Mardi Gras 2015 Insert

February 2015

Thrive Mardi Gras Guide

www.thriveswla.com www.thriveswla.com

1

Be the or of the Ball

Belle Beau Everyone knows Mardi Gras season is a time to go all out and over the top. Rhinestone Runway, with shops in Lake Charles and New Orleans is the largest family-owned bridal and formal store in Louisiana and recently designed all the Mardi Gras masks for the Miss USA pageant in 2014.

They have the masks on display in the store, along with many to purchase.

“People love sparkles. The more glitter the better,” owner Victoria Huber says about the masks.

Huber says the 2014 Miss USA pageant is having a big influence on Mardi Gras fashion this season, as Miss Louisiana’s dress—which was also designed

by Rhinestone Runway—is making high necklines popular. Huber says you’ll see a lot of dresses with more modest fronts and lower backs this season.

Long, flowing gowns and white chiffon for debutantes is tasteful and also in style this year.

New

By Ellen Frazel

As for accessories, Huber says they have had more requests for gloves this year, and parasol umbrellas are also big. Rhinestone headbands popularized

by Carrie Underwood are a great hair accessory, and Huber says they carry a wide selection of these headbands. As she points out, “In Louisiana we outdo everyone else: gloves, fur wraps, jewelry, anything you can imagine, we have.”

For men, Huber says it’s very fashion forward for them to match their dates. Most Mardi Gras balls are black tie events, with a black tux required.

Mardi Gras vests—the item Rhinestone Runway rents more than anything else for men during the season—allow the men to coordinate if their date wears black, purple, gold, or green.

No matter what style you decide on, you can’t go wrong with classic Carnival colors, and it’s really all about the overall effect as you glam up to see and be seen this Mardi Gras season!

! n o i t L o ca

Butch Ferdinandsen CFP®, CLU, CRPS, CRPC Investment Advisor Representative

Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC and Registered Investment Adviser. Ferdinandsen Financial Group is not affiliated with Woodbury Financial Services or registered as a broker-dealer or investment adviser.

2356 E. McNeese St., Suite 100 2

www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Mardi Gras Guide

491-9236 February 2015

Twelfth Night arrived on January 6, ushering in an early Mardi Gras season. Many Lake Charles residents decorate their homes for the festive holiday, and transform their Christmas trees into Mardi Gras trees. Wreaths are hung on front doors, and green and red twinkling lights are replaced with purple, green, and gold.

Mardi Gras is always 46 days before Easter, and this year Fat Tuesday falls on February 17.

Debbie Gorman, manager at the Party Time Store, located at 4452 Lake St., said there are plenty of decorations to choose from.

Paint Your Halls

Purple,

Green & Gold

By Angela Hauser

“Many people leave their Christmas trees up, and decorate for Mardi Gras with feather boas as garland,” said Gorman. “I make wreaths, and we also carry the florals to make your own wreaths.

You can use your imagination and make whatever you want, and be as creative as you like.”

Party Time has mantle scarves, ornaments, and a huge variety of Mardi Gras themed decorations on hand.

“Lake Charles begins decorating in January,” said Gorman, “and this year Mardi Gras is early, so people are already decorating.”

Connie Dickinson at the Mardi Gras Lady, located at 1417 E. Prien Lake Rd., is also stocked for the holiday.

“We have Mardi Gras ornaments for the tree that are round like Christmas ornaments but in solid purple, green, and gold, or multi colored. We carry Mardi Gras dolls, fleur de leis, comedy and tragedy masks, and small Mardi Gras masks.”

The Mardi Gras Lady also has the ribbon or wide mesh used to decorate trees, or make centerpieces for tables. There are festive colored balls on stems for vases, picks, and colored lights. Four types of garlands are in stock, and there are three different shapes to make wreaths.

Multi colored feathers, different sizes of masks, hats, and specialty beads are available.

Mardi Gras in Lake Charles is a family friendly event, and decorating the home can be part of the fun.

Don’t Mask Your Imperfections.

Transform them.

Let the Aesthetic Center be your fairy godmother. Our cosmetic injections and facial treatments can minimize fine lines, plump lips, and smooth away the years, leaving you looking more youthful, vibrant and ready for the ball.

Dr. Mark Crawford, Medical Director

(337)310-1070 facehealth.net February 2015

Thrive Mardi Gras Guide

www.thriveswla.com www.thriveswla.com

3

EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC! NOW-FEBRUARY 17, 2015

monsourspho

*Denotes events taking place at the Lake Charles Civic Center.

