January-February 2015 Issue of Inside Northside Magazine

450

$

FAITHFUL SENTINEL • PUTTING DOWN ROOTS • MAYSON FOSTER • KREWE OF OLYMPIA

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2015 VOL. 30, NO. 1

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Inside Northside

January-February 2015

Vol. 30, No. 1

Publisher Lori Murphy –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Editor-in-Chief Poki Hampton

Senior Editor Jan Murphy

Contributing Editor Anne Honeywell

Editorial Assistant Leah Draffen Contributors are featured on page 20.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Art Director Brad Growden

Graphic Designer Jennifer Starkey

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Business Manager Jane Quillin

Associate Publisher Candice Laizer Advertising Account Executives Caroline Battaglia

Barbara Bossier Anne Honeywell

Candice Laizer Barbara Roscoe

Becky Slatten Amy Taylor

Sales Coordinator Katie Brooks Intern Connor Ferrill –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For advertising information phone (985) 626-9684 fax (985) 674-7721 email sales@insidepub.com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Please send items for Inside Scoop to scoop@insidepub.com.

Photos for Inside Peek, with captions, should be sent to peek@insidepub.com. Submit items for Inside Input or Dining Guide to editor@insidepub.com.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Contact Inside Northside P.O. Box 9148

Mandeville, LA 70470-9148 phone (985) 626-9684 fax (985) 674-7721 website www.insidenorthside.com

Subscriptions 1 Year $18 2 Years $30 email subscriptions@insidepub.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

On the cover

Pam Soileau

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– INSIDE NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE is published bi-monthly (January, March, May, July, September, November) by M and L Publishing, LLC, PO Box 9148, Mandeville, LA 70470-9148 as a means of communication and information for St. Tam­ many and Tangipahoa Parishes, Louisiana. Bulk Postage paid at Mandeville, LA. Copy­right ©2015 by M & L Publishing, LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written consent of publisher. Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts and artwork. Inside Northside Magazine is created using the Adobe Creative Suite on Apple Macintosh computers.

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Inside Northside

page 82

page 62

Features 22 Influences in the Abstract Cover artist Pam Soileau

contents table of

36 Villa Villere Designed for Entertaining 44 Putting Down Roots Abita Springs Opry 54 Septuagenarian on Safari Beau Lawson’s Lifelong Dream 62 Faithful Sentinel The Tchefuncte River Lighthouse 72 Fifty Years of Fun, Merriment, Fellowship The Mystic Krewe of Olympia 80 Looking Forward in 2015 St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister 90 Generous Hearts Faster Horses or Mustang GT? 102 Traces Tieler Garsaud: Sew Talented 04 Fulfilling His Boyhood Dream 1 Mayor Mayson Foster 110 Traces Pelican on Deck

page 36

131 Traces Ken and Susan Latham 148 Travel Honeymoon in Nassau

Business Profile 112 Lowe’s Jewelers

page 44 10

Inside Northside

Healthy Living 2015 follows page 114

contents table of

page 148

Departments 14 Publisher’s Note 17 Editor’s Note 18 Reader Resources 19 INput 20 Contributors 26 INside Scoop 34 IN Depth Michael Mire New York Life Insurance Co. 52 IN Rhythm Christian Serpas: Smiling in Ghost Town 82 Flourishes Extraordinary gifts and home accents

page 95

133 IN the Spotlight Garden Party at Summergrove 134 INside Peek

88 IN Better Health Brenda Felder

136 IN the Spotlight Inside Northside Meet The Artist Sip and Stroll

95 INside Look Fur, Feathers and Fringe

136 IN the Spotlight Empty Bowl

08 IN the Bookcase 1 I Am Pilgrim: A Thriller

by Terry Hayes

141 IN the Spotlight Harvest Cup Polo Classic

114 Fitness Put your heart into it 132

Northshore Living The Language of Houses: How Buildings Speak to Us

by Alison Lurie

146 IN Love and Marriage Notable northshore weddings 152 IN Great Taste Heat Up with Warming Soups 154 INside Dining 161 Ad Directory 162 Last Bite Nonna Randazzo’s Italian Bakery and Caffé

page 152

My New Year’s resolution

by Lori Murphy Yesterday at lunch with friends, I was struck with the possibilities ahead of us for 2015. We talked about family, work, blessings, joys and challenges. Heading back to the office, I considered how important it is to juggle those things in creating a sense of happiness and accomplishment in our lives.

With the launch of our new magazine, Inside New Orleans, company growth has been exceptional and daunting. The fourth quarter had everyone in our small company running a mile a minute. Running to a meeting, running to a client’s office, running out of office supplies because we all had too much on our plate. As we careened into the end of the year, I reached out for help from a consultant friend. I knew he could offer a fresh perspective.

Are we focusing on the right things? What we hear from our readers suggests they think so, and for that I am grateful.

Are we taking good care of our customers, the companies that help us do what we love to do? Their continued commitment to what we create told me yes. As we grow, how can I keep our focus on the essentials? How do I insulate the important things from the storm of change? That is what I asked Charley Bairnsfather.

Among the many bits of sage advice he offered, one idea kept popping up: Don’t tell me—show me. You really have to plan to succeed. His background is in large-company management. They measure everything. We, on the other hand, just keep doing until there is nothing more to do and then start again tomorrow. He is helping us put some success-building, sanity-saving planning in place. It is a part of our growing pains.

I think our community is in exactly the same boat. Among the lunch group yesterday was Sue Lavin, who serves on the board of the Northshore Community Foundation. She had invited Above: Jeté Crosby, Kelly Rudolph, Allyson Sanderson, Sue Lavin, Bonnie Brister, me, Angelle Albright and Heather Mahoney.

me to attend the SuperRegional Symposium they organized in November on this very topic. How do we as a community plan to protect the important things as we grow?

Susan Bonnett, president and CEO of the Foundation, shares some details from that important discussion on page 90. She is asking all of us to get involved in the planning process, and I am so excited to see this effort move forward. If you have talents to offer and perspective to share, I hope you don’t “hide it under a bushel.” My New Year’s resolution is to be all-in. What’s yours?

Harnessing this leadership and energy is a great start to a successful 2015!

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Inside Northside

ps ... Part of our plan is to expand our sales team, so if you know any talented individuals who might be interested in growing with us, please have them email me at lori@insidepub.com.

Editor’s note

by Poki Hampton Baby, it’s cold outside! But it is warm inside. Curl up by the fireplace with your newest issue of Inside Northside. There is plenty to read.

Our cover artist, Pam Soileau is a pixie of an artist who is as vibrant as her paintings. Read about her on page 22. Carnival is upon us. Enjoy Stacey Rase’s story on the Krewe of Olympia’s 50th year. Learn about the history and the restoration of the Madisonville Lighthouse. Hammond’s outgoing mayor, Mayson Foster, reflects on his years in office, and St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister shares her vision for 2015. Read about 75-year-old Beau Lawson’s lifelong dream—going on an African safari. And if you are looking for a fun night out, check the schedule of the Abita Springs Opry—but before you go, learn more about what you will see (page 44).

The design house is truly a villa in scope and vision.

The pictures are beautiful, showing just a glance at this wonderful home. Talented teen, Tieler Garsaud, won Project Runway:Threads! Read about his incredible journey on page 102. Ken and Susan Latham share how they are enjoying retirement to the fullest (page 131). And our Healthy Living section includes many of the northshore’s finest healthcare providers, giving you insight into their practices.

Finally—a bowl of warm, homemade soup is just the thing on a cold winter’s evening. See page 152 and try a new recipe. Soup and Inside Northside go hand in hand by the fireplace. Enjoy the January issue!

Reader Resources Contact Us: You may contact us by mail, phone, fax or on our website: Mail: Inside Northside P.O. Box 9148 Mandeville, LA 70470-9148 Telephone: 985-626-9684 Fax: 985-674-7721 Website: insidenorthside.com Receiving Inside Northside in Your Mailbox?

You are on our mailing list, and you will continue to receive Inside Northside every other month at no charge.

Please join us in thanking our advertisers, who make this possible.

Pick Up a Copy: At one of our advertisers’ locations or at Barnes & Noble, 3414 Highway 190, Premier Centre, Mandeville, La. Subscribe: To subscribe to Inside Northside, to our sister publication Inside New Orleans, or if you have a question about your subscription, please contact us by telephone or e-mail us at subscriptions@insidepub.com.

Subscriptions are $18 for one year or $30 for two years. To change your address, please send us both your old address and your new address. The post office does not forward magazines.

Advertising Information: For advertising information, please contact us by telephone or e-mail us at sales@insidepub.com.

Inquire and Share Ideas: Do you know a person, organization or endeavor we might consider featuring in our pages? Or a great storyteller who might want to write for us? Please contact the editor@insidepub.com.

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Inside Northside

INput est. 1996

The reviews are in, and we are blown away by the response to the second issue of Inside New Orleans! Thanks to everyone who encouraged us with everything from telephone calls and emails to text messages and comments on Facebook.

I am writing to thank your staff for the very kind article that was written and published about me in your magazine. (“Knowing His Priorities,” Inside Northside, September-October.) It seems that all we read these days are uncomplimentary articles regarding people in public life, and I am very flattered that you would honor me with such an outstanding article. Thank you.

John L. “Jack” Donahue Jr., P.E. State Senator-District 11

and maybe a few guffaw. The pictures of the shop were simply ravishing. We are so grateful to have been included in the issue.

Best of luck with your magazine.

Patrick Dunne

The 2nd edition of Inside New Orleans was spectacular and Sandra’s article was beyond my wildest expectations. (“Setting the Record Straight,” Inside New Orleans, December-January.) Thank you for such a professional publication.

Sincerely, Ron Drez

Congratulations! Great job! The December issue is just gorgeous!

Angele Mueller

Congratulations! The magazine was very handsome and informative. You certainly get 10 stars for distribution as well as aesthetics. You cannot imagine how many people have seen and called me about the article. (“Lucullus,” Inside New Orleans, December-January.) I think Chris’s writing made a lot of people smile

Inside New Orleans is truly a wonderful magazine. Thank you for doing this on the south shore! I love it—stayed up all night reading it!

Alma Dunlap

I have always enjoyed Inside Northside, and I am so glad you all are doing this in New Orleans! Inside New Orleans is beautiful. We have needed this for so long.

Susan Hardeman Just read the new ISNO issue cover to cover online (and I feel like a Jetson right about now ... where’s my robot maid?). It is INCREDIBLE!!! So proud to be a part of this publication.

Stacey Paretti Rase

Contributors Sandra Scalise Juneau voice, its personality and its feel. Here we Freelance writer Sandra Scalise Juneau is no highlight a few of them so that you can put stranger to Inside Northside—her “Bonne a face with a name and get to know them.

Bouchee” series was a feature for years. Her passions as a culinary arts historian, cultural and community events coordinator and fundraiser for projects like the Madisonville library have kept her involved since she moved here more than 30 years ago. Sandra represented her Sicilian heritage to the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, tracing the influences of la cucina Italiana on Louisiana’s cuisine. Sandra and her husband, Roland, reside in Madisonville; they have celebrated more than 50 years of marriage. For this issue, she tells the story of the Tchefuncte River Lighthouse at Madisonville (page 62).

Our contributors give Inside Northside its

Susan Bonnett

Erin Cowser

Stacey Rase

Ila Jane Sprouse

Susan Bonnett has been the president and CEO of the Northshore Community Foundation since its founding in 2007. She writes Inside Northside’s series about the importance of philanthropy and the nonprofit sector to our region’s quality of life (page 90).

Susan loves and lives what she does as she and her husband, Mace, raise their four children. She is most grateful for the opportunity to spend her “work” day building a better place to live, full of compassion and opportunities for all.

As executive director of public and governmental affairs for Southeastern Louisiana University, Erin Cowser has the privilege of representing the third largest university in Louisiana in both legislative and public arenas. She serves on various boards and community organizations that span the north and south shores. Her advocacy work has been honored at the national, state, regional and local levels.

Her article on Hammond’s Mayson Foster (page 104) is the latest of her contributions to Inside Northside. Most importantly, Erin has the esteemed privilege and honor of being Eliza Kate’s mommy.

Stacey Rase has been associated with Inside Northside for nearly two decades as both a contributing writer and as past managing editor. She was delighted to return to this issue by telling the story of the Mystic Krewe of Olympia and the history behind their 50th year of Mardi Gras parading on the northshore (page 72). When not running the streets with her four children, Stacey enjoys tennis, reading and coaching the cheerleaders at St. Peter Catholic School.

Ila Jane Sprouse grew up in northeast Alabama. Other than reading and running (state champion in 50-yard dash), her favorite pastime was writing. As a single parent to her son (now a river pilot), she juggled parenting, earning a business degree and employment in six industries, including driving an 18-wheeler. Through it all, she has been a writer for work and pleasure. A grandmother, Jane has written two novels and created a lot of poetry and art. Now “actively retired,” she enjoys kayaking the rivers, biking the Trace, freelancing and volunteering to Keep Covington Beautiful. Her article about the Abita Springs Opry is on page 44.

Other Voices: Kim Bergeron, Pat Brister, Leah Draffen, Alice Fielding, Sandy Franco, Candra George, Poki Hampton, Mimi Greenwood Knight, Anthony Leone and Terri Schlichenmeyer.

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Inside Northside

photo: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

Cover Artist Pam Soileau

by Poki Hampton

22

Inside Northside

Influences in the Abstract

IF I HAVE LEARNED ANYTHING in writing the cover artist stories for Inside Northside, it is that artists love to create and painters love to paint. It is their passion above all others.

And their inspiration comes from both the likely and unlikely. For 35 years, Pam Soileau, who is just as vivacious and charming as her paintings, has used the influences in her life for inspiration to create paintings, ever evolving and always interesting.

As a child, Pam’s family lived in her grandmother’s home in Opelousas. Her grandmother was very artistic; she influenced Pam, as did three of Pam’s aunts, who studied art at Newcomb College. Aunt Marie Celeste created pottery and painted portraits, and

while Aunt Ruth’s eight children played on the floor, she put her easel in a playpen to keep them from running into her paintings.

Both women created pottery at Newcomb, and Pam has some of their pieces today. Pam’s grandmother gave her art supplies and then got out of the way, letting Pam be creative on her own. Some of the sketches Pam drew on discarded envelopes while with her grandmother are part of her composition titled Autobiography.

When her children were small and until they went off to school, Pam put her creative energy into her home, entertaining and cooking. Around 1979, her husband, Jim, said that she needed to paint—and he kept saying >>

Meet cover artist

Pam Soileau and see some of her favorite works on display at

Lowe’s Jewelers 5150 Hwy. 22 West Mandeville, LA

Thursday, January 15 5:30-7:00 p.m.

For more information, call

626-9684

Everyone’s Invited!

January-February 2015 23

photo: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

it. Finally, she signed up for a workshop with Lyndon H. Neubig, her first formal teacher, who became famous for his mud paintings of rural Louisiana scenes.

Neubig’s wife, Linda, advised Pam to keep her mouth shut and her ears and eyes open. She did just that.

“And that opened the door to more workshops,” says Pam. At a workshop with Ed Whitney, Pam was so intimidated by the other artists that she painted her quarter-page watercolors behind the bushes. Harry Ahysen, who taught at Huntsville College in Texas, came by her breakfast table and said, “Today, I want you to come sit by me and bring your stuff.”

“He used a full sheet of paper and painted with a house painting brush.

That opened my eyes that painting didn’t have to be so precise, but could be done freely,” says Pam. As she spent days and weeks studying, she honed her skills by experimenting passionately.

“I have greedily absorbed the wisdom, techniques, discipline and sense of adventure from my fellow artists and teachers,” she says.

At first, Pam’s medium of choice was watercolor. When she grew as an artist, her colors became stronger and more 24

Inside Northside

emphatic. As she says, “This was no longer watercolor.” Acrylics on paper were the next logical choice; then she progressed to acrylics on canvas. Pam also creates mixedmedia pieces using found objects.

“My grandchildren are a wonderful source for all sorts of things that I incorporate into the paintings. They bring me corrugated cardboard and other little treasures.” She also uses onion paper, stamping and a palette knife to create texture on the canvas before beginning the painting part of the process.

Back in the day, Pam sold her first painting to her hairdresser—framed, for $50. Because she liked her own painting so much, she bought it back from the hairdresser, but later gave her another one. “At that point, I had to learn to let it go so that I could get to the next one,” she says.

What looked to be a great opportunity was a show at the Baton Rouge Hilton put together by a woman from then Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom’s office. Pam convinced her Aunt Ruth, who was 70 at that time, to join her and two other artists for the show—one was a wood carver and the other was Lyndon H. Neubig, from whom she had taken classes.

The show was Louisiana artists, with Louisiana food and wine. The only thing that sold was a $500 wood carving that Pam’s husband bought. It turned out that also in the hotel that night was a “starving artist” show in the grand ballroom. “We all had a good laugh,” says Pam. But that show opened doors for Pam when Odom’s people introduced her to valuable contacts.

A while back, Pam showed a variety of styles in 30 paintings at a large show in Donaldsonville. There, she was introduced to an academic couple, a woman who taught her grandchildren piano and her Ph.D. husband. As they were leaving the reception, the man asked Pam where she had gone to school. Pam thought, “Oh, goodness.” She answered that she did

not have a college degree.

The man turned to his wife and said, “See, I told you so. Her work is so fluid and experimental, with so much freedom—you can’t teach that.”

“Bold colors, geometric shapes and textures bursting on canvases reveal the true joy and passion of Pam’s work,” says art dealer Bobbie Chassaignac.

“Her flowers begin with control, then explode into colorful abstracts. On our first meeting, I knew I had found a treasure, both in art and in Pam. She had so many great works to choose from for her show.”

Recently, Pam’s house was struck by lightning.

Most of the electronics were ruined. As one repair person after another came to report the bad news, it was always “the mother board has been fried.” This inspired Pam to start a new series called Mother Board, which will incorporate some of the broken mother boards from the junk pile.

Today, Pam and her wonderfully supportive husband, Jim, live in Mandeville, where she paints almost every day, always looking at the world around her for its influences. “There is a song that says, ‘Lord, don’t let me die with all my songs in me.’ I have changed the lyrics to say, ‘Lord, don’t let me die with all my paintings in me.”

Pam’s work can be seen at Pineapple Gallery in Mandeville and on line at psoileauart.com.

January-February 2015 25

For an up-to-date listing of events, please check our website, insidenorthside.com.

INSIDE the definitive guide to northshore events and entertainment

photo: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

January 1-Feb 7 Nature’s Essence: Two Visions.

Market. Griffith Park, Slidell.

hands-on activities to teach respect and

Paintings by Marcia Holmes and Jim

8am-12pm. Free. 640-7112.

how to handle bullying. St. Tammany

Seitz. St. Tammany Art Association, 320

camelliacitymarket.org.

Parish Hospital Parenting Center,

N. Columbia St, Covington. 892-8650. sttammanyartassociation.org.

2 Storywalk. Walk the Northlake

1505 N. Florida St, Ste B, Covington.

Market. Covington City Hall, 609 N.

6-7:30pm. Cost, one canned good

Columbia Street. 8am-12pm. Free.

for Covington Food Bank. Contact

Nature Center trails while reading an

Jan Biggs, rosehue@charter.net.

ksupan@stph.org or 898-4435.

interactive story; stroller and wheelchair

covingtonfarmersmarket.org.

7,14,21,28 Covington Farmers Market.

accessible. Northlake Nature Center,

3,10,17,24,31 Hammond Farmers

23135 Hwy 190, Mandeville. 12-3pm.

Market. #2 West Thomas St.

Free. Jan Biggs, rosehue@charter.net.

Free. 626-1238. northlakenature.org.

8am-12pm. Free. dddhammond.com.

covingtonfarmersmarket.org.

3 Winter Arts and Crafts Market.

3,10,17,24,31 Mandeville

Covington Trailhead. 10am-2pm.

7,14,21,28 Living Tobacco Free. Tools

Homemade arts and crafts, produce,

Trailhead Market. 675 Lafitte

and resources to quit smoking. St.

clothing and art. 2 W. Thomas

St. 9am-1pm. Free. 845-4515.

Tammany Parish Hospital. 12-1pm or

St, Hammond. 9am-3pm. Free.

mandevilletrailheadmarket.com.

5:30-6:30pm. RSVP to 898-4468.

dddhammond.com.

3,10,17,24,31 Camellia City Farmers 26

3,10,17,24,31 Covington Farmers

I n s i d e N o rt h s i d e

7 Stop Bullying. Ashley Director, author of Maria, the Timid Lion Tamer, will use

8 STARC Art Sale. 881 Robert Blvd, Slidell.

10am-2pm. 641-0197. heavensentart.org. >>

Northshore Carnival January 10 St. John Fools of Misrule.

Covington. 7pm.

25 Krewe of Slidellians.

Slidell. 1pm.

31 Krewe of Bilge.

Slidell. 12pm.

31 Krewe of Mona Lisa and Moon Pie. Slidell. 7pm.

February 1 Mystick Krewe of Perseus.

Slidell. 1pm.

6 Krewe of Eve. Mandeville. 7pm.

7 Krewe de Paws.

Slidell. 10am.

7 Krewe of Olympia.

Covington. 6pm.

7 Mystic Krewe of Titans.

Slidell. 6pm.

7 Krewe of Push Mow. (left) Abita Springs. 11am.

8 Krewe of Dionysus.

Slidell. 1pm.

8 Krewe of Tchefuncte.

Madisonville. 2pm.

13 Krewe of Selene. Slidell.

6:30pm.

17 Krewe of Bush. Bush. 9am.

17 Covington Lions Club, Mystic Krewe of Covington and Krewe of Lyra follow.

Covington. 10am.

17 Krewe of Chahta-Ima. Lacombe. 1pm.

17 Krewe of Folsom. 2pm.

22 Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws.

Mandeville.

January-February 2015 27

Inside Scoop 9 Béla Fleck and New World Symphony.

Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. First Baptist Church of Covington. 7:30pm. $20-$55. lpomusic.com.

9 Northlake Newcomers Luncheon.

Speaker from Perino’s Garden Center. Benedict’s Plantation, 1144 N Causeway Blvd, Mandeville. 10am.

Reservations and price, 234-9649. northlakenewcomers.com.

9-11 Commemoration of the Battle of New Orleans. Watch military drills, cannon and musket firings. Chalmette Battlefield, 8606 W St Bernard Hwy. 10am-4pm. $45. (504) 281-0510.

9-11 Giants in the City. Exhibit of Hammond’s Prospect 3 excursion weekend. Outdoor exhibit, 107 S Orange St, Hammond. 542-7113. hammondarts.org.

10 Lory Lockwood Opening Reception.

Images of Desire will open Jan 10, on view until Feb 27. The Atrium Gallery at Christwood, 100 Christwood Blvd, Covington. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. 292-1234.

10-March 4 Member’s Gallery Exhibtion.

Opening Jan 10, on view until March 4.

320 N Columbia St, Covington. 6-9pm. sttammanyartassociation.org.

10 St. John Fools of Misrule Parade.

Covington. 7pm. foolsofmisrule.com.

15,22 Cedarwood School Open House.

Cedarwood School, 607 Heavens Dr, Mandeville. Kindergarten, Jan 15; Preschool-7th grade, Jan 22. 9am.

845-7111.

15-April 15 DivorceCare and DivorceCare for Kids. Support group on every Wed. until April 15. Hosanna Lutheran Church, 2480 Hwy 190, Mandeville.

7-9pm. Register, 727-9200.

16-31 The Irish Curse. A brutally honest look at how men define masculinity.

Cutting Edge Theater, 747 Robert Blvd, Slidell. $21.50-$25. Show times, 6493727. cuttingedgetheater.com.

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I n s i d e N o rt h s i d e

16-Feb 1 A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Slidell Little Theater, 2024 Nellie Dr. Fri-Sun, 8pm. 641-0324. slidelllittletheatre.org.

17 Journal to the Self Full-Day Workshop. 10 therapeutic journaling techniques. Northshore Pastoral Center, 69090 E. Hwy 190 Service Rd, Covington. 8:30am-4pm. Individul, $75; groups of two or more, $70. (504) 5830461 or emorgandufrene@gmail.com. ericamorganlcsw.com.

18 The Zion Harmonizers. Christ Episcopal Third Sunday Concert Series. 120 S. New Hampshire St, Covington. 5pm. Free. 892-3177. christchurchcovington.com.

19 Beer Dinner. Reservations recommended. Mellow Mushroom, 1645 Hwy 190, Covington. 6:30pm.

327-5407. mellowmushroom.com/ store/covington.

20 Lunch and Learn on Coping with Diabetes and Keeping Well in the New Year. Jeannette Rousseau, certified diabetes educator with St. Tammany Parish Hospital. Community Center at Christwood, 100 Christwood Blvd, Covington. 11:30am-1pm. RSVP to 292-1234 or email jportmann@ christwoodrc.com.

22 Northshore Rising Professionals Leadership Summit. Leadership skills, distinguished speakers and motivational information. Fleur de Lis Event Center, 1645 N. Causeway Blvd, Mandeville.

Program, 8am-12pm; lunch, 12-1pm. $50. 273-3008.

23 Salad Days Juried Exhibition Opening Reception. Slidell Cultural Center, 2055 Second St. 6-8pm. 6464375. slidell.la.us.

24 Girls’ Health Day. Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be You themed Girls’ Health Day to cover health issues, self-esteem, eating, fitness and bullying prevention. >> January-February 2015 29

Inside Scoop Lakeview Regional Medical Center,

February

Pelican Room and Front Lobby,

Parish President’s Arts Awards. Food,

95 Judge Tanner Blvd, Covington.

live music and performances. St.

10am-12:30pm. Free. 867-3900.

Tammany Parish Justice Center, 701 N

Slidell Little Theatre, 2024 Nellie Dr.

Columbia St, Covington. 6-9:30pm. For

Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. 641-0324.

tickets, email arts@stpgov.org or 898-

slidelllittletheatre.org.

