September-October 2016 Issue of Inside Northside Magazine by Inside Publications

450

PALETTE 2 PALATE • SAFE HAVEN PROJECT • CULTURAL GUIDE • BED AND BREAKFASTS

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2016 VOL. 31, NO. 5

JLGC Designer Showhouse

September-October 2016

Vol. 31, No. 5

Publisher Lori Murphy –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Editor-in-Chief Anne Honeywell Senior Editor Jan Murphy Managing Editor Leah Draffen Editorial Intern Ellen Thomas Contributors are featured on page 16. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Art Director Brad Growden Graphic Designer Jennifer Starkey –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Business Manager Jane Quillin Senior Account Executives Poki Hampton Candice Laizer Barbara Roscoe Account Executives Barbara Bossier Kim Camet Jonée Daigle-Ferrand Amy Taylor Advertising Coordinator Margaret Rivera –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 Artist James Michalopoulos Bales of Rails

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 ©2016 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.

Inside Northside

page 34

contents table of

page 77

Features 18 Man in Motion Cover Artist James Michalopoulos 34

page 96

Northshore Designer Showhouse VII The Junior League of Greater Covington

47 Palette 2 Palate A Supper of the Senses 52 2016-17 Cultural Season 62 Generous Hearts Generous Partners 68 Learning to Live with Dementia 91 Christwood Celebrating 20 Years 94 Harvest Cup Polo Classic 20th Anniversary A Beautiful Mission and Beautiful Jewelry 96 Rhythm and Brews Brian â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bruiserâ&#x20AC;? Broussard 107 United Way Day of Action 113 The Saints at 50 18 A Sampling of Bed 1 and Breakfast Hospitality

page 118 8

Inside Northside

26 All About the Animals 1 St. Tammany Humane Shelter

contents table of

page 83

Departments 12 Publisher’s Note 14 Editor’s Note 14 Reader Resources 16 Contributors 24 INside Scoop 60 Traces Wild Things A Celebration of National Wildlife Refuge Week

136 INside Peek Featuring Southern Nights Rendezvous on the River United Way Red Beans & Rice Cook-Offs St. Tammany Fishing Pier Mural Dedication You Night St. Tammany A Toast on the Coast Grapes & Grain

66 Traces 146 Last Bite Elle Sullivan The Perfect Polo Pimm’s Cup Barrel Racing Champion 74 IN the Bookcase The Time of Our Lives, by Peggy Noonan 77 Flourishes Extraordinary gifts and home accents 83 INside Look Black & White & Green All Over 128 IN Development The Safe Haven Project 31 At the Table 1 The State of Mexican Cookery on the Northshore 133 INside Dining

page 146

Harvest Cup Polo Classic turns 20! by Lori Murphy

photo: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

The first time I stepped on the grounds of a polo field, I was speechless. The enormity is hard to imagine if you have never been, and it really doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come into focus

until you see the magnificent horses owning every square inch. The polo ponies need the room to break out of the pack, the riders need the space to swing mallets; the short barrier that encloses the grand space is just tall enough to contain the ball but not block the view. It is the perfect board on which to play the Game of Kings. This fall, the Junior League of Greater Covington is hosting the 20th Annual Harvest Cup Polo Classic. It will, once again, be the primary source of funding for the many community outreach projects of the league. Though the host committee is made up of JLGC membership, the tents on that day will be filled with people from across the northshore and the region. It has become a party with a purpose that most who have attended in the past simply would not miss!

The JLGC Harvest Cup Polo

Classic Committee.

photo: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

The northshore is blessed to have a thriving and generous equestrian community in our midst. The players are members of the local New Orleans Polo Club, and they bring their expertise and their mounts to Summergrove Farm for the match. Without them, this event would not be possible. Inside Publications will be under the tents at the Harvest Cup Polo Classic on November 6 to show our support and gratitude. I hope you will save the date and join us!!

psâ&#x20AC;Ś A special note of thanks for the friendships polo has brought to me over the years, most notably Jennifer Rice, who introduced me to the sport; David Fennelly and Carlos Sanchez, whose farm hosts the match; and Chad Berg of Lee Michaels, with whom I enjoy a competitive rivalry on the polo field. Thank you to the members of the Junior League of Greater Covington for bringing us all together!

Inside Northside

Inside Northside is proud to partner with

the Junior League of Greater Covington.

Editor’s Note by Anne Honeywell As an Inside Northside editor, I meet and work with many interesting and accomplished people in the northshore community. Artists, philanthropists, businessmen and women—and, while compiling this issue, some of the amazing women of the Junior League of Greater Covington. Inside Northside has been a community partner for JLGC’s Harvest Cup Polo Classic for many years. We are proud of our support for the league, its mission and its fundraisers and are looking forward to broadening our commitment beyond the Polo Classic, beginning with this issue. On page 34, we feature the spectacular JLGC Northshore Designer Showhouse VII in The Sanctuary in Mandeville, which will be open for tours September 8-11 and 15-18. Don’t miss it. The eclectic mix of designers and their talents is on full display in the beautiful home by Forshag Construction. Be on the lookout for those one-of-a-kind touches only a custom build can offer—the attention to detail is incredible. The JLGC did an outstanding job with this project, and you can rest assured that the funds generated will go to a good place. Just a glance at the Table of JLGC President Molly Burns,

Fund Development

Vice President Abby Dumatrai t and Showhouse Chair Phoebe Whealdon.

Contents will tell you that this issue is filled with many more stories of wonderful, giving people and

the good they do for our community with organizations such as the St. Tammany Humane Shelter, United Way, St. Tammany Art Association, the partners of the Northshore Community Foundation and groups working to alleviate Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s. And now is the time to fill out your calendar with selections from the 2016-2017 Cultural Season Guide on page 52!

ps…To learn more about JLGC’s mission and its next big event, the 20th Anniversary Harvest Cup Polo Classic on November 6, see page 94.

Inside Northside is proud to partner with

the Junior League of Greater Covington.

Contributors

photo: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

Our contributors give Inside Northside its voice, its personality and its feel. Here we are proud to highlight a few of them so that you can put a face with a name and get to know them.

Tom Fitzmorris Tom Fitzmorris grew up in Treme, ate red beans every Monday from his Creole-French mother until he left home. Not long after that, he began writing a weekly restaurant review column that has continued 42 years. In 1975, he began a daily radio feature, which grew into his current three-hour daily talk show on 1350, 3WL. He is the author of several cookbooks, more than a dozen restaurant guidebooks, a daily online newsletter (nomenu. com), and joins us At the Table on page 131.

Leah Draffen

Candra George

Ann Gilbert

Sandra Scalise Juneau

Leah Draffen, managing editor at Inside Northside, knew that she wanted to write after reading her first inspirational article in Seventeen magazine. As a child, Leah enjoyed poetry competitions, creative writing and collecting magazine clippings. Throughout college, she wrote for many Louisiana publications, including Scene and inRegister. Leah earned a bachelor’s degree from LSU in mass communications with a concentration in print journalism. She loves sharing stories and advice on her personal blog while enjoying life as a newlywed. For this issue, Leah has written several articles, including the story of Brian “Bruiser” Broussard (page 96).

Candra George is a wife, mother, travel junkie and collector of all things vintage and shiny. She’s been a professional photographer since 2007, and has been blessed to work with some of the best in the industry. When Candra isn’t traveling and shooting, she spends her days at home, attempting to take photos of her messy toddler and stubborn French bulldog. In this issue, Candra’s photography accompanies several articles, including Cover Artist James Michalopoulos on page 18.

Ann Gilbert has been a contributor to Inside Northside for many years. Her career as a lifestyle, arts and entertainment editor for 30 years has been recognized with awards in writing, editing and design, but it is her passion for history that has graced IN’s pages most often. In this issue, she writes about some of the local bed-andbreakfasts (page 118). Ann and her husband, Gene, enjoy summer vacations at their log cabin in the North Carolina mountains.

Freelance writer Sandra Scalise Juneau continues her many years of writing for Inside Northside. Sandra’s passions as a culinary arts historian and cultural/community events coordinator and fundraiser keep her involved. She 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, have been married for over 50 years. On page 68, she writes about a disease called Lewy body dementia.

Inside Northside

Other Voices: Gretchen Armbruster, Bert Bartlett, Susan Bonnett, Linda Dautreuil, Byron Fortier, Karen Gibbs, Thomas B. Growden, Margaret Mashburn, Missy Romagosa, Terri Schlichenmeyer and Ellen Thomas.

Man in Motion by Linda Dautreuill

Inside Northside

Cover Artist James Michalopoulos

Inside Northside is proud to partner with

the Junior League of Greater Covington.

photos: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

JAMES MICHALOPOULOS GARNERS ATTENTION for a wide range of endeavors he has pursued over many years. Distinguishing him from almost everyone else with such a high profile is the set of skills he brings to his roles as international artist and cultural entrepreneur. Much has been written about his unusual path to success, but to hear him tell it seems like a journey we have heard proscribed before. Perhaps success stories always sound easy, but few are simply a matter of luck. In the case of Michalopoulos, his tendency to follow whatever interests him serves him well. The result of intense curiosity combined with a willingness to work hard while navigating the channels from bottom to top has been a winning combination. Self-taught is a term in the arts that generally refers to an individual with little formal instruction informing their process. It’s a very broad category, but those who impact their audience project an authentic style easily recognized, not because of its subject matter, but because of the emotional content. Michalopoulos brings a particular point of view to his work that is at once personal and universal. In an interview for Inside Northside in 2012, Stephen Faure comments, “Michalopoulos keeps mastering new subject matter and new media after many years and many paintings, all the while keeping the work fresh and interesting to buyers. He remains emotionally invested, and cares deeply about creating each piece of his art.” One intriguing detail of his early career in the visual arts lies in his pursuit of “the life of a modernday itinerate artist, traveling throughout the South capturing its unexpected everyday exotica in his paintings.” Itinerant painters traveled throughout the South in the nineteenth century producing portraits of wealthy landowners, regional landscapes and unique qualities of light. With a bachelor of arts degree from Bowdoin College in Maine, Michalopoulos headed South too, perhaps seeking the light as an observable phenomenon but also in the fuller sense of revelation. He landed in New Orleans, a place rich with the unexpected exotica that he sought and a tradition of painting en plein air

in the French quarter. What set him apart was his intuitive sense of the organic feeling of the old city and the desire to translate movement into paintings fixed in time. He came in contact with other artists working in Jackson Square, and he considers those experiences important steps in his ongoing education. Unable to secure an available spot immediately in this mecca for tourists, he employed another strategy. He approached people waiting for taxis or the trolley on Canal, he took courses at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts and the University of New Orleans and he relentlessly pursued his vision, sketching, drawing and painting portraits until a spot became available. He remains unafraid to take his work in a different direction when he feels an inclination to experiment. Motion is a constant in his flexible plans, and in the early years, it involved “a Vespa with a fold-up easel strapped to the back.” He adapted to a new routine, traversing all parts of the city by night. His reputation was growing, and his work was being shown in various restaurants and alternative spaces, increasing exposure for his painting style and his evolving interest in the architectural structures of the city. It was 1985 when he set up his easel after sunset in the Ninth Ward facing a white house built in the architectural style known as Greek Revival. Something about the house spoke to the duality of beauty and decay that so moved him when he first arrived in the city. Interviewed by Poki Hampton for Inside New >> September-October 2016 19

festival poster. Gambit Weekly has selected him eight times as the Best Artist of the Year. His artworks are in the collections of The New Orleans Museum of Art and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. Among numerous solo exhibitions, the Morris Museum of Art in Augusta, Georgia, and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans featured his paintings in 2016. He is a man in motion, always learning, always attentive to new opportunities. Unlike many of his intuitive leaps, Michalopoulos eased into three dimensions, expanding his painting studio in New Orleans to include an area for sculpture. His early attempts included the materials of wood, glass and cast concrete. He realized the impermanence of wood in certain environments did not satisfy him, so he turned to metal, a more

Inside Northside

appealing alternative. Cutting, welding and finishing were all part of a learning process extending over two years. Devoting time to refine his technique in the midst of a hectic schedule ultimately paid off. In making the shift from two to three dimensions, he was able to explore art making on a monumental scale, in a durable medium and accessible to a large populist audience unaccustomed to seeing art outside of a museum or commercial gallery. It is art for everyone, and there is an appeal in the inclusive nature of such an exhibition. Located in the sculpture garden at Veterans Memorial Boulevard and Clearview Parkway, Michalopoulos’ Mother Cluster is a grouping of three abstract sculptures, with the >> photos: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

Orleans in 2015, Michalopoulos describes the sound of music from a nearby portable radio as he worked: “The painting of the house began to take on a life of its own; the walls were pulsating and the sidewalk was uneven. Vivid colors burst from the canvas as the house seemed to dance to the music.” It was the beginning of a series of paintings that immediately and consistently resonates with the public and remains as perhaps the most iconic image of his oeuvre. Other opportunities followed, illustrating his prolific versatility. He has been named Official Artist of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival six times, and his artwork has appeared each time on the

Inside Northside

photos: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

tallest 40 feet tall. Bright colors animate groups of geometric and organic shapes suggesting life-affirming movement and celebration. James Michalopoulos has travelled the world. His work has been displayed internationally in countries including France, England, Germany, Switzerland and Holland. He always discovers something new, whether it is the

acquisition of a second home north of Provence or the inspiration for a spirited new business while visiting a patron in Switzerland. The result of his willingness to explore new areas of interest led to the establishment of the first distillery to produce rum in the United States since the 1970s. He describes how a visit with collectors in Switzerland turned into a thriving cultural enterprise in the City of New Orleans. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After a meal in my patronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home, I was offered a digestif made from fruit picked in the back yard. I observed how close to the earth these people lived and how gratifying that they produced this delightful cordial from fruit grown on their land. Several other details fascinated me, particularly an encounter with a travelling still master who had his equipment mounted on the back of a truck. After the harvest, the still master distilled the mashed and fermented excess fruit into fruit brandies. It was this step from wine to a concentrated alcohol that impressed

me most. I began to experiment with various recipes, and inevitably became involved with permits and construction, not to mention the long legal process necessary to open a distillery.” Today, Celebration Distillation, Maker of Old New Orleans Rum, is the oldest continuously operating rum producer in the United States. On September 8, 2016, the St. Tammany Art Association presents an exhibition of paintings by Michalopoulos. Well known on the northshore, James is a supporter of the Junior League and Habitat for Humanity. The exhibition is the first in a three-part series including “Palette 2 Palate,” a collaboration between Michalopoulos and Chef Kim Kringlie of Dakota Restaurant on September 23. A new edition Michalopoulos giclée will be auctioned at the end of the evening. On October 1, Michalopoulos will attend the closing reception of his exhibition. (See “Palette 2 Palate” on page 47.) For tickets or more information, visit sttammanyartassociation.org. But the fun does not stop there! Mark your calendars for Sunday, November 6, 2016. This philanthropic artist has also donated a special edition giclée to the Junior League of Greater Covington to be auctioned off live during the 20th Annual Harvest Cup Polo Classic at Summergrove Farm. To purchase tickets or for more information on the Harvest Cup Polo Classic, visit jlgc.net or 501auctions.com/jlgcpolo. Michalopoulos Gallery is located at 617 Bienville Street, New Orleans. Visit michalopoulos.com for more information. Celebration Distillation, Maker of Old New Orleans Rum, is located at 2815 Frenchman Street, New Orleans. Visit oldneworleansrum.com for information and tour availability. September-October 2016 23

JLGC Designers Showhouse VII September 8-11 and 15-18 Junior League of Greater Covington Northshore Designer Showhouse VII. Featured designers include: Majestic Interior Specialties, Georgian Furnishing & Bergerhome, Maria Barcelona, St. Romain Interiors, Arabella, Hatcreek Designs, Louisiana Custom Closets, Pottery Barn Kids, Doerr Furniture and Hestia Luxury in Linens. 15 Cardinal Lane, The Sanctuary in Mandeville. At door, $25. jlgc.net. 501auctions. com/jlgcshowhouse.

INSIDE the definitive guide to northshore events and entertainment

Delille, Oretha Castle Haley, Eliza Jane

Foundation. Ogden Museum of Southern

1-4 Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall.

Nicholson and Sophie B. Wright. The

Art, 925 Camp St, New Orleans. 6-9pm.

The Traveling Wall, a 3/5 scale of the

Historic New Orleans Collection, 533

(504) 539-9621. ogdenmuseum.org.

Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.,

Royal St, New Orleans. Tues-Sat,

louisianacontemporary.org.

is a reminder of the sacrifices made

9:30am-4:30pm; Sun, 10:30am-4:30pm.

during the Vietnam War. West Feliciana Parish Sports Park, St. Francisville.

Olympic heroes to football legends, this collection of paintings honors the spirit

(225) 635-3873. stfrancisville.us,

Photographs by Raymond Smith.

of the game. Rodrigue Studio, 730 Royal

stfrancisvillefestivals.com.

Ogden Museum of Southern Art, 925

St, New Orleans. georgerodrigue.com.

1-11 Voices of Progress: Twenty Women Who Changed New Orleans. Highlights 19th- and 20th-century New Orleanians, including Henriette 24

Free. (504) 523-4662. hnoc.org. 1-18 In Time We Shall Know Ourselves:

1-18 The Spirit of the Game. From

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

Camp St, New Orleans. 11am-5pm. (504) 539-9650. ogdenmuseum.org. 1-18 Louisiana Contemporary. Statewide juried exhibition presented by The Helis

Inside Northside is proud to partner with

1-24 The Wonderful World of Watercolor. Works of the Christwood watercolor class. Christwood Atrium Gallery, 100 Christwood Blvd,

the Junior League of Greater Covington.

photo: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

September

Covington. Free. Opening reception: Sat, 4:30pm-6:30pm. Gallery hours, Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5pm. 892-3177. 1-Nov 4 20th Anniversary Celebration. American Factory Direct Furniture Outlets will celebrate its 20th anniversary with $20,000 of prizes and in-store credits. 68490 Hwy 59, Mandeville. 871-0300. afd-furniture.com. 2-4 Louisiana Seafood Festival. Three days of seafood, cocktails, live music and family fun. Festival grounds in City Park, New Orleans. louisianaseafoodfestival.com. 2, 9 The Artful Palate Summer Cooking Series. In conjunction with NOMA’s exhibition, “The Essence of Things: Design and the Art of Reduction.” Eric Perelli (Sept 2) and Chris Montero (Sept 9) demonstrate their own culinary masterpieces. Café NOMA, #1 Collins Diboll Crl, City Park, New Orleans. 6:30pm. (504) 482-1264. cafenoma. com. 3, 10, 17, 24 Camellia City Market. East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, 1808 Front St, Slidell. 8am-12pm. Free. 640-7112. camelliacitymarket.org. 3, 10, 17, 24 Covington Farmers Market. Covington City Hall, 609 N. Columbia St. 8am-12pm. Free. 892-1873. covingtonfarmersmarket.org. 3, 10, 17, 24 Hammond Farmers Market. #2 West Thomas St. 8am-12pm. Free. hammondfarmersmarket.com. 3, 10, 17, 24 Mandeville Trailhead Market. 675 Lafitte St. 9am-1pm. Free. mandevilletrailheadmarket.com. 7 Athena Leadership Award. Nominations deadline for award recognizing women and the mentorship of women. Mail entries to 813 Maine Ave, Slidell, LA 70458. 649-6284. irmacry@gmail.com. 7 Friday Nites on the Square. 90 Degrees West will play, food and drinks available for purchase. No ice chests. TerraBella Village, Covington. 5:30-8:30pm. Free. >> September-October 2016 25

Inside Scoop 871-7171. terrabellavillage.com. 7, 14, 21, 28 Covington Farmers Market. Covington Trailhead, 419 N. New

Columbia St, Covington. 892-8650. sttammanyartassociation.org. 16 Julie Vos Trunk Show. Hazelnut, 5515

Hampshire St. 10am-2pm. Free. 892-

Magazine St, New Orleans (504) 891-

1873. covingtonfarmersmarket.org.

2424. hazelnutneworleans.com.

8 WNEOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Birthday Bash. Brantley Gilbert

16 Martini Madness. Taste over 25

with special guests Justin Moore and Colt

specialty martinis from Republic National

Ford. Bold Sphere Music at Champions

Distributing Company and enjoy tastings

Square. 7pm. concerts.livenation.com.

from over 20 restaurants. Raffle, photo

8-11, 15-18 Junior League of Greater

booth, DJ and dancing. All proceeds

Covington Designers Showhouse

benefit the renovation of the City Park

VII. Featured designers include: Majestic

Police Building. Arbor Room and Popp

Interior Specialties, Georgian Furnishing

Fountain, City Park, New Orleans.

& Bergerhome, Maria Barcelona, St.

General admission: members, $45;

Romain Interiors, Arabella, Hatcreek

nonmembers, $55. (504) 483-9376.

Designs, Louisiana Custom Closets,

friendsofcitypark.com.

Pottery Barn Kids, Doerr Furniture and

16 September: The Second Spring. St.

Hestia Luxury in Linens. 15 Cardinal Ln,

Tammany Master Gardener Association

The Sanctuary, Mandeville. 10am-6pm.

and LSU AgCenter Fall Seminar.

At door, $25. jlgc.net. 501auctions.com/

Speakers include: Margo Shaw, Troy

jlgcshowhouse.

Rhone and Amy Graham. Church of the

9-10 Sennod Jewelry Trunk Show. FeBe,

King, 22205 Little Creek Rd, Mandeville.

474 Metairie Rd, Ste. 102, Metairie. (504)

8:30am-2pm. $25, includes lunch. 875-

835-5250. febeclothing.com.

2635.

10 Dixie Chicks with Special Guest Elle

16 The Power of Women Luncheon.

King. Smoothie King Center. 7:30pm.

Hosted by American Red Cross and the

concerts.livenation.com.

Tiffany Circle to celebrate 100 years of

10 Feliciana Hummingbird Celebration.

the American Red Cross in the Crescent

9485 Oak Hill Rd and National

City. Benefits the American Red Cross in

Wildlife Refuge, 15736 Tunica Trace,

Louisiana. Sheraton Hotel, 500 Canal St,

St. Francisville. 7am-3pm. Free.

New Orleans. 11:30am-2pm. (504) 620-

(800) 488-6502. stfrancisville.us,

3176. redcross.org.

stfrancisvillefestivals.com. 10 Superhero Hope Run and Family Fun. 5K run/walk and family day to benefit

16 5 Seconds of Summer. Smoothie King Center. 7:30pm. concerts.livenation.com. 17 Bad to the Bone: Rescued on the

HOPE Charities. TerraBella Village,

Runway. 9th annual pet-friendly fashion

Covington. Registration, 7am; race, 9am.

show fundraiser to benefit local rescue

superherohope.com.

groups. Canine models will be up for

10-30 Katrina 11th Anniversary

adoption. Eiffel Society, 2040 St. Charles

Exhibition. Rolland Golden Gallery, 317

Ave, New Orleans. 6-9:30pm. Tickets

N. Columbia St, Covington. Tues-Sat,

available at Petcetera, 3205 Magazine St.

11am-6pm. 888-6588.

or petceteranola.com.

