MYSTICK KREWE DES ACADIENS Part 1

About 18 years ago, fifty LA transplants to Atlanta joined the Mystick Krewe Des Acadiens, an organization started by Dimitri Schreckengost from Atlanta and the Trahans from Crowley, LA. As the only authentic Mardi Gras krewe in Atlanta, the names and identities of the twelve selected to serve on the court for the Saturday Ball each February, were known only to krewe members. The King and Queen's identity was announced to the two members serving in that capacity and to the Captain of the Krewe. We elected officers, adopted bylaws, and held monthly meetings to discuss each year's February ball theme, costumes, Royal Court, and enjoy food and fun. Our annual Black Tie Ball for 500 guests, invitation only, was held at the Fox Theater Egyptian Ballroom. Sadly, our group disbanded two years ago when hard economic times affected invitation sales. Here is the first interesting story.

In 2000, my husband Larry and  I were elected, by secret vote, King Gabriel VII and Queen Evangeline VII, respectively. We were the first husband and wife members to serve as King and Queen. We were not allowed to reveal this status to anyone else. Our identities would be revealed on the night of the scheduled Ball. We had about eight months to plan and meet with costume designers and prepare for the event. My friend, cindy, LouHoo, the Costume Mistress at the Atlanta Alliance Theater offered to design our costumes. I was way ahead of her. I plopped a Barbie 2000 doll on her desk. "This is the costume I want to wear. I realize the traditional King and Queen's costumes must be white and gold, but I want that gown. And I'm going to lose a lot of weight. And I want Larry's costume to resemble King Henry VIII's suit."

She looked at me, then back at the Barbie, and I don't think she trusted my promise because she handmade a whalebone corset with strings. For the fitting, she stomped one foot on the wall and dug in with her other foot, pulled those strings, and my chest rose to great heights. She first constructed a muslin model of the gown, then completed the full skirted silk and tulle low cut gown. I purchased a white fitted crystal encrusted gown to wear after the presentation of the Court.

Larry's costume cost much in labor and whining. When I told him he had to wear white tights, he thought I'd gone mad. We drove to several dance/costume stores, and each time I said I wished to purchase white tights for my 235 lb King, the clerk snickered or suppressed a laugh. I told them to pretend Baryshnikov had gained a bit of weight.  No deal. I finally found a pair of leggings at an online nurses' supply. Larry's finished costume was a work of art. He had to wear the tights to the final fitting. I watched him lie on the bed, hoist both legs in the air and begin the ordeal of putting on the tights. Hilarious! I had to instruct him in the one-foot-at-a-time method of wearing tights.

Then the royal crowns. I looked online at Crystal Crowns inventory and asked the to send me the largest crystal crown in stock. Larry selected a magnificent heavy, manly crystal crown that had to be custom made to fit his head.

We hosted a pre-Ball cocktail party in our suite at the historic Georgian Terrace across from the Fox. Our grand entrance at the 2001 Ball was stunning!  Court members wore stunning masks designed by a Brazilian artist. My own mother did not realize I was Queen. I felt that the time and money was well spent  because of the fantastic memory of that night. After the presentation of the court and Second Linin', Larry and I were escorted to separate dressing rooms so assistants could help us remove and store our costumes and dress in our Black Tie ensembles for the Ball. We and guests then enjoyed a delicious LA menu prepared by a New Orleans chef, greeted guests, danced Second Line and returned to the hotel late in the night. Sunday we met friends for a special brunch held in our honor. We returned home Sunday evening.

THEN. . . on Tuesday of the following week, as I sorted through our luggage and Ball paraphernalia, I could not find Larry's King costume. I called him at work.

He replied, "My costume is in that BLACK GARBAGE BAG."  My heart froze. He explained that his buddies who helped him to store his costume put it in a black garbage bag and brought it to our hotel room.

Trying to remain calm, I said, "A BLACK GARBAGE BAG!! WHERE IS IT?"

Larry: "I asked the porter to take everything to our car."

I called the hotel to ask for the location of the trash company's landfill, then I told Larry to get in his truck, drive to Ballground, GA and dig for that $2,000 costume or he'd have hell to pay when he got home.

Then the conversation came straight out of WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS, MEN ARE FROM MARS.
He said, "I don't understand why you're so upset. I wasn't ever planning to wear that thing again."

Me: "That costume was an original, hand made, specially designed, artifact! It's comparable to a christening gown or a wedding dress!! My gown was stored in a Neiman Marcus bag. Whatever possessed you to put it in a garbage bag?" I was miffed for weeks.

We never recovered Larry's King costume, but my gown is stored in a clear air tight dress bag so I can regale my grandchildren with this story.

My friends have noted that while driving through the metro area, they have seen a garbage man donned in a white and gold King costume doing the royal wave to his constituents.