. Debbie says it’s like “Fleur-de-lis, Who Dat Mania.”

Back at Paul’s Pastry, bakery employees are prepared for those who decide at the last minute, to celebrate the Super Bowl. The bakery will be open on Super Bowl Sunday from 1-4 p.m. for those who need last minute items for their Super Bowl parties. This is not something they normally do, Thigpen said, but then again, the New Orleans Saints don’t go to the Super Bowl every year either.

Text Only

Local News

Bar fight ends in man being run over
A bar fight Friday morning resulted in one man being run over by the other with a pickup truck.
The fight was reported to Picayune Police officers Friday morning at about 1:44 at the American Legion Hall on Union School Road, said Capt. Chad Dorn.

February 4, 2012
Arson suspected at possible murder site
Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department investigators suspect arson was involved in a structure fire that occurred at a home where James Raine was killed last year.
The home at 24 Emma Lane was the scene of what investigators believe was the murder of the 37-year-old Raine in October, 2011.

February 4, 2012 1 Photo
Inmate escapes leaving father’s wake
Johnny Hall Jr., 30, escaped from Mississippi Department of Corrections custody Friday afternoon while attending his father’s wake in Picayune.

February 4, 2012
Inmate escapes from funeral procession
State inmate Johnny Hall, Jr., escaped from two Wilkinson County Correctional Facility officers’ custody today at approximately 12:30 p.m. while being escorted from his father’s wake at the Picayune Funeral Home in Picayune, Miss.

February 3, 2012
REPAIRING GAS LEAK
Contract and city workers were at this gas leak on Beech Street installing a clamp.

February 3, 2012 1 Photo
CAMELLIA SHOW
The Poplarville Garden Club Community Camellia Show is today in the lobby of the Poplarville branch of Hancock Bank.

February 3, 2012 1 Photo
Local gas prices continue a gradual upward trend
From Monday to Thursday, the per gallon price of regular gasoline at RaceTrac jumped six cents, from $3.289 to $3.349. RaceTrac sets the pace in Pearl River County for the lowest posted price, and Wal-Mart and Bill’s Quick Stop at Mississippi Highway 43 and East Canal quickly follow.

February 3, 2012 1 Photo
StennisSphere closing
StennisSphere is closing it’s doors to make way for a new tourist attraction, and to help increase security at John C. Stennis Space Center. According to a press release from Stennis, the tourist attraction officially will close in mid February.

February 3, 2012
ENJOYING THE RAIN
These ducks weren’t phased by Wednesday’s rainy conditions.

February 2, 2012 1 Photo
Picayune featured in “Blondie” comic strip
Occupy Picayune?
All Mr. Dithers wants to see occupied is Dagwood’s desk chair.
That is part of the adventures of Dagwood Bumstead, which includes a mention of the City of Picayune in Friday’s “Blondie” comic strip, which appears in the Picayune Item as a daily feature.
Picayune’s mention in Friday’s strip that also is released in other publications gives Picayune a name recognition boost worldwide, says the artist who draws the feature, Frank Cummings, a former Picayune resident and former employee of the Picayune Item.

February 2, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Picayune Saints fans are swept up in “Fleur-de-lis, Who Dat Mania”

Site Map

Contact Us