10-Oct 1 Michalopoulos at the

18 Aces Against Aneurysms Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Art House: Paintings by

Tennis Tournament. Benefits education

James Michalopoulos. The St.

materials for aneurysm survivors and

Tammany Art Association, 320 N

their families. Pelican Athletic Club, 1170

Meadowbrook Blvd, Mandeville. $50. bfisher@thepac.com. brainsupportnola. com. 18 Third Sunday Concert Series. Matt Lemmler’s New Orleans Jazz Revival Band. Christ Episcopal Church, 120 S New Hampshire St, Covington. 5-6pm. Free. 892-3177. 21-Jan 8 Blue Dog for President. In honor of the 2016 presidential election, Rodrigue Studio revisits “Blue Dog for President,” a successful 1996 exhibition at Union Station in Washington, D.C. Rodrigue Studio, 730 Royal St, New Orleans. georgerodrigue.com. 22 Alabama Shakes with Special Guest Corinne Bailey Rae. Bold Sphere Music at Champions Square. 7:30pm. concerts. livenation.com. 22 Kickin’ Parkinson’s. A Kickin’ Party including live music by The Molly Ringwalds, premium drinks, food from over 25 local restaurants, auctions and special guests, including Debbie Brooks, cofounder of the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Stone Creek Club & Spa, 1201 Ochsner Blvd, Covington. $125. kickinparkinsons.com. 23 Kickin’ Parkinson’s Round Table Discussion. Latest information on medical breakthroughs and other topics of importance. The Columbia House, 328 N Columbia St, Covington. 8-10am. 5029800. kickinparkinsons.com. 23 Palette 2 Palate, A Supper of the Senses. Presented by the St. Tammany Art Association to raise funds for art centers, art education and community festivals. Artist James Michalopoulos and Chef Kim Kringlie of Dakota Restaurant will share their creative processes and explore the connection between the visual and culinary arts. St. Tammany Art Association, 320 N. Columbia St, Covington. 6-10pm. $175. 892-8650. sttamanyartassociation.org.

Inside Scoop 23-24 Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival. Marc Broussard, Danielle Nicole, Paul Thorn, Tab Benoit and more. Cassidy Park, 129 Ben Miller Dr, Bogalusa. $10$35. 205-1075. bogalusablues.com. 23-25 Steamboat Stomp Music Festival. Presented by the Steamboat NATCHEZ. Friday, opening concert; Saturday afternoon, festivities including a NATCHEZ

24 The Art Walk at TerraBella Village. Fine art, live music by Dat Band, wine specials, small bites and more to benefit Playmakers Theater. TerraBella Village, Covington. 1-6pm. 871-7171. terrabellavillage.com. 24 Unleashed! Rescue Me. A yacht-themed evening of live music by Four Unplugged, tastings by local

day ticket, $225-$300. steamboatstompneworleans.

restaurants and auctions hosted by former New Orleans

com.

Saint Rich Mauti. Proceeds benefit the St. Tammany

concerts.livenation.com. 24 Fall Health Fair. Diagnostic screenings and information on St. Tammany Parish Hospital health and wellness

Humane Society. Pontchartrain Yacht Club, 140 Jackson Ave, Mandeville. 7:30-11pm. $125. 892-7387. sthumane.org. 30 Alzheimer’s Awareness at H2O Salon Southshore

opportunities. STPH Paul D. Cordes Outpatient Pavilion,

and Northshore. Be a part of a special day of

16300 Hwy 1085, Covington. 9am-11am. 871-5665.

pre-holiday shopping, food and fun to benefit the

stph.org.

Alzheimer’s Association. 951-8166. h2osalonnorthshore.

24 NOLA on Tap. The Bulldog and Louisiana SPCA present the largest beer fest in the region to kick off

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

$25-$50. nolaontap.com.

Dinner Jazz Cruise; Sunday, Jazz Brunch cruise. Three-

24 Beyoncé. Mercedes Benz Superdome. 7:30pm.

Park, New Orleans. 1-8pm; VIP early entry, 12-1pm.

com. h2osalon-spa.com. 30 Slidell Memorial Hospital Lunch & Learn Series.

Oktoberfest in New Orleans. Live music, 400+ brewers,

SMH Founders Building, 1st Floor Conference Room,

food, games, contests, dog-friendly. Must be 21 to

1150 Robert Blvd, Slidell. 11:30am-1pm. Free. 280-

purchase tickets and sample. Festival Grounds in City

2657. slidellmemorial.org.

October 1 Covington Art Market. The St. Tammany Art

1-Nov 4 20th Anniversary Celebration. American Factory Direct Furniture Outlets will celebrate its 20th anniversary with $20,000 of prizes and in-store credits.

Association and City of Covington, Covington

68490 Hwy 59, Mandeville. 871-0300. afd-furniture.

Trailhead, 419 N New Hampshire St. 892-8650.

com.

sttammanyartassociation.org. 1 Mayor Freddy Dennanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 13th Annual Wild Game,

2 Kelsey Bradley Favrot Memorial Run/Walk. 5K and 1/2 mile run/walk in honor of Kelsey Bradley Favrot

Seafood & BBQ Cook-Off. Fritchie Park, 905 W

to benefit a brain tumor center at the LSU Dept. of

Howze Beach Rd, Slidell. 11am-4pm. Adults, $15;

Neurosurgery. Audubon Park Shelter Bldg #10, 6500

children 7-12, $5; 6 and under, free. 707-3102.

Magazine St, New Orleans. Registration and packet

ccccookoff@gmail.com.

pick-up, 7am; 1/2 mile, 8am; 5K, 8:30am. kelseygoal.

1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Camellia City Market. East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, 1808 Front St, Slidell. 8am-12pm. Free. 640-7112. camelliacitymarket.org. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Covington Farmers Market. Covington City Hall, 609 N. Columbia St. 8am-12pm. Free. 8921873. covingtonfarmersmarket.org. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Hammond Farmers Market. #2 West Thomas St. 8am-12pm. Free. hammondfarmersmarket. com. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Mandeville Trailhead Market. 675 Lafitte St. 9am-1pm. Free. mandevilletrailheadmarket.com.

com. nolarunning.com. 5, 12, 19, 26 Covington Farmers Market. Covington Trailhead, 419 N. New Hampshire St. 10am-2pm. Free. 892-1873. covingtonfarmersmarket.org. 6 Shop-n-Share. Benefitting the Junior League of Greater Covington. Palm Village, A Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store, 2735 US 190 Ste C, Mandeville. 778-2547. shoppalmvillage.com. 7 Kelly Kicking Cancer Gala. The 2nd annual event to benefit brain cancer research. Castine Center, Pelican Park, Mandeville. 7-10pm. (844) 200-5424.

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

Inside Scoop kellykickingcancer.org. 7 Maritime Mania. Visit boat captains, new museum exhibits, live music, open bar and food. Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum, 133 Mabel Dr, Madisonville. 7:30-10:30pm. Individual, $75; couple, $125. Limited availability. 845-9200. woodenboatfest.org. 7 Ventriloquist Lynn Trefzger. Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts, 220 E Thomas St, Hammond. 543-4371. columbiatheatre.org. 8 Fall for Art. Live music, gallery openings, art demonstrations, first-rate boutique shopping and fine dining. Downtown Covington. 892-8650. sttammanyartassociation.org. 8 Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Fontainebleau State Park, Mandeville. 9am. alz.org/walk. 8 Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Ponchatoula Area Recreation District,19030 Ponchatoula Parks Drive, Ponchatoula. 9am. alz.org/walk. 8-9 Wooden Boat Festival. Boat rides, boat parade, kid’s boat build, beer garden, live music, art and food. Water St at Hwy 22, Madisonville. Gates open, 10am. Adults, $10; seniors 65+, $5; 12 and under, free. 845-9200. wbf@lpbmm. org. woodenboatfest.org. 8-31 Fall For Art Exhibition. Rolland Golden Gallery, 317 N. Columbia St, Covington. Tues-Sat, 11am-6pm. 8886588. 8-Nov 26 Reginald Pollack and the Dance of Death: Selections from the New Orleans Museum of Art. The St. Tammany Art Association, 320 N Columbia St, Covington. 892-8650. sttammanyartassociation.org. 11 Admission Open House Tour. Northlake Christian School, 70104 Wolverine Dr, Covington. 9am. 635-0508. northlakechristian.org. 14-15 The Southern Garden Symposium. Various locations, St. Francisville. $93-

September-October 2016 31

Inside Scoop $175. (225) 635-3738. southerngardensymposium.org. 14-16 Our Lady of the Lake 34th Annual Festival

20 You Night Cancer Survivor Runway Show and Celebration. Helps participants embrace life

of the Lake. 312 Lafitte St, Mandeville. Oct 14,

beyond cancer. Castine Center, 63350 Pelican Dr,

5-11pm; Oct 15, 11am-11pm; Oct 16, 11am-5pm.

Mandeville. (877) 591-5936 x1. teamyounight@

festivalofthelake.com.

gmail.com, younightevents.com.

15 Monster Mash. Trick-or-treat village, games and

21 Friday Nites on the Square. Four Unplugged will

prize booth, arts and crafts, shopping village, food

play, food and drinks available for purchase. No ice

village, live music, inflatables, silent auction, face

chests. TerraBella Village, Covington. 5:30-8:30pm.

painting and more. Proceeds benefit the Parenting

Free. 871-7171. terrabellavillage.com.

Center of St. Tammany Parish Hospital. Bogue

21-23 Ghosts in the Oaks. Family friendly Halloween

Falaya Park, 213 Park Dr, Covington. 10am-3pm.

event with trick or treating, rides, arts and crafts,

In advance: child, $15; adult, $5. At gate: child,

and a pumpkin patch. Amusement Park and

$20; adults, $10; children 11 months and under,

Storyland, New Orleans City Park. (504) 483-9376.

free. 898-4435. stph.org/monstermash.

friendsofcitypark.com.

16 Third Sunday Concert Series. Pianist Michael

23 The Garden Party at Summergrove Farm.

Gurt. Christ Episcopal Church, 120 S New

Food, drinks and entertainment on the beautiful

Hampshire St, Covington. 5-6pm. Free. 892-3177.

grounds of Summergrove Farm. 1-5pm. 796-4600.

19, 20, 21 LRMC Volunteer Auxiliary SemiAnnual Jewelry Sale. Lakeview Regional Medical Center, 95 Judge Tanner Blvd, Covington. Oct 19, 7am-5pm; Oct 20, 7am-7pm; Oct 21, 7am-3:30pm. lakeviewregional.com.

newheightstherapy.com. 26 Jâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;envie and E.L.I. Trunk Show. Ballinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LTD, 806 East Boston, Covington. 892-0025. ballinsltd.com. 28 Celebration of Life Luncheon. Cancer Crusaders will honor ten cancer survivors who have been

active in the community. New Orleans Marriott

and a costume contest to benefit the American

Hotel, 555 Canal St, New Orleans. Doors open,

Red Cross, Samaritan Center and local law

10am. 501auctions.com/cancercrusaders. 29 Boo Fest. ACCESS and Lakeview Regional invite

enforcement. Mandeville Trailhead. 4-8:30pm. 29 Open House for Prospective Students. St.

children of all abilities to enjoy trick-or-treating,

Paul’s School. Briggs Assembly Center, 917

pumpkin decorating, costume contests and more.

Jahncke Ave, Covington. 1pm. 892-3200. stpauls.

Proceeds benefit children with disabilities and their families. Lakeview Regional Medical Center, 95

com. 29 Pumpkins in the Park at TerraBella. Hay rides,

Judge Tanner Blvd, Covington. 10am-3pm; special

pumpkin patch, inflatables and more. Bring non-

needs families early entry, 9am. $2 per person.

perishable food items for the Covington Food

718-7532. accesslouisiana.org.

Bank. TerraBella Village, Covington. 11am-2pm.

29 Deo Gratias. Jazz social and buffet supper with music by Ed Barrett Jazz Ensemble. This year’s

871-7171. terrabellavillage.com. 31 The Ronald McDonald House Charities of

Deo Gratias artist is Jim Sietz, whose painting

Greater New Orleans 2016 Golf Classic.

Weathering the Storms of Life celebrates the

To benefit the RMHC of Greater New Orleans.

outpouring of support following the floodwaters

TPC Louisiana, 11001 Lapalco Blvd, Avondale.

of March 11. Saint Joseph’s Abbey + Seminary

Registration, 8am; tournament, 10am. golf2016.

College, 75376 River Rd, St. Benedict. Vespers,

rmhc-nola.org.

6pm; social and supper, 6:30pm. $95-$125. 8672284 or 867-2279. sjasc.edu. 29 Unity in the Community. Car show, cook-off, disaster education and preparedness, music

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

September-October 2016 33

“The Junior League of Greater Covington is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.”

ABOVE, YOU FIND THE JLGC’s mission statement. Several local designers have invested in that mission by participating in the Northshore Designer Showhouse VII, one of the JLGC’s biggest fundraisers. This beautiful home, located at 15 Cardinal Lane in The Sanctuary in Mandeville, was constructed by Forshag Construction and is protected by LOOP Audio Video Security. The showhouse will be open for tours the weekends of September 8-11 and 15-18 from 10 a.m. – 6 p. m. The 7,000-square-foot home, featuring 3,800 square feet of living area, is listed for $865,000. It is gorgeous inside and out! Adding the finishing touches to the luxurious spaces were talented designers from Majestic Interior Specialties, Georgian Furnishing & Bergerhome, Maria Barcelona, St. Romain Interiors, Arabella, Hatcreek Designs, Louisiana Custom Closets, Pottery Barn Kids, Doerr Furniture and Hestia Luxury in Linens. The combination makes for a very welcoming home. >> 34

Inside Northside

Inside Northside is proud to partner with

the Junior League of Greater Covington.

photos: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

Northshore Designer Showhouse VII The Junior League of Greater Covington

September-October 2016 35

Clockwise from top: The master bedroom; master bath; console table in the master bedroom; master closet by Louisiana Custom Closets. 36

Forshag Construction, a residential construction company based in New Orleans, has an old-fashioned commitment to quality and dedication to service. The company’s expertise includes custom and model homes, as well as remodeling, renovations and consulting. Owner Casey Forshag comes from three generations of builders and has built homes all over

Inside Northside

Majestic Interior Specialties, Inc. Kristin Oddo Mahoney, of Majestic Interior Specialties, Inc., was the lead designer for the JLGC’s showhouse project. “I was

photos: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

Forshag Construction

South Louisiana, including others in The Sanctuary. Casey is also licensed in Louisiana as a residential contractor, real estate sales agent and drywall consultant. His showhouse will suit that discerning buyer who can appreciate all of the unique features he has incorporated into this quality home.

proud to take the lead and enjoyed collaborating and working closely with the team of designers in selecting flooring, cabinet finishes and interior paint colors. I also worked closely with Casey Forshag to select the exterior colors for this magnificent home,” says Mahoney. “My talented and experienced flooring crew from Majestic Interiors was directed by each designer to install their selections and specifications for each room throughout the house, including custom-tiled bathroom and shower spaces. The grand four-sided fireplace is truly a masterpiece, as each brick had to be hand cut into pavers by the installer. The rich European distressed oak floors

pair nicely with the reclaimed antique bricks throughout the home to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.” Established in 1973, Majestic Interior Specialties, Inc., has over four decades of experience providing its customers with quality flooring, cabinets, countertops, and window treatments, as well as expert installation and interior design services.

LOOP Audio Video Security Ryan Williams, owner of LOOP Audio Video Security, says, “For the showhouse, we wired for audio in the kitchen and dining room areas, installed surround sound in the great room and installed outdoor

speakers. We also installed lighting controls for the living room, kitchen, dining room and outdoor living space.” LOOP custom tailors each system to the client’s needs and does everything from small projects to complete design builds. Ryan says, “We strive to streamline the process for the user and make all the things typically associated with audio and

video systems disappear to make for the most visually pleasing system as possible. It’s not what you see, but what you don’t see.” As the northshore’s premier provider of audio, video and security services and products, LOOP offers a full range of custom system networking and controls for residential and commercial clients.

Clockwise from top: Breakfast room furnished by Doerr Furniture with place settings by Williams Sonoma; accessories atop the great room ottoman by St. >> Romain Interiors.

September-October 2016 37

Foyer and Great Room by St. Romain Interiors “My inspiration for the showhouse this year was color! Some beautiful, bright refreshing colors,” says Cindy St. Romain of St. Romain Interiors in Madisonville. The openness of the great room is accentuated by the white slipcovered furniture. The room is anchored by a tufted ottoman in grand scale in striking chartreuse. Touches of gold throughout the room bring a cohesiveness to the vast living area and culminate in an airy crystal and iron chandelier. A Louis Phillipe mirror is placed atop the mantel, offering a reflective focal point. Romain has been in business for over 15 years and still tremendously enjoys designing. “I decided to open a store when I could not find unique things to decorate with,” says Cindy. “The concept behind my store was to blend European antiques and vintage pieces with contemporary furnishings.”

Study by Hatcreek Designs

photos: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

Dining room by Arabella.

“The inspiration for the study came from a painting by Kekllie Gironda, The Parishes of Louisiana.” says Donna Bonnoitt of Hatcreek Designs. “The subject matter and the colors of the painting permeate the room.” The room boasts soft color transitions with contemporary accents. It features rustic textures in the light fixtures, drapes and rug and juxtaposes the sleek textures of the lamps, side tables and desk. Books in the study were intentionally selected to give a nod to Louisiana heritage, and accessories were collected from antiques stores and natural curiosities shops. The wired and lighted closet features shelving for files and supplies, creating a functional workspace out of sight.

Inside Northside

Dining Room by Arabella Fine Gifts and Home Decor “If you want my very best work, you have to trust me,” says Patrice Senac of Arabella, who designed the dining room of the showhouse, along with the upstairs guest room and bath. “When you are working in design, there is no such thing as one right answer,” she says with a smile. She should know—she has been working with clients for a long time. Senac has owned and operated Arabella Fine Gifts and Home Décor in Mandeville for the past 13 years. In keeping with the open and airy floor plan, the dining room is also an unclouded space. The dining table boasts a fabulous gold “pick-upsticks” base with a glass top; it is surrounded by Christopher Guy X-back chairs, with the head winged-back chairs upholstered in a subtle grey and plum velvet floral. An amethyst centerpiece bowl is accented by Michael Aram place settings. The cowhide rug is by Tyler Spring. >>

Guest room by Arabella. September-October 2016 39

“The philosophy of MBI is that the success of all of our projects stems from the close relationships and the spirit of collaboration we establish with our clients,” says Maria Barcelona of Maria Barcelona Interiors. MBI is a full-service interior design studio that offers color consultation, furniture purchase and placement and custom bedding and drapes. Barcelona worked with Paul Dodson on the showhouse project. She says, “The abundance of natural light, a pale and neutral palette and simple, clean lines set the stage for the elegant kitchen and breakfast room.” Moments of sparkling metallic gold, such as the veining in the leather Taj Mahal quartzite countertops and the dramatic light fixtures, adorn the space like fine jewelry. The beautiful custom cabinets feature raised panel inset doors, and the breakfast room offers the perfect canvas to enjoy culinary masterpieces. Susan Illing of Susan Illing Fine Art met with the designers of Maria Barcelona Interiors to discuss their vision for the space. They agreed to bring some contemporary art into the traditional space. The metal accents on the Cuts by 40

Inside Northside

photos: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

The Kitchen and Breakfast Room by Maria Barcelona Interiors

Clockwise from top: Girl’s bedroom complete with bedding

artist Michelle Y Williams of Houston plays well with the gold theme in the room. The canvas over the fireplace, by the same artist, pulls the entire space together, making the room edgy yet soothing at the same time. Susan has been providing art for individuals and designers for over 16 years on their residential and commercial projects in this area and throughout the United States.

Powder Room by Hatcreek Designs Vintage papers, including Johann Strauss’ Beautiful Blue Danube sheet music from 1928, inspired designer Donna Bonnoitt’s vision for the showhouse powder room. A grass-cloth wall covering and a barn-wood vanity work well against the sleek sink and counter top. >>

by Hestia Luxury in Linens; girl’s bedroom and upstairs landing furnished by Doerr Furniture. Opposite: Back porch by Georgian Furnishing & Bergerhome. September-October 2016 41

The Master Bedroom and Master Bath by Georgian Furnishing & Bergerhome The showhouse master bedroom offers a gorgeous green space view, and its adjacency to the master bath and closet and even laundry make it the ideal sanctuary for anyone,” says designer Sylvia Berger of Georgian Furnishing & Bergerhome. Berger designed the master bedroom and bath, working to find the perfect furnishings, fabric and paint to create a tranquil master retreat. The kingsize customized Hickory Chair bed by Suzanne Kasler is shown here in a textural grey fabric; the frame is finished in a gray stain. The walls are painted in Silver Fox, the trim in Monterey White and the ceiling is finished in Edgecomb Gray. The master bath’s walls are done in Grant Beige.

The Master Closet by Louisiana Custom Closets “Some clients are hesitant to request a free consultation because their closets are small, but we can help maximize any space,” says Don Wise, owner of Louisiana Custom Closets of Covington. Don and Ann Wise designed the master closet of this beautiful Sanctuary home. He says, “We made it a dream closet!” The selected materials complement the color of the trim and cabinets in the master bathroom. Double drawer units were installed at the entrance to the closet, and electrical outlets are in place above the countertop so the area can be used as a charging station. The hanging space and shoe shelves were maximized, and additional tie and belt storage was added, as were more drawers for jewelry storage. The closets are beautiful and functional, with 100 percent adjustability. Louisiana Custom Closets can organize, design and install more than just all types of closets, including garages, pantries, laundry rooms and home offices. >> 42

Inside Northside

Guest Bedroom and Bath by Arabella Fine Gifts and Home Décor Patrice Senac’s vision for the guest bedroom was one of soothing, cool tones for a relaxing retreat. The custom-made bedding was done in a combination of beautiful silk textiles in celadon green and soft gold with a sheer eggshell overlay. Across from the queen bed sits an armoire by Mr. Brown of London; an elegant reading chair is placed in the window next to a Luna Bella glass table. The night chest is custom made by Mike Swanner. Original artwork accents the space beautifully. The guest bath features a custom-made vanity, with quartz knobs, also by Mike Swanner. The bathroom accessories are by Michael Aram.

Girl’s Bedroom by Doerr Furniture and Hestia Luxury in Linens Amy Freese of Doerr Furniture used bright corals and teals in various patterns and stripes to set a bright and cheery mood in the girl’s bedroom. “This is just what I envision a 12-year-old girl’s room to be,” says Freese. “We have created a fun and whimsical space for her, a room she wants to come home to!” An element of “glam” was added by the full-length dressing mirror, complete with shelf for make-up, mini crystal chandeliers and a faux sheepskin stool. Birds adorn the wall clock, the small accent clocks and a fun birdcage table lamp. The luxurious custom bedding is from Hestia Luxury in Linens of Covington. Jenny Mutter of Hestia Luxury in Linens of Covington completed the look with a striking combination of stripes on the dust ruffle and a stack of pillows made for lounging on the double bed. Hestia specializes in adding unexpected design elements to the intimate spaces in your home.

