St. Landry Parish - It's Gumbo for Your Soul

Horace Trahan plays Music of Acadiana series finale

2012-02-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

Renowned Cajun and zydeco accordionist Horace Trahan plays the Music of Acadiana series season finale at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26 at Nunu’s, 1510 Highway 93, in Arnaudville. Creator of the hit single, “That Butt Thing,” Trahan also wrote all 16 songs on his critically-acclaimed “Keep Wallking” CD of 2010.

Horace Trahan

The event starts with a jam session open to all musicians. An interview with Trahan begins at 3 p.m., followed by a performance.

Admission is $5, free for children. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

In other St. Landry Parish events:

Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin’ Cajuns entertain at 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24 at the Delta Grand Theatre, 120 S. Market St., in Opelousas. Country singer/songwriter Jaryd Lane opens the show. (337) 407-1806, www.deltagrandtheatre.com
Cajun music favorites Mack Manuel, Jesse Lege’ and the Lake Charles Ramblers host a reunion show for the Rendez-Vous des Cajuns radio and TV show at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 at the ‘’Ole Opry, Prairie Home Companion format. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com.
Guitarist Roscoe Chenier and the Inner City Blues Bland play the old-fashioned barn dance at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 at Lakeview Park & Beach, 1717 Veteran Memorial Highway, in Eunice. Cousin of zydeco great Clifton Chenier, Roscoe has been playing blues and R&B for more than four decades. (337) 457-2881, www.lvpark.com.
Cajun and Creole French speakers, and those who would like to learn, can attend La Table Française at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29 at the school house located in the historical Le Vieux Village, 828 E. Landry St., in Opelousas. The event takes place the last Wednesday of each month. (337) 948-6263.
Poet Leslie D. and storyteller Juanita Decuir lead the next literary presentation at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 1 at Casa Azul, 232 MLK Drive, in Grand Coteau. Decuir is part of Grand Coteau Voices, a project that documents the town’s history and ways of life. The event also includes open mic presentations. (337) 662-1032, www.casaazul.homesteam.com
Masks & Mayhem – The Courir de Mardi Gras Artwork of Herb Roe remains on display through March 17 at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center, I-49 exit 23, just north of Opelousas. Roe’s exhibit features oil paintings and graphite drawings of rural Mardi Gras runs.
Four Artistic Visions, a Black History Month art exhibit, is on display at the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center, 315 N. Main St., in Opelousas. The mixed media exhibit, which features art by Darlene Moore, Randell Henry, Ronald Kennedy and Ella Guillory, continues through March 31. (337) 948-2589, www.cityofopelousas.com.

In upcoming events, debris artist Trish Ransom and wood worker Frank Dabney continue the First Fridays with a Little Lagniappe art series from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 2 at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center, I-49 exit 23. All featured artists are creating pieces from materials salvaged during the construction process of the Visitor Center.

The 27th Annual Here’s the Beef Cookoff is set for Sunday, March 4 at the Yambilee Agricultural Arena, 1863 W. Landry St., in Opelousas. Sponsored by the St. Landry Parish Cattleman’s Association, the event features some of the area’s top food and entertainment.

For more information on parish events, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com. Updates are available on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul and Twitter @StLandryParish. Videos are online at www.youtube.com/StLandryParish.

St. Landry Parish overflowing with Mardi Gras fun

2012-02-16T09:40:00.000-08:00

Looking for Mardi Gras fun this weekend? St. Landry Parish has the traditional Mardi Gras run, parades, street dances, jam sessions, soul queen Irma Thomas, a zydeco trail ride and old-time pig roasts. That’s just the short list.

Traditional Courir de Mardi Gas in Eunice

St. Landry Parish is bursting with Mardi Gras excitement and activities that are almost too numerous to list. Here’s an hourly breakdown of the fun that awaits.

Friday, Feb. 17

7:30 p.m., Eunice – Street dance with Kyle Huval and Friends; Jamie Berzas and Cajun Tradition at Nick’s on 2nd; Paul Daigle and Jason Frey at Lakeview Park
9 p.m., Leonville – 2^nd Annual L’Argent Trailride and Chicken Run at IFBS Lodge with Leon Chavis and Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers

Saturday, Feb. 18

2 p.m., Washington – Mardi Gras parade on North Main Street

2:30 p.m., Eunice – Street dance with Fred Charlie and the Acadiana Cajuns

3 p.m., Eunice – Music program at the Jean Lafayette Prairie Acadian Culture Center

8 p.m., Leonville – 2^nd Annual L’Argent Trailride and Chicken Run with Brian Jack, J. Paul and the Zydeco Nubreedz at IFBS Lodge

6 p.m., Eunice – Rendez-vous des Cajuns radio/TV show with Ryan Brunet et les Malfecteurs, Basile Mardi Gras Association and Georgie Manuel explaining rural Mardi Gras traditions

7 p.m., Lebeau – Lebeau/Palmetto Mardi Gras Ball with Leon Chavis and the Zydeco Flames at Church Hall

8 p.m., Eunice – Street dance with Les Bassettes

8 p.m., Eunice – Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys at Nick’s on 2^nd

8:30 p.m., Eunice – Barn dance with swamp pop legends Warren Storm, Willie Tee and Cypress at Lakeview Park

9 p.m., Opelousas – Concert with Irma Thomas at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino

Lil Nathan

9:30 p.m., Opelousas – Traditional Mardi Gras dance with Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys at Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki

Sunday, Feb. 19

8 a.m., Eunice – L’anse Meg Courir de Mardi Gras at Lakeview Park

9 a.m., Eunice – Children’s Mardi Gras run leaves Recreation Complex, 461 Sittig Road

10 a.m., Eunice – Old-time boucherie at South 2^nd Street and Park Ave.

11:30 a.m., Eunice – Street dance with Da Classics with Drew Dogay and Charlo at S. 2^nd St. stage

11:30 a.m., Eunice – Street dance with Leroy Thomas and the Zydeco Roadrunners at S. 2^nd St. and Walnut stage

1 p.m., Lebeau – Mardi Gras parade and chicken run with Leon Chavis at Church Hall

3 p.m., Eunice – Children’s Mardi Gras run returns downtown

3:30 p.m., Eunice – Kyle Huval and Friends at Nick’s on 2^nd

3:30 p.m., Leonville – 2^nd Annual L’Argent Trailride and Chicken Run with Lil Wayne, Cupid, Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas and Lil Nate at IFBS Lodge

8 p.m., Eunice – Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys at Lakeview Park

Monday, Feb. 20

Noon, Eunice – Dr. Barry Ancelet’s presentation on the history of rural Mardi Gras at Jean Lafitte Center

Noon, Opelousas – Lundi Gras at Le Vieux Village with old-time boucherie, cooking demonstrations, costume contest, historic village tours

1 p.m., Eunice – Council on Aging Mardi Gras dance with Big J and Zydeco Dog Pound at Northwest Center

5:30 p.m., Eunice – Jam session at South 2^nd St. and Walnut

6 p.m., Opelousas – Lundi Gras at Le Vieux Village with Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie

8 p.m., Eunice – Street dance with Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys

8 p.m., Eunice – Don Fontenot at Nick’s on 2^nd

9 p.m., Eunice – Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys at Nick’s on 2^nd

9 p.m., Opelousas – The Original Zyde-Gras with Keith Frank and Cupid, Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino

Tuesday, Feb. 21

8 a.m., Eunice – Courir de Mardi Gras leaves Northwest Center

10 a.m., Eunice – Acadien with Ryan Simon on Park Ave. stage

11 a.m., Eunice – Homer LeJeune and Cajun Kings on 2^nd and Walnut stage

11 a.m., Eunice – Donnie Broussard at Nick’s on 2^nd

11 a.m., Opelousas – Krewe of Frank’s Parade

12:45 p.m., Eunice – Paul Daigle and Cajun Gold on Park Ave. stage

2:45 p.m., Eunice – Truck parade and Courir de Mardi Gras returns

4 p.m., Eunice – Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys on Park Ave. stage

6 p.m., Eunice – Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie at Nick’s on 2^nd

In other events, Masks & Mayhem – The Courir de Mardi Gras Artwork of Herb Roe remains on display at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center, 978 Kennerson Road in Opelousas. Roe’s exhibit features oil paintings and graphite drawings of traditional Mardi Gras runs.

Renowned zydeco and Cajun musician Horace Trahan concludes the Music of Acadiana Series at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 at Nunu’s, 1510 Highway 93, in Arnaudville. The event starts with an open jam session, followed by an interview with Trahan and performance.

Sculpture workshop March 17-18 at Nunu's in Arnaudville

2012-02-13T11:06:00.000-08:00

Sculptress Kim Bernadas will teach a portrait sculpture workshop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 17 and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 18 at NUNU Arts and Culture Collective in Arnaudville. This course will provide both the beginner as well as the advanced student with a clear approach to sculpting the portrait bust in clay.

Working from a skull and a live model, students will be introduced to the techniques necessary to achieve a true likeness in form and expression that makes each portrait unique.

Bernadas works in both figure and portrait sculpture using a classical approach, achieving an uncanny likeness to her subjects in her portraiture. In her figures, she uses gesture, proportion, and the uniqueness of each individual to express the essence of the subject.

With a background as a physical therapist and a former ballet instructor, Bernadas has had a life long study in the dynamics of the human form. Her artistic training began at New Orleans Academy of Fine Art in 1991, where she presently teaches portrait and figurative sculpture. Additionally, Bernadas conducts sculpture intensives at several locations in the Southeast throughout the year.

Her professional career has included many public and private collections; most recently the Walter Dumas Bust for the Baton Rouge Community College and The Lifesize Mother and Child for the Tulane Medical Center Maternity Pavillion. She was also featured in the New Orleans Magazine and named the 2005 WYES Artist of the Year, as well as an award winner in the 2004 National Drawing Exhibition in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Bernadas lives and works in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Workshop participants much register by March 10. Class fee is $210 and the supply fee is $60.

For more information and to register, call Jill Hackney at (225) 205-3987 or send an email to: fredericklecole@gmail.com with the subject Kim Bernadas Workshop.

Ossun Playboys invade Eunice this weekend

2012-02-09T09:39:00.000-08:00

Break in your new Mardi Gras dancing shoes with Cajun music icon Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys, who perform two shows this weekend in Eunice. Naquin and band play the entire broadcast of the Rendez-Vous des Cajuns radio and TV show at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Liberty Theater.

Kevin Naquin

Following the Liberty show, the Playboys travel three miles north on Highway 13 to perform at the weekly Old-Fashioned Fais-do-do Barn Dance at Lakeview Park & Beach in Eunice. Music starts at 8 p.m. Saturday and continues until midnight. Campers get two free tickets to the show.

For more information, visit www.eunice-la.com or www.lvpark.com. In other St. Landry Parish events:

A reception for Masks & Mayhem – The Courir de Mardi Gras Artwork of Herb Roe will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center, 978 Kennerson Road. Roe’s exhibit features oil paintings and graphite drawings of traditional Mardi Gras runs. (337) 948-8004, www.cajuntravel.com.
The town of Melville hosts its 8th annual Mardi Gras parade at 11 a.m. Feb. 11. Lineup begins at 10 a.m. at the Old Elementary School. (337) 623-5777.
The Chapelle Country Store at Le Village Guest House, 121 Seale Lane in Eunice, hosts a Pre-Mardi Gras Market Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 13. Handmade Mardi Gras costumes, jewelry and other arts and crafts will be sold. (337) 457-3773.
Zydeco icon Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie entertain at a special Valentine’s Day dance at 8 p.m. Feb. 14 at Stallions Bar-B-Que and Seafood, 5675 I-49 S. Service Road, in Opelousas. (337) 948-2090.
The Second Annual Le Courir de Mardi Gras Pour le Clinic is set for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Acadiana Center on the LSUE campus in Eunice. This Taster’s Choice Event, which also features live music by the Savoy Family Band, is a benefit for the Eunice Community Health Center. The event kicks of six days of Mardi Gras activities in the city of Eunice. (337) 457-1205, www.eunice-la.com.

In upcoming events, the Second Annual L’Argent Trailride and Chicken Run takes place Feb. 17-19 at the IFBS Lodge, 6240 Hwy. 31, in Leonville. Lil Nate and the Zydeco Big Timers, J. Paul Jr. Lil Wayne and Cupid are among the entertainers.

Irma Thomas, the Soul Queen of New Orleans, performs in a free concert at 9 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Event Center at Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino. Guests must have a Fast Track Rewards Players Card to enter free. Admission is limited to the first 1,500 members.

Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie kick off Lundi Gras at the Village at 6 p.m. Feb. 20 at Le Vieux Village, 828 E. Landry St., in Opelousas. The Krewe of Frank’s Mardi Gras Parade rolls at 11 a.m. Feb. 21 in downtown Opelousas.

For more information on parish events, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com. Events are also listed on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul and Twitter @StLandryParish. Videos are online at www.youtube.com/StLandryParish.

Courir de Mardi Gras art exhibit on display at Visitor Center

2012-02-07T09:51:00.000-08:00

A reception for Masks and Mayhem - The Courir de Mardi Gras artwork by Herb Roe will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center at I-49 exit 23, just north of Opelousas. The exhibit features 20 oil paintings and graphite drawings depicting the colorful costumes, music and revelry of the rural Mardi Gras runs, the traditional pre-Lenten celebration of the Cajun and Creole people of Louisiana prairies.

Mardi Gras artwork by Herb Roe

The free exhibit remains on display through March 17. A traditional Mardi Gras costume, made by Georgie and Allen Manuel of Eunice, is also on display.

An Ohio native and resident of Lafayette, Roe has been a professional artist for nearly 20 years. After receiving a scholarship in 1992 to the Columbus College of Art and Design, Roe became an apprentice to Louisiana mural artist Robert Dafford.

Roe worked for Dafford for 15 years on mural projects throughout the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys. He specialized in large scale and long term historical murals, usually connected with local chambers of commerce, tourism bureaus and downtown development agencies. Many of these projects took five to 10 years to complete, and ranged from one to 50 murals in each town.

In 2007, Roe pursued his own fine arts career, specializing in oil paintings, historical illustrations and murals. His work has included classical portraits, figure painting and American Indian illustrations that have been used by the Chickasaw tribe, American Archaeology Magazine and PM, a German language science magazine.

Writer Anna Purdy featured Roe in the Dec. 28, 2011 edition of Lafayette’s weekly newspaper, The Independent. In the article, Roe said he often uses computer programs to combine various photos to create an image that inspires a painting.

For more information on Roe’s exhibit, contact the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com. Events are also listed on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul and Twitter @StLandryParish. Videos are online at www.youtube.com/StLandryParish.

2012-02-03T12:16:00.000-08:00

Get into the Mardi Gras spirit with the Children’s Mardi Gras Saturday, Feb. 4 at Lakeview Park, located three miles north of Eunice on Highway 13. At 9 a.m., kids can begin decorating their bikes and golf carts for the 3:30 p.m. parade.

A free movie begins at 10 a.m., followed by mask and hat decorating at 1 p.m. A costume contest follows the parade.

Kyle Huval

Lakeview also resumes its old fashioned, fais-do-do barn dances with Kyle Huval and the Dixie Club Ramblers from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday. For more information, call (337) 457-2881 or visit www.lvpark.com.

In other St. Landry Parish events:

Four Artistic Visions, a Black History Month art exhibit, is on display at the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center, 315 N. Main St., in Opelousas. The mixed media exhibit, which features art by Darlene Moore, Randell Henry, Ronald Kennedy and Ella Guillory, continues through March 31.
The weekly Saturday morning Cajun jam sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Savoy Music Center, located on Highway 190 just east of Eunice. Admission is free. (337) 457-9563, www.savoymusiccenter.com.
Homer LeJeune and the Cajun Kings perform at the Rendez-Vous des Cajuns radio and TV show at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. The weekly program features Cajun and Creole musicians in a Grand Ole Opry, Prairie Home Companion format. Aaron Chesson and Bayou Heat also entertain. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com.
Musician Kevin Johnson performs at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9 at Casa Azul, 232 MLK Dr., in Grand Coteau. An open music jam follows. Admission is free. (337) 662-1032, www.casaazul.homestead.com.

