Photo: Romero & Romero Photography
VOL. 1, NO. 2 / AUGUST 8, 2013
CONTENTS
On Cover: Women and Children’s Healthy Woman Board Members
August 8, 2013 • Volume 1 • Issue 2 COVER STORY 10 Ladies’ Night Out: Third Anniversary of Women and Children’s Healthy Woman Program 715 Kirby St. Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: 337-436-7800 Fax: 337-990-0262
www.louisianajam.com PUBLISHER Phil de Albuquerque phil@louisianajam.com
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Lauren de Albuquerque lauren@louisianajam.com
GENERAL MANAGER Monica Hebert monica@louisianajam.com
CONTRIBUTORS George Cline Angie Kay Dilmore Julie Fay Jordan Gribble Jen Kober
Mike McHugh Roger Miller Mary Louise Ruehr Brandon Shoumaker Karla Tullos
ADVERTISING TRAFFIC MANAGER Senaida Ortiz SALES ASSOCIATES Mitsi Brown • Michele Clack • Faye Drake sales@louisianajam.com
GRAPHICS ART/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Burn Rourk ART ASSISTANT Sarah Bercier
REGULARS 4 Adoption Corner 5 The Dang Yankee 5 Tips from Tip 6 Jen Kober’s Big Fat Food Column 8 The Sports Report 9 Fish Tales THE SPICE OF SWLA 14 Restaurant Guide 16 Events Guide 18 Red Hot Books 19 Arts & Culture Events Guide 20 Family Fun Night at the Movies 26 Society Spice
7
AUGUST 8, 2013
13
18
25
BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER Jeanie Taggart
PAGE 2
10
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT 4 The Red Beret Art Studio 21 Banners Cultural Season Preview 23 Acting Up! 24 Local Music Guide 25 The Streetside Jazz Band 27 Funbolaya
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Danley Romero
Legal Disclaimer The views expressed by Louisiana Jamcolumnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Louisiana Jam, its editors or staff. Louisiana Jam is solely owned, published by Jambalaya Media, LLC, 715 Kirby Street, Lake Charles Louisiana 70601. Phone (337) 436-7800. Whilst every effort was made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of going to press, the publishers cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility of the standing of advertisers nor by the editorial contributions. Louisiana Jam cannot be held responsible for the return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations, even if they are sent to us accompanied by a self-addressed envelope. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Copyright 2013 Louisiana Jam all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited.
6
4
20
22 Volume 1 • Issue 2
A Note From Lauren
At Home With the Circus Cats Phil and I adopted two kittens this summer. I know; you’re going to say that we needed them like we needed a hole in the head. But some of our special ones passed on recently, and we had some room to save a few more souls. And there’s nothing more fun than a kitten. Or two. Actually, it should always be two. A kitten needs another kitten to cuddle and wrestle with. We acquired a brother and a sister from our art director, Burn, whose cat had a litter. We put them in our bedroom to give them a safe space to play and grow. I posted their photos on Facebook and mentioned that we hadn’t come up with names yet. I wasn’t asking for help, but I received it: Lisa Addison came up with the names Barnum and Bailey. Perfect! From the beginning, they have lived up to their names: flipping and
Volume 1 • Issue 2
swinging and spinning around like contortionists. Flying over our heads in the middle of the night with the greatest of ease. All they need are sparkly outfits and a trapeze. Bailey is tiny and feminine but made of steel. Out of the five in her litter, she was the first to open her eyes, the first to walk, the first to try something new. She is fearless. Barnum is a lot bigger, but he’s more timid. He follows behind his sister. He makes her do it first; when he sees that she’s successful, then he’ll give it a try. At their first vet visit, Bailey let them poke and prod while she yawned and looked around. When it was Barnum’s turn, he shook and cried. As soon as he was put back in his crate, Bailey ran over to him, kissed him and rubbed her head against him until he calmed down.
I love watching these two together. It’s calming and peaceful and entertaining all at once. They make me want to go home in the middle of the day and just observe them. Better than a coffee break. It’s a kitten break. And they’re always up to something. There’s the litter situation. The Circus Cats somehow think that they must use the box AS SOON as I finish cleaning it. As if it’s some kind of invitation for them to go. No sooner am I finished scooping then one of them jumps in, while the other hovers outside the box, waiting. It never fails. When I get in bed, Bailey often jumps on me and settles on my neck. God forbid if I try to text or read. She pushes the phone or book away with her head, and walks around in impatient circles on my chest. Then she plops herself down again.
And repeats the routine. She’s stubborn. Sometimes, I let her win. Then her brother crawls up my legs and settles right underneath his sister. And I have two small souls on me, sleeping peacefully. What a feeling. Of course, the peaceful sleeping doesn’t last very long. Somewhere it is written that kittens must awaken in the middle of the night and scale the heights and navigate the depths of the bedroom. Knock water and food bowls over. Dig around under the bed for God knows what. Jump on my head and chew my hair. Open cabinets and throw their contents on the floor. They’re like monkeys. Cir-
cus monkeys. Except they’re not trained. Barnum and Bailey are growing up fast, and pretty soon they’ll be big enough to join the rest of our cat family. For now, we’re keeping them close and giving them as much love as they’re giving us. Do yourself a favor and adopt a homeless cat or dog today. You will be rewarded with more love than you’ll know what to do with.
Lauren de Albuquerque
AUGUST 8, 2013
PAGE 3
Red Beret Art Studio Creativity in Moss Bluff By Angie Kay Dilmore When Allison Milliron and her husband moved to Moss Bluff in 2009, this trained artist knew she wanted to open an art studio that would benefit her new community. Her goal was realized in August 2011 when she opened the Red Beret Art Studio. “I really want to be a blessing to the people of Moss Bluff,” she said. Word of her studio is getting around and she has many patrons from Lake Charles, as well. The studio has a unique concept. Milliron’s son earned a black belt in karate, which gave Milliron an idea to motivate her students. “I saw how much having rewards to work towards helps a student to focus on goals,” she said. Just as karate students earn different colored belts, Milliron’s art students begin with a white beret and earn different colored berets and pins for their beret. “When a student completes a course, he or she receives a pin for the beret,” she explained. “After two pins are achieved, the student moves on to the next of ten colors.” Like the artist Gauguin in Van Gogh’s painting, a red beret is the ultimate goal. While Milliron offers art classes to youth and adults, her focus is on after-school classes for kids of all ages. She also offers day classes for home-schooled children. Classes take place on Mon-
day, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. Most classes are once a week for six weeks and focus on the art and style of a particular famous artist. The fall classes begin August 26 and will feature the artwork of Laura Burch, popular for painting colorful, quirky cats. In the second fall course, students will study Marc Chagall. Milliron doesn’t want to simply teach art techniques. She also wants her students to learn art history – insight into the great masters and the stories behind their creations. She incorporates art education into all of her art classes.
Art to Celebrate Milliron hosts art parties for children on the weekends. These two-hour parties include not only art, fun, and cake, but also some art education on the side. “For instance, if it’s a tiedye party, the students will learn about the artists of the sixties, such as Andy Warhol or Peter Max,” she said. “If it’s a duct tape party, they learn about sculpture, three-dimensional art, and an artist famous in this genre.” Most of her parties for children focus on watercolors or crafts, depending on the ages.
Art as Therapy Art can be used as a form of healing therapy in many ways. Milliron witnessed this in one of her adult students
this summer. Jon Marie Gearen had a stroke in 2008 at the age of 44. She was a southpaw, but the stroke caused paralysis on her left side. She struggled to train her right hand to write and do the other tasks her left hand had always done. Then one day she went to Red Beret Art Studio with a friend to take a class. “The art classes have given me more confidence and helped me with my dexterity in my right hand,” Gearen said. She had never painted before, but she recently sold the second painting she created in Milliron’s class to a fellow student from Australia who was visiting her daughter for the summer.
Art to Socialize On Friday evenings, Milliron offers JAM Nights (Just Art-Making) for the over 21 set. “This gives adults a chance to just come out and paint and express themselves,” she said. For $30 a person or $50 a couple, she supplies everything you need for a fun evening out with the girls or a special date.
AUGUST 8, 2013
tian scrolls. The scrolls are a unique trademark art form she uses to tell Bible stories. “I enjoy doing art that ministers to people and touches their heart and soul and encourages them to be all that God created them to be,” she said. Milliron’s work and information on classes can be found on her website, www.redberetartstudio.com. You can also find the Red Beret Art Studio on Facebook or call (337) 2445483. The studio is located at 1435 Sam Houston Jones Parkway, Suite D, in Moss Bluff. Classes are limited to 12 students and they fill up quickly. Call soon to make your reservation!
