ST LOUIS MAYOR'S MARDIS GRAS BALL AFTER PARTY @CITY HALL ROTUNDA FEB 17,2023

There's some revelers from the St Louis Mayors Ball coming to the after party through the red carpeted corridor .

People at the two story city hall building.

 

St Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones greets the crowd and asks if the crowd can donate to her foundation, St Louis College Kids, the foundation that was raising money from this event.

  People greet the mayor after her speech to the attendees.

 A long view of the attendees near the stairwell of the Rotunda

                             Attendees schmoozing.

Hot 104.1 FM ST Louis radio personality Shorty Da Prince on the mic as Run DMC's dee-jay and STL DJ veteran DJ Charlie Chan was on the 1s and 2s. 

 

MAAT's TAKE.Well, Yours Truly, decided to take the chance and see what the After Party for the Mardis Gras Ball was going to give--and just what I expected...exclusivity--for certain people. 

So, when I got there around 30 minutes after midnite, I saw that there were many people in line waiting to see if they were on the list to get in. Much to my chagrin, there were many who got hooked up to the party because they either knew the producers of the event or someone who knew someone for access. I found out that a good friend of mine, singer Sineta Roker, organized the event and informed her of my having to wait by the VIP check in table for clearance entrance from my Mardis Gras All Access Pass and after getting patted down by security like the guests were at the TSA at the Airport. LOL

But I digress from that.

Overall, it was about 200 or so people who attended, many from the event from Union Station that were more of "the urban skin complexion," if you get my drift. It was more a party than a Mardis Gras party--no frills or bells and whistles, but just a emcee and a dee-jay (Charlie Chan always brings the noise as far as playing the right hip hop and R&B tunes for the right time and occasion). My only gripe was people trying  to sardine themselves to the VIP area that was more of a long hallway by the banisters upstairs. I walked through there a few times to see who I could spot (I saw Hot 104.1 personality Andrew Caldwell up in there by the way). Other than that, it was mostly subdued as people chilled drinking from the open bar areas and heavy appetizers passed on plates by waiters in the cramped area.  But it seemed like no one seemed to mind.

It was good to hear from  Mayor Tishaura Jones (her father former Comptroller Virvus was there and all smiles in his dapper white tux) who greeted everyone for coming and gave a humbling plea for people there to donate to her foundation, the St Louis College Kids (the charitable organization) soon after the ticketed event was over.

As the night progressed into the early morning, people were very frisky on the dance floor as the ladies took off their heels to get their twerk on as Chan played Glorilla and Cardi B's "Tomorrow."

It was goin on 2 in the morning and my dress shoes were BARKING on my feet....that was sign for me to vacate the event and head to my abode.

The after party overall was what it was as far as the event was concerned. It felt more of a separate club  party than the Mardis Gras party and I hope that the organizers next year tie in more of a Mardis Gras theme if they decide again to separate the events at two different venues Union Station and City Hall. 

 

ST LOUIS MAYOR'S MARDIS GRAS GALA@UNION STATION FEB.17, 2023

There's YOURS  TRULY, Ma'at Atkins, in the cut with my socialite friend, Musa Ali taking a pic from the event. We also reunited to bring back our DAPPER  CANCERS brand where we attend events and wear stylish fashions.

A long shot of some of the Union Station midway where the event was held.

One of the entertainers during the VIP dinner segment

of the event was the Funky Butt Brass Band

After the dinner portion, popular band Dirty Muggs had the crowd moving with their range of Top 40 hits.

A long view of some of the VIP crowd getting  their Mardi Gras party on ! 

Here is a video of one of the Mardi Gras spectacles that happened during the event.

Here's another Mardi Gras spectacle, an aerial act.

One of the attendees were STL power couple Rinaa Pheonix and Antoine Larry

                                                                              

A reveler with a star balloon in the crowd.

The Marshmello Man LOL

MAAT's TAKE--Overall, the event was OK. Or shall I say, it was Ok enough, for St Louis. Having been to a St Louis Mayors Mardi Gras Ball in the past, I was expecting a little more razzmatazz as far as the whole Mardi Gras atmosphere: the bells and whistles that comes with a Mardi Gras Party, but it gave what it gave.

It was definitely a great return to normalcy after the Pandemic and partying without masks. So, I will give this reason as far as how things were with the event.

As far as the VIP set up, it was well decorated and spaced where people had the option to sit down and eat or grab a small plate to stand and schmooze. As far as the food, it was palatable. I saw many people who went for the cookies and sweets more than the main dishes which mainly was fried oyster-kabobs and rice. Based on people going to the trash can, the oyster-kabobs were not a hit. 

But the VIP made up for the oyster faux paux by having open bar areas for people to parlay in beer, wine, spirits and cocktails. There were many Mardis Gras costumes that kept the mood of the affair intact by the guests, some had complimentary beads and hats that were given out. Their were also many ladies who wore their furs and minks with long gowns of many colors and regalia that kept me keeping score of fashions. 

As the night continued and the libations were poured and drank, people loosened up and got very frisky with the Mardi Gras scene. It was also a night of reunion for me seeing people who I havent seen since the Pandemic hit from school mates, fitness colleagues, and media personalities. The Megalux 360 Megabooth was also a nice added touch for the revelers to capture the moment.

The St Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones came through midway during the festivities  as the Dirty Muggs were on stage with her mayor's entourage. She was  wearing a red speckled number that was well suited for the Mardis Gras occasion. I was expecting her to greet  the crowd on stage for a Mayors Moment but I must have missed it because from pics I saw on social media she greeted the attendees. 

