On Cover: Family & Youth’s Family Festival August 22, 2013 • Volume 1 • Issue 4 COVER STORY 10 Good Times for the Family at the Family Festival! FEATURE STORY 4 The Orphan Trains 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 Dan Ellender Jason Gribble Jen Kober Mike Louviere
Mike McHugh Roger Miller Mary Louise Ruehr Brandon Shoumaker Karla Tullos
ADVERTISING TRAFFIC MANAGER Senaida Ortiz SALES ASSOCIATES Michele Clack sales@louisianajam.com
GRAPHICS ART/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Burn Rourk ART ASSISTANT Sarah Bercier CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Danley Romero BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER Jeanie Taggart
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REGULARS 6 The Sports Report 7 Fish Tales 8 The Dang Yankee 8 Tips from Tip 9 Jen Kober’s Big Fat Food Column 9 Adoption Corner THE SPICE OF SWLA 14 Restaurant Guide 16 Events Guide 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Art & Culture Events Guide Red Hot Books Music Guide Young Band Nation Lake Charles Symphony: 56th Season! Acting Up! Family Fun Night at the Movies Funbolaya Society Spice
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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. PAGE 2
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A Note From Lauren Snapshots Think about how often we take photos nowadays. It’s constant. It’s fantastic. Day, night, whenever. We snap a photo of anything and everything and put it on Facebook and it goes all over the world instantaneously. What a difference when I was growing up. First of all, my father took pictures with a camera he brought from Italy after he got married. It was a Very Good Camera, I was always told. But it was, well, old. It did not have a flash, and it didn’t have any attachments, so it was only good for outdoor shots. Let’s face it—most of life’s happy moments that should be recorded for posterity happen indoors: birthdays, parties, holidays, weddings, etc. You’d think he’d just break down and buy a camera that could take photos inside as well as out. But no. My mother had a movie camera (that’s what they were called back then), so that was the reason why we didn’t need another camera. “Mommy takes movies indoors. Daddy takes pictures
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outdoors,” I was told. To me, it wasn’t a valid excuse. To make matters worse, my father would take photos of us from about a mile away. See the examples on this page. Can you even see me? I could be standing on my head and you wouldn’t even know it. “Your father’s an artist. He wants to get as much scenery in the photo as possible,” my mother would insist. So there was lots of scenery with little ant people in all of his photos. The story gets worse. He would buy a roll of film for 36 photos, and that was good for the whole season. He would allow himself a few photos for each outing that we went on. Do you know what that means? We didn’t get to see the photos until months later, when he had finally used up all the film on scenery and ant people. There’s a telltale date imprinted on the frame of these photos: Oct. 66. Yup, we’re getting dressed up for Halloween and my father finally gets the film developed. At that late stage of the game, no one really cares about photos taken last May. The thrill is gone.
In the late ‘60s, the Polaroid Swinger came out. Remember that? The jingle (written and sung by Barry Manilow) is in my head to this day: “It’s more than a camera/It’s almost alive/It’s only nineteen dollars and ninetyfive!” My cousin Richard and I each got one when we received Confirmation together. It was white plastic and had a black wrist strap, encouraging you to run around town with the camera swinging from your wrist, hence the name. So you’d snap a photo, pull it out of the camera, roll this smelly goo over it so it wouldn’t fade, and presto! A small black and white photo. Richard and I had endless fun with it, but let’s face it, it wasn’t color, the pictures were small, and they had a tendency to curl up after
awhile—and fade, in spite of the goo. Finally, praise God, my father’s camera broke. (Don’t look at me.) My father brought it to wherever you go to try and get old, useless cameras fixed and discovered that it was beyond repair. Yes! So it was time to bite the bullet and get a new camera. Remember the Kodak Instamatics? With the cube flashbulbs? There
you go. Of course, this wasn’t a Very Good Camera, which my father never failed to point out. But since it wasn’t very good, he changed his photography style. We no longer needed a magnifying glass to see who was in the pictures. There were closeups! And indoor photos! And even my mechanically challenged mother could use it. It was a whole new world. I remember the excitement of picking up vacation photos from the drugstore. I remember the disappointment when half of them would either be too dark or overexposed or blurred. For some reason, my mother never threw the bad ones out. I think she felt that since she paid for them, by golly, she was going to keep them. At least she didn’t put them in our photo albums.
Lauren de Albuquerque
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In the early 1850s, there were thousands of homeless children on the streets of New York City. Many were stealing food or money, doing anything they could to stay alive. When arrested, they would often be jailed with adult criminals. Charles Loring Brace was a 26-year old Congregational minister who was touched by their plight. He knew that there were childless families who would welcome children into their homes, but he needed to find a way to match the child with the family. His idea was to load trains with the children and transport them to different areas of
the United States. In 1853, Brace founded the Children’s Aid Society. By the following year, the first trainload of children was ready to depart New York for the Midwest. Known as the Orphan Trains, they transported over 200,000 children to new homes in 45 states by the time the last train ran in 1929. Another Orphan Train movement was operated by the New York Foundling Hospital. The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul opened the Foundling Hospital to take in abandoned babies. There was a white cradle in the foyer of
the hospital where a mother could anonymously leave her baby. As knowledge of the cradle spread, the hospital became overcrowded. The Foundling Hospital began a program known as “mercy trains” or “baby trains” that ran parallel to the program of the Children’s Aid Society. There was a big difference in the two programs. The Aid Society sent children out to be randomly adopted by taking a load of children into a town and putting them on display to be selected by a family. The Foundling Hospital, on the other hand, worked with priests throughout the
Midwest and South in an effort to place the children in Catholic homes. The Foundling Hospital only sent out children that had been “requested” ahead of time by families who wanted a child. Through their priest, a family would send a request to the Foundling Hospital for a child, for example: a two-year-old, blue-eyed, blond-haired girl. The Sisters would try to find such a
child. They would then send the requesting family a “receipt” for the child, telling them when and where she would arrive by train. The receipt requested that the family be at the train station ahead of time so as not to miss the train. When the train arrived, the family would present their “notice of arrival” papers to the Sisters. The notice had a number on it that the Sisters would match up with the child. Once the match up was made and the papers signed, the family was free to leave with the child.
Orphan Train in Louisiana
More than 2,000 children came to Louisiana this way, primarily in St. Landry and Evangeline Parishes. Three trains ran into Opelousas in 1907: two in April and one in May. The Orphan Train Museum in Opelousas documents the Orphan Train in Louisiana and is one of only two Orphan Train Museums in the United States. The museum in Opelousas has records of the children who rode the Foundling Hospital trains, especially those that ran into the Opelousas area. You will see outfits that the children wore when riding the trains; some are over 100 years old. There are picPAGE 4
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tures and thumbnail sketches of the children, along with some personal artifacts. Sadly, the records of the Children Aid The Orphan Train Society trains Museum in Opelousas were not very well kept. Sevyears old and rode a train enty-nine of those trains into Louisiana. He was came into Louisiana, but the museum has no records adopted by Nettie and Bieavenue LeMaire. They of either the trains or the had requested a three-yearchildren. old boy. Daddy arrived Margaret Brown Bailey wearing a red velvet coat is one of the museum curaand had long, ringlet-curled tors. Her father, John hair. Pinned to his clothes Brown, was one of the Orwas the name of the family phan Train Riders who who had requested him.” came to Louisiana through The young boy was the Foundling Hospital. named Thomas Lee “My daddy was ordered by a family who wanted a brown-haired, three-yearold boy,” she said. “He was adopted by Emile and Eva Guillory Doucet of Catro. When he arrived, the Doucets had to show the papers to the Sister in charge of the train. Daddy had a tag around his neck with a number. The papers had the number that matched his and then he could go to his new home.” LeeAnn LeMaire England’s father came to Louisiana the same way. “My daddy was born on LeMaire. The family moved several times to small South November 17, 1907,” she Louisiana towns and finally said. “In 1910, he was three
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settled in Sulphur. “Later, they moved to Port Arthur, but Daddy always referred to Sulphur as home,” she said. Thomas LeMaire served in the Merchant Marines and later worked at the Texaco Refinery in Port Arthur. He later married, raised two children and had four grandchildren when he died in 1994. The children who arrived in Louisiana from the Foundling Hospital were classed as “indentured.” By doing this, the hospital reserved the right to perform home inspections and check on the welfare of the children. This was done on an annual basis. The families who requested children through the hospital had to agree to raise the children as family members, educate them and raise them in the Catholic Church. Some of the children were formerly adopted, usually in their teen years. Some were not adopted, but lived with the families until they were old enough to be on their own. Each July, a meeting of the Louisiana Orphan Train Riders Society is held at the museum in Opelousas.
