It was the annual Mardi Gras parade in the Tower yesterday.
The Rogue Festival was out IN FORCE, tossing beads, handing out handbills, and generally letting people know JUST how wacky-cool we Rogues really are. All this in an effort to get people to be more aware of the amazing festival of arts, music, theatre, dance and film that is soon to descend upon Fresno for ten days starting February 28.
We had some Rogue Festival dignitaries…. staff… volunteers… friends…
(She happens to also be the artist of this years Rogue Festival muse… pictured on that lovely t-shirt she wears. You, too, can have a shirt like this. Watch for t-shirt sales throughout the festival. Celebrate the Rogue in Roguish style.)
Some crazy cats from the Suicide Lounge plied the parade route with panache… (I like aliteration.)
They will, incidentally, be playing the Valentine Season Love Sucks Sessions at Full Circle Brewing Co. on Friday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m…. a show YOU should not miss… And if you’re a Rogue performer, come out and plug your show.
(Yeah. For some reason, one third of Suicide Lounge didn’t get a camera pointed at her. This is probably a mercy.)
There were bellydancers…
The lovely ladies of Ananka…
and Mahzjai…
and contrary to some beliefs in this town… the bellydancers of Fresno get along with one another just fine… (and they love Freddie Falcon of the Fresno Falcons, too…)
Yes, we were blessed with the presence of Freddie… and you can check out Freddie at Fresno Falcons games. If you make it to the Falcons vs. the Phoenix RoadRunners game on February 26… you can get a sneak preview of the Rogue Festival on center ice during the first intermission, and other Rogue promotions as well. Not that you’ll go just for THAT. We all know Fresno loves and supports our Falcons! Make sure you’re there!
(I have no idea who that chick in the lower left might be. Heaven only knows where they picked HER up…)
And where did they find THIS kid?
And, of course… these babes lit up the proceedings with grace and style…
Look at all that fun we had! Just think, you could see us again… Come out to the Rogue Festival and see some art, catch several shows. And don’t forget there will be previews of SEVERAL shows during Art Hop this coming Thursday, February 7, at both Ashtree Studios and Tower Mosaic.
(And… this is MY blog, so I can plug Suicide Lounge again… Friday, February 8, 8 p.m., Only $5, Full Circle Brewing Co. 620 F Street, Downtown Fresno. You don’t want to miss it. We’re taking potshots at Cupid, and we have a prize for the most horrible ‘love sucks’ story from the audience. See… even if you’re a loser in love during this sappy season of red and pink, you can be a winner!)