Milliron’s Originals Milliron began painting at the age of ten in her grandmother’s art studio. She attended Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham during high school and
What a love! This sweet boy came to us with a (non-contagious) skin condition we are working to clear. We knew this would take some time but soon discovered that he had a condition known as "entropian" where eyelashes have grown inward instead of on the outer eyePAGE 4
earned a degree in Fine Arts from Auburn University with an emphasis on sculpture. After that, she went to Asbury Theological Seminary and earned a Master of Divinity degree. “I love using art together with ministry to bless people,” she said. Between her many art classes and her work at Moss Bluff United Methodist Church where she is a parttime children’s director (her husband is the pastor there), it’s hard to imagine how Milliron has time to create art herself! Yet she intentionally carves out niches of time during each week to focus on her own artwork. Milliron specializes in portraits, murals and Chris-
lid. He has had the surgery and is doing well! His eye condition in no way impairs his ability to play. In researching the breed, he seems a little lanky to be a purebred but he surely does have that precious Shar-Pei face! Sheldon is okay with other dogs but would love to be your one and only. He is great with cats. He is perfectly crate-trained and ready to
move on to a new life. Being eager to please his person, he will do well with obedience training. To get more information, call 478-7294 or email lapaw@bellsouth.net and Sheldon's foster will be delighted to tell you all about him! If you are a Shar-Pei lover and would care to foster Sheldon until his forever person arrives, let us know! Volume 1 • Issue 2
Ready... Or Not Sometimes I wonder how married couples are able to communicate. I say this because depending on whether you are the wife or the husband, words can have completely different meanings. For instance, to a man, the word “savings” means putting a few hundred dollars away in a bank account. To a woman, however, “savings” means spending the same amount of money on an outfit that’s been marked down 20 percent. Nowhere is the language barrier between husbands
TRAFFIC LIGHT WOES There can be many frustrations while driving about town, some definitely more bothersome than others. On our daily routes, we become accustomed to the patterns of traffic and the signal lights we encounter. In addition, the time of day will dictate a great deal of change in the patterns and flow of Volume 1 • Issue 2
and wives vaster than when it comes to the subject of time. It’s that way in my marriage, at least. For the first several years, whenever we’d prepare to go out for an evening, I could not figure out exactly when she would be ready to leave based on the words she used. “It won’t take me long,” she would often say. I failed to realize that she was using the word “long” in a biblical sense, as in the 969-year life span of Methuselah. He reportedly died several days before the Great Flood, eventually
running out of patience waiting for his wife to pick out something to wear on the Ark. I have since learned how to properly gauge my wife’s statements so that I can interpret them with some semblance of accuracy. I now know that when she says, “It won’t take me long,” it actually means that I have time to catch an entire baseball game on TV, including extra innings if it goes to that. Likewise, “I’m almost ready,” means that I have ample opportunity to give
traffic. When those patterns become disrupted, the change may become a distraction (a popular term in driving circles these days). Some traffic lights have sensors that can trigger different sequencing of the signals. As we become familiar with how the lights function under differing traffic flows, every once in a while, the powers-that-be make changes in the way that a certain signal light responds. They sometimes re-sequence the pattern of the light entirely. Often, there appears to be no rhyme or reason to these changes.
I offer the intersection of Prien Lake Road with Sale Road as an example. The southbound Prien Lake Road traffic has a signal with a left turn light to eastbound Sale Road. The signal to make this turn was previously activated by a vehicle entering into the turning lane. If no vehicle was there, the left turn signal did not display. It now activates whether or not there is a vehicle in the turn lane, thereby keeping the northbound traffic sitting idly to wait for no traffic to turn before getting the green light to proceed. The former problem intersection at Lake Street and Sale seems to have very efficient traffic light sensors and appears to be well adjusted. Many of our local traffic lights could be turned into flashing yellow and red signals in the
the truck a wax job and vacuum the interior before we hit the highway. “I’ll be ready in five minutes,” is similar in duration to “I’m almost ready,” the difference being that the former phrase is more definitive. What you must understand, however, is that these five minutes do not include the timeouts. Marriage is much like a basketball game in this way. And wives will typically save their timeouts until just before it’s time to go somewhere, making those last few minutes just like the ones in a game on TV that goes down the wire, where there are more beer and truck commercials than action on the court. When she says, “I’m walking out the door,” it means that she is heading in the general direction of the door, with detours to find her keys and cell phone, and sometimes a trip back into the bedroom to swap out her earrings
because they clash with the color of her eye shadow. By the time we are finally in the car, I generally have, at best, about ten minutes to make it on time to our destination, which would be at least a halfhour’s drive in decent traffic. Of course, I am fully expected to make this time up along the way—something Jimmy Johnson would have trouble doing. This is despite the fact that we also have to drop off the dry cleaning and pick up a dessert at the supermarket. Lord help me if I also need to get gas. Even Jimmy’s pit crew wouldn’t be able to bail me out on that one. I believe this is why, when you schedule a party to start at, say, 8 PM, people don’t start arriving until at least 8:30. And I don’t know about you, but now that we’re into hurricane season, I try to get my wife started moving for a possible evacuation right around when a storm approaches Cuba.
low-traffic-volume, lateevening hours. There are areas of town where the traffic flow has decreased over time, yet still have the signals controlling them as if they were main streets during rush hour.
Ryan Street; Market Basket, Lake Street; Kroger, McNeese Street and Walmart, Nelson Road.
SUPERMARKET ROUNDUP The response from the Frozen Dog Treats that was recently featured made me think of checking out some pricing of pet food items for those most important family members. As usual, I will survey supermarkets, realizing that there are other sources of these products that many of you patronize. The prices were obtained on Wednesday, July 31, and reflect the posted price on the shelf where the product was placed for sale. The stores for this survey were: Albertsons,
Kibbles ‘n Bits Dog Food, Original, 16pound bag: Albertsons, $13.99; Market Basket, $10.59; Kroger, $11.98; Walmart, $11.98. Milk Bone Dog Treats, Original, 24-ounce box: Albertsons, $3.49; Market Basket, $4.27; Kroger, $4.19; Walmart, $2.88. Meow Mix Cat food, Original, 3.15-pound bag: Albertsons, $5.99; Market Basket, $ 5.29; Kroger, $4.24; Walmart, $4.24. Whiskas Temptations Cat Treats, various flavors, 3-ounce package: Albertsons, $2.29; Market Basket, $1.99; Kroger, $2.99; Walmart, $1.50. AUGUST 8, 2013
PAGE 5
Back to My Roots Last week's column was a droolingly delicious rave about one of the great New Orleans Steakhouses, Mr. John's. Immediately after eating that meal, I was back in my hotel room at International House (a fantastic boutique hotel located at 221 Camp St.) frantically typing my article for The Jam. I thought I had just had the best meal of my life. Little did I know that an even better meal awaited me on night number two in The Big Easy Our family weekend in New Orleans was inspired, in part, by my grandmother's upcoming 88th birthday. My mom's mom spent most of her life in New Orleans, where she owned several couture dress shops. She has lived with my parents here in
PAGE 6
AUGUST 8, 2013
Lake Charles for over 20 years, but I can tell she misses the city. Like most grannies, she loves to tell stories of her life, and no matter how many times I have heard them, I can't get enough of the rich details she always speaks of when she talks about New Orleans: the heat, the crowded streets, the massive unending parades, dressing everyone from drag queens to Elvis. My grandma might not remember what she had for dinner last night, but she
can describe every bead on a Mardi Gras gown she designed for the Queen of Barataria in 1968. So with her birthday approaching, it seemed only fitting that we bring the old lady along as we made plans to explore New Orleans as only the Kobers could. Saturday morning we jumped out of bed and met the whole family in the lobby so we could caravan over to Cafe Du Monde and get my little niece her first beignet. I love Cafe Du
Monde. Those hot fluffy beignets covered in a mountain of powdered sugar and chased down with an ice cold chocolate milk out of the glass that I sip through a bendy straw. Delicious. After walking around the French Market for a bit (and running into several Lake Charles folks) we headed to lunch at Bourbon House on Bourbon & Iberville. We had originally wanted to go to Deanie's but the wait was over 90 minutes, so we walked down to Bourbon House and grabbed up a table for 10 and a half. I had a killer crab finger appetizer, smothered in a lemon butter garlic sauce and chilled. They were so refreshing
and so meaty! I have an affinity for shrimp poboys that is unparalleled. So when there's a shrimp poboy to be had, you can bet it's what I'm ordering and this one was exceptional! TONS of perfectly golden fried shrimp on a flaky French baguette slathered with ice-cold tartar sauce. When the hot shrimp hits that cold tartar the magic in my mouth is magnificent. A victory for shrimp poboy lovers everywhere! After that, it was back to International House for a nap and a Law & Order marathon before our big birthday dinner with grandma that night at Root. My girlfriend Susan
Volume 1 • Issue 2
knows one of the sous chef at Root, and she has been trying to get us there to check it out for some time. So I Googled it, to make sure it was something we would all eat. Root sounded like it might be some weird vegan raw pulp that my parents would never enjoy. The website describes it as "modern American cuisine rooted in traditional flavors and techniques.” So, I made a reservation for 10.5 people and we headed out to what would be the most fascinating unique yummy dining experience ever.
the ways are whacky! First was a frozen square of foie that had been rolled in watermelon pop rocks and wrapped in foie gras flavored cotton candy served on a lollipop stick. The second foie was a terrine of foie and wild mushrooms, and the final preparation was foie gras dippin' dots (yes, that says dippin' dots). It was actually tiny frozen beads of foie gras served with a warm blueberry compote on top. SUPER DELICIOUS and so original! It is rare that food surprises me, but that's just what Root did.
Root Vegetable Salad Heirloom carrots, charred fennel, vegetable ash puree, pickled celery root, smoked rutabaga puree, lemon verbena thyme vinaigrette. I don't know how all this A culinary creation from Root veggie crap tastes so good, but that may have been the best Located at 200 Julia salad known to man. Street in the heart of the New Orleans warehouse district, Root boasts an in- Korean Short Rib credible menu full of fare I Clay Pot Farro fried rice, Chihad never tried, and much nese sausage, charred scalof which I had to ask lions, “6-Minute Egg, and about. The servers were about 13 different kinds of incredibly knowledgeable crazy tiny mushrooms. and explained each dish Simply divine. with such delicious detail It's a pricey place, but I that we all ordered somepromise it is worth every thing different just so we penny. With each bite you could taste everything. This was not just a meal, it realize you never want to eat regular food again. was a feast fit for a king. Viva New Orleans! Everything we ordered After eating our way was fantastic, but my perthrough the city, we finally sonal recommendations got home and asked are these: grandma what she thought of New Orleans now. "Too Menage a Foie many people with tattoos By now you have gathnow. They all look mean. ered I am a lover of foie gras, and this special chef 's I'm glad to be home. But preparation was without a the food was really good." I doubt the most off-thecouldn't have said it better hook foie EVER. As the myself. title suggests, it is foie preHappy Birthday, pared three ways, but oh, Granny. Volume 1 • Issue 2
McNeese Student Wins Student Silver Addy Joe Racca, a visual arts major at McNeese State University, won a Student Silver Addy award at the recent American Advertising Federation’s national conference. This is McNeese’s first national student Addy Award. Racca, a junior from Sulphur, received his silver Addy for his color photograph titled “Alley Cat.” His award-winning photo features his friend Barret Istre taken in a downtown Lake Charles location with just studio lights and a battery pack, using a slow shutter speed. Awards for advertising creative excellence for both professionals and students were presented at the conference in Phoenix that Racca attended. Entries were judged based on creativity, originality and creative strategy and the jury awarded 19 Student Gold ADDY Awards and 39 Student Silver ADDY Awards. The AAF competition includes three rigorous levels of judging. Entries are first judged at the local AAF level, with winners then advancing to one of 15 district competitions. District winners then advance to the national finals. At the local level, Racca won three gold Addys – including one for “Alley Cat” at the competition sponsored by the Lake Charles chapter of the AAF, and those entries advanced to the 10th District competition in Tulsa, Okla. There, he received a gold Addy for “Alley Cat,” which qualified
Joe Racca him for nationals, and two bronze Addys for his other entries. Another McNeese visual arts student, Alan Myers, of Grand Lake, won a Bronze Addy in district competition for his “Pelican Pete” entry. This entry won a silver Addy for Myers at the local level, which qualified him for district competition. fessors, I began to realize that I could have a career in Racca said his awards at all levels were a pleasant sur- this medium,” he said. So, he switched his major to visual prise. “This was my first arts with a concentration in time to enter the student photography. Addy awards competition,” "We are very excited and he said. “My professors enproud of Joe Racca for accouraged me to submit cepting the challenge, entersome of my work and I’m ing the competition and glad they did.” Racca remembers always ultimately winning a national Addy award,” said being interested in photography and he took photogra- Mary Kaye Eason, faculty adviser to the AAF student phy classes at Sulphur High chapter at McNeese and uniSchool. When he entered McNeese, Racca took a cou- versity intern coordinator in the Office of Career Servple of photography classes ices. “His work brings nabecause of his interest. tional attention to the “When I received posiquality of the McNeese vitive feedback from my prosual arts program.”