First Fridays arts series features wood artist Lee Tedrow

2012-02-01T14:21:00.000-08:00

Wood artist Lee Tedrow kicks off the 2012 edition of First Fridays with a Little Lagniappe, the arts series from the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission. Tedrow’s demonstration is set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3 at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center on I-49 exit 23, just north of Opelousas.

Lee Tedrow

Using reclaimed and recycled material, Tedrow is building wood benches that will be used in the Visitor Center. His work ties in with the center’s theme and local traditions of using natural resources to sustain and improve a community.

A resident of Opelousas, Tedrow has created furniture out of local woods. As owner of Tedego Design for more than 30 years, Tedrow has used reclaimed and recycled wood and incorporated industrial material into all of his designs. His work has been shown at galleries throughout Louisiana and Minnesota.

Numerous artists from St. Landry Parish will be featured during the First Friday series, which continues monthly through September. Admission is free.

First Fridays with a Little Lagniappe is supported in part by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by the Acadiana Arts Council.

In other news, life-like portraits from Herb Roe’s Masks & Mayhem – The Courir de Mardi Gras show are now on display. Roe details his art at a reception from noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Center.

A professional artist for more than 17 years, Roe has worked with a variety of subjects and media. His Mardi Gras art features oil paintings and graphite drawings of revelers in his adopted home of south Louisiana. More art is on display at his web site, www.chromesun.com.

New, interpretive panels, which highlight parish towns and attractions, are now on display at outdoor kiosks at the center. Visitors can learn about local festivals, cuisine, music, art, history, religion, outdoor life and more through these colorful billboards.

For more information on these programs, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com. Events are also listed on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul and Twitter @StLandryParish. Videos are online at www.youtube.com/StLandryParish.

St. Landry Parish claims state tourism award

2012-01-27T12:54:00.000-08:00

St. Landry Parish is the home of three Grammy winners in zydeco music and an ESPY winner with Devery Henderson of the New Orleans Saints. The parish now has a Louey winner, too.

The St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission has brought home the 2011 Louey Award, presented to the state’s outstanding convention and visitors bureaus and tourists commissions. The parish received its Louey Thursday at the Louisiana Travel Promotions Association summit in Shreveport. Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne presented the honor at the Louisiana Tour & Travel Awards Luncheon in the Shreveport Convention Center.

LTPA issues Loueys in three categories. St. Landry Parish won in commissions with a budget of $250,000 to $749,999.

The award recognizes commissions who have used events, activities marketing or promotions to generate visitors. Winners also have a history of partnering with neighboring visitor bureaus to promote tourism throughout the region.

St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission director Celeste Gomez, who is part of a local group meeting with arts and cultural representatives in France this week, was pleased to receive the award.

“Winning the Louey award confirms that what we are doing as a tourist commission is effective,” said Gomez. “Being recognized by our peers makes this selection even more important.”

Celeste Gomez

In less than three decades, the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission has grown from a small committee to a prime player in Louisiana’s $9.4 billion tourism industry. The parish consistently ranks 17th out of 64 parishes for expenditures by domestic travelers.

The past 12 months have been a banner year for the commission, which opened its new St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center on I-49 exit 23. The 4,600-square-foot facility is the first in Louisiana and one of the few in the United States to focus on sustainability and green construction.

The building’s design combined many sustainable features with traditional south Louisiana practices, which were not always recognized as green. Visitors from as far as China and New Zealand have marveled over its design, which has been highlighted in local and state media. Images of the center will be submitted to architectural competition this year.

The visitor center, with accompanying interpretive exhibit panels and programs, has impacted tourism on many levels:

Serving as a resource center providing travelers pertinent information on the state.
As an attraction and an education resource on green and sustainable architecture and living practices.
Native plants and regional ecosystems.
A venue to showcase cultural exhibits.
A living billboard for local artists and cultural traditions

The visitor center has developed a strong presence in the local community. Just this weekend, native Cajun and Creole French speakers gathered for conversation and coffee during a visit from La Table Française d’Arnaudville. Project S.O.U.N.D., a non-profit group that works with students in creative writing and art, held a recital featuring Opelousas High School students.

First Fridays with a Little Lagniappe, an art series, has featured parish artists who create new items with reclaimed and recycled material. A new season kicks off Feb. 3 with furniture designer and artist Lee Tedrow of Opelousas.

A traditional, rural Mardi Gras costume, made by Georgie and Allen Manuel of Eunice, is currently on display. Herb Roe’s Mardi Gras art will be displayed in February.

The visitor center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Tourist information is available at (337) 948-8004 or the web site, www.cajuntravel.com. Events are also listed on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul and Twitter @StLandryParish. Videos are online at www.youtube.com/StLandryParish.

French table, student artists coming to visitor center

2012-01-25T08:57:00.000-08:00

French speakers and young artists gather in free events Saturday, Jan. 28 at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center, exit 23 on I-49, just north of Opelousas. La Table Française d’Arnaudville starts at 9 a.m. Saturday and is open to all Cajun and Creole French speakers, or those who would like to learn.

David Greely, Steve Riley

Artists and writers from Opelousas High School display their talents in Project S.O.U.N.D., A Celebration Symphony of Words at 1 p.m. Saturday at the center. A non-profit organization based in Lafayette, Project S.O.U.N.D. works with students in creative writing, along with visual and performance art.

In other St. Landry Parish events:

The Opelousas Little Theatre’s Showcase, its annual variety show, continues at 7 p.m. Jan. 26-28 and 2 p.m. Jan. 29 at the OLT Theatre Building in South City Park in Opelousas. The showcase includes actors, dancers, singers and more. Tickets are $10. (337) 351-3822.
Swamp pop legends Warren Storm, Willie Tee and Tommy McClain perform at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27 in the Event Center at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino, I-49 exit 18, in Opelousas. Southern soul star Mel Waiters entertains at 9 p.m. Saturday. (337) 594-3088, www.evangelinedowns.com.
Zydeco icons Lil Nate and Chris Ardoin perform at 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27 at the legendary dancehall Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki, 182 N. Main St., in Opelousas. Lil Nate and J. Paul Jr. entertain at 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Yambilee Building, 1939 W. Landry St., in Opelousas.
The Sixth Annual Gumbo Cook-Off starts at 8 a.m. Jan. 28 at Frank’s Downtown, 603 E. Landry St., in Opelousas. The event, which serves as a medical benefit for a local six-year-old patient, includes music, an auction, fun jump and more. (337) 407-2288.
Steve Riley and David Greely, co-founders of Cajun music’s famed Mamou Playboys, reunite for the Music of Acadiana Series at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29 at NuNu’s, 15010 Highway 93, in Arnaudville. The event includes an open jam session and interview, followed by a music performance. Admission $5, free for children. www.frederickarts.homestead.com.
Cajun group Low Maintenance with Drew Simon is the featured band at the Rendez-Vous des Cajuns radio and TV show at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. The weekly program features Cajun and Creole musicians in a Grand Ole Opry, Prairie Home Companion format. Humorist Murray Conque serves as emcee. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com.

In upcoming events, a preview reception for Four Artistic Visions, a Black History Month art exhibit, is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 at the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center, 315 N. Main St., in Opelousas. The mixed media exhibit, which features art by Darlene Moore, Randell Henry, Ronald Kennedy and Ella Guillory, will be on display Feb. 1 through March 31.

Saturday night barn dances return Feb. 4 at Lakeview Park in Eunice with young Cajun musician Kyle Huval. A complete schedule is available at www.lvpark.com.

Musical play highlights the life of country legend Hank Williams

2012-01-19T09:59:00.000-08:00

The career and life of a country music icon is presented in the musical play Lovesick Blues: An Evening with Hank Williams, Sr. at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 at the Liberty Theater, 200 W. Park Ave., in downtown Eunice. The play features Denham Spring native Hugh Harris, who has become renowned for a performance style and stage presence that strongly resembles Williams.

Hugh Harris

Musicians Terry Huval, Gina Forsyth, Kyle Harris, Bobby Dumatrait and Ken David are also part of the cast. Tickets are $13 and all seats are reserved. Tickets are available from the Eunice mayor’s office at (337) 457-7389.

In other St. Landry Parish events:

The Opelousas Little Theatre’s Showcase, its annual variety show, is set for Jan. 17-19 and Jan. 26-28 at the OLT Theatre Building in South City Park in Opelousas. The showcase includes actors, dancers, singers and more. Tickets are $10. (337) 351-3822.
Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie play zydeco, Cajun music and more at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20 at Stallions Bar-B-Que & Seafood, 5675 I-49 S. Service Road, in Opelousas. (337) 948-2090.
The weekly Saturday morning Cajun jam sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Savoy Music Center, located on Highway 190 just east of Eunice. Admission is free. (337) 457-9563, www.savoymusiccenter.com.
An Art Immersion Weekend is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22 at NuNu’s, 1510 Highway 93, in Arnaudville. Art instructor Stephanie Green hosts Getting Hot, a workshop on encaustic hot wax painting. An oil painting workshop, scheduled for Jan. 21, has been cancelled. For prices and more information, visit www.frederick-arts.org.

In upcoming events, swamp pop legends Warren Storm, Willie Tee and Tommy McClain perform at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27 in the Event Center at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino, I-49 exit 18, in Opelousas. (337) 594-3088, www.evangelinedowns.com.

The Sixth Annual Gumbo Cook-Off starts at 8 a.m. Jan. 28 at Frank’s Downtown, 603 E. Landry St., in Opelousas. The event, which serves as a medical benefit for a local six-year-old patient, includes music, an auction, fun jump and more. (337) 407-2288.

French speakers, or those who would like to practice the language, are invited to La Table Française will be held at 9 a.m. Jan. 28 at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center. Student writers and poets show their talents in Project S.O.U.N.D., A Celebration Symphony of Words at 1 p.m. Jan. 28 at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center. Admission is free.

The Music of Acadiana Series returns with Steve Riley and David Greely, co-founders of Cajun music’s legendary Mamou Playboys, at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29 at NuNu’s, 15010 Highway 93, in Arnaudville. The event includes an open jam session and interview, followed by a music performance.

A preview reception for Four Artistic Visions, a Black History Month art exhibit, is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 at the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center, 315 N. Main St., in Opelousas. The mixed media exhibit, which features art by Darlene Moore, Randell Henry, Ronald Kennedy and Ella Guillory, will be on display Feb. 1 through March 31.

New Live Oak Planted at St. Landry Parish Visitor Center

2012-01-18T10:41:00.000-08:00

Local tourism officials and garden club members gathered Wednesday to plant a new live oak tree at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center, exit 23 on I-49. In celebration of Arbor Day, the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission received the tree donated by the Opelousas Garden Club, Washington Garden Club, Eunice Bulb & Blossom Club and the Sunset Garden Club.

“The commission is thrilled to have the addition of another live oak on the property of the new Visitor Center, but even more so the partnership it symbolizes,” said Celeste Gomez, director of the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission. “This gesture by the parish garden clubs, endorses the commission’s efforts toward sustainability and preservation.”

The first live oak that was planted last November was graciously donated by Mrs. Pat James.

The center's overall landscape reflects the various ecosystems found in and around St. Landry Parish. The design includes various grasses, Louisiana irises, bald cypress, palmettos and native flowering plants indicative of this area.

The Visitor Center was intended to promote green construction through its environmentally-friendly design and use of natural resources. By collecting rain water in a 1,500-gallon, galvanized cistern for watering plants and converting the energy generated with the wind turbine and the solar panels, a visitor can see how these resources are utilized. The facility is the only such "green" visitor center in Louisiana.

Since opening in May 2011, the Visitor Center has welcomed travelers, some from as far as China and New Zealand, to the rich music, food, history, culture and outdoor life of St. Landry Parish. The 4,600-square foot center features exhibit and display areas for tourist information, a meeting area, public restrooms and administrative offices for the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission.

The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com. Follow the center on Twitter @StLandryParish or on Facebook at St. Landry Parish - It's Gumbo for Your Soul.

Plays, music and more this weekend in St. Landry Parish

2012-01-12T08:33:00.000-08:00

Local actresses and authors present The Gris Gris Sisters, an adaptation of a children’s story book, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12 at Casa Azul, 2323 MLK Dr., in Grand Coteau. Author Jo Englerth and the book’s illustrator, Bonnie Camos, join Becca Begnaud and Patricia Cravins to tell the story of sisters Audrey and Camille and the magic they encounter in the Atchafalaya Basin.

Casa Azul hosts weekly poetry readings, music concerts and other artistic events. Admission is free. For more information, call (337) 662-1032.

In other St. Landry Parish events:

Area teens take the stage in Choices and The Empty Chair at 7 p.m. Jan. 12-14 and 3 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Delta Grand, 120 S. Market St., in downtown Opelousas. Both plays, directed by Tammy Lamonte, deal with decisions today’s teens regarding alcohol and drug abuse. Tickets are $10. (337) 407-1806, www.deltagrandtheatre.com.
Local favorites Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie play zydeco, Cajun and more at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13 at the Event Center at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino. Admission is free. (337) 594-3088, www.evangelinedowns.com.
The weekly Saturday morning Cajun jam sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Savoy Music Center, located on Highway 190 just east of Eunice. Admission is free. (337) 457-9563, www.savoymusiccenter.com.
Cameron Dupuy, a 14-year-old Cajun accordionist from New Orleans, performs at the Rendez-Vous des Cajuns radio and TV show Saturday, Jan. 7 at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. The weekly program features Cajun and Creole musicians in a Grand Ole Opry, Prairie Home Companion format. The Dupuy Family Band also entertains. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com.

In upcoming events, Lovesick Blues: An Evening with Hank Williams, Sr. is set for 6 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. This musical play, depicting the career and life of Hank Williams, features Hugh Harris, along with Terry Huval, Gina Forsyth, Kyle Harris, Bobby Dumatrait and Ken David. Tickets are $13 and all seats are reserved. Tickets are available from the Eunice mayor’s office at (337) 457-7389.

A preview reception for Four Artistic Visions, a Black History Month art exhibit, is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 at the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center, 315 N. Main St., in Opelousas. The mixed media exhibit, which features art by Darlene Moore, Randell Hendry, Ronald Kennedy and Ella Guillory, will be on display Feb. 1 through March 31.

Artistic Visions exhibit visits museum in February, March

2012-01-10T11:36:00.000-08:00

In recognition of Black History Month, the Opelousas Museum & Interpretive Center will feature an exhibit by Four Artistic Visions: Darlene A. Moore, Randell Henry, Ronald B. Kennedy, and Ella Guillory. The exhibit is scheduled from Feb. 1 through March 31, 2012.

A preview reception is scheduled for Thursday, February 2, 2012, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Darlene A. Moore, who was born in New Orleans and grew up in Mandeville, is a pastor, artist, writer, photographer and historian. Moore obtained a Bachelors of Art at Dillard University and a Master's of Divinity at Gammon Theological Seminary with concentration in Christian Education.

Moore is a pastor at St. Mark United Methodist Church in Opelousas. Moore's recent activities include Art Vanguard Gallery Baton Rouge(Bethany Centre-Africa), Dillard University Alumni House featured in University recent publication 2011 as Artist-Pastor, South Central Women's United Methodist Church Gathering-Artist for altar and bulletin design, African American Methodist Heritage Center Logo Designer and African American Pastor's Youth Summit-Artist bulletin cover design.

Moore loves expresses every day scenes in colorful ways using acrylics and mixed media in an impressionism manner.

Randell Henry decided to become an artist in the 6th grade at Scotlandville Elementary School in Baton Rouge. He went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in Art at Southern University in 1979 and the M.F.A. degree in Painting from Louisiana State University in 1982. Henry has shown his paintings in art galleries in Baton Rouge for more than 25 years. He is an artist member of Baton Rouge Gallery and Associate Professor of Art at Southern University.

Henry presently serves on the Board of Baton Rouge Gallery, DeBose Foundation, and Acts and Deeds Non Profit Organization. He is President of Black Artists' Network. Henry mixed media collages are made from paper, fabric, acrylic paint, paint sticks and pieces of hand painted canvas that he cut or tore and glues to a ground to express life as a creative artist.

