Country Roads Magazine "Visual Arts Issue" November 2021

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Contents

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Events

11 6 8

ART EVERYWHERE Discover the arts beyond museums: in festivals, studios, and beyond.

REFLECTIONS Picture of a Place in Time

by James Fox-Smith

NEWS & NOTEWORTHIES

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Features

30 36 38

Publisher

YESTERDAY WE SAID TOMORROW A guide to all things Prospect.5

by Alexandra Kennon

James Fox-Smith

Associate Publisher

Ashley Fox-Smith

A MAXIMALIST’S DREAM Mid City Artisans is the home Baton Rouge creatives have been longing for.

by Kristen Foster

Managing Editor

Jordan LaHaye Fontenot

Arts & Entertainment Editor

Alexandra Kennon

NATCHEZ, ILLUMINATED Allumer brings light-inspired art to Dunleith.

by Swathi Reddy

Creative Director

Kourtney Zimmerman

Contributors:

Catherine Schoeffler Comeaux, Ed Cullen, Beth D’Addono, Kristen Foster, Jason Hutter, Kimberly Meadowlark, Lucie Monk Carter, Swathi Reddy

On the Cover

“EXTINCT IN THE WILD” Cover image by Courtney Egan

At Natchez’s inaugural Allumer event, to be staged at Dunleith November 19–21, Courtney Egan’s botanical projections will bloom across the greenhouse walls. Using light and technology, and inspired by the distinct flora of her home city New Orleans—Egan will display her interpretation of the festival’s thrust: rebirth and renewal.

In this 2021 Visual Arts issue, art illuminates our cities—quite literally in Natchez’s showcase of light-based art installations (page 38), contemplatively across New Orleans as artists from across the globe set up for the triennial exhibition, Prospect.5 (30), and hyper-locally at Baton Rouge’s newest artist’s haven, Mid City Artisans (36).

Against the turbulent backdrop of our world’s current, complicated state—it is certainly a gift to live in a region offering so many opportunities to explore issues like climate change, race, identity, and more through the lenses of our region’s creative masterminds and their work.

Coming back to our cover—Egan’s “Extinct in the Wild” presents the Angel’s Trumpet—an ornamental that, today, only propagates through human cultivation. So it is with art, and with change. Neither occurs without us. Neither can.

Cuisine

40 44

46 4

VIRTUOUS VENISON 5 chefs on all things deer and dear

by Jordan LaHaye Fontenot

STRAIGHT FROM THE VINE All about Copper Vine’s new wine experiences

by Jordan LaHaye Fontenot

SEE YOU AT THE MYRTLES! The St. Francisville Food & Wine Festival returns.

Culture

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50 51 53

CHINE’S NETS A 70-year-old bastion of Louisiana’s fishing industry

by Beth D’Addono

ROCKWELLIAN MOMENTS A glimpse of human goodness before the holidays

by Ed Cullen

ARTEGG Where all the cool artists congregate

by Jason Hutter

POCKET PARK The vibrancy of Franklin’s vacant spaces

by Catherine Schoeffler Comeaux

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Escapes

54 62

MEET ME IN MARBLE FALLS Three days in the Hill Country

by Jordan LaHaye Fontenot

PERSPECTIVES Jay N. Davis comes full circle.

by James Fox-Smith

Cover Artist

Courtney Egan

Advertising

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Custom Content Coordinator

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Advertising Coordinator

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President

Dorcas Woods Brown

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Reflections FROM THE PUBLISHER

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n a wall in our bedroom hangs a little oil painting.

About nine inches by thirteen and contained within a wooden, silver-painted frame, it shows the skyline of Oia, a little hilltop town on Santorini—the famously volcanic Greek island in the Aegean Sea. Almost everyone who visits Santorini ends up in Oia because the town—which clings to the cliffs on the northwestern tip of the island, a thousand sheer feet above the wine-dark sea—is probably the most spectacular place in the world from which to watch the sun set. In a blaze of blue and white and gold paint, piled on thick with a palette knife, the artist who made our little painting captured the gorgeous cascade of blue-roofed, whitewashed buildings that line the clifftop, through which a visitor picks his way on higgledy-piggledy footpaths festooned with sprays of red and purple bougainvillea, and lined with homes, shops, bars, restaurants, galleries, and the occasional landscape painter.

Quite simply, Oia is the most breathtakingly beautiful place my wife and I have ever visited.

My wife and I didn’t buy this painting, though. We visited Santorini in 1993 before we were married, when we were just another couple of twenty-something backpackers drifting around Southern Europe with a dog-eared copy of Let’s Go Greece for guidance and a determination to make the few hundred bucks in our possession last as long as possible. In 1993 Greece was a good place to do that; the food and the ferries were cheap, the beach was free, and we were young and in love and sunburned and as good-looking as we were ever going to be. Being broke, though, whatever drachmas we had went towards bread and feta and ferry tickets, not oil paintings and other meaningful souvenirs of that precious, precious time—no matter how much I wish I could go back and change that now.

Our Oia painting was a gift from my wife’s sister, Becky, who went to Santorini herself a few years later, when she needed a break from medical school.

I guess she got tired of hearing us rave about it and decided to see what the fuss was about. Somewhere along one of those clifftop footpaths Becky made the acquaintance of a landscape artist sitting by an easel set up to face the setting sun.

She bought two paintings: one for herself

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Photo by Raegan Labat

and one for us. When she came home and gave it to us, we agreed that we’d all go back together one day.

How long ago that seems. Today Becky is in the home stretch of a battle with cancer—a slow-spreading lymphoma that lurked undetected for a year or more before surfacing to steal her health and challenge her spirit. And for Ashley and I, plodding through the heavily mortgaged hills and valleys of middle age, that summer in Greece seems impossibly distant across space as well as time—a shimmering fever dream seen through blue, white and gold-tinted glasses. A couple of days ago I glanced at that little painting and realized I hadn’t actually thought about our time in Santorini in years. Doing so now brought all sorts of memories rushing back: Ashley and me on a rented motorbike, swooping

down the hilltop road between Oia and Fira amid a flock of other scooters—her blonde hair streaming in the wind. The two of us waking up beneath a thin blanket, on a beach in the chill light of dawn and watching a single, wooden fishing boat puttering out to sea. A rooftop bar in early evening, beers and a backgammon game, and the light of a setting sun making a flaming halo of my future wife’s hair. Are these memories real? Besides a couple of faded snapshots taken with a disposable camera (remember those?), there’s very little material evidence from that summer to go by. So whether things happened the way I remember is hard to say. But it scarcely seems to matter because all these memories and more seem to be bottled up in that little painting—better than a photograph, truer than the truth—waiting for somebody to stop for a second and take the time to remember. A nine-by-thirteen reminder of life’s infinite possibility, the value of experience over material gain, and the inescapability of time. Together with Becky, we will go back. And when we do, the sun will still be setting over Oia. —James Fox-Smith, publisher james@countryroadsmag.com

A Special Advertising Feature from Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center

Maximum Impact For more than fifty years, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has provided unparalleled cancer care and support for patients and their families before, during, and after treatment. But none of it would be possible without the support of our community of donors.

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hilanthropy is more than a fulfilling passion project or rewarding extracurricular endeavor; it is a life-saving gift. Community support is vital to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s ability to provide goldstandard care and invaluable supportive programs and resources at every stage of the cancer journey.

“We could not do what we do without philanthropic support from our community of donors,” says Mary Bird Perkins Vice President and Chief Development Officer Danielle Mack.

“The fight against cancer is a shared endeavor that is only propelled forward when a community comes together—individuals, families, companies, foundations, and organizations partnering with the Cancer Center to provide critical resources and support to patients and their caregivers.”

The support of two philanthropic organizations in particular—the Gonzales Area Foundation and Karnival Krewe de Louisiane—has proven to be vital in advancing the Cancer Center’s mission within the Capital Region.

The Gonzales Area Foundation (GAF) was originally founded by a group of community members with a desire to assist Mary Bird Perkins in making cancer prevention and treatment in Ascension Parish sustainable for generations to come, hosting the inaugural Gonzales Gala in 2016.

Since then, they’ve only expanded granting efforts.

In 2017, the foundation started Live Well Ascension, an annual prevention and early detection event that offers free cancer screenings to parish residents.

In 2018, GAF partnered with Mary Bird Perkins to launch the THRIVE survivorship program at its Gonzales campus, which helps patients reach their health goals through mind-body support groups, art workshops, walking groups, therapeutic massages, health and wellness counseling, and more.

DeEtte DeArmond, a founding member of the Gonzales Area Foundation, says that ensuring patients have access to treatment locally makes a huge difference in lessening the burden of cancer in their daily lives. “The reason why this cause is so dear to our hearts is because it’s in our community,” she says. “People don’t have to travel to New Orleans or Baton Rouge to receive treatment, they can get it right here in Ascension Parish. Being able to help

people receive care close to home is something that’s very important to us.”

Even when the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled their annual fundraiser both in 2020 and 2021, GAF stood by their promise to support Mary Bird Perkins patients and families during a time when they needed it most. Since the onset of the pandemic, GAF has donated $160,000 to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Gonzales, and has raised over $600,000 since the original GAF Gala in 2016. This year’s gala will take place on April 2, 2022.

For more than thirty-five years, Karnival Krewe de Louisiane (KKdL) has also dedicated itself to cancer research, prevention, and indigent patient care in the Greater Baton Rouge region. With many of its members having been touched by cancer themselves, KKdL is committed to giving back through promoting a “party with a purpose.”

Fun philanthropic events are scheduled for krewe members year-round, culminating with a grand Mardi Gras Ball. This year’s ball will be held on Friday, February 4, 2022 at the Raising Cane’s River Center in downtown Baton Rouge.

KKdL has raised over four million dollars to date for the Cancer Center, all of which has gone toward funding screening and prevention events and critical patient services such as patient navigators, who remove any barriers to care by helping patients navigate the healthcare system, transportation assistance, nutritional supplements, short-term housing, and medical co-pays. In 2020 alone, KKdL’s $325,000 contribution funded more than 8,000 cancer screenings and navigation services for nearly 2,000 patients; along with additional resources such as patient dental care, kid camps, clinical trials, and medical physics support.

“Mary Bird Perkins is so important to our community in general. So many people have been touched through this terrible disease, so to have Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center right here in Baton Rouge means so much,” says KKdL president Katie Graves. “It keeps families together when they’re battling this disease since they don’t have to travel to get top state-of-the-art care.”

To learn more, go to marybird.org/giving. For more information on how to get involved in Gonzales Area Foundation and Karnival Krewe de Louisiane, visit gonzalesareafoundation.org and karnivalkrewe.com.

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Noteworthy

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

CURIOSITIES

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Photographing “Home”

OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART ISSUES CALL FOR ENTRIES TO THE DARRYL CHAPPELL FOUNDATION PHOTOGRAPHER-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM

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“RaMell Ross, iHome, 2012, Pigment print, 36’’ x 46’’, Courtesy of Ogden Museum of Southern Art.” This image will be on view at the Ogden throughout November in Ross’ solo exhibition, Spell, Time, Practice, American, Body.

ike beauty, the concept of “home” sits squarely in the eye of the beholder. This fall, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art is inviting photographers of African descent to behold the concept of “home” in the South by applying to a photographer-in-residence program, funded by the Darryl Chappell Foundation and open to Afrodescendants twenty-one and older who have been practicing photography for five years or more. Although photographers from everywhere are eligible, strong consideration will be given to those living and working in the rural American South. Applications received by the November 23 deadline will be reviewed by Ogden’s curatorial department.

The selected photographer will serve as Photographer-in-Residence from April through June, 2022, working closely with Ogden curators, and also with local photographer and mentor L. Kasimu Harris to grow and foster their connections and presence within the New Orleans arts community. The photographer will be the subject of a solo exhibition and online educational programming at Ogden Museum, and will receive stipends and living allowances totalling $11,000. In addition, two works of art by the photographer will be added to the museum’s permanent collection following the show.

“Over the last ten years the focus of Ogden Museum’s photography programming has been promoting, cultivating, and collecting works by underrepresented, marginalized and emerging photographers,” said William Pittman Andrews, Executive Director of Ogden Museum.

“The Darryl Chappell Foundation Photographer-in-Residence grant will help us to continue our efforts to support the artist community and lift up the powerful artistic voices of our time.”

The residency begins on April 15, 2022 and runs through June 17, 2022. To apply, visit ogdenmuseum.org. For more information call (504) 539-9622.

—James Fox-Smith

“Play it Again” Gets an Encore THE ACA’S INSTRUMENT DONATION PROGRAM CONTINUES TO PUT INSTRUMENTS INTO KIDS’ HANDS

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ouis Armstrong’s first instrument was a ten dollar cornet he purchased in a New hOrleans pawnshop as a teenager. He described it as “all bent up,” with “holes knocked in the bell.” The fact that the instrument was secondhand and in poor shape clearly didn’t deter Armstrong from eventually becoming one of New Orleans’ greatest early jazz musicians.

The fact is, humble beginnings are far better than no beginnings at all. Even if talent shows no bias toward one class group over another, accessibility frequently does—particularly when it comes to music education, with instruments bearing steep price tags.

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That’s where the Acadiana Center for the Arts’ “Play it Again” Instrument Recycling Program comes into, well, play.

The ACA, with the help of sponsors Lafayette Music Company, Associated Travel, the Martial F. Billeaud, Sr. Foundation, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, requests donations of any musical instruments in decent condition— from trumpets, to flutes, to guitars, and beyond—that one might have in their home collecting more dust than use. After making necessary repairs, the ACA then distributes those instruments directly to children whose families otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford them.

Since its beginnings in 2013, the

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“Play it Again” program has put more than eight hundred donated instruments into the hands of public school kids throughout Acadiana. “We hope this will over-come the significant cost barrier for young people who will benefit from the fun, rigor, and challenge of learning a musical instrument,” said Executive Director of the ACA Sam Oliver. Even if a kid doesn’t necessarily become the next Satchmo, learning an instrument is proven to have numerous benefits on individual development: children who study a musical instrument are more likely to excel in their other studies, to have enhanced critical thinking skills, and are even more like-

ly to pursue higher education. Now in its ninth year, the program is currently accepting donations until December 31—so if you think it’s likely the termites will get to that old violin before you do, consider dropping it off at one of the donation sites. Who knows: you could be jumpstarting the career of a future virtuoso.

Instrument donations can be made to Lafayette Music Company and Acadiana Center for the Arts until December 31. All donations are tax deductible and donors will receive written documentation of their gifts. acadianacenterforthearts.org —Alexandra Kennon

New Stories at The Shadows

REINTERPRETATION INITIATIVES CULMINATE IN A NEW TOUR AT NEW IBERIA’S CROWN JEWEL

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ver the past two years Kenetha Harrington, a doctoral student in LSU’s Department of Anthropology and Geography, has been digging into the Shadows.

New Iberia’s crown jewel, the Shadows-on-the-Teche, has drawn tens of thousands of visitors annually to its Greek Revival grandeur and verdant gardens for over fifty years now.

Owned by The National Trust for Historic Preservation since 1958, the 1831 property has long been presented and interpreted through the lenses of its owners, the Weeks family, who owned four sugar cane plantations in the area during the mid-nineteenth century, up until the Civil War. In early 2020, however, the Shadows was ready to embark on a concentrated effort to expand that narrative.

Through a reinterpretation initiative conceived to shed light on the stories of the African American men and women enslaved on the property, Shadows on the Teche joins a host of other historic destinations in pulling back the velvet curtains to reveal unabashedly the dark realities of Antebellum life.

“The purpose of the reinterpretation initiative is to expand our narrative, to make it more inclusive and reflective of all the people who lived and worked here [at the Shadows], including more of the Black perspective, and discussing more about slavery and those intricacies,” explained Jayd Buteaux, the Shadows’ marketing and programs manager.

The Shadows’ initiative was—like much else—stalled by the onslaught of the pandemic, which forced the estate to close the house for tours until October 2021. In the meantime, though, the staff started developing aspects of the project that they could. This included the installation of six interpretive signs on the grounds and a major website overhaul, featuring a more comprehensive outline of the property’s history beginning with Native American settlements along the Bayou Teche three thousand years ago, taking the reader through the site’s history during the Antebellum era, Civil War, and Reconstruction, all the way to the present day.

It was at this point, also, that Harrington came into the picture.

Through a deep dive into the Weeks’ family papers—which include personal and business documents from

the Weeks family, many related to the sugar and cotton business in South Louisiana at the time—as well as other historical documents surrounding the property and the people associated with it, Harrington was able to deliver a contextually richer story for the Shadows-on-the-Teche.

“What she found helped us to better understand what this place meant from a regional level, national level, and international, too,” said Buteaux.

Harrington went even further, though—spending time with people in the community, gathering oral histories from the descendants of people who were enslaved by the Weeks family; as well as local court records and genealogy research. “All of that information was then turned into a living history document, which we will use moving forward as we craft tours and programs,” said Buteaux.

The Shadows-on-the-Teche’s newest tour comes directly from Harrington’s discoveries, focusing on the lives of two women integral to the history of the property: Mary Conrad Weeks Moore and Louisa Bryant, the enslaved housekeeper. “You explore both of their lives as you walk through the house,” said Buteaux. “Mary’s husband died shortly after the house was built, so suddenly she was taking over operations of this plantation. What does this mean for her? She’s gone from being a planter’s wife to a planter herself, and also a slaveholder. Louisa Bryant is living at the Shadows in a cabin behind the house. What does her life look like?

How are these women interacting with one another? How are their children interacting with one another?”

With new funding from the National Endowment for Humanities grant and input from an advisory board made up of local teachers, professors from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and members of the Iberia African American Historical Society— the Shadows has big plans for 2022. As reinterpretation efforts continue to unfold and expand, the Shadows plans to host a new orientation exhibit in its visitors’ center, a host of African American genealogy workshops, and an original theatrical production produced by local creatives—plus, plenty more. shadowsontheteche.org —Jordan LaHaye Fontenot

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ON

Events

FALL BREEZES, CREATIVITY BLOWS

SWEATER

FOR

INTO

ART WALKS, FALL FESTIVALS

ART ABOUNDING

TOWN—SO

DON YOUR

& OUTDOOR

FAVORITE

CONCERTS

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The New Orleans live-in artists’ retreat A Studio in the Woods once again invites the public into its creative haven on November 13 for the eleventh annual FORESTival, a celebration of art and nature. Read more in the listing on page 21. Photo courtesy of A Studio in the Woods.

UNTIL

NOV 7th

FALL FESTIVALS THE GREATER BATON ROUGE STATE FAIR Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The Baton Rouge State Fair pulls out all the stops each year with rides galore and live music almost every night. Clowns and magicians amble about while fair-goers feed on delicious fair food. Plus there’s mutton bustin’, lawn-tractor pulls, pig races, and an exotic animal petting zoo. Junior beef, dairy, and goat shows also add to the agricultural theme. It’s a Baton Rouge tradition at the Airline Highway Park and Fairgrounds. 5 pm–10 pm Mondays–Fridays; noon–10 pm Saturdays & Sundays. $5 and up. gbrsf.com. k

UNTIL

NOV 14th

THEATRE ARSENIC AND OLD LACE Mandeville, Louisiana

Head to 30 by Ninety to see Arsenic and Old Lace, penned by American playwright Joseph Kesselring. Expect more than a few laughs during this black comedy about two loving and caring sisters who take in

lonely gentlemen boarders and give them a “permanent” residence. 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays; 2:30 pm Sundays; $19; $11 for children twelve and younger; $17 for military; $14 for students. 30byninety.com. k

UNTIL

NOV 14th

FALL FESTIVALS LOUISIANA BOOK FESTIVAL Online

Louisiana’s excellent annual literary festival returns, bringing hundreds of authors, literary-minded organizations, and bibliophiles together—this year, virtually and extended into a two week event. In lieu of the usual live and in-person festival, the Louisiana Center for the Book will present over thirty virtual programs with authors, poets, and other participants. louisianabookfestival.org. k

UNTIL NOV

14th

THEATRE TELL IT TO ME SWEET New Orleans, Louisiana

The NOLA Project wishes to lure you into NOMA’s Besthoff Sculpture

Garden to tell you tales both strange and creepy, familiar and new in their original production Tell It to Me Sweet.

The audience will be ushered through the garden, where they’ll move from tale to tale in small groups—and costumes are encouraged, even for the audience. $35; $20 for participants younger than 21.

Performances this month are November 2, 5, 7, 9, and 14 at 6:30 pm. nolaproject.com. k

UNTIL JAN

23rd

ART EXHIBITIONS PROSPECT NEW ORLEANS New Orleans, Louisiana

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation, New Orleans creatives gathered to ask: “What could the role of artists be in rebuilding the city?” This question, in the Fall of 2021, resounds louder than ever in a city of creatives still recovering from the effects of COVID-19 on their industries, who have just been slammed yet again by the crippling damage of Hurricane Ida. As we rebuild once again, artists have remained at the heart of New Orleans. In 2007, the // N O V 2 1

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Events

Beginning November 2nd - November 4th post-Katrina answer was Prospect.1, an exhibition of international contemporary art inspired by New Orleans, following the model of the Venice Biennale.

Organizers hoped that it would drive visitors and much-needed tourism revenue to the city, still reeling from the devastation of the hurricane. And it worked. Occurring every three years, the event has driven over 100,000 visitors to the city for each Prospect and generated over $10 million in total economic impact. In 2021, Prospect.5 reflects the event’s origins more than ever. Titled Yesterday we said tomorrow, the exhibition—which will be displayed in museums, cultural spaces, and public sites throughout New Orleans through January—features an intergenerational group of artists from the United States, the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe. Focusing on the unspoken present, the exhibition champions change—interpreted through the readings of each individual artist. prospectneworleans.org.

Read more about Prospect.5 in Alexandra Kennon’s feature story on page 30. k

NOV

2

nd

CONCERTS CHRIS HILLMAN AT THE MANSHIP Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Country Rock pioneer Chris Hillman— whose work with bands The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and Desert Rose Band secured his place in the mythos of contemporary American music—is coming to Baton Rouge.