Alice Kerns Bernard, 97, attended the most recent meeting. She is the only known survivor of the Louisiana Orphan Trains. Nationwide, there are nearly four million descendants of the children who rode the trains.
The Orphan Train Museum is located in Le Vieux Village at the eastern entrance to Opelousas on U.S. 190. It is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information, call (337) 9489922.
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Keep Calm and Watch Soccer The revolution--the socthe season opener last weekcer one at least--will be televised. All of it. Last October, NBC has purchased the American broadcasting rights to the English Premier League for three years at a cost of $250 million. The result is that American audiences will be able to see all 380 Premier League games this season. That’s every team, every game. The United States now has more access to the English Premier League than does England. I’ve already told my wife to kiss the DVR goodbye. She responded by upgrading us to the Genie. Fortunately, it looks like NBC is handling this potentially huge moneymaker the right way. The marketing campaign in the run-up to
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end was, at times, brilliant. Take for example Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso, the new American coach of the Tottenham (TOT’NUM) Hotspur Football Club. Utterly hilarious. In New York, NBC has wrapped subway cars in each of the 20 EPL teams’ logos and colors with the phrase “Keep Calm and Pick a Side” stamped on each car. In addition, the network has subway ads featuring the boroughs and neighborhoods of New York imagined as EPL team territories. The “Keep Calm” ad campaign, I think, has really done a lot to introduce potential viewers to the teams and, most importantly, given potential fans the chance to involve themselves in the league culture. Unless you’re
what’s called a “neutral,” or a casual fan, you have a favorite team. In my case it’s Tottenham. That loyalty runs deep. It’s an emotional attachment. As Louisiana fans are to the New Orleans Saints, English soccer fans are doubly crazy about their soccer team. I happened to marry into an Arsenal family. They love their Gunners. Arsenal happens to be Tottenham’s loathed archrival but, because familial love, harmony and, kinship is important to us, this isn’t such a big deal for us. In England, such loyalties are reasonable excuses for domestic violence. In addition, NBC brought in knowledgeable broadcasters like Arlo White and Lee Dixon to cover the games, unlike Fox, which trots out Gus Johnson to scream/yell random phrases during international games. The team of White and Dixon, like Ian Darke and Steve McManaman for ESPN, will be key to introducing the game to newcomers while providing insight and excitement (within reason, Gus) to the game.
Also important has been the network’s efforts to educate the public about the league, its rules and traditions. This is critical. No fan is going to come back week after week, to invest his time, if he doesn’t understand what’s going on or what the stakes are. Some more knowledgeable soccer fans have given NBC grief about this, but, these educational efforts simply aren’t aimed at those fans. The new guys have got to learn. It remains to be seen, though, how local news outlets will cover a sport, however popular, based on a continent an ocean away. You would think that, given enough time and consumer interest, the coverage would increase over the life of NBC’s contract. Obviously, local NBC affiliates will give plenty of time and promotion to the EPL. Local news affiliated with other networks might not feel such an obligation and, with precious little time already given to sports and a glut of established sports to cover, professional soccer might not make it onto the producer rundowns of a lot of nightly newscasts. Not a whole lot to be done about that in the immediate future. Then there are the local papers. There are several problems at play here regarding coverage. Newspapers are dying a slow, torturous death regardless of what anyone says. News space is shrinking rapidly and newspapers are shedding warm bodies so fast and in such vast numbers that it’s a wonder a paper makes it out at all, least of all proofread and spell-checked. Essentially, anyone who is young enough to change careers and smart enough to get out (or get “escorted” out) is leaving the industry.
Who’s left behind are the old-timers, and they’re another problem for soccer coverage. Old-timer reporters and editors, by and large, hate soccer. They don’t watch it, they don’t understand it, and they don’t care about it. If it ain’t FUHBAWL(!), baseball, or basketball then it ain’t making the paper. It doesn’t have to be this way, of course, but it will be. A third problem for the EPL is that most of the games will be shown on the fledgling NBCSports network (formerly Versus, formerly Outdoor Life Network). This isn’t, in itself, a bad thing. The problem is with the channel’s other programming. As it stands right now, NBCSports has the EPL, hockey, Formula One, and a whole lot of people shooting wild animals. The pregame show better be good because something tells me that Bill Dance Outdoors isn’t going to make a very good lead-in. Hopefully, after a few weeks, a lead-in won’t matter. The games, provided they’re well produced and delivered by NBC to a ravenous audience, should sell themselves. The way the network has gone out and tried to get casual fans and newcomers involved and excited about the EPL has been above and beyond. I know I’m excited. My poor new DVR, though, doesn’t know what’s about to hit it. 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 4
Roughing It My friend, Robert Phipps (Bobby), invited me to fish and hunt in South Carolina again. Let’s see. It’s 13 hours via I-10 to I-95 to Beaufort County, and back roads to Bolan Hall Landing to Bolan Hall Plantation. Bobby lives on the Broad River (yeah that’s its historical name, hold the jokes) across from Hilton Head Island. Say what? Yep, it’s a plantation replete with moss- draped oaks lining the drive to the be-it-ever-so humble plantation home. Bobby, and I’m the only one I know who calls him that, met me at the plantation entrance in his old red beat-up Ford 150 with the quail dog kennels in the bed of the truck. He was in his usual khakis, looking rumpled. His thinning gray hair was askew, and he wore his endearing shy cherub smile. “Hallo, Roger,” he greeted me with his English boarding school accent. “Bobby,” I said enthusiastically in my Southern Cajun twang. And a hug ensued. Bobby’s my South “Cadalaci” podna and Bobby is well, a fellow eccentric. I’d been there many times before but I had to wait three years for this special treat. You’ll read Volume 1 • Issue 4
about hunting deer, quail, doves, and snipe there in the fall when “Fish Tales” switches to “Hunting Tales.” Bobby had gotten the brilliant idea of putting in his own fishing ponds. He, his right-hand man Jeff, and the South Carolina Wildlife & Fisheries conspired to create what I called the Lakes of Bolan Hall. On the east was a brackish water pond with a gate that allowed the tidal water of the Broad River into the redfish-stocked pond. A levee, just wide enough for two three wheelers to pass, split off the west fresh water bass and perch pond. Yes, you read that right, fresh water on one side and salt on the other! I knew to bring my Garcia Abu-matic spinning reel and LGHS’ Jodi and Becky Landry’s gift to me, an RCM monogrammed Cabela’s bass rod. The ponds (lakes) were ugly things spoiling the panoramic view when first installed but after granite rocks, square hay bales, tree brush, whip grass, cat tails, well-kept grass, gravel and settling time they now shimmered in the late afternoon sun. It was time for us to head for the big house and
supper. I knew we would end up sharing tales later into the wee hours. There is no TV in the house. Bobby believes in practicing the near-forgotten art of conversation. But my attempts at a post-supper interrogation about the fishing were stonewalled. Oh , he mumbled an “Okay” and a couple of “You’ll sees” and followed them up with bemused grins. And changed subjects. I just gave up and went to bed. Early the next morning, rod and reel in hand, I was set to fish what I had waited three years for. Dawn was barely rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as we ambled among the moss-dappled oaks, rods in hand. Bobby walks with a slight limp due to an old soccer injury, so I kept my
pace to his. He was carrying one of those Chinese Bamboo fly rods he was so proud of. He even used a Roseau cane-sized one to catch tarpon on, for God’s sake. Jeff met us at the levee, his four-wheeler loaded in back with any gear or drink or snack we could possibly need. Bobby had directed me to put a light gold swivel at the end of the 20-pound test monofilament line. I soon learned why. Unless you’re using a silver or gold spoon to fish both sides, you need the swivel to change off baits quickly to match it with the side you were fishing. Bobby was soon out on one of the three piers that poked into the brackish pond, his fly line doing a figure eight out and back until the redfish lure was dropped where he wanted it. I just shook my head. I do not fly fish unless forced to do so. It takes far too much patience and hard earned skill for this fish-betweenthe-hunting seasons guy. “Jeff, when do I use?” I queried. I had learned from previous visits that if you really wanted to know, you just asked Jeff, the in resident Jaiggermyster (game manager). Nearly as tall as me and barely over 30, he could have passed for a Cajun with his dark