Ronald B. Kennedy is a retired Professor of Visual Arts and Photography from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond. He has a Bachelor's degree in Art Education from Southern University and M.F.A. degree in Painting from Louisiana State University and an M.A. degree in Mass Communication from Southern University.

Kennedy curates numerous exhibitions, including Black History Month exhibitions, throughout the state of Louisiana. He also coordinates art education workshops for teachers and students in Hammond, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. He creates drawings, paintings, and photographs using African art as motif.

The works are mixed media and utilize irregular shaped canvases and rope. The shapes and hues are indigenous to African culture and use contemporary techniques and media to achieve a unique form of expression.

Kennedy has exhibited his works at many universities, galleries, and museums throughout the state of Louisiana. He has also exhibited his works in Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Long Island, New York.

Ella Guillory is the first African American woman to receive a copyright for her Mardi Gras Beads Collection. She became fascinated with Mardi beads and saw an opportunity to use both the beads and her talent in the creative process. Guillory takes on ordinary object and uses her inventory and an assessment of beads to fashion the object into extraordinary work of art. Guillory resides in St. Landry Parish.

The Opelousas Museum & Interpretive Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.and Saturday from 10 a.m.-3: p.m. For more information,call (337) 948-2589. Visit the center via Facebook or www.cityofopelousas.com

Carrier, Sonnier team up for Zydec-Cajun Night Jan. 6

2012-01-05T09:25:00.000-08:00

A Grammy-winning zydeco musician and a three-time, Grammy nominee in Cajun music team up for Zyde-Cajun Night at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6 at the Delta Grand, 120 S. Market St., in downtown Opelousas. Chubby Carrier, winner of the 2010 Grammy for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album for his Zydeco Junkie CD, performs.

Jo-El Sonnier

Carrier joins with Jo-El Sonnier, a Louisiana Music Hall of Fame inductee who has recorded Cajun music since 1967 and earned three Grammy nominations. In the 1980s, Sonnier had country hits with No More One More Time and Tear-Stained Letter. Both landed in the Top Ten of the country charts.

Tickets for Zydec-Cajun Night are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. For more information, call (337) 407-1837 or visit www.deltagrandtheatre.com.

In other St. Landry Parish events:

Professional boxing returns with Knockout and Payouts at the Downs at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Events Center at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino, exit 18 on I-49 in Opelousas. Tickets are $25. (337) 298-7658, www.boxncar.com.
The weekly Saturday morning Cajun jam sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Savoy Music Center, located on Highway 190 just east of Eunice. Admission is free. (337) 457-9563, www.savoymusiccenter.com.
The Cajun band Bonne Chance with Patrick Pellerin performs at the Rendez-Vous des Cajuns radio and TV show Saturday, Jan. 7 at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. The weekly program features Cajun and Creole musicians in a Grand Ole Opry, Prairie Home Companion format. Cajun humorist Thelma Daigle also entertains. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com.
Pre-Mardi Gras Market Monday takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Chapelle Country Store at Le Village, 121 Seale Lane, in Eunice. Featured items include handmade Mardi Gras costumes, jewelry and Dale and Lou Trahan’s Mardi Gras Miniatures, reclaimed wood and snippets of fabric that depict traditional Mardi Gras tasks. Admission is free. (337) 457-3573.

Carrier Family Festival, live music ring in 2012

2011-12-28T13:16:00.000-08:00

Eight zydeco bands entertain at the 15th Annual Carrier Family Festival at 3 p.m. New Year’s Day at the Offshore Lounge, 322 Perry Drive, in Lawtell. The musical lineup includes Grammy winner Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe, Dwight Carrier, Corey Ledet, Brad Randell, Gerard Delafose, Lil Pookie and T. Broussard.

Chubby Carrier

For more than 30 years, Thursday night jam sessions at the Offshore Lounge served as the first stage for some of zydeco’s most top stars -- Geno Delafose, Zydeco Force, Beau Jocque, Same Ol’ Two Step and many others. The festival is a fundraiser for the rustic dancehall, which is in need of major repairs.

Admission is $20. Red beans and rice with fried chicken, barbecue and gumbo will be sold. T-shirts and tribute CDs featuring the late zydeco legend Roy Carrier, the lounge’s former owner, will be available.

In other St. Landry Parish events:

Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band entertain at the Sixth Annual Mayor’s New Year’s Charity Gala at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30 at the Opelousas Civic Center, exit 18 on I-49. The event includes a candlelight dinner, midnight champagne toast and “Dancing with the Starz-Acadiana Style” contest. Funds from this gala help the elderly and needy of St. Landry Parish with emergency assistance. Tickets are $30. (337) 948-2525.
Leon Chavis and the Zydeco Flames kick off a weekend of live music at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino, I-49 exit 18 in Opelousas. Admission is free for the 9 p.m. Dec. 30 dance with Chavis. Turning Point, a Southern rock and country band, performs for New Year’s Eve at Mojo’s in the casino. Chris Ardoin and NuStep Zydeco play at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 1 at Mojo’s. (337) 594-3000, www.evangelinedowns.com.
The weekly Saturday morning Cajun jam sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 31 at Savoy Music Center, located on Highway 190 just east of Eunice. Admission is free and all musicians are invited to join in. (337) 457-9563, www.savoymusiccenter.com.
Because of the holiday break, there will be no Rendez-Vous des Cajuns radio and TV show Saturday, Dec. 31 at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. The weekly program, which features Cajun and Creole musicians in a Grand Ole Opry, Prairie Home Companion format, resumes Jan. 7, 2012. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com.
Grammy winner Chubby Carrier hosts Chubby’s New Year’s Eve Party at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 at Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki. Tickets, which are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, include gumbo with all the fixings and champagne at midnight. (337) 288-8893, www.chubbycarrier.com.
The rock band One Trick Pony brings in 2012 at 8 p.m. Dec. 31 at Beau’s Garage, 125 N. Court St., in Opelousas. Tickets are $10, $15 at the door. (337) 678-0648.
The monthly JAMbalaya acoustic music jam will be held from 1-3 p.m. Jan. 1 at Tom’s Fiddle & Bow, 204 Fuselier St., in Arnaudville. Bring your favorite for a pot luck lunch. Coffee, tea, wine, soda and water will be provided. (337) 754-5528.
J. Paul and the Zydeco Nubreedz perform at 8 p.m. Jan. 1 at Stallions Bar-B-Que and Seafood, 5675 I-49 S. Service Road, in Opelousas. (337) 948-2090.

In upcoming events, Chubby Carrier and Cajun/country music veteran Jo-El Sonnier team up for Zyde-Cajun Night at 8 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Delta Grand, 120 S. Market St., in downtown Opelousas.. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door.

For more information on all these events, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com. Follow us on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul, Twitter @StLandryParish. Videos are online at www.youtube.com/StLandryParish.

Parish celebrates Christmas weekend with zydeco and more

2011-12-21T12:41:00.000-08:00

Break in your new dancing shoes with four zydeco dances Christmas weekend in St. Landry Parish. These events in Opelousas, the Zydeco Music Capitol of the World, feature four of the music’s top stars.

Curley Taylor

Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble kick off the weekend at 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23 at Mojo’s at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino. Keith Frank, The Zydeco Boss, performs at 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23 at Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki, 8471 Highway 182. Owned and operated by the Gradney family since 1947, Slim’s is one of zydeco’s original dance halls.

Lil Nate and the Zydeco Big Timers, along with J. Paul Jr. and the Zydeco NuBreedz, host the Christmas Eve Bash at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24 at the Yambilee Building, 1939 W. Landry St. Chris Ardoin and NuStep celebrate “Grown Folk Christmas” at 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 25 at Mojo’s at Evangeline Downs.

In other St. Landry Parish events:
· A free showing of A Miracle on 34th Street is set for 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 22 at the Delta Grand, 120 S. Market St., in downtown Opelousas. Senior citizens and their grandchildren are urged to attend. Concessions will be sold. (337) 407-1806, www.deltagrandtheatre.com.

· The Compound, a local acting group, concludes its presentation of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 22-23, at the Delta Grand. Admission is $10.

· The world-renowned, Saturday morning Cajun jam sessions go on from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 at Savoy Music Center, located on Highway 190 just east of Eunice. Admission is free and all musicians are invited to join in. (337) 457-9563, www.savoymusiccenter.com.

· Because of the holidays, there will be no Rendez-Vous des Cajuns radio and TV show Saturday, Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. The weekly program, which features Cajun and Creole musicians in a Grand Ole Opry, Prairie Home Companion format, resumes Jan. 7, 2012. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com.

In upcoming events, Grammy winner Chubby Carrier hosts Chubby’s New Year’s Eve Party at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 at Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki. Tickets, which are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, include gumbo with all the fixings and champagne at midnight.

The rock band One Trick Pony brings in 2012 Dec. 31 at Beau’s Garage, 125 N. Court St., in Opelousas.

The 15th Annual Carrier Family Festival kicks off at 3 p.m. Jan. 1 at the Offshore Lounge, 322 Perry Dr., in Lawtell. Eight zydeco bands are scheduled to perform.

On Friday, Jan. 6, Chubby Carrier and Cajun/country music veteran Jo-El Sonnier team up for Zyde-Cajun Night at the Delta Grand. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door.

Comics, musicians spread 'A Little Christmas Cheer' in Eunice

2011-12-14T09:11:00.000-08:00

Comedy and Cajun music spread A Little Christmas Cheer, a benefit for swamp country singer Shane West, at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18 at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. Terry Comeaux, Steve Shaw and Tee Ray are the featured comedians. The Steve Riley & Friends Trio provides the music.

Steve Riley

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased the day of the show at the Liberty. For more information, call 457-7389.

Other events going on in St. Landry Parish include:

The Compound, a local acting group, presents Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol at 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and Dec. 21-23 at the Delta Grand, 120 S. Market St., in downtown Opelousas. Admission is $10. (337) 407-1806, www. deltagrandtheatre.com.
Poet Nellie Harrington and musician Byron Knott perform for an Open Mic night at 7 p.m. Thursday at Casa Azul, 232 MLK Dr., in Grand Coteau. (337) 662-1032, www.casaazul.homestea.com
Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie entertain at a Toys for Tots event at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15 at the newly-reopened Stallions Bar-B-Que and Seafood Restaurant, 5675 I-49 S. Service Road in Opelousas. Admission is $5 and a toy. (337) 948-2090.
Brenna Andrus, Nicole Bertrand and Louis Huckaby sing holiday songs at the weekly Rendez-Vous des Cajun radio and TV show at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. Blake J. Miller and the Vermilion Playboys also perform. This is the final show for 2011. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com.

Drive through town and check out the City of Opelousas’ Christmas Decorating Contest winners, which will be announced at 10 a.m. Friday at City Hall. Judging is set for 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday.

Fundraiser, holidays events highlight weekend in St. Landry Parish

2011-12-07T12:33:00.000-08:00

Geno Delafose, Keith Frank, Patrick Henry and Liberation and other zydeco and R&B performers entertain Thursday, Dec. 8 at the third annual Coup de Main (Helping Hand), a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Opelousas. The benefit concert is from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday in the Events Center at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino.
More than 150 children were affected when the club’s Opelousas location closed earlier this year because of a budget shortfall. Admission to the fundraiser is $10 and all proceeds go to the club. For more information, call Dustin Cravins at (337) 594-3137.

Geno Delafose

Other events going on in St. Landry Parish include:

Enjoy Christmas sounds at the Noel concert by the Eunice Choir and Concert Band at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. The Fine Arts Council of Eunice presents an arts exhibit. Admission is $5, $2 for children. (337) 457-1776, www.eccbc.org.
Floats, marching bands, cartoon characters and Santa Claus will participate in the Children’s Christmas Parade at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Opelousas. The parade starts near St. Landry Catholic Church on North Main Street and ends on Cresswell Lane. (337) 948-2589.
The Avoyelles Parish Choir presents a Christmas Concert at 6 p.m. Saturday at St. John’s Church in Washington. A wine and cheese reception is from 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Saturday. The town’s 13th annual Christmas parade is 7 p.m. Friday. (337) 826-3626.
The town of Port Barre holds its first Christmas parade at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The parade will start on Willow Street by Frisco Motorworks and end at the American Legion Hall. (337) 585-7646.
Ganey Arsement and the LakeSide Gamblers entertain at the weekly Rendez-Vous des Cajun radio and TV show at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. The LakeSide Gamblers Trio opens the show. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com.
Art Noel takes place from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Glass Porch Gallery, 28 MLK Drive, in Grand Coteau. Featured art includes clay sculptures of musicians and chefs by Sunset artist Annie Hendrix and Charla Guidry’s fused glass and wind chimes, along with found object fish and wall art by Trish Ransom of Grand Coteau.
Kelli Foret signs copies of her new book, Acadian Art Trail: The Essential Guide to Finding Local Art in Cajun Country, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Chapelle Country Store at Le Village, 121 Seale Lane, in Eunice. (337) 457-3573.

In ongoing events, Gray R. Steckler’s oil and acrylic art exhibit continues through Dec. 30 at the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center, 315 N. Main St., in downtown Opelousas. A St. Landry Parish resident and retired attorney, Steckler has created art that has been shown in galleries, museums and libraries throughout the state. Call (337) 948-2589 for details.
For more information on all these events, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com. Follow us on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul and Twitter @StLandryParish.

“Floodwall” memorial takes one last trip at Arnaudville celebration

2011-11-29T09:50:00.000-08:00

The Hurricane Katrina memorial "Floodwall" completes its world journey Saturday in Arnaudville. On the banks of Bayou Fuselier, final sections of the Mississippi River's Algiers Levee, a 192-foot long installation, are simultaneously set ablaze.

Artist Jana Napoli gives two of the four-by-eight-foot panels of the standing art sculpture to Arnaudville’s annual Le Feu et l’Eau (Fire and Water) Celebration for participation in the torching. The sculpture incorporates approximately 700 discarded bureau and cabinet drawers.

"We are joining in the act of sending to memory a most remarkable and moving work of art,” said George Marks, founder and chairman of Le Feu et l’Eau. “The act of burning the pieces is in itself an opportunity to people to experience a last aspect of the power of this work.”

Arnaudville’s participation also serves as a reminder that Le Feu et l’Eau Celebration was created as a means to provide displaced New Orleans artists opportunity to sell work while still far from home, Marks said.

Le Feu et l’Eau Celebration is one of Acadiana's most interactive and entertaining events showcasing art, culture, music and food.

The discarded drawers are each identified by the location from where they were collected -- Gentilly, Central City, Uptown, the East, Bywater, Carrollton, the French Quarter, the Ninth Ward, Lakeview and Mid-City. They serve as reminders of the real people who experienced more than physical loss. Poignantly empty, each of these drawers once contained the artifacts of someone’s daily life and the keepsakes of a personal history.

The “Floodwall” section is displayed at the Steeple Vue Gallery through Saturday’s celebration. Viewers will have access to an interactive Website featuring an interview with the artist. During torching ceremonies, communications between the two sites will be conducted through a live stream projected onto a viewing screen.

Napoli has exhibited both nationally and internationally and has received several awards for her work, among them, the Oprah Winfrey ‘Use your life award” (2002) and a President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities award (1999).

“Floodwall” continues its long-standing dedication to the intersection of art and community-building but also integrates the themes of the unspoken and the unseen.

Le Feu et l’Eau Celebration begins with a 9 a.m. ribbon cutting at the new NuNu Arts and Culture Collective on La. 93. The torching takes place at 8 p.m. The celebration concludes at 10 p.m.

For more information visit www.fireandwater.home.com.

Cajun dance competition highlights weekend in St. Landry Parish

2011-11-23T08:45:00.000-08:00

The first round of the LA 31 Cajun Dance Competition is set for 9 p.m. Friday during the Old Time Barn Dance at Lakeview Park, located on Highway 13, three miles north of Eunice. Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, with guest drummer Jamey Bearb and fiddler David Greely, provide the music.