“Alley Cat” by Joe Racca
AUGUST 8, 2013
PAGE 7
Finally Free Cecil Collins is finally, at long last, a free man. Collins was released back to his home in Florida earlier this month when a Baton Rouge judge refused to revoke his probation and allowed him to leave the state of Louisiana with his wife. Of course, there are certain conditions he must adhere to and he is only free while awaiting a nominal appeal from the state, but the chances he’ll end up back in prison are slim considering how much time he’s served already and that he seems to have turned his life around. Collins served more prison time (13 ½ years) than former St. Louis Rams defensive end Leonard Little, who killed a woman while driving drunk and then got caught driving drunk six years later. He’s free from prison,
PAGE 8
AUGUST 8, 2013
both the physical place and from the character known as “The Diesel.” Collins says he killed “The Diesel” while in prison; maybe it was with the splintered chicken bone that nearly took his life. Sadly, Collins will never be free, however hard he tries, of his own legend. His rise to superstardom and his fall to convict only serve to exaggerate the story of “The Diesel” even further. Collins is almost like the bogeyman, a story one tells young, promising but cocky football players, a warning about getting wrapped up in your own hype and doing stupid things. Even more 15 years later, football fans throughout the state lament what might have been had Cecil not listened to “The Diesel,” had Cecil not bought into his own greatness.
Earlier this year, former Alexandria sportswriter John Marcase compared Collins to Barry Sanders. On an LSU fan forum, one poster lamented that Collins could have been LSU’s version of Herschel Walker or Bo Jackson, both Heisman winners. Just about everyone believed Cecil could have been the first pick in the NFL Draft. Only thing was, “The Diesel” got in the way. In a November 2012 jailhouse interview, Collins told the South Florida Sun Sentinel, “I think 'The Diesel' is the guy that got me in trouble. ‘The Diesel’ ran in clubs, ran with the wrong people. ‘The Diesel’ didn't know how to handle all the money or celebrity coming in.” “The Diesel” liked to break into women’s apartments, too. It’s what got him sent away for so long he never learned to use email. And it’s almost all anyone who never saw him play remembers about the man. Others though, remember what could have been the greatest talent in football history.
After, rather portentously, sitting out the entirety of his first season and the following season opener against Texas-El Paso for violating team rules, Cecil ran over Mississippi State for 172 yards on national television. This was the game where he famously helped put the Bulldogs away with his fourth-quarter “Sock Run.” On second down-and-7, Cecil took a pitch from quarterback Herb Tyler at his own 32-yard line and cut up the left side off-tackle. However Cecil, somewhere about his own 40-yard line, lost his left shoe. It didn’t matter. Cecil turned up field and accelerated through the Bulldogs line, thanks in part to a flying block by fullback Robert Tyler, outran free safety Eric Daniel, sock flapping white against the green field, and would have scored had it not been for the excellent play of cornerback Izell McGill to bump Cecil out of bounds at the 2. The next week, in his first home game in Baton Rouge, Cecil gave what was likely his most legendary performance on a football field, rushing for 232 yards and two touchdowns against No. 12 Auburn. It was one of the greatest individual performances in LSU history, one that probably still gives Auburn safety Martavius Houston nightmares to this day. Houston spent the entire game with Cecil running at him full speed. After spending the first half content to blow past Houston with pure speed, Cecil, on his second carry of the third quarter, dealt Houston one of the most epic truckings in history, lowering his shoulder and hammering Houston three yards backward onto his keister. At times, it seemed like
Cecil was actively seeking to deliver punishment. On his second touchdown carry, which briefly put LSU ahead in the fourth quarter, Cecil got into the secondary only to zig to the right and deliver a crushing blow to cornerback Antwoine Nolan before cutting back to his left, zooming past Houston in the process, and on into the end zone. Cecil broke his leg two games later, but his legacy was already cemented in LSU lore. And then everything fell apart. He was expelled from LSU, expelled from McNeese State, drafted by the Miami Dolphins and then arrested for a final time. “The Diesel” had brought Collins more trouble than he had bargained for. But I hope Cecil is right. That he did kill “The Diesel” in his prison cell. That he is changed and is a family man, a good and decent guy. Because, I believe he’s served his time, not only in prison but also in the mind of the public. I think Cecil deserves to fade away into history, to become a Regular Joe and raise his family in peace. He had a great football career, one that could have been the greatest, but that career helped turn him into “The Diesel,” the monster on and off the field. Hopefully, away from all of the memories, good and bad, out in the Florida suburbs, Cecil can just be Cecil and leave the ghost of “The Diesel” behind for good. Brandon Shoumaker is a graduate of McNeese State University and has covered sports for more than a decade for various publications. Coaches or parents with story tips or comments may contact Brandon at bshoumaker@yahoo.com or send him a message on Twitter (@bshoumaker). Volume 1 • Issue 2
Deliverance: Bundick’s Creek Style Deliverance is a novel by James Dickey. It is also a classic 1972 action movie shot on the Chattooga River starring Burt Reynolds, Jon Voight, Ned Beatty, and Ronnie Cox. The book is great. The movie a classic. A Bundick Creek bream fishing float trip past the Whiskey Chitto into the Calcasieu is sublime since it is without the banjo soundtrack or “squealin’ like a pig.” During the spring bream spawning season I’ve often grabbed a canoe, pirogue, or bateau and headed up Highway 165 to Kinder, turned left on Hwy. 190 and parked my truck back off from the bridge where the road crosses the Calcasieu River. I made sure to park far enough off the road that I wasn’t ticketed and the steering wheel securely locked up with The Club as my vehicle would have to be there at least one night. My pick-up would serve as the “pickup” vehicle for myself and the other two boats that always came with me. This float trip is one of those DO NOT ATTEMPT by yourself trips. The creeks and the river are not the Guadalupe or Volume 1 • Issue 2
the Chattooga Rivers, but I have yet to manage to do the entire trek and not flip my boat. This means you need to tie down everything in your boat. Here’s your checklist: three paddles, two life vests, ice chest (bungee cord sealed), TP, ice, snack food and beverages of choice, bottled WATER, change of clothes (inclusive of long sleeve shirt and blue jeans and light jacket), rods and reels, tackle boxes, cricket baskets, TP, sunscreen, lighter fluid, boat cushions, fishing hat, black iron skillet, seasoning, TP, butter, utensils, tackle box, filet knife, Deep Woods Off, first aid kit, TP, a spatula, two lighters, and lastly a cell phone. It’s to be stored in the off mode, in a waterproof container and for EMERGENCY use only. Yea, it’s a long list but I complied that list the hard way. Oh yeah, did I list TP? From where you park the pick-up vehicles, you continue west on US 190, turn north on La. 368 and go until you see the Nichols LandingBundick’s Dam sign. Here, you load up your cricket cages and then launch below the dam.
This year, they opened the dam to drawdown on May 15 and you try to make your trip accordingly. Wildlife and Fisheries are helpful as to water conditions, etc. From here on it’s pure sport. At the first bend, there is an old log jam. Use the paddle to check the depth, attach your cork accordingly and then cast back just short of the brush. Now the fun begins. Usually we caught as many fish (white perch, sun perch, blue gill, or bass) as we needed for supper. Other times we fished our way down careful to hit the brush piles and any stream that flowed into the creek as often a bale of hay had mysteriously appeared there. You’ll pick up a few bass as you go along also. Once past the first fishing spot, you’ll notice a natural quiet. There are indeed noises: birdsongs, the creek’s ripple, or joyful yelps if one of your podnas has a fish on or turned over his canoe. Singing is allowed, but it is preferable that you can carry a tune. A game warden once instructed me to please stop singing as I was “scaring the squirrels.” The guys in green
are also picky about fishing licenses IN YOUR POSSESSION. Do not write obscene notes in the pristine white beaches as the folks in the next canoe may not be your podnas. It is, however, allowable to leave cold beverages packed in the sand with a sign identifying them scrawled in the sand. Additionally, unless you wish a trip to the ER that takes hours to complete, avoid swinging out over the creek on a rope and letting go unless you are sure what is underneath. Clothing optional diving or swimming is also frowned upon, usually by the viewer or the occasional stranger. Toward the end of the first day, you should be about one or two hours of canoeing from Whiskey Chitto Creek. Make camp high above the creek on
the bank as it is absolutely amazing how quickly a passing front or thunderstorm can flood your sand bar camp. Gather enough firewood for the whole night, build a fire pit and place your sleeping sites downwind of the smoke from the fire. Hanging Deep Woods Off repellant strips from string also helps. The rest of your Deliverance Trek is pretty much the touristy stuff of inner tubes, canoes, and frolickers of sorts. Take note that the temperature differential between the creek and the sun-blessed paddlers is significant. But the rest of your deliverance is a lark and you’ll be out of the water and headed home by sundown. There are tales behind all my admonitions and your supply list but I’m sure you get it. If you don’t, you will. Chuckle.