hair, eyes, tan, and mischievous smile. “Try the silver spoon on both sides first. It’s a local sort of small curved Mr. Champ. Just reel slow and see what hits,” Jeff said as he handed me the local lure. Even I can attach a lure to a swivel if I take my time. So it started for me. Bobby was in the salt so I cast out in the fresh. Nothing. Twice more. Nothing. So I repacked my pipe, lit it, put it in my mouth at an appropriate fishing angle and cast again. “Hot damn!” Bobby hollered as his fly rod bent and the fight was on: redfish vs. fly fisher. Bobby is so good it looked easy. Keep the rod tip up, let out line as needed, reel franticly when it ran to you, and maneuver the fish so Jeff can get a net to it. Nothing to it. Meanwhile my rod damn near flew out of my hands. Some monster had hit my lure. “To hell with them! It’s fun time!” I thought. I’m no Bobby Phipps but I can handle this. And I did. Again and again. On either side. No monsters though. Just fish baking or frying filet keepers. Damn, it’s soooooo good to have friends, no matter which side you fish on!
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Tiger Pause I saw in the paper that LSU is ranked outside of the top ten in this year’s preseason poll. Here in Louisiana, life as we know it has ended. There’s a distinct possibility that the Tigers could lose to someone besides Alabama this year. Maybe even to the Aggies. It would prove that football—and thus life itself— may exist west of the Sabine River after all. Sure, it’s painful to lose to the Tide, particularly with Nick Saban at the helm. He is the devil personified for having divorced the Tigers and hitching up with ‘Bama, that following a brief fling with the Miami Dolphins. (I can’t rightfully blame him for ditching that floozy like a hot potato.) Still, being the devil and all, he is a formidable opponent, one you can’t feel totally bad losing to. If I had lost sleep over every time the devil bested me, my eyes would be as red as the ink on a Federal budget document. So, Tiger fans are faced with the real possibility that their team could finish as low as third place
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this year, which would put them on the bubble for a bid to the Ty-D Bowl. The football program at LSU is a textbook case of falling victim to one’s own success, what with so many of last year’s starters defecting to the pro circuit. Maybe there’s such a thing in college football as having too many good players, who, in the Tigers’ case, established almost as many conference records as they did police records. I’m what you would call a recent immigrant to Tiger Nation, having come from a football-poor land in search of a better life, complete with some honest-to-goodness tailgating. My college in Yankee Land didn’t even have a football team. The main event for our homecoming weekend was a chess tournament. Our tailgate consisted of a few couples eating watercress out of the back of their Ford Pintos, the only decoration being a six-foot inflatable rook. But now, as a sports fan, I’m looking forward to the coming season. It appears that, in at least a handful of games, it’s not a
foregone conclusion who’s going to win. To be honest, I’ve skipped watching a number of LSU games in recent years, for the same reason that I rarely watch the same movie twice. I always know how it’s going to turn out. It’s the same reason why, as a lad, I quickly tired of hearing fairy tales. Maybe if, just once, the little pig with the brick house survived the wolf only to have his property foreclosed by the bank, I might have retained interest. But this year, it’s different. The wolves—not to mention the Tide, the Aggies, and the Gators—appear to be howling at the gates of Tiger Stadium. Well, I’m here to affirm that this Yankee is ready to stand at those gates and help defend the Purple and Gold. And although I’m not yet to the level where I kneel on a prayer rug and face Baton Rouge every day, I hope you’ll accept me into the fold. So, if you’re willing to put up with a Yankee at your game-day tailgate, I promise not to disappoint. I’ll bring the watercress.
CALCASIEU POINT If you are a boat owner or fishing enthusiast, you probably know about Calcasieu Point and all of their facilities. If you don’t, you might want to pay a visit. This Calcasieu Parish Police Jury facility is located off Big Lake Road, south of the LNG facility at the end of Henry Pugh Road. Like Prien Lake Park, it’s an absolute jewel. There is a three-lane, 24-hour boat launch and open-air pavilion that’s very good for picnicking. Both pier and bank side fishing is encouraged. There’s a convenience-style store for cold drinks, snacks, ice, bait and so on. Live shrimp are often available, as were live crabs at one time. Word is that the price of the crabs was too competitive, and some problems developed with their equipment, so no more crabs. The Point is currently undergoing some renovations. A new restroom facility and other improvements are due to be completed in the next month or so. Even with the ongoing construction, the place is still open and bustling with folks enjoying the waterside facility and using it as a launching point for their fishing trips. Some people just relax and enjoy the shade provided by the pavilion as they watch the boats and barges as they ply their way up and down the river. ROUNDABOUT THE LAKE AREA The recent trend of utilizing “roundabouts” to replace intersections is good news. They are real time-savers and provide an increased level of safety for drivers and their passengers, not to mention the increased efficiency of traffic flow. The most beneficial roundabouts are normally larger than the ones we have in our area and on 171, on the north end of Leesville. Smaller circles are not as desirable or as effective as those that provide a less constrained flow, but they are better than sitting at a traffic signal, twiddling your thumbs-- and no traffic is there. To the uninitiated, they can be a little intimidating, but after the first time or two, they become as old hat as riding a bicycle. If there was some way to “Round About” Nelson Road in the afternoon when Prien Lake Elementary gets out, it would be a blessing times ten. The traffic on Nelson northbound was backed to Walmart and southbound was solid to Sale Road on the first day of school. The frustration level keeps growing because that situation never seems to improve. IMAGINATION CELEBRATION I know many of you have it on your calendar, but I want to remind you that this Saturday, August 24, is the date for the Children’s Museum of Lake Charles’ annual fundraiser at the Lake Charles Civic Center. The Imagination Celebration begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person and includes food from many area restaurants. There’s all kinds of fun to be had and the live and silent auctions have something for everyone. The theme this year is Funky Town—so put on your disco duds! This is the event that keeps the Children’s Museum going all year, and deserves the most support you can give it. More info can be had at (337) 433-9420. SUPERMARKET ROUNDUP Nutritionists are advocating more fresh fruit and vegetables in our diet, so we shall look at some items currently available in the produce sections of our favorite supermarkets . The prices reported here were taken on Wednesday, August 14, and reflect the posted price on the shelf where the product was placed for sale. The stores surveyed were Albertsons, Country Club Road; Market Basket, Lake Street; Kroger, McNeese Street and Walmart, Nelson Road. Peaches, fresh, per pound: Albertsons, $1.99; Market Basket, $2.99; Kroger, $.99; Walmart, $1.48. Roma tomatoes, fresh, per pound: Albertsons, $1; Market Basket, $1.39; Kroger, $.99; Walmart, $.88. Grapes, seedless green, per pound: Albertsons, $.99; Market Basket, $1.79; Kroger, $1.49; Walmart, $1.78. Iceberg lettuce, per head: Albertsons, $1.99; Market Basket, $1.18; Kroger $.99; Walmart $1.28. Cucumbers, per each: Albertsons, $.69; Market Basket, $.69; Kroger, $.77; Walmart, $.64. Volume 1 • Issue 4
bed of street bread. The sandwich is then topped off with their amazing cole slaw: a fantastic cool topping with a crunch that makes it all come together for one helluva delicious meal. A side of their potato salad is a must - it has a bit of feta cheese mixed in to give it a tangy twist that is just delightful. Street Breads also has salads and if you are looking for a fun, different breakfast stop as well, check out their frittatas - -the perfect way to get your day started! Tune into next week's column for my actual review of Wasabi Grill that we missed last week, and some amazing pictures of food I had on the road that will give you fun places to eat when you travel. So many delicious foods--and I love sharing it all with you here. So, spread the word, foodies! The Jam brings the deliciousness to you every week, and be sure to check out my cooking videos on the www.thelouisianajam.com.