Boy’s Bedroom and Jack and Jill Bath by Pottery Barn Kids Pottery Barn Kids was launched in 1999 by two moms who realized just how much work went into designing great kids’ bedrooms and play spaces. PBK believes kids’ rooms should be every bit as beautiful, stylish and personal as grownup spaces. And they hit the mark with the boy’s bedroom in the showhouse. The navy and white linens set a classic tone, as do the washed-wood furnishings. The room is perfectly staged with accessories for a young man on the grow! PBK also decorated the Jack and Jill bath with bright colored towels, mats, shower curtain and fun accessories that any boy or girl would love! Tour tickets are available at 501auctions.com/jlgcshowhouse. Tickets will also be available at the door for $25. The Designer Showhouse is listed by Fine Southern Properties, LLC. For more information, call 674-7500.

Forshag Construction Building has not only been a lifelong interest of Casey Forshag—it has been a passion. Casey’s foundation of construction knowledge and wisdom started two generations before him when his grandfather, John L. Crosby, started building in New Orleans in 1954. “I can remember in high school thinking, ‘Why can’t I just go build with grandpa?’” says Casey. “I grew up on construction sites and have always loved the process.” Casey’s favorite part of the process is seeing the finished home. “From paper to reality, the building process is exciting, but it’s being able to hold a rendering up to the home and it matching perfectly—that’s the best part.” As a residential construction company based in New Orleans, Casey’s family foundation keeps an old-fashioned commitment to quality and dedication to service. However, proven technologies and the best possible products are put into Forshag homes. The goal is to consistently exceed every customer’s expectation in providing a home that will last for decades. “We want to give the best that we can give,” says Casey. “We don’t skimp, and we go above and beyond to provide quality work.” Forshag’s expertise includes custom homes, model homes and multi-family dwellings, as well as remodeling, renovation and consulting. “While I do a lot of renovations, especially in the Metairie area, I truly enjoy new constructions. I’m able to help create someone else’s vision.” Casey’s vision provided the Junior League of Greater Covington’s Show House in The Sanctuary in Mandeville. “I’m very pleased with the finished product. It was great to be able to collaborate with the Junior League as well as the many designers who helped finish the interiors.” A graduate of Louisiana State University in Construction Management, Casey is licensed in Louisiana as a Residential Contractor, Real Estate Sales Agent, and Defective Drywall Consultant. Let Forshag Construction help build your family’s future.

Forshag Construction is located at 401 Rue St. Ann in Metairie. (504) 908-7412. forshagconstruction.com. September-October 2016 45

Palette2 Palate

photo: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

A Supper of the Senses

WHEN ARTISTS COLLABORATE, creative possibilities bounce around like ping pong balls. A well-formed idea presents itself, and the process of defining, shaping and turning the idea into reality begins. Two painters and friends, Sue Zaunbrecher and Susan Tullos, often share creative ideas. Both are painters with a strong commitment to art and education. They have successfully worked toward individual and common goals as members of St. Tammany Art Association, volunteering their expertise when needed. Both agree that patience, cooperation and participation in every phase of an emerging project is key to producing the best possible result. As lively as their presence may be, the fact that they possess skills and experience in fundraising and management contributes to their success. When Zaunbrecher and Tullos are at the table, prepare for an exceptional plan, a feast for the eyes as well as the

appetite and the promise that good times will roll by Linda Dautreuil along with ping pong balls and a lot of hard work. Notions of pairing visual and culinary arts are not new to the South, yet it took many years for formal recognition that not only was foodâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and the traditions of combining ingredientsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;delicious, but also that it was a medium for passing cultural practices and information from one generation to the next. When Susan Tullos first experienced a pairing of visual and culinary arts, she was intrigued by the possibilities. She was already a very busy woman. A native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Susan graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in interior design and art. She moved to Memphis and started her own design firm, Susan Morgan Interiors and Designs. The pace was fast, with an array of Above: Sue special services available to her clients. She learned Zaunbrecher and practiced networking skills, effectively running and Susan her business and attending trade shows across the >> Tullos. September-October 2016 47

Southeast. She enjoyed the easy Southern way of conversation combined with creative production and business acumen. In 1998, Tullos moved to Covington. The allure of the natural environment and an active community encouraged her to focus her energies on painting and her growing family. More time in the studio led to invitations to exhibit in galleries in the South and Louisiana in particular. She became aware that communities with a strong cultural presence increased tourism and support for the arts and education throughout the region. By 2015, Susan Tullos and Sue Zaunbrecher were acquainted. They were both raising families and participating in projects they felt strongly about. Unlike Susan Tullos, who was from the South, Sue Zaunbrecher was born and raised in

was a shift in my perception—everything seemed more vibrant.” Sue, her husband and three children eventually moved to Covington. “I love design and crafts, and I painted all of my adult life, even while working as a full-time accountant and school administrator. Now I am retired.” She chuckles at the phrase. “I have a home studio instead of just a closetful of creative materials and ideas.” She also discovered a group of like-minded people actively engaged in the arts and education in the region. When she joined St. Tammany Art Association she availed herself of a variety of opportunities, including networking with artists as a volunteer, attending lectures, workshops and receptions. With her background in accounting and school administration, she generously offered assistance

Chicago. She attributes her positive response to the various colors of South Louisiana to be the result of growing up with the somber grey tones and cold temperatures of the Midwest. She describes the transition: “When I moved to New Orleans, there

when needed in the office. Zaunbrecher was invited to join STAA’s board of directors in 2015, and in 2016 she was elected treasurer of the organization. She took on the responsibility of chairing the search committee to fill seats of retiring board members.

Her organization skills and attention to detail were assets in the interview and selection process. When Susan Tullos joined STAA’s board in 2016, she brought with her a great idea. When she mentioned her ideas for a specialized event combining visual and culinary art to Zaunbrecher, the response was swift and positive. Brainstorming began, and the outline of project in a workable format was presented to the board and met with enthusiastic support. After two years in the planning phase, STAA will host “Palette 2 Palate, A Supper of the Senses,” on Friday, September 23, 2016 from 6-10 p.m. Tullos describes the final variation on the theme as “an evening of fine dining and conversation with featured artist James Michalopoulos and executive

experience will include a full-course meal created by Kringlie inspired by the colors and textures of Michalopoulos’ palette. Internationally acclaimed, Michalopoulos is a New Orleans-based visual artist. He considers his style to be “an abstraction of the figurative using color, volumetric shape and graphic lines.” His work has been shown extensively in the United States and abroad. He has been named Official Artist of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival six times, an unprecedented and unmatched honor. Chef Kim Kringlie is the co-owner and executive chef of the northshore restaurant Dakota, which has garnered numerous accolades such as “4 Beans” from the Times Picayune, Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator for 2004-2011 and Wine Spectator’s Award

chef Kim Kringlie.” The two will share their creative processes and explore the connection between the visual and culinary arts. The 100 guests will attend a pre-dinner reception featuring a specialty cocktail created with Old New Orleans Rum. The fine-dining

of Excellence from 1992-2003, 5 Stars from Tom Fitzmorris, and Top 25 New Orleans Restaurants from Zagat Guide. His creative, contemporary Louisiana culinary creations using fresh, local and seasonal ingredients are widely appreciated and enjoyed. >>

September-October 2016 49

“Palette 2 Palate benefits our organization’s mission of providing quality programming and cultural enrichment to the community,” says Duane Cormier, chair of the STAA board. “Because we feel strongly that STAA should host this premier event in our own building for the first year, we realized that seating would have to be limited to 100 guests. As the board weighed both the pros and cons, we decided that there was value in providing a unique opportunity for guests to experience a conversation revealing connections between visual and culinary art in a more intimate setting. It is very difficult to have this kind of interactive experience on a large scale. The board takes its role leading an organization of inclusion very seriously. Under the suggestion and guidance by our event chair Susan Tullos and co-chair Sue Zaunbrecher, we decided to expand the celebration.” “This is a project which offers three events for one great cause,” says Tullos. The first is an exhibition of paintings by Michalopoulos in STAA’s Miriam Barranger Gallery September 10-October 1, 2016. Everyone is invited to the opening reception on Saturday, September 10, in conjunction with the Second Saturday Art Walk in Covington from 6 - 9 p.m. Our second event, Palette 2 Palate, is an evening of fine dining and visual art. With seating for 100, this advance ticket-only event has community support from generous event sponsors Dakota Restaurant and Michalopoulos as well as Simplee Gourmet, Zaunbrecher Treadaway Law Offices, Foy Family Dentistry, Carlos Sanchez and David Fennely, Lisa and Joe Ward, Trudy Williamson and Whole Foods, Inc., in addition to 22 50

Inside Northside

photo: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

other contributing sponsors. Our featured artist and chef, Michalopoulos and Kringlie, will engage with guests in a conversation about color and texture on the artist’s palette in contrast to effects of color and taste on the chef’s palate and other interesting and entertaining topics. Michalopoulos has generously donated a giclée to be auctioned at the end of the evening along with a select number of unique food and art related items. Our final event is a closing reception on Saturday, October 1, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Viewers will meet and greet Michalopoulos and speak with him about his art and career. A copy of the book, Michalopoulos, may be purchased and signed by the artist during the reception. A specialty cocktail will be served with light appetizers. Tickets

for this event may be purchased in advance at St. Tammany Art Association and also at the door on the evening of the event. Closing event tickets will be discounted for all STAA members. Tullos and Zaunbrecher will tell you that a number of dynamics factor into the making of a complex and successful event. Teambuilding and

hard work are near the top of the list, but the rewards for the community, the organization and the local economy are great. Sharing responsibility and recognition for successes with their peers is something these arts and education advocates espouse. They also continue to explore individual artistic pursuits. Most recently Tullos, Zaunbrecher and five other local artists were selected to display paintings in the juried exhibit, “No Place Like Home,” a project of the St. Tammany Parish Hospital Foundation. The exhibition continues in the main lobby and throughout various areas of the hospital through September 5, 2016.

Left: Sue Zaunbrecher,

Tickets for Palette 2 Palate are $175. Visit sttammanyartassociation.org/p2p or purchase tickets in person at 320 N. Columbia St. in Covington.

Cindy Pulling and Susan Tullos.

September-October 2016 51

Paul and Mary Review; The Bagasse Boys; and Big Easy Playboys. On Oct. 15, hear the Chris Talley Band, Slick Skillet Serenaders, Rick Ledbetter and Messy Cookers. On Nov. 19, Last Chance Bluegrass Band, Western Sweethearts, Necessary Gentlemen and The All-Female New Orleans Jazz Band will close out the fall season. For advance tickets and information, call Kathy at 892-0711 or visit abitaopry.org.

Cutting Edge Theater Abita Springs Opry The Abita Springs Opry fall lineup kicks off on Sept. 17 with the Steve Anderson Group; Peter,

Inside Northside

Cutting Edge Theater opens its season with Sylvia Sept. 23-Oct. 8. The Rocky Horror Show rolls on Oct. 21 through 29 in perfect timing for

photo: RANDOLPH BERGERON, SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR when temperatures are cooling down—and the 2016-2017 cultural season is warming up. With everything from jazz and bluegrass to musical classics and opera, stage productions ranging from The Rocky Horror Show to The Nutcracker and art exhibits featuring a wide diversity of subjects from George Dunbar to the healing arts, there’s something for everyone. Mark your calendar now—and check dates, times and venues in advance, as they are all subject to change.

Halloween. On Nov. 11-19, Ticket to Ride: The Karen Carpenter Story performs. In holiday spirit, Christmas All Over the World will take the stage Dec. 2-4. For up-to-date information and show times, call 649-3727 or cuttingedgetheater.com.

Jefferson Performing Arts Society The Jefferson Performing Arts Society opens its season with West Side Story on Sept. 23-Oct. 2. Followed by Funny Girl, Nov. 4-13; JPAS Christmas Concert featuring Handel’s Messiah, Dec. 3 and 4; The Nutcracker, Dec. 16-18; and Tarzan, March 17-26. The Teatro Wego! season includes Breaking Up is Hard to Do on Sept. 9-18 and The Ultimate Christmas Show(Unbridged) on Dec. 2-11. For show times and information, (504) 885-2000 or jpas.org.

Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2016-2017 northshore season opens Sept. 16 with Symphonie Fantastique at the First Baptist Church in Covington. Following the opening, the following concerts will also take place at the church: Nov. 18, The Planets; Dec. 16, Baroque Christmas; Jan. 6, Anne-Marie McDermott Plays Mozart; April 21, Mendelssohn’s ‘Scottish’ Symphony; and May 19, Pepe Romero and ‘The Three Cornered Hat’. Tchaikovsky Piano Concert No. 1 plays at Columbia Theatre in Hammond on Oct. 14 and Slidell Municipal Auditorium on Oct. 15. Fidelity’s Concerts in the Park: Sunset Symphonies will be held at the Mandeville Lakefront, Oct. 22; Heritage Park in Slidell, May 7; and Bogue Falaya >> September-October 2016 53

Park in Covington, May 13. Yuletide Celebration takes place at the Columbia Theatre on Dec. 2 and Slidell Municipal Auditorium on Dec. 4. For up-to-date information, call (504) 5236530 or visit lpomusic.com.

Dew Drop Jazz & Social Hall

Dew Drop Jazz & Social Hall.

Inside Northside

On September 9, the season begins with Willie Sugarcapps. On Sept. 23â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gospel Night, First Free Mission Choir will perform, followed by The Mighty Supremes. Peace of Cake plays Oct. 7. David Torkanowsky & Friends perform Oct. 21. The Jojjo Wight New Orleans Family Band play Nov. 4. On Nov. 18, Tom McDermott & Meschiya Lake play, followed by Meschiya Lake & Little Big Horns. Dec. 2 brings Barney Floyd Jazz Band and Dec. 16, Don

Vappie’s Creole Christmas. For more information, visit dewdropjazzhall.com.

Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré Celebrating its 100th season, Le Petit Théâtre will open with Pippin Sept. 16-Oct. 2. On Nov. 4-20, Freud’s Last Session takes the stage. Jelly’s Last Jam will play Jan. 27-Feb. 12; Dividing the Estate, March 24-April 2 and April 13-15; and It’s Only a Play, June 9-25. For up-to-date information and show times, call (504) 5222081 or visit lepetittheatre.com.

New Orleans Museum of Art On view until Sept. 11, The Essence of Things—Design and the Art of Reduction: An Exhibition of the Vitra Design Museum; ending Oct. 9,

Unfiltered Visions: 20th Century SelfTaught American Art; ending Dec. 31, ‘Forever’ Mural by Odili Donald Odita; also ending Dec. 31, Orientalism: Taking and Making. Starting Oct. 14, view Seeing Nature: Landscape Masterworks from the Paul G. Allen Family Collection. On Nov. 3, George Dunbar: A Retrospective will be on display. For exhibit details and other events, visit noma.org.

New Orleans Opera The New Orleans Opera opens its season with Don Giovanni on Oct. 7 and 9. Operagoers will enjoy Macbeth, Nov. 11-13; Sweeney Todd, Feb. 10-12; and Faust, March 31 and April 2. All performances will be held at the Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts. For up-to-date information, call (504) 5293000 or visit neworleansopera.org. >>

September-October 2016 55

Sweeney Todd at

photo: RANDOLPH BERGERON, SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY

Columbia Theatre.

Northlake Performing Arts Society Bringing the sound of inspiration to the northshore, Northlake Performing Arts Society begins its season with Country Western Hits at the Greater Covington Center on Oct. 7 and Oct. 9. Home for the Holidays will be held Dec. 2 and Our Lady of Lourdes in Slidell. On March 17 and 19, Dancing Through Life will take the stage at the Greater Covington Center. At Christ Episcopal School, Motown Favorites will perform June 9 and 11. For more information, call 276-9335 or visit npas.info.

closing the season July 7-23. For show times and info, call 893-1671 or visit playmakersinc.com.

Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts Let the Good Times Roll opens the season for Rivertown Theaters on Sept. 9-25. On Nov. 4-20, 1776 takes the stage. Billy Elliot, the Musical begins Jan. 13-29 followed by The 39 Steps on March 10-26. Bye Bye Birdie opens on May 5-21 and The Little Mermaid, July 13-23. For information, season subscriptions and tickets, call (504) 4619475 or rivertowntheaters.com.

Playmakers, Inc.

Slidell Cultural Center

Catch One Flew Over the Cuckooâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nest at Playmakers Theater on Sept. 2-18. Zombie Prom! The Musical performs Oct. 28-Nov. 13. On Dec. 9-11 and 16-18, Tuna Christmas will perform. On March 10-26, Red will take the stage followed by The Practice May 12-28 and Saturday Night Fever

The Slidell Cultural Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s season is full of exhibits and performances. At the Slidell Cultural Center, view Artists of the Year presented by the Slidell Art League on Aug. 19-Sept. 23; Mixed Media 2016, Oct. 7-Nov. 12; Stop the Madness! presented by the Cultural Economy

Coalition, Nov. 18-Dec. 23; Salad Days 2017 Juried Exhibition of Student Art, Jan. 20-March 4; From the Vaults of the New Orleans Museum of Art, March 18-April 29; Slidell Photo Club exhibit, May 12-June 23; Olde Towne Arts Center Summer exhibit, July 14-Aug. 25. At Heritage Park, hear Redline play, Sept. 25; Witness, Oct. 9; Bayou Jam Halloween Bash featuring Vince Vance, Oct. 30; Audio Beach, April 2; and Harvey Jesus & Fire, April 23. At Griffith Park, catch Christmas Under the Stars, Dec. 2-3 and Dec. 9-10. The Northshore Community Orchestra will perform at the Slidell Auditorium on Dec. 20. For more information and show times, visit myslidell.com.

Southeastern Louisiana University Columbia Theatre/Fanfare Columbia Theatre’s season starts off with Ventriloquist Lynn Trefzger on Oct. 7. The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra on Nov. 22 and Aoelus, Classical String Quartet, on Jan. 26. Aquila Theatre: Murder on the Nile takes the stage Feb. 17 followed by Eisenhower Dance on March 25. For more performances, SLU Fanfare listings, tickets and information, call 543-4371 or visit columbiatheatre.org.

Southern Rep Theatre Southern Rep Theatre’s main stage season opens on Oct. 5 with Airline Highway at the University of New Orleans’ Robert E. Nims Theatre. The performance ends Oct. 23 before Grounded takes the stage at Loyola University’s Lower Depths Theatre on Nov. 2-20. Sweet Bird of Youth performs March 21-April 15 at Loyola University’s Marquette Theatre followed by Father Comes Home from the Wars (Parts 1, 2, and 3) closing the >> September-October 2016 57

Festive Fragments by Cissy Carville can be seen at Lakeview Regional Medical Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Healing Arts Exhibit.

season on May 31-June 18. For show times, tickets and info, call (504) 5226545 or visit southernrep.com.

Lakeview Regional Medical Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Healing Arts Exhibit An ongoing project of over 30 works of art displayed throughout the hospital to promote overall health and wellbeing. In collaboration with the six artists of Art House Boston Street in Covington, works will be replaced as pieces are sold. For more information, visit lakeviewregional.com.

St. Tammany Art Association The St. Tammany Art Association has a season full of art, starting with Michalopoulos at the Art House: Paintings by James Michalopoulos Sept. 10-Oct. 1. On Oct. 1, Nov. 5 and Dec. 3, the Covington Art Market will be held in partnership with the City of Covington at the Covington Trailhead. Fall for Art is Oct. 8, with plenty of new work by dozens of artists. Reginald Pollack and the Dance of Death: Selections from the New Orleans Museum of Art will open Oct. 8 and be on view until Nov. 26. From Dec. 10-Jan. 28, Explorations: Work by Jason Kofke will be on display, followed by Conversations with Abstraction Feb. 58

Inside Northside

photo: JOSE LUIZ PEDERNEIRAS

New Orleans Ballet Association Grupo Corpo.

11-April 1. The spring Covington Art Markets will be held on March 4, April 1 and May 6 at the Covington Trailhead. Spring for Art comes alive on April 8 throughout downtown Covington. I Should Have Named Her Virga: Drawings by Inga Clough Falterman will be held April 8-May 20. From July 8-Aug. 19, the 52nd Annual National Juried Artists’ Exhibition: The Summer Show will be on display. For more information, call 892-8650 or visit sttammanyartassociation.org.

St. Tammany Hospital Foundation Healing Arts Rotating Gallery Series Enjoy artists’ works throughout St. Tammany Parish Hospital as a part of the Foundation’s Healing Arts Initiative.The current exhibit, No Place Like Home, ends Sept. 5 with a new installation to come. For more information, visit sthfoundation.org/ healingarts.

Slidell Little Theatre Shrek the Musical opens Slidell Little Theatre’s season until Sept. 1-18.

Starting Oct. 7, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 takes the stage. On Nov. 25-Dec. 11, Over the River and Through the Woods plays, followed by On Golden Pond, March 3-19. The season closes with Young Frankenstein (musical) April 28-May 14. For show times and dates, call 643-0556 or visit slidelllittletheatre.org.

New Orleans Ballet Association The 2016-2017 Main Stage Season of Dance is packed with five performances starting with Grupo Corpo on Oct. 15 at Mahalia Jackson Theater. Co-presented by the NOCCA Institute, Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE takes the stage at NOCCA’s Freda Lupin Memorial Hall on Jan. 27-29. Stars of the American Ballet Encore! perform at Mahalia Jackson Theater on March 18 and Complexions Contemporary Ballet on April 22. On May 12, Jessica Lang Dance closes the season on the Mahalia Jackson Theater stage. For tickets, show times and more, call (504) 522-0996 or visit nobadance.com. September-October 2016 59

Traces by Byron Fortier

A Celebration of National Wildlife Refuge Week. Fall does not come early in South Louisiana. But eventually, finally, the humidity recedes, and the air takes on a crisper note. Suddenly, everyone wants to be outdoors. As the leaves begin to turn, along comes Wild Things—a celebration of National Wildlife Refuge Week, this year on October 15. Each year, the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Lacombe and The Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges, a non-profit support group, join together to sponsor this free, fun, family-oriented event. Wild Things is part of something bigger going on across the country during the same October week, when, on dozens of National Wildlife Refuges from coast to coast, folks are celebrating. In true South Louisiana style, the local version of this is bigger and better than most— with over 6,000 guests attending. The totally free event allows people of all 60

Inside Northside

photos courtesy: THE FRIENDS OF LOUISIANA WILDLIFE REFUGES

Wild Things

ages to connect with the great wild resources of our area, learn new skills, make new friends, and get involved in preserving our public lands. So what can you do at Wild Things? How about paddle a canoe, build a birdhouse to take home, practice your archery skills, pet a gator, learn how you can help restore Louisiana’s coast, take a hayride, meet owls and hawks up close, enjoy a wildflower walk, ride on a pontoon boat, learn to cast a fishing pole, tour the visitors center, or listen to live bands—well, it’s a long list, but you get the picture. Competing with the natural beauty of the site, over 300 young artists throughout the region will have their talent showcased as a part of the Wild Things Youth Art Show. Over 40 guest conservation and wildlife exhibitors are on hand, sharing their knowledge and offering ways that you can get involved. Kids will find hands-on activities at dozens of booths, all designed to get them excited about the natural world. Many live animal exhibitors are on hand with all the scoop on the rich wildlife of our area. Wild Things takes place at the Bayou Lacombe Centre in Lacombe.