AUGUST 8, 2013
PAGE 9
Ladies, mark your calendars to attend a special “Ladies’ Night Out.” Women and Children’s Hospital (WCH) will celebrate the third anniversary of their Healthy Woman Program on Thursday, September 5. The event will be from 4-8 p.m. at L’Auberge Casino Resort. Motivational speaker and former contestant on NBC’s Biggest Loser, Abby Rike, will share her inspiring story of how she overcame personal tragedy to find hope and a purposefilled life. “The anniversary celebration is our biggest Healthy Woman event of the year,” says Annette Garber, Director of Marketing at WCH. “It’s a special evening for our members, their friends and area women who enjoy being entertained and totally inspired.” The event consists of a women’s health expo from 4-6 p.m., where attendees can browse the booths for health-related resources and information while enjoying hors d’oeuvres. At 6:30 p.m., dinner will be served, followed by the program featuring Abby Rike. Each attendee will have the chance to win a variety of door prizes donated by event sponsors. Though only in its third year, this event draws a large crowd. Last year, 410 women attended, and this year they’re expecting over 500 attendees. Tickets are $25. PAGE 10
AUGUST 8, 2013
Sponsorship and partnership opportunities are available for businesses that would like to participate with a booth at the event, or sponsor a table of eight.
Current Healthy Woman partners include: •Nissan of Lake Charles – TITLE Partner •L’Auberge Casino Resort •AdSource •The Pediatric Center •Louisiana Jam •Fox 29 CW •Treasures of Marilyn’s •Thrive Magazine •Knight Media •Southwest Louisiana Credit Union •Lake City Printing •Holiday Travel •Louisiana Chiropractic & Wellness Center
Photo: Romero & Romero Photography
•Mary Beth Conner Photography •Curves of Lake Charles •Pink Papaya •International Dance Company •Primerica •Lee J. Monlezun, M.D.
The evening’s speaker, Abby Rike, hails from Mabank, TX. In 2006, Abby lost the life she knew and loved when she was faced with losing her beloved husband, 5 ½ year old daughter and 2 ½ week old
Nissan of Lake Charles, a Healthy Woman Title Partner hosting a seminar entitled Car Care Tips. L to R: Members of the 2011 Healthy Woman Advisory Council; Annette Garber, Becky Dent, Faye Drake, Nadia Nazeer, John Stelly-owner of Nissan of Lake Charles, Debbie Boudreaux, Patricia Philmon, Olive Bonin and Lisa Bateman
son in a fatal car crash. Devastated and numb, she shut down. For nearly three years she walked through life like a ghost, and as she descended, so did her health. Then in May of 2009, Abby embarked on a very public journey of healing and wellness when she went on NBC’s hit reality series “The Biggest Loser.” Abby began her journey on the show weighing in at 247 pounds and by the December finale, had lost 100 pounds! Abby feels blessed to share her experience with others firsthand. She continues her healthy lifestyle and vigor for life and is a living example that even in your darkest hour, there is always hope. In addition to her speaking career, Abby has Volume 1 • Issue 2
for organizing and promoting each event. Led by Garber and Healthy Woman Advisor Lisa Guerrero, council members include: Becky Dent, WCH; Beth Dawdy, Treasures of Marilyn’s; Betsy Granger, Prudential Elite Realtors; Having a great time at the 2012 Healthy Woman Anniversary. Seated L to R: Rosie Meaux, Ginger Karcher, Angel Mefford, Carlyn Rider. L to R: Charlotte Rewerts, Christy Fontenot, Melissa Nunez Cheri Gaston, Gaston Finanpublished a book that will “Healthy Woman has cial Consulting; Christa be for sale at the Septemgrown to nearly 2,800 Comeaux, Lakeside Bank; ber 5th Anniversary entimembers since we Christy Moore, Southwest tled Working It Out, A launched the program in Louisiana Credit Union; Journey of Love, Loss and 2010,” says Bryan S. BateDebbie Holt, Southern Hope. Choice Sponsored Properties; by WCH, Eva BrousHealthy sard, WCH; Woman is a Faye Drake, unique proThe gram designed Louisiana for women. It Jam; Jody offers educaBarrilleaux, tional semiHixson Funars and neral Home; events focused Kerri Krob, on health, relaLake City tionships and With a Derby theme of Heels Hats and Horses, this year’s spring event was a Printing; great success (Members of the 2013 Healthy Woman Advisory Council: lifestyle issues Kimberly L to R Back Row; Eva Broussard, Patricia Philmon, Betsy Granger, Becky Dent, Finger, important to Holt, Kristi Morris, Kim Finger, Lisa Bateman, Jody Barrilleaux. today’s busy L to RDebbie Front Row; Christa Comeaux, Annette Garber, Lisa Guerrero, Christy Moore Community women. Volunteer; Healthy Woman empowman, CEO at WCH. “With Kristi Morris, Grifols; ers women with the this level of engagement, Kristin DiVito, L’Auberge knowledge and confidence there is a clear need for Casino Reto make informed healththis type of program and I sort; Lisa care and well-being deciam proud that Women & Bateman, sions for themselves and Children’s Hospital is able WCH; Patritheir loved ones. There is to provide this educational cia Philmon, no cost to join and the biresource to area women.” Merrill monthly seminars are ofAn 18-member adviLynch; and fered free of charge. sory council is responsible Shantee
Care for the Entire Family Over the last decade, Women & Children’s Hospital has truly increased their variety of healthcare services. Obstetrics and gynecology still comprises a large component of their patient base, but they offer many other services. ●Accredited Bariatric Surgical Weight Loss Program ●Cardiology Services ●Diagnostic Imaging ●24-Hour Emergency Services ●Adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ●Labor & Delivery Services ●Level III Neonatal ICU (NICU) ●Outpatient & Inpatient Medical and Surgical Services ●Pediatrics ●Rehabilitation Services ●Surgicare of Lake Charles (Affiliation) Gotte, Thrive Magazine. Healthy Woman members receive a monthly enewsletter that includes health and wellness tips and notification of upcoming events. The Healthy Woman website offers easy nutritious recipes, cooking videos and a Health Tracker for keeping personal health records handy and organized. There’s also an online library with links to dozens of health resources and links to current Healthy Woman partners.
For more information about Healthy Woman, sponsorship or to register for the Anniversary event, visit www.women-childrens.com/healthywoman or call Lisa Guerrero at (337) 475-4064.
Senior Circle One of WCH’s most popular programs is Senior Circle. Designed for men and women ages 50 and up, this program strives to meet the needs of active area seniors. Nearly 700 seniors have joined this program since its inception in 2010. For an annual membership fee of $15 per person or $27 a couple, this program keeps members active and occupied through educational, wellness and social activities. For more information about Senior Circle, call (337) 475-4002 or visit www.women-childrens.com and click the Senior Circle tab to download their monthly calendars and newsletters. Volume 1 • Issue 2
AUGUST 8, 2013
PAGE 11
PAGE 12
AUGUST 8, 2013
Volume 1 • Issue 2
American/ Family Cracker Barrel 249 S. Cities Service Hwy. Sulphur 337-626-9500 O’Charley’s 1780 W. Prien Lake Rd. Lake Charles 337-478-9927
Jag’s Bistro New Location, Same Fabulous Food!
Ryan’s Family Restaurant 4501 Ryan St., Lake Charles, LA 337-477-2707
Asian Jag’s Bistro has been a local favorite since it first opened in Lake Charles. Chef Keith Jagneaux and his culinary team of Joshua Attaway, Chris Landry and Rebecca Lyons serve up delicious barbeque, burgers and seafood— and who doesn’t love the daily buffet? Now you can enjoy Jag’s wonderful food at their new location—right on the bayou! There’s nothing better than having a meal overlooking the water, is there? Whether it’s grilled or fried catfish, a shrimp poboy, or homemade meatloaf, they do it right. And you’ll come back for more!
Jag’s Bistro 1103 W. Prien Lake Rd. Lake Charles (337) 564-6785 Hours Mon - Fri: 11 am - 10 pm Sat: 11 am - 11 pm Sun: 11 am - 8 pm
Take out and catering available, too! PAGE 14
AUGUST 8, 2013
Asia at L’Auberge 777 Avenue L’Auberge, Lake Charles 337-395-7777 Osaka Japanese Steakhouse 3035 Gertsner Memorial Drive, Lake Charles 337-990-5478 Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse 2610 Dillard Loop Lake Charles 337-478-2888 Fuji Japanese Steakhouse 3241 E. Prien Lake Rd. Lake Charles 337-480-3788 Miyako Japanese Restaurant 915 E. Prien Lake Rd., Lake Charles 337-478-1600 Peking Garden 2433 Broad St., Lake Charles 337-436-3597 Pho Tien 4415 Nelson Road Lake Charles 337-477-8557 China Taste 1415 Beglis Pkwy.
