Country Roads Magazine "The Analog Issue" January 2022 by Country Roads magazine

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

KICK OFF 2022 ON THE RIGHT FOOT. Protect yourself and your loved ones against COVID-19 in the New Year.

The COVID-19 vaccine is proven to be safe and effective in children as young as 5 years old. The vaccine is so safe that the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) urge all eligible people to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is available to them. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released new data which confirms that our existing vaccines work against the Omicron variant, especially if you’re boosted. Don’t wait if you’re eligible. Boosters are free, and available at hundreds of locations statewide. Now is the time to get the shots you need so you can enter the new year with maximum protection. We can save more lives and protect the progress we’ve made if we keep doing what works.

Protect yourself today.

2022

NEW YEAR ’S RESOLUTI ONS: Give the gift of

protection.

Talk to your do ctor about the safe and eff ective COVID-19 vaccin e.

Get vaccinated or get the booster shot if you are already vaccina ted.

Encourage frien ds and family to talk to their healthcare prov ider about the COVID-19 v accine.

GET THE FACTS: visit covidvaccine.la.gov or call the Vaccine Hotline at 1-855-453-0774. // J A N 2 2

Contents

J A N U A RY 2 0 2 2

Events

11 6 8

VO LU M E 3 9 // I SS U E 1

Features

30 34 36

RESOLUTIONS Plenty of workshops, art classes, 5Ks and more to jumpstart the new year.

REFLECTIONS Dry Spell

by James Fox-Smith

NEWS & NOTEWORTHIES

Publisher

WOVEN INTO BEING The ancient art of Chitimacha basket-making by Catherine Comeaux

FORGOTTEN WISDOMS A guide to homesteading in the twenty-first century by Stevie Mizzi

James Fox-Smith

Associate Publisher

Ashley Fox-Smith

Managing Editor

Jordan LaHaye Fontenot

Arts & Entertainment Editor

TWIN STEEPLES CREATIVE ARTS CENTER In Ponchatoula, two historic churches are transformed by Jyl Benson

On the Cover

Alexandra Kennon

Creative Director

Kourtney Zimmerman

Contributors:

Jyl Benson, Jason Christian, Catherine Comeaux, Raegan Labat, Kimberly Meadowlark, Stevie Mizzi, Lucie Monk Carter, Olivia Perillo

Cover Artist

THE THINGS THESE HANDS CAN DO

Olivia Perillo

Cover image by Olivia Perillo

“You have the fingers for it,” a friend told Melissa Darden many years ago. It was an observation that set the Chitimacha Tribal Council’s first woman chairperson on a journey to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps, to master the rare and laborious art of Chitimacha basket-weaving. Darden learned by dedicating hours to watching her grandmother, months to practicing each careful step, and years to developing her own artistic practice. Now, she is one of six remaining individuals still practicing her ancestors’ precious craft, and carrying it into the next generation. In our second annual “Analog Issue,” we look to the brilliance of the human hand, its power to carry cultures, to connect us to our past, to create something beautiful. In “Forgotten Wisdoms,” Stevie Mizzi nutures a self-sustaining world in her backyard, relearning skills lost to the industrial age (34). On page 36, two historic houses of worship are turned towards each other in Ponchatoula, opening their doors as a home for creative expression for the entire community. We meet the craft brewers of Baton Rouge (38), and remember the golden age of high school boxing in Louisiana (44). And in our Escapes section (48), we head out into the Delta—where the real-world impact of coastal restoration efforts becomes a little less abstract, a little more tangible.

Cuisine

IN THE METABOLIC KITCHEN

A Q&A with Pennington’s Renée Puyau by Jordan LaHaye Fontenot

Culture

THINGS ARE A-BREWIN’ A beer-lover’s guide to Baton Rouge Breweries

ROUGE ROUBAIX REDUX Louisiana’s most grueling bicycle race returns to the Tunica Hills.

THE GOLDEN AGE OF BOXING The history of Louisiana’s forgotten sport

by Jason Christian

SPOKE ‘N’ HUB A new eatery at the start and finish line for Baton Rouge bicyclists by Jordan LaHaye Fontenot

by James Fox-Smith

by Jordan LaHaye Fontenot

Escapes

Health

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

& Wellness

ECOTOURISM IN THE DELTA Getting up close and personal with the New Orleans Landbridge restoration efforts by Alexandra Kennon

PERSPECTIVES Inspired by scripture, sculptor Deborah Luke draws form and meaning from clay and bronze. by James Fox-Smith

Advertising

SALES@COUNTRYROADSMAG.COM

Sales Team

Heather Gammill & Heather Gibbons

Custom Content Coordinator

Lauren Heffker

Advertising Coordinator

Laci Felker

President

Dorcas Woods Brown

Country Roads Magazine 758 Saint Charles Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Phone (225) 343-3714 Fax (815) 550-2272 EDITORIAL@COUNTRYROADSMAG.COM WWW.COUNTRYROADSMAG.COM

Subscriptions 20 for 12 months 36 for 24 months

$ $

ISSN #8756-906X

Copyrighted. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Country Roads magazine are those of the authors or columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. Country Roads magazine retains the right to refuse any advertisement. Country Roads cannot be responsible for delays in subscription deliveries due to U.S. Post Office handling of third-class mail.

// J A N 2 2

Reflections FROM THE PUBLISHER

et’s talk about New Year’s resolutions. In the past I’ve tended to be leery of the whole undertaking, since to me there’s always seemed something a bit puritanical about the annual ritual of identifying personal shortcomings then declaring that, come January 1 (and not a moment sooner), we’re going to do something about them. This might be self-justification—the result of having failed to keep my own fair share of resolutions. Or perhaps it’s to do with having come of age in Australia, where so far as I can remember (more about that in a minute), there wasn’t much of a tradition of New Year’s resolution-making. Thirty years ago, when New Year’s Eve rolled around, most of the Australians I was spending time with seemed more interested in self-destruction than self-improvement. But perhaps eating and drinking like a Viking is just a benefit of being in one’s late teens and early twenties, no matter where one comes of age. It certainly tends to look better on twenty-somethings than it does on fifty-somethings, so hopefully most of those Australians have moved on. Now I’m beginning to suspect it’s time I did, too.

So it’s time to give the new year’s resolution another try—by resolving to spend 2022 on the wagon. There … I said it. Perhaps doing so publicly is just the kind of incentive an ambitious experiment like giving up drinking for twelve months requires. This year marks my fifty-third trip around the sun. For the past thirty-five of those years, daily drinking has been pretty much a constant feature—a routine that began in late teenager-dom, accelerated to nihilistic proportions during college and the backpacking years that followed, then gradually settled into being a predictable cog in the clockwork of daily life. Of course, the thing about daily life is that the same stimuli tend to come around at the same time, every single day. When they do, they set off a conditioned response that Pavlov’s dog would’ve recognized immediately. Clock strikes five? They don’t call it “beer o’ clock” for nothing. Cooking dinner? That calls for a glass of wine. Friday night fire in the living room? Reach for the whiskey. After thirty-something years adhering to a drinking routine that I can no longer truthfully describe as “social,” those daily stimuli have started to pack a hefty punch. In an article titled “An Ex-Drinker’s Search for a Sober Buzz” that ran recently in the New Yorker magazine, John Seabrook writes that

Photo by Raegan Labat

when he gave up drinking, he discovered that abstinence involved forgoing a lot more than just alcohol. “If you drank for forty years, as I did, the Pavlovian groove goes deeper,” Seabrook says, noting that to begin with, there were all sorts of social and professional settings that he had to avoid—so intense was the longing that they triggered for a drink. Most of all, Seabrook says that he missed “… the WASP-ish daily ritual of the cocktail hour,” the loss of which left him feeling that his days had been ‘wounded.’ As a thirty-year-member of the cocktail hour club, and of a society which marks time as a series of countdowns between one celebration and the next, (Twelfth night, Mardi Gras, crawfish season, St. Patrick’s Day, Jazz Fest, July 4, football season, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, etc.), my own Pavlovian groove runs deep indeed—“Grand-canyon-

esque,” you might even say. So, what better time than a new year to forgo the descent, and limit myself to sight-seeing from the rim? If only to prove to myself that I still can. A year sounds like a mighty long time. Things could be worse, though. If we leave the years from 1920 to 1933 out of the equation, we are by many accounts living in a teetotaler’s golden age. What John Seabrook’s article was mostly about is the increasing number of American breweries dedicated to producing really good non-alcoholic beers. Lots of bars and restaurants now feature various interesting “mocktails.” And the range of reasons for giving one’s liver a hard-earned holiday—ranging from better sleep to improved cognitive performance—are better documented now than ever. Best of all, though: now that I’ve shouted my resolution from the rooftops, you, dear reader, are my co-conspirator. So if you meet me, out for lunch or dinner somewhere nursing my mocktail, raise a glass in my direction. We’ll toast to all the promise and possibility of 2022—a year in the clear. Fizzy water never tasted so good. —James Fox-Smith, publisher james@countryroadsmag.com

Childhood comes and goes in a blink. We’re here through the stages of your life, with the strength of the cross, the protection of the shield. The Right Card. The Right Care.

01MK7641 11/21

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

A special advertising feature from Pennington Biomedical Research Center

MoTrPAC study participant Danielle Voss works out at the Pennington Biomedical gym.

Want to get healthier AND make it stick this New Year? Become a research participant! Joining Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s MoTrPAC study might be just the new year’s resolution for you.

or Baton Rouge resident Danielle Voss, participating in the MoTrPAC study currently underway at Pennington Biomedical Research Center has not only helped her feel better physically, but also inspired her to return to a regular fitness routine after seven years away from the gym. Voss, a mom of two, used to lead a pretty active lifestyle, but struggled to find the time and the motivation to get to the gym regularly after the birth of her second child. “I was not currently on any sort of exercise regimen, and I knew I needed to be,” says the 47-year-old. “So I figured, why not sign up for this study? You know, make a little bit of money and get paid to exercise.” Currently, Voss arrives at Pennington Biomedical’s on-campus fitness center for an hour-long strength training program three times a week, where she receives one-on-one instruction for the duration of her session. After just one month of attending the workout sessions, she’s noticing a significant change in her body. “I feel so much stronger,” she says. “I’ve got so much more energy!” With the onset of 2022 comes a fresh start and a new opportunity to make those New Year’s resolutions stick. Find yourself wanting to emulate

Danielle’s journey to a healthier, more active lifestyle? Pennington Biomedical is currently seeking research participants for its ongoing MoTrPAC study, which aims to investigate the impact of physical activity on the body by studying how regular exercise can improve health at the cellular level. Read on to find out how. What does Pennington Biomedical do? Pennington Biomedical Research Center works at the cutting edge of medical research as it relates to understanding the root causes of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and dementia. Housed within a state-of-the-art, 222-acre campus in the heart of Baton Rouge, the center is affiliated with Louisiana State University. Its research enterprise employs over 450 staff, who work across a network of 40 clinics and research laboratories, as well as 13 specialized core service facilities. What is MoTrPAC? Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC) is a nationwide research study spearheaded by the National Institutes of Health, which aims to improve our understanding of how physical activity creates changes in the body

on a molecular level. The goal of the study is to help researchers and doctors better understand what type of exercise regimen is best-suited to each person’s individual body type. What does participation entail? Participants are invited to visit the Pennington Biomedical outpatient clinic for an orientation to learn more about the MoTrPAC study. Those interested in joining the study then attend a screening visit to determine whether they are eligible. Once enrolled, participants will be randomly assigned to a 12-week regimen of either resistance or endurance training (which includes three exercise sessions per week), or to a control group maintaining current levels of activity. Total duration of the study is six months. Why enroll? If you’re looking to be more active but struggle with implementing, or maintaining a regular fitness routine, the MoTrPAC study is a great way to hold yourself accountable. Even better, study participants will be compensated with a payment of up to $1500 upon completion of the program. And for many participants, the MoTrPAC study does succeed in making the exercise habit stick. “It’s

been seven years and you know, I’ve found that it’s been easy to transition back into the gym again. But only because I’ve got the folks here helping every step of the way,” says Danielle Voss. Voss, who works as an insurance claims adjuster, has noticed that day-to-day activities like climbing stairs and ladders that are part of her job, have already gotten easier. Participating in the study has also made the prospect of going back to the gym less intimidating, Voss says, because she’s learned the proper form and technique for each exercise. “I know I’m going to continue this routine after the study is done, because I’ve been able to get to that comfort level again,” she says. “The safety aspect has been impressive to me, because I’m used to years ago, when I went to a gym, it was just like, okay, fend for yourself,” Voss says. “Here, they’re always there, counting all your reps for you, encouraging you, and it’s a really great program.” How to I know if you qualify To qualify for this research study, participants should: • Be at least 18 years old • Have a BMI between 19–35 • Have no history of diabetes or heart disease • Exercise once a week or less

To learn more about MoTrPAC or begin the enrollment process, visit www.pbrc.edu/motrpac, call 225-763-3000, or email clinicaltrials@pbrc.edu.

// J A N 2 2

Noteworthy

J A N U A RY 2 02 2

N E W S , T I M E LY T I D B I T S , A N D O T H E R

CURIOSITIES

LO O K C LO S E R

Opening Notes of a Louisiana Music Museum

WITH THE PURCHASE OF A HISTORIC BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE, THE ACA PLANS TO OPEN AN EDUCATIONAL SHRINE TO ACADIANA MUSIC

Photo by Philip Gould, courtesy of the Acadiana Center for the Arts.

n November, one of Lafayette’s oldest bastions of the Cajun dancehall culture very suddenly and heartbreakingly shut its doors after fifty years of “two steppin’, toe tappin’, taste temptin’”. The loss of Randol’s— one of Louisiana’s rare remaining sacred spaces for consistent live local performances of indigenous music—pushes these cultures just one more step towards being something we once had, something we once did, long ago. The culture needs to be enshrined, emphasized Samuel Oliver, the Executive Director of the Acadiana Center for the Arts (ACA). “You see more and more of these dancehalls closing,” he said. “We need to find a way to keep the music culture going, without relying so much on private businesses, when there is no guarantee that they’ll always be here.” Six months ago, when the circa-1890 Lafayette Hardware Store went on the market, Oliver said the stars seemed to align for a long-held dream in Lafayette to finally come to fruition: The Louisiana Music Museum. “It’s been talked about for a long time,” he said, “as something that would be amazing for Lafayette to host in particular, a missing piece in the tourism puzzle—as well as what is missing in terms of continuing to be proud of our real, lasting, global impact on the world through music.” In December, the ACA announced that it had signed a contract to purchase the historic building, which is situated adjacent to the organization’s current headquarters and has a history of live performances. It was even home to The Artists’ Alliance, a precursor to the current ACA. “Our board is very excited about the idea of the museum, and committed to making it happen,” said Oliver, who noted that the board is currently forming a dedicated committee for the project. Once the sale officially closes, the focus will shift to securing funding for 8

the building’s renovation, which Oliver estimates will come with a $3.5 million price tag. To build on a base of federal and state funding, Oliver hopes to attract private donors from the Louisiana residents for whom the museum is being designed. “I want the people who live here to take ownership of it,” he said. “Because it’s going to be a project for everybody.” Plans for the museum include a permanent core exhibition that tells the story of Louisiana music and musicians “from a distinctly Acadiana Cajun and Creole perspective,” said Oliver. “But the scope is intended to be all of Louisiana, which will obviously be a huge challenge.” Partnering closely with the Center for Louisiana Studies at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, which will serve as an expert advisor on the project, the ACA will work to determine: (1) What are the key stories we want to tell about this history? (2) Whose are the voices that need to tell these stories? And, (3) What are the objects and artifacts that are central to these stories? “We’ll identify the photographs that really bring together all the pieces, figure out who has Dewey Balfa’s fiddles, you know?” Oliver said, “And then bring those objects together in a way that, from that rigorous perspective, tells the story of Louisiana’s music.” The heart of the museum, though, will be its dancehall, which Oliver envisions hosting brunch and morning dances every Saturday and Sunday. “What’s so great about Louisiana music is that it takes place in these casual spaces, these community spaces,” he said. “The dance hall, the festival. We know that the crowd in front of a stage is our living room. And I think it is so important that the music be presented in that context, too.” acadianacenterforthearts.org

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

—Jordan LaHaye Fontenot

New Noshes in Natchez

THREE FORTHCOMING DINING DEVELOPMENTS WE’RE KEEPING AN EYE ON

onmouth’s new Chef

Natchez native Chef Mike Minor is returning to helm the kitchen at Monmouth Historic Inn’s Restaurant 1818 after a period of absence. “We are thrilled to have Chef Mike manning the kitchen again in Restaurant 1818,” said Jennie Guido, Monmouth’s executive director of sales and marketing. “Our guests will be able to look forward to their favorite dishes, including his grilled bone-in pork chop with an apple chutney. We’re already getting a head start on planning a Valentine’s Day dinner to remember with courses a-plenty.”

Frankie’s on Main

Cathy Munoz is bringing a new restaurant called Frankie’s on Main to the Bluff City, which will emphasize dishes crafted using wood-fired ovens.

