Pam's Party Line for Feb. 12, 2012

‘Conival Time’ begins in Spanish Town

Parade scheduled
to roll on Feb. 18

While there are many Mardi Gras balls and parades in the Capital City, none causes as much hoopla as the Spanish Town celebrations. The parade rolls through downtown Feb. 18 at noon, but the ball is now history. And what history it made.

‘Conival Time’

Former Gov. Edwin Edwards was tapped as this year’s king by the Society for the Preservation of Lagniappe in Louisiana, which puts on the Spanish Town events, and it chose as the theme “Conival Time” in reference to Edwards’ tenure in federal prison.

While a bout of pneumonia kept the former governor from attending the Feb. 4 ball, he is a pretty good sport and I think he would have gotten quite a chuckle from the plethora of prison orange and pink ensembles donned by ball-goers. There were also several table decorations sporting prison bars and such, and one table of friends came as cards in a nod to Edwards’ affinity for poker.

Edwards would have loved reigning over the festivities with his queen, Liz Fischer, who was sporting a pink and black Merry Widow and 5-inch silver glitter heels. She was also wearing the specially commissioned “queen’s necklace,” which will be raffled to benefit the society’s chosen charities.

The upcoming bowling conference split this year’s ball in two. There was the Queen’s Ball upstairs in the River Center Ballroom and the King’s Ball downstairs in the Arena. Rocking things upstairs were Feliciana and the Baton Rouge All-Stars, while downstairs the Warbabies and the Kenny Neal Band kept the dance floor full.

Someone asked me how I was going to describe the night. I’ve thought long and hard about that and have decided last year’s description is still the best one. “Spanish Town Mardi Gras is when every woman channels her inner hooker and every man his feminine side.”

For proof, check out the photos online at http://www.theadvocate.com.

‘Neighborhoods’

Local author Annabelle Armstrong took members of the Woman’s Club back in time as they traveled the “Historic Neighborhoods of Baton Rouge” at the Feb. 2 coffee, which Eugenie Burglass chaired.

Members and guests were welcomed by Lois Michelli, Diane Finley, Debra Tarter and Jackie Creaghan. Also assisting with the coffee were Debbie Harris, Frances Davis, Sharon Dixon, Winnie Gill, Carol Gloger, Carol Haas, Lois Hogue, Rosemary Lane, Wynonna Martin, Karen Rimes and Nancy Williams.

Krewe of Isis

Mary and Kevin Bourgeois, of Sorrento, reigned over the Krewe of Isis’ 40th anniversary Bal Masque Jan. 14 at the New Orleans Marriott. Daughter Brieanne Bourgeois served as one of the royal maids, portraying “1980 Hawaii: A Tropical Paradise,” and Baton Rougean Suzanne Weems, daughter of Kathleen and Jeremy Weems, represented “2001 Fabulous Las Vegas.”

Other Baton Rouge area royal court members included dukes Randell V. Attuso and Jeremy J. Weems; pages Ashley Weems and Grace Ann Sawyer, daughter of Tina and Timothy Sawyer; Princess Emily Kolb, daughter of Andi and Jeremy Kolb; and junior maids Heather Edgens, daughter of Kathy and G. Edgens; Heather Lynn Normand, daughter of Tina and Timothy Sawyer; and Madyson A. Goudeau, daughter of Kathy and Henry Goudeau Jr.; and Katherine Reynolds, daughter of Theresa Reynolds and Kevin Reynolds.

The evening wrapped up with a supper dance and music by Orleans.

Items for “Pam’s Party Line” must be received by 9 a.m. the Monday preceding the run date. Digital photos should be emailed to pbordelon@theadvocate.com; hard copy photos should be dropped off at or mailed to The Advocate, 7290 Bluebonnet Blvd. Events will run no later than four weeks after they have taken place. The date, place of the event and a contact name and phone number must be included. Photos may not include more than nine people and will be used on a space-available basis. Hard copy photos can be picked up in the lobby of The Advocate for up to three months after they run. By submitting photos to The Advocate, you agree that they can be published in any of The Advocate’s print or digital publications.