Sulphur 337-527-5985 Yank Sing 4626 Nelson Rd. Lake Charles 337-477-9004
2001 Oak Park Blvd. Lake Charles 337-477-9759
Bakery & Desserts
Five Guys Burgers & Fries 2950 Ryan St. Lake Charles 337-721-1903
Cypi’s Cake Box 520 McNeese St., Lake Charles 337-478-0269
Novrozsky’s Hamburgers 2706 Ruth St., Sulphur 337-527-0041
Pronia’s 3101 Kirkman St., Lake Charles 337-478-0785 Sweets and Treats 411 Ryan, St., Lake Charles 337-437-3913
Barbecue BBQ West 2618 Derek Dr., Lake Charles 337-564-5000 Dan’s BBQ Express 2635 Country Club Rd. Lake Charles 337-478-5858 Famous Foods 1475 Gerstner Memorial Dr., Lake Charles 337-439-7000
Breakfast Le Peep Café 3800 Ryan St. Lake Charles 337-240-8497 Pitt Grill 606 W. Prien Lake Rd. Lake Charles 337-564-6724 Pitt Grill 2600 Ruth St., Sulphur 337-527-0648 Waffle House 2488 S. Cities Service Hwy., Sulphur 337-626-8111
Burgers Cotton’s Famous Hamburgers
Cajun & Southern Boudin King 906 West Division St. Jennings 337-824-6593 Hollier’s Cajun Kitchen 1709 Ruth St., Sulphur 337-527-0062 Rabideaux’s Sausage Kitchen 105 US 165, Iowa 337-582-3184 Southern Spice 3901 Ryan St. Lake Charles 337-474-6065 Walker’s Cajun Dining 603 Holiday Dr. Jennings 337-616-0766
Italian 121 Artisan Bistro 121 DeBakey Dr. Lake Charles 337-310-7499 Joe’s Pizza and Pasta 1601 Ruth St., Sulphur 337-528-2560 Romano’s 731 Ryan St. Lake Charles 337-491-1847
Mexican Agave Tamale 521 Alamo St. Lake Charles 337-433-4192 Volume 1 • Issue 2
Agave Tamale 1614 Sampson St. Westlake 337-429-2987
Pizza Cici’s Pizza 3533 Ryan St. Lake Charles 337-562-2223
El Tapatio 2624 Gerstner Memorial Dr. Lake Charles 337-475-9022
Gatti’s Pizza 1811 Ruth St. Sulphur 337-527-0318
El Tapatio Dos 808 Sampson St. Westlake 337-721-7685
Gatti’s Pizza 3522 Ryan St., Lake Charles 337-474-6225
Rosita’s 2401 Napoleon St. Sulphur 337-533-9077
Papa John’s Pizza 1415 Beglis Pkwy., Sulphur 337-528-7272
Casa Manana 2510 Ryan St. Lake Charles 337-433-4112
Papa John’s Pizza 650 W. McNeese St., Lake Charles 337-474-7272
Cancun Mexican Restaurant 4001 Ryan St. Lake Charles 337-477-6802
Rotolo’s Pizzeria 4201 Nelson Rd., Lake Charles 337-478-1996
La Rumba Mexican Grill & Cantina 1804 Ruth St. Sulphur 337-287-4846 Coyote Blues Fresh Mexican Grill 3624 Ryan St. Lake Charles 337-502-5131
Volume 1 • Issue 2
Sandwiches, Soups & Salads
Sulphur 337-625-5555 Roly Poly 3100 Ryan St. Lake Charles 337-433-3130 Roly Poly 4423 Nelson Rd. Lake Charles 337-474-3332
Steamboat Bill’s 732 N. Martin Luther King Blvd. Lake Charles 337-494-1700 Boiling Point 1730 Beglis Pkwy. Sulphur 337-625-9282
Steaks Big Sky Steakhouse Coushatta Casino
777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder 800-584-7263 The Harlequin 501 W. College St. Lake Charles 337-439-2780 Outback Steakhouse 2616 Derek Dr., Lake Charles 477-3161
Seafood Granger’s Seafood Restaurant 2636 Hwy. 3059, Lake Charles 337-433-9130 Regatta Seafood and Steakhouse 508 Hawkeye Ave, Lake Arthur 337-774-1504 Seafood Palace 2218 Enterprise Blvd., Lake Charles 337-433-9293
Nina P’s Café 600 W. McNeese St., Lake Charles 337-479-2201
Kenny’s Katfish Kabin 1577 W. Fourth St., Dequincy 337-786-5562
Pappy’s Deli 2627 Ryan St., Lake Charles 337-436-2813 Roly Poly 2241 Maplewood Dr.
Steamboat Bill’s on the Lake 1004 N. Lakeshore Dr. Lake Charles 337-494-1070
AUGUST 8, 2013
PAGE 15
Aug 10-11 – Late Nite Catechism 3 August 10 – White Tail Unlimited Banquet Aug 16 – Delta Tech Graduation Aug 17 – Arts & Crabs Festival Aug 24 – Family Festival (Family & Youth Counseling) Aug 24 - Imagination Celebration (Children’s Museum) Aug 29 – United Way Annual Banquet Aug 31- Sept 1 – Don & Rich Gun Show Sept 2 - Boozoo Chavis Festival Sept 7 – Lake Charles Black Rodeo Sept 21 – Midnight Fantasy Car Show Sept 26 – Home Health Harvest Fest Sept 27 - 29 – LC Symphony Oct 1 – New Life Counsel Banquet Oct 5-6 - Shrine Circus Oct 17 - Women’s Commission Conference Oct 18-19 - LC Symphony Oct 25 - Unitech Graduation Oct 26 – Cultural Festival Oct 26 – Arts Festival Oct 31 – Harvest Festival (Recreation & Parks Dept) Oct 29-31 – Chamber Theatre (tentative) Nov 1 – Chamber Theatre (tentative)
PAGE 16
AUGUST 8, 2013
Jen Kober at Jack Daniels—Every Wednesday all Summer! Jen Kober at Jack Daniels—Every Wednesday all Summer! Comedian Jen Kober brings her Homegrown Comedy Show to the stage at Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill at L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles every Wednesday at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com, the L’Auberge Business Center or Legends at L’Auberge. Tickets will be available at the door the night of each show; cash only please. Must be 21 to attend. Buckcherry at Party By the Pool at L’Auberge Aug. 8 Buckcherry will rock at Party by the Pool at L’Auberge Casino Lake Charles. Tickets are $10$20 at www.ticketmaster.com, at L'Auberge through the Business Center or Legends at L'Auberge, or you can call (800) 745-3000. Tickets may also be purchased the night of the show at Legends. Doors
August Events at the Children’s Museum Friday, August 9: Spirograph Fun From 10:30 a.m. - noon, come and play with this classic geometric drawing toy that produces mathematical roulette curves. Saturday, August 10: Sasol’s Second Saturday Science Show Brian Peoples with Sasol will talk about polymers at 11 a.m. Children will make their own silly putty! Monday, August 12: Coin Banks Classes begin at 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. and are limited to 20 children. Tuesday, August 13: Shields Classes begin at 11 a.m. and noon and are limited to 20 children. The Children's Museum is located at 327 Broad Street in downtown Lake Charles. Museum hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Admission is $7.50 for children and adults. Call 337-433-9420 or visit www.swlakids.org for more information.
open at 7 p.m. and show starts at 8:30 p.m. Must be 21 years old to enter. Social Media Marketing Aug. 9 Family & Youth's Family Foundation is hosting the nonprofit training session "Social Media Marketing" on Friday, August 9, from 1:30- 3:30 p.m. Learn from Kristy Armand of Healthy Image Marketing how to spread your message, engage stakeholders, tap into that support and allow them to become virtual PR agents!
The fee is $10 for CFAN, Kids Can, and Junior League members and $25 for others. For more information, contact Roxanne Camara at (337) 436-9533. Basketball Tournament of the Stars Aug. 9-11 Get ready for layups, steals and slam-dunks at this year’s Tournament of the Stars Aug. 9–11. Over 60 teams, both adult and youth will participate. Games will be held at the Lake Charles Civic Center and other locations. All
Volume 1 • Issue 2
proceeds benefit the “Raising Dollars for Scholars” campaign, as part of the McReynolds Scholarship Fund. (337) 491-1466 or email tos@cityoflc Annual Krewe de Karoline Poker Run Aug. 10 The annual Krewe de Karoline Poker Run benefits West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital’s Genesis Therapeutic Riding Center. It begins at 8:30 a.m. – until at Wayne & Layne's Deli & Bar. Plate lunches at 11 a.m., auction at 5 p.m., live music noon – until. (337) 274-9155. Gulf Coast Roller Girls Aug. 10 Lafitte's Ladies meet the East Texas Bombers! Doors open at 6 p.m., game begins at 7 p.m. at The Grindhouse, 932 Enterprise Ste C, Lake Charles. Adults $12 Presale, $15 at the door/ $6 children under ten. BYOB and bring your own chair! www.gulfcoastrollergirls.com ACTS Fundraiser ‘My Favorite Things’ Aug. 10-11 With a donation of $25, experience a variety of songs and dances that are favorites of the performers and enjoy a reception of wine, soft drinks and finger foods. Will be held Sat., Aug. 10 at 7:30 p.m. with a reception beginning at 6:30 p.m., and on Sun., Aug. 11 at 3 p.m. with a reception beginning at 2 p.m. Both performances are at ACTS One Reid Street theatre. Volume 1 • Issue 2
www.actstheatre.com Whitetails Unlimited Banquet Aug. 10 Whitetails Unlimited is sponsoring the Southwest Louisiana Banquet at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Enjoy dinner, auction, and prizes with a wide array of products such as firearms, outfitter packages, hunting and outdoor related equipment, artwork, and collectibles only available at WTU events. Tickets are $40 each, $25 for a spouse, or $15 for children 15 and under. Ticket order deadline is Aug 9; tickets will not be sold at the door. (337) 274-9142. Big Night Out Tour at Party By the Pool at L’Auberge Aug. 15 Big Night Out Tour featuring Fuel, Hoobastank, Lit and Alien Ant Farm will rock at Party by the Pool at L’Auberge Casino Lake Charles. Tickets are $10-$20 at www.ticketmaster.com, at L'Auberge through the Business Center or Legends at L'Auberge, or you can call (800) 7453000. Tickets may also be purchased the night of the show at Legends. Doors open at 7 p.m. and show starts at 8:30 p.m. Must be 21 years old to enter.
logue concerning a wide arrange of topics including anatomy, puberty and hygiene, fitness and nutrition, self-esteem, sexual health and more. Pre-registration by August 9 and a signed parental consent are required. Cost is $20 per person, which includes dinner. For more information or to register, call 475-4075 or visit www.WomenChildrens.com/GirlsNightOut. Arts & Crabs Fest Aug. 17 The fourth annual Arts & Crabs Fest will take place on Sat., Aug. 17 from 5-8 p.m. at the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum. Sample an extensive crab and beer tasting which features 15 local restaurants each offering a unique crab dish. Live music, an extensive Art Market, and interactive cultural activities will also accompany the event. Tickets are $25; no one under 21 years of age will be admitted. www.artsandcrabsfest.eventbrite.com.
