February 14, 2008

Fat Tuesday

Seniors celebrate Mardi Gras

By Jeanne C. Carbone
Staff Writer

Vivian Malloy celebrates Fat Tuesday at the Almaden Community Center. The banner in the background states “let the good times roll.” Photos by Jeanne C. Carbone

The good times rolled at the Almaden Senior Program Mardis Gras celebration at the Community Center on Feb. 5.

“We have wonderful food and entertainment today,” said Torie O’Reilly, Almaden Senior Program gerontology specialist as she welcomed those attending. “Earl is our DJ. We have amazing prizes for you to win. And you’ll have an opportunity to dance and have some fun.”

And the seniors partied at a celebration to end all Mardis Gras. The auditorium was festively decorated in traditional carnival colors: purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power with plenty of masks and bead centerpieces.

Chefs Erin Barclay, Jack Campbell (“it’s all in the roux”) and Arden Weiner outdid themselves whipping up a spectactular Mardi Gras menu that included Creole chicken and andouille etoufee with corn cakes, red beans and rice, sugarcane rum-glazed sweet potatoes, lemon icebox pie and minted ice tea served in souvenir huricane glasses.

Chefs Arden Weiner and Erin Barclay share a good laugh while Jack Campbell scoops some chicken and andouille etoufee.

“Wow, they are really good chefs, and the place is so festive,” said Mike Boulland. “This is a wonderful place. Torie and the staff does a wonderful job. I never went to New Orleans for Mardis Gras but now I really want to.”

And so does Jack Buchanan. “I’d like go to New Orleans once,” said Buchanan. “If you flash yourself they throw beads. It’s called Fat Tuesday because tomorrow is Lent.”

Mardi Gras is the last day before the six-week fasting season of Lent. It is French for Shrove Tuesday. Literally translated, Mardi Gras in English means fat Tuesday and represents the last opportunity for Roman Catholics to make merry and spend a few days excessively indulging in food and drink before solemn Lent begins.

In the cities of some Roman Catholic countries the custom of holding carnivals for Mardi Gras continues from the Middle Ages. The carnivals, with spectacular parades, masked balls, mock ceremonials and street dancing, usually last a week or more before Mardi Gras itself. Some of the most celebrated are held in New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro, Nice, France and Cologne, Germany.

Earl the DJ, followed by Mardis Gras Queen Patricia Imobersteg and King Ed Klaus, leads the parade to “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Photos by Jeanne C. Carbone

But the seniors at Almaden’s celebration appear to have as much fun and don’t have to travel as far. Mardis Gras King Ed Klaus and Queen Patricia Imobersteg led the parade to “When the Saints Go Marching In” with most revelers joining in.

“All our volunteers do a wonderful job,” said Mardi Gras event chair Betty McGowan. “And it’s fun.”

“We have a great time,” said Diane Perovich, Almaden Seniors’ president. “Nothing pleases me more than to make the seniors smile and today there are a lot of smiles here.”

Perhaps Doreen Boulland summed up the gaity of the event for the fun-loving seniors by picking up a frequently used advertisement,

“What happens at Mardis Gras stays at Mardis Gras,” she said.