Mardi Gras, Homer Style

Mardi Gras, Homer Style

By Karen Berger, with haiku by Jennifer King

Karen Berger, along with her husband Steve McCasland, own the Homer Brewing Company and are founding members of the Krewe of Gambrinus, A Social Aid and Pleasure Club. They have been instigating Mardi Gras celebrations in Homer since 1995 and have taught hundreds of Alaskans of the traditions and history of the Carnival Season. Jennifer King owns her own business Fit for A King in Homer, but more importantly, plays trombone in the Bossy Pants Brass Band.

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We are hunkered down With the low light of winter A delicious time Beads start to appear On people around Homer And downtown Fritz Creek Our Cosmic Hamlet Recognizes Mardi Gras In a special way………

It began with a mess-o-crawfish, a King Cake, a handful of beads and a homemade cardboard crown in 1995. The crawfish came from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana (www.breauxbridgelive.com ), proudly known as the "Crawfish Capital of the World". The King Cake was from Paul's Pastry Shop in Picayune, Mississippi, (www.paulspastry.com), a true "Party in a Box". Steve had brought the beads with him from New Orleans, via Dallas and Seattle, to Homer from a trip to the real thing circa 1986. Mind you, this is before the availability of the useful www and finding our sources required phone calls to old friends and kept business cards from past travels. With all of the authentic accoutrement we could find, we gathered around as big a table as we could create, covered it in newspaper and took to pinching tails and sucking heads. It was a first for everyone except Bob Folse (a Homer Coon-ass), Steve and me, and the blended mix of folks just didn't quite know what to do with those crustaceans. Luckily for them, a fisherman contributed some king crab legs and all were happily cracking something. We passed out single strands of beads for everyone and Steve gave his much shorter then story of the King Cake. We sliced it up and passed it around, no one really grasping what it would mean to "get the baby". Jerry Breese, a local bachelor, was crowned our first "King of Homer Mardi Gras." He proudly wore his poster board crown for the rest of the party and proceeded to take it to his home and store it reverently in an enclosed, dust-free china cabinet. (Something that most bachelors of Homer are not noted for having.)

Your bright eyes meet mine Strands of beads adorn your chest You who wear the crown

Mardi Gras 1996 came and King Jerry was working out of town and unable to return for his kingly duties as party host. I was given access to his house where I was able to retrieve the ensconced crown and Steve and I hosted the second party in our new, tiny house. This was the year Steve began making his world famous gumbo. (Sorry, no links to this recipe, but I'll tell you he stirs his roux for at least 4 hours. Yes, by hand, 4 hours and always uses ghee (www.food-india.com/ingredients/i001_i025/i007) as the oil and only in a cast iron skillet. That's all I can share or he would have to kill me.) I, again, ordered the King Cake from Paul's Pastry Shop in Picayune, Mississippi. The masses came and the momentum was picking up. Some even wore masks. The cake was cut and passed around, whereupon I found myself holding up the little pink baby. Now I'm Queen! (It's good to be queen.) Honestly, I had no idea where that baby was in the cake….remember it comes from Paul's Pastry Shop in Picayune, Mississippi. They put the baby in it. That special King Cake Where the baby is hidden Who will get the slice? 1997 marked the first Winter Carnival parade for Homer Brewing Company and we created a float with a throne made of kegs and a cauldron of "brew" using dry ice. It sounded good, but didn't really work out too well. The yet-to-be-named krewe on the float were dressed in empty "Bioriginal Organic Malt" bags. We tossed candy root beer barrels to the crowd. It was a start. The party was held at the home of a friend that had moved to Homer and had held the dubious distinction of being an elephant handler at the New Orleans Zoo. He well understood Mardi Gras. The King Cake from Paul's Pastry Shop in Picayune, Mississippi, was cut and passed around. All of the pieces had been taken and still no baby. The last piece was passed to Steve … and he was crowned king. We were beginning to wonder what juju was that baby had that wouldn't allow us not to throw this party.

The cold time of year Feels right for making merry You and me and beer More music and BEER We can't get enough, I fear Grog, nog, and more cheer!

1998's party came and once again we were gathered back at our small house with even more joining the krewe. We've got our Paul's Pastry Shop in Picayune, Mississippi King Cake and those folks were starting to remember me. Steve cut the cake and passed it around. The suspense of the baby is such a party highlight. There is a quiet that takes over while the baby is being sought out in those pieces of dough, fruit and colored icing. The discovery was made and it almost seemed like voodoo has more to do with it than juju as I came up with that plastic baby for the second time. It's good to be queen, but Double Queen????

Double queen you are No one could be more royal All down on one knee!

