Pam's Party Line for Feb. 19, 2012

Mardi Gras Madness all around

With Baton Rouge and surrounding area in the throes of Mardi Gras madness, you might think there was nothing else going on. You would be wrong.

Mardi Gras Gala

Dodging the Krewe of Orion’s Mardi Gras Parade proved easier than I thought as I quickly found a close parking spot to get to The Lyceum for the American Cancer Society’s third annual Mardi Gras Gala & Silent Auction Feb. 11. Granted, the wind almost blew me over a few times. Why does it always feel so much colder downtown?

Reigning over the evening’s festivities were King Lonny Myles and Queen Stephanie Fisher, and that wasn’t by accident. Fisher, better known as Beetle, is the mother of a cancer survivor. She has also chaired ACS’s Relay for Life for two years, and founded and chaired for 10 years a golf tournament benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Myles’ wife, Judy, is a breast cancer survivor.

Angie Cassard was this year’s ball captain. A former ACS board chairwoman, she has been active in Relay for Life for the past five years. Cassard also chaired last year’s gala but turned over the reins to Renée Beadle this go around.

Tea & Fashion

Earlier that afternoon, co-worker Karen Martin braved the cold wind to attend “Afternoon Tea, Fashion & Fancies” at the LSU Rural Life Museum, which co-hosted the fundraiser with the LSU Textile & Costume Museum.

Emcee Diane Deaton set the fashion stage, dazzling in a 1960s-era gown, complete with a short train and long gloves. Guests were treated to a three-course tea that included cucumber sandwiches, cranberry and orange scones and pralines, along with other sumptuous fare. The Louisiane Vintage Dancers also entertained with several intricate dances, and the fashion show was a lovely trip through the ages, from the 1820s to the 1980s.

Cathryn Lombardi, wife of LSU System President John Lombardi, acted as honorary chairwoman of the event. Serving on the committee were Ted and Diana Jambon, Connie Smith, Rene Nevils, Molly Sanchez, Corinne Cook, Montez LeGrande, Joy Smith, Jeanne Triche, David Floyd, Greta McCarthy, Dusty Manson, Pam Vinci, Steve Ramke, Elizabeth McInnis, Susan Hidalgo Smith, Brenda Hutchinson, Elise Blewster, Daniel Thomas, Shannon Poche and Alison Porter.

Among the guests were 93-year-young Sue Spaht, outfitted in a 1920s flapper ensemble and calling herself “Madame Honky Tonk,” and Helen Bowman, who wore an 1890 Victorian dress that had belonged to her husband’s grandmother.

Artemis finalé

It wasn’t quite as windy the night before as the Krewe of Artemis Parade rolled through downtown — a little soggy from the earlier rains though. After getting off their floats, King André Uzee, Queen Karen Profita, Captain Joanne Harvey and the rest of the krewe members trekked to the River Center Arena for the post-parade party. Blue-Eyed Soul Revue was already in gear as the crowd trickled in and quickly headed for the dance floor.

It was a great finalé to a fab Carnival season for Artemis.

Washington Mardi Gras

Before they headed to the nation’s capital for the Mystik Krewe of Louisianians weekend Carnival celebration, the princesses and festival queens were fêted at a coffee hosted by Gov. Bobby Jindal and wife Supriya at the Governor’s Mansion Feb. 8.

Among the 35 princesses presented at the Saturday night ball were Baton Rougeans Emily Brent Bankston, daughter of Kelli and Brent Bankston, and Mary Marguerite Nickel, daughter of Susan and Jim Nickel. Also presented were Lafayette residents Jasmine Marie Abdalla, daughter of Elizabeth and Harold Abdalla; Caroline Elizabeth Gachassin, daughter of Suzie and Nick Gachassin; Lauren Marie Graham, daughter of Roxanne and George Graham; Regan Elizabeth Roth, daughter of Gerilyn and Matt Roth; and Ashley Elizabeth Schneider, daughter of Karen Schneider and Bill Schneider.

Area festival queens making the trip included Emma Anelise Bergeron, of Plaquemine, daughter of Emma Devillier and Stephen Bergeron, International Acadian Festival; Jeanne Louise Derouen, daughter of Antoinette and Harvey Derouen, of Lafayette, Louisiana Cattle Festival; Jena Louise Domingues, daughter of Tammy and George Domingues; Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival; Amy Lynn Ferrara, daughter of Charlotte and Donald Ferrara, Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival; Nicole Myers, daughter of Laura and Stephen Myers, of Lafayette, Order of the Troubadours; and Teresa Robertson, daughter of Rosaline and Sam Robertson, of Lafayette, Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association.

