CAYA in Place; Learning to Abide

Dear Lost Souls,

Come As You Are . . . and stay where ya'll at!

Tonight we launch a new era of shelter in place Cocktail Hours broadcast from the bosom of The Last Resort, aka 'CAYA in Place'. To inaugurate the festivities, we invite you to join us at 7:30pm PST on our dedicated Haberdashery Zoom channel (Meeting ID#: 510 646 5316) as we gather ritually for our usual weekly communion of cocktails, music, and mayhem. We will have all of you up on the big screen at the Haberdashery's hallowed hall, and invite our regular musicians to offer up some live tunes from their respective quarantine location. This is a great opportunity for Haberdites from all over the world to finally join us! Feel free to respond to this email, or coordinate separately with our resident Cabaña Boyz to schedule a performance time or coordinate logistics. Tonight we will test a 60-90 minute on-line gathering format. If you have any ideas on how we can organize future remote Cocktail Hours, please share those with us.

Life in quarantine can be monotonous and frustrating. Tonight is about learning to ABIDE. In homage to St. Dude . . . or ‘the Duddah’ in the parlance of our time . . . we will open the evening at 7:30pm Pacific Time (sharp!) with a step-by-step ceremonial sacrifice of Caucasians (White Russians) on the alter of virgin territory.

No one knows what the coming weeks will bring. But, with a long pour of compassion, a shot of empathy, and more-than-a-dash of patience . . . though we may emerge shaken or stirred . . . our community of Haberdites will navigate this gauntlet of isolation with poise and dignity . . . and an adult beverage in hand. 

Now be safe out there . . . and above all else . . . be kind to one another, my fellow Haberdites!

Yours,

Los Cabañeros

P.S. This week's Haberdashery Flashback takes us back to March 21st, 2002: CAYA - The Eternal Struggle

P.S.S. Be sure to visit the CAYA Blog, and register for email updates: http://caya20.blogspot.com

No CAYA This Week; It's Quarantini Time! 🍸

Dear Lost Souls,

There will be no Cocktail Hour this evening, as we have other engagements for the weekend. But, be assured that The Haberdashery's crack team of alchemists and pseudoscientists is now formulating our official Covid19 response strategy . . . preparing to deploy a remote mixology protocol (RMP) to be rolled out starting next week. In the mean time, to calm any hysteria, our crisis response team is recommending two very dry Quarantinis . . . administered at regular intervals as needed.

Now be safe out there . . . and above all else . . . be kind to each other, my fellow Haberdites!

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 14th, 2002: Come As You Are; The Laurel Harvest
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 Fifth Street
Berkeley, CA 94710

Thank You for making Mardi Gras 2020 a Big Success

Dear Lost Souls,

Thank you for making the Haberdashery's annual Mardi Gras Fête a big success! Your hosts had a fantastic time, and the consensus is that it was one of the best ever ... if not the top! Our deepest thanks go out to all of our fantastic musicians who put on an amazing show ... as well as some epic jam session.

If you have any favorite pictures or videos to share with us, please send them to: haberdashery2.0@gmail.com. Thank you for sharing!

Also, we have a few found items (see below) that some of you may be missing. Please let us know if you are missing something . . . and otherwise, we'll hope to see you next year.

Yours!

Los Cabañeros

Found items:

CAYA; Outbreak / Break Out

Dear Lost Souls,

Thank you to all that attended the Mardi Gras fête last Saturday. It was a hoot! We will be sending out an official 'thank you' follow up in the next day or two; but in the mean time ...

The Corona virus threat is now officially sweeping the globe, and so complicating everything from your daily commute, to basic commerce, to the election cycle, to your summer vacation escape . . . and maybe even your Friday evening plans! What a world!!! What is a Haberdite to do? Well, for the time being, the Haberdashery soldiers on in the deliverance of our weekly communion ... stocked with hand sanitizer and armed with purifying spirits to chase away the demons that spread evil throughout the land.

But fear not!! . . . with our stalwart VPOTUS and Great White Knight from Indiana at the helm of our national response, our surefire plan is to pray away this evil scourge, with an everlasting hope for brighter times when we can all return to the grand old days of great American complacency and entitlement ... so we can once again hate our fellow citizens for important things like our ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and religious preference!  . . . Ma che nostalgia! 

Yes, my Anarchists of the Apocalypse, Cocktail Hour is on for this evening. Cocktails will be served starting at 7:30pm. Please feel free to wander on by in your delirium for a quickie en route to your individual destiny, or to linger until the end of days.

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 14th, 2002: Come As You Are - 362 Days to Go; Beat the Rush!
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 Fifth Street
Berkeley, CA 94710

🃏 Happy Mardi Gras 2020 🃏 Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler!

Dear Lost Souls,

Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler! . . . at the Leap Year Mardi Gras 'That Never Was';

Saturday, February 29th, 12 pm - 12am

You are cordially and officially invited to The Haberdashery's annual Mardi Gras Fête! Come join your fellow Haberdites from near and far as we gather to toast the highpoint of the Haberdashery's calendar of frivolity, and pay homage to the royalty of New Orleans Carnival with a fanfare of epic live music and Cajun cuisine!