Sponsored in part by Bayou Teche Brewing of Arnaudville, makers of LA 31 Beer, the competition will host additional contests in November and December in Henderson, Breaux Bridge and Lafayette. Winners from each contest will receive prizes and qualify for the Jan. 22 finals. The finals winner gets a seven-day Caribbean Cruise with the Cajun band Bon Soir Catin and Tony Goulas.

For more information, contact Karlos Knott at (337) 303-8000 or visit www.bayoutechebrewing.com.

Other events going on this weekend in St. Landry Parish include:

· Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band play Friday night and J. Paul and the Zydeco NuBreedz entertain Saturday night at Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki, 8741 Highway 182, in Opelousas. Slim’s, a legendary zydeco dance hall, has been in business since 1947. (337) 942-6242.

· Live quarter horse racing continues at 5:40 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino, 2235 Creswell Lane, in Opelousas. The season continues each Wednesday through Saturday until Dec. 17. www.evangelinedowns.com.

· Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie play zydeco, Cajun music and more at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Mojo’s, located at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino in Opelousas. (337) 594-3000, www.evangelinedowns.com.

Cajun fiddler Hadley Castille

· Merlin Fontenot and Friends entertain at the weekly Rendez-Vous des Cajun radio and TV show at the Liberty Theater, 200 W. Park Ave, in downtown Eunice. Jesse Belleau and Cajun Melody also perform. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com.

· Cajun fiddler Hadley J. Castille plays the Music of Acadiana series at 2 p.m. Sunday at NuNu’s, 1510 Hwy 93, in Arnaudville. The event begins with an open jam session, followed by an interview with Castille and a performance. Admission is $5, free for children 12 and younger. Food and drink will be available.

· Horse and carriage rides through candlelit streets are part of Grand Noel Saturday in Grand Coteau. (337) 662-1032, www.casaazul.homestead.com.

· Decorated streets and shops, Christmas choirs and a visit from Santa are part of Jingle & Mingle: Three Nights of Christmas in Sunset, which kicks off 5-8 p.m. Thursday and continues Dec. 2-3. Each night, each participating shop will have a drawing for a Christmas gift.

In other events, Gray R. Steckler’s oil and acrylic art exhibit continues through Dec. 30 at the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center, 315 N. Main St., in downtown Opelousas. A St. Landry Parish resident and retired attorney, Steckler has created art that has been shown in galleries, museums and libraries throughout the state. Call (337) 948-2589 for details.

Opelousas hosts Historic Holiday Home Tour

2011-11-21T11:08:00.000-08:00

Discover Louisiana’s third oldest city and catch the spirit of the season at the Historic Opelousas Holiday Home Tour scheduled for 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 in downtown Opelousas. Presented as a preservation project by Opelousas Main Street, Inc., the tour includes stops at four distinct historic homes which all have a unique design and special stories. Architectural styles range from Colonial Revival to Queen Anne.

The Perrault - Weaver Home

809 S. Court St.
This home was built of cypress in 1891 by Judge William Charles Perrault, who later became District Judge of St. Landry and Acadia Parishes, and his wife Amanda Lastrapes Perrault, The home contains a parlor, living and dining rooms, four bedrooms and two porches. Sometime after the turn of the century, additions were made to the rear of the home and to the south side of the home. The persimmon tree in the front yard, well over 100 –years old, is believed to be one of the oldest producing persimmon trees in the state. In 2003, the home as purchased by Bob and Melanie Weaver who have named it Persimmon Place.

Veazie-Pavy Home

The Rozas Home
209 N. Liberty
This Colonial Revival home was built in 1939 for $50,000 behind a beautifully landscaped yard by Alice Boagni Rozas and her husband, Dr. Sidney J. Rozas . Later, the home was owned by their daughter, Mary Ann Rozas Nicholson. The home is constructed of cypress and the massive solid columns along the front originate from Chicago. The home includes five bedrooms, four baths, and formal living and dining rooms with crystal chandeliers, and an outside maid’s quarters . The floors are beautifully buffed oak. The home was purchased in 2006 by Marvin Jr. & Natalie Schwartzenburg.

Rudolph Adelbert Mayer Home
629 E. Bellevue
Located on the corner of Bellevue and Cane streets, this home was built in 1874 of cypress on three-and-a-half feet, raised brick pillars. The home was built by Rudolf Adelbert Sebastian Mayer, a professor of music who was born in the Nymphenburg Palace in Germany.

Mayer invented the first breech loading rifle patented to M. Martini and was used by the British Army for over 20 years. The professor moved to Louisiana in 1852 and married Mary Dunnon O’Rourke and the home has remained in the family ever since.

The home depicts a Louisiana galleried cottage with Italianate influence. It features a typical full front gallery and dormered roof. The ceilings are 12 feet throughout the home with a beautiful cypress staircase in the foyer. A beautiful mallard suite can be found inside. The home is now owned by the great-grandson of Adelbert Mayer, Jonathan Sebastien and his wife, Justine.

Veazie-Pavy Home
130 West Vine St.

Located on the corner of Vine and Market Streets, this lovely Queen Anne Victorian-style home was built in 1905 by E. Veazie Pavy and left to his daughter, Aline. The next owner was Aline's daughter, Coy M. Pavy then Coy's sister, Anne P. Boudreaux who left it to her sons Charles and Paul Boudreaux. Built with cypress, it features a rare hand carved Cypress staircase. In 2005, the building was purchased by local attorney Chuck Granger and his wife, Lynn, and now serves as a law office.

Advance tickets for the tour are $15 for adults and $5 for children in advance. They are $20 for adults and $10/Children at the door. Advance tickets are available at Sebastien Dupre Jewelry and Back in Time Restaurant. For more information, contact Robbie Sebastien at (337) 948-4367.

Rap, country music stars performing in Plaisance

2011-11-17T08:54:00.000-08:00

Thousands of music fans descend on the community of Plaisance this weekend for two concerts featuring nationally-renowned entertainers. Rap star and Grammy winner Ludacris headlines the Ultimate Jam Saturday and Chris Young leads the KXKC Big Country Bash Sunday at Zydeco Park.

Ludacris

Zydeco Park, located on Highway 167 seven miles north of exit 23 (Ville Platte exit) at I-49, has served as the home of the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival for the past 29 years.

Ludacris, a.k.a. Christopher Brian Bridges, is a Grammy-winning rapper and actor with roles in 2 Fast 2 Furious, Fast Five and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and an upcoming romantic comedy, New Year’s Eve. Opening acts at the Ultimate Jam include Lloyd, Bobby V, Trill Fam, J. Paul, Tucka, Mr. Magic, Charlie Boy and Kirko Bangz.

Chris Young

At Sunday’s Big Country Bash, Chris Young entertains with his four No. 1 country hits – Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song), The Man I Want to Be, Voices and Tomorrow. He’s joined by Easton Corbin, who hit No. 1 in 2009 with A Little More Country Than That and Roll with It in 2010. Other performers include national hitmakers Chris Cagle and Josh Thompson, along with Kaplan’s Jaryd Lane.

Concert tickets are $30, $40 the day of the show. Children 12 and younger are admitted free. More details are available at www.ultimatejamtickets.com and www.kxkc.com.

Other weekend events in St. Landry Parish include:

The Washington Garden Club presents the Fall Harvest Tour of Historic Homes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in Washington. The Nathaniel Offutt Home (circa 1840), Dr. Francis Lyman Brown Home (circa 1840), De la Morandiere (circa 1830) and Magnolia Ridge Plantation (circa 1860) are among the featured homes. (337) 826-7337.
Louisiana Main to Main: A Cultural Roadshow – Main Street Memories continues at various locations in downtown Eunice. Activities include a garage sale, farmers market and more. The Jean Lafitte Prairie Acadian Cultural Center, Cajun French Music Association Museum, Eunice Depot Museum and Nutcracker Museum will all be open. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com.
The 1st annual Beef Tongue Cookoff starts at 1 p.m. Saturday at Lakeview Park & Beach, three miles north of Eunice on Highway 31. Songwriter Drew Landry holds a CD release party during the Old Fashioned Barn Dance at 8 p.m. Saturday. (337) 457-2881, www.lvpark.com.
The 12th annual Tribute to Hank Williams is set for 6 p.m. Saturday at the Liberty Theater in downtown Eunice. Terry Huval, Hugh Harris, DL Menard and others perform songs by the country music legend. Tickets are $14 and all seats are reserved. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com .

In other events, Gray R. Steckler’s oil and acrylic art exhibit continues through Dec. 30 at the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center, 315 N. Main St. Call (337) 948-2589 for details. For more information on all these events, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com. Follow us on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul and Twitter @StLandryParish.

Lighting of the Village set for Dec. 2 in Opelousas

2011-11-09T08:19:00.000-08:00

The City of Opelousas marks a magical start to the holidays with its annual Lighting of the Village on Friday, Dec. 2, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Le Vieux Village, 828 E. Landry St., in Opelousas. The official lighting of the historical village has been a favorite holiday activity of both children and adults, offering a family friendly environment.

The evening begins with traditional Christmas choir music by the Opelousas Community Choir. Then, it is the official pulling of the switch which will light up the village just in time for the arrival of Santa Claus.

Offering a variety of activities for the little ones, the annual lighting event will include free pony rides, obstacle course fun jump, face painting, balloon art, guest appearance from Mickey & Minnie, a cup-cake making station as well as an ornament making station. Holiday photos with Santa will also be offered.

The event also provides a unique shopping experience where vendors offer a variety of goods including art & crafts, baby items, handmade jewelry, Christmas specialties, home décor, baked goods and decorative gifts.

Attendees can warm up with a free bowl of gumbo provided presented by Opelousas Kiwanis Club and free hot chocolate presented by Wal-Mart DC. A variety of food items will also be available for purchase. Door prizes will be given throughout the evening.

The event initiates the 10th celebration of the Lighting of the Village. Sponsors include the City of Opelousas, American Bank & Trust Company, St. Landry Homestead, Opelousas General Health System, St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office and Wal-Mart Distribution Center #6200.

For more information about vendor opportunities, contact Opelousas Tourism at (337) 948-5227.

Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie ready to rock Music & Market

2011-10-25T10:37:00.000-07:00

Geno Delafose

Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie rock Music & Market Friday, Oct. 28 at the St. Landry Parish Courthouse Square in downtown Opelousas. The weekly music series, which is free and open to the public, lasts from 5:30-8:30 p.m. with music beginning at 6p.m.
Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie is one of Acadiana's hottest bands, often playing six or more area events in a single weekend.

Delafose was born into a family of zydeco musicians. He got his start at the age of eight in his father’s band, John Delafose and the Eunice Playboys. He continued to play in the band until his father’s death in 1994.

That year, he debuted with album, French Rockin’ Boogie, on Rounder Records. The name of the record is also the name of his back up group, which include several family members.

He released two more albums from the label before signing with Time Square Records to release Everybody’s Dancin’ in 2003.

In 2007, Delafose was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album category for his Le Cowboy Creole album. His style is deeply rooted in traditional Creole music with strong influences from Cajun music, country and rhythm and blues.

Delafose lives in Duralde, near Eunice, where he operates his Double D ranch raising cattle and horses.

Concert-goers are welcome to bring lawn chairs for seating. Because beverages sales for the concert series go towards covering the cost of bands and event expenses, ice chests will not be allowed.

The featured vegetable for the event will be sweet potatoes. Other vegetables and agricultural commodities will be offered as well as cooked foods and arts and crafts. Ice chests are not allowed as beer. Wine and soft drinks, along with bottled water, are sold on site.

For more information or to find out about vendor opportunities, contact City of Opelousas Tourism Office at 337-948-5227 or 337-948-6263 or visit www.cityofopelousas.com.

Horace Trahan, Lil Kenny entertain for French Friday Nov. 4

2011-10-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

Opelousas Main Street, Inc. will host its annual French Friday from 6-10 p.m. Nov. 4 on Main Street. The event, which will be held around the historic Courthouse Square located at 118 S. Court Street, will spotlight Cajun and Creole cultures with music by Lil Kenny and the Heart Breakers, followed by Horace Trahan & the New Ossun Express. The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature food, Art Walk and student Chalk Art Exhibit.

Horace Trahan

Horace Trahan is a world renowned Cajun and zydeco performer who has had a great influence on the Louisiana music scene. A native of Ossun, Horace learned to play the accordion when he was 15 years old. Horace was 16 when he began singing Cajun music in French.

Not long after high school graduation, Horace began touring with cajun music legend D.L. Menard. Two years later, in 1996, Horace and D.L. Menard recorded a CD on Swallow Records. In the year 2000, Horace revamped his band with all new members calling it the New Ossun Express. In 2001, came his third album entitled “That Butt Thing,” for the title song. In September, Horace released his fourth CD, “Keep Walking,” under his own publishing company.

Lil Kenny and the Heart Breakers, which features popular band leader Kenny Janise, is a favorite festival and night scene band of southwest Louisiana. The band delivers everything from Cajun, country, rock, disco, classics, a mix from 1950s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and today. Janise has been playing music for over 56 years having started when he was only four years old. In addition to playing in a band, Janise is also a private music instructor where he teaches guitar, bass, accordion, sax, piano and vocals.

The event will also feature Cajun and Creole food delicacies such as gumbo, jambalya and sweet dough pies. Artists who wish to participate in the Art Walk for French Friday can sign up by contacting Robbie Sebastien at 337-948-4367. There is no fee to participate.

Louisiana Main to Main is a statewide initiative designed to foster economic development in Main Street communities and enhance the image of the State by promoting the Louisiana cultural experience in our many successful Louisiana Main Street communities. A list of all 'Main to Main' events statewide is available at www.LouisianaMaintoMain.org.

This year’s sponsors include City of Opelousas, St. Landry Parish Tourist, Commission, CLECO, Savoie’s Food Products, Centerpoint Energy, Wal-Mart, Louisiana Lottery, Union Pacific, and Delta Media Corporation. For more information about French Friday events, call 337-948-5227 or visit www.cityofopelousas.com

River Road leads Music & Market to downtown Opelousas

2011-10-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

Downtown Opelousas will be the setting for the Oct. 21 edition of Music & Market in Opelousas where recent Louisiana Music Hall of Fame inductee, River Road, will perform. The event takes place from 5:30-8:30 p.m. with music beginning at 6 p.m. at the Courthouse Square located at 118 S. Court Street.

River Road

River Road was an American country music band composed of Tony Ardoin (guitar, vocals), Mike Burch (drums, vocals), Richard Comeaux (steel guitar), Steve Grisaffe (lead vocals, bass guitar), and Charles Ventre (keyboards, vocals). Founded in 1989, the band signed to Capitol Records Nashville in 1997, releasing their self-titled debut album that year and charting three singles on the Billboard country charts, including the #37-peaking "Nickajack".

By 1998, River Road had transferred to Virgin Records Nashville and recorded "Somethin' in the Water". While on Virgin, the band began work on its second studio album, with its lead-off single "Breathless" charting as well.

Virgin Nashville was dissolved by the end of the year, however, and "Somethin' in the Water" was never released. Also in 2000, after four Billboard chart singles and five Country Music Television videos, River Road disbanded with each member going in different directions.

In April of 2010, River Road once again came together for a reunion at Cowboys Night Club in Scott, Louisiana. After a very successful evening, River Road had a meeting and the decision was made to resurrect the super group. Calls were made and Nashville responded with new material and a new CD. The release date for this new 10-song release is slated for the beginning of 2011.

This week's featured vegetable at Music & Market is pumpkins. Other vegetables and agricultural commodities will be offered as well as cooked foods and arts and crafts. Ice chests are not allowed as beer, wine and soft drinks along with bottled water are sold on site. Bring your lawn chairs for this free event.

For more information or to find out about vendor opportunities, contact City of Opelousas Tourism Office at 337-948-5227 or 337-948-6263 or visit www.cityofopelousas.com

Hadley Castille, Donnie and Pooldoos rock Music & Market Friday

2011-10-11T11:15:00.000-07:00

The Oct. 14 edition of Music & Market in Opelousas features the sounds of Hadley J. Castille and the Sharecropper’s Band as well as entertainment by Donnie and the Pooldoos. The free concert series takes place from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday at the Farmer’s Market in Le Vieux Village, just off I-49 at exit 19B.