1999 brings the first parade with beads to toss. I had discovered School and Carnival Supply (www.school-carnival.com) in Gulfport, Mississippi. The helpful employee, Darlene, spent a great deal of phone time with me as there is still no www. and the first real parade throw was sent up for the Winter Carnival parade. The beads were a huge hit with the crowd. The float is starting to show more effort, embellishment and festooning in the afternoon that we spend out in the cold building it. Whatever the theme that the Chamber of Commerce announces for the Winter Carnival is somehow entwined into our float, but the theme of Mardi Gras is always the basis for our float. This was the year of "Homer is Where The Heart Is" as noted by the heart on the palm of my waving hand. The photo that was run on the front page of the Homer News and I really did feel like "Queen for a Week" as it is a weekly publication. We won "Honorable Mention" from the parade committee, probably due to the amount of beads we tossed and bribed the judges with. I saw her bare breasts Today when the beads hit air I think she wants you

The party that year was once again at our tiny house, with folks spilling out around a bonfire. Who says you can't draw a crowd for a party on a Tuesday? Now I'm on my 4th cake from Paul's Pastry Shop in Picayune Mississippi and by now they have all of my mailing information on file. Bless their hearts. It is this year I make the royal rule that if you have been king or queen once, you are exempt from taking a piece of King Cake. I make this rule knowing that something has to be done to get that baby out of our house, but I'm sure my ulterior motive is that I just don't want anyone to ever "out royal" me. This is my only way to rule the world! Remember the elephant handler from New Orleans? Yep, that's right. That baby wasn't going to let someone that didn't understand Mardi Gras and the importance of its traditions get it. It's a very smart baby. King Jim Pitt. We are all quite pleased with our new king and as you can see by his photo, he makes quite a statement as a human being. He really does appear kingly. All is well until that summer and the hurricane force winds of change blow around King Jim and he has to move from the Cosmic Hamlet. He attempts to give me back that poster board crown, but I declare, which I can because I am double queen, he host a Lagniappe* (Lagniappe: an old Creole word for "something extra." ) party. It was held in our backyard in August. We call Paul's Pastry Shop in Picayune, Mississippi, and order up another King Cake. Pass the cake and from King Jim the crown passes to now King Ray. Who is this King Ray you ask? King Ray just happens to be the hottest Cajun accordion player this side of Eunice, Louisiana, and is the "Ray" in the Ray-Jen Cajun Band. What did I tell you about that baby?

That baby must know It is that stuff, the music Makes us want to live Makes us want to go Go Go Go Go GO GO GO! But not anywhere Music and people Oh, and maybe food and drink Don't we have the life?

In honor of King Jim, he has since gone on to that great throne in the sky. Bless his soul. King Ray hosts the party and the krewe continues to grow. This is the first year poetic license was taken with the King Cake and it proves that the magic is in the baby, not the cake. The lucky piece is taken by Diana Carbonell. A woman with intense community spirit and the amazing ability to create anything out of paper mache. This is very important to float building. Oh, and she just happens to be a professional chef. Queen Di is a welcome addition to the Royal Family as we do like to eat.

Oh, it's the season To eat bowls of beans and rice Purple, green, and gold

The Winter Carnival floats begin to take on a greater and grandiose look with the use of the brewery's new space. We now have our own den*. (Den: A large warehouse where Carnival floats are built and stored.) 2001 is the year of "Back to the Future" and we build a parody of the movie, 2001, A Space Odyssey monolith. Ours is a "Mardilith" and Queen Di demonstrates her amazing paper mache creativity with our first Bouef Gras* graced the roof of the pulling van. (Bouef Gras: The fatted ox or bull that has, since the Middle Ages, been a part of pre-Lenten celebrations.) It symbolizes the last meat eaten before Lent. Queen Di adds a proper throne to the Royal Cache of goods and looks stunning waving her queenly wave from the rear of the float. Her photo graces the Anchorage Daily News and we again win Honorable Mention for our parade float efforts. The party that year was notable for its amount of great food, a new large house (finally), a raging bonfire and live Cajun music. The momentum of the essence of Mardi Gras is growing. Queen Di creates her own version of King Cake and Steve makes his ever growing longer speech about the royal responsibilities that come with the baby in the cake. "You can't just have the munchies and grab for the cake. You must be prepared to host a party, participate in the float building, ride on the float and generally represent our still un-named krewe in a royal manner. For this, you will be treated like the king or queen you are. Wishes and demands are generally met." The suspense builds and the moment is met with slight confusion. The baby slips about and is found lying helplessly on the floor by Tom Marakowitz, longtime employee of Homer Brewing Company. No one is quite sure exactly which piece of cake it fell from, but Tom's save crowns him King. Sitting on my stool The bass strap slung on my neck My sharp eyes see all The parades are becoming centered around how many beads we can toss to the crowds and how well we can bribe the judges with "special throws". It seems to be working, no matter what the theme of the parade, we usually receive "Honorable Mention" from the judging committee which nets us a little cash from the nice sponsors at ACS and it goes into the bead fund. Believe me, it is drop in the bead bucket, but it helps. Here comes that woman! The one who always wants beads The one with no bra! Tom's party is unusual in that he lives on Crossman Ridge here in Homer and it is an impressive hike into his neighborhood. His party is hosted by Regent Phillips, his "next door" neighbor. Due to the remote location and true winter weather most often experienced at Mardi Gras, the mix of the party leaned heavily to the male persuasion. Everyone knows that a party without a closer ratio of boys to girls can sometimes run amuck. Not that this one did that, but I felt that when it came time to cut the King Cake, again, from Paul's Pastry Shop in Picayune, Mississippi, a new double queen royal ruling needed to be enacted. Along with the above mentioned considerations, the party must be on the road system or at least a team of snow machines be made ready to shuttle the fainter of heart. With this in mind, and believe me the munchies were running rampant at this party, the pool of cake takers was thinner than the crowd that was gathered. There were a few scares, as the munchies overtook a few folks that did not live on the road system took a piece. Again, the baby knew just where to go. With the air as thick with suspense as it was with other things, the baby found its way to Rick "Freedom" Cline. This man was due for some kingly pleasures and privileges as he had spent the last year standing by his wife that battled and won against breast cancer. They were on the road to conception and during his reign Sharlene became pregnant with twins. She was a beautiful sight, full bellied, at next year's party at their lovely home on the road system.

