Hello, Hades!
The tableau for the Krewe of Olympians, “Sweatin’ with the Oldies,” in the Underworld of Hades, exercised just that: exercise. Mind-body wellness received satiric play.
Contrasted was the royal coolness of the lovely queen, who ruled with his majesty at the Olympians ball in the tented grounds of the New Orleans Country Club. She was Miss Ellen Margaret Daly, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael McNellis Daly, and a royal legacy in Olympians. Her mother, Suzie Dardis Daly, grandmother Anne Charbonnet Dardis, sisters Kaitlin Monica Daly and Shannon Rosemary Daly, and aunt Paulette Charbonnet Eastin have all worn the krewe’s crown. Seated in the queen’s box seats, along with Mmes. Theard Terrebonne, Donald Ellis, Brian Klebba and John Zvonek, those former monarchs applauded the family’s latest one in her royal attire. Queen Ellen’s regal ensemble included a gown designed by Perla Orihuela that was created with French lace over white silk satin and hand-beaded with more than 15,000 Swarovski crystals and pearls.
Admired and applauded, as well, was court maid Miss Piper Katherine Franks, a debutante of the season, and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Zeljko Stephen Franks II; and the princesses, Misses Rain Elizabeth Halpern, Natalie Florence Sharpe, Scarlett Odella Kiger, Kinsley Evelyn Kiger, and Mia Louise DeLouche. Masters Alexander Luis Gallois, Jax Patrick Wolford and William Prescott Worsley Jr. tended to their duties as pages.
Serving on the Olympians 2026 Committee were co-general chairmen Douglas W. Tyler and Arthur S. Mann III; committee chairmen Alan G. Brackett, Ralph G. Breaux, and William S. Nalty; and Dr. Wesley W. Bryan, a vice chairman.
Noted, and enjoying the music of the Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra, led by Robert Maxwell, were former queen Miss Brittany Watson and her mother, Mrs. J. Andrew Watson; Miss Audrey Mann, the 2025 monarch, and her mother, Mrs. Christopher Mann; and Mrs. G. Perry Eastman III, who reigned 50 years ago as Miss Ninette Marie Charbonnet. Seated nearby were Mmes. Douglas W. Tyler, Rene E. Dupaquier, Paul N. Kogos and Glenn K. Landrum Jr. They wore the krewe favor, which was designed by Missy Reynolds to further the theme. It depicted Cerberus, the three-headed dog who guards the gates of the Underworld, and aligned with the krewe’s feature of an Olympian deity on the 2026 invitation. Hades, one of the original 12 deities, and the brother of Zeus, was “honored.” Persephone, whom he abducted, was his queen.
Queen Ellen and her court gleefully trekked to the country club’s premises for the post-pageantry supper. A hearty breakfast awaited, as did the music of The Boogie Men. Reflecting on her reign, Ellen related that she was so honored to have “the opportunity to be part of the Olympians ball” and all that it means to her family. She concluded with, “I am beyond grateful.” The final words came from her grandparents, Anne (former queen) and Jack Dardis. They were thrilled to be at the ball with Ellen, “who had a fantastic time,” and whom they described as “a lovely young lady, inside and out.”
Sargent at Arms
Once again, the Royal Tent housed monarchs and their court, but prior to the annual Caliphs of Cairo masked ball, her majesty Miss Sloane Alexandra Paysse, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. René Sylvain Paysse Jr., greeted subjects in a courtyard. A beautiful one at that and part of The Terrell House on Magazine Street, where a pre-ball reception took place. “I am so excited (about being queen) and have dreamed of this since I was a Caliphs princess,” said the beaming monarch. Last year, Miss Katherine Olivia Lorusso held the organization’s scepter.
Then it was on to the New Orleans Country Club for the bal masqué, which highlighted Gaul and gall. Titled “An American in Paris, a King in Waiting, Meet Madame X.” Our town’s former Virginie Amelie Avegno, who married French banker Pierre Gautreau, was referenced as the subject in the controversial “Madame X” portrait of her by American painter John Singer Sargent. She posed provocatively in a black dress.
In regal attire, her majesty Sloane was a vision of timeless elegance in a silver lamé gown by Royal Design House. It was overlaid with hand-beaded and re-embroidered lace. In lovely white gowns were maids Marché Marie Beals, Alice Lane Read Calhoun, Hailey Reese Sisung, and Taylor Alexis Stokes. Completing the court were ladies-in-waiting Francois Lolol Beals, Colleen Patricia Collins, Erin Kathleen Collins, Olivia Andree Hainkel, Charlotte Clara Jenkins, Drew Diane Mills, Abigail Kathryn Munson, Maria Cristina Rioja, Chloe Elise Shannon, and Teresa Marie Vinas, along with princesses Phebe Weller Glass, Addison Leigh Guidry, Catherine Ann Soskin, and Aubrey Elizabeth Kramer. Masters Jax Patrick Wolford and Jack Thomas Akenson were pages. General chairman, Mr. Alan Guy Brackett, was assisted by Messrs. Ralph Gerard Breaux, William Sellers Nalty, and Joseph Michael Guillot; and Brig. Gen. John Bettes Dunlap III and Dr. Michael Philip Kiernan.
Further features of the Paris Salon of 1884-themed ball were the music making of the Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra with Robert Maxwell holding the baton, and the Adler’s-designed krewe favor replicating one of Madame X’s personal jewels, a crescent moon in matte gold studded with sparkling stones.
Miss Lauren Lee Paysse, royal sister, was prominently seated as were Mmes. Paysse Jr., Allen Acomb Jr. and III, Jordan Berry, Louis Poché, Gary McNamara, Patrick Duckworth, Cyril Lowe, Frank Lopez IV, Craig Ferguson, Patrick Maclean, James Lopez, William Benjamin, Ray Kenney, Wesley Bryan, Alan Brackett, and Ms. Astrid Mussiett.
Capping the evening was the Queen’s Breakfast in the club house, where the monarchs’ tables were embellished with shining silver runners, votives and floral arrangements — blue and white hydrangeas for the queen, and Carnival-colored ones for the king, who included Mardi Gras tambourines. Jubilation then reigned on the dance floor when the BRW band, formed in 1972, elicited lots of contemporary moves. All aspects fused for queen Sloane, who thanked Caliphs of Cairo “for making it such a magical night for me.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nola.com ’