In the Eola Hotel

The historic Eola Hotel at the corners of Main and Pearl streets—which first opened in 1927, enjoyed bustling success in the 1930s, and has been closed since 2014—is being restored and updated with imminent plans to reopen. For the restaurant inside, Dickie Brennan Restaurant Group of New Orleans favorites like Palace Café and Tableau is being consulted. —Alexandra Kennon

The Sweetness of Water

NATHAN HARRIS’S DEBUT NOVEL TAKES HOME THE 2021 ERNEST GAINES AWARD FOR LITERARY EXCELLENCE

“Y

eah, that was bizarre,” Nathan Harris said, referring to the moment when he picked up his ringing phone and Oprah Winfrey was on the other end. “I made the town of Old Ox and I was the only one a part of it, if you will, alone so much with this little world.” And then, suddenly, Harris’s little world was a place Oprah had been, and wanted to talk about. Harris, a graduate of the University of Oregon and the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin, never anticipated the level of success his 2021 debut novel, The Sweetness of Water, has enjoyed. In addition to the bestseller being an Oprah’s Book Club pick, the novel was longlisted for the 2021 Man Booker Prize, made Barack Obama’s 2021 summer reading list, and was met with widespread critical praise. “Yeah, it’s just been thrilling to know that so many people are connecting with these characters in this world that I made out of thin air. I think that’s the ultimate goal.” Now, the twenty-nine-year-old can add the 2021 Ernest Gaines Award for Literary Excellence to the long list of accolades his book has garnered. Presented annually by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, the honor includes a grant of $15,000 for emerging Black fiction writers. Named in honor of the late author from Pointe Coupee Parish, the award seeks to continue Gaines’s achievements of bringing rural Black stories to the forefront of the literary canon. Set in the waning days following the end of the Civil War, The Sweetness of Water focuses its lens on one Southern community grappling with the fissures of loss in the fictional town of Old Ox,

Georgia. When newly-emancipated brothers Landry and Prentiss seek refuge on a white family’s homestead, they forge an unlikely alliance with landowners George and Isabelle Walker, who are mourning the death of their only son, a Confederate soldier. In lyrical narrative prose, Harris interprets his cast of characters with equal parts compassion and candor, writing them with complexity and tenderness. The Sweetness of Water is a sweeping story of survival and freedom, of tension and social friction, and displaced people struggling to find their place in a new and fragmented world. Dealing in issues of race and sexuality in a disjointed society and the ripple effects of intergenerational trauma, Harris’s fictional world resonates deeply in ours. Centering the perspectives of multiple characters, Harris creates a richly imaginative, more tangible storytelling experience. Old Ox feels immediately real, its residents accessible to a wider audience. “I see my novel as not just about those characters, but about the entire community,” he said. “I try to use my fiction as a sense of empathy, of trying to see characters on the page who perhaps aren’t like you, who don’t look like you or are from a different place. And trying to connect with them and care about them, and hopefully that enriches the readers’ lives and makes the world a better place.” —Lauren Heffker The fifteenth annual Ernest Gaines Award will be presented to Nathan Harris at 6:30 pm on Thursday, January 25, 2022 at the Manship Theatre at the Shaw Center for the Arts. Image courtesy of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. // J A N 2 2

Home and Remodeling Show with Ralph’s Market Food Fest January 29-30 • Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales

With the historic damage caused by Hurricane Ida in 2021, countless homeowners across the region are still in various stages of rebuilding and restoring their homes. Finding the right contractor or materials can feel like a daunting or overwhelming task, especially after the whirlwind of the holiday season. Luckily, the seventh annual Home and Remodeling Show with Ralph’s Market Food Fest returns to the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales this month on January 29—30.

YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP

This two-day event has the products, services, and resources you need to finally get that home improvement project done, all under one roof. This year’s exhibition will feature new vendors, door prizes, and certain discounts only available at the show. Dozens of local and regional vendors will be showcasing building materials, from windows and cabinets to flooring and doors. An extensive lineup of professionals from the homebuilding industry, including residential contractors, interior designers, and more will be present.

THERE’S SOMETHING FOR FOODIES, TOO

What could make the wall-to-wall expo even better? Ralph’s Market of Gonzales will return with an on-site food fest to appease hungry shoppers. To encourage attendees to shop local and support small businesses, Ralph’s dishes out store coupons, tasty samples including a wide variety of meats, Ralph’s famous king cakes, dips, coffee, ice cream and more. Plus, expect recipes from over thirty local vendors. In case you need any more convincing, $500 worth of groceries are set to be given away to one lucky shopper over the course of the weekend.

WANT TO GET IN FOR FREE?

Regular admission to the show is $6 (ages 12 and under get in free), but for those wanting to save all their money for the vendors, there are several ways to get in for less. Admission coupons are available online and printed in The Advocate, The Weekly Citizen, and Marketeer. Rather get in for free? Just spend $25 at either of Ralph’s two Gonzales locations before January 28 to receive two admission tickets to the show. 10am—5pm both days.

Follow the Home and Remodeling Show with Ralph’s Market Food Fest on Facebook for show updates, giveaways, and tickets. jaaspro.com.

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

Events

J A N U A RY 2 02 2

BRAND

NEW YEAR

N E W TO D O

B R I N G S N E W A R T, N E W A DV E N T U R E S , N E W M U S I C , A N D

NEW REASONS TO GET OUT AND

REVEL IN

ALL OUR

REGION

HAS

TO OFFER. W

DISCOVER MORE SEARCH OUR ONLINE CALENDAR OF EVENTS

for more fun than we can t in these pages

Celebrate four decades of Of Moving Colors inspiring and entertaining audiences with the high-energy, high-kick-filled show Kick it Out...Around the World! featuring both students and professional dancers on the Manship Theatre Stage on January 29. See listing on page 21. Photo courtesy of OMC.

UNTIL FEB PHOTO SHOWS CURRENTS 2021

6th

New Orleans, Louisiana

The New Orleans Photo Alliance (NOPA), in partnership with the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, presents CURRENTS 2021, its annual member showcase that highlights the diverse work being created by NOPA members. Ten featured artists from all around the country are participating this year. The exhibit was curated by educator Michael Foley, who teaches at the School of Visual Arts and the International Center of Photography. ogdenmuseum.org. k

UNTIL

MAR 4th

PHOTO SHOWS IMAGINAL STAGE New Orleans, Louisiana

The final stage of an insect’s metamorphosis is called the “imaginal stage.” This is the inspiration for artist and National Geographic Society

Explorer Ben Depp’s latest exhibition, which includes eight pigment prints that are part of his ongoing efforts to document the swiftly-changing landscape of South Louisiana. To capture intimate landscape photographs, Depp learned to f ly a powered paraglider, which allowed him to spend hours suspended in the air waiting for perfect light and searching for the ideal compositions. agallery.com. k

UNTIL

MAR 12th

ART EXHIBITIONS LITTLE LABORS Lafayette, Louisiana

Power meets its unruly match— humor—in Carrie Fonder’s multimedia works. In her latest exhibition at the Acadiana Center for the Arts, Little Labors, the sculptor and installation/ video artist studies the complexities of power in the art world itself— commenting on topics of criticism and labor exchange. Fonder lightheartedly, but strikingly, imagines an alternative. acadianacenterforthearts.org. k

JAN 1st - FEB 5th

ART EXHIBITIONS TEXTURAL EMERGENCE Monroe, Louisiana

This selection of works represents the later years of Holocaust survivor Theo Tobiasse’s prolific and innovative career. Tobiasse’s work, influenced by surrealism, expressionism, and modern primitivism, explores themes of mythology, biblical stories, exile, and his own past combined to present rich metaphors for the twentieth century. His mix of techniques and mediums brings a richness and colorful emotional quality to these later works. The following events are taking place at the Mansur Museum this month in conjunction with the exhibition: January 13: Public reception with a Gallery Talk by Rabbi Judy Ginsberg. 6 pm. January 27: Talk by Jackie Rosenberg, son of Holocaust survivor Sol Rosenberg. 6 pm. masurmuseum.org. k

To see our full list of regional events, point your phone camera here.

COUNTRYROADSMAG.COM/CALENDAR

// J A N 2 2

Events

JAN

CREATIVE CLASSES COLOR YOUR LIFE: BEGINNING ACRYLICS WORKSHOP

Beginning January 6th - January 8th

JAN

CARNIVAL ST. JOAN OF ARC PARADE New Orleans, Louisiana

Admirers of the “Maid of Orleans” gather annually on January 6 to honor Joan of Arc with a medievalthemed walking parade and theatrical procession from Bienville and N. Front Street to Jackson Square. It’s all in honor of Joan’s birthday and her first battle victory, which resulted in the liberation of the citizens of Orleans, France, from a British siege in 1429. January 6 also happens to be Twelfth Night, which makes the Joan of Arc Parade a convenient kickoff event for the traditional start of Carnival season. The parade begins at 7 pm and makes three pauses for toasts, a sword blessing, and a king cake ceremony at the end. joanofarcparade.org. k

JAN

CONCERTS SONS OF SERENDIP Morgan City, Louisiana

The Billboard-charting quartet Sons of

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Serendip has gained massive acclaim with its unique interpretations of popular music on harp, piano, cello, and voice. Now, the quartet will be taking the stage at the Schreier Theater in Morgan City. $25, $5 for students. 7 pm. cajuncoast.com. k

JAN

6th

- JAN

8th

LOCAL FESTIVALS LOUISIANA FUR & WILDLIFE FESTIVAL Lake Charles, Louisiana

The “oldest and coldest” Southwest Louisiana festival, as it’s billed by organizers, caters to all ages and interests, featuring parades, a gumbo cook-off, pageants, a 5k and 1-mile run/walk, dances, Cajun music, exhibits, and a carnival complete with amusement rides. The main attractions for many participants, however, are unique contests such as duck and goose calling, trap setting, nutria and muskrat skinning, oyster shucking, and skeet shooting. The dog trials are always a favorite among hunters. lafurandwildlifefestival.com. k

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

6th - JAN 27th

Start the New Year off by exercising your creative muscles. Local artist Larry Downs will be teaching a workshop on beginning acrylics at the Art Guild of Louisiana this month, guiding students through the ins and outs of the tools, concepts, and applications of acrylic painting. 3 pm–6 pm on Thursdays in January. $90. artguildlouisiana.org. k

JAN

7th

CONCERTS LEROUX AT THE MANSHIP Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Founded in the 1970s, Louisiana’s Southern rock band LeRoux brings the “spicy, mouth-watering” sounds of the band’s blending of various instruments and musical arrangements to the Manship stage. 7:30 pm. $38.95–$59.95. manshiptheatre.org. k

JAN

7th - JAN 8th

TRIBUTE CONCERTS MUSICAL ENCORE PRESENTS: I’M EVERY WOMAN Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Join Mike Esneault on a journey back

through the sixties, seventies, and eighties while celebrating the influential female vocalists who most impacted our music culture as we know it today. Sing along with local performers Natalie Overall, Judy Whitney-Davis, Victoria Lecta Cave, Margaret Fowler, and Brandy Johnson— accompanied by band members Don Vappie, Doug Stone, David Hinson, and Keith Simoneaux. Expect songs by beloved songstresses Diana Ross, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Donna Summer, and more. 7:30 pm both days, plus a 2 pm matinee on Saturday at the Hartley/Vey Studio Theatre. $27. manshiptheatre.org. k

JAN

7th - JAN 8th

CONCERTS TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND New Orleans, Louisiana

After quite a year for live music, the Tedeschi Trucks Band has announced their winter tour dates, with a show coming to the Big Easy at the Saenger Theatre. Renowned guitarist Derek Trucks and singer/guitarist Susan Tedeschi are accompanied by a twelvepiece band, along with new drummer Isaac Eady. In town for two nights only, it’s a concert you won’t want to miss. For tickets and more information visit saengernola.com. k

JAN 7th - JAN 9th

GEEK OUT FAN EXPO NEW ORLEANS 2022 New Orleans, Louisiana

Fan Expo New Orleans will be in the Big Easy for three days this month, when lovers of time travel, zombies, and more descend on the Convention Center to revel in fandoms galore. The convention honors the creation and celebration of all corners of pop culture, from fantasy to sci-fi, gaming to graphic novels, books, movies, TV, and beyond; it’s a place where characters from the screen, the page, and the fans’ own imaginations come to life for an action-packed weekend. Fan Expo New Orleans also features an Artists’ Alley, movie screenings, gaming, live entertainment, costume contests, and more. Plus, kids ten and younger snag free admission with a paid adult, so it’s a great chance to get the whole family into your favorite fandom fun. 4 pm–9 pm Friday; 10 am–7 pm Saturday; 10 am–5 pm Sunday. fanexpohq.com. k

JAN 7 - JAN 22 th

THEATRE PAGEANT PLAY Slidell, Louisiana

Pinky Corningfield will do anything to make sure her precious princess wins the title of Supreme Queen at the local

beauty pageant—and things get a little unorthodox. See Cutting Edge Theater’s production of Pageant Play at 8 pm each night. $32. cuttingedgetheater.com. k

JAN

8th

SILVER SCREEN ART OF THE FILM: LOUISIANA FILM INDUSTRY EXPO Slidell, Louisiana

The Northshore Cultural Economy Coalition and the City of Slidell are presenting an exposition at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium on the wide-ranging facets of the film industry, and ample opportunities for locals to get involved. Attendees will enjoy presentations from internationally-renowned film experts Ed and Sue Poole, Movie Poster Archives Executive Director Linda Thurman, Composer, Songwriter, and Vocalist Greg Barnhill, and many others. Attendees will also be able to register for the resource directory to recieve future information on opportunities to serve as extras, crew, talent, and to register businesses and properties for consideration for shoots. 10 am–6 pm. Free. northshorecec.org. There will also be a luncheon hosted by The Northshore Collaborative small business network featuring keynote speaker Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser for $40 at noon on January 7. nscollaborative.com. k

JAN 8th

CARNIVAL ST. JOHN FOOLS OF MISRULE FEAST OF FOOLS & MARCH Covington, Louisiana

Noting the absence of proper Twelfth Night merrymaking on the Northshore, this marching club was formed in 2011 to herald the arrival of Carnival season in St. Tammany Parish. The organization’s rituals are derived from an ancient English men’s group that clamored along the evening streets, creating unruliness with cowbells and whips while delivering jeers and spankings to those caught on the street unaware. The Fools of Misrule integrated into its name an homage to the historic St. John District of Old Covington (1813) where the group was founded and annually conducts its bawdy procession. Their slogan: Vivere Vitam Omnino!— Live Life Completely! If you happen to be on the streets of Old Covington after 4 pm and find yourself on the receiving end of a jolly Old English tongue lashing, don’t say we didn’t warn you. foolsofmisrule.com. k

JAN 8th

GREEN THUMBS GARDEN DISCOVERIES Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Join the Baton Rouge Botanic Garden Foundation for a free presentation on

quality landscape design. Landscape architect and retired LSU professor Buck Abbey will demonstrate his practice through the art of drawing, incorporating principles of design along with art elements of line, texture, color, and form. 10 am. Free. ebrpl.com. k

JAN

8th - JAN 30th

ART EXHIBITIONS NOTES OF COLOR New Orleans, Louisiana

Created by artist Steve Bourgeois, Notes of Color will show impressions of the rich culture in New Orleans and plein air images of Louisiana’s countryside at Gallery 600 Julia. Artist reception Saturday, January 8, 6 pm–8 pm. The gallery is open 9 am–3 pm, Monday–Saturday. gallery600julia.com. k

JAN

8th - FEB 25th

ART EXHIBITIONS NEW AT LEMIEUX GALLERIES New Orleans, Louisiana

LeMieux Galleries presents Emily Wilson’s Afternoon Lattice, Michael Nichols’ Plastered, and Benjamin J. Shamback’s Comfort Food: Still Life Paintings. There will be an artist reception on Saturday, January 8, 6 pm–8 pm. The exhibits will be open to view from 10 am–5 pm, Monday–Saturday. lemieuxgalleries.com. k

// J A N 2 2

Events

Beginning January 8th - January 12th

JAN 8th - MAR 20th

LOCAL HISTORY LIFE IN THE 1940S IN WEST BATON ROUGE Port Allen, Louisiana

In West Baton Rouge Parish, the 1940s opened with a nation at war. From the home front, innovation reigned, and major cultural shifts took place. Documenting one of the most eventful decades in the region’s history, the West Baton Rouge Museum’s exhibit Life in the 1940s in West Baton Rouge presents artifacts and photographs from the West Baton Rouge Historical Associations’ permanent collection. westbatonrougemuseum.org. k

JAN 9th

MUSEUM PARTIES CLOSING CELEBRATION FOR 1968: A FOLSOM REDEMPTION Port Allen, Louisiana

For this Johnny Cash-themed celebration, the West Baton Rouge Museum encourages all to don their black, and to be prepared to sing, dance, and belt their favorite Cash tunes. To celebrate the anniversary of the Folsom Prison

performance and the closing out of the exhibition 1968: A Folsom Redemption, the museum will feature a musical tribute, light refreshments, karaoke, and the regularly scheduled Old Time Jam. 2 pm–5 pm. Free. westbatonrougemuseum.org. k

JAN 9th - JAN 23rd

ART TALKS MEAT MEET SALON SERIES Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The innovative, arts-forward, anti-profit group Yes We Cannibal is hosting talks and performances with artists in person, as well as streamed to Twitch in their Meat Meet Salon Series. Sundays 4 pm– 6 pm at Yes We Cannibal’s Government Street space or twitch.tv/yeswecannibal . Free. The schedule is as follows: January 9: Meat Meet #38: Author talk and interview with Gary Gautier––Gautier will discuss his 2017 book Hippies, an epic tale of 1960s counterculture in which a group of hippies discover an LSD-like drug that causes past life regressions. January 16: Meat Meet #39: Live

New Orleans’ rich culture comes alive in Steve Bourgeois’ exhibition Notes of Color, on display this month at Gallery 600 Julia. See listing on page 13. Artwork courtesy of Gallery 600 Julia.

Custom Cypress Tables

Choose one of the Handcraf ted Tables on our showroom

oor, or have one custom built.

Wh e t h e r yo u n e e d to s e at 2 o r 2 0 , we c a n d e s i gn a t a b l e fo r yo u r s p a ce.

