Acadiana Profile April-May 2013

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April/May 2013

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In Every Issue 4 Free-lancing The Mother of Acadiana Profile Celebrating 45 years

table des matières

by trent angers

6 Nouvelles des Villes News Briefs From Around Acadiana by william kalec

10 De la Cuisine Spring, Glorious Spring!

It’s the perfect season for seafood, fresh vegetables and cooking outside. by marcelle bienvenu

16 Les Artistes A Place of Her Own Lake Charles artist Candice Alexander spent years traversing the country selling her prints, searching for something she didn’t have to leave to find. by william kalec

23 La Maison Tile Style Top-notch kitchens and baths by betty tujague

60 Personnes d’Acadiana Red Before Dawn After sitting (er, standing) atop a fitness empire for 50 years, Lafayette’s Red Lerille refuses to slow down. by william kalec

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64 Sur le Menu Raising the Bar Pubs and bars that serve great food by jan risher

70 Visiter The Best Things to See and Do in Cajun Country compiled by judi russell

72 En Français, S’il Vous Plaît On n’est pas des bêtes by david cheramie

Features 39 Top New Restaurants Exploring Acadiana’s latest by cheré coen

46 Taking a Spin A guide to casinos, near and far by william kalec and elizabeth heideman

54 From Ashes to Architecture Exploring historic Lake Charles by joanna haugen

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April/May 2013 Vol. 32 No. 2 Executive Editor Trent Angers Managing Editor Eve Kidd Crawford Art Director Jennifer Hronek Associate Editors Sarah Ravits, Haley Adams Interns Tarani Duncan, Elizabeth Heideman, Caroline Malouse Sales Manager Rebecca Taylor (337) 298-4424 • Rebecca@acadianaprofile.com Intern Allison Nelson Sales Assistant Erin Maher Distribution/Newsstand Manager Christian Coombs Executive Assistant Kristi Ferrante Subscriptions Erin Duhe Production/Web Manager Staci McCarty Production Designers Sarah George, Casey Hano Chief Executive Officer Todd Matherne President Alan Campell Executive Vice President/Editor in Chief Errol Laborde

Renaissance Publishing LLC 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 828-1380 • (877) 221-3512 315 S. College Road, Suite 160, Lafayette, LA 70503 (337) 235-7919 Acadiana Profile (ISSN 0001-4397) is published bimonthly by Renaissance Publishing LLC, 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 828-1380 and 315 S. College Road, Suite 160, Lafayette, LA 70503 (337) 235-7919. Subscription rate: One year $10; Foreign Subscriptions vary. Periodicals postage paid at Lafayette, LA, and additional mailing entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Acadiana Profile, 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005.

Copyright 2013 Renaissance Publishing LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. The trademark Acadiana Profile is registered.

Acadiana Profile is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos and artwork, even if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. The opinions expressed in Acadiana Profile are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the magazine or owner. www.acadianaprofile.com | APRIL/MAY 2013

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monthly from the sale of the newspaper, plus Dad was earning a salary as a writer for the Lafayette Daily Advertiser. However, freeknowing Dad’s boundless determination to succeed in this new lancing magazine venture, Momma was concerned that the fledgling magazine could become a drain on the household income. But that money was needed to feed, clothe, shelter and educate us eight children, most of whom were still living at home when the by trent angers magazine was being born.

I know my folks lived under constant financial pressure, first with the newspaper and then with the magazine. I know Momma woke up in the middle of the night many times, worrying about money. In a real way, she was powerless to do much about it, except to pinch pennies. After all, she wasn’t a salesperson, so she couldn’t generate revenue.

Although starting a magazine Dad, on the other hand, was a for South Louisiana was the great salesman – bold, articulate brainchild of my dad, Bob and convincing. His response to Angers Jr., my mom, Geraldine financial pressure was to attack Beaullieu Angers, was right there it; his tactic was to “sell your working with him in the tough, way out of it.” He’d sell ads and formative years beginning in subscriptions and magazines by 1968. And she worked with me the dozens or even hundreds. for a decade or so after I took And he’d get some of my brothers over as publisher in 1975.

– Gerald, Tom, Glenn – to go out The co-founder of Acadiana and sell subscriptions.

Profile, she opened the checking By sheer force of will, Dad account, kept the books and set found the money to run the up a card file for subscribers. She business. He figured that if he was quite experienced in tasks could keep it going through the such as these, having done them critical formative years, it would for many years for the Franklin eventually become self-sustaining Banner-Tribune before Dad sold and somewhat easier and would the newspaper in 1965 and our surely go on for many, many years family moved to Lafayette the to come. He was right. following year.

Still, Momma fretted and Maintaining circulation struggled to make the ends meet. records and writing checks were “This deficit bookkeeping is manual operations. I remember a for the birds,” she said on more hand-cranked adding machine at than one occasion.

Geraldine Angers, co-founder one end of our kitchen table. The Hearing the discouragement of Acadiana Profile, as she table and the gray filing cabinet in her voice, Dad would work appeared in 1984 next to it constituted the original all the harder to create the sales Bookkeeping Department. that brought in the revenue to I know Momma must have begun this new venture with some run the magazine. So did I, beginning in 1971. trepidation about its financial viability. She’d seen, up close and very When a new subscription was sold, Mom would deposit the personally, in the newspaper business in Franklin just how tight money, handwrite the subscriber’s name and address on a 3-inchmoney could be in the publishing field. She knew, as every smallby-5-inch index card and file it alphabetically in a special oblong business owner knows, that when you own the business, you pay box designed to hold such cards. others first – employees, suppliers, tax collectors, everybody. And, Right after the magazine went to press, she’d send the cards if there’s any money left, you pay yourself last. (I know financial to a lady named Mrs. Peterson who would address the labels to advisers say such priorities are exactly backward, but just try paying be applied to the magazines for mailing. In the early days, 1969 employees last and see how quickly a business can fall apart!) through 1971 or ’72, the mailing was prepared in our living room.

Now, at the time when the magazine began, our family was A few of my brothers would apply the labels to the magazines and relatively comfortable financially – that is, compared to the nailthen sort by ZIP code. Stacks of magazines were spread throughout biting days in Franklin. My folks had a nice check coming in the room – one stack for Breaux Bridge, two for New Iberia, seven

The Mother of Acadiana Profile

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Roger Broussard Photograph, Jeanerette, La.

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G ATIN BR LE

records. And, at the same time, she was a homemaker, mother, wife, adviser, comforter. She was always there, the stabilizing force in our home. I never heard her say a curse word, almost never heard her raise her voice, but I did see her crying once or twice. By her behavior and demeanor, she taught us prudence, moderation and forbearance while Dad taught us self-reliance, citizenship, salesmanship and ambitiousness.

When we were little kids, Momma taught us catechism and helped us with our homework while Dad was at the newspaper office, writing, editing, trying to get the paper to press. Momma had been a teacher before her babies started coming back-toback in waves of three. (She lost one baby at birth, around 1960.)

She graduated from St. Joseph’s in Jeanerette and got her college degree in education from Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now called University of Louisiana–Lafayette.

A few years before Dad died, in October 1988, Mom went to work as a volunteer in pastoral care at Lafayette General as a records-keeper and visitor of the sick. There she kept a little card file on patients, like her box of subscriber records at home, and she was a bearer of peace to the sick, as she was to us

P

At first, Momma lightly supervised the labeling and sorting.

But mostly she kept the books and maintained the subscribers’

children at home. She retired from the hospital in 2010, having served for 25 years.

She’s 92 now and recently moved out of our house on South Audubon (formerly called River Drive), where the 10 of us lived and where Acadiana Profile took its first breath. I sometimes think of the magazine as another of her children – a living, breathing entity – whom she nurtured and mothered until it could fly on its own.

Today, she lives in an assisted living facility in Lafayette. While visiting recently, I heard a comment that warmed my heart from one of the residents.

“Your mom is the sweetest person out of everyone who lives here,” she said.

“That doesn’t surprise me,” I responded.

Momma has a few health MAGAZIN ILE E problems, as people her age do.

CE OF R But I believe she is rightly at peace, by and large, in the knowledge that she did well what was hers to do in rearing her eight children – and in helping to breathe life into Acadiana Profile. ap ACADIA NA

for Lafayette, one for Lake Charles, one each for Houma and Thibodaux, etc. Then they were loaded into heavy canvas bags and driven to the Bulk Mail Department in back of the post office, which at the time was on Jefferson Street in downtown Lafayette.

questions or comments about this column can be addressed to tcangers @ cox . net .

www.acadianaprofile.com | APRIL/MAY 2013

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nouvelles des villes

by William Kalec

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Sports Complex Slated to Open This Year

Free Film Series Highlights Louisiana Culture

YOUNGSVILLE – Construction of a $16 million sports complex continues after current Mayor Brenda Burley and former Mayor Wilson Viator held a ceremonial groundbreaking in late January. The project, which is partially funded by a 1 cent sales tax increase, will span 70 acres of land and feature T-ball fields, baseball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, play areas for kids and multiple concession stands. The hope is that the complex will not only serve the recreational needs of local residents but also attract regional athletic tournaments that will generate tourism revenue.

Overseeing the new complex is Tim Robichaux, the baseball coach at Notre Dame Catholic High School in Crowley. The longtime skipper will manage the 2013 baseball season and then move into his new position full time in May. Robichaux’s initial plans call for the creation of the fields and playing surfaces. After that is done, construction will then begin on a $3 million community center to be located within the sports complex. The entire development is expected to be completed before the end of 2013.

LAFAYETTE – Every month, the community is invited to come to Vermilionville for its new free monthly cultural film series, Les Vues. A showing of various culturally relevant movies will be held the last Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Vermilionville Performance Center. The series is curated by filmmakers and enthusiasts, mostly from around the state.

The films include features, documentaries, student films, animation and shorts that focus on the themes surrounding various aspects of culture. Following the screenings will be an open discussion between the audience and the curator about the themes of the movie.

The 2013 series began with a showing of Ken Burns’ Huey Long. Louisiana’s Huey Long rose to governor and U.S. senator on a platform of social reform and justice, all the while employing graft and corruption to get what he wanted. Burns revealed a complex and comprehensive portrait of the man, his politics and the power he so obsessively sought.

Admission to the film series is free, but a suggested $5 donation will go toward screening and curating costs.

Refreshments will be made

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available for this all-ages free film series. To find out more about upcoming films, view trailers or get more details visit vermilionville.org or call 337/233-4077.

Two Good Pass Options Offered for Kisatchie PINEVILLE – Kisatchie National Forest officials announced plans to offer frequent patrons two pass plans. The Annual Trail Use Pass and the Annual Day

Use Pass can be purchased at any of the five district ranger offices or at the Forest Supervisor’s Office in Pineville.

The Annual Trail Use Pass is $50 and $25 for those 15 years old and younger. The pass allows hikers and riders to traverse the more than 400 miles of forest trails with 200 of those miles dedicated to ATV/OHV use.

The Annual Day Use Pass is $30 and provides access to all day-use activities, including boat launches, fishing, picnicking, swimming and more. Both passes are good for the rest of 2013. Passes for 2014 can be purchased later this year. Kisatchie National Forest consists of more than 600,000 acres of land, spanning seven Central and North Louisiana parishes.

Saline Bayou in Kisatchie National Forest

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nouvelles des villes Festival International de Louisiane poster, left, and pin

Festival International Poster and Pin on Sale Now LAFAYETTE – If it’s April, that can mean only one thing to music-lovers in Acadiana – Festival International de Louisiane.

