January 2024

King Patrick Van Hoorebeek's bacchanalian Krewe of Cork rolls into 2024 granting knighthood to the first female lieutenant in the organization's history.

-by Kim Ranjbar

Around this time of the year, you'd typically find corporate event manager Maurye Aycock spending her free time at home, awash in glitter, hot glue-gun in hand, creating her costume for the annual Krewe of Cork parade down Royal Street . . . but not this year. Aycock was officially appointed Lieutenant of the royal court of Cork, and as such must dress accordingly.

Maurye began parading with the French Quarter krewe nine years ago when she was gifted a membership during Christmas. Born in Franklin, a small town in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, she had just moved back into the area after living in Washington D.C. for nearly 30 years. Her friends, who were already members of Cork, wanted her to join the party. “I'm a huge Mardi Gras fan. I've never missed a Mardi Gras, even when I lived in DC.”

Maurye's sub-krewe has imagined and designed different costumes for their Mardi Gras stroll year after year with most themes based on the Krewe of Cork's annual guest of honor, the Grand Marshall. Keeping in Cork's oenophilic theme, the Grand Marshall (and krewe's sponsor) is always a winemaker or owner from select wineries.

When winemaker Kimberlee Nicholls of Markham Vineyards was chosen one year, Maurye and her pals became the “Markham-Corkham Majorettes” sporting plumed, toy soldier hats and burgundy-hued dresses trimmed in gold sequins. Another year they became the “Napoleon Browne-Aparts” in honor of Andrew Browne from Browne Family Vineyards. Outfitted in ruffled bicornes, gold accented military uniform and tall black boots, they marched through the French Quarter and into Browne's heart, once again stealing the show and winning Krewe of Cork's Best Costume category.

“We have so much fun trying to figure out a costume that relates to the Grand Marshall, to kind of compliment them,” says Aycock. “We've really had some great ones.”

All of that changes this year as Maurye was promoted to Lieutenant and presented with one of the krewe's coveted silver goblets.

“I'm honored and humbled that they would select me to be a part of this leadership group,” says Maurye. Now an official member of the court, Maurye must don the crushed velvet, bottle-green lieutenant's uniform.

Former local restaurateur Janis Vazquez has designed and sewn most of the courtiers’ costumes for over a decade. The captain's and lieutenants' outfits she has designed are modeled after 15th and 16th century, French military dress, the traditional style of Mardi Gras royalty in New Orleans's oldest krewes, such as Proteus and Rex. During her fittings, Maurye tried to convince Janis to alter her uniform to make it more feminine, an idea Vazquez opposed.

“Her costume is identical to the other Lieutenants, but fitted to her figure and embellished with purple, green, and gold sequin appliques on the bodice.” Vazquez felt it was important she look like the other Lieutenants, regardless of her gender.

Though the Krewe of Cork has a more laissez-faire approach to Carnival, lacking over-the-top formality and secrecy, it was admiration of the camaraderie, frivolity, and friendship formed in older krewes that originally inspired Cork's creation.

Patrick Van Hoorebeek, Cork's reigning king, founded the krewe nearly 24 years ago at the now-closed Bistro at the Maison de Ville on Toulouse Street. As general manager of the tiny, 38-seat restaurant, Hoorebeek would compete with other businesses in the neighborhood, in particular, for patrons who shared our city's affection for long Friday lunches.

“People from Hermes were having lunch at Antoine's – some who I knew – and we all got together and had so much fun,” says Hoorebeek.

He created his own Friday lunch special, a $25 meal with wine, and the bistro developed a group of regulars who visited every week. One day in 2000, a group of 38 people collectively agreed to create the Krewe of Cork.

Over the years Krewe of Cork's membership gradually increased and they quickly realized they'd have to implement a cap.

“We like to stay in the Quarter and we don't like those large banquet rooms at the big Mardi Gras balls,” says Hoorebeek. The krewe's annual Mardi Gras parade always begins with a luncheon at the Court of Two Sisters, a restaurant that can only accommodate a limited number of guests. “We needed to come up with a magic number.”

One day Hoorebeek was doing light research in a book of famous wine quotes and he came across the immortal words of Athenian tragedian Euripides. In 406 BC, (“Before Christ or before Cork?” chimes Hoorebeek) the playwright wrote “Where there is no wine, there is no love.” Thus ever after, Cork admits only 406 members, a cap which has created a long list of hopefuls.

The krewe's limited numbers also contribute to the lack of turnover in the court. Long-time members of Cork remain captains and lieutenants until they choose to retire, which is how Maurye got her opportunity.

“I think more women want to be queen,” laughs Maurye. “Someone made the comment, 'When you're the queen, you're queen for a year, but when you're a lieutenant, you're a lieutenant for life.' But I'm a better lieutenant than a queen!”

Ser Maurye Aycock's new duties include monthly luncheons with the court, attending the Grand Marshall's official welcome at Louis Armstrong Airport, and the Queen's annual crowning event at Bayona Restaurant.

Also, since it's her first year in office, Maurye must man the rear of the parade “herding” stragglers who stop for drinks or long chats with friends along the route.

“It's funny because I was always at the end of the parade. This year I'll be back at it again, but this time it's because I'm in charge!”

*The Krewe of Cork will roll this year on Friday, February 2nd at 3pm and will begin on the 600 block of Royal Street between Toulouse and St. Peter. See complete details on our FQ Events page.

The King and Queen, Patrick Van Hoorebeek and Mary Bartholomew welcome 2024's Grand Marshall Brian Maloney, a winemaker for Chateau Buena Vista, Deloach and Raymond Vineyards in Northern California.