Join him, Herb Pederson, and John Jorgenson for an evening of storytelling and song at the Manship Theatre. 7:30 pm. $50–$75. manshiptheatre.org. k

NOV

3rd

CULINARY EDUCATION GUMBO 101 COOKING CLASS Breaux Bridge, Louisiana

Dying to become your crew’s roux master? Sign up for the Teche Center for the Arts’ Gumbo 101 Cooking Class, taught by instructors Leon and John Angelle, Georgie Blanchard and George Hebert, and Keith Baudin. Participants can look forward to an evening of food, live music, and storytelling featuring all the secrets to making the perfect Cajun gumbo. Plus, live music by Brazos Huval and Mary Harris. Wine and beer will be available for purchase. 6 pm–9 pm. $15, includes food and entertainment. artsatteche.com. k 12

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NOV 3rd - NOV 26th

CONCERTS LIVE MUSIC AT THE RED DRAGON LISTENING ROOM Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The Red Dragon Listening Room continues to bring local favorites and touring musicians to the beloved Baton Rouge listening room. Here are the shows this month: November 3: Slaid Cleaves ($30) November 5: Scott Miller ($25) November 7: Roy Book Binder ($25) November 12: Bryton Lynn Stoll ($20, at Buddy’s Backyard) November 18: South Austin Moonlighters ($25) November 26: Bill Kirchen ($25) November 26: Thom Shepard ($20, at Buddy’s Backyard) Updated details at the Red Dragon Listening Room Facebook Page. Buy tickets at PayPal. me/reddragonlr, just put the name of the artist in the description. k

NOV 4th

CONCERTS THE NEW ORLEANS MYSTICS Covington, Louisiana

Covington Cultural Arts & Events brings the versatile singing group, The New Orleans Mystics, to the Fuhrmann Stage, featuring performances of Motown, R&B, disco, jazz, rock, and more. Doors open at 6:30 pm. $20 at bontempstix.com; $25 at the door. k

NOV

4th

CONCERTS OPENING NIGHT: BEETHOVEN, BRAHMS & COPLAND New Orleans, Louisiana

“Fanfare for the Common Man” by Copland will join compositions by Beethoven and Brahms in the Louisiana Philharmonic’s grand return to the Orpheum for the first time in more than a year and a half. Tickets begin at $25.

7:30 pm. lpomusic.com. k

NOV

4th - NOV 6th

MONSTEROUS PARTIES BIGFOOT’S BIRTHDAY BASH Natchez, Mississippi

It’s officially been three centuries since the first documented sighting of the elusive Bigfoot, believed to have occured in today’s Natchez. Fanatics will find themselves right at home for this honored gathering of Sasquatch swearers. Look forward to live music, Bigfoot experts, a 5K, kids’ activities,

Experience Livingston Parish Your next shopping and outdoors destination!

www.livingstontourism.com

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Events

Beginning November 4th - November 5th art vendors, and more—all on the Bluff (a great vantage point in case the big guy decides to poke around). Festivities start at 10 am on Friday. In addition to being a strange, fun time, it’s for a good cause: part of the proceeds benefit Home with Heroes 501(c)3 & Kidney Transplant of Todd & Mark Welch (son donating a kidney to his dad). bigfootbirthdaybash.com. k

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- NOV

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CONCERTS HENRY TURNER JR.’S LISTENING ROOM Baton Rouge, Louisiana

It’s always a fun night at Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room—Baton Rouge’s premier spot for introducing new and original musical talent. This month the venue will host TJ Eubanks. 8 pm. $10. henryslisteningroom.com. k

NOV 4th - NOV 14th SILVER SCREEN FILMS AT THE MANSHIP THEATRE

month, the Manship Theatre offers a slate of films, from modern classics to engaging new documentaries and locally-produced stories. Here’s what’s in store this month: November 4–5: The Nowhere Inn 2020: A metafictional account of two creative forces coming together to create a documentary about St. Vincent’s music, touring life, and on-stage persona. 7:30 pm. $9.50.

November 14: The Mustangs: America’s Wild Horses: An odyssey throughout America to federal lands and government corrals, where over 130,000 wild horses roam. Featuring music by Bruce Springsteen, Emmyloo Harris, Willie Nelson, and an original song written by Diane Warren and performed by Blaco Brown. 2 pm. $9.50. manshiptheatre.org. k

NOV 4th - NOV 18th

CONCERTS LIVE MUSIC AT LA DIVINA Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Divine doesn’t even begin to cut it. Here’s the live music that will accompany your dining in the coming weeks:

Leave the X-Men to the megaplex. Each

November 4: Will Smeltz

November 11: Bill Romano (Veterans Day Tribute) November 18: Alma Russ 6 pm–8 pm. Free. facebook.com/ladivinabatonrouge. k

NOV 4th - NOV 20th CONCERTS TIPITINA’S CONCERT SCHEDULE New Orleans, Louisiana

The famous Tchoupitoulas venue is open and swingin’, bringing a wide variety of New Orleans’ favorite musical acts to Professor Longhair’s legendary stage. Here’s what’s happening this month: November 4: The Toadies & Reverend Horton Heat + Nashville Pussy. 8 pm.

November 5: Soul Sister’s 15th Annual Birthday Jam. 10 pm.

November 6: Tank & The Bangas + Berkley The Artist. 10 pm.

November 14: Kristin Diable. 7 pm.

November 18: Ivan Neville’s Piano Sessions. 8 pm.

November 19: Shakey Graves + Sun June. 10 pm.

November 20: Drive-By Truckers + Buffalo Nichols. 9 pm.

November 24: Covered In Earl: A Tribute to Earl “Trickbag” King featuring Ivan Neville, Anders Osborne, Deacon John, Jon Cleary, Samantha Fish, Walter “Wolfman”

Washington, Stanton Moore, John “Papa” Gros, Tony Hall, Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, Brint Anderson, and more. Serving as the backbone for the evening, George Porter, Jr. will be joined by Herlin Riley, David Torkanowsky, Kyle Roussel, Chris Adkins, Tony Dagradi, Brad Walker, Tracy Griffin, and Jeff Albert. For this special night, legendary MC Rickie Castrillo will return to his long-tenured position as Tipitina’s Master of Ceremonies. 8 pm.

November 26 & 27: Papadosio. 10 pm. tipitinas.com. k

NOV 4th - DEC 16th

COMMUNITY EXHIBITS TOWARD A LARGER FREEDOM Baton Rouge, Louisiana

This free oral history and photography exhibition highlights the vital role that the everyday citizen plays in strengthening democracy. Combining oral histories and portraiture, Toward a Larger Freedom: Ten Years of Citizen Power Organizing with Together Baton Rouge will offer an interactive historical record of non-partisan grassroots organizations in the Louisiana Capital Region, captured in the words and likenesses of the local leaders who make it happen. This project will debut at the newly-opened Cary Saurage Community Arts Center, and also during this time frame will be

Dream without boundaries

Knowing you’ve got the strength of the cross, the protection of the shield and thousands of top doctors to lift you when you need it.

The Right Card. The Right Care.

01MK7615 09/01

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promoted and displayed at the River Center Branch Library in downtown Baton Rouge. Free. lilybrooks.net/toward-tbr. k

NOV 4th - SEP 4th

ANTIQUE EXHIBITIONS A CENTURY ON HARMONY STREET New Orleans, Louisiana

A new exhibition titled Toward a Larger Freedom: Ten Years of Citizen Power Organizing wih Together Baton Rouge going up at the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center documents the local leaders who improve the Capital Region. Photos by Lily Brooks, courtesy of Together Baton Rouge.

Beginning in the 1930s, a father and son rose to local fame among New Orleans furniture collectors for the level of artistry in their works, which often bore detailed carvings, cypress veneers, macawood detailing, and ornate inlaid conch shells. The Kohlmaiers were also known for their true to form replicas of colonial and federal era furnishings, which were all the rage at the time. Almost a century later, these pieces remain in families across New Orleans and beyond as cherished heirlooms, and Ruppert Kohlmaier, Jr., born in 1936, is still at work on 1018 Harmony Street. In a new exhibition by the Louisiana Museum Foundation at the Cabildo, many of these works are presented alongside Kohlmaier’s recollections of his training, noteworthy commissions, and working methods. Learn more about A Century on Harmony Street: The Kohlmaier Cabinetmakers of New Orleans and purchase the exhibition catalogue ($65) at thelmf.org. k

NOV 5th

FALL FESTIVALS BREWS ARTS FESTIVAL Hammond, Louisiana

Definitely designate a driver for the Hammond Regional Arts Center’s annual Brews Arts Fest. Attendees will enjoy a thirty-strong selection that includes plenty of locally-crafted beers, paired with cuisine prepared by area chefs. Plus, live music alongside artwork by regional artists. It all happens in Morrison Alley parking lot off North Cypress Street (behind the Arts Center at 217 East Thomas Street) in downtown Hammond.

5 pm–9 pm. $25 in advance; $35 at the door. hammondarts.org. k

NOV 5th - NOV 6th FALL FESTIVALS FESTIVAL OF WORDS Online

Grand Coteau’s annual Festival of Words is going virtual again this year with three incredible authors and two days of wonderfully wordy events. This year’s authors are Grammy award winning singer and fiddle player Louis Michot and Malaika Favorite, an artist and poet. Also look forward to readings, drive-by poetry, creative writing workshops, and open mics. festivalofwords.org. k

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Events

Beginning November 5th - November 6th NOV

5th - NOV 7th

FALL FESTIVALS OZONE SONGWRITER FESTIVAL

throughout the weekend, and is free to attend. ozonemusic.org. k

NOV

Mandeville, Louisiana

The Ozone Music Foundation announces the third annual Ozone Songwriter Festival, spotlighting over one hundred local, regional, and national songwriters— from skilled amateurs to chart topping Nashville songwriters with songs you’ll be surprised to recognize (Tim McGraw and Keith Urban don’t write all of their songs)—while raising money for youth music education. The Ozone Songwriter Festival is the first of its kind—a twoday, Nashville-style songwriter circle music festival covering four stages at the Mandeville Trailhead area, and featuring genres ranging from country to folk to pop to Afro-Caribbean and everything in between. It all kicks off on Friday with the Ozone Songwriter Festival Showcase, a ticketed event featuring the top headliners from this year’s festival, including: Jonathan Cain, Gary Baker, Greg Barnhill, Wayward Jones, and Claire Kellar.

8 pm. $60; $125 for a VIP Meet the Artists Experience. The festival continues

5th - NOV 7th

SILVER SCREEN PONTCHARTRAIN FILM FESTIVAL’S LOUISIANA MADE MUSIC VIDEO SHOWCASE Mandeville, Louisiana

Celebrating its tenth year as a catalyst for independent and Louisiana-made film, filmmakers, and film education, the Pontchartrain Film Festival joins forces with the Ozone Songwriter Festival this fall to present the Louisiana Made Music Video Showcase. Three winners, selected by the folks at the Pontchartrain Film Festival, will be screened and eligible for cash prizes and the Audience Favorite Award. Free. Details to come at pontchartrainfilmfestival.com. k

NOV 5th - NOV 7th

FALL FESTIVALS LOUISIANA SWINE FESTIVAL Basile, Louisiana

The first full weekend of November means Basile’s Louisiana Swine Festival

is back, complete with pork cook-offs and boudin eating contests, live music on Main Street, hog calling, and more.

The event is presided over by the festival royalty, anointed at a pageant the week before and honored with distinguished appearances from Queen Petunia and King Porky (rumor is, this year it is no less than Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser). Kiddie day happens Friday at the fairgrounds’ Piglet Pen from noon–5 pm; most festivities go down on Saturday from 7 am–9:30 pm; and a 10 am Swine Festival mass leads into street dancing and a parade on Sunday, with all of the festivities to close at 6 pm. $5; $3 for children 5 and younger. louisianaswinefestival.com. k

NOV 5th - NOV 7th

FALL FESTIVALS THE FESTIVAL OF THE LAKE Mandeville, Louisiana

Three days of community celebration and fundraising return to Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church this fall, featuring a slate of fun family games including Catchin’ Fish, Dipping Ducks, Confetti Eggs, a Frog Fly, and much much more—not to mention a fantastic slate of live local performances by the likes of Category 6, Zita Band, Bag of Donuts, and Christian Serpas & Ghost Town.

Local vendors will be ready to dole out

delicacies like chargrilled oysters, smoked brisket, and the obligatory cotton candy; and artisans will be peddling unique wares across the grounds. On Friday and Sunday, head to the Tasting Tent for special wine and beer tasting events. Kicks off Friday at 5 pm; Saturday and Sunday at 11 am. festivalofthelake.com. k

NOV

5th - NOV 13th

FALL FESTIVALS OKTOBERFEST NEW ORLEANS New Orleans, Louisiana

Take the dachshunds out to Deutsches Haus this month for the annual taste of the motherland that is Oktoberfest.

There will be German food, German beer, Oompah Music, a dancing chicken (?!); and all tiny, sausage-shaped dogs are welcome to join a dachshund race. Test your Masskrugstemmen skills in a beer stein-holding contest held every day of the festival, or show off your lederhosen dancing to the music of the old country. 4 pm–11 pm Fridays; 1 pm–11 pm Saturdays. $8 admission; children twelve and younger free. oktoberfestnola.com. k

NOV 6th

OPERA OPEN AIR FAIR Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Bringing opera to the people, as it does

LEARN MORE AT VISITIBERVILLE.COM

Iberville Salute to Veterans

NOV. 11TH 11:00 AM

Veterans Memorial

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best, Opéra Louisiane presents an afternoon of live music and experiences for the entire family through its Open Air Fair. Part of its Young People’s Opera Program and presented in partnership with the River Center Brach Library, participants can learn to dance, draw, and sing from master artists. Stick around for the live show to hear captivating performances, dance along, and use drawing skills to be part of the action— all from the comfort of a safely-distanced chair at the library. 11:30–1:30 pm. Free. operalouisiane.com. k

NOV

6th

CONCERTS LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE: A TRIBUTE TO MAESTRO ROBERT LYALL

Kitchen and plenty of drinks. 7 pm–10 pm. $15. abitafallfest.com. k

NOV

6th

PEDAL PARTY GRAYCAT’S FRED SCHROEDER MEMORIAL GRAN FONDO Abita Springs, Louisiana

Take a bike ride through Abita Springs in memory of Fred Schroeder: avid cyclist, fitness coach, and beloved Abita community member who passed last October. The route begins at Charlie Finn Memorial Ballpark, heads east on Louisiana Highway 36, then north through the rolling hills of Louisiana Highway 41, and then back south to

charming downtown Abita Springs to safely convene at the Abita Brew Pub for live music courtesy of Ron Hotstream and the MidCity Drifters, and of course local beer. Begins at 8:30 am. graycatinfo.com. k

NOV

6th

CONCERTS DAVE JORDAN & THE NIA

catch Dave Jordan & the NIA onstage.

6:30 pm. 81250 Old Military Road. $10–$25; children 17 and younger free at bontempstix.com. (985) 892-9742 or pontchartrainvineyards.com. k

NOV

6th

FUN RUNS JUNGLE GARDENS RUN

Bush, Louisiana

Avery Island, Louisiana

Come take a swig of good fun as the folks at Pontchartrain Vineyards embark on the fall edition of its long-running Jazz ‘n the Vines outdoor concert series. Vineyard wines are available for tasting and purchase and food trucks will be on site. This month,

When it comes to legging it through one of the prettiest outdoor settings in Acadiana, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a better location than Avery Island’s Jungle Gardens. The races will be held on the hard pack road that travels throughout

Metairie, Louisiana

Join in celebrating the legacy of Maestro Robert Lyall at an event benefitting the New Orleans Opera at the Metairie Country Club. In honor of Maestro Robert Lyall’s excellence, come share a story, have a wonderful meal, and listen to beautiful music. Ticket prices vary. 6 pm. neworleansopera.org/legacygala. k

NOV

6th

FALL FESTIVALS ABITA FALL FEST Abita Springs, Louisiana

Abita Springs brings in the fall with its first annual fall festival, featuring two stages, with a lineup that includes Imagination Movers, Sam Price, Nathan Williams, Sweet Crude, Drake White, Zach Bryson, Crispin Schroeder, Lynn Drury, Ron Hotstream, and the Abita Stumps. At the Kid Zone, adventurous tykes can try out the rock wall; explore their creative side at the art bus, by tile painting, sand filling, air brushing, and more; or make friends at the petting zoo.

Plus, a special Pumpkin Stage will feature kid-targeted acts including a Magic Show, a Princess Party, and juggling. Adults can play, too. There will be an Interactive Circle which incorporates technology for one-ofa-kind Instagrammable experiences using green screen and virtual reality, as well as more hands-on crafts such as the hand wax station and a caricature artist. The Harvest Matchup draws out guests’ competitive sides with inflatables hosting games like football, archery, and even Hungry Hippo.

Speaking of football fans: don’t worry, the folks of Abita Springs won’t have you miss the game. The LSU-Bama game will be aired live in a special Tiger Tailgate section of the festival, which will also feature booths serving up your favorite pregame cuisine.

10:30 am–7:30 pm. $25; Children 3–10 years old are $15. Plus: Start the festivities early with the Fall Fest’s After Dark PreParty on Friday night, featuring The Rayo Brothers and Big Sam’s Funky Nation along with food provided by Copeland’s Mobile

Enjoy an oasis in the heart of the city. Stroll through the beautiful gardens and walk the many trails of the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens and Windrush Gardens. Step back in time to 19th-century rural Louisiana at the open-air LSU Rural Life Museum.

Upcoming Events StoryTime in the Garden

November 6, December 11 and January 22 9 a.m.-Noon LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens

Wine & Roses Rambler

Sunday, November 7 . Noon-3 p.m.

LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens

Tickets required. Available at tinyurl.com/WRRambler

Birding at Burden

November 27 and December 18 7-10 a.m.

LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens Tickets available at Eventbrite.com

Poinsettia Show & Sale

Saturday, November 27 . 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens

A Rural Life Christmas

Sunday, December 5 . 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

LSU Rural Life Museum See website for admission details.

Botanic Gardens For details about these and other events, visit our website or call 225-763-3990. Admission may be charged for some events.

Burden Museum & Gardens . 4560 Essen Lane . 225-763-3990 . DiscoverBurden.com . Baton Rouge . Open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily // N O V 2 1

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Events

NOV

Beginning November 6 - November 7

the varied and beautifully laid-out gardens.

Events include a 7k trail run, 5k run, a 1-mile fun run, and a Virtual 5K or 7K. Food, entertainment and awards will follow, and all entrants will receive a full-day pass to explore the gardens and enjoy the area.

Proceeds go toward helping the children of St. Jude children’s research hospital. 8 am. $25–$45 to register. runsignup.com. k

NOV

6

th

CONCERTS BAYOU JAM CONCERTS Slidell, Louisiana

The City of Slidell’s Bayou Jam concert series is bringing the bands and the crowds back to Heritage Park. So tuck your folding chairs into the trunk and join the crowd for the Northshore Community Orchestra this month. 5 pm–7 pm. myslidell.com. k

NOV 6th - NOV 7th

LOCAL CULTURE LACOMBE NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE CELEBRATION Lacombe, Louisiana

In recognition of Bayou Lacombe’s rich Choctaw heritage during Native

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th

American Heritage Month, the Bayou Lacombe Museum presents a weekend full of events celebrating the diverse traditions and contributions of the area’s tribal communities. Saturday’s events include tribal social dances performed at John Davis Park by members of the Mystic Wind Dancers, who will demonstrate round dancing, jingle dress dancing, and powow dancing. Guests will even have the opportunity to join in on the Choctaw Snake Dance. There will also be demonstrations of America’s oldest field sport, stickball, and special exhibits on the traditional Choctaw homes called Chukka, featuring an authentic Medicine Wheel and Three Sister Garden. 11 am–4 pm. On Sunday, the 1912 schoolhouse that is now the Bayou Lacombe Museum will dedicate four new displays telling the story of Lacombe from the eighteenth to early twentieth centuries. Noon–4 pm. $3; $2 for anyone ages sixty-five and older; $1 for children ages 6–17.

Free for children 5 and younger. bayoulacombemuseum.com. k

OPEN CALL FOR ENTRIES

Apply to the Darryl Chappell Foundation Photographer in Residency program at Ogden Museum of Southern Art! The selected photographer will receive a stipend, living allowance and travel allowance to grow and foster their connections and presence within the New Orleans arts community.

Deadline to apply is November 23, 2021 LEARN MORE AND APPLY BY VISITING WWW.OGDENMUSEUM.ORG 925 CAMP STREET, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70130 | 504.539.9650 | OGDENMUSEUM.ORG | FOLLOW US @OGDENMUSEUM

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6th - NOV 7th

GREEN THUMBS STAYING IN SHAPE Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Reinterpreting Sites of Enslavement” By Ian Beamish, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of History at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. 2 pm–3:15 pm. Free.

The Baton Rouge Garden Club is embracing the fall foliage with a National Garden Club Flower Show and Small Standard Flower Club, with the always-welcome addition of tea. 1 pm–4 pm. Free. k

All lectures will be made available to the public via Facebook livestream and Zoom.

Register at shadowsontheteche.org.

NOV 6th - NOV 13th

NOV 6th - NOV 28th

New Iberia, Louisiana

Hammond, Louisiana

LOCAL HISTORY “TELLING THE FULL HISTORY” SPEAKER SERIES This fall, the Shadows-on-the-Teche presents a special speaker series, titled “Telling the Full History,” featuring four respected Louisiana historians. Funded by a Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities Rebirth Grant, this project is part of the reinterpretation work the Shadows is currently undergoing to offer a more complete history of the site and the people who lived, worked, and were enslaved on the Weeks family plantation. See the schedule below: November 6: “Genealogy of those Enslaved at The Shadows” By Kenetha Harrington, Ph.D. candidate in Anthropology at LSU, the 2019 National Trust for Historic Preservation summer intern at the Shadows.

November 13: “The Need for

Read more about the reinterpretation initiative taking place at the Shadows on page 9. k

REN FAIRS LOUISIANA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL The Louisiana Renaissance Festival is upon us! Bring your falcon and step back in time every weekend through December 12 to party like it’s 1499. Each autumn the festival gathers more than six hundred artists, entertainers, and educational demonstrators, converting the ten-acre compound into a sixteenthcentury English “Village of Albright” that features a Queen’s Arms Pavilion, Village Common, Blacksmiths Way, and Piper’s Pub. Festival-goers enter the turkey-legwaving, mead-guzzling, knight-andpeasant-infested Renaissance village to experience period shows, music, games, food, and more. With more than fifty shows on a dozen stages, different themes each weekend, and one hundred booths

featuring arts, crafts, and demonstrations, it’s a jousting good time at RenFest, as it’s affectionately known. Too many special events and highlights to list here, so be sure to visit the website. $25/day for adults; $15 for children younger than 13; free for children younger than 6. 9:45 am–6 pm Saturdays and Sundays, rain or shine at the Louisiana Renaissance Grounds. la-renfest.com or (985) 429-9992. k

NOV

6th - NOV 29th

ART EXHIBITIONS ASSOCIATED WOMEN IN THE ARTS ART SHOW AND SALE Baton Rouge, Louisiana

See the Associated Women in the Arts’ annual member show on exhibit at the Louisiana Archives Gallery. The organization, founded in 1980, is made up of Southern Louisiana women artists, who work together to create opportunities to celebrate women’s art in the region. associatedwomeninthearts.com. k

NOV

7th

CONCERTS A TASTE OF THE DEEP SOUTH Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Celebrate the big beautiful Baton Rouge blues with one of our city’s biggest musical icons for the annual Henry Turner, Jr. Day, which this year presents

B 

the A Taste of the Deep South Festival.

Headlining with his band Flavor and the Listening Room Allstars, Henry Turner, Jr. joins spoken word artist Kelton ‘Nspire Harper, blues/gospel/singer/ songwriter Larry “LZ” Dillon, guitarist and singer/songwriter Owen Scott, gospel/R&B artist Pastor Leon Hitchens, and comedian Eddie “Cool” Deemer.