‘Girls’ Night Out’ Aug. 17 Women & Children's Hospital presents "Girl's Night Out" on Saturday, August 17 from 4:30 - 8:30 pm. Girls ages 9-16 are invited to come hear physicians, nurses and other professionals engage in diaAUGUST 8, 2013
PAGE 17
Pretty Silly Stuff I've been having a good time this summer reading books that are not just funny, but often downright silly. Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen is, like the author’s other books, set in Florida - the Keys, to be precise. But some of the action also takes place in the Bahamas, where the monkey is. Oh, yes, there is a monkey. When a tourist on a fishing boat reels in a detached arm near Miami, “the floating-human-bodyparts capital of America,” former police detective Yancy finds it suspicious. If the victim was killed by
PAGE 18
AUGUST 8, 2013
sharks, how did it happen? The distinctive tan mark on the wrist indicates the absence of a particularly pricey watch, but the sharks wouldn’t have wanted it. So, who did? Yancy has been fired from the Miami Police Department and is now serving on “roach patrol” as a restaurant inspector. "Working for the Division of Hotels and Restaurants was the worst job he'd ever had. His appetite had disappeared the first morning, and in three weeks he'd lost eleven pounds. It was traumatizing to see how many ways food could be defiled."
As in all of Hiaasen’s books, there are several interconnected subplots and a host of eccentric characters. Yancy's former girlfriend is on the run because of a felonious sexual misadventure. His new girlfriend is a kinky coroner. His neighbor is building a huge monstrosity of a house that is scaring away the local wildlife. There’s an evil stepmother, a Bahamian voodoo queen, a murderer or two or three, and, of course, the monkey. Scams, fraud, ambush, squatters, a hurricane -- oh, and Yancy’s in danger because he knows too much. And did I mention it’s often laugh-out-loud funny? "Evan Shook was so upset
that when the phone vibrated in his pants, he pulled out the stun gun by mistake and nearly Tazed his own ear." Completely entertaining. Adult situations and language. The always bizarre and often hilarious David Sedaris has once again given us a diverting collage of essays, personal vignettes and fictional scenarios in Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls. Among his many topics: dentists in France, birds ("If owls were the professors of the avian kingdom, then kookaburras … might well be the gym teachers"), sea turtles, language instruction lessons, pen pals and
colonoscopies. Sedaris jumps from subject to subject with little or no segue, mixing humor with pathos, and all we can do is sit back and enjoy the read. He’ll have me laughing one minute and feeling sad the next. For example, he'll be describing his comical author-tour adventures and then slip in the fact that nothing he ever did was good enough for his father -- even becoming a best-selling author. I love the way he uses words, as when he’s describing a sales rep phoning from an overseas call center: "The man spoke with an accent, and though I couldn't exactly place it, I knew that he was poor. His
Volume 1 • Issue 2
voice had snakes in it. And dysentery, and mangoes." He describes his childhood friend's parents. "He and his wife were younger than my parents, and they seemed it, not just in their dress but in their eclectic tastes -records by Donovan and Moby Grape shelved among the Schubert. Their house had real hardcover books in it, and you often saw them lying open on the sofa, the words still warm from being read." He's traveled quite a bit, and he shares some of his mini-adventures in Asia, Australia ("It's Canada in a thong") and Europe. He tells us about keeping a diary for 35 years, having his passport stolen, and traveling on airplanes: "Fly enough, and you learn to go brain-dead when you have to. It's sort of like time travel. One minute you're bending to unlace your shoes, and the next thing you know you're paying 14 dollars for a fruit cup, wondering, ‘How did I get here?’" Adult situations. Quirk Books is at it again; they're the ones who published Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and other silly or bizarre works of dubious literary value. But William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope by Ian Doescher is actually a real treat. Doescher has translated the script of the first “Star Wars” movie into iambic pentameter, with several instances of homage to original Shakespearean works, starting with the opening line from C-3PO: Now is the summer of Volume 1 • Issue 2
our happiness Made winter by this sudden, fierce attack! I had to laugh at the seeming absurdity of translating a futuristic story into an old-style literary format. Yet it somehow, strangely works. Seriously. It has some beautiful moments: HAN SOLO: O errand vile. O portents of great ill! What shall it mean, when planets are no more, For those who make their wages by the stars? And it's fun to read the lines aloud using the daDUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM meter. Here are just a few of the lines that are more familiar to “Star Wars” fans: C-3PO: 'Tis best to play the fool, and not the sage, To say it brief: pray let the Wookiee win. --GHOST (of Obi-Wan): O use the Force, dear Luke. Let go and trust! Vader: I sense the Force in this one here, almost As if I did my younger self espy. The book has pen and ink illustrations. I find myself recommending it to fans of both Shakespeare and Star Wars. Copyright © 2013 by Mary Louise Ruehr.
Abraham Lincoln: The Image Historic City Hall 1001 Ryan St., Lake Charles Mon- Fri 10 am- 5 pm Sat 10 am- 2 pm 8/2/2013-10/12/2013 337-491-9147 Art And Crabs Festival Lake Charles Civic Center Lake Shore Drive 5 p.m. -8 p.m. Saturday, 08/17/13 www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org Art duLac Pujo St. Café 901 Ryan St., Lake Charles Mon-Fri 11am-9:30 pm Sat noon-9:30 PM Year Around 337-439-2054 Black Heritage Gallery Central School 809 Kirby St., Lake Charles Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm Year Around 337-488-8567
Jack&John: Jack Amuny & Mark John Henning Cultural Center 923 Ruth St., Sulphur Mon-Fri 10 am-noon and 1 pm-5 pm Sat 10 am-2 pm 8/15/2013-9/19/2013 337-527-0357 Linda Gleason Ritchie Art Reception Gallery by the Lake 106 W. Pryce, Lake Charles August 1, 2013 (337) 436-1008 Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu 809 Kirby St., Lake Charles Tues-Fri 1 pm- 5pm Year Around 337-430-0043 USS Orleck Naval Museum 604 N. Enterprise Blvd. Lake Charles Mon-Fri 10 am-3pm Sat 10 am -4 pm Year Around 337-214-7447
Vintage Arts By Jeanne Owens Central School 809 Kirby St., Suite 212, Lake Charles Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm Year Around 337-304-1165 W.H. Tupper General Merchandise Museum 311 N. Main St., Jennings Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm Year Around 337-821-5532 Works of Men Exhibit Henning Cultural Center, 923 Ruth St., Sulphur Mon-Fri 10 am-noon and 1 pm-5 pm Sat 10 am-2 pm 7/4/13-8/8/13 337-527-0357 "The Buccaneer Artists Have Landed" Zigler Art Museum 411 Clara St., Jennings Tuesday, 10-4, Sunday 1-4 Aug. 3-31, 2013 337-824-0114
DeQuincy Railroad Museum 400 Lake Charles Ave. DeQuincy Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm Year Around 337-786-2823 DeQuincy Town Hall Museum 218 E. Fourth St., DeQuincy Mon-Thurs 9am-noon and 1 pm-4pm Year Around 337-786-8241 Elvis: Grit & Grace Exhibit Historic City Hall 1001 Ryan St., Lake Charles Mon-Fri 10 am-5 pm Sat 10 am-2 pm 6/20/2013-9/7/2013 337-491-9159 Imperial Calcasieu Museum 204 W. Sallier St. Lake Charles Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm Year Around 337-439-3797 AUGUST 8, 2013
PAGE 19
Turbo
(20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, 2013) The race among summer movies is heating up. Amidst such fractured analogies, is it any wonder that animated children’s movies are heavy contenders? Turbo is DreamWorks’ latest entry featuring, of all things, the Indy 500 and a snail with dreams of winning the race. Theo (Ryan Reynolds), our hero-to-be, is a snail with dreams of being the fastest creature alive. He watches videos of the Indy 500 in suburbia in the evenings, while he works in a suburban tomato garden during the day. Part of a crew of dedicated snails with his brother Chet, Theo picks ripe tomatoes and disposes of rotten ones. Ironically (kind of like an ironic beard; no, not really,) the snails are lectured on safety as crows swoop by and pick off occasional members of the crew. Laughed at by his friends, Theo has dreams of racing, and endangers himself with daring contests of speed against lawnmowers and kids on scooters. Chet tries to drag him down to earth, but eventually Theo finds himself transported to an abandoned strip mall PAGE 20
AUGUST 8, 2013
where tired storekeepers race snails at night for entertainment. At this point, Theo is only a few miracles away from his dream of competing in the Indy 500. (One of these is a viral YouTube video of Theo in action, complete with autotune.) Although the plot is ridiculously simple, the ani-
mation in Turbo stands on its own as beautiful work of art. There’s a heavy dose of humor as we meet the racing snails, including an outspoken Samuel Jackson as the voice of Whiplash. (Theo: Are You Crazy? Whiplash: What makes you think I’m sane?) Snakes On a Plane is nothing compared to Turbo. Other big names also took part in the character voicing, including Paul Giamatti as Chet and Snoop Dog as Smoove
Move. And if you listen close, you can hear veteran racecar champ Mario Andretti as a race official. If I had a criticism to make of Turbo, it would be that the middle of the movie is a little slow and even depressing, as brother Chet keeps trying to throw cold water on Theo’s dreams. The fact that this is a major plot device doesn’t help. Neither does the fact that Chet as voiced by Paul Giamatti is a real whiner. And as an added incentive towards sadness, if you’ve ever seen an abandoned strip mall (as if anyone hasn’t), the movie has to lift itself very high up to rise from some downer surroundings. Yet Turbo succeeds at this, again through wonderful characters, humor, and excellent animation. The end of the movie has all the excitement you would expect with a big race finish. True to form, the movie offers family entertainment that everyone from small children to elderly adults will enjoy. Alas, the summer is in danger of being overmovied, with films beginning to resemble each other. After Turbo, get ready for Planes, a spinoff from Cars. More racing, more adventures of the little guy trying to make good. I worry that soon children may start drinking coffee to try and stunt their growth, as small nerdishness becomes a fashion statement among the kids. But seriously, if you haven’t taken your kids to a movie this summer, Turbo is hard to beat. (Ack! I couldn’t resist that one.) Rated PG for harsh treatment to animated crows and Lawnmower peril. Volume 1 • Issue 2
Banners Cultural iew Season Prev
The Banners Cultural Season brings nationally and internationally known artists and sculptors, musicians, authors and lecturers, and exhibits to Southwest Louisiana during the spring for Lake Area residents to enjoy.