Swooning Over Street Breads My demanding performance schedule has had me on a whirlwind tour that left me planted in Los Angeles last week, flying back into Lake Charles on Wednesday just two hours before my Homegrown Comedy Show. And I take off again bright and early on Thursday morning for shows in Asheville, North Carolina and Atlanta all weekend. With only one chance to eat in Lake Charles all week, I went to one of my all-time local favorites - a little sandwich shop on Nelson Rd. called Street Breads. Located right next to Starbuck's, and in the same complex as Misha's Pets (my fav place to buy all my puppy clothes) Street Breads has an original menu that you can literally make your own. With tons of fixin’s and
add-ons, Street Breads makes one of the best sandwiches in town. The crew bakes all their own yummy rustic crusty breads and then combines amazing fresh ingredients on top for a feast that will leave your
mouth, your tummy and your wallet happy! My favorite is the Deep South Pork ‘n Slaw. I always have them add some marinated portobello mushrooms and a little of their amazing green chimichurri sauce. The pulled pork is super tender and flavorful; some cheddar cheese and Remoulade sauce along with my mushrooms and green sauce goes into a pan and is then baked in the oven before being gently slid onto the sweet
After six years, our Max was returned to us by his family that could no longer care for him. Great news! He still has the same good manners: sits, shakes hands, and loves to smile! He has finished heartworm treatment and is good Volume 1 • Issue 4
to go as soon as his person discovers him. He will, on occasion, chase a cat, but only for sport. He is the biggest teddy bear (with a lion-sized heart) we have had in long time. Although now considered a "senior," he has lots of years ahead of
him with lots of love to give. He has not been around children, but with such a sweet temperament, we suspect he would love to have some around as long as they are old enough to interact with such a big boy. He is perfectly crate-trained, but is
looking forward to a securely fenced yard with lots of room to run. For more information on this sweetheart of a guy, call 478-7294 or email lapaw@bellsouth.net. Home visit and vet check required for all adoptions.
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Summer would not be complete without the annual Family and Youth Family Festival, presented by Family & Youth Counseling Agency. Now on its 15th year, the event will be held at the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum, Sat., Aug. 24, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Families can enjoy a variety of wholesome entertainment in an alcohol-free environment. More than 75 organizations from around Southwest Louisiana will come together in the spirit of giving to help attendees experience hands-on activities, games and educational opportunities. Activities include music, dancing, animals, fire and food safety, clowns, healthy living activities, face painting, arts and crafts, carnival games, photo booths and much more! This year’s event will feature the Discovery Dome from the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The Discovery Dome is an inflatable, portable planetarium which will show three different movies, each lasting 30 minutes. A movie about the “Earth, Space and Dinosaurs” will be shown intermittently during the festival. The “Future Zone” is PAGE 10
AUGUST 22, 2013
a place for teens to explore career choices in their near future in a hands-on environment. It features a crime scene investigation activity from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff ’s Office; a pipe-fitting activity from CITGO and cookie decorating from SOWELA, to name just a few. There will also face painting, crafts, a health zone, healthy snack making, Zumba, the Sulphur High Bebop Girls, the Westlake Drumline and many more! Family & Youth Festival is a fun event promoting family life and family values in a safe and exciting environment. The FREE event is a day of appreciation to the people of Southwest Louisiana. Over 2,000 people enjoy games, making crafts, food, and live music in the air-conditioned comfort of the Lake Charles Civic Center. The 2013 Family & Youth Festival is sponsored by First Federal Bank, CITGO Petroleum Corp., Entergy, CSE Federal Credit Union, L’Auberge Casino Resort, Delta Downs Racetrack and Casino, Merchants and Farmers Bank, American Press Foundation, McDonalds, IberiaBank, Phillips 66,
Southwest Beverage Company, Turner Industries, Access of Louisiana, Action Potential Physical Therapy, Axiall Corporation, Balloon Décor and More, Capital One Bank, CHRISTUS St. Patrick, Coushatta Casino Resort, JD Bank, Jag’s Bistro, Kohl’s Department Store, Lakeside Bank, Pumpelly Oil Co., and Women and Children’s Hospital. Family & Youth, a United Way agency, has been serving the community since 1970. It is the belief of Family & Youth, that all individuals possess the ability to solve their own challenges and live full and healthy lives when support is available. It is the mission of Family & Youth to provide affordable and professional support through programs and services dedicated to the advocacy, counseling, and education for the people of Southwest Louisiana. Our effort and commitment to building family values will guarantee a stable and stronger community. For more information, call (337) 436-9533, or visit www.fyca.org. Volume 1 • Issue 4
L to R: Maegan McBroom, Abigail Guillory and Gavin Sonnier
Auditions for Tarzan Scheduled for Sept. 18 Classes and auditions for Disney’s Tarzan have been announced by The Children’s Theatre Company. The show is scheduled for February 2014. Based on Edgar Rice Burrough's Tarzan of the Apes and the 1999 Disney animated film, Tarzan tells the story of an infant who survives a shipwreck on the West African shore who is taken under the protection of a gorilla tribe and becomes part of their family. When he eventually encounters his first human--Jane Porter, a curious young
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explorer--both their worlds are transformed forever. This production features music and lyrics by pop icon Phil Collins and book by Tony Award-winning playwright, David Henry Hwang. Taylor Simon, CTC associate director, will serve as musical director and choreographer. “This huge musical offers a large cast for boys and girls ages 5-18 featuring all of the major characters,” said Artistic Director Kerry A. Onxley. “This is truly a student-generated show. The students
are involved in all aspects from set painting to costume designs to publicity. It is a total learning experience for the children.” No experience is necessary. Enrollment in classes is required. Classes are currently in progress with auditions being held on Wed., Sept. 18 from 4-6 p.m. at the Central School of the Arts & Humanities Center (809 Kirby St., Suite 313). For more information, call (337) 4337323 or visit their website at www.childrenstheatre.cc
AUGUST 22, 2013
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Daniel Castro Photography As a freelance photographer, my passion for capturing a moment goes far beyond the typical memory or that “Do you remember when…” moment you share with a friend. There are pictures taken with a camera and then there is the artistic component known as photography. Since I was 13, the music scene has been a part of my life and being able to capture the feeling and essence of a band or musician performing
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AUGUST 22, 2013
while on stage is a special gift I am glad to say I get to be a part of. The great people I call my friends have allowed me to explore other fields leading me to become a cinematographer, while my education has allowed me to become a professional graphic designer. Thanks to my home of Southwest Louisiana for allowing me to do what I love. For more information, contact danielcomart@live.com.