Plus, performances by poet Sir AP and Queen Z’s African Dance Troupe, along with reggae artist Dakeye, Cuban world music artist Oski, and Latina torch singer Jessi Campo. In addition to the tunes, the festival promises a Vendors’ Village, food, and more. Free and family friendly, from noon–8 pm at Riverfront Plaza. VIP passes are $25 and include two meal and drink tickets, access to exclusive VIP areas, and a commemorative “NOW” CD by Henry Turner Jr. & Flavor. Also: Don’t miss the A Sample Taste of the Great State PreParty on Thursday from 8 pm–midnight. $25 at bontempstix.com. k

NOV

7th

FLOWERS & FOOD WINE & ROSES BRUNCH AT BURDEN Baton Rouge, Louisiana

From the earth to the skies, there’s plenty of delight and wonder in bloom

at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden. The Rose Garden offers an elegant setting for the annual Wine and Roses event, where attendees can cultivate engaging conversation and share a lovely meal al fresco among some of the most enchanting roses in the state. Presented by Friends of LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. Details at (225) 763-3990 ext. 6. lsuagcenter.com/botanicgardens. k

NOV 7th

GOOD EATS, GOOD CAUSES MEN WHO COOK GALA Covington, Louisiana

Children’s Advocacy Center–Hope House will host its major annual fundraiser the Men Who Cook Gala, for which more than twenty community leaders will achieve celebrity status by partnering with top local restaurants to compete for the title of Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice (most money raised for Hope House). Each cook/restaurant team will prepare tastings of a favorite menu item for attendees to sample. The event also includes a raffle and silent auction, and entertainment by Tyler Kinchen & The Right Pieces. Held on the rooftop of the Justice Center parking garage in Covington. 4 pm–7 pm. $70; $125 for couples; $500 for reservation of an eight person table. cachopehouse.org. k

NOV

7th

CHEERS CAP CITY BEER FEST Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Baton Rouge’s sixth annual Cap City Beer Fest pops tops in Downtown Baton Rouge. More than one hundred special domestic and international beers, some not otherwise available in Baton Rouge, will be here for the sampling, complementing a festive fall mix of gourmet food, music, and games. For $40 in advance, or $50 the day-of, attendees can sample all the beers from their commemorative sampling mugs while enjoying live music by the Michael Foster Project.

1 pm VIP entry ($75); 2 pm general admission; $10 for designated driver tickets, with all proceeds benefiting the Companion Animal Alliance. capcitybeerfest.org. k

NOV

7th

POETRY SUNDAYS@4:READING BY JOHN WARNER SMITH Baton Rouge, Louisiana

This month’s special guest at Baton Rouge Gallery’s Sundays@4 event is 2019 Louisiana Poet Laureate John Warner Smith—the first African American man to serve in the position.

Smith will present a special reading of works from the course of his career as

A T L D

Natchez

MonmouthHistoricInn.com 601-442-5852

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Events

Beginning November 7th - November 13th

a poet and writer. 4 pm–6 pm. Free. batonrougegallery.org. k

NOV

7th

- NOV

14th

LIVE MUSIC SUNDAY IN THE PARK Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge’s popular Sunday in the Park outdoor music program returns this fall. This month’s lineup includes: November 7: Michael Foster Project November 14: Will Wesley Band 2 pm–5 pm at the Shaw Center for the Arts Plaza. Free. artsbr.org. k

NOV

9th

CONCERTS PACIFICA QUARTET WITH ANTHONY MCGILL New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans Friends of Music brings its Chamber Series into 2021, this month featuring the Pacifica Quartet with Anthony McGill on clarinet. Season subscriptions, which include access to all seven of the

season’s concerts, are $175 for regular admission. 7:30 pm. friendsofmusic.org. k

NOV

10th

LIVE MUSIC ONE NIGHT ONLY WEDNESDAY AT THE SQUARE CONCERT New Orleans, Louisiana

The Young Leadership Council’s concert series in the heart of New Orleans’ Central Business District known as Wednesday at the Square hopes to return in spring of 2022.

In an effort to bring the community together and to help local artists and musicians by bringing the series back, YLC is hosting a special “one night only” concert at the Civic Theatre. Lineup and ticket prices to be announced. ylcwats.com. k

NOV

10th

CONCERTS TAB BENOIT’S SWAMPLAND JAM Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Grammy Award-winner and Louisiana Hall of Famer Tab Benoit is back in Baton Rouge, with energy to spare and

blues to share—this time with three Louisiana roots giants joining him onstage: Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Johnny Sansone, and Waylone Thibodeaux.

7:30 pm. $55–$70. manshiptheatre.org. k

NOV 11th - NOV 13th LOCAL HISTORY ANGELS ON THE BLUFF Natchez, Mississippi

This long-running candlelit tour of the Natchez City Cemetery entertains and informs, with local actors and musicians in period costumes channeling historical figures from beyond the grave.

Guides direct groups from grave to grave throughout the picturesque and highly historic cemetery. The event, which features graveside performances and storytelling, draws locals and out-of-towners alike, so don’t delay making a reservation. Shuttles run from the Natchez Visitors Center, 640 Canal Street, where free parking will be provided. $30. (800) 647-6724. natchez.ms.us k

NOV 12th

ARTFUL FUNDRAISERS ODYSSEY 2021 New Orleans, Louisiana

Odyssey celebrates and enhances the New Orleans Museum of Art in an evening

of unparalleled elegance. This year’s gala features entertainment in the form of music by Blue Rhythm, and cuisine by the Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group.

Critically important to the museum and the wide community it serves, Odyssey raises the funds necessary to support NOMA’s nationally-recognized exhibitions and educational programs. Patron party at 7 pm, gala begins at 8 pm. Gala tickets begin at $300, with “Young Fellow Patron Tickets” for ages 21–40 beginning at $150. noma.org. k

NOV 12th

LIVE MUSIC UNCHAINED VOICES Port Allen, Louisiana

In conjunction with the exhibition Music Behind the Gates, the West Baton Rouge Museum presents an evening of music featuring Consuela Gaines and the former members of the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Choir. The choir appeared in the documentary Follow Me Down: Portraits of Louisiana Prison Music

by Dr. Benjamin Harbert of Georgetown University. Gaines is a singer, motivational speaker, mentor, and community organizer for the Lafayette chapter of V.O.T.E. (Voice of the Experienced), an organization dedicated to restoring full human and civil rights to those impacted by the criminal

exhibitions on view FORM & FIRE American Studio Ceramics from the E. John Bullard Collection CANDICE LIN The Agnotology of Tigers THE BONEYARD The Ceramics Teaching Collection

upcoming programs Scan QR code to learn about programs Nov. 6 Ceramics Demo with Artist Wes Brown Nov. 7 Free First Sunday / Form & Fire Tour Nov. 28 Museum Store Sunday lsumoa.org

@lsumoa Masks required.

IMAGES (top to bottom): Installation view of Form & Fire at LSU Museum of Art; Candice Lin, La Charada China (Tobacco Version), 2019, cement with casein paint, welded steel table frame, tobacco, ceramics, distillation system (distilling a tincture of tobacco, sugar, tea, and poppy), poppy pod putty, sugarcane, white sugar, cacao, sage, ackee, oak gall, Anadenanthera, dong quai, California clay, Dominican Republic clay, metal parts, bucket, pumps, tubing, dried indigo, glass slides, bottles, drawings, tile, rubber, wood, Courtesy of the Artist and François Ghebaly Gallery, Photography by Ian Byer-Gamber; Installation view of The Boneyard at LSU Museum of Art; Candice Lin: The Agnotology of Tigers is a collaboration between the LSU College of Art & Design, the LSU School of Art, and the LSU Museum of Art. Support is provided by The Winifred and Kevin P. Reilly Jr. Fund. LSU MOA thanks the following patrons of Form & Fire: Partner Sponsors Catherine Burns Tremaine, Becky and Warren Gottsegen, and E. John Bullard; Presenting Sponsors: Robert and Linda Bowsher; and Supporters Debbie de La Houssaye and Lake Douglas, and Brian and Jacki Schneider. LSU MOA thanks the generous donors to the LSU MOA Annual Exhibition Fund: Louisiana CAT; The Imo N. Brown Memorial Fund in memory of Heidel Brown and Mary Ann Brown; The Alma Lee, H.N. and Cary Saurage Fund; Robert and Linda Bowsher; LSU College of Art + Design; Mr. and Mrs. Sanford A. Arst; and The Newton B. Thomas Family/ Newtron Group Fund. LSU MOA is supported in part by a grant from the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, funded by the East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President and Metro Council. LSU MOA is supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. Thank you to the sponsors of Free First Sundays at LSU MOA: Louisiana Lottery Corporation and IBERIABANK, a division of First Horizon, for sponsoring free admission and Louisiana CAT for sponsoring programming.

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justice system. Guests are invited to bring blankets, folding chairs, and libations to enjoy this special performance on the Juke Joint’s side porch stage. During a brief intermission, guests will be invited inside the gallery for a glimpse of the exhibit and a cup of gumbo. 6 pm–8 pm. Free. westbatonrougemuseum.org. k

NOV 12th - NOV 14th THEATRE NUNSENSE

Mandeville, Louisiana

The Order of the Little Sisters of Hoboken take over a high school auditorium to hold a fundraising variety show to raise money to bury several sisters (who were accidentally poisoned by their cook). They must inter the nuns before the health inspector comes and finds the dead nuns in their freezer, which in addition to being unhygienic, isn’t even consecrated.

Fraught with hilarity, both Catholic and otherwise, five nuns try to give their planned performance amidst chaos and calamity. 7:30 pm Thursday–Saturday; 2 pm Sunday. $20. ipaltheater.com. k

NOV 12th - NOV 14th ART EXHIBITIONS EN PLEIN AIR Abita Springs, Louisiana

Abita Springs architect and collector Ron Blitch presents a special exhibition of recent plein air paintings created by local artists including: JoAnn Adams, Ben Bensen III, David Blackwell, and more. All on display and for sale at the Abita Springs Trailhead Museum, which will benefit from a portion of each sale.

The opening reception will be held from 5 pm–8 pm Friday, and the exhibition will be open 10 am–3 pm Saturday and Sunday. Free. trailheadmuseum.org. k

NOV 12th - NOV 14th MUSICAL THEATRE GODSPELL Baton Rouge, Louisiana

In this Grammy and Award-winning musical, Jesus Christ gets some assistance in telling his parables. A small group of folks use games, storytelling techniques, and a good dose of humor to get the messages across—not to mention plenty of singalong opportunities ranging from pop to Vaudeville. 7:30 pm Thursday– Saturday; 2 pm Sunday. Tickets start at $35 for adults; $25 for children 17 and younger and students. theatrebr.org. k

NOV 13th

FALL FESTIVALS FORESTIVAL New Orleans, Louisiana

A Studio In The Woods once again welcomes the public into its creative haven

for the eleventh annual FORESTival, a celebration of art and nature. One of a few live-in artists’ retreats in the Deep South, A Studio in the Woods occupies seven-and-a-half acres on the Mississippi River in New Orleans and fosters both environmental preservation and the creative work of all artists. This year’s FORESTival will showcase the work of artist/residents—including Brandon Ballengée, ChE, Jeffery Darensbourg, Jane Hill, Andy Horowitz, MILAGROS, Monique Moss, Ripple Effect, and Titos Sompa—as well as the history and happenings of this unique environment.

It’s a chance to experience Louisiana’s wetlands set to live music with food, artistic demonstrations and activities, a walk in the woods with scientists, and more. This year’s musical lineup includes kei slaughter, Dr. Michael White & Sidiki Conde, and The Soul Rebels.

11 am–5 pm. $15; children are free. astudiointhewoods.org. k

NOV 13th

MUSICAL THEATRE ALL TOGETHER NOW! Covington, Louisiana

Playmaker’s Theatre is joining theatre makers from around the globe in performing Broadway favorites in this special event. Doors at 6 pm, show at 7 pm. Ticket price to be announced at bontempstix.com. k

NOV 13th

ART & WELLNESS CREATIVE WELLNESS RETREAT Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge is partnering up with the You Aren’t Alone Project to present a Creative Wellness Retreat in the recently-opened Cary Saurage Community Arts Center.

Designed for artists, creatives, and makers to engage in mental health and wellness activities for self-care, support, and solace, the retreat will feature opportunities for collaboration and intention setting through conversations, yoga and meditation, breakout sessions led by mental health professionals, and creative expression exercises. 9 am–2:30 pm. $15. youarentaloneproject.com. k

NOV

13th

VROOM VROOM CRUISIN’ THE CASTINE CAR SHOW Mandeville, Louisiana

For the third year, a f leet’s worth of classic, antique, and muscle cars, trucks, motorcycles, Jeeps, side-bysides, and more will be on display at the Castine Center in Pelican Park to // N O V 2 1

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be admired. 2 pm–8:30 pm. Also look forward to food trucks, craft vendors, and fireworks. Free to attend; $25 to register. louisiananorthshore.com. k

NOV 13th - NOV 14th SHOPPING SPREES MISTLETOE MARKET Gonzales, Louisiana

The Mistletoe Market got its start when a small group of women who owned their own businesses came together to increase exposure for each other. It has since grown by leaps and bounds, with thousands of shoppers now set to descend on the Lamar Dixon Expo Center, where these merry merchants will gather again this month. 9 am–6 pm Saturday; 10 am–5 pm Sunday. $6 admission (part of which benefits children in need); 12 and younger free. mistletoemarketbr.com. k

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ARTS FESTIVALS THREE RIVERS ART FESTIVAL Covington, Louisiana

As it has each November for years now, the

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largest juried art festival in the Southeast region will celebrate the work of two hundred artists from around the country.

Across Covington’s historic downtown district, discover works of art in every medium, from ceramics to paintings to fiber art to jewelry. In addition to the vibrant parade of art booths, the festival will also present a Children’s Discovery area, an arts demonstration tent, live music, and an impressive demonstration of our region’s culinary arts as well—featuring local vendors serving up delicacies like turkey gumbo, crawfish étouffée, tacos, gyros, and deep-fried brownies, too. 10 am–4 pm. threeriversartfestival.com. k

NOV

13th - NOV 14th

RAISE A GLASS ST. FRANCISVILLE FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL Saint Francisville, Louisiana

Delicious, innovative food. Lively, danceable tunes. Creative culture bearers and storytellers. A beautiful, historicallyimmersed site. All of the things that have inspired this magazine’s work for thirty-eight years now come together in

perfect, joyful synchronicity at the third annual St. Francisville Food and Wine Festival. On the beautiful grounds of the Myrtles Historic Inn and Restaurant 1796, readers, dancers, and diners will convene for a fall day in the company of some of our region’s most celebrated chefs. In between the decadent sips and bites, roam the grounds to enjoy tastings of select wines and spirits from area purveyors, a beer garden showcasing Louisiana and Mississippi craft brews, live cooking demonstrations from celebrated chefs, and live music from the festival stage. There’ll be plenty of room for dancing, so choose your shoes appropriately! 1 pm–5 pm. $95. All new this year: a VIP Experience! On Saturday evening, VIP ticket holders will enjoy a seated four-course meal by Chef Van Pellegrin of Rouj Creole in Baton Rouge, paired with select wines by the Reynolds Family Winery of Napa Valley, and served at the Ridgecrest private residence with winemaker Steve Reynolds in attendance.

5:30 pm–9 pm. VIP ticket holders will also enjoy a special VIP Courtyard experience, providing exclusive access to a private bar, buffet, seating, and restroom facilities. $275. Join us in the very city that inspired this magazine’s conception, with all of the things, and the people, that we at Country Roads love best. stfrancisvillefoodandwine.com. k

NOV 13th - DEC 1st ART EXHIBITIONS THE CARE WE GIVE Lafayette, Louisiana

Basin Arts presents an exhibition by Bethany LeJeune focused entirely on collaboration with women. LeJeune’s works attempt to draw attention to feminine experiences unique to Southern Louisiana and to create conversation around this community of women. Inspired by the Womanhouse art installation organized by Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro in 1972, this show hopes to reveal and elevate the relationships women have with each other. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, November 13 from 6 pm–8 pm. basinartslafayette.com. k

NOV

13th - JAN 2nd

ART EXHIBITIONS DEUX BAYOUS COLLECTIVE GROUP EXHIBIT Arnaudville, Louisiana

The end of the year group exhibition at NUNU Art & Culture Collective features the work of Deux Bayou Collective members Janelle Hebert, Larry Bourque, Carole Lancon, Kathleen Guinnane, B.J. Smith, Kim Lanclos Smith, Peter Klubek, Suzi Santillo, Chloe Schwanz, Peg Ramier, Lucy Yanagida, and Ralph Schexnaydre—featuring works in painting, photography, pottery,

Celebrate the Holidays with Cypress Furniture! l a rge s e l e c t i o n o f c y p r e s s f u r n i t u r e . s ta t e w i d e d e l i v e ry ava i l a b l e .

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jewelry, sculpture, and textiles. Meet the Artist receptions will be held on Second Saturday Visual Artists Days, which includes the Opening Exhibit Artist Reception from 11 am–4 pm November 13. nunucollective.org. k

NOV

13th - JAN 9th

MUSIC EXHIBITIONS 1968: A FOLSOM REDEMPTION Port Allen, Louisiana

In 1968, two journalists—photographer Dan Poush and writer Gene Beley—were lucky enough to be in the room for the iconic Johnny Cash concerts at Folsom Prison. The event survives as a turning point in the career of the iconic artist, documented in the recordings made that day that became the criticallyacclaimed album At Folsom Prison.

Having performed for inmates for over a decade, Cash finally won the argument with his record label over the merits of recording live inside a prison. In a powerful traveling exhibition now at the West Baton Rouge Museum, Beley’s firstperson accounts join Poush’s photography in walking the viewer through the complexities and implications of that important concert, tracing Cash’s golden era from the 1968 album to a March 1, 1969 concert in Anaheim. westbatonrougemuseum.org. k

NOV

14th

FALL FESTIVALS DESTREHAN PLANTATION FALL FESTIVAL Desdrehan, Louisiana

Destrehan Plantation’s Fall Festival lures vendors from all over the country who come to offer pottery, jewelry, quilts, ceramics, art, stained glass, baskets and more. An 1840s mule barn will be designated for antique vendors; as for the food, festival-goers will feast on everything from cochon-delait poboys to kettle corn and caramel apples. Period craft demonstrations and a children’s corner will keep the attention of all family members. 9 am–4 pm each day. $8 admission; $5 for children ages six to twelve; Free for children under twelve. (985) 764-9315 ext. 2. destrehanplantation.org k

NOV

14th

MUSIC HISTORY ETHEL CLAIBORNE DAMERON LECTURE SERIES Port Allen, Louisiana

For its 2021 presentation of the Ethel Claiborne Dameron Lecture series, the West Baton Rouge Historical Association welcomes Dr. Elista Istre, author of Ring of Fire, Circle of Love: The Women in Johnny Cash’s Life.

Taking place the opening weekend of the museum’s fall exhibition 1968: A Folsom Redemption, the lecture will detail Dr. Istre’s experience documenting Cash’s life story. She will tell of how she met and interviewed his family and friends in Dyess, Arkansas—piecing together his life through the voices of the women who knew him best. 2 pm. Free. westbatonrougemuseum.org. k

NOV

14th

GOOD EATS FÊTE ROUGE Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The Baton Rouge Epicurean Society (BRES) is gathering together the capital city’s culinary creatives to host the annual celebration of all things food and wine that is Fête Rouge. Forks and palates at the ready—there’s lots of eating and toasting to be done. This year L’Auberge Casino & Hotel plays host to the famous Food & Wine Fête.

Local chefs prepare their best dishes for the chance at winning the gold medal in the Fête Rouge Chefs Competition, and somebody has to eat all those delicacies.

Live entertainment, and more than two hundred wines available for tasting round out this event. 2 pm–5 pm. $95 at Eventbrite. bresbr.org. k

NOV

17th

POETRY TALKS “WATER IN POETRY” New Iberia, Louisiana

In conjunction with the Smithsonian’s Water/Ways exhibition at the Bayou Teche Museum, Louisiana poets Darrell Bourque, Mona Lisa Saloy, Margaret Simon, and Melissa Bonin will come together to discuss the topic, “Water in Poetry”. 6 pm–7 pm at the Sliman Theater. Free. bayoutechemuseum.org. k

NOV

18th

BARREL OF LAUGHS FAMILY DINNER IMPROV COMEDY SHOW Baton Rouge, Louisiana

From the folks who brought us Spoof Night! with Films at Manship comes a locallymade, monthly improv comedy show. Hang out with Baton Rouge’s premier comedy troupe in the Hartley/Vey Theatre’s Studio side for some live, interactive improv games.

7:30 pm. $10. manshiptheatre.org. k

NOV 18th - NOV 21st FALL FESTIVALS LOUISIANA BAYOU KING FESTIVAL Covington, Louisiana

Introducing Louisiana’s premiere tribute

RED ROOSTER BASH Thursday, November 18, 2021 6:30pm until 8:30pm The annual Red Rooster Bash is back!

Honoring the LSU Rural Life Museum Restoration Volunteers and their many accomplishments.

Enjoy music and dancing by “The River City Boys”, barbeque, and of course the famous Red Rooster cocktail.

ADMISSION: $50.00 General Admission $40.00 LSU Rural Life Museum Members and Docents Western attire is encouraged.

For more information on events, point your phone camera here!

LOCATED AT BURDEN MUSEUM AND GARDENS OPEN DAILY 8:00–5:00 I-10 AT ESSEN LANE, BATON ROUGE, LA FOR MORE INFO CALL (225) 765-2437 OR VISIT WWW.RURALLIFE.LSU.EDU // N O V 2 1

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Events

Beginning November 19th - November 27th festival to the King. Yes, that king.

The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll: Elvis Presley.

Promising eleven full Elvis concerts performed by seven world-class tribute artists, plus a Gospel and Inspirational performance, a Tribute to the Movie Years, The 1968 Leather Special, the 1970s Vegas Concerts, the Louisiana Hayride performance, AND an Elvis Tribute Contest backed by The King Creole Orchestra— these four days are set up to be an Elvis fanatic’s particular heaven. Plus plenty of after parties, meet and greets, and so much more. All at The Fuhrmann Auditorium in Covington. General Weekend packages start at $250, with discounts for couples; $125 for a day pass and $25 for the Sunday Gospel Concert. louisianabayoukingfest.com. k

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found each other on the city’s club scene, they’ve proved, together and live, a combustibly good combo. The Red Dragon Songwriter Series plays host to the Texans at the Manship Theatre tonight. 7:30 pm. $49.95–$69.95. manshiptheatre.org. k

NOV

19th

THEATRE RAY

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20th

Slidell, Louisiana

For months, actor Sam Warren has sat in his garage studio, playing Ray Charles on the piano on repeat. This fall, at Cutting Edge Theater he’ll star in the biographical play RAY, as

too. 11 am–5 pm Friday, 10 am–5 pm Saturday, 11 am–4 pm Sunday. New this year, shoppers can purchase a VIP Early Bird Shopping Pass for Friday morning from 9 am–11 am for an additional $5.

