February 13, 2010 Mardi Gras Social
This was a ton of fun. But you knew that, right?

HISTORY:
Mardi Gras is a celebration going back 800 years to the Carnival tradition of Venice. Carnival became wildly popular and spread through Europe. In Paris and French-speaking cities like Montreal and (at that time)New Orleans, the festival's name - Mardi Gras - literally means "Fat Tuesday" because it is the day before Ash Wednesday - the beginning of Lent.

PHILOSOPHY
Carnival and Mardi Gras are mid-winter celebrations - and don't we need something to brighten-up our long damp Seattle winter? Carnival is about feasting, wearning masks, making merry, musical parades and dances, and whatever other things you enjoy.

WHAT IT IS
Rainier Valley Rotary's first Mardi Gras was staged at the home of Mariana and Fred Quarnstrom. Attended by 80, the party featured traditional live music in the upstairs, plus recorded music and karaoke for dancing downstairs. We had a gumbo "taste-off" with the winning gumbo provided by Joseph Barker. We also had some goofy party games, all the more amusing after having a glass of our "Hurricane Jack" punch. Party photos here:
http://www.mardigrasseattle.org/rotary/photospage.html
At the bottom of this page you will find our recipe for Hurricane Jack.