Handcrafted cypress furniture 14

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

performance and interview with Nicky Click—the “one-woman feminist electro band,” as harolded by SF Weekly, will perform tracks from her new record, Reductive Nostalgia, with an interview to follow. January 23: Meat Meet #40: Artist talk and discussion with Jeremiah Ariaz—The LSU College of Art and Design professor/ internationally-renowned artist, whose work is largely rooted in explorations of the American West, will discuss his photography—particularly his earlier body of work entitled Staging the West. January 30: Meat Meet #41: Author talk and interview with Laura Marris—Marris translated the first new English version of Albert Camus’ The Plague to be published in over seventy years, which has received acclaim in reviews by The New Yorker, The Guardian, and other publications. yeswecannibal.org. k

JAN 10th

SILVER SCREEN THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The Baton Rouge Film Club is hosting a series of movies starring the legendary actor Robert Mitchum. Join them this month at the Bluebonnet Branch library for a screening and discussion of the crime drama, The Friends of Eddie Coyle. 6:15 pm. Free. ebrpl.com. k

JAN 10 - JAN 23 th

LOCAL HISTORY HISTORY MYTHBUSTERS AT ROSEDOWN Saint Francisville, Louisiana

The popular two-week series History Mythbusters returns to Rosedown State Historic Site. Spread and sustained on the wings of repetition, historical myths begin life as stories created to explain things that are not understood, then become accepted on the strength of continued tellings. With research, many such stories have been found to be myths, yet lots of them are still retold at historic sites around the country. Through this program, interpretive staff will explore commonly believed myths by relating how and why they came to be, and will present the factual information behind each one. Included in the $12 admission fee. Daily, 10 am–4 pm. lastateparks.com. k

JAN 11th - JAN 27th

CREATIVE CLASSES MUDDY BUDDIES: CLAY WHEEL THROWING CLASS FOR BEGINNERS Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Always wanted to touch, throw, and create with clay? Try your hand at the art, with this special potter’s wheel class

presented by BREC at the Drusilla Lane Park. You’ll finish the course with a collection of handmade mugs, bowls, and the experience of making art on a potter’s wheel. Session one will take place on Tuesdays from January 11– February 1; Session two on Thursdays January 13–February 3. Ages sixteen and older. 6 pm–8 pm. $150 for East Baton Rouge residents; $180 for nonresidents. brec.org. k

JAN 12th

HISTORY COMES ALIVE ABE LINCOLN AT THE LIBRARY Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The Main Branch Library at Goodwood is expecting a legendary visitor in the new year, and you sure won’t want to miss it. It isn’t every day that one of America’s most significant leaders makes the effort to time travel for a presentation. From professional Lincoln presenter Kevin Wood, guests will learn the first person stories of “the Great Emancipator’s” childhood on the frontier, the Civil War, his best-known speeches, and more. 7 pm. Free. ebrpl.com. k

JAN 12th - JAN 15th

MUSIC FESTIVALS DANNY BARKER BANJO & GUITAR FESTIVAL New Orleans, Louisiana

Danny Barker—famed New Orleans jazz banjoist, singer, guitarist, ukulele player, and author—made a lasting impact on the longevity of jazz in New Orleans. His work with the Fairview Baptist Church Brass Band produced generations of new jazz talent, including Wynton & Bradford Marsalis, Shannon Powell, Lucien Barbarin, Dr. Michael White, and others. Throughout Barker’s career, he managed to record with the likes of Jelly Roll Morton, Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Baby Dodds, Cab Calloway, Lucky Millinder, Benny Carter, and many more. The Danny Barker Banjo and Guitar Festival was established to preserve the importance of art, education, and culture, which organizers suggest will erode in time if not cherished and celebrated to shape the youth of the next generation. Barker’s greatest wish was for the banjo and guitar to carry the musical tradition into the future. In addition to live entertainment, the festival offers workshops and clinics, providing a hands-on approach. This four-day feast of Danny Barker’s greatest wish happens at a handful of venues across New Orleans, and features clinics, a birthday celebration for Barker, many live performances, a parade, panel discussions, film screenings, and more. Some events are free; others have a cost for admission. Detailed schedule at dannybarkerfestival.com. k

8592 Hwy 1, Mansura, LA 800.833.4195 travelavoyelles.com // J A N 2 2

Events

Beginning January 12th - January 18th JAN 12th - JAN 16th

SILVER SCREEN JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival returns this year, bringing a series of acclaimed films to the Manship Theatre related to Jewish culture and history. On the bill are: January 12: A Crime on the Bayou: In 1966, a Black teenager from Plaquemines Parish tries to break up an argument between white and Black teenagers outside a newly-integrated school. When he is arrested for assault on a minor, a young Jewish attorney brings his case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. $11.50, 7 pm. January 13: Born in Auschwitz: The untold story of the only Jewish baby born in the infamous death camp, who survived. $11.50, 7 pm. January 15: Honeymood: A romantic comedy set over the course of a couple’s wedding night in Jerusalem. $11.50, 7:30 pm. January 16: The Light Ahead: A 1939 Yiddish film classic created on the eve of World War II. $11.50, 3 pm.

Visit brjff.com to view clips from the films and read additional details. manshiptheatre.org. k

JAN 13

CONCERTS MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO Lafayette, Louisiana

Singer-bassist Meshell Ndegeocello is said to have sparked the “neo-soul movement,” with a critically-acclaimed body of work incorporating funk, soul, hip-hop, and R&B, among other influences. She arrives at the Acadiana Center for the Arts on the wave of her latest album Ventriloquism, described as “a place, like its process, to take refuge from one storm too many.” 7:30 pm. Tickets and pricing at acadianacenterforthearts.org. k

JAN 13th

CONCERTS BATON ROUGE SYMPHONY CHAMBER SERIES: TRIOS Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra will present a special chamber performance, featuring a trio for flute, violin, and piano. The program will

B 

Natchez

MonmouthHistoricInn.com 601-442-5852

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

include Debussy’s Sonata for flute, viola, and harp; Ibert’s Cinq pieces en trio; and Schoenfield’s trio for clarinet, violin, and piano. 7:30 pm at the First United Methodist Church. $30. brso.org. k

JAN

13th - JAN 26th

SHUTTER BUGS EYE WANDER BASIC DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS

and photography under the umbrella of this year’s theme: “Impressions of Louisiana Nature”. Visitors will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite pieces, and the winner will receive a prize at the closing of the show. An opening soiree will take place on January 13 from 5:30 pm–7:30 pm, and a Meet the Artist Reception will be held on February 27 from 2:30 pm–4:30 pm. Free. brec.org. k

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Professional photographer Aaron Hogan with Eye Wander Photography is offering a beginning digital photography course for aspiring shutterbugs. This four-part course is designed for photographers interested in improving skills using a DSLR/mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses. Classes will take place from 5:30 pm–9 pm at the studio for days one, two, and four; and at the Rural Life Museum from 9 am– 11:30 am on day three. $400 with friend/ family member discount of $350. Email hello@eyewanderphoto.com or call (225) 366-4567 to sign up. k

JAN

13th - FEB 27th

ART EXHIBITIONS SWAMP ART SPECTACULAR Baton Rouge, Louisiana

BREC’s third annual Swamp Art Spectacular brings together work from local artists in the fields of fabric arts, fine arts,

JAN

14th - JAN 16th

STEPPIN’ OUT KM DANCE PROJECT: RAW FRUIT New Orleans, Louisiana

This multidisciplinary dance work by Keysha McKey and KM Dance Project explores the ways ancestral values are woven into the cultural fabric of Black lives, examining themes of legacy, identity, socialization, unity, and friction in the context of Southern Black family dynamics. $25. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 2 pm at the Contemporary Arts Center. cacno.org. k

JAN

15th - JAN 16th

LOCAL LITERACY DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CELEBRATORY READ-ALOUD Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Modeled on the National African

A T L D

January 16, 3 pm: Main Library at Goodwood, Bluebonnet Regional Branch, Greenwell Springs Road Regional Branch, Jones Creek Regional Branch.

JAN 15th - JAN 29th

CONCERTS GOSPEL MUSIC CONCERT Livingston, Louisiana

ebrpl.com. k

The Lagniappe Dulcimer Society is presenting a lively concert of Gospel music and bluegrass tunes, as well as a JAN th - JAN th lecture on the origins of the mountain FUN RUNS dulcimer and how it is played—hosted by THE LOUISIANA MARATHON Livingston Parish Libraries. Performances Baton Rouge, Louisiana at 2 pm on January 15 at the Denham Much more than just a race, the Louisiana Springs-Walker Branch and 11 am Marathon is a culturally-rich festival complete on January 29 at the Main Branch in with food, music, and more. There’s a 5K, a Livingston. Free. mylpl.info. k kids’ marathon, and quarter, half, and full marathons, all attracting national and th th international runners who come for the JAN - FEB mild weather, professional course, and the ART EXHIBITIONS NEW ORLEANS ACADEMY thank-God-it’s-over good times that follow OF FINE ARTS FACULTY the races. Full schedule and registration at EXHIBITION thelouisianamarathon.com. k

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Thought of by many as a mother of the “neo-soul movement,” singer-bassist Meshell Ndegeocello is taking the stage at the Acadiana Center for the Arts this month, riding the wave of her latest album Ventriloquism. See listing on page 16. Image courtesy of the Acadiana Center for the Arts.

American Read-In, a groundbreaking effort encouraging communities to read African American stories and authors together, the East Baton Rouge Parish Libraries present a Celebratory Read Aloud in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Honoring Dr. King’s passion for literacy, readers of all ages are invited to choose from a selection of books and poems (or to bring their own) to

read aloud from. The events are scheduled at local branches as follows: January 15, 10:30 am: Baker Branch, Carver Branch, Central Branch, Eden Park Branch, Fairwood Branch, PrideChaneyville Branch. January 15, 3 pm: Delmont Gardens Branch, Scotlandville Branch, Zachary Branch.

JAN 15th - JAN 29th

CONCERTS THIS MONTH AT L’AUBERGE Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Here are the shows you can catch this month at L’Auberge, when you want a safer bet than playing the slots: January 15: The Marshall Tucker Band. $25. 8 pm. January 29: Little River Band. $35. 8 pm. lbatonrouge.com. k

Works by the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts faculty in a variety of mediums will be on display as part of this annual show. Free. noafa.com. k

JAN 18th - JAN 25th CREATIVE CLASSES STILL LIFE 101 WITH MIKE WEARY Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Local artist Mike Weary will guide students through the steps of depicting

The one you’ve been searching for. You finally found the one you’ve been searching for your whole life — and now it’s time to find the perfect photographer to capture your moment of dedication. Eye Wander is proudly offering photo, video & photo booth packages, with photo packages starting at just $1,995. Book your wedding for 2021/2022 today. Eye Wander: the one you’ve been searching for.

Visit us at www.eyewanderphoto.com. 225.366.4567 hello@eyewanderphoto.com

// J A N 2 2

Events

JAN

an inanimate object with oil paint. Designed for local high school students, the four-session course, held at the Cary Saurage Arts Center, will focus on refining skills like color mixing, form, composition, and value. Free for high school students attending East Baton Rouge schools; $50 for nonEast Baton Rouge students. All supplies provided. 5 pm–6 pm. eventbrite.com. k

JAN

18th

- APR

14th

PHOTO SHOWS CHANGING LANDSCAPES: PHOTOGRAPHS ALONG THE SOLOMON NORTHUP TRAIL

Lafayette, Louisiana

Now, she has traveled to the sites Northup chronicles as part of his story in Twelve Years a Slave, documenting the ways the landscape has changed since Northup walked that ground. Changing Landscapes: Photographs Along the Solomon Northup Trail was made possible in part by a grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. An opening reception will be held on Tuesday, January 25. louisianaoldstatecapitol.org. k

JAN

Avoyelles Parish artist Jan Beauboeuf has been intrigued by Solomon Northup and his captivating story in Twelve Years a Slave since she returned to her childhood home of Louisiana after leaving the South when she was younger due to discriminatory practices during the civil rights era. She felt a connection to Northup’s story, having grown up in the rural Bayou Boeuf community close to where Northup spent time in Louisiana.

The award-winning musical comedian comes to Acadiana with expertlycrafted tirades and delightful musical sequences in tow. Known for his BBC documentaries like Rich Hall’s Red Menace, the Montana performer has been described as “a transatlantic messenger, lampooning each country he visits with his laser-guided observations”. 7:30 pm at the Acadiana Center for the Arts. acadianacenterforthearts.org. k

JAN

21st

Albany, Louisiana

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana

After cutting his farewell tour short a year ago, Elton John is making his way back to New Orleans to continue his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. After a sold-out concert in 2018, Elton John’s one night in the city will be something to see. With very limited seats available, it looks like Sir Elton John will leave New Orleans with another packed house. 8 pm. Tickets start at $170. smoothiekingcenter.com. k

Doo-wop legacies The Coasters—known for 1950s rock ‘n’ roll/rhythm & blues hits “Searchin” and “Young Blood”—are coming to the Manship. 7:30 pm. $50–$65. manshiptheatre.org. k

JAN

22nd

BIRD BY BIRD PURPLE MARTIN CONSERVATION INITIATIVE

CONCERTS CORNELL GUNTER’S COASTERS

CONCERTS ELTON JOHN’S FAREWELL TOUR

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

honors Marjorie Morrison, wife of former U.S. Senator Jim Morrison and longtime advocate of the arts in Louisiana. Morrison was a key player among the original members of the Hammond Regional Arts Center and helped get the organization off the ground thirty years ago. This installation of the Marjorie Morrison Sculpture Biennial is curated by local artist Pat Macalusco. The exhibition will open with a reception at the HRAC on Friday, January 21 from 5 pm– 8 pm. hammondarts.org. k

MELODIC LAUGHS RICH HALL

Beginning January 18 - January 23 th

20th

21st - FEB 17th

SCULPTURE EXHIBITIONS MARJORIE MORRISON SCULPTURE BIENNIAL

Learn all about these beautiful little bugeating songbirds in a special presentation by Krista Adams of the Purple Martin Conservation Initiative, who will present on subjects like migration, nesting, housing, and more. 11 am at the Albany-Springfield branch of Livingston Libraries. Free. mylpl.info. k

JAN 22nd

GOOD EATS BATTLE FOR THE PADDLE GUMBO COOK-OFF

Hammond, Louisiana

Madisonville, Louisiana

The Marjorie Morrison Sculpture Biennial

The pots are big and the competition

Experience Livingston Parish Your next shopping and entertainment destination!

January-April 2022 Events Grand Country Junction Proudly Presents: 15th Anniversary Show featuring The Fabulous 50s January 15, 2022 The Best of Classic Country February 19, 2022

Krewe Of Tickfaw February 19, 2022 starting at 2pm Tickfaw River Amite Mardi Gras Boat February 19, 2022 starting at 10am

Customer Appreciation Day in the Antique Village February 26, 2022 Springfest April 30, 2022 Downtown Denham Springs

Tickfaw River Regatta for TARC April 23, 2022 Farmers Market open every Saturday from 8:00-noon Downtown Denham Springs

Louisiana Saturday Night featuring SOLO4 Quartet March 19 2022

www.livingstontourism.com visitlivingstonparish 18

Bo’s Extravaganza April 23-24 2022

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

is fierce—come out for the annual Madisonville Gumbo Cook-Off on the Tchefuncte this weekend, where teams will compete for the title of “Best Gumbo” in the land. 11 am–2 pm. $10 gets you access to all the gumbos, and the power to vote for your favorite. $25 to enter as a team. louisiananorthshore.com. k

JAN 22nd

STEPPIN’ OUT TANGO FIRE New Orleans, Louisiana

As the New Orleans Ballet Association glides into its 2021-2022 Main Stage Season, global phenomenon Tango Fire comes to the Mahalia Jackson Theatre. The Tango Fire Company of Buenos Aires leads the world of tango with sophistication, mesmerizing audiences world-wide. Accompanying Tango Fire are four of Argentina’s young musicians, leading the dancers into their interpretation of various styles of tango. 8 pm. $39–$169. nobadance.com. k

JAN

22nd

ART PARTIES PROSPECT.5 GALA New Orleans, Louisiana

Prospect New Orleans has proudly announced that their Prospect.5 Gala

will be held at Studio Be in New Orleans, home to local artist Brandan “BMike” Odums’ first solo project. The large warehouse shows stories of revolutionaries, heroes, and the everyday people of New Orleans. Legendary in the New Orleans’ art community, no better place could host the celebration of Prospect.5 and all of the people who made it possible. Grammy-nominated trumpeter and composer Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah will perform, accompanied by culinary favorites from Dooky Chase Restaurant, the Link Restaurant Group, and the Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group. Tickets start at $400. prospectneworleans.org. k

JAN

22nd

- JAN

30th

THEATRE THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES Covington, Louisiana

Based on Agatha Christie’s first novel, Playmakers’ Theater’s newest production will tell the story of the strange world of Styles Court. There’s a murder, of course (poison!), and suspicion percolates. See the show at 7 pm on Saturdays and 2 pm on Sundays. Tickets on sale January 8 at bontempstix.com. k

JAN

22nd - MAR 20th

LOCAL HISTORY THE PELICAN STATE GOES TO WAR: LOUISIANA IN WORLD WAR II Port Allen, Louisiana

During World War II from 1940–1945, Louisiana hosted the largest maneuvers in U.S. military history, witnessed massive changes to its industrial base, and saw its citizens become enthusiastic contributors to the war efforts. In the traveling exhibit held currently at the West Baton Rouge Museum, Louisiana’s specific contributions to the American efforts of World War II will be highlighted through artifacts, photographs, and oral histories. Produced by the National WWII Museum, The Pelican State Goes to War: Louisiana in World War II will include the courageous stories of the 280,000 Louisiana residents who served on the battlefield, as well as poignant presentations of the contributions at the home front. westbatonrougemuseum.org. k

JAN

23rd

HISTORY & MUSIC HISTORICAL HAPPY HOUR Port Allen, Louisiana

Your weekly happy hour just got happier, with an added dose of storytelling and local lore. For its regular Historical Happy Hour events, the West Baton

