It’s Carnival time on the Northshore. Most of my friends are busy beading bustiers for Diva Day. The Divine Protectors of Endangered Pleasures, the DIVAs decorate their bustiers with Mardi Gras beads during the year, then promenade in all their finery down Bourbon and Royal streets on the Friday before Mardi Gras, February 13.
Accompanied by a brass band, the beaded ladies are joined by the ELVI–spouses or significant others, impersonating the King of Rock ‘n Roll.
Several other marching clubs, conceived by other entrepreneurial women on the Northshore, the Prima Donnas, the Dragonfly’s, and the Goddesses, are also firing up their glue guns about this time of year to prepare for the pre -Mardi Gras day promenade through the French Quarter.
Gayden (my husband) and I are riding in Zulu on the Big Shot float this year. Our challenge is how to get 200 coconuts decorated by Mardi Gras day. How about a Zulu coconut decorating happy hour? A little Mardi Gras rum punch and some hearty white bean chili and sriracha chicken wings to warm the soul and ignite the creative juices should be the solution.
Our guests were greeted by tables overflowing with beads, sequins, rhinestones, glitter glue, paint, feathers, moss and of course, hot glue guns, ready and waiting to be fired. Hours later, with full bellies, and an empty rum punch bowl we had hundreds of beautifully decorated black and gold coconuts sure to catch the attention and reward some lucky parade goers.
See the recipes from this party now at the links below:
