Louisiana Life Magazine July-August 2024

YOU’RE GONNA NEED A BIGGER BOAT

Loads of big fishing at the end of the world

FEATURES

Louisiana’s topranked hospitals according to patients 34 42 46

A ‘MISSING LINK’ FOR ELIMINATING CHRONIC PAIN

Physical therapist

Beth Winkler

TOP HOSPITALS

ON THE COVER Loads of big fishing at the end of the world

HOOKED ON VENICE

Little Town. Big Fish

Rosalie

Bring On the Heat

TO THOSE WHO SAY that we eventually get used to the heat here in Louisiana, I would reply, that is categorically untrue. We do not. At least I haven’t. Our summers are brutal here, with the heat and humidity peaking during the months of July and August. Walking from your front step to your car will have you breaking a sweat, even early in the morning. So how do we do it? That’s what visitors ask. How do we manage the summer heat?

Well, it’s a tradeoff. We stand the heat by enjoying all the things that make Louisiana a beautiful place to live. This is when we try our best to ignore the temperature and lean in to trying out new restaurants, going to hear music and getting out on the water. Sailing, swimming, tubing, jet skiing and fishing are all perfect activities for the summer, and ones we can’t get enough of once temps soar into the high nineties. There are hotels with pools and outside spots to stay cool, but during these sweltering months, we really take advantage of spending time with our people — gatherings and parties are ways to enjoy the food and each other’s company while commiserating about how hot it is and when it’ll get cool again. But it’s alright — because we’re all in it together.

And if the lure of a good party or a righteous barbecue still isn’t enough to make the summer bearable, it’s the ideal time for a vacation or a road trip. The kids are out of school and there’s nothing better than a new locale to get your energy back up. For example, in this issue, Becca Hensley writes about all the fun things to do in Rockport, Texas.

As far as natural places to cool off, Cheré Coen highlights spots to cool down in both lakes and streams around Louisiana. She showcases places such as the Toledo Bend and Lincoln Parish Park Lake as well as the Bogue Chitto River and Liberty Lagoon Water Park.

So there are options! Good ones. Escape the heat indoors with air conditioning and good friends and food, dunk ourselves in a body of water, indoors or out and if all else fails, hit the road. If the folks in New Orleans need a place to vent, there’s even a Twitter/X account called @ neworleansheat, which is a dedicated account for everyone to share their thoughts and feelings and fury about the hot, steamy days.

Whatever coping method you choose, know that we’re in it together!

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Reine Dugas

EDITOR REINE@LOUISIANALIFE.COM

EDITORIAL

Editor Reine Dugas

Associate Editor Ashley Mclellan

Copy Editor Liz Clearman

Web Editor Kelly Massicot

Food Editor Liz Williams

Home Editor Lee Cutrone

Executive Editor Errol Laborde

Art Director Sarah E.G. Majeste

Lead Photographer Danley Romero

Food Photographer Eugenia Uhl

Home Photographers Sara Essex Bradley, Haylei Smith and Marc Gibson

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Rebecca@LouisianaLife.com

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Gaspergou: The Fish That No One Loves

IN THIS ISSUE, themed to the state’s claim of being the “Sportsman’s Paradise,” I choose to lower the caliber of the discussion by raising the question of what the least lovable catch from the state’s water is. A case could be made for menhaden, often stacked in smelly piles after being dredged from the gulf, particularly at Cameron Parish. But it is not really an eating fish. Its salvation comes from its oils, some used for cosmetics or vitamins. Another fish, mullets, are best known for their skill at leaping above and back in the water, but they seldom escape the label of junk fish.

There is one fish, though, that most often makes the top, or should it be the bottom, of the least favorable edible inhabitants in our paradise: Meet the gaspergou.

Even if everything else was okay within its world, this critter of the sea is already haunted with one of the ugliest names of the aquatic species. Imagine: “Hey mom, what’s for dinner tonight?”

“Oh, honey, we have a bowl of gaspergou!”

“Mom, can I go to dinner at Colinda’s house?”

To make matters worse, the fish is commonly referred to just by its last syllable. Imagine anticipating a serving of “gou.”

A member of the drum family, the fish is sometimes referred to by the more Americanized version of “freshwater drum.” But in French Louisiana, the Gaullist name clings.

It is a fish with a long history in Louisiana. In 1758 AntoineSimon Le Page du Pratz, a French naturalist, wrote that the species is “an excellent fish; it is usually 12 to 18 inches; its body round with gilded scales; in its mouth it has two bones shaped like a file, with which it crushes … shells.”

Du Pratz’s mostly positive review might be attributed to his experiencing the fish in a way that a Frenchman would relate to: “Its flesh, though delicate, is very firm; it is best when eaten with red wine.”

Therein is part of the problem. Because of its firmness, the gou is not considered to be a good fish for frying, and that’s how most people prefer their plunder — with a chilled beer on the side.

A more contemporary commentator, fishing columnist Jerald Horst writing in a 2015 issue of Louisiana Sportsman magazine said that the gaspergou “has to be the most disrespected large freshwater fish in Louisiana and probably the whole United States.”

For those with a rod and reel “when the fish comes to the surface, the refrain is always the same, ‘Oh, it’s only a gou’.”

As a kid, my experience with gou was over dinner at my grandparents’ house in Avoyelles Parish where the fish most likely came from the Atchafalaya River. A portion of gou, looking like some sort of stew, was spooned over rice. To that point in my life, my most common seafood experience was fish sticks with a blob of catsup. Gaspergou was something shockingly different. It was served from a bowl mixed with a gravy of some sort. I did not like it — at all. It had an oily taste that was well — fishy.

According to Horst, favored recipes for gou often include smothering the fish, to hide the taste, with some sort of red sauce, though he did find some promise from grilling.

We learn from the gaspergou that just because it is from a Sportsman Paradise does not mean that it always represents beloved cuisine. Nevertheless, it is part of the lore and outdoor adventure that comes with the thrill of the catch.

Just keep a bottle of red wine nearby.

Errol Laborde EXECUTIVE EDITOR ERROL@LOUISIANALIFE.COM

Dark Roast?

Chicory? A Louisiana Coffee’s Second Century

Here is a dash of chicory for your daily podcast listening. The Louisiana-based Community Coffee company is now in its 105th year. Headquartered in Baton Rouge with facilities in New Orleans, Community is the largest family-owned and operated retail coffee brand in the country and a top selling brand not only in Louisiana but throughout the South. GUEST: Matt Saurage, the fourth generation owner and Chairman of Community

EPISODE 182

Making a Scene – Louisiana in the Movies

Louisiana was the location for the very first Tarzan movie, back in 1917 when actor Elmo Lincoln swung from the trees near Morgan City where the Atchafalaya Swamp played the role of Africa. Louisiana has produced many more settings including for the early burlesque comedians Abbott and Costello whose rocket flight to Mars misfired and they landed in New Orleans where the day happened to be Mardi Gras, and they mistook the street maskers for Martians. GUEST: Alfred Richard, a film critic whose gigs include a weekly appearance of WWL TV’s morning news and frequent appearance on WYES TV’s “Steppin’ Out.”

David JenningsJoshua

Writer and Photographer

David Joshua Jennings’ interest in photography began with and grew alongside his interest in travel — he has spent much of his adult life on the road, traveling 70+ countries. These days David’s work is focused on exploring New Orleans, Louisiana and the South.

What are you Reading?

David Joshua Jennings

“Horizon” by Barry Lopez. It’s a series of meditations on the relationship between humans and the natural world across an array of different landscapes and cultures.

Laura McKnight

“Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism” by Amanda Montell. I love words and am very interested in how people use language for various purposes; plus, the book highlights stories of cult survivors, so it’s intriguing and educational.

Cynthea Corfah

“Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good” by adrienne maree brown. I love this book because you can pop in and out of it, read whatever essay or poem resonates with you the most and receive an inspiring, liberating and affirming message within a short read.

Laura McKnight, a Thibodaux native and New Orleans resident, is an award-winning writer and journalist with experience in digital, print and broadcast media. A graduate of Nicholls State University and the University of New Orleans Creative Writing Workshop, McKnight has covered Louisiana land loss and flooding, arts and culture, courts and crime and the New Orleans bar scene. She also performs at live storytelling events.

Cynthea Corfah is a connector, storyteller and multifaceted creative. She is a New Orleans journalist, community leader, eczema warrior and advocate, inspirational speaker and social media specialist. Raised as the only child of a single working mother, she is fueled by connecting women and uplifting people of color.

Head for the Hills, Teddy!

Tensas, Madison, Franklin, Richland, Catahoula, East and West Carroll Parishes

BY LISA LEBLANC-BERRY

Louisiana’s first black bear hunting season was unanimously approved by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) for the first time since 1987 (five years later, Louisiana’s black bear was put on the Endangered Species List). The 16-day lottery-based season (December 7-22, 2024) is solely for Bear Management Area 4 (northeast Louisiana). Limited to licensed Louisiana hunters that have taken LDWF’s bear hunter training course (wlf. louisiana.gov/resources/category/commission-action-items).

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER

Firing Up the Night

Shreveport-Bossier’s blossoming nightlife scene has been recently enlivened by the posh and popular Sweet Caroline’s Dueling Piano Bar (sweetcarolinesbc. reservations@ gmail.com) at Louisiana Boardwalk. Grammy-winning entertainment mogul, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, revered for launching G-Unit Film and Television Studios (with August projects underway), said he wants to “foster talent” and help transform Shreveport’s nightlife. Realtor Gerod Durden said he’s “interested in purchasing several downtown properties” with plans to bring some of the biggest named entertainers to Shreveport (thisis50.com/category/g-unit/).

NEW ORLEANS

Summer Grit and Glory

Despite impending hurricanes and sweltering heat, New Orleans’ steamy spirit accelerates with summer’s hip-hopping 30th annual Essence Festival (July 4-7), international Tales of the Cocktail crowd (July 21-26), avant-garde White Linen Night (August 3), jazzy Satchmo SummerFest (August 3-4), bewitching HexFest (August 9-11), boozy Red Dress Run (August 10) and flamboyant Southern Decadence (August 29-September 2). Bruises prevail at the zaniest fest: Running of the Bulls (July 12-14), newly headquartered at Gallier Hall.