Rouge Museum hosts local musicians and storytellers, featuring intellectual discussions, music, panels, speakers, and—of course—drinks, though those are up to you. So pack up your favorite libations, and open your mind to the history of our community. This month’s event will have an especially patriotic flair to celebrate the museum’s new exhibit, Pelican State Goes to War. Visitors are encouraged to come in military attire or period dress. Enjoy a 1940s themed USO Dance, complete with swing dancing, special tours of the exhibit, and musical performances by the Victory Belles, a vocal trio singing the music of the era. Held on the back lawn near the Juke Joint; bring blankets and folding chairs. 3 pm–5 pm. Free. westbatonrougemuseum.com. k

JAN

23rd

HISTORY ON STAGE FREEDOM RIDERS Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The latest edition of Mad River Theater Works’ America History plays, Freedom Riders uses original songs and music to explore the courageous figures behind one of the Civil Rights Movement’s most critical chapters. Appropriate for grades 3rd–8th. 2 pm. $20. manshiptheatre.org. k

// J A N 2 2

Events

Beginning January 25th - January 29th JAN 25th

STRETCH IT OUT YOGA WORKSHOP AT THE WEST BATON ROUGE MUSEUM Port Allen, Louisiana

Join twenty-six-year veteran instructor Elena Moreno-Keegan for a special yoga workshop at the West Baton Rouge Museum. Moreno-Keegan will lead students of every age, shape, size, fitness and skill level in a stretching and breathing session as part of Port Allen Cultural District’s wellness initiative programming. Bring a yoga mat, wear comfy clothes, and don’t eat one hour before class. Held the last Tuesday of every month at 6 pm. Free. westbatonrougemuseum.org. k

matching bottles of cabernet. Two of the bottles will be bagged and numbered for a blind wine tasting, and one will be put into the winner’s prize lot. At the conclusion of the festivities all scores are tallied, and the winners are recognized while the lowest scoring wine is returned to its rightful owner to take home. A portion of proceeds will benefit Line 4 Line, a local literacy program providing free haircuts to boys ages two to thirteen in exchange for reading books. 6 pm. $35; $30 for members. forum225.org. k

JAN

26th - JAN 28th

GREEN THUMBS FRIENDS OF THE HILLTOP ARBORETUM SYMPOSIUM Online

JAN

26th

FUN FUNDRAISERS UNCORKED: CARNIVAL CABERNET Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Forum 225 couples their love for wine, their passion for a good cause, and their desire to mix and mingle with like-minded people in a fun, casual social setting. Attendees will form teams and bring three

This year’s Friends of the Hilltop Arboretum Symposium is observing Arbor Day by focusing on our beloved local oaks through two Zoom presentations that viewers can enjoy from the comfort of their own home. Sessions will be recorded if participants are unable to watch live. The first presentation, held on Wednesday and called “The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native

The seventeenth annual Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival in Lafayette will take place both in-person and virtually this year. Which filmmakers will win the coveted “goujon caille” (spotted catfish) award? Image courtesy of Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival.

Trees” will feature Dr. Douglas Tallamy, who will discuss the complex and fascinating web of life that oaks foster. He will highlight the cycles of tree life from season to season, illuminating the wonders of our ancient

Each lecture is from 6 pm–7 pm. $65; $50 Hilltop members. lsu.edu/hilltop. k

JAN 26th - FEB 2nd

“Tree Guru Talks Oaks,” featuring Scott

SILVER SCREEN 17TH CINEMA ON THE BAYOU FILM FESTIVAL

Courtright on Frida, who will present on the

Lafayette, Louisiana

diversity of our native red and white oaks, as

Located in the heart of Cajun country, the annual eight-day Cinema on the

neighbors. The second presentation is titled

well as the conditions that best foster them.

WHAT DOES ART IN THE UNITED STATES LOOK LIKE IN THE YEAR 2020?

MAR 10–JUN 19

STATE OF THE ART

2020 RECORD

Recordings preserve information. This can include an idea, a sound, a moment in time—the important outcome remains the same: the record. Twenty artists reveal a broad expanse of this concept in this exhibition at LSU MOA.

OPENING RECEPTION MAR 10 / 6–8 PM

Watch a performance art piece by artist Kellie Romany. Romany stained ceramic discs with oil paint, mimicking the varying shades of skin tones based on Felix von Luschan’s scale. Visitors will be able to touch and inspect these discs during the exhibition.

artist talk & making MAR 11 / 6–8 PM

Sponsored by

New Roads, Louisiana

This month, Sweet Cecelia will delight audiences at the Poydras Center in New Roads as part of The Arts Council of Pointe Coupee’s Performing Arts Series. To

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! (504 504)) 522 522--0996 www.nobadance.com

Presented in cooperation with

// J A N 2 2

Events

JAN

NEON PUPPETRY THE ADVENTURES OF TORTOISE AND HARE

Beginning January 29 - January 30 th

purchase tickets, print the PAS/Membership brochure and mail with check; contact Gail Roy at roygaleb@bellsouth.net or (225) 638-6049. Individual tickets will be available at Roy’s Jewelry or The Therapy Center two weeks prior to the performance date. 7 pm. artscouncilofpointecoupee.org. k

JAN 29th - JAN 30th

DIY PROJECTS & GOOD EATS HOME & REMODELING SHOW WITH RALPH’S MARKETS FOOD FEST Gonzales, Louisiana

If your New Year’s resolutions include any home improvement projects, this is your chance to stock up on anything you need to renovate your home, inside and out. From kitchens, to bathrooms, to siding, and beyond, everything from roof to f loor will be at the LamarDixon Expo Center in Gonzales this weekend. Also catch Ralph’s Markets Food Fest, with plenty of free samples, coupons, and recipes to explore—plus the potential to win $500 worth of groceries. $6, military $2, children under twelve free. 10 am–5 pm. jaaspro.com. k

JAN

- FEB

ART EXHIBITIONS NO, THING - NOTHING

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Recognized as creating the signature brand of electroluminescent artistry, internationally-recognized Lightwire Theater brings the beloved story of Tortoise and Hare to the Manship Stage via vibrant neon puppets. 2 pm. $20. manshiptheatre.org. k

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Yes We Cannibal co-founders Mat Keel and Liz Lessner have collected artworks from media ranging from sculpture, to video, to text. Now, their unique collection will be on display at Yes We Cannibal. An opening reception will be held on January 29 from 6 pm–8 pm. Gallery hours are Tuesday from 6 pm– 8 pm and Saturday from 2 pm–5pm. yeswecannibal.org. k

JAN

29th

- DEC

11th

CARNIVAL COLLECTIONS REX: THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SCHOOL OF DESIGN New Orleans, Louisiana

Featuring over sixty extravagant costumes from New Orleans’ foremost Mardi Gras krewe’s kings, queens, and courtiers in a collection spanning a century, the Krewe of Rex will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Rex Organization this year. The first daytime parade in modern

The Marjorie Morrison Sculpture Biennial honoring the longtime Louisiana arts advocate is on display this month at the Hammond Regional Arts Center. See listing on page 18. Artwork “Queen Bee” by Becky Burt. Image courtesy of the HRAC.

Carnival history set the standard of excellence that New Orleanians now expect from New Orleans Mardi Gras, and continues to inspire other organizations across the country. In addition to the Louisiana State Museum’s unrivaled collection of costumes, the exhibition will also feature dozens of sets of rare crown jewels, recently acquired European collections, and other rarely-seen Mardi Gras artifacts. louisianastatemuseum.org. k

The museum preserves an important part of the rural heritage of our state and our nation through 32 historic buildings and thousands of artifacts.

O p e n 8 : 0 0 a m u n t i l 5 : 0 0 p m D a i l y. T h e m u s e u m g i f t s h o p o f fe r s a w i d e variety of folk ar ts and handmade items. Fa c i l i t y R e n t a l s : r l m @ l s u . e d u

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

30th

To see our full list of regional events, point your phone camera here.

A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Health & Wellness

Readers, we welcome you to the new year—a chance to strip away the stresses and burdens of yesterday and begin anew. Unlike most in this January season, we don't ask you to change. We rely and thrive on you just the way you are—curious, fascinating, adventurous, and culturally-attuned to all things in this gorgeous, complicated region. We do encourage you to join us, though, in the ongoing personal pursuits of better health in mind, body, and spirit. As always, we dedicate this special section of our annual January issue to compiling resources, advice, and news with wellness in mind, just for you. Health, after all, is attuned to happiness. And at the end of the day, when you sit down to read our magazine, we want you happy as can be.

//J A N 2 2

Health

Special Advertising Section

& Wellness

HAIL TO THE HAMMERHEADS

Photo by John Watson.

Rouge Roubaix Redux

AFTER A FOUR-YEAR HIATUS, LOUISIANA'S MOST GRUELING BICYCLE RACE BRINGS LYCRA-CLAD GLADIATORS BACK TO THE TUNICA HILLS By James Fox-Smith

ans of elite cycling will need no introduction to why the Rouge Roubaix is so named. It’s an homage to the ParisRoubaix, a one-day professional bicycle race held every year since 1896, which traverses 160 miles of cobbled, rutted tracks through northern France between Paris and—you guessed it—Roubaix, and is widely regarded as the most brutal, wheelbuckling day in the saddle that the pro-cycling circuit has yet invented. So, in 1999, when St. Francisville cycling fanatic Jon Anderson needed a name for the arduous route he had strung together—which led riders across one hundred-plus miles of the steepest, roughest, most remote roads traversing West Feliciana’s Tunica Hills—what better to name his creation than the “Rouge Roubaix.” Hardcore adventure cyclists got the message. Within a couple of years, the Rouge Roubaix was attracting as many as four hundred riders from all over the Southeast. Pro 24

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

cyclists began to take notice and, in 2001, the event became a USA Cycling-sanctioned race. A cult classic was born. On March 5, 2022, after a hiatus, the Rouge Roubaix returns to again lead participating riders on a punishing (but scenic) tour of the remotest parts of West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana and Wilkinson County, Mississippi. True to the spirit of its French namesake, this twentieth annual event will be the longest to date, pitting the toughest and most masochistic cyclists and their machines against 127 miles of hills, mud, gravel, potholes, decommissioned bridges … and occasionally, stretches of smooth, fast blacktop. Held rain or shine (of course), the 2022 Rouge Roubaix welcomes amateur and pro riders to test their mettle by entering this sanctioned Gran Fondo event. After a four-year absence variously caused by course flooding, permitting issues, and COVID, the action will be fast and furious.

Best places to watch it will be the steepest sections of a route that includes more than 5,500 feet of elevation gain: quite an achievement for Louisiana. According to 2022 race director Will Jones these include: the Morris Road (north of St. Francisville between Hwy 421 and Jones Vaughan Creek Road), Block House Hill (a brutal, one-mile gravel climb between Fort Adams and The Pond Store), the Old Tunica Road (especially the gravel section right after the turnoff from Hwy 66 near Angola), and at the finishing climb up Feliciana Street in St. Francisville. For those ready to put some teeth in their new year’s resolution, register to ride either the 127-mile route, or a shorter 78-mile option. h

More information, lots of great photos, and registration are at rougeroubaix.com.

Health

& Wellness

Special Advertising Section

TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH IN THE NEW YEAR!

Having a yearly physical is an important part of staying healthy. Annual physical exams and preventive health screenings detect early signs of chronic disease and allow us the opportunity to discuss the latest recommendations for your continued good health.

MAIN CLINIC AND PEDIATRICS: 7373 PERKINS ROAD l BATON ROUGE, LA 70808 PEDIATRICS AT INDUSTRIPLEX 12351 Industriplex Blvd. (225) 926-4400

PSYCHIATRY 3401 North Blvd., Suite 100 (225) 381-2621

INTERNAL MEDICINE AT NEW ROADS 230 Roberts Dr., Suite I (225) 638-4585

BATONROUGECLINIC.COM l (225) 769-4044 //J A N 2 2

Special Advertising Section

Health

& Wellness

EXPERIMENTING WITH NUTRITION

From Pennington's Metabolic Kitchen A Q&A WITH DIETICIAN AND DIRECTOR RENÉE PUYAU By Jordan LaHaye Fontenot

Q: What do you love most about your job? A: It’s always changing. There will be a new challenge, and a study will start, and we’ll think “Oh goodness, how are we going to make this work?” There are a lot of opportunities for problem solving and working out systems that are specific to each study. And then that study lasts for a year or two, and we get our system down and feel really good about it, and then the study ends. And a new one starts, so we start all over again. It keeps it fresh, for sure.

Photo by Kimberly Meadowlark

Q: What is an example of a study that is currently taking place at Pennington? A: We have one that’s ongoing on Soy Fiber, where we are incorporating a dietary fiber source based on soybeans into foods that we send home with participants. The dose of the fiber escalates—so they start at a low dose for a week, and the next week it’s a little bit higher, and the next week it’s the highest dose. They incorporate the food into their regular diet, and they just give us feedback on if they are tolerating the amount of soy that we’re giving them.

Q: What advice would you offer to someone who was interested in making changes toward having a healthier diet?

or almost four decades, Louisiana State University’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center has been at the forefront of nutrition and health research. A core component of the Center’s work takes place in the Metabolic Kitchen, which supports nutritional research by creating and serving specialized meals to support various studies. For this special segment of our 2022 Health & Wellness Section, we reached out to the Director of the Metabolic Kitchen, Registered Dietician Renée Puyau, to learn more about this work, as well as to get her suggestions for healthy eating in the new year.

Q: Tell me about your background as a Dietician. A: So, I actually grew up very heavy into classical ballet. I grew up in Baton Rouge, and then started out as a dance major at the University of Alabama. Shortly thereafter, I thought, “This isn’t what I want to do with my life.” I developed an interest in nutrition and switched my major. And that ended up being something I stuck with. I became a Registered Dietician, moved back home to Baton Rouge, and then started working at Pennington as a dietician in the kitchen. Almost fifteen years later, here I am. 26

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

Q: Can you describe your role in the kitchen at Pennington? A: Our main job in the kitchen is to support the studies at Pennington, where the participants need to receive certain types of food. This could be a feeding study, where we are feeding participants a very specific diet anywhere from a few days, to a few weeks, to a few months. Or it could be that we’re just giving the participants individual food items to incorporate into their regular diet. Maybe we’re looking at some investigational herb that’s supposed to have a beneficial effect on something like insulin sensitivity or blood sugar. We’ll incorporate that into a food and ask the participant to add it to their regular diet either just once along with some testing that we’re doing, or maybe every day for a week or a couple of weeks. The biggest thing that sets us apart from a regular food service operation like a school or restaurant or hospital is that we prepare the diets in a very specific way. We weigh out all of the foods for the participants to a tenth of a gram. And the foods that we use are chosen very specifically to match our menu planning software. So that way we know that our study participants are receiving exactly what we need them to receive in terms of calories, protein, fat, carbohydrates—sometimes even minerals or macronutrients. And that they are receiving the same thing every time we give that to them.

A: My favorite advice is, number one: just add in more fruits and vegetables. Even if you don’t take anything out—it’s always easier to add than take away. Just think about adding in a serving of fruits and veggies every day. And it doesn’t even have to be like raw broccoli. It can be something delicious; you’re still getting something good. The other thing I would say is take more time to sit down and have a meal with your friends or family, if you can, especially the people you live at home with. You know life gets busy and stressful, but taking the time to just sit down and have a meal together is so important.

Q: What are some ways that you are able to share your experiences and expertise into the community? A: We just ended a big project earlier this year called The Rolling Store, funded by The Wilson Foundation. We were able to go to around fifteen community centers. Before COVID, we were doing recipe demonstrations on site. But since then, we’ve offered virtual recipe demonstrations on YouTube. But then we’d actually give the people in attendance a big bag of fresh fruits and vegetables so that they could go home and make the recipes. h

Find two recipes from Puyau's Metabolic Kitchen on the following pages, and see her video demonstrations for recipes like Crunchy Chicken Slaw Wraps, Spring Rolls, Veggie Pasta Salad, and more at on YouTube by searching for "Pennington Rolling Store".

Health

& Wellness

Special Advertising Section

//J A N 2 2

Health

Special Advertising Section

& Wellness

RECIPE

Chicken Noodle Soup

COMFORT FOOD AT ITS FINEST, WITH FRESH VEGGIES AND HEALTHY PROTEIN TO BOOT By Renée Puyau, Director, Pennington Biomedical Metabolic Kitchen

Directions: Stovetop: Step 1: Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a stock pot over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken and cook for about 4 minutes per side (chicken thighs will cook more quickly than chicken breasts), or until no longer pink. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside. Step 2: Add the onion, celery, carrots, and mushrooms to the pot and cook for 5–10 minutes or until beginning to soften. Add the garlic, dried parsley, salt, and pepper and continue to cook for thirty more seconds, or until the garlic becomes fragrant. Step 3: Add the chicken broth and water to the pot. Dice the chicken, and add it to the pot as well. Cover and let simmer for at least 30 minutes. Then, add the corn and egg noodles, and continue to simmer for 5 minutes more, or until noodles are soft. Add more water or chicken broth as needed to achieve desired consistency.

Ingredients 2 tbsp cooking oil 1 pound raw boneless skinless chicken breastor thighs (trimmed) 1 medium onion, diced 2 celery stalks, diced 3 carrots, diced 1 cup mushrooms, diced

4 cloves garlic, diced 2 tbsp dried parsley 1 tbsp salt 1 tsp white pepper 4 cups chicken broth 2 cups water 1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen 8 oz (one half pound) dried egg noodles

Slow cooker: Add the chicken, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, parsley, mushrooms, salt, pepper, and water to the slow cooker, and cook on low for 8 hours. Open the lid and shred the chicken directly in the pot, add the corn and noodles, and let the crockpot continue to cook on low for another 30 minutes. Makes 10 servings, about 1 cup each.

READ SOMETHING REAL PRINTED ON ACTUAL PAPER SINCE 1983

GET A PRINT SUBSCRIPTION AT COUNTRYROADSMAG.COM 28

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

Health

& Wellness

Special Advertising Section

RECIPE

Skillet Green Beans with Almonds A PERFECT SIDE DISH, SNACK, OR SNEAKY WAY TO GET YOUR GREENS IN

By Renée Puyau, Director, Pennington Biomedical Metabolic Kitchen

GOOD SKIN CARE IS THE BEST FOUNDATION.