This year, the official festival pin and poster – two key fundraising vehicles that help keep the event free to the public – were inspired and designed by Lafayette artist Fred Daspit. The former University of Southwestern Louisiana (now University of Louisiana–Lafayette) art professor is best-known for his architectural background, constructing artistic and detailed miniatures of some of the world’s most fascinating structures. Daspit is also a renowned painter and thrives when fusing different styles and media.

The poster, titled Passione en Bleu, prominently features three Daspit sculptures, each speaking to the emotions the festival evokes. Daspit’s recurring theme of five rays representing the five pillars of Louisiana culture (dance, music, language, cuisine and the arts) appears in both the pin and poster.

For those who can’t wait until festival time to get their hands on either of these two items, they’re on sale now at festivalinternational.com.

The pin is $10, and the poster is $25. The website also includes the daily musical lineup and other information vital to those visiting downtown Lafayette for the April 24-28 event.

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Acadian Museum Inducts Two New Members ERATH –As part of its longrunning Living Legends honors series, the Acadian Museum recently welcomed two new members to this selective and esteemed group – Clyde Vincent and Gary Edmondson.

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Vincent, a self-effacing, unassuming Cajun, served as president of Les Acadiens du Texas for 30 years of its 32year history and has worked diligently for and with his cultural links to Vermilion Parish. Born in Port Neches, Texas, in 1925, Vincent grew up in a part of town called

Little Abbeville due to most of its inhabitants being of Cajun descent. He was exposed to his Cajun heritage at an early age and dedicated his adult life to preserving it. In 1979, he formed Les Acadiens du Texas, a group whose primary goal was to encourage, assist and promote interest in the preservation of the Acadian language and culture.

Edmondson, the other inductee, has dedicated his life to music and the military. After playing for many years in the Army band, Edmondson volunteered his bugle talents and played taps during funerals for Acadiana’s fallen soldiers. In 1966, Edmondson founded the Lafayette Community Band (which is still in existence today) and also headed a music program for local middle school students. As an honorary member of the VFW Louisiana Post 9822 in Judice, Edmondson played his bugle not just at funerals but also at parades, nursing homes and churches. In 1995, for the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, Edmondson and Rudy Bourque honored more than 200 World War II veterans at the Heymann Center, playing music and gathering food and supplies from various businesses. ap

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de la cuisine

Anytime in Louisiana is a good time to party, and no time is better than in the spring when the weather is at its best. Festivals are slated for just about every weekend. Music fans head out to New Orleans for the annual Jazz & Heritage Festival (one of my personal favorites), where food booths are almost as popular as the band stages. Another favorite of mine is the Festival International de Louisiane in Lafayette.

There is a festival for just about anything and everything. You can hear good music and eat what I call “walking food” in big cities and small towns all across the state.

Yes, indeed, spring has sprung.

Another of the telltale signs that spring has arrived in South Louisiana is the aroma of outdoor cooking.

Take a deep breath. Ah, someone’s boiling crawfish or crabs. Another sniff will tell you that shrimp is sizzling on a grill. Then from up the bayou wafts the smoky essence of barbecue.

The warm days of springtime are welcomed with open arms in the Deep South. One day the landscape is bleak and gray; the next it’s alive with a kaleidoscope of color. Clumps of red clover pop out along country roads and interstate highways.

Wild dogwoods with blossoms of pale pink and chalk white appear out of nowhere. And azaleas of bright red and pale pink flourish here, there and everywhere. No one needs to be cajoled into cooking and dining in backyards or on patios or decks shaded by majestic live oaks and regal bald cypress trees.

adventures are more often than not marked by food-related occurrences.

Take, for instance, the time I accompanied some old friends on an expedition to their “crab hole” near their camp, situated in the great marshland area that composes the state’s southern coastline in Vermilion Parish.

We left before dawn and traveled for nearly two hours in order to arrive at the crab hole just as the sun began its ascent in the eastern sky. Working quickly, we baited our nets with chicken necks and set them out in the water that was bubbling with crabs and fish. By midmorning, our hampers were filled with close to six dozen blue crabs. Sweat was rolling down our necks, and our arms were tired from pulling in the nets, but we had worked up a great appetite.

In short order, my friend Henry had a fire going in an old barrel-type barbecue pit at the camp. Like a drill sergeant, he instructed us on how to prepare the crabs, and in due time, we were chomping down on a mess of incredibly delicious barbecued crabs bathed in a spicy butter sauce. No one moved until we were more than satiated.

The few crabs that were left over were thrown into a simmering pot of gumbo. Yes, we planned to eat again later, in the cool of the evening after the sun sank in the western horizon.

Then there was the time that a group of us found ourselves on a shrimp boat on the opening day of the season. It was hard work: pulling in the trawl

Spring, Glorious Spring!

It’s the perfect season for seafood, fresh vegetables and cooking outside.

By Marcelle Bienvenu | Photographed by eugenia uhl

Everyone is eager to fire up the old grill and take to the outdoors. With Louisiana’s proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and a spider web of meandering bayous and rivers that crisscross the state, there are always a few fish, some shrimp or a hamper of crabs at hand that will undoubtedly end up on someone’s table.

I take great pleasure in explaining to visitors that people in South Louisiana share the philosophy that it’s best to live to eat rather than to eat to live. Men and women both can prepare a feast in short order without so much as glancing at a cookbook. Cooking is as natural as breathing and just as important.

For example, here life’s experiences and

nets, sorting and sifting and then packing our catch in crushed ice. By the end of the day, our mouths were watering for chevrettes. Some were boiled; others were fried. The tiny ones were combined with homegrown eggplant, mirliton (chayote) and okra for side dishes. The larger ones were threaded on skewers and brushed with herbed lemon butter.

Grilled to perfection, they were superb tossed with pasta and grilled vegetables.

When warmer weather sets in, there is nothing better than getting out of the house. Breathe in the fresh air. Work up an appetite, and try these scrumptious dishes in your own backyard. www.acadianaprofile.com | APRIL/MAY 2013

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de la cuisine

Shrimp-and-Garlic Lemon Pasta With Grilled Vegetables For the shrimp and garlic: 12 to 16 large garlic cloves, peeled 1/3 cup olive oil 1/4 cup tomato sauce 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cayenne 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Pinch of sugar 2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined (leave the tails on) For the pasta: 2/3 cup good-quality olive oil 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 lemons, zested and then juiced (use both zest and juice) Salt and pepper to taste 1 pound spaghetti 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil For the grilled vegetables: One bunch of asparagus, trimmed 1 pint cherry tomatoes Olive oil, salt and pepper For the grilled shrimp and grilled vegetables: Drop the whole garlic cloves into boiling water, and boil for about 3 minutes. Drain, and set aside. Combine the olive oil, tomato sauce, vinegar, basil, garlic, salt, cayenne, black pepper and sugar in a large bowl, and stir to mix well.

Add the shrimp, and toss to coat evenly.

Cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, start the pasta and the lemon sauce: In a large bowl, whisk the oil, cheese, lemon juice and salt and pepper together. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to package directions; you should drop the pasta around the time you put the shrimp and vegetables on the grill.

Remove the shrimp from the marinade, and reserve any of the marinade left in the bowl. Thread the shrimp and whole garlic 12

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cloves alternately on skewers. Thread the tomatoes onto skewers, as well. Toss the asparagus with olive oil, salt and pepper.

Put the skewers and the asparagus on the grill (if you prefer, they can be arranged in a wire grill rack or basket). Grill the shrimp-and-garlic skewers, turning them several times and brushing them with the reserved marinade, for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the shrimp turn pink. Grill the tomato skewers for 6 minutes and the asparagus for 5 minutes, turning both frequently.

When the vegetables and shrimp are done, drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Add the spaghetti to the lemon sauce, and toss with the basil and lemon zest. Toss the pasta with enough reserved cooking liquid, 1/4 cup at a time, to moisten, and then add the shrimp, garlic and grilled vegetables.

Season the pasta with more salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to bowls, and serve. Serves 4 to 6.

This dish is one I remember enjoying at Christian’s Restaurant in New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina came to town.

The combination of local crabmeat and shrimp with eggplant and béchamel sauce is delicious!

Stuffed Eggplant Béchamel For the béchamel sauce: 1/4 cup butter 1/2 cup chopped onions 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup milk 1/2 teaspoon salt Heat the butter in a medium-size saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions, and cook, stirring, until soft and golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Blend in the flour and milk, and season with salt. Cook, stirring, until the mixture is thick and smooth. Set aside.

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de la cuisine

For the stuffed eggplants: 2 eggplants, each about 1 pound 1/4 cup butter 2 cups coarse dried bread crumbs 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon cayenne White or black pepper to taste 1/8 teaspoon allspice 1 cup of the béchamel sauce 1/2 pound shrimp, boiled, peeled and chopped 1/2 pound lump crabmeat, picked over for shells and cartilage Grated Parmesan cheese Place the whole eggplants in a shallow pan, and bake at 350 degrees until soft, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove from the oven, and let cool. Cut off the stem ends.

Cut each in half lengthwise, and carefully scoop out the pulp, leaving about 1/4 inch of the flesh with the shells. Chop the pulp finely, then measure out 2 cups of it.

Melt the butter in a large saucepan, and stir in the bread crumbs. Add the eggplant pulp, seasonings and the béchamel sauce.

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Mix well. Add the shrimp and crabmeat, and gently stir. Fill the eggplant shells with the mixture. Sprinkle generously with the Parmesan cheese.

Set the stuffed eggplants in a shallow baking pan, and bake at 375 degrees until hot, bubbly and lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Serves 4.

My friend, the late Henry Mayer, showed me how to cook crabs on the grill, and man, are they fabulous! I recommend that you use rubber gloves when cleaning the crabs to protect your hands.

Barbecued Crabs 2 dozen live blue crabs Salt and cayenne 2 1/2 sticks butter or margarine, melted 2 tablespoons Cajun or Creole seasoning mix 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon paprika

Put the crabs in the kitchen sink, and run very hot tap water over them. This will stun them so they can’t pinch. Pull the backs off the crabs, and clean out the dead man’s fingers (the gills), lungs and center of the crabs. Crack the claws, but do not remove the shells.

Sprinkle the crabs generously with salt and cayenne. Combine the butter, the seasoning mix, lemon juice, Worcestershire and paprika in a small saucepan or bowl. With a basting brush, brush about one-third of the sauce all over the crabs.

Place the crabs, cavity side down, on a medium to medium-low fire, and close the lid of the pit. Cook for about 10 minutes.

Turn the crabs over, and fill the cavities with more of the butter sauce. Close the lid, and cook for 10 to 15 minutes. Cooking time will vary according to the heat of the fire and the size of the crabs. Brush the remaining butter sauce on the crabs, and serve immediately with hot French bread.

Serves about 6. ap

www.acadianaprofile.com | APRIL/MAY 2013

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les artistes

A Place of Her Own Lake Charles artist Candice Alexander spent years traversing the country selling her prints, searching for something she didn’t have to leave to find.

BY WILLIAM KALEC A prisoner of nature, she hasn’t opened the van door in three days and won’t for another four.

Covered in an unrelenting white snow, the modest Pennsylvania hills feel like Everest. Covered in discarded white plastic foam ramen noodle cups – Candice Alexander’s only sustenance at the time – the plush interior of this monstrous Dodge feels like Angola.

