Carnival!

Revelers were transported to the streets of New Orleans for Big Brothers Big Sisters of O.C.’s annual Mardi Gras-inspired shindig at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen. Soulful music filled the scene as the 350 guests sipped cocktails and snacked on Cajun cuisine. They went all in during rounds of poker and roulette, and ponied up the dough for opportunity drawing prizes like a Las Vegas getaway and a designer package stocked with luxe goods from Louis Vuitton and Chanel. And learning that the party had raised $110,000 and recruited 10 spirited mentors for the nonprofit’s youth programs made the crowd go wild. –Photos by Fotograafe Studio