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Bedazzled as we are by on-and-off beads, caught up in papier-mâché and Mylar, we might reflect gratefully on Carnival’s true incandescence, its Golden Age in the late 19th century. Brilliant designers. Elaborate costume makers. Opulent maskers, creators that stirred the soul with marvelous themes and wondrous flights of imagination. It's why we celebrate the 130th anniversary of Proteus 1896 and the breathtaking originality that took spectacle to the next level. With 110 fantastically opulent costumes, 18 captivating papier-mâché floats, and 21 brilliant watercolors, laced with perfectly pitched, zany wit—the DUMB SOCIETY parade was a one-of-a-kind theatrical masterpiece ranked as one of Carnival’s greatest parades of all time. Bask in the golden luster and ebullience of our Day of Days which is never lost for you who seek it. Let’s toast to this city, dedicated most unusually to the sheer celebration of life’s joys.
Wikstrom Martini - Vodka, Gin, Aquavit, vermouth, absinthe
His name is Wikstrom. Bror Anders Wikstrom. After spending nearly a decade as a sailor on open waters, the Swedish immigrant-artist Bror Anders Wikstrom discovered New Orleans in 1883. Captivated by the city’s charm and limitless subject matter, he made it his home for the rest of his life. Wikstrom’s greatest success came as a designer of Carnival floats and costumes. Spanning a quarter century, his resplendent productions for the Rex and Proteus krewes were colorful and imaginative, their themes derived from exotic Middle Eastern literature. These Mardi Gras commissions brought Wikstrom substantial wealth. Financial freedom, in turn, allowed him to enjoy regular European travel—as an International Man of Mystery. -AG James Bond inspired martini service extraordinaire.
Zulu Pleasure Cocktail - Rum, Coffee, Coconut, Haitian Cocoa Bitters
The history of the Zulu Parade dates back to 1909, originating with the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club, a benevolent society created by laborers who were excluded from mainstream Mardi Gras. Inspired by a play about the Zulu tribe, they paraded in satirical costumes to challenge prevailing stereotypes. Today, it is renowned for its decorated coconut tosses and the crowning of King Zulu, a title famously held by Louis Armstrong in 1949. This parade on the final day of the season is early! So this version with New Orleans roasted coffee and Haitian cocoa bitters is an upgrade for y’all Espresso Martini lovers!
Carlotta’s Cup - Vodka, Rhum, citrus, port, ginger, tropical fruit & flower
A chalice of fine spirits to toast our mystery muse, Carlotta Bonnecaze, whose intricate illustrations may adorn our lobby. We present a drink that is an exquisite taste of place that evokes the storied Golden Age of Carnival. A refreshing elixir of vodka perfumed with the exotic fragrance of Buddha’s hand citrus, mingling with French rum and hibiscus punch. It is a drink worthy of a Queen, yet suitable for a jackass, peacock, goat, or grubworm—any of the hysterical satirical figures in her Dumb Society. Served in a vintage chalice.
In local lore, it was a woman who took the Golden Age to its zenith. Her name, Carlotta Bonnecaze. The first woman and first Creole (French) to design a parade. Or did she? Did she even exist? “I fell in love with a ghost,” said one Mardi Gras historian. Her existence a tantalizing mystery. Maybe the genius designer was Swedish transplant Bror Anders Wikstrom. No one seems to know. Such is the nature of secret societies and the concealing and revealing of masking culture that is New Orleans.