It’s the winter of 2006, and frankly, it’s too damn freezing for Alexander to chuckle at the irony. When she bought this van four years ago, it symbolized 16

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portrait by Lindsey Janies/ LindseyJanies.com

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les artistes

her escape from Southwest Louisiana – the four-wheeled magic carpet on which her artistic odyssey took flight.

She was going to travel the country; create pieces; somehow incorporate her folksy on-theroad adventures into her prints, engravings, maybe a film career and God knows what else.

“And I had [done that], to a degree, but I found myself at rock bottom,” Alexander says.

“I went to renaissance fairs and festivals, making pieces for that audience, using the money to pay my bills.”

The icy roads probably aren’t safe to travel. They won’t be until the end of the week.

By then, Alexander will have painted 18 new pieces and documented this forgettable/ unforgettable marooning in her notebook. In it, she writes about her wants, wishes and desires in an unedited stream of consciousness: how she’d author a collectable series of prints, how she needed her own gallery, her own huge space, one without seat belts. While writing, she was also reading – a book by Julia Cameron that she says changed her life, The Artist’s Way. Alexander followed it home.

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Today, her problems and stresses breathe comfortably in a 5,000-squarefoot gallery and studio in downtown Lake Charles. Even with a staff of a half-dozen workers, it’s not easy to keep up with customer demand, a welcome burden that blossomed a couple of years ago thanks to the popularity of Alexander’s Fleur De Lis – Worlds Within series. In those pieces, Alexander incorporates the iconic symbol of Louisiana into various themes and

genres, allowing that recognizable image to resonate on a personal, individual level.

“When it really took off, I remember a woman commissioning a Marine fleur-de-lis,” Alexander says. “Now if they want a Marine, then they’re going to want an Army and a Navy, a cop, a doctor. And it just hit me, ‘Oh, shit, I got some work to do!’ So for the last five years, I’ve busted my butt.

“My dream was – and kind of still

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les artistes

is – to be in an art history book someday after I die,” Alexander says, later. “The first sentence will be about me growing up in Hathaway, graduating in a class of 21, having a pet raccoon, getting in trouble for putting paint on my white bedsheets when I was a kid.

I don’t know why Mom got me a white one, but that’s where you have to start.”

The daughter of a farmer – mostly rice and soy, except during crawfish season – Alexander says her artistic curiosity sprouted from relatively infertile soil. The school district she lived in was too tiny to offer students art classes.

Her parents, while creative and nurturing, weren’t professionally trained. Alexander dabbled in 4-H, but really, her genesis as an artist began at a restaurant in Lake Arthur.

In 1992, the Cajun prairie region served as the setting for the movie Passion Fish, which was nominated for two Academy

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“I sat next to her, and all I could think was: ‘Wow, this is a real artist. Like a really real artist,’”

Awards and starred Mary McDonnell and Angela Bassett. Alexander ran into and befriended several key members of the film’s art department, including the backdrop painter.

Alexander recalls. “It was kind of a big deal, so everyone in town knew who the people were who were filming the movie. I pretty much knew from that day I was going to be an artist like her.”

They stayed in touch as Alexander attended nearby McNeese State University, majoring in visual arts. While there, she studied art history abroad in Paris and Athens. She graduated cum laude, and in March, she was honored to be the keynote speaker at a Junior Women’s Leadership conference at her alma mater.

“I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I knew I was going to sell my work,” Alexander says. “The only job I ever had was working at Hobby Lobby for a month, and I wasn’t going to do that again.”

So she bought a van (like a “Scooby Doo van,” she clarifies), packed it with a printing press and materials and hit the road. It was a big ol’ thing, hard to control and maneuver, Alexander recalls.

The first time she took it on the interstate, she cried out of fear.

Focused more on survival than success, she traversed the country from show to show, from fair to fair – hustling her pieces, trying to find a niche.

“I was an art gypsy,” she says.

“I’d camp out in a tent, camp out in a van. I had a cat, and it brought in poison ivy one time – it was awful. I took showers in hostels; I sold in parking lots near Jackson Square; I rode the subways in New York City with a suitcase that flipped up and folded out like a mini-display. I sold things for what I could get. I sold really nice things for dirt cheap because I had to.”

And then the snow fell – and fell and

engraving, money already spent to pay rent. Today, that unclaimed engraving still serves as the

fell, and everything changed.

Instead of distancing herself from the region, Alexander began flirting with fleurde-lis designs after she was stiffed the $300 she was owed for a commissioned

template for all of Alexander’s fleur-de-lis pieces.

Once home, Alexander delved deeper into the genre, perfectly blending Old World printmaking techniques with the latest digital editing technology.

“When I left, my intention was never to stay gone – I just didn’t think that there was anything here, as far as art, that I could make a living on,” Alexander says.

“Five-thousand-square-feet later, we’re out of room in downtown Lake Charles. When I opened this storefront, I said it’d do one of two things: It was going to make me stay or make me go.

“Well, months later, I signed a long lease on this building. The phone doesn’t stop ringing. The email is full. It’s a dream come true.” ap

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la maison

tile style Top-notch kitchens & baths

By Betty Tujague Photographs by craig macaluso

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la maison

What did you feel was important in the kitchen of your recently built home?

Carla: Our home has an open floor plan, so I felt the color scheme should be neutral, which I did with the cabinets, painted a cream with brown antiquing.

To make the island stand out but still remain neutral, I used a sage green that also has an antiqued finish.

How do the tiles work in this scenario?

Carla: There needed to be a pop, so I accomplished this with the rectangular finger tiles that show varying shades of brown. The half-inch tiles set in picture frames in the back of the stove and the sink are seen from the living room, and that looks really nice. United Tile of Lafayette LLC is where the tiles were purchased.

How else did you make your kitchen more attractive when viewed from the living area?

Carla: What shows is the raised part of the island with my bar stools but not the part that is lower in the kitchen area.

My microwave is incorporated in this part of the island, so that takes it out of the visual, too. The corbels on the higher side were a nice decorative addition.

What materials are your floors and countertops made from?

Carla: My countertops are granite in coordinating hues while my floors are 24-by-24-inch amber-colored porcelain tiles laid in a 45-degree diamond pattern.

What thought process brought about the cabinet section with the clear glasspaneled doors?

Carla: I wanted to add a piece of furniture there, but my designer, Christi Latour of Latour Interior Design LLC, suggested we just add this instead to show some of the nice decorative items I had. She was a great help in my selection of everything you see in our kitchen.

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Jared and Carla Bellard

Lafayette

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Iggie and Tia Castille Lafayette

Were there some features you knew you wanted in your kitchen prior to building your home?

Tia: Although Crissy Greene of Elle Design & Décor LLC in Lafayette helped me in selection of color shades, material textures and more, I was definite about the cabinets being white, having antique pine floors in a dark stain and that there would be a double-freezer fridge.

How did your family size affect your kitchen design?

Tia: My husband and I have four children, so seating around the island was important for daily use. We also offset the round dining table nearby for convenience. Using white fabrics to upholster the chairs seems impractical, but they have all been fibersealed. I like the way the white contrasts with the dark flooring.

Was there anything else you incorporated in your kitchen that added to its function or looks?

Tia: Having a pot faucet installed in the back of the stove has been a real help when cooking gumbos and soups. Also the cabinet above the second island that separates the keeping room from the kitchen has glass doors on both sides.

It takes the place of a china cabinet in displaying my nice crystal, pewter and porcelain pieces. Another decorative feature involves the bottoms of the cabinets, which have legs like furniture would. I especially like how that looks.

Is there a certain style you feel your kitchen exhibits?

Tia: We’re beach-lovers, so I was inspired by years of going to Seaside and Rosemary Beach in Florida, making “coastal” the best way to identify it.

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la maison

How would you describe your kitchen in terms of style?

Melanie: The best way would be a French kitchen with Louisiana flavor.

I have remained true to this look even in former homes, including the use of the same Brunswick wallpaper in all of my kitchens.

Did you use an interior designer to achieve what you wanted?

Melanie: Yes, I chose Rita Durio of Rita Durio & Associates in Lafayette because I felt like she would be the best one as far as interpreting what I wanted.

What is your favorite feature?

Melanie: Having a DCS high-powered commercial range with six burners has made cooking for guests a real pleasure.

What other features are special to you?

Melanie: The old cypress cabinets really bring a warmth to this room as well as the brick floors laid in a basket weave pattern. They both offer a wonderful surface that allows my collection of flow blue china plates and antique teapots to stand out.

Do you eat most meals in the kitchen?

Melanie: [The island] makes a great buffet area for serving guests, [but] I prefer not to eat in the vicinity where I have prepared meals. We have an adjacent keeping room that offers an extended space for easy socializing between both rooms.

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Owen and Melanie Goudelocke Lafayette

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CRAwfish, seAfood, BAR-B-Que CRABs, steAKs

Live Cajun Music Nightly Tues. - Sat.

A CAjun RestAuRAnt Lunch Monday - Friday, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Evenings Tuesday - Saturday, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Hwy. 97 between Jennings & Basile (337) 432-5141 www.discajunrestaurant.biz

Scott Pharmacy Inc. The Rexall Store St. Mary at Railroad Scott, LA 235-5216

The Oldest Drug Store In Lafayette Parish Larry Hebert and Jo Ann Tanner, Pharmacists

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Allen and Christi Latour Lafayette

You say you have renovated your master bath within the past year.

How much was involved in the change that took place?

Christi: Our home is seven years old, and our bathroom seemed like it had no personality, that it looked like plain vanilla. We went all the way gutting it to the studs.

As a designer with your own business, Latour Interior Design LLC in Lafayette, did your access and connections help with your choices?

Christi: I am constantly coordinating baths for my clients, so I am up with the latest in the market. At the time, I came across a new concept, penny round tiles in a blend of aquamarine, sand and green hues. The variations of color and the finish, shiny and matte at the same time, are a really great combination with the custom cabinets built by Cabinets Plus LLC in Youngsville of sapele wood. As an alternative to Brazilian mahogany, this wood has a beautiful grain with a rich warm appeal. The mosaic also matches perfectly with the blue in the double vanity mirrors.

What are some other selections that helped you finish your renovation?

Christi: Well, granite was too busy for my countertop, so I used a 100 percent recycled material manufactured by IceStone, which consists of glass, Portland cement and pigment. Again, I wanted a lighter look this time in the flooring, shower walls and tub surround, so I chose 12-by-24-inch porcelain tiles in a sand tone that are designed with the veins in a linear direction. I finished by adding champagnecolored plumbing fixtures in a brushed bronze that I found at LCR The Plumbing Warehouse in Lafayette.

How would you best describe the style that you wanted to achieve?

Christi: “Transitional� is a new term that has become popular as it describes a mix of contemporary and traditional. I think it can be considered classic for the long term.

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What made you choose Crissy Greene of Elle Design & DĂŠcor LLC in Lafayette as your interior designer?

Karen: At the time my husband and I were working on our house plans, we attended the Parade of Homes in Lafayette. It was 2011, and Crissy’s personal home was one of them. I fell in love with the country French style she had done for herself.

What specific feeling did you want your own master bathroom to convey?

Karen: I wanted mine to visually lean to the formal but to still generate a comfortable atmosphere.

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What features were incorporated to achieve this?

Karen: Above the granite counter hangs an elegant and rather ornate oversize European-style mirror flanked by sconces with attached crystals. Another is the travertine 4-by-18-inch stone floors set in a herringbone pattern.

Were there any unique custom innovations that you particularly enjoy?

