MRE Ambassador's (Other) Ball & Mardi Gras Echo
with Live Zydeco music by Little Red & The Renegades & Grandsons
Saturday, March 8, 7pm 'til …?
Eastport Democratic Club / 525 State Street / Annapolis 21403
$25 ticket IncludesFood, Beer & Soft Drinks
MAP & DIRECTIONS
click here for a Google map to get you there
Update: Approximately 120 tickets sold
Total proceeds from event (after expenses) are about $2100
$1000 was donated to AMFM (Annapolis Musicians Funding Musicians)
$500 will go to the New Orleans Musicians Clinic
From Premier Brett (he's the one in the crown) --
Of Great Attitudes & Gratitude
A heartfelt thanks to all the MRE partyin' patriots who made Saturday's Ambassador's (Other) Ball the success it truly was. With the proceeds, we'll be able to make a nice gift to our local musicans' fund, AMFM, as well as the New Orleans Musicians Clinic. Many of you also helped by "doing," of course -- getting the Word out there, leafleting most of the Eastport-O-Reekin' peninsula (and our neighbors across The Gulf of Eastport); pushing tickets on unsuspecting denizens and tourists; preparing food specialties; setting up; and the dreaded hung-over take-down. (If memory serves, it was Maureen McGovern who sang "There's got to be a morning after." How true. And "ouch.")
Others helped by coming to The Ball, of course. But it's the first group that we salute here and now. (Everyone should be advised of this: We have pictures! And we know how to use 'em!) So for all our volunteer Ball Krewe members it's a big "Skip, Yip, Yahoo Sea-Ray" to: Mike and Kelly; Nikki; Jan; Megan Jones; Elvia; Dick ("If You Don't Know Peterson, You Don't Know Dick") and Dretta; Karen; Margie; Dana and Mark; Mike P. and Jess; and Julie & Steve (Anderson).
The retailers who furnished chow also deserve our thanks, including Kiyomi at Davis' Pub; Main Ingredient; EYC; and the CASI chili-heads. Thank You, D&M Distributors, too. Thanks also to our ticket outlets for their advance sales: hh, Coffee! (Thanks Dan!); Boatyard (Thanks, Dick!); Easy Street (Thanks, Megan & Brett!); and SpringRiver Canoe & Kayak (Thanks, Dave!)
Last -- but certainly not least -- we want to express our gratitude to the Eastport Democratic Club. Not only did they make their hall available to us, but several members pitched in by selling tickets, tending the door, setting up, cleaning up and of course, tending to our hydration needs. (Which were considerable.) A Big MRE "Thank You" to: Greg; Michele and Ray; Chris; Jimmy; Tommy; Shirley; and Bella.
See Ball photos by Beth Rado | More Ball Photos by Elvia Thompson
Got pics to share? Send 'em or a link
Join your friends from The Maritime Republic of Eastport in our annual Celebration of the Anniversary of our Micro Nation’s secession from Annapolis (and especially, Ward One).
In the tradition of a Mardi Gras Parade, kinky Key West dress, and our own MRE dance party, there will be ample food, beer and a really great Zydeco band — Little Red & The Renegades. Austin, Texas, music critic Lee Nichols writes that Little Red’s sound: “…is just flat out fun – it’s an exuberant celebration of everything wonderful about American music, with a heavy emphasis on Zydeco and Cajun. He can easily glide from ‘Bon Ton Roulet’ to ‘Zydeco Beach Party’ to blues, country, conjunto, and back again.”
In fact, the band played this gig last year and helped draw a capacity crowd that included many out-of-towners. See their MySpace page and hear their music.
Also playing this year are The Grandsons! Their music has been called "American music in a blender with the lid off." The more prominent elements in this eclectic whirlpool are New Orleans rhythm and blues, rockabilly, swing and country two steps.
Tickets may be purchased at the door for $25(cash or check only) or in advance at several locations around Annapolis.
Proceeds Benefit |
So, What does $25 get you? You may be wondering. Here's what:
- Great Cajun, as well as "regular," food
- Beer and soda, and
- Some outstanding two-stepping, rump-shaking, can't sit down live Crescent City music.
Not a bad deal, eh? Keep in mind that the number of revelers is limited by the capacity of the Eastport Democratic Club (about 250), so it's best to get your tickets early!.
Buy your tickets in advance at
- Easy Street - 8 Francis Street, in Downtown Annapolis, just off Main
- Ahh, Coffee! - 1015 Bay Ridge Avenue in the Eastport Shopping Center
- Boatyard Bar & Grill - Fourth Street at Severn Avenue
- Annapolis Canoe & Kayak (formerly Spring River) - Third Street at Severn Avenue