25 Krewe of Slidellians Parade, Krewe of Claude follows. Slidell. 1pm. slidellwomenscivicclub.org.

25 Real Men of St. Tammany Gala.

5243.

needed at Northlake Nature Center.

and the Safe Harbor Program. Food,

23135 Hwy 190, Mandeville. 9am. 626-

auctions. Northshore Harbor Center, 100 Harbor Center Blvd, Slidell. Tickets, $100. safeharbornorthshore.org.

28-Feb 21 Salad Days Juried Exhibition. Slidell Cultural Center, 2055 Second St. Free. slidell.la.us.

29 LA-CAN LA-TEACH Legislative

1 A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

1 Krewe of Pearl River Lions Club

31 Arbor Day Activities. Volunteers

Benefitting survivors of domestic violence

open bar, live music and live and silent

1238. northlakenature.org.

31 Krewe of Bilge Parade. Slidell. 12pm. kreweofbilge.com.

31 Krewe of Mona Lisa and Moon Pie Parade. Slidell. 7pm. monalisaandmoonpie.com.

31 Slidell Newcomers Ball. 37th annual Slidell Newcomers’ Mardi Gras Ball with

Parade. Pearl River. 1pm.

1

Mystick Krewe of Perseus Parade.

Slidell. 1pm.

1-7 Nature’s Essence: Two Visions.

Paintings by Marcia Holmes and Jim Seitz. St. Tammany Art Association, 320 N. Columbia St, Covington. 8928650. sttammanyartassociation.org.

1-21 Salad Days Juried Exhibition.

Slidell Cultural Center, 2055 Second St. Free. slidell.la.us.

Roundtable 2015. North Oaks

a Hollywood Glamor theme. Northshore

Diagnostic Center, 15837 Paul Vega

Harbor Center, 100 Harbor Center Blvd,

Desire. The Atrium Gallery at Christwood,

MD Dr, Hammond. 8:30-10:30am.

Slidell. slidellnewcomers.webs.com.

100 Christwood Blvd, Covington. 4:30-

RSVP to 875-0511. fhfnorthshore.org.

30

31 Appetite for Art. The 10th Annual

I n s i d e N o rt h s i d e

1-27 Lory Lockwood Exhibit. Images of

6:30pm. Free. 292-1234.

1-March 4 Member’s Gallery Exhibtion.

320 N Columbia St, Covington. sttammanyartassociation.org.

4,11,18,25 Covington Farmers Market.

Covington Trailhead. 10am-2pm.

Covington. Fri-Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 3pm.

(504)885-2000. jpas.org.

6 Krewe of Eve Parade. Mandeville.

7pm. kreweofeve.com.

6 National Wear Red Day. Wear red,

Free. Jan Biggs, rosehue@charter.net.

share on social media with #GoRed and

covingtonfarmersmarket.org.

donate for awareness of and research

4,11,18,25 Living Tobacco Free. Tools and resources to quit smoking. St.

on heart disease. goredforwomen.org.

6-7 Make Your Own Kind of Music. A

Springs. 11am. pushmow.com.

7 Mystic Krewe of Titans Parade.

Slidell. 6:30pm. krewoftitans.com.

7,14,21,28 Camellia City Farmers Market. Griffith Park, Slidell.

8am-12pm. Free. 640-7112. camelliacitymarket.org.

7,14,21,28 Covington Farmers Market. Covington City Hall, 609

Tammany Parish Hospital. 12-1pm or

tribute to Mama Cass Elliot. Cutting

N. Columbia St. 8am-12pm. Free.

5:30-6:30pm. RSVP to 898-4468.

Edge Theater, 747 Robert Blvd, Slidell.

Jan Biggs, rosehue@charter.net.

$21.50-$25. Show times, 649-3727.

covingtonfarmersmarket.org.

4-April 15 DivorceCare and DivorceCare for Kids. Support group on every Wed. until April 15. Hosanna Lutheran

cuttingedgetheater.com.

7 Arbor Day Activities. Volunteers

Church, 2480 Hwy 190, Mandeville.

needed at Northlake Nature Center.

7-9pm. Register, 727-9200.

23135 Hwy 190, Mandeville. 9am. 626-

5 Storytime for all Ages. St Tammany Parish Library, 844 Girod St, Mandeville.

10:30am. 626-4293. sttammany.lib.la.us.

6-8 Ain’t Got No Home. Jefferson Performing Arts Society. Christ Episcopal Theatre, 80 Christwood Blvd,

1238. northlakenature.org.

7 Krewe of Olympia Parade.

Covington. 6pm. kreweofolympia.net.

7 Krewe de Paws Parade. Slidell.

10am. krewedepawsofoldtowne.com.

7 Krewe of Push Mow Parade. Abita

7,14,21,28 Hammond Farmers Market. #2 West Thomas St. 8am-12pm. Free. dddhammond.com.

7,14,21,28 Mandeville Trailhead Market.

675 Lafitte St. 9am-1pm. Free. 8454515. mandevilletrailheadmarket.com.

8 Krewe of Dionysus Parade. Slidell.

1pm. dionysusofslidell.com.

8 Krewe of Tchefuncte Parade.

Madisonville. 2pm.

>>

January-February 2015 31

Inside Scoop 8

Northshore Literary Society meeting. Kathy Mac Garland will speak, food and beverages served.

Mac’s, 324 E Boston St, Covington.

Members, free; nonmembers, $10. northshoreliterarysociety.com.

11 Lunch and Learn on Balance and Falls. Presented by Kevin Mizell, physical therapist with St. Tammany Parish Hospital. Community Center at Christwood, 100 Christwood Blvd, Covington. 11:30am-1pm. RSVP to 292-1234 or email jportmann@ christwoodrc.com.

13 Krewe of Selene Parade. Slidell.

6:30pm. kreweofselene.net.

13 LRMC Volunteer Auxiliary Bake Sale and Raffle. All proceeds benefit American Heart Association. Raffle tickets available Jan. 7. Lakeview Regional Medical Center, 95 Judge Tanner Blvd, Covington. 9am-1:30pm. One ticket, $2; three tickets, $5. 867-3900.

13 Northlake Newcomers Luncheon and Game Day. Bunco and Canasta.

The Lakehouse, 2025 Lakeshore Dr, Mandeville. 10am. Member, $17.50; guest, $20.50. Reservations, 234-9649. northlakenewcomers.com.

13-15 Wine, Women and Shoes.

Shopping, dinners and discounts to benefit Sinfonia’s music education programs. Silver Sand Premium Outlets and Hilton Sandestin. (850)269-7229. winewomenandshoes.com.

17 Covington Lions Club Parade, Mystic Krewe of Covington follows.

Covington. 10am.

17 Krewe of Bush Parade. Bush. 9am.

17 Krewe of Chahta-Ima Parade.

Lacombe. 1pm.

17 Krewe of Folsom Parade. 2pm. villageoffolsom.com.

17 Krewe of Lyra Parade. Covington.

10am. kreweoflyra.com.

19 Survive Dat! Breast cancer support 32

I n s i d e N o rt h s i d e

group for young survivors. Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, 1203 S Tyler St, Covington. 7pm. 276-6832.

21 The Antiquarian Image: An Exhibition of 19th Century Photographic Processes. On view until April 4. St. Tammany Art Association, 320 N. Columbia St, Covington. Reception, 6-9pm. sttammanyartassociation.org.

21 Writers and Readers Symposium: A Celebration of Literature and Art. Carolyn Thornton will moderate the day-long program. Featured authors will mingle with guests during lunch.

(225)302-3524. stfrancisville.us.

22 Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws Parade.

Mandeville. mardipaws.com.

23 Beer Dinner. Reservations recommended. Mellow Mushroom, 1645 Hwy 190, Covington. 6:30pm.

327-5407. mellowmushroom.com/store/ covington.

27 Amazing Grapes. Wine auction at Hermann Grima House, 820 St. Louis

St. 7pm. wine@hgghh.org. hgghh.org.

27-March 1 She Kills Monsters. Paul R. Spitzfaden Community Center, 3090 E Causeway Apr, Mandeville. 7:30pm.

Tickets, 1(844)843-3090.

28 A Day for Girls’ Health. Junior high and high school girls’ education on health, self esteem, grooming and healthy lifestyles. Slidell Memorial Hospital Regional Cancer Center and Founder Building. 1-5pm. 280-2200. slidellmemorial.org.

28 Northshore Gumbo Cook-off.

Slidell Little Theatre, 2024 Nellie Dr. 11am-3pm. Adults, $10; Children 10 and under, free. 960-6698. 898-0515.

Send your event information to scoop@insidepub.com to have it featured in an upcoming issue of Inside Northside.

January-February 2015 33

IN Depth

with Michael Mire, ChFC , LUTCF ®

Agent, New York Life Insurance Co.

Five Key Points 1. Cash Value Accumulation This cash value accumulation is often referred to as a “living benefit” since it is a benefit you can enjoy during your lifetime.

As long as your premiums are paid when

Michael Mire, ChFC®, LUTCF, is an Agent of New York Life Insurance Co. Registered Representative with NYLIFE Securities LLC (member FINRA/SIPC), a Licensed Insurance Agency.

27 Walnut Place, Covington, LA 70433.

1 The cash value in a permanent life insurance policy is accessed through policy loans, which accrue interest at the current rate and decrease the available death benefit and cash value. 2 Neither New York Life Insurance Company nor its agents provide tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax and or legal advisors regarding your particular situation. 3 Dividends are based on the policy’s applicable dividend scale, which is neither guaranteed nor an estimate of future results. 4 Guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

34

I n s i d e N o rt h s i d e

due, the cash value that builds in your policy accumulates on a tax-deferred basis and can be borrowed against generally income tax-free.2

2. Policy Loans That money can be accessed via policy loans for virtually anything, such as funding a child’s college education, supplementing your retirement income as the life insurance needs decrease, or even ensuring the continuation of a personal business you’ve worked hard to build.1

3. Eligible for Dividends Moreover, some permanent life insurance policies may be eligible for dividends3 which may be used to help pay premiums or purchase additional insurance.

4. A Lifetime of Protection Permanent life insurance provides a lifetime of protection and value. Your premium generally stays the same regardless of your age or health conditions, and the policy is more likely to be in force when your family needs it most.

5. When is the time to buy?

Now. You will never be as young as you are today. That’s why permanent life insurance is so valuable—with Whole Life Insurance, its cash value is guaranteed to accumulate each year, regardless of the economic environment.4

photo: FIELDING PHOTOGRAPHY

MICHAEL MIRE BEGAN his career with New York Life in July 1998.

For 16 years, he has enjoyed his time helping people grow. “I have always had a desire to help people and make a difference in their lives,” Michael says. “This industry has given me the opportunity to assist people in uncovering their financial possibilities.”

Since moving to the northshore in 2005, Michael has continued working with clients to help meet their goals and objectives. “It’s a matter of sitting down with an individual and learning what they want to accomplish,” he says. “From there, it is about putting an attainable plan in place that fits into their budget.”

Michael enjoys seeing his clients’ progress over the years as their cash value increases in their life insurance policies. “My clients like the fact that they now have a financial safety net in case they need it.” ¹ Here, Michael shares five points about Permanent Life Insurance.

January-February 2015 35

Villa Villere

by Poki Hampton

rear of the house.

Opposite: Antiqued beveled smoked glass mirrors reflect the dining room.

36

Inside Northside

Designed for Entertaining

free-flowing interiors were all designed by them in concert with Susie and Pierre.

The glow of the walls in the entrance draws attention. Hand-painted with a palette knife in a cross-hatch pattern by a New Orleans faux painter, the soft shadings of gold, silver, grey and lavender elude the eye. “The color changes throughout every hour of the day,” says Susie. The limestone-tiled floor is accented with inlaid brown granite cabochons, with a circular pattern around the staircase celebrating the rotunda. A custom-fabricated bronze railing designed

by John Chrestia for the space tops the circular limestone stairs. Adding a contemporary touch to the foyer are a bubble chandelier hanging in the curve of the stairway and a marble and iron table by R & Y Augousti of Paris that is flanked by two antique English leather dining chairs.

The limestone floor extends into the study, where it is topped by a silk rug by New York textile artist Madeline Weinrib. The room is an eclectic mix of art >>

photos: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

Above: View from

NESTLED BETWEEN TWO WOODED LOTS is the 7,500-square-foot, French-country-style home of Susie and Pierre Villere. Designed by Michael Bell of Bell Architects in New Orleans, the house was completed in fall 2010. “At the beginning, we brought in a grounds contractor to clear and fill the property,” says Pierre. “We had to drive into the property in a four-wheel-drive because the roads were not in yet.”

The exterior walls are finished in authentic stucco.

“The roof is made of old Vermont slate that was salvaged from an 18th century New England millhouse and wrapped with French-roof cresting around the roof perimeter,” says Pierre. “We only needed 90 squares of slate tiles for the house and cabana, but we had to purchase 140 squares to get them, so we have some in storage for another project or a rainy day.”

All of the gutters and downspouts were fabricated of copper, in keeping with the style of the house.

Many of the interior architectural elements and finishes in the home were designed by the team of Chrestia-Staub-Pierce in New Orleans, who were on board from the beginning of the project. The elegant

January-February 2015 37

The custom bronze stair rail curves down limestone steps.

38

Inside Northside

A rare charcoal by Ida Kohlmeyer is placed over the

photos: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

limestone fireplace in the study.

Glass tiles in earth tones create an interesting backsplash.

and the decorative objects in the lighted shelves surrounding the mustard silk loveseat. Over the loveseat is a piece by northshore artist George Dunbar.

Two built-in shotgun cabinets house Pierre’s gun collection. The fireplace has a limestone face with a custom-designed wood mantel. Accented by museum lighting in the ceiling is a rare charcoal

by New Orleans artist Ida Kohlmeyer.

Two comfortable chairs are in a doublediamond-cross-pattern chenille.

The dining room walls are painted Mystical Shade by Benjamin Moore, a purple/grey that has a soft sheen. The contemporary table and chairs were designed by Chrestia; the chair fabric, a cut-velvet, was selected by designer Denise Pierce, as were the thistle pattern silk draperies. Drama is created by the antiqued beveled smoked glass panels on the far wall. Antique French crystal and iron sconces add subtle light. The floors are again limestone with granite cabochons, while a rug by Weinrib anchors the room. Another painting by Kohlmeyer is joined by a wall sculpture

by Argentinian artist Carolina Sardi.

Cleverly concealed in a mirrored wall in the dining room is a hidden door to the wine cellar. The small but cozy room, which was inspired by Moorish architecture, houses an exceptional wine collection. The ceiling is in a groin vault design like those of Northern Africa. The Moroccan silver door was purchased on a trip to Marrakesh. “Moroccan silver is unique to North Africa,” says Pierre. “It is a combination of sterling silver and pewter that does not tarnish.” The floor tiles in a star-and-cross pattern have a Moroccan influence. The wooden wine racks were sourced from an artisan in Napa Valley.

Complementing the museum lighting is a Moroccan-style chandelier. An antique barley-twist gate-leg table and two antique English leather chairs make a very >> January-February 2015 39

Above: The wine cellar was inspired by Moorish architecture. Above right: A close-up of the kitchen cabinet hardware. Right: State-of-theart appliances fill the sleek kitchen. Opposite page: The master bath is complete with Swarovski crystal knobs and a his-and-her shower.

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Inside Northside

the sofa is done in bronze linen with an embroidered Greek-key design. The two end tables and the cocktail table are in contemporary chrome and glass. Huge unadorned windows create a glorious fusion with the outdoors, framing the vista of the patio and pool beautifully.

The recessed bar in the den is accented with a linear-cut mirror behind flush-mounted etched-glass shelves.

A sculpture by Yvonne James, titled >>

photos: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

intimate place to dine. “We have dinner there every Valentine’s day,” says Susie.

She serves a feast with glittering crystal and silver under the graceful arch of the groin ceiling.

The overall floor plan of the house is conducive to entertaining. The spacious den is refined but not too formal. With a range of contemporary and traditional furnishings designed by Chrestia, the space feels right for everyday relaxing as well as for lavish entertaining. Limestone borders the rift-cut French-oak floor, which is installed in a herringbone pattern. Atop the floor is a hand-knotted Tibetan rug in soft apricot hues that uses wool and silk to create a subtle tone-ontone pattern. This rug was sourced by NOLA Rugs in New Orleans. A Frenchstyle limestone fireplace mantel holds a small oil painting of Pierre’s childhood home in New Orleans. Over the mantel is a piece by Kohlmeyer. Two club chairs are covered in a circle pattern chenille fabric;

January-February 2015 41

Ladies, is suspended by filament from the ceiling.

Practical as well as beautiful, the smart, sleek and sophisticated kitchen was designed in New York and features contemporary European-design custom cabinets with hardware by the Italian company, Blum. The granite, a one-ofa-kind piece the designers found, is a deeply veined dark green. State-of-theart Miele appliances are integrated into the cabinetry design. “I went to New York to take a class on how to operate all of the appliances,� says Susie. The breakfast room and keeping room are open to the kitchen.

Between the dining room and kitchen is a high-tech butler’s pantry, which can double as a second kitchen when there are big crowds to entertain.

The doors are offset to prevent guests from seeing into the kitchen.

The master suite is entered from the living room through a small, lowly lit vestibule that holds a carved Moroccan cedar chest. Over it hangs a painting

by Matteo Neivert titled Doppelganger.

Highlighting the understated elegance of the master suite is the custom king-sized bed, with head- and footboards covered in a subtle striped chenille in soft gold and beige. The bed is appointed with Leontine Linen bedcovers, with square monogram initials contrasting with the bronze silk duvet; the draperies are embroidered silk dupioni. Two custom club chairs and an ottoman are upholstered in an abstract cut velvet. At the end of the bed sit two iron benches in a Greek-key design with silk cushions in a tiny snakeskin pattern.

A custom television cabinet designed by Chrestia is accented with honed mirror inlays. The oatmeal low-pile carpet is by Godfrey Hirst.

The master bath is a study in extreme elegance. A hand-rubbed paraffin-wax finish on the walls gives a subtle glow.

42

Inside Northside

Oversized glass shower doors lead to a common shower that adjoins Susie’s bath. Mirrored walls and a crystal chandelier add sparkle, while custom cabinetry, Swarovski crystal knobs and pulls, and an inlaid marble floor complete the look.

The large infinity-edge pool and spa adjoin the rear terrace outside the living room. The separate cabana includes a full wet bar, pool bath and a NanaWall system that allows the room to be open on three sides. Comfortable contemporary seating accommodates plenty of guests, with cushions in a sun-washed palate of neutral colors and driftwood that are both durable and practical. Near the edge of the pool are four loungers with striped bolsters.

In the outdoor kitchen, stainless cabinets with concrete countertops, Viking Gas appliances, a high-heat burner powerful enough to boil crawfish, and a Cajun Grill built by Percy Guidry make cooking outdoors a joy. A second seating

area has a French-stucco fireplace, making it an alluring retreat in cooler weather. Brian Sublette of Daly-Sublette designed the caststone elements of the terrace, which have hand-cut granite cabochons that mirror the interior. “Brian designed all of the hardscape for the property. He designed a space that combines ease of care with a dramatic and sophisticated custom look,” says Pierre.

Susie and Pierre worked closely with general contractor Jonathan Walther, Bell Architects, Chrestia-Staub-Pierce and DalySublette to create a home that melds together a laid-back lifestyle when the grandchildren visit and a more formal setting for grown-up entertaining.

photos: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

Above: One of the upstairs guest rooms features artwork by Steve Martin.

Left: Views of the outside seating areas.

January-February 2015 43

The Abita Springs Opry

by Jane Sprouse “MUSIC GATHERS STRENGTH in places where

Above: Chris Talley Band.

Opposite: The Petty Bones.

44

people gather for music,” is how Ronnie Virgets of WGNO’s Real New Orleans put it once when talking about Abita Springs. Just as roots take hold in a fertile floodplain, roots music grows from life events and emotions that leave sediment on hearts and souls. Lives are scarred by catastrophic events and uplifted by faith, love, a good harvest and the celebration of a healthy life. Music can help transcend barriers people put up against each other.

History, heritage and time spent rooted in the soil of a place are laid down in strong licks and melodies.

Good music forms memories, never to be forgotten, played on strings, woodwind, brass, percussion and other instruments such as piano and harp. These are the sounds of the Abita Springs Opry.

The words and melodies of roots music have their

Inside Northside

own ebb and flow of creative invention and design, building on or stripping away tension. Though some things are washed away by a natural disaster or life event, others survive and will need restoration. What we strive to preserve are roots that identify us. Oldtimey music tells the story of our origins and is a gift we give to the world. The soil in Abita Springs is fertile and, “Lord willing and the creek don’t rise,” it’s a spot where musical roots will always run deep.

Bryan Gowland, ex-mayor and voice of the Abita Springs Opry, says, “You can’t throw a rock around here without hitting a good musician.”

Within the piney woods of Southeast Louisiana, where the ozone draws lightening and the water runs clear, there’s an ongoing mission to present and preserve roots music, primarily acoustically and in its original form. Life goes on, changing the landscape of the sediment. Nonetheless, we bring along our roots, keeping our history and our identity alive.

photos: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

Putting Down Roots

Cajun, Jazz and Zydeco music influences.

Before the pocket park was opened, however, Mary Howell (bass), Patrick Flory (guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dobro, vocal), Bob and June Lambert (vocals, guitar, mandolin) and Cavallero (dobro, steel guitar) had been gathering at another historic building, the Evening Star Coffee House on Maple St., to play old-time country music. (It currently houses a bakery.) Gowland would sit against the wall, listen, appreciate and remember.

These coffee house jam sessions would be credited with the birth of The Piney Woods Opry. And these musicians would become the original “house band,” The Evening Star String Band. When Barbara Smith, the coffee house owner, closed it down and moved to New Orleans, the artists moved their music and poetry readings into the newly available park.

Abita’s John Preble has suggested that the poetry readings actually began at Ruby’s Road House in Mandeville before being presented at the Evening >>

photos: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

The original Piney Woods Opry was formed in the early 1990s. On the Town Hall side of the current traffic circle, there once sat a two-story structure known as the ABC Grocery. When the grocery store burned down, leaving a black scar on the town, some swore it was arson, but that could never be proven. Nonetheless, Mayor Gowland, sensing the loss of community that resulted, leased the scarred land and created a small pocket park where public outdoor activities could be held.

The first musical concerts were all about Louisiana roots music—Gospel, Bluegrass and Country. The location put the bar room influence on neutral ground with the church. They hoped to tap into the musical style of the area that was culturally much like the rest of the South. Though the region south of Covington had some New Orleans influence, north of Covington they were listening to and performing country music—Hank Williams Sr.-type hits. They were not following the

January-February 2015 45

Star Coffee House and finally at the park. Preble (concessions, promotion), along with Richard Boyd (board member, poet, writer) and Mary Davis (marketing, art), were all instrumental in promoting The Piney Woods Opry’s humble beginnings.

But the park concerts were to be short-lived. During a Labor Day concert, a thunderstorm closed the park. Everyone ran down the street into the mayor’s office at the Town Hall. And the rest is history. The Piney Woods Opry had a new home that was championed by a select group of people, passionate to see these three genres of music (oldtime Country, Bluegrass and Gospel) carried on. Admittedly, even before the thunderstorm, these musicians had pressed their noses to the glass at Town Hall. They admired the over-100-yearsold pecky cypress walls, the ample space and the excellent acoustics. They silently asked the universe to allow their live radio shows inside.

According to Joe Manuel, who came into The Piney Woods Opry house band a bit later on, “There never would have been a Piney Woods Opry without Mary Howell. And Patrick Flory brought a wealth of material and history to the effort. They were our band’s leaders and led the Opry, as well. It wasn’t just about the show—it was always about the preservation of Louisiana’s roots music.” Howell was the master organizer, and, working with Flory, formed a non-profit responsible for producing the shows.

Flory was the glue that connected a whole network of roots musicians into featured Opry entertainment.

Howell explains, “People in the South have always found a way to share cultures, because they’ve shared life experiences like disasters, the 46

Inside Northside

photos: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

heat, poverty and faith. Over time, there has been an intertwining of cultures. It was our foremost mission to get those elder musicians onstage, get them recorded and have them remembered for their contributions. Many are not around anymore.” For example, brothers Bob and Willard Lambert, now deceased, may be seen on YouTube doing Deep Ellum Blues. Flory grew up listening to the Louisiana Hayride in the ’50s and toured college lectures with Bill C. Malone. He takes pride in co-founding The Piney Woods Opry’s live radio show. Cavallero, also deceased, was from St. Bernard Parish and played many bars in the French Quarter, as well as the Louisiana Hayride.

When the shows were broadcast live, first on WARB and later on KSLU, listeners could hear musicians such as these without purchasing tickets: The Whitstein Brothers (duets), Southern Flavor (Bluegrass), The Hackberry Ramblers (Cajun band), Rose Hill Gospel Singers (the Clark family), Patrick O’Flaherty (traditional Irish music), Gina Forsyth (fiddle), Sam Alfano (banjo, vocals), The Last Chance Bluegrass Band, Bill and Bobbi Malone (country), Julie Manuel (vocal), Bobby Belloni (dobro, guitar), Keith Cole (bass), Mike Pace (fiddle), Barry Ancelet (Cajun), Jerry Hess (guitar), Kim Carson, The Lillys, John Parker, Amedee Frederick, Roseanne Bivens and many more.

During its eight years of production, The Piney Woods Opry tried to stay on course, only presenting roots music. Sponsored by the Abita Springs Civic Association, it was always a labor of love. Often, however, it struggled for funding. There were a few grants from Louisiana Endowment for Humanities and the Louisiana Division of the Arts.

And Abita Lumber Co. has always been generous to the cause. In 1995, a grant of $14,900 by the National Endowment for the Arts was investigated by the CBS Evening News. Reporter Connie Chung said, “Some members of Congress think it should be zero. They call it a taxpayer subsidy for wacky or tacky artists who play to a cultural elite.”

Howell’s strong voice supported the need >>

Top: The 2-dayyoung Chris Talley Band plays perfectly for the crowd, even after only one rehearsal.

Above: A homemade concession sign displays options for listeners to enjoy during the performances.

