Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi WGNO News with a Twist

Thank you everyone who has spread the word about this Jon Bon Jovi shrine since April of 2009. The Sacred Shrine has finally been on television!  Thank you, Tyler Wing and WGNO News.

Jon Bon Jovi manifests himself in the men I fall in love with.


From a sacred part of town,


~Tara Jill

 

Bon Jovi Shrine on TV WGNO 6pm

For the first time ever, the International Special Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi will appear on the local news. The fact that it has been two months since the 2011 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival did not dissuade Tyler Wing from appearing at the shrine - dressed as Jon Bon Jovi. Watch WGNO ABC Channel 26 News with a Twist tonight to see Tara Jill at the Sacred Shrine!

Hopefully, this footage will be available online tomorrow, but if not, my favorite part is when Tyler Wing asks if I've ever met Jon Bon Jovi.

"He manifests himself in the men I fall in love with," I reply.

Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi New Orleans, LA

The Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi is open to the public daily. Shrine memorabilia is available as well.

Aqua Net Hairspray is always free.

Bon Jovi Shrine 2011 Retrospective

This is the last video filmed during Jazz Fest 2011. On May 8, 2011, I sent my thanks out to the neighborhood and those far away who sent love to Maurepas Street for me and Lupe.

Tomorrow, WGNO news is coming to do a story about the shrine. It will air at 6 pm Central (ABC) on Thursday, July 7.

Thank you everyone!

Livin' On A Prayer - Contestant #2 Bon Jovi Tribute (air guitar) Contest

Today, a guest visited the Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi, which is happy to have the International Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Shrine of Cyndi Lauper across the street. This is the first time that anyone has visited the International Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi and explained that she now equates Jazz Fest with Bon Jovi.

Special performance of "Livin' on a Prayer" will be entered as Contestant #2 in Bon Jovi Tribute band (air guitar) contest.

Winner will be announced on SacredShrineNOLA's YouTube Channel soon!

Cyndi Lauper Shrine

International Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Cyndi Lauper Shrine 2900 block Maurepas

Today the  International "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" Cyndi Lauper Shrine appeared on the 2900 block of Maurepas Street.

My neighbors from across the street, Louis A. Poche and Mary Marino Poche, mentioned that they might build a shrine to Lauper a few weeks ago. I've heard several rumors about shrines being built to Brett Michaels, Tesla, and John Tesh, but I should have known Louis and Mary were serious, as they have been enthusiastic supporters of the I.S.S.J.B.J. since 2009. Their creativity was obvious when they replaced a broken pay phone that is near the International "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" Cyndi Lauper Shrine.

Pay Phone Art

This morning, I returned from writing directions to my shrine on neighborhood street corners with sidewalk chalk.

Maurepas Chalk Jon Bon Jovi Shrine

 
I was delighted to discover this newest altar on the 2900 block of Maurepas Street and was even more thrilled to learn that Louis Poche referred to it on Facebook as the "International Shrine to Cyndi Lauper" since the full name of The Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi is actually "The International Special Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi." I am proud to see that the tradition of shrines on Maurepas Street continues to welcome pilgrims from around the world. When I asked Poche if the name of the shrine was the "Cyndi Lauper Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Shrine," "International Shrine to Cyndi Lauper," or other, he reminded me that "The naming of shrines is less important than the devotion."  May we never lose sight of this.


In honor of the newest shrine on Maurepas, I will be playing Cyndi Lauper (as opposed to Bon Jovi) today.

Maurepas runs parallel to Fortin - the street by the Jazz Fest entrance. If you walk up Sauvage to enter the Fairgrounds at the Sauvage entrance, you can turn right on Maurepas. There is a map to my Jon Bon Jovi Shrine on this blog, and The Cyndi Lauper shrine is across the street.

Directions to Cyndi Lauper Shrine and Jon Bon Jovi Shrine Jazz Fest

My vision for Maurepas Street has always been that someday each home will host a shrine devoted to a musician who is or is not directly connected to New Orleans Jazz and Heritage. Today I weep tears of joy. Cyndi Lauper performs on The Gentilly Stage at 5:25 pm.


I hope all Cyndi Lauper fans will visit this lovely altar, complete with lace gloves and an orange boa. As Mary Marino Poche explained, "Girls just wanna have fun."

Below is my reaction and discussion with the shrine creators. 

How They Heard About Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi

I love hearing about how pilgrims first heard of The Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi. Here is the story of their pilgrimage.

Mac & Cheese for Jon Bon Jovi at Shrine - Jazz Fest 2011

 

Watch Tara Jill Ciccarone describe the macaroni and cheese she baked for Jon Bon Jovi at the Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi in New Orleans, LA.

Thank You for A Great First Weekend of Jazz Fest 2011

T

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

 

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

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"

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!

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