Library cuts loose for Mardi Gras Library cuts loose for Mardi Gras (February 06, 2004)

Dining, dancing Cajun-style is hot date for Feb. 21

By Grace Rauh

Partygoers won't need to bare as much as Janet Jackson did on Super Bowl Sunday to pick up Mardi Gras beads later this month.

But, like the pop music diva, they will be expected to don a flashy costume, let their hair down and dance the night away at the Mountain View Library Foundation's Mardi Gras fundraiser.

The annual fete is coming to town on Feb. 21, and it will undoubtedly bring book-lovers and booty shakers together once again for what has become one of the liveliest parties in the city each year. After all, where else can you spy upstanding adults breaking the number one library rule by talking and dancing in a building normally devoted to quiet activities, like reading and studying?

Yes, even the librarians are willing to bend the rules for one night of New Orleans-style fun and festivities. It would be difficult for them to refuse -- money raised at the event supports special library programs like the Author! Author! series, Babies and Books, and Toddler Story Time. The foundation was founded in 1995 to provide funding to programs not covered by the city budget, and last year the event raked in $9,000.

"Really, I'm not kidding, it's the best party in town," said Rosalind Bivings, vice president of the foundation's board of directors. "This is a party where you dance and drink and bid on stuff."

The silent auction will feature everything from ski lift tickets to a weekend stay in Reno to dinner at Cascal, one of Castro Streets' newest restaurants. Mountain View City Manager Kevin Duggan is also offering a backstage City Hall tour that includes lunch.

"He gives you the official tour, I guess things that you would never see just regularly walking around," Bivings said. The foundation is still accepting donations for the silent auction.

Two live bands will attempt to lure bookworms out from the stacks and onto two dance floors. Drifters lead singer Billy Woodruff and his All Star band will crank out twangy Louisiana-style dance music, while the Cole Hamlin Trio provides blues and jazz tunes in the second floor foyer.

"Having been a librarian for many, many years, it is kind of surreal to be dancing in the periodical reading room," said library services director Karen Burnett. Yet another "surreal" aspect to the evening is the costumes. Burnett's date will come as the king of Mardi Gras, but she still needs to plan her ensemble. It is on her "to-do list," she said.

When not dancing, Burnett and other guests can chomp on jambalaya, corn fritters and Cajun appetizers and wash them down with a Hurricane -- the Big Easy's famously potent mix of rum, orange juice, lime juice, passion fruit juice, sugar and grenadine.

"If you are going to raise money it is a fun way to do it," Burnett said.

Information:

2004 Mountain View Mardi Gras

Saturday, Feb. 21 from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Advance tickets are $55 per person, $65 at the door For tickets, call the foundation at 526-7014.

E-mail Grace Rauh at grauh@mv-voice.com

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