The party started in a box. Well, at least it did for me. But I knew I wouldn't be in there for long. It was the one day out of the year when we take center stage, when we're the life of the party and everyone wants to get their hands on us. This was Mardi Gras, and I was a bead.

A little after 9 O'clock, March 1, 2003, and HyeTies' Mardi Gras Madness was finally underway. I patiently awaited my turn as one-by-one the strings of beads made their way into the party, adorning the necks of the guests pouring into downtown's Zita's Trattoria. As the girl working the door picked me out of the crowd in the box, I thought to myself I wouldn't mind ending up around her neck by the end of the evening, but I was happy just to get the night started. My golden beads contrasted well against the predictable black shirt of the young Armenian guy who carried me into the heart of the action.

The venue was prime with a dance floor that was cozy but accommodating enough for all who wanted to dance. To the right, Zita's bartenders were busy fueling the party, and at the far end was the familiar sight of DJ Rum creating the rhythm. I bounced about as my host indulged in the club music, then began to swing back and forth about his neck as the high energy music occasionally made way for finger-snapping Armenian melodies. For a break from the action, the partygoers made their way to the outdoor patio where the cool, quiet winter night was the perfect audience for more intimate conversation.

By the time the festive evening neared its end, I had already been passed from my host to the much more appealing possession of a girl whose company I shared with dozens of my fellow beads. The competition was tough, but two lucky women would ultimately be crowned co-champions for having the largest collection of us about their necks. Soon afterward, the festivities began to wind down, and as everyone gradually left for their cars and late-night diners, I found myself tossed into a bag of party supplies, eagerly awaiting HyeTies' next fantastic Mardi Gras Madness.