by Brad Benedict
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
’Tis The Season
Well, it’s here, and it came in a hurry. Our jolly New Orleans holiday moved in quickly, or is this all just my imagination? Deadlines for a lot of my columns fall right in the middle, and this is being written prior to the big day. That will follow later. 2003 is breezing by so fast. Where has it gone?
Right now, I’ll try to fill you in on what has taken place these past two weeks and what is in the plans for the rest of the holiday. It’s mainly been one big happy time with plenty of balls to go around. I don’t mean the sexual kind either. New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette have all provided much enjoyment to all those who received invitations or purchased tables for the events or viewed the scenes from balconies.
Most of my work has been with costumes and coordination work for the Lords of Leather ball. I have to really tell you about all the fine work that Timm Holt has done to bring this one together. He has gone over the limits to bring forth one of the best balls of the 2003 season. He has brought together a group of people who have created some marvelous costumes.
What most people don’t realize is that this is only a part of the job. It’s takes the complete year to bring it all together and make it fall into place. Timm has tirelessly done this. It is an accomplishment, and few revelers realize what has been done to make this (or any other ball) so successful. From a personal point of view, it has been a pleasure working with him. I sincerely appreciate all of his work, and when you see the final product of his labors, you will agree with me.
Captain Timm has done a great job. Thanks for letting me share some of the joy with you, and the headaches too. It’s been a nice experience.
To Make Merry
And to make Harry too, I suppose. Just make sure it’s all done in a safe and responsible manner. From year to year, there are good things and bad things that come up during Mardi Gras. Sometimes, it gets out of hand, so to speak. New Orleans benefits from such a fantastic event, but many people come to our fair city and expect just a little too much. They abuse the privilege of having a place to have a good time. It’s a fun time, a city that is loved by its residents, so treat it nicely. You can have a good time without taking everything for granted. There are limits that have to be observed just as there are limits when going to any city for a festival or just to have an enjoyable time. I love New Orleans, and I love to have a good time, but I know how to have fun without abusing the kindness and generosity of the people who call the city their permanent home.
Well, now that the sermon is over, lets move on to the people who make it such a great place to live.
And Enjoy The Moment
Lots of parties have been in full swing since the new year arrived. Spanish Town parties rule the Saturday before Fat Tuesday. People gather at Debbie and Claudette’s home, and Josie’s adjacent home, for a hoppin’ good time, and Al usually has a great one. However, he’s in the same category with me. Repair work on homes sometimes delay activities of this type. There are other places, so hopefully you’ve been invited to some of these events. They are always very special.
On Saturday night, I usually head to New Orleans, and this year I’ll be there until Wednesday morning. Then, a week later, it will start all over again for me and my Lords of Leather brothers. It’s officer election time, and we get to pick the captain for the following year. When you throw a party like the Lords, it takes a lot of planning and a lot of hard work. Remember that when they have fundraisers, and go out and support their efforts. This applies to all krewes.
Friday night prior to the big Spanish Town activities is the spot chosen by Ty and Frank to throw another of their parties. I told you all about Frank in my last column, and I’m really looking forward to spending some quality time with him and all his friends. It’s actually at Ty’s apartment across from Christina’s. You just can’t beat the gumbo they cook up at these special events. I do hope that cute Mark is there. He’s one of several hot Marks in Baton Rouge. In fact, this one is really a nice guy. He’s fun to be with and loves to have a good time.
Many people forget that the Monday before Fat Tuesday can be a fun time. It‘s sometimes the day when one recuperates from the weekend in preparation for the big ending. However, Lundi Gras parties are events, and many are private and celebrated by locals. They offer the togetherness that brings a sort of calm to the madness of the season.
I’m planning to attend two great ones this year. My newspaper buddy has invited me to go with him to a most special event at the Tennessee Williams complex. It is one of those annual events where people can party, relax, and recall the good times of past Mardi Gras seasons.