Beau Sourire "Beautiful Smiles" Family Dentistry Erin Carter, D.D.S. and Raymond Poirrier, D.D.S.

From the Centre, eight National Wildlife Refuges in Southeast Louisiana are administered, including over 160,000 acres of a coastal wetlands system that includes marshes, bottomland hardwood forests, lakes, swamps and bayous. It is also a great site for a nature festival. The 110 wooded acres are filled with trails, gardens and ponds, all bordering scenic Bayou Lacombe and providing the perfect setting for outdoor fun. A true team effort, Wild Things is organized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and by The Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges. This is the main annual fundraiser for the Friends, who offer delicious food and drink for all. Together with service staff and dozens of volunteers, they also staff the many events and activities at Wild Things. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The diversity of wildlife found in our area is unique in the world. Nature moves us. What better way to celebrate that connection than at Wild Things? Wild Things will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 15, at the Bayou Lacombe Center of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 61389 Hwy. 434, in Lacombe. Admission, parking, tours and music are all free. For more information, call 882-2000 or visit fws.gov/southeastlouisiana.

Beau Sourire “Beautiful Smiles” Family Dentistry was a vision Dr. Beth Saacks had 22 years ago. With 22 years behind her and many years ahead, the same goal of excellent patient care is still in the forefront. “We take patient care very seriously. Because of this, we do not believe in ‘double booking’ patients,” says Dr. Saacks. “When someone sits in one of our dental chairs, they are the provider’s ONE and ONLY focus.” We try our best to make each and every patient comfortable.” To further patient care, Dr. Saacks has welcomed two fulltime doctors to her team, Drs. Ray Poirrier and Erin Carter. Dr. Ray, a graduate of Archbishop Hannan High School, has worked two days a week at Beau Sourire for the last 10 years, while also serving on The Children’s Hospital Tooth Bus. With Dr. Saacks’ heart for the locals of St. Tammany Parish, she has also brought on Dr. Erin Carter, who graduated from St. Scholastica Academy. Dr. Erin is ecstatic about her new position, which allows her to serve the same community in which she was raised. Dr. Saacks is enthusiastic about the future of Beau Sourire. “Drs. Ray and Erin share the same desires for their patients as I do. I know that having these two dynamic dentists on our team will certainly help us to continue to provide the unparalleled level of dedication that every patient deserves!”

FAMILY DENTISTRY

“Where All Smiles Are Beautiful”

Beau Sourire Family Dentistry is located at 2881 Hwy. 190, Ste. D4, in Mandeville. 626-8980. September-October 2016 61

Generous Hearts by Susan H. Bonnett

Generous Partners

Special Olympics

Habitat for Humanity

The Special Olympics State Summer Games took place on May 20-22, 2016, on Southeasternâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus in Hammond where more than 1,000 volunteers helped out. A Bayouland athlete who finished his race is greeted by a smiling volunteer who cheered him all the way to the finish line.

Chevron employees help build a handicappedaccessible ramp for a Habitat for Humanity St Tammany West home on their group build day. Since 1981, Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West has built over 248 affordable new homes with low-income families across the western part of the parish.

Inside Northside

photos courtesy: NORTHSHORE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

WE AT THE NORTHSHORE COMMUNITY Foundation believe we share an interconnected and universally tethered motivation with each and every nonprofit organization selflessly working to make the northshore a better place. To that end, we would like to showcase YOU: Our boots-on-the-ground northshore partners who are striving day-in and day-out to make a difference. Thank you for all that you do, for sharing with us and keep up the GOOD WORKâ&#x20AC;Ś

Food Bank of Covington Harry Warner, board emeritus of the Food Bank of Covington, at its annual golf tournament, where he serves as the registration volunteer on the day of the event. The Covington Food Bank provides food assistance to more than 375 individuals and families each week who find themselves in need.

Humane Society Volunteer Alex Crosby with adoptable dog Helen at our 2016 Duck Derby and Festival held in June at Bogue Falaya Park in Covington. The St. Tammany Humane Society is dedicated to enhancing and saving the lives of pets in our region through community engagements, adoption, spay and neuter programs, and sheltering. Their vision is to lay the foundation for a no-kill nation. >>

September-October 2016 63

New Heights New Heights Therapy Center is dedicated to positively impacting the lives of those with physical, cognitive and emotional challenges through the healing power of equine therapy. It also just makes people happy, like rider Cole, Micaela and sweet Rosie.

Grant’s Gift

Notes for Education Notes for Education Northshore’s mission is to support efforts to foster and promote the academic and social 64

Inside Northside

photos courtesy: NORTHSHORE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Grant’s Gift Foundation raises money and awareness to benefit children with special needs, especially underprivileged and disabled children. They recently awarded Elijah LeBlanc, a precious, happy 10-year-old with some pretty scary issues, the mac-daddy of ‘special’ bikes in a little ceremony with the NCF’s Youth in Philanthropy volunteers. He is just thrilled to be able to hop on and take a spin!

development of youth through music education and the performing arts. The founders are pictured here with the Slidell Jazz and Blues Festival committee having a little fun at the second annual festival held in May, the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major fundraiser.

Good Samaritan Center The Dean children have big smiles going into the school year thanks to the Good Samaritan Ministryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual school supply program. The annual drive, which filled more than 200 backpacks this year, supports both student and teachers by putting supplies directly into Eastern St. Tammany classrooms. The program is one of many led by Good Sams, which supports local citizens with emergency needs.

United Way United Way volunteers gather at the Covington Recreational Complex to install a Born Learning Trail, an interactive, playful outdoor learning tool that promotes early literacy and encourages physical activity for young children. United Way hosts many volunteer events throughout the year to build healthier, stronger communities.

Traces by Ellen Thomas

Barrel Racing Champion

LIKE MOST CHILDREN HER AGE, 12-year-old Elle Sullivan enjoys horsing around. Only she means it literally—she’s working toward her dream of being a barrel racing champion. The daughter of surgeons Dr. Scott Sullivan and Dr. Michele Cooper, Mandeville-raised Elle got her first taste of riding at a birthday party and fell in love. She began taking trail riding and Western leisure lessons with Anita Kelly in 2009, at age 5. By 8, she craved a bigger challenge and started competing with the Southern Horsemen Association, a group that hosts horse shows, horse races and rodeo events. Barrel racing, one of the fastest rodeo events, is unique. The sport unites the skill of the rider with the athleticism of the horse in a race against the clock. A rider must enter the arena, cleanly maneuver around three or four placed barrels in a clover-shaped fashion and exit the arena. All in a matter of seconds. Elle attended a camp with the renowned rider and trainer Talmadge Green, where she won her first competition and belt buckle. “From the first belt buckle, it was one win after the next,” says her mom. Elle credits this experience with demonstrating the importance of hard work. She says, “It’s when I first realized how much went into it; you can’t just hop on a horse— 66

Inside Northside

photo: PIXELWORX DIGITAL IMAGING, CANYON, TX, #pixelworxtexas

Elle Sullivan

you have to work for it.” Elle honed her riding skills, and in October 2013, she won all her competitions with the Southern Horsemen Association before moving on to the National Barrel Horse Association. In 2014, she won the State Youth competition, a division composed of riders as old as 18 years, and qualified for the NHBA Youth World Championship. “She has a great line up of horses, the greatest coaches possible and has excellent self-confidence,” says Michele. One of those coaches is the devoted Debbie Martin, who not only trains Elle, but goes to all of her competitions. Elle trains for hours after school and spends almost all her weekends traveling around the country to compete. While sometimes difficult, the tremendous time commitment forces her to be extremely regimented in her studies and has cultivated a diligence in schoolwork unique for her young age. Her mother insists that Elle’s riding teaches her responsibility that goes beyond discipline in her studies, saying, “It’s such a great sport. She has to help care for the animal. There’s a lot of sweat and grime that goes into a less-than-15second run.” All of Elle’s hard work has paid off, and she’s in the midst of her most successful season. Currently ranked first in the district with the highest number of wins, this April she was once again crowned Louisiana’s State Youth champion. Yet the competition wasn’t all smooth riding. On her first two rides, Elle knocked over two of the three barrels, resulting in a substantial addition to her time as a penalty.

However, on her third and final ride, Elle and her horse Gold MasterCard dashed into first place. “Debbie said, ‘There’s nothing to lose and everything to win,’ and at that point, Elle was all in. She ended up taking home Youth,” says Michele. This summer, Elle competed in the Triple Crown in Perry, Georgia. The race drew over 600 competitors from the southern United States, and she won the youth race with the fastest time of the weekend. She performed wonderfully at the All American Youth Race, before advancing to the NBHA World Championships. Out of 1,800 youth and teenagers, 151 qualified for the finals. Elle was the only rider from Louisiana to place in the finals. When asked about the experience, Elle explained proudly how her confidence grows with each race, and she was surprised by her lack of nerves. Despite working hard year-round for those 15-second rides, Elle cites the unpredictability as her favorite aspect of the sport. “Not knowing what will happen is the best part,” she says. “The adrenaline rush is fun. You go out there and just hope for the best.” Michele says that Elle isn’t motivated by competition, but selfimprovement. “Her favorite words are ‘and the new leader is...’ It’s not necessarily about her winning. It’s about her hard work paying off.” Elle, who is a seventh grader at Christ Episcopal School this year, hopes to keep barrel racing for as long as possible and to continue working toward being the best rider she can be. Her maturity and dedication serve as an inspiration to anyone who has a dream. September-October 2016 67

Learning to Live with Dementia

Sandra and Roland dancing at their 50th anniversary on May 21, 2010. 68

IT WAS JUST THREE YEARS AGO when I first heard the words “Lewy body dementia” from the succession of neurologists offering yet another explanation for my husband’s affliction. We had already been told it was Parkinson’s disease, diagnosed from the slow shuffling movements that are usually the first signals of the illness. Next came the term “tauopathy,” explained as a form of brain dysfunction that has the characteristics of Parkinsonism, is related to Alzheimer’s disease, and which, according to The John Van Geest Centre for Brain Repair at the University of Cambridge, “results in the loss of neurons from widespread parts of the brain.” I am often asked the question, “What is Lewy body dementia?” There is no simple answer. The answer lies within the complexity of the inner workings of the human brain undergoing the

Inside Northside

struggle of diminishing functioning. The best way I have been able to describe it is it’s like watching a Polaroid image in reverse, the focus in progressive stages of receding clarity. As described by Dr. Rachel Dolhun of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, “LBD is a form of dementia, which is a broad term for a disease of memory, thinking and/or social abilities that is severe enough to interfere with everyday activities. LBD is also a form of Parkinsonism, meaning that it causes some or all of the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease—tremor, stiffness, slowness and walking/balance problems.” According to the LBD Association, “Lewy body dementia is not a rare disease. It affects an estimated 1.4 million individuals and their families in the United States. Because LBD symptoms can closely resemble other more commonly

photo courtesy: SANDRA SCALISE JUNEAU

by Sandra Scalise Juneau

known diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, it is currently widely underdiagnosed. Many doctors or other medical professionals still are not familiar with LBD.” Each new day, however brings amazing breakthroughs achieved through the latest technologies and scientific study dedicated to the causes, treatments and eventual cure for these devastating diseases. At the forefront of this research is the Michael J. Fox Foundation, “dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson’s today.” In the July 29, 2016 FoxFeed Blog, Maggie McGuire Kuhl, medical research communicator at MJFF posted the following:

Nilotinib Update: Where We Stand with a Cancer Drug for Parkinson’s “A promising therapy that may slow or stop Parkinson’s progression is moving forward. Today, The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), the Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) in Michigan and the Cure Parkinson’s Trust (CPT) in the United Kingdom announced plans to collaborate to assess the clinical use and development of cancer drug nilotinib. Among the partners’ goals: planning a doubleblind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of nilotinib, which MJFF hopes can begin in 2017.”

Preventing Toxic Protein Clumps Alpha-synuclein is the sticky protein that clumps in brain cells in Parkinson’s, and scientists believe that >> September-October 2016 69

those clumps (called Lewy bodies) are toxic and lead to cell death. Because Lewy bodies likely play a primary role in disease progression and are seen in the brains of all people with PD, alphasynuclein is our most promising target for a drug to stop or slow Parkinson’s disease.” In our giving community, it’s no surprise that local grass roots efforts are making a difference through fundraising and community awareness programs. Leading our Kickin’ Parkinson’s Team, in association the MJFF, is Quentin Dastugue, who emphatically states, “We could not be prouder that to date, our local team has raised over $840,000 for the race to the cure. Important advancements are being made that are already changing lives.” This year’s 7th annual Kickin’ Parkinson’s Party, “Back to the Eighties,” takes place Thursday, September 22, at the Stone Creek Club and Spa in Covington. The Kickin’ Party will feature live music from The Molly Ringwalds, an open bar and food by local restaurants, a silent auction and many special guests. Tickets are $125 per person and can be purchased online at kickinparkinsons.com. The following day, on Friday, September 23, from 8 until 10 a.m., the public is invited by the MJFF to The Columbia House in Covington for a round table discussion. Led by Debi Brooks, co-founder of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, this in-depth discussion will cover the latest information on medical breakthroughs and other topics of importance to patients and families of those suffering from Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Others from MJFF assisting in the discussion will be Terina Martinez, Ph.D., associate

director of research programs; Patricia Radford, senior associate of development; and Liz Diemer, senior associate director of research programs. There will also be a Q & A session for audience participants to submit questions to this expert panel. This adventure that Roland and I now share has brought us to a new awareness of our fragility and of the privileges we have enjoyed. It has allowed us to dance our life together at a slower, more deliberate pace. It has given us the grace to take each new day as the gift that it is, aware that our world has changed, aware that we face the unknown in the reality of each day, each moment, guided by a team of dedicated specialists, supported by loving family and friends, grounded by the traditions which define us.

Local and National Resources Our area is truly fortunate in the many resources of support and information available to us. From personal experience as a spousecaregiver, Jackie Graham, coordinator of the Northshore Parkinson’s Support Group, inspires all with her proactive fortitude and says, “KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! Learn all you can about the disease. Find a specialist where available, connect with national organizations, read online, join a support group and also a caregivers group.” Caregivers’ Luncheons: Meets at 12:30 p.m. bi-monthly on third Monday; next date, September 19, Zea Rotisserie & Grill, 110 Lake Dr, Covington. Care Partner Mentoring, LLC: CareParterMentoring.com. Provides resources and education for caregivers.

COAST Council on Aging, St. Tammany: 892-0377; coastseniors.org. Services available to all St. Tammany Parish seniors aged 60 and above and/ or their caregivers. Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research: 1-800-7087644; michaeljfox.org. Lewy Body Dementia Association: 1-800-539-976; lbda.org. National Institute on Aging: 1-800438-4380; nia.nih.gov/alzheimers. Northshore Parkinson’s Support Group, a division of American Parkinson’s Disease Association: Meets 1 p.m. monthly on second Friday, Lakeview Regional Medical Center, 95 Judge Tanner Blvd, Covington. nspdsg@gmail.com. Next meeting: September 16; Speaker, Tonya McCoy, Occupational Therapist; “Live better with PD.” Parkinson’s Exercise Group: 12:45pm, Mondays; 1:15 p.m., Thursdays; Franco’s Athletic Club, 100 Bon Temps Roule, Mandeville. Providence Place Senior Respite Care, LLC: Day respite for individuals in early stages of dementia. Contact Devin Tournillon, certified memory care specialist, (504) 343-8480, drtournillon@gmail.com. STARC- Alzheimer’s Angels: Provides respite for caregivers. Contact: Suzanne Bourgeois, 290-8271, sbourgeois@starcla.org. Women’s Center for Healing and Transformation: Caregiver support group, classes and counseling.

September-October 2016 71

Inside Northside

71667 Leveson St, Abita Springs; 892-8111; womenscenterforhealing.org.

The Wilbert H. Reisig Scholarship for Parkinson’s Awareness The Northshore Community Foundation oversees The Wilbert H. Reisig Scholarship Fund for Parkinson’s Awareness, awarded annually to a graduating/graduated high school student who will enroll in a college or university seeking a degree in one of the following fields: public health, social work, psychology, communications, neuroscience and nursing, and who has an interest and goal of increasing the awareness in the community of Parkinson’s disease. Recipients are selected by an independent Scholarship Advisory Committee appointed by the Foundation. Criteria for the $1,500 Award is communicated to all metro area high school counselors. As expressed by Steven R. Reisig, “On behalf of the Reisig family, we are extremely excited to have awarded the First Annual Wilbert H. Reisig Scholarship for Parkinson’s Awareness to Miss McKenna Heil. We are grateful for support from the Northshore Community Foundation and Kickin’ Parkinson’s in establishing this scholarship in memory of my father. We sincerely hope that this scholarship will inspire the next generation of students in our community to join our mission in finding a cure.”

is at the forefront of biomedical research, and remarkable progress in understanding the disease has been made in the last 15 years. Federal funding has increased greatly and many researchers are working diligently to slow this disease down and find a cure. With your help, we can all play a part in ending Alzheimer’s. On September 30, come be a part of a special day to enjoy pre-holiday shopping, food and fun. Be the beauty behind the brains as you join H2O Salon Southshore and Northshore in fighting Alzheimer’s. All proceeds of sales on this day will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association. On October 8, participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville or Ponchatoula Area Recreation District. Both walks begin at 9 a.m. For more information, visit alz.org/walk.

ALZHEIMER’S AWARENESS

Above: Liz Diemer,

For Heather Mahoney and Holli Gaspard, their pain became their purpose after Alzheimer’s touched their mother, Claire Parson. They decided to use their company, H2O Salon, to make a difference, bring awareness and fund research with a goal of helping others overcome Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. There is no cure. Alzheimer’s is one of the only multi-generational diseases that can affect every family member, especially females. According to statistics, by the year 2050, one in three people will have to confront Alzheimer’s. The baby boomers are the greatest at risk today, which is why help is needed more than ever. Alzheimer’s

Terina Martinez and Patricia Radford with Quentin and Penny Dastugue at the 2015 Parkinson’s Roundtable Discussion. Left: Heather Mahoney and Holli Gaspard of H2O Salon who raise money each year for Alzheimer’s in honor of their mother, Claire Parson. September-October 2016 73

IN the Bookcase

by Terri Schlichenmeyer

The Time of Our Lives by Peggy Noonan

THE VIEW YOU HAVE from where you sit is a very good one. You can see highs and lows, happy things and improvements to be made. Some of what you spy makes you laugh, while others give you pause or cause concern. From where you sit, you can see for miles—and, as does Peggy Noonan in her new book The Time of Our Lives, you can see years into the past. As a new college graduate in the early 1970s, writer Peggy Noonan says that she received an “unplanned gift” from her first job at a CBS affiliate in Boston: the newsroom was full of “old, semicurmudgeonly correspondents and editors, and they taught me by reading, editing and rewriting my hourly news broadcasts.” She learned how to “clear something up,” change minds, and create stories. From there, she became a “news gatherer,” a speechwriter and author, and in 2000, she was asked to write a column for the Wall Street Journal. When a friend suggested a bound collection of favorite works, Noonan began poring through boxes.

Her first offering: the transcript of a commencement address, in which she spoke of being a presidential speechwriter. “It’s heaven,” she says simply, before elaborating with tales of monumental disasters, intuition, and working with Ronald Reagan. In this book, Noonan eulogizes friends and the famous: Joan Rivers, of whom Noonan says “She had no edit function, which in part allowed her gift” of warmth; the “sweet and austere” Jacqueline Kennedy; writer Tennessee Williams; soldiers Alvin York and Audie Murphy; and former President Reagan. She shares her views on books, politics, and political scandals. She writes lovingly of her city, post-September 11, 2001, and how New Yorkers dealt with tragedy. She reflects on the Catholic Church, and worshipping there. And despite that many of these columns were penned years ago, Noonan seems prescient at times. She writes about “safe rooms” at college, immigration, Iraq, terrorism, having a common language as a nation, and other topics that were as

relevant when written as they are today. And that last point? Well, there’s a surprise. Have we really been talking about the same things for all these years? Author Peggy Noonan seems to indicate as much, and in this memoir-essaycollection, she weighs in, too. But first, starting with a brief look at her own life and early career, Noonan writes of former co-workers, elderly aunts and an America where parents turned their children loose during the day and didn’t expect to see them until dinnertime. She proceeds by remarking on life, events and how things have changed both politically and socially, but she doesn’t rant. In The Times of Our Lives, Noonan is obviously opinionated, but respectfully so. In today’s culture of divisiveness, that may come as welcome relief to some readers. All in all, this book was a pleasure to read, and with short chapters, it is easily browsable. It’s a calm look at current events, and if you’re plugged into those topics, then The Times of Our Lives is worth a view. September-October 2016 75

Inside Northside

Flourishes 2 1

1. Brother Persona PRS100, single needle embroidery machine with free arm embroidery, $4,995. Precision Sewing, 249-6156. 2. Seasonal arrangements, starting at $65. Florist

of Covington, 892-7701. 3. The Michael Aram Bittersweet object made out of natural brass is 20” L x 18.5” W x 10” H. New Michael Aram Bittersweet and Molten Gold collections are exclusive to Michael Aram Specialty Retailers, $795. Arabella Fine Gifts and Home Décor, Mandeville, 727-9787. 4. Build your own custom settee. Choose wood finish, fabric and nail head details; as shown, $2,850. The French Mix, Covington, 809-3152. 5. French Art Noveau aqua frosted centerpiece bowl, $300. Antiques and Décor, Mandeville, 635-2035. 6. Automatic grill cleaning robot; push-button operation, three powerful electric motors, built-in LCD alarm and timer, rechargeable battery with AC adapter and smart computer brain to regulate speed and direction, $99.99. Outdoor Living Center, Covington, 893-8008.

5 6

Flourishes

1. Hand-crafted Halloween burlap centerpiece, $58. Water Street Wreaths, Madisonville, 792-7979. 2. Crimson Sunset, 18â&#x20AC;? x 23â&#x20AC;? acrylic on paper, $3,200 unframed. Rolland Golden Gallery, Covington, 888-6588. 3. Hand-carved stand of poplar wood painted in black and gold leaf with removable hand-painted tray,

$2,500. French Polish, Metairie, 504-289-6287. 4. Credenza with shaped front and cabriole

legs. Aged patina, intricate door onlays. Four drawers at top of case; four doors below open to adjustable shelves. American Factory Direct, Mandeville, 8710300. 5. Smoke grey stackable votives, starting at $35. Niche Modern Home, Mandeville, 626-4045.

