New Toulouse

The Founder’s Day celebration took place on Saturday, March 7.

“Not a week goes by without some new person saying what a beautiful region we live in. Not a week goes by without hearing someone who lives here muse happily about the comfort and refuge they find here,” said Mayor Godenot. “It is my sincere pleasure to walk in the paths laid down by those wonderful women, Mama Cree and Miz Gabi. Join me in honoring our founders, and thank them by enjoying the beautiful places they have given us.”

The mayor’s “Leap of Faith” landed him squarely in the the bucket, traditionally ensuring another year of excellent luck for New Toulouse.

Following the ceremonial paying of the Lafitte’s rent meter, celebrants gathered on Bourbon for a street party.

Partygoers enjoyed the performance of visiting musician Mr. Bohemian, whose original songs in at least three different languages were an especially big hit.

Photo credit: Kristine Jinx-Kristan and Nikita Weymann.

A. Flyonthewall just wants to blend in.

Surrealists gathered in Spiegel Hall Saturday to celebrate the first annual Surrealist Ball, sponsored by the Krewe of Bast. Guests arriving were announced by the Great Big Eye at the entrance shouting, “Has anybody seen my gal?”

Krewe members had transformed the auditorium into a phantasmagorical tableau in which the attendees in fantastical garb cavorted, engaged in wordplay, and sampled from the extraordinary buffet provided by Kristine Jinx-Kristan. The food, while often inedible, was often quite audible; for example, an amuse-bouche called “Two Matches. One New, One Burned. Garnished with Mint,” said when prompted, “The sisters of St. Cathode ask that you cover yourself with filaments and take pains to make yourself fully incandescent this evening.”

By popular demand, the decorations will remain up for the coming week, and persons wishing to take home the buffet may do so by consulting the poster on the table.

Nikita Weymann led a game of Exquisite Corpse, asking individuals for words. “And then,” she said, “I will glue them all together and feed them to a snail.” Game participants were Alterego Mee, RMarie Beedit, Kristine Jinx-Kristan, Liza Veliz, Gamaliel, Dr. Avalon, Francesca Alva, Crispin Sturges, Harley Mihnea, Carter Denja, Ghosty Kips, Eilidh McCullough, Maggie Hawksby, Pazzo Pestana, and Gragarth, who together produced the following three sentences, each contained in a snail that is still obtainable in the Spiegel Hall auditorium:

The oblivious feather hungrily leaned the laggy tea.

The ugsome pineapple mindlessly wobbled the delicious elbow.

DJ Ghosty Kips supplied a gloriously madcap set of meticulously mapped-out music to the cheering congregation. “Please hold your tomatoes,” he entreated, warning of an upcoming song. “Hold your friend’s tomatoes if necessary.” At least two persons metamorphosed into the delicious nightshade fruit in response.

“Oh no, I spent half an hour getting dressed,” said Ohdearme Ohmai. “I’m not changing into a tomato yet.”

Photo credits: Kristine Jinx-Kristan, Henri Godenot.

See more photos here and here.

A. Flyonthewall is rarely this loquacious.