Karen: The taller cabinets in my bathroom have antique mirrored glass at the top overlaid with mullions set in a diamond-shaped design. With the addition of an antiqued blue finish, the look is very rich. A favorite of mine is

Tim and Karen Bearb Lafayette

the corner cabinet offset from the vanity that not only houses my curling iron and rollers but also has outlets for connecting them. Another great idea was the [addition of] cabinet panels alongside the garden tub that store small bath-related items.

Anything else you would like to add?

Karen: Other than the garden tub, we also enjoy our walk-in shower walled with granite that sports a granite bench, too. Our plumbing fixtures have an oil-rubbed bronze finish.

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la maison

How did you envision your master bath when planning your home?

Tia: As in my kitchen, I knew that white would dominate the bathroom color scheme. That would include the cabinets, floors and walls. To provide a break and a nice contrast, [for] the countertop, walls of the shower and a mosaic floor inset, Carrara marble in light gray tones was used.

What about your hardware and plumbing fixtures?

Tia: I was certainly consistent with that, too. Chrome was my choice for everything, including the feet on my old-fashioned tub. These we got from Southern Bath & Kitchen in Lafayette.

What were some special features that you added?

Tia: The shaded wall lighting that matches the ceiling fixture brings an elegant feel to my bath as well as the glass knobs on our closet and bathroom doors. Add to this the teak wood of the double-door opening from bedroom to bath, which was used throughout our home. Another is the rich detailed crown molding that is also repeated in all of the rooms.

What else do your closet and bathroom doors exhibit?

Tia: They were custom-designed to show an architectural sort of embossment that certainly enhances them.

Who helped with your bathroom design?

Tia: We’re a busy family like most, so I relied heavily on Crissy Greene to scout for the things that I knew I wanted. She provided the choices that I selected from. ap

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Iggie and Tia Castille Lafayette

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top new Exploring Acadiana’s Latest

By Cheré Coen • Photographs by Steve Hronek www.acadianaprofile.com | april/may 2013

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South Louisiana offers a vibrant culinary scene, with outstanding chefs; ambitious restaurant owners; and an abundance of fresh produce, seafood and meats. It’s no wonder residents incorporate food into every aspect of their lives, celebrating seasonal dishes such as crawfish and rice, honoring culinary flavors in numerous spring festivals and enjoying the popular restaurants that dot the landscape from the Mississippi River to the Texas border.

Here are a few new restaurants that have recently opened in Acadiana.

6815 W. Park Ave., Houma (985) 262-9972 demitassecafehouma.com Debbie and David Heard’s world came crashing to a halt when their 12,000-square-foot antiques store and restaurant in Thibodaux burned to the ground in December 2010. They lost everything, from the irreplaceable antiques to the 200-person banquet room.

Since the fire, the couple has moved their business once but recently found what they consider to be a permanent home at 6815 W. Park Ave. in Houma.

The new Demitasse Café marked its one-year anniversary in March.

“We are really excited about the patrons in Houma,” Debbie Heard says. “It’s wonderful. We love it here. It’s been a very good move for us.”

The Demitasse Café still serves up 30 different types of panini, soups and salads for lunch and dinner, plus a varied breakfast menu that ranges from breakfast sandwiches to build-your-own omelets. As before, the Demitasse offers a huge drink menu of specialty coffees, teas, smoothies, milkshakes, Italian sodas and much more, Debbie Heard says.

People drive over from Thibodaux to enjoy their familiar restaurant, asking when the Heards will move back or open a second location back up the bayou.

“They complain all the time, [asking] why we’re not back in Thibodaux,” says Debbie Heard, who won’t commit to whether they will open again in Thibodaux. “But after the fire, we live day by day. You never know when it will all be taken away from you.”

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Lafayette * (337) 967-1016 Search for “Freetown Fries” on Facebook

The gourmet food truck scene has exploded in Lafayette, beginning quietly about a couple of years ago with trucks such as Viva La Waffle serving unique sandwich fixings on waffles and now stretching to about a dozen trucks on any given day. A roundup of most or all of the trucks, sponsored by E’s Kitchen, a store offering kitchen accessories, is held the first Saturday of each month in the parking lot of Parc Lafayette, attracting quite a crowd.

For Marla Kristicevich, the idea for her Freetown Fries truck began in Portland, Ore., where a gourmet food truck trend was happening. She envisioned a similar culinary fad for Lafayette given that the town is known for its festivals and outdoor music events.

Kristicevich serves up meals based on fresh hand-cut french fries that are lightly fried in peanut oil and range from Poo-yie Fry with beef roast gravy, queso cheese, green onions and a dash of cayenne pepper to Mediterranean Fry with garlic hummus, feta cheese, olives and spices.

On Fridays, she serves catfish and fries, a Cajun take on fish and chips.

For Mardi Gras, her King Cake Fry featured sweet potatoes with a multicolored glaze on top.

The idea for Freetown Fries actually had its origins in Canada, where the original Cajuns lived before being expelled by the British and heading to Louisiana. Poutine is a French-Canadian dish of french fries topped with gravy and cheese. Kristicevich wondered why Cajuns didn’t enjoy french fries the same way, although Freetown Fries’ version may be more flavorful and inventive than its Northern kin.

“Mine are fun and creative and the Cajun cousin to the Canadian poutine,” she says.

Freetown Fries, like many of the new trucks on the market, uses fresh ingredients and a healthier way of cooking. Kristicevich uses nothing frozen, for instance. “It keeps me honorable,” she says.

The name of the truck comes from the Lafayette neighborhood in which Kristicevich lives.

Even though she loves her mobility, Kristicevich’s dream for Lafayette is a city park where the trucks can gather on a regular basis. “I think it would be a smart choice to make,” she says. “It’d be a nice draw because we’re such an eat-friendly town.”

Most of the Lafayette trucks can be found on Facebook, and they announce their locations daily. For the monthly roundup, visit E’s Kitchen’s website at eskitchen.com.

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Longtime Lafayette restaurateur Charlie Goodson, who owns the award-winning Charley G’s, has teamed up with executive chef Marc Krampe, whose family owns the Lafayette McDonald’s franchise, and Jody Ferguson, owner of Acadiana’s Casa Olé. The threesome formed Southern Hospitality Kitchens to locate voids in the Lafayette culinary market and fill them with locally owned restaurants, Goodson says.

Their first establishment is Social Southern Table & Bar, “a chef-driven bar” aimed at ages 25 to 40 “and the young at heart,” Goodson says. Social Southern is more fast-paced than a restaurant, he says, but also offers a sophisticated menu along with such specialty cocktails as the Social Sazerac and Blackberry Bourbon Lemonade; wine flights; and a large variety of wines, beers and upscale liquors.

“We have great bars in town and great restaurants in town,” Goodson says, “but we wanted to do something in between.”

The menu by chef Krampe consists of “Speakeateries” appetizers; specialty sandwiches and salads; flatbreads; “Supper Plates” featuring items such as Guinnessbraised pork; and “Social Fixins” for two, such as Macn-Cheese with pepper, sake and aged white cheddar.

Goodson says the most popular items have been the Smoke Fried Chicken-n-Foie Gras Biscuits and the flatbreads, which are created on-site in a wood-burning oven. The restaurant also makes its own breads, with the exception of the poor boy loaves, which adds to its popularity, Goodson adds.

Social Southern is open for lunch and dinner at its Johnston Street location, halfway between downtown and the Mall of Acadiana.

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3901 Johnston St., Lafayette (337) 456-3274 * socialsouthern.com

149 Fuselier Road, Arnaudville (337) 754-7147 facebook.com/TheLittleBigCup

photos courtesy cheré coen

Arnaudville is located at the confluence of bayous Fuselier and Teche east of Grand Coteau and north of Breaux Bridge and Cecilia. Over the years the historic town has developed into a vibrant arts community with the NUNU Arts and Culture Collective developed by artist and native son George Marks, Tom’s Fiddle & Bow and several arts-related festivals.

There are locally owned and operated restaurants in town, including Russell’s Food Center with its popular plate lunch special. But the opening of The Little Big Cup café and coffee shop in the heart of town was like a shot of espresso, pumping life into the community and providing a gathering place that’s open well into the night.

The café is run by Kevin Robin, an Arnaudville native, and his New Yorkborn partner Sanjay Maharaj. Robin’s family owns Russell’s, which includes a catering business, so the two envisioned opening a café with the catering business inside, Maharaj says.

After The Little Big Cup opened in October, the response was overwhelming; the café’s lunch and dinner specials were just as in demand as their coffee offerings and desserts, Maharaj says. Since the restaurant end has taken over, the partners have purchased the building next door and moved the dining area there while keeping the original space as a café, with comfy chairs and couches. The catering business will continue out of the expanded kitchen, and there is now outdoor seating by the bayou.

What has made The Little Big Cup so successful, Maharaj says, is the reasonable prices and the specials in addition to the set menu. The café provides well-balanced meals for $5, he says, plus experiments with specials such as offering Chinese once a week since Arnaudville doesn’t have a Chinese restaurant.

They are currently working on obtaining a liquor license for the dining area.

“So far it’s been going really well,” the New York transplant says, adding that he loves his new home. “People are so nice, the food is wonderful, and I have more time to enjoy the simple things of life.”

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Although it’s been around since 1969, we’re classifying Landry’s Seafood and Steakhouse as a “new restaurant” because chef Alex Patout has revitalized it since he took over. Patout, who operated restaurants in New Orleans for 25 years, lost everything when Hurricane Katrina came to town, and New Orleans’ loss was New Iberia’s gain when Patout decided to move back to his hometown. Landry’s, which is not affiliated with the chain of Landry’s seafood restaurants, is owned by Dave and Grace Landry and managed by Elaine Buteau. Located off Highway 90 at Jefferson Island Road, the restaurant focuses on authentic Cajun with the popular Maw Maw’s Lunch Buffet on weekdays and the Cajun Camp Fish Fry Friday lunch, among other menu items.

“Our motto is ‘fresh and wild,’” Patout says of the menu, “whatever we can get indigenous.”

That means fresh catfish from Loreauville, oysters from Plaquemines Parish and jumbo crawfish from a Henderson processing plant. Patout even buys his vegetables from the Iberia Parish Prison, raving about the fresh mustard greens.

“We are a true Cajun restaurant in Cajun Country,” Patout says. “We want people to feel there is something that’s really designed for people to get a taste of the culture.”

Patout opened his first restaurant in New Iberia in 1978 and won acclaim and invitations to cook for several world leaders. Food & Wine magazine named him one of the Top 25 Chefs in America. He later opened Alex Patout’s Louisiana Restaurant in the French Quarter of New Orleans but lost the business in Katrina.

As in the past, Patout uses Louisiana’s best in his cooking. His tasting menu, for instance, includes crabmeat Maison, crawfish bisque, petite softshell crab, Cajun smothered roast duck and bread pudding with rum sauce. ap

Highway 90 at Jefferson Island Road, New Iberia (337) 369-3772 * landryscajunrestaurant.com

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There are several new restaurants that have opened in Lake Charles within recent months, including three on Ryan Street. Tuscany Italian Restaurant at 3905 Ryan (337/478-0303) offers a variety of traditional Italian cuisine with hearty pasta dishes and fresh, homemade garlic bread. Siam Restaurant at 723 Ryan (337/214-6087, facebook.com/ siamrestaurant723), closer to downtown, serves up a variety of Asian specialties from Thailand, China and Vietnam. The elegant wine bar Heist at 700 Ryan (337/437-7633, facebook. com/heistwinebar) opened at the end of March with specialty cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in addition to its wines.

