Acura Stage

Acura Stage

jazzfest

waiting

waiting for Bon Jovi

Frenchmen Street

My friend at Maison called me to tell me Jon Bon Jovi was here, but I missed him, and I can't find him. The people at the door of DBA won't tell me if he is in there and I can't pay the cover. I also can't afford to not be at the shrine preparing Mac and Cheese for him. So now I am on Frenchmen Street in tears because I am so tired and hungry that when my stomach growls I think it's my BlackBerry vibrating. But it is not. I ordered BJ Sandwich for luck and then I am going home. Never should have left the shrine. See also: I'll sleep when I'm Dead.

I did see Michael Patrick Welch who gave Jon Bon Jovi a copy of his book and shook his hand.

So I don't know if the shrine will be ready in the morning. All I have to do is make Mac and Cheese, but I am not sure how I will do it unless I prep it tonight. Mardi Gras Indians are here.

So I cried and now I am too embarrassed to even meet Jon Bon Jovi. I didn't know what I'd say if I did meet him anyway. I guess I thought he would want to meet me. Maybe see the guestbook?
Hoping it will never end,

- Sacred Shrine

That's Why I Love This Town

Today was a great day at the Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi. Pilgrims visited the shrine after seeing the directions I wrote in chalk on the sidewalk. The flyers and the tweet and all the great fans of the Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi helped. Thank you all for your support, and for hanging flyers for me, bringing ice, and cutting tape for lighters. 


I am going to make Mac & Cheese from scratch!

Yeah let the world keep spinning round 'n' round
This is where it's goin' down, down, down
That's why I, love this town
That's why I, keep co-min' round

"I Love This Town" from Destination Anywhere by Bon Jovi

 

richie sambora prayers

Richie Sambora Prayer for Recovery

bonjovi shrine

bonjovi shrine 2943 Maurepas

Jazz Fest Begins Tomorrow - Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi Bed of Nails

The Sacred Shrine is ready for the first day of Jazz Fest 2011. Here is the latest video of the shrine complete with prayers for Richie Sambora, a cute Chihuahua, and a bed of nails.

Also, thank you to Marta Jewson from Gambit Weekly Best of New Orleans blog for writing "Jovi Witness"!

 

chalk

I love Bon Jovi

Tico Torres and David Bryan

Tico Torres and David Bryan

door

Home of Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi

If You Build It...

It seems like all the work I have done is paying off because people have been visiting the shrine today and it is not every Jazz Fest yet!  The Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi is ready for Jazz Fest 2011.  Macaroni and Cheese will be served on Saturday, April 30th! 

Richie Sambora, Get Well

According to several internet sources,  Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora has entered rehab today, and just last night I completed the special Richie Sambora section of the shrine. A reporter from The Gambit Weekly stopped by to interview me a little while ago. 

Richie Sambora Bye Shrine

Sacred Shrine DollHouse Fan Club

fans of Bon Jovi

bed of roses

bed of roses bed of nails

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi New Orleans

This slide show explains quite a bit about the Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi, a nondenominational shrine located near the entrance to The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Thank You Alison Fensterstock!

And thank you all for supporting the shrine!

Today, the Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi was written up on NOLA.com by Alison Fensterstock!

Read it here:

Local artist's front-porch Sacred Shrine to Bon Jovi is in place for its third year

Help Tara Jill and Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi Get on Television

An Open Letter to The World at Large

Dear Friends and Family and New Orleans Contacts,

I apologize for sending a mass email, and I promise not to bombard you with more of these (I bcc-ed, so you shouldn't see all the other email addresses here).

As you may know, I have been hard at work on my shrine devoted to Jon Bon Jovi, and he is performing at The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Saturday, April 30. The entrance to this festival is very close to my home, and the shrine is on and in front of my porch. If you do not know about this, I will be happy to explain, and there is a YouTube video that explains the evolution of what I consider an art installation. I have attached photographs.

As much as I hope that Jon Bon Jovi will visit the shrine this year (he did not in 2009), I am aware that he is a private man who is a bit shy about shrines. I do think it is reasonable to request that Bon Jovi perform the song "Queen of New Orleans" on the Acura Stage at Jazz Fest. I am also hoping that many people will visit this shrine.

I have been using Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Blogger, and stapling fliers all over town in an attempt to notify people about this shrine.

