Carnaval c. 1982

Have you ever been to a party so memorable and enjoyable that you remember most of what happened even after over foroty years have passed since you enjoyed that evening? I was reminded of just such a party recently.

A Visit From Fatima and Luke

Those who know me well may recall that I had a partner named Francisco for thirteen wonderful years, until he passed in 1994. But I have remained in touch with some members of his family to this day. So when his niece Fatima emailed to say that she and her husband Luke would be coming to Chicago and how about lunch, I started to think back to my earliest connections with Caracas, Venezuela, where I first met Pancho (Francisco's nickname) many decades ago. Fatima and Luke went to the Cubs opener against San Diego, their home town team, and of course, nearly froze in the wind-swept friendly confines. We had lunch the following day at The Fireside Restaurant and Lounge now celebrating 120 years of dining just outside the main gate of Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago.

Fatima and I spent several hours reminiscing about La Ciudad de Eterna Primavera (The City of Eternal Spring). The memories of one particular party I attended came flooding back to my consciousness.

One night, during Carnaval season, a local friend, Jaime, took me to a gay club to enjoy the costume contest and general Carnaval ambiance. I invited two of my colleagues (we were consultants to a local Venezuelan company on assignment) to join us. So the four of us, Jaime, Patricia, Andy and I traipsed off into the night to The Ice Palace a disco named after the famed Ice Palace in New York City.

Gaining Entrance

Gay clubs in Caracas were a bit more circumspect in 1982 than many parts of the US. So it was always wise to go with a friend who was known by the muscle at the door, and could vouch for your good intentions. Jaime got us past the beefy bouncer, who first opened the speakeasy hatch, a small grated door in the main door that allows him to see who is asking to be admitted. Once he was satisfied we were patrons of good repute, he allowed us in.

Ambiance

There was something about Venezuelans in general, and Venezuelans during Carnaval at a gay club that was uniquely Caraqueño in nature. The French might call it joie de vivre or if you're a fan of Schiller the German an die freude might be your way of expressing this warm and happy feeling of a season like Carnaval. There was an almost universal offering of friendship, happiness and genuine welcoming that I experienced that evening.

Costume Contest

Many party-goers spent a great deal of time (and perhaps money) on their costumes; many approached spectacular levels of creativity and haute couture. Here are a few examples:

...and the Winner Is...

Unsurprisingly, the winner of the contest was the contestant with the least costume; it was, after all, a gay club. His prise was a fairly decent cash purse and a trip to Aruba, a resort island off the northern coast of Venezuela.

Everybody Welcome

The Ice Palace was a pretty eclectic place. You didn't have to be anything out of the main stream in order to fit in, be welcomed and have a good time. Patrica and Andy, my colleagues, spent much of the evening dancing. Other couples were enjoying the evening as well.

More Photos

This post includes only a few of the 77 photos I took that evening. I was still using a Canon 35mm camera at the time, so there's a different quality to this particular set. But they have all been digitized and you can view them at the following link. It's a public share and anyone with the link can view and download the photos.

1982 Carnaval Ice Palace Caracas Venezuela

There are four sub-folders. Each contains the same images. Only the size differs so choose the size that fits your needs. Feel free to share with family and friends.

Conclusion

Some things remain in your memory and heart for a lifetime. This was one adventure that remains to this day one of the most satisfying events I have ever attended or photographed. Caraqueños really know how to party! And they're some of the nicest, most welcoming people I have ever met.