Dharma at 329 Broad St. (337/433-3144, facebook.com/dharmalc) serves up farm-to-table fare, including artisan pizzas, stromboli, calzones and salads, sometimes accompanied by live music, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. The motto of Dharma, appropriately, is “feed your soul.”

Cousin’s Lebanese Cuisine at 2612B Kirkman St. (337/437-1144, cousinslebanese.com) offers Mediterranean and Lebanese cuisine including a variety of kebabs, tabouli, hummus and wraps. The name refers to owners Sam and George Homsi, natives of Lebanon who moved to Lake Charles about 30 years and were assisted by George Abraham, a first cousin to Sam and George’s grandfather. Abraham called the two “cousin,” and the name took.

LeBleu’s Landing and Sausage Link Specialty Meats at 202 Henning Drive (337/528-6900) in neighboring Sulphur offers Cajun cuisine standards such as boiled crawfish and seafood gumbo along with an oversize buffet and a full-service meat market. Visitors may choose between a sit-down meal or grabbing some boudin to go.

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r

ecently all the rooms at the Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville were sold out. That’s not unusual except this was a Wednesday night and there was no holiday. The nearby hotels were also full for the night. Was there a sudden surge of gambling interest? No, there was a regional legal conference in town plus a big concert at the casino – none of which had to do with gambling. Of course the games of chance created the background, and neither the casino nor the hotel would be there without them, but the casino life increasingly has become marketable as a “staycation,” the “in” phrase for those who want to take a trip but not get too far away from home.

South Louisiana and western Mississippi, just a short jaunt away, both offer a jackpot full of such casino/hotel/resort facilities. Let’s begin in Acadiana – alphabetically.

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Cypress Bayou Casino & Hotel

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Coushatta Casino Resort Calling itself your “best bet” for winning big, Coushatta Casino Resort is owned and operated by the Coushatta tribe of Louisiana. With more than 2,800 slot machines, the casino claims your odds of winning at slots here are higher than at any other Louisiana casino.

Coushatta’s expansive collection of slots includes more than 170 video poker machines with, according to the website, “the best payback in the region.” The casino also boasts more than 640 nonsmoking-area machines, the largest in the state.

Vegas-style table games, such as minibaccarat, roulette and high-stakes salons, also add to the casino floor.

Non-gamers have options at Coushatta, too. With four lodging options – the 900-room Coushatta Grand Hotel, Red Shoes “lakefront RV and chalet resort,” the Seven Clans Hotel and the Coushatta Inn – the resort is guaranteed to have lodging that meets your needs and lifestyle.

The 18-hole and 65-acre Koasati Pines golf course features a bonus 19th “gambling hole” with an island green for added fun and was rated “excellent” in Golf Digest’s 2008 “Best Places to Play.”

Highlights of Coushatta Casino Resort include a supervised sports and arcade center for kids and a luxurious pool featuring two “meandering rivers,” slides, a splash pad and a swim-up bar. ––E.H.

777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder 800/584-7263 • coushattacasinoresort.com

Travis Tritt and Diamond Rio are just two of the many musical acts that have performed at Cypress Bayou Casino & Hotel. Only 45 miles from Lafayette, Cypress Bayou boasts more than 1,350 slot machines and more than 50 table games.

Cypress Bayou is home to Vegas classics such as blackjack, roulette, craps, Let It Ride and Fortune Pai poker, as well as a large variety of slots, from penny slots to wide area progressives. High Stakes Indian Bingo is also a favorite, but check ahead for dates and times.

Foodies flock to Cypress Bayou. With seven restaurants to choose from, there are great experiences to be had for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mr. Lester’s Steakhouse’s offerings include chateaubriand and garlic-broiled shrimp. A piano and cigar bar help to create a sophisticated atmosphere. In addition to Mr. Lester’s, Cypress Bayou includes RIKRAK Asian cuisine and sushi bar; Loco Mexican restaurant; Cafe Bayou, serving Cajun classics; Eats, combining local favorites with American classics; Fresh, serving panini and coffee; Bocat’s Oyster Bar; and Dogs hot dogs.

832 Martin Luther King Road, Charenton The brand-new deluxe 800/284-4386 • cypressbayou.com hotel debuted in 2012. ––E.H.

Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino A one-of-a-kind “racino,” Evangeline Downs offers the ultimate combination of track and casino gaming. Just 20 miles from Lafayette Airport, Downs’ racetrack has the largest number of horses per race than any track in the country, making your chances of winning at the races the highest. The newly added oval track is state-of-the-art, and so are the luxury suites available for watching the race. Each VIP suite accommodates 12 guests and includes a self-service betting terminal, a view of the finish line and a TV for added viewing comfort.

Can’t be there in person? No worries: You can view the race live on the Downs’ website.

The hotel features 117 rooms and offers a pool and hot tub, a daily hot breakfast and a business center for those who like to mix business with pleasure.

Downs is also home to more than 1,400 of the hottest slot machines, with the Quickets system on every one so you 2235 Creswell Lane Extension, Opelousas can cash in fast. Or 866/472-2466 • evangelinedowns.com put your feet up and watch the action from Zydeco’s, the raised bar and lounge that offers a classy perch in the center of the casino floor. Catch nightly live entertainment, with stars such as Tracy Lawrence and Lorrie Morgan. ––E.H. stock image

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L’Auberge du Lac Casino The 2005 completion – and subsequent 2007 renovation (necessitated by Hurricane Rita) – of the L’Auberge du Lac casino in Lake Charles was truly a game-changer. For years the quaint, homey casinos along Contraband Bayou satisfied the gaming appetite of travelers along Interstate 10 in a bare bones fashion. There were few frills, few trappings, little garnish – and really, few reasons to stay.

Not anymore.

With more than 1,000 hotel rooms, a litany of dining options, worldclass golf, jewelry shops, casino gaming and enough meeting space to accommodate business or personal affairs, the L’Auberge du Lac is the epitome of a destination, not a drive-by pit stop. L’Auberge du Lac’s golf course, the Contraband Bayou Golf Club, is the brainchild of legendary course architect Tom Fazio. For this 18-hole, 71-par course, Fazio seamlessly incorporated the natural South Louisiana topography into each fairway, hazard and bunker: Tee shots are framed by moss-draped oaks, marshes hug the second cut, and eight lakes often punish aggressive golfers. The Contraband, the only Fazio-designed layout in Louisiana, was named one of Golfweek’s Best Casino Courses in 2011.

Beyond the standard bells and whistles found at most regional resorts, L’Auberge offers something unique: a chance to be a grown-up kid. It’s called L’Arcade, a video game play land stocked with old classics from casino-goers’ childhoods and the newest state-of-the-art machines. Throw in multiple air hockey tables and a row of Pop-A-Shot 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles basketball, and it can be quite easy to lose track of the night amidst the fun. ––W.K. 337/395-7777 • llakecharles.com

L’Auberge Casino & Hotel Just like its sister resort in Lake Charles, L’Auberge Baton Rouge offers guests the chance to live “life to the fullest, in legendary fashion.” The 12-story luxury hotel’s amenities include a day spa brought right to your room and a rooftop pool that features private VIP cabanas for booking and a full-service bar.

With almost 1,500 slot machines and 50 classic table games, L’Auberge promotes an exciting and rewarding gaming experience. Some of L’Auberge’s best features are its many promotions, including $10,000 Slot Tourney Thursdays, Deuces Wild drawings and free access to the out-of-this-world buffet for guests 50 and up.

If great music and performances are what you’re after, take your pick from one of L’Auberge’s four spots that are home to live entertainment. For a relaxing evening with friends, head to the rooftop pool’s Sunset Society concert series on Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. or catch a concert by nationally renowned acts such as the Black Crowes at The Lawn outdoor festival grounds.

Other highlights include Wine Tasting Wednesdays at 18 Steak and personalized gaming experiences available at L’Auberge Casino. ––E.H.

777 L’Auberge Ave., Baton Rouge 866/261-7777 • lbatonrouge.com 48

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Paragon Casino Resort Paragon is a full casino resort that promises to have something for everyone, – from kids to serious gamers to spa queens.

Paragon is the only casino in Louisiana to offer live keno and boasts one of the largest poker rooms in the state. There are more than 2,000 slot machines and an off-track betting parlor.

Play golf all day on the three-time U.S. Open Qualifier host Tamahka Trails course for only $35 on Wednesdays and enjoy a decadent dinner at one of three fine restaurants or Paragon’s expansive buffet. The Sunday night cochon de lait is highly recommended.

Paragon plays host to a variety of worldclass entertainment acts, including the Isley Brothers and the all-day March Country Madness indoor music festival.

If you’re looking to get in touch with nature and have an unforgettable resort experience, stay at the grand 200-lot RV park or in one of Paragon’s quaint wooden cabins, each complete with a full bath.

Highlights of the resort include the 500-room hotel’s indoor tropical pool with a waterfall and swim-up bar, its own movie theater, an arcade room and designer shops. ––E.H.

711 Paragon Place, Marksville 800/946-1946 • paragoncasinoresort.com

Beau Rivage After enduring the brunt of Hurricane Katrina’s fury, the Beau Rivage Casino and Resort underwent a $550 million renovation and officially reclaimed its rightful spot as the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s premier entertainment venue on Aug. 29, 2006 – exactly one year after landfall.

The expansive complex employees more people than any other business in Biloxi (roughly 3,800 folks), and structurally speaking, it’s the tallest and largest building in the entire state. And yet despite its massive thumbprint, the Beau Rivage doesn’t swallow up its guests as the staff and amenities willingly cater to a cornucopia of individual tastes and wishes.

Into gaming? The remodeled casino floor stretches a couple of city blocks, leaving more than enough room for 93 tables, an armada of 2,100 slot machines and a 16-table poker room. For those with pockets fat enough to escape the hustle and bustle of the main floor, the Beau Rivage offers a secluded high-rollers room stocked with 10 blackjack tables and an interchangeable table for roulette or baccarat; a high-limit slot room with 100 slot machines; an exclusive buffet and bar lounge; dedicated cashier services; private restrooms ; and round-the-clock concierge service.

Into food? Who isn’t? Beau Rivage’s dining options run the culinary gamut from casual to couldn’t-be-more-formal. The casino buffet is a can’t-miss favorite and features a wide variety of entrees and sides, particularly Southern staples. BR Prime features top-end cuts of steak and seafood and has a 3,500-bottle wine collection. Of course, there’s a place to get coffee, a place to get ice cream, a place to grab a burger and a place to sit and eat a sandwich after 18 holes of golf at Fallen Oak Golf Course.

Oh, right – the golf. Another great design by Tom Fazio, Fallen Oak is a championship-caliber par-72 course built exclusively for Beau Rivage guests. In 2010, Golfweek magazine named it the top course in the state. ––W.K.

875 Beach Blvd., Biloxi 228/386-7111 • beaurivage.com www.acadianaprofile.com | april/may 2013

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Harrah’s Resort

IP Casino Resort spa Rising 32 stories into the sky overlooking Biloxi’s enchanting Black Bay, the IP Casino Resort Spa offers a view rivaled by very few. But you can only look at the water for so long, right? Thankfully, this place offers much more than just a surplus of scenery. Those wishing to test their luck can do so on the 70,000-square-foot gaming floor, highlighted by a 13-table nonsmoking poker room that frequently hosts televised World Poker Tour events. In addition, the usual gambling suspects – blackjack, video poker, slot machines and roulette – are all well-represented at IP, along with specialty games such as Pai Gow and Dragon Bonus Baccarat.