Reigning over the 64th festivities, which had a theme of “200 Years Oysters & Beers,” were King Tommy Cvitanovich, owner of New Orleans’ Drago’s Seafood Restaurant, and Jayne Michon Champagne, daughter of Jill and Joel Champagne, of Covington. Congressman Steve Scalise served as chairman.

While the biggie is the ball, Friday night’s gala was a pretty big deal for Scott Crawford,who serves as a junior lieutenant with the krewe. U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, krewe captain, presented him with the Bob Hunter Golden Krewe Bag Award in recognition of his dedication and service to the krewe. Congratulations, Scott!

BRAVO

Songs of love filled the Baton Rouge Country Club Feb. 8 as Baton Rouge Area Volunteers for Opera were serenaded by tenor Tyler Smith and Betsy Uschkrat. The fact that the two are also husband and wife lent an air of authenticity to their performances, especially their duet of “O Soave Fanciulla” from “La Bohème.” I literally got chills.

In talking to the two, who both teach at Loyola University in New Orleans, I discovered that Tyler is the son of retired co-worker Camille Cassidy. She must be so proud.

I also had fun visiting with my tablemates: Mary Linda Francis, Dorothy Futch, Margie Kemp, Joan Longnecker, Marcy Lyon, Billie Jean Odom, Ellen Snyder, Don Kyle and Rochelle Ott, who is also my neighbor.

Hall of Fame

From opera to rock ’n’ roll — you just gotta love this job! The night before I was one of several hundred packed into the Cadillac Café to celebrate S.J. Montalbano’s induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. S.J., who went by the moniker “Sam Montel” back in the day, was also celebrating his 75th birthday.

By his side, as always, was brother Mickey, who was beaming with pride and also got a nod for his role in the biz. Under S.J.’s Montel Records label, he helped launch the careers of Jimmy Clanton, Dale & Grace, the Boogie Kings and John Fred.

When I got the brothers together for a photo, Luther Kent, who recorded under the name of “Duke Royal” for Montel 50 years ago, summed it up best, “You’ve got over 300 years of music right here!”

And that wasn’t even close to the collective years represented. Guests, several of whom also performed, included musicians Jay Chevalier, Cyril Vetter, Raful Neal Jr., Tommy Micelli, GG Shinn and Lee Tillman; LMHOF board members Tom Guillot and Mike David; Mayor Kip Holden; also Secretary of State Tom Schedler; and former U.S. Attorney Gen. Stan Bardwell.

What a night!

Flamenco time

Partying with the Montalbano brothers meant I didn’t get to see the performance by Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, one of the nation’s premier flamenco and Spanish dance companies, at the Manship Theater. Fortunately, I did get to meet Artistic Director Santana and several of the dancers at a meet-and-greet hosted by Scott Purdin at the theatre the night before. No one really had to point out the dancers; you could tell who they were by the way they stood and walked — so graceful.

How lucky we are as a city to be able to experience such artists and talent!

CAUW wins

And, speaking of this place I love to call home … because of the generosity of Ninfa’s, Ruffino’s and TJ Ribs restaurants, Capital Area United Way is $6,500 richer. The money was raised via the restaurant’s charitable Holiday Gift Card promotion, which ran from Thanksgiving through the end of 2011. Not only did they turn over a portion of each gift card purchased by patrons, the three restaurants also donated 65 gift cards, one for every $100 donated through the promotion, which will be distributed by Capital Area United Way to Cancer Services, Catholic Charities and the American Red Cross to share with those they serve.

Getting together Feb. 3 to hand over the proceeds and celebrate the project’s success with CAUW CEO Karen Profita were Hernando Cuellar, of Ninfa’s Restaurant; Kevin Kimball, of TJ Ribs; and Peter Sclafani III and Ruffin Rodrigue, of Ruffino’s.

25 years of Carnival

Across the river in Erwinville, the Krewe of Maringouin celebrated its 25th anniversary Masquerade Gala Feb. 11 at the Community Center. Welcoming guests to “Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez on the Bayou for 25 Years” was krewe President June Anderson Jr., who also introduced this year’s grand marshals — Maringouin Mayor John Overton Jr., Rosedale Mayor Lawrence “Football” Badeaux and Grosse Tete Mayor Michael Cahuffee.

Anderson then turned over the microphone to mistress of ceremonies Althea Littles, who introduced Ball Captain Verbie Patterson, King John Simien and Queen Kendra Thomas, daughter of Theresa and Kenneth Thomas.

The festivities wrapped up with dancing to the sounds of the OMT (One More Time) Band.

Proceeds from ball benefit the krewe’s foundation, which funds scholarships to local high school seniors and community projects for senior citizens in the surrounding areas.

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