9 am–11 am. Admission is $5 per day; $10 for a weekend pass. bontempstix.com. marketatthemillnewroads.com. k

NOV

19th - NOV 21st

LET THERE BE LIGHT ALLUMER NATCHEZ Natchez, Mississippi

For the first year of a sure-to-be extensive legacy, Allumer Natchez will bring exploration and whimsy to the Natchez night in the form of a cutting-edge contemporary art exhibition at Dunleith.

Over this magical weekend, eight distinct artists from near and far will reimagine the historic Inn and its grounds using

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Fall weather brings White Light Night nipping at Mid City’s heels again! This annual fall art fest, hosted by Baton Rouge’s Mid City Merchants, brings thousands to the heart of the Capital City for an evening of artist meet-and-greets, treats, wining and dining, tax-free art shopping, and live music.

Shuttles will be running to cart visitors from one end of Mid City to the other for convenience, so hop on a shuttle, carpool with friends, or stroll down Government Street from one great art exhibit to another while enjoying the lights and the excitement. 6 pm–10:15 pm, free. midcitymerchantsbr.org. k

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CONCERTS RED DRAGON SONGWRITER SERIES: BAND OF HEATHENS Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Don’t confuse heathens with hooligans.

This Austin-based Americana group is the real deal. After several songwriters 24

Start planning your holiday trip to the Hill Country by reading Jordan LaHaye Fontenot’s travelogue on page 54. k

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Elizabethan Gallery is opening its doors for its annual show and sale, with an opening reception offering refreshments in conjunction with White Light Night. The show features works by Carol Hallock and Heather Connole Ricard, among others.

Free. (225) 924-6437. k

NOV 20th

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Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The holidays are here in Marble Falls, Texas—which means that for the thirtyfirst year, Lakeside Park will be set all aglow with over two million lights. This holiday-themed extravaganza features magical displays of holiday cheer, reflecting brilliantly off of Lake Marble Falls for a vision worth passing down the generations.

Planned events take place throughout the season, including cookie decorating, live music, and more. 6 pm–10 pm daily. Free. visitmarblefalls.org.

ART EXHIBITIONS ANNUAL FALL ART SHOW

Close out your week at TerraBella, where the Friday Nites on the Square concert series brings local bands to the center of things, and all for free. This weekend, catch Four Unplugged onstage, and enjoy food and drinks from local vendors. Bring your lawn chairs and your dancing shoes. A portion of the event’s proceeds will benefit the TerraBella Institute and Children’s Advocacy Center/Hope House. 5:30 pm–8:30 pm.

Free. terrabellavillage.com. k

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LET THERE BE LIGHT WALKWAY OF LIGHTS

NOV 19th - DEC 31st

Covington, Louisiana

ART AROUND TOWN WHITE LIGHT NIGHT

NOV 19th - JAN 1st Marble Falls, Texas

CONCERTS FRIDAY NITES ON THE SQUARE

NOV

weekend. 11 am–9 pm Friday; 10 am–8 pm Saturday; 10 am–4 pm Sunday at the Lake Charles Civic Center. $12; kids under 8 get in free. jllc.net. k

Abita Springs ushers in autumn with its Abita Springs Fall Fest, featuring live music by Imagination Movers, Sam Price, and Sweet Crude, among others; a Kids’ Zone; interactive photo opportunities; crafts, and more. Photo courtest of Abita Fall Fest. See listing on page 16.

the iconic singer and songwriter, Ray Charles. A showcase of the performer’s incredible musical talent, this two-dayonly show is not to be missed.

8 pm–10 pm. Tickets start at $27.50. cuttingedgetheater.com. k

light-based installations. Free, all ages welcome. allumernatchez.com.

NOV 19th - NOV 21st

SHOPPING SPREES MISTLETOE & MOSS HOLIDAY MARKET

SHOPPING SPREES HOLIDAY MARKET AT THE MILL New Roads, Louisiana

A spectacular shopping experience lands in New Roads for the holidays with the annual Market at the Mill. The nearly 40,000 square foot Cotton Seed Oil Mill will be packed with country furniture, architectural pieces, pottery, glassware, ceramics, art, woodwork, metalwork, and of course loads of good cheer.

Shop ‘til you drop—all proceeds will go towards the renovation of the old mill building. Food and refreshments,

N O V 2 1 // C O U N T R Y R O A D S M A G . C O M

Read more about the new light festival in Swathi Reddy’s feature story on page 38. k

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19th

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21st

Lake Charles, Louisiana

From the Junior League of Lake Charles comes a decked-out holiday market in Southwest Louisiana, featuring more than eighty vendors from all over the country. Booths will feature apparel, jewelry and accessories, specialty foods, seasonal and yearround decorative items, and home furnishings. Tickets also available for special events (Premier Shopping, Sip & Shop, Cookies with Santa, Ladies’ Night, and more) throughout the

LIVE MUSIC ABITA SPRINGS OPRY CONCERTS Abita Springs, Louisiana

The Abita Springs Opry is devoted to preserving Louisiana’s indigenous music in all its guises. Arrive early and join the folks who’ve made a ritual of enjoying gumbo, hot dogs, and homemade pastries, not to mention the pre-show sound checks and front porch concerts. It all adds up to the good ol’ family atmosphere that the Opry strives for. The lineup for November includes: Last Chance Bluegrass Band, Miss Martha and her Goodtime Gang, Jayna Morgan and the Sazerac Sunshine Band, and The Sam Doores Band.

7 pm–9 pm. $20. abitaopry.org. k

NOV 20th - NOV 21st

ART FESTIVALS FESTIVAL DES ARTS À MAISON STÉPHANIE & BRUNCH Arnaudville, Louisiana

For two days, over forty Acadiana artists and craftspeople will demonstrate, show, and sell their works beneath the shade of the oak trees of the historic Maison Stéphanie, a 1796 traditional

raised Creole cottage in Arnaudville at 1862 Bushville Highway. Live music and garden strolls, too. Noon–5 pm.

Free. And don’t miss Maison Stéphanie’s special pop up Sunday brunch this year, featuring James Beard Award winning bartender Chris Hannah and Small Town Chef Award winner Bonnie Breaux.

Benefitting the Louisiana Crafts Guild, the event will feature an outdoor dining experience surrounded by the arts, as well as a pre fixe meal and some handmade lagniappe to take home. 11 am–2 pm, seating at 1 pm. Tickets start at $50. openstudioacadiana.com. k

NOV

20th - NOV 21st

ART IMMERSION ACADIANA OPEN STUDIO TOUR Lafayette, Louisiana

In perhaps one of the most far-ranging arts events in the region, Open Studio Acadiana annually features over one hundred artists and craftsmen at over thirty studios or galleries throughout Acadiana, but with most of the artists concentrated in the Lafayette area. The event has roots dating to the 1970s, George Rodrigue being the first ever Open Studio Acadiana participant. Designed to demystify the artistic process and the work being created in the area, the event

creates one-of-a-kind experiences for the public to engage directly with artists and craftspeople in the spaces they create. In addition to Lafayette, participating artists and craftsmen will be located in Sunset, New Iberia, Arnaudville, Scott, Duson, Youngsville, Morse, Breaux Bridge, and Carencro—inviting arts-lovers on a roadtrip across the 705 zip code. Art available for viewing and sale will include everything from oil and acrylic paintings, to jewelry, woodwork, pottery, sculpture, glass, metalwork, watercolors, whimsical drawings, blacksmith works, assorted f lights of fancy, and a whole lot more.

Those making the tour will need their own transportation; this is definitely not a walking tour. Free. openstudioacadiana.com. k

NOV

20th - NOV 21st

VROOM VROOM BAYOU SHOWDOWN CAR SHOW Slidell, Louisiana

For the fourth year, Sparkles Detail & Destination Auto Recycling presents the Bayou Showdown, featuring trucks, hot rods, and bikes at the Northshore Harbor Center. All vehicles—whether you’ve got lowriders, classics, bagged, lifted, or big rigs—are welcome. Details at the Bayou Showdown Facebook page. k

NOV

21st

CONCERTS DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS Lafayette, Louisiana

Celebrating their twenty-fifth birthday this year, the Drive-By Truckers are back on the road, and making a stop in Lafayette, bringing special guest, traditional Blues musician Buffalo Nichols. 7:30 pm–9:30 pm. Tickets start at $45. acadianacenterforthearts.org. k

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21st

and culture camp experience that will get them up close and personal with Acadiana artists and musicians to learn a variety of disciplines including: music (percussion, accordion, guitar, and fiddle), art, dance, and Louisiana French culture. 8 am–4 pm each day at the Teche Center for the Arts. $150 per child; $125 if there is more than one child per family. Lunch will be provided by area restaurants. artsatteche.com. k

NOV

CONCERTS PEABO BRYSON AT THE MANSHIP

25th

FUN RUNS TAMMANY TURKEY TROT

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Covington, Louisiana

The legendary voice of love is back, and with songs with titles like “Love Like Yours and Mine” and “All She Wants to Do is Me,” it sounds like he’s better than ever. Hear this classic present his twentyfirst album on the Manship stage. 7 pm. $60–$75. manshiptheatre.org. k

What is it they say? Before you marry her, make sure her family isn’t the type to run a 5K on Thanksgiving? If you’re on the market, I’d stay away from Covington for the holidays—where families and groups will be gearing up to #earnyourstuffing. Mapped as a tour of downtown Covington, the Tammany Turkey Trot benefits Our Lady of the Lake and the Northshore Food Bank, which also serves as its starting line. 8 am; $30 for 5K; $35 for 5 Mile Run/ Walk. $10 increase after November 8. tammanyturkeytrot.com. k

NOV

22nd - NOV 24th

KID STUFF TREBLE ON THE TECHE MUSIC, ARTS, AND CULTURE CAMP Breaux Bridge, Louisiana

Children of Acadiana (grades 2–8) are invited to a one-of-a-kind arts, music,

Elizabethan Gallery More than just a frame shop.

Give the Gift of Art for Christmas

We Frame Until Christmas Eve. No Deadline!

You are invited to the opening of our

Annual Fall Art Show held during White Light Night Friday, November 19th, 5-9pm

Meet me at the Mag!

Free and Open the the Public. Refreshments will be served.

Show hangs until December 31st.

Lions Den 2 24x48 Oil by Heather Connole Ricard

Café, 30x40 Oil by Carol Hallock

O N E DAY F R A M I N G AVA I L A B L E 680 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 225-924-6437

Closed Mondays 5689

3-V Tourist Courts •1940’s Motor Hotel • Reservations: 225-721-7003 // N O V 2 1

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Events

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Beginning November 27 - November 29 NOV

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27th

SHOPPING SPREES LE GRAND NOËL Grand Coteau, Louisiana

Start the annual Christmas shopping with a visit to the streets of historical Grand Coteau. The gift shops will be open for holiday merriment, offering refreshments and antiques, jewelry, clothing, packaged sweets, home decor, and other gift items. Enjoy holiday traditions such carriage rides, live music, and photos with Santa. Popular food trucks will be on hand offering their specialties. Festivities last until 8 pm in downtown Grand Coteau. Free.

(337) 945-4314. cajuntravel.com. k

NOV

27th

ART IMMERSION CONNER BURNS ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE AND STUDIO SALE Natchez, Mississippi

Each November, Natchez-based artist Conner Burns opens up his studio at 209 Franklin Street to the public. For this twenty-third annual event, he’ll

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be giving tours of his studio and living space, in addition to serving “good food that his mother and aunts are famous for.” Take in Burns’ new artwork, try some family recipes, and maybe even purchase a piece of art to take home.

1 pm–7 pm. Free. connerburns.com. k

NOV

27th

PEDAL PARTIES LOUISIANA BICYCLE FESTIVAL Abita Springs, Louisiana

Each year, bike enthusiasts take over the tiny town of Abita Springs during this day-long festival to see and show antique and creative custom bikes, and even catch a parade. There’s a bike f lea market, Tammany Trace cruise, and plenty of contests and prizes for twowheeled tricks. Live music and festival food, too, at a bike fest that the webzine Bike Ride & Custom has declared “the biggest custom bike festival in the United States.” The festival cycles town-wide, but look for cyclists gathering at the Trailhead from 9 am–6 pm. Free. louisiananorthshore.com. k

Explore

28th

TEA TIME LAND OF THE SWEETS TEA Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Goody goody gumdrops! The everpopular Land of the Sweets Tea returns, this year at the Lod Cook Alumni Center. Children and parents alike will join their favorite characters from The Nutcracker, A Tale from the Bayou for a fun-filled festivity of delicious sweets, crafting, photo and autograph opportunities, and, of course, dancing with some of the stars of the show.

2 pm; $60 each or a table of 10 for $550. batonrougeballet.org. k

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NOV

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CONCERTS A WINTER’S NIGHT WITH DEVOTCHKA Lafayette, Louisiana

DeVotchKa, a four-piece multiinstrumental and vocal ensemble from Denver, is bringing its unique blend of sound to Lafayette for a concert at the Acadiana Center for the Arts. The band is inf luenced by multiple cultures, including cabaret, spaghetti Westerns, norteno, punk, and the immigrant dance music of Eastern Europe—all infused with the style of modern indie music. 7:30 pm–9:30 pm. Tickets start at $35. acadianacenterforthearts.com. k

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CONCERTS SOUNDS OF THE SEASON New Iberia, Louisiana

The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, in a show presented by the Iberia Cultural Resources Association, is set to ring in the holiday season with a set of Christmas carols accompanied by classical holiday selections such as “The Nutcracker”. 3 pm–4:30 pm at St. Peters Church. (337) 364-1603. Free. iberiacultural.com. k

To see our full list of regional events and festivals, including those we couldn’t fit into print, point your phone camera here.

Brighten up your holidays in Bonfire Country In Louisiana’s River Parishes we do the holidays a little differently. Join us as we light the way for Papa Noel in this unique local tradition.

All along the levees of the Mississippi River, massive wooden structures are carefully assembled during the weeks leading up to the holiday season. On Christmas Eve, these creations are set ablaze at once welcoming Papa Noel to deliver toys to the children.

Learn why we laissez les bon temps bruler at

ExploreBonfireCountry.com

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Flock Together

Eclectic furnishings, home décor and a sense of community define this St. Francisville retailer

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ith the holidays fast approaching, it’s time to tweet about all that St. Francisville’s newest shopping destination has in store for you! Recently opened on Commerce Street this March, Birds of a Feather has quickly become a vibrant, popular retail hub to discover fresh approaches to home décor.

items that mingle with modern gifts, including local pottery, art, and handcrafted jewelry, along with LSU novelties. Kitchen, bar, bath, and garden items are tastefully hand-picked and mixed with treasures everywhere. Original art and ornate mirrors are seamlessly arranged and hung throughout the store. Sets of custom monogrammed pillow shams, pillows and exquisite bedding laze on a romantic, antique “I never imagined I’d be opening a store in French bed. An epicurean section designed the midst of a global pandemic, but it’s been to resemble a miniature Turkish bazaar great,” says store founder Wendy Womack- bursts with clever culinary tools, trendy wall Phillips, who relocated to St. Francisville after hangings, and artisan handmade wooden an eighteen-year career—first in the fashion cutting boards. Antique tables sprinkled about industry, and later in the furniture import boast vintage glassware, urns, lamps, and local business. Decorating had always been a side pottery. passion for the entrepreneur, so when the chance to open a brick-and-mortar shop in the A separate area houses a second location of heart of the community emerged, Womack- Baton Rouge children’s apparel boutique Lulu Phillips embraced it. and Bean, featuring the most adorable clothing, gifts, and accessories in the South. A few quick “This was about creating an experience steps out the back door and you enter a quaint, that’s not intimidating like many high-end tin roof-covered patio showcasing items that antique stores can be, while also not like a flea bring warmth and character to any outdoor market,” Womack-Phillips says. “I want it to be space. approachable and inspiring at the same time.”

Along with perhaps picking up a new Upon entering the shop, you’ll find yourself decorative item, Womack-Phillips hopes her asking, “What is that incredible smell?” customers will find inspiration simply by Wendy won’t mind sharing which of her meandering around the store. favorite candles she has burning that day.

Each one is unique, aromatic, and beautiful.

“I love to talk to people about what they like Take a moment to soak it all in—the sounds and encourage them to ignore rigid rules and of light music and happy chatter, discussions trust what makes them happy,” she says. about which yummy cheese straw or favorite chocolate from the “Birdz” selection should be In her previous career, Womack-Phillips sampled. traveled frequently, at times spending more time out of the country than in her French Your eyes will embrace the well-orchestrated Quarter apartment. She says discovering placement of antiques and vintage home décor new corners of the world taught her to value

different perspectives and find common ground through conversation. The shop’s vibe, and its name, stem from Womack-Phillips’ worldview, and her appreciation for both community and adventure.

“I had so many people tell me not to call it Birds of a Feather, that it was too hokey,’” Womack-Phillips says. “But it means exactly what I’m about. Community. . .being together . . .having things in common and creating a flock. Birds are free. But they also fly together and support each other.”

Womack-Phillips is on a constant hunt for furnishings and gifts at every price point. She curates everything in the store, with eighty percent of items sourced from estate sales, antique dealers, social media, and other means, and the remaining twenty percent from individuals or retailers who have asked to place an item on consignment in the store.

True to her mission, Womack-Phillips has embraced her adopted home, volunteering to help organize West Feliciana cultural events, chatting up acquaintances and visitors as they come through the store, and promoting the area’s vast activities.

“I love this parish,” Womack-Phillips says.

“There are so many interesting people here, and I really feel like we’re all in it together.”

Home & Garden • Consignment Local Artisans • Baubles & Baby TUES-SAT 10AM-5PM • SUNDAY 1PM-4PM 5943 COMMERCE STREET, ST. FRANCISVILLE, LA

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V I S I T S T. F R A N C I S V I L L December 3—5 | ST. FRANCISVILLE

Christmas in the Country

THE QUINTESSENTIAL SMALL-TOWN HOLIDAY CELEBRATION LIGHTS UP THE NIGHT AGAIN

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he quintessential small town American Christmas, the kind reminiscent of classic old films and merry childhood memories, comes to life at the end of the year in St. Francisville. Originally started by a group of downtown merchants more than thirty years ago as a way to bring in more foot traffic during the holidays, Christmas in the Country remains one of St. Francisville’s longest-running traditions today. Each year on the first weekend of December, the beloved local event draws visitors throughout the region to the town’s historic district to support small businesses and spread some Christmas cheer with a stacked schedule of fun, family-friendly events.

However, if you want to get a head start on the holiday spirit (or that lengthy gift-giving list), St. Francisville’s Main Street also puts on Shop Small Y’all, the annual open house leading up to the big weekend. On November 20—21, get

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a sneak peek of all the seasonal wares showcased at local storefronts, shop special discounts, and even enjoy some live music by Acadiana’s own Poisson Rouge at the Parker Park gazebo on Saturday from 2—5 pm.

On December 3—5, the community turns aglow as lavish white light displays get their debut in downtown St. Francisville, once again marking the magical start of the most wonderful time of the year and welcoming visitors to the town’s annual Christmas in the Country celebration. This year’s theme is “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” kicking off in appropriate fashion with the town tree lighting on Friday, December 3. Festivities will continue into the evening with performances by the student choirs of West Feliciana Parish Schools at Town Hall, and artists, food, and musicians set up along Commerce Street for a Jingle Bell Mingle block party.

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Saturday’s program lineup starts bright and early at Jackson Hall for Breakfast with Santa, followed by the Rudolph Run 5k and Donner Dash Fun Run at Parker Park. Speaking of the park, it’ll feature an outdoor market comprising more than fifty vendors with accompanying live music all day Saturday and Sunday, with local and regional makers selling a range of handcrafted gifts and goods, from jewelry and bath products to woodworks and art. Plus, , and don’t forget to be on the lookout for a special new Christmas in the Country momento—a 2021 collectors ornament.

And then there’s the classic highlights, old favorites that repeat attendees know and love; visitors will have the chance to see some of West Fel’s most decorated homes thanks to the Friends of the Library Tour of Homes, and Audubon State Historic Site will offer an authentic nineteenth

century experience with candlelit tours, seasonal decorations, tastings, and dancing at Oakley Plantation’s A Jane Austen Christmas. Last but not least, the Christmas Parade will roll on Sunday afternoon.

Something new this year, however, is just for the kiddos. Beginning November 19th, young detectives and sleuths-in-training can set out to solve the mysterious case of Santa’s missing reindeer and misfit toys by collecting a Christmas Clue Card from the public library or West Feliciana Historical Society Museum. Simply solve as many clues as you can and drop your card in the Letters to Santa mailbox at Town Hall. Don’t forget to fill out your name and address so Santa can reply!

For the full Christmas in the Country schedule, visit stfrancisvillefestivals.com.

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Features

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EXHIBITIONS

“Yesterday we said tomorrow”

PROSPECT NEW ORLEANS RETURNS FOR ITS FIFTH ITERATION, WITH A THEME PERHAPS TOO APT

By Alexandra Kennon

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hat is Prospect?

Inspired by the Venice Biennale that began in 1895 as an exhibition of art and design from around the globe, Prospect is the only exhibition of its kind in the United States. The comprehensive triennial exhibition takes place every three years across the city of New Orleans— in museums, in galleries, and in often unexpected public spaces. Curated by various leaders of the art world, the exhibition features artists from all over the globe to contribute existing and newly-commissioned works that speak to the year’s theme and engage with the unique issues and cultures of the South.

How did Prospect begin?

And why New Orleans?

The idea was formed when Dan Cameron—an established leader in the art world at that point, having served as Senior Curator at the New Museum of Contempo30

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Keni Anwar, “first dance,” 2018. Digital collage. Courtesy of the artist. Anwar’s work will be displayed at the Contemporary Arts Center during Prospect.5.

rary Art for over a decade, in addition to holding positions as artistic director of the Istanbul Biennial and co-organizer of the Taipei Biennial—visited New Orleans in early 2006, just a few months after Hurricane Katrina. Throughout the city, Cameron observed an overwhelming sentiment of frustration at New Orleans’ slow recovery.

It occurred to Cameron, in collaboration with other leaders in the New Orleans arts community like gallery owner Arthur Roger and NOMA curator Bill Fagaly, that the U.S. was lacking a large-scale international biennial or triennial in the style of that in Venice and other cities worldwide. New Orleans’ richly varied cultural legacy as a port city, as well as its history of hosting one of the earliest international art exhibitions in the nation at the 1884 World Cotton Centennial, coupled with the needs that had arisen following Katrina, made it a clear choice for location.

“New Orleans truly, I think, is an American city that has a very unique and particular mix of cultural influences. I think it’s very emblematic of particular threads in U.S. history,” said Prospect.5 Co-Artistic Director Diana Nawi. “And I think it has a really outsized cultural reputation—it’s a very small city, and it has so much influence in the world…it also exists in a global cultural imagination outside of itself.”