Volume 1 • Issue 4
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! 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
Ryan’s Family Restaurant 4501 Ryan St., Lake Charles, LA 337-477-2707
Asian 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
Bakery & Desserts Cypi’s Cake Box 520 McNeese St., Lake Charles 337-478-0269 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
Novrozsky’s Hamburgers 2706 Ruth St., Sulphur 337-527-0041
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
Breakfast
Italian
Fuji Japanese Steakhouse 3241 E. Prien Lake Rd. Lake Charles 337-480-3788
Le Peep Café 3800 Ryan St. Lake Charles 337-240-8497
121 Artisan Bistro 121 DeBakey Dr. Lake Charles 337-310-7499
Miyako Japanese Restaurant 915 E. Prien Lake Rd., Lake Charles 337-478-1600
Pitt Grill 606 W. Prien Lake Rd. Lake Charles 337-564-6724
Joe’s Pizza and Pasta 1601 Ruth St., Sulphur 337-528-2560
Peking Garden 2433 Broad St., Lake Charles 337-436-3597 Pho Tien 4415 Nelson Road Lake Charles 337-477-8557
Take out and catering available, too!
China Taste 1415 Beglis Pkwy. Sulphur 337-527-5985
AUGUST 22, 2013
Five Guys Burgers & Fries 2950 Ryan St. Lake Charles 337-721-1903
Famous Foods 1475 Gerstner Memorial Dr., Lake Charles 337-439-7000
Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse 2610 Dillard Loop Lake Charles 337-478-2888
Hours Mon - Fri: 11 am - 10 pm Sat: 11 am - 11 pm Sun: 11 am - 8 pm
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Yank Sing 4626 Nelson Rd. Lake Charles 337-477-9004
Pitt Grill 2600 Ruth St., Sulphur 337-527-0648 Waffle House 2488 S. Cities Service Hwy., Sulphur 337-626-8111
Romano’s 731 Ryan St. Lake Charles 337-491-1847
Mexican Agave Tamale 521 Alamo St. Lake Charles 337-433-4192
Burgers Cotton’s Famous Hamburgers 2001 Oak Park Blvd. Lake Charles 337-477-9759
Agave Tamale 1614 Sampson St. Westlake 337-429-2987 Volume 1 • Issue 4
El Tapatio 2624 Gerstner Memorial Dr. Lake Charles 337-475-9022 El Tapatio Dos 808 Sampson St. Westlake 337-721-7685 Rosita’s 2401 Napoleon St. Sulphur 337-533-9077 Casa Manana 2510 Ryan St. Lake Charles 337-433-4112 Cancun Mexican Restaurant 4001 Ryan St. Lake Charles 337-477-6802 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
Pizza Cici’s Pizza 3533 Ryan St. Lake Charles 337-562-2223
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Gatti’s Pizza 1811 Ruth St. Sulphur 337-527-0318
Lake Charles 337-433-3130 Roly Poly 4423 Nelson Rd. Lake Charles 337-474-3332
Gatti’s Pizza 3522 Ryan St., Lake Charles 337-474-6225
Seafood
Papa John’s Pizza 1415 Beglis Pkwy., Sulphur 337-528-7272
Granger’s Seafood Restaurant 2636 Hwy. 3059, Lake Charles 337-433-9130
Papa John’s Pizza 650 W. McNeese St., Lake Charles 337-474-7272 Rotolo’s Pizzeria 4201 Nelson Rd., Lake Charles 337-478-1996
Sandwiches, Soups & Salads Nina P’s Café 600 W. McNeese St., Lake Charles 337-479-2201 Pappy’s Deli 2627 Ryan St., Lake Charles 337-436-2813 Roly Poly 2241 Maplewood Dr. Sulphur 337-625-5555 Roly Poly 3100 Ryan St.
Boiling Point 1730 Beglis Pkwy. Sulphur 337-625-9282
The Harlequin 501 W. College St. Lake Charles 337-439-2780
Steaks
Outback Steakhouse 2616 Derek Dr., Lake Charles 477-3161
Big Sky Steakhouse Coushatta Casino 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder 800-584-7263
Regatta Seafood and Steakhouse 508 Hawkeye Ave, Lake Arthur 337-774-1504 Seafood Palace 2218 Enterprise Blvd., Lake Charles 337-433-9293 Kenny’s Katfish Kabin 1577 W. Fourth St., Dequincy 337-786-5562 Steamboat Bill’s on the Lake 1004 N. Lakeshore Dr. Lake Charles 337-494-1070 Steamboat Bill’s 732 N. Martin Luther King Blvd. Lake Charles 337-494-1700
AUGUST 22, 2013
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Jen Kober at Jack Daniels—Every Wednesday all Summer!
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)
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AUGUST 22, 2013
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.
Ratt at Party By the Pool at L’Auberge August 22 Ratt 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 open at 7 p.m. and show starts at 8:30 p.m. Must be 21 years old to enter.
J-Town Showdown Golf Tournament August 24-25 J-Town Showdown Golf Tournament Aug. 24-25 Head to the Jennings Golf and Country Club this weekend for the sixth annual J-Town Showdown Golf Tournament. Two Man Scramble starts at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Free food and
drinks on the course; prizes will be awarded. Social Saturday begins at 7 p.m. and includes dinner, drinks and music! Call (337) 244-7760.
Iowa Arts and Crafts Festival August 24 The Fifth Annual Iowa Arts and Crafts Festival will be held from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Iowa Community Center located at 209 U.S. 90 W. Enjoy live entertainment, refreshments, arts and crafts demonstrations, storytelling, pony rides, face painting and live music by the band “Cloud Nine,” part of the Young Band Nation. Free refreshments, free admission. For more info, call (337) 721-7101, or (337) 582-3597 if calling from within Iowa.
Dutch Oven Gathering August 24 The South West Chapter of the Louisiana Dutch Oven Society announces their monthly Dutch Oven Gathering at Sam Houston Jones State Park from 10 a.m. to 2 pm. Bring your family for a great outdoor meal with specialty seafood dishes cooked in cast iron Dutch ovens. Just show up, cook, or bring an item for the cast iron buffet-style luncheon.! For more information, contact Dwayne or Randy at (337) 302-5025 or (337) 912-9394.
Family and Youth Festival August 24 The Family and Youth Family Festival will be held at the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum. Families can enjoy wholesome activities such as a hands-on “Children's Factory,” live musical entertainment, a petting zoo, a fun zone with athletic games, clowns and more. Pathways to Careers is a hands-on experiential area for
teens to explore future career opportunities. For more information, contact the Family & Youth Counseling Agency at (337) 436-9533 or visit www.fyca.org.
Imagination Celebration August 24 Get down to Funky Town! The Children's Museum's 8th annual Imagination Celebration fundraiser will be held at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Enjoy celebrity karaoke, old school disco music, great food from over 20 area restaurants, live and silent auctions and a cash bar. Tickets are $50 and are on sale now at the Children's Museum. Sponsorships are also available. Call 4339420 for more information.
Fall Fashion Night August 25 Head to the Chateau du Calcasieu Event Center on Sun., Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. for Fall Fashion Night! Enjoy live DJ, drinks, food and fashion and vendor tables. VIP tickets are $20; general admission is $10. 932 Enterprise Blvd., Lake Charles. For more information, email alexanderburris2012@yahoo.com.
The Cult at Party By the Pool August 29 The Cult will rock at Party by the Pool at L’Auberge Casino Lake Charles. It’s the last Party of the season! 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 open at 7 p.m. and show starts at 8:30 p.m. Must be 21 years old to enter.
