The Honorable Mayor Francis G. Slay held court at the historic St. Louis City Hall Rotunda, hosting the 2015 Mayor’s Ball, a Mardi Gras Masquerade, Friday February 13, 2015. This black-tie gala in City Hall lights up the eve of the Soulard Mardi Gras Grand Parade and represents the social event of the Carnivale season. Attendance reached nearly 900 guests drawing from both the public and private sectors and reflecting St. Louis’ diversity.
The revelry always commences with The “VIP” March from the Mayor’s Office down the grand staircase. New Orleans style jazz, pomp and circumstance incorporate the spectators into the action. Fox 2’s John Pertzborn and KSHE 95’s Favazz welcomed the guests and officially launched the party.
The “lords” and “ladies” rocked out and danced to the spectacular That ’80’s Band and mingled with the Mayor’s Ball jesters. Signature drinks of the season, several varieties of Anheuser-Busch product and superb cabaret dining abounded.
Tickets for the gala opened at $150, and thanks to the sponsors and guests, the net proceeds benefited the Mardi Gras Foundation, which awards annual Soulard Community Improvement Grants and has contributed to projects in Downtown St. Louis.
The Mardi Gras Foundation has granted more than $120,000 to the Soulard neighborhood for community improvement projects since its creation in 2003. These improvements are made possible by Mayor Francis Slay, who has hosted so graciously the Mayor’s Ball every year. The Mardi Gras Foundation works hard to give back to the St Louis community.
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- Karolyn Dotson, Bob Bess, June Ann D’Angelo
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- Ashley Killough, Matt Fasano
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- Michelle Jenkerson, Maria Slay, Sharon Bourne, Ron Morrison
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- Kevin and Susan Truman
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- Doug Woodruff, Missy Kelley, Jeff and Janet Rainford, Becky and Greg Smith
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- Ed and Mary Bryant
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- Abby Niebling, Jennifer Delf, Carol Vollmer
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- Zane and Nicole Truman
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- Bill Siedhoff, Mary Ellen Cotsworth, Susan DiSario, Jack Coatar
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- Barry and Lynda Melton
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- Mary Pertzborn, Jay and Mary Hill, Angel James
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- Kathy and Tom Reeves
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- Neal and Ann Perryman, Keith Krieg, Jeanine O’Connor
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- Ed and Mary Bryant
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- Cara and Todd Berta, Jennifer and Ben Delf, Abby Niebling, Ellen Longo, Carol Vollmer, Bryan Longo
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- Greg Smith, Mary Ellen Ponder
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- Ashley Killough, Matt Fasano, Susan and Nick Fasano
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- Michelle and Dennis Jenkerson, St. Louis Fire chief
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- Rochelle Pruitt, Daniel Hazelton, Lisa McNichols
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- Annette Morriss, Kasey Bergh
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- Sean Abbott, Melanie Moon, Mary Hill, John Pertzborn, Audrey Prywitch
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- Phil and Dee Willmore
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- Bob Brinkman, Janice Erd, Mary and Daniel Hazelton
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- Glenn Zimmerman, “minister of meteorology”, and Jill Zimmerman
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- Kelly Hritz, Maggie Crane, Carlie Edmund
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- Rachel Rendine, Elizabeth Rourke
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- David Minifie, Eric Thoelke, Amos Harris, Mary Thoelke
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- Donielle Grimsley
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- Mike O’Shea, Cindy Blake, Sean Lee Smith, Mary Chittenden
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- Mayor Francis G. Slay with the Funky Butt Brass Band
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- Funky Butt Brass Band
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- Leading the promendade
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- Parade continues down the grand staircase.
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- Pomp and circumstance
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- Parade
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- Mardi Gras revelry
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- Merriment galore!
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- “Hula Hoop” dancer
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- Masters of ceremonies Favazz, KSHE 95, with John Pertzborn, Fox 2
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- Demonstrating her hula hoop routine
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- More hoops!
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- Chris Whitaker, John Pertzborn, Calvin Whitaker, Mary Pertzborn
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- Shannon and Ted Quinn
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- Justin Scarbrough, Eric Thoelke, Greg Lukeman
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- Willie and Addie Tompkins
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- Jams Mitchell, Mike L. Garland, Doug Moore
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- Sam Dotson, chief, St. Louis Metropolitan Police, Deanna Venker
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- Brian Shreck, Megan Pritchard, Kelly Davis
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- Rich and Jennifer Obertino with the Balloon Brigade
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- Mr. Gary, King of Hospitality, “Them Yo People!”
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- Janice Erd, Bob Brinkman, Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, Brian Wahby
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- Kimberly and Kevin McKinney
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- Katie Keeven, Janet Brodsky, Tommy Truang, Sue Batterson, Sara Uhen, Dan Burk, Jill Heriecks, Leah Hendricks, Joe Rhodes, Josh Hendricks from Hollywood Casino
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- Diana Vuylsteke, Frank Plescia
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- Jimmy and Christian Smith, Erin and Mike Hurley, Laila and Tom Crabtree
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- Marcia and Joe Ambrose, First Bank
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- Lauren Nilgen, Arianna Lynch, Karri Baunann, Rachel Rendine, Elizabeth Rourke
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- Laura McCarthy, Seth Jarman
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- Ann and Tim Lathe, Joe and Marcia Ambrose, Tanya and Gene Todd
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- Julia Bell, Christine Takats
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- Meg Ryan, Patrick Clark
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- Erin Hurley, Christina Smith
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- John Sheehan, Rebecca Roberts, Mardi Gras Grand Parade grand marshals
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- Melanie Moon, Ashley Bekos
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- Chris Gherardini, Brook Dubman
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- Anna Lisa and John Harrington
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- That 80’s Band
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- Dancing to the band
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- Overview
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- That 80’s Band
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- Laser lights, 80’s style!
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- Character on stilts
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- Woman on stilts
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- Character on stilts