January-February 2015 47

photos: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

Top: Some Like It Hot Jazz Band’s Kaye Caldwell on trumpet and Eric Shuman on clarinet share their love of traditional jazz with Opry listeners.

Left: Some Like It Hot Jazz Band’s bass.

Above: The Grifters & Shills band’s drum.

48

Inside Northside

for the funding: “We could lose our history. … that’s why—it’s about us.

It’s about every one of us.” Eventually, it became even harder to keep funding, and the founders struggled with their options: What’s the next level? Can we get a tax-exempt status? Can we afford to hire staff? After eight years, The Piney Woods Opry just did not have the resources to make the next step a reality. It went into hiatus for a couple of years, but its essence never died.

Once Gowland retired as mayor, he took on a leadership role in continuing the Opry, making changes that allowed all forms of traditional Louisiana music to be played. “Cajun, Zydeco, Jazz; it gives us our identity and it’s still about cultural preservation,” he explains. So, with Gowland in the role as emcee, the Abita Springs Opry started up in November 2002 with instant success—folks lined up down the block. Something had been missing, and the folks felt the loss. It seemed as if the old pecky cypress walls of Town Hall had absorbed too much roots energy to hold silence.

The comeback was a guaranteed folk music revival. Gowland sought to cut the costs of production; he partnered with the parish to utilize its camera crews and to get on board with a local television channel. Some funding has come from the parish, corporate sponsors and sales. Additional funding comes from the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival organization and a series of August concerts in the French Quarter. Proceeds are utilized to provide musicians for other Abita Springs concerts and for charity. Abita Springs Opry operates as a non-profit and refuses to allow its information to be utilized commercially. Its Mission Statement remains true to the original Opry’s goal: “presenting and preserving Louisiana roots music.” >> January-February 2015 49

Volunteers continue to be an integral part of making the Opry a success. Teresa and Rick Jeffries have been volunteering to sell merchandise for nine years. Justice of the Peace Lisa King is in charge of concessions. Kent Birkle is responsible for in-house sound, productions and logistics. The two outside sound technicians are Kent and Robert Bentley. Kenny Delbert serves as a sound assistant for production.

Jan Biggs and Bobby Belloni (dobro musician) are backstage managers.

According to Gowland, a business office is utilized for television sound equipment, and the Police Station serves as a “greenroom,” where upcoming acts await their stage entrance. It’s really a small town phenomenon.

Concessions are provided by different charitable groups that keep the proceeds. And, to address the lines-down-the-street issue, patrons are allowed to reserve numbered seats and season tickets. A wide-screen television was added to the front porch so that those who can’t get into the packed hall may bring their own chairs and watch from outside.

Just like the music, the Abita Springs Opry has evolved. Bursting at its seams with popularity, it now spills out onto the front porch (pre50

Inside Northside

Opry show), and over into the Abita Brew Pub (post-Opry jam sessions).

Gowland doesn’t want patrons to go home after the Opry. Regarding that post-show, he’s adamant: “Some of the best music is there!”

One important event for the Opry is the annual Louisiana Busker Festival in Abita Springs. The festival features buskers, street musicians who play for tips. Gowland says, “I’m dealing with young people who have made it their business to study New Orleans music and roots music. And they play it well. We want to encourage that as much as possible. If they can come from the streets and gain higher levels of legitimacy, it’s a beautiful thing.

The street musicians always impress me.” A fundraiser for the Abita Springs Trailhead Museum, the Opry provides music for the festival in partnership with the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation.

The audiences in the packed-house performances know the importance of cultural preservation and they embrace that culture. Everyone identifies with some part of the show, whether it’s an instrument’s unique sound, a musician’s personal influence on a piece or the words of a song. One must only watch them, see their faces light up, feel the energy vibrating up from the hardwood floor and hear hands keeping rhythm to know that they identify. By sharing experiences in music, the people are sustained and validated.

It seems the Abita Springs Opry has changed into the opposite of what it started out to be. Instead of people preserving the music, roots music now preserves the people. The value of old-time music cannot be measured with money. It has to be felt taking root within one’s heart, where it gains strength.

January-February 2015 51

IN Rhythm

by Leah Draffen

Christian Serpas: Smiling in Ghost Town

Christian Serpas and Ghost Town at the Andouille Festival in LaPlace.

52

Inside Northside

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU there is a band out there whose goal is to make you happy? You don’t believe me? Shame on you. The logic of Christian Serpas & Ghost Town is to make you dance, make you smile and make you sing along.

Christian says, “The way we see it is that you know what’s wrong with the world—we don’t have to sing about it.”

He’s right.

Singer-songwriter Christian Serpas has been singing his heart out for 15 years with Ghost Town. Before his beginning with the guys that he considers family, he played with two other bands. His love of rock was the focus of his previous bands, but his love of country is what shines when he’s singing and playing with Ghost Town.

The band, made up of Christian on mic, Jeff Oteri on drums, George Neyrey on guitar and Don Williams on bass, plays their honky-tonk tunes with a hint of rock-n-roll. When the band first sat down to plan their future, they wanted to share the sounds of Dwight Yoakam, Buck Owens and

Willie Nelson, but with sprinkles of The Clash, Led Zeppelin and The Ramones. What comes out of their speakers is nothing short of unique.

Most of the band’s songs flow right out of Christian’s heart. As a youngster, he began writing songs while learning to play guitar. He soon realized that he could never be “the guitar guy,” but he can write songs. The lyrics of his songs start with inspiration. “It may be something I hear, read or see and it just sparks an idea,” Christian says. “It will roll around in my head like a rock tumbler until it comes out smooth.”

In fact, the band has smoothed out their sixth CD. As the title song Revved Up and Ready To Go says, “it’s one of a kind and the best in show.” The six-song CD blares happiness.

Once you put the disk in your player, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Each song is a toe-tapping tune that reminds you of distant melodies from grandpa’s record player and grandmother two-stepping in the kitchen.

The CD, produced by David Troia, was recorded and mixed in two months at

Balance Studios and JT Studios on the northshore. “It’s a clear and concise snapshot of what we’ve been up to,” Christian says. “I know everyone says ‘this is their best album,’ but I really think this is our best album. If this was the last one, which I hope it won’t be, I would be happy with what it represents.”

One bonus track highlights the album—You Are My Sunshine. Their cover, an interpretation of the original tune, features the harmony of Randy Lawshe. Christian says that every song they cover is a song they like. “For example, if we love a Buck Owens song, we don’t do a cover of the Buck Owens song—we do an interpretation of the Buck Owens song.”

Their interpretations of Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard are lifted with faster beats and tons of happy commentary. An acoustic show of just Christian and guitar player George Neyrey will have you chuckling. “We’re a comedy team that happens to play music,” Christian says with a grin.

The four-man band has played over 800 shows and has opened for 80 mainstream acts, including their sound goal—Dwight Yoakam. When asked how they prepare for a show, Christian quotes Waylon Jennings’ answer: “We get up from where we’re sitting and play the show.”

Their charisma on stage and the revved up country they produce leaves you smiling. Who knew? Country music doesn’t have to be some old sad song.

For the next 15 years, Christian and Ghost Town have three goals: “write more songs, play more shows and make people happy.”

Sounds like a plan to me.

For performance times and album information, visit csghosttown.com.

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Septuagenarian on Safari Beau Lawson’s Lifelong Dream

by Mimi Greenwood Knight

WHEN 75-YEAR-OLD BEAU LAWSON BROKE his leg on a tractor, the accident served as a wake-up call.

“I hit a hole on my Kubota and jolted my leg badly,” he says. “You probably don’t think someone could walk around on a broken leg, but that’s exactly what I did. A few nights later, I got up from my porch swing, 54

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heard and felt it pop and hit the floor. Luckily, I had my phone on me, so I could call an ambulance.” The break was so bad that Lawson required four surgeries to set things right and is sporting a network of metal pins in the leg today.

“During the last surgery, I coded,” he says.

“I ended up in a wheelchair and had to make renovations to the house I was buying to fit the wheelchair through the doors and into the shower. I didn’t leave home for six months. Sitting in that chair, I decided I had to do something I’ve always wanted, or I might not ever be able to do it,” Lawson says.

That “something” was going on an African safari.

“I’ve dreamed about going on safari from the time I saw King Solomon’s Mines as a boy,” he says, referring to the 1950 adventure movie filmed entirely in the wilds of Africa. He grew up during a time when a boy could walk down General Meyer Avenue in >> January-February 2015 55

Algiers with a gun and nobody thought anything of it. “We all had hunting guns in our cars at school and knives in our pockets. It was a different time.

I’ve watched the nature channel for years, and the idea of an African safari has always been in the back of my mind.” That idea motivated the retired Sewage and Water Board machinist to get up and around—to get out of that wheelchair as quickly as he could.

He’d met professional big game hunter and outfitter Renier Visser of Motswedi African Safari at a sportsman show in Gonzales. “I went to the show three years in a row and spoke to Renier about his safari packages,” Lawson says.

“The last time, I had my checkbook in my pocket.” It was then or never.

Lawson had had experience shooting squirrels and rabbits and done a little deer and duck hunting. He’d even hunted elk in Montana in the 1970s. But this was going to be an entirely different experience. “Renier offers different safari packages,” he says. “You decide what trophies you’d like to harvest, and he customizes your tour around it.” Lawson chose a preset package—kudo, impala, warthog and gemsbok—then added, à la carte if you will, a zebra and a blue wildebeest, which he refers to as a “blue willy.”

When asked the price tag for his trip, Lawson says that his air travel alone was $8,000, but adds, “How do you put a price tag on a lifelong dream? You see grandmothers going to the casino, once a week or once a month, and blowing thousands over the years. I have no interest in casinos, but I’ve dreamed of going on safari since I was a 10-year-old. It was time to make it happen, whatever the cost.”

There were some i’s to dot and t’s to cross before his trip, though, beginning with his weapon. “You don’t need a cannon to hunt big game,” Lawson says.

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photo: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

“And you don’t need a super sophisticated scope either.

I took a 308-caliber Tikka T3 lite bolt action rifle. My ammo was solid copper Barnes 165 grain triple shock.

It’s important to buy a good solid case to protect your scope during baggage handling, so I paid another $250 for the case. But it was more than worth it.”

Lawson made an appointment to present his gun, ammo and case to the customs authorities a month before his trip. “They give you a permit, not so much to take your gun into Africa, but to get it back into the United States,” he says. “I wouldn’t say they’re more relaxed over there. They just look at things differently. Renier even met me at the Johannesburg airport wearing a gun in a holster. I brought my bills of sale and receipts, actually more than I needed, but I wasn’t taking any chances. I also had to have a South African police survey and an invitation from a professional hunter over there.”

On the day of the flight, Lawson presented his rifle at the Delta counter, with his ammunition (80 rounds per caliber maximum) packed separately in his checked luggage. A Delta employee made sure the gun was not loaded, padlocked it, and Lawson didn’t see it again until he reached Africa.

Apart from the gun, he didn’t have to buy anything special for the safari. “No special mountain boots, just tennis shoes, and three sets of comfortable clothes, like jeans and pull-over shirts; no camouflage necessary. I did need a light jacket because, although I was landing August 1, nights would be chilly in that

part of the world. I didn’t have to take any special medication or get any vaccines. I’d told Renier right off the bat that I didn’t want to be bitten by a tick or see a black mamba, and he assured me I didn’t have to worry about either.

“From the moment I landed in Johannesburg, I was treated like a prince,” says Lawson. “Everyone I >>

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photos courtesy: BEAU LAWSON

met in Africa was friendly. Even with the poverty, it’s a very happy place, and manners are very important to them. Renier was calling me ‘Uncle Beau’ by then, and he and his wife made me feel like part of their family while I was there. The land was beautiful, but not as exotic as I expected. I did notice from the plane, at my first glimpses of Africa while we were still high in the air, that there are huge holes that look like meteors had hit at some point in time. On the ground, though, it really just looked like West Texas or Arizona. Renier says a lot of Americans say that.”

Renier Visser has been game hunting most of his life, has served as a big game guide for 20 years and opened Motswedi Safari (meaning place of water) in North West Province, South Africa in 2003. Since that time, he’s hosted individual hunters, groups of friends, couples and entire families from all over the world—including children and multiple generations in one family—on trophy-gathering safaris, as well as photography, conservation or sightseeing safaris.

He offers his clients the use of more than 150,000 acres of privately owned and managed land where they can easily encounter African game they’ve only 58

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seen on TV or behind the bars at zoos. On safari, they can experience them in their natural habitat—kudu, gemsbok, impala and blue wildebeest, and if they’re lucky, lion, leopard and elephant.

“We headed out the first day—Renier, our tracker/skinner; Nelson, their Jack Russell terrier; and me,” Lawson says. “We started on 200 acres Renier owns. We saw a warthog and an impala, but they weren’t the ones I wanted. Then we saw a kudu down by a watering hole. I asked Renier, ‘Do you like him?’ He said he did. We were sitting up in the truck, because I still couldn’t get around on rough, uneven ground. We watched him for a long time, waiting for him to present just right, so I could get the shot I wanted. Finally, I said, ‘Take him?’ and he said, ‘Yeh, Uncle Beau, take him.’ I’d seen a book in the lodge where I stayed that showed different animals and the perfect spot to shoot each. I aimed just behind his front leg, close to his heart.”

Lawson squeezed off his shot, and the kudu took off into the brush. “He ran 100 yards in five seconds flat and out of our sight,” Lawson says. “We waited an hour, to make sure he was dead. We finally went looking for him. There were a jillion tracks on the ground in the area where we’d seen him go, but the tracker knew how to read them. We found him where he’d fallen, just a few feet out of our sight line.

He was a beauty. While we were waiting, Renier had asked me where I shot him. I’d drawn a diagram in

the dirt with my walking stick, showing him where I’d seen the shot land. Sure enough, when we found him, I’d shot him exactly where I’d told Renier, just behind that leg, near his heart. As soon as we located the kudu, a chair appeared next to it for me to sit and have my picture taken with my trophy. They did that with each of my trophies and now use a picture of me on their brochure.

As soon as I shot something, it was whisked away and expertly prepared for me to take home. Everything arrived back in the states in great condition.”

As soon as the animal was harvested, the Motswedi team took over, getting it up in the truck and back to the salt and refrigerator rooms. “He was prepped that night, and we ate his tenderloin for dinner under the stars, cooked on an open pit and washed down with Jack Daniels on the rocks,” says Lawson. “It was truly delicious. The first night I was there, they’d served me impala stew. It was the most tender meat I’ve ever eaten. Throughout the whole trip, I was absolutely treated like royalty.

Every meal was served on a tablecloth with wine. They found out what I like to drink before I got there (Jack on rocks) and made sure to have plenty on hand. I had told Renier I couldn’t walk up hills with my recovering leg, and they were always on either side, helping me up.”

Another day, Lawson had to sit still and hold his gun in place for an hour and a half until he could get the shot he wanted. “We were hunting inside a fiberglass blind made to look like an African termite mound,” he says.

“Termite mounds over there average 6 or 7 feet high, but can grow up to 20.

This fiberglass one we used would have held a large armchair comfortably. I was in there when I sat my sights on a warthog. He presented perfectly, but he was in the tall African grass, so I ended >> January-February 2015 59

up hitting him a little high. Renier said we should wait for him to bleed out. We ended up waiting two hours before we dared go looking for him. As we set out on foot to find him, they were careful to keep me behind the tracker, because they knew I couldn’t run to safety.

Renier took my gun, in case we found him and he was still alive and angry.”

So there was 75-year-old Beau Lawson in the open, on the African savannah, unarmed and searching for a wounded animal that might be preparing to charge. That could be the ultimate case of, “Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.”

They did eventually find the warthog alive, took another shot to finish him off and lived to tell the tale.

On the last day of hunting, they drove two hours on bumpy dirt roads to get to the hunting spot. “We were going 70 miles an hour in a little Toyota truck with Renier texting, driving and talking to me the whole time,” says Lawson.

“We got to the spot he wanted, and before long, I realized why we’d driven so far. A herd of about 200 animals wandered into view, all mixed up and grazing together. It was really incredible to see. I saw the gemsbok I wanted, but he was mixed in with the other animals.

I had to be careful to shoot him and only him. Because you buy whatever you shoot, I had to sit and wait for him to present with no other animal behind him. In a herd like that, if my bullet had gone through him and into another animal, I’d have just bought them both.

That happened to my brother-in-law.

Finally I got him and took my shot.”

“I woke up every morning in Africa looking forward to getting my coffee and anticipating what we’d do that day,” says Lawson. “I’d sit under some big date trees and just take it all in. One night, a neighbor of Renier’s was over 60

Inside Northside

photo courtesy: BEAU LAWSON

and mentioned he’d killed three cobras on his property that day. I asked Renier, ‘Do you have cobra?’ He says, ‘Yes, you better watch where you step. And I wouldn’t sit under those date trees.

That’s their favorite food.’”

Lawson harvested different trophies for different reasons. Now in his front foyer are an exquisite zebra pelt and a magnificent warthog skull, tusks and all.

And he’s anxiously awaiting shoulder mounts (head, shoulder and horns) of the gemsbok, kudu, blue willy and impala. He has spots all ready for them on his den walls.

When asked whether he has any regrets—whether he left anything undone in Africa—he says, “Not at all. I didn’t hunt the big five—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and Cape buffalo—which some hunters go to Africa specifically to harvest. That’s not what I went for. We did get to see some of them on my last day in a game park. I saw pictures of Renier’s other clients who’d shot giraffes. I couldn’t do that. How can you shoot something that magnificent? Renier also grows fields of sunflowers to attract birds and offers wing shooting and bow hunting.

But none of that is what interested me.

No, thanks to him, I did everything I’ve dreamed of doing since I sat in that

Algiers movie theater watching King Solomon’s Mines 60 years ago.”

Lawson knows that not everyone is pro hunting. “What people need to understand is that all true hunters love all animals,” he says. “I had a friend tell me, ‘I hate bears. I want to hunt bear.’ That’s all wrong. Love it. Harvest it. Use it well. Every animal I shot was consumed—completely consumed. They were admired and honored. All true hunters love the animals they hunt.”

Now Lawson joins Renier Visser at his sportsman shows, counseling with other men who share his dream of going on safari. “It’s not a decision someone makes lightly or quickly,” he says. “Look how long it took me to decide. Men get very excited about the idea and say they’re definitely going. But not many will actually follow through. Of the 35 who are seriously looking into it, maybe three or four will actually make the trip.”

After realizing his own dream of African safari at the age of 75, what could possibly be left on Lawson’s bucket list?

“Just surviving,” he laughs. “I’m scheduled for a complete rebuild on one of my shoulders. That will be taking up my time, for right now.” But the twinkle in his eye, when he says it, seems to suggest there may still be a dream or two left for this Algiers boy to pursue.

January-February 2015 61

photos: ANTHONY “CHOPPER” LEONE

by Sandra Scalise Juneau

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AT WATER’S EDGE for nearly two centuries, she stands as sentinel. Casting her beam through dark treacherous shallows, she threads guiding light for safe navigation. With shifting sands beneath her, she has withstood hurricanes’ surge and the wrath of wars. Yet she remains, a towering treasure at the entrance to the town—the Tchefuncte River Lighthouse at Madisonville.

On December 19, 1830, Benjamin Thurston Jr. of Newbury, Massachusetts, arrived in New Orleans with his wife of 25 years, Susan Hardy Thurston, and the youngest five of their 12 children. By June 1831, the Thurstons made their move to Madisonville. What brought them was his assigned task—to build and maintain a new lighthouse station for guiding boats safely across Lake Pontchartrain into the mouth of the Tchefuncte River just south of the town of Madisonville.

The United States Congress appropriated initial funding for the project on June 30, 1834, but the project was delayed by difficult negotiations for title to the land until March 3, 1837, when the sum of $5,000 was re-appropriated and work on building the lighthouse began. For the next several years, while clearing the land and constructing the buildings, Thurston battled the brutal cycles of life on that fragile strip of land—cold and wet winters, gales pushing springtime flooding, the threat of unexplained illnesses and constant irritation from swamp-bred mosquitoes.

Finally, the 36-foot-tall brick tower was completed.

The lighthouse was equipped with a lighting apparatus that used nine lamps backed by 14-inch reflectors, powerful enough to shine half the distance across the lake.

On January 1, 1838, Thurston was commissioned at the New Orleans Customhouse on Canal Street by the United States Lighthouse Service under the Department of the Treasury as the first Keeper of the Tchefuncte River Light Station. His annual salary was $500.

On the tiny finger of land where the lighthouse stood, the Thurstons settled with their five daughters. As time moved in its own patient pace, Benjamin toiled with tenacious ingenuity, applying all of his skills in building their wood-framed house, the first Tchefuncte Lighthouse keeper’s cottage. He foraged surrounding swamplands for native cypress and pine, formed hand-hewn boards from massive logs and salvaged bits and pieces from shipwrecked hulls he

had unearthed from beneath the sands. He burned unusable wood to retrieve the valuable nails imbedded within.

With a steady flow of steamboat traffic from far away foreign ports, schooners on excursions from New Orleans and visitors arriving in skiffs from nearby Lewisburg, Pass Manchac, Covington and Madisonville, Benjamin and Susan enjoyed a constant stream of news, local gossip and much-needed supplies brought right to their waterfront doorstep. Their modest home became a gathering place for local fisherman, sea captains and occasional visiting clergy, often with overnight houseguests who sometimes because of illness stayed on until well enough to continue their travels.

During the mid-19th century, their simple life was sustained by the rhythm of the seasons: planting potatoes, onions, beans, peas, corn, pumpkins and melons; fishing for redfish, turtles, oysters and shrimp; pulling from the skies crossing teal and coots; hunting deer, bobwhite quail and squirrel; and foraging the moss-laden swamps for berries and nuts. They raised cattle, kept a hog pen that provided a steady supply of young piglets, had a henhouse for chickens and eggs and even cordoned off an area for what Benjamin described as a place for keeping “my nine pet alligators”!

Their days were filled with the ordinary tasks of their times, glimpsed through these excerpts from Benjamin’s meticulously documented daily journal.

Thurs. – We had a severe Thunder storm last night with severe Gale of wind, - filled large Skiff - & nearly filled Uncle Sam (boat) - wind S. & SW – Cloudy this morning – a clear and pleasant day – baled out Boats – mended a pr of shoes, made rockers for Harriets Cradle – mended Chair - wind fresh at SW & W lake high – Later, Thurston describes all-too-familiar weather conditions in Madisonville.

“Sat - 2 heavy squalls last night, Foggy & warm, Mr. Cole and self went to Madisonville, this forenoon & ground Hominy – I finished roof of the Shed, then made stand bench in light house – Mr. Cole got out a Gun stock – Danl finished Chest – Capt Western called – Clear & warm this P.M.” >> January-February 2015 63

photos: ANTHONY “CHOPPER” LEONE

In this entry, Thurston gives an account of daily chores, including planting the live oak that was designated more than a century and a half later by the Madisonville Garden Club as the “Benjamin Thurston Live Oak.” “Fri – James went to Madisonville this morning & brot down Elisa – I hunted for & found the Bagley Sow she had 4 pigs we set out a live oak – then fencing & work in the Garden – Sun (ship) came in with about 25 passengers. James took a Lady & a Gentleman from her & carried them to Covington – pleasant day – wind N&SSE” Credited not only as Madisonville’s original lighthouse keeper, Thurston was also an innovator of design and operation features used by lighthouses 64

Inside Northside

across the United States. For illumination of the ten Augland lamps, he initially used sperm whale oil, which he later replaced with the more sustainable rapeseed oil.

Benjamin remained at the position until his death on December 3, 1845. In the few years since their arrival, the Thurstons had established their family in Madisonville. Benjamin Thurston, with several of his family members, is buried along the banks of the Tchefuncte River in the old cemetery at Madisonville.

The legacy of Benjamin and Susanna Thurston lives on in Louisiana. Following Benjamin’s death, Susanna Hardy Thurston and Jane, the eldest of their five daughters, moved to New Orleans, where they lived out their lives. Each of the younger four daughters—Mary, Hannah, Nancy and Harriet—

married into local families and lived in St. Tammany. Mary married John Gale Sr., who owned the shipyard that was situated where today’s Fairview Riverside State Park is located. They had three children. Hannah married James Wilson, and then, following his death, married John Spencer, who was a justice of the peace and shipyard owner. Nancy married James Harrison, but following his death and that of her sister Hannah, she married her widowed brother-inlaw, John Spencer. Harriet lived with her husband, William W. Perkins, in the McCaleb House at 906 Main Street in Madisonville. Built in 1834, the McCaleb House is now listed on the National >> January-February 2015 65

Register of Historic Places.

A succession of lighthouse keepers followed Benjamin Thurston, the first of whom was David B. Morgan Jr., the son of General David B. Morgan, second in command to General Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans.

In 1854, the construction of a 212-foot breakwater was an early attempt to protect the land on which the lighthouse stood; the breakwater was eventually washed away. In 1857, the Frenchdesigned Fresnel lens was installed in the lantern room, casting its beam as far out as 20 miles from the lighthouse.

Under the watch of light-keeper Mose Kroger Sr., at the height of the Civil War in 1863 the Federal navy bombarded and totally extinguished all light from the lighthouse tower in an attempt to rout Confederate forces from Madisonville. Following that siege and for the remainder of the war, about 1,000 Federal troops occupied the town of Madisonville.

During Reconstruction, the lighthouse was rebuilt using original bricks that had been molded from native clay at local brickworks in St. Tammany.

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Embedded within the walls of the current lighthouse are some of those same bricks. Resting atop its first foundation, the lighthouse now towers 10 feet above the original structure.

During a storm surge in 1888, the station’s kitchen, outhouses, woodshed and picket fence were all swept away. Many of the early photographs and sketches of the lighthouse station depict three iconic structures that had been rebuilt on that site—the Lighthouse, the Bell Tower and the Keeper’s Cottage.

The last keeper of the lighthouse was William Douglas Still who served until June 1939, when the light tower was changed over to “automatic” electric service, backed by battery-powered equipment. In 1952, the lighthouse was again changed, to be fully battery powered by solar panels.