Ingredients 1/4 cup sliced or slivered almonds 2 tbsp olive oil 1 small onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 12 oz green beans, trimmed 1/2 tsp lemon pepper 1/4 tsp black pepper 1/2 tsp garlic powder 2 tbsp soy sauce 1/4 cup water salt to taste

Specializing in corrective skincare using state of the art products & modalities. Clearing acne, improving texture and hydration, while boosting collagen, utilizing dermaplaning, microcurrent, LED light therapy and various peels. Call 225-931-2011 to make your appointment today!

Directions: Step 1: Add the almonds to a frying pan and set over medium heat. Toast the almonds in the pan, stirring them constantly to prevent burning. Once the almonds are browned (after about 1–2 minutes), remove them from the pan and set them aside. Step 2: Return the pan to the stove, add the olive oil, and set to medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Then, add the garlic and sauté for one minute more. Step 3: Add the green beans, lemon pepper, black pepper, and garlic powder and stir together. Sauté together for 2 minutes, and then add the soy sauce and water. Step 4: Cover the pan and allow to cook over the low heat for five minutes. After five minutes, taste one of the green beans. If it is still too firm, add two more tablespoons of water to the pan, return the cover, and let simmer for 2–3 more minutes. Once finished, sprinkle with salt, if desired. Step 5: Transfer the green beans to a serving dish and top with the toasted almonds. Makes 4 servings.

Becky Parrish Advanced Skincare at Kiki Culture Salon in Bocage 7640 Old Hammond Highway, Baton Rouge, LA

Book a Private Party at Night & have a Band play!

Meet me at the Mag! Closed Mondays 5689

3-V Tourist Courts •1940’s Motor Hotel • Reservations: 225-721-7003 //J A N 2 2

Features

J A N U A RY 2 0 2 2 30

MELISSA

GUIDE

DARDEN

IS ONE OF SIX REMAINING

HOMESTEADING

// 3 6

NEW ARTS

CHITIMACHA

CENTER

A N A LO G A R TS

BASKET WEAVERS

PONCHATOULA

// 3 4

21ST CENTURY

ENDURING ARTS

Woven into Being

BETWEEN MELISSA DARDEN’S HANDS, A THOUSAND-YEAR-OLD CHITIMACHA TRADITION CONTINUES ON Story by Catherine Comeaux • Photos by Olivia Perillo

or thousands of years, the Chitimacha people have inhabited the Atchafalaya Basin and its surrounding lands between Lafayette and New Orleans. Today, the tribe continues to occupy a segment of this same land on a bend in the Bayou Teche near Charenton, where the Tribal Council’s first female Chairperson Melissa Darden oversees issues like improving access to technology in a postCOVID world, local job growth, and various tribal enterprises—all with a mind focused on ensuring a prosperous future 30

for the tribe and steadied by a tactile connection to the past through her mastery of traditional Chitimacha river cane basket weaving. As a girl, Darden tagged along with her sister to a basket weaving class being taught by their grandmother Lydia Darden and fellow tribe member Ada Thomas. Too young to be an official student, she would play at putting the cane together. The classes did not continue for long; the involved process of learning to weave traditional Chitimacha baskets,

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

the women discovered, proved not well suited for the limited classroom format. The time it takes to learn the skills involved in each step must, by their nature, be spread out in varied increments throughout a month, a season, a lifetime. Gathering materials begins with a trip to the canebrakes to harvest the piya, the Chitimacha word for the cane used in weaving. Arundinaria gigantea, a native bamboo that grows in patches called canebrakes, has been used by the Chitimacha for millennia. Agriculture has

decreased its abundance, but the tribe’s Cultural Department has re-established canebrakes on the reservation to ensure its availability for weaving. Once harvested, the cane is split, peeled, dried, and then some is dyed in the three traditional colors of red, black, and yellow. The rest retains its natural light brown color when dried. Once the cane is dyed, it is split and peeled again before it is ready to be woven into either a single weave or double weave basket. A learner must possess the drive to pursue one who knows, watch them,

practice, get feedback, follow, and learn. Darden explained, “Nowadays when you’re teaching somebody something, you’re always explaining what you’re doing. My grandmother didn’t do that. You had to watch everything she did and hopefully pick it up.” Tribal legend tells us that the first Chitimacha weaver was a young girl who was walking down the road when The Holy Woman—an unseen deity— threw an unfinished basket at her with the simple directive, “Weave that basket! Finish it up!” The young girl completed the basket and later returned to the same road to learn more. She again encountered the voice of The Holy Woman, and over time she mastered the art by practicing it under her guidance. The echo of The Holy Woman’s direct, hands-on teaching methods lives on in the way that Darden learned from her grandmother. Darden would be the only attendee of those early basket weaving classes to become a true basket weaver, though the official journey began many years later. She was a young mother of three when a friend who was an antique dealer in nearby Baldwin noticed she “had the fingers for it” and encouraged her to learn with the promise that he would purchase every basket she could produce. She returned to her lessons, dedicating hours to watching her grandmother peel the cane, then doing it herself until she got it right. Once she’d learned one step in the process, she would move on to the next

—watching, doing, and undoing until she mastered the skills. Her questions were met with succinct responses and nothing more. “If you asked a question because you didn’t get it, she would only answer what you asked. I’d ask, ‘How do you remember the patterns?’ and ‘The patterns are in your mind,’ would be the response.” Through watching, weaving, re-weaving and researching, Darden eventually developed, or perhaps discovered, the network of patterns in her mind. She and her brother John, also a basket weaver, would visit museums together to learn from the displayed baskets themselves, artifacts that hold the physical heritage of the Chitimacha people in patterns with names like “worm track,” “alligator entrails,” and “blackbird’s eye.” For millennia, the animals and plants of the Atchafalaya Basin region have woven their ways through the lives of the “People of Many Waters” and into the fifty known patterns of their traditional basketry, the various combinations of which form infinite creative possibilities. On a recent visit with Darden, she shared with me one of her favorite combinations of patterns, a series of perch circling while also forming a muscadine, with a bull’s eye at the center. I immediately saw the perch with their diamond shaped patterns and then the bulls’ eye in the center, but I didn’t see the muscadine. As I looked for a small grape-like shape in the com-

5713 Superior Drive, Suite B-1 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816

// J A N 2 2

plex patterns, she saw my confusion and repeated what her grandmother had told her, “You take the little round grape, put it in the palm of your hand, and just squash it, and it lays out in four pieces.” I saw it, and could almost taste the sweet juice of the broken skin. Darden let me watch as she worked with cane in a small added-on section of her home, which she uses to keep the strong smells of the dyeing process out of the main house. She split a two-foot length of green cane with a strong forearm and a medium-sized

kitchen knife, which she wedged, then twisted until it formed a slight crack in the cane, followed by the ripping of fibers. She repeated this until she had several strips of the size she wanted. She then put a cane strip between her teeth and peeled the inner layers away from the outer layer, which is the main material used for weaving. She explained that the strips would then be dried and cut again. She recalled asking her grandmother, “How do you get it all the same size?” The simple response was, “It’s the tape measure in your eye.” Though Darden didn’t have the ocular

Artistry of Light By Mary T. Wiley

Merry Christ mas!

Installation &

maintenance

on new & pre-existing lighting

Security Lighting Landscape Lighting Specialists

Transforming outdoor spaces throughout Louisiana for 39 years.

225-955-7584 • artistryoflight.com • MARY T. WILEY

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

tape measure when she first asked the question, she surely has it now. As she worked on a double weave basket lid already in progress, I noticed the strips she was weaving all appeared to be precisely the same in width and thickness—tightly woven together, leaving no gaps. Chitimacha weavers originally created these baskets for utilitarian purposes around the home. They served as canisters, sewing baskets, and wall pockets. In the early 1900s, encouraged by interest in their basketry as art, the Chitimacha began selling to collectors. Darden’s grandmother was making baskets at a point in time when one of her creations was just as likely to be used for pea-picking in the garden as it was to be displayed on a collector’s shelf. By the time Darden began weaving, the value of a traditional Chitimacha woven basket had increased tremendously as the baskets became recognized as fine art, coveted by collectors worldwide. Currently, with only six Chitimacha weavers actively producing baskets, the creations are as sought-after as ever. Darden is a collector of Chitimacha baskets herself. She was initially driven by the desire to learn patterns from the older baskets, acquired at auctions and estate sales. But today her motives have become more about reclaiming her heritage. “I didn’t get any baskets handed down to me,” she said, showing me one of her grandmother’s, which she’d bought at an auction, still bearing her signature on freezer tape stuck to the bottom. “It’s kind of like bringing something home,” she said, pointing out a red cane woven around the hem of this single weave basket, another

motif of her grandmother’s work—a Darden family mark which she also incorporates in her own baskets. As I watched Darden weave, her fingers pinched and twisted within the splayed ends of an unfinished lid—the dried cane creating a micro soundscape of concentrated rustling, like the sound of wind or footsteps in the canebrakes. She said, “I could sit here and weave a basket, and you could tear the house down around me and I’d never know it. It’s like I’m entering into another world. I get that intense with it.” Of course, she is more often drawn into the bigger world with her responsibilities as Chairperson, mother, and grandmother. In these roles too, though, she is strengthened by this hands-on connection to the people who came before her, those who left their mark by taking the naturally-prolific river cane of the land and creating something useful and beautiful from it. All these years later, the tradition they heralded remains valuable not only for the woven creations that endure, but for the resulting heritage of tactile learning and problem-solving that is passed from generation to generation, creating a successful people who endure. h Chitimacha baskets are on view to the public at the Chitimacha Tribal Museum, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Lafayette Science Museum, and the Louisiana State Museum. To learn more about the basket weaving tradition or to inquire about purchasing one, visit chitimachabaskets.com.

Say Yes to Your Next Adventure

From the smallest church in the world to the South’s last wilderness, Iberville Parish has some of the most magnificent and unique attractions.

LEARN MORE AT VISITIBERVILLE.COM // J A N 2 2

like. Some folks prefer to start with a small garden and others like to begin with a few laying hens. Library books, YouTube, and blogs abound with details and explanations to help you get started. The abundance of information can actually be a hinderance if you aren’t careful, though. Don’t let yourself get so caught up in overwhelm that you fail to begin. Just start. Anywhere.

Naming the Animals

The type of livestock that you choose to care for on your homestead depends on the amount and type of space that you have, the time that you are willing to devote to the animal, and the intentions that you have for them. Larger animals such as cows and goats require more upfront costs but can pay for themselves quickly by way of milk and/or protein. Smaller animals such as chickens, ducks, rabbits, and quail are easier keepers, and if given the proper housing can thrive in even a small backyard. It is a good idea to check your city and parish Codes of Ordinance for more information regarding which types of livestock you are permitted to have and how many. When you bring home that first animal, you can bet that someone will warn you not to name it. They’ll say that once it has a name, you won’t be able to eat it. Every one of our animals has a name and is loved dearly, even if their life will one day be sacrificed in order to sustain ours. So go ahead and give them a name, they deserve it.

Gardening The Easy Way

Photo courtesy of the author

HOMEGROWN

Recovering Lost Wisdoms

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO HOMESTEADING IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY By Stevie Mizzi

magine growing up chasing pigs, milking cows, collecting eggs from the hen house, harvesting supper ingredients from the garden; learning to hbutcher a chicken, forage for wild medicinals, maintain an orchard, and render lard. No, it’s not my childhood that I’m describing. It’s my children’s. The life that I, a twenty-first century thirty-something-year-old mother, live today is a far cry from the way I was brought up. My grandfather was raised in a homesteading family, but this self-reliant way of life skipped a generation or two. By the time that he became a man, society had shifted far away from the practices of raising livestock, keeping a garden, and even cooking from scratch. Packaged and convenient reigned over homegrown and nurtured. It was motherhood that brought me to homesteading. Within the first seconds following my daughter’s birth, I felt a self-imposed call to duty to provide my family with the best food and medicine that nature has to offer. I set out to obey that feminine instinct to equip my family with vibrant health and wellness, even though I hadn’t the slightest clue how to do it. I certainly was not aware of how hard it would be to relearn hundreds of years of lost wisdom. That tiny baby girl in my arms gave me all of the motivation that I needed, though. She awakened a yearning inside of me for a life of simplicity and intention. Now a decade into homesteading, I can say that 34

every tear shed over spilled milk and dead plants was just part of learning what should never have been forgotten. For anyone who’s willing to listen, I’ll go on for days about all that I’ve gleaned over the years and how I’ve gotten to the point of feeding my family most of their meals from our own backyard. Ask me the benefits of this lifestyle, and I’ll ask you to pull up a chair. Among them: quality time with family, mental health, nutrient-dense foods, physical fitness, resourcefulness, community engagement. The list goes on. In my experience, there’s not one single fragment of living that isn’t improved exponentially by being connected to nature and all that she provides.

Start Anywhere

Let’s dispel a myth or two, shall we? No, you don’t have to own several acres of land to homestead, nor do you need to spend a great deal of money. Small gardens and easy keeper livestock can supply a family with plenty of homegrown food, and recycled materials mixed with a little Cajun ingenuity can provide the necessary structures of coops, fencing, garden beds, and sheds. I offer myself as proof that you don’t need to know what you are doing in order to be successful, although success might take a while to make its appearance. Be patient. Try again. And again. And yet again. The first question people usually ask is… “Where do I start?” The answer is simple … anywhere you’d

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

If you want a successful and productive garden on your first try, go ahead and plant a fall and winter garden. Ignore those directions on the back of seed packets, too. Most of them aren’t meant for us here in South Louisiana. Although we can grow some really great vegetables in the summer heat like okra, sweet potatoes, and peppers, most of the food that can be grown in our climate thrives in cooler weather, such as potatoes, cabbage, spinach, garlic, and carrots. I learned the hard way that my garden yields much more food when I’m not battling pest infestations, dreadful weeds, and life-sucking humidity during those scorching summer months. Fall and winter is our sweet spot, and we can grow a considerable supply of food during that time with minimal effort. Use the LSU AgCenter Vegetable Planting Guide for directions on what needs to be planted and when. We are lucky to live in a region that has a wide variety of options for what we are able to grow. Beginners might feel more comfortable purchasing small vegetable or herb plants called ‘starts’ rather than seed packets, but I recommend trying both. Cucumbers, radishes, carrots, beans, and basil are all easily started from seed along with dozens of others. Family-owned feed stores have been providing both large and small scale growers with the variety of seeds that are acclimated to the area and have stood the test of time for many decades. While you’re there, ask for tips and advice. In my experience, feed store owners are some of the most undervalued sources of homesteading wisdom within our communities. Make friends with them, and they’ll get you out of all kinds of trouble that you’ll surely find yourself in at some time or another. If you prefer ordering seeds, Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, and Seed Savers Exchange are reliable options.

Cooking From the Yard

There aren’t many younglings that leave home equipped to cook a decent meal for themselves these days. I know, because I was one of them. Even more rare is the knowledge of how to cook seasonally and with ingredients grown

Photo by Courtney Prejean, courtesy of the author

or foraged from one’s own backyard. Over the years, I’ve developed an utmost appreciation for my land and its gifts—to the point of finally being able to put nourishing and delectable meals together for my family using what I have. I cook “nose to tail,” because I can’t stand the thought of anything being wasted or underutilized. That incapacity is a result of having a hand in raising and growing what feeds us, and it’s the way our ancestors prepared meals before the grocery stores existed. Our family’s meals are flavorful and fresh, inspired by what I have available or preserved from last season. Instead of asking myself what meal I’d like to prepare, I ask myself what I can concoct with my myriad of prized ingredients. Cooking from the yard is yet another lost skill that’s long overdue for a resurgence, in my opinion. It is with sincere disappointment that I must refer to myself as a first-generation homesteader. I truly wish that the wisdom had not vanished from our ancestral lines, leaving us so very dependent on external systems to provide for us. My children, though? They won’t be the first. They’ll know that beets like to grow in mud, and rabbit manure makes the best fertilizer. They’ll be skilled at hunting, fishing, foraging, and trapping. They’ll know how to cook from scratch, mend their clothes, sharpen garden tools, and milk a cow. What we refer to as a homestead, they’ll simply consider a home. h

Follow the author’s homesteading journey on Instagram @harlowhousehomestead.

Photo by Paul Kieu

// J A N 2 2

T U R N I N G TOWA R D E AC H OT H E R

The Twin Steeples

PHILANTHROPIST HARRY GABRIEL’S LEGACY LIVES ON IN PONCHATOULA’S NEW ARTS CENTER Story by Jyl Benson • Photos by Lucie Monk Carter

arry Gabriel lived large. He was a world traveler, skier, scuba diver, missionary, hmarathon runner, artist, craftsman, landscaper, businessman, developer, and, ultimately, a philanthropist. On March 18, 2021, Gabriel died at sixty-two, just two months after learn-

ing the acute leukemia from which he had been in remission for ten years had returned with ferocity. But he did so with the knowledge that a beloved vision of his would finally be brought to life, unifying and growing his lifelong Ponchatoula community through preservation, employment, beauty, and enrichment.