In January 2007 Cameron founded the nonprofit U.S. Biennial, Inc., gathered a volunteer board of directors, and set about securing funding and staff to realize his vision for Prospect New Orleans. Prospect.1 opened in November, 2008, and marked one of the first instances of contemporary art’s implementation as a form of post-crisis activism. “Prospect.1 I think of as something pretty significant when we talk about art history of the aughts, or really critical moments in contemporary art,” Nawi said. That premier event remains the

Ron Bechet, “Fragile,” 2019. Charcoal on paper. Courtesy of the artist. Ron Bechet’s work will be displayed at the Newcomb Art Museum of Tulane University during Prospect.5.

largest biennial or triennial of international contemporary art in the country’s history and is regarded by some as the most influential exhibition to have been held in New Orleans to date. “I think we all agree that first Prospect was pure magic, right?” asked artist Anastasia Pelias, whose work is featured in Prospect.5. “Everything was so charged, emotionally charged.”

Prospect.5: Yesterday we said tomorrow

Titled in reference to New Orleans Jazz musician Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah’s 2010 album Yesterday You Said Tomorrow, the overarching theme of Prospect.5, Yesterday we said tomorrow, is at once simple and profound, capturing a myriad of social issues and the ways individuals and societies defer addressing them. “I think the show has this kind of historical thrust, or sort of like the idea of how history kind of shapes the present,” Nawi said. “But I think there’s a lot of other sub themes and ways that people are working.” From climate change, to race, to the South’s delayed efforts to reckon with the historical atrocities that occurred on its soil, the projects included each address the title from unique angles, some more overtly than others.

Regardless, the larger context of Prospect and the setting of New Orleans naturally influence the lenses through which the artwork is viewed. “That relationship in some places is clear, and overt, and real. And some places, you know, the work exists outside of the city,” Nawi said. “And then it’s like, okay, what does it mean for the viewer to then have it in this context?”

And then, there are the more unintended, literal ways the theme has manifested: Prospect.5 was originally supposed to open in 2020, and was initially delayed due to the outbreak of the pandemic. Then, Prospect’s 2021 openings were again delayed due to Hurricane Ida. “I think those are the terms of the triennial: yesterday we said tomorrow, so hopefully it’s today,” Nawi said. “I think it’s sort of really played out for us in a kind of incredible way, this idea of deferral and realization and what we can accomplish.”

Katrina Andry, “I’m Not Your Chocolate Fantasy. Don’t Touch My Hair #3,” 2017. Color reduction woodcut and mylar, 38 x 44 inches. Courtesy of the artist. Katrina Andry’s work will be on display at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art as part of Prospect.5.

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Sophocles Arvanitis and a custom scent by boutique perfumer FOLIE à PLUSIEURS, is a tribute to and reimagining of the story of the Oracle at Delphi. “The priestesses at Delphi ruled the Western world for one thousand years—while everybody thought the men ruled the world, she actually did,” Pelias explained.

“Because all the leaders of the countries and city-states, and empires, they pretty much had full trust in her.”

The site, Pelias said, could not better reflect her own heritage or the immersive nature of the project, or Prospect as a whole. “This site is really important to me because it was in the neighborhood that used to be called ‘Greek Town,’ and as a Greek American artist, I grew up going to the Greek church, which is just blocks away from the site,” Pelias said. “So, I’m very connected to the neighborhood forever.”

Anastasia Pelias, “Etsi einai i zoë (So is life),” Limestone, clay, wood, grass, water based paint, sheep dimensions variable. A site specific installation staged in Skopelos, Greece in 2019. Image courtesy of the artist.

Pelias will stage a new immersive installation for Prospect.5 at Capdevielle Place Park.

Experiencing Prospect

“It’s kind of the opposite of a museum show,” said Nawi.

In the city-wide triennial exhibition, now in its fifth iteration since it was founded following Hurricane Katrina, there are no white walls; no hermetic environments containing the artwork. “You’re driving from site to site, you’re walking from site to site, you’re on the street, you stopped and you got a drink,” Nawi explains of what experiencing Prospect is like as a viewer. “So, you’re having an experience that’s integrated with life in the city, to some degree.” Or, as Nawi says: New Orleans is the Protaganist; Prospect is the plot. “The city shapes so much of that, and so much of your experience.”

What to See Artist: Anastasia Pelias Location: Capdevielle Place Park Opens: October 23 Painter and sculptor Anastasia Pelias frequently draws from her Greek heritage and New Orleans upbringing as inspiration for her artwork. For Prospect.5, she has created what she calls an “immersive site-specific installation” titled It was my pleasure, which captures both facets of her personal background. The fully immersive experience, which involves a soundscape by Athens-based composer

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Artists: Laura Aguilar, Keni Anwar, Felipe Baeza, Kevin Beasley, Phoebe Boswell, Mark Bradford, Jamal Cyrus, Karon Davis, ektor garcia, Sky Hopinka, Dave McKenzie, Beatriz Santiago Muñoz, Hu’o’ng Ngô, Eric- Paul Riege, Kiki Smith, Carlos Villa, Cosmo Whyte Location: Contemporary Art Center Opens: October 23 The Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) is hosting works by seventeen different artists—more than any other venue participating in Prospect.5. Among the included artists, whose work will expand across the CAC’s first and second floor galleries, are works by New Orleans artist, writer, and musician Keni Anwar, who often looks to their Southern Baptist upbringing as a lens through which to examine sexual identity, race, and gender in the form of self-portraits in a variety of mediums. Another artist whose works will be featured at the

CAC is Jamal Cyrus of Houston, whose art addresses the contributions African Americans make to popular culture and the political and corporate forces that contain it. Cyrus often utilizes unexpected objects, like parts of a drum set, within his unique brand of sculptural storytelling.

Artist: Malcolm Peacock Location: By reservation at weserved.info From Raleigh, North Carolina and a current New Orleans resident, multidisciplinary artist Malcolm Peacock is known for his experimental and participatory art that provides commentary on issues like race, queer identity, and history. His new work for Prospect.5, which will be available via online registration, is an in-person, oneon-one, private immersive experience. “The piece looks closely at the traditions of hospitality and food service that contribute greatly to the perception and everyday functions of New Orleans, Louisiana,” Peacock said. “I am humbled to be among a prolific group of artists for the Prospect triennial.”

Artists: Katrina Andry, Willie Birch, Beverly Buchanan, Jennie C. Jones, Tau Lewis, Glenn Ligon, The Neighborhood Story Project, Jennifer Packer, Welmon Sharlhorne, and Celeste Dupuy Spencer Location: Ogden Museum of Southern Art Opens: November 6 The Ogden Museum of Southern Art is presenting works by several artists, some of whom are New Orleans-based, and others who are from other locales both national and international. Among them are New Orleans native Willie Birch, who was featured in the original Prospect.1, and is regarded as one of Louisiana’s

most significant living artists; best known for his detailed, realistic charcoal and acrylic drawings depicting African American life in the South. The local artists whose work will be displayed at the Ogden range from long-standing cultural touchstones like Birch to more contemporary forces of New Orleans art like Katrina Andry, whose woodcuts and prints tackle issues of privilege and stereotypical depictions of Black Americans.

The Neighborhood Story Project’s layered collaborative storytelling about New Orleans and the surrounding areas will also be on display at the Ogden for Prospect.5, in the form of an exhibition titled Called to Spirit: Women and Healing Arts in New Orleans curated by Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes and Rachel Breunlin. “Our exhibit for Prospect.5 is a community effort based in love and friendship across the city, drawing together healers, researchers, archivists, photographers, musicians, and artists to help us tell stories of Black women’s leadership from the 1800s through the present-day,” Breunlin explained. “The collaboration began three years ago with Nana Sula Evans and her Temple of

Malcolm Peacock, “Untitled,” Kanekalon on paper, 38” x 54”. Courtesy of the artist. For Prospect.5, Malcolm Peacock will present an in-person, one-on-one private immersive experience.

Whether you are 6 or 60, we focus on your health.

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She treats a wide range of illnesses from the common cold, COVID, and flus to sore throats, ear infections, and stomach aches. She also helps patients with chronic illnesses and diseases such as migraines, diabetes, high blood pressure, anemia and more.

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George Dureau, “Brian Reeves, nd.” Vintage silver gelatin print, 10 x 8 inches. Courtesy of the Dureau Estate and Arthur Roger Gallery. For Prospect.5, Dureau’s work will be displayed at the Historic New Orleans Collection.

Light, Ilé de Coin Coin, which is a Mami Wata shrine based in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans.” The project will extend throughout three interconnected rooms at the Ogden, featuring different altars and music recorded for the exhibit, along with photography, collage, and historical objects. “Following the guide of public records and stories collected by the WPA, I composed songs for the accordion and African drums to repatriate and evoke the ceremonies and spiritual work that was important to women in the 1800s—to remember how these instruments and Creole music were portals to healing,” Barnes, who is also a musician, said. “This project is bridging the gap between different spiritual traditions for the healing and elevation of all humanity,” Evans added.

Artists: Dawoud Bey, George Dureau, Josh Kun Location: The Historic New Orleans Collection Opens: October 23 Regarded as one of the most influential photographers in American history, Chicago-based Dawoud Bey has spent years visiting plantations and other historical sites in the South to document the former living quarters of the people who were once enslaved there.

“So, thinking of the landscape as like a kind of record of these lives, of which we have little record,” Nawi explained. These photographs will be on display at the Historic New Orleans Collection in the French Quarter, as will works by music historian Josh Kun and George Dureau—another cultural elder in the New Orleans art world who passed in 2014, known for his ethereal black and white photographs featuring often untraditional iterations of the male form, captured using only natural light.

Artists: Ron Bechet, Barbara Chase-Riboud, Elliott Hundley, Mimi Lauter, Naudline Pierre Location: Newcomb Art Museum of Tulane University Opens: October 23 Ron Bechet, long-time former chairman of Xavier University’s art department and current professor, is recognized for charcoal drawings and paintings that capture hyper-detailed vignettes of South Louisiana natural scenes. Despite their seemingly literal nature, he frequently uses these landscapes as “metaphors for the human condition.” His work will be on display at Newcomb Art Museum, along with works by Barbara Chase-Riboud, Elliott Hundley, Mimi Lauter, and Naudline Pierre. “I am proud as a son of New Orleans to be included in this version of Prospect.5. Since its inception it has been a great pleasure to experience the focus on the place I know so well,” Bechet said. “We all know its value to the world as a place of significance culturally, spiritually, and as Bulbancha—a gathering place for humanity.”

Other projects to check out while you’re in town: While the list of official projects that are included in Prospect.5 is extensive and diverse (and we encourage you to check it out for yourself, as only a small handful are described here), there are even more art exhibits that aren’t officially part of the triennial, but will be on display at the same time. Here are a couple that particularly stand out: For each Prospect, founder and original curator Dan Cameron curates exhibitions at Jonathan Ferrara Gallery in the Warehouse District, featuring several returning Prospect artists. This year the exhibition is titled Re: Representation and is presented in two parts.

George Clinton—yes, that George Clinton, the musician who headlines Parliament-Funkadelic—has a first-ever solo studio art exhibition called Free Your Mind going up in the Spillman-Blackwell Gallery on Camp Street, which happens to coincide with Prospect.5 as well as the musician’s eightieth birthday. h The Neighborhood Story Project, “Janet Sula Evans at her shrine, the Temple of Light Ilé de Coin Coin in the Ninth Ward,” 2019. Color photograph. Courtesy of the artists. For Prospect.5, The Neighborhood Story Project’s exhibition Called to Spirit: Women and Healing Arts in New Orleans will be displayed at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. 34

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For more information on the many artists and projects included in Prospect.5, visit prospectneworleans.org.

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SHOP LOCAL

Mid City Artisans

A PERMANENT HAVEN FOR CREATIVES IN MID CITY BATON ROUGE Story by Kristen Kirschner • Photos by Lucie Monk Carter

“B

uy Local!” Over the past two pandemic years, the long-shouted rallying call to hbolster small-business economies has grown ever louder. While local grocery stores and brick-and-mortar boutiques are obvious choices for consumers to support their neighbors, until recently opportunities to support local artisans in Baton Rouge were largely limited to the monthly MidCity Makers Markets and seasonal community events like White Light Night and Hot Art Cool Nights. Enter artist-proprietors Maria and George Harris, the literal and figurative creative forces behind Mid-City Artisans. This multi-maker consignment art market opened in late April 2021 in the conveniently-located Square 46 multiuse building, joining a burgeoning block of creative spaces, including the future homes of Bistro Byronz’s new location, Frameworks Gallery, and Tap 56, a wine and beer taproom at the corner of Government and Moore streets.

Over the last several years Mid City has emerged as the de facto home of Baton Rouge area creatives.

George, a fourth-generation Baton Rougean and Maria, a native of neighboring Ascension Parish, chose the location intentionally; they are both residents and members of the area’s vibrant arts scene. George is a woodworker and repurposed furniture maker, and for many years the couple frequently participated in the area’s various markets. Though creatively rewarding, these events were physically exhausting endeavors for the pair and too infrequent to make the labor intensive process of George’s work worth the sales. It wasn’t long before George and Maria, each retired from careers in computer programming and education respectively, began making plans for a more stationary, consistent point of sale.

They briefly rented a vendor space inside The Market at the Oasis, which gave them the ability to more permanently display their merchandise. “This let customers more easily imagine how they might style the pieces in their own homes,” Maria, who also has a background in retail, explained. The permanent booth, along with the weekly—as opposed to monthly—frequency of other markets, increased the couple’s sales and allowed their business to survive the worst of the pandemic. However, even with this increased stability, there was still a weekly rental fee for the space, regardless of sales. And their customers continuously expressed to them a desire for more days a week to shop. Identifying a hole in the market, they decided to open Mid-City Artisans.

“We wanted a place that was open six days a week, with no ongoing fees, where artists could feel comfortable leaving their pieces while we manned the store,” Maria said. This consignment model has allowed their business to grow to include over 120 vendors. Maria, with a keen, artistic eye for color theory, object grouping, and functional furniture arrangement, has skillfully positioned the diverse inventory into the kind of sensorially sumptuous displays a maximalist dreams of.

Every available surface offers an irresistible assemblage of expertly-crafted goods. One table displays slices of soap, so bright and fragrant that they almost seem edible. Another supports stacked towers of jars filled with actually edible homemade jams. Wire and stone jewelry glints behind glass in an antique armoire. Tiny origami paper cranes, leaves, and fish dangle as earrings from the arms of a turnstile display. More often than not, the display furniture is also for sale; reclaimed and refinished

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antiques—including several of George’s own pieces— all have price tags, ensuring a constantly changing aesthetic. And the walls: they are covered nearly floor-toceiling by paintings and mixed media works, framed inches apart and ranging in price grandly enough to fit virtually every budget. “We want things to be priced fairly for the artist and the customer,” George explained.

One of the few items that exceeds the $1,000 mark is a sculpture of an octopus that, when closely inspected, more than justifies the price. What appears at a distance to be richly-painted plaster is actually made from intricate papier mâché, using tiny scraps of full-color aquatic nature magazines to create the highlights and shadows of the animal’s undulating shape.

The Harrises offer the space to creatives as a location from which to sell their wares on consignment, without having to sign an exclusivity agreement. But the couple has gone one step further in supporting the local artistic community by expanding their operations into an upstairs gallery and multi-use work and performance space, which has already hosted featured artist shows, poetry readings, and a wide range of classes taught by artisan vendors. Currently, they are also exploring the prospect of offering studio space rental for local artists.

The harmony of George and Maria’s combined efforts have made Mid-City Artisans a home for patrons of local arts as well as artists. With his background in programming, George has built an easily navigable website, where he maintains a regularly-updated calendar of classes as well as a selection of products that can be purchased online. Current classes in wire wrap jewelry, clay hand building, oil, acrylic, and watercolor painting are being offered for older children and adults. Offerings for younger artists have included animation and origami. Further supporting young makers, Mid-City Artisans hosts a quarterly Kids’ Arts Market where artists between the ages of six and seventeen can sell their creations.

Inside the shop, George has also posted QR codes next to many of the items, so shoppers can scan and learn more about each artisan. For her part, Maria’s expertly curated displays and knowledgeable, engaging personality make for a genuinely enjoyable shopping experience. While face-to-face interactions with individual artisans at traditional markets have their merits to many, there is also an undeniable appeal that a more introverted patron will find in being able to leisurely experience each collection without the potential pressures of small talk. And for the first time, Baton Rougeans and visitors have access six days a week to a diverse and entirely-local artisan shopping experience—a place where they can find anything from the origami of Brent Walden to Libby Tobin-Broussard’s paper sculptures, Ashley Andermann’s Grinning Jupiter Jams, to teaching artist Karin Chapman’s wire wrap jewelry and macrame, all while enjoying a complimentary cup of coffee. h

Mid-City Artisans is open Tuesday– Sunday with varying hours. Visit mid-cityartisans.com for a complete calendar of events, including a chance to meet the artisans themselves at White Light Night on November 19.

November Calendar Art in the Rafters Arts Council Membership Drive Avoyelles Courthouse Square November 4, 2021 (5pm-9pm) 318.264.1826 or 318.240.3495 Christmas on the Island Fifth Ward Community Center November 13, 2021 318.500.2416 Avoyelles Christmas Craft Show VFW Hall in Marksville November 13, 2021 318.613.1771 Cruisin Southern Style Car & Truck Show November 19-20, 2021 318.623.9899 Christmas Extravaganza Paragon Casino Resort November 20, 2021 318.253.8599

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ALVEARE Luminoso is an illuminated, suspended hive-like structure which celebrates the importance of bees and pollinators within the environment. The work is created by Luba Zygarewicz, a Chilean-Ukranian artist based out of Mandeville and will be displayed at the inaugural Allumer Natchez. Photo by Bryce Ell Photography, courtesy of Allumer Natchez.

ENLIGHTENED

Allumer

A NEW FESTIVAL AND EXHIBITION FOSTER REBIRTH AND RENEWAL IN NATCHEZ

By Swathi Reddy

A

rt can be extraordinary, but it doesn’t have to be untouchable.

This synchronous stance—bringing broad accessibility to an immersive array of art—is the bedrock behind Allumer Natchez, a light-based art exhibition and festival premiering November 19–21 in Natchez, Mississippi.

There may be no more apt a medium for expression, vitality, and delight than light itself—which co-founder Stacy Conde noted is particularly suitable to highlighting the striking architecture so characteristic of Natchez.

“The curatorial theme is based on rebirth and renewal, which is exactly

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what Natchez is going through,” said Conde, a Miami transplant who is owner and director of the fine arts gallery Conde Contemporary in Natchez.

For Conde and fellow co-founder Lindsay Glatz, Allumer (pronounced Ah-loo-mehr) Natchez is a long-considered melding of their intertwined passions for art and community.

“In ways, art provides an outlet for saying things that can be hard to communicate or create feelings that bring the community together,” said Glatz, a multi-disciplinary artist herself.

The two organizers were introduced several years ago during the course of one of Conde’s projects, discovering in

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each other kindred spirits. Apart from their shared dedication to championing creatives and the communities they serve, they discovered all sorts of lovely, geographical overlaps through the course of their own lives that further deepened their partnership.

Raised in the Midwest, Glatz enjoyed a childhood marked by frequent visits to museums and the theatre, cultivating an interest in the arts early on. Upon visiting Natchez as an adult, she recalled how, as a child, she leafed through one of her parents’ coffee table books featuring the historic homes of Natchez. Dreaming up Allumer Natchez with Conde was truly a full circle moment. She moved

to New Orleans just prior to Hurricane Katrina, after which she witnessed the distinct ways the arts can contribute to healing in a community traumatized.

For Conde, art has long been a family affair. Her mother is a multi-disciplinary artist, her husband Andrés Conde is a painter (whom she represents through her gallery), she is a writer. She grew up in Miami (her grandparents were married in New Orleans and later moved to Miami) and spent summers in Mississippi, visiting her grandmother’s family. She relocated Conde Contemporary (which she opened in 2013) from Miami to Natchez in the

early days of the pandemic, resulting in a homecoming of sorts for the growing family she and her husband are raising.

As partners, the two women deeply value the work of showcasing fine artwork in a way that is accessible and far-reaching. Allumer Natchez in particular comes from a deep awareness of imagination’s infinite possibility, and a desire to posit that sentiment by inspiring the generations of tomorrow to ask fundamental questions of themselves like, “What else is possible?”

While the founders had originally planned to present Allumer Natchez on Main Street, they transitioned the inaugural festival to the historic and recently-reopened Dunleith property upon learning that production for the Hallmark movie Every Time a Bell Rings would bump up against their staging downtown. But neither was deterred by the change of plans; instead they celebrated it as evidence of Natchez’s continued development. From Dunleith, they plan to use this debut year to showcase what is to come as Allumer Natchez expands in the future.

The dazzling duet of light and darkness will play out on Dunleith’s sprawling grounds—which today encompass forty acres—as well as upon the walls of its main residence, a 1850s Greek

revival design with twenty-six Tuscan columns.

While Allumer Natchez will possess the distinct flair of its Southern locale, reflecting its community from a contemporary perspective—the artists featured represent cultural backgrounds ranging from South America to Europe and home bases that span the country.

An alluring teaser of a few of the light

Luba Zygarewicz highlights the crucial importance of bees and pollinators; and showcased across Dunleith’s iconic facade: original compositions set to an illuminated projection mapping installation, from artist John E. Gray, on the themes of rebirth.

“When you’re talking about light and dark, there are very primordial feelings that are stirred up,” said Conde. “That’s

“WHEN YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT LIGHT AND DARK, THERE ARE VERY PRIMORDIAL FEELINGS THAT ARE STIRRED UP.” —STACY CONDE installations to be unveiled, as a celebration of the wondrous natural world and the iconic, unaltered grounds on which they’ll be presented: botanical projections inspired by the flora of New Orleans from Courtney Egan, who has worked from the Crescent City for three decades; from Milwaukee-based artist Chelsey Noel, a colorful tribute to Mississippi’s swallowtail butterfly as a symbol of transformation and change; Jen Fuller of Portland invokes our interconnectedness with the natural world through innovative glass and steel sculpture; an illuminated hive-like structure by Mandeville-based artist

why I think this particular medium is so compelling. It’s a very magical experience that many people likely haven’t had before.”

With regards to inclusion and accessibility, Glatz emphasizes that Allumer Natchez will welcome all ages—at no cost. “The baseline of the festival is that it’s a free experience, so that really eliminates any barriers within the community of people being able to attend.”

Conde and Glatz credit the city and people of Natchez for embracing their efforts with open arms—providing support, in-kind donations, access to city officials; donating their time, resources,

and more. That tangible appreciation for investing and celebrating Natchez remains a guiding motivator for the dynamic duo.

And it’s a direct tie-in to one of their main objectives: presenting the festival as a driver of economic benefits to the city. The arts have long been known as an unequivocal force of economic contributions for local growth, adding billions in revenue nationwide—more, it may surprise many to learn, than industries like agriculture and transportation.

Focusing on nighttime events, “leaves open the opportunity for other businesses to create events they can layer during the day with Allumer Natchez,” said Conde, noting the potential for capitalizing on the increased traffic to Natchez in years moving forward.