Madisonville native Mayor Peter Gitz recalls, “One of my favorite memories of growing up in Madisonville was when our school, St. Catherine’s, would take us on field trips out to the lighthouse.

Our all-day excursions were usually in the springtime, when our classmates and the Benedictine nuns who taught us—Sister Ursula, Sister Jerome and

Sister Benedict—would hike through the peninsula out to the lighthouse, where we would picnic on lunches we had carried there.”

Hurricane Betsy in 1965 destroyed the land route to the lighthouse. Today, the lighthouse is

only accessible by boat. On property that once measured close to seven acres, years of erosion have left the lighthouse precariously situated on less than one acre of land.

The most recent of nature’s assaults was when >>

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Tchefuncte River Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage.

Hurricane Isaac roared ashore during the end of August 2012. The steel door was ripped off by a ferocious surge of water, and the first five steps of the cast iron spiral staircase leading up to the lantern room were completely washed away. Lynn Haase, president of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Museum, speculates, “Either a large log or a piling or something smashed through the door. It knocked the metal door down, came in, bounced around and took out these steps.”

This active lighthouse remains an aid to navigation, shining her light during continuous operation since it was rebuilt in 1868, with just several months of interruption. A distinctive feature of the lighthouse is the 4-foot-wide black stripe that runs down its south side, which serves as the rear range marker for the channel leading to the Tchefuncte River. Subjected to the frailties of erosion, what remains of the Tchefuncte River Light Station is a towering beacon on rapidly disappearing terrain. Yet, there is magnetism about this lighthouse. She casts her allure, drawing towards her the protective spirit of a concerned community.

The Madisonville Lighthouse is now listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places.

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In 1999, with legislation passed by Congress, the United States Coast Guard transferred ownership of the lighthouse to the town of Madisonville. It was then that the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum was formed. Backed by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Southeastern Museum Conference, the Southeastern Louisiana University Development Fund and contributions from individuals and private groups, the LPBMM was founded with the focus of providing for education and research and for administering continuity of the Madisonville Lighthouse.

The Maritime Museum has become a guiding light of success for the entire community. As Mayor Gitz says, “The Tchefuncte River Light Station at Madisonville is truly a treasure. Under the leadership of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum, our community is working very hard to see that it will still be there for years ahead so all can enjoy this beacon of our past shining brightly into our future.”

Earlier this past summer, a new 300-pound steel door was installed, securing the lighthouse from any further damage inflicted by nature’s ravages and the intrusion of vandals. Evidence of deliberate vicious

attacks to the lighthouse—bullet holes piercing her three-foot thick walls— prompted immediate action. The original steel door, damaged during Hurricane Isaac, was removed and brought to longtime supporters of the Maritime Museum, Trinity Marine in Madisonville.

Maritime engineers fabricated a new steel door using the same quality of materials they employ in manufacturing steel barges. The donated door was a perfect fit.

Under the leadership of Dr. Sebastian van Delden, head of the Department of Computer Science and Industrial Technology at Southeastern Louisiana University, a senior project was created for installing live-streaming cameras on the lighthouse, providing needed security against potential vandalism and detailing real-time, on-site information about rising and dropping lake levels and wind and wave action.

Known throughout the industry as product and technique innovators, Covington’s Dependable Glass Works has produced and donated a set of specially fitted bullet-proof glass panes to be installed in the lantern room atop the lighthouse. Also, plans are in place for replacing the steel steps that were destroyed by Hurricane Isaac.

A very exciting component of the restoration of the lighthouse is the project underway by Digital Engineering, a Louisiana-based, fullservice engineering and planning firm contracted by LPBMM to implement a three-phase plan. Under the direction of lead engineer Robert DeLaune Jr., the scope of the project includes construction of a stone bulkhead and breakwater. The ultimate goal includes a deep-water access pier. According to, Don Lynch, LPBMM director, “We just received the funds for the project. The planning stage to actually do the work will take 12 months, which is the stage >> January-February 2015 69

we are currently in. By this time next year, the full scope of the job with final design will be determined. We are truly excited with the potential we are seeing in this preliminary design stage.”

The legacy of “Keepers” who worked and lived with their families at the Madisonville lighthouse station was their tenacity in facing daily struggles for survival while battling through hurricanes and wars and relentless erosion. Those threats are being met today by the activism of a concerned community, wrestling not only against nature’s ever-constant threats, but fighting a new war against destruction from brutish vandalism.

Last September, I joined a group of volunteers and members of the LPBMM cleaning and clearing paths surrounding the lighthouse. This assemblage has dedicated countless hours, while toiling against time, in maintaining what remains of the lighthouse grounds. On that day, as the Tchefuncte sparkled in full sunshine and luscious breezes came ashore, the tranquility of the scene was abuzz with mowers and weed whackers in full swing. Working together in unison were John Ammerman, past president of the LPBMM board; Mark Badeaux, Madisonville councilman; retirees Bob Doolittle, Doug Gardner and Anthony “Chopper” Leone; and Michelle Vanderbrook, past president of the Greater Madisonville Area Chamber of Commerce. A large part of the work was cleaning away trash left behind by thoughtless boaters.

Within the mystique of lighthouse symbolism is the towering force of welcoming light spreading forth across the waters, illuminating guidance into safety. This task has been given to us as new “keepers.” Our pledge will be our legacy—assurance that this light shall shine forward.

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You and the Museum

“Bringing Louisiana’s Maritime History to Life” is the driving mission of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum. Located on the banks of the Tchefuncte River in Madisonville, it takes you on a historic journey through Louisiana’s maritime history with unique interpretive programs, exhibits and publications. The leadership of the museum has provided many opportunities for each of us to become engaged in the sustainability, restoration and growth of this treasure in our midst.

Because funding for the project is administered by the museum, your membership will be used toward lighthouse restoration as well as for educational programs.

The museum’s Gift Shop is truly a hidden treasure. Among the books and unique nautical-themed items available is the Lighthouse Collection of original artworks by local photo-artist, Anthony “Chopper” Leone, which need to be seen at leisure to be fully appreciated. All proceeds from sales of the Gift Shop go to benefit the Tchefuncte River Lighthouse restoration project.

“Through Student Outreach, we host visiting school groups to the museum and go out to St. Tammany Parish Schools,” says Cabell R. Mouton, LPBMM educator. “We are always energized by the enthusiasm of the students, but what makes these programs so vital are our volunteers. They are the backbone of our outreach success!”

A new volunteer group, Friends of the Keeper’s Cottage, is geared toward conserving the Tchefuncte Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage, which in 2004 was moved onto the museum grounds. A community awareness and fundraising event, “Susan Thurston’s Tea,” will take place in the spring on the lawn, with tours inside the cottage.

A personalized Save the Tchefuncte Lighthouse license plate can be ordered from the DMV; $30 from each goes to the lighthouse restoration fund. Order online at: expresslane.dps.louisiana.gov/SpecialPlatesPublic/SpecialPlates1.aspx.

John Ammerman, past president of the LPBMM board, says, “Through such hugely successful events as the Annual Wooden Boat Festival, and our partnering for last year’s Tchefuncte Tribute Gala with the Tchefuncte River Foundation under the leadership of Kyle Catalano, we are gratified by the generous support of our community. With a $2 million dollar project underway, and with the needed purchase of a new Fresnel lens, we welcome corporate and individual donations. Our three-part goal is: develop on-site educational programs at the lighthouse; provide for recreation, adding a boat dock and pier for public access to lighthouse; and offer tourist boating excursions—thus creating a continual revenue stream for sustaining and maintaining the lighthouse and surrounding property.”

For information about museum membership, hours, upcoming events or volunteering, contact Cabell R. Mouton, 845-9200, or visit lpbmm.org. For Gift Shop information, giftshop@lpbmm.org.

Fifty Years of Fun, Merriment and Fellowship

The Mystic Krewe of Olympia THOUSANDS OF NORTHSHORE revelers will line the streets of downtown Covington the evening of February 7 to enjoy the city’s largest Carnival parade— the Mystic Krewe of Olympia. They will catch colorful beads, stomp shiny doubloons, wave to the masked riders on floats and on horseback and enjoy the sights and sounds of over a dozen festive marching bands. The spectators will undoubtedly enjoy the fanfare. But those on the other side of the spectacle, the members of the krewe, will appreciate the

evening even more so than in past years.

That’s because Olympia is celebrating its 50th year, and the krewe is marking the occasion by remembering its colorful past and planning for a bright future.

It all began in 1965 at a casual postCarnival lunch amongst four friends at a restaurant just across from the “old” Covington courthouse on Boston Street.

The businessmen discussed Mardi Gras on the northshore and talk turned to the Lions Club parade that rolled on Fat Tuesday in the heart of the city. While the small town parade of pickup trucks and flatbed trailers was popular, the men wondered if many in the rural area had ever experienced a traditional, “old-line” New Orleans parade. The four visionaries 72

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images courtesy: KREWE OF OLYMPIA

by Stacey Paretti Rase

decided that they would aim to bring just such an experience to Covington the very next year. By the end of the lunch, the men — Chamber of Commerce President Lieutenant Colonel Earl Wilson, pharmaceutical sales manager Warren Illing, airline pilot H. M. “Ollie” Olson, and insurance agent James Heinrich — had challenged each other to recruit 25 friends to join their effort. Legend has it that by the end of the week the enthusiastic founders had signed on more than 100 others. Thus, the Mystic Krewe of Olympia was formed.

The first Olympia parade rolled through the streets of Covington two days before Fat Tuesday in 1966. The date was February 20, a Sunday, and the theme

was “The Land of Oz.” Members’ annual dues stood at $60. The krewe’s first royal court, clad in simple costumes made by a local seamstress, was announced at an inaugural ball held earlier that month in the field house of St. Paul’s School. The first queen, Cara Darr, is now deceased, but the lucky girl to wear the crown the very next year, Susan Blossman Pierce, still resides in Covington and speaks fondly of those early days.

“I was only 19 years old at the time, so it was all a little difficult to comprehend. For someone as shy as I was, it was really a wonderful experience,” says Pierce about her reign in 1967. “I remember it was so cold that night of the parade! There were about 10 maids that >> January-February 2015 73

During the parade, as well as the entire night of the ball, Zeus remains masked. The same mystic tradition also holds true for the krewe’s captain, whose identity is never publicly revealed. And during the parade itself, the organization’s practice is to require all riders to remain masked at all times. The custom mirrors the practices of many early New Orleans krewes.

Honoring tradition is paramount to the Olympia organization. One of those traditions is that the krewe remains loyal to the local community. The grand marshal selected each year is always someone well74

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images courtesy: KREWE OF OLYMPIA

year, and we didn’t ride on the floats like the court does now. We sat in the viewing stands in front of the courthouse on Boston Street, where we waited for the king to stop and toast us.”

Since Pierce’s reign, there have been 47 other young ladies selected by the krewe to be the “face” of the organization. Uncovering that list of past queens is easy enough. Finding the names of past kings, however, is next to impossible. Selected by a secret court committee for both his longevity in the organization and his service to krewe and community, the king is known only as “Zeus.” He is considered mystic by the krewe and his identity is never revealed.

known to the Covington crowd, such as the city’s mayor or a local congressman.

And though the parade showcases a bevy of marching bands from across Southeast Louisiana and Mississippi, tradition remains that the town’s two local high schools, Covington High and St. Paul’s, take turns rotating to lead the parade.

But that’s not to say that nothing has changed over the past 50 years.

One of the first major changes made to the parade was the day it rolls. After parading on a Sunday in its inaugural year, krewe officials acquiesced to requests by local religious groups to move the celebration to a Saturday.

The change was made in 1967, and the parade has continued to roll on a Saturday ever since. However, the selection of which Saturday before Mardi Gras the parade was to roll became a subject of debate in the early 1990s.

The men had paraded for a quarter of a century on the Saturday immediately preceding Mardi Gras. But over the years, the number of northshore residents who traveled to the southshore to enjoy the “Super Krewes” that roll on that same weekend, such as Endymion and Bacchus, steadily increased.

Thus, the switch was made to roll two Saturdays before Fat Tuesday.

The venue for the formal ball has changed over the years as well. It had its beginnings in the aforementioned St. Paul’s field house and was moved to the gym at William Pitcher in the mid-70s, where guests would enjoy the tableau from the bleachers. It was later held in the first gym constructed at Pelican Park in Mandeville before the event settled in at the park’s much larger Castine Center, where it is still held today.

Even the route itself has been tweaked since the parade’s origins. While the path remains on what is referred to as the “traditional Covington route”— >> January-February 2015 75

beginning on North Columbia Street, parading through the city venue of Boston Avenue and eventually winding through neighborhoods on streets like Jefferson and 15th avenues—it was expanded just a few years ago. Eighteen-year krewe member Mark Blanchard says the change was a necessity to accommodate the addition of floats due to an increased membership. “Without the route expansion,” he says, “the front end of the parade would run into the back end.”

Perhaps one of the biggest changes witnessed by longtime members is the appearance of the floats themselves.

Blanchard says the krewe’s original floats were rented from the Krewe of Allah in New Orleans, and they looked much different from the elaborate floats the crowd enjoys today. “We eventually purchased our own and housed them at a den out towards Abita that we used to own,” he remembers. “Since then, we sold those floats to the Krewe of KaaCee and we sold our den. We then rented floats from (New Orleans float builder) Louis Masset, but those were wiped out in Katrina. So we switched to Blaine Kern.”

To commemorate the krewe’s anniversary, Blanchard notes that each float this season will carry a theme of a past year and the floats will appear in proper succession to reflect the lineage of themes.

The floats from the early years bring back vivid memories for member Mark Johnson. Though his time in the krewe is certainly long—his first ride was in 1982—his actual relationship with Olympia stretches much longer. As a saxophone player, he marched with the St. Paul’s band in the parade while in high school. Before that, he was a volunteer for the krewe as a young Boy Scout in Troop 110. “Those early floats were built in the early 1900s and had oak axles more like a very large wagon,” he tells. “The oak axles would snap during the parade. Not 76

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fun. And the floats didn’t have lighting like they do today. As a Boy Scout, I was a flambeau carrier to help them see. But the flambeau was not like you see today.

It was actually a road flare on the end of a broomstick dripping molten wax at 800-plus degrees!”

Since those early days, Johnson has been fortunate enough to experience riding in the parade with his father, as well as three of his four sons. He’s banked many memories over the years, but one that remains unforgettable involves a mishap years ago that resulted in a float getting caught on some low-hanging wires along the route. “One member dressed in an Elvis costume jumped off his float and climbed up to the top of the stuck float to help. He took a pole and used it to hold up an electrical wire higher than the float so it could pass under. It was a sight you don’t forget,” he laughs.

Johnson also chuckles when he describes how he would set up a rudimentary sound system on his float so that he could enjoy music along the route. “It was important to me to have music,” he says, explaining that “back in the day” they didn’t have big fancy DJs on the floats like they do now. “So I brought cassette tapes with Mardi Gras music and played them from my Sony Walkman and hooked that up to two Sony speakers. It was just loud enough for me and maybe the people directly in front of me to hear!”

Those wanting to reminisce more about past

years of the parade need only visit the newly renovated Southern Hotel in downtown Covington. A meeting space there honors the storied krewe. Named the “Olympia Room,” the space includes memorabilia donated from members, including past royal crowns, ball programs, toasting goblets, priceless photographs and even a painting commissioned to depict a scene along the parade route.

Today, Olympia is over 300 members strong.

With such a healthy base, krewe organizers feel it’s important to give back to the community that has supported them for the past half a century. To that end, the group recently created a philanthropic arm of the krewe dubbed the MKO Foundation. Its first fundraising event, the Blue Jeans Ball, will be held two weekends before Easter at the Covington Trailhead.

Rory Roniger, who has been with the krewe for nearly three decades, has been a driving force in organizing the affair. “We figure people will be tired of dressing up after Mardi Gras is over, so this event will>> January-February 2015 77

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be casual,” he says, emphasizing that the mood will be decidedly upbeat and festive with non-stop music, courtesy of a battle of the bands face-off. To add to the excitement, each of the krewe’s floats, led by its float lieutenant, will take part in a cooking competition

to determine who presents the best bird, beast or fish dish. The lieutenant whose float wins the competition will gain the ultimate advantage—the right to choose his float’s position in the next year’s parade.

The Covington Police and Fire Departments have already been selected as the two regular beneficiaries to receive funds from the event. Additional recipients have not been finalized, but Roniger says they will be selected from non-profit organizations in the metropolitan Covington area. “We want to show the community that we are more than just a group of guys who throw their money into the street,” he says, referring to the thousands of beads and trinkets that are purchased by krewe members and thrown from the floats each year. “We do have a philanthropic side. And what better way to show that than to help support those first responders that are such an integral part of keeping our parade safe each year.”

Upon reflecting what has contributed most to the longevity of the Olympia organization, longtime members Blanchard, Johnson, and Roniger have immediate responses for what they believe makes their krewe unique. They say the proof is in the quality of the product itself, noting the affordability of membership dues and the myriad events included throughout the year with those fees. Varied membership levels are offered as well, including senior, non-riding and parade-riding only distinctions. There is even a junior membership level that allows a more affordable experience for those between the ages of 21 and 30.

The men also note that the parade ride itself is the most distinctive in the area. “We ride through the streets of

this beautiful hamlet of downtown Covington on Boston Street. Then we make the turn onto Jefferson and go through tree-lined neighborhoods. It’s an experience like no other,” Roniger asserts.

They all agree that the krewe has continued to cultivate the family atmosphere that its founders felt so central from day one. “Some of my favorite memories are of my kids helping me load my throws onto the float,” says Johnson, explaining how that practice has become quite a tradition during the hours leading up to the parade. The krewe even hosts a family picnic on parade day to encourage members’ wives and children to take part in the festivities.

But Blanchard perhaps sums up the secret to Olympia’s success best by simply sharing the Latin phrase that the krewe has followed for 50 years. “Our motto is ‘Ludus, Jocus, Societas’ which translates to fun, merriment, fellowship. And that,” Blanchard says definitively, “is what it’s all about.”

The Mystic Krewe of Olympia will roll Saturday, February 7 at 6pm. For a map of the parade, visit kreweofolympia.net.

measures we must take to protect our residents from rising waters. This board, made up of nine members from various communities within our parish, was legislatively created and appointed in late 2014 as the authoritative entity in charge of securing our shores.

In the new year, its plans will take shape.

In December 2014, the Airport Road Connection in Slidell was completed. This $15 million project is an investment that has opened up an important east-west connection between two major thoroughfares and two communities.

The opportunities for development in this corridor promise to be many.

At the St. Tammany Fishing Pier, which reopened last January, anglers and sightseers can expect to see further renovation of the concrete

A letter from St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister

IT IS ALWAYS HARD TO BELIEVE how quickly time passes. Here we are at the threshold of 2015!

St. Tammany Parish continues to move forward and build on our enduring foundation. Our parish spans nearly 850 square miles, but from end to end, we are one St. Tammany, with one vision and one goal. While we may cherish unique traditions and cultural values in our neighborhoods and towns, we are interconnected, part of the same parish, the same governing body and the same tax base. And we all want essentially the same thing—to provide the finest quality of life for our families, quality jobs and a first-class educational system. As we begin 2015, Parish Government is committed to focusing on those elements that we share. We have the best of all worlds. We are economically competitive with other parts of the country, we are surrounded by natural beauty and we continue to cultivate our thriving entrepreneurial spirit.

In some ways, the goals for 2015 are already well underway. In its first full year of operation, the St. Tammany Levee, Drainage and Conservation District will allow us to determine for ourselves what 80

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spans begin to take shape. This will open up an entirely new area of prime fishing waters in which to enjoy a quiet respite. In addition, plans are currently in design for two community pavilions over the water adjacent to the pier that will be available for activities and events.

In 2014, I requested that we prepare to do an institutional review of our Home Rule Charter, in place for nearly 17 years! The Parish Council adopted a resolution and formed the Home Rule Charter Review Committee, which held its first meeting in September 2014 and is on track to submit a final report by April 1 of this year. Before now, such a review had not taken place. The input and participation from the citizenry has been steady and greatly appreciated.

St. Tammany Parish Government is prepared to move seamlessly into this new year and to continue to practice responsible government dedicated to customer service, transparency, accountability and cooperation for all citizens.

For more information, go to stpgov.org.

photo: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

Looking Forward in 2015

St. Tammany Parish Public Art Project In addition to the many other goals for 2015, St. Tammany Parish Government and the Commission of Cultural Affairs are beginning a new endeavor—the St. Tammany Parish Public Art Project. The goal is to bring sculptural works into the newly developed roundabouts of St. Tammany Parish.

The parish is welcoming sponsors for the roundabout sculptures, which have an estimated cost of $25,000 each. Sponsors will serve on the advisory committee that selects the designs.

Plans are also being developed with landscape architects to beautify currently constructed major corridors, as well as the roundabouts.

In celebration of St. Tammany’s cultural wealth, and to benefit the Public Art Project, the 10th annual St. Tammany Parish President’s Arts Awards will be held January 31 from 6-9:30 p.m. at the St. Tammany Parish Justice Center. Three floors of the Justice Center will have food from 21 local restaurants, music by Ronnie Kole and Christian Serpas & Ghost Town and performances by Javier’s Dance Studio and Slidell Little Theatre. Chef John Besh will host the evening.

For more information, contact the Commission of Cultural Affairs at 8985243 or email arts@stpgov.org.

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1. Create your own keepsake with Waxing Poetic, necklace pictured $481. Mia Sorella, Slidell, 781-3909. 2. Jewelry box with nickel-plated hand-forged metal cut into lustrous, tumbling hearts in the Heart Collection by Michael Aram, $99. Arabella Fine Gift and Home DĂŠcor, Mandeville, 727-9787. 3. Special occasion frame fit for a bride or 7

debuntante, $144. All Wrapped Up, Mandeville, 778-2041.

4. Medium bronze abstract vase, $146. EMB Interiors, Mandeville, 626-1522. 5. Royal festive hearts handmade with holy water by John Hodge, $35 each. Rug Chic, Mandeville, 674-1070. 6. For a Valentine’s Day in luxury Bamboo sheet set, $149-$299. Hestia Luxury in Linens, Covington, 893-0490. 7. Polished raw steel accent chair with sculptural artistry and modern industrial materials, $398.88. American Factory Direct Furniture Outlets, Mandeville, 871-0300. 8. Primitive European horse, $900.

St. Romain Interiors, Madisonville, 845-7411.

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1. Alexandra Chandelier with antique gold and ivory colored wooden beads, $1,049. Niche Modern Home, Mandeville, 624-4045. 2. Hand-carved cypress dough bowl, $175. DeLuca’s Expressions in Gold, Covington, 892-2317. 3. 1.50cttw crown pin set in 18kt white gold, $3,850. De Boscq Fine Jewelry, Mandeville, 674-0007. 4. Bud vase with flowers, starting at $35. Florist of Covington, 8927701. 5. Lollia Calm powder, soap and Eau de 7

Parfum, starting at $17.95. Earthsavers, Mandeville, 674-1133. 6. Hand-blown glass champagne flutes embellished with intricately hand-applied cut crystals, $54 each. Hazelnut, Mandeville, 626-8900.

7. Handmade Himalayan Patchouli Ginger soy candle, $75. mĂŠlange by KP, Mandeville, 807-7652.

8. Victorian circa 1875 emerald cut 7cttw Garnet earrings and emerald cut 5.75ct Garnet pin,

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$2,885. Anton LTD., New Orleans, 504-833-4367.

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1. Pop-out Safari, a magical wild menagerie for play and display, $13. Olive Patch, Covington, 327-5772. 2. Salads & Dressings

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cookbook, $19.95; Wasabi Ginger Dressing, $9.95. Oil & Vinegar, Covington, 809-1693. 3. American flag pin with 3.5cttw Burmese rubies, 1.0cttw blue sapphires and .75cttw diamonds set in platinum, $18,850. De Boscq Fine Jewelry, Mandeville, 674-0007. 4. Mardi Gras platter for festive entertaining, $28. deCoeur Gifts & Home Accessories, Covington, 809-3244. 5. PRECOR 240i Stretch Trainer, starting at $699. Fitness Expo, Metairie, 504-887-0880. 6. Gourmet gift sets perfect for any occasion and any budget, starting at $18. InfusÊ, Mandeville, 778-0903. 7. Large 36� rust-resistant sunflower, dahlia or poppy garden torches, $85. Outdoor Living Center, Covington, 893-8008. 8. Stunning 2015 Jaguar F-TYPE Convertible, three different models available, starting from $69,900. Paretti Jaguar of New Orleans, 504-456-7558; Baton Rouge, 225-756-5247.

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IN Better Health

by Leah Draffen

with Brenda Felder BRENDA FELDER HAD A BOUT with braces in her 30s. “They were painful. I couldn’t eat, and I would cut my tongue on the brackets,” Brenda says. “My teeth were straight for a little while and then went back to normal.”

Recently, Brenda’s severe overbite and crowded lower teeth began to become a problem. “They were hard to clean,” she says. “After several years of coffee and tea, they were getting dark, too.”

She considered veneers, but Dr. Patrick Weimer, Brenda’s general dentist who has practiced orthodontics for many years, suggested a less costly treatment with Fastbraces® to correct her overbite and crowded teeth.

“Fastbraces® move the teeth more efficiently,” says Dr. Weimer, noting that traditional braces first moves the crowns of the teeth, which can take over a year, and then moves the roots, which can also 88

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last over a year. Fastbraces® skips the first phase completely by using a more efficient bracket that is glued to the tooth. “It moves the roots and crowns all in one step.”

Brenda says that the braces were virtually painless and caused little trouble with daily life.

Within seven months, she had her braces off. “It was such a short time,” she says. “It was definitely a good experience.” The shortened treatment time allowed for fewer office visits and also prevented the formation of more stains and cavities.

After removing the braces, Dr. Weimer recommended a whitening treatment to remove the stains that had accumulated on Brenda’s lower teeth. She says, “He made trays that I used every night for a week before going into the office for a two-hour procedure.”

“I can’t believe how smooth my teeth are. It was so well worth it,” says Brenda. The process kept her teeth in good working order. She has to wear a retainer, just like with traditional braces, but only for 15 minutes a day. If her teeth shift or move, Fastbraces® can be put back on for a minimal charge.