Members Opening Gala - March 8 The 2014 Banners Cultural Season kicks off with a members-only gala - one of the benefits for McNeese Banners supporters. This event provides an opportunity for members to learn more about the artists for the upcoming season.
Harlem String Quartet - March 9 The Harlem String Quartet is “bringing a new attitude to classical music, one that is fresh, bracing and intelligent,” says the Cincinnati Enquirer. The quartet’s mission is to advance diversity in classical music and engage young and new audiences through the discovery and presentation of varied repertoire that includes works by minority composers.
Bridgman Packer Dance - March 21 Art Bridgman and Myrna Packer, artistic directors of Bridgman|Packer Dance, have collaborated as performers and choreographers since 1978. Their innovative work developing “Video Partner-
Volume 1 • Issue 2
ing” - the integration of live performance and video technology — has been acclaimed for its highly visual and visceral alchemy of the live and the virtual.
FROGZ - March 27 FROGZ has been described as Cirque du Soleil, evoking acrobatics mixed with Mummenschanz-like mime, set in a unique - yet accessible French-influenced avantgarde playground. FROGZ is a madcap revue of illusion, comedy and fun that has inspired audiences worldwide.
Lightwire - April 4 Creators Ian Carney and Corbin Popp met while dancing in Twyla Tharp’s Broadway show Movin’ Out. An immediate connection was made as they discovered their mutual love of art, theater and technology. After coming across a product called EL wire, the lights turned on. “EL wire” is short for electroluminescent wire: Unlike black lights, the technology can be powered by batteries and requires no theatrical lighting. The possibilities seemed endless. Together with their wives, Eleanor and Whitney, they began to develop puppetry-based creatures that quickly gained personality.
Sam Bush - April 5 Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist Sam
Bush doesn't seem old enough to be a musical legend. And he's not. But he is. Alternately known as the King of Telluride and the King of Newgrass, Bush has been honored by the Americana Music Association and the International Bluegrass Music Association.
Kenya Safari Acrobats - April 11 Kenya Safari Acrobats are a spectacle for the eyes, ears and the heart. Death defying stunts, comedy, audience participation and heart-pounding music combine to create a production that will have all ages on the edge of their seats.
The Hit Men - April 13 Amazing performers, superb musicians, superior vocalist, great arrangers and creative composers - the Hit Men perform the hits of the 60s, 70s and 80s. Group members have performed with acts including Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Tommy James and the Shondells, Cat Stevens, Carly Simon and Jim Croce.
ETHEL and Robert Mirabal - April 25 ETHEL, a pioneering string quartet, and Grammy-winning Native American flutist Robert Mirabal present a program inspired by the sun mythology of Native America.
Using the instruments of the string quartet, Native American flutes (Tdoop - Pootse) and drums (Mooloo), as well as the spirited voices of students and community members, ETHEL and Mirabal unite to create a cross-cultural contemporary music event.
The Alley Cats - April 26 Doo Wop was never this fun! Tight harmonies, universal humor and unbelievable a cappella energy equal the Alley Cats. The Alley Cats began at Fullerton College in California and landed their first professional gig at Disneyland's "Blast to the Past." Soon after, the group appeared on television, radio shows, corporate events, performing arts centers, fairs, festivals, schools and even a USO show aboard the John C. Stennis aircraft carrier welcoming home the troops from Iraq. Currently, the Alley Cats are the opening act for Jay Leno in Las Vegas.
Sybarite5 - May 2 From Mozart to Radiohead, the eclectic repertoire and dynamic performance style of SYBARITE5 are turning heads throughout the music world. SYBARITE5 has taken audiences by storm all across the United States, forever changing the perception of chamber music performance. From the moment the group’s bows
hit the strings, this quintet of talented, diverse musicians takes the audience on an exciting ride that engages the senses and redefines the rules.
McNeese Jazz Festival with Joey DeFrancesco - May 3 Joey DeFrancesco has been around the world and back dozens of times with his own trio, but he is also playing and recording with some of the greatest musicians in the world, such as Ray Charles, Bette Midler, David Sanborn, Arturo Sandoval and many more. A basic membership, which includes two tickets to all performances and invitations to special receptions, is available for $150. New this season is a single ticket membership to all events at $80. Friend memberships, which include four tickets to all events, are $300. Patron memberships, which include six tickets, are $500. All membership levels include reserved seating areas. Tickets to individual performances will be available at the door at $20 for adults, $5 for students and free to McNeese and Sowela students with IDs. Lectures are open free to the public. More information is available on the website at www.banners.org or by calling the Banners office at (337) 475-5123.
AUGUST 8, 2013
PAGE 21
Onxley Attends Educational Theatre Association’s Leadership Summit Kerry A. Onxstudent leadley, Artistic Direcership, protor of The ducing Children’s Theatre student festiCompany and Divals and marrector of Theatre at keting. Westlake High For 27 seaSchool attended the sons, Onxley 2013 Educational has directed Theatre Leadership productions Summit in Denver, of such clasKerry Onxley sics as DisCO. The annual summit, coordiney’s Sleeping nated by the Educational Beauty, The Hobbit, MacTheatre Association, bene- beth and Frankenstein. He fits national theatre leaders has served in the leaderwho make a difference ship tier for The Educathrough arts and cultural tional Theatre Association activities. The summit offor over 10 years and as fers training in advocacy, State Festival Director for
the Louisiana Thespians Association for 12 years. He helped form the Louisiana Theatre Festival, a collaborated effort among community theatres and universities to benefit students interested in theatre education. Onxley is a state evaluator for Louisiana’s Talented Arts Program and has sat on the state theatre curriculum guide committee for the Louisiana State Department of Education. He received the 2009 Citizen of the Arts Award given at the annual Mayor’s Arts Awards.
ACTS Theatre Presents My Favorite Things Friends of ACTS Theatre Lake Charles have been hard at work this summer cleaning, patching and painting various parts of the centuryold theatre building. Because of the age of the theatre, the work to maintain it never ends but the money to maintain it does. A fundraiser, My Favorite Things, will be presented August 10 and 11 with the purpose of raising funds to benefit major repairs to the theatre building. My Favorite Things was so named because the singers/actors/dancers chose their favorite songs and skits to perform. Emcees Michael Muffuletto and Clay Hebert will introduce the acts in a “Smothers Brothers”-style
PAGE 22
AUGUST 8, 2013
comedy routine. Songs from The Sound of Music, Les Miserables, Rent, Wicked, Shrek, and other Broadway musicals will be performed. Singers and dancers include Hailey Ford Coburn, Malora Coleman, Casey Doucet, Kristen Harrell, Clay Hebert, Mike Ieyoub, Brandon LaFleur, Tracy LeMieux, Michael Muffuletto, Josh Peterson, Sarah Parks Plauche, Justin Prejean, Julian Quebedeaux, Lindsay Quebedeaux, Barry Rathbun, Kelly Rowland, Taylor Simon, Jordy Stanley, Megan Voorhies, Leigh Ward and Barry Whitten. Music direction is by Hailey Ford Coburn and choreography is by Kris Perez Webster and Hailey Ford Coburn. Director is Kris
Perez Webster. My Favorite Things is onstage at ACTS One Reid Street Theatre on Saturday, August 10 at 7:30 p.m. A reception of light appetizers will precede the event in the lobby at 6:30 p.m. A repeat performance and reception will take place at the theatre Sunday, August 11 at 3 and 2 pm respectively. Tickets for the fundraiser are a $25 donation per person, which will include the show and the reception with choice of beverages. Tickets may be purchased at actstheatre.com, the Lake Charles Civic Center box office, Lakeshore Medic Pharmacy, Moss Bluff Flower & Gift, and at the door prior to each performance.
Volume 1 • Issue 2
Lights, Camera, Cue the Chocolate Syrup! While I watch almost any genre of film, comedy, drama, comic book, science fiction, fantasy, thriller and animated, I get a little squeamish around…. blood. Real blood, that is. Ironically, I’ve been in three indie horror films and loved every moment of it. On the set of my first movie Mercy (2006), the director apologized for my having to eat Hershey’s syrup in take after take so it could appear as if blood was oozing from my mouth. You see, Hershey’s syrup is the perfect replacement for blood in black and white movies.