That story begins in early 2019, when Gabriel bought a circa-1901 deconsecrated Lutheran church just blocks from where he grew up. After the Lutherans decamped for the nearby, larger city of Hammond in 1964, the building became an occasional temporary home for denominations building their churches elsewhere, a photography studio, and eventually a private residence with a kitchen installed where the altar had once been. Gabriel imagined a new life for the historied building: a community arts center that would celebrate all disciplines. He was inspired by a long-held idea of his brother John’s. The Houston-based architect’s forty-five-year-old thesis from Louisiana State University

Gabriel’s vision for the Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center had Ponchatoula’s circa-1901 Lutheran Church (left) and its circa-1879 Presbyterian Church (pictured through the doorway photographed on the right) turned to face each other, forming a doubly sacred complex fostering the visual and performing arts. Artist Kim Zabbia, who will serve as the nonprofit’s chair of the board of directors, is piectured above in Gallery 1901. 36

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

was centered on the very church Gabriel had purchased, as well as the circa1879 Presbyterian Church on the same block, which faced a different direction from the Lutheran Church. Though the Lutheran church is larger and embellished more lavishly, with an abundance of stained glass, the two wooden churches bear very similar designs, most notably soaring peaked steeples situated near their entrances. In his thesis, John laid out a vision for the two churches to be moved and turned face-to-face, with a courtyard between them. With John’s support, Gabriel seized upon his brother’s vision for the “twin steeples” and co-opted it for his arts center. His challenge would be convincing the Presbyterians. Though empty of its congregation—which had moved to more contemporary digs next door— the humble structure is beloved. Among its gifts are remarkable acoustics. Musician Aaron Gordon, the church’s new minister, had been frequently gathering with other musicians to play their instruments in the old church, and they were developing a bit of a following up until COVID-19, when the events had to come to a sudden halt. Then along came Gabriel. The minster listened as Gabriel shared the idea to hydraulically lift and turn both churches to face each other. In doing so, the Presbyterian church would be pivoting away from its congregation in the newer building and would face, instead, the Lutheran structure that had metaphorically shunned it for 120 years. Together, the two churches would form a secular arts center that would welcome anyone and be built upon a foundation of ultimate expressive freedom. Gabriel was adamant that musicians would play whatever they wanted to play, and artists would create and show their original works without suppression. Having worked as a general contractor before becoming a minister, Gordon was able to grasp the concept. The notion of unity between denominations appealed to him, but he doubted it would fly with the sixty-member congregation. “Congregations are notorious for holding on to things, especially property,” Gordon said, “for power, for sentimental reasons, whatever. But they shocked me. Everyone, even the Old Guard members in the congregation, wanted to build unity and create something for the entire community. I see this as an act of God, a miracle.” On July 26, 2020, the old Presbyterian church and some adjacent land were sold to Gabriel for $1. With the property secured, Gabriel spent the remainder of his 2020 lockdown bringing Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center, a 501(c)(3), to life. Well-connected, he tapped the equally well-connected Kim Zabbia, a prominent artist, beloved teacher, owner of The Art Station, and wife of Robert Zabbia, mayor of Ponchatoula, to

serve under him as Vice President on the non-profit’s Board of Directors. A diverse collective of additional board members was identified, and their roles defined. The citizens of Ponchatoula embraced Gabriel’s idea and monetary donations flowed in. Gabriel committed to matching every dollar in perpetuity throughout his lifetime and, later, through his estate. He set January 21, 2021, as the day the churches would move, and he started planning for what was certain to be a euphoric day. In early January, though, Gabriel visited MD Anderson for a routine checkup, and discovered that the leukemia had returned. From his hospital bed in Houston, he watched via Facebook Live over Zabbia’s mobile phone as the churches were moved. The smaller Presbyterian church required a trailer. The larger Lutheran church required four hydraulic dollies and was rotated incrementally. At the end of the day, they faced each other at last, their twin steeples soaring overhead in unison. Gabriel took his last breath less than two months later. In his obituary his family referred to Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center as “his baby.” A year since his passing, his legacy is surging forward. With the former churches meticulously restored by Professional Construction and Restoration, the arts center opened to the public on December 30, 2021, with a force of Louisiana artists—Robby Klein, an internationally celebrated entertainment photographer;

photo-realist painter Matthew Moore; dancers Cassidy Fulmer and Mercedes Mize, singer Avery Meyers, musician T.J. Barends, and rhythm group Innovative Soul. Gallery 1893 is intimate. Gallery 1901 is majestic. The two are linked by a covered outdoor pavilion surrounded by graceful trees and landscaping. The new creative arts center has already hosted musicians and artists for shows and performances through 2021 and has big plans for the new year. New exhibits will go up each month and artists can sell their works directly to consumers. “We are not asking artists, visual or performing, to do anything for free,” Zabbia, who now serves as the nonprofit’s President, said. “We are asking the public to come for free.” With the exceptions of fundraisers and classes, admission to Twin Steeples is free and open to the public. While the primary focus at the arts center is the promotion of the arts in Louisiana, the center is also be available for neutral public gatherings and civic use, as well as for rent for private events on a very limited basis. “Just enough to pay the bills,” Kim said. “Gabriel was adamant that this would be for the community.” h

Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center 220 East Oak Street Ponchatoula, Louisiana twinsteeples.org

E U R O P E A N R E S TA U R A N T

A B AT O N R O U G E T R A D I T I O N S I N C E 1 9 6 2

Lunch Tues-Fri 11-2 Dinner Mon-Wed 5-8:30 Dinner Thurs-Sat 5-9:30

3056 Perkins Road

225-387-9134 // J A N 2 2

Cuisine

J A N U A RY 2 0 2 2

HOME-GROWN

BREWERY TOUR

// 4 3

THE

BATON

ROUGE

COLD ONES

Something’s Brewin’

A GUIDE TO BATON ROUGE’S INTIMATE, BUT VIBRANT, BREWERY SCENE

Story by Jordan LaHaye Fontenot • Photos by Raegan Labat

BIKE

BOOM GETS

BIKES & BREWS

BURGER JOINT W

ince Tin Roof fired up its fermenters almost twelve years ago, craft beer has slowly eked its way into Baton Rouge’s once-one-dimenhsional drinking culture. With the number of breweries growing to four over the course of the past three years, the Capitol City’s small but vibrant cadre of commercial breweries represents a collaborative community of beer makers and drinkers, with each new establishment adding its own sense of nuance and creativity to the way we think about craft brewing.

Tin Roof Brewing Co. 1624 Wyoming St. tinroofbeer.com History: A banker and a lawyer walk into a brewery, or a few—in places far, far away from their homes in Natchez and Baton Rouge. Back in the Bud Light lovin’ South, they couldn’t stop thinking about it. And that’s how the dream for Baton Rouge’s very first craft brewery was born. Charles Caldwell and William McGehee produced their first batch of commercial brews in 2010, in the very same location Tin Roof has claimed for the past decade. Introducing Baton Rouge to the joys of craft beer sip by sip, Tin Roof ultimately helped to usher the Gulf South as a whole into the craft beer boom making its way across the country. In 2014, new laws allowing brewers to sell beer onsite allowed Tin Roof to open a taproom—establishing for Baton Rouge the now-inherent culture of sharing and exploring the world of craft beer within a distinguished and designated space. Tap Room: When Caldwell and McGehee discovered the former Sears distribution building destined to be Tin Roof’s home, they did so with full knowledge that there was plenty of room to grow. And grow it has. Over the past twelve years, the space has accommodated an expansion of the brew house and the introduction of its taproom, as well as its popular back porch and yard. Embracing Tin Roof’s nomenclature as a rustic accent, which contrasts smart wood details, the taproom is warm and welcoming, casual and cool—and even boasts a sweet brew cat or two. The outdoor space, though, is what makes Tin Roof not only a wonderful place to drink beer, but also a lovely place to spend time. “We’re more of a day place,” said Marketing and Special Events Coordinator Mandy Underwood. “We of course love to have people in the evenings and at night, too, but it’s such a great place to spend an afternoon. It’s chill, laid back, just a nice place to be. Bring your dog out, bring some people, bring a book and lay on the lawn with a blanket and a beer.” The Beer: “We fall somewhere in between really traditional breweries and the really experimental ones,” said Underwood. “Sometimes we do stuff that only huge brewer people are going to appreciate, with all this nuanced stuff, and sometimes we’ll just do an explosion of flavors, and we’ll just put it out there to see what happens.” This has been an evolution, she explained, as Baton Rouge in general has become more attuned to the world of craft beer, and more open to trying new things. With its current team, Underwood describes Tin Roof’s brewing approach most concretely as “collaborative”: “Making decisions all together like we do, we often hit on things that, if one person was making all of the decisions all of the time, we wouldn’t.” While Tin Roof is dedicated to its classic, flagship beers (Voodoo, Blonde Ale, Paloma Gose, and the recently-released Roadhouse), recent additions to the brewing team invite a new era of ideas for experimentation. “Our approach generally starts with what we would really like to drink,” said brewer Taylor Matherne. “It’s a bit of what we like personally, what we haven’t seen before, what we would like to see out on the market.”

From top to bottom: The taprooms of Rally Cap Brewing Co., Cypress Coast Brewing Co., and Tin Roof Brewing Co. 38

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

Cultivating Community: One of the most identifiable and popular programs at Tin Roof is its Yoga on the Lawn classes, offered on Wednesdays by a local yoga instructor. “When it comes to beer, as well as events, we really like to source as locally as possible,” said Underwood. For Family Fridays, for instance, Tin Roof will invite parents to bring the whole crew to the yard, where local balloon art-

ists, bounce houses, musical performances, and more await. Sundays bring area musicians to the stage for a weekly showcase. And twice a month on Thursdays, New Orleans musician Evan Fiore hosts an open mic. All of this is in addition to regular disc golf competitions, Bingo nights, trivia, and more—events for which Taproom Manager and trained chef Jimi Hubbard often whips out his skills via his pop-up Boyo’s. Tin Roof is also known as a popular venue for local fundraisers and events held by organizations throughout the region. “We get people from the community coming to us all the time like, ‘Hey, we had this idea,’” said Underwood. “These are great causes and events bringing people out here, and we’ve gotten to collaborate with some great people. And the venue is always the place people will remember.”

Keith Primeaux, owner of LA Homebrew, is on track to open his brewery Agile Brewing early this year off of Airline Highway, adjacent to his homebrew shop.

Recommendations: Soon to replace the Juke Joint as a Tin Roof flagship,

the Road House is a decidedly unhazy West Coast-style IPA, “for those who have been asking where the bitterness went,” and comes highly recommended by every member of the Tin Roof staff, along with another newcomer, the Ambrosia. In contrast, this IPA is almost a cocktail—inspired by your grandma’s sweet and fruity ambrosia salad, flavored by coconut, tangerines, sweet cherries, pineapples, and—yes—marshmallows. As for me, I found myself enamored by the crisp lightness of both the Japanese Rice Lager—a winner created for Tin Roof’s “Lagers Around the World” series—and the Lemon Lavender Open Air, a wheat, aromatic ale that took me straight back to much warmer, sun-soaked days. Owner Operator Cammy McGehee also said to keep an eye out for new releases, including the Orange Jubilee IPA set to make its debut early this year, as well as an oyster stout and a hibiscus sour—both of which were brewing when I visited.

Cypress Coast Brewing Co. 5643 Government Street cypresscoastbrewing.com History: It all began at Target, so the story goes. On work breaks at the retail

corporation, Justin Meyers and Caleb Schlamp fostered their emerging friendship with discussions of their mutual love: craft beer. The two started homebrewing out of Schlamp’s garage, and—after taking home the gold at a series of homebrew competitions around the state—discovered they were pretty good at it. In September 2020, the duo opened Cypress Coast Brewing in the same Government

Developed by Presented by the Alta and John Franks Foundation

USO OPENING RECEPTION WITH THE VICTORY BELLES Hosted by

WEST BATON ROUGE MUSEUM

845 N. Jefferson Avenue Port Allen, LA 70767 225.336.2422

JANUARY 23 Exhibit through

MARCH 20 // J A N 2 2

Street complex that now hosts Gov’t Taco—situating the brewery to fill a gap in the ever-blossoming Mid City neighborhood. After navigating a first year of pandemic regulations and barriers, Meyers and Schlamp are excited about the growing opportunities to more actively engage with the Government Street community.

Tap Room: Under a series of floodlights and atop industrial-chic concrete floors,

Cypress Coast’s taproom is minimalist and sleek—its crown jewel being the long cypress bartop looking out over the machinations of production on the other half of the brewery. The outdoor seating area is just close enough to Gov’t Taco that you can double the fix. Oh, and the facility is dog-friendly!

The Beer: “What differentiates us a bit is that, when it comes to creating beers, we

N E W

don’t really head in one direction,” said Schlamp. “We kind of like to brew everything.” The experimental, try-everything philosophy at Cypress Coast is, of course, a direct consequence of its owners’ history as homebrewers. “You almost never want to brew the same thing twice,” he said. “So, when someone comes in, they can expect that they’re going to have something that potentially they’ve never had before—whether that’s a classic style that’s not brewed anymore, or some experimental new IPA with a new hop no one’s ever heard of.” For instance, in response to the onslaught of heavy pumpkin beers being produced by local breweries each fall—Cypress Coast put out the Pumpkin Puff Girls, a subtly-sweet pumpkin sour beer. “We like to put our twist on things like that,” said Meyers.

S E A S O N

Cultivating Community: On a big chalkboard near the bar, Cypress Coast lists their in-house events for the week—which range from live music and local food pop-ups, to trivia and animal adoption events. “With COVID restrictions, we hadn’t done a lot over that first year,” said Schlamp. “I think a lot more of that is on the horizon, just getting a new customer base, letting people know that we are here.” Recommendations: A lover of all things dark—along with Meyers, it turns Begins Sunday, January 9 at 8PM

out—I quickly found a friend in Cypress Coast’s “Just A Stout”: a simple, toasty, oatmeal stout. The Mid City Blonde was equally pure—crisp and hoppy and great for easy drinking. Schlamp recommended the consistent bestseller, the Bikini Bottom Hazy IPA—which he described as “super tropical, with coconut vibes.”

Begins Sunday, January 2 at 7PM

Rally Cap Brewing Co. 11212 Pennywood Avenue rallycapbrewing.com History: When founder Kevin Whalen landed on the name “Rally Cap” for his

The Plight of Pointe-Au-Chien Sunday, January 2 at 8PM

Monday, January 31 at 8PM

www.lpb.org

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

b lp w.

es liv

tre

new Baton Rouge Brewery, he did so in appreciation for the baseball term’s evocations of community and teamwork. He had no idea the hurdles his new business, opened at the end of 2019, had yet to face in the wake of a global pandemic. Whalen’s vision for a community gathering place that was both a craft brewery and sports bar was forced to take a year-long backseat when gathering was no longer an option. The brand-new business shifted its efforts to the canning line, pushing product out the garage door and accelerating the brand’s distribution process. People were able to find Rally Cap beers in stores long before they were able to visit where they are made. Still, in true rally fashion, the business persevered as it built a community of folks who discovered some of the highest quality beer in the region. Throughout 2021, that community has slowly made its way into the brick and mortar brewery—now a recognized and esteemed brand throughout Louisiana— in the Siegen Lane Industriplex Park.

Tap Room: Decked out in sleek blues, reds, whites, and chromes—the Rally Cap Tap Room boasts all the class and thrill of the sport from which it was inspired. Red detail across the ceiling is reminiscent of baseball stitching, and widescreen televisions make for an ideal sports-viewing experience. The brewery is visible past the bar behind a glass wall, churning out new beers every Friday. The Beer: Quality: that’s what it comes down to at Rally Cap, said Whalen.

“That’s what we, from the beginning, put our focus on,” he said. “Using quality ingredients, no skimping, lots of hops. Our cost of goods is pretty expensive because we’re using the best. It’s important to us, that we maintain that reputation.” Releasing at least one new beer every Friday, Rally Cap is also all about staying on trend. “We want to make what people want to drink right now: our best sellers are the hazy IPAs and the sours, so we try to stay on top of that in innovative ways.”

Cultivating Community: “The community we’ve created is not exactly what

we expected it to be based on our sports theme,” said Whalen. “We had this grand scheme where if there was a big game on, this place would be packed. Turns out, that’s not what brings people in. What we’ve found is that it’s really driven by the beer. Our customers are not neighborhood people looking for a place to hang out. They’re craft beer drinkers.” That said, Whalen was also proud to mention that he’s garnered a crowd of regulars from the Industriplex workforce. “These are Bud Light drinkers, many of whom had never had craft beer before. And now, they’re drinking double IPAs.” As for programming, Rally Cap hosts trivia every Tuesday, live music on the weekends, the occasional local vendor market, and more. “We plan on doing a lot of theme dates in the coming months,” said Whalen, pointing to a luau event highlighting tropical sour beers (with fire dancers!) in the early spring. And then, of course, the brewery will host an all-out bash for baseball’s opening day.

Tree and Shrub Fertilization & Soil Enhancement: Give Your Plants What They Need to Thrive Your trees and shrubs need some help. Bob’s professional arborists can help. They will assess your trees and shrubs, and the soil they grow in, through laboratory soil tests and a visual inspection of your property. They will identify the nutrients and soil enhancements that will help them thrive. SCOTT, LA • 888-620-TREE (8733) CHURCH POINT, LA • 337-684-5431 WWW.BOBSTREE.COM

Recommendations: At the top of the lineup at Rally Cap is the brewery’s core

beer, the First Pitch hazy pale ale. Whalen particularly loves the twist he and his brewers put on that beer, though: the Coconut First Pitch, which is the same beer recirculated through coconut paste. Debuting as the new core beer in 2022 is the Wendy Peffercorn, a golden stout. “It’s a stout, tastes very roasty, but it looks like a golden ale, like a blonde. People look at it, taste it, and are just kind of blown away. It’s almost a summer stout. It just really took off.” As for me, I adored the Christmas Winter Ale—a seasonal specialty brewed with orange peel, cinnamon, and vanilla—and a truly indulgent way to finish off a long, chilly day.