Brenda recommends Dr. Weimer and Fastbraces® to anyone. “Health starts in your mouth.

Dr. Weimer has a high standard. He doesn’t do anything unless it’s necessary to help you. Women my age are having cosmetic surgery to look younger, but after having my teeth straightened and whitened, I feel that I look younger, too. Everywhere I go, I smile. You can’t help but do that.”

photo: PAIGE HENDERSON

Health Concern: Overbite, crowded lower teeth.

Treatment: Orthodontic treatment with Fastbraces®.

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Generous Hearts

by Susan H. Bonnett

Faster Horses or Mustang GT? FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, as I talk to people around our region about philanthropy and ask how we can “build a better place,” one question continues to come up. “What is our place?” Are we a suburb of New Orleans, content with driving 23 miles over the water to the City? Are we part of the developing east-west corridor from Baton Rouge to Stennis, part of that linear region? Or are we our own place, with a few growing pains and abundant opportunities to craft our evolving future? I would argue that we are the latter. And the Northshore Community Foundation is leading a conversation to answer those questions head-on.

In late November, more than 175 political, business and philanthropic leaders from the northshore joined the Northshore Community Foundation for lunch to highlight the notable achievements of our neighbors to the south and west in the Southeast Louisiana “SuperRegion.”

As they told their stories of success, Michael Hecht, CEO of GNO, Inc., and John Davies, CEO of the Baton Rouge

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Area Foundation, led the dialogue about growing thriving communities around economic and cultural partnerships.

The intent of this dialogue was to energize our local leaders. The vision shared by Davies and Hecht is contagious. It is thinking outside-of-the-box in a very big way. Initiatives like the medical corridor in New Orleans and the Water Institute in Baton Rouge have helped position the region as a courageous innovator, turning the tide of many wasted years spent falling behind the country in numerous ways.

Southeast Louisiana has now fought its way to the top of many desirable lists: Greater New Orleans was ranked #1 for the Decade for Major Economic Development Wins in the South

by Southern Business & Development and #1 Brainpower City in the U.S.A. by Forbes. The time is right for our local leadership to develop the vision required for the northshore to become an equal partner in the SuperRegion’s success.

I have the pleasure of serving on the board of GNO, Inc.; I drive across the bridge monthly and listen to Hecht, who has created a culture of growth, development and promise in New

Orleans through smart investments and progressive leadership. He is at the forefront of some amazing developments that most of our neighbors don’t know anything about.

Likewise in Baton Rouge. John Davies has led the Baton Rouge Area Foundation to be a critical force in the tremendous economic, cultural and philanthropic reimagining of the capital region. The foundation is at the forefront of developments that are continually changing the landscape in Baton Rouge, and his vision certainly is bold.

When I come home to the northshore, I sometimes feel a little flat. What continues to nag at me is this question: How and when will the northshore become an equal partner in these efforts? What do WE need to do to have THAT? There is great value in all of our many individual organizations working in this space, but how do we pull that energy together to create the impact we desire and deserve?

I have often heard that in order to be successful in economic development, we must work forward from our assets and backwards from our vision. Well, we have some seriously enviable assets: • Quality public and private options in K-12 education • Low crime, safe streets and public security >>

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• Endless recreation: fishing, hunting, sailing, horses, hiking, canoeing, trails, parks—it goes on and on • Natural resources, like our trees, lakes and land • Public services that are a priority, as shown by our streets, fire services, recreation areas, social services • Southeastern Louisiana University and Northshore Technical Community College—high-quality, progressive institutions of higher learning with invaluable community connections and leadership • Excellent geographic location, with our lake and river systems, close to the Gulf and the port and with major interstates, both north-south and east-west • An incredibly engaged private sector and educated workforce with some of the highest per capita postsecondary degree stats in the South • Tempered growth that allows our region to expand, but in an intentional and purposeful way with planning and development patterns that protect our assets

table at our recent symposium give us some great examples to follow. They show that bringing social, cultural, governmental and corporate groups together to develop this shared VISION takes courage and commitment. This work is a challenge, but it is essential to the creation of a vibrant, inclusive northshore. But vision needs leadership.

A while back, there was an inventor who offered these very wise words on leadership and risk taking: “If I would have asked the people what THEY wanted, they would have said faster horses.” That inventor was Henry Ford.

So, do we on the northshore just want faster horses, or do we want a Mustang GT? The answer is up to us.

All of us. We need to come together NOW and become part of crafting a shared vision to take our area to the next level, all the while protecting what we love about our place. Imagine the results if all of the valuable organizations, businesses and talented individuals we call leaders were all pulling on the same rope.

A Mustang GT indeed.

Now if we take those assets—and believe me, those are just a few—and work backwards from our vision … well … that is where we lose momentum. What is our vision? I ask this question a lot and always get the same reply: silence.

If there is a well-defined shared vision for our region, I have not heard it. Most people will agree that a shared vision of the future is important, and that we live in an amazing place, but what do we want to be when we grow up? Do we want to be a suburb of New Orleans? An offshoot of Baton Rouge? Rural? Urban?

Who are we? And moreover—who do we want to become?

The examples brought to the

The Northshore Community Foundation was created in 2007 with the simple mission to build a better place.

Serving the parishes of St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington and St. Helena, it has already granted over $6.6 million for the greater good and has led countless civic leadership initiatives to move our region forward in smart, sustainable ways. The NCF sees itself as a proactive leader and convener across all sectors of the community and acts as risk taker by seizing opportunities to further bold initiatives like this one and make strategic investments that benefit the whole of our community. Because ultimately, success for one means success for all.

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1. Unique handmade scarf by Mary Frances, $120. California Drawstrings Northshore, Covington, 327-7300. 2. 18k gold bangle with white and multicolored diamonds, $10,340; 18k gold necklace with white and multicolored diamonds, $2,875. Lee Michaels Jewelers, Metairie, 504-832-0000.

3. Fringe top by J.O.A., $102. POSH Boutique, Covington, 898-2639. 4. Faux fur-trimmed cape, $122. Columbia Street Mercantile, Covington, 809-1789 or 809-1690. 5. Feathered black and gold sandal heel, $425. Emma’s Shoes and Accessories, Mandeville, 778-2200. 6. PilyQ Lauren kimono, $156; PilyQ Goddess bandeau, $84; PilyQ beaded hipster, $96. Bora Bora, Mandeville, 951-8454. 7. Faux suede bootie with 3� stacked heel and fringe detail, available in brown and taupe, $38. Paisley Boutique, Mandeville, 727-7880.

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1. 18” Tahitian black pearl necklace consisting of 39, 10-11mm pearls accented with four diamond-studded roundelles and one diamond ball clasp, $9,995. Boudreaux’s Fine Jewelers, Mandeville, 626-1666. 2. Ombre rabbit fur vest, $394. The Villa, Mandeville, 626-9797. 3. Asymmetrical birdcage veil embellished with ostrich feather and vintage-inspired brooch, $387. Southern Bridal, Mandeville, 727-2993. 4. Soft and chic cashmere faux chinchilla shawl, $225. Fleurt, Covington, 809-8844. 5. Pony hair, multi-compartment wallet with credit card slots, ID window and cowhide natural markings unique to each piece, $52; mini wallet, $29. [brown eyed girl], Mandeville, 626-0100. 6. Grey fringe V-neck sweater, $49. Lifestyle Store at Franco’s Athletic Club, Mandeville, 792-0200.

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branch accents, $18.99. Private Beach, Mandeville, 674-2326.

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2. Fabulous fringe booties, $89. ShoefflĂŠ, Covington, 898-6465.

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3. Edge-driven, handcrafted necklace with faux leather fringe tassel in natural earth tones, $69. cameo boutique, Mandeville, 231-1332. 4. Abalone mix bracelet in sterling silver with black and white calf hair. $600. Champagne Jewelers, Slidell, 6432599. 5. Plush, velvety soft robe with pockets and waist-cinching belt by Natori, $98. Basics Underneath, Mandeville, 727-9521.

6. Traveler tailored fit camel hair sport coat, $225; red Merino 7

wool sweater, $109.50; navy plaid Traveler press shirt, two for $99. Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Mandeville, 624-4067. 7. Furever Chic vest, $56. JuJu’s Boutique, Mandeville, 624-3600.

8. Channel Ruffle Scarf in chocolate by Tourance, $48. the french mix, Covington, 809-3152.

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Fur, Feathers & Fringe 1. Sterling silver necklace with blue Swarovski crystals

by ELLE Jewelry, $185. Lowe’s Jewelers, Mandeville, 845-4653. 2. Knit hats with fur pom-poms by Pistel,

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$36 each. Stone Creek Club and Spa, Covington, 8017100. 3. Silk and cashmere 5-way Murfee scarf with New Orleans flair from Lilly Pulitzer, $118. Palm Village, a Lilly Pulitzer signature store, Mandeville, 778-2547.

4. One-size soft, lightweight poncho top with fringe detail, $54. Mainstream Boutique, Mandeville, 6746600. 5. Tulle gown hand strung with concentrated aurora Borealis stones and ostrich feathers, $395.

Azure Spa Boutique, Mandeville, 237-1960. 6. Tori Burch sunglasses in burgundy, $175; in tortoise, $165.

Louisiana Family Eyecare, Covington, 875-7898.

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January-February 2015 101

by Leah Draffen

photo courtesy:LIIFETIME TELEVISION

Sew Talented

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IT’S OFFICIAL. Tieler Garsaud won Project Runway: Threads, Episode 5.

The 14-year-old New Orleans Center for Creative Arts student and Abita Springs fashion designer competed in Project Runway: Threads after auditioning last February. Tieler was recommended for the audition after participating in an Ogden Museum of Southern Art fashion camp the previous summer.

“I was so scared to audition, but I made the jump,” Tieler says.

“I jumped high.”

The spinoff show of Lifetime’s Project Runway features talented teen designers. Three contestants go head-to-head to quickly design and create a look for judges Vanessa Simmons, Christian Siriano, Gina Kelly, Jasmin Snow and Ingrid Nilsen. In May, Tieler and his mom, Tahmi Hawsey, traveled to Los Angeles, where the episode was filmed at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.

Inside Northside

Tahmi learned to sew in order to be Tieler’s assistant on the show.

The look that Tieler designed and created for the February audition was judged at the beginning of the episode.

The burgundy gown cloaked with a rosette-covered jacket wowed the judges and Tieler’s mom. Tahmi began to tear up during the show—“I was just overwhelmed with emotion. I’m so proud of him.” His high-fashion looks continued into the prom gown and surprise flower piece he had to create on the show.

Tieler’s prom gown featured a black bodice with white patterned skirting. The flower dress challenge that was introduced midway through the competition gave Tieler extra stress. His mom quickly kept him focused, and he pushed on through the challenge. The flower dress designed by Tieler and created by Tahmi featured hydrangea and peony petals with hydrangea leaves that hinted a subtle peplum the judges loved.

When asked what he learned about the competition, Tieler quickly responds, “Don’t use white thread on black fabric!

But seriously, I learned second guessing is sometimes a good thing. We went through three different looks before

photo courtesy:LIIFETIME TELEVISION

Tieler Garsaud

photo: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

Traces

choosing the long dress that ended up making us win.”

Tieler and his mom loved doing the show and would do it again if they could.

However, admitting that they tried to censor their usual sarcasm and shenanigans on camera, they were glad to get their microphones off each day. The experience itself and winning the competition gave Tieler the confidence he needs to continue his early career in fashion.

“He came back a new kid,” Tahmi says.

Since the show, Tieler has been invited to participate in New Orleans Fashion Week 2015. His collection is inspired by his trip to London and Paris this past year. “I was inspired by the old buildings covered in graffiti. So for graffiti, I used plaids, and for the dull buildings I used chic colors,” Tieler says.

“It’s always random things that I drag inspiration from.”

Tieler loves creating women’s clothing. He says that he wants to give women power through the way they dress. Plus, it’s a lot more fun than men’s clothing. “There’s so much to do with women’s clothing. You can put pants on a woman, but you can’t put a skirt on a man—it’s awful,” Tieler laughs.

With sketchbook in hand and a personality larger than life, Tieler plans to keep rolling out new ideas and collections. In the January issue of Seventeen magazine, you can see Tieler’s prom design and a little DIY from the creative kid himself.

As he continues to create collections, I think Tieler will be gathering a press collection as well. With such a large win as Project Runway: Threads, who knows what will be next? Keep an eye out—he may be designing your next outfit.

Keep creating, Tieler.

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Fulfilling His Boyhood Dream Mayor Mayson Foster THERE’S ONLY ONE PERSON LESS EXCITED about his retirement than Mayson Foster—his wife, Connie.

“She and I both realize I’m going to have to find something to occupy my time, although she’s a bit more adamant and eager for that to happen,” says outgoing Hammond Mayor Mayson Foster with a laugh.

It’s a question he’s been getting a lot lately. And he’s quick to respond that much to the contrary of everyone’s 104

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beliefs, he’s not at all looking forward to retirement.

“I’ve known I wanted to be mayor of Hammond since I was 6 years old,” he beams. “I love what I do. I love this city. And, I love being mayor. So no, I’m not especially eager to leave office.”

He is, however, eager to share and give credit to others for the growth and success that Hammond has enjoyed with him at its helm. Modesty, although not a trait touted by many politicians, has been a hallmark of Hammond’s highest office during Foster’s term.

“I have had very few original ideas,” he states matter of factly. “But, I’ve been in the room with others when they’ve shared theirs, and I’ve had a knack for getting the right people in rooms together at the right time so that common good can occur.”

Humility aside, Foster has guided the city through a renaissance of Hammond Square Mall, which certainly hasn’t hurt city tax coffers, and a maturation of the Hammond Northshore Regional Airport. Among countless other positive developments and endeavors, both have added to the city’s already-bulging arsenal of geographic and transport advantages.

What does he consider his most important achievement? What is the Mayor Mayson Foster legacy?

“There is a true sense of community in Hammond. People come together because they want to do good things for Hammond and each other,” he says. “Race, culture, creed and religion don’t make a difference when you’re building a playground.

When I can look around and see people of all different colors, shapes, sizes and opinions standing side-by-side enjoying something as simple as the 3rd of July Fireworks together, I think we’ve got something really impressive going on here.”

Foster will tell you that relationships and religion have helped him in life, in his career and in politics. You can find him every weekday at Mass at Holy Ghost Catholic Church before the start of the workday. On the weekends, you never know in which church you’ll find him. He said he began attending churches of various denominations and congregations as a means to get to know more

photo: FIELDING PHOTOGRAPHY

by Erin Moore Cowser

people when he was “a young whippersnapper” in the business community. “I enjoy it so much, I still visit other churches from time to time.”

He says religion grounds him. Service contributes to the man he is today. And, the curvy path he took to public office, which involved a few u-turns and unexpected bumps in the road, provided a dose of humility that has helped him as a public servant.

If you go back to the beginning, Foster credits two men with piquing his interest in running for office. He would walk with his father to City Hall and wait while he spoke with “THE MAYOR” to address any situation, problem or request he had at the time. “THE MAYOR” always had an answer. And then there was C.L. Boudreaux, the Holsum Bread delivery truck driver who would let a certain 6-yearold tag along on his route so they could discuss the most pressing and pertinent community issues of the day. The seed for public service was firmly planted.

Mayson graduated from Southeastern with a business degree and went to work at Citizens National Bank after turning down a J.C. Penney management training position.

His new bride, Connie, was still in school, and he didn’t want to have to move to Hattiesburg, Miss. for corporate training.

Accepting the job at CNB wasn’t as exciting for the recent graduate as one might think. “I couldn’t stand Citizens at first.

It was an old people’s bank,” he says with a grin. “I was in my 20s and the closest person to me in age was in his 50s!”

But CNB turned out to be not so bad after all. In fact, Foster was with the bank for 26 years. While there, he whet his political whistle with a tour as a councilman on the Hammond City Council for one year and several years as a member of the Civil Service Board.

In 1996, Citizens National Bank was bought out, and Foster decided the time was right to run for mayor of his hometown. He opted to take time off from work and hit the campaign trail. Unexpectedly, incumbent Mayor Russell “Tippy” DePaula passed away on New Year’s Eve 1997. A special election was called to fill his position. Although he had dedicated a year to his candidacy, Foster admits that he essentially stopped campaigning when the 1998 special election was called. He lost that election by 25 votes to Louis Tallo. That stung.

He was able to return to the business of banking and really had no intention of delving back into politics. Three >> January-February 2015 105

Of course, it hasn’t been all roses during his term in office. In fact, the one thing he says he would have approached differently didn’t smell anything like roses at all—the wastewater treatment facility that his administration undertook. “There were a lot of factors in play. The biological concept was great, as was the wetlands assimilation aspect.

And the threat of a daily $35,000 fine by the EPA didn’t help much. But the process on such a large scale, compounded by some local dairy processing issues, created much more sulfur than anticipated.”

Needless to say, the stink has subsided and 106

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Foster can continue to proudly proclaim his trademark mayoral motto of “It’s a beautiful day in the City of Hammond.” Anywhere he is introduced, this catchphrase can be expected. He has even received a tie emblazoned with those words. Many may not realize it, but the phrase originated one day when Foster was chatting with Dr. Martis Jones, his director of administration. The theme song from Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood was tossed out and Foster adjusted the lyrics to reflect his own neighborhood, the City of Hammond. And it stuck.

Another phrase Foster is fond of repeating is: “As Southeastern goes, so goes the City of Hammond.” The SLU alumnus was recently awarded with a “Loyal Lion Award” by President John Crain at the Alumni Awards Evening during Homecoming. It was only the second time in the history of the university this award had been bestowed. Foster says it was a complete surprise.

“I was looking around for Gary Sandifer when they started talking about the award,” he laughs. “I really didn’t expect it. I am thrilled.”

He is also pleased with the election of his successor, his former director of administration and local entrepreneur Pete Panepinto, who takes office as of January 1, 2015. He gives the new mayor the following advice: “Surround yourself with smart, good leaders, and you’ll do fine.”

So now that he’s fulfilled his childhood dream of being mayor of the City of Hammond and shared his secrets of success, what does he plan to do when retired?

• He will not run for parish president.

• He’s planning a trip to Ireland next spring with his wife and friends.

• He’ll continue serving as chairman of the Louisiana Housing Authority.

• Connie might make a quilt from all the hundreds of snippets of ribbon he’s kept from every single ribbon cutting he’s attended on behalf of the city since his first day in office.

• He will find something to do (per his wife’s orders).

Might that include running for another office?

“Never say never,” he replies with a smile.

photo: FIELDING PHOTOGRAPHY

individuals convinced him otherwise. “Bobby Maurin, Phil Graziano and Tom Anderson talked me into running again in 2002, and the rest is history, so they say,” he says. “Losing that first election was a painful dose of humility, but it made me stronger in the long run.”

It may sound cliché to say that everything happens for a reason, but Mayson’s life experiences to that point had served him well. The roundabout course of his political path allowed him to establish more relationships and become more in tune with the community before stepping into the mayor’s office.

IN the Bookcase

by Terri Schlichenmeyer

I Am Pilgrim: A Thriller

by Terry Hayes

YOU WISH YOU’D NEVER DONE IT. If only you could hit “reset,” take it all back, call do-overs, you wouldn’t make the same choices. You’d think things through and pay better attention.

Instead, now you’ve got regrets you can’t fix, but, as in the novel I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes, you can sure try…

There weren’t many times when he wished he hadn’t written the book.

The book was supposed to be cathartic: every case, death and crime he’d ever worked put to paper so he could focus on forgetting them all, published by an esoteric press under a nom de plume because he had no name. You don’t get to be Rider of the Blue—the top of the top in a department the government officially denied—by holding onto things like names.

Months were spent pouring out observations for an audience he knew would be small—detectives and operatives, mostly—and he rarely regretted it. Not, anyhow, until he saw the aftermath of a perfect murder 108

Inside Northside

committed by someone who used what he’d written to kill.

He immediately felt guilt. Then he felt revulsion when he recognized a series of numbers scrawled on a clue as an area code for Turkey. He wasn’t eager to revisit memories attached to numbers like that. He was even less interested in going back to the Turkish town where he’d been a freshman agent—but when the president of the United States asks, you do what’s required.

American forces had recently discovered something that made the president’s blood run cold: in a remote area of Afghanistan, three bodies were found buried in quicklime and infected with a virus that was hand-engineered to bypass vaccines. It had potential for mass devastation that would make the Black Plague look like a children’s game. And it was obvious that its creator—a man he nicknamed Saracen—was ready to use it.

He wasn’t happy about coming out of retirement, but he was the best chance anyone had of catching a

madman. He would start in Turkey; he’d require fake passports, a faux life, and yet another identity: he told the president to call him “Pilgrim.”

Whatever you’re doing right now, stand up and turn around. Take a good look at the edge of your seat. That’s where you’ll be clinging when you read I Am Pilgrim.

Beginning with a body in an acid bath, author Terry Hayes flings us from New York to Paris, New England to the Middle East and everywhere in between, to the past and a future that’s so chillingly realistic that you’ll want to bar the doors. Our host is a taciturn man who officially doesn’t exist but who’s quietly known as someone who finishes a job, no matter what it takes.

And what it takes—well, look at your seat again.

This is a thriller in the finest form, perfect for reading just about anywhere.

You’ll understand why once you read I Am Pilgrim, and you’ll be glad you’ve done it.

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Dawn Lawrence and Nathaniel Lawrence.

Pelican On Deck MOVE OVER, MIMOSAS. Make way for Pelican on Deck.

For Nathaniel Lawrence, the Louisiana pelican is more than the state bird. It’s a symbol of resilience. Of overcoming obstacles and rising above challenges. It’s also the first word of the moniker the CEO selected for his company’s new champagne-infused iced tea, Pelican on Deck.

It seemed only fitting that the place we chose to chat about the product was The Dock, a waterfront restaurant in Slidell where the deck is framed by a plethora of pelicans carved into its many posts. Nathaniel was accompanied by his sister, Dawn, who serves as the company’s marketing director.

What started as a conversation about the refreshing concoction turned into so much more. The siblings shared a compelling tale of a man who twice had overcome the loss of everything he owned plus a near-death experience, yet just like a pelican, he returned to his natural habitat, stronger from the experience.

The story actually began much earlier. In the 1990s, Nathaniel worked at The Grill Room and Brennan’s, 110

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photos: KIM BERGERON

by Kim Bergeron

assisting wait staff. When the iconic restaurants hosted wine tastings, the staff participated in preliminary tastings in order to familiarize themselves with the offerings. On a whim, Nathaniel blended a rosé with iced tea and shared his creation with his colleagues. It was an instant hit.

Fast forward to 2005. Like so many, the New Orleans native lost everything he owned in Katrina. Shortly after the storm, he became ill and suffered a serious allergic reaction to medication. As he lay comatose in the hospital, his family prepared to say their final goodbyes. “We surrounded him with prayers,” says Dawn, her eyes welling up with tears. “We thought we were going to lose him.”

She says what happened next was nothing short of miraculous, as Nathaniel recovered and was released from the hospital.

“It was as if the end became the beginning,” says Nathaniel.

Seven years to the day after Katrina, Nathaniel lost another home to Hurricane Isaac. Once again, he rose above his challenges, and began rebuilding.

A few months later, Nathaniel and Dawn were with their mother, Paulette, celebrating the matriarch’s birthday.

As champagne bottles popped, Nathaniel reminisced about his rosé and tea blend and decided to experiment using champagne instead. It was a huge success. So on that day, 12-12-12, Nathaniel decided to turn his creation into a fullfledged business venture.

During a visit to his brother-in-law’s barbershop, he shared some of the champagne-infused tea with customers and friends. “Man, I don’t even drink,” said one of the customers, “but I want a gallon of that, on deck.” The colloquialism, meaning “in stock,” provided the inspiration to round out the product name. Pelican on Deck it would be.

One of the beverage’s biggest appeals, says Dawn, is that it’s a light alternative to cocktails and beer. The product is available in gallon-sized jugs and 10 oz. bottles, with the possibility of six packs being explored. Currently, Pelican on Deck is being marketed to grocery stores, restaurants, nightclubs and festivals, with international markets in the works.

Nathaniel has pledged that as the company flourishes, he wants to dedicate a portion of proceeds to Louisiana Wildlife Association for the study and preservation of pelicans, his resilient counterpart. As to the challenges he has overcome, he says, “I believe that the first 50 chapters can be the worst of your life, but in that last chapter, even in the last paragraph, that’s where you can win.”

It’s that victorious attitude that’s sure to help Pelican on Deck rise and conquer in Louisiana and beyond.

January-February 2015 111

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January-February 2015 113

Fitness: Put your heart into it.

by Sandy Franco

WE DON’T OFTEN THINK about the heart as a muscle that needs training.

Though many include cardiovascular exercise in their workout routines, tangible incentives such as weight loss, increased energy and improved athleticism make it easy to forget the importance of exercise to the heart itself. With so many reasons to exercise, why not let a healthy heart simply be lagniappe? Because it is too important—and many people are either full throttle or stuck in park when it comes to maintaining a regular exercise routine. While it is true that interval training is good for your heart, it doesn’t work if your “rest interval” is six months long.

Heart disease is, year after year, the number one killer of Americans. Many people think of it as a concern only for senior citizens, but in fact, one half of the victims of sudden cardiac death are under the age of 65. Lifestyle choices at every age play a role in who becomes a part of that statistic.

A healthy heart doesn’t just help you to live longer; it can also help you to live smarter. A study published in the March 2014 issue of the American Heart Association journal Circulation reported that young adults with slightly elevated blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol scored lower on cognitive tests in mid-life. This effect was attributed to a narrowing of the arteries leading to the brain. The outcome of this study not only solidifies the claim that exercising your body improves your mind; it offers one more reason that heart health is important at any age.

How much is enough?

The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes (2½ hours) of moderately intense aerobic activity, 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity or a combination of both every week. Two or more days per week should also include muscle-strengthening activity. The Center for Disease Control reports that people who are physically active seven hours a week 114

Inside Northside

are 40 percent less likely to die early than those who exercise less than 30 minutes a week. More than half of adults in the United States report that they are physically inactive.

