February 8th, 2014 was the fifth Mardi Gras (Fašiangy) dinner and dance organized by the CSL Branch 63 (Ottawa) Events committee.
About 170 people filled the tables in the hall, enjoyed their appetizers before the buffet and admired the colourful masks at the
centre of each table. The gnocchi and schnitzel were the highlight for me as usual and no masks were left at the tables by the end of
the night. While everyone was having dinner, Joe Mader showed us a video of Maros Bango perform on "Czech and Slovakia's Got Talent".
The events committee is organizing that as well!
We were pleased to have, as guests of honour, Milan Kollar, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic with his wife Sona Kollarova. Much to everyone's delight, the famous Slovak hockey player Marian Stastny and his wife Eva travelled from their home in Quebec to be at our party.
The live band, Souvenir, played everything from ballroom to Latin to oldies to the Lambada. Groups of people danced with the bartenders near the bar, couples danced smoothly to the waltz or made up their own styles and others danced to Slovak Senzus songs as if on fast forward. Anything worked and everything looked great because everyone was smiling and looking classy.
The photographer got creative with his new flash equipment. He even got all the young ladies in the hall together for a picture with George Frajkor, who turned 80 that day. The picture became a hit on Facebook the next day. Happy 80th birthday George!
The door and raffle prizes just keep getting better every year. We had so many this time that the committee grouped many of the prizes together. We had everything from custom made thermal nail polish, a pillow, jewelry and mug sleeve to a 4-week fitness training program, composite hockey stick, photoshoot and the ever popular Double Cross vodka. Thank you very much to all of our sponsors. I ended up winning a majolika vase and Goral vodka from the Slovak embassy! The raffle money raised goes to fund this year's Slovak children events like St. Nicholas and Den Deti. We also had two Olympic hockey jerseys for our very first silent auction. Hopefully we will have this much support next year as well!
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped organize the party and to all the people who make the atmosphere memorable! See you all at the amazing Maros Bango performance on March 27th at St. Anthony's Hall!
Text: Barbora Dej, photos: Tibor Dej