Agile Brewing 14141 Airline Highway Suite 4J agile.beer History: Baton Rouge’s newest brewery is heralded by one of craft beer’s

most-recognized champions in Louisiana. Keith Primeaux, the founder of homebrewing shop LA Homebrew, has been serving hobby brewers in the region for almost a decade. It was all leading up to this, he said: “I really opened LA Homebrew as preparation for opening a brewery someday.” After a long search for the perfect location, Southern Craft Co.’s closing earlier this year offered Primeaux the opportunity to stake his claim at the heart of Baton Rouge’s urban professional demographic off of Airline Highway (The location isn’t “perfect,” Primeaux allowed—it being a bit off of the main thoroughfare, but “The area is.”). With plans to open the taproom in early 2022, Primeaux said that Baton Rouge can soon look forward to finding Agile beers on tap in local bars, and eventually for sale in cans at regional retailers.

HAPPY NEW YEAR Interest Free Financing available WAC

www.signaturesouthernaccents.com 9305-A Main Street, Zachary, LA • (225) 654-7110 Mon-Fri, 9am - 5pm // J A N 2 2

Tap Room: With his LA Homebrew shop right next door, Primeaux has expanded the brewery to incorporate a larger taproom and outdoor patio, which will be accessible via a glass garage door lending natural light to the space. In early December, construction was still deeply underway, but twenty empty outlets behind the massive bar offered a glimpse of the tech-savvy design Primeaux’s got planned. A software developer by trade, he named his brewery for the development term describing “small teams, quick iterations”. “I thought it was the perfect name for a brewery, because craft beer is all about changes. Small, fast, changing—that’s what wins the race.” The brewery’s interior décor will reflect its technical inspirations, featuring twenty thirtytwo-inch televisions displaying graphics and descriptions of every beer on tap— which will be named accordingly: keep a look out for the Backspace Blonde. The Beer: The taproom will serve

twenty beers on tap, along with specialties like sparkling lemonade, cold brew coffee on nitro, and kombucha. “The point is just to have something for everyone: light lagers, sour beers, stouts, hoppy beers, just a little bit of everything.” Agile’s beers are derived, Primeaux said, directly from recipes fine-tuned from his experience at LA Homebrew. “A lot of the research and development is on the LA Homebrew

side, and this will be more the production side of things,” he said. While offering a variety of traditional styles, Primeaux said that Agile will also indulge in some creative twists in its brews. “We brew a double oatmeal stout instead of just a regular oatmeal stout,” he said. “We just brewed a Mexican Malt Liquor. Mexican lagers are trending nationwide, so we thought we’d do a malt version. People will have access to our regulars, Tin Roof Brewing Co.’s taproom is known for being pet friendly, and even hosts a few friendly brew cats on the property. but we’ll also do some one-offs and try to have some fun.” of the vision, too—with future plans for combination of three hops that we used in this one,” he said. “One of the hops is a stage at the center of the taproom. Cultivating Community: In kind of on the newer side, so we didn’t addition to its beer offerings, Agile Recommendations: Still nameless, know what to expect, but this turned will also serve a small menu of hearty Agile’s first releases will include a Hazy out pretty good.” bar food. “We’re gonna serve a typi- IPA and a sour—“We’re still trying cal brewery menu: burgers, chicken to decide if we want to make a dessert Visit lahomebrew.com and sliders,” said Primeaux. “And we want type of sour or a refreshing sour,” said LAHomebrew on social media to incorporate as many share-ables as Primeaux. When I visited, he let me for details on homebrewing we can.” He’ll also offer a few unique taste from a pilot batch of the brewery’s products and upcoming classes, beer-infused food items that customers New England IPA, which I—decidedly including monthly “How to will only find at Agile—“You’ve got to not an IPA drinker—found delightfulMake Beer” workshops. do a pretzel, with IPA cheese,”—as well ly accessible: hoppy, fruity, and lacking as weekend brunches. Live music is part in IPAs’ typical bitterness. “There is a

City of New Roads presents

Prettiest City on the Water

A Special Honor for New R oads native Roads Roger C ador

W. Main Stre

VISIT WWW.NEWROADS.NET FOR LUNDI & MARDI GRAS SCHEDULE & PARADE ROUTE

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

BRAKE FOR BURGERS

Spoke ‘N’ Hub A NEW DINING CONCEPT CRASHES INTO MID CITY’S BIKING BOOM

By Jordan LaHaye Fontenot

Photo by Alexandra Kennon

rom the starting line at Mid City Baton Rouge’s newest eatery, Spoke ‘N’ Hub, bicyclists will set forth: winding their way through Capital Heights all the way Downtown, or venturing to Independence Community Park and beyond. They might head north, past Superior and Baton Rouge Community College all the way to Howell Community Park—further, if they wish. And then they can come back, by one of a dozen routes, landing on the finishing line at the other side of the parking lot—where a delicious, locally-made meal and a cocktail, if they so choose, awaits as their reward. Complimenting Government Street’s recently-completed 11.7 million dollar Road Diet Project—which brought the concept of “complete streets,” featuring pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and bike lanes, to Mid City—City Group Hospitality’s new venture situates itself as the launch pad, rest break, and celebratory landing spot for Baton Rouge bicyclists (and their friends). “From this location, we have bike lanes heading from all directions and leading back to the hub,” said Jeff Conaway, Director of Culinary Operations for City Group. “We want it to kind of be this place that you can start here, go on a long ride, then come back and grab a burger.” The concept will be Conaway’s first major creative contribution to City Group, which he officially joined in the summer of 2020 with the sale of his restaurant Beausoleil to the restaurant group. When Spoke ‘N’ Hub’s location, previously home to Bistro Byronz (which recently moved into the former White Star Market complex), went up for sale, the City Group team started tossing around ideas for the iconic Government Street building. “I’ve ridden bikes for years, and used to talk with one of my old partners about having a place where you could work on your bike, get a cup of coffee, something to eat,” said Conaway. “When they asked if we had any ideas, I said I had one, but didn’t think it would be something they’d want to pursue … and they just rolled right with it.” A play on words drawing on bicycular anatomy, the restaurant’s name also speaks to its potential status as a hub for Baton Rouge’s vibrant bicycling community, which has gained significant momentum in recent years. Accelerated by the advocacy of the nonprofit organization Bike Baton Rouge, concentrated efforts to make Baton Rouge a more bike-friendly city have followed suit. In addition to Government Street’s new “complete streets,” over the past two years Baton Rouge has also seen continued progress along the Baton Rouge

Greenway bike path—which currently takes riders from North Boulevard to Expressway Park, and someday will go all the way to Memorial Stadium—as well as an eight-mile extension of the Mississippi River Levee Bike Path. This is all in addition to the Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC)’s ongoing work bringing more off-road bike paths to its properties, and the continued progress of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s Master Plan for improving the LSU and City Park Lakes—which promises dedicated pedestrian and bicycle routes that connect to others in the city. And in June 2020, the East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council unanimously voted to approve and adopt a Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, which calls for the creation of over one hundred miles of on-road bike paths and two hundred fifty of off-road paths and trails. Such developments have drawn national businesses like the Gotcha bikeshare program—which provides electric bikes for rent throughout the city—and Pedego Electric Bikes, a shop that opened just a few doors down from the future Spoke ‘N’ Hub in May 2021. The long-beloved locally-owned bike shop and youth development nonprofit Front Yard Bikes is another neighbor, having moved to Government Street in 2020 when it outgrew its previous home. “The timing is perfect for this,” emphasized Conaway. Designed as a central gathering space for the folks behind this movement to come together when they hit the brakes, Spoke ‘N’ Hub’s location at the heart of the city—and at the intersection of several of the neighborhood’s bike lanes—is fatefully perfect, too. In early December, construction was still largely underway, though Conaway enthusiastically filled in the empty, wood dust-coated spaces with descriptions of his vision. The doors still emblazoned with their previous tenant’s name, the restaurant announced its next era proudly with a bicycle welded to the top of the entryway arch. Guests will walk beneath it to enter, passing through the massive patio seating area. Walking through the door, guests will be greeted by a wall-sized map, etched on aluminum, laying out all of the existing bike routes in Baton Rouge. This is also where Spoke ‘N’ Hub’s micro retail space will live, featuring “bicycle trinkets,” including tools and merch. Looking out across the dining room, a black line on the floor leads to the main bar, reminding riders of the roads they’ve recently traveled, and guiding them towards much-anticipated reprieve, for which City Group’s talented mixologists are currently developing

an exciting menu. Back up, though, because you don’t want to miss the other bar: the ice cream bar. Situated closer to the entrance, this fifties-diner-esque feature embraces the kid factor of Mid City’s neighborhoods, offering soft serve in cones and floats (beer floats for the parents, too—as well as a daiquiri called the “Derailleur,” named for the bicycle part employed when switching gears). As for the menu: Conaway is keeping it basic and tavern-esque. “Burgers, hot dogs, chicken-fried steak, great salads, appetizers—delicious classics done well,” he said. Seating will be retro but tasteful, dining booths settled around tables made from old bowling alley floors— the funk factor tapered and brightened by the building’s gorgeous, rustic wooden ceiling and the swathes of natural light pouring in from the front windows. By shifting the main entrance to the side of the restaurant, Conaway has transformed the building’s façade into a private dining room and patio, with big-windowed doors that can be opened on Baton Rouge’s rare, glorious, perfect-weather days. Regular diners can also enjoy those sorts of days on the back patio, which will have “more of a back yard feel,” with lounge furniture and couches, according to Conaway. And then there’s the speakeasy. Yep—the Brakes Bar’s more intimate space is situated just behind the restaurant with its very own “old school classics” cocktail menu—featuring what Conaway promises with good humor to be “the best Jack and Coke in town.” Named for the hilarious mayhem caused by braking mid-crash, the wall will be adorned by images of people flipping over their handlebars. “This is just going to be a place to chill out and have a couple of drinks,” said Conaway. “A spin off of the larger restaurant.” With a quickly-approaching anticipated opening date for January 2022, Conaway tied his hopes for Spoke ‘N’ Hub back to his initial goals for Baton Rouge back when he opened Beausoleil in 2010. “I wanted to see Baton Rouge’s way of approaching restaurants change … and I think we kicked off a pretty good start to how people look at food in this city. That’s where this is headed, with the same idea. Hopefully we can change Baton Rouge to be of this mindset, too, that this biking community is something to support and celebrate—just continuing to change how the city uses restaurants, integrating all aspects of how the city is being used. Fostering community, that’s the word.” h

facebook.com/spokeandhubbr // J A N 2 2

Culture

J A N U A RY 2 0 2 2

LOUISIANA'S FORGOTTEN

SPORT

PICK A FIGHT

AT H L E T I C S

The Golden Age of Boxing RECALLING THE SPORT'S EPIC HISTORY IN LOUISIANA HIGH SCHOOLS By Jason Christian

n 1948 the brothers Gascon, Tom- On a recent morning, I sat in Donald my, and Donald, moved with their Gascon’s kitchen and sipped coffee while family up river from Plaquemine he dazzled me with stories. He allowed hto Port Allen, where their father me to rummage through yellowed newsgot a new job. There was only one prob- paper clippings, black and white photos, lem: Port Allen didn’t have a boxing team. and other ephemera from his boxing As a junior with some big wins, Donald days. On the wall hung a framed certifiwas invested in the sport. But Tommy, a cate honoring his induction to the Louisenior, was a three-time state champion. siana High School Boxing Hall of Fame. Quitting was unthinkable. So, the boys hatched a plan. Every weekday morning, they would rise early, walk to where the ferry landing met Highway 1, stand out in front of the local bakery, and hitchhike to school. “We never were late for a day of school,” said the younger Gascon, now eighty-nine. “We made it every day.” That decision proved fortuitous. Tommy won state for the fourth and final time and earned a scholarship to Louisiana State University (LSU). It was the same year (1949) the Tigers took their only national championship in boxing. The next year, Donald joined the team. LSU finished undefeated for the second straight season. Two years later, their coach, James T. “Jim” Owen, was Image courtesy of the Iberville Museum. invited to coach the American team at the Olympics in Helsinki, a (Tommy, another Hall of Famer, passed team much celebrated for obliterating the away in 2006, after succumbing to cancer at seventy-five.) competition and taking five golds. The sport may have lost its luster in Meanwhile, Plaquemine High School continued to fill its gym on Friday nights. Louisiana, but the boxers never forgot. Then, after a slow decline, in 1958, it all One night, two decades after the last bell shut down. Once a rival to football for rang, two boxing alumni from Crowley Louisiana’s favorite sport, boxing was were at a bar in Texas when they ran into ultimately deemed too dangerous, disap- another pair of ex-fighters from a rival pointing the fighters and fans alike. From school. No longer foes, the men relished that point forward, competitive high the chance encounter and got to talking school and college boxing became a relic about the good old days. After a few of another era, like horse-drawn buggies beers, they decided they’d organize a renand telegrams. dezvous. It was high time. They looked through old yearbooks, made some calls, 44

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

compiled a mailing list and sent out invitations. In August 1978, the first of many Louisiana State Boxing Reunions was held in Lafayette. Purportedly, over five hundred people showed up. Despite the great turnout, the reunion didn’t happen again until 1989. In the program that year, the event promised to “stoke the fires of the past and renew the

fraternity created by past and current association.” Bobby Freeman Sr., the Lieutenant Governor from 1980 to 1988, who boxed in high school and at LSU, gave a speech titled “What Boxing Has Done For Me.” Floyd East, a boxer-turned-boxing referee, shared some choice words. The local band Jamie Berzas and the Cajun Tradition serenaded a lively dance. After that, the boxers met every few years, the location always changing: Crowley, Mamou, Ville Platte, and other towns, mostly in the Southwestern part of the state, where boxing’s heyday was most prominent. These were large,

festive, two-day bashes, with plenty of food and live music, a perfect forum in which to fraternize and reminisce. The organizing responsibilities rotated between alumni groups. The men formed committees, found sponsors, printed commemorative programs. A real culture developed. “Even the wives loved coming to those reunions,” Gascon recalled. “My wife told me the first time she went to the reunion, she said, ‘That was the most fun I’ve ever had, watching you guys stand around telling lies about each other. None of you ever lost a fight.’” Things went on that way for more than twenty years— the boxers’ tight-knit but enclosed world garnering little attention from anyone who wasn’t already a part of it. But in 2008, Don Landry attended the eleventh reunion, and left with a desire to share this microculture with the world. A one-time boxer from Lafayette, Landry had just moved back to Louisiana from Florida at the conclusion of a successful career in collegiate and professional sports. His resume included head basketball coach of Nicholls State from 1966 to 1979 and athletic director until 1987, serving as commissioner of the Sunshine State Conference, among other executive positions. Now retired, with more time on his hands, Landry set out to interview dozens of former boxers. He pored over microfilm and other documents, and eventually compiled enough material for a book. Boxing: Louisiana’s Forgotten Sport appeared in print in 2011, a self-published volume that presented the notable names and stats of what he called “Louisiana’s Golden Age of Boxing”. Louisiana might have never embraced competitive high school boxing

Art Classes for all ages • Over 120 Louisiana artisans

Art shows, Art classes, and more!

Retail Gallery & Art Learning Center

Visit https://mid-cityartisans.com for more information info@mid-cityartisans.com • 225-412-2802 • Baton Rouge, LA

GET FRAMED!

In the New Year, resolve to make a favorite painting or photo part of your everyday life

Image courtesy of the Iberville Museum.

if it weren’t for the efforts of Army Lieutenant (later Colonel) Francis G. Brink, who Landry calls “the father of Louisiana High School Boxing.” In 1929, Tulane and LSU founded programs, and the Tigers hired Brink as coach. Brink knew, according to Landry, that without high school boxing there was little chance to build a solid college team. Brink wanted to create a “feeder system” in other words, and so he traveled from town to town pitching a statewide tournament, convincing several schools to sign on and form teams. The first tournament took place on LSU campus in April 1931. “Brink organized the event, set the weight classes, established tournament rules, hired officials, prepared the Gym Armory, and promoted the tournament,” Landry writes. Over the next few years, dozens of schools formed boxing programs. According to Landry, Plaquemine dominated the sport in the 1930s and ‘40s, and New Iberia in the 1950s. For the youngsters, the sport offered an entirely new athletic experience, especially for those “too light to play football or too short to play basketball,” as Landry writes. Case in point: Donald Gascon boxed at ninety pounds his freshmen year. Boxing gave the boys self-respect. It gave them respect from their neighbors and peers. And, of course, it gave them discipline and strength. It’s no surprise that so many of the boxers wound up in the service. Donald Gascon, for example, left LSU shortly after he began to join the National Guard. After two cups of coffee, Gascon drove me to Plaquemine to visit the Louisiana High School Boxing Hall of Fame. The exhibit, also Landry's handiwork, is housed at the Iberville Museum. Placards

there explain all of this history, and there are numerous artifacts: original boxing gloves, robes, and trunks, photographs of the boxers striking their fiercest pose. The crown jewel is the actual bell used in bouts at Plaquemine High. The museum was chosen, firstly, because it was interested, but more to the point: because the Plaquemine Green Devils won the most state championships of any Louisiana school, nine of them, from 1939 to 1949. The day before we arrived, an ex-boxer from New Iberia had stopped by and handed off a photo album to the museum’s curator, Meghan Sylvester, inviting her to add it to the collection. The album was full of photos from the reunions over the years. Smiling, Gascon flipped through the pages and rattled off names. The Hall of Fame itself was a product of those reunions, too. In 2013, the Louisiana High School Boxing Association was established, its purpose to hold ceremonies and induct members into the Hall of Fame. Gascon was one of fifteen board members. The group met in an old cockfighting ring in Sunset, Louisiana, Landry told me by phone. The site was ideal, he said, a ring in the middle with seating around it. “We were able to get that facility free of charge.” On our tour of Plaquemine, Gascon showed me his old haunts: the little house where he grew up, the junkyard (now gone) where he and his brother played, the grocery store (permanently closed) where they’d thumb rides back to Port Allen after school. We passed by the café where, for decades, boxing alumni met once a month to shoot the bull; a local get-together to tide them over until the statewide reunions they so looked forward to.