When the fun on the floor boils over, Senses Spa & Salon is a logical place to unwind and relax. As soon as you step inside, you’re greeted by a gentle wave of colorful fresh flowers, pleasing natural scents and the melodic soundtrack of a rushing waterfall. From there, you can either get in a workout at the spa’s fitness center or go the opposite route and mellow out in the sauna, whirlpools or coed steam room. Either way, fresh fruit, juices and water are plentiful for guests.

Reservations are encouraged.

Newly refreshed, spend the evening at IP’s main showroom, Studio A, which attracts acts from various entertainment genres. This spring alone, IP hosted headlining country acts Gretchen Wilson and Randy Travis, funnymen Jeff Foxworthy and Gabriel Iglesias and a loaded mixed martial arts fight card, not 850 Bayview Ave., Biloxi to mention funk legends The Doobie 228/436-3000 • ipbiloxi.com Brothers. ––W.K.

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A familiar name for those who frequent the gaming palace on Canal Street in New Orleans, the Harrah’s in Tunica replicates that first-class casino experience but in a less confined setting. This isn’t the city; this is the country, evidenced by the fact that many Tunica Harrah’s guests camp out at the adjoining Mid-South RV Park. Now, now, don’t fret. For those accustomed to the comforts of home, Harrah’s has plenty of hotel space. But those up for a little bit more adventure can reserve one of the 200 lots at the RV park. And to be honest, it’s not exactly “roughing it.” The Mid-South has a pool, WiFi, volleyball courts, laundry facilities and showers, not to mention places for your pets to roam and frolic.

Once inside Harrah’s, gamblers find themselves in the largest casino between Las Vegas and Atlantic City – approximately 140,000 square feet of gaming floor space. Table games include blackjack, mini baccarat, three-card poker, roulette, craps and Caribbean Stud. Winnings can be spent at several different restaurants, shopping venues and even at a clay shooting range on the casino grounds.

If you’re making a weekend out of a trip to Harrah’s, keep in mind that Memphis and its various tourist attractions – Graceland, Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum and Sun Records – are less than an hour’s drive away. ––W.K. ap

13615 Old North Highway 61, Tunica 800/WIN-4WIN • harrahstunica.com

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From Ashes to Architecture Exploring Historic Lake Charles DIVISION ST

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In Lake Charles, it isn’t any sort of unity that makes the historic district unusual but rather a BR AD T shared past that has resultedOin aSneighborhood featuring an eclectic collection of Victorian-style buildings, each with a distinct story and unique look. Massive columns are combined with wood-crafted ornamentation. Turrets are decorated with stained-glass windows. Intricate balustrades, scrolls and spindles detail expansive porches.

Originally a lumber town with 28 sawmills, Lake Charles was a place made out of wood. The term “Victorian” is used to represent many styles of architecture evolved in England and the United PUthat JO ST States from around 1840 to the early 1900s, but the city’s unique position as a lumber town resulted in immediate access to unusual tools, putting an uncommon spin on a common form of architecture.

“When you come to Lake Charles, you’ll see Victorian architecture that has some distinctive Lake Charles features,” says Adley Cormier, long-standing advocacy chair of the Calcasieu Historic Preservation Society, KIRBYwhich helps identify and document historic ST structures in the area and assists homeowners and property owners in maintaining these buildings.

With more than 40 blocks and hundreds of mixedstyle buildings, the Charpentier District has been IRlisted IS ST on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Take a walk through the Charpentier Historic District of Calcasieu Parish in Lake Charles, and you might notice something a bit unusual. Unlike in some historic neighborhoods found around the United States, the houses here don’t necessarily have uniform fencing or the same kind of vegetation. They aren’t all the same size or height. The houses aren’t all the same color.

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Many of the houses along Broad, Kirby and Pujo streets showcase the particular products, styles and designs of the mill owners who owned these homes, many of which were made of Louisiana cypress and hard pine. “They served as visual catalogs,” Cormier says, “and because of that, there’s an enormous variety of what we call kickshaws, which

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are little doodads … that hang off those Victorian houses we have here that are specifically designed in Lake Charles and were products of the Lake Charles mills.”

A combination of French, Spanish and German influences as well as transplants from the Upland South also created an unusual form of architecture and design. “We have a good variety of structures that make it a little less homogenous than other places,” Cormier says. “We have variations of size and shape and style.”

Design styles ranging from Queen Anne revival, the most elaborate of Victorian styles, to bungalows, which have large, overhanging roofs, can be found throughout the area. Gothic revival, colonial revival, Italian renaissance, Spanish colonial, Byzantine, Hollywood Moorish, Scottish baronial, Southern KIRBY ST Greek revival and neoclassical French architectural styles are all found tucked down the neighborhood streets in this unsuspecting Southwest Louisiana town.

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Because of its history as a lumber town, many distinctive architectural features were born in Lake Charles, including a particular siding DIVISION ST design known locally as German siding, which was created from the Louisiana cypress tree. The Lake Charles column first appeared after the turn of the 20th century when these two-story, slightly tapered columns made out of a single board came into use, and there are several great examples of the feature today. “This is essentially the sawmill version of the Greek revival column,” Cormier says.

S DIVISION ST “Columns, bracketry, dormers, roof styles, porches, windows – you could put whatever your heart wanted on your home,” says A.C. Bourdier, a historian for the Calcasieu Historical Preservation Society. “Some have three columns; some have five columns; some have two columns. We have a Victorian that has seven different architectural styles on it alone.” This particular CLEMENT ST house, built in 1900, is on the corner of Mill and Ford, has a yard about half a city block long and is beautifully painted, Bourdier says. “It’s the finest Victorian we have in town.”

Another home that Bourdier finds particularly attractive is a large two-story colonial building that was built in 1904 or 1905 and had many owners before being left vacant for several years.

BROAD ST by an attorney who did an excellent job in It was then bought restoring it. “I always point it out to all the people I take on tour because it’s the epitome of Lake Charles colonial architecture,” he says. It has a grooved ceiling on the porch painted blue and the famous Lake Charles columns.

Although the buildings themselves are the primary draw to the historic district, the people who have lived PUJO ST and worked here also left a legacy. “You can’t have a tour without ghosts,” Bourdier says. The first anesthesiologist in Lake Charles (who also conducted one of the first dairy inspections) lived in a house on the corner of Kirby and Reid streets – and he may still live there today in ghost form. A house on Mill Street is said to be haunted by a man who rocks in a chair on the porch. Up the block is a house that served as a stand-in prison when the city jail burnt down in 1910. Prisoners were put on the third level of the home, and conflicting stories say that one of these men either jumped out of the window in hopes of landing in www.acadianaprofile.com | april/may 2013

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Owning a home W PINE ST in the historic district of Lake Charles requires a lot of effort and financial investment on the part of the homeowners. Wet weather conditions can cause havoc on these buildings, so the exterior should be regularly painted.

In addition, three types of termites can be problematic, but many houses were originally built with superior wood that is more resistant to the pests, so protecting and preserving this wood has a structural purpose as well as an aesthetic one. “We also encourage that the façades of the house – the public areas W MILL ST that are shared with the street – try to remain as authentic as possible,” Cormier says. Archives that contain documented photographs of the homes from their early years provide information on what the homes originally looked like. Interior changes are left to homeowners, he says, “but we want people to think of the exterior of their homes as a shared resource for the entire community and that they’re essentially the caretakers for the house rather than the owners.”

“We want streetscapes to remain intact so that they’re leafy and cozy and family-oriented,” Bourdier says. “We want the look of Lake Charles in 1900.” That said, the neighborhood is now much more colorful than it was at the turn of the 20th century. “In the early 1900s there was a trend in painting homes white,” he says. “This was a white town. All the buildings and all the houses were white – and then one lady who had a little two-story painted it a tangerine color with cream trim. Shock of all shocks, it took off like wildfire.” Color was soon in vogue, and today the streets are a rainbow of hues.

At one point in time, one house had eight different colors on it (each shingle was individually painted) ranging from cream to dark purple with some blues.

Those who live in this part of downtown are, for the most part, proud of their neighborhood.

When someone wants to buy a home in the area, they’re told of the regulations and restrictions of maintaining the architectural integrity of the property. In Margaret Place (slightly southwest of downtown) in particular, homeowners are very protective of their neighborhood. “The neighbors will come over and say, ‘You can’t do that; it GILLright,’” doesn’t look Bourdier says.

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Architecture in the downtown area specifically was greatly influenced by a massive fire that swept through on the afternoon of Saturday, April 23, 1910. The blaze began behind the unoccupied opera house, Gunn’s Bookstore and a soft ST to the Catholic church drink stand and then quicklyPINE spread and courthouse. When it was finally contained four hours later, many downtown Lake Charles businesses and buildings had been destroyed along with several homes. In all, the fire destroyed 109 buildings. The city wasted no time in rebuilding what had been lost, but it did so in a way that attempted to preserve the integrity of what Lake Charles once was; however, it’s also obvious that several of the buildings were designed by pattern book design, which means MILL STthey have the same basic structure combined with personal touches.

As a result of Lake Charles’ fiery history, visitors today have a fascinating smorgasbord of architecturally quirky buildings (many of which just turned 100 years old) that mirrors what once stood in and near downtown, as well as original architecture found immediately beyond the affected areas.

During the annual Palm Sunday Tour of Homes, organized walking tours, special exhibits and interior tours DIVISION ST offer a rare, in-depth glimpse at homes that defined this period of history. Over the holiday HODGES ST

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a nearby oak tree but missed or was thrown out of the window after a fight broke out among some of the men. In any case, his ghost is said to still haunt the property.

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Shell Beach Drive and outside of town in nearby Sulphur. In order to have a building listed in this brochure, homeowners must research their living quarters PINE ST and understand the history behind them. Those homes ultimately chosen for inclusion look particularly interesting and have unique stories: They once housed someone significant in local history, were important in a trend movement in some way or have some other feature that MILL ST sets them apart from others in the neighborhood. “It’s not just the architecture that sets them apart,” Cormier says, “but also the association with other activities and individuals.”

Public buildings on the DIVISION ST walking tour have welldocumented stories that make them significant in Lake Charles’ history. A New Orleans architectural firm, Favrot and Livaudais, practiced historicism, which means it copied building styles from other eras in history, and the firm’s hand in constructing a number of the buildings in S DIVISION ST the downtown area is obvious.

Throughout the entire area today, it’s easy to see that an Italian influence is at play in both style and design. The courthouse, built in 1912, has a large copper dome and is a copy of a building located right outside of Venice, Italy. The city hall, built in 1911 completely in brick, is influenced by Tuscan buildings with its CLEMENT ST tower and balcony on the front. “It’s definitely Italian,” Bourdier says. Across the street is Immaculate Conception Cathedral, which is built in the Lombardy style of architecture out of Italy and has German and Austrian stained-glass windows. “The thing about Lake Charles is that it does not have the typical French or European style downtown,” he says. “This was Prairie Country, BROAD STnot settled by Cajuns or French or Spanish.” so it was Cormier recommends that those who are interested in exploring Lake Charles’ historic buildings do some research prior to visiting, especially if there’s a particular type of architecture or design of interest.