My head is swimming With thoughts of you and of love On this Mardi Gras

The parade that year was noted with the addition of Bung and the name of our Krewe. We are now "The Krewe of Gambrinus, a Social Aid and Pleasure Club" and Bung is a character from the comic strip Wizard of Id. The term "bung" is also associated with a beer keg as it is the hole in the side of the keg that is used to gain entry into the vessel. Bung is made to look like the comic character with his very large nose and pointy hat. Two hands are made, one that looks like its tossing beads and the other is the famous flag inspired "peace sign" hand. Again, made by the paper mache talented Queen Di. This was 2002 and we were a country at war. We again win Honorable Mention in the parade.

It seems very odd That people are fighting wars When there is music I can't help but think We are so fucking lucky Think it every day

The next in line for the throne was Tarri Thurman. The baby felt it was time to have another queen. Di and I were finding ourselves being taxed by all of the feminine duties that come with the royal life. We are now up to 2003 and this was the year that a new tradition was born. The Epiphany party. It is tradition that King Cake be eaten on Epiphany as that is the day that the Three Wise Men wandered upon the baby Jesus. In the history of the king cake, it's design, a braided circle, comes from the supposed route the Wise Men took making way to the baby Jesus. They were walking in the sand and in an attempt to keep King Harrods's troops from finding the Wise Men; they would walk in circles and odd twisting ways in order to throw them off of their trail. January 6th, being Epiphany, began the new tradition of a Krewe gathering at the brewery to eat beans and rice and anyone's leftover holiday treats. A king cake is served, now traditionally made by Queen Di and the recipient of the baby is responsible for throwing a party during the carnival season that runs from Epiphany to Mardi Gras. Not a huge party, just a gathering of folks to help while away the long nights of winter. All rules are off regarding the taking of cake. It's a whole new tradition. Everyone takes cake. Let the new tradition begin I announce, as double queen. The cake is cut and is passed around by someone other than me. I'm enjoying myself at this party, not having any prior encumbrances or titles; chatting with King Ray as the cake makes the room. I reach for my piece, as it has been years since I've had a taste of cake, where what do I find….the baby. This makes 5 pieces of cake and 3 babies for me. What are the odds of that? That's it. I'm finished with cake! This is when Mardi Bowling began and for those that haven't been, I say, come on down to Homer for some fun theme bowling at our Kachemak Bowling Alley. I don't have to have this party every year, but it is so much fun, it just has to happen and we usually have this the Friday night before the parade on Saturday of Winter Carnival. You readers that have made it this far with me are very much invited. Just come up with a bowling name and dress kind of wacky. Think bowling alley cheese!

The Epiphany Is when we start to party Eat gumbo and cake At this first party We see who will be host For the next event Any fun will do Bowling, skiing, or a fire For all of our friends

We are now up to the King Tobias the Fair as our King for 2004. A humble king, indeed. 2005 gave us King Cefferino Maryott, partner of Queen Di and professional chef as well. I did mention how this Krewe likes to eat didn't I? 2006 brought us full circle, as we have a relative of King Ray's, his beautiful niece, Queen Emily, who will be reigning during the 2007 Mardi Gras season. We needed some youth in the royal family.

The queen is a doll My friend and partner in crime She is of my heart I will sit and sew And make her a special crown To adorn her head

This year's parade is shaping up to be a real, over the top, no holds barred event!. We're going for First Place kind of spectacle. You read it here first … you'll see it on Saturday, February 10th. Homer's Winter Carnival first ever… marching brass band! Yes, that's right! The Krewe of Gambrinus, A Social Aid and Pleasure Club, introduces "The Bossy Pants Brass Band" in association with "The Bossy Panty Twirlers".

We have been talking About a band for so long Clarinet, trombone All the horns are tuned I take a deep breath and turn Your nod says "Let's go"! But I am laughing! So hard I can't purse my lips Bye-bye embouchure

I highly suggest a trip to Homer for this grand event. It will also be the 25th Homebrew Competition and the weekend will top off with a Cajun dance at Down East on Sunday, February 11th. You are now up to date on the history of Mardi Gras Madness in Homer and I hope you will join in our fun and frivolity or at least start some of your own, wherever you are. Carnival is a season to celebrate! It is such a kick To get together often Ground full of new snow The drink on my lips The food on my tongue so sweet Ash Wednesday ... oh shit

From the entire Krewe of Gambrinus-Happy Mardi Gras!