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AUGUST 22, 2013
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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 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 Exhibit Gallery by the Lake 106 W. Pryce, Lake Charles August, 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 "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 PAGE 18
AUGUST 22, 2013
Volume 1 • Issue 4
Thrillers on the Current Best Sellers’ List Let’s pull a few of this month’s best sellers off the shelf and take a look at them. The Heist was authored by Janet Evanovich (author of the Stephanie Plum detective series, among other books) and Lee Goldberg (author of the Monk mysteries). This first book in a new series is more light thriller than mystery. It features FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare, 33, who’s a sort of Wonder Woman without the superpowers, and Nick Fox, master thief and escape artist. Nick’s on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list and Interpol’s global hot list. He’s also funny; he likes to use the names of TV characters as aliases. Against her better judgment, Kate finds him attractive, “the living embodiment of her dream man.” The twist: Kate and Nick are forced to work together to catch an even badder bad guy: a playboy investment banker wanted for embezzling half a billion dollars in a pyramid scheme. Nick assembles his team for an elaborate con: besides Kate, he needs an actor, a driver/pilot, a makeup/special effects guy, and a construction artist. To get their prey, they Volume 1 • Issue 4
would have “to go into the heart of Southeast Asia and navigate a maze of islands in foreign waters that were notorious for being rampant with vicious, wellarmed pirates.” Besides the humor whenever Nick's on the scene, Kate’s sister and dad provide a comic element because they're always trying to marry her off. (Actually, her dad is probably my favorite character in the book.) Reading the conversation between those two is reminiscent of the banter in the Stephanie Plum books. Indeed, this was very much like one of the Plum books, but not as fluffy. I was sorry they didn’t try to make Kate a more serious character, though. I wanted to see a female character I could respect, but Kate sometimes comes across like a schoolgirl because of her silly attraction to Nick. And some of the plot points are a bit unbelievable. BUT if you don’t take it seriously, and you don’t expect another Stephanie Plum, it’s tremendous fun,
with loads of action, a flirty attraction and a clever plot. I can see it made into a movie. In fact, it reminds me of The Sting -- kind of a three-part story: the setup, assembling the team, the Con. The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (the pen name of J.K. Rowling) is a hard-boiled detective story. Cormoran Strike is a private investigator in London whose business is floundering. He just broke up with his girlfriend, with whom he was living, so he’s also homeless. He is, in fact, pathetic. Into his life walks temporary secretary Robin, whom he doesn’t really want and can’t afford. But she’s excited to be working for a P.I. and hopes to make something of the job. Wealthy lawyer John Bristow hires Strike to investigate his sister Lula’s death. Lula was a famous fashion model, and the police say she jumped to her death from her high-rise apartment, but Bristow is sure it wasn’t really suicide. As he investigates, Strike encounters several of the Beautiful People, including
a fashion designer, other models, and a rapper. Meanwhile, he finds that Robin is quite a gal -smart, energetic, organized -- but he just can’t figure out how he can afford to keep her on. It’s a good, solid detective story. I especially liked the beginning, which had me eagerly turning the pages. But I have to say, it’s way too long, and at times I lost interest. As I said with A Casual Vacancy, I think Rowling’s editors are intimidated by her and would never say “You need to chop 50 pages out of this.” Too bad. It would have been better. Frankly, I didn’t care about anyone in the book except Strike and Robin, both of whom I instantly liked, but she is almost a cardboard cutout. If there are more books featuring these two, I hope Robin’s character becomes more fully developed. The English Girl by Daniel Silva falls into the classic thriller genre but has none of that annoying two pages in this plot line and two pages in a different plot line stuff so common in today’s
thrillers and Da Vinci Code wannabes. This one has a nice, continuous, don’twant-to-put-it-down story line. Beautiful Madeline Hart, 27, has disappeared on Corsica. She’s somewhat of a political rising star and has connections with the upper echelons of British politics. So when a ransom note shows up, the prime minister sends one of his own people to get her back. The P.M.’s staff includes Graham Seymour, a spy and the son of a spy who hated Israel. Seymour hires Gabriel Allon, Israeli spy, art restorer, and avenging hit man. The two had fought together: “They were as close as two spies from opposing services could be.” It’s an interesting relationship. They must deal with a mob family, hairpin plot twists, and more paid killers than you can shake a stick at. This is one of a series of Allon books, and it refers to his previous adventures. And it has an abundance of violence. Copyright © 2013 by Mary Louise Ruehr. AUGUST 22, 2013
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Thursday, Aug. 22 Kory Fontenot 5 p.m. @ Otis & Henry’s @ Isle of Capri, 1000 Westlake Ave., Westlake Poetry Night @ Stellar Beans 6 p.m. ‘til 9 p.m. @ Stellar Beans Coffee House, 319 Broad St. Lake Charles Ratt: Live in Concert 7 p.m. @ Party by the Pool’s Liquid Society, L’auberge, Lake Charles
RKW Live 9 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 East Prien Lake Rd., Lake Charles John Anderson Concert 9 p.m. @ Isle of Capri Casino Hotel, 1000 Westlake Ave., Westlake City Heat 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge @ Delta Downs, 2717 Delta Downs Dr., Vinton
Jag 8 p.m. ‘til midnight @ The Caribbean Cove @ Isle of Capri, 1000 Westlake Ave., Westlake
DJ Jose Mata @ Jack After Dark Party 10 p.m. @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill @ L’auberge, Lake Charles
Comedy Night Out w/Samuel Owens, Open Mic Night and Service Industry Night 9 p.m. ‘til 2:00 a.m. @ Dharma, 329 Broad St., Lake Charles
Purple w/Certain Satellites and Jenny & The Reincarnation 10 p.m. @ Dharma, 329 Broad St., Lake Charles
DJ Jose Mata @ Jack After Dark Party 10 p.m. @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill @ L’auberge, Lake Charles Fresh Nectar 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St., Lake Charles
Friday, Aug. 23 Wayne Dylan 5 p.m. Crossroads 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove, @ Isle of Capri 1000 Westlake Ave., Westlake AUGUST 22, 2013
Mixed Nuts 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live @ Coushatta Casino Resort, 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder
Street Side Jazz Band 7 p.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill, 710 Ryan St., Lake Charles
Bernie Alan 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live @ Coushatta Casino Resort, 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder
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The Todd O’Neill Band 8 p.m. @ Yesterdays Night Club, 5313 Common St, Lake Charles
Saturday, Aug. 24 Family & Youth Festival (Includes music) All day @ Lake Charles Civic Center, 900 Lakeshore Dr., Lake Charles Gary Allan: Live In Concert Doors open @ 6:30 p.m. Showtime @ 8 p.m. @ The Pavilion @ Coushatta Casino Resort, 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder Bayou Rum Tasting w/the LOADED 44RZ 8 p.m. @ Cigar Club, 1700 East Prien Lake Rd. Lake Charles Ryan Harris and Killin Time Band 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove, @ Isle of Capri