NOTE, This year is invitation only . . . to try to manage the crowds a bit better . . . so please let us know if there is someone special that you would like to bring along who may not be included on this mailing list.

L'horaire: 

Friday, February 28th

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

Saturday, February 29th

• 11:00am – 12:00pm – all-day Mardi Gras Party including live music jams, DJ Mr. Fabulous, & plenty-o good food . . . and Lagniappe!

• 2:00pm - The Horribles Bluegrass band will launch the live music line up on the scène de jardin

• 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. We are scheduling sunny weather and there will be lots of live music in the back courtyard. DJ Mr. Fabulous will also be on hand to spice up the mix. This year we have a particularly strong lineup of live music planned, but musicians be sure to bring along your instruments for the informal jams that inevitably pop up.

WARNING: Be prepared to shake your booty . . . this is not a spectator sport.

DETAILED SCHEDULE:

• Friday evening, February 28th There will be Friday Night Cocktail Hour as usual. For those of you interested in the The Taming of the Roux, and other cooking secrets from The Big Easy, this is the time to come. We will also be decorating.

• Saturday, February 29th: 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 story time). In the morning, beginning whenever we crawl out of bed, there will be Mimosas, Screwdrivers and Bloody Marys 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 NOLA Bread Puddin' for the ladies. 

WHAT TO BRING: There will be copious amounts of cajun food, beads, and Hurricanes. There will also be plenty of munchies, but if you are feeling particularly motivated to bring a New Orleans themed dessert, please let us know, so we can plan accordingly ... but otherwise no food contributions are necessary.

. . . Hurricanes are in the forecast! Your favorite beverage contribution is much appreciated (we will have coolers and ice on hand), and there will be plenty of beer on tap. Jim Larson and Billy Rhyne will each be contributing a 5 gallon keg of beer. Let us know if you would like to contribute to a third keg (contact Greg & Anto to coordinate).

 . . . and for GOD SAKE, please take home your commemorative 2020 Mardi Gras cup and your selected beads as our gift to you!!

What else?:

• Amateur film makers and/or photographers! - bring your cameras . . . there will lots of colorful scenes and we would love to set up a live cam and/or videos for Haberdites around the globe to enjoy vicariously.

• Face painters! - bring your paints . . . nothing says Mardi Gras like some beautiful painted people!

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 anything from animal onesies to 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 with which to accessorize.

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; Haberdashery Mardi Gras 2003

P.S.S. Be sure to visit the CAYA blog and register for updates: caya20.blogspot.com

The Haberdashery is located at:

2124 5th Street

Berkeley, CA 94710

CAYA - V Day at The Last Resort

Dear Lost Souls,

'Tis the hallmark of Hallmark holidays ... the Super Bowl of sappy sentimentality ... the World Cup of wanton wallowing and self loathing ... the March Madness of bitter regrets ... and, the Rochambeau of ridiculous romance. It's Valentines Day at the Haberdashery!! Now, come Ye one and all ... whether you stumble on by in emotional despair ... or dance through the door in unbridled glee with your love du jour ... or slide stealthily in the back way with a wink and a nod. Your Last Resort on Friday evenings is always ready to welcome you with open arms, random ridiculousness, philosophical mischief, political platitudes, and adult beverages brimming with liquid courage. The Haberdashery's Amorous Alchemists are eagerly standing by to fulfill your fluid desires*, and our merry minstrels await the chance to sing Ye a merry song. Come As You Are.

Yes, my Cantankerous Krewe d'Cupid , Cocktail Hour is on for this evening. Cocktails will be served starting at 7:30pm. Please feel free to wander aimlessly on by for a quickie en route to your primary amorous rendezvous, or to linger inevitably.

Yours,
Los Cabañeros
*desires may be furnished upon request

!!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 Fifth Street
Berkeley, CA 94710

🎭 Mardi Gras Season Ya'll! (T-22 Days) 🎭

Dear Lost Souls,

Now, how ya'll doin' this Mardi Gras season? It is only 18 days until Fat Tuesday, and only 22 days until the Haberdashery's Mardi Gras extravaganza ... (PSA) you should be well into your prep . . . sliding gently into a Cajun taper. There is just no substitute for solid preparation. Tonight, we invite you to shhwing on by the Last Resort to compare prep notes and escape, for a precious brief moment of pause, from the insanity and chaos swirling through the socio-political ethers of the cosmos. Ain't nothin' but a thang. Our reality-challenged team of scrappy alchemists will be on hand to guide you in the strategic selection of a handcrafted adult beverage . . . to help you settle into a luxurious haze of dappled starlight under our canopy of low expectations. We've got your back, Mon Cher!

Yes, my Haberdite Carnival Krewe , Cocktail Hour is on for this evening. Cocktails will be served starting at 7:30pm. Please feel free to second line on by for a quickie en route to your evening's primary destiny, or to linger indubitably.

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 Fifth Street
Berkeley, CA 94710