Margaret Place is known for its voluptuous gardens and bungalows, for instance. PUJO Charpentier features ST homes built from the 1860s through 1920s. “Parking your car and walking the streets can be a good way of pacing yourself to look at the detail of our houses and beautiful gardens,” he says. “If it’s a nice day out, you’re going to see people outside doing things. Because this is the South, they will probably acknowledge you as you walk down the street, maybe call you up for a glass of lemonade on their porch. That’s the best way to discover Lake Charles.” ap REID ST

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season, many of the homes are beautifully decorated with lights, and occasionally guided tours are made available in order to enjoy the festive façades.

However, the most common and flexible way to explore the historic district of Calcasieu Parish is by taking a self-guided walking tour. The Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau publishes a hearty brochure outlining noteworthy buildings in the Charpentier District (which includes the downtown area), as well as Margaret Place,

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advertising section

Spring Gift Ideas

Barnel’s – The Art and Framing Gallery 302 Guilbeau Road, Lafayette (337) 981-5895 Give the gift of memories past. Bring Barnel’s those old photos tucked in a drawer, and let us create the perfect shadow box collage.

Capitol Cyclery of Lafayette 4498 Johnston St., Lafayette (337) 981-4449 Give the gift of good health and fun for all ages! For more than 43 years, Capitol Cyclery of Lafayette has been putting “fun between your legs.”

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Caroline & Co. 113 Arnould Blvd., Lafayette (337) 984-3263 Large selection of unique gifts for spring, including Vera Bradley, home décor, baby gifts, jewelry and monogrammed gifts. Locally owned and operated for 16 years and conveniently located.

Cathy Miller Interiors 1921 Kaliste Saloom Road, Lafayette (337) 989-0713 Come in today and peruse our wonderful array of candles. Aquiesse, Lux, Izabella and original shell candles found only at Cathy Miller Interiors, Parc Lafayette!

E’s Kitchen 1921 Kaliste Saloom Road, #103, Lafayette (337) 534-8928 Packaged in a sporty travel case, soiree instantly enhances the taste of all wines. E’s Kitchen is locally owned and operated and has many unique spring gifts.

Mignon Faget Ltd. 1021 Kaliste Saloom Road, Lafayette (337) 534-8753 The iris, the native flower of Louisiana and the flower represented in the fleur-de-lis symbol, inspired Mignon’s Louisiana Iris Necklace.

www.acadianaprofile.com | april/may 2013

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Red Before Dawn After sitting (er, standing) atop a fitness empire for 50 years, Lafayette’s Red Lerille refuses to slow down. by william kalec Well into a Tuesday similar to the last one and much like the next, 77-year-old Red Lerille has bicycled 20 miles; blasted his pecs, triceps and biceps; picked up your dirty towels; completed any lingering paperwork; prayed for the forgiveness of sins – and oh, yeah, he’s piloted a plane today, too.

In 15 minutes or so, the pathetic slacker sun will get off its lazy butt and join him.

A self-described entrepreneur whose 20-acre muscle mecca rises above the trees and strip malls of Doucet Road, the one-time Mr. America bodybuilder still possesses the vigor of a caffeinated teenager – diligently adhering to a daily regimen requiring him to open his eyes shortly after the bartender yells for last call.

“I set my alarm for 2:20 a.m.,” he says. “But of course, I’m usually up before then. Guess you could say I’m a morning person. Working out has been a part of my life since I was a kid. That’s never wavered.”

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Lerille married his passion and profession. Opened in 1959 on the site of an abandoned lumberyard and outfitted with homemade gym equipment, Red Lerille’s fitness club mushroomed into one of the finest fitness facilities anywhere. The place has everything: full-court basketball; decked-out male and female locker rooms; racquetball, squash and tennis courts; an army of treadmills; matching indoor and outdoor pools; an upstairs weight room and a downstairs weight room; a boxing room complete with a ring. And finally, it’s got Red – everybody’s buff pawpaw whose salutations still drip a hard-to-lose native Westbank accent. He’s always around – scrubbing this and that; signing that and that; fixing this and that; choosing to stand all day, never sit.

“I looked at the way Joe Gold ran his gym – the guy who founded Gold’s Gym,” Lerille says. “Even when his gym grew into a franchise umbrella, he always had his own little gym and he never messed with it much. But he always made one improvement per month. And I said, ‘Boy, when I open my gym, I’m going to do the same thing – I’m going to make an improvement every month.’ I think that’s helped me more than anything. It’s gradual growth. Am I excited about how big we are? Well, it’s interesting. But if I had to do it again, I’d stay small. We can’t be like the little 24-hour places where one man can run the whole show. We could do that when I first opened, but then again, we had no competition.”

In celebration of the club’s recent 50th anniversary, employees young and old, from then and now, packed the place, chowing down on cake, jambalaya and sugary beverages with unpronounceable additives. Red, true to form, didn’t touch any of that junk.

It’s been that way, really, since he was 7 years old. He recalls his Uncle Harold constantly flexing and showing off a military-hardened physique. Red – a short, skinny guy at the time – was predictably enamored. Weight lifting throughout high school and during his own military service, Lerille captured the 1960 Mr. steve hronek photograph

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America bodybuilding title and was named America’s Most Muscular Man. “The big difference now is the abundance of information out there about health,” Lerille says. “That did not exist back [in 1963]. I’ll go back to my childhood. … The only magazine out there was one by Bernarr Macfadden, who nobody has ever heard of, called Physical Culture, and I used to read that sucker from cover to cover – advertisements, the whole works. Then, a little later, you had Strength & Health magazine,Your Physique and Muscle Power. Those were the magazines.

“Go to a rack now; there’s probably 100 on fitness. Heck, they might have a dozen

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“I’d say I’m more excited about working here now – picking up and taking folks on membership tours – than I was 50 years ago. A lot of my friends who own businesses don’t go in there dayto-day. I don’t get that.

I like it here.”

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on triathlons alone, and that’s probably an underestimation. Yes, obesity is a problem, but the people who are in shape are in shape. They’re in super shape. And so your club has to fit their high standards and needs.”

The massive thumbprint left by Red’s current club does just that, making it tricky to fathom that this modernday health club colossus was once the little-gym-that-could. After working at another Lafayette gym for a couple of years, Lerille opened his own place on Johnston Street. Short on funds, he borrowed $250 from his father to cover the first month’s rent.

“Guess it worked out pretty well,” Lerille deadpans. “The way I looked at it, I didn’t have a pot to pee in, so whether I made it or not didn’t make a tremendous amount of difference.”

The membership roster at Lerille’s club is now so expansive it can fill the Cajundome twice. His monthly utility bill exceeds what the average college graduate makes in a year. On par with festivals and outdoor concert series such as Downtown Alive!, Red’s club is the community’s common ground, attracting a wide swath of clientele – a melting pot where you actually sweat. Factory workers come to blow off steam after punching the clock while their white collar bosses gulp protein smoothies near the snack bar, everyone there

(presumably) for the same reason.

“Nobody wants to work out,” Lerille says. “You want that damn feeling when you’re finished. Man, it’s good. Whether it’s run, swim, bike or lifting weights, when you’re done – wow, what a feeling! Nothing compares. You can’t buy it. You have to earn it. I’ll tell you a story …”: About a year ago, one of Red’s sons called his old man up and said, “Let’s take a walk.”

“Where are we going?” Red asked.

“Spain,” Mark said.

“Hm, can’t we go around the block?”

Red wondered aloud.

As Mark further explained, he had just finished watching a movie starring Martin Sheen called The Way. In it, a father completes the 600-mile trek of the Way of St. James – a Christian pilgrimage concluding at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Mark suggested they hoof the entire thing. Red said yes but decided they should bicycle the route. It’s harder, he told Mark, which was true. On the way, Red lost 15 pounds, the last ounces dripping off him during a grueling 10.5hour final day, but he is quick to point out, “I kept up with those little rascals.”

“Would I do it again?” Red asks himself.

“Hell, no. But what a feeling.”

When he returned to Lafayette, equipped with enough equity to gobble a carton of ice cream or slam the snooze button, Red still set his alarm for 2:20 a.m. and squeezed in a workout before opening the club. But he’s slowed down a little, he admits. On Thursdays he leaves work at 6 p.m. instead 7 p.m., citing the hour fudging as his “semi-retirement.”

“I’d say I’m more excited about working here now – picking up and taking folks on membership tours – than I was 50 years ago,” Lerille says. “A lot of my friends who own businesses don’t go in there day-to-day. I don’t get that. I like it here.

We’ve had three or four generations who have been members here. The one-time 18-year-old who worked his first job here now is dropping off his 18-year-old for his first job. I hate to say it, but it’s true: If I didn’t work here eight, nine, 10 hours a day, I might go crazy. This is my life.” ap

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Pamplona’s beet-and-goat cheese salad

sur le menu

Raising the Bar Pubs and bars that serve great food By Jan Risher

MacFarlane’s Celtic Pub 417 Ann St., Lake Charles 337/433-5992 Lake Charles may not be the obvious choice for a Celtic pub, but four years ago, it came to be nonetheless. And despite its out-of-placeness, the MacFarlane’s faithful will tell you that it works.

MacFarlane’s Celtic Pub does its best to offer a full Celtic experience to its patrons with its menu, its beer selection, the occasional bagpipe and the fact that all the waitstaff wear kilts – girls and guys.

Which naturally leads to the question, “Just how authentic is MacFarlane’s kiltwearing?”

James Bittner, the owner, has an answer for that oft-asked question.

“That’s what everybody wants to know,” Bittner says with a laugh. “The saying goes that if you’re not wearing anything underneath, it’s a kilt. And if you are wearing something underneath, it’s a skirt. We do make our staff wear things underneath. So while they’re here, the

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guys are wearing skirts, I hope – but we don’t check!”

Aside from the beer, the most popular item on the menu, according to Bittner, is the shepherd’s pie, which is made with

MacFarlane’s shepherd’s pie

lamb, carrots, potatoes, peas and creamed mashed potatoes piped on top — all in a thick dark gravy.

“It’s very filling,” Bittner says. “For the price, you get more than enough to eat.”

Legends Annex 110 Polk St., Lafayette 337/504-3252 While many people head to downtown Lafayette for the local bar scene, the number of people heading to one of the bars specifically for its food is growing.

Legends Annex’s attention to detail and its decision not to serve traditional bar food has earned a faithful following.

Legend’s Annex serves healthier options, along with fantastic burgers. The wraps – particularly the tuna wrap – are local staples.

Social Southern Table & Bar (See Top New Restaurants, p. 42) 3901 Johnston St., Lafayette 337/456-3274 socialsouthern.com Talk about a transformation.

Tens of thousands of people passed the tired Chinese restaurant at the corner of Johnston and Marilyn in Lafayette every day for years. Few could have the vision to believe the dull brown building had the potential to be renovated into a supercool, exposed-rafters hip eatery.

But the folks at Southern Hospitality Kitchens, partners Jody Ferguson, Charlie Goodson and Marc Krampe, did have that vision – and Social Southern Table & Bar has opened with much enthusiasm on the Acadiana restaurant scene.

Krampe, Social’s chef, is full of passion and vision for his work. He says he didn’t always know he wanted to be a chef. “I went to college to be a chemical engineer … always been intrigued by how molecules work under pressure,” he says as he encourages Ferguson to try an appetizer of local chicken liver with mintcilantro-chile glaze he and Bill Schwanz, the chef de cuisine, put together for an evening in early February.

Krampe moved back to Lafayette two years ago after a stint in Austin, Texas, where he fell in love with the gastropub concept.

“I took Jody and Charlie to Austin so they could really take in the gastropub scene,” he says. “We visited 16 restaurants in two days, and they got it

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sur le menu Pamplona’s mushroom-spinach flatbread

and agreed with me that the style would go over well in Acadiana. The thing I like so much about the gastropub concept is you can do any kind of cuisine and it works in this environment. You take food from all over the world and make it work in this concept.”

