Fat Monday Luncheon Celebrates Lundi Gras

Considered one of Carnival’s Best Kept Secret, the Fat Monday Luncheon held on Lundi Gras celebrated their 66^th anniversary at Arnaud’s Restaurant on Monday, February 16, 2015.  This annual gay tradition was started by Bob Demmons in 1949. Since Monday was sort of a quiet time in those days, he took his out-of-town guests to lunch at Brennan’s.  There he surprised everyone at the table by producing a tiara and crowning one of his guests as Queen of the luncheon presenting the Queen with a bouquet of gladiolas. Demmons then escorted his party out tossing gladiolas to astonished diners at Brennan’s.  They did this also as they proceeded through the streets of the French Quarter.  And that ladies and gentleman is how a tradition is born.

Each year the party grew, and soon Demmons decided was getting too expensive to host by himself, so eager participants agreed to help host the event.  Before long, the group expanded to 55 outgrowing Brennan’s.  In the early 1970s, Bob Demmons died, so his good friend Jim Wynne took over the duties of coordinating the traditional Queen’s Luncheon acting as Master of Revels for many years.  The luncheon became nomadic over the next few years moving from place to place before settling at Arnaud’s Restaurant in the 80’s.  And the luncheon has found a happy home there ever since.

The Fat Monday Luncheon has expanded over the years now crowing two queens each year, “An Out-of-Town Queen and a Town Queen,” says Wynne.  Also, there are other fun things such The Queen’s Pen ancient spirit of Mardi Gras mockery; a number of participants are singled out for dubious distinction “awards.”  All are humorous and very fitting for the group such as the Drag Queen Award, the Rona Barrett Gossip Award and the Size Queen Award.  Today, the two Queens lead the merry group behind a second-line parade from the restaurant to a Queen’s Reception at Good Friends Bar. Each of the designated Queens is allowed to keep her tiara for the year, but must relinquish it the following Fat Monday. However, Queens are also presented with a special pin, a permanent gift that is proudly worn long afterwards.

This year’s event was just as exciting at 66 as it was all those years ago.  My friend Albert Carey won the Rona Barrett Gossip Award and the chandelier decorating was over the top.  I especially loved when our table decorated Michael Sullivan ala Mame.   I look forward to next year’s festivities.  For more information, go to www.fatmondayluncheon.com.

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Tony Leggio

Tony Leggio is a born and raised New Orleanian. He has over 20 years of event management experience having produced over 5,000 events locally and nationally. Tony has received numerous awards for his outstanding achievements in the hospitality industry. Besides his professional career, Anthony has played an active role in the community.He has served Event Chair of Art Against AIDS for the No/Aids Task Force for the past ten years and was honored as Humanitarian of the Year in 2010 by the organization. He is also a freelance writer who has written for USA Today, as well as several local publications.He also writes a column regularly In Ambush Magazine, plus is part of Gambit’s Big Easy Theatre Committee.Tony is a social butterfly of New Orleans that not only knows how to put on a great event but also knows how to enjoy one.

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