Friday, February 28, 2014

Bon Ton! . . . Mardi Gras 2014 at the Haberdashery

Dear Lost Souls!

'Just a quick reminder that our glorious communal day of celebration at the Haberdashery Mardi Gras Party is up on us! We'll hope to see you sometime tomorrow . . . or perhaps some of you tonight . . . to earn your Cajun cooking chops!

Yes, my Bayou Brethren! . . . that's right! . . . Cocktail Hour is on for this evening! As always, cocktails will be served at 7.30pm. Please feel free to stop by for a quickie en route to your primary Mardi Gras Bon Ton . . . or to join the Second Line and linger 'til the Hurricanes arrive!

Bon Ton!
Los Cabañeros

P.S. This week's Haberdashery Flashback takes us back to February 18th, 2004; CAYA - Mardi Gras 2004

Friday, February 21, 2014

Bon Ton! . . . Mardi Gras 2014 at the Haberdashery!

Dear Lost Souls . . .

Get out your party dress! The wait is over! Mardi Gras 2014 at the Haberdashery is finally here!!

Please take a moment to RSVP / sign up on the Eventbrite page so we can get an idea of how big the crowd will be (http://caya-mardigras2014.eventbrite.com)

IN BRIEF:

Friday, Feb. 28th

  • 7:30pm – 12:00am – The Taming of the Roux (CAYA Cocktail Hour, Saturday prep, and a Cajun cooking primer)
Saturday, March 1st

  • 11:00am – Midnight – all-day Mardi Gras Party including live music jams, DJ Mr. Fabulous, & plenty-o good food . . . plus Lagniappe!
  • (3:00pm – 7:00pm) – Primary period of feasting!

Come Join the CAYA Gumbo!


Gumbo is not just a dish . . . it is a ménage of flavors, people and ideas. Come experience the Haberdashery's brand of social alchemy and Loooousiana hospitality first hand. Musicians, be sure to bring along your instruments! We are scheduling sunny weather and there will be lots of live music jamming in the back courtyard. DJ Mr. Fabulous will also be on hand to spice up the mix. WARNING: Please be prepared to shake your booty . . . this is not a drill.

DETAILED SCHEDULE:

  • Friday evening, Feb. 28th: There will be Friday Night Cocktail Hour as usual. For those of you interested in the Festival of the Roux, and other cooking secrets from The Big Easy, this is the time to come. Chop, chop chop!! Please let us know if you are coming to help out so that we will have an idea of how much help we can count on . . . WARNING: Friday night can be detrimental to Saturday . . . and should be taken in moderation, particularly if your intent is a full-on Saturday.
  • Saturday, March 1st: This is an all day affair . . . give or take a day . . . rumors of a Sunday brunch abound . . . so feel free to come and go as you please; children are more than welcome; particularly during the daylight hours (before  bedtime). In the morning, beginning whenever we crawl out of bed, there will be Mimosas, Screwdrivers and Bloody Mary's for those that arrive before noon . . . or whenever. We will start the primary serving of food in the mid-afternoon. There will be the usual fair of Gumbo, Jambalaya, Red Beans & Rice, etc. . . . whenever they are ready . . . and of course, lagniappe . . . yea, yea . . . and there will be LOTS of bread pudding for the ladies.

WHAT TO BRING: . . . Hurricanes are in the forecast  . . . but your favorite beverage contribution is much appreciated, so please bring along beer or other libations to share (we will have coolers and ice on hand). There will copious amounts of food, beads, and Hurricanes. There will also be plenty 'o munchies, but if you are feeling particularly motivated, feel free to add a little something extra (lagniappe!)! . . . but, for GOD SAKE, please take home your beads!!! They are our Mardi Gras gift to you!!

Musicians! - Bring your instruments. There will be live music galore!
Amateur photographers! - bring your cameras . . . there will lots of colorful scenes to record!

DRESS CODE: Well! . . . there is no dress code, and you can wear whatever the hell you want . . . but this IS Mardi Gras . . . so festive attire is appropriate! In general, this could mean carnival masks, and/or your favorite colorful wig . . . pull out that old sequined party dress (e.g. flapper style), a boa, feather tiara . . . a dapper hat or sport coat . . . Seersucker is always encouraged! HOPPE style! . . . or just show up in jeans and a t-shirt!!!! . . . the point is to relax and have a good time. We will have lots of beads and other parade trinkets on hand to accessorize! . . . which you WILL take home!