Find fitness you love.

If you are bored with your current cardio routine, maybe it is time to mix it up, cut loose or get your game-face on. Cardio Tennis is a must-try for an intense cardiovascular workout that is so much fun participants often forget the work part. Dance fitness classes such as Zumba, Body Jam or Pound (a new cardio class that uses weighted drum sticks) let you get lost in the rhythm and moves, help you burn up to 500 calories and may just leave you wanting more.

Programs such as Lose Dat and Crossfit tap into your competitive side. If you reserve workout time to get in some much-needed alone time, activities such as swimming and cycling are ideal. Swimming offers both serenity and intensity, plus works the heart and lungs and trains the body to use oxygen more efficiently.

Cycling can give you the carefree nostalgia of a childhood escapade plus loads of fitness benefit. Even a casual ride delivers a one-two punch of cardio and muscle strengthening.

Stick with it.

People who exercise with a partner, team or group tend to work out longer, harder and more consistently than those who exercise alone. (Some studies report as much as a 40 percent difference between the two groups.)

Camaraderie and accountability are credited more than any other factors in the success of many programs that help people to look, feel and live better. So buddy-up and trim-down. Your heart will thank you for it.

Prevention is essential! Modern medicine has come far in preventing heart disease, but not as far in correcting it. For both, exercise is often the best medicine.

Wear Red

Live Red

Go Red

2015 New Year, New (Healthier) You The beginning of a new year is seen by many as a time to take steps toward living a healthier lifestyle. Whether that involves exercise, eating habits and/or medical care, we are fortunate on the northshore to have a wide variety of resources from physicians to fitness instructors to help us make the necessary changes that will lead to success.

In this section, you will find articles that tell of the latest in technology and treatments being used by local providers that ensure that our healthcare is the highest quality available, such as cutting-edge surgical techniques, faster orthodontia, a holistic approach to healthcare, the latest treatments in skin care and the return of the old-fashioned house call.

February is Heart Health Month. The American Heart Association calls us to fight the silent killer—heart attacks in women—by supporting Go Red for Women. Wear red on National Wear Red Day, Friday, Feb. 6.

Take advantage of the many opportunities to live and be healthier in 2015.

table of contents 3 Introduction 5 Why Go Red? 6 National Wear Red Day

medical profiles 8 Patrick Weimer, DDS 10 Istre Hearing Care Center 11 Personal Care MD 12 Sterling Surgical Hospital 12 Pontchartrain Hematology & Oncology 14 Northshore Dermatology 15 All American Healthcare

Healthy Living 2015 3

Wear Red

Live Red

Go Red Why Go Red?

Everyone wants to live a longer, healthier life. Members of the American Heart Association’s 2015 Circle of Red aim to inspire other women to make heart-healthy choices. They joined the campaign to fight heart disease this year by using their personal resources and community influence for the cause.

Here, some of the Circle of Red women tell why they Go Red. Why do you Go Red? Share your reasons on social media with the hashtag #lifeiswhy.

“I Go Red for all women, myself and my family.”

-Annette Dowdle

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“I go Red for my wonderful mother-in-law who has bravely battled heart disease for many years. We all have the power to go Red.” -Patty Riddlebarger 4 1. Christine O’Brien, Ivy Kushner and Annette Dowdle. 2. Elaine Grundmeyer and Sarah Abrusley. 3. Suzanne Whitaker, Patty Riddlebarger and Dr. Toya Barnes-Teamer. 4. Molly Kimball, Tiki McIntyre, Barbara Turner Windhorst, Cindy Nuesslein and Holley Haag. 5. Verleen and Beverly Matheney.

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“Red is an emotional color, a

affected by heart disease and I am an advocate of

And I go red for the children.”

promoting healthy lifestyles among my friends and

-Barbara Turner Windhorst photos: CHERYL GERBER

“I go red because I have had family members

color of passion, energy and love.

family.” -Holley Haag, Circle of Red Chair

“I go red as a commitment to my nephew, Darrell Smith, in an effort to raise awareness in our community regarding heart disease and the importance of organ donations.” -Dr. Toya Barnes-Teamer Healthy Living 2015 5

Wear Red

Live Red

Go Red

HEART DISEASE KILLS MORE WOMEN than all forms of cancer combined. Sadly, most women don’t notice the symptoms of heart disease until it’s too late, which is why heart disease has been called the silent killer. But heart disease is no match for the power of women’s voices.

The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women is asking all women to Go Red by wearing red, living a healthy lifestyle and speaking red by spreading the message that heart disease is killing our mothers, daughters, sisters and friends.

For more than a decade, millions of women have united to raise their voices about this silent killer. While there’s been

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National Wear Friday, Red Day February 6 made remarkable progress, nearly 1,100 women are still dying each day. But, with your help, many more lives can be saved.

Take part in National Wear Red Day on Friday, Feb. 6 to help spread awareness. We encourage every organization, home and community in the area to Go Red and speak out against this silent killer.

Heart attack in women Sweating. Pressure. Nausea. Jaw pain. Believe it or not, these are all symptoms of a heart attack in women.

They are also symptoms that women

often brush off as the flu, stress or simply feeling under the weather—which could put their lives in jeopardy. Here are symptoms of a heart attack in women: • Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.

• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

• Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.

• Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

As with men, the most common heart attack symptom in women is chest pain or discomfort. But it’s important to note that women are more likely to experience the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/ vomiting and back or jaw pain.

Choose a healthy lifestyle A healthy lifestyle is yours to follow if you want it. Use these tips to help

set you on a heart-healthy path for life.

Take responsibility for managing your cholesterol levels and heart disease risk.

Your diet, weight, physical activity and exposure to tobacco smoke all affect your cholesterol level and heart disease risk— and these factors may be controlled by: • Eating a heart-healthy diet • Enjoying at least 150 minutes a week

moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, and more than two days a week muscle strengthening activities • Avoiding tobacco smoke To learn more, visit GoRedForWomen.org or Heart.org. To get involved locally or to share your Go Red efforts, post to the New Orleans American Heart Association’s Facebook page.

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things were ready to change drastically in the way I practiced. I decided early on to embrace change and new technology and have never looked back.

So what has changed?

photos: PAIGE HENDERSON

Metal Free Dentistry

Patrick Weimer, DDS

Celebrating 18 Years in Mandeville

Denise Jackson, Pam Burton, Dr. Weimer, Joni Hoffman and Susan Beaudean.

It is hard to believe that the time has passed so quickly. It seems like yesterday that I graduated from LSU Dental School in New Orleans. After graduating in 1995, I completed my general practice residency and then decided to open my practice in the Mandeville/Covington area. I was attracted to the Northshore because of relatives living in the area.

I was born and raised in Thibodeaux, but felt that Mandeville was the best place for my future family and me. What a fantastic decision that has been.

Back when I opened my practice, dentistry was mostly limited to restoring damaged teeth.

Cosmetic dentistry was in its infancy, but I saw that

With dental bonding, we can now repair decayed teeth, repair chipped or cracked teeth, improve the appearance of discolored teeth, and offer a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings. Composite materials can be used to fill cavities and are in high-demand, as patients prefer tooth-colored resins instead of metal. At the time I opened my practice, mercury/ silver fillings were the standard of care. I was an early adaptor of moving away from mercury in the mouth and moving to more esthetic, mercury-free composite and porcelain fillings and crowns. Weimer Family Dentistry has been a mercury-free dental practice since opening in 1997.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Again, when I opened my practice dentistry was mostly limited to repairing damaged teeth. Today, through advancements in dental materials, we can restore teeth that we never could save before with a natural look. We can enhance the appearance of a person’s smile with dental bonding, teeth whitening and dental veneers. Study after study shows that a beautiful smile is one of the most important things when it comes to person’s self-image. People who have an attractive smile are judged as smarter, richer, more successful and happier than someone who has a less-than-perfect smile. Improving a patient’s smile is one of the most rewarding things a dentist can do and I always feel blessed when I am able to give someone their smile back.

Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) CEREC

Ten years ago, I saw the potential of CEREC. What is CEREC? It is the ability to make all-ceramic (metal free) crowns in one appointment. We can now take digital impressions, make virtual models and fabricate the restoration—all in a single appointment. Gone are the days of scheduling multiple appointments for impressions, temporaries and cementation. Remember gagging on the gooey impression material and having to bite down and hold it until the impressions were 8

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ready? Weimer Family Dentistry now uses CEREC, a CAD/CAM system for all-ceramic restorations in one single appointment.

Digital X-Rays

Twelve years ago, I saw the advantage of using digital X-rays verses traditional X-rays. It uses up to 90 percent less radiation; there are no chemicals used to develop the film; you get instant results; and the picture is huge on a computer monitor, compared to the small X-ray films. It is much easier to explain a problem when the patient can see what I am talking about. This was a fantastic leap in technology. One of the best things I ever did was to be an early adaptor of digital X-rays.

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be listed as one of the greatest technological developments in dentistry.

Facial Esthetics (Botox)

Botox is now offered at Weimer Family Dentistry! Botox is injected into facial muscles and is used to smooth wrinkles around the forehead, between the eyes and at the corners of the eyes. We can also help with TMJ symptoms and headaches. This may be one of the best treatments available for people with chronic TMJ symptoms. I am very excited about this treatment option.

Fastbraces patient, Mary Paretti.

Lasers

Around the same time that I adopted CEREC technology, I also added a soft-tissue laser to the practice. With the laser, we are able to help heal periodontal (gum) infections. We are also able to do many soft-tissue procedures with less pain, less bleeding and shorter healing times.

Fastbraces/Invisalign

Fastbraces are just that: FAST. Weimer Family Dentistry is the first practice on the Northshore offering Fastbraces technology. Patients often see visible improvement in as little as three months to a year. The braces are more affordable, more comfortable and more convenient. Approximately 80 percent of all patients are eligible for Fastbraces; the treatment is an excellent choice for people of all ages who want to improve their smile. What used to be a long, two-phase process has been transformed into one single and efficient treatment. It is amazing how fast the teeth straighten. This is my new favorite technology!

We also offer Invisalign braces, which use clear aligners to straighten teeth and are virtually invisible. They are easy to clean, and you can even eat whatever you want!

Implants

Dental implants have been traced back more than a thousand years, but much has improved since that time! We now use titanium screws with a textured surface that are more predictable than in the past. Success rates for implants are now in the 95 percent range and continue to improve with emerging technology. People who lose a tooth due to a trauma, decay or gum disease now have hope for a viable replacement for their damaged or lost tooth. Implants look, feel and act like real teeth.

We can replace single missing teeth or the whole mouth with implants. Denture wearers can now be converted to implants and eat just about anything that they want. Implants have to

Tooth Bleaching

Whitening teeth has become more affordable over the years, offering a practical option for patients instead of using veneers and crowns, as we had to do in the past. Teeth bleaching is less invasive, cheaper and offers amazing results. The KOR bleaching system has given us the best results that we have seen to this point. I have tried all the different techniques of bleaching—KOR beats them all!

The 20 years from dental school have flown by, and technology has changed so much, but the center of my practice remains relational-health centered, whole-patient care.

Working with my patients is by far the highlight of my day, and I want to continually offer the best technology available.

Thanks, Mandeville/Covington for making the last 18 years so successful and enjoyable. To those of you who are my patients, I am forever grateful. To those of you who may be considering a new dentist, please consider Weimer Family Dentistry for your dental needs. I take great pride in caring for your smile and offering you the best that modern dentistry has to offer.

Dr. Weimer is a General Dentist practicing Orthodontics and is located at Weimer Family Dentistry, 807 Asbury Dr., in Mandeville. 727-1800. weimerfamilydentistry.com.

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Sterling Surgical Hospital National statistics show that the majority of top performing hospitals across the country, as measured by quality of care and patient satisfaction, are those that have a high degree of physician participation in the governance and management.

Sterling Surgical Hospital is owned and managed by a group of well-reputed local physicians who are passionate about providing their community with an unrivaled level of surgical care.

There are many components required to deliver excellent surgical outcomes. Quality physicians are just one of these components. Sterling Surgical’s comprehensive clinical team (anesthesiologists, RN’s, radiologists, surgical technologists, pharmacists), state of the art technology, luxurious atmosphere, service oriented registration team, and dedicated focus make up the other integral components for an exceptional experience.

A hospital, much like anything else in life, can’t be a master of all trades. At Sterling Surgical we have committed our focus on select surgical specialties. We invest all of our time, talent, energy and resources at being best in class in these select fields of medicine.

At Sterling Surgical you will not get the impression you are at a hospital. Sterling Surgical’s size—not too big, not too small—resonates the feel of a fine hotel.

Sterling Surgical provides a concierge level of personal attention. Our attitude, efficiency, comfort and service continuously result in some of the highest patient satisfaction scores in the country.

Sterling Surgical is conveniently located in Slidell within a short distance from all three major Interstates; 10, 12, and 59.

For more information go to: sterlingsurgical.net 12

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Traces

by Mimi Greenwood Knight

photos: FIELDING PHOTOGRAPHY

FOR COVINGTON ARCHITECT KEN LATHAM and his wife, Susan, the timing was perfect to retire. “We’d been talking about it and planning it for a few years,” he says. “Susan had been teaching for 36 years, and I’d begun Fauntleroy & Latham with my partner, Sam Fauntleroy in 1981.” Susan retired from teaching, they had the chance to sell the business and all the stars aligned for the Lathams to begin the next chapter of their lives.

“We worried we might not have enough to fill our days,” says Ken. “But we’re busier now than we were before. We work out together five days a week and visit our 3-year-old granddaughter in Gonzales as often as possible.” Their daughter, Emily, a former LSU Golden Girl, teaches English literature and composition at River Parishes Community College, continuing in her mother’s profession. Grandchild number two is on the way, so they’ll be zipping off to Gonzales even more.

The Lathams’ son, Daniel, coaches baseball at Southeastern in Hammond. “We’ve always loved college baseball, so we rarely miss a game,” says Ken. When Daniel played baseball for Tulane, they only missed one weekend series in four years. After college, he first coached for two years at High Point University in North Carolina, approximately a 12-hour drive from Covington. Then he was the pitching coach at Virginia Military Institute for a year—a 14-hour drive. Since they were already retired, the Lathams were able to travel to North Carolina and Virginia several times during each

Ken and Susan Latham baseball season. “We prayed for a long time that he’d have a coaching job closer to home,” says Ken. Now that Daniel’s in Hammond, they try to make all of the home games as well as most of the away games.

Ken is on the St. Tammany Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees, and he and Susan are involved with the Covington Food Bank. He also serves on the Covington High Ambassador’s Council, for which he helped erect a new bell tower to house the historic bell saved from the Covington High fire in 1974. Susan’s former students still call and often drop by the house. “We’ll be sitting at home, and there will be a knock on the door,” says Ken. “It’ll be one of Susan’s students, just stopping by to say ‘hi.’”

For the Lathams, the problem isn’t not having enough to fill their days—it’s having enough days to fit in all the life that retirement has given them.

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Northshore Living

by Terri Schlichenmeyer

Editor’s Note: What does your house tell the world about you? This book review poses the question—one which you may never have thought of. Even if you don’t read the book, it’s hard to resist the invitation to look at buildings in a different way.

The Language of Houses: How Buildings Speak to Us

by Alison Lurie THE BUILDING MUST BE NEARLY DONE. Every day for months, you’ve seen it on your way to work. You’ve watched it go from a hole in the ground, to a steel skeleton, to a behemoth structure that you’re glad you’ll never have to enter. The whole place seems unwelcoming.

But why? Why get the heebie-jeebies over a building? In the book The Language of Houses by Alison Lurie, you’ll see how that place and your home both have a lot to say.

Ask any preschooler to draw a house and, if she’s happy and secure, you’ll probably get “Happy House” with peaked roof, a door in the lower middle and symmetrical windows, surrounded by trees and a smiling sun. Yes, even at that age, we tend to instinctively link a simple home with good feelings.

We also instinctively know what a building is for, just by looking at it. There’s no mistaking a hospital, for instance, for a night club. A public building constructed of wood “is slightly suspect unless it’s a church.” Huge stone columns 132

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generally indicate that we’re entering somewhere formal (real or imagined), just as a porch swing and flowers (even artificial ones) say “welcome.”

A building’s color says a lot, too: like business clothes, public buildings are usually neutrally toned. Colors can indicate an intended décor or the kind of merchandise you’ll find in a store. Even lack of color speaks volumes about the people inside.

As for that interior, we expect it to match the exterior. In our minds, therefore, Victorian charmers shouldn’t contain post-modern furniture. Ranch homes, once the most popular builds, should be cozy and relaxed. It feels wrong to find otherwise.

Houses speak of gender, status and age of their occupants. They can speak with local dialect or foreign accents. And despite the fact that that they’re inanimate objects, we fondly remember some and mourn others—and that’s natural. “After all,” says Lurie, “we are a territorial species.”

When you think about it, what’s in The Language of Houses is quite commonsensical. And maybe that’s the point: author Lurie makes you think about your home, your workplace and what the outside world knows from them.

Indeed, after reading this book, it’s really very difficult not to look at buildings in a different way—and that includes churches, prisons, hospitals and schools, all of which Lurie touches upon. You’ll also learn about the things inside our buildings, why we place furniture as we do, what specific rooms say about who we think we are and a basic history of housing and fads.

If you enjoy decorating, this book will build on your knowledge. Architecture fans will demolish it, as will historians. Readers in the mood for something different will also love The Language of Houses. Don’t you have room for it, too?

IN the Spotlight Garden Party at Summergrove

photos: M ILTON HANA UER

Guests enjoyed a beautiful alfresco day at the 11th annual “Garden Party at Summergrove Farm.� Hosted at the home of David Fennelly and Carlos Sanchez, the anticipated event gathered more than 500 attendees. Live music, great food and libations, live and silent auctions and riding demonstrations filled the afternoon.

The event raised over $220,000 in support of therapeutic riding programs that help people with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities achieve improved quality of life. The 2014 New Heights Heroes were Chad Loyd and Pat Granier. For more information on New Heights Therapy Center, visit newheightstherapy.org or call 796-4600.

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1. Jimmy Walther, Leslie Ballard, Beth Walther, Dawn Ledet, Farrah Clymer and Don Clymer at Stone Creek’s Warrior Workout. 2. Kevin Elliott, Casey Saba and photos: ERIC SUHRE

Lacy Blackledge at Mellow Mushroom’s 5th Birthday Bash. 3. Noelle Mitcham and Julie Miller at You Night’s 2014 Runway Show. 4. Members of Hannan High Key Club, Covington Kiwanis Club, West St. Tammany Exchange Club and Faith Bible Church helping at the Turkey Train to distribute close to 300 turkeys. 5. Grant and Kathy Williams receiving the Go Give Award for K. Gee’s Restaurant at St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce’s Business Appreciation Awards. 6. Kelly Wursteisen, Diane Pierce and Mary Byrd at Professional Women of St. Tammany’s Holiday Bazaar at Lakeview Regional Medical Center. 7. Malou Maxwell, Alicia Bennett, Keith Bennett, Guy Guinot and Laurie Guinot supporting the Mandeville Northshore Kiwanis “Eliminate MNT Project” at the Southern Hotel. 8. Dan Johnson, Elizabeth Impastato, Michaelyn Broussard, Rick Johnson and Mary Anne Lansden. 9. Raquel Champagne, Beth Assaf and Veronica Rose at Rug Chic’s Cupcakes and Cocktails Open House.

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IN the Spotlight Inside Northside Meet the Artist Sip and Stroll At Inside Northside’s Meet the Artist Sip and Stroll on Lee Lane in downtown Covington, cover artist Brett Smith greeted guests and talked about his outdoor-inspired works. Guests strolled the sidewalks to visit the participating merchants. Pelican on Deck served up its sweet champagne tea blend for partygoers at Welcome Home and Garden and Champagne Beverage provided beer on the porch of the french mix.

Christian Serpas & Ghost Town’s guitarist George Neyrey played acoustic tunes on the porch of California Drawstrings Northshore as listeners sipped on wine.

IN the Spotlight Old Mandeville Business Association’s “Empty Bowl Fundraising Event” was held at the Pontchartrain Yacht Club.

Guests filled their handmade bowls with local fare as they listened to live music and participated in the silent auction. The event, in its eleventh year, raises funds for the Samaritan Center Food Bank.

In cooperation with local churches, the non-profit Samaritan Center tends to the needy in the St. Tammany area. Last year, the center served 3,115 families comprising 4,251 children, 4,538 adults and 346 seniors. All funds raised through the Empty Bowl event go directly to Samaritan Center’s food programs.

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photos: PAUL D. STICH

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1. Paula, Brian, Ann and Ginger Lowe at Lowe’s Jewelers’ 20th Anniversary Party. 2. Sydney Allain, Elena Graffeo, April Lowe and Amber Lowe enjoying Lowe’s anniversary party. 3. Samantha Bindewald, Rhonda Solomon, Rhonda Johnson-Valladares and Olivia Vifers at Learning Express Toy’s grand opening. 4. Leanne Krieger, Saintsation Annie, Mary Harmon, Jared Harmon, Jim Silvestri, Aaron Karlin, Kevira Johnson, Keira Butler, Ronnie Landry, Heather Landry, Jordan Landry and Saintsaition Willnelda at Lakeview Regional Medical Center’s Boo Fest. 5. Boo Fest volunteers Stephanie Desforges, Ava and Heather Rietschel, Tayler Cangelosi, Landry Rase, Amber Condon and Erica Desforges. 6. Lisa Hava, Vivian Hava and Mary Beth Carlos at JuJu’s Boutique for Chenier Marketplace’s Sip and Stroll. 7. Mary Beth Carlos and Noelle Mitcham. 8. Cindy Martin and Paul Miller at IberiaBank’s Night on the Terrace. 9. Michael Mire, Sylvia and Wayne Berger.

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1. Representatives of the three Stone Creek national qualifying tennis teams. 2. Tom Cianfichi, Vietri artist Stefano Roselli and Katy Danos at the Vietri signing event at Hazelnut 3. Stacey Neal, Erin Cowser, D’Ann Davis and Cally Berner at the Bayou Booksellers launch party and book signing for Cowser’s book Let’s Lion Up With Roomie.

4. Cindy Alberts, Sara Castelluccio Clancy, Tanya Matherne, Barbara Gravois, Christy Faulstich 1

Quave and Taffy Morrison at East St. Tammany Chamber’s Business After Hours at Patton’s. 5. Kay Schewe and Kristen Stanley.

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1. 2014 Athena Award winner Kathy Lowrey and Young Athena Award winner Amanda Hover at the East St. Tammany Chamber Luncheon at Northshore Harbor Center. 2. Susan Bonnett, Pat Brister, Maura Donahue and Sonia Perez at the check presentation from AT&T Louisiana to the Northshore Community Foundation. 3. Melissa Penzato and Ann Loomis at St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours at Community Center at Christwood. 4. Joanne Gallinghouse, Jean Champagne and Laura Tobin. 5. The St. Tammany Home Builders Association installation with new president Doreen “Dodie” Adams (center).

IN the Spotlight

photos: ALLISON BADELY PHOTOGRAPHY

Harvest Cup Polo Classic The 18th Annual Harvest Cup Polo Classic benefitting the Junior League of Greater Covington was held at Summergrove Farm.

Guests enjoyed delicious fare from more than 30 local restaurants and specialty drinks poured by Champagne Beverage, Covington Brewhouse, Ketel One Vodka and Old New Orleans Rum. Morgan Cameron’s original painting Ahead of the Pack, selected for the 2014 poster, was auctioned off, along with works from many other local artists. While guests noshed and sipped, breeds from local farms paraded the field of Summergrove. The New Orleans Polo Club played two action-filled matches. Five teams, including Lee Michaels, Covington Brewhouse, United Way, Chevron and Inside Northside, played their way up and down the 10-acre field.

The Inside Northside team won the Harvest Cup Feature Match and the Covington Brewhouse team won the Round Robin. The day was topped off with live music from the New Orleans Rhythm and Blues Company, a hay pull from Lee Michaels and, of course, the Pretty Woman hat contest. Proceeds from the event directly support the League’s community projects focused on children, women and community betterment.

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1. William Colley, Sheri Wilkins, and Tom Scheib enjoying the grand opening of Das Schulerhaus. 2. Ben Plaia, Ernest Burguieres,

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Donna Plaia and Rick Danielson at Das Schulerhaus’ grand opening. 3. Alison Rubio, Katie Lauga, Fr. Charles Latour, Emma 2

Rabensteiner and Anna Silvestri at Hannan’s volleyball senior night. 4. Linda Bonaccorso, Andrea Kopfler and Jackie Farkas at Bra La Vie’s Geaux Pink event. 5. Second place

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winners of the First Annual Madisonville Chili Cook-Off Marc B. Juneau, Sandra

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Scalise Juneau and Tara D. Juneau.

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1. Valerie Thibaut and Gretchen Armbruster at Armbruster Artworks 2014 Art Exhibit featuring over

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30 artists at the Southern Hotel. 2. Pam Stritzinger, Lisa Pisa and Lisa Zenor. 3. Marybeth Mullins and Lori Murphy. 4. Melanie and David Broadbridge with Ian Dimitry enjoying the Art Exhibit. 5. Michelle and Doug Reker, Mary Byrd, Mike Vignes and Linda Larkin at the Emerging Young Professionals After Hour Social at The Wine Market. 6. Yolanda and George Paz having a blast at the Emerging Young Professionals event.

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1. Bailey Tuminello (center) signs her National Letter of Intent to play softball with Nicholls State University. 2. Dian Lusher and Dawn Brackett at the 2014 Woman of the Year Banquet held

by Professional Women of St. Tammany. 3. Woman of the Year Winner Donna O’Daniels and Dalyce Burvant. 4. Jeff Schmitt, Kristi Gill, Lauren Long, Morrison “ Iri” Hamilton and Jonathan Gantt honoring Morrison as Ponchatoula High School’s Student Athlete of the Month.