CITY OF SULPHUR MARDI GRAS PARADE Saturday, February 7 Cypress St., S-Curve to S. Huntington St. VINTON MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION Downtown Vinton. Krewe des Gratis will host a gumbo cook-off at 10 a.m., a parade at 2 p.m. ending at Knights of Columbus Hall where the gumbo judging will begin at 3 p.m. *KREWE OF THE GOLDEN YEARS Monday, February 9, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum Senior citizens who have passed down Mardi Gras traditions celebrate the season with food and a Mardi Gras ball. Free to seniors 60 and up.

*WORLD FAMOUS CAJUN EXTRAVAGANZA/ GUMBO COOK-OFF Saturday, February 14, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

You will not want to miss this taste-from-every-pot event or the hot Southern and Cajun music that comes along with it. Admission is $5, and children 5 and under are admitted free.

KREWE OF OMEGA PARADE Saturday, February 14, 2 p.m. Downtown Lake Charles. *ZYDECO DANCE Saturday, February 14, 3-5 p.m.

Live band playing Mambo and Zydeco. *KREWE OF BARKUS PARADE Saturday, February 14, 3 p.m. Fantastically disguised canines parade in full Mardi Gras attire, all vying for the title of “Mystical Dog.” Entry fee applies.

monsoursphotography.net

MERCHANTS’ PARADE Friday, February 13, 7 p.m.

Downtown-Midtown Lake Charles CARLYSS MARDI GRAS TRAIL RIDE Saturday, February 14, 8:30 a.m.

Begins and ends at West Cal Arena in Sulphur. Line up at 6 a.m. Admission fee for trail riders is $5.

4

KREWE OF COSMOS PRESENTATION Saturday, February 14, 6:30 p.m.

The Krewe of Cosmos presents their royal court in style at the Sulphur High School Auditorium with skits, songs and more. *KREWE OF ILLUSIONS Saturday, February 14, 7:30 p.m.

Celebrate Mardi Gras with the annual presentation of the Krewe of Illusions. Tickets are $30 orchestra, formal attire required. $18 balcony reserved seating and $15 standard balcony seating, casual attire.

www.thriveswla.com Thrive Mardi Grasfor Guide Events subject to change. Visit www.swlamardigras.com the most up-to-date information.

February 2015

*TASTE DE LA LOUISIANE Sunday, February 15, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Pots and pots of all-you-can-eat traditional Louisiana cuisine for a $7 admission fee. *CHILDREN’S DAY Sunday, February 15, noon-3 p.m.

Old-time Louisiana culture, arts and crafts, Mardi Gras music and magic.

An education station complete with safety and health information.

m

lindseyjanies.co

CHILDREN’S PARADE Sunday, February 15, 3:30 p.m.

Downtown-Midtown Lake Charles. A purple, green and gold parade for the young and young at heart.

otography.net

*LIGHTED BOAT PARADE Sunday, February 15, 7 p.m.

Be dazzled by the glowing boat parade on shimmering Lake Charles. *ROYAL GALA Monday, February 16, 7 p.m.

The Cinderella moment of the season features the 2015 courts of more than 50 krewes with kings, queens, royal dukes and duchesses, captains, courtesans and jesters. Tickets are $5 in advance, or $6 at the door. Children 5 and under are admitted for free.

IOWA CHICKEN RUN Tuesday, February 17, 10 a.m.

The chicken run starts and ends at KC Hall and runs west down 90. Ride a float, catch a chicken and finish with some gumbo and live music for a toe-tapping good time.

MOTOR GRAS PARADE Tuesday, February 17, 11 a.m.

Downtown-Midtown Lake Charles. Hot rods, classics and motorcycles.

KREWE OF KREWES’ PARADE Tuesday, February 17, 5 p.m.

Downtown-Midtown Lake Charles. Hundreds of elaborate krewe floats, costumes, beads and more wind through the city in the culmination of the Fat Tuesday celebration.

Download the Appes! t Search for“Southw Louisiana Mardi Gras”

February 2015

Thrive Mardi Gras Guide

www.thriveswla.com www.thriveswla.com

5

Mardi Gras Hair & Makeup

By Ellen Frazel

While it may be all about the dress, hair and makeup are the key components to properly accentuate your Mardi Gras dress and bring even more attention to it. Hair stylist Lauren Noack at Signatures Salon in Lake Charles says that texture is the buzzword this season.