Hadley J. Castille and the Sharecroppers Band, including son Blake and granddaughter Sarah Jayde Williams, play authentic South Louisiana Cajun fiddle music with interpretations of turn of the century songs, along with a swing-influenced sound that creates a blend of both the traditional and contemporary. Born and raised in Pecaniere, a community near Opelousas, Castille began singing and playing fiddles when he was 11-years old. For over 60 years, he has dazzled audiences worldwide with his Cajun melodies.

Hadley Castille and the Sharecroppers Band

Castille's performance correlates with the grand gathering of Acadians in Louisiana called the “Grand Réveil Acadien" or "Great Acadian Awakening.” Hosted by Louisianians, the entire region of south Louisiana is opening its doors to welcome family and friends who want to celebrate and help maintain the culture, customs, traditions and history of the Acadians. This celebration continues through Oct. 16 in four Acadian regions -New Orleans, Houma, Lake Charles, and Lafayette.

The Oct. 14 Music & Market also features zydeco, swamp pop and Gulf Coast rock 'n' roll. Donnie & The Pooldoos are lighting up the dance floors with their intoxicating sound that could only come from one place- the bayous and swamps of South Louisiana. The group consists of veteran musicians who honed their craft in front of some of the toughest critics around, the dancers and dancehall pardons of the “Crawfish Circuit” of the Gulf Coast.

Donnie and the Pooldoos

Longtime musician Don Carpenter leads the band on accordion and vocals.
Don grew up in the heart of the Atchafalaya Basin, down in Morgan City, where the congruence of all these Louisiana sounds occur naturally. On bass and vocals is Phil Kaelin and rounding out the group are two of the best known musicians to come out the roots music circuit of Louisiana-Blake Castille on guitar and Kenny Alleman on drums. Between the two of them they have played on dozens of recording sessions and performed with a who’s who of Louisiana Cajun, country and zydeco musicians.

The featured vegetable for the event will be cushaw squash. Cushaws are a large squash variety. They are bulb shaped with a slightly sweet yellow flesh. They’re good for baking and for making pies.

Other vegetables and agricultural commodities will be offered as well as cooked foods and arts and crafts. Ice chests are not allowed as beer, wine and soft drinks along with bottled water are sold on site. Bring your lawn chairs for this free event.

For more information or to find out about vendor opportunities, contact City of Opelousas Tourism Office at 337-948-5227 or 337-948-6263 or visit www.cityofopelousas.com.

Two big concerts coming to Plaisance in November

2011-10-03T10:41:00.000-07:00

National music acts will perform Nov. 19-20 at the Ultimate Jam and the KXKC Big Country Bash, two concerts coming to Zydeco Park, site of the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival in Plaisance. Rap superstar Ludacris headlines the Ultimate Jam Saturday Nov. 19.

Ludacris, a.k.a. Christopher Brian Bridges, is a Grammy-winning rapper and actor with roles in 2 Fast 2 Furious, Fast Five and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. His opening acts include Lloyd, Bobby V, Trill Fam, J. Paul, Tucka, Mr. Magic, Charlie Boy and Kirko Bangz.

Young country stars Chris Young and Easton Corbin take the stage Sunday, Nov. 20 for the KXKC Big Country Bash. Since 2009, Young, 26, has scored four No. 1 country hits – Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song), The Man I Want to Be, Voices and Tomorrow. Corbin, 29, hit No. 1 in 2009 with A Little More Country Than That and Roll with It in 2010.

Other performers include national hitmakers Chris Cagle and Josh Thompson, along with Kaplan’s homegrown singer and songwriter Jaryd Lane. A limited number of $25 advanced tickets are available through Oct. 16 at www.kxkc.com. The price increases to $30 on Oct. 17. Children 12 and younger are admitted free.

Ultimate Jam tickets of $20 are available through Oct. 16 at www.ultimatejamtickets.com. Tickets increase to $30 Oct. 17. Children 12 and younger are admitted free.

99.1 KXKC, Nissan of Opelousas and Cumulus Media are Big Country Bash sponsors. Cumulus and Nissan, along with Q95.5 KRRQ and Magic 104.7 KNEK present the Ultimate Jam.

For more information on these concerts, contact Cumuls Media at (337) 232-1311.

Swamp pop and R&B headline the Oct. 7 Music & Market

2011-10-03T09:21:00.000-07:00

Music & Market in Opelousas welcomes the blues, R&B and swamp pop sounds of Gregg Martinez and The Delta Kings from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Farmer’s Market in Le Vieux Village, just off I-49 at exit 19B. Music begins at 6 p.m.

Gregg Martinez

Martinez describes his music as “bayou blues and Creole soul.” He was born and raised and still lives in the Cajun country of south Louisiana where he began singing in church at the age of eight.

Ten years later, he was singing professionally. His powerhouse voice, which has been compared to Sam Cooke and Luther Vandross, took him from the bars and nightclubs of the bayou country to some of the finest resorts, casinos and clubs throughout the nation. He had an exclusive performing contract with Donald and Ivana Trump and a seven-figure recording contract.

By 1986, Martinez was on the brink of stardom in the music industry, yet like many great artists, somehow slipped through the cracks of the star maker machinery. The late Ed Bradley of TV’s 60 Minutes—upon seeing him perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 2005—called Martinez one of America’s greatest hidden treasures.

He has performed throughout the U.S. and has toured South Africa, England, Wales, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Gregg has released nine recordings, Wonders Never Cease (1991), Love Has A Voice (1993), They That Wait (1997), For The Ages (1999), All The Days (2001), Christmas (2002), Bring Down The Thunder (2004), Big Bad Daddy (2006), and the brand new South Of The Parish Line (2011).

Martinez’s music is played on radio stations in the U.S. and abroad. Gregg has shared the stage with many notable artists including Stevie Wonder, Foreigner, BTO, Dobie Gray, Shirley Caesar, Percy Sledge, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Patti Labelle, and Bobby “Blue” Bland. He is also the former lead singer of the Boogie Kings, for which, as a member of that legendary group, he was selected into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2010. He wrote and recorded the title song for their final album, Never Go Away in 2007.

Concert-goers are welcome to bring lawn chairs for seating. Because beverages sales for the concert series go towards covering the cost of bands and event expenses, ice chests will not be allowed. The event is held at the Farmer’s Market Pavilion located at 828 East Landry Street on the grounds of the Opelousas Tourist Center. The featured vegetable for the event is cabbage.

The fall series is made possible with the support of Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino, CLECO, Walmart Supercenter, American Bank, St. Landry Homestead Bank, Centerpoint Energy, Tony Chachere’s Creole Foods, Quik Quarter, Delta Media Network, St. Landry Parish Government. For more information or to find out about vendor opportunities, contact City of Opelousas Tourism Office at 337-948-5227 or 337-948-6263 or visit www.cityofopelousas.com.

Canoe, kayak racers set for Tour du Teche

2011-10-03T08:33:00.000-07:00

Tour du Teche Canoe and Kayak Race along the Historic Bayou Teche in southwest Louisiana on October 7-9, 2011 will award over $16,000 in prize money. Over 85 boats will compete in a staged marathon through beautiful Bayou country and will include stops to enjoy Cajun country hospitality for boaters and spectators as well.

The main race, the Tour du Teche II , will be held as a staged race totaling 135 miles, with competitors going from Port Barre to St. Martinville on Friday, from St. Martinville to Franklin on Saturday and Franklin to Berwick on Sunday. Time will be taken after each leg, with the best overall time determining the winner. Details of the different races can be found at:http://www.techeproject.com/tour-du-teche/.

Musical entertainment, food and fun will take place in several towns along the Bayou Teche. Highlights include musical performances by internationally renowned zydeco/Cajun musicians Keith Frank and Mark Willis and Cocodrie in St.Martinville and Johnny Chauvin in Franklin. Enjoy a gumbo cook-off in New Iberia and a kick-off ceremony with food and a Cajun jam led by Mayor Gil Savoy in Port Barre. See schedule at http://www.techeproject.com/tour-du-teche/.

Southwest Louisiana is known for its beautiful live oaks, meandering bayous, its cultural diversity, its people, food, music and Joie de Vivre. Bayou Teche is in the heart of this country called Acadiana. Alligators, capricious rafts of water hyacinth and towering sugar barges are special features of this journey through Cajun, Creole and Chitimacha country.

Tour du Teche has it all: an exciting adventure for participants, including prize money and many activities and much fun for visitors as well. Tour du Teche will provide a very lovely glimpse of our natural waterways, our bayous in Louisiana, food, dancing and "passing a good time."

Tour du Teche is a program of the Teche Project, a community organization that addresses ecological, cultural and historical Conservation of Bayou Teche. The race is sanctioned by USCA.

For more information, contact the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004 or e-mail info@cajuntravel.com.

Grammy winner Chubby Carrier entertains Friday at Music & Market

2011-09-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

Music & Market in Opelousas continues Friday, Sept. 30 with the sounds of Grammy award-winner Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Farmer’s Market in Le Vieux Village, just on exit 19B at I-40. Music begins at 6 p.m.

Born in Church Point, Carrier is the third generation of zydeco artists with such famous relatives as Roy Carrier (father), Warren Carrier (grandfather), and cousins Bebe and Calvin Carrier who are presently considered legends in Creole and zydeco music history.

Chubby Carrier

Carrier began his musical career at the age of 12 by playing drums with his father's band. By the time he was 17, he had started to play with Terrance Simien, before forming his own band in 1989.

The Bayou Swamp Band has recorded five CDs over the past 10 years. The band has traveled all over the world, performing to audiences in all parts of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, Canada, North Africa and Europe.

Carrier and band are the winners of the Best Zydeco and Cajun Music Album category of the 53^rd annual Grammy award for the CD, “Zydeco Junkie. “

Eggplant is the featured vegetable at Friday’s Music & Market. Concert-goers are welcome to bring lawn chairs for seating. Because beverages sales for the concert series go towards covering the cost of bands and event expenses, ice chests will not be allowed. The event is held at the Farmer’s Market Pavilion located at 828 East Landry St. on the grounds of the Opelousas Tourist Center.

For more information or to find out about vendor opportunities, contact City of Opelousas Tourism Office at 337-948-5227 or 337-948-6263 or visit www.cityofopelousas.com.

Zydeco Festival, free events highlight Oct. 1 weekend

2011-09-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

St. Landry Parish offer chances to celebrate the arrival of October with 10, live music events during the first weekend of the month. Many events offer free admission and all show why St. Landry Parish is the home of zydeco music and a hotbed of Cajun music.

Give your dancing shoes a workout with these events:

· Grammy winner Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band entertain at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 at the free Music & Market concert series at the Farmers M arket Pavilion, just off I-49 exit 19B in Opelousas. Local farmers will sell and offer samples of eggplant, the featured vegetable of the week. www.cityofopelousas.com .

Zydeco Festival in Plaisance

· Country singer Jaryd Lane and zydeco star Geno Delafose perform a free show from 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday in the Events Center at Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casinos. All guests with a free Player’s Card will receive $5 in Free Play on the casino floor. www.evangelinedowns.com .

· Zydeco favorites Same Ol’ Two Step play a free dance at 9 p.m. Friday in Mojo’s Sports Bar in Evangeline Downs.

· Bring an instrument or just tap your toes at the free Savoy Music Jam Session from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Savoy Music Center, 4413 Hwy 190, in Eunice. These world-famous Cajun jams have been taking place every Saturday morning since 1966. (337) 457-9563.

· The 29^th annual Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Zydeco Park in Plaisance. Tropical Storm Lee postponed the festival from its Sept. 3 date. Chubby Carrier opens the fest, followed by Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas, Geno Delafose, J.J. Caillier, Lil Nathan, J. Paul, Step Rideau and Corey Ledet. Tickets, $15. www.zydeco.org.

Wilson Savoy of the Pine Leaf Boys

· Get up close and personal with Cajun musicians performing at 3 p.m. every Saturday at the Jean Lafitte Prairie Acadian Culture Center, 250 W. Park Ave., in Eunice. (337) 457-8499.

· The Pine Leaf Boys, four-time Grammy nominees, play the entire 90-minute show of the Rendez-Vous des Cajuns radio and TV show at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Liberty Theater in downtown Eunice. Admission, $5. www.eunice-la.com .

· Zydeco icons Keith Frank and Chris Ardoin headline the First Annual Nu Step Trail Ride Saturday night at the IFBS Lodge, 6240 Highway 31, near Leonville. The ride leaves at 11 a.m. Sunday and returns in the afternoon for music by Brian Jack, Chris Ardoin and special guest Leah. $10 per night, $20 weekend pass. (337) 371-5502.

· Cajun and Creole music, old time, honky tonk, cowboy music and more are part of the free monthly jam session from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 2 Tom’s Fiddles, 204 Fuselier Road, in Arnaudville. Jammers bring food and ice tea to serve. www.tomsfiddleandbow.com

While you’re in the area, check out the J. S. Clark School Reunion Exhibit at the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center, Farmer’s Markets in Eunice and Opelousas, antiques at the Sunset Market and Auction House and more. For more information on all these events, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com.

Da Hurricanes blow into town for Music & Market

2011-09-19T08:31:00.000-07:00

A special Music & Market gets underway Friday, Sept. 23 at the St. Landry Parish Courthouse Square in Opelousas with the flavorful sounds of Da Hurricanes. This variety band takes the downtown stage in conjunction with the announcement of the Wild About Downtown banner art winners. The event happens from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., with music at 6:00 p.m.
Da Hurricanes is a classic rock 'n' roll, R&B cover band made up of a diverse group of professionals who are also professional musicians at heart. The original band was created in New Orleans in the early '80s, while members Dr. Kerry Thibodeaux and Cliff Broussard were obtaining degrees of higher educations and played many notable New Orleans venues with a solid fan following. When Thibodeaux opened his medical practice in Opelousas in the early '90s, he recruited long time friend and musician, Stephen "Big Daddy" Morrow. Later the group added Jim Gates & Don Demourelle to the ensemble and enjoy making music in and around Acadiana.

Da Hurricanes is made up of lead singer and lead guitar Clifford Broussard. In addition to his music, Broussard is the CEO of Willis-Knighton Bossier City Health Care System. Thibodeaux, rhythm guitar and vocals, is a Board Certified General Surgeon, Vascular Surgeon, and Medical Director of The Wound Treatment Center at Opelousas General Health System.

Morrow, bass player, is the managing partner of the legal firm Morrow, Gates & Morrow. He boasts a large professional music career, as he plays with a large number of bands, which include the legendary Boogie All-Stars (formerly known as the Fabulous Boogie Kings), Machine and many more. Drummer Jim Gates, who is a partner at Morrow, Gates & Morrow, is finally realizing his childhood dream of being the drummer for a classic rock band. Don Demourelle, along time nursing professional in Acadiana, follows Morrow in playing music with other bands including The Chapter and Chapter Two. Demourelle, who us the keyboard player for the group is affectionately referred to as "The Cajun Billy Preston."

In conjunction with the event, Opelousas Main Street, Inc. will announce the winners of the Wild About Downtown banner art project. The outdoor banner art exhibit kicked off in April and featured 31 banners throughout the downtown area.

During the five-month exhibit, viewers were able to cast their vote for their favorite banners. Winners of the student division are scheduled to be announced at 6:30 p.m. while adult division winners will be announced at 7 p.m. Beginning Saturday, Sept. 24, folks will be able to bid on their favorite banners via eBay. Proceeds raised help Opelousas Main Street, Inc, a 501c organization, fulfill its mission to build long-term sustainable downtown revitalization.

While the highlighted vegetable for the September 23rd h event will be Hibiscus Tea. Veronica Fuselier with the St. Landry Parish Farmers Market will serve up the homegrown beverage. Other music acts throughout the series include Chubby Carriere & the Bayou Swamp Band, Greg Martinez, Hadley Castille & the Sharecropper Cajun Band with special guests Donnie & the Pooldoos, River Road and Geno Delafose & French Rockin Boogie.

