Event Review

The King Cake Queen Reigns Supreme This Mardi Gras

By Tony Leggio
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On Sunday, January 18, 2015, the Coronation of the new King Cake Queen took place at the Ambush Magazine headquarters. Ambush Magazine, the city’s premier gay publication holds, this fabulous party every year to welcome the new royalty who will lead the city in the Bead Toss heralding the start of Gay Mardi Gras festivities on Carnival Day. But every Queen needs a Krewe and their name is fittingly titled the Krewe of Queenateenas.

This tradition is now almost three decades old and their beginnings are as beautifully vibrant as the krewe. In 1987, Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain, the owners and publishers of Ambush Magazine, held their first the bead toss in their new home boasting one of the largest balconies in the French Quarter which is decorated to the hilt for Carnival. With such a prime location in the gay district of Bourbon, the event was a sure success. The following year, the guest list was limited to 50, thus enabling revelers greater access and movement on the balcony. The group was dubbed the Krewe of Queenateenas by Jay Ann Loomis, a close friend of the Naquin-Delain’s, making them co-captains of the revelers. The balcony was converted and decorated into what is now known as the Queenateenas Balcony Float #69. As a joke in 1994, the Naquin-Delain’s chose the King Cake Queen [KCQ] to lead the festivities Carnival Day. Again, this was a hit, beginning a new tradition for the Queenateenas.

The Naquin-Delain’s The King Cake Queen [KCQ] of Gay Mardi Gras is announced at the end of the year prior. The new queen is introduced to society two to three weeks before Carnival at the KCQ Coronation Bash, and is joined by other members of the King Cake Queen Royalty Club. As queen, she leads the Official Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss on Mardi Gras, each year at 2pm. The King Cake Queen is chosen from those revelers participating in the previous year’s Carnival bead toss at the Ambush Mansion, 828 Bourbon Street, by the Krewe of Queenateenas Co-Captains.

The individual exhibiting the most enthusiasm and expertise in bead toss techniques is chosen to reign as KCQ. King Cake Queen XXII of Gay Mardi Gras Aubrey Synclaire was announced on November 4, 2014 in Ambush Magazine and via Facebook. The “Queen of the Opera” was introduced to Carnival Society at the 22nd King Cake Queen Coronation celebrating Vienna: Beautiful, Gay & Gemuthlich (Cozy) on the 18th. On Mardi Gras Day, February 17, 2015, King Cake Queen XXII Aubrey Synclaire will headline the 28th Official Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss from World famous Ambush Headquarters balcony, 828 Bourbon Street, beginning at 2pm.

This year’s party was spectacular with a large crowd in attendance from the gay community and beyond. Congratulations to Aubrey Synclaire who looked absolutely stunning. We toasted Aubrey on her reign as Queen of the Opera and enjoyed the exotic nibbles, free flowing cocktails and great conversation. Once again, thank you to Rip and Marsha for hosting this wonderful Mardi Gras event. For more information on the happening in the New Orleans LGBT community and a listing of Gay Carnival events, go to www.ambushmagazine.com.

 

Tony Leggio

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.
Tony Leggio

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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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