Bon Ton! . . . Mardi Gras 2015 at the Haberdashery is tomorrow!

 
Dear Lost Souls . . .

The party is getting started! Yes, Cocktail Hour is on for this evening. If you'd like to learn the age old secrets of Cajun Cooking and help chop chop . . . please join us for the Taming of the Roux this evening! Otherwise we will hope to see sometime tomorrow . . .  when Haberdites from near and far will gather to celebrate Mardi Gras . . . CAYA Style! The shhhhhhedule:

Friday, Feb. 20th

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

Saturday, Feb. 21st

• 11:00am – 10:00pm – 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. 20th: 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!! WARNING: Friday night can be detrimental to Saturday . . . and should be taken in moderation, particularly if your intent is a full-on Saturday.
• Saturday, Feb. 21st: This is an all day affair . . . give or take a day . . . 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 venture out 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; CAYA; Mardi Gras 2002
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

Bon Ton! . . . You are Invited to Mardi Gras 2015 at the Haberdashery - February 21st!

Dear Lost Souls . . .

The End is Nigh! . . . but in the mean time . . .  Mardi Gras 2015 at the Haberdashery is just around the corner!! This is your official invitation to join us on 2/21 for our annual Fête Extravaganza! Of course, Cocktail Hour is also on for this Friday evening; usual time and place ... but don't take your eye off the ball of next weekend, when the Haberdashery Community will gather to pay homage to the royalty of Carnival! Here are some details for you to ponder!

Friday, Feb. 20th

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

Saturday, Feb. 21st

• 11:00am – 10:00pm – 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. 20th: 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!! WARNING: Friday night can be detrimental to Saturday . . . and should be taken in moderation, particularly if your intent is a full-on Saturday.
• Saturday, Feb. 21st: This is an all day affair . . . give or take a day . . . 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 venture out 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 March 5th, 2003; CAYA; Mardi Gras 2003
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

CAYA; The Short And The Long Of It

Dear Lost Souls,

15 days to go until the Haberdashery Mardi Gras Extravaganza. Have you picked out your party dress? Have you ordered your King Cake? Is your liver in top form? have you started to fast? Yes, February is a short month, but we plan on making it long on good food, quality company, and great music. As a small preview of the great day, we will be having a small gathering to tip a glass, tell a tale, and sing a song in modest preparation for the main event on 2/21. You can't be too prepared!

Yes, my Thirsty Thespians, Cocktail Hour is on for this Friday evening. Cocktails will be served at 7.30pm . . . low or high, shaken or stirred, neat or rocky . . . the fulfillment of your alchemical desires is at hand. As always, please feel free to swing by for a quickie en route to your primary Friday evening 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 5th, 2004; CAYA; T-16 Days and Counting
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

CAYA; Mardi Gras' a Comin'

Dear Lost Souls,

With only 22 days to go, the Haberdashery annual grand Fête on 2/21 is eminent! . . . jam packed with good food, great company and outstanding music . . . including the return of the Horribles and DJ Mr. Fabulous. In the coming days you'll be receiving information about the shhhhedule for the day . . . but suffice it to say this is an all day affair and you should plan on bringing a healthy appetite, your musical talent, and a lot of positive energy . . . we'll provide the beads . . . and some lagnappe! Now! . . . in the mean time . . .

Yes, my Creole Courtesans, Cocktail Hour is on for this Friday evening. Cocktails will be served at 7.30pm, so swing on by, leave your troubles at the bottom of the front stoop, and step into the comforting shade of The Haberdashery's low expectations. As always, please feel free to stop by for a quickie en route to your primary Friday evening engagement . . . 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 20th, 2002; CAYA; Dashing Hopes
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

CAYA; Ramp up to the Haberdashery Mardi Gras Party! - 2/21/2015

Dear Lost Souls,

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! The Haberdashery Board of Directors has selected Saturday February 21st as the sacred date for the 2015 Haberdashery Mardi Gras Party. Oh my! ... we only have 27 days to go . . . which means that you should be starting your taper right about now. We know that as good Haberdites, you have been training all year, and we promise that your dedication and zeal will not be for naught. While visions of Hurricanes and rich dark rouxs have been dancing in your heads all year long, we have been plotting and scheming on how best to fulfill all your expectations for another Bon-Ton-filled Mardi Gras adventure at our sacred hall . . . with a bit of lagnappe of course! We shall provide!

Yes, my Chaotic Cajuns, Cocktail Hour is on for this Friday evening. Cocktails will be served at 7.30pm. Come help ramp up towards Mardi Gras as we prepare for hurricane season in style! As always, please feel free to stop by for a quickie en route to your primary Friday evening tropical storm . . . 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 January 24th, 2002; CAYA; The Mardi Gras Season
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

CAYA; Your Invitation to The Splendid City

Only with a burning patience can we conquer the splendid City which will give light, justice and dignity to all mankind. ~ Rimbaud

Dear Lost Souls,

2015 has been off to a violent and contentious start on the global and domestic cultural/political scene. There is much to fret about, and great fonts of sadness and injustice seem to be welling up ever more frequently from powerful dark forces in all quarters. As individuals we may feel powerless to affect change, but in the end the human organism is the sum of us all, and our collective consciousness is guided by the decisions each of us makes every moment of every hour of every day that we inhabit this fragile blue spaceship hurtling through an infinite vacuum of darkness. Let us resolve to each do our part to first do no harm, and then seek tirelessly to take each step in our journey with passion and good intention, patiently contributing to the betterment of our tribe, our nation, and our species. Now please join us as we ignite those passions this fine evening, gathering to share a handcrafted cocktail in the tinderbox of warm fellowship that we call the Haberdashery!

Yes, my Fiery Fanatics, Cocktail Hour is on for this Friday evening. Cocktails will be served at 7.30pm. Come help spread the fire of love . . . and also hoist a birthday toast to one of the Haberdashery's own loyal sons! As always, please feel free to stop by for a quickie en route to your primary Friday evening aventure . . . 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 January 9th, 2003; CAYA: Sendem' Down Under!
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

CAYA; Back in the Sweet Baby's Arms

Dear Lost Souls,

2015 . . . another year of the usual toils and troubles is now in full swing! Warm ups are over and it is time for you to engage and get your proverbial shite together!! . . . But fret not! For along with the rigor and routine of your harrowing return to the coal mines and cubical farms comes the prospect of a comforting embrace in the eclectic shade of the Haberdashery's soggiorno of quality companionship, crafted cocktails, and lively conversation. The welcoming open arms of our weekly constitution awaits!

Yes, my Dilettante Drones, Cocktail Hour is on for this Friday evening. Cocktails will be served at 7.30pm. As always, please feel free to stop by for a quickie en route to your primary Friday evening soiree du jour . . . 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 January 24th, 2002; CAYA; Mardi Gras Season
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