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1. Willie Paretti gathers her friends at Windsor Court Hotel for the annual Holiday Tea. 2. June Selzer, Andrea Talbot, Lynn Johnson, Willie Paretti, Kim Melvin and Rita Dollar presenting the Kids In Transition check from Lakeview Regional Medical Center. 3. Junior Auxiliary of Slidell members Lena Joyce, Mary Gilmore, Margaret White and Becca Frischhertz at their annual Holiday Party at Sunrise Bistro.

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New Orleans elegant was the setting as Katie Montalbano and Alex McCulloch celebrated their vows at sunset on the balcony of the Riverview Room atop Jax Brewery. The bride’s Lazzaro gown from Town and Country was accented by Swarovski crystals and blue Manolo Blahnik shoes given to her by the groom. A highlight of the evening was the dancing of the Tarantella, an old Italian folk dance. The grand finale was the second line parade led by the Red Hot Brass Band to the Monteleone Hotel, where the celebrating continued in the Carousel Lounge. The newlyweds honeymooned in Tahiti and Moorea.

photo: MATTHEW FOSTER PHOTOGRAPHY

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Following the ceremony, a reception was held at the Petroleum Club of Lafayette, where BRW of New Orleans entertained guests late into the evening. The couple honeymooned in Napa Valley and Maui before returning home to reside in New Orleans.

Stacie Fouquet and Adam Tassin wed under an arbor of white roses and hydrangeas at the home of the bride’s brother and sister-inlaw, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Fouquet. The bride’s Justin Alexander gown from Olivia Couture featured a fit-and-flare design with lace overlay and a satin ruched waistline. More than 1,000 hydrangeas decorated the scene, which included a white canopy filled with Italian lights and a chandelier. Guests enjoyed New Orleans-inspired fare from Jubilee Restaurant and a rosette-covered cake from Maple Street Bakery. The night came to a close with a traditional send off as the couple left for their honeymoon in Mexico. The couple resides in historic Madisonville.

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photo: VISTA BAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Fouquet-Tassin

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Honeymoon in Nassau

by Leah Draffen

Inset: Junkanoo Festival.

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January and its cold air have arrived, and you’re wishing for flip-flop weather again. Consider the Bahamas, where it’s flip-flop weather right now, a breezy 75 degrees. Spend a week, and you’ll feel like a new person; the warm air and soft waves have a way of calming and healing.

As my fiancé and I began researching places to retreat after our wedding, our first priority was “tropical” and our second was “economical.” We were freshly out of college, just beginning our careers, and money was, well, nonexistent. However, the Bahamas are poor-folk friendly, especially for newlyweds or those looking for an easy, guilt-free getaway.

It was my first time traveling internationally without my parents, my new husband’s first time out of the country and also his first plane ride. Leaving our safety blanket of New Orleans was exciting, but just a little nerve wracking. He did fine flying; evidently, the fisherman in him prepared him for the turbulence involved with flying over water.

Cruising over the bluest of blue Caribbean waters, we saw desolate white sand islands below.

The Bahamas are made up of clusters of 700 islands— Bahamians and tourists inhabit only 29 of them. We

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were headed for the island of New Providence and Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas.

The airport was impressive. We were greeted with smiles as we walked through the gate into customs. Customs was a long and monotonous line (especially when you know the beach is waiting for you), but a soulful reggae band played while we waited. “Don’t worry about a ting …” No, that’s not a typo. Th is almost nonexistent in the Bahamas: tanks, ting, tousands. Their English is very clear, with just a few changes to make it their own.

After customs, we found our luggage (whew!) and tracked down the bus for our resort. The driver was incredibly nice. He immediately tagged us as southerners as we thanked him for picking us up— those accents. The driving, on the other hand, was a bit scary. Roundabouts are everywhere. Their signs say “Give Way,” which to them means give as little room as possible so that three vehicles can fit into two lanes at one time. Yet we arrived at our resort safely. I considered kissing the ground upon exiting the bus.

Nassau is easily recognized for the giant resort known as The Atlantis. I’m sure that rings a bell, but outside of Atlantis and Paradise Island there is so much more to experience. We bunked at Meliá Nassau Beach Hotel [meh-lee-uh] on the north side of the island. From Cable Beach, which runs along the shore of Meliá, you can see the giant towers of Atlantis.

We quickly realized that air conditioning was not a top priority for Bahamians. Thank goodness our room had a private thermostat! The lobby and restaurants were mostly cooled by beach breezes flowing through the open building, which took some getting used to. However, the heat did a great job of pulling us onto the beach to cool off.

The sand and water were the best parts. The powdery soft sand collided with the crystal-clear ocean. Even at a depth of 6 feet, we could see our toes. Vibrant, tropical fish often swam by, and we could tell they were used to the company. The resort offered snorkeling gear to check out the rocks and reef about 80 yards away from the shore, but the views were so intriguing that it was almost always booked.

With the sun high in the sky, the water was just right—never too warm, never too cold. We spent most of the first two days basking in the Bahamian rays. However, by the third day this beach bum and her freckled-faced husband were ready to get out of the rays. We booked a cultural tour with Majestic Tours LTD. The tour first took us to Junkanoo World Museum and Arts Centre. Junkanoo reminded me of our beloved Mardi Gras, with its colorful costumes, loud music and dancing in the streets. Maybe we are more like the Bahamians than we think?

Our guide said that Junkanoo began in the slavery days. Each year, the slaves were given time off near Christmas. They celebrated the holiday with dancing and handmade music. The bass of the music is created by huge oil drums covered with stretched goat and cow skin. They raise the goats, take their hide, wet it to stretch over the opening and then tack the skin to the drum to dry. Sadly, looking over the wall of the museum we could see happy goats frolicking in an old parking lot. Poor things didn’t know that they would one day be musical.

The drum gives a deep rumble that varies by

the size of the drum. We sat down outside of the museum for a little practice session of drumming. My hands were hurting within the first five minutes. Our guide said that their playing often lasts for at least 16 hours (I hope their hands go numb at some point).

The festival has tribes or troupes, much like we have krewes. Their goal: to be louder than the other troupes. We added little competition with our tour group. We beat and banged on the drums, laughing most of the time. It sounded like a group of toddlers banging on pots and pans. Our guide began to dance while beating on the drum. My husband’s two left feet showed as we attempted to follow along. I, of course, lost rhythm laughing at him.

The Junkanoo rhythm also incorporates a few more instruments. Horns and whistles can be seen during Junkanoo parades, but the most original noise is from the cowbell. The ringing of the cowbell was incredibly loud in the small shop where our guide demoed it.

Dancers accent the music with incredibly artful costumes made of crepe paper and cardboard. They recently began making costumes out of foam. The weight of the costumes makes it rather warm for the participants dancing long hours in the Bahamian heat.

So the parading begins in the early hours of the night when it is still dark. Large crowds of residents and tourists fill the city each year to watch and, of course, dance as the troupes pass by. >>

Above: Nassau’s water tower built in 1928.

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Watling, which he was authorized to build in 1670.

Ten years after building the plantation, Watling fled New Providence. It is rumored that he left treasure in San Salvador during his escape—no one has found it yet.

However, the rum could be considered a treasure to Bahamians. It is not exported outside the islands and can be found in many tropical drinks. The bar at the distillery serves up a tasty piña colada that trumps any daiquiri here in Louisiana—no exaggeration.

Super smooth, not too sweet and not too strong.

My husband is still talking about those piña coladas months later. Maybe we should have faced customs and brought a jug home.

Above: The 1789 Buena Vista Estate at John Watling’s Distillery.

Right: A sign on the ruins of Christ Church Anglican Cathedral showing the history of its destruction.

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We danced our way out of Junkanoo World onto the tour bus with a farewell of drums beaten by our tour guide. We then headed to the sweetest stop— Graycliff Chocolate factory. The factory was hidden away by stonewalls along a downtown street. We later learned that the walls and building were more than 300 years old.

Within its walls are a hotel, restaurant, coffee roast, studio and factory. We learned that Graycliff has hosted a couple of popular names, like Sir Winston Churchill or The Beatles. Captain John Howard Graysmith, a pirate who was given the choice to live as an honest member of society or die as a pirate, built the facility. He decided to live and give his property to what would one day be the yummy factory it is today.

We learned about the process of making chocolate all the way from the cocoa bean to the rich dark chocolate that we could purchase in the shop. We also discovered that white chocolate isn’t chocolate at all. It’s simply made of cocoa butter, vanilla and crème. My hubby tried salted caramel chocolate as I noshed on a dark chocolate bacon square. (My role as a woman is clearly confused.)

After filling up on sweets, we went around the corner to the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas. My favorite exhibit was of old Bahamian houses that told stories of how Bahamians have lived and earned a living in this very special place.

When we studied all that we could, we left the gallery to visit the last stop of the tour—John Watling’s Distillery. The distillery was behind a beautiful plantation named after the pirate John

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Kalik, pronounced KUH-LIK, is considered “The Beer of the Bahamas.” Of course, we had to try a few.

Usually foreign domestics make me scrunch my nose and turn away, but Kalik is actually pretty good. For a lady, Kalik Light is the way to go. The Kalik nicely complements Bahamian cuisine.

On our last day, we explored without a tour guide. We caught a taxi down to the Fish Fry. Their Fish Fry restaurants are what we call fish houses in Louisiana. They are lined up along the port in Nassau; each prepares fresh grouper, snapper and conch. Like the French Market, workers try to entice you to come into their fry. “We have AC! Fresh snapper! Look at our menu! Discount prices!” From many travelers and natives, the most recommended was Oh Andros! We walked by the yelling servers into the nice cool Oh Andros! to see what all the talk

was about.

If you aren’t familiar with conch, that cool seashell you put next to your ear to hear the ocean— yes, it was once home to a snail. We were about trying it all, so we ordered conch fritters for an appetizer. The batter is amazing, but when you latch onto the conch hidden in the hush puppy shapedcuisine, it gives a little scare. I tried it though! We also sampled the fried lobster, grouper, plantains and beans and rice. While I preferred the plantains and beans and rice, my hubby had no trouble eating the conch and grouper.

With plenty of time before our flight, we decided to venture down a hidden street that supposedly had a zoo. My husband clenched my hand as a mysterious vehicle passed. (He says my adventurous side leaves me a little naïve. It’s an experience, right?)

No fear; there it was, the Ardastra Zoo. While it was a beautiful walk, I would recommend a taxi. It was quite a trek.

For the cheap admission of $16, we walked through the self-guided tour. Animals were nice and close. Some you could even pet, if you were okay with losing a finger or two. The animals were well taken care of and filled with energy even in the heat.

(We must have lazy animals in Louisiana.)

One last stop before heading to the airport was a small market outside the resort where we found woven straw baskets, purses and lots of items made from coconuts. Much like the French Quarter, you

could talk your way down from a $25 t-shirt to a $5 t-shirt. We picked up a few tropical sarongs and an adorable Hello Kitty purse for my niece. Our favorite purchase was a walking turtle toy made of a coconut shell and a spool of string. It’s an impressive contraption that my niece is still fascinated with.

The sadness of leaving our tropical domicile hit us when we realized it was time to board the bus. We said goodbye to the humidity-free air, the perfect breeze and the friendly faces before grabbing our luggage and heading to the airport.

As pro-passengers, we checked out of customs, found check-in and walked across an airplane runway to board our plane. (Sounds dangerous, right?) This time, climbing up the shaking stairs, we boarded a small plane with 10 rows of three seats across. It was tiny, but we landed safely in a “foreign place” on our way to New Orleans—the Miami International Airport. There’s this futuristic shuttle machine that ships you back and forth across the airport. If you’re ever going through Miami, just make sure you know which stop you need. Or that could be a travel story of its own.

Above: A blue parrot at Ardastra Gardens and Zoo. Below: Coral Hibiscus.

January-February 2015 151

IN Great Taste

by Poki Hampton

Heat Up

WINTER IS THE TIME for soup simmering on the stove, filling the house with an aroma that’s hard to resist. Here are some new soup recipes—and some old favorites—for you to try when it’s cold outside.

with warming soups

Easy Blue Crab Soup ½ C green onions, sliced thin ½ C margarine 2 10 ¾ oz cans cream of mushroom soup 2 soup cans whole milk 1 lb white lump crabmeat 1 t liquid crab boil 1 pt half and half Salt and pepper to taste.

Sauté green onion in margarine about 3 minutes. Add cream of mushroom soup, milk, crabmeat, liquid crab boil and half and half. Add salt and pepper to taste. Lower the heat and simmer about 20 minutes, stirring often. Serves 6-8.

Hearty Chicken Soup ½ rotisserie chicken, meat cut into 1” pieces 2 T olive oil 1 C thinly sliced onion 3 cloves garlic, minced and divided 2 T fresh ginger, divided

Recipe from Louisiana Seafood Bible: Crabs, courtesy of authors Jerald and Glenda Horst.

2 ribs celery, cut on diagonal 1 qt chicken broth 1 13 oz can crushed tomatoes 2 cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed 1 8 oz can coconut milk 1 T peanut butter, creamy 1 ½ t fresh thyme, divided 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into ¾” pieces, about 2 cups ¼ t cayenne pepper Salt and pepper to taste

152

Inside Northside

In a Dutch oven, heat olive oil on medium. Add onion and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add half of garlic, ginger and cayenne pepper. Cook about 1 minute.

Stir in chicken stock, tomatoes, black-eyed peas, coconut milk, peanut butter and 1 teaspoon of thyme. Bring to a boil and cook 30 minutes until reduced by about one-third.

Reduce heat to low and add sweet potato, chicken, ¼ teaspoon thyme and remaining garlic and ginger.

Simmer until sweet potato is cooked, about 20 minutes. Serve with a sprinkle of the remaining thyme. Serves 4-6.

Easy Italian Chicken Soup ½ rotisserie chicken, meat cut into 1” pieces 1 C chopped onion 1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 3 C chicken stock 2 T tomato paste ½ C chopped celery ½ C chopped carrot 1 red bell pepper, chopped 3 garlic cloves, minced ½ t Italian seasoning 6 oz fresh baby spinach Freshly grated Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients except spinach and Parmesan cheese in slow cooker.

Cook on high for 1 hour. Reduce to low and cook 3 more hours. Add spinach and cook an additional 15 minutes. Serve in individual bowls with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. Serves 6-8.

Spicy Shrimp Soup 2 lbs fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined, with tails 2 qts chicken broth 1 C bottled clam juice 3 oz tomato paste 2 ribs celery, cut on diagonal 1 large sprig fresh rosemary 6 cloves garlic, minced ½ t fennel seed, crushed 1 C butter 1 C dry white wine Salt and pepper to taste

Combine broth, rosemary, celery, fennel seed, clam juice and tomato paste in a large heavy pot. Bring to a boil, add butter.

Reduce heat to low and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Add wine and simmer another 2 hours. Before serving, remove rosemary sprig, add shrimp and cook for 3-4 minutes until shrimp turn pink and are no longer translucent. Serve with crusty French bread. Serves 4-6.

January-February 2015 153

IN Great Taste

INside Dining

and dinner. Kids eat free every Wednesday!

ME: Menu Express delivery

The Chimes, 19130 W. Front St., 892-

MCC: Major credit cards accepted RR: Reservations recommended

Private events and catering also provided. carretasgrill.com. MCC.

5396. Lunch and dinner. thechimes.com.

MCC.

ABITA SPRINGS Abita Barbecue, 69399 Hwy. 59, 400-

Coffee Rani, 234-A Lee Ln., 893-

5025. Ribs, brisket, chicken, pulled pork

6158. Soup and salad specialists.

and boudin. MCC.

coffeerani.com.

Abita Brew Pub, 72011 Holly St., 892-

Columbia St. Seafood, 1123 N.

5837. On the Trace. Good food, great

Columbia St., 893-4312. Seafood platters

beer. Lunch, dinner. abitabrewpub.com.

and po-boys. columbiastreetseafood.com.

MCC. Columbia St. Tap Room & Grill,

Black Bean Soup 2 C cubed hot link sausage 3 cans black beans, rinsed and drained 3 ribs celery, chopped

Abita Springs Café, 22132 Level

434 N. Columbia St., 898-0899. Daily

St., 867-9950. Southern cooking for

specials, appetizers, sandwiches, salads,

breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tues-Sun.

soups and burgers. Live music Thurs-Sat

MCC.

nights. Lunch, dinner. covingtontaproom. com. MCC, ME.

Camellia Café, 69455 Hwy. 59, 8096313. Traditional seafood and New

Copeland’s, 680 N. Hwy. 190,

Orleans cuisine. thecamelliacafe.com.

809-9659. Authentic New Orleans

MCC.

cuisine. Lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Online take-out orders at

1 large onion, chopped

Mama D’s Pizza & More, 22054 Hwy.

copelandsofneworleans.com. MCC,

1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and

59, 809-0308. Great pizza, sandwiches,

ME, RR.

chopped

pasta, fresh homemade bread. Lunch, dinner. mamadspizza.com.

2 T olive oil 4 garlic cloves, minced

Dakota Restaurant, 629 N. Hwy. 190, 892-3712. Contemporary Louisiana

COVINGTON

cuisine using local and seasonal

1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

Acme Oyster House, 1202 Hwy. 190,

ingredients. thedakotarestaurant.com.

246-6155. Established 1910 in New

1 qt vegetable broth

MCC, RR.

Orleans, 1995 on northshore. Seafood,

1 can Rotel tomatoes, original 2 t ground cumin 1 t ground coriander 1 t Tabasco hot sauce

sandwiches, local favorites. Lunch, dinner.

Del Porto Restaurant, 501 E. Boston

mamdspizza.com. MCC.

St., 875-1006. Northern Italian cuisine. delportoristorante.com. MCC, RR.

Albasha, 1958 Hwy. 190, 867-8292.

Mediterranean cuisine. albashabr.com.

Di Martino’s, 700 S. Tyler St., 276-6460.

MCC.

Great food and reasonable prices. Lunch,

1 bay leaf Juice of ½ lime ½ C sour cream 2 scallions, sliced thin

dinner. dimartinos.com. MCC. Annadele’s Plantation, 71518 Chestnut St., 809-7669. Yellow fin tuna, domestic

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, 69292 Hwy. 21,

lamb & much more. annadeles.com.

871-2225. Locally-owned and -operated

MCC, checks.

franchise. Kids eat free on Sundays.

MCC.

Mash one can of beans and set aside. In a large heavy pot, sauté sausage. Add onion, celery, red pepper and jalapeno in olive oil.

Cook until onion is translucent. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add broth, tomatoes, cumin, coriander, hot sauce, bay leaf and remaining beans along with mashed beans. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook 15 minutes on simmer. Discard bay leaf, stir in lime juice.

Serve in individual bowls with a garnish of sour cream and green onion. Serves 6-8.

Bear’s Restaurant, 128 W. 21st St., 892-2373. Best po-boys in the world.

Columbia St., Ste. C, 875-0160.

Blue Hickory BBQ, 570380 Hwy. 21,

Conveniently located next to the new

Ste. 9, 871-4216. Meats smoked on

Covington Courthouse. Italian and

site, handmade sausage; brisket, ribs,

seafood. dicristinas.com. MCC.

chicken, seafood and salads. Drive-thru.

Open 7 days a week. bluehickorybbq.

Don’s Seafood Hut, 126 Lake

com. MCC.

Dr., 327-7111. Lunch and dinner. donsseafoodonline.com. MCC.

Buster’s Place, 519 E. Boston St., 8093880. Seafood, po-boys, steaks. Lunch,

Downtown Deli, 400 N. Thread St.,

dinner. MCC.

234-9086. Chicken salad, burgers and poboys. Mon-Fri, 10:30am-2:30pm.

Carreta’s Grill, 70380 Hwy. 21, 871-6674.

Inside Northside

MCC.

Great Mexican cuisine and margaritas served in a family-friendly atmosphere for lunch

154

DiCristina’s Restaurant, 810 N.

El Portal, 1200 Business 190, 867-5367.

i The English Tea Room, 734 Rutland

Nonna Randazzo’s Italian Bakery

St., 898-3988. Authentic English

and Cafè, 2033 N. Hwy. 190, Ste.

cream teas. Special event teas,

5, 893-1488. Full service, year-round

English scones, crumpets and cakes.

bakery. Luncheon salads, panini, catering,

Serving breakfast and lunch. Mon-Sat,

donuts, kingcakes, cupcakes and

7:30am-6pm. englishtearoom.com.

wedding cakes. Tues-Sun, open at 7am.

MCC, RR.

nonnaskingcakes.com. MCC.

Four Seasons Chinese Buffet, 600 N.

North Island Chinese, 842 N. Collins

Hwy. 190, 893-3866. MCC.

Blvd., 867-8289.

Gallagher’s Grill, 509 S. Tyler St.,

Northshore Empress, 31 Louis Prima

892-9992. Lunch and dinner, Tues-Sat.

Dr., 871-6975. northshoreempress.com.

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gallaghersgrill.com. MCC, RR. Osaka West Japanese Restaurant, Garcia’s Famous Mexican Food, 200

804 N. Hwy. 190, 871-8199.

River Highlands Blvd., 327-7420.

osakawest.com

Isabella’s Pizzeria, 70452 Hwy. 21,

Ox Lot 9, 488 E Boston St., 400-5663.

Ste. 500, 875-7620; 1331 Hwy. 190,

Hotel. Dinner, Sunday brunch. oxlot9.

809-1900. Salads, gourmet pizza,

com. MCC.

sandwiches, paninis, calzones and pasta. isabellaspizzeria.net.

Pardos, 69305 Hwy. 21, 893-3603. An American bistro with a blend of multi-

Italian Pie, 70488 Hwy. 21, 871-5252.

cultural cuisine with local flair. Frutta del

Pizza, salads, pasta, sandwiches. Dine in

mar pasta, rosemary-grilled shrimp,

or carry out. italianpie.com. MCC, checks.

roasted chicken. Lunch, Tues-Fri; Dinner, Tues-Sun; Happy hour, Tues-Fri, 4-7pm.

Jerk’s Island Grill & Daiquiri

Private parties and catering. pardosbistro.

Bar, 70437 Hwy. 21, 893-1380.

com. MCC.

jerksIslandgrill.com.

Pat’s Seafood Market and Cajun Lola, 517 N. New Hampshire St., 892-

Deli, 1248 N. Collins Blvd., 892-7287.

4992. Lunch, Mon-Fri; Dinner, Fri-Sat.

Jambalaya, gumbo, stuffed artichokes.

Closed Sundays. Daily lunch specials, local

MCC, checks, ME.

produce, Louisiana seafood, everything housemade. lolacovington.com.

Peck’s Seafood & Grill, 70457 Hwy. 21, Ste. 108, 892-2121. Po-boys,

Mattina Bella, 421 E. Gibson St., 892-

seafood, burgers and lunch specials.

0708. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. MCC,

MCC.

checks.

PJ’s Coffee & Tea Co., 70456 Hwy. 21, McAlister’s Deli, 206 Lake Dr., Ste. 15,

875-7894. Catch your morning buzz at

898-2800. Great sandwiches, salads,

this convenient drive-thru! Catering. MCC.

overstuffed potatoes. mcalistersdeli.com.

MCC, checks.

Pizza Man of Covington, 1248 N. Collins Blvd., 892-9874. Checks, ME.

Megumi of Covington, 1211 Village Walk, 893-0406. megumirestaurant.net.

Raising Canes, 1270 N. Hwy. 190, 809-0250. Chicken fingers, crinkle-cut

Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers,

fries, coleslaw, texas toast, signature

1645 Hwy. 190, 327-5407. Salads,

secret dipping sauce. Dine-in, to-go and

pizzas, calzones. 20 craft beers on tap.

catering. MCC.

Open 7 days a week. Lunch and dinner.

MCC. mellowmushroom.com.

Renaissance Antiques & Gifts with the Original Soda Fountain & Café

Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, 104 Lake

Cabaret, 322 N. Florida St., 892-7220.

Dr. #1, 898-6362. menchies.com.

Nostalgic soda fountain for lunch and after school, six days a week.

New Orleans Food and Spirits, 208 Lee Ln., 875-0432. Grilled fish,

Sake 21 Japanese Restaurant, 70340

smothered rabbit and voodoo crawfish

Hwy. 21, 809-2640.

rolls. Family owned and operated. neworleansfoodspirits.com. MCC.

Sala Thai, 315 N. Vermont St., 249-

6990. Special salads, spring rolls, soups, >>

January-February 2015 155

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noodle and curry dishes. Sun-Thurs,

190, 892-9691. Wings, burgers, wraps

11am-9pm; Fri-Sat, 11am-10pm.

and more. MCC.

Contemporary delights. topela.com. MCC. Jacmel Inn, 903 E. Morris St., 5420043. Catering, special events, weddings.

Trey Yuen Cuisine of China, 2100 N.

Yujin Japanese Restaurant and Sushi

Casual fine dining, chargrilled steaks, gulf

Morrison Blvd., 345-6789. Innovative

Bar, 323 N. New Hampshire St., 809-

fish, fresh seafood, house specialties.

quality Chinese food served in Imperial

Sweet Daddy’s, 420 S. Tyler St.,

3840. Japanese cuisine and sushi in a

jacmelinn.com. MCC, checks.

surroundings. treyyuen.com. MCC,

898-2166. Pulled pork, brisket and ribs.

casual atmosphere. MCC.

Lunch buffet weekdays, 11am-3pm. salathaibysu.com. MCC.

Thai Chili, 1102 N. Hwy. 190, 809-0180.

checks.

Kirin Sushi, 221 E. Cate St., 542-

sweetdaddysbarbq.com. MCC, ME. Zea Rotisserie & Grill, 110 Lake Dr.,

8888. First Japanese sushi restaurant in

VooDoo BBQ & Grill, 2108 W. Thomas

327-0520. Inspired American food.

Hammond! Dragon roll, Kirin roll, sake.

St., 345-1131. “Taste our Magic.”

zearestaurants.com. MCC.

kirinjapanesecuisine.com. MCC.

voodoobbq.com. MCC.