Volume 1 • Issue 2
Admittedly, being force fed chocolate through a kitchen baster was a little weird but still quite delicious! Then, in 2009, I was in awe of our special effects makeup woman and her jar of “bloody scabs.” Applied with care, they congealed just enough on my knee to appear as if the scrapes were half healing, half fresh. I was fascinated! One day we ran out of blood and had to think on our feet to make our own. We were after all, out in the middle of nowhere inside a spooky farmhouse with no Wal-Mart in sight. The only grocery store for
miles had exactly five bottles of Karo Syrup on the shelf, which we would mix with red and blue food coloring to create DYI blood. Five bottles. I took four and walked to the check-out. That’s when the most darling, country church lady approached me and asked in her sweetest grandmother voice: “My that’s a lot of Karo syrup. Are you making pecan pies?” I blinked. “Why yes, ma’am I am.” I told a little white lie. I didn’t want to frighten her that day in those eerily silent Southern woods. In 2012, the fun continued with trick blood that I am sworn to secrecy about until the film Man in the Chair debuts at the upcoming Lake Charles Film Festival this October. Speaking of “blood” and the film festival, the chance to audition for a soon-to-be-shot horror flick is just a squeamish scream away! Indie Filmmaker Jim DeVault may have already started preliminary casting, but he’s looking for new faces to cast and will hold auditions at the festival. DeVault and his team just released Blood Reunion and will be shooting Blood Reunion 2: Madeline lo-
cally in 2014. DeVault says, “Our location needs for this project are simpler, but very specific, so we expect it to take several months to find the right place.” The plot of Blood Reunion 2 revolves around a family reunion, but strives to ramp up the horror over the original while maintaining a unique sense of humor. “Coming fresh off production of Jebadiah’s Axe and Blood Reunion, I’m looking forward to producing Blood Reunion 2 with our dedicated crew and new as well as familiar faces in the cast,” says producer Nicki Rauscher. In keeping with the super low budget theme that DeVault will also be giving a seminar on at the festival, the film is being crowd funded by horror fans, film buffs, indie filmmakers and people who enjoy supporting creative endeavors of all types. The Funding page can be found at http://stonebellcreations.com/BR2/funding.h tml and contributions can be made securely through Amazon Pay. The film is set to be released on DVD in 2014. If all this talk of blood and chocolate syrup has you longing for something
um… a little lighter, a unique opportunity is coming up to learn animation. Not the kind where you sit there for hours drawing thousands of pictures or move miniature dolls a fraction of an inch again and again. This is a two-hour “Stop-Motion Animation Workshop” where live people are animated. Animation teacher Al Bohl will be leading the class designed to be easy and fun for all ages. If the name Al Bohl sounds familiar, he took first place in the Lake Charles Film Festival’s documentary category with the film he produced, Tarzan: Lord of the Louisiana Jungle. The film is about how the first Tarzan films were not made in sunny California. they were made right here in the Bayou State. Both of these events will be taking place at the Second Annual Lake Charles Film Festival slated for October 4 and 5. For updates on the auditions and animation class, go to www.lakecharlesfilmfestival.com. That’s all for now. I’m going to log off and practice my screaming. EEK! ACK! AAIIEEEE! Until next time--save me some popcorn!
AUGUST 8, 2013
PAGE 23
Thursday, Aug. 8 Buckcherry 7 p.m. @ L'Auberge Party by the Pool 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles
Friday, Aug. 9 Timberhawk 8 p.m. Sam Pace 9 p.m. Luna Live 710 Ryan St. Lake Charles John Guidroz 9 p.m. @ Micci’s 3606 Ryan St. Lake Charles Friday Nite Live Music 9 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 E. Prien Lake Rd. Ste. 5, Lake Charles BB & Company 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge @ Delta Downs 2717 Delta Downs Vinton Sam Pace & The Guilded Art 10 p.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan St. Lake Charles
Saturday, Aug. 10 Paul Gonsoulin 7 p.m. Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan St. Lake Charles Geno Delfose & French Rockin Boogie 8 p.m. @ Yesterdays 5313 Common St. Lake Charles Mikko Live 9 p.m. @ Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Dr. Kinder PAGE 24
AUGUST 8, 2013
at Coushatta Casino Resort The Ruxpins 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St. Lake Charles
Sunday, Aug. 11 Street Side Jazz Band 11 a.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan St. Lake Charles
Monday, Aug. 12 Karaoke Night with DJ David Verrett 8 p.m. @ Jack Daniels L’auberge, Lake Charles
Thursday, Aug. 14 Break Every Chain Tour 7 p.m. @ Lake Charles Civic Center 900 Lakeshore Dr. Lake Charles Jen Kober’s Homegrown Comedy Show 9 p.m. @ Jack Daniels L’auberge, Lake Charles
Friday, Aug. 15 Big Night Out! Tour 2013: Fuel, Hoobastank & Alien Ant Farm 7 p.m. @ Party by the Pool’s Liquid Society L’auberge, Lake Charles
Saturday, Aug. 16 Leroy Thomas & Zydeco Roadrunners 7 p.m. @ Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Dr. Kinder
Street Side Jazz Band 7 p.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 710 Ryan St. Lake Charles BB & CO Britt Goodwin/Bubba Moore 8 p.m. @ Yesterdays 5313 Common St. Lake Charles Alter Ego @ Gator Lounge 9 p.m. @ Delta Downs Racetrack 2717 Delta Downs Dr. Vinton Sol Tribe 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St. Lake Charles DJ Cage @ Jack After Dark Party 10 p.m. @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill L’auberge, Lake Charles
Sunday, Aug. 17 Lisa Marshall 7 p.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 710 Ryan St. Lake Charles Tracy Lawrence 7 p.m. @ Isle of Capri Casino Hotel 1000 Westlake Ave. Westlake Downfall Rising 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St. Lake Charles Volume 1 • Issue 2
The city of New Orleans often comes to mind when people think of Jazz music. The sounds of trombones, saxophones and singers scatting immediately conjure up the image of buskers standing upon the cobblestones of Bourbon St. playing jazzy standards. Though most people consider New Orleans as the birthplace of Jazz, one local group is attempting to give the genre a new home in Lake Charles. In bringing Jazz music to the forefront of the local music scene, The Street Side Jazz Band has taken a lot of inspiration from their counterparts on the opposite side of Louisiana by adopting not just their musical style but also their venue of choice, sidewalks. “When we first started, we were playing on the sidewalk at [local sandwich shop] Street Breadz,” said Steve Dufrene, founding member and bassist of Street Side Jazz Band. “They gave us a little money and some free sandwiches and we played outside for tips. That’s the way they do it in New Orleans and we thought that it would do well here. We even took our name from those days when we would play street side. They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and for us that’s really true. If we’re playing a New Orleans style tune, we want it to sound like it’s coming from a band in New Orleans, so we go down there and listen to those group all of the time.” Since its members, which include Dufrene, tenor saxophonist William Christian, guitarist and vocalist Mason Faduccia and drummer Luke Hester began playing together on sidewalks two years ago, they have since graduated from the streets and can now be heard regularly at Luna Bar and Grill Volume 1 • Issue 2
on Fridays and Sundays from 7 to 10 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. respectively, and at Pujo Street Café on Saturdays from 6 to 9 p.m. Dufrene said that as a part of the group’s mission to bring jazz to the area, it is important for them to play as many venues as possible, while also paying homage to the genre’s roots. “We’ve stopped playing on sidewalks for the most part, but we still busk on holidays like Mardi Gras and Contraband Days,” he said. “We run our jazz band like a rock band in that our main goal is just to have steady work, to play every weekend because that’s how you keep in touch with the community. If you only play once or twice a month, you’re not going to connect with the audience. Now, we play three to five times a week, sometimes twice a night. Our style of music isn’t as prominent in Lake Charles as it is 150 miles down the road, so working every night is really great for us,” he said. Dufrene said the group’s members, most of which studied music at McNeese State University, come from a background of playing jazz, have a great respect for the art form and are dedicated to bringing it to the forefront of the local music scene.
“We all really listen to Jazz to try to understand it better, we all pride ourselves in learning this music and not just going up there and reading sheet music and being a jazz cover band,” he explained. “We want to play these songs the way people will recognize them, but we also want to stay true to the nature of Jazz, of which improvisation is a big thing. We want to be off the cuff so that every time we play a song, it may not sound the same way we’ve ever played it before or will ever play it again.” Keeping with the free and
loose style of the genre, Dufrene said the group almost never plays the same set twice, instead relying on the huge repertoire of music that falls underneath the Jazz umbrella, to give their audi-
ences what they want to hear. “Jazz is just one word for a huge genre of music with a lot of sub-genres,” he said. “We play a lot of Latin Jazz music from a Latin composer that’s totally different from the music played by a New Orleans swing band. We also do earlier jazz stuff, and then we do the funkier, gospel leaning funk. Every night we try to give our audiences something new.” Though the group plans to eventually tour, Dufrene said they are currently happy spreading the sounds of Jazz throughout Southwest Louisiana. “We just all really think this style of music needs a solid footing in this area,” he said. “When we play here, we often have people tell us that our music makes them feel like they’re in New Orleans, and that makes us feel pretty good that we are able to take our audiences to a historic place like New Orleans, seeped in musical history, without them ever having to leave Lake Charles.”
AUGUST 8, 2013
PAGE 25
AN EVENING WITH MARVIN SAPP It was a night of preaching, teaching and singing before a packed house as local artists, church choirs and praise and worship teams took to the stage of the Rosa Hart Theatre. Award-winning singer and songwriter Pastor Marvin Sapp moved the crowd to their feet with “Never Would Have Made It’” as well as other songs of praise and worship. A spirit-filled evening!
Shavonda Martin, Justine Sampy, Carmella Chaisson and Taraloyn Valliere
Jonmarie Guiilory and Tuwanna August
Amariha Fort, Zihkeha Green and Gabrielle Charlot
Brittany, Destany, Dwayne and Darryl Washington with Treyvon Davis
Annette Kent, Terri Brown, Evan and Mary Lane Seago
WHITE TIE AFFAIR GALA The White Tie Affair Gala brought out a best-dressed crowd who enjoyed a jazz hour, reception, best dish of SWLA presentation, awards ceremony and more. It was hosted by SWLA Socialite and sponsored by Men’s Wearhouse to support the Charity Starts at Home Campaign. A fundraiser with style!
Della Bell, Lebina Carrier and Melissa Perry
Joanna and Trista Ledet PAGE 26
AUGUST 8, 2013
Willard Slate and Danita Cone
Courtnee Brown, Michelle Reeder and Stephanie Brown
Phylicia Smith and Lesley Williams
Delores and Bernard Beaco with Judith Washington Volume 1 • Issue 2
word search
S ta y Healt hy!
Check Ups Doctor Exercise Fitness Healthy
Jogging Massage Meditation Nutrition Prevention
Vitamins Weight Control Wellness Yoga Zumba
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Players take turns connecting two dots. When you make a square, put your initials in the box and take another turn. When all dots are connected, the player with the most boxes wins.
Volume 1 • Issue 2
AUGUST 8, 2013
PAGE 27