Inside Northside

September-October 2016 79

Inside Northside

Flourishes

1. LSU Tigers football wood serving tray with glass plate inset and spreader, $49.20. Pine Grove Lighting and Electrical Supply, Mandeville, 893-4003. 2. French-blue decorative

rosary, $29. deCoeur Gifts & Home Accessories, Covington, 809-3244. 3. Faux-fur throws, cushions and accessories made in France available in standard and tailored sizes and an array of colors. Hestia Luxury in Linens, Covington, 893-0490. 4. Antique iron table lamp with rectangular shade, $295. Rug Chic, Mandeville, 674-1070. 5. Nola Tawk cotton hand-screened napkins, set of four, $28. Gild Home DĂŠcor, Mandeville, 629-4022. 6. Gliding rocker, available in over 100 fabrics, starting at $500. Baby & Me,

Mandeville, 626-0267. September-October 2016 81

Inside Northside

INside Look 1

3 2

Black & White & Green All Over

1. Swarovski green and clear crystal necklace and earring set, $39.99. Private Beach, Mandeville, 674-2326. 2. 14k yellow gold earrings with oval green chalcedony bezel set on pave diamond posts. Diamonds total approximately 0.02tw; $250. Lee Michael’s Fine Jewelry, Metairie, 504-832-0000. 3. 1.70 ct tw oval emerald with .21 ct tw diamond halo set in

yellow gold, $1,295. DeLuca’s Fine Jewelry, Covington, 8922317. 4. Bella Bliss corduroy John John, $49; corduroy dress, $42. Olive Patch, Covington,

327-5772. 5. Muroto volume pure lightness shampoo for fine hair. H2O Salon Northshore, Mandeville, 951-8166. 6. Thai silk Marissa Baratelli evening gown, $570; matching shawl, $255. Ballin’s LTD. Covington, 892-0025. September-October 2016 83

INside Look

1 3

Black & White & Green All Over 1. Adler tunic in black and white print, $62. Brown Eyed Girl, Mandeville, 626-0100. 2. Ark & Co. figure-flattering tank dress with mesh detailing and top stitching, $119. Columbia Street Mercantile, Covington, 809-1789 or 809-1690. 3. Boudreaux’s

signature emerald earrings, available in different sizes, starting at $1,995. Boudreaux’s, Mandeville, 626-1666. 4. Black and white tie-dyed dress with a crisscross lace-up tie front, deep V-neck plunge and breezy sleeves, $82. Paisley, Mandeville, 727-7880. 5. Crochet applique coldshoulder romper in sage, $44. JuJu’s Boutique, Mandeville, 624-3600. 6. 1.01ct emeraldcut emerald accented by .79ctw diamonds and set in 18kt white gold, $4,525. Thomas Franks Fine Jewelers, 6

Inside Northside

Mandeville, 626-5098.

September-October 2016 85

Inside Northside

INside Look

Black & White & Green All Over 1. Archipelago Botanicals, Milk Pure and Simple products. Earthsavers, Mandeville, 674-1133. 2. Long spa robe with waffleweave pattern. The Oasis Day Spa, Mandeville, 624-6772. 3. Candice dress in

Resort Navy Uptown Trunk, $198. Palm Village, a Lily Pulitzer Signature Store, 5

Mandeville, 778-2547. 4. Black and white plaid boyfriend shirt, $40. Vine, Mandeville, 951-0005. 5. Black and white print active wear. Top, $29; pants, $42. The Lifestyle Store at Francoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Mandeville, 792-0200. 6. Black Traveler tailored fit shirt and silk tie. Shirt, $79.50; tie, $59.50. Jos A. Bank Clothiers, Mandeville, 624-4067. 7. Olive suede bootie by Franco Sarto, $139. ShoefflĂŠ, Covington, 898-6465. 6

INside Look 1

Black & White & Green All Over 1. Border print off-shoulder dress, $58. POSH Boutique, Covington, 898-2639. 2. Rag

& Bone Phoebe sleeveless black crepe dress with V neckline, $525. Eros Home and Clothing, Mandeville, 727-0034. 3. Cream, grey and black tunic, $130. CDN Clothing, Covington, 3275

7300. 4. Rocky Barns 100% cashmere sweater, $346. The Villa, Mandeville, 6869797. 5. Ambra lace-up flat in black and white snake print, $350. Emmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shoes and Accessories, Mandeville, 778-2200.

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Christwood photos courtesy: COMMUNITY CENTER AT CHRISTWOOD

by Margaret Mashburn

CHRISTWOOD IS CELEBRATING its 20th Anniversary, and what a remarkable 20 years it has been! Opening in1996 as the only Life Plan Community on the northshore, Christwood has continued to expand its living options and array of services to adults 60 and over in the area. Through vision and meticulous planning, the Christwood board and management have not only increased the size of the campus but also maintained the warmth, intimacy and vibrancy of the community through the addition of the Community Center and the Atrium Gallery and CafĂŠ. The Community Center at Christwood, which opened in 2014, is a 23,000-sq.-ft. space that is dedicated to the art of living well and actively aging. It is home to an indoor six-lane heated saltwater pool, which is an amenity for Christwood residents and is open to area individuals and couples ages 55 and over. Water and land-based aerobics classes are

Celebrating 20 Years

offered at low, medium and high intensity/impact levels, and professional staff is provided to help members improve their strength on the latest exercise equipment, to assist in their continuum of care and to achieve their fitness goals. Whether enjoying a massage in the Lotus Spa, exercising in the aerobics studio, playing cards in the game room, working out in the exercise room, painting in the art studio, swimming in the heated indoor saltwater pool or enjoying coffee with friends at the coffee bar, residents and members find the >>

Above: The fireside Atrium Gallery where art exhibits and concerts are enjoyed. Below: The Cognitive Care Center to be completed by the end of 2016.

September-October 2016 91

Community Center to be a favorite gathering place. The Atrium at Christwood opened in 2011. The warm, inviting atmosphere lends itself to hosting art exhibits, receptions, various celebrations and concerts. In keeping with its commitment to the arts, Christwood created the Atrium Gallery, which hosts a new exhibit every two months displaying work created by regional artists. The opening reception for each new exhibit features live music, wine and cheese and is open to all Christwood residents as well as the general public. In addition, Christwood hosts the Third Sunday Summer Concerts in the Atrium during July and August. The free one-hour concerts are of varied genre and are always entertaining and of high quality. The Companion Care Services of Christwood Connect is a recently implemented program that provides customized companion, homemaking and personal care services in the comfort of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own home both on and off campus. The highly trained and caring staff is licensed by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and provides a range of services and daily activities. From assistance with grooming and medication reminders to assistance with medical appointments and light housekeeping, the team of caring professionals focuses on meeting the specific personal wellness needs of each individual with dignity and respect. The Cognitive Care Center is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. The much-needed and highly anticipated center will add an important dimension to the already significant choices Christwood provides to its residents and the northshore community. The Cognitive Care 92

Inside Northside

Center will serve adults ages 60 and over who are experiencing a declining cognitive status, such as Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease or other dementia. The center will accommodate 28 private suites in a neighborhood setting, with common areas located in the center of the new development. It is designed by Fauntleroy Latham Weldon BarrĂŠ Architects. The general contractor is McMath Construction. This combination of design and construction expertise can be appreciated in the many exceptional buildings, both in appearance and function, on the Christwood campus. The center will provide highly individualized therapies to residents, including music and pet therapies. Staff will receive extensive ongoing training to assure the greatest degree of comfort and security for the residents and confidence for their families, all under the direction of Dr. Jeff Keller, Director of the Institute for Dementia Research and Prevention at the Pennington Biomedical Institute at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. It will also offer Adult Day Care that will serve adults in the local area ages 60 and over. Currently, renovations to the common areas of the Premier building are underway, giving them a fresh new look, and exciting initiatives are on deck to be revealed in the near future. Stay tuned! With sustained growth over the past 20 years and a continued commitment to serving its residents and area adults 60 and over, Christwood has much to celebrate in 2016! For more information: Community Center at Christwood, 292-1234; Companion Care Services, Jennifer Buchholz, 292-1221; Cognitive Care Center, Tami Perry, 898-0505, ext. 3013. September-October 2016 93

Harvest Cup Polo Classic A Beautiful Mission 20th Anniversary and Beautiful Jewelry by Ellen Thomas

ONE OF THE OLDEST GAMES in the world, polo has a long and illustrious history. The earliest recorded match took place in Persia over 2,500 years ago, but historians date polo’s inception as much older. Throughout its history, polo has taken on many forms. It’s believed to have originally served as training for battle on horseback by nomadic warriors, played with more than 100 men on each side. The game followed them to the Persian Empire, where it became the national sport. From there, it spread across Central Asia, where it was championed by kings and played only by the nobility and military. Known as both the “Game of Kings” and the “King of Games,” polo was highly respected and considered a pursuit next to battle itself. British tea planters witnessed the game in India in the 1800s, and polo soon spread to the Western world. However, the Game of Kings is no longer just for kings. Today, polo is enjoyed in 77 countries around the world, with more than 275 registered polo clubs in the United States. From fighting to fancy hats, polo matches have evolved into entertaining and elegant affairs. One such event is the Junior League of Greater

Inside Northside

Inside Northside is proud to partner with

Covington’s annual Harvest Cup Polo Classic. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Polo Classic has been helping the Junior League serve the community for the past two decades and is now their biggest fundraising event. While centered around polo, the event offers many additional activities for attendees, including live entertainment by Four Unplugged, local food vendors, signature drinks, auctions and more. This year’s “VIP experience” boasts access to specialty bars and restaurants, massages and the Saints game broadcast. Two exciting new auction items have been added as well, a live painting by New Orleans-based artist Alex Harvie and a trip to the 2017 Masters. Inside Northside and Lee Michaels are longtime team sponsors for the Polo Classic. This year, Lee Michaels has a new designer to bolster its crowdfavorite auction items. “Polo has consistently been one of our favorite events each year because we love the mission of the Junior League and what they do for the community,” says Chad Berg, vice president of Lee Michaels. Lee Michaels is sponsoring the annual hay pull along with auctions items from designer Konstantino. the Junior League of Greater Covington.

Every piece of jewelry from the Grecian brand is produced by master artisans and goldsmiths using ancient techniques. The entire process, from sketches to assembly, is done by hand in Athens. The popular designer is sported by many a-list celebrities, including Keith Richards, Sir Elton John, Brad Pitt, Oprah, Rihanna and Celine Dion. “The jewelry is very Old World and has a certain charm to it, just as the northshore does. The jewelry is accessible to clients of every price range,” says Chad. The day’s proceeds benefit the Junior League’s various civic projects and community grants, particularly Girls’ Health Day, Project Prom and Project Homecoming. The JLGC’s Girls’ Health Day is a series of workshops held at Lakeview Regional Medical Center that seeks to empower and educate young women on issues like alcohol and drug abuse, self-esteem and women’s health. Project Prom and the newly instated Project Homecoming provide donated outfits for high school students who have special economic circumstances. The JLGC also continues

to support its signature program, the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany. The annual polo event plays a large part in keeping these programs alive. Chairwoman Michelle Davis explains the allure of the Polo Classic lies in the novelty of the polo experience. She says, “It’s different because you don’t have a lot of exposure to polo in Southeast Louisiana.” She notes how the beautiful grounds, pristine white tents and women donned in their best attire can make it feel like you’ve been transported to a stylish soirée in England. The Polo Classic is far from stuffy, however. “It’s a very relaxed, laid-back day and a lot of fun. Once you go, you’ll come back every year!” says Michelle. Held on November 6 at Summergrove Farm in Folsom, the Harvest Cup Polo Classic promises to be a gratifying event where attendees can enjoy themselves while supporting the Junior League’s important community projects. For more information, visit jlgc.net or 501auctions.com/jlgcpolo.

Konstantino Konstantino Sioulas’ timeless and sophisticated jewelry exemplifies quality and craftsmanship of the highest degree. Every piece is designed by Konstantino and handcrafted by distinguished artisans and goldsmiths using ancient, Byzantine techniques. Konstantino, born and raised in Greece, grew up surrounded by the country’s rich history and mythology and the physical remnants of both. Fascinated with jewelry since childhood, his interest was fostered during his time working in a small Athens boutique. Konstantino eventually bought the boutique, and his brand was born. In 1995, he and his wife moved to the United States and began creating and exporting jewelry. For the past 30

years, the self-taught designer has sold his unique pieces across the world. While Konstantino splits his time between Greece and Chicago, every step of the jewelry-making process is done by hand in Athens. Even the stones are sourced from a Greek dealer. With no computers used in the design or production, this brand truly epitomizes Old-World elegance and intricacy. Konstantinos’s “360-degree art,” with adornment on every side, ensures each piece is as beautiful from any angle as it is from the front. And with each design engulfed in classic Greek culture and aesthetics, every piece feels as though it could have been made by the artisans of ancient Greece.

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Inside Northside

Rhythm and Brews

by Leah Draffen

photos: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

Brian

“Bruiser”

WHERE THERE’S GOOD beer, you’d hope there’s good music—and where there’s good music, you’d hope there’s good beer. Brian “Bruiser” Broussard has the best of both worlds by making his own rhythm and brews. Stepping into the Covington Brewhouse, you automatically know you’re in a cool and funky place. Music is playing, guys are working, beer is brewing and the overall atmosphere is relaxed. Through the screen doors, you can smell the hops in the air and the sound of a water hose rinsing off the concrete. It’s hard to deny that a lot of love, work and sweat goes into each barrel Covington produces, but the outcome is not only a flavorful drink but also a reason to gather and celebrate friends, family and music. At 19 years old, Bruiser started on the path to

Broussard

owning a brewery. Of course, he didn’t realize that was the path he was on. “On my 19th birthday, my first job was at Abita Brewery. I started as a brewer apprentice, and by the end of the year I was a brewer—an underage brewer,” laughs Bruiser. “At the time, I was making a third of the beer that was leaving the brewery.” During the day, Bruiser learned the ins and outs of brewing, and by night he would do what any 19-year-old would do—go listen to music and party. Soon enough, Bruiser’s connection to music and guitar skills opened an additional avenue for him. Bruiser was put in charge of sponsoring bands for Abita. “That’s when I began hanging out with Dash Rip Rock. I had their music growing up. Totally >> September-October 2016 97

vulgar stuff that kids shouldn’t be listening to, but I knew their sound,” says Bruiser. “At 21, Dash Rip Rock asked me to join the band as a bass player. I had never played bass, so I locked myself in the bedroom for six months and learned to play on a $150 bass guitar. From there, I hit the road traveling with them until about 2007.” “Cassette tapes and CDs gave me the music bug when I was young. I was in a couple of high school bands playing guitar, but didn’t realize until I was older that I was always thinking about music. I’m always humming a tune or have a song in my head.” Returning home to Covington in ’07, Bruiser did odd jobs while trying to decide what he wanted to do. “I was doing a lot of random gigs that were all terrible and had to really ask myself, ‘Okay, what do I like to do?’ The answer was play music and make beer.” He joined the team of two in charge of production at the then-Heiner Brau, which at that time occupied the site of his present brewhouse. “It was a lot smaller then. There were copper tanks, this room [the tasting room] didn’t exist, and there were very few of us.” Bruiser worked at the brewery for a number of years, watching it grow as he also joined other bands. Bruiser played with Christian Serpas & Ghost Town for seven years, recording three albums with them. He says, “Christian is one of my really close friends. He and the guys used to open for Dash Rip Rock in the early stages.” (PS: Christian Serpas & Ghost Town have a new album, Favorites. You should check it out.) Bruiser moved on to play with hard rock Supagroup before former band mate, Bill Davis, of Dash Rip Rock asked him to join an all-stars band that only played New Orleans soul, rhythm and blues oldies. “Jello Biafra and The 98

Inside Northside

photos: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

New Orleans Raunch & Soul Band was a group of insanely talented musicians, including Wildman Pete “Wet Dawg” Gordon, Fred Le Blanc, Pepper Keenan, Bill Davis and Jello Biafra, all of whom didn’t belong in a band together, but we had fun and recorded a live album. At the end of it, Fred LeBlanc of Cowboy Mouth asked me if I’d be interested in playing bass for Cowboy Mouth if they ever needed a bass player. I said, ‘sure.’” Bruiser has also played with The Original Dirty Rapper Blowfly, Zoom, David Lee Roth Band, Settly, Dixieland Ramblers, Bruiser’s All-star Christmas Band and many others. All this time, while playing music Bruiser continued to brew but left Heiner Brau for a short time to work at NOLA Brewing before being offered a top spot at the newly named Covington Brewhouse. “Within a year of me being back at Covington, a group of guys were looking to buy the brewery,” says Bruiser. “I knew that I wanted to stay a part of it, so I told them that if they wanted me to stay, I wanted in. Three years later, I’m here as one of the owners and running the whole shebang.” Covington Brewhouse now has five guys, including Bruiser, who make the 4,000 barrels a year. His wife, Erin, runs the tasting room with the help of two bartenders. “We just do a lot of everything, but she makes it all pretty,” says Bruiser. “There’s always music videos on the TV, and the lights are dim. It

makes for a really cool spot to enjoy fresh beer. I mean, it doesn’t get any fresher than that.” From the tasting room you can see the tanks, all labeled with rock star names. The Covington Brewhouse brand that started at a quiet little brewery is now rocking as one of the top contenders in the local market. “It was slow growing for a very long time. New blood and ownership, a good attitude and >> September-October 2016 99

photos: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

being more creative have made it into the rock ’n roll brand that we want it to be. I like to think we’re just cool now,” Bruiser grins. Speaking of cool, three years ago, when Bruiser became an owner, he also became the bass player for Cowboy Mouth. Yeah, Fred LeBlanc took that “sure” to heart. “I get a call from Fred as soon as I began running the brewery asking if I wanted to join Cowboy Mouth. My reply was, ‘Really? Now?’ But I

decided to give it a shot and see what happened.” Three years later, Bruiser spends his weeks brewing and his weekends bass playing. When I asked if he was crazy, his explanation was driven. And driven he certainly is. Originally, Heiner Brau brewed German-style lagers, but in Bruiser’s reign IPAs and porters have been introduced to the mix. The year-round line up includes Pontchartrain Pilsner (my favorite), Strawberry >>

photo courtesy: ALEXIUS FAMILY

The site that the Covington Brewhouse occupies has its own history to share. A piece of land in Covington, part of the Badon Tract called Fractional Square 11, was sold to Josephine Antonim Williams in 1883. In 1901, the Williams’ heirs sold that tract to People’s Ginning & Ice Mfg. Co., which was incorporated by the Smiths. In 1902, the tract was sold to Edis E. Smith for $450, who, in turn, sold it in 1903 to Andrew Edwards for $1,000. Edwards sold it to D. M. Wadsworth & Brother, but the property was forced into a sheriff’s sale in September, 1903, and acquired by the St. Tammany Banking and Savings Co. In 1911, the Fractional Square 11 property was bought from the bank by Caroline Oertling Alexius for $2,700. In 1907, Guido Alexius and his sons Alfred, Cintio and John, had founded the Alexius Brothers and Company hardware store, and later his son Horace also joined the business, which was incorporated in 1917. In later years, this landmark establishment was operated by Guido’s grandsons, G.C. and Haller Alexius, until it closed its doors in 1985. During Alexius’ ownership, a portion of the land was donated to the Covington Trailhead, which is now directly across the street. Following the business closure, the building, which could have been condemned, was saved to become Heiner Brau in 2005. The building is currently the location of the Covington Brewhouse microbrewery on Lockwood St. Bruiser says that the age of the building is unclear. But one thing he does know for sure is that his office was originally where the hardware store kept its dynamite. “My office is a fallout shelter. Back when people could be trusted and there weren’t bulldozers, hardware stores sold dynamite to take up trees or dig holes. The dynamite was kept in a separate room, because back then it was okay to smoke inside. Obviously, cigarettes and dynamite don’t mix.” What does mix is a cold, fresh brew and great taste in music!

Ale, Anonymous IPA, Kölsch and Bayou Bock. Seasonal beers make an appearance as the year goes by. The Electric Porter, Spring Pale Ale and Rock & Roll Summer all play a part in the seasonal line up. Fitting for Oktoberfest, a seasonal favorite is Covington’s Fest Bier that has a rich, amber color and a blend of malts and earthy hops. It’s smooth and toasty for the cooler fall months. Covington is also working on a Rock Star Series, which will be a whole new line of “seasonals” that don’t necessarily follow the seasons. “We’re going to make each new brew until it runs out and then start a new one. Of course, if one is really popular, we’ll bring it back.” Triple Threat is the first of that series featuring three “babes” on the label. Bruiser adds that all of Covington’s labels are created by local artists with a flair for rock ’n roll. While Covington Brewhouse has that rock ’n roll edge, charity is important. Bruiser finds ways to give back to the community, including pink caps throughout the month of October. “One of my partners’ wife had breast cancer. It’s an important cause that’s close to our hearts as a brewery.” A portion of the beers sold goes to local cancer organizations. On October 1, Covington Brewhouse will host its first annual Save the Racks event in partnership with Champagne Beverages. There will be food, music and beer all to benefit breast cancer research. “I love music and I love beer. My first job just happened to be at a brewery, and I’m really appreciative of that early experience now more than ever.” Covington Brewhouse is located at 226 East Lockwood Street. The tasting room is open Thursday and Friday, 5-9pm; Saturday, 11am-9pm; and Sunday, 12-6pm. Take a tour on Saturdays at 11:30am, 1 pm or 2:30pm. September-October 2016 103

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Inside Northside

United Way

Day of Action by Missy Romagosa

photos courtesy: UNITED WAY OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA

education take place before they ever enter kindergarten. We know that what happens in a child’s early years matters for success in life and

THE HEAT DIDN’T STOP the volunteers from United Way of Southeast Louisiana who lined up along the Covington Recreational Complex Trail to install a Born Learning Trail. The trail is a set of 10 engaging signs that help create learning opportunities for young children. Each sign displays fun, interactive games promoting physical activity that exercises a child’s mind and body, plus activities that parents or caregivers can play with young children at different ages. In front of each sign along the walkway are drawings that correspond to the activities. Volunteers from Loop LLC, Rain Cll Carbon, City of Covington, Enterprise Holdings, Enterprise Rent A Car, Jacobs Engineering, Mathes Brierre Architects, St. Tammany Parish Hospital, U.S. Corps of Engineers, USDA, United Way and other individuals dotted the trail digging, cleaning, painting and spending the day giving back to the community. “Born Learning Trails promote fun and games—important components of early childhood learning,” says Michael Williamson, president and CEO of United Way of Southeast Louisiana. “Research tells us children are literally ‘born learning.’ That means five years of

for school readiness.” Covington Mayor Mike Cooper says, “It’s important for the communities in which we live to recognize and understand how we can all play a role in early child development and care. It’s a team effort that brings community resources together to ensure that healthy early child development and care are priorities. Born Learning is an innovative public engagement campaign that helps parents, caregivers and communities create quality early learning opportunities for young children.” The Covington Recreational Trail, sponsored by the City of Covington and Depend, is the first trail built in St. Tammany. Jamene Dahmer, United Way senior vice president, says, “Born Learning Trails will be an ongoing project in St. Tammany Parish. With support from local organizations, we plan to install six more trails throughout the community. We encourage families to explore ways to turn everyday moments into fun learning opportunities—including trips to these trails—to support early childhood learning.” Missy Romagosa is the director of marketing for the United Way of Southeast Louisiana.

