Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Mardi Gras Ball this Saturday night!

Mardi Gras Ball in Portland Oregon

This isn't a Mardi Gras celebration that involves drunken frat boys, beads, and bare breasts.  I keep getting surprised at what people I talk with  think Mardi Gras is about. They get one right out of three ... there will be beads. But this traditional Mardi Gras ball is about a whole lot more - costumes, live music with four bands, dancing, a "second line" parade, shoebox floats, catered Cajun food, king cake, ... and beads.

The Mysti Krewe of Nimbus is an Oregon Mardi Gras Krewe that is patterned after the classic Louisiana groups that throw balls and parades to celebrate Mardi Gras in the weeks leading up to beginning of the Catholic period of Lent on Ash Wednesday. The long tradition of balls and parades is deeply embedded in the memories and experience of those who have grown up or lived in Louisiana. A number of former residents of the state and their NW friends put together the Krewe last year to throw a very successful ball.  This year's ball, being held this coming Saturday at the Bossanova Ballroom, will be even bigger and better.

I am very honored to be a part of the Krewe and helping to organize the ball. I know the work that has gone into creating the event and know what an absolute blast this is going to be.


So, this is your very special invitation from me to come to the ball! You can wear a costume (the theme this year is the Meter's classic New Orleans tune "They All Ask'd For You"), but that isn't required (though you'll loose your chance to win the costume contest). The Transcendental Brass Band kicks the party off at 7:45 pm with some traditional second line brass band tunes, followed by Atomic Gumbo laying down some classic New Orleans Mardi Gras music ... then the Too Loose Cajun Band will bring the Cajun sounds (with a healthy dose of Zydeco) you'd hear at a Louisiana "country" Mardi Gras ... and finally, Philly's Phunkestra will lay down some soulful funk to keep the dancers moving past midnight.  And there's some outstanding Cajun food included from The Swamp Shack.

The party is a bargain at $25 per person if you buy them online ... they'll be $30 at the door.

Hope to see ya there!

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