Cap'n's Cabaret #11: Paris Chéri!

Bienvenue, my friends, and welcome to gay Paris, city of lights, glamor, and sensuality!  Fashionably late (those Berlin nights really fly by, don't they?), but the Cabaret is back. And this time Bohemian sophistication and savage sensuality are on the menu as we explore the glory and abandon of Paris, partying like the world may end, for dark clouds gather in the east and all of the nation is up in arms for fear of another Great War.

But tonight, we can forget of such terrible things, for following a hasty retreat from Germany's scary new Chancellor we are in the gorgeous art deco glory of the Folies Bergère, here to see that most primal and talented of Parisian divas, the fabulous American Negro expat Josephine Baker - and only here could such a woman be so wealthy and famous and respected, which speaks well of Paris...and poorly of the rest of the civilized world.

A woman of deep, sultry beauty, beautiful voice, delightful humor, and superhuman grace, Josephine shows those silly claims of racial supremacy to be the idiocy they are.  And don't let the gams fool you, she's a beauty with brains and courage, willing to risk it all for the adopted nation that gave her all she has. (Psst...don't let anyone outside this close-knit circle know, but we're sure those Boche are up to something. So if you hear anything, let Miss Baker know and she'll pass it along to the right people). 

But politics aside, it's time for the show! Mdmsl. Baker will first perform her famous, fabulous "banana dance". Take warning: this is hot, hot HOT, and the following may not be safe for certain modest company. All the rage, she challenges our long-held beleifs on colonialism, race, sex, misegenation, and stereotype...really, we're watching this strictly for the redeeming social value and this is in no way an excuse to see a gorgeous, scantily-clad woman dance erotically.

Whew...very educational. I think more social value is needed, don't you? I thought so. Since you insist:

And she's got a voice too. Here she sings Paris Chéri, a song undoubtedly close to her heart:

Is it any wonder she's the grand dame of Paris? With luck, we'll still have a Paris in ten years' time...but I digress. What we need is tonight's cocktail, a drink as sweet, sultry, exotic, spicy, and powerful as Mdmsl. Baker herself...a drink named for the artillery piece that saved Paris last time, the French 75!

French 75 Cocktail:

 - 2 oz Gin

 - 1 oz simple syrup

 - 1 oz lemon juice

 - Brut Champagne

Shake Gin, lemon juice, and syrup over ice and strain into a champagne flute. Fill rest of flute with champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist.

(careful...it kicks like the cannon it's named after!)

[Post script: In addition to her musical talent, Josephine served France galantly in WW2 as a spy and courier, eventually earning the Croix de guerre from de Gaulle himself. She later became a leader in the civil rights movement and was even offered the reigns to the movement by Loretta King after MLK's assassination. A woman of many talents and great contributions to humanity that go unfortunately overlooked.]