OrthoCare urgent care center Specialty Orthopedic Walk-in Center

Medical care has changed in the past 10 years; traditional personal doctorpatient relationships are less frequent. Patients are more of a consumer searching for quality and convenience. Increasing bureaucracy means less direct access to qualified specialists. The growth of urgent care centers has allowed greater access to timely medical care, but they do not have the expert consultants for more complex injuries. The traditional route of an emergency room visit means little convenience and significantly greater costs. The professionals at Pinnacle Medical Network have recognized there is a need for a better service to our community. This was the driving force behind the formation of OrthoCare Urgent Care Center. Conveniently located in the Pinnacle Medical Center, the OrthoCare clinic is a one-of-a-kind walk-in orthopedic clinic. Imagine direct access to a board-certified orthopedic bone and joint expert six days a week. In addition to the physicianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s evaluation, onsite diagnostic services

include x-ray and MRI. Suddenly, the search for a bone and joint specialist is over. Many of us have been told by primary care practitioners or urgent care centers that we need a follow up with an orthopedist, only to have to search for a timely appointment afterwards. Now, one can be seen the same day without even the need of a phone call thanks to OrthoCare. This represents the next step in the Pinnacle Medical Network growth and outreach. Working with the Pinnacle Sports Medicine team, now game time injuries can receive an immediate evaluation and treatment plan. Because Pinnacle Physically Therapy is also located on site, treatment and recovery are seamless too. As the world of medical care continues to evolve both nationally and locally, the basic concepts of quality care, patient access, cost control and patient satisfaction are not always aligned. The Pinnacle Medical Network and its latest addition of the OrthoCare Urgent Care continue to bring a higher level of quality and service to our area.

The OrthoCare Urgent Care center is located in Covington at 1200 Pinnacle Parkway in the Pinnacle Medical Center building. Hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 9 to noon. Call (985) 674-1700 for details. September-October 2016 109

Left to Right: Eddie Fussell Paul Williamson Francis Motichek

JA-ROY Pest Control There’s a small A-frame building next to the Highway 190 overpass going across East Boston Street and the Bogue Falaya River in Covington. It’s an old blue and grey building that sits behind the Butter Krisp Diner, hardly noticeable as drivers hurry along the road. It’s now an insurance company and has been for some time. Older northshore residents may even remember the building as the former home of Danny’s Fried Chicken back in the mid-1970s. Above that former greasy food spot sat two friends who decided to start a business centered around the community they called home. Not a big chain like the one they used to work for, but a truly small northshore business that knew better than anyone else what the northshore needed when it came to pest control. So, in 1971, with six employees dressed in bright yellow jumpsuits and a few matching beat-up old cars to go with them, Jack Edwards and Cliff Fauntleroy started JA-ROY Pest Control. Forty-five years later, JA-ROY is still a mainstay in the northshore community, growing from those few employees working out of an attic over a chicken stand, picking up whatever clients they could, into a company with 61 employees 110

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servicing over 34,000 homes across four northshore locations from Slidell to Hammond to Franklinton, and, of course, their original Covington-MandevilleMadisonville territory, too. The original office is no longer the home of JA-ROY, which long outgrew the space, and Edwards and Fauntleroy are no longer leading the crusade against bug and pest infestation. But the current president, Paul Williamson, continues their tradition of service and personality. “Our main thing is service,” says Williamson. “We want to give our customers good service. If I can make you happy, you’re going to tell your neighbors, and that is what’s important to us. We strive to do a good job, and our No. 1 priority is to take care of our customers. When you go into these homes, that’s the most personal part of a person’s life. You’re going into their bedrooms, their bathrooms. They put a lot of trust in our technicians to let them just walk through their house, and we respect that.” Williamson bought the company in the mid-80s after spending the previous few years as a supervisor under Edwards and Fauntleroy. His first order of business was to get rid of the yellow jumpsuits, junker cars and what he described as a sort

of evil teddy bear logo in favor of a more modern business look. Today, the white trucks with the green logo have become a standard in the community, while the old ways have been relegated to the type of “What were we thinking?” nostalgia that’s usually only reserved for likes of disco. But with age comes experience, and there are few pest problems that JA-ROY hasn’t seen. Williamson and many longtime employees regale with stories of past customers’ panic from when bats got loose inside a house to a former employee who was deathly afraid of cockroaches. (Williamson admits it wasn’t an ideal characteristic for a pest exterminator, but assures he hid it well enough to get the job done.) And even a nun who had a specific vision for how pest control should be done! “We used to spray the old priory, and the big thing for (the nun) was that she was in control of the bug man,” says Williamson. “This was her deal, and she would look forward to it every month. It was like clock-work. She would call the day we were supposed to come. All she’d say was, ‘Are they coming?’ Everybody knew it was her. ‘Yes, sister, we’re coming.’ Then we’d go out there, and she’d say, ‘Want coffee?’ We’d always drink a little coffee

with her because she drank coffee. Then we’d go through, and she’d say, ‘Spray here. Spray here. Don’t spray here. Don’t spray there.’ She always ran the show and let us know who was in charge! “Once we sprayed the main house, we’d have to go spray this little guest house. She would get in the car with us because we couldn’t just spray the house, she had to be there every step of the way! But that was her job; she so looked forward to that, and she was in charge. We knew the routine. We knew exactly where to spray and where not to spray. She was a character, but we became accustomed to doing business her way. And we didn’t mind one bit!” When JA-ROY was first founded, the service cost was about $6 per month and was largely limited to general pest and termite control. Now, JA-ROY offers residential and commercial maintenance for mosquito, flea, ant, roach, silverfish, spider, bat, mice and bed bug control, on top of the same quality general pest and termite services they’ve always offered. JA-ROY is also one of the only pest businesses in the area that offer wildlife removal services, so from bats in the belfry to ants in your pants, JA-ROY can handle any pest needs, or more accurately, the need not to have pests! (Note: JA-ROY does not cover your neighbor’s dog that won’t stop barking all night long or small children, no matter how much of a pest you claim they are.) Francis Motichek and Eddie Fussell, pest control supervisors and key players, are lifelong residents. “This is our home.

Many of our employees have been living in our community for most of their lives. It’s a personal thing instead of a larger company that may have a lot of people coming in and out, and that’s been great for us,” says Motichek. As much as JA-ROY would like to still charge only $6 per month for services, the climbing costs of the economy and dedication to finding the best new chemicals and control techniques that fall in line with EPA standards require a rise in costs for the customers, as well. But JA-ROY maintains its commitment to making pest control affordable for all homes, which is why it now offers monthly, bi-monthly and quarterly check-ups to ensure fair pricing that best fits the budgets of its customers. “I’ve always said I don’t care if you’re spending $20 a month and someone else is spending $2000,” says Williamson. “Every customer is important to me.

If Jake the bulldog looks familiar, it’s because he has been JA-ROY’s mascot and the face of its TV campaign for four years. Jake loves to tell the world that JA-ROY is “Man’s best friend…Bug’s worst enemy since 1971.”

JA-ROY’s offices are located at: 18211 Branch Crossing Dr. in Covington, 892-6882; 723 Robert Blvd. in Slidell, 641-3960; 1402 S. Magnolia St. Ste. F in Hammond, 419-2671; and 904 Pearl St. in Franklinton, 839-6833. Ja-Roy.com. September-October 2016 111

photo courtesy: DARRYL MIERL

ON NOVEMBER 1, 1966, Pete Rozelle, commissioner of the National Football League, announced New Orleans was going pro. The New Orleans Saints were hatched by some old-fashioned Washington politics. The NFL wanted an antitrust exemption and Rozelle lobbied Louisiana Senator Russell Long to get it in exchange for having the league’s owners approve a franchise for New Orleans. Long delivered, the exemption conveniently tucked into some unrelated legislation. The Senator and local promoter Dave Dixon organized pre-season exhibition games in the city and Baton Rouge to great success and enthusiasm. The franchise was awarded to John Mecom Jr.,

photo: ACTION SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY

by Bert Bartlett

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the son of a Houston oil tycoon, for the original franchise fee of $7.5 million. In 1967, when John Gilliam scooted by the Rams, virtually untouched, on the opening kick-off for a touchdown on the first official play in team history, it proclaimed that the Saints were going be something special. Tulane Stadium absolutely rocked and thundered; all that was missing was lightning (it was a day game). Television replay cameras shook. The Saints tried to grow up too fast, aggressively building a roster of aging veterans from other teams rather than relying predominantly on the college draft. The club made a splash signing Notre Dame’s “Golden Boy” Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor from the champion Green Bay Packers. Taylor was from Baton Rouge and was an All American at LSU. AllPro Doug Atkins was acquired from the Chicago Bears, as was

Opposite page, top: Billy Kilmer, the first Saints starting quarterback. Opposite page, bottom: Drew Brees, latest Saints starting quarterback. Left: Tom Dempsey’s NFL record-setting 63yard field goal. Below: A ticket from the Saints’ inaugural season. Bottom: Saints players carry photo courtesy: DARRYL MIERL

Head Coach Hank Stram off the field after

defensive back Dave Whitsell. Ex-Vince Lombardi assistant Tom Fears was hired as the Saints first head coach, and they acquired quarterback Gary Cuozzo, back up to the great John Unitas in Baltimore. With the proven names and backgrounds, excitement and optimism abounded. There were whispers of Super Bowl on the front page of The States Item before the team even started training camp. Well, Hornung had back problems and never played a down in New Orleans, and Taylor was a Saint for one season before retiring. The tall-as-timber defensive end Atkins became more notorious for some late-night brawls in bars in the French Quarter than his work on the field. Cuozzo didn’t win the QB position and was traded to the Vikings. Former 49er running back Billy Kilmer surprisingly did; his resume included falling asleep in his ’57 Chevy convertible and driving off a freeway into the San Francisco Bay, suffering a fractured leg bad enough to miss an entire season there. The accident left the carouser known as “Ole Whiskey” with a familiar limp for the rest of his

photo courtesy: DALE STRAM

courtesy:

Y MOE CLAR

defeating his former team, the Kansas City Chiefs.

career. Kilmer’s wounded duck throws could make quite a sight. Whitsell was the best of the veteran lot and was the first Saint All Pro. As the Saints stumbled for what felt like forever, Mecom was derided by the media and fans, but he was well liked by his players. Frugality was not at the top of his business plan, and there were worse places to hold summer training camp than Vero Beach, >> September-October 2016 113

photo courtesy: DALE STRAM

Florida. Like many owners prior and since, Mecom simply didn’t know much about the game of football. (Not surprisingly, Mecom ended up selling the team in 1985 to Tom Benson for $70 million.) Considering the ragtag early rosters, Fears was a good coach. The wooden bench seats at Tulane routinely sold out for home games in stifling heat on Sunday afternoons, 80,000 plus. Dixie Beer vendors roamed the stands with backpacks of draft to satiate fans, the legal drinking age then being 18.

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J.D. Roberts, a former semi-pro coach and employee of Avondale Shipyards, was the next coach to lead the Saints. He had an auspicious home debut in November 1970 when Tom Dempsey’s winning 63-yard field goal barely cleared the crossbar as the clock ran down to 00:00. Incredibly, the record stood 43 years and was broken only by a yard. Roberts’ coaching record went south from there. In 1971, the city went bonkers when the club drafted Ole Miss Rebel Archie Manning, still one of the best college quarterbacks ever. This looked like a match made in Black and Gold heaven. He scored a late touchdown in his first home start to beat the Rams and led an upset of the eventual champion Cowboys a month later. But #18 and the team proceeded to take a beating in the ’70s. Manning had an often-hurt right shoulder that altered his throwing motion akin to that of a baseball pitcher’s sidewinder. He garnered lots of respect around the league for his resilience and being a good player on a bad team. After purchasing the franchise in `85, Tom Benson hired Jim Finks as general manager. Finks had a championship pedigree in Minnesota and

photo courtesy: DARRYL MIERL

Chicago. He brought in Jim Mora as head coach, who had won two titles in the spring league USFL. Mora got the team competitive with stingy defense and led it to its first division title and several playoff appearances. After 20 years on the field, the Saints had their first winning season in 1987. Leading the defense was the “Dome Patrol” linebacker corps, consisting of franchise icon Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills, Pat Swilling and Vaughn Johnson. The defense was title capable, but the offense held on to a conservative “run first” philosophy and could not deliver enough points when it really needed to, despite talent and the very capable arm of Bobby Hebert. Mora’s teams frustratingly never got past the first round of playoffs. Tensions mounted. In October 1996, after a particularly poor effort in losing to Carolina, Mora issued his infamous “woulda, coulda, shoulda” tirade, calling his team’s effort “Diddley Poo” (among other things). A proud ex-Marine, he felt he had lost the motivational pulse of his players and resigned. Mora later rejuvenated his career in Indianapolis by drafting a rookie quarterback by the name of Peyton Manning.

The next season, local sportscaster Buddy Diliberto lobbied hard for his friend Mike Ditka to be the head coach. In the spring of ’99, coach Ditka traded an entire class of draft picks for Texas’ star running back Ricky Williams and then went to play golf. The pair was on the cover of ESPN >>

Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning was the second overall pick by the Saints in 1971.

September-October 2016 115

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photo: JOE SEER

photo: THOMAS B. GROWDEN

The Magazine, Ditka in a tux and Williams in a wedding dress, with the caption “For Better or Worse.” It was mostly the latter. Ditka lasted only three forgettable seasons. Diliberto later said he was out of the head coach suggestion business. Aaron Brooks led the Saints to their first playoff victory ever, 31-28, over the Rams after the 2000 campaign. But Coach Jim Haslett may have held on to the quarterback a bit too long when Brooks began to falter in subsequent seasons. Louisiana native Jake Delhomme, after being denied a shot at the starting QB job with the Saints, moved on and lead division rival Carolina to a Super Bowl. In 2005, the team’s woes were insignificant compared to the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the city. When the Saints beat the Panthers in the opener in Carolina, Jim Henderson aptly said it wasn’t the biggest win in the history of the franchise, but that none felt better. The real drama during that season was about whether the Saints would relocate to San Antonio, where Mr. Benson had considerable business interests. The mayor there talked out of both sides of

his mouth, about how sorry he was for New Orleans and that his city would welcome the team under the dire circumstances. Their Alamodome was built with a pro team in mind. This didn’t sit well with NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who considered New Orleans unique and irreplaceable in the NFL. The league’s owners ponied up financial assistance to support the struggling franchise. And just before Christmas, it was announced the Saints were staying and would play in a renovated Superdome. Mr. Benson was rewarded by a fan base that sold out the next season and every game since. Perhaps no Saints moment was more poignant

photo: MICHAEL C. HEBERT

“My dad was a season ticket holder. As a young child, my treat for good grades was a chance to go to a Saints game. Those games laid the foundation for my 30-year career with the NFL. At the time, I didn’t realize the impact that daddy/daughter time would have on my life.” - Lesslee Fitzmorris, Saintsations Director

than the anthem for the nationally televised ’06 home opener against Atlanta. Tears welled in fans’ eyes as they stood and marveled at the scene punctuated by Steve Gleason’s famous blocked punt. The team went on an improbable magical carpet ride that season that didn’t end until the Saints lost a heartbreaker in the conference championship at Chicago. Coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees established proficiency on offense that has consistently been among the league’s elite. Years of unprecedented success followed. When Port Allen native Tracey Porter made his pick six off Peyton Manning, finally clinching a Super Bowl victory for New Orleans, it was a dream come true for many long-suffering Who Dats. The victory parade roared through downtown in frigid temperatures just before Mardi Gras, with Coach Peyton holding the Lombardi Trophy. Nationally, expectations are low for the fiftieth-anniversary Saints. This could be a good omen though; writer Peter King of Sports Illustrated picked them to come in last in their division in ’09. The club has a bevy of young players with potential, and by season’s end, fans could become fond of newer players with names like Edebali, Kikaha and Hoomanawanui. Regardless of the outcome this year, one thing is certain. The Who Dat Nation will keep the faith, just like they have for 50 years. For an online celebration of the Saints at 50, check out the team’s “micro” site at saints50.com. Bert Bartlett, a native of New Orleans, attended the first Saints game. He is the author of A Tale of Two Seasons, Katrina & A Super Bowl (2010,) and his blog is Souls of the Saints (soulsofthesaints.wordpress.com). September-October 2016 117

a Sampling of

Bed and

BED-AND-BREAKFAST ACCOMMODATIONS are oneof-a-kind places to spend the night. Filled with antiques and other personal touches, they are favored by couples wanting a romantic weekend, girlfriends on a getaway from the kids or singles on business trips. In this issue, we visit some B&Bs in Western St. Tammany.

CAMELLIA HOUSE Camellia House Bed and Breakfast has three guest rooms graced with antiques and architectural finds that owner Linda Chambless has repurposed. Linda is a Master Gardener, and colorful plants surround this historic home on a corner lot in Covington’s “Garden District.” A double

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staircase leads up to the front porch of this B&B, where leafy plants and plush cushions invite guests to relax. The Arts and Crafts-style home was built in 1927 just after the Great Mississippi River Flood, so it was raised 8 feet. A distinctive open block design in the trim frames the Bungalow-styled front porch. Dark green lattice hides the ground-level storage area and provides the perfect backdrop for blooming plants. The expansive courtyard is welcoming with a hammock, Jacuzzi and 23-foot lap pool. Wicker, iron and Adirondack chairs offer restful repose. On cool nights, guests fire up the pits or the Southwest chiminea. City noises are not a disturbance, with the

Breakfast by Ann Gilbert

A creative and spontaneous decorator, furnishing her rooms brings Linda as much joy as providing hospitality for her guests. “I love architectural salvage,” she says Overlooking one king-size bed is a 6-foot, arched window frame now holding a mirror. A leaded window frame over a queen bed is creatively placed between two rustic shutters. Linda was privileged to inherit her grandmother’s trunk. It now serves as the television table. A 40-inchsquare wooden chest with foot-long hinges brings together a group of chairs on the porch. A cornice sports hooks for hats, coats and purses. A fireplace grate holds a long, antique, wooden dough bowl >>

photo courtesy: BLUE HERON

calming sound of the fountain spray filling the air. Linda and her husband, Dan, duplicated the front porch on the side of the house, including all of the architectural elements. Two guest rooms share this porch overlooking the pool. Thick, coarse cotton drapes provide privacy. The porches are extensions of the rooms, with chaise lounges surrounded by plants and bathed with cool breezes. “My guests live on the porches,” says Linda. Breakfast includes almond or chocolate croissants, fruit turnovers, cinnamon rolls or spinach quiche from area bakeries. Each room is equipped with a service bar—coffee pot, microware and small fridge.

Hospitality

September-October 2016 119

photo courtesy: THE CRESSY HOUSE

ago, it was still just four rooms. Numerous additions and extensive remodeling now provide six bedrooms and seven baths for the blended Cressy family, which includes six children and nine grandchildren. Laura’s parents live in one wing. The Azalea Suite in the B&B has an Oriental theme in the drapery and framed art decorating the walls, which are burnished gold. Guests in this room can use the 27-foot music room/library, which has a comfortable leather couch and is centered with a long vintage oak table. A collection of instruments stands in one corner—bass fiddle, guitar, cello and baby grand piano. Two antique glass-front bookcases dominate one wall, and a linen press from a Scottish castle is at the end of the room. Reigning over it all is a 5-footwide brass chandelier with white glass globes. The heart pine floor in the library is from an old Philadelphia church. Laura formed a cooperative after Katrina renovating damaged homes in order to facilitate purchasing such items as flooring and an elevator, which the Cressy House has. Guests in the Azalea Suite also have access to the front gallery extending the width of the front of the house. The Pontchartrain Room, which has a view of

photo courtesy: BLUE HERON

containing books and DVDs. Several pieces that Linda displays in the Camellia House were found on sidewalks where they had been tossed out with trash. “Can you imagine throwing this out?” she exclaims, as we check out two pairs of tall shutters acting as a backdrop for a breakfast table. Laughter comes easy and often as this B&B hostess shares stories.

THE CRESSY HOUSE

Above: The Cressy House in Mandeville. Right: Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast on Girod Street. 120

The Cressy House Bed and Breakfast in Mandeville, owned by Laura and David Cressy, exudes a Key West flavor, with Lake Pontchartrain breezes flowing through doors and windows. Despite multiple additions and raising the house 12 feet after Katrina, the front porch still bears the distinct architecture of a house dating to the late 1800s. The original four-room structure was operated an inn. The Cressys continue this hospitality and often have Europeans as guests—especially visitors from France, who “prefer to stay in a bed and breakfast,” says Laura. When they purchased the house 32 years

Inside Northside

the sunset over the lake, is decorated with a floral theme and has use of a meandering deck with table umbrellas and pots of cherry tomatoes and palms. Laura bakes banana nut bread for her guests and serves it with a variety of fruits, juice and coffee. Each room comes equipped with an ice machine, fridge, coffee pot, wine glasses and openers. Upon arrival, guests receive a bottle of wine, their choice of red or white. With the Cressys’ penchant for gathering people to eat, friends and B&B guests sometimes gather with the family for regular Wednesday night suppers called Sandwich Night. Laura’s dining room table seats 16! >>

Core Meals is your connection to healthy, convenient, affordable and delicious meals. In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fast paced environment, healthy eating has become much more difficult to manage. People have little time to cook meals - especially healthy meals. What you eat and how it is prepared matters. A poor quality diet can contribute to obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels. Whether you have a medical condition which requires a restricted diet, you want to lose weight, or you just want to maintain a healthy lifestyle, Core Meals is here to help you accomplish your goals. Our meals are prepared in our commercial kitchen under the direction of our award winning chef. Core Meals offers individual meal options as well as 6 meal programs and 12 meal programs to fit your needs and your schedule. All nutritional facts are listed on the meal containers, so that you know the calories, and other important factors to help you reach your goals. Our goal is to provide the flexibility for you to accommodate your lifestyle. If you are looking to make a positive change in your eating habits Core Meals is the perfect choice!

photo courtesy: CAMELLIA HOUSE

The Camellia House in historic Covington.

BLUE WILLOW Guests at Blue Willow Bed and Breakfast near Lee Lane are welcomed by a garden overflowing with roses, agapanthus and lush greenery. Covington pharmacist Oliver Hebert and his bride, Cecile Hebert, were the first owners of the two-bedroom cottage, and it was still in the family when Tom and Maureen Chambless purchased it 16 years ago. Tom recalls, “It was almost derelict, so overgrown you didn’t know a house was here.” Today, it is a five-bedroom B&B, plus the spacious living quarters of the owners. Some longtime Covington residents still call it Cecile’s House, but it bears little resemblance to the original, having undergone five renovations. The new owners saved most of the old camellias that lined the perimeter of the house, which was built in 1923. The couple came from Houston with a collection of old cypress doors. One is now their new front entrance. They added sunrooms and private courtyards to the two original bedrooms, spaces to enjoy Maureen’s breakfast or rest and relax with a glass of wine or a good book. Four-poster beds occupy these two suites. One comes with quite a history—it belonged to Cecile Hebert’s

grandmother. A corner cabinet was purchased from the Heberts’ daughter, Ann Wolfe of Ocean Springs. Maureen painted it a distressed white. “It crackled on its own,” she says, laughing. Maureen loves Blue Willow china and owns two full sets, plus multiple serving pieces. Some of the plates decorate the wall behind the Hebert bed. When Tom asked her what she wanted to name the B&B, it was an easy choice. In her new kitchen, the hostess bakes blueberry muffins, banana bread and strawberry plantation cake for her guests. They also have a choice of steelcut oatmeal with pumpkin and apples, which she mixes the night before with almond milk. The dish wears a note, “Please heat me,” when presented the next morning. Maureen doesn’t prepare large breakfasts because most guests want to go out for a special lunch. The couple converted the attic into a suite with two bedrooms, sitting area and small kitchen. A two-story addition to the house contains two larger suites with sitting rooms, kitchenettes, porches and private entrances. Four of the five suites have separate entrances, because this couple makes every effort for their guests to have privacy. Some guests come incognito

and with a hidden purpose. At a family funeral, a cousin said to Maureen, “That was a great article on your B&B in National Geographic Traveler.” Tom and Maureen were totally unaware that the group they hosted almost a year before was a magazine crew. They had recommended La Provence for dinner, and a restaurant review was part of the story, gaining a national audience for David and Maureen and St. Tammany’s reputation for hospitality.