I’ve never seen this complex even though I had a chance to do so a few years ago. I may have mentioned this before, but I had an appointment with Tennessee at Marti’s, one of the Crescent City’s finest Creole restaurants of days gone by. Martin Shambra had set this up for me. I was planning to do not only an interview article but to also meet a writer I had admired so much.
I worked the 3-11 newspaper shift here in Baton Rouge, and I’m one of those people who very seldom missed a day of work. I waited and waited, and Tennessee didn’t show.
I could sit on Martin’s balcony and look down the street at Tennessee’s home. In fact, our writers guild at that time had parties here because of the generosity of my friend Martin and because this restaurant and apartment above the restaurant offered writers a sense of belonging and being a vivid part of the scene.
I left about 1:30pm so I could make it back to Red Stick in time to get to my work station. I had just sat down at my desk when I got a call from Martin. Tennessee had walked in right after I left the restaurant, so had I stayed and just gone into work a little later, I would have had my interview and meeting with this outstanding writer. Tennessee told Martin to tell me that he would meet with me as soon as he returned from New York, and he was looking forward to making my acquaintance.
That return and that meeting were never to be. Tennessee died without returning to New Orleans. Martin died a couple of years later. Marti’s closed. Memories remain. I now look forward to this Lundi Gras party and to be where Tennessee lived and in a place he loved so much.
The other Lundi Gras party is being hosted by Mark Colley and his marvelous other half (and a gorgeous hunk of a man) John. This will be a first for Mark and John. Their patio will be the setting for what may become an annual event. Regardless of the great food and all the camaraderie of the leather people who will be attending, just gazing at these two beautiful men will be worth the effort. They are two of the most gracious and loving guys I’ve ever known.
Mark, of course, wanted to do something to express his thanks to the active members of the Lords of Leather and to have all his leather friends in for a relaxing period of time. It all came together and kept growing and growing. By the time the party arrives, there may be so many people that the vacant lot across the street could be the scene of the party. These guys have gone out of their way to provide their friends with a great social event. It should prove to be outstanding in all respects.
I also need to add that Mark has spent the last two weeks working his regular job in Atlanta and up in Ohio, and also promoting his Mr. Louisiana Leather 2003 title in these areas. He seems to love this double duty, but he also loves it when he can come home to John and their new home in the Bywater.
I love these guys. They are just two of the finest human beings on the face of this planet. Their party will be the best of all the rest, and I am honored to be a part of the scene and to be their friend.
And Close It Down
Yes, Mardi Gras in New Orleans is like no other anywhere in the world. But the party of the day that is such a wonderful way to close out this season is at Ambush Headquarters on Bourbon Street. We celebrate the day, the season, the year with a bead toss that is unmatched anywhere. The biggest and the best are thrown here. You show. We throw. Or something like that.
The Voodoo Queen, or King Cake Queen, Teryl-Lynn Foxx will lead the toss. It is her day, her year. It was great fun being with her last year. This event should prove to be much better.
Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain are the host and hostess with the mostess! The food is great. The drink is great. The place is simply the best. It’s a time for very special friends to honor each other in a very special way.
I usually bring Michael with me. He does the video. I do the snapshots. We have a great time. I’m not sure he’s going to make it this year, so Mark and John may join me for the afternoon. However, they may still be recuperating from Lundi Gras. I know I’m going to limit myself to less drink and more fun. That means I will have to limit my enjoyment of John’s hospitality. I want to make sure I don’t have a splitting headache come Fat Tuesday, and this guy can make a great drink. They make me loose as a goose, or maybe I’m already that way. Oh, well!
I had thought about entering the Bourbon Street Awards this year, but instead of fighting the crowds, I’ll chose the balcony instead. Sipping a drink and watching all the madness down below is more to my liking. That may sound boring, but I’m a people watcher. Always have been. Always will be. I guess that makes me a voyeuristically inclined guy for lack of a better description. My friends know this. I just love life and love the friends I can be with at any given time.
Mardi Gras 2003 will be history by the time you read this. I trust you have made the most of it and have enjoyed yourself. I’ll tell you all about it in my next format.
Cheers! And more cheers! Just live a little, darlings!
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