Now that Easter weekend is over, and New Orleans is ready for Jazz Fest, I am hoping to grab the attention of the local, national, and international media.

If you know anyone who is:

1. a Bon Jovi Fan
2. coming to Jazz Fest
3. willing to do anything for me
4. in need of websites to visit or something to do
   
5. a member of the media who will cover/write-up/attend this shrine
   

please send forward this email and the "press release" I wrote (below).

I have included all relevant information about the Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi (with links to shrine website, Facebook page, YouTube channel) below.

I know that receiving mass emails and forwarding emails is annoying, so I sincerely appreciate any help you are willing to give me, even if you only tell one person.

I will owe you one (and if I already owe you one, I will owe you 3).

Sincerely,

Tara Jill Ciccarone


Important Shrine Information: (feel free to copy and distribute as much as possible).

Tara Jill Ciccarone's constantly evolving Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi welcomes enthusiasts to celebrate Bon Jovi's return to The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and request that Bon Jovi perform "Queen of New Orleans" on The Acura Stage on April 30, 2011.

The Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora Bye-Shrine are located at 2943 Maurepas Street, New Orleans, LA 70119 near the entrance to the Fairgrounds and Jazz Fest.

Tara Jill established The  International Special Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi on April 25, 2009 and added The Richie Sambora Bye-Shrine on April 5, 2011.  Tara Jill is a writer, artist, and educator who has lived in New Orleans since 1999.

The shrine is on and in front of her porch and can be viewed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Special activities for Jazz Fest 2011 include:

April 29, April 30, & May 1:  Jon Bon Jovi Drawing Contest 1 pm - 9 pm. How well can you draw Jon Bon Jovi? Paper, pencils, markers, crayons, and chalk available.  Winner will be announced May 1. Prize - personal Sacred Shrine miniature cigar box altar with handmade shrine memorabilia. 

April 29, April 30, May 1, May 7 : Jon Bon Jovi Tribute Contest 1 pm - 9 pm. Can you emulate Jon Bon Jovi by looking like him and singing like him? Visit the Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi at 2943 Maurepas Street and make sure Tara Jill records your performance.  With your permission, video will be uploaded to YouTube.  Winners will be announced May 8. 1st Prize - personal Sacred Shrine miniature cigar box altar with handmade shrine memorabilia and DVD of winning videos - 2nd Prize - DVD of winning videos and Sacred Shrine lighter and candle. 3rd Prize - DVD of winning videos and Sacred Shrine lighter.

Contestants need not be present to win.

Tara Jill and The Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi need help getting Jon Bon Jovi's attention this year so he will visit the shrine and/or perform "Queen of New Orleans" at the festival.

How You Can Help:

•Visit http://sacredshrinejonbonjovinola.blogspot.com

•Follow @JBJShrine and @BonJovi on Twitter and Retweet videos of Tara Jill at Shrine!

•"Like" the Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi NOLA Facebook page and use it to keep informed!

•Tell all your friends about the shrine and visit the shrine during 2011 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival!

Help Tara Jill be on television!

To learn more about the shrine watch "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi" on SacredShrineNOLA's YouTube Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-l09QDw87Y

New information about the shrine is available on the Sacred Shrine Blog at http://sacredshrinejonbonjovinola.blogspot.com/

Facebook users, now you can visit the Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi NOLA Facebook page at  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shrine-of-Jon-Bon-Jovi-NOLA/194055897286568

Follow @JBJShrine on Twitter for frequent updates.

Tara Jill will be respond to all shrine inquiries at sacredshrinenola@gmail.com or 504-344-1124.

From a sacred part of town,

Tara Jill Ciccarone

♫ ♪ ♬ "Ooh, ooh, (shalala) dancing in the streets of New Orleans!"

Bon Jovi Tribute Contest at Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi Jazz Fest 2011

Can you emulate Jon Bon Jovi by looking like him and singing like him?

Then enter the Jon Bon Jovi Tribute contest by singing a Bon Jovi or Jon Bon Jovi song AT the Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi.

To do this, go to 2943 Maurepas Street on April 29, April 30, or May 7 between 1 pm and 9 pm and make sure Tara Jill records your performance (if you come earlier, Tara Jill will not be able to record your performance, but you are welcome to practice as long as you do not wake her up before 11 am on festival days).

With your permission, video will be uploaded to YouTube.

Winners will be announced May 8.