MAISON RÉVE “I have wanted to have a bed and breakfast since staying in one in Killarney, Ireland, 36 years ago,” says JoAnn Gray, owner of Maison Réve. She and her husband, Dan, purchased the 30 acres in Folsom in 1999. The Grays spent a year getting to know their land, hacking through thick growth to discover giant oak trees. Living in a cottage on the property, which they first had to renovate, they spent three years building the home of their dreams. The structure included three rooms for that bed and breakfast she dreamed of so long ago. Entering the property on a curving and heavily wooded driveway, one begins to relax, wind down, and soak up nature’s beauty Ten massive live oaks grace the property, and turkey and deer are frequent visitors. Ducks and geese glide on the pond. Swiss bells announce the entrance of guests, and an Irish drum and a Scottish claymore (sword) decorate the front office “All this was done with our own hands,” JoAnn says, with a sweep of her arm across the parlor. They laid the wood floors, and Dan designed and cut the trim for doors and windows and the molding, which she painted. Dan constructed the curving staircase and the balcony railings on the >> September-October 2016 123

second floor, and the couple laid the tile in the kitchen and gathering room and the stones on the multiple patios. The mistress of this B&B is also a seamstress; she fashioned the drapery for their home. The three guest suites, located over the kitchen and gathering room, are named Des Amis, Cotes du Rhone and Bon Ton. The master suite is downstairs in the opposite wing of the home. For those guests on extended stays, JoAnn offers seven different breakfasts— from Pain Perdue with Bananas Foster to Grits and Grillades; from Eggs Benedict and Eggs Sardou to Omelets with Cheese Grits. And, of course, there are pancakes and waffles. JoAnn almost died from an infection a few years ago. The physician told her husband to gather the children. Sharing this story with a female guest who happened to run a woman-to-woman ministry, JoAnn wondered out loud, “Why did I survive?” The friend asked if she knew about the ministry of hospitality in the Bible. “Making people feel welcome is a ministry,” she said. “You didn’t originate that idea to own a B&B. That seed was planted.”

BLUE HERON Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast is newly opened in Old Mandeville, conveniently located within walking distance of the lake, the Tammany Trace, the Dew Drop Jazz Hall, restaurants, shops and more. Owners Sarah Chambless Federer and her husband, Steven, have been renovating this 100-year-old historic home for the past two years. The couple took great care to maintain the home’s character, including restoring the original windows, doors and hardwood floors. They also added a large porch to the side of the house so that guests could have private access to their suites. 124

Inside Northside

Inside, the rooms are beautifully decorated with architectural salvage pieces and shabby chic décor that reflect the area’s historic charm and close proximity to the lake. Sarah grew up in her parents’ B&B in Covington, Camellia House, and learned at a young age how to run a B&B. She says, “My parents are the epitome of Southern hospitality. They taught me how to run a successful bed and breakfast that keeps guests coming back. It’s all in the details.” Blue Heron currently offers two luxurious king-size suites; each has a private entrance from a porch that overlooks the gardens. Each room includes a number of surprising touches, including books, air purifiers, Young Living essential oil diffusers and oil samples, and more. Daily breakfast is provided en suite and consists of fresh pastries, quiche, fresh fruit, coffee, tea and other items.

ENTERTAINMENT If you have guests or visitors who want to hear some fun and lively music, there are plenty of options from downtown Covington to the lake. However, we always recommend a Christian Serpas & Ghost Town show. A northshore favorite and friend of Inside Northside, Christian Serpas & Ghost Town have revved up country for years. They recently released a new album, Favorites. It’s jammed packed with Ghost Town favorites as well as new recordings. Hear Christian Serpas & Ghost Town at the Festival of the Lake in Mandeville on October 14 or at Hook’d Up in Covington on October 28—or both! September-October 2016 125

photo courtesy: ST. TAMMANY HUMANE SOCIETY

last year—and the 1,200 we expect to be adopted this year—must be spayed or neutered,” says Bernier. STHS also neuters feral cats at deeply discounted rates twice yearly. Incredibly, they’ve neutered over 6,000 feral cats in five years. Since becoming CEO in 2015, Bernier’s passion has been to take STHS from good to great. Together with his dedicated staff of 43, they’ve effected many improvements. To promote calm canines, sight barriers now prevent dogs in outdoor runs from seeing other dogs coming into the vet clinic. Also, all dogs play outdoors daily and, when inside, they’re treated to soothing classical music or the sounds of chirping birds. To promote quicker adoptions, a professional dog trainer works an hour a week with dogs. She also gives the staff training tips so they can pass them on to adoptive families.

All About the Animals St. Tammany Humane Shelter by Karen B. Gibbs

Above: Intake manager Jacqie Bella and a boston terrier rescue. Right: “None of us are here to get rich. We are here because we’re committed to the cause.” - Staff of STHS 126

IF YOU’VE BEEN to the St. Tammany Humane Shelter, you’ve probably seen a lazy kitty named Momma asleep in the office, or heard devoted kennel worker Cindy Myer talk about Sweet Pea, the old cat who’s blind and homeless or fifteen-year-old Grizzly, the toothless feline who supervises the surgery area. You may have even seen the shelter’s CEO Scott Bernier being shadowed by Chase, the lovable lab-mix he fostered and then adopted. That’s because at STHS, it all about the animals. Dedicated to saving dogs and cats for the past 63 years, this 501(c)3 non-profit has grown exponentially since its earliest days. “When we first started, we were caring for animals in our own homes,” reminisces 97-year-old founder Holly Frederick Reynolds. “After a year, we leased land near the Covington Fairgrounds for a dollar a year from the Police Jury, poured a slab and built six kennels. I never imagined it would grow to what it is today!” Originally, STHS’s main concern was finding homes for stray animals. Today, it is likewise devoted to reducing pet overpopulation through spaying and neutering. “All of the more than 970 animals adopted

Inside Northside

One of Bernier’s most notable contributions is the expansion of the foster program. This places pets in individual homes until they’re adopted, thereby allowing the shelter to house more pets. According

to Foster Coordinator Paula Alcorn, volunteers in this program are especially zealous. One participant showed a photo of her latest “baby” to her neurologist. Coincidentally, the dog looked just like the doctor’s recently deceased hound. He adopted it, of course. There are many other ways to help at the shelter. Volunteers give TLC to abused animals, walk dogs, wash bedding, buy food, help pay for treatment of severely injured or sick pets and more. For complete descriptions of all programs, visit sthumane.org. St. Tammany Humane Shelter also operates an on-site community veterinary clinic that boasts three fulltime vets and three part-time vets. Under the direction of Dr. Estelle Felarise, veterinarians attend to the needs of pets at the shelter and those in foster care, while also providing veterinary services to the community. Bernier readily acknowledges that the shelter’s dedicated staff does an excellent job. However, he adds that it’s hindered by a physical campus that is outdated, inefficient and too small. To ensure the shelter’s future sustainability, he and his staff have begun discussing ideas for a new facility. “Phase 1 will be a veterinary clinic and expanded kennels,” he says. Expansion takes money—and so does the day-to-day operation of the shelter. Show your support by supporting STHS events like Woofstock and the Duck Derby. “Unleashed,” the shelter’s largest fundraiser, is set for September 24 at the Pontchartrain Yacht Club in Mandeville. It features Four Unplugged, dancing, beverages, hors d’oeuvres and live and silent auctions. For more information, visit sthumane.org. September-October 2016 127

IN Development by Leah Draffen

“SAFE HAVEN WILL PROVIDE a collaborative healing environment for the behavioral health continuum by creating a high-quality, coordinated, sustainable and humane network of care anchored in St. Tammany Parish.” This vision of what is to come for behavioral health in St. Tammany is overflowing with benefits. The Safe Haven project will bring purpose back into a vacant 62,000-square-foot building on the Southeast Hospital campus, but more importantly, it will provide a place for individuals in need of behavioral health care. The plan has been underway since March 2015, when parish government purchased the Southeast Louisiana State Hospital and surrounding acreage. “When Governor Jindal decided to close the hospital, we knew that there was still a need and that it could be used to benefit our parish,” says Parish 128

Inside Northside

President Pat Brister. “Since buying the hospital, it has taken many turns for the better and is now well on the way to becoming a complete behavioral health campus for law enforcement, the judiciary and area hospitals.” “Parts of the original 293.86-acre purchase were sold to Pelican Park and Northlake Behavioral Hospital,” says Kelly Rabalais, executive counsel and director of the legal department of St. Tammany Parish Government. “There are roughly 74 acres left that contain National Alliance on Mental Health St. Tammany (NAMI) and other tenants. The vacant square footage of the quad will be dedicated to the behavioral health hub.” The master plan, created by the Safe Haven task force, was built by assessment of the parish’s needs. “Some of these needs include a way to share information between health care professionals, law enforcement and other entities. As of now, information is very fragmented. Linking the information may prevent an individual who is having a mental crisis from ending up in the criminal justice system,” says Rabalais. “There is also a need for a crisis center—a place where an individual, who may not necessarily need medical intervention, can come and talk to someone.” Brister says: “This campus and its operations will be a gold standard for other communities across the country to emulate. More importantly, the people we care about who need assistance will get the help they >>

photo courtesy: ST. TAMMANY PARISH GOVERNMENT

The Safe Haven Project

September-October 2016 129

deserve. This is a systemic problem, requiring all agencies to work collaboratively while keeping the patient at the center of all of our decisions and actions.” The collaboration of many parish leaders shows the concern and need for a haven such as this. Sheriff-elect Randy Smith is planning to dedicate a group of deputies to a behavioral health department. These deputies will only answer field calls related to mental health. “The plan to have these deputies learn protocols in order to divert individuals dealing with crises to Safe Haven instead of jail is going to be a benefit for not only the individuals, but also for our criminal justice system,” says Rabelais. “It will keep those who may just need behavioral health care out of jail and out of the hospital emergency departments,” says Brister. “In some cases, the program gives another option to help individuals, which will allow for evaluation to see what his or her need is.” As a comprehensive behavioral health hub, Safe Haven will enhance accessibility and convenience for patients and families and maximize use of existing behavioral health programs, assets and partnerships. It will also provide flexibility and expandability, a facility solution that will enable parish government to achieve its vision of creating a comprehensive behavioral health service portfolio for its citizens and a financially viable solution while adequately addressing the behavioral health needs of the parish. The remediation and renovations of the current buildings on campus will provide a home for several agencies to provide critical services in a convenient location. So far, clean up has begun, including the removal of two NAMI group homes that were damaged during Hurricane Katrina. There will also be a functioning playground, ball field and basketball court thanks to the Eagle Scouts who have volunteered their time to cleaning and painting the site. The main facility remediation and renovation are expected to begin in early 2017, with two facilities—the NAMI Drop-in Center and Family Promise Day Center—operational by mid2017. The long-term strategy of the first phase, which will include the crisis intervention and healing services centers, is expected to be fully operational by 2019. “We’re going to continue to grow the facility so that it serves as a one-stop continuum of mental health care for our community,” says Brister. “It’s a positive asset that will benefit us for years to come.” For development updates and more information, visit safehavenstp.org. 130

Inside Northside

At the Table by Tom Fitzmorris

I’M TEMPTED TO WRITE a complete history of Mexican restaurants in the New Orleans area. It would not take long, beginning in the 1950s with El Ranchito on Elysian Fields and Castillo’s in the French Quarter. Add Manuel’s Hot Tamales, and you have the whole early picture painted. It would show flavors enjoyed by actual Mexican people. The story would move on to include the first attempts at making Mexican food agreeable to people

who were not born Latino. Those restaurants and dishes spilled over from Texas, where what they call Mexican food is a hybrid of the food eaten in Mexico with the food eaten in Texas. This got off to a slow start when it turned up in Louisiana, with some of the unfortunate restaurant chains like Pancho’s and El Chico. A breakthrough occurred in the late 1970s in a place called Dos Gringos. The menu was three or four times as broad as those of its predecessors. Here were >>

illustration: GRETCHEN ARMBRUSTER

The State of Mexican Cookery on the Northshore

September-October 2016 131

Above: Monterrey Shrimp at Carreta’s Grill. Opposite: The patio at Carreta’s Grill in Slidell. 132

the first fajitas, wildly popular. Chimichangas were also exciting and new. And the place had a bunch of gimmicks going on. A customer’s birthday was treated as if it were New Year’s Eve. Perhaps because the Texas influx came mostly from Houston and Dallas suburbs, many Mexican restaurants felt very much at home in St. Tammany Parish. Beginning in the 1980s, on a per capita basis the number of Mexican restaurants in Slidell, Mandeville and Covington was as high as the number of such places in New Orleans proper. That growth continues, and in a gratifying way. Most of the many new south-of-the-border cantinas on the northshore opened with menus much closer in tune with real Mexican restaurants in Mexico. There have even been some attempts to open restaurants with Central American and Caribbean dishes, cooked by people who were born to those cuisines. Because my family has always had a liking for Mexican food (my daughter had a taste for very spicy salsa since she was about 4 years old) and because we have lived on the northshore for 25 years, I have done a lot of research on this matter. And

Inside Northside

I’m sticking with my thesis that a disproportionate number of the area’s best Mexican restaurants are on the north end of the Causeway. The leading edge of this bounty involves a 12-unit chain out of Hammond called La Carreta. It has northshore branches in Amite, Ponchatoula, Hammond, Mandeville and Covington It also operates in some confusion. Another small northshore Mexican chain has a similar name: Carreta’s Grill. This restaurant group offers a lively dining environment on both sides of the lake with four locations; Covington, Slidell, Metairie and Harahan. And another Covington restaurant called Habaneros also seems to have some sort of family connection. There are similarities among all these, but I will focus on La Carreta’s two restaurants in the Mandeville-Covington stretch. My wife and daughter—both avid consumers of Tex-Mex—alerted me to the goodness of La Carreta not long after it opened some years ago. They zero in on the thin, crackly, warm chips and a salsa with more lime juice than I’ve tasted elsewhere. They get a tub of choriqueso—a mixture of queso dip with Mexican chorizo, an exciting hot sausage. Then they move to the steak dishes. The best is skirt steak with a chipotle pepper sauce. Also good are a few dishes whose surname is “al diablo”—a peppery sauce that goes well with shrimp or chicken. My function is relegated to ordering what the ladies want to eat. If I order it, they just reach over and help themselves. (Did you know that if you eat a dish somebody else ordered, you incur none of the calories?) For myself, I just order light dishes. I get a bowl of the bean soup almost every time. The romaine and avocado salad features a unique cilantro vinaigrette, the best new salad dressing I have tasted since remoulade crossed over from sauce to dressing. The menu goes on to include the complete range of Mexican dishes. I think the place is good enough to add a molé poblano dish to the menu. That sauce—based on peppers, sesame seeds, and bitter chocolate—is one of the world’s greatest sauces and an indicator of the ambitiousness of a Mexican

INside Dining

carretasgrill.com. MCC. The Chimes, 19130 W. Front St., 892-

MCC: Major credit cards accepted

5396. Catering, Sunday brunch, daily

ME: Menu Express delivery

lunch specials, 72 beers on tap. Lunch

RR: Reservations recommended

and dinner. chimesbeeru.com. MCC.

ABITA SPRINGS

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

Abita Barbecue, 69399 Hwy. 59,

6158. Soup and salad specialists.

400-5025. Ribs, brisket, chicken,

coffeerani.com.

pulled pork and boudin. MCC. Columbia St. Tap Room & Grill, Abita Brew Pub, 72011 Holly St.,

434 N. Columbia St., 898-0899.

892-5837. Good fun and great

Lunch, dinner. covingtontaproom.

beer. On the Trace. Lunch, dinner.

com. MCC, ME.

abitabrewpub.com. MCC. Dakota Restaurant, 629 N. Hwy. Abita Springs Café, 22132 Level

190, 892-3712. Contemporary

St., 867-9950. Tues-Sun. MCC.

Louisiana cuisine using local and seasonal ingredients.

Camellia Café, 69455 Hwy. 59,

kitchen. La Carreta tried serving molé dishes, but apparently the only customer who ever ordered it was me. No, it doesn’t take long to give the history of Mexican eats in Southeast Louisiana. It requires many more to establish where that form of culinary practice stands now. I would call La Carreta the current standard, and I am seeing quite a few restaurants trying to do more of the same things. It could be that the next standard will be Habaneros. It shares a strip mall with the five-star Pardo’s in the shopping center district of Covington. The style is reminiscent of La Carreta’s, but it’s more extreme in its flavors. I have had some searing dishes here, often dishes I’d never had cooked this way before. It’s a little place, but the staff is very eager to tell you about the many oddities on the menu. Habaneros is where you want to go if you want to take Mexican up to the next level. Two more restaurants we must take a look at are wildly opposite one another. Taqueria La Noria is always called by its fans “authentic.” I’m wary using that word about any ethnic restaurant, because all such places must make concessions for the lack of the ingredients, cooks, and customers needed to keep the trueness of the flavors. But this place is pretty good. They open doors that have never been opened in these parts. Sopes, for example, are a variation on tacos that I’d only read about until La Noria (“wishing well”) came along. Small restaurant with a slight language barrier and good food. And then there is the ultra-hip Bacobar, a re-inventing of the failed Jamaican Jerk in Covington. It’s a melding of Asian and Mexican dishes, resulting in almost nothing that is one or the other. But the flavors are big enough and the menu so interesting that it has been packing the house. Whether this is where Mexican food is heading we will have to see.

thedakotarestaurant.com. MCC, RR.

809-6313. Traditional seafood and New Orleans cuisine. thecamelliacafe.

Del Porto Restaurant, 501 E. Boston

com. MCC.

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

Mama D’s Pizza & More, 22054 Hwy. 59, 809-0308. Lunch, dinner.

Di Martino’s, 700 S. Tyler St., 276-

mamadspizza.com.

6460. Great food and reasonable prices. Lunch, dinner. dimartinos.

COVINGTON

com. MCC.

Abita Roasting Company, 1011 Village Walk., 246-3345.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, 69292 Hwy.

abitaroasting.com.

21, 871-2225. Locally-owned and -operated franchise. Kids eat free on

Acme Oyster House, 1202 Hwy.

Sundays. MCC.

190, 246-6155. Lunch, dinner. mamdspizza.com. MCC.

DiCristina’s Restaurant, 810 N. Columbia St., Ste. C, 875-0160.

Albasha, 1958 Hwy. 190,

Italian and seafood. dicristinas.com.

867-8292. Mediterranean cuisine.

MCC.

albashabr.com. MCC. Don’s Seafood Hut, 126 Lake Annadele’s Plantation, 71518

Dr., 327-7111. Lunch and dinner.

Chestnut St., 809-7669. Yellow fin

donsseafoodonline.com. MCC.

tuna, domestic lamb & much more. annadeles.com. MCC, checks.

The English Tea Room, 734 Rutland St., 898-3988. Authentic

Bear’s Restaurant, 128 W. 21st St.,

English cream teas. Special event

892-2373. Best po-boys in the world.

teas, English scones, crumpets and cakes. Serving breakfast and

Buster’s Place, 519 E. Boston St.,

lunch. Mon-Sat, 7:30am-6pm.

809-3880. Seafood, po-boys, steaks.

englishtearoom.com. MCC, RR.

Lunch, dinner. MCC. Fat Spoon Café, 2807 N Highway Carreta’s Grill, 70380 Hwy. 21,

190., 893-5111. Breakfast, Lunch, Tues-

871-6674. Great Mexican cuisine and

Sun. 7am-2pm. Breakfast severed until

margaritas served in a family-friendly

10:30 on weekdays and all day Saturday

atmosphere for lunch and dinner. Kids

and Sunday. Reserve Fat Spoon Café

eat free every Wednesday! Private

for your next party. fatspooncafe.com.

events and catering also provided.

MCC.

September-October 2016 133

Gallagher’s Grill, 509 S. Tyler St.,

Nonna Randazzo’s Italian Bakery

E. Boston St., 893-9336. Cuban

9443. Veal is the house specialty.

892-9992. Lunch and dinner, Tues-

and Cafè, 2033 N. Hwy. 190, Ste.

sandwiches and more. vazquezpoboy.

salandjudys.com. MCC, RR.

Sat. gallaghersgrill.com. MCC, RR.

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

com. MCC, checks, ME. MADISONVILLE

bakery. Luncheon salads, panini, Garcia’s Famous Mexican Food,

catering, donuts, kingcakes, cupcakes

Yujin Japanese Restaurant and

Abita Roasting Company, 504

200 River Highlands Blvd., 327-7420.

and wedding cakes. Tues-Sun, open

Sushi Bar, 323 N. New Hampshire

Water St., 246-3340. abitaroasting.com.

at 7am. nonnaskingcakes.com. MCC.

St., 809-3840. MCC.

River Highlands Blvd., Ste. A, 871-

Ox Lot 9, 428 E Boston St., 400-

Zea Rotisserie & Grill, 110 Lake Dr.,

Saint Tammany St., (985) 246-3370.

0711. Open 7 days a week, lunch and

5663. Hotel. Dinner, Sunday brunch.

327-0520. Inspired American food.

geauxfriends.com.

dinner. A new age American restaurant

oxlot9.com. MCC.

zearestaurants.com. MCC.

Glory Bound Gyro Company, 500

Friends Costal Restaurant, 407

Hook’d Up Riverside Bar and Grill,

concept with Mediterranean influences. gloryboundgyroco.com. MCC.

Papi’s Fajita Factory of Covington,

HAMMOND

1331 N. Hwy. 190 Ste. 100, 893-

Brady’s, 110 SW Railroad Ave., 542-

Italian Pie, 70488 Hwy. 21,

1382. Kids eat free on Tuesday

6333. bradysdowntown.com.

871-5252. Pizza, salads, pasta,

nights. Open 7 days a week for lunch

sandwiches. Dine in or carry out.

and dinner. MCC.

italianpie.com. MCC, checks.

100 Marina Del Ray Dr., 845-8119. Keith Young’s Steakhouse, 165 Hwy. 21, 845-9940. Lunch, dinner,

Don’s Seafood & Steak House,

Tues-Fri. keithyoungs.net. MCC.

1915 S. Morrison Blvd., 345-8550. Pardos, 69305 Hwy. 21, 893-3603.

donsseafoodonline.com. MCC.