Docked for Lunch, 12x12 Oil on Panel by Andrea Phillips

Elizabethan Gallery

More than just a frame shop. Elizabethangallery.com

ONE DAY FRAMING AVAILABLE 680 Jefferson Highway, BR, LA 70806 225-924-6437

Print, digital, or both? Subscribe and get Country Roads directly sent to you. www.countryroadsmag.com/subscribe //J A N 2 2

Donald Gascon shows ephemera from his boxing days at Plaquemine High. Photo by Jason Christian.

Love events? Love our stories? Sign up for our e-newsletters and never miss out! Go to www.countryroadsmagazine.com or scan the QR code below to sign up.

Scan here with your phone! 46

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

We finally made it to Plaquemine High, a dark red brick structure, and drove around back to take a look at the very same gym that once hosted the fights. The building is in impeccable shape. It was Election Day, and the gym served as a polling site. Townsfolk were showing up one by one to vote. “Boy, they used to pack that thing in,” Gascon said with a nod toward the gym. He has an original photo of a boxing match there, a wide-angle view of a district tournament in 1942, according to a handwritten caption at the top. It’s the same photo that graces the cover of Landry’s book. In the center of the ring, two boys are going at each other, while a ref stands close, keeping careful watch. Above them hangs a large floodlight that resembles an upside down terra cotta pot. The image is dynamic, vivid, likely a professional job. You can almost hear the ding ding ding of the bell, almost smell the talcum powder wafting off the gloves. The crowd sits ringside in wooden folding chairs, or on bleachers further back. The men wear jackets and ties, the women dresses. They are animated, like the boxers. All eyes are on the action. A few men lean in, perhaps with secret bets on the line. Gascon said that at the season’s end, the ring broke down in pieces and was stored beneath the stage to make way for basketball—which, he said, didn’t amount to much back then. In Plaquemine, boxing was king.

“A lot of people said boxing was a dangerous sport,” Gascon said. “You want to see danger? Go out here at LSU and watch one of those football games. That’s dangerous. That’s violence.” “Everyone who was associated with boxing,” he continued, “from the boxers on up through to the coaches, the officials, the referees, the judges . . . took very special pains to try to make sure that no kid got hurt . . . Sportsmanship at that time was promoted vigorously.” In 1950, the state mandated that boxers wear protective headgear. The public wasn’t convinced enough was done to ensure the sport was safe. They associated it with the undeniably brutal professional fights. Landry quotes the sports columnist Bud Montet, in 1957, in the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate: “To keep the sport going the group must educate coaches, fans, and school officials that boxing is a sport, not a back alley brawl.” But by then it was too late. Boxing had been in decline across the state, across the country, since World War II. In Louisiana, only a few programs remained. The 1958 season in Louisiana would be the last. Amateur boxing has made a comeback in recent decades. In 1979, the United States Amateur Boxing Federation was founded (later changing its name to USA Boxing), and is overseen by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Boxing Association. In 1993,

the organization officially allowed women to participate, and since that time, boxing has only gained popularity for women and girls. In 2019, Lake Charles hosted the USA Boxing Olympic Team Trials. And the next year, USA Boxing’s nine-day National Championships were scheduled to take place in Shreveport. It was postponed due to the pandemic until the following March, and when it did finally happen, it was the organization’s largest tournament ever, according to the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission, bringing an estimated $3.9 million to the state. The tournament enthusiastically returned to Shreveport this past December. It’s a different sport now—more regulated, more diverse—and certainly of a different time. I asked Gascon if he still watched boxing, and he said he did on occasion, a bout here and there on TV. “I actually like the Mexican fighters,” he said. “Those guys are really good. They go into the boxing ring for business. They go from bell to bell.” For him, it was always about good sportsmanship. It was never about the fame. He just enjoys a good, clean, and honest fight. h

The Iberville Museum hosts a special exhibition dedicated to Louisiana's high school boxing history, curated by Don Landry. Photo by Jason Christian.

See the Louisiana Boxing Hall of Fame exhibition, curated by Landry, at the Iberville Museum in Plaquemine, Louisiana. ibervillemuseum.org.

Your tickets to good times in Baton Rouge and beyond

Get your tickets today BONTEMPSTIX.COM //J A N 2 2

Escapes

J A N U A RY 2 0 2 2

THE

POWER OF ECOTOURISM

THE

MISSISSIPPI

D E LT A

G U I D E P O STS

C O A S TA L R E S T O R AT I O N

Bridge Over Troubled Water

THE GREAT DELTA TOURS INVITES GUESTS TO EXPERIENCE RESTORATION EFFORTS, UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

Story and photos by Alexandra Kennon

Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge, the largest urban National Wildlife Refuge in the United States, located in New Orleans East. Photo courtesy of the National Wildlife Federation.

hy Ecotourism Matters

To live in Louisiana is to exist with a constant, looming awareness of our disappearing coastlines. But for those of us living on that coast, awareness is too mild a word; the impact of coastal erosion, for these communities, has a direct impact on their livelihoods and their homes. “When I was a kid, they had at least a hundred boats in that area every night in the summertime,” Paul McIntyre said, describing the state of the fishing industry on the shores of Lake Saint Catherine. “Now, it’s so minimal. Like in my neighborhood, five guys might go shrimp now. And they have other jobs. So, it’s definitely not the same.” McIntyre himself was an oyster fisherman full-time prior to February 2019, when the state opened the Bonnet Carré Spillway, flushing Lake Saint Catherine, Lake Borgne, Lake Ponchartrain, and other salt and brackish lakes with a massive influx of fresh water from the swelling Mississippi River. While the intended mitigation of flood risk was a success, for marine life dependent on higher salinity levels, the results were devastating. In past openings of the spillway, the New Orleans Landbridge—a series of marshlands at the opening of

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

the bay—helped to block the deluge of fresh water from so drastically impacting these ecosystems. But the past few decades-worth of declining marshland (particularly since Hurricane Katrina) have left the waters of Lake Pontchartrain and other ecologically crucial areas more vulnerable to the influx of fresh water than before. If the lack of water salinity doesn’t kill the wildlife immediately, the algae that blooms as a result of the waters’ warming eventually dies, sinks, and causes hypoxia. “We had hundreds of dolphins dying. I watched them float across my oyster lease, numerous just riding in,” McIntyre recalled. “And that’s the first time I’ve seen a mortality rate on dolphins like that in my entire lifetime.” Away with the dolphins went the oysters, which McIntyre describes as like “the canary in the mine”: they’re usually the first to die when water quality changes too drastically. “It killed everything I had, you know, my total investment—because we spend a lot of money to grow oysters—was wiped out.” After the devastation of his oyster business, McIntyre went back to school to study Coastal Studies and now works as a firefighter. He also devotes significant time to helping educate the public on the ecological challenges he’s observed first-hand. Stories like his, he said, demonstrate the urgent need for land and marsh restoration efforts in the region.

Enter: The Great Delta Tours

On a recent sunny but chilly Monday morning, I had the chance to travel with McIntyre out on his oyster boat to witness the loss of the Landbridge on Lake Saint Catherine with my own eyes, as part of an excursion curated by The Great Delta Tours. Founded by Barbara Johnson, The Great Delta Tours engages in ecotourism by taking people outside of New Orleans to the sites of past, current, and future wetlands restoration projects. By explaining the science behind the land loss and its restoration and introducing guests to people like McIntyre and their communities—who are directly impacted by both the loss of marsh and the efforts to restore it—the tours aim to make the necessity of such projects viscerally clear. “You’re a product of your natural environment. But nowhere is that truer than in Louisiana, because the river has shaped us, and our cultures, and our economy,” Johnson explained. “It’s all a beautiful tapestry of neighborhood and culture and economic assets and natural assets. And that’s how we try to present our story.” The Great Delta Tours’ most popular offering is its Delta Discovery Tour, wherein participants are taken directly into coastal communities like those on Lake Saint Catherine and out in New Orleans East, learning about the history and ecology of Lake Pontchartrain,

Bayou Sauvage, the Mississippi River, and other relevant bodies of water. In addition to admiring wildlife in its natural habitat, participants hear directly from individuals in the fishing industry such as McIntyre, explore areas that have been impacted by environmental changes and land loss, and learn about some of the hundreds of currently-ongoing restoration efforts in their various stages. Tour-goers also enjoy a bahn mi (Vietnamese po-boy) lunch from James Beard America’s Classics award-winning Dong Phuong Bakery in New Orleans East—yet another approachable way of connecting guests to Delta communities.

The New Orleans Landbridge Shoreline Stabilization and Marsh Creation Project

McIntyre compared the loss of marshland along the Landbridge to tooth decay: “Once you break through the enamel, the rest of it goes fast, you know? That’s kind of how the marshes are. That’s how I’ve witnessed it. Once you break through a shoreline, it usually doesn’t take long to keep on going.” He remembers riding the school bus past one section of the Landbridge as a child. Back then, “It was a very healthy marsh. A lot of people fished the shoreline of it,” he said. “Then, all of a sudden around the time of Katrina—it’s that tooth decay issue: once the storm beat it up so bad, within fifteen years the land that used to be a half a mile out is now like a tenth of a mile from the roadway.” Taking visitors to the site of the New Orleans Landbridge is a more recent development for The Great Delta Tours—one that Johnson is particularly excited about because of the location, immediacy, and scale of the project. Officially titled the New Orleans Landbridge Shoreline Stabilization and Marsh Creation project, this undertaking initiated by the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) is estimated to cost $25.4 million, with the goal of utilizing sediment dredged from the floors of Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Saint Catherine to create 169 acres of marshland and nourish 102 more, and to enhance over 15,000 linear feet of shoreline in two targeted locations on the New Orleans Landbridge. “That’s nothing to sneeze at, right?” asked Amanda Moore, Deputy Director of the Gulf Program for the National Wildlife Federation and a member of the coalition Restore the Mississippi River Delta. “Like, that’s real money. That’s going into good projects that have great science behind them, that have robust com-

17th annual

EAGLE EXPO

Feb. 18-19, 2022

Morgan City, La.

• Boat Tours to view eagles • Field Trips • Photography Workshop • Social • Birds of Prey program • Tickets – www.bontempstix.com • Group Rates available • https://www.cajuncoast.com/event/eagle-expo

(800) 256-2931 www.cajuncoast.com #cajuncoast

A NEW LIVE REGIONAL DAILY RADIO PROGRAM ABOUT SOUTH LOUISIANA One timely way to get involved in restoration efforts is by participating in New Orleans’ annual Christmas Tree Drop recycling program, wherein thousands of repurposed Christmas trees are dropped by helicopter into Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge (the largest urban National Wildlife Refuge in America, which happens to be in New Orleans East) as breakwaters to trap silt, slow water movement, and help encourage growth of marsh grasses. This year’s pick up will take place the week of January 10. For more information, contact the mayor’s office at (504) 658-4901.

Monday through Friday live at noon and rebroadcast at 7:30 p.m.

In Baton Rouge on WRKF 89.3 FM In New Orleans on WWNO 89.9 FM and on wrkf.org and wwno.org

// J A N 2 2

A bahn mi sandwich from Dong Phuong Bakery in New Orleans East, being enjoyed by the author from McIntyre’s oyster boat near the Landbridge.

munity support…we all need to pay attention and keep an eye on it. And the engagement from the community, and from anybody that cares about the New Orleans area is really, really important.” Moore has engaged tens of thousands of people regarding the Landbridge project. Out of the many restoration projects for which she advocates, the Landbridge’s importance on a cultural, environmental, and economic level is easiest to communicate to the public. “Because people can look at that and understand, ‘Wow, we don’t want to lose this. This is really important to our future.’ It’s not hard to understand,” Moore said. “[The Landbridge is] our last line of defense from the Gulf of Mexico, for 1.5 million people in the New Orleans region, including eight parishes and all of those communities around Lake Pontchartrain,” Johnson stressed. Not only is the Landbridge project important to the communities along Lake Saint Catherine, but the Landbridge’s presence is necessary to protect cultural assets, like the vibrant Vietnamese community in New Orleans East, and economic assets like the nearby NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, which provides around 3,500 jobs. “On that Landbridge, we build rockets. We have the most sophisticated technology that’s being manufactured in the world, on the Landbridge,” Johnson marveled, also noting that other employers like

Folgers and Textron Marine & Land Systems are nearby, providing in total around 5,000 technological jobs. “And that’s at risk.” Moore thinks Johnson’s tours are important not only because of the way they communicate the ecosystem’s significance and needs, but for the way they demonstrate the direct human impact. “It’s not just this vast wilderness, there are many communities of people who love that area,” Moore said, referencing the New Orleans East communities, as well as the many hunters and fishermen who benefit from the Landbridge. “And this restoration project is really, really important to them.” Against the grim realities of the Mississippi Delta’s overwhelming land loss, it’s rare to encounter a bright spot. But in the case of the Landbridge project, once underway the positive outcomes will be real and tangible, turning back the clock on the loss of land in a way that is as observable as the loss itself. “One of the reasons I got really excited about the putting together the New Orleans Landbridge tour is that we are now starting to see some projects coming out of the ground or about to come out of the ground just fifteen miles from the French Quarter,” Johnson emphasized. “So, you have millions of people [to whom you can] expose firsthand the scale of the land loss and how rapid it has been, especially since the impact of Hurricane Katrina and other more re-

READ SOMETHING REAL PRINTED ON ACTUAL PAPER SINCE 1983

GET A PRINT SUBSCRIPTION AT COUNTRYROADSMAG.COM 50

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

cent storms. But also the solutions and what we’re doing about it. And then what communities, organizations, and individuals can do to really accelerate and create these kinds of changes more quickly and more effectively.” As for what the general public can do to help facilitate such projects, Johnson said the needs are three-pronged. The first component is education: individuals can step up to lead or participate in ecotours like The Great Delta’s, host events that help inform others about coastal land loss and coastal resilience initiatives, or join a group like the Pontchartrain Conservancy Coastal Crew, which teaches the public about coastal needs at community events and festivals. The second element is advocacy: contacting local politicians to urge their support for coastal restoration efforts, writing letters to the editor and other content making others aware of the devastation of coastal land loss and the importance of funding projects to remedy it, and speaking out in meetings and discussions about funding coastal restoration. “It’s going to take all of us on the advocacy side,” Johnson stressed. “People need to rally to say, ‘This is important.’ It’s the classic squeaky wheel.” The third and final component is stewardship, or volunteering—The Pontchartrain Conservancy and The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana in particular are always in need of vol-

unteers for various hands-on projects. “Both of them are doing planting of trees and wetland grasses, they’re recycling oyster shells,” Johnson said. “There’s always something going on.” Now that the efforts of the Landbridge project are underway, McIntyre—who has witnessed the immediate success of other dredging projects in the past—is confident that the marshland restoration will come quickly. “There’s no guessing with ‘maybe this’ll work’—it’s definitely going to work. The land will be there. When they start pumping, within a week, you gonna be like ‘ooh, look at that land!’” he said. “So, it’s not a hit or miss, it’s definitely going to happen.” As for why people like McIntyre, Johnson, and Moore personally devote such time and efforts toward these causes—it can all be drawn back to the Delta, and their deep, enduring love for this place that is our home. “Anything I can do to help my state, my paradise,” McIntyre said. “Because watching it fall apart just isn’t fun.” h

For information on The Great Delta Tours or how to book, visit thegreatdeltatours.com. For an interactive map explaining the Landbridge project and the many other coastal restoration efforts in various stages, visit the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s comprehensive resource at cims.coastal.louisiana.gov.

Look for our FIRST EVER FEBRUARY MUSIC ISSUE on stands next month!

// J A N 2 2

Directory of Merchants Albany, LA Livingston Parish CVB Baton Rouge, LA Allwood Furniture Artistry of Light Baton Rouge Clinic Becky Parrish Aesthetician Blue Cross Blue Shield East Baton Rouge Parish Library Elizabethan Gallery Eye Wander Photography Losey Insurance and Financial Services Louisiana Department of Health Louisiana Public Broadcasting LSU Museum of Art LSU Rural Life Museum The Manship Theatre Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Mid City Artisans Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center

14 32 25 29 6 56 45 17 12 3 40 20 22 9 27 45 2

Pennington Biomedical Research Center Pinetta’s Wilson & Wilson, LLC WRKF 89.3 FM Brookhaven, MS Brookhaven Tourism Council Broussard, LA Parkside RV Park

7 37 31 49

Hammond, LA Tangipahoa Parish CVB Jackson, MS Visit Mississippi

J A N 2 2 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

Mansura, LA Avoyelles Tourism Commission 15

Opelousas, LA St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission

Metairie, LA Jefferson Performing Arts Society

Plaquemine, LA Iberville Parish Tourism Department

Port Allen, LA West Baton Rouge Museum

Scott, LA Bob’s Tree Preservation

St. Francisville, LA Artistry of Light Grandmother’s Buttons The Magnolia Cafe

32 42 29

Zachary, LA Signature Southern Accents

Gonzales, LA Home and Remodeling Show with Ralph’s Market Food Fest 10 Grand Isle, LA Grand Isle Tourism Department

New Roads, LA City of New Roads

Mandeville, LA St. Tammany Parish Tourist Commission

Morgan City, LA Cajun Coast CVB Natchez, MS Monmouth Historic Inn Natchez.com Olivina Boutique The Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration United Mississippi Bank Visit Natchez

16 19 35 37 35 37

New Orleans, LA New Orleans Ballet Association 21

SAVE THe DATe November 13, 2022 The Myrtles, St. Francisville, LA Featured Chefs & Restaurants • Notable Wines Craft Beers & Ales from LA & MS Brewers • Lawn Games Craft Cocktails • Live Music • Whiskey Tastings • Chefs Demos Small Town Chefs Award Winners • AND MORE!

// J A N 2 2

Country Roads Magazine "The Analog Issue" January 2022

Articles inside

FORGOTTEN WISDOMS A guide to homesteading in the twenty-first century

REFLECTIONS Dry Spell

WOVEN INTO BEING The ancient art of Chitimacha basket-making