1st Prize 

Personal Sacred Shrine miniature cigar box altar with handmade shrine memorabilia and DVD of winning videos 

2nd Prize 

DVD of winning videos and Sacred Shrine lighter and candle. 

3rd Prize 

DVD of winning videos and Sacred Shrine lighter.


Contestants need not be present to win.


Please contact Tara Jill if you are interested in being a judge for this contest in the event that a member of the band Bon Jovi is unable to or unwilling to judge this contest (or is unaware of it).

Note: Tara Jill does not have any guitars or microphones, so you really need to bring one if you will need it for your performance.

P.S. In the event that Tara Jill has to judge this contest herself, she promises not to favor contestants who sing one of her 3 favorite Bon Jovi songs.


Please inform all of your friends of this fantastic contest!

Have a nice day!

~Tara Jill

TJ's 3 Favorite Bon Jovi songs:

"Wild In The Streets"

"Lay Your Hands On Me"

 

"Bad Medicine" 

Tara Jill's favorite song performed by Jon Bon Jovi

"Queen of New Orleans"

Happy Easter

Happy Easter from Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi

Wanted Dead or Alive Jazz Fest 2011 Shrine Needs Bon Jovi Tribute Bands!

If you look like Jon Bon Jovi or can play guitar like Richie Sambora, this is for you!  

This Craigslist advertisement is real:  Looking for Bon Jovi Impersonators (Shrine of Bon Jovi)

Please visit Sacred Shrine during Jazz Fest but especially 4/30 on JBJ performance day!

Bon Jovi Please Play "Queen of New Orleans" April 30 Jazz Fest 2011 NOLA

Only 10 days left until Bon Jovi performs at Jazz Fest 2011. Please visit the Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi and share this video to urge Bon Jovi to perform "Queen of New Orleans" in NOLA on April 30!

Thank You Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association

I am delighted to see the angle from which Charlie London photographed the Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi. Thank you for writing about the shrine in "Living on a Prayer" on the  FSJNA's website!

New Orleans Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi Invites You!

How To Build A Shrine To A Celebrity

Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi Guestbook

Dear Readers,

The addition of the Richie Sambora Bye-Altar   to the International Sacred Special Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi prompted some research of shrines, so for the first time, I consulted the world wide web to make sure my shrine terminology was as comprehensive as is required. 

Here are a few shrine-related terms defined.

Shrine (from The Free Dictionary):

1.  A place of religious devotion or commemoration, such as: a place where devotion is paid to a deity or deities, the tomb of a saint or other venerated person, a location where an important event in the life of a holy person is thought to have occurred.

2.  A container or receptacle for sacred relics; a reliquary.

3.  A site hallowed by association with a revered person or object or with an important event: Independence Hall, shrine of American liberty (See also: April 30, 2011 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival).

Shrine (from Your Dictionary Dot Com)

1 b.  a niche or other setting for a statue, picture, or other object arousing or designed to arouse devotion

 
1 c. a small area or structure arranged for private devotion 

4 b.  a place or structure esteemed for its importance or centrality as in history or the arts

Grotto (from Wikipedia): 

1. Any type of natural or artificial cave that is associated with modern, historic or prehistoric use by humans. The I.S.S.S. of JBJ does not have a grotto (yet).

Reliquary (from Your Dictionary DOT COM): 

1. A case or other container in which relics are kept and displayed for veneration.

    

Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi Reliquary

  

Veneration (from The Free Dictionary):

1. a feeling or expression of awe or reverence

Note: Veneration is often shown outwardly by respectfully bowing or making the sign of the cross before a saint's icon, relics, or statue. These items may also be kissed.

This guest dropped to his knees upon first seeing the shrine.

Items the were kissed at the Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi

Bye-altar (from Wikipedia):

1.  A side-altar that is subordinate to the central or high altar in a church. 

Richie Sambora Bye-Altar

For the first time, I read an article "How to Build a Shrine to Your Favourite Celebrity" and agree with the list of "Things You'll Need."  Currently, I have about 50% of the required "things."

   * The Internet - Yes

   * Spare time - No

   * Determination - Yes

   * Money - No

I am not sure if the Internet is necessary to build a shrine to a celebrity, and I am not sure if I would have spare time if I were not so invested in this shrine. I am confident about the determination factor.  The money required is tricky because even if one had so many items related to a celebrity that he or she did not need to make any purchases, outdoor shrines require a lot of crazy glue, tape, and waterproofing substances. 