Ferguson wants to take the concept even farther, starting with the attention to detail evidenced in their cleverly designed menu in a Kraft folder with metal binding at the top and ending with info on the Social Club option. Each member of Social Club will receive a key to one of the antique bronze post office boxes by the door. Every month members will receive something special, handselected by Krampe.

“We want people to feel a part of it,” Ferguson said. “They should be prepared for something new in the dining scene and know that everything is made from scratch. We’re using as many local ingredients as humanly possible.”

Ferguson describes the restaurant as being “pretty beer-centric” with an ever-

Social’s charcuterie

evolving assortment of dishes designed by the chef specifically to go with certain beers or limited-edition beers that come out.

Thus far, the Social team is enjoying their creation as much as patrons are appreciating the food, including pastry chef Amy Salsman’s creations.

“The other night I stepped back and looked around,” Krampe says. “The vibe is warm and welcoming – that’s what we’re

trying to accomplish. We want it to feel like a dinner party in a restaurant setting, and that’s what we’ve got going.”

Pamplona 631 Jefferson St., Lafayette 337/232-0070 pamplonatapas.com

Pamplona’s beautiful bar and highbrow drink selection make it a great choice for happy hour or special occasions.

With a wide selection of delicious tapas including crab fritters, escargot, mushroom-spinach flatbread and the marinated olives standby, it’s hard to go wrong. It’s all good. However, even though it’s not the healthiest choice, you’ve got to splurge every now and then, and when it’s time to indulge, the duck fat fries are unbeatable.

Morvant’s Bar & Grill 200 Lafayette St., Youngsville (337) 856-7469 Morvant’s Bar & Grill is a greasy spoon hole in the wall that’s been around for decades. But doing a piece on bars that serve food and not mentioning Morvant’s hamburgers would be against the law. Everybody needs to have a Morvant’s burger. ap

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visiter

Around Acadiana: Gatherings, carnivals and activities around Acadiana. Compiled by judi russell ONGOING

Through April 9. Spring Art Show. Downtown Art Gallery 630, Houma. 985/851-2198.

4-6 2013 LA State H.O.G. Rally. Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, Houma. 985/850-4657.

5-7 15th Annual Pre-49 Parade of Rods. Ramada Inn, Houma. 985/537-7656.

6 New Iberia Downtown Art Walk. 102 W. Main St., New Iberia. 337/369-2330.

7 Symphony Sunday in the Park. New Iberia City Park, New Iberia. 337/364-1603.

Horse Show. Houma Airbase Arena, Houma. 985/232-5141.

12-14 Cajun Hot Sauce Festival. SugArena, New Iberia. www.sugarena.com.

Southern Garden Festival. Lafayette. 337/233-3447.

13 Jambalaya Writers’ Conference. Terrebonne Parish Main Library, Houma.

985/850-5313.

The Louisiana Cajun Food Festival. Kaplan. 337/898-6600.

13-14 Downtown Crawfish Festival. Corner of Broad and Ryan streets, Lake Charles.

337/310-0083.

Louisiana Gated Dressage Horse Clinic. Camelot Wilderness Ranch, Leonville.

337/507-7267.

17 SugaSheaux Ride Night. SugArena, New Iberia. www.sugarena.com.

18-28 Wednesdays-Sundays. Rounding Third. Le Petit Playhouse, Houma. 985/876-4278.

18-21 The 14th Annual Washington Catfish Festival. Washington. 337/826-3627.

19-24 La Semaine Francaise. Arnaudville and Opelousas. 337/948-8004.

20 The Haven’s Annual Spring Gala. Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, Houma.

985/872-0757.

Ladybug Ball Children’s Festival. Southdown Plantation, Houma. 985/851-3999.

Cajun Seasoning: Zydeco Rhythms in the Heart of Acadiana. Parc Sans Souci, Lafayette. Louisianatravel.com/music.

Delcambre Seafood & Farmers Market. Shrimp Festival Grounds, Delcambre.

800/884-6120, Extension 6.

20-21 The Third Annual Artmania. Old School House Antique Mall, Washington.

337/277-2820.

21 Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet. St. Joseph Catholic Church, Chauvin. 985/594-5859.

Chauvin Folk Art Festival. Chauvin Sculpture Gardens, Chauvin. 985/493-2500.

24-28 Festival International de Louisiane. Downtown, Lafayette. 337/232-8086.

26 Downtown Live After 5. Courthouse Square, Houma. 985/873-6408.

26-28 The 28th Annual Étouffée Festival. Little Flower School Grounds, Arnaudville.

337/754-5911.

SugarFest High School Rodeo. SugArena, New Iberia. 337/365-7539.

27 American Cancer Society’s Annual Terrebonne Relay for Life. Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, Houma. 985/851-7719.

Grillin in the Park. New Iberia City Park, New Iberia. 337/367-8464.

30-May 12 Contraband Days Louisiana Pirate Festival. 900 Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles.

337/436-5508.

APRIL

Downtown Crawfish Festival

Festival International

MAY Contraband Days

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2-5 Firemen’s Fair & Parade. Tiger Drive, Thibodaux. 985/446-3247.

3 McNeese Banners Cultural Series presents Lynn Trefzger. Rosa Hart Theatre, Lake Charles Civic Center, Lake Charles. 337/475-5635.

3-4 Mayfest. Downtown Leesville Historic District, Leesville. 337/238-0783.

3-5 Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival. Parc Hardy, Breaux Bridge. 337/332-6655.

4 Best Blues, Beans, Jazz & Peas Contestival. 102 Main St., New Iberia.

337/560-5595.

Herbs & Garden Festival. Marie Street, Sunset. 337/662-3542.

TARC Garden & Market Festival. 1 McCord Road, Houma. 985/876-4455.

Annual McNeese Jazz Festival. Bulber Auditorium, McNeese State University, Lake Charles. 337/475-5123.

5 Terrebonne Livestock & Agricultural Association Horse Show. 121 Moffett Road, Houma. 985/232-5141.

9-12 Cochon de Lait. Cochon de Lait Civic Center, Mansura. 318/964-2887.

10-12, 17-19 Seussical the Musical. ACTS Theatre, Lake Charles. 337/433-2287.

11 Fourth Wheelin’ N Peelin’ Car Show and Crawfish Cookoff. Gossen Memorial Park, Rayne. 337/334-2332.

Q-ing on the Bayou Boat Poker Run. Delcambre Boat Docks, Delcambre. 337/6582422.

Delcambre Seafood & Farmers Market. Shrimp Festival Grounds, Delcambre.

800/884-6120, Extension 6.

16-18 Cruisin Cajun Country Cruise In. Ramada Conference Center, New Iberia. 337/3671631.

17, 24, 31 Downtown at Sundown Concert Series. Ryan Street, Lake Charles.

337/491-9159.

24-25 Creole Zydeco & Okra Festival. Adam Carlson Park, St. Martinville.

337/394-2233.

23-June 2 Cajun Heartland State Fair. Cajundome, Lafayette. 337/265-2100. ap

Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival

don’t see your event? go to acadianaprofile.com to submit.

Annual McNeese Jazz Festival

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en français, s’il vous plaît

On n’est pas des bêtes

notre état était d’ores et déjà établi dans l’imaginaire cinématographique américain comme un pays étrange et étranger.

Louisiana Story de Robert Flaherty est sorti après la 2è Guerre Mondiale.

Auparavant, il avait tourné Nanook du Nord, un film muet que certains considèrent comme un documentaire, même si Flaherty est accusé d’avoir mis en scène certaines

par david cheramie

Un petit film tourné dans les bayous a ravivé la question de notre image projetée sur le grand écran. Les bêtes du sud sauvage a pris la critique par surprise avec sa jeune interprète Quvenzhané Wallis dans le rôle de Hushpuppy Doucet. Les réactions positives semblent quasi-universelles, couvrant de louanges cette œuvre, le premier long métrage du metteur en scène, Benh Zeitlin, pour sa poésie lyrique et son aspect onirique. Il s’est inséré pendant un an dans la vie des habitants d’Île à Jean Charles, ce soupçon de village qui a servi d’inspiration pour la Baignoire, le cadre du film. Il est arrivé comme soufflé par les vents de Katrina pour comprendre cette région et le monde qui l’habite. De ces longues fiançailles est né le dernier d’une longue série de films qui porte un regard d’extérieur sur nous.

Ce n’est pas la première fois que la géographie exotique et le peuple unique de la Louisiane a attiré l’attention des praticiens du 7è art. Le tout premier Tarzan des singes a comme décor non pas l’Afrique, mais les marécages près de Morgan City. Ce film muet a initié une sorte de tradition hollywoodienne de faire le voyage relativement court et moins cher jusqu’à chez nous quand on cherchait un paysage lointain. Delores Del Rio est venue pour incarner Évangeline, notre héroïne nationale malheureuse. La « forêt primordiale » qu’on cherchait était bien celle de la Louisiane. Néanmoins,

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séquences. Louisiana Story, aussi présentée comme un documentaire, est, au mieux, une fable sans intérêt sur la vie d’un jeune garçon cadien et son chaoui domestique, ou, au pire, de la propagande payée par l’industrie pétrolière pour vanter les bienfaits du forage.

Que ce soit l’un ou l’autre, cette histoire n’est pas vraiment la nôtre. La réputation des Cadiens comme des tueurs invétérés du marécage épais et hostile jaillit sur le grand écran juste au moment où la nation découvre la culture cadienne avec la sortie de Southern Comfort. Encore aujourd’hui nous avons du mal à nous défaire de cette image de Délivrance sur le bayou. Depuis, il y a des exemples positifs de notre culture.

Avec Bélizaire le Cadien de Glen Pitre, on commence à faire des films par nous et pour nous. C’était une production qui tentait de refléter ce que la culture cadienne

avait à l’intérieur et le projeter vers le monde extérieur. Depuis, on a eu plusieurs films et documentaires dans cette même veine, notamment les travaux de Pat Mire ou de Conni Castille. On présentait enfin notre culture telle qu’on la vivait.

Et puis il y a eu Les bêtes du sud sauvage.

Ce film m’a rendu physiquement et moralement malade. Peut-être l’effet voulu était-il d’imiter les bercements d’un navire ivre qui se balançait au gré des flots, ainsi symbolisant un pays à la dérive. Plusieurs personnes, moi y compris, ont dit avoir eu le mal de mer. Mon malaise ne venait pas tellement des secousses de la caméra, mais de l’histoire qui se déroulait devant mes yeux : un peuple qui refusait la technologie jusqu’au point de pêcher à la main, une fille qui habitait séparée de son père, une mère qui avait abandonné sa famille pour rejoindre un bordel, des gens qui se soûlaient toute la journée et tout le monde qui vivait dans une crasse immonde. Non, c’était trop pour moi, malgré la poésie de Hushpuppy et la participation de beaucoup de gens que je connais personnellement. C’était comme si plus de vingt-cinq ans de réhabilitation de l’image des Louisianais du sud a été balayée d’un coup. C’est une allégorie, certes, mais la réalité de la chose est qu’on est encore une fois présenté, comme le titre l’indique, comme des bêtes du sud sauvage. Je souhaite une longue carrière réussie à tout le monde associé à ce film, mais j’aurais aimé une autre image parce qu’on n’est pas des bêtes. ap

for an english translation , visit www . acadianaprofile . com .