For now though, the pair is focused on creating a spectacular experience for the people of Natchez this November, illuminating the pleasure of art—for everyone. h

Allumer Natchez takes place November 19–21 at Dunleith Historic Inn. Learn more at allumernatchez.com

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Cuisine

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A GUIDE

TO THE WILDER

E X P E R I E N C E S // 4 6

SIDE OF LOUISIANA

T H E S T. F R A N C I SV I L L E

F R O M T H E S WA M P F LO O R PA N T RY

Oh, Deer

FIVE CHEFS SHARE CREATIVE TAKES ON VENISON

By Jordan LaHaye Photo by Stacy Landers.

Chef John Folse

When John Folse speaks of his childhood, he describes the St. James Parish bayous he grew up in as “the swamp floor pantry” and a “storeroom of plenty”. “We never, ever thought about food, because there was so much,” he said. “It was all over the place.”

At as early as six years old, Folse remembers being let out of school for the holidays and heading straight for the swamp with his cousins. “We’d go into a little family camp that was very very simple, and we’d stay there for two weeks or a month by ourselves, deer hunting. We just had to be home for Christmas, our mama said.”

Eating exclusively what they grew, farmed, and killed, Folse said that his family never wasted a single piece of any animal. There were family recipes designed to cater to each part of the deer—they’d braise the tough cuts, throw the kidneys in a stew, sautée the brain for break40

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CUISINE

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FOOD AND WINE

IN THE WILD

CREATING

COPPER VINE’S WINE

FESTIVAL RETURNS

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killed my first deer on my sixteenth birthday.

As the kind of kid who named caterpillars, who tamed the stray cats from our barn and cried at the sight of blood—I hadn’t previously had much interest in this particular rite of passage. My dad had always found ways to include me in the tradition, though. He’d bring me on “camera hunts,” setting up early in the morning on the deer stand, where we’d watch the forest come alive—warmed by a space heater, snacking on beef jerky and powdered donuts.

But on that January morning, something clicked. The little buck looked right at me, my dad whispered encouragements into my ear, and I surprised myself by pulling the trigger. The deer ran, straight over the nearby bluff. Quietly we climbed down from the stand and made our way down the hillside—both of us wholly prepared for a fullon tracking expedition. And then we saw it: I’d shot well and true, straight through the heart.

That day is one of my favorite memories spent with my dad. We pulled the deer up the hill together, and back at the camp he showed me how to clean it. We celebrated with lunch at The Myrtles, then went home victorious—one of the best backstrap dinners I’d ever have waiting in our future.

And just like that, I was part of it. My story joined the tapestry of first kills that in so many ways shape the individual histories— spanning generations—of growing up in this place, of harvesting and tasting, of sharing and storytelling.

When speaking recently with Chef John Folse, one of our region’s top authorities on—and proponents of—wild game cuisine, he said “When I think of myself as a Louisiana chef that brings stories around the world, the best stories I can tell are not about my

fast. As a chef in an increasingly-mass produced world, Folse said he still craves those dishes of his childhood.

“But unless I killed the deer myself, those parts were hard to find. People just throw them away.”

He shared many of these recipes in his wildly-popular 2007 cookbook After the Hunt: Louisiana’s Authoritative Collection of Wild Game & Game Fish Cookery.

“The game book has absolutely been the most sought after book of mine,” he said. “It was the story I wanted to make sure we brought into generations to come. This is the foundation we stand on in Louisiana cooking.”

His Deer Bombs recipe, created for a group of firemen in search of an easy, quick way to use their game, is now a regional favorite and can even be found as an appetizer on local menus. “You just pound out some cuts of meat—the best of the venison, pounded out, tender—

TASTING

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restaurant in NOLA, they’re not about my catering company in Baton Rouge. They’re about the roots of our cooking. How blessed we are in this utopia of plenty in South Louisiana.”

Folse’s project, for decades, has been to encourage a return to the culinary roots that shaped Louisiana’s distinctive cuisine—a return to the land we’ve inherited. The path to encouraging more wild game cooking, he’s long held, is laden with creativity—moving past the generic ground meat and sausage typically made from deer killed today.

“Growing up as a young boy in the swamp in the 1950s, the whole animal was a treasure trove of opportunity, just a treasure trove,” he said. “There is a place on the table for all primal cuts.”

In recent years, as consumers have become more wary of industrial-scale factory farming’s environmental impacts, treatment of animals, and lack of transparency—the move to sourcing local has coincided with an uptick in hunting across the nation. Since 2020, this trend has only accelerated as Americans sought out new hobbies, particularly those that brought them outdoors.

Speaking with five chefs—who each came to the deer stand from wildly different backgrounds—we delved into the versatile world of venison cuisine. For experienced outdoorsmen and new hunters alike (as well as for generous hunters’ lucky friends), we’ve curated a collection of recipes that bring Louisiana’s prized game to the table in forms both elegant and approachable, classic and surprising.

As wild game food blogger Nathan Judice said in a recent interview: “Anyone can cook like this. You can use venison in pretty much anything you can imagine. It’s so versatile, and it’s so healthy. The possibilities are endless.”

and wrap it up in bacon with vegetables or cheese, all the things we love. It’s so simple, a little nothing recipe that really at the end of the day is what our cooking is all about: taking what we have in the moment and deciding how to eat it.”

For a surprisingly simple, showstopping dish, Folse recommends roasting a rack of venison. “You have a small rack of tenderloin with the bones in, just roasted whole. I would serve that to a king.”

And then of course, there’s the heart. “The heart is so underutilized,” he said. “People either throw it away or into a stew.” Since his book’s release, he said, his Stuffed Venison Heart has become one of the most popular dishes he makes. “You stuff the heart with a spicy venison sausage, then braise it in a cast iron skillet—it doesn’t get better than that.” jfolse.com.

Sausage-stuffed Venison Heart Prep Time: 2½–3 Hours Yields: 4–6 Servings

Ingredients:

2 venison hearts 1 pound Italian sausage 4 tbsps butter ½ cup minced onions ¼ cup minced celery ¼ cup minced bell pepper 2 tbsps minced garlic ½ cup seasoned Italian bread crumbs ¼ cup chopped parsley Salt and black pepper to taste Granulated garlic to taste ¼ cup olive oil 1 red onion, peeled and thinly sliced 1 stalk celery, chopped 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed 1 quart beef stock 2 slices bacon

Method:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut heart open by placing a sharp knife blade parallel to the cutting board and slicing ⅓ of the way into the heart. Clean by removing veins Left: Victoria Loomis’s Venison Backstrap, served with okra and potatoes. Photo by Stacy Landers, courtesy of Loomis. Top right: Chef Dalton Prince, grilling marinated venison tenderloin, to be served spontaneously on top of a roll with a poached egg and paprika, pictured bottom right. Photos by Kimberly Meadowlark. and arteries. Rinse with cold running water, and set aside. In a sauté pan, melt butter over mewater may be necessary to retain volume. When hearts en string. This should close the stuffing firmly into the dium-high heat, then add minced onions, celery, bell are tender, drop raw meatballs, if any, into the gravy heart and keep it from falling out during cooking. If pepper, and minced garlic. Sauté three to five minutes and allow to bake ten to fifteen minutes or until done. any additional stuffing remains, roll into golf ball-sized or until vegetables are wilted. Transfer to a large mixTo serve, slice and top with natural juices. This dish is meatballs and set aside. In a large Dutch oven, heat ing bowl and allow to cool slightly. When cool, add great served with dirty rice or mashed potatoes. olive oil over medium-high heat. Season hearts lightsausage, bread crumbs, and parsley. Season lightly with ly with salt, pepper, and granulated garlic, and brown salt, pepper, and granulated garlic. Stuff a generous Recipe from Chef John Folse’s thoroughly on each side. Surround the hearts with red portion of the sausage stuffing into each of the prepared After the Hunt: Louisiana’s Authoritative Collection of onion slices, chopped celery, and smashed garlic. Add cavities cut into the hearts. Secure and close tightly usstock, bring to a rolling boil, cover, and bake approxWild Game & Game Fish Cookery ing toothpicks or skewers, then tie tightly with kitchimately two hours or until tender. Additional stock or

Chef Victoria Loomis

For Victoria Loomis, a private chef working in the Natchez area, deer hunting is a spiritual experience.

Though she grew up in a hunting family, it wasn’t until her mid-twenties, during a difficult stage of her life, that she really embraced the lifestyle.

“I kind of had to rebuild my life in a sense,” she said.

She started with duck hunting as an outlet for her black lab. “She led me into that world,” she said of her dog Ellie. And the prospect of clean, ethical meat-consumption kept here there, eventually leading her into a deer stand.

“I found a home in deer hunting,” she said. “It was very healing for me during that time. I would just sit in the deer stand and spend eight hours at a time, thinking ‘I’m never leaving here. This is it.’ In a way, I went from being prey to predator. I grew to feel more secure in my skin than I ever had in my entire life.”

These experiences coincided with Loomis’s training at the Louisiana Culinary Institute and lent a renewed sense of reverence to her approach to food.

“I think it’s safe to say that a lot of America suffers

Chef Kim Kringlie

Kim Kringlie, like many Louisiana chefs, grew up hunting deer—but not in a deer stand. A Grand Forks, North Dakota native, Kringlie remembers hunting with his father and brothers before school—his hunting clothes layered over his school uniform for an easy transition. “We’d hunt everything,” he said. “Duck, antelope, deer, bear.”

Hunting deer in the Midwest is a totally different art form than it is in South Louisiana, and often revolves around “shelterbelts”—lines of trees the United States Forest Service planted around the perimeters of farms

from careless eating, not truly appreciating their food,” she said. “There’s no thought put into it, just munch munch munch. The difference with hunting and harvesting your own animal and putting the work in—the mental work, the physical work. To spend the time breaking down an animal and to see every part of it. It calls me to be more mindful than I ever have been in my life.”

When Loomis is preparing deer, she emphasizes the value of retaining as many of the meat’s nutrients as possible. “Basically, the least processed, the more raw, the better,” she said. “I’m not against frying deer meat, but it’s the last thing you’ll ever see me do. Like only if a customer really wants it.”

While Loomis is known for her innovative takes on game (During our conversation, she hinted at a Venison King Cake)—when it comes to deer, she tends to best love the prized fare: the tenderloin and the backstrap. Prepared with blackberries and a coffee rub, her recipe “exists for celebrations and camaraderie” of a hunt ended in harvest. thegatheringirl.com

during the 1930s as a response to the soil erosion and drought of the Dust Bowl.

“We would walk both sides of the shelterbelts, which were usually two hundred to three hundred yards wide, using walkie talkies,” said Kringlie. “The deer would be hanging out there, and we’d kind of scare them out, get them moving, then shoot.”

Since moving to Louisiana in 1983 he’s settled his way into the more sit-back-and-wait style of hunting practiced here, while also mastering the nuances of Louisiana cuisine. His Covington establishment The

Venison Backstrap Ingredients:

1 lb backstrap cut into 2 pieces (This works really well with the end pieces.)

Coarse kosher salt Blackberries or dewberries (fresh or frozen) 2 tbsp whole butter Olive oil 3 tsp Spiceology Cowboy Crust Coffee Rub

Method:

When ready to cook, lightly salt steaks on each side. Allow meat to sit out long enough to come to room temperature. If preparing in a skillet, heat oil in the skillet to medium-high heat. For grill preparation, when the grate is hot, add meat. While the skillet is heating, coat the steaks in Cowboy Crust. Cook for about three minutes on each side. Add one Tbsp of butter before removing from skillet, with a quick flip on each piece. Set aside and let rest for at least ten minutes. Hold berries in hand and smash them, then top your steak with them.

Dakota Restaurant has presided over the Northshore as a fine dining classic for over thirty years now.

One of his favorite ways to prepare venison is “au Huitres du Bienville”. “You either sautée or roast your venison, and serve with oysters in a Bienville sauce. It’s a way to introduce that classic Louisiana style to wild game, which I’m a big fan of.”

The best thing about being a hunter in Louisiana, according to a North Dakotian chef? “They eat everything down here!” thedakotarestaurant.com // N O V 2 1

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On View eb 19, 2021 Nov 13–F

Venison au Huitres du Bienville Ingredients

6 one-oz. medallions of venison loin 6 fresh, medium sized oysters 3 oz. green onions 2 oz. muscadet wine 1/2 oz. chopped garlic 6 oz. heavy whipping cream 2 cups flour 2 oz. parmesan cheese 1 tsp. lemon juice 1 oz. demi-glace 1 oz. oyster liquor 1 pinch thyme 1 tsp. chopped parsley salt, white pepper, and cayenne pepper

Chef Dalton Prince

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18-443 3 • g r .o m u e s u them

McCormick Smith Fund er Alexandria

by the Great effort funded A cooperative rity (GAEDA) opment Autho Economic Devel

A recent graduate of the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University, Dalton Prince has been eating venison since he was a child growing up in Labadieville. “Ever since I could hold a gun, I was shooting small game—rabbits, squirrels, birds,” he said. “Then I got into deer and duck. We’ve always been the kind of family that kind of lives off the land.”

Prince killed his first deer with his grandfather, at age twelve. “The first one is always the best,” he recalled. But the harvest that impacted him most deeply came later, at age seventeen.

“For that one, I had started to really hunt on my own, do all of the work myself—the whole nine yards. Doing everything I could to get that perfect hunt.”

That deer, said the chef, “was the most satisfying meal of my entire life. I had put

Method

Pound medallions of venison until they are thin. Place each medallion and season with salt, white pepper, and cayenne, and a pinch of green onions. Roll tightly, dust lightly in flour on both sides in a hot skillet. Remove venison and drain.

Add garlic and green onions, and deglaze with muscadet wine. Add oyster liquor, demi-glaze, cream, lemon juice, chopped parsley, and seasonings. Reduce by half, add cheese and sprinkle a pinch of cheese on top of each medallion. Brown under broiler. Layer sauce on plate and then top with venison medallions.

all the work in, from beginning to end.

The purity of it, you can’t get that anywhere else.”

While attending culinary school, Prince enjoyed applying the lessons he was learning to the wild game he’d kill.

“It really rounded it all out and helped me to evolve, to add new flavors, new techniques,” he said. “It was really fun to bring those to the camp, or when cooking with the family.”

These days, Prince dedicates at least one cut of every deer he kills to experimentation. Still, when cooking with friends he often turns back to that most satisfying meal: “I took the backstrap,” he said. “I sliced it really thin, marinated it in Mexican spices—cumin, garlic, onions, pepper. It was like this fajita-Philly cheesesteak sandwich. I don’t even really know, but it was fantastic.”

Venison Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich Ingredients 3 garlic gloves, minced 1/4 cup Worcestershire 1/2 cup Italian dressing 1 tsp. cumin 3 tsp. salt 2 tsp. black pepper 1 1/2 tsp. Cajun seasoning 2-3 lbs. of venison loin, sliced thin 1 yellow onion, sliced 1/2 any bell pepper, sliced 5 button mushrooms, sliced 1 tbsp unsalted butter 2 cups mayonnaise 1 tbsp. Louisiana Pepper Exchange Chipotle Purée

2 6” French bread loaves 4 slices smoked provolone cheese Method Make a marinade using the first seven ingredients, marinate venison for at least two hours. Sauté vegetables in unsalted butter until tender, and set aside. Grill venison on medium high heat on each side for no more than one minute. Toast French bread in unsalted butter. Mix together mayonnaise and Chipotle Purée, then spread on both sides of bread. Melt smoked provolone, and build sandwich, topping with sautéed vegetables.

Venison Philly Cheeseteak Sandwich, prepared by Chef Dalton Prince. Photo by Kimberly Meadowlark.

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Celebrate the holidays in Natchez, MS

Nathan Judice

About five years ago, Nathan Judice was shopping at the grocery store, staring at the rows and rows of cellophane-packaged meat. The environmental consultant couldn’t get the thoughts out of his head: “How many people, how many machines, have touched this meat?”

The epiphany drove him to shop more exclusively from local butchers, and to get involved in the Red Stick Farmers Market in Baton Rouge. And eventually, to return to the woods. “I decided, you know, I’m just going to start public land deer hunting—trying to get more of my own meat from what I catch or kill. It was this goal I had.”

A hobby chef, Judice started documenting his journey on Instagram, drawing an enthusiastic following on his account @recreationalchef, which includes photographs of plates boasting dishes like “Basic Bitch Venison Meatloaf,” Venison Heart Pizza, and Venison Chops and Zoodles.

Venison Caesar Tartare, photo by Nathan Judice.

“One thing that motivated me to cook wild game was the challenge of preparing it the way it should be cooked, not just turning everything into ground meat,” he said. “Being able to break down an animal into the different cuts of meat and figuring out what to do with them.”

During the fall, he said that one of his favorite venison meals to make is a venison shank with sweet potatoe grits.

“Most people grind the shank up,” he said. “It takes longer to cook, you have to braise it. It’s similar to osso bucco, but not as large—you can typically braise the whole shank.”

For more adventurous eaters, Judice said that he’s made a venison tartar.

“Venison is such good protein, and so low in fat,” he said. “And like beef, you can eat it raw in some cases. You take some pieces of backstrap or top sirloin, dice that up really fine, and make a tartar. And it’s actually really, really wonderful.” raisedonwild.com

Bigfoot Birthday Bash – November 4-6 Allumer Natchez - November 19-21 Annual Christmas Tree Lighting – November 27 Christmas Home Tours – November and December

All event info at visitnatchez.org Catch the premier of the Hallmark Movie “Every Time A Bell Rings” on November 14 - filmed in Natchez!

Venison Caesar Tartare Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients:

Caesar Dressing: 2 oz. can of anchovy fillets, drained 2 egg yolk ½ cup fresh grated parmesan ½ cup olive oil 1 lemon, zest and juice 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard 2 cloves of roasted garlic 1 pinch of fresh ground black pepper Tartare: 1 cup diced backstrap 2 tbsp. minced shallots ½ jalapeno, seeded and minced 2 tbsp. minced cherry tomatoes 2 tbsp. capers 2 tbsp. of prepared Caesar dressing ½ avocado, sliced 1 tbsp. minced parsley 1 pinch flakey smoked sea salt 1 tsp. lemon zest

Method:

For the caesar dressing, combine the ingredients in a food process until emulsified/thick and creamy. Set the caesar dressing in the refrigerator to chill until needed for the tartare. Remove all silver skin from the backstrap and dice into ¼” or smaller cubes and return to the refrigerator. It is important to keep the meat cold until serving. Mince the shallots, jalapeno, and cherry tomatoes into 1/8” or smaller size pieces. Combine the backstrap, shallots, jalapeno, cherry tomatoes, capers, and caesar dressing. Mix well until combined. Once combined, plate the tartare on top of a slice of avocado and sprinkle with the smoked sea salt, parsley, and lemon zest. Serve the tartare with crostinis or toast points. h

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P E R F E C T PA I R I N G S

Tasting Together

COPPER VINE’S NEW WINE EXPERIENCES ARE BUILT ON NOSTALGIA AND COMMUNION

By Jordan LaHaye Fontenot

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hen Chef Amy Mehrtens and Sommelier Lydia Kurkoski are planning one of Copper Vine’s wine experiences, it starts with little ideas dropped in passing conversations. “We kind of have a natural process,” explained Kurkoski. “I’ll just meet her while she’s working one day and say, ‘What do you think of doing this for the next wine dinner?’ A lot of small conversations, that eventually break down to a place where we’re like ‘Okay, we want to do this.’”

At that point, Kurkoski—based on their initial vision—will source the wines, and the two women will schedule a day to sit down after work for a tasting. Together, they’ll talk through the taste profile of each glass—discussing qualities like color, structure, flavor, and aroma. From there, they’ll reach for something in each wine that’s harder to define.

“Nostalgia,” said Mehrtens, who sips each wine in search of particular ingre-

dients it brings to mind. Together, they discuss what the wine makes them think of: particular experiences, foods. After taking pages of notes, the two identify the basic flavors they’ll bring together for a particular experience. And Mehrtens will step away to build out each specific dish. “At that point, I’m like, ‘Okay, how can this be more creative? How can this be more fun? What if we did this traditional dish with a spin on it with this one wine? Because this nostalgically makes me think of something specific.”

Both transplants to the Crescent City, the two women have been working together since Copper Vine opened at the corner of Poydras and Dryades in 2018.

Kurkoski made her way there via Tulane University, where she studied business while pursuing a lifelong passion for hospitality—fostered early on in the kitchens of her Polish family in Upstate New York. “I was always surrounded by huge tables of food and people, and that was always near and dear to my heart,” she said. While completing her degree,

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

she started working at Domenica as a hostess, eventually working her way into the beverage program there before meeting Chef Mike Brewer, who was at the time opening Copper Vine as executive chef. “He brought me in for an interview, and I’ve been here ever since,” she said. Today she works as the restaurant’s sommelier, as well as its Sales and Events Manager.

Mehrtens also found her way into the industry at a young age, growing up in a traveling military family with a mother as a chef. “The center of our house was really the kitchen,” she said. “We used to do huge parties when I was a little kid, and I would be passing out hors d’oeuvres.” After completing her degree at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, she set out to travel the world, landing in New Orleans. She started out working at Commander’s Palace as a salad cook, moving her way up through the ranks. For a while she operated her own personal chef business, and then she got the offer to open Copper Vine as a sous

chef. “And the rest is history.” She was named Executive Chef in 2020.

“We’ve been working together since day one,” said Kurkoski. “We’ve both held many different positions, both starting in the deep end of operations.

And that’s slowly evolved into roles that allow us to drive the creative process at Copper Vine more. And we both have a really great natural chemistry that we both enjoy.”

The idea of bolstering Copper Vine’s wine programming has been in the works for some time, Kurkoski explained. But as was the case for many businesses over the past year, the pandemic and the bandwidth it provided during phases of reduced operations opened up space to discuss the future of the restaurant. “We were just about two years old, and sat down to look at, you know, ‘This is who we are. This is who we have said we are. Where can we put extra energy to really solidify this foundation and build on what we have currently?’”

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

Photo by Emily Ferretti, courtesy of Copper Vine.

The resulting wine experiences, offered in the form of Private Wine Dinners and Wine Tastings, are according to Kurkoski the culmination of Copper Vine’s overall mission: “to create something that offers an enriching experience that hopefully creates an enduring, lasting interest and appreciation for food and beverage in a way that meets them where they are and brings it to their table how they want it.”

Copper Vine’s Private Wine Dinners feature a creative menu curated with special wine pairings and the particular guest in mind. These can be booked for groups of eight to fifty people. The Wine Tastings, on the other hand, are smaller affairs featuring a curated and themed flight of wine paired with Mehrten’s artfully-prepared bites. Each experience is set apart by the guidance of one of Copper Vine’s wine experts, who caters the tasting to the guest’s particular interests.

“Some people are interested in the terroir and viticulture practices,” explained Kurkoski. “Some packages offer an exploration of style within a single varietal, or a focus on new innovations and practices in the industry, like natural wine.

And then there are just exceptional stories of the people behind the glass.