As always, please feel free to stop by for a quickie . . . on Friday or Saturday; or to linger indefinitely.

Yours!
Los Cabañeros


!! Please drink responsibly and arrange for safe transportation!! . . . your well-being is our first priority!

P.S. This week's Haberdashery Flashback takes us back to February 6th, 2002; Mardi Gras 2002; Come As You Are
P.S.S. Be sure to visit the CAYA blog, and register for email updates: http://caya20.blogspot.com/

The Haberdashery is located at:
2124 5th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
T: 510.229.2970

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Start Your Taper - The End is Nigh

Dear Lost Souls,

Short and sweet . . . the 2014 Haberdashery Mardi Gras Party is just 8 days away; on Saturday, March 1st. We will be sending out the official invitation tomorrow . . . and you should be starting your taper towards this most momentous of annual holidays . . . but in the mean time, the wheels of time churn on . . .

Yes, my Eager Epicureans! . . . Cocktail Hour is on for this Friday evening.  Cocktails will be served at 7:30pm. As always, please feel free to stop by en route to your primary Mardi Gras season fête . . . or to linger indefinitely.

Yours!
Los Cabañeros

!! Please drink responsibly and arrange for safe transportation !! . . . your well-being is our first priority!

P.S. This week's Haberdashery Flashback takes us back to February 6th, 2002; Mardi Gras 2002 - Come As You Are
P.S.S. Be sure to visit the CAYA blog, and register for email updates: http://caya20.blogspot.com/

The Haberdashery is located at:
2124 5th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
T: 510.229.2970

Thursday, February 13, 2014

CAYA; T-14 Days / Feb 14 . . . Coincidence?

Dear Lost Souls,

It's a sign from St. Valentine! . . . This not-so-subtle numeric code is telling us to prepare for the most important holiday of the year; The Haberdashery Mardi Gras Party, only two short weeks away. Have you picked our your Bon Ton outfit? . . . and don't forget to fluff your boa!

Yes, my Capricious Cupids, Cocktail Hour is on for this Friday evening . . . and our In-house Intrepid Italian is trotting out his Latin Lover hosting chops to hoist a Valentine toast to the international demigod of love and affection . . . himself, another Italian hero of the gentler arts. All are welcome, stag or solo, to stop by for a cup of good cheer and open fellowship. Cocktails will be served at 7:30pm. As always, please feel free to stop by en route to your primary 'encountre' . . . or to linger indefinitely. 

Yours!
Los Cabañeros

!! Please drink responsibly and arrange for safe transportation !! . . . your well-being is our first priority!

P.S. This week's Haberdashery Flashback takes us back to February 13th, 2003; CAYA; St. Valentine's Day
P.S.S. Be sure to visit the CAYA blog, and register for email updates: http://caya20.blogspot.com/

The Haberdashery is located at:
2124 5th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
T: 510.229.2970

Thursday, February 6, 2014

CAYA; 21 days and a Red Velvet Teaser


Dear Lost Souls,

It is only 21 days until the Habedashery Mardi Gras party! Be sure to mark your calendar for Saturday, March 1st  . . . and by now you should be well set into your training. We appreciate that each of you needs to prepare in your own special way, but try not to make the rookie mistake of starting your taper too early. We don't want pitiful scenes of Haberdites hitting the wall during their second bowl of Red Beans and Rice when they haven't even gotten into the Jambalaya or the Gumbo yet!

Yes, my Bacchus Bacheloriates, Cocktail Hour is on for this Friday evening. Our newest Haberdite, Antonio Sala (from Modena, Italy), seems to be settling into the NORCAL lifestyle quite well! He will be an honored resident at our sacred lodge through late April . . . so please stop by to meet him, and make him feel welcome. In honor of Antonio, a beer lover at heart, the executive board is unveiling a few bottles from the new batch of The Haberdashery Brewing Company's Red Velvet Ale . . . just to check if it sees its shadow.

Cocktails will be served at 7:30pm. Please feel free to stop by en route to your primary Beer Week soiree . . . or to linger indefinitely.

Yours!
Los Cabañeros


!! Please drink responsibly and arrange for safe transportation !! . . . your well-being is our first priority!

P.S. This week's Haberdashery Flashback takes us back to February 1st, 2002, 2001; CAYA; T-8 Days
P.S.S. Be sure to visit the CAYA blog, and register for email updates: http://caya20.blogspot.com/

The Haberdashery is located at:
2124 5th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
T: 510.229.2970