Dauphine Orleans Hotel of the New Orleans Hotel Collection to Host May Baily Look-Alike Costume Contest
New Orleans, Louisiana (PRWEB) November 04, 2015 -- A bevy of hopeful harlots will vie for the title of Best Dressed Madame at the annual May Baily Look-Alike Contest, otherwise known as "Best Dressed Madame" to be held on Wednesday, November 18th from 6:00p.m.-9:00p.m. in the bar of the Dauphine Orleans Hotel, located at 413 Dauphine Street in the French Quarter. Comedienne and raconteur Becky Allen will preside over festivities, which includes a costume contest, raffle prizes, and specialty cocktails such as the Madame Martini, all accompanied by Ragtime piano tunes.
The most convincing strumpet, chosen by celebrity judges, will be awarded an overnight hotel stay with her companion of choice in the Bordello Suite above May Baily’s Place. Other prizes will be given to honor Best Madame Name and Best Madame Accessory. Proceeds from the raffle contest will benefit Covenant House, a shelter for youth in crisis, located on the former site of Storyville, which closed in 1917.
For the first time, the May Baily Look-Alike Contest will be an additional enticement among the featured events in the New Orleans Faux/Real Festival of the Arts, November 4-22. The New Orleans Hotel Collection, including the Dauphine Orleans, is the official hotel sponsor of Faux/Real.
May Baily, an Irish girl orphaned by a yellow fever epidemic, became a madame through the generosity of her late father’s friend, opening a “sporting house” at 423 Rue Dauphine on the edge of what later became Storyville, the city’s red-light district. A renowned bordello, May Baily’s was granted a city operating license on May 30, 1857 allowing “lewd and abandoned women” to practice their profession in her establishment. She ran May’s Place for almost 50 years. May Baily’s Place is a nostalgic tavern accented by a wooden bar, burgundy fleur de lis wallpaper, gaslights, brick walls and mirrored ceiling. A red light continuously burns in the hotel courtyard in testament to Ms. Baily’s memory.
Any lady is welcome to dress in period costume and participate in the contest free of charge, with pre-registration on Eventbrite required. Happy hour prices will be in effect with complimentary appetizers available early in the evening.
About the New Orleans Hotel Collection
The New Orleans Hotel Collection is a group of seven splendidly original hotels in the New Orleans metropolitan region owned by local investors. Comprised of the Bourbon Orleans, Dauphine Orleans, Hotel Le Marais, The Whitney Hotel, Audubon Cottages, Crowne Plaza of New Orleans Airport and the new Hotel Mazarin, these boutique and small upscale meeting hotels are in prime locations throughout the city. For more information, please visit http://www.neworleanshotelcollection.com.
Marc Becker, New Orleans Hotel Collection, http://www.neworleanshotelcollection.com, (504) 527-0407, [email protected]
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