They want to hear stories like Susana Balbo’s, the story of Argentina’s first female winemaker. And some people are

just there to have fun, too. These are each an aspect of character that builds the entire industry and makes the entire industry special and extraordinary, but in the interest of accessibility, it’s also okay to only offer this little piece of insight that can be incredibly enriching and meaningful.”

Mehrten described the engine behind Copper Vine’s experiences as one of community, bringing together the stories of the people behind the wine in the glass, the stories of the farmers who grew the food on the plate to a guest’s table. And all of it is, of course, wrapped up in Mehrten and Kurkoski’s own stories: “Sometimes during the tasting process, we are also catching up, and stories will come out,” said Kurkoski. “We talk about our childhoods and other things like that, and often that is what helps us build out the theme and the sense of storytelling we try to bring to this programming.”

Because this is what food and wine is ultimately all about, she said. It, in many ways, goes back to those childhoods spent in the kitchen, family all around.

“It’s about togetherness, about being at a table sharing an experience.” h

Visit coppervine.com to reserve a Private Wine Dinner or Wine Tasting.

Discover the Real Louisiana!

Presented by the Louisiana Office of Tourism and Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board

November 13—14, 2021 • Myrtles, St. Francisville, LA

FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFO WWW.STFRANCISVILLEFOODANDWINE.COM

Plan You r Getaway and Get Away From It Al l

Discover swamp tours, the Atchafalaya Basin, and the Bayou Teche Scenic Byway.

Fi nd charmi ng, historic towns, Caju n food & fu n, golf & casi no gami ng.

Vacation on the Caju n Coast!

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See You in St. Francisville THE ST. FRANCISVILLE FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL RETURNS TO THE MYRTLES NOVEMBER 14

15 Tasting Stations by Standout Chefs Showcasing Ryan Trahan (Vestal, Lafayette), Katie Dixon (Birdhouse Café, Hattiesburg), Jon Breaux (Overpass Merchant, Baton Rouge), and many more

PLUS : Country Roads’ Small Town Chef Showcase Honoring the winners of Country Roads’ 2021 Small Town Chefs Awards: Alex Diaz, Lauren Joffrion, and Paolo Cenni

GET YOUR TICKETS AT: stfrancisvillefoodandwine.com 46

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Craft Beer & Brats Garden Taste 11+ notable beers and ales

by Louisiana & Mississippi craft brewers, served with fresh-made bratwurst sausage by Iverstine Farms Butchers of Baton Rouge.

Live Music & Lawn Games Drink a beer, play bocce ball, and dance to the tunes of Jake Gunter & Big 50

Wine pairings, whiskey, sake, bloody marys, and more!

Forty carefully-curated wines to complement each dish (and to bring back home for the holidays), as well as cocktails from your favorite local spiritmakers

Celebrity Chef Cooking Demos by

Poppy Tooker

•

Taylor Lorio

•

Katie Dixon

•

Amy Sins

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Culture

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A

BASTION OF OUR

TRADITIONAL FISHING

S I D E O F W A L M A R T // 5 1 A N

INDUSTRY ENDURES

EGGFULL OF ARTISTS

// 5 3

P O C K E TS O F A R T // 5 0

FRANKLIN’S

REFLECTING ON

NEW POCKET PARK

R O C KW E L L O U TW

Images courtesy of Louisiana's Cajun Bayou Tourism.

said Terrebonne, who now services only one big shrimping boat. “If we depended on the fishermen, we couldn’t make it. Shrimp cost less than they did thirty years ago, but everything else, fuel, materials, ice, nets, that’s all gone up.” In recent years, with an increase of cheap importAGAINST ALL ODDS, HAND-WOVEN FISHING NETS SURVIVE IN GOLDEN MEADOW ed seafood from places like Vietnam and China, the cost of operating a big boat offshore for

By Beth D’Addono weeks is no longer offset by the price of the catch.

This has combined with the significant tolls that very morning for the past seventy years or so, ed to be spread out to dry in the sun to prevent rotting, pollution, wetland loss, and disasters like hurricanes or Lawrence “Chine” (pronounced “Chiney”) to nets made with synthetic materials happened in the the BP Oil Spill have wrought on the Louisiana seafood Terrebonne has gotten up and gone to work, early twentieth century when nylon was invented and industry, which—though still the nation’s second-larghfirst for his father’s net-making business, applied in industrial settings. As new fibers were devel- est seafood supplier—has been in survival mode for the then for his own: Chine’s Cajun Net Shop, which he’s oped, netmakers like Terrebonne switched to polyeth- past several years.

Though he still famously handmakes shrimp nets, had since 1966. In 2021, he and his three employees— ylene or spectra, materials which now arrive in bales all men over the age of fifty-eight—still meet daily in his from mostly Chinese factories. These nets need to be Terrebonne’s main business now is in what he calls “goshop to quietly continue this centuries-old tradition. dipped into a chemical that preserves them, a hulking rilla nets,” which he started making in 1989 to keep his business afloat. These are used in the oilfield to drag Terrebonne, eighty-one, was born and reared in Gold- vat that Eldon Cheramie oversees behind the building. en Meadow, a small fishing village tucked into Bayou The massive shop, formerly a supermarket, is lined the ocean floor for debris after a platform is decommisLafourche that is home to just a few thousand people, with benches, and just about every surface is covered sioned and pulled out of production. “They have to be mostly of Cajun descent. He learned the art of stitching with spools of plastic and nylon fiber and bright teal sure they leave the bottom clean,” he said. “That’s what shrimp trawling nets from cotton webbing when he was nets of varying shapes and sizes. Bins of fasteners and keeps us open. First, they pull the big heavy net to pick nine years old, back when he remembers boats tied up TEDs—the “turtle excluder devices” required in each up the heavy stuff, then they pull a regular net to verify in the bayou for miles. “When I started there were fifty, net—line one wall. A bundle of five-foot-long zippers sits that the bottom is clean enough for shrimping.”

Made with strong nylon fiber, the heavily cabled nets sixty big shrimp boats that would go out and stay out for ready to be sewn into the bigger nets, making it easier for are massive. “When we started making them we took weeks,” he said. the fisherman to release their catch.

The evolution from natural cotton nets, which needThe business has changed mightily over the years, one of the first ones out and stretched it to test how

NET WORTH

Chine’s Cajun Net Shop

E

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strong it was,” recalled employee Gerald Griffin. “We put the boss’s wife’s car and my forklift in it and it was like nothing. They say it can’t break, but anything that gets stretched out, can still break.” Chine’s business is about fifty percent new production and fifty percent repair work.

Cheramie works almost exclusively on the 2300-pound gorilla nets out back, behind the shop.

A trained mechanic, he said he got burnt out dealing with the public all the time and came to work for the net shop in 1992, preferring his current “office” with its soundtrack of chirping birds and focus on solitary, honest labor. “I keep everything running and going, I don’t have to do just one thing.” When I visited, twenty-seven new gorilla nets sat in the newly-repaired warehouse next door.

“We are a dying breed,” said Terrebonne, who has callouses on his hands from a lifetime of stitching. His father was a net maker, and so was his grandfather. He had a son who learned the trade, but he passed away a few years ago. “My other son is a welder, makes more money,” he said.

The work is tedious, after all, completely done by hand with long pointed plastic needles threaded from the top. Terrebonne is precise, and adept at tapering the nets so they aren’t too bulky. “Not everybody knows how to do that,” said Griffin, who also started going out on shrimp boats and sewing nets when he was a child.

A dying breed indeed, practicing an art that our increasingly fast-paced world has little room—or, more significantly, money—for. When Terrebonne and his team go, it’s likely that one of the last facets of our commercial fishing industry’s roots will go, at least in Golden Meadow, too. “It’s sad, really,” said Terrebonne. But for now, at least, the Chine’s team carries on, and invites the public to share in their work. Before the pandemic, tour groups regularly stopped at the shop, which is open

IF YOU GO:

On your way to or from Chine’s Net Shop, stop by Cajun Twist & Grill in Lockport, a newly opened second location to the original Cajun Twist in Galliano up the bayou.

Both places are owned and run by Anthony Goldsmith, who learned to cook from his great-grandmother Alzina Toups, the famous owner of Alzina’s, a small restaurant experience by reservation only in Galliano, now run by Goldsmith’s aunt Jenny. Cajun Twist offers huge portions of fresh seafood, fried chicken, enormous burgers, frizzled onion rings, fish chips, gumbo, and po-boys, all guaranteed to satisfy even the heartiest appetite.

5 am to 5 pm, to see net making demonstrations and leave with a hand-stitched mini-net perfect for boiling shrimp or crawfish. They’ve started inviting visitors again, and small groups are scheduling demonstrations through the local Cajun Bayou tourism office.

“We welcome visitors—stop by anytime,” said Terrebonne. h

Chine’s Cajun Net Shop 1901 North Bayou Drive Golden Meadow, LA 70357 Schedule a net-weaving demo at Chine’s via lacajunbayou.com or by calling (985) 475-6788.

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

Visit us at White Light Night Friday, Nov. 19

Every Friday Art show & wine

Art Classes for all ages • Over 120 Louisiana artisans Retail Gallery & Art Learning Center

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

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E S S AY

Rockwellian Dramas

A MOMENT OF HUMAN GOODNESS BEFORE THANKSGIVING

A

By Ed Cullen

Natchitoches Christmas Festival

Celebrating 95 Years!

Nov. 20, 2021 - Jan. 6, 2022

“Nack-A-Tish”

800-259-1714 • www.Natchitoches.com 50

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s a child influenced by the magazine illustrations of Norman Rockwell, it’s hard to get into a frame of mind to write a Thanksgiving essay in today’s world.

Rockwell would find inspiration in volunteers handing bottles of water to hurricane survivors. He’d see humanity in a child holding a mother’s hand as the woman stood in line for a virus shot.

He’d shake his head at TV footage of motorists at filling stations shaking gasoline nozzles at one another.

There were wars, viruses, poverty, and racial injustice in the late Rockwell’s time and he took note in his brilliantly-executed, laconic paintings. What he didn’t have to contend with was the speed at which news and conflicting images now arrive. As we ready for the nation’s second Thanksgiving of the pandemic, the need for kindness and consideration of others are among the things that haven’t changed.

Sometimes, we find ourselves cast as players in little dramas.

A scene unfolds before us and we learn by watching. One morning, in a hurry to get home from somewhere, I found myself behind a city bus on busy Highland Road. As the bus slowed at the corner of a Walmart grocery parking lot, an elderly woman stirred herself in the bus stop shelter.

Late morning heat came off the asphalt like a mirage, but the woman and a cart crammed with groceries in plastic bags were real. The woman started pulling at the plastic bags in the shopping cart. The bus, hissing and sighing, came to a full stop, dwarfing the woman and her bulging bags. The line of cars behind my truck was lengthening, eventually stretching to almost two city blocks as the woman struggled with her shopping bags.

You knew what was coming.

A large bag split at the points where the corners of boxes strained to break free. You could almost hear the groan of passengers on the bus watching the scene below.

If she was a regular rider on Baton Rouge city buses, the old woman knew if she missed this bus she and her groceries would be left in the wet heat a long time before the next bus came. God love her.

She waved a hand at the bus driver to go on. She couldn’t free the bag, the key to unlocking the rest of her load.

I can speak for only one motorist, but I’m sure others were thinking of leaving their vehicles to run down to the woman and her trapped groceries. Then, a remarkable thing happened.

A woman in a safety vest, maybe the driver, got off the bus and moved quickly. The Samaritan helped the shopper free her groceries, then helped her onto the bus before returning to the cart. Gray plastic sack by gray plastic sack, the saint in the orange and yellow reflector vest transferred the groceries from the cart to the bus.

The bus doors closed behind the rescuer. The bus sighed and began to move.

Moments later, the long line of cars began to follow, a procession in a ceremony of mercy. During the, perhaps, ten minutes it took for this little street play to unfold, there was not a single car horn blast, not from the drivers close enough to see what was going on, not from the drivers so far back they hadn’t a clue what was holding things up.

Everyone in that line of cars willed that woman and her groceries onto the bus. The person in the safety vest was the agent of that grocery-moving energy.

This time of year, we say, “Why does it take Thanksgiving to be thankful? Why can’t we be thankful, helpful and merciful year-round?”

Of course, we are. When Hurricane Ida plunged thousands of us into hot darkness, the guy who knew how to change oil in a standby generator went to the aid of the neighbor who’d missed that part in the generator salesman’s pitch.

Back yard fishing boats became rescue vessels. Before the official rescue manna arrived, neighbors with food and water were sharing with those hungry and thirsty.

“We’ll get through this,” became a weary battle cry.

Texting a friend in Montana a description of what I was seeing after Hurricane Ida, I had the thought: He’s too polite to ask why anyone would live in the Deep South to go through this misery time and again. The best answer I have is that this is where we live. This is what we know.

We like to say we’re tough, but we know when kindness trumps toughness.

Like a scene in a Rockwell painting, acts of kindness speak quietly. h

COLLECTIVE

ArtEgg

FIFTY THOUSAND SQUARE FEET OF ARTISTRY IN MID-CITY NEW ORLEANS Story by Jason Hutter • Photos by Alexandra Kennon

I

nside ArtEgg, the first thing one notices is the sheer size of the place—50,000 square feet, to be precise. ArtEgg is an enormous, eclectic artists’ haven in Mid-City New Orleans where professional artists can rent long-term space.

John Swincinski, an abstract expressionist oil painter, explained his attraction to the converted warehouse and why he became a tenant-artist there. “It’s because of the community here at ArtEgg; it’s good to mingle and speak with other artists who live their practice like I do,” he said. “ArtEgg gives me that. After I left the Master of Fine Arts program at LSU, I missed the simple act of bouncing ideas off likeminded people.“ As he spoke, Swincinski was finishing his latest painting of muted, misty browns and white on an oversized canvas. His recent work, he explained, illustrates his experience journeying alone in the wilderness of Montana. Around his workshop, other canvases lie in various stages of completion. Swincinski stated that his

frequent trips into wild solitude give him the isolation he needs to translate his sensory experience into oil on canvas.

“These paintings are about so much more than the landscape … they are about memory. They intend to capture the emotional content of events previously unfolded before me,” Swincinski said. “There is the experience I had and the one that I remember. The paintings represent the latter.”

Like many of the professional artist-tenants of ArtEgg, Swincinski’s artistic output finds its way directly into galleries locally and across the country—particularly New Orleans' Gryder Gallery, where he is represented.

Before the building was ArtEgg, it had undergone several incarnations.

According to owner Dr. Esther Dyer’s research, the property was first owned by H.G. Hill Stores, who first opened their doors in Nashville, Tennessee in September 1922. The property then became the Loubat Frank

Warehouse, the largest produce company in the region. It also sold American Beauty products, thus earning it the nickname the “American Beauty Warehouse”. After Dyer purchased the building in 2001, renovation began almost immediately, and she playfully renamed the building “ArtEgg”— an homage to the iconic “Everybody Loves a Good Egg” sign that overlooks Mid-City, which Dyer had restored, and a hint at what the building’s future would be under Dyer’s stewardship.

As for Dyer, she had her dream. Originally from New York, she graduated from Columbia University with a doctorate in library sciences. She eventually became a member of The National Arts Club in New York City, where she lived for over forty years. While there,

she developed a deeper understanding of the intricate links between art and commerce, and began to envision a design for a place where both could meet and prosper. Having had a second home in New Orleans since

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1990, when Dyer began searching for an investment property at the turn of the millennium, she was intrigued with “The Egg Building” and its potential.

Her business model is simple: ArtEgg offers full-time entrepreneurs and artists workspaces for rent. Dyer and her staff provide the foundation and the amenities—she makes it clear that Program Director Elliot Perkins, Building Manager Ken Tree Battles, and Steve Bishoff, the proprietor of the wine bar, are indispensable when it comes to running daily operations.

Like so much of the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan Area, ArtEgg had to be completely renovated after Katrina, which resulted in the building losing all five of its roofs and water rising above its eight-foot loading dock. Afterwards, Dyer wanted to incorporate increased sustainability into the design of her building. She introduced items like bamboo flooring, solar track lights, solar tubes, and energy efficient fixtures into the building’s upgrade.

She also proudly displays a frame of recycled glass molded into an arabesque design that is attached to one of her walls. Another room uses the detritus of broken glass, repurposed porcelain, and pieces of broken toilets to decorate and form the flooring.

Showing off her warehouse, she

52

stopped to point out the artwork in the hallways, detailing the provenance of each work, reciting its history, and naming the artist or donor who provided it. As she walked through, she paused periodically to knock on the doors of the tenant-artists and introduce them. Opening each door is a bit like breaking

walls and tables. “I use non-traditional methods like body casting, quick set plastics, and two-part plastic urethane to create molds and make the casts,” Podesta explained of his process for creating his sculptures.

Podesta’s art is scattered throughout New Orleans. It turns up in front of buildings, on streets, and by bus

through the sepia-toned world of Dorothy’s house and entering each artist’s own, technicolored Oz. After Swincinski, another of the artists Dr. Dyer introduced was sculptor Alex Podesta. At first, his space resembles a typical wood-working shop, until one notices the unusual and arresting effigies that adorn the

stops. It’s likely that many New Orleans commuters are familiar with his sculpture works without realizing it: his most recognizable pieces are the life sized “Bunnymen” that can be seen throughout the downtown area.

Right now, Podesta works mostly with Graphite Gallery locally, but, as he stated, “It’s easier to list the galler-

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ies in which I haven’t shown my art than to name the ones I have.”

ArtEgg’s tenants expand beyond artists, of course: one notable resident of eight years is a distillery called Atelier Vie, which produces gin and absinthe from botanicals grown in the garden on site. The distillery also produces an annual batch of Louisiana rice whiskey, which has been featured in the publication SevenFiftyDaily and sells out each year.

The latest addition to ArtEgg is the wine bar, Next to Nothing Wines, established in a small, neon-lit room apart from the main structure. Along with wine, Atelier Vie’s gin and other spirits can be purchased there. Next to Nothing also serves as a community reprieve for artists and staff who are ready to relax after a full day’s work.

Everything in ArtEgg reflects its owner and, with her esoteric and exotic tastes, the city around her. Dyer, describing each patch of ground and tidbit of history, exuded the joy one would expect from someone who conceived and nurtured a dream that had possessed her for a very long time. From its inauguration as a mere idea, ArtEgg has grown to host a stable of long term, supremely talented professional artists and entrepreneurs who have found their creative niche within its framework. h artegg.com.

MEMORIALS

In the Vacant Spaces THE CITY OF FRANKLIN DEBUTS A POCKET PARK

A

By Catherine Schoeffler Comeaux

s a child in the 1970s, I frequently visited my grandmother in Franklin, Louihsiana. Our car would exit south off Highway 90, pass stretches of sugar cane fields, then approach the signature three-globed lamp posts of Main Street. Downtown, we’d pass Popkin’s where the jeweler once let me watch him make a ring, Polito’s where my uncle used to play cards, and the theater from which my grandma once dragged me out mid-movie after John Travolta made some off-color remark. Today, the jewelry store is closed, but new businesses continue to locate downtown.

Polito’s still serves beer, and the movie theater has become the Teche Theatre for the Performing Arts. There is a vibrancy emerging in and between the historic structures, particularly in the vacant space where The Center Theatre (circa 1930s) stood until 2015 when it was deemed structurally unsound.

Plans for a replacement building were sketched, including a plan for an open air pavilion with a $1 million price tag that laid dormant on a shelf for many years. When current Mayor Eugene Foulcard came into office in 2019, he put forth an alternative vision for the space to remain relatively empty, encouraging foot traffic while reconnecting Main Street to the original main thoroughfare upon which the City of Franklin was developed in the early 1800s–the Bayou Teche. He gathered a team and they worked to formulate the plans for the Historic Downtown Franklin Pocket Park, which will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, November 27.

The park is a cozy green space, with

a simple stage and newly-planted trees, flanked by the patchwork brick walls of its neighbors and lit by golden string lighting at night. It draws you in with its wide meandering pathway that leads your eyes to the waters of the bayou.

Bricks along the way honor and memorialize loved ones and businesses.

A peaceful murmur emanates from a sugar kettle fountain dedicated to the memory of those who have died of gun violence. Aspects of the park—most notably the life-sized sculpture of a dancer near the gate—are dedicated to the late Franklin resident Mayci Breaux, who was tragically killed in the Lafayette Grand Theater shooting in 2015.

The sculpture was created by Russel Whiting, an artist living near the Bayou Teche town of Breaux Bridge who graciously invited a few of us—including Mayci’s parents Dondie and Kevin Breaux—to view the piece in progress.

Whiting layers thick sheets of steel, then cuts away at the resulting mass—creating an arm uplifted, a leg ready for the next step. Skillfully using a torch to shape the nose, lips, and upturned eyes, he brings forth a smiling face. I asked Whiting if he gets burned much. “All the time,” he smiled, brushing off his arms—seemingly peaceful and accepting of pain as the price of creation.

Gazing at the indestructible likeness of her daughter emerging from the steel, Dondie Breaux sighed, “We have a small town, but we sure do come together.”

A powerful example of collective community, the Historic Downtown Franklin Pocket Park—a once-empty space now filled with art and potential—was 100% funded by the Franklin community. h

The City of Franklin will host the Grand Opening of the Historic Downtown Franklin Pocket Park on Saturday, November 27 from 10 am–11 am. The ceremony will include the dedication of the memorial fountain, the sculpture unveiling, and music by the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra String Trio. The event will culminate with a reverse ribbon cutting which will release attendees from the park and into the streets of downtown to support Small Business Saturday. Visit the City of Franklin, Louisiana–Mayor’s Office Facebook page for details.

1968: A FOLSOM REDEMPTION

Photo by Glenn Todd.

Presented by the Louisiana Office of Tourism and Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board

November 13—14, 2021 • Myrtles, St. Francisville, LA

FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFO WWW.STFRANCISVILLEFOODANDWINE.COM

P r es e n t e d W i t h G e n e r o u s S u p p o rt F r o m

Paretti Jaguar Land Rover Baton Rouge

LouisianaNorthshore.com

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Escapes

BEER, WINE, CHEESE, NUMINOUS, AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS

IN

TO T E X A S

MARBLE

FALLS

W

Photo by Victoria Billeaud, taken at Schaffer Bend Recreation Area.

HILL COUNTRY

Marble Falls

A TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE LITTLE CITY ON THE LAKE

By Jordan LaHaye Fontenot

“A

ll of my life was kind of leading up to this,” Marta Stafford shared from the well-worn leather couch in the Marta Stafford Fine Art Gallery in Marble Falls, after hours. We’d met Stafford only about hforty-five minutes before, when we’d strolled into her warmly-lit space on Main Street just as she was closing up shop. Bespectacled and tastefully scarved, she was sharing the story of her journey to becoming a gallery owner, which began at the foothills of her golden years a decade ago. “I think there were just breadcrumbs that led me here, to this gallery and to Marble Falls. I love the temperament of this place, how people step up. I love this,” she said, gesturing at my friend Victoria and me, sharing our hearts on her couch.