GRAND ISLE

The Kayak Kings

CCA’s 2024 Ride the Bull Kayak Fishing Tournament (August 24) is geared to anglers of all levels. The Grand Isle gathering holds the distinction of being the World’s Largest Kayak Fishing Tournament with several hundred yearly participants. Tip: Bring lightweight sun gloves and a waterproof marine handheld VHF radio with GPS (ccalouisiana.com/events/ride-the-bullkayak-tourney/).

MARKSVILLE

Keeping it Cool

After 11 years of bringing festival fun to the grounds of Broken Wheel Brewery, the 12th annual Avoyelles Arts & Music Festival (July 4th) has a fresh new venue at Paragon Casino Resort featuring live bands, eating contests, a baking competition, a kid’s fun zone and a car-truck-motorcycle show. The new partnership with the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana and Paragon Casino brings a fresh festival experience, from entertainment in the air-conditioned Mari Showroom to arts and crafts in the cool Grand Hall (paragoncasinoresort.com; avoyellesarts.com).

Smooth Country

The mellow sound of Shreveport’s

Willie Jones

BY CYNTHEA CORFAH

Not everyone can say they have a song with Beyoncé. In Beyoncé’s latest album “Cowboy Carter,” this Shreveport country singer put his talents under a global spotlight with a feature on the song “Just for Fun.” The song with Queen Bey took off and landed him a debut on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. As a genre-bending artist, he mixes country with hip-hop influences and pays homage to his upbringing through his music. With his versatility, he creates head-bobbing soundtracks for line dancing, tailgating, crawfish boils and reminiscent rides down old dirt roads. He also sings heartwarming slow love songs like Josh Turner’s “Your Man.”

BATON ROUGE SPLLIT

William Horne

In March, New Orleans composer and award-winning educator, William Horne, released his album “Chamber Music of William Horne, Volume Three.” This collection of chamber music was orchestrated with a French horn, piano, saxophone and flute. The emotional songs, varying rhythms and elegant harmonies materialize Horne’s and the featured artist’s deep appreciation for instruments and classical music.

This alternative, new-age rock band marches to the beat of their own drum. Founded in Baton Rouge, SPLLIT transcends time with its unique and futuristic, yet familiar, ‘80s punk sound. The group released its latest album “Infinite Hatch” in October 2023. The songs are far from traditional with disorienting guitar playing, robotic and echoey voices, unpredictable melodies and conflicting tempos. They have a rebellious and garage-band energy. Each song is a work of art and embodies freedom of expression. In April, they went on tour and performed in states like Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi.

LAFAYETTE

Greg Gordon Project

You walk into an old-school bar in Southern Louisiana. What type of music do you expect to hear? Something jazzy, funky, energetic— maybe some blues and a lot of soul. That’s what this Lafayette band channels with its smooth and groovy performances. Their 2021 album “Resurrection” feels like being a fly on the wall of a regulars-only jazz club. The album showcases a comforting Louisiana-style blend of saxophone, drums, trumpets, keyboard, guitar and vocals.

Ha*Ash

Lake Charles may not be known for American Latin pop, but this sister duo is putting its hometown on the map. Hanna Nicole and Ashley Grace’s polished voices and confident stage presence are magnetic. They’ve won awards like Best Pop Duo at the Fan’s Choice Awards and Best Latin American North Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards. Whether These country-pop-sounding singers create anthems and sing-a-longs for women everywhere.

PHOTO BY

NEW ORLEANS

LAKE CHARLES

Words of Summer Books of poetry and craft

BY CHRISTOPHER LOUIS ROMAGUERA

JAMI ATTENBERG

1000 Words

“1000 Words: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round” by Jami Attenberg was born out of her annual summer practice, “1000 Words of Summer.” The practice that was birthed between her and another writer in New Orleans trying to write one thousand words a day has become a movement of tens of thousands of writers each and every day checking in with one another as they spend two weeks trying to write one thousand words a day. In the book, every day includes a writer sharing a craft essay of sorts, which helps set the tone, from writers such as local phenom Maurice Carlos Ruffin and Southern writers like Deesha Philyaw and Kiese Laymon. These are anthologized in this collection, tied together by Attenberg’s writing; “1000 Words” is part writer’s handbook and part a conversation between reader and some of the best writers working to date. 272 pages, $24.99

How to Drown a Boy: Poems

J. Bruce Fuller’s “How to Drown a Boy: Poems” explores the relationships between fathers and sons, the relationship between Louisiana and the people who live here. Fuller, a native of Louisiana, wrote a poetry book that tackles head-on climate change and the potential disaster we face. “How to Drown a Boy: Poems” was published by LSU Press. You can read how Fuller captures the relationship between the environment and humans: “Small boys take small steps / and the wood grows darker / each year.” Just like you can hear the rhythm of his poetry in the poem titled “they said,” which uses the title as a refrain for each stanza. 84 pages, $18.95

The Last Shadow

Michael Allen Zell’s “