Morton’s Boiled Seafood & Bar,

La Carreta Authentic Mexican

Lunch, Tues-Fri; Dinner, Tues-Sun;

Cuisine, 812 Hwy. 190, 624-

Happy hour, Tues-Fri, 4-7pm. Private

Jacmel Inn, 903 E. Morris St.,

2990. Festive Mexican atmosphere,

parties and catering. pardosbistro.

542-0043. Catering, special events,

fresh food from traditional recipes,

com. MCC.

weddings. jacmelinn.com. MCC,

Water St. Bistro, 804 Water St.,

checks.

845-3855. Lunch and dinner, Wed-

outstanding service and value. Live

702 Water St., 845-4970. Lunch,

music. Lunch and dinner seven days

Pat’s Seafood Market and Cajun

a week. carretasrestaurant.com.

Deli, 1248 N. Collins Blvd., 892-

Kirin Sushi, 223 S. Cate St., 542-

MCC.

7287. Jambalaya, gumbo, stuffed

8888. kirinjapanesecuisine.com. MCC.

Sun. mortonsseafood.com. MCC. MANDEVILLE The Barley Oak, 2101 Lakeshore

artichokes. MCC, checks, ME. Lola, 517 N. New Hampshire

dinner. MCC, checks.

La Carreta Authentic Mexican

Dr., 727-7420. Serving 130 styles of

St., 892-4992. Lunch, Mon-Fri;

PJ’s Coffee & Tea Co., 70456 Hwy.

Cuisine, 108 N.W Railroad Ave., 419-

beer, call and premium liquors. Lunch

Dinner, Fri-Sat. Closed Sundays.

21, 875-7894. Catch your morning

9990. Festive Mexican atmosphere,

and dinner. thebarleyoak.com. MCC.

lolacovington.com.

buzz at this convenient drive-thru!

fresh food from traditional recipes,

Catering. MCC.

outstanding service and value. Live

Benedict’s Plantation, 1144 Lovers

music. Lunch and dinner seven days

Ln., 626-4557. Traditional New

a week. carretarestaurant.com. MCC.

Orleans cuisine. Dinner, Sunday

Mattina Bella, 421 E. Gibson St., 892-0708. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Pizza Man of Covington, 1248 N.

MCC, checks.

Collins Blvd., 892-9874. Checks, ME.

brunch. benedictsplantation.net. MCC. Tommy’s on Thomas, 216 W.

McAlister’s Deli, 206 Lake Dr., Ste.

Raising Canes, 1270 N. Hwy. 190,

Thomas St., 350-6100. Pizza, pastas.

Bosco’s Italian Café, 2040 Hwy. 59,

15, 898-2800. Great sandwiches,

809-0250. Chicken fingers, crinkle-cut

Lunch, dinner. tommysonthomas.

624-5066. boscositalian.com.

salads, overstuffed potatoes.

fries, coleslaw, texas toast, signature

com. MCC, checks.

mcalistersdeli.com. MCC, checks.

secret dipping sauce. Dine-in, to-go and catering. MCC.

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

Sala Thai, 315 N. Vermont St., 249-

megumirestaurant.net.

6990. Special salads, spring rolls,

Café Lynn Restaurant and Tope là, 104 N. Cate St., 542-7600.

Catering, 2600 Florida St., 624-

Contemporary delights. topela.com.

9007. Casual fine dining for lunch,

MCC.

dinner and Sunday brunch by Chef Joey Najolia. Tues-Fri, lunch:

soups, noodle and curry dishes.

Trey Yuen Cuisine of China,

11am-3pm. Dinner, 5pm. Catering

Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers,

Sun-Thurs, 11am-9pm; Fri-Sat,

2100 N. Morrison Blvd., 345-6789.

provided. cafelynn.com. MCC.

1645 Hwy. 190, 327-5407. Salads,

11am-10pm.Lunch buffet weekdays,

treyyuen.com. MCC, checks.

pizzas, calzones. 20 craft beers on

11am-3pm. salathaibysu.com. MCC.

dinner. MCC. mellowmushroom.com.

Coffee Rani, 3517 Hwy. 190, 674Yellow Bird Café, 222 E. Charles

tap. Open 7 days a week. Lunch and Sugarbear’s Sweet Shop, 100

St., 345-1112. A great place to start

0560. Soup and salad specialists.

Tyler Square, 276-2377. Creative

your day. Breakfast, lunch. MCC,

Coscino’s Pizza, 1809 N. Causeway

Mugshots Grill & Bar, 300

cakes and assorted sweets. Tues-Sat.

checks.

Blvd., 727-4984. MCC.

River Highlands Blvd., 893-2422.

sugarbearsweetshop.com. LACOMBE

mugshotsgrillandbar.com.

Fat Spoon Café, 68480 Hwy. 59.,

Sweet Daddy’s, 420 S. Tyler St.,

La Provence Restaurant, 25020

809-2929. Breakfast, lunch, Tues-

New Orleans Food and Spirits, 208

898-2166. Pulled pork, brisket and

Hwy. 190, 626-7662. Dinner, Sunday

Sun. 7am-2pm. Breakfast served

Lee Ln., 875-0432. Family owned

ribs. sweetdaddysbarbq.com. MCC,

brunch. laprovencerestaurant.com.

until 10:30am on weekdays and all

and operated. neworleansfoodspirits.

ME.

MCC, checks. RR.

day Saturday and Sunday. Reserve

Vasquez Seafood & Po-Boys, 515

Sal & Judy’s, 27491 Hwy. 190, 882-

com. MCC.

134

Inside Northside

Fat Spoon Cafe for your next party. fatspooncafe.com. MCC.

Vianne’s Tea House, 544 Girod St.,

Carreta’s Grill, 2320 Veterans Blvd.,

Fazzio’s Seafood & Steakhouse,

Mande’s, 340 N. Causeway App.,

624-5683. A full café menu with over

504-837-6696; 1821 Hickory Ave.,

1841 N. Causeway Blvd., 624-

626-9047. Serving breakfast and

120 loose leaf and speciality teas.

Harahan, 504-305-4833. Mexican,

9704. Fresh fish daily, aged beef,

lunch, daily specials.

Breakfast, lunch. viannes.com. MCC.

lunch and dinner carretasgrillrestaurant.

Mandina’s, 4240 Hwy. 22 in Azalea

VooDoo BBQ & Grill, 2999 Hwy.

traditional Italian. Lunch, dinner. fazziosrestaurant.com. MCC, ME, RR.

com. MCC. Square Shopping Center, 674-9883.

190 E., 629-2021. “Taste our Magic.”

Criollo Resturant and Lounge at

Franco’s Grill,100 Bon Temps

Seafood, Creole and Italian. Lunch and

voodoobbq.com. MCC.

Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St., 504-

Roule, 792-0200. Fresh organic foods

dinner, Mon-Sat. mandinasrestaurant.

for breakfast, lunch and takeout.

com.

523-3340. Creole dining for breakfast, PONCHATOULA Middendorf’s Seafood Restaurant,

myfrancos.com/dining. MCC. N’Tini’s, 2891 N. Hwy. 190, 626-

30160 Hwy. 51, 386-6666.

George’s Mexican Restaurant, 1461

5566. Steaks, martinis. Lunch

middendorfsrestaurant.com.

N. Causeway Blvd., 626-4342. Family

specials. Mon.-Sat. ntinis.com. MCC.

owned. Fajitas, George’s nachos, Carne

lunch and dinner. hotelmonteleone.com/ criollo/. MCC, RR. Deanie’s Seafood Restaurant, 1713 Lake Ave., 504-831-4141; 841 Iberville

La Carreta Authentic Mexican

St., 504-581-1316. Louisiana seafood

al la Parrilla. Best top-shelf margaritas in

Nuvolari’s, 246 Girod St., 626-5619.

Cuisine, 147 N.W. Railroad Ave., 370-

prepared in Creole seasonings, available in

town. georgesmexicanrestaurant.com.

In Old Mandeville. Italian cuisine for

0930. Festive Mexican atmosphere,

Bucktown or the French Quarter for lunch

MCC, ME.

fine dining daily for dinner or special

fresh food from traditional recipes,

and dinner. deanies.com. MCC.

events. MCC. nuvolaris.com.

outstanding service and value. Live

Gio’s Villa Vancheri, 2890 E.

music. Lunch and dinner seven days a

Gautreau’s, 1728 Soniat St., 504-

week. carretarestaurant.com. MCC.

899-7397. Open Monday through

Causeway App., 624-2597. Sicilian

The Old Rail Brewing Company,

specialties by 5-star chef Gio

639 Girod St., 612-1828. Homemade

Vancheri. Lunch and dinner, Mon-Sat.

American cuisine with fresh,

giosvillavancheri.com. MCC. RR.

local ingredients. Family-friendly

A Touch of Italy Café, 134

atmosphere. Lunch and dinner. Closed

Pennsylvania Ave., 639-0600. Lunch,

Gumbo Shop, 630 Saint Peter St.,

Mondays.

dinner. kathrynandcompany.com.

504-525-1486. Award winning gumbo

MCC, checks.

and soups, ship nationwide. Lunch

Jubilee Restaurant and Courtyard, 301 Lafitte St., 778-2552.

Saturday. Dinner. gautreausrestaurant. SLIDELL

com. MCC, RR.

Contemporary Louisiana cuisine for

Pinkberry, 3460 Hwy. 190, 612-7306.

dinner, lunch by Chef Tory Stewart.

Pinkberry is the original tart frozen

Bear’s Grill & Spirits, 550 Gause

Casual fine dining, daily lunch/dinner

yogurt that is the perfect balance of

Blvd., 201-8905. Po-boys and more.

Mellow Mushroom, 3131 Veterans

specials, private events, catering.

sweet and tangy paired with high

bearsgrillandspirits.com. MCC.

Memorial Blvd., 504-644-4155. Pizza,

jubileerestaurantcourtyard.com.

quality, fresh cut fruit and premium dry toppings. pinkberry.com.

K. Gee’s, 2534 Florida St., 626-0530.

and dinner. gumboshop.com.

30 craft beers on tap, lunch and Camellia Cafe, 525 Hwy. 190, 649-

dinner. mellowmushroom.com. MCC.

6211. thecamelliacafe.com. MCC.

Featuring Louisiana seafood with

PJ’s Coffee & Tea Co., 2963 Hwy.

raw oysters 1/2 price on Tuesdays.

190, 674-1565. Catering. pjscoffee.

Carreta’s Grill, 137 Taos St., 847-0020.

Quarter. 95 French Market Place,

Express lunch and daily lunch specials

com. MCC.

Great Mexican cuisine and margaritas

504-522-9500. Casual dining in a fine

served in a family-friendly atmosphere for

dining atmosphere with experienced

lunch and dinner. carretasgrill.com. MCC.

waitstaff, fresh dishes and made-from-

under $10. Mon-Thurs, 11am-9pm; Fri-Sat, 11am-10pm. kgeesrestaurant.

Raising Canes, 3801 Hwy. 22, 674-

com. MCC.

2042. Chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries,

Louisiana Pizza Kitchen French

scratch menu items. Lunch and dinner.

coleslaw, texas toast, signature secret

Palmettos on the Bayou,

La Carreta Authentic Mexican

dipping sauce. Dine-in, to-go and

1901 Bayou Ln., 643-0050.

Cuisine, 1200 W. Causeway

catering. MCC.

palmettosrestaurantslidell.com.

atmosphere, fresh food from traditional

Rip’s on the Lake, 1917 Lakeshore

Peck’s Seafood Restaurant, 2315

Royal Sonesta Hotel. Offering modern,

recipes, outstanding service and value.

Dr., 727-2829.

Gause Blvd. E., 781-7272. Po-boys,

imaginative reinterpretations of classic

seafood, burgers and lunch specials.

Cajun and Creole Cuisine. Triptych of

MCC.

Quail and Oysterman’s spaghettini.

App., 624-2990. Festive Mexican

lpkfrenchquarter.com. MCC. Restaurant R’evolution, 777 Bienville St., 504-553-2277. Located at the

Live music. Lunch and dinner seven days a week. carretasrestaurant.com.

Rusty Pelican, 500 Girod

MCC.

St., 778-0364. Lunch, dinner. rustypelicanbythelake.com. MCC.

The Lakehouse, 2025 Lakeshore

Revolutionnola.com. MCC. RR. NEW ORLEANS/SOUTHSHORE Bayona, 430 Rue Dauphine, 504-

Riccobono’s Peppermill, 3524 Severn

Dr., 626-3006, events 778-2045.

Times Bar & Grill, 1896 N. Causeway

525-4455. Fresh local ingredients,

Ave., 504-455-2266. Seafood, filets

Restaurant open. Call for reservations.

Blvd., 626-1161. Lunch, dinner.

balanced yet complex dishes. Lunch

and Italian. Breakfast and lunch. Dinner,

lakehousecuisine.com. MCC.

timesgrill.com. ME, MCC.

and dinner. bayona.com. MCC.

Wednesday-Sunday. riccobonos.com.

Little Tokyo, 590 Asbury Dr.,

Trey Yuen Cuisine of China, 600 N.

Brennan’s. 417 Royal St., 504-

727-1532. littletokyosushi.com.

Causeway Blvd., 626-4476. Quality

525-9711. Creole traditions

Warehouse Grille, 869 Magazine

China cuisine with Louisiana flair.

and contemporary influences.

St, 504-322-2188. Lunch and dinner

Macaroni Grill, 3410 Hwy. 190, 727-

Lunch, dinner. treyyuen.com. MCC,

Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

specials, Monday-Friday. Brunch,

1998. Lunch, dinner. macaronigrill.

checks.

brennansneworleans.com. MCC. RR.

Saturday-Sunday, 9am-3pm.

MCC.

com. MCC, ME.

warehousegrille.com. MCC.

September-October 2016 135

INside Peek

Southern Nights

photos courtesy: ST. TAMMANY WEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce hosted its third annual fundraising event, Southern Nights, a sophisticated soiree at the Southern Hotel. The evening was a celebration of the ongoing work of the chamber for the local business community. Over 200 guests donned seersucker and linen and enjoyed a lovely evening featuring fine dining from many of the area’s top restaurants, including Annadele’s Plantation, Dakota, Gallagher’s Grill, The Lake House, N’tini’s, Opal Basil, Ox Lot 9 and Pardo’s. K. Gee’s was on hand shucking oysters and Nonna Randazzo’s provided a spread of delectable desserts. An open bar with two specialty cocktails and small batch bourbon tastings, provided by Republic National Distributing Company, were also featured.

136

Inside Northside

INside Peek Rendezvous on the River The view of the Tchefuncte River at Friends Coastal Restaurant created just the right summer scene for “Rendezvous on the River,” which honored deb Catherine Hughs. Hosted by her parents, Julie and Semmes Hughs, the party brought together friends and family from near and far, along with guests and debutantes from both shores of Lake Pontchartrain. The party theme was “Dancing on the River,” with the band Live Bait delivering an awesome beat. The fabulous food featured culinary creations such as mini crab cakes, bacon-wrapped Gulf shrimp, shrimp with sherry cream sauce over penne pasta, beef brisket au jus, creamy smoked gouda cheese grits and mini cheese cakes.

United Way Red Beans & Rice Cook-Offs The United Way annual Red Beans & Rice Cook-Offs featured plenty of beans and plenty of fun. Community sponsors of the events included LOOP LLC, Sharon Green State Farm Insurance and Ochsner/Slidell Memorial. At the West St. Tammany cook-off, The Pentecostals took home the prize, while The Lake 94.7 & The Times Grill won in East St. Tammany. Parish President Pat Brister joined in on the competition with team “Beans of Their Own.”Proceeds from the cookoffs benefitted the St. Tammany Suicide Prevention & Crisis Response and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. September-October 2016 139

INside Peek

St. Tammany Fishing Pier Mural Dedication

photos: KIM BERGERON

The popular St. Tammany Fishing Pier was recently adorned with a mural. Located in the parking lot, the mural welcomes visitors as they come to fish. Slidell artist Phil Galatas painted the mural, assisted by construction supervisor Bob Rispoli. During the dedication, Phil shared his thoughts on the mural and the surrounding beauty of St. Tammany Parish. The project and mural dedication were made possible by the Rotary Club of Slidell Northshore.

140

Inside Northside

The women of You Night have been hard at work preparing for the You Night Runway Show and Celebration. See the Class of 2016 “Rock the Runway” on Oct. 20 at the Castine Center in Mandeville. Clockwise from top: Runway Coaches Tammy Broussard and Lauren Siegel introduce the participants to runway training basics, part of a multi-week training program to prepare the models to walk at the Runway Show and Celebration; Rena Roberto poses with You Night Team member Amy Pasentine of Florida Marine, one of You Night’s Legacy Partners; the You Night St. Tammany Class of 2016 pose after practicing for the runway.

photos: CANDRA GEORGE mycreativereality.com

photo: DYLAN MARAS

You Night St. Tammany

A Toast on the Coast Bright sun and blue skies greeted friends and family as they gathered for “A Toast on the Coast” to honor bride-to-be Maggie Murphy and her fiancé, Jérémy Bokobza. Although Jérémy was not able to come from his home in Paris, he was certainly celebrated in absentia! As they welcomed guests to their Bay St. Louis home, Robert and Celeste Rosamond were joined by co-hosts Sam and Pat Rosamond, James and Chickie Rosamond, and Sam and Laura Rosamond. All enjoyed vodka punch and other beverages with a wide array of appetizers that included finger sandwiches, cocktail meatballs and assorted cheeses. As the sun went down, a dinner of traditional Mississippi fare of BBQ, beans and greens and luscious chocolate brownies, iced cookies and lemon squares was served. A photo booth with a variety of themed props added to the fun!

September-October 2016 141

Grapes & Grain

photos: JASON FLORES

The 6th annual Grapes & Grain beer and wine tasting event, hosted by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Louisiana Chapter, was held at the Castine Center in Pelican Park. The Northshore’s Finest honorees helped to put on the lively event. Champagne Beverage, Acquistapace’s Covington Supermarket and Southern Glazer’s offered drinks, while the Groovy 7 provided music and entertainment. Restaurants included: Cate Street Seafood Station, Cupcake Concepts, K. Gees Restaurant, La Carreta, Live Fit Smoothies, Longhorn Steakhouse, NOLA Lending Group, Opal Basil on the Trace, Sweet Daddy’s BBQ and Trey Yuen. With dozens of craft beers, wine and local food, all enjoyed the evening.

142

Inside Northside

INside Peek

1 1. Brett Freret and Patsy Lang show off their first place paddles at Crawfish Cookinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for a Cause at the lakefront in Mandeville. 2. Saints player Terron Armstead with Patsy Lang.

3. The Keller Williams team celebrating the win!

4. Covington Councilman Rick Smith with his granddaughter, Emma, who just turned one! 5. Friends gather to celebrate with Maura Donahue at Shaya. 6. Kevin Quigley, Steve Sampson and Ken Camp celebrating the grand opening of Outdoor Living Center. 7. Mayor Mike Cooper, Anna Papp, Bill Bennett, Martha Sassone and George Cella. 8. Outdoor Living Center grand opening at

their new location. 9. Megan Ebinger, Tara

Simecek, Carlotta Lansford, Suzanne Waldrep, Lori Juneau Alford, Manda Leal, Tiffany Nuche, Angie Isaac and Nanci Wechsler at the groundbreaking of Avanti Senior Living. 10. Dr. Courtney Russo, Matthew Schenck, Dr. Emilie Schenck, Mandeville Mayor Donald J. Villere, Percy Russo and Mark Schenck at the ribbon cutting for the new location of 8

Schenck Dental Wellness in Mandeville.

10 July-August 2016 143

INside Peek

1. Maggie, Peggy, Jonathan and Keith Benit enjoying their family vacation in Italy. 2. Mamie Henry, Casey Forshag and Sharon Drucker behind the scene at the Junior League of Greater Covingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Designer Showhouse photo shoot. 3. Peggy Mascaro, Patrice Senac and Cindy St. Romain. 4. Sylvia Berger and Ryan Williams. 5. Sharon Drucker, Molly Burns

and Pheobe Whealdon. 6. Paul Dodson

and Maria Barcelona. 7. Kristen Collura and Susan Falls at Seersucker & Sazeracs at the Southern Hotel. 8. Covington Mayor Mike Cooper and Buddy Spell. 9. Partygoers donned in their seersucker enjoying the evening. 10. Jill Giberga, Barbara Barnes, Lori Murphy, Claire Taylor, Rebel Caplinger, Debra Hopkins; (front) Pat Brister and Britton Miller at the New Millennium 4

9 144

Investment Club lunch and learn at Bacobar.

10 Inside Northside

1 1. Don and Laureen Hermann at the soft opening of Cosmic Karma Yoga Studio and Café. 2. Cheryl Robertson, Michelle Padayachee and Maria Luna-Dragon. 3. Laureen Hermann and Robin Charpentier.

4. Marcia Holmes in New York for the International Association of Pastel Societies Exhibit at the Salmagundi Club. 5. Lillie White and Maureen Larsen at the March of Dimes gala at Mardi Gras World. 6. Nubia Gutierrez, Blair Lancaster, Arianne Carson, Nicole Melancon, Laura Mullin

and Leah Temple cooling off at Mullin Landscape Associates’ popsicle party. 6

7. Angelo Fraiser, Clint Picone, Ellie Picone, Peggy Picone and Brian Applewhite sending Ellie off to Miss Teen USA Pageant in Las Vegas. 8. Ellie Picone, Brian Applewhite and Katherine Haik. 9. Christine Diggs, Connie Seitz, Beth Assaf and Gemma Rose at Rug Chic’s Gemma Rose Trunk Show. 10. Liz Healy, Laura Slatten and Jane Slatten at a family baby shower. 11. Beau Schoen, Jeannie Schoen, Becky Slatten and

Mary Claire Schoen.

11 September-October 2016 145

Last Bite

The Perfect Polo Pimm’s

A DAY AT THE POLO FIELD calls for a perfect polo cocktail, and the Pimm’s Cup has been a sideline staple since the mid-1800s. This English cocktail, an herbalbased aperitif liqueur, has enjoyed a long association with the sporting life. You can find it courtside at Wimbledon, trackside at the Grand National and riverside at the Henley Regatta. In Folsom, you will find it under the tents at the Harvest Cup Polo Classic. Created by a fishmonger named James Pimm, the tonic was used as an enticement to his oyster bar in 1840 London. He served it in a pewter tankard and called it Pimm’s No. 1 Cup. This early concoction used a gin base with a mix of fruit peels, herbs and exotic botanicals. Later variations, like the No. 5, which was rye based, or the No. 6 vodka version, have come and gone in popularity, but the No. 1 still reigns. Just as the hat is the flourish that sets off your polo outfit, the garnish is the hallmark of a glorious Pimm’s! Everything from mint leaves and strawberries to citrus is often included. The staple, however, is the cucumber slice. Mixologists from Pimm’s say that lots of ice and a 3-1 ratio between lemonade and Pimm’s keeps this cocktail at the top of the refresher list. At the Napoleon House in the French Quarter, considered the American home of the Pimm’s Cup since the 1940s, the cocktail is served over ice with a blend of lemonade and 7-up, topped with a sliver of bright green cucumber. Classic. 146

Inside Northside

Inside Northside is proud to partner with

the Junior League of Greater Covington.