This sort of thing happens here, Stafford said: “Art is so personal.” Her gallery space often doubles as a community living room, and she believes there’s something about being surrounded by so much art that invites vulnerability. “Sometimes I’m sitting on this couch, and I’m listening to things I had no idea I would hear, things they should be telling their spouse, or their mother.”

Later, Victoria and I agreed that while the historic space of her gallery and the wide diversity of art within it certainly fostered a unique sense of welcome, it was Stafford herself who invited such a striking sense of human connection. It had something to do with the visible contentment that she carried, we surmised—something we’d observed in most everyone we’d met in Marble Falls, Texas thus far; a sense that they had found their destiny there in the Hill Country.

Save the World Brewing Co. Twenty -four hours before, Victoria and I had just spent the last six hours contemplating our own destinies in the sort of dialectic studies that only road trips allow for, the terrain undulating beneath us, rising from lush greens to feathery browns. By the time we arrived in Marble Falls, we were ready for a beer.

Before we even checked into our hotel, we drove straight to Save the World Brewing 54

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Co., arriving on a Friday night just before closing time (at a shockingly early 7 pm).

The place was bustling. People sat at picnic tables under the shaded porch or peddled at the various yard games—tether ball, cornhole—across the turfed greenspace. Up a small hill to the side of the building was a playground and rope swing under a sprawling old tree. Everything had an orange tint draped over it by the early evening sunset.

There was a sense that most people knew each other, confirmed when the owner took came and introduced herself as soon as we sat down with our flights. Our billowy travel pants and Louisiana accents made it clear we weren’t local.

As we sipped our tripels, Quynh Rathkamp called her husband Dave over, and the two shared the story of how they ended up opening America’s first 100% philanthropic production microbrewery. The two met in New Orleans, while completing their medical residencies at Tulane. After practicing in the Dallas area for fifteen years, they began to dream up a marriage of their two passions: beer and service.

Today, both having retired from their practices, the Rathkamps have embraced Marble Falls—a location they selected because Dave grew up visiting Lake Travis, and the couple always thought it would be great to retire there—as their community in the age-old way of providing a beloved gathering place. On the left side of the taproom is the “True Beerliever Wall,” which holds hundreds of labeled glasses for regulars who participate in Save the World’s loyalty club. Hanging one patron’s glass back up as he headed out, the woman behind the counter asked about his family, and wished him a good weekend.

Quynh told us that—while the project has been a lot of work—it has been an absolute dream. “We are exactly where we are meant to be,” she said. In the seven years it’s been open, Save the World Brewery has raised over $250,000 for nonprofit organizations that include Food for the Hungry, Meals on Wheels, and Highland Lakes Habitat for Humanity.

And as for the beer: In 2021, Save the World Brewing won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival, and was named the Best Brewery in a Small Market at the Texas Travel Awards. The menu features dozens of options—all naturally carbonated,

unpasteurized, and unfiltered, ranging from fruit saisons and pumpkin ales to barleywines and Belgian-style Goldens—and all with Latin names that translate to lines from your Catholic School’s religion book: “Sol Hominus” (The Sun of Man), “Princeps Pacis” (Prince of Peace), and “Sanguis” (Blood) among them. I purchased a six pack of classic “Lux Mundi” (Light of the World) to bring home, and Victoria didn’t stop talking about the Coconut Milk Lux for the rest of the trip.

Rae’s Bar & Grill

A flight and a pint in, we left Save the World starving. We ventured to the downtown area, and were drawn in by the noise and activity coming from Rae’s Bar and Grill, or RBar—as the locals say. The oldest still-operating restaurant in downtown Marble Falls is housed in a building built in 1946—which is rumored to host a ghost or two.

You’d never know it, though. Everything about the place exuded blessed casual comfort, from the knobbly oak floors to the humidity-sticky tables (a note ensured us that they were clean) to the Tex-Mex Southwest menu of guilty pleasures.

“We’ll have the Chile Cheese Fries and a margarita,” I told the server, readying myself eagerly for green chile & jalapeño queso. More sensible than I, Victoria suggested we order a salad to balance it all out. I acquiesced, on the condition that it could be The Cowboy: with house-smoked fajita beef, charro beans, and salsa ranchero, to boot. We split that, and then ordered the El Jefe Fajitas, too.

Crickets at Bedtime

Normally, I’d strongly recommend booking your stay at a local bed and breakfast as a way to make the most of a visit to virtually any place. And in fact, I do: Marble Falls has several highly-recommended and charming locally-owned options, including the McKenzie Guest House (from which we enviously spotted guests sitting on the back porch watching the sunset), the Americana Vacation Home, Lake Marble Falls Vacation Rentals, and more.

But, should you find yourself needing to go the corporate route as we did, I would absolutely recommend booking a stay at the Hampton Inn on the Lake. Why? Two words: The View. Be sure to request a lakeside room, and be treated to a perfect people-watching vantage over Lake Marble Falls. Wake up early enough, and you’ll get the bonus of a glorious sunrise cresting over the city.

Arriving after dark on that first night, though, Victoria and I practically fell into our beds—staying awake only long enough to giggle at the signs placed on walls throughout the hotel, featuring an illustration of Jiminy Cricket, stating jollily: “Please pardon our tiny visitors. It is cricket season in the Hill Country and these guys are sneaking their way in…” Throughout our stay, I will note that I only saw a single sadly-smushed cricket in the hotel, far from our room in a hallway by the lobby.

Numinous Coffee Roasters

We learned a new word on this trip. “Numinous: the feeling of being in the presence of something greater than yourself.” For some, it might be a bold word to associate with brewed beans, but this particular caffeine-addicted audience got it. The sense of the celestial was enhanced by the fact that Numinous Coffee Roasters’ specials included espresso drinks infused with herbs like lavender and rosemary picked from the bush outside. The coffee beans—ethically sourced from sustainable farms across the world—are roasted in-house in a roaster positioned at the center of the dining area.

Oh, the aroma!

Selecting our breakfast spread from the tantalizing display of freshly-baked goods was agonizing: we ended up with a sourdough sausage kolache (the shop’s starter is named Lucy), a blackberry lavender scone, and a Turkey Sriracha Sandwich with an aioli we practically licked off of the plate.

Owner Alex Payson, it turns out, started his life in Marble Falls in 2013, working at Save the World Brewery as the Rathkamps started their business. When the last locally-owned coffee shop in town closed that year, Payson decided to follow his dream of having his own. He opened Numinous in 2015 inside its current home, a 1960s white brick house that lived many lives before: that of a family home, a women’s shelter, an attorney’s office, an accountant’s office, and a doctor’s office. As Numinous, the house’s first life reverberates most loudly—with cozy furnishings and family photos on the walls; the baristas work in a space that was clearly once a family’s kitchen.

Thoroughly nourished for a long day of hiking, we ordered a to-go lunch of chicken salad sandwiches—anticipating this wouldn’t be the day’s last instance of numinous.

Shaffer Bend Recreation Area

Top to bottom: Grapes at Flat Creek Estate Winery; Charcuterie at House of Cheese, photos by Jordan LaHaye Fontenot; Save the World Brewery; Scenery at Schaffer Bend, photos by Victoria Billeaud

We met Trevor Francke, the parks program coordinator for the Lower Colorado River Authority’s (LCRA) Western Parks District, at our selected trailhead: a spot in the middle of a pasture with a treeline to one side and Lake Travis to the other. An enchanting number of butterflies dotted the landscape, which practically sparkled under the vast Texas sky—and its blazing sun, too.

After giving us a brief safety tutorial (watch your step, don’t eat unfamiliar plants, drink lots of water, and keep an ear out for rattlesnakes), Francke led us along the water down a trail weaving through woods and grasslands, bluffs and bottomlands. This part of the country is settled just between Louisiana’s lush, wet verdure and the arid deserts of the Southwest, resulting in an eclectic ecosystem of cacti and wildflowers, // N O V 2 1

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Along the way, in between pointing out various features of the landscape, Francke explained the mission of the LCRA, a nonprofit public utility created by the Texas Legislature in 1934. Along with water stewardship, energy, and economic development, a major facet of LCRA’s work is the management of its park system. LCRA’s over forty parks span 11,000 acres along the Colorado River all the way to the Gulf Coast, offering experiences ranging from fishing and water activities to mountain biking and ziplining. Shaffer Bend Recreation Area is best known for its high quality campsites, its equestrian trails, and its proximity to Lake Travis. At the top of a lookout, Francke gestured to the horizon, “Welcome to the Hill Country.”

Along our hike, we passed a group barbecuing at one of Shaffer’s campsites—adults sipping a cold one, pups panting, kids weaving through everything. At another campsite, we stood atop a cliffside overlooking the lake and its varied rock formations— imagining returning to the spot someday just to see what it looks like first thing in the morning.

Francke frequently leads tours like this one, guiding people through one of the eleven parks he works in. His background is in recreation and outdoor education, which goes back to a childhood spent fishing with his father and birdwatching with his grandmother, so his approach to educating visitors about ecology comes from a place of earnest curiosity that serves him well. He’s learned the names of many of Shaffer’s butterflies and the calls of the owls at night. On our hike, whenever he didn’t know something, he pulled out the trusty iNaturalist app on his phone to identify a plant or a spider, storing away the information for his next tour.

When it came time to put the kayaks in the water, Francke helped us out, then set up his paddle board-kayak hybrid for fishing. At his recommendation we leisurely wandered down a side stream, where he promised a set of rock formations tall enough to dive from. Turning brown under that Texas sun, we hung our bare feet out of the boats to drag in the cool water, observing a heron that seemed to be leading the way— taking off from its regal post each time we got a little too close. We reached a muddy, algae-filled dead end and turned around, only to be chastised by Francke when we passed him a few minutes later—“It’s just past all of that. And it’s worth it!” Following his lead this time, we found ourselves on an unplanned sojourn in which we had to leave the kayaks behind to hike, then swim, then hike some more. We landed in a deeper pool, floating on our backs, settled in between towering rock walls on each side, without a soul in sight.

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Downtown Marble Falls

Hitting the town right at golden hour, we challenged ourselves to see “a bit of everything” before nightfall—all the while eyeing the line at the world-famous Bluebonnet Café.

The historic café is considered a Cannot-Miss on any visit to Marble Falls, so we agreed we would try to stop in after dinner that night for a slice of their famous pie.

We started at Birdie’s Market, named for former mayor of Marble Falls Ophelia “Birdie” Harwood, who served as the United States’ first-ever female mayor before women were even allowed to vote. The family-owned shop offers vintage and luxury home decor and gifts—all tastefully textured by leather, velvet, old wood, and greenery. And in the back—a garden shed!

Next, we walked down to Marta Stafford Fine Art, where we stayed far past closing time discussing art and life with the owner. Among the art displayed are sculptures of wildlife made from silverware by Ken Law; landscapes by Mary McIntosh and Richard Prather; charmingly wacky statues of zoo animals by Susan Norris; and encaustic paintings by Lyn Belisle. Contemporary mixes with traditional, and each artist has a story. “I want people to imagine these artists in their homes,” Stafford said. Along with the art is a grand piano that hosts the local homeschool piano recitals, and a massive gallery pup, too. “I decided I wanted it to be a place of creative energy and peace, and that I only wanted to advocate for people I admire.”

Before we left, Stafford told us: “I wasn’t looking for it, for contentment. But if you are just happy with who you are and what you are doing, good things come.”

After Marta’s, we popped into a highly-recommended boutique called Redid, a high-ceilinged space with a rustic-industrial bent to its offerings of architectural antiques, stoneware, furniture, and apparel. On the wall, we observed a sign with the mantra, “just one life”. On my way to the register to purchase a fabulously comfy linen dress, I picked up a fifty cent notecard reading a variation, by Sri Chinmoy, of the night’s theme: “If you want to remain always happy, always perfect and always fulfilled, then always keep inside your heart a pocketful of dreams.”

Next, we discovered ourselves starving. To The House of Cheese we went. Planning to only snack on some samples at the recently-opened shop, we decided we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to order a charcuterie board, featuring three of the shop’s specialty cheeses, a pepperoni rose, fruit, olives, and more, all crowded onto a beautifully-presented tray. Once we had polished it off, we briefly sat in total satisfaction before realizing what we’d done: we were stuffed. And there was still chocolate, and pizza, and–of course—pie to try.

We continued our exploration, braking a few blocks down at Harmony Park, a sort of sculpture garden of interactive musical instruments in the center of the downtown area, featuring a giant xylophone, a set of cymbals, and “Contrabass Chimes” taller than we were. At one moment I looked up from my improvisation on the xylophone to observe Victoria taking it away on the cymbals, three small children weaving and banging through the Contrabass, and a man, all alone, with obvious musical ability tapping out a tune on the set of bars and resonators.

In search of another gallery to walk off the cheese and crackers, we were drawn through the doors of Ms. Lollipop’s Halloween Shop (with some help from a life-sized statue of Betty Boop at the door). Inside, we discovered a nostalgic fever dream of ‘80s Christmas décor and vintage candy overlaid atop a ‘60s diner decked out for Halloween, with a wall of Elvis Presley ephemera for good measure. On one wall was plastered a set of framed newspaper articles, and as I was reading the story of the clown character who inspired this place, Ms. Lollipop herself approached me and introduced herself.

Cheryl Westerman wasn’t dressed the part that day, but she’s

Top left (on opposite page): The Veggie Pizza at Double Horn Brewing; Bottom left: The candy wall at Ms. Lollipop’s; Top right: The writer, Jordan, kayaking on Lake Travis, photos by Victoria Billeaud. Bottom right: The coffee roaster at Numinous Coffee. Photo by Jordan LaHaye Fontenot.

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Feeling about ready for chocolate, we headed over to Chocolatte’s Fine Chocolates & Toffee next, where we scored a bag of their world famous Pecan English Toffee for later before heading over to Oh So Yummy’s candy counter for a truffle. Sweets in hand, we settled on the back stairway of the Brass Hall nightclub for an unfettered view of the Marble Falls sunset.

We closed our night out at Double Horn Brewing Company, which ten years ago became the first brewpub in Burnet County. From the refreshingly tight menu of hoppy beers, I ordered the Amber-Headed Stepchild, and Victoria went for Save the World’s pumpkin ale, which was included as part of the lineup contributed by guest breweries. Victoria made me order another salad, but this one—the Cobb—ended up being the kind of salad you simply must recommend. The folks at Double Horn also know how to fry their chicken, is all I will say. We paired that with the handtossed veggie brick oven pizza—an oblong masterpiece of onions, mushrooms, and spinach all wrapped warmly in a melty blanket of mozzarella. Dismayed, and remembering all of the delicious bites we’d managed to fit in that day, we were only able to finish half of it, and packed it up for potential late night snacking.

Satisfactorily worn out and well-fed, our skin a bit pink from our earlier adventures—we ended our day at the Hampton Inn hot tub, overlooking Lake Marble Falls under a full moon. It wasn’t until around 11 pm that we realized we had forgotten to pick up a slice of the BlueBonnet Café pie.

Flat Creek Estate Winery

Lyn Belisle.“Shelter,” Encaustic, 10x10x2. An example of the artwork displayed at Marta Stafford Gallery in Downtown Marble Falls. Photo by Victoria Billeaud.

had her alter ego around since she was fourteen, doing the bit for children’s parties. In 1992, Westerman opened her costume and party store, named for the now-locally-beloved clown. After closing to pursue a career in personal training for almost twenty years, Westerman re-opened her shop in 2017, capitalizing on a renewed nationwide obsession with nostalgia. After telling us her story, Westerman introduced us to her husband, who was working behind the counter—wearing one of the Pacman-themed Lollipop uniform t-shirts. And that, friends, is how I met the mayor of Marble Falls, Richard Westerman.

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Running a little late the next morning, we walked up to our tour of Flat Creek Estate Winery just as owner Madelyn Naber was describing how she had begun her day. “I was swimming in the lake beside my house, watching the sun rise, remembering why we did all this.” “All this” being she and her husband’s decision to retire to the Hill Country and buy a house on Lake Travis. And then, of course, to open a winery.

Wandering through the aisles of vines, Naber explained the ins and outs of growing wine in Texas—starting with the admission of what a bad year Flat Creek had in 2021.

The excess rain had a devastating effect on the year’s harvest, ruining a percentage of the property’s vines. “Let’s just say we made a lot of rosé this year,” she said.

Our visit took place shortly after the year’s harvest—a large scale hand-picking event that occurs every August, when hundreds of the winery’s friends and fans volunteer their time to assist in the effort. Thus, there weren’t many grapes left on the vines. Still, Naber was able to provide quite the shorthand education on growing and maintaining grapevines, describing pruning methods and more as we strolled around the eighty-acre property—which doubles as an eighteen-hole championship disc golf course.

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Our tour ended, happily, with a charcuterie-style brunch and mimosas made from the winery’s Sparkling Raspberry wine (a blend of Chenin Blanc & Chardonnay grapes). After a lively tasting inside the winery’s restaurant, we left with a bottle of the Super Texan sangiovese blend—the wine that put Flat Creek Estate on the map as a consistent winner in the state’s wine sales and awards—and a bag (yes! a very tastefully-designed pouch, in fact) of their Impressive Rosé Wine.

Paddle Boarding on Lake Marble Falls

Our final adventure before our time in Marble Falls was up was a paddle boarding experience arranged by JustYakin Kayak Rentals. With a mimosa in us and a six hour drive home ahead, I’ll admit that we were tempted to skip it. But once we were out there, standing tall upon Lake Marble Falls—which was blessedly quiet on that Sunday afternoon—we didn’t really want to be anywhere else. Settled right at the heart of the city, Lake Marble Falls offers a perspective unlike any other. We slipped past the Hampton and other lakeside hotels, ogling at some of the vacation homes situated above us. We passed under the bridge that would take us home within a few hours and stopped for a second to sit on the rocks by the shoreline, watching the wakeboarders show off. Neither of us had been paddle boarding before, and were pleased to discover how un-intimidating, even relaxing, the sport turned out to be. We passed by Johnson Park—one of the oldest official parks in Texas. And then, we headed home.

Before we left Marble Falls, we wanted to be sure to make that stop at the BlueBonnet Café. We pulled in, still dripping with water from the lake, only to discover that the pie shop closes at 1:45 pm on Sundays. Yes, 1:45 pm. A little dismayed, we looked to each other and could only laugh. We’d definitely have to come back, hopefully before we retire. h

Read Alexandra Kennon’s companion piece to our Marble Falls travel guide (which DOES include Bluebonnet pie) at our website, countryroadsmag.com. visitmarblefalls.com Disclaimer: This trip was hosted and partially funded by the Marble Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau, though the opinions of the writer are entirely her own and formed independently of this fact.

The butterflies are plentiful at the Schaffer Bend Recreational Area. Photo by Victoria Billeaud.

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Full Circle

AFTER DECADES AS A WORKING ANIMATOR, MONROE ARTIST JAY N. DAVIS FINDS HIS WAY HOME

By James Fox-Smith

B

ack in the eighties, when Jay N. Davis graduated from hRiver Oaks High School in Monroe, Louisiana, he couldn’t wait to get out of town.

“The summer I graduated I remember watching the fireworks over the [Ouachita] river and thinking about that Neil Young song Sugar Mountain,” he said. “I was thinking ‘I’m not gonna be around.’ ” And for thirty years, Davis wasn’t around. He was at LSU earning a degree in architecture, only to realize that he loved design more than he loved designing buildings. He was working for

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Walt Disney Animation Studios, making films like The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Meet the Robinsons; and later, live action films including Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them—a career that took him to Austin, London, Vancouver, and the other L.A., before home began to exert its inexorable pull.

Davis’s dad got sick, so he came back to visit more often. He found a house in Monroe’s Garden District that his inner architecture student adored. And he started looking—really looking—at the beauty of Louisiana flora and fauna all around. Now, after a career that’s taken him all over the world, Davis is

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firmly planted back into his hometown soil, creating art that somehow manages to capture the life force of Louisiana from opposing viewpoints: closely, in the minutest structural detail; and simultaneously from afar in all its wild, fecund exuberance. Sometimes, to see what’s been right there under your nose all along, it helps to look back from a distance.

Davis makes pictures of life in glorious forms both real and imagined.

Flowers, birds, seed pods, catfish, waterscapes, and shadowy, mythical beasts—rendered in watercolor, oil, acrylic, and pen and ink—variously bloom beneath his hand. Some, like a study of a magnolia seed pod rendered in colored pencil, are tightly controlled exercises in realism—each cherry-red seed emerging plumply from the pod’s silvery furred carapace. A great blue heron pauses in profile, a claw clamped on each of two cypress knees, and regards the viewer with a monocled glare.

Other, more gestural pieces spring from the collision between Louisiana myth and rich imagination. Perched on a barstool, a Rougarou hunches over a guitar and opens its toothy maw to sing. In a glowing oil painting named “Devil at the Crossroads,” a darkly malevolent cloud sends tendrils of dark and light snaking toward the iconic intersection of Southern legend.

Meticulously rendered, Davis’s pieces reward close scrutiny. But even his most realistic works aren’t realism, exactly. Always there’s this slightly magical quality—a suggestion of some elusive force that shimmers, just beyond the visible spectrum. You have the impression that the painter might be someone who sees a little further than you do.

Davis credits his animation experience with teaching him how to capture what he calls ‘the possibility of movement.’ “Working at Disney you do a lot of drawing from life, a lot of gesture drawings,” he observed. “You’re drawing with your whole arm, which makes you loose. But then you have to tighten up.” Davis explained that to make a picture look as though it’s about to

move, he focuses not only on the small details, but also on the composition as a whole.

“Animation demands a clarity of composition,” he said. “First you do a small thumbnail sketch to get the composition. Like you’re seeing it from across the room. And then you pay attention to the details. It’s got to work from far away, but also from close up.”

If the genres Davis paints in are diverse, the mediums he employs are even more so. Depending on the project he might use pen and ink, or colored pencils, or acrylic, oil, or watercolor.

Which is his favorite? “Depends on the project,” he said. “Oil is a thing I’ve chased for a long time so being able to realize a vision in oil is very satisfying.”

The most difficult? “Watercolor! Because you can’t paint over it,” he said, adding with a laugh, “Coming from animation, I do miss the ‘undo’ button!”

Lately Davis has been experimenting with even more forms of media.

He’s printing popular images of Louisiana flora and fauna onto apparel and homeware accessories like accent pillows, tote bags, and coffee mugs. These are available through his website. Then there’s his largest project to date: a 17’ x 14’ mural of a heron and an egret stalking crawfish amongst waterlilies, which will be installed at Monroe’s Louisiana Purchase Zoo & Gardens before Christmas. “I wanted it to look like a big pop-up book for kids. But I don’t consider myself a muralist, so this project has made me use everything I know!” For Davis, the new medium represents a challenge and an opportunity. “I want to create images that people from Louisiana can look at and be proud of,” he said. “Things that are here and are treasures. This is what I want to do.” h

See more original pieces, prints, and homegoods by Jay N. Davis at jayndavis.com, or @jayndavis on Instagram.

Studio visits by appointment.

Art by Jay N. Davis. Top: “Devil at the Crossroads,” bottom left: “Magnolia Seed Pod,” bottom right: “Great Blue Heron”.

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