Mask madness

Some of the many masks that were auctioned off.

The bar and dining room at Verve Bistro in Somerville, NJ, was packed on February 18, Fat Tuesday, for the kickoff of the restaurant’s Mardi Gras With Matheny celebration, which continued for four more days, from February 19 thru February 22. The festivities included a mask auction, which began with silent bids on Fat Tuesday and culminated on the final day, along with a gumbo cook-off. There were also plenty of flashy decorations and trinkets, along with the traditional Mardi Gras beads.

Mask sales on Sunday, February 22, totaled $1,200. That, combined with partial proceeds from all five days resulted in Verve making a $2,500 donation to Matheny. Matheny staff and students contributed to the effort by making most of the masks that were hanging for sale in the bar area. Verve owner Rick St. Pierre is well known as someone who gives back to the community. In fact, in 2011, he was Somerset County’s citizen of the year. Thank you, Rick!

Some of the Matheny mask makers, clockwise, from left: Donna Sykes, Center of Medicine and Dentistry clinic manager; Haeree Park, Arts Access project and event coordinator; Eileen Murray, Arts Access director; Burt Brooks, Arts Access performing arts coordinator; and Jodi Miguel, adult services instructor.

Rick St. Pierre with customer Frances Fago of Raritan, NJ, at last year’s Mardi Gras celebration.

Every year, the Verve Bistro in Somerville, NJ, raises money for Matheny as part of its annual Mardi Gras celebration. This year there will be a twist.

Usually the Verve Mardi Gras festivities begin on the Thursday preceding Fat Tuesday and finish with a mask auction on the evening before Ash Wednesday. This year, however, the Saturday before Fat Tuesday is Valentine’s Day, so Rick St. Pierre, Verve’s owner, has decided to start the Mardi Gras celebration on Fat Tuesday and have a special Matheny Mardi Gras party afterward, concluding on Sunday, February 22, with a gumbo cookout.

A portion of the proceeds, including funds raised from the mask auction, will go to Matheny. Many of the masks on display will be made by Matheny students, patients and staff members. Anyone wishing to donate a mask, however, should drop it off by February 14 at Verve, 18 Main St., in Somerville.

Last year, Verve raised $2,219 for Matheny. Since the restaurant’s opening in the late 1990s, St. Pierre has given back to the community. He was named Somerville’s Citizen of the Year in 2011 and was presented with the Somerset County Business Partnership’s Economic Vitality Award in 2008.

To make reservations during the Mardi Gras celebration, February 17–22, call (908) 707-8655 and be sure to mention Matheny.

Rick St. Pierre, left, with Matheny’s Sandy Josephson.

Rick St. Pierre, owner of Verve Bistro in Somerville, NJ,  presented Sandy Josephson, Matheny’s director of marketing and public relations, with an envelope containing $2,219—the fundraising proceeds from the restaurant’s recent Mardi Gras celebration. That total included $1,000 from a portion of Verve’s food and beverage business during the five-day period from February 27 through Fat Tuesday, March 4. The remaining $1,219 was raised from the sale of Mardi Gras masks, made by facilitators in Matheny’s Arts Access Program and patients in Matheny’s Adult Services program.

This was the third consecutive year that Verve designated Matheny as the recipient of its Mardi Gras fundraising efforts. St. Pierre is treasurer of the Downtown Somerville Alliance, which exists to promote, enhance and revitalize Somerville’s downtown as a thriving commercial district and community gathering place for residents, shoppers and visitors. He was named Somerville’s Citizen of the Year in 2011 and was honored with the Somerset County Business Partnership’s Economic Vitality Award in 2008.

Verve owner Rick St. Pierre and Frances Fago of Raritan.

A five-day party began on Thursday, February 27, as residents of Somerville, NJ, and surrounding communities kicked off the Mardi Gras Carnivale at Somerville’s Verve Restaurant.

The contemporary French restaurant celebrated what it calls “the funnest time of the year” from the opening night through Fat Tuesday on March 4 with a mask auction, “gaudy decorations and cheap plastic trinkets.” There were also food specials from the cuisines of New Orleans, Brazil and Venice and a Gumbo Cookoff on Sunday, March 2.

For the third straight year, partial proceeds from the celebration will benefit Matheny. And the walls were adorned with special Mardi Gras masks made by Matheny students, patients and staff. Thank you, Verve!

From left, Ernst Michel, owner of Tessuto Menswear, Somerville; Clarrisa Tanner, CEO of Tanner Financial Services, Bridgewater; and Chris Stamatavos, owner of Kyma Greek Cuisine, Somerville.