There were also, however, a few WTF moments that I observed as well. There was this couple who was nice and lit and the man's lady wanted YOURS TRULY to spank her bottom as her man looked. I definitely went cold on that request. LOL. Another instance was when a black guy was arguing all up in the face of a white guy as though he was about to hit him in the face. OMG! I dont know what transpired prior to this potential ruckus, but when I mouthed to the black guy, "Is Everything ok?" He mouthed back, "Yeah." And that was the end of that. Another moment was when a lady literally fell into my arms when she tripped over a ladies' high heels that were left unattended by the staging area where The Dirty Muggs were performing. Good thing I caught her because she would have been diving into a hard floor. 

And lastly, when a lip syncher began lip synching to Tina Turner hits on an adjacent stage. It was darkened and the lip syncher had no fan fare. The entertainer (not sure if the entertainer was a female impersonator or not) was not dazzling at all. When one  does Tina Turner you have to be electrifying, and rolling down the river! LOL. 

As things began to wind down, I was debating on whether to attend the After Party that was going to held at City Hall especially after the After Party feel I got from Dirty Muggs turning it out on stage. So, after some quick debate and looking at the time which was after midnite, I decided to go ahead and see what the After Party was going to give.

 

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OUT 41--MAAT ON THE TOWN (STL SOCIALITE LISA WEST'S BDAY SOIREE LIVE AT LOWES and TASTE OF BLACK ST LOUIS @THE FOUNDRY SUN SEPT

YOURS TRULY and Lisa West

HEY OUTSTAGRS!

WE ARE BACK.....

ON STAGE!!

So, it has been many minutes since the last time this blog has been used to report on arts and entertainment events going on in St Louis, Mo. But with anything in time, when the time happens again, it's as though you never left....like a long long best friend. 

But enough with the sentiments.

Last Sunday, Yours Truly got back into the OUTCAM mode by attending two events in the St Louis. The first was to check out St Louis socialite Lisa West's bday soiree that was held at Love at Lowe's in downtown St Louis next to Ballpark Village. This was my first time at the hotel since it was built last year and I must say, it is quite swanky when I entered the hotel. 

I was instructed by the front desk folk that the party was held on the second floor outside on the patio that had green turf on the ground that stands next to Busch Stadium. So, when I trekked to the area, i saw the table of familiar faces, including Frontline Security owner, Brian Stemmons (who I attended college with back in the 1990s) who greeted me with brother dap as always. So, the people checking people on the event list (including Miss Denise), I pulled out my media pass and was quickly given VIP treatment to the party.

There, it was an array of 30 + upscale people getting their network on while enjoying the sounds of Union House who's lead singer's voice reminds me so much of an old school blue singer trapped in a white guy's body. 

Then, I saw the lady of the hour, socialite Lisa West who was having her bday party there. She hugged and greeted me and thanked me for coming. I've been knowing her close to 10 years while going to her events throughout the years.  Then, I ran into the promoter of the event, Cash Cohnes, who is always dapper with some sort of suit ensem. We gave each other brotherly love as he continued to schmooze with the guests which were about 100 plus strong.

Cash Cohnes, West and Yours Truly 

Below is a Facebook link video of YOURS TRULY checking out the scene: 

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=517145136364307&id=513902725

Band Union House 

West gave out bday cupcakes to the engaging patrons.

Overall, the day party event was a nice Sunday feel to it. The weather was sunny with a touch of wind and people got their various Electric Sliding while the day party was coming to a close ( I saw you two brothas gettin ya Fantasy Slide on LOL) . On the 1s and 2s was Dj Reminisce with his hype man Rhadshad. Also there  was TV network owner Andre Holman and his wife (Congrats bro...I'm waiting on my talk show. LOL.) 

AFTERWARDS:

Yours Truly, checked out the last couple of hours of Taste of Black St Louis that was held at The Foundry STL in Midtown St Louis. There, over a 100 or so black vendors of food, clothing, jewelry, crafts, services and  information spread out throughout the long, outside corridor as hundreds of St Lousians socialized and shopped throughout the event. 

The one thing that I enjoy while attending these outside festivals is it's like a family reunion and you will run into people that you haven't seen in months, even years! (Malik Ali I see ya, still looking like you're 35! LOL)

However, in the COVID world, people had their masks on majority of them did, most of the kids, well, they still think they are invincible -but didn't we all think that? 

I digress

YOURS TRULY and event host Queen Mocha Latte 

While I was hobnobbing and visiting vendors, there was an announcement for Mocha Latte to come to the stage. So, I walked prominently near the stage to meet one of my dearest friends in the events game. We were thick of thieves back in the day of going to events in St Louis. She was summoned to the stage for a Proclamation ceremony to honor the creator and founder of Taste of Black St Louis, Aisha James, who founded  the event four years ago when it was held at Tower Grove Park.

So, when Mocha was walking up to the stage, I interrupted her steps and she smiled and hugged me when she saw me. She then walked up to the stage to gather James and her crew for the presentation of the Proclamation from the offices of St Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones. 

James and her staff after James gave a speech about her workings of creating the yearly event. 

Here is part of the Proclamation ceremony video.

Overall, the event gave you a feel of a family reunion and a collective of celebrating the talents of African Americans in the community. Closing the event was Union House (who was giving me life when they performed Earth Wind and Fire's"Can't Hide Love.") who was at Lisa West's event earlier. Before the band performed, on the 1s and 2s was Dj Cuddy.  .

FIN