Thai Spice, 1581 N. Hwy. 190, 809La Carreta Authentic Mexican

Yellow Bird Café, 222 E. Charles St.,

Adobe Cantina & Salsa, 1905

HAMMOND

Cuisine, 108 N.W Railroad Ave., 419-

345-1112. A great place to start your

Thai Taste, 1005 N. Collins Blvd.,

W. Thomas St., 419-0027. Fine

9990. Festive Mexican atmosphere, fresh

day. Breakfast, lunch. MCC, checks.

809-7886.

Mexican cuisine, good spirits, great

food from traditional recipes, outstanding

6483.

LACOMBE

friends and fun. Ceviche (marinated

service and value. Live music. Lunch

Tony Bosco’s at TerraBella, 141

fish) and Mexican pasta. Live band.

and dinner seven days a week.

Janie Brown’s Restaurant, 27207

TerraBella Blvd., 612-7250. Authentic

adoberestaurant.com. MCC.

carretarestaurant.com. MCC.

Hwy. 190, 882-7201. Casual dining with

Brady’s, 110 SW Railroad Ave., 542-

Old MacDonald’s Smokehouse,

6333. bradysdowntown.com.

1601 N. Morrison Blvd., 542-7529.

La Provence Restaurant, 25020

BBQ brisket, ribs, chicken and

Hwy. 190, 626-7662. Owner John Besh

Italian cuisine. Lunch, dinner, private meeting room, catering. tonyboscos.com.

a great atmosphere. MCC, checks.

Vasquez Seafood & Po-Boys, 515 E. Boston St., 893-9336. Cuban

Cocoa Bean Bakery and Cafe,

sausage. oldmacdonaldsmokehouse.

combines hospitality with French cuisine

sandwiches and more. vazquezpoboy.

910 E. Main St., 345-2002.

com. MCC, checks.

and welcoming hearths. Dinner, Sunday

com. MCC, checks, ME.

Specialty cakes, pastries. Serving

Winos and Tacos, a 321 N. Columbia

Tommy’s on Thomas, 216 W. Thomas

thecocoabeanbakery.com. MCC.

St., 350-6100. Pizza, pastas. Lunch,

St., 809-3029. Fresh, innovative cuisine

by Chef Joel Brown. MCC.

brunch. laprovencerestaurant.com. MCC,

breakfast and light lunch. Specials.

Don’s Seafood & Steak House,

dinner. tommysonthomas.com. MCC,

Sal & Judy’s, 27491 Hwy. 190,

checks.

882-9443. Great food and line of retail products. Family-owned for 27

1915 S. Morrison Blvd., 345-8550.

WOW Café & Wingery, 501 N. Hwy.

156

Inside Northside

donsseafoodonline.com. MCC.

checks. RR.

Tope là, 104 N. Cate St., 542-7600.

years. Veal is the house specialty.

i salandjudys.com. MCC, RR.

Ln., 626-4557. Traditional New Orleans

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5375. countrykitchenrestaurants.com.

giosvillavancheri.com. MCC. RR.

Fat Spoon Café, 68480 Hwy. 59.,

Hong Kong Restaurant, 2890 E.

809-2929. Breakfast, lunch, Tues-

Causeway App., 626-8222. MCC.

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cuisine. Dinner, Sunday brunch.

MADISONVILLE

benedictsplantation.net. MCC.

Hook’d Up Riverside Bar and Grill, 100 Marina Del Ray Dr., 845-8119.

Bosco’s Italian Café, 2040 Hwy. 59,

Sun. 7am-2pm. Breakfast served until

Burgers, wings, hot dogs and specials.

624-5066. boscositalian.com.

10:30am on weekdays and all day

Isabella’s Pizzeria, 2660 Florida

Saturday and Sunday. Reserve Fat Spoon

St. (in the Florida Street Market),

Keith Young’s Steakhouse, 165 Hwy.

Broken Egg Café, 200 Gerard St.,

Cafe for your next party. fatspooncafe.

674-5700. Salads, gourmet pizza,

21, 845-9940. Steak, crab cakes. Lunch,

231-7125. Excellent choice for brunch!

com. MCC.

sandwiches, paninis, calzones and pasta.

dinner, Tues-Fri. keithyoungs.net. MCC.

Pasta, specialty salads, sandwiches. anotherbrokenegg.com. MCC.

Morton’s Boiled Seafood & Bar,

isabellapizzeria.net.

Fazzio’s Seafood & Steakhouse, 1841 N. Causeway Blvd., 624-9704. Fresh fish

Italian Pie, 4350 Hwy. 22, 626-5252.

702 Water St., 845-4970. Relaxed

Café Lynn Restaurant and Catering,

daily, aged beef, traditional Italian. Lunch,

Pizza, salads, pasta, sandwiches. Dine in

atmosphere, seafood, daily specials.

2600 Florida St., 624-9007. Casual fine

dinner. fazziosrestaurant.com. MCC,

or carry out. italianpie.com. MCC, checks.

Lunch, dinner. MCC, checks.

dining for lunch, dinner and Sunday

ME, RR. Joyce and Johnny’s, 1461 N.

brunch by Chef Joey Najolia. Tues-Fri, Water St. Bistro, 804 Water St.,

lunch: 11am-3pm. Dinner, 5pm. Catering

Franco’s Grill,100 Bon Temps Roule,

Causeway Blvd., Ste. 11, 727-7727.

845-3855. Casual ambiance on the

provided. cafelynn.com. MCC.

792-0200. Fresh organic foods for

Soups, salads, stuffed potatoes,

breakfast, lunch and takeout. myfrancos.

sandwiches, po-boys.

Tchefuncte. Lunch and dinner, Wed-Sun. mortonsseafood.com. MCC.

Chili’s Bar & Grill, 3420 Hwy. 190, 727-

com/dining. MCC. Jubilee Restaurant and Courtyard,

2771. Fajitas and the Awesome Blossom.

MANDEVILLE

Lunch, dinner. chilis.com. MCC, ME.

The Barley Oak, 2101 Lakeshore Dr.,

George’s Mexican Restaurant, 1461

301 Lafitte St., 778-2552. Contemporary

N. Causeway Blvd., 626-4342. Family

Louisiana cuisine for dinner, lunch by

727-7420. Serving 130 styles of beer, call

Coffee Rani, 3517 Hwy. 190, 674-0560.

owned. Fajitas, George’s nachos, Carne

Chef Tory Stewart. Casual fine dining,

and premium liquors. Lunch and dinner.

Soup and salad specialists.

al la Parrilla. Best top-shelf margaritas in

daily lunch/dinner specials, private events,

town. georgesmexicanrestaurant.com.

catering. jubileerestaurantcourtyard.com.

thebarleyoak.com. MCC. Coscino’s Pizza, 1817 N. Causeway

MCC, ME.

Bear’s Grill & Spirits, 4700 Hwy. 22,

Blvd., 727-4984. New York hand-tossed

674-9090. Bear’s po-boys and more.

pizza and Italian foods cooked on stone

Gio’s Villa Vancheri, 2890 E.

Featuring Louisiana seafood with

bearsgrillandspirits.com. MCC.

using the finest ingredients. MCC.

Causeway App., 624-2597. Sicilian

raw oysters 1/2 price on Tuesdays.

specialties by 5-star chef Gio

Express lunch and daily lunch specials

Vancheri. Lunch and dinner, Mon-Sat.

under $10. Mon-Thurs, 11am-9pm; >>

Benedict’s Plantation, 1144 Lovers

Country Kitchen, 2109 Florida St., 626-

K. Gee’s, 2534 Florida St., 626-0530.

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American cuisine with fresh, local

com. MCC.

ingredients. Family-friendly atmosphere.

Lunch and dinner. Closed Tuesdays.

La Carreta Authentic Mexican Cuisine, 1200 W. Causeway App., 624-

Petunia’s Place, 2020 Hwy. 59, 674-

2990. Festive Mexican atmosphere, fresh

3436. petuniasplace.com.

food from traditional recipes, outstanding service and value. Live music. Lunch

Pinkberry, 3460 Hwy. 190, 612-7306.

and dinner seven days a week.

Pinkberry is the original tart frozen yogurt

carretasrestaurant.com. MCC.

that is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy paired with high quality, fresh

La Madeleine French Cafe, 3434 Hwy.

cut fruit and premium dry toppings.

190, 626-7004. lamadeleine.com.

pinkberry.com.

The Lakehouse, 2025 Lakeshore

PJ’s Coffee & Tea Co., 2963 Hwy.

Dr., 626-3006, events 778-2045.

190, 674-1565. Catch your morning buzz

Restaurant open. Call for reservations.

at the convenient drive-thru! Catering.

lakehousecuisine.com. MCC.

pjscoffee.com. MCC.

Little Tokyo, 590 Asbury Dr.,

Raising Canes, 3801 Hwy. 22, 674-

727-1532. littletokyosushi.com.

2042. Chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw, texas toast, signature secret

Louie & The Redhead Lady,

dipping sauce. Dine-in, to-go and

2820 E. Causeway App., 626-6044.

catering. MCC.

louieandtheredheadlady.com.

Rip’s on the Lake, 1917 Lakeshore Dr., Macaroni Grill, 3410 Hwy. 190, 727-

727-2829.

1998. Penne rustica, pasta Milano, other Italian favorites. Lunch, dinner.

Ristorante Carmelo & Pizzaria, 1901

macaronigrill.com. MCC, ME.

Hwy. 190, 624-4844. Family-oriented Italian cuisine. Lunch and dinner. MCC.

Mande’s, 340 N. Causeway App., 6269047. Serving breakfast and lunch, daily

Rusty Pelican, 500 Girod

specials.

St., 778-0364. Lunch, dinner. rustypelicanbythelake.com. MCC.

Mandina’s, 4240 Hwy. 22 in Azalea Square Shopping Center,

Sake Gardens Japanese Restaurant,

674-9883. Seafood, Creole and

1705 Hwy. 190, 624-8955.

Italian. Lunch and dinner, Mon-Sat. mandinasrestaurant.com.

Sesame Inn, 408 N. Causeway Blvd., 951-8888. Finest Chinese cuisine.

Megumi Japanese Cuisine, 4700 Hwy. 22, Suites 11 and 12, 845-1644.

The Scotts’ Coffee Bar, 201 Carroll St.,

Yakimono and sushi bar. Lunch, dinner.

231-7632. Open seven days. Gourmet

megumirestaurant.com.

coffee & tea. Breakfast and lunch items available. Evening tapas menu - Fri and

MiMamacita’s New Mexican Cuisine,

Sat, 6-10. thescottscoffeebar.com.

2345 Florida St., 674-1400. Great food and margaritas. Lunch, dinner, catering. MCC.

Smoothie King, 1830 W. Causeway App., 626-9159. Smoothies.

Monster Po-Boys, 1814 N. Causeway

smoothieking.com. MCC, checks.

App., 626-9183. Lunch, dinner.

Taqueria Noria, 1931 Hwy. 59, 727N’Tini’s, 2891 N. Hwy. 190, 626-5566.

7917. Lunch, dinner.

Steaks, martinis. Lunch specials. Mon.Sat. ntinis.com. MCC.

Times Bar & Grill, 1896 N. Causeway Blvd., 626-1161. Famous hamburgers,

Nuvolari’s, 246 Girod St., 626-5619.

starters, steaks and more. Lunch, dinner.

In Old Mandeville. Italian cuisine for fine

timesgrill.com. ME, MCC.

dining daily for dinner or special events.

MCC. nuvolaris.com.

Trey Yuen Cuisine of China, 600 N. Causeway Blvd., 626-4476. Quality

158

Inside Northside

The Old Rail Brewing Company,

China cuisine with Louisiana flair. Lunch,

639 Girod St., 612-1828. Homemade

dinner. treyyuen.com. MCC, checks.

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g

dinner. kysoldetowne.com. MCC, checks.

Vianne’s Tea House, 544 Girod St., 624-5683. A full café menu with over 120

La. Pines, 1061 Robert St., 641-

loose leaf and speciality teas. Breakfast,

6196. Meet under the water tower for

lunch. viannes.com. MCC.

Ahhhfull-waffles, Sugar Watcher specials.

Breakfast, lunch. lapinescafe.com. MCC,

VooDoo BBQ & Grill, 2999 Hwy.

checks.

190 E., 629-2021. “Taste our Magic.” voodoobbq.com. MCC.

Michael’s, 4820 Pontchartrain Dr., 649-8055. Steaks, seafood, veal, duck,

PONCHATOULA Middendorf’s Seafood Restaurant,

eggplant au gratin. Extensive wine selection. Dinner.

30160 Hwy. 51, 386-6666. middendorfsrestaurant.com.

Nathan’s Restaurant, 36440 Old Bayou Liberty Rd., 643-0443. Waterfront dining

La Carreta Authentic Mexican

featuring seafood, steaks and pasta. MCC.

Cuisine, 147 N.W. Railroad Ave., 370-0930. Festive Mexican atmosphere,

Nola Southern Grill, 1375 Gause Blvd.,

fresh food from traditional recipes,

201-8200. Burgers, ribs, steaks, pasta,

outstanding service and value. Live music.

sandwiches and seafood. MCC.

Lunch and dinner seven days a week. carretarestaurant.com. MCC.

Palmettos on the Bayou, 1901 Bayou Ln., 643-0050.

Taste of Bavaria Restaurant &

palmettosrestaurantslidell.com.

Bakery, 14476 Hwy. 22, 386-3634.

Charming Bavarian bungalow, European-

Peck’s Seafood Restaurant, 2315

style breakfast, German-style lunch.

Gause Blvd. E., 781-7272. Po-boys,

tasteofbavariastaurant.com. MCC, checks.

seafood, burgers and lunch specials. MCC.

SLIDELL

Smoothie King, 150 Northshore

A Touch of Italy Café, 134 Pennsylvania

Blvd., 781-3456. Low-fat health drinks.

Ave., 639-0600. Seafood, veal,

smoothieking.com. MCC, checks.

steaks, daily specials. Lunch, dinner. kathrynandcompany.com. MCC, checks.

Tacos and Beer, 2142 Front St., 6414969. Lunch, dinner and late-night.

Assunta’s, 2631 Hwy. 190 W., 6499768. Italian food, extensive wine

Times Bar & Grill, 1827 Front St.,

selection. Dinner. assuntas.com. MCC,

639-3335. Famous hamburgers,

checks.

starters, steaks and more. Lunch, dinner. timesgrill.com. ME, MCC.

Bear’s Grill & Spirits, 550 Gause Blvd., 201-8905. Po-boys and more.

The Wine Market, 2051 E. Gause

bearsgrillandspirits.com. MCC.

Blvd., 781-1177. Deli restaurant, lunch, 11am-3pm. Sandwiches, soups, salads,

Sapphire, 2306 Front St., 288-4166.

wraps. MCC and checks.

Sunday brunch, live entertainment, fine wines and spirits. Open seven days a week. bistrodelareine.com. MCC.

NEW ORLEANS/SOUTHSHORE Café Giovanni, 117 Rue Decatur, (504)-529-2154. Dinner, Sun-Thurs,

Bonnie C’s, 1768 Front St., 288-

5:30-10pm. Fri-Sat, 5:30-11pm. Live

5061. Home-style Italian, seafood, and

Entertainment Wed, Thurs, and Friday

barbecue.

Evenings. . Cafegiovanni.com. RR.

Camellia Cafe, 525 Hwy. 190, 649-6211.

Criollo Resturant and Lounge at Hotel

Traditional seafood and New Orleans

Monteleone, 214 Royal St., (504)-523-

cuisine. thecamelliacafe.com. MCC.

3340. hotelmonteleone.com/criollo/.

MCC, RR.

Carreta’s Grill, 137 Taos St., 847-0020.

Great Mexican cuisine and margaritas served

Restaurant R’evolution, 777 Bienville

in a family-friendly atmosphere for lunch and

St., (504)-553-2277. Located at the

dinner. carretasgrill.com. MCC.

Royal Sonesta Hotel. Offering modern, imaginative reinterpretations of classic

KY’s Olde Towne Bicycle Shop, 2267

Cajun and Creole Cuisine. Triptych of

Carey St., 641-1911. Casual dining in

Quail and Oysterman’s spaghettini.

former bicycle shop. Kids’ menu. Lunch,

Revolutionnola.com. RR.

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Directory of Advertisers ADVERTISER...........................CONTACT INFO PAGE 10/12 Properties........................985-626-8200 75

ADVERTISER...........................CONTACT INFO PAGE Emma’s Shoes and Accessories...985-778-2200 93

ADVERTISER...........................CONTACT INFO PAGE New York Life, Michael Mire.......985-246-6188 67

Agena, Dr. Gary M. - OBGYN......985-845-7121 28

Etan Enterprises.........................985-966-7042 60

Niche Modern Home..................985-624-4045 17

All American Healthcare.............985-893-2223 HL-15

Fazzio’s Restaurant & Bar...........985-624-9704 155

Nonna Randazzo’s Bakery..........985-893-1488 89

Al’s Plumbing Co........................985-845-9390 69

Fertility Institute..................fertilityinstitute.com HL-6

North American Insurance Agency....985-871-5480 59

American Factory Direct Furniture...985-871-0300 42

Fidelity Homestead.....................800-220-2497 35

North Oaks Health System..........985-230-5725 135

Arabella Fine Gifts and Home Décor.................

Fielding Photography..................985-626-7549 144

North Shore Square....................985-646-0661 11

.................................................985-727-9787 87

Fitness Expo...............................504-887-0880 46

Northshore Dermatology ...........985-792-5959 HL-14

Armbruster Artworks Studio........985-630-6295 89

Fleurt.........................................985-809-8844 29

Northshore Harbor Center..........985-781-3650 143

Artistry of Light..........................225-247-8963 4

Florist of Covington....................985-892-7701 33

Nuvolari’s...........985-542-0043, 985-626-5619 157

Asset One..................................985-727-2834 138

Four Points by Sheraton French Quarter....888-627-7596 50

Oasis Day Spa, The.....................985-624-6772 147

Bantings Nursery........................985-882-5550 50

Franco’s Athletic Club.................985-792-0200 BC

Oil & Vinegar..............................985-809-1693 84

Barley Oak, The..........................985-727-7420 8

french mix, the...........................985-809-3152 33

Old Rail Brewing Company, The.....985-612-1828 8

Basics Underneath.....................985-727-9521 97

Glenn Michael Salon..................504-828-6848 21

Olive Patch............................... olive-patch.com 94

Beau Provence memory Care Assisted Living.....

GNO Property Management.......504-528-7028 71

Outdoor Living Center................985-893-8008 42

...........................................BeauProvence.com 105

Gulf States Real Estate Services/ Ironwood Subdivision

Paisley.......................................985-727-7880 98

Bella Cucina...............................985-626-7886 83

.................................................985-792-4385 34

Palatial Stone & Tile....................985-249-6868 12

Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights.......985-249-6040 9

Hazelnut....................................985-626-8900 65

Palm Village...............................985-778-2547 101

Bisso Towboat Company.............504-861-1411 76

Hestia Luxury in Linens...............985-893-0490 83

Pan American Power...................985-893-1271 142

Blue Williams LLP.......................985-626-0058 53

Hospice Compassus....................985-639-8000 5

Paretti Jaguar.............................504-455-2101 24

Bora Bora...................................985-951-8454 98

Infusé Oils & Vinegars................985-778-0903 29

Party Cup Express.......................504-835-5465 156

Boudreaux’s Fine Jewelers..........985-626-1666 16

Integrity Builders, Inc..................985-626-3479 32

Pelican Athletic Club...................985-626-3706 HL-16

Bra la Vie!..................................985-662-5065 147

Istre Hearing Care......................985-845-3509 HL-10

Personal Care MD......................985-778-2330 HL-11

Braud and Gallagher..................985-778-0771 84

JaRoy Pest Control......................985-892-6882 51

Planet Kids Academy..................985-845-0377 107

Brooks & Associates...................504-491-4921 160

Jill Gibson, MD, LLC....................985-898-5990 108

Pontchartrain Hematology & Oncology... 985-875-1202 HL-12

Broussard’s................................504-581-3866 13

Jos. A. Bank................................985-624-4067 101

POSH Boutique..........................985-898-2639 97

brown eyed girl..........................985-626-0100 93

Jubilee Restaurant & Courtyard...985-778-2552 156

Private Beach.............................985-674-2326 98

Brown Family Orthodontics.........985-626-8297 27

JuJu’s Boutique..........................985-624-3600 101

Protect Painters..........................877-212-4071 69

Business First Bank Northshore...985-624-4501 53

K. Gee’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar....985-626-0530 159

Rehab Dynamics LLC..................985-871-7878 56

Café Lynn Restaurant & Catering....985-624-9007 159

Khoobehi and Associates............. khoobehi.com 15

Resource Bank.................. bankonresource.com 60

California Drawstrings Northshore....985-327-7300 97

Knight Integrative Medicine........985-867-5516 79

Rick’s Professional Painting Service....985-845-0533 160

Cameo Boutique........................985-231-1332 93

La Bella Vita Laser & Vein...........985-892-2950 51

Rug Chic....................................985-674-1070 28

Candra George-My Creative Reality....985-871-6990 87

Lake After Hours.........................985-375-9979 59

St. Paul’s School.........................985-892-3200 103

Carreta’s Grill............985-871-6674, 847-0020 81

Lakehouse, The...........................985-626-3006 158

St. Romain Interiors....................985-845-7411 83

Cedarwood School.....................985-845-7111 89

Lakeview Regional Medical Center...866-452-5384 IBC

St. Scholstica Academy...............985-892-2540 65

Champagne Jewelers.................985-643-2599 27

LCI Workers Comp......................985-612-1230 66

Schenck Dental Wellness............985-626-4807 HL-7

Children’s Museum of St. Tammany.... cmstkids.com 75

Lee Michaels Jewelers......................... lmfj.com 2-3

Scotts’ Coffee & Tapas Bar, The...985-231-7632 155

Chris Wynne Designs.....chriswynnedesigns.tumblr.com 160

Louisiana Custom Closets...........985-871-0810 145

Sculpting Center of N.O..............504-309-9456 109

Christ Episcopal School...............985-871-9902 91

Louisiana Family Eyecare............985-875-7898 32

Shademakers Nursery, Inc...........985-748-4029 19

Columbia Street Mercantile........985-809-1789 94

Louisiana Heart Hospital.......louisianaheart.com 23,HL-13

Shoefflé........................................ shoeffle.com 94

Community Center at Christwood ....christwoodrc.com HL-2

Louisiana Tax Free......................504-458-8258 61

Sinfonia Gulf Coast............sinfoniagulcoast.org 103

Covington Dental Care...............985-892-2273 70

Lowe’s Jewelers.........................985-845-4653 56

Skin Science..........................skinsciencelle.com HL-4

Creative Network Solutions........985-377-9488 76

Mainstream Boutique.................985-674-6600 101

Southern Bridal..........................985-727-2993 147

Culinary Connection...................985-727-5553 160

Maison Lafitte............................985-807-5014 158

State Farm Insurance, C J Ladner.....985-892-5030 84

Cystic Fibrosis - Louisiana...........504-455-5194 61

Mandeville Animal Hospital........985-377-0800 160

Sterling Surgical Hospital......sterlingsurgical.net HL-12,139

DA Exterminating.......................504-888-4941 70

Mandeville Party Co....................985-674-1605 49

Stone Creek Club and Spa..........985-801-7100 6

De Boscq Jewelry.......................985-674-0007 140

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.....marybird.org/stph 46

Stone Source..............................985-892-0695 111

deCoeur..........................................decoeur.net 94

Mass Mutual - Louisiana............985-373-0134 30

TerraBella...................................985-871-7171 31

Deleon and Sons........................504-628-1363 160

mélange by KP...........................985-871-0810 87

Villa, The....................................985-626-9797 97

DeLuca’s Expressions in Gold......985-892-2317 147

Mellow Mushroom.....................985-327-5407 109

Water Street Wreaths.................985-792-7979 160

Designs in Windows...................985-209-1689 83

Mercedes-Benz of New Orleans....504-456-3727 7

Weimer, DDS, Patrick..................985-727-1800 HL-8-9

DivorceCare...............................985-727-9200 81

Metlife Premier Client Group......985-969-0591 49

West Feliciana Parish Tourist Commission..........

Dr. Burkenstock, Skin Body Health...985-237-1960 92

Mia Sorella.................................985-781-3909 93

.................................................225-635-6769 111

Dugas Pest Control.....................225-291-3511 91

Money Hill Golf and Country Club..985-892-3300 18

Windsor Senior Living Community, The..............

Earthsavers................................985-674-1133 105

Monmouth Historic Inn..................601-442-5852 78

.................................................985-624-8040 24

EMB Interiors.............................985-626-1522 84

Natchez Grand Hotel, The ..........601-446-9994 78

Witt, Dr. Victoria.........................985-643-5145 87 January-February 2015 161

Last Bite

Nonna Randazzo’s Italian Bakery and Caffé

by Poki Hampton

FOR 50 YEARS, the Randazzos have kept to their Italian tradition of using only the finest quality ingredients for their pastries, pies, cakes and breads. They have also kept to the New Orleans tradition of fun and delicious king cakes. “The original Randazzo’s Bakery opened in 1965 in St. Bernard Parish and started baking king cakes soon afterwards,” says Joel Randazzo Forjet. Joel is the daughter of Lawrence Randazzo, one of the original owners. She and her husband, Felix E. Forjet, opened Nonna Randazzo’s Italian Bakery and Caffé in Covington in September 2006.

While the official beginning of king cake season is January 6, Nonna Randazzo’s hand-braids and bakes king cakes yearround. The original Randazzo king cake has traditional cinnamon dough, but can be filled with one of their many flavors, including pecan praline, cream cheese or strawberry cream cheese.

Nonna Randazzo’s decorates king cakes beautifully for any season or event. Purple and gold for those Tigers, black and gold for those Saints and, of course, purple, green and gold for the traditional Mardi Gras cake.

Felix has been with Randazzo’s since high school in 1986 and has prepared Randazzo king cakes for more than 25 years.

162

Inside Northside

photo: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

Felix E. Forjet and Joel Randazzo Forjet.

photo: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

Nonna Randazzo’s Italian Bakery and Caffé is located at 2033 N. Hwy. 190 in Covington, 893-1488. nonnaskingcakes.com.