crystal ball

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Last night was the annual Crystal Ball. A fund raiser for the Northwest Mississippi Community Foundation. It's a fancy affair and a huge production. Kenny has been working on the planning committee so we were there early for him to provide some last minute help to get all the entertainment settled. Since we were inside before the doors were open, I took a couple of pictures.

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The theme this year was Mardi Gras. The entrance was decorated like Bourbon Street. Huge pieces of scenery that looked like the buildings along the street and street performers (musicians, mimes, living statues) scattered throughout.

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More street entertainment. They were "selling" newspapers. Sidenote: They had a little tip jar (part of the decoration) and some of the guests actually left tips. The kids gave their tips back to the Community Foundation. I thought that was really sweet.

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This is one of the living statues. There were several and I thought they were neat. They had these light posts through out with New Orleans inspired names. This one was called "Voo Doo". The opening act was called Ms Zeno the Voo Doo Queen. She was a riot. But her horns section was awesome. They led a New Orleans inspired parade around the building playing "When the Saints Come Marching In".

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There was a live auction with a variety of items including vacation packages here and there, a RV rental with catering, some fabulous jewelry, and more. One of the items was dinner for 4 with Morgan Freeman at his restaurant in Clarksdale followed by joining Mr. Freeman at the blues bar, Ground Zero. There was a fierce bidding war and it went for 14,500. what?

At least it goes to a good cause.