Every year, Verve, a restaurant and bistro in Somerville, NJ, celebrates Mardi Gras with its special Mardi Gras Carnivale. This year, the “Five Days of Fun” will run from the evening of Thursday, February 27, until “Fat Tuesday,” March 4. There will be music, bidding on Mardi Gras masks, prizes, gaudy decorations, cheap plastic trinkets and Verve’s food specials representing the cuisines of New Orleans, Venice and Brazil.

For the third year in a row, Verve will donate a portion of its Mardi Gras proceeds to Matheny. And the newest addition to the festivities will be a Gumbo Cook-Off on Sunday, March 2, 2–7 p.m. So throw your beads at 18 East Main St. in Somerville! But first, call (908) 707-8655 to make reservations, and be sure to mention Matheny.

Rick St.Pierre, right, presents a check for $2,100 last year to Sandy Josephson, left, Matheny director of marketing and public relations, and Steve Proctor, Matheny president.

For the third year, the Verve Bistro in Somerville, NJ, has selected Matheny as the recipient of funds raised in connection with its annual Mardi Gras celebration. This year, however, there is an added twist: On Sunday, March 2, two days before Fat Tuesday on March 4, Verve will hold a Gumbo Cookout. This will add a day to the celebration, which begins on Thursday night, February 27.

A portion of the proceeds from the five-day event, including funds raised from the auctioning of Mardi Gras masks, will go to Matheny. Many of the masks on display will be made by Matheny staff members, students and patients. However, anyone can contribute masks. Just drop them off at Verve, at 18 Main St., by February 19.

Last year, Verve donated $2,100 to Matheny. Since opening in the late 1990s, Verve owner Rick St. Pierre has given back to the community. He was named Somerville’s Citizen of the Year in 2011 and was given the Somerset County Business Partnership’s Economic Vitality Award in 2008.

To make reservations during the Mardi Gras celebration between February 27 and March 4, call (908) 707-8655 and be sure to mention Matheny.

Some of last year’s masks.

From left, John Paul and Jeanne May of Bridgewater with their son, Henry and daughter, Ginger. Their other son, Mason, is a residential student at Matheny.

The Verve Bistro Bar Lounge in Somerville was packed with customers on Fat Tuesday, February 21, to celebrate Mardi Gras and support Matheny. We will get 10% of the Fat Tuesday proceeds, in addition to funds raised from a Mardi Gras mask silent auction that continued through the weekend. Many of the masks were created by Matheny staff members including several of the facilitators in Matheny’s Arts Access Program.

A special thank you to owner Rick St. Pierre. Since opening Verve in the late 1990s, he has continually given back to the community, and he was named Somerville’s 2011 Citizen of the Year.  We certainly support and agree with that award!

From left, David Christiansen and Nancy Allegar of Stockton with Verve owner, Rick St. Pierre.

Looking for a great way to celebrate Mardi Gras this year? Check out the Verve Bistro Bar Lounge in Somerville, NJ, on Fat Tuesday, February 21, or on the preceding Friday or Saturday, February 17 and 18. Why? To party for a good cause—Matheny.

Verve will be holding its annual Mardi Gras-Carnivale Party with music, beads and trinkets and a special menu on those three dates. On Fat Tuesday, 10% of all proceeds will be donated to Matheny, and anyone making a reservation on February 17 and 18 and mentioning Matheny will automatically redirect 10% of the bill to Matheny as well.

A special feature of the Fat Tuesday celebration is the annual Mardi Gras silent mask auction, and a portion of the auction proceeds will also benefit Matheny. In fact, Matheny supporters are encouraged by Verve owner Rick St. Pierre to make Mardi Gras masks and drop them off at the restaurant, 18 East Main Street, by February 11.  There are no rules involved in making the masks — ranging from experienced artists starting from scratch to kids and amateurs applying paper mache to plastic craft store models.

Since opening Verve in the late 1990s, St. Pierre has continually given back to the community. He was recently named Somerville’s 2011 Citizen of the Year. He is chairman of the Downtown Somerville Alliance events committee and, in addition to the Mardi Gras fundraiser, he is involved in many other activities that support nonprofit organizations around and beyond Somerset County. In 2008, he was given the Somerset County Business Partnership’s Economic Vitality Award.

To make reservations for the Mardi Gras celebration, call (908) 707-8655, and don’t forget to mention Matheny.