1000 Westlake Ave., Westlake Steel Shot 8 p.m. @ Yesterdays Night Club, 5313 Common St., Lake Charles Mixed Nuts 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live @ Coushatta Casino Resort, 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder City Heat 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge @ Delta Downs, 2717 Delta Downs Dr., Vinton DJ Jose Mata @ Jack After Dark Party 10 p.m. @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill @ L’auberge, Lake Charles Dolo Jazz Suite – Lake Charles #5 10 p.m. @ Dharma, 329 Broad St., Lake Charles Rootbeer & Mermentau 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St., Lake Charles
Sunday, Aug. 25 Street Side Jazz Band 11 a.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 710 Ryan St., Lake Charles
Monday, Aug. 26 Karaoke w/DJ David Verett 8:00 p.m. @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge Lake Charles Mason Feduccia 8 p.m. @ Dharma, 329 Broad St., Lake Charles
Tuesday, Aug. 27 Black Flag 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St., Lake Charles
Wed., Aug. 28 Brandon Ledet and Creole Touch 8 p.m. The Caribbean Cove, @ Isle of Capri 1000 Westlake Ave., Westlake Volume 1 • Issue 4
Many kids dream of growing up to be rock stars. They fantasize about the spotlights and the roaring crowds. They want to be the one standing on stage wailing on the guitar, pounding on the drums or belting out high notes into the microphone. Though many kids are fortunate enough to be enrolled in choir and band classes where they learn how to play instruments and read music, one local business is actively teaching children the skills necessary to hit the stage and become a star. Young Band Nation holds a one-week summer camp where kids hone their musical talents by way of the mentorship of professional musicians and are formed into bands that go on to perform locally. Doug Gay, who has served as a band director for ten years as well as performed on stages across the world, said he created the camps as a way to give kids the same musical experiences he had growing up. “I started my own band with friends in the seventh grade,” he said. “We weren’t
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old enough to play at bars or anything, so it seemed that if we didn’t play in someone’s garage, we wouldn’t be able to play at all.” They found a hall that could be rented at Prien Lake Park, where they would create their own gigs there and
take donations at the door. “After that, I directed bands for many years, all the while keeping my hand in the professional music realm,” he continued. “I always loved pop, rock and roll and country music, all those things you don’t get to play or experience in high school and I just knew we could teach those styles to kids in a way that’s structured.” On their first day at Young Band Nation, kids are invited to take to the stage where they show off their talents before being put into groups with kids of similar ages and experience levels. “After deciding which kids fit together the best, we
introduce them to one another and start going,” Gay explained. “We have a few songs we like to teach them at first, and as they get to know each other and we get to know what styles of music they like, they begin to choose their own set lists. After that, for the rest of the week, it’s pretty much non-stop rehearsals.” This year, Sean Ardoin, a well-known Zydeco musician, spoke to the kids about the importance of being a professional musician. “He talked about how imperative it is to be on time, and how difficult it can be to live with bandmates on the road. It really teaches these kids to be responsible and how to treat the music industry like a business,” Gay said. The camps have been held for two years and have doubled in size from nine kids the previous summer to 18 this year. It will soon become a year-round program. “The summer camps were designed as a way to find out if there was a market for the program, and it turns out there is, so we’re ready to move forward and secure
our own space and start teaching yearround,” Gay said. “I currently have a business in Baton Rouge called Baton Rouge Music Studio where we teach private lessons, as well as give kids the tools they need to succeed in this business. We plan on doing that here. We’ll have classes on music marketing and give kids a chance to make professional recordings in a studio along with learning the basics of music engineering.” Gay said he is thrilled to be able to pass his love of music on to the next generation of music industry giants. “If you can play three chords on a guitar, you can play a song and be in a band. From there, it’s all about the social experience and getting to hang out with the other kids and falling in love with
music,” he said. “I just think it’s really important to get these kids to make music together. Music has done a lot for me, and I’ve always used it as a way to travel the world and meet new people. I like being an expert in my field, but it’s what my field can bring to me that’s completely unique. I think it’s great that we might be able to do that for these kids. Further information and enrollment details for Youth Band Nation can be found online at www.youngbandnation.com.
AUGUST 22, 2013
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Lake Charles Symphony Announces 56th Season Bold, Powerful Music is in Store 2013-2014 The Lake Charles Symphony’s 56th Season, “Signatures,” is a celebration of bold, powerful pieces with the composers making a mark on the musical world. The Symphony is gearing up for the classical concert series that begins this fall, and music-lovers are now able to secure season tickets before the September concert. The first concert, Saturday, Sept. 28, features Sergei Rachmaninoff ’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor and guest pianist Erik
Lawrence along with Howard Hanson’s Symphony No. 2 in D Flat Major “Romantic.” The Rachmaninoff Concerto showcased ground-breaking sounds when it was written, and it actually inspired fear in performers due to its difficulty. The Hanson piece was equally as commanding for the American symphony. The concert on Saturday, Feb. 15, highlights a work by Aaron Copland, A Lincoln Portrait, and Symphony No. 4 in G Major by
Erik Lawrence
Kellie Rumba
Misha Vayman
Gustav Mahler with guest soprano Kellie Rumba. Rounding out the classical concerts on Saturday, April 5, will be Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Minor by Sergei Prokofiev with solo violinist Misha Vayman and Symphony No. 8 in G Minor by Antonin Dvorak. “As a signature captures a personality of each person, this season is full of signature pieces capturing each composer’s essence. The season is full of works that I have not had the opportunity to conduct yet. It
will be a wonderful stretch for myself at the orchestra,” said Maestro Bohuslav Rattay, conductor and artistic director of the Lake Charles Symphony. In addition to the classical concert season, there are other social and musical events. Preceding each concert on the Thursday night is a ticketed concert preview called the Discovery Series. During the preview, Maestro Rattay and select musicians share themes from the weekend’s classical concert. Patrons are able to
purchase separate tickets for the Discovery Series, and as a gift of appreciation, first-time season ticket holders receive free tickets to the Discovery Series. Each Saturday night concert is also followed by socials at public venues that are announced at the concert as well as online before each concert. For more information, call (337) 4331611, go online at www.lcsymphony.org, or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lcsymphony.