Music & Market happens from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., with music beginning at 6:00 p.m. Concert-goers are welcome to bring lawn chairs for seating. Because beverages sales for the concert series go towards covering the cost of bands and event expenses, ice chests will not be allowed.

Farmers interested in vending opportunities should contact St. Landry Parish County Ag Extension Office at (337) 948-0561. Food vendors as well as art and craft vendors interested in booth space should contact the Opelousas Office of Tourism at (337) 948-6263. To print a schedule of the fall 2011 line up, visit www.cityofopelousas.com

Screening, arts series finale set for Visitor Information Center

2011-09-14T09:17:00.000-07:00

Queen of the Sun: What the Bees are Telling Us, an award-winning documentary on the global honeybee crisis, will be shown at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 at the new St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center. The center is located at exit 23 on I-49, just north of Opelousas.

Queen of the Sun follows colorful, alternative and inspiring beekeepers from all around the globe as they keep bees in natural and holistic ways. The film also examines Colony Collapse Disorder, which has been causing bees to disappear in mass numbers from their hives with no clear, single explanation.

Famed movie critic Roger Ebert called the movie, “A remarkable documentary that’s also one of the most beautiful nature films I’ve seen.” Christine Champ of Film.com described the movie as “Stunning... as soulful as it is scientific, as uplifting as it is alarming.”

Admission is free to the documentary screening, which is sponsored by St. Landry Homestead and a partnership with the LSUE Foundation, Friends of the LeDoux Library and LSUE Continuing Education.

The documentary screening follows the final edition of the art series First Fridays with a Little Lagniappe, set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 16 at the center. The finale features Darrell Bourque, former Louisiana Poet Laureate, and writer Patrice Melnick in “A Piece of Art is Worth a Thousand Words.”

A nationally-acclaimed poet, scholar and teacher, Bourque won the UL Lafayette Outstanding Teacher Award in 1996 and the UL Lafayette Distinguished Professor Award in 1997. He is the author of four books of poetry.

Melnick taught for 13 years at Xavier University in New Orleans, where she founded one of the first creative writing programs at a historically-black university. Following Hurricane Katrina, Melnick opened a gift shop in Grand Coteau and started a literary reading and open mic series. She’s the founder of the annual Festival of Words, which highlights established and emerging artists.

For more information on these events, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com. Follow the center on Twitter @StLandryParish or on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul.

###

Allons Roulee' bike ride rolls this weekend

2011-09-14T08:32:00.000-07:00

Cyclists will take to roads throughout St. Landry Parish this weekend, part of the Allons Roulee’ Bike Ride scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 17, beginning at the St. Landry Parish Courthouse Square in downtown Opelousas. Over 140 participants have signed up for the inaugural ride which was previously scheduled for Sept. 3, but moved due to Tropical Storm Lee. Two routes, 25 and 50 miles, will offer riders scenic landscapes including moss-draped oaks, winding bayous, pastures with grazing cattle, prairie lands and former Native American tribal lands.

The ride, which rolls from Opelousas, takes riders through towns such as Washington, Grand Coteau, Leonville and Arnaudville. Sag stops for the bike ride will be located at the new St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center, just off I-49 at exit 23.

Start times are 7 a.m. for the 50-mile and 8 a.m. for the 25-mile ride. Participants can pre-register for the event. The event is geared to riders 16 and older and various cycling levels. After the ride participants can feast on boudin and refreshments hosted by Opelousas Main Street Inc. and St. Landry Parish Krewe de Velo, a local cycling group in St. Landry Parish.

Allons Roulee’ is presented by St. Landry Parish Krewe de Velo,’ with support by LHC Group, Opelousas Main Street, Inc., Cleco, Capital Cyclery, Morninghveg & Castille Jewelers, Clerk of Court Charlie Jagneaux, Ventura Foods, Alon USA, Hole Pluggers, Washington State Bank, American Bank, St. Landry Bank, Opelousas Police Dept., Williams Progressive, Lastrape’s Nursery, and St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission as well as assistance St. Landry Parish Government and local law officials.

In the spring of 2009, a handful of indoor cycling enthusiasts from St. Landry Parish set out on a course to give road cycling a try. Some six months later, the same group had grown from less than a dozen to over 30 riders. Two years later, that number is still growing strong with organized rides taking place on early Sunday mornings and frequently on Saturdays.

For more information about weekend ride times and about Allons Roulee,’ contact Jennifer at jenncas@bellsouth.net or 337-945-4969.

'Original' Zydeco Festival now set for Oct. 1

2011-08-31T11:25:00.000-07:00

Zydeco festivals are held throughout Louisiana, the United States and even in England and France. But the one that started it all, the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival, celebrates its 29th year Oct. 1 in Plaisance.

Zydeco Festival dancers

This landmark festival was originally scheduled for Sept. 3, but was cancelled after heavy rains from Tropical Storm Lee. The fun now kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 and continues past midnight at Zydeco Park, located seven miles north of Opelousas on Highway 167 (I-49, exit 23).

The festival’s music lineup includes:

10:30 a.m. – Dikki Du & Zydeco Krewe
Noon – Step Rideau and the Zydeco Outlaws
1:45 p.m. – J. J. Caillier and the Zydeco Knockouts
3:30 p.m. – Nathan Williams and the Zydeco Cha Chas
5:15 p.m. – Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie
7:30 p.m. – J. Paul Jr. and the Zydeco Nubreedz
9 p.m. – Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band
11 p.m. – Lil Nate and the Zydeco Big Timers

The first-ever Allons Roulee bike ride, which was originally set for Sept. 3, has been rescheduled to Sept. 17. The ride features 25- and 50-mile courses, leaves at 7 a.m. Saturday from the St. Landry Parish Courthouse Square in downtown Opelousas. The Krewe de Velo, a local group of cycling enthusiasts, leads the ride that rolls through scenic landscapes and historic sites throughout St. Landry Parish.

For more festival information, call (337) 942-2393 or visit www.zydeco.org. For information on Allons Roulee, call (337) 948-5227 or visit www.cityofopelousas.com.

Artists show heritage-inspired creations during First Fridays series

2011-08-18T12:26:00.000-07:00

Louisiana heritage isn’t just about family and friends for George Marks and Annie Hendrix. Their home state has inspired them to create art that has taken them across the country.

George Marks

Marks, a mixed media artist, and Hendrix, who specializes in clay, demonstrate and display their works during First Fridays with a Little Lagniappe, a new arts series from the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission. The demonstration is set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19 at the new St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center on I-49, exit 23, just north of Opelousas.

Marks is a painter who works on wood and uses a variety of media, such as acrylic, oil, resin and tar. A resident of Arnaudville, Marks draws inspiration from family, friends and his natural surroundings in south Louisiana.

Marks’ paintings have been featured in numerous fine arts galleries throughout the United States, including Blue Oaks Gallery in Michigan, Atelier-Magasin Artists’ Collective in New Orleans and Steeple View Gallery in Arnaudville.

Marks has carried his artistic inspiration into community development and entrepreneurial projects. He’s the founder of Fredrick l’Ecole des Art, a nonprofit community arts and education organization that has brought music series, poetry readings and art and French language workshops to Arnaudville.

George Marks art

A native of New Orleans, Hendrix was reared in Crescent City culture and chose music as her early medium. At 42, Hendrix became fascinated by clay art. She began to sculpt some of her favorite musicians and chefs, along with kitchen items and clay chines.

Hendrix, who now lives in Sunset, has participated in numerous art festivals, including Festival International, the Red River Revel in Shreveport and the Zydeco Festival at The Mint in New Orleans.

Admission is free to First Fridays, which has featured St. Landry Parish artists twice a month since June. The remainder of the schedule includes:

· Sept. 2 – A Celebration of Creole Culture with Rebecca Henry’s native crafts and painter Jerome Ford

· Sept. 16 – A Piece of Art is Worth a Thousand Words with former Louisiana Poet Laureate Darrell Bourque and Patrice Melnick

First Fridays with a Little Lagniappe is supported in part by a Grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by the Acadiana Arts Council.

The series is held at the new St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center, which held its grand opening last May. With numerous environmentally-friendly features, the center promotes green construction and sustainable practices, both old and new.

Visit the center’s revised web site at www.cajuntravel.com. Follow the center on Twitter @StLandryParish or on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul.

Music & Market opens its fall season Sept. 16

2011-08-12T10:59:00.000-07:00

A new season of Music & Market gets underway with the Dog Hill Stompers at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Opelousas Farmer’s Market Pavilion. The events, which continue every Friday through Oct. 28, features Louisiana music artists as well as fresh homegrown vegetables for purchase direct from local farmers.

Okra will be featured vegetable Sept. 16. Tony Chachere’s Creole Foods will give the first 100 attendees a shaker can of seasoning.

River Road

Other music acts throughout the series include Da Hurricanes, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Gregg Martinez, Hadley Castille and the Sharecropper Cajun Band with special guests Donnie and the Pooldoos, River Road and Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie.

Three Music & Market events will take place in downtown Opelousas around the historic Courthouse Square. Downtown events are scheduled for Sept. 23, Oct. 21 and Oct. 28. All other concerts are held at Le Vieux Village/ Farmer’s Market Pavilion located in the Opelousas Tourist Center at 828 East Landry St., just off I- 49.

The Sept. 23 downtown event will serve as the venue for the announcement of the Wild About Downtown banner art winners. Wild About Downtown banners were installed in April for a five-month, public art exhibit which featured art by students and artist around Acadiana.

Music & Market happens from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Fridays, with music beginning at 6 p.m. Concert-goers are welcome to bring lawn chairs for seating.

Ice chests are not allowed as beverages sales cover the cost of bands and event expenses.

The complete fall Music & Market 2011 lineup features:

· Sept. 16 -- Dog Hill Stompers (zydeco); okra

· Sept. 23 -- Da Hurricanes (variety); hibiscus tea

· Sept. 30 -- Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band (zydeco); eggplant

· Oct. 7 -- Greg Martinez & the Delta Kings (swamp pop, R&B, blues); cabbage

· Oct. 14 -- Hadley Castille and the Sharecropper’s Cajun Band (Cajun) with special guests Donnie & the Pooldoos; cushaw squash

· Oct. 21 -- River Road (country); pumpkin

Geno Delafose

· Oct. 28 -- Geno Delafose and French Rockin Boogie (zydeco, Cajun); sweet potatoes

The fall series is made possible with the support of Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino, CLECO, American Bank, St. Landry Homestead Bank, Centerpoint Energy, Tony Chachere’s Creole Foods, Quik Quarter, Delta Media Network, St. Landry Parish Government.

Farmers interested in vending opportunities should contact St. Landry Parish Country Ag Extension Office at (337) 948-0561 and (337) 826-5632.

Art and craft vendors interested in booth space should contact the Opelousas Office of Tourism at (337) 948-6263. To print a schedule of the fall 2011 line up, visit www.cityofopelousas.com

Allons Roulee' bike ride planned for Labor Day weekend

2011-08-12T08:31:00.000-07:00

Roll through historic St. Landry Parish as St. Landry Parish Krewe de Velo’, a local group of cycling enthusiast, presents the inaugural Allons Roulee’ Bike Ride on Saturday, September 3, beginning at the St. Landry Parish Courthouse Square in downtown Opelousas. The two routes, 25 and 50 miles, will offer riders scenic landscapes including moss-draped oaks, winding bayous, pastures with grazing cattle, prairie lands and former Native American tribal lands.

The ride, which encompasses the City of Opelousas and the towns of Washington, Leonville and Arnaudville, is being held in conjunction with the annual Zydeco Breakfast on the Courthouse Square. After the ride, participants can feast on boudin and refreshments and tap their toes to the sounds of zydeco music provided by the Same Ol’ 2 Step band or enjoy a post ride brunch at some of the nearby downtown restaurants.

The Zydeco Breakfast takes place from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. Sept. 3.

Sag stops for the bike ride will be located at the new St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center, just off I-49 at exit 23. Start times are 7 a.m. for the 50-mile and 8 a.m. for the 25-mile ride. Participants can pre-register for the event. The entry fee is a nominal $15 which includes an official event t-shirt and post-ride refreshments. The event is geared to riders 16 and older and various cycling levels.

Allons Roulee’ is being presented by St. Landry Parish Krewe de Velo’, LHC Group, Opelousas Main Street, Inc. and St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission as well as a host of businesses providing support. Event assistance is also being provided by Opelousas Police Department, Opelousas Tourism and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Two years later, that number is still growing strong with organized rides taking place on early Sunday mornings and frequently on Saturdays.

For more information about weekend ride times and about Allons Roulee,’ contact Jennifer at jenncas@bellsouth.net or 337-945-4969 or visit the Krewe de Velo page on Facebook. Event information is also available at www.lafayettefitness.org

Artists turn debris into new creations during First Fridays series

2011-08-03T10:17:00.000-07:00

Trish Ransom and Michelle Fontenot turn old objects into new art at the next edition of First Fridays with a Little Lagniappe, the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission’s new arts series. Ransom and Fontenot display and discuss their crafts from noon to 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5 at the new St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center at on I-49, exit 23, just north of Opelousas.

A love of zydeco and Cajun music brought Ransom from California to her present home in Grand Coteau in 1999. A friend with a folk art gallery approached Ransom, who had studied art at Stanford University, about making jewelry.

Trish Ransom

Ransom transformed old bottle caps into earrings and necklaces. Ransom has since become renowned for her fish and armadillo wall hangings, made of tin cans, bottle tops, wood and other debris. Ransom sells and displays her “Debris Art” at festivals, workshops and markets around the state.

Fontenot, an Opelousas resident, recycles old Barbie dolls, mannequin parts and boots into mosaic creations. She’s best known for contemporary stained glass and mosaic art, which can also serve as clothing and other uses.

Admission is free to the First Fridays series, which continues twice a month through Sept. 16. Other upcoming shows include:

Aug. 19 – The Art of Mixed Media with George Marks and hand-sculpted clay from Annie Hendrix
Sept. 2 – A Celebration of Creole Culture with Rebecca Henry’s native crafts and painter Jerome Ford
Sept. 16 – A Piece of Art is Worth a Thousand Words with former Louisiana Poet Laureate Darrell Bourque and Patrice Melnick.

The First Fridays series is held at the new St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center, which held its grand opening May 23. With numerous environmentally-friendly features, the center promotes green construction and sustainable practices, both old and new.

First Fridays is supported in part by a Grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by the Acadiana Arts Council.

For more information, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004. Follow the center on Twitter @StLandryParish or on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul.

Grand Coteau named one of the state's new Cultural Districts

2011-07-28T11:18:00.000-07:00

Grand Coteau, one of the few rural districts on the National Register of Historic Places, is one of eight new Cultural Districts in the state of Louisiana. Approved by the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Cultural Districts allow designated property owners to apply for state historic tax credits for

Antique shop in Grand Coteau

renovation projects. Sales of original works of art in the districts are tax exempt.

Grand Coteau joins Eunice and Arnaudville as other Cultural Districts in St. Landry Parish. As of July 1, there are now 59 districts in 34 towns and 24 parishes across the state.

In addition to Grand Coteau, other recently approved districts include the Highland Community in Shreveport, Denham Springs, Donaldsonville, Downtown DeRidder, Breaux Bridge, Ascension Parish and Old South Baton Rouge.

Patrice Melnick, an arts events organizer and gift shop owner in Grand Coteau, says the Cultural District designation is a big boost for the town.

"This designation will help to highlight the arts in Grand Coteau including literary, visual and performing," said Melnick. "Grand Coteau is home to musicians Jude Taylor and Curly Taylor, to quilt maker Gwendolyn Miller and recylce artist Trish Ransom. And the Festival of Words and other literary events are flourishing.

“As a merchant, I appreciate the opportunity to highlight hand-made, original art, and the tax-free benefit will certainly catch the attention of tourists and local shoppers."

Grand Coteau rests on a ridge that was once the west bank of the Mississippi River some 2,000 years ago. Established as a town in 1821, Grand Coteau became a home of Acadian, Creole, Irish and German immigrants.