The article included the following "Warnings"

   * Don't tell too many people about this, or they might think you are obsessive.

   * Don't try and act like them.

   * Don't forget to put some jewelery or clothes similar to what they've once worn. It will really finish it off.

The writers suggest that a shrine builder "Try to put the shrine in somewhere dark and not frequented, like a catacombs or cellar. The hallway of your front door is not suitable."

Apparently, they have not seen this shrine. However, some Bon Jovi fans who post in the forums on the Bon Jovi Fan Website Dry County have suggested that the shrine should be kept indoors for my own private use, and others were afraid to visit this blog because they thought the "shrine thingy is just creepy."

If anyone has any suggestions about how I can get on top of my roof to advertise the shrine (I think it will be highly visible from The Grandstand, and I saw some Glow In The Dark paint at Home Depot), please email me directly at sacredshrinenola@gmail.com 

New Orleans Fairgrounds

My mother, who is from New Jersey, sent me some text messages today with photographs included. She did not include any actual written message, but it seems like she may have taken these photographs herself, which implies that she has acquired some Jon Bon Jovi memorabilia and may send it to me in the mail.  This would be wonderful, as these images are obviously in good condition.

Jon Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi

Thank you for visiting the blog of the Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi.

Very Truly Yours,

Tara Jill

Bon Jovi Bunny

 

Lovely Photo from HERE

But New Orleans Music and Culture Does Inspire Me

The results of the Creative Allies “How New Orleans Music and Culture Inspires Me,”
contest were announced today, and to my dismay, my entry - the photographs of the International Special Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi were not selected as finalists. Above is a brief video response from yours truly. 

"Shrine thingy is just creepy."

In an attempt to connect with some Bon Jovi fans who may be visiting The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, I joined the online Bon Jovi community Dry County and posted some information about the shrine HERE .

  

More than one Bon Jovi fan referred to the shrine as "creepy" and one even suggested that the shrine should be kept indoors for my own private use.   Others were afraid to visit this blog because they thought the shrine was creepy.  The members who actually did visit this blog did report back that the shrine did not seem creepy, and a few people liked it.

Shrines should be in house.

"Shrine thingy is just creepy."

The once again reminds me that even if Bon Jovi is not connected to New Orleans Jazz and Heritage, I suspect I'd have a hard time finding anyone living in New Orleans who honestly thought the "shrine thingy is just creepy" or refused to click on this website. So

This also relates to my ideas about inside and outside, North and South, and the way those of us who live in New Orleans sit on our stoops, pray and dance in the streets, and leave offerings at the grave of a voodoo queen. So sorry, Becky of Mississippi, but I think you'll be hard pressed to find a New Orleanian who thinks this "shrine thingy is just creepy."

And to quote Bon Jovi,  "You make me feel at home some how, right, now/That's why I, love this town!"

"I Love This Town" is the 12th song on Bon Jovi's album Lost Highway  released on June 8, 2007 and on the Island / Mercury record label.

Reliquary

A case or other container in which relics are kept for veneration.

Veneration is often shown outwardly by respectfully bowing before a relic, icon, or statue. These items also may be kissed.

The image below displays opportunities for veneration.
Hoping it will never end,

- Sacred Shrine

Anonymous Donation to Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi Appreciated

The Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi received its first anonymous donation of 2011.

This lovely banner is a fine addition to the shrine.  I was actually buying staples for a staple gun when someone left this at the shrine.

banner

Richie Sambora Section of Shrine Established Today

Today marks the addition of the special Richie Sambora bye-altar, which is now a part of the International Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi. While the shrine's name suggests that it is devoted to Jon Bon Jovi the person, this in no way indicates that other members of the band should not be celebrated here as well.

Richie Sambora Bye-Altar added to Sacred Shrine of Jon  Bon Jovi

New Album Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi New Orleans

Jon Bon Jovi Shrine NOLA, a set on Flickr.

Some of the best images of the shrine

Via Flickr:

I built a shrine to Jon Bon Jovi in 2009 near the entrance to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and since he's playing Jazz Fest on April 30, 2011, I want the world to know about the shrine. Please help spread the word by sharing the link to this website!

sacredshrinejonbonjovinola.blogspot.com/