ACTS Auditions for White Christmas ACTS Theatre Lake Charles will hold auditions for the Irving Berlin musical White Christmas
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on August 25 and 26. Needed are males and females of various ages and a young girl 9-12 years
old. Those auditioning are asked to prepare a song of their choice and bring a karaoke CD of the song with them. Everyone will also read from the script. The audition will take place at ACTS One Reid Street Theatre Sunday, August 25 at 3:00 pm and Monday, August 26 at 6:30 pm. Those auditioning should come 30 minutes prior to the start time to register. White Christmas will be directed by Walt Kiser with choreography by Cathy Kurth and music direction by Casey Doucet. The production will be onstage in December. For questions call 433-ACTS or visit actstheatre.com. Volume 1 • Issue 4
Somebody Wrote That? It’s been said that a great screenplay can be turned into a horrible movie, but a great film can never be made from a horrible script. Don’t believe me? Then take note of how many movies nominated for Best Picture Oscars are also nominated for best screenplay. The list is almost identical. But who at home knows the names of the lowly screenwriter? Unless that writer also directs like Quentin Tarantino, Woody Allen and George Lucas, the writer goes mostly unnoticed. So for fun, I thought I’d put on my screenwriter’s cap as I begin this month’s article. Brainstorming: “Oh wow! My article for The Jam is due. I need an idea. Ninjas! Everyone likes ninjas. But wait, no, there are no local ninja movies out right now. Hmm… zombies. The Calcasieu Parish Public Library recently made a zombie commercial. And who doesn’t like bloody brains? But my last article was kinda on the bloody side already. Spaceships, unicorns, musicals? Hmm, can I sing my article? Opening image: The lone writer sits at his desk. Close up on the sweat of his brow. Over the shoulVolume 1 • Issue 4
der to his bloody fingers. (Blood again? Make it bruised fingers.) Pan up to a computer screen with a single cursor: Blinking. Mocking. Catalyst: This is where something happens that changes everything. An earworm? A ravenous hippo? An escaped convict? An escaped convict rushes into the room, slams the door and faints at the writer’s feet. Writer: “Dude, I’ve got an article to write. Pull yourself together!” Convict: “Dude, you just had me faint at your feet. You could tie me to a chair, call the cops, torture me for the money I stole. You’re wasting a good storytelling moment.” Writer: “Good point.” He straps the convict to his cubicle with plastic zip ties and puts a Scentsy candle warmer by his feet. “Tell me where the money is!” The convict wiggles his toes and says, “Yo man, that feels pretty good.” Writer: “Tell me or I’ll dip your toes in this melted wax. You’ll smell so good, you’ll hate yourself!” The all-is-lost moment: This is when our hero the writer seems to have failed. You’ll find it in every
movie. Four more convicts burst through the door. Four guns point at the writer’s head. Slowly, they close in, clearly unhappy at the humiliation their fellow comrade is feeling. Final battle: Thinking fast, our writer stabs the nearest guy with his pen, flips him over his head to use as a human shield and races out of the room. Sheets of paper fly like Frisbees leaving the men dazed and suffering fatal paper cuts. Or back to reality, the writer blinks at the blank screen and begins to type the two words that every screenplay begins within all caps; FADE IN. If you think you can write something better (and I sure hope you can!) then you might be interested in attending local screenwriter Ken Henderson’s screenwriting seminar at the Lake Charles Film Festival. Henderson was a founding member of the Lake Area Film Scribes and has been a screenwriter for more than a decade. The man’s written eight independent scripts as a writer for hire so his insights are from working in the field and not just a textbook. If you’ve never written a movie before but would like to learn, then Henderson’s “Screenwriting Fundamentals” class is highly recommended. For more information check out www.lakecharlesfilmfestival.com. Going back to what I said earlier about screenplays and Oscars, Cinemark will be showing a special presentation of one of the most unusual scripts to come out in the ‘90s: Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. Yep, even Tarantino had a little help here. The script was written with help from writer Roger Avary but who’s heard of
Roger Avary? Quentin gets all the glory for this film. Pulp Fiction caused quite a stir with its non-chronological storyline, memorable characters, graphic violence and ultra-hip dialogue. In fact, the movie’s line “You know what they call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris? They call it a Royale with cheese.” was voted number 81 of “The 100 Greatest Movie Lines” in a poll by Premiere magazine. Cereal buffs might also look for the “Fruit Brute” cereal Lance is eating when Vince calls him on his cell. “Fruit Brute” was one of the monster cereals that didn’t quite claim the fame that its brothers Count Chocula and Boo Berry did. Tarantino snuck it into some of his other films too, including Reservoir Dogs. See this special screening of Pulp Fiction on the
big screen at Cinemark on Sunday, August 25 at 2 p.m. and Wednesday, August 28 at 2 and 7 p.m. Other Cinemark Classics coming up with Oscar wins and Oscar nominations for screenwriting are The French Connection and Some Like it Hot. The French Connection is famous for the best chase sequence put on film before computer-generated imagery. And though Some Like it Hot would be a bit colder without Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon, let’s remember neither would exist without the talents of writers Earnest Tidyman and Billy Wilder. Look for screening dates at www.cinemark.com. With so many wonderful movies to see (and write about) I’d better get started. Until next month, save me some popcorn!
AUGUST 22, 2013
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Elysium (Sony, Tristar, 2013)
Sometimes you get enough of animated monsters and snails and cars and want to go for a real-life movie. Like a SciFi film. In the case of Elysium, a gritty hardboiled Sci-Fi action movie, you’ll have to leave the kids at home. Matt Damon is Max, a child living on Earth in the 2100’s. Things are not great here. think District 9, Mad Max, Wall-E, or any other post-apocalyptic or dystopian film you’ve seen. The catch here is that the earthbound folks can always look up in the sky and see Elysium, a beautiful space station for the super rich and super lucky. Max grows up on Earth to be, well, Matt Damon. Except he’s shaved bald which is both very macho and
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works well with the plot. Seriously, Max still dreams of someday going to Elysium to live. It happens for those who qualify. But with a prison record and other problems, Max is just not Elysium material. He’s trying to live life straight now, but making servant robots for a big company is tough. Some folks try to make it to Elysium illegally for the great health care there. Rogue ships head up into the sky every day. Standing in their way is Jessica Delacourt (Jodie Foster), an evil administrator charged with Elysium’s security. (How evil? Hey, Jodie Foster owns evil in this movie.
She’ll kill anyone without blinking an eye. Or rather, hire someone to do it.) Enter Max, who has had a work accident and needs to get healed. Now he really wants to go to Elysium. The plot gets interesting when he meets up with some of his old crime cronies to make it happen. To complicate things, he has a grown-up childhood girlfriend with a daughter who’s dying of leukemia. Let’s face it, everyone wants to get to Elysium. You can’t imagine how gritty things get, especially when Max’s old boss, Spider, outfits him with a direct-to-brain data port. (Think tattoo parlor artists turned brain surgeons and that brings you close. Not that I have anything against tattoo artists.) Spider was my favorite character in this movie. Played by Wagner Moura, this guy looks and sounds like he’s got one foot in and out of a really bad crack habit. Come to think of it, he uses a cane to get around. Director Neil Blomkamp uses his background with District 9 to create possibly the most convincing image of future Earth that I’ve seen since, well, Wall-E. The parallels to the current state of U.S. immigration and health care are unmistakable, but really don’t drown out the action and storyline. I gained a new respect for Matt Damon as an actor in this movie. He has me convinced that he can play just about any role with finesse, while still being Matt Damon. There are
many others who make Elysium convincing, including Agent Kruger (Sharlto Copley) a mercenary henchman of Administrator Delacourt. The only complaint I found for the movie was an ending that was just a little bit too trite, probably because of all the drama and action that comes before it. Even so, Elysium stands out as a serious contribution to Sci-Fi moviedom and the overall genre (which some say isn’t a genre anymore, as we seem to be living in a tech world). Please don’t bring anyone who isn’t an adult to see this movie. And while I’m at it, don’t ever let your child grow up and have Jodie Foster for their mother-in-law. Elysium is rated R for explicit language, grunge surgery and exploding faces. Cringe and enjoy.
Volume 1 • Issue 4
Family Fe s tival Fu n!
word search
Arts and Crafts Carnival Games Clowns Cookies Discovery Dome
Face Painting Family Festival Fun Zone Games Get Moving
Healthy Kids Learning Music Photo Booth Zumba
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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 4
AUGUST 22, 2013
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GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT Women & Children’s Hospital presented a special night out for girls ranging from ages 9-16 . These young ladies were in for a fun evening of door prizes, food and the opportunity to learn about the importance of nutrition, physical fitness and self-esteem. A wide range of topics inspired them to make good choices for their overall health and well-being. Way to go, girls!
Maggie Courtney, Maci Granger and Viktoria Johnson
Mia Hebert and Jillian Elliott
Mindy Laughlin and Mona Smith
Krystal Richard, Siri Fontenot, Linda Bienvenue, Lindsey Stanley and Marilyn Sullins
Madison Buck, Kaitlyn Fontenot, Kalyn McComb, Lakelyn LeJeune and Carly Tabarelli
ARTS & CRABS FESTIVAL It was a sold out crowd at the Civic Center for Arts & Humanities’ Arts & Crab Fest! Shellfish-lovers devoured crab dishes prepared by 15 of the Lake Area’s talented chefs paired with specially brewed beer. All palates were well satisfied! Seafood and the Arts— what a great combination!
Susan Marriner, Don and Jeffrie Duberville, Patricia Divison and Maria Arceneaux
Steve Ducote and Rebecca Turner PAGE 26
AUGUST 22, 2013
Michele Hurley and Wendy Roach
Jamie Gorman and Sherry Lusk
Megan Hiatt and Brian Windsor
Ryan Broussard, Mindy Schwarzauer and Patrick Martin Volume 1 • Issue 4
Volume 1 • Issue 4
AUGUST 22, 2013
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