The town has more than 70 structures designated as architecturally significant of the historic cultures that settled the region. Grand Coteau and Catholicism share a history of nearly 200 years through the Academy of the Sacred Heart, established in 1821, and St. Charles College, a Jesuit boarding school founded in 1837.

Many historic buildings are surrounded by age-old oak trees that form alleys, groves and gardens. Antiques and art shops and studios abound throughout the town.

“For our 102-year-old building, we will be able to do renovations with assistance from the state of Louisiana,” said Greg Thibodeaux, business manager at St. Charles College.

St. Charles College

As a Cultural District, Grand Coteau can use its designation to attract people, businesses, renovations and cultural activities. The state law provides two targeted tax incentives for cultural districts: (1) the rehabilitation of older buildings may qualify for state historic tax credits and (2) the sale of original, one-of-a-kind qualifying works of art are exempt from state and local sales tax.

The 2010 Cultural Districts Annual Report supports the premise that by incentivizing cultural development, a community diversifies and develops new economic opportunities. In 2010, the existing 51 districts boast 777 cultural assets and hosted 548 events in 2010 that served approximately 3.5 million people.

A total of 783 new businesses opened within the boundaries of cultural districts during 2010. Of those, 191 were art/cultural businesses.

Factoring in businesses that closed during the same period in these districts targeted for cultural development, the percentage of art and cultural businesses increased by 35%.

The Louisiana Cultural District program is a model recognized by the National Association of State Arts Agencies and featured in the Mayors' Institute on City Design's (MICD) most recent publication, Creative Placemaking. Louisiana takes pride in our Cultural District hubs of cultural development.

For more information on the state’s Cultural District Program, visit www.crt.la.us/culturaldistricts.

Boudin: The Traveling Exhibit now at Visitor Information Center

2011-07-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

Boudin is to south Louisiana, as clam pizza is to New Haven, Connecticut. As the green chile cheeseburger is to Santa Fe, New Mexico. As Frogmore stew is to Saint Helena, South Carolina. This Cajun Country sausage of pork, rice, and spice is a totem of culinary identity.

The Southern Foodways Alliance’s latest documentary project, a traveling exhibit, profiles the ubiquitous and beloved Cajun fast food, boudin. The exhibit is at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center in Opelousas July 27 through Sept. 9. The new center, which opened May 23, is located at exit 23 on I-49.

Thanks to funding from McIlhenny Company, maker of Tabasco® Brand Products, SFA’s work on boudin began in 2006 with oral histories of storied boudin makers like Robert Cormier of the Best Stop in Scott; Patsy Frey of Billy and Ray’s Boudin in Opelousas; and John Saucier of Saucier’s Sausage Kitchen in Mamou.

The SFA’s repository of boudin-focused oral histories has grown into a standalone website, complete with an interactive map at www.southernboudintrail.com. Today nearly 50 oral histories are available online. More recently, when Butterfield and Robinson’s Global Heritage Fund offered support, the SFA developed Boudin: The Traveling Exhibit, which draws on those oral histories to tell the tale of one of Cajun country’s iconic foods.

For more information on the University of Mississippi-based Southern Foodways Alliance and its mission to document, study, and celebrate the diverse food cultures of the changing American South, visit www.southernfoodways.org.

Information is also available from the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004. Follow the Visitor Information Center on Twitter @StLandryParish or on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul.

The Vermilionaires perform July 31 at Music of Acadiana Series

2011-07-19T10:11:00.000-07:00

The Vermilionaires show off their Cajun twin fiddle and accordion skills during the Music of Acadiana series, set for Sunday, July 31 at the NUNU’s, the old Singleton Lumber building, 1510 Highway 93, in Arnaudville. The three-piece band features brothers Louis and Andre Michot of the Grammy-nominated Lost Bayou Ramblers and Matthew Doucet, son of renowned fiddler Michael Doucet of BeauSoleil.

A jam session, open to musicians of all levels, starts at 2 p.m. An interview with the Vermilionaires is set for 3:15 p.m., followed by their performance at 4 p.m.

Louis and Andre Michot

Andre Michot began playing Cajun music at 13. playing rhythm guitar for Les Frères Michot since 1988 and acting as master accordionist Ray Abshire’s entire rhythm section. Andre is also known as one of Acadiana’s most solid rhythm guitarists.

Following his father, Tommy Michot, accordionist for the family band Les Frères Michot, Andre picked up the accordion in 1999, and formed the Lost Bayou Ramblers with brother Louis. He has since studied accordion under Ray Abshire, learned the art of accordion building under Randy Falcon, and has completed and sold over a dozen accordions under the name Michot Accordions.

Louis Michot started playing Cajun music on the stand-up bass at age 15 with Les Frères Michot. At 19, he began playing the fiddle with Matthew Doucet.

As a member of the Lost Bayou Ramblers, he has toured throughout the lower 48 states, and in seven countries, earning a Grammy nomination in 2008, and winning Offbeat’s Best of the Beat award in 2009. Louis currently resides near Arnaudville and hosts “Le Reviel,” a weekly Cajun French radio program from 7-9 a.m. Sundays on KRVS 88.7 FM and online at www.krvs.org.

Born and raised in Lafayette. Matthew Doucet grew up surrounded by Cajun music. He is most noted for his work Lost Bayou Ramblers and has played with several bands throughout his career.

Doucet’s style of fiddling is reminiscent of old-time Cajun and Creole fiddlers that reflect the hard times and good times of life in southwest Louisiana.

Admission to the Music of Acadiana series is $5, free for children 12 and younger. Guests can bring their own refreshments, but food and soft drinks will be available.

The Music of Acadiana series is supported in part by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by the Acadiana Arts Council.

For more information on the series, call (337) 948-8004.

First Fridays arts series features violin maker Anya Burgess

2011-07-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

Call Anya Burgess a luthier, but know that the term has nothing to do with her religion. Burgess is part of a rare profession of artists who make and repair stringed musical instruments.

Burgess shows off her skills as a luthier Friday, July 15 during First Fridays with a Little Lagniappe, the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission’s showcase of local artists. Burgess displays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the new St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center at exit 23 on I-49, just north of Opelousas.

Anya Burgess

Burgess will show various stages of the violin building process -- from chunks of wood to the finished instrument. She will also play the fiddle, which she does professionally with Bonsoir Catin and the Magnolia Sisters, two all-female Cajun bands.

Since 2002, Burgess has owned and operated Anya Violins, a violin making, repair and restoration shop that sits on the Bayou Teche between Arnaudville and Cecilia. She builds, repairs and rents violins to a clientele that ranges from classical violinists to Cajun fiddlers.

A native of Winchester, Mass., Burgess studied violin making at Indiana University and received an associate’s degree in stringed instrument technology. Burgess joined Teach for America, an organization that sends recent graduates to teach in low-income areas around the country.

Burgess landed in south Louisiana and immediately became involved in the region’s vibrant music scene.

Admission is free to the First Fridays series, which continues through Sept. 16. The remainder of the schedule includes:

· Aug. 5 – The Art of Debris: Mixed Media, Art Created from Found Objects with Trish Ransom and Michelle Fontenot

· Aug. 19 – The Art of Mixed Media, with George Marks and hand-sculpted clay from Annie Hendrix

· Sept. 2 – A Celebration of Creole Culture with Rebecca Henry’s native crafts and painter Jerome Ford

· Sept. 16 – A Piece of Art is Worth a Thousand Words with former Louisiana Poet Laureate Darrell Bourque and Patrice Melnick

The First Fridays series is held at the new St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center, which held its grand opening May 23. With numerous environmentally-friendly features, the center promotes green construction and sustainable practices, both old and new.

First Fridays is supported in part by a Grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by the Acadiana Arts Council.

For more information, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004. Follow the center on Twitter @StLandryParish or on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul.

Zydeco Breakfast fuels Zydeco Festival weekend

2011-07-11T11:06:00.000-07:00

Lil Wayne and Same Ol’ Two Step bring their high-energy zydeco sounds to the 9^th annual Zydeco Breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3 under the oak trees surrounding the historical St. Landry Parish Courthouse. Wayne Singleton and band produce both old- and new-style zydeco with a distinct way of blending the two.

Singleton is a young but very knowledgeable musician who cut his teeth with zydeco legends Beau Jocque, Keith Frank and Zydeco Force.

Wayne Singleton

Held in conjunction with the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival in Plaisance, the City of Opelousas, the “Zydeco Music Capital of the World”, along with Opelousas Main Street, host the annual downtown event. This year, the Zydeco Festival celebrates its 29thyear.

After the Zydeco Breakfast, folks are invited to the Opelousas Museum & Interpretive Center located at 315 Main Street in Opelousas for an exhibit which features a unique glimpse of zydeco. Walking Tour guides of the Historic District will also be available during the event.

Other festival related events include:

· Aug. 5 -- Zydeco Media Event Kick-off for the Zydeco Festival, Farmer's Market, 828 E. Landry St., Opelousas. Open to the public. Official Proclamation and Ribbon Cutting opens Zydeco Season 2011. Live zydeco band and Creole food. (337) 942-2392.

· Aug. 6- --The 6th Annual Zydeco King & Queen Ball, North Park Teen Center, 1524 S. Market St., Opelousas. Live music. 9 p.m. - until. $10 admission. (337) 942-2392.

· Aug. 20-21 -- Annual Fun Run, South Park, Opelousas. Zydeco Family Fun Day in the park with music, food and awards for participation in the 5K (official registered track) or 1-mile walk or run. Contact (337) 942-2392.

For more information about the City of Opelousas Zydeco Breakfast, call 337-948-6263 or visit www.cityofopelousas.com. For more information about the Zydeco Festival, visit www.zydeco.org.

Celebrate the Fourth with fireworks, boudin and more in St. Landry Parish

2011-06-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

Fireworks, boudin, zydeco and Mardi Gras are part of the Fourth of July fun going on this weekend in St. Landry Parish. The fireworks display Tuesday in Eunice is one of the area’s largest, with more than 5,000 shots blasting off.
Make a trip to your favorite boudin stop after visiting a traveling exhibit all about boudin. Dance the calories away with zydeco music’s top stars in Lebeau for a church fundraiser that’s entering its second decade. Legendary backbone stew, fried turkey wings and other Creole foods will be available when your hunger returns.

Some of the fun things to do this weekend in St. Landry Parish include:

· Georgie and Allen Manuel, Cajun Mardi Gras screen mask and costume designers, show their work at First Friday with a Little Lagniappe arts series from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center at I-49 exit 23. The Manuels are known around the state for their masks and costumes. Admission is free. (337) 948-8004 or www.cajuntravel.com

Step Rideau

· The 21^st annual Lebeau Zydeco Festival is from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday on the Lebeau Church Grounds on Hwy 71 south. Geno Delafose starts at noon, followed by Leon Chavis (2 p.m.), Brian Jack (4 p.m.), Lil Nate (6 p.m.) and Step Rideau (8 p.m.) Admission, $15 for adults, children, $5. (337) 623-5909.

· Boudin: The Traveling Exhibit, a traveling documentary on Acadiana’s favorite fast food, continues at the Prairie Acadian Culture Center, 250 W. Park Ave. in Eunice. The center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. (337) 457-8499.

· Mary Jane Broussard and Sweet La La, along with Richard Miller and Musical Playboys , perform at the weekly Rendez-Vous des Cajun Radio and TV show from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the LibertyTheater, 200 W. Park Ave., in Eunice. Admission is $5. (337) 457-7389 or www.eunice-la.com.

· Swamp Fever plays a variety of live music during a beach party from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Lakeview Park & Beach, three miles north of Eunice on Hwy 13. Day passes are $7 for adults, $5 for children, free for ages 3 and younger. (337)457-2881 or www.lvpark.com

· Fireworks on the Prairie, a 20-year tradition in Eunice, begins 9 p.m. Monday at the Eunice Recreation Complex, 461 Sittig St. Admission is free. (337) 457-7389.

· The J. C. Melancon Band kicks off Fireworks on the River at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Nall Park, 562 Front St., in Krotz Springs. Fireworks, with patriotic music, begin at 9 p.m. Admission is free. (337) 566-2322.

The St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission updates local events on Facebook at “St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul.” Follow us on Twitter @StLandryParish and Blogger at stlandryparish.blogspot.com.

Manuels display traditional Mardi Gras masks, costumes

2011-06-24T10:06:00.000-07:00

Wire screen masks and cone-shaped hats called capuchons are required attire for Courir de Mardi Gras, the annual chicken chases on horseback in Acadiana. These outfits have also made Georgie and Allen Manuel of Eunice renowned in art circles throughout Louisiana.

The Manuels display their traditional costumes during First Fridays with a Little Lagniappe, the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission’s new arts series. The demonstration is set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, July 1 at the new St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center on I-49 exit 23, just north of Opelousas.

According to the Louisiana Folklore Society, wire screen masks and capuchons have been part of Cajun Mardi Gras runs since the turn of the 20^th century. Georgie Manuel recalls her late grandmother, Alma McGee, making costumes as part of her seamstress business.

McGee’s masks and capuchons were made without patterns. She could not read or write and the only available patterns were printed in English.

Allen’s parents were both participants in the local Mardi Gras. After Georgie and Allen married in 1974, they remained active participants and even saved some of the rare screen masks from the 1950s.

Those masks and memories became templates for their future costumes, which have become the Mardi Gras gear of choice in Eunice in surrounding area. Then Manuels have exhibited their work at the Louisiana Native Crafts Festival, part of Festival Acadiens, the Louisiana Folklife Festival in Eunice, Shreveport’s Red River Revel and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. One of their masks is on permanent display at the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center in Eunice.

Admission is free to the First Fridays series, which continues July 15 with fiddle maker and musician Anya Burgess of Arnaudville. Other St. Landry Parish artists scheduled to participate include:

· Aug. 5 – The Art of Debris: Mixed Media, Art Created from Found Objects with Trish Ransom and Michelle Fontenot

· Aug. 19 – The Art of Mixed Media, with George Marks and hand-sculpted clay from Annie Hendrix

· Sept. 2 – A Celebration of Creole Culture with Rebecca Henry’s native crafts and painter Jerome Ford

· Sept. 16 – A Piece of Art is Worth a Thousand Words with former Louisiana Poet Laureate Darrell Bourque and Patrice Melnick

The First Fridays with a Little Lagniappe series is held at the new St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center, a state-certified welcome center that promotes environmentally-friendly construction and sustainable practices, both old and new.

For more information, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004. Follow the center on Twitter @StLandryParish or on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul.

###

Jambalaya performs for boudin exhibit kickoff

2011-06-22T09:10:00.000-07:00

The Jambalaya Cajun Band performs at a special food-themed performance of the Rendez-vous des Cajuns radio and TV show at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. Members of the Southern Foodways Alliance will be on hand as part of "BOUDIN: THE TRAVELING EXHIBIT," a new display on south Louisiana's spicy rice and pork sausage which begins Tuesday and continues through July 23 at the Prairie Acadian Culture Center.

The Prairie Acadian Cultural Center is located at 250 West Park Avenue in Eunice. More information is available at 337-457-8499 or at www.nps.gov/jela.

Thanks to funding from the McIllhenny Company, SFA’s work on boudin began in 2006 with oral histories of storied Louisiana boudin makers like Robert Cormier of the Best Stop in Scott, Bubba Frey of The Mowata Store in Eunice, and John Saucier of Saucier’s Sausage Kitchen in Mamou.

The SFA’s repository of boudin-focused oral histories has grown into a standalone website complete with an interactive map at www.s outhernboudin trail.com . Today nearly 50 oral histories are available online. When Butterfield and Robinson’s Global Heritage Fund offered support in 2009, the SFA began developing “BOUDIN: THE TRAVELING EXHIBIT,” which draws on those oral histories to tell the tale of one of Cajun country’s iconic foods.

The Prairie Acadian Cultural Center is managed by the National Park Service as one of six sites of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. The center features exhibits interpreting the culture of the Acadians who settled the prairies of southwest Louisiana. Folklife demonstrations include Cajun music, dancing, foodways presentations, and quilting and other handmade crafts. The center and all activities and demonstrations are free and open to the public.