“We’re not seeing as many sleek, onenote hairstyles; instead, twists and braids are really popular right now,” Noack explains.“More texture on the sides gets the eyes to travel to the updo and take in the whole look.”

If you’re wearing a strapless dress, Noack says that hair is better down or half up and half down. A headband down by the forehead with loose, beachy curls is a very ubiquitous trend this year and gives you a fun, bohemian look. If the hair is all up and curled, Noack emphasizes that the curls are loose and messy instead of tight this season.

Adrienne Bodin, an aesthetician at Signatures, shared some makeup tips for the Mardi Gras season.“In my experience and research for this season, what’s fun about Mardi Gras is that you can absolutely play up vibrant colors,” she says. Especially for parades, bright and bold eyes can be fun and attentiongrabbing.

You can also try out vibrant lip colors and softer eyes for parades or balls.

However, Bodin says,“A classic smoky eye is always elegant for a black tie event.” False eyelashes, which they can apply at Signatures, can also make a nice statement for your evening look. For a more costume-style look, they have false eyelashes with glitter or long, sweeping cat eyes.

After finding that perfect dress for the season, with the right hair and makeup, the options for your look are endless!

“Little hair pieces are also cute to accentuate the hairstyle, especially if it’s to the side,” she says.“A flower can be a really nice touch.”

Savor

Mardi Gras

PARTY TIME YOUR

MARDI GRAS HEADQUARTERS!

Flavor at Crave

Largest Selections in Southwest Louisiana CORNER OF LAKE & MCNEESE STREETS • LAKE CHARLES, LA

337-477-2789

BEADS • MASKS • COSTUMES • FLAGS • JEWELRY • MARDI GRAS DOLLS

STOCK UP ON SUPPLIES EARLY!

Stop by Crave for Sucré king cakes and king cake macarons. We also have unique gift items and a wide selection of specialty foods, boutique cheese and wines for your Mardi Gras celebrations.

Satisfy every taste, with Crave.

2801 Ryan Street, Suite 100 l 421-0040 l crave-foods.com l 6

www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Mardi Gras Guide

February 2015

Favor Your Guests with

Unique Gifts

By Angela Hauser

Mardi Gras is in full swing, and Lake Charles gift shops stand ready with unique party favors.

Expressions, located at 3204 Ryan St., is stocked with a wide assortment of goodies.

Aromatic bath fizzes are shaped as Mardi Gras cupcakes with a crown on top. Colorful candles in glass jars flicker with the heavenly scent of King Cake and ceramic goblets and platters as well as fleur de leis ornaments, are available in traditional or hand painted Mardi Gras designs. Fairies and jesters abound in purple, green, and gold.

Accessory Zone, located at 2910 Ryan St., features table runners, hand painted wine glasses, and decorations galore. A variety of cups, platters, acrylic glassware, masks, and cutting boards are decorated with fleur de leis, alligators, and crawfish. Fanciful signs

are made from hurricane debris. Wine topper designs include silver fleur de leis and harlequins. A variety of wine bags await monogramming in-store for a personal touch.

Beads, throws, doubloons, cups, and more are available for customers to shop locally for the season, and support local businesses.

Mardi Gras has been celebrated annually along the Gulf Coast since the 1700s, and looks to be a tradition for a long time to come.

You don’t have to be a member of a krewe to pass a good time, and get into the spirit of a unique celebration enjoyed by young and old alike.

Mard Gras SOUTHEAST TEXAS

Online Tickets Available at mardigras.portarthur.com

LIVE MUSIC

ALL DAY!

Catch the Excitement Feb 12-15, 2015 a family friendly event

Parades • Concerts • Carnival • Arts & Crafts • Food Vendors Street Entertainment • Children Under 12 FREE!

409.721.8717

Visit us online for a complete list of entertainment DOWNTOWN PORT ARTHUR • mardigras.portarthur.com February 2015

Thrive Mardi Gras Guide

FUNPASS!

Carnival Wristbands Available www.thriveswla.com www.thriveswla.com

7

Lake Charles/ iana Southwest Louis

Parades, dances, galas and more!

IT’S Party TIME!

SPONSORED BY:

NOW - FEBRUARY 17

Call 800-456-7952 or for a complete listing of events and details, visit www.swlamardigras.com.

Download the App!

i Gras”

Search for“SWLA Mard

8

www.thriveswla.com

Thrive Mardi Gras Guide

February 2015