The center is open Tuesday through Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Music series features Creole accordionist Mary Jane Broussard

2011-06-20T08:43:00.000-07:00

The Music of Acadiana Series continues with Creole accordionist Mary Jane Broussard at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 26 at NUNU’s, the old Singleton Lumber building in Arnaudville. One of just a handful of Creole women who play the diatonic accordion, Broussard plays with a style that is energetic, driving and intricate.

Mary Jane Broussard

Accompanied by members of the Magnolia Sisters, Lisa Trahan and Jane Vidrine, Broussard leads a jam session open to musicians of all levels for the first hour. A question-and-answer session that explores her style and background follows. A one-hour performance concludes the show.

Broussard comes from deep Creole music roots. Legendary Creole accordionist Alphonse “Bois Sec” Ardoin was her uncle and model for her accordion style.

Her fiddling uncle, Carlton Frank, is revered as the patriarch of the Frank family sound. She took up the accordion and taught herself to play when her children were you and the music came naturally.

Broussard was in the original Magnolia Sisters in the 1970s and later joined a trio with Morris Ardoin on fiddle and Clarence LeDay on guitar.

She makes regular guest appearances with her son’s zydeco group, T-Broussard and the Zydeco Steppers. Broussard also plays with her own band, Creole Sweet La La.

Located at 1510 Highway 93, NUNU’s provides a relaxed and intimate setting for interaction between performer and audience. Admission is $5 and free for kids 12 and under. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

The Music of Acadiana Series is supported in part by grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreations and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by the Acadiana Arts Council.

Sunset's Margaret Brinkhaus displays gourds during new arts series

2011-06-16T09:53:00.000-07:00

Gourds are hollowed-out containers that can be used to decorate rooms, feed birds or hold water. But for Margaret Brinkhaus of Sunset, gourds are an artistic passion that she turns into purses, bowls, vases, baskets and kaleidoscopes.

Brinkhaus demonstrates her passion during First Fridays with a Little Lagniappe, a new arts series from the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission. The demonstration is set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, June 17 at the new St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center on I-49 exit 23, just north of Opelousas.

Margaret Brinkhaus of Sunset

Brinkhaus will focus on traditional uses of gourds and the drying process. She will display gourds in various stages of completion, along with some finished products.

A member of the Louisiana Crafts Guild, Brinkhaus has presented at numerous workshops for Louisiana Folks Roots, Cite’ des Arts in Lafayette and numerous schools and libraries. She is also a member of the Natchitoches Art Guild, Baton Rouge Arts Market, Sunset Garden Club and the American Gourd Society.

Numerous artists from St. Landry Parish will be featured during the First Friday series, which continues through Sept. 16. Admission is free. The remainder of the schedule includes:

· July 1 –Mardi Gras in the Country: A Celebration of the Courir du Mardi Gras, a display of traditional masks and costumes with Georgie and Allan Manuel

· July 15 – Anya Burgess, fiddle maker and musician

· Aug. 5 – The Art of Debris: Mixed Media, Art Created from Found Objects with Trish Ransom and Michelle Fontenot

· Aug. 19 – The Art of Mixed Media, with George Marks and hand-sculpted clay from Annie Hendrix

· Sept. 2 – A Celebration of Creole Culture with Rebecca Henry’s native crafts and painter Jerome Ford

· Sept. 16 – A Piece of Art is Worth a Thousand Words with former Louisiana Poet Laureate Darrell Bourque and Patrice Melnick

The First Fridays with a Little Lagniappe series is held at the new St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center, which held its grand opening May 23. With numerous environmentally-friendly features, the center promotes green construction and sustainable practices, both old and new.

For more information, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004. Follow the center on Twitter @StLandryParish or on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul.

Prairie Acadian Culture Center salutes boudin with traveling exhibit

2011-06-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

Boudin is to Eunice, Louisiana, as clam pizza is to New Haven, Connecticut. As the green chile cheeseburger is to Santa Fe, New Mexico. As Frogmore stew is to Saint Helena, South Carolina.

This Cajun country sausage of pork, rice, and spice is a totem of culinary identity, and a new exhibit at the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center will share its story.

Beginning Tuesday, June 28, “BOUDIN: THE TRAVELING EXHIBIT” will make mouths water through Saturday, July 23. The free exhibit profiles the ubiquitous and beloved Cajun fast food and is the latest documentary project of the Southern Foodways Alliance.

The Prairie Acadian Cultural Center is located at 250 West Park Avenue in Eunice. More information is available at 337-457-8499 or at www.nps.gov/jela.

The center is open Tuesday through Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Seven Days Until the Opelousas Spice and Music Festival

2011-05-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

The 7th annual Opelousas Spice & Music Festival is scheduled for June 2-5 at South City Park in historic Opelousas. A special blend of musical performances are scheduled throughout the festival event including Geno Delafose, Chris Ardoin, Jeffery Broussard, Leon Chavis, Cupid, Matthew Ewing & Fueling Fire, Warren Storm, Willie Tee and Cyprus, Chubby Carriere, Percy Sledge and more.

Chris Ardoin

On Saturday, international Cajun fiddler Hadley Castille will present a uniquely different Fiddle Workshop Concert & Jam Session nearby at the Opelousas Little Theatre building. Carnival rides will also open on Thursday featuring family night and $15 all you can ride bracelets. Rides will continue through Sunday.

The festival will offer Cajun and Creole food lovers plenty of mouthwatering dishes including entrees like crawfish etoufee, alligator sausage, jambalaya, red beans and rice, fried catfish and more. In addition to great music and mouthwatering food, the festival will include activities such as Arts & Crafts vendors, Cajun and Creole Cooking Demonstrations, a Cajun and Zydeco Dance Contest, Pepper Eating Contest, Queen’s Bar-B-Que Cook-Off and an art exhibit featuring the work of this year’s festival poster artist, Michelle Fontenot.

South City Park is located at 1524 S. Market Street, Opelousas, LA and is easy to access from Interstate I-49 and Hwy 190. There is plenty of free parking in designated parking areas where shuttles will run to and from the festival. These areas include the Opelousas Civic Center on Creswell Lane Ext., Andy’s Supermarket on Hwy 182 North next to Chicken King, and the former Rite-Aid parking lot located next to Piggly Wiggly on Heather Drive.

RV accommodations are also available at South City Park.

For more information about thefestival, visit www.opelousasspiceandmusicfestival.com or call (337) 948-5227 or (337) 948-6263.

Fiddlers Host Music of Acadiana Series Sunday in Arnaudville

2011-05-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

Kevin Wimmer and Mitch Reed

Fiddlers Mitch Reed and Kevin Wimmer host an afternoon of songs and stories during the Music of Acadiana Series Sunday at the new Nunu’s, the old Singleton Lumber Building, at 1510 Hwy 93 in Arnaudville. The event begins at 2 p.m. with a jam session open to musicians of all levels.

An interview with Reed and Wimmer follow, along with a twin fiddle performance that audience members are sure to remember.

Reed plays fiddle and bass with the two-time Grammy-winning band BeauSoleil. He also teaches private and group lessons at his home in Scott.

A classically-trained violinist from New York City, Wimmer fell in love with Cajun music after meeting legendary fiddler Dewey Balfa 26 years ago. He’s toured four continents and countless cities with Balfa Toujours, the Red Stick Ramblers, Danny Poullard, Preston Frank and other Cajun and Creole musicians.

Admission to the Music of Acadiana series is $5, free for kids 12 and younger. Food will be available and guests are invited to bring their own refreshments.

The series is supported in part by a Grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by the Acadiana Arts Council.

Koray Broussard Performs in Zydeco Capital of the World Friday

2011-05-25T09:15:00.000-07:00

Koray Brousard & the Zydeco Unit will take the stage for the Friday, May 27^th for Music & Market in Opelousas. The outdoor event is scheduled from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., with music beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Farmer’s Market Pavilion located just off I-49 exit 19B in Opelousas.

Koray Broussard

Broussard is the lead vocalist and accordion player for Koray Broussard & the Zydeco Unit. The musical heritage within Koray's family started two generations ago with his grandfather, Delton Broussard, his father John Broussard, and his uncle, Jeffery Broussard. In February 2010, he released his first CD titled Trapped.

Friday’s event will mark the 11^th anniversary of Opelousas as Zydeco Capital of the World. On May 27, 2000, at a special ceremony around the St. Landry Parish Courthouse Square, through a legislative act, the City of Opelousas was designated Zydeco Capital of the World, reflecting the city’s significance in the history and continuing evolution of Zydeco Music.

In addition to the music, local farmers will be on site with fresh homegrown produce for sale. The featured vegetable is pinto beans.

Music and Market will be held at the Farmer’s Market at Le Vieux Village. Please leave ice chesst at home. Drinks will be available for purchase at the event.

This event is presented by our sponsors, City of Opelousas Tourism, CLECO, Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino, MIX 107.1/KSLO, Quik Quarter, St. Landry Parish Government, Louisiana Division of the Arts, Acadiana Center for the Arts, Crescent Crown Distributing, St Landry Parish Tourist Commission and Zydeco Online.

For more information or to find out about vendor opportunities, contact City of Opelousas Tourism Office at 337-948-5227 or 337-948-6263 or visit www.cityofopelousas.com

Zydeco Extravaganza Celebrates 25 Years Sunday in Opelousas

2011-05-25T08:49:00.000-07:00

Zydeco Extravaganza returns for the twenty fifth year and will be held at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino on Sunday, May 29th, 2011. This year’s festival boasts local cuisine from various vendors, an indoor stage in the Evangeline Downs Event Center, along with the customary outdoor stage and some of the biggest names in Zydeco music today.

Geno Delafose

This year’s lineup includes, Leon Chavis, Brian Jack, Grammy nominee Geno Delafose, Chris Ardoin and NuStep, Keith Frank, the original Zydeco Force and many more.
Festival organizer Dustin Cravins believes the excitement for the 25th anniversary is extraordinary.
“Every year we are amazed at how much we have continued to grow and this year is no different. What separates us from other events, are our epic performances, and being our 25th anniversary fans are expecting something magical and we certainly won’t disappoint!” says Cravins.
Zydeco Extravaganza was begun 25 years ago by the Cravins family in an attempt to revitalize the suffering Creole culture. Since then, the culture has seen an unprecedented renaissance and Zydeco Extravaganza has become the largest one day Zydeco festival in the world, drawing thousands of music lovers to the annual celebration each Memorial Day weekend.

Brian Jack

Presale tickets are on sale at Cravins Insurance Agency in Lafayette (337)234-9695 and Opelousas(337)942-8784, along with a free commemorative t-shirt while supplies last. For more information on Zydeco Extravaganza please visit www.zydecoextra.com, or contact Dustin Cravins at 337-594-3137.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ZYDECO-EXTRAVAGANZA/128022453884065
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=178282668876015

Lt. Gov. among 200 guests at center's grand opening

2011-05-24T11:36:00.000-07:00

More than 200 guests were on hand Monday for the grand opening of the new St. Landry Parish Visitors information Center at exit 23 on I-49. Guests were able to get a first look at the new center, which provides information on parish attractions and promotes the use of natural resources and salvaged materials through its environmentally-friendly design.

Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne

Those resources include a 1,500-gallon, galvanized cistern, to collect rain for watering plants, and a wind turbine, which helps power rooms in the center. The new facility is the only such “green” visitor center in Louisiana.

“It’s a great testament to the ingenuity and foresight of the people of this parish to make this happen,” said Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, a guest speaker at the grand opening.

Cajun and Creole musicians held an acoustic jam session, which also kicked off the center’s new series, First Fridays with a Little Lagniappe. The monthly series, which continues through September, will feature local artists, musicians, storytellers, writers and more. A complete schedule will be announced soon.

Zydeco musicians Lil Wayne Singelton
and Goldman Thibodeaux

The new center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Travel counselors are available to direct tourists into the parish to experience its rich music, food, history, culture and outdoor life.

The 4,600-square foot center features exhibit and display areas for tourist information, a meeting area, public restrooms and administrative offices for the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission.

For more information, call (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com. Follow the center on Twitter @StLandryParish or on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul.

Art Series Kicks Off During Visitor Center Grand Opening

2011-05-19T08:05:00.001-07:00

Cracklin cooks, storytellers, fiddle makers, Mardi Gras mask makers and other artists take part in First Fridays with a Little Lagniappe, a new arts series from the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission. The series kicks off from 1-3 p.m. Monday during the grand opening and open house of the new St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center on I-49, exit 23.

Veteran musicians Hadley Castille, Jeffery Broussard, Ann Savoy, Goldman Thibodeaux, Louis Michot, Lil Wayne Singleton and Lisa Trahan lead a community Cajun and Creole jam session during the open house. Musicians are invited to bring their instruments and take part in the jam.

Christine Ledoux of Washington demonstrates mosaic art. Visitors to the new center can see the 4-foot, fiberglass fiddle, which was part of the Opelousas Main Street’s Fiddle Mania project.

The First Fridays with a Little Lagniappe series continues through Sept. 16. Future participants include fiddle maker Anya Burgess, along with Georgie and Allen Manuel, who make traditional Mardi Gras masks and costumes.

Storyteller and folk medicine expert Rebecca Henry and artist Jerome Ford host a Celebration of Creole Culture. Louisiana Poet Laureate Darrell Bourque and writer Patrice Melnick celebrate the written word.

The Port Barre Lions Club, sponsors of the Port Barre Cracklin Festival each November, hosts a cracklin cooking demonstration. Artist Trish Ransom revives debris into new art. Michelle Fontenot displays glass and mosaic pieces.

Anne Hendrix specializes in clay art. George Marks shows his mixed media work.

The complete schedule will be announced at a later date. First Fridays with a Little Lagniappe is supported in part by a Grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by the Acadiana Arts Council.

For more information, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004.

St. Landry Parish Visitor Center Grand Opening Set for May 23

2011-05-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

St. Landry Parish is the home of famous musicians, chefs and artists. The parish now has a new claim to fame – the only “green” visitor center in Louisiana and one of the few in the United States.

Green construction and parish culture are highlights at the new St. Landry Visitor Information Center, located at I-49 exit 23, just north of Opelousas. The center’s grand opening is set for Monday, May 23 from 1-3 p.m.

The 4,600-square foot center features exhibit and display areas for tourist information, a meeting area, public restrooms and administrative offices for the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission. The center also promotes green construction through its environmentally-friendly design and use of natural resources. Those resources include rain water collected from a cistern, once a common feature at rural parish homes. A wind turbine helps power the center and reclaimed materials are featured throughout, from recycled asphalt in the parking lot to salvaged bricks and pine flooring from old buildings.

"As soon as the signage was placed along 1-49, tourists began stopping at our new Visitor Center," said Celeste D. Gomez, Director for the St. Landry Tourist Commission. “Visitors have been very impressed with the design and elements used in the construction and their interest is peaked even more as we tell them about St. Landry Parish's offerings. Through marketing and word of mouth, we know that travelers will want to add our sustainable-friendly venue to their itinerary, enabling us to tell our story about St. Landry Parish and the culture we live."

With more than 26,000 cars traveling on I-49 each day, travel counselors at the Visitor Center will direct tourists into the parish to experience its rich music, food, history, culture and outdoor life. St. Landry Parish, where zydeco music was born and Cajun music thrives, is the birthplace of Grammy-winning zydeco musicians Clifton Chenier, Rockin’ Sidney and Terrance Simien. Venues for these infectious sounds abound.

Flavorful Cajun and Creole cuisine, made famous by native chefs Paul Prudhomme and Tony Chachere, are plentiful in settings ranging from candlelight dining in an age- old restaurant to a stick-to-your-ribs plate lunch at a grocery store deli. History lives throughout the parish at homes, schools and churches that have stood for centuries.

St. Landry, a 939-square mile parish in south central Louisiana, is also known for its natural beauty and wildlife. The center showcases those surroundings with landscape that displays six of Louisiana’s seven major ecosystem types. The building’s orientation and overhangs maximize daylight and conserve energy while the hipped roof can withstand high winds. Solar panels will also help to provide electricity.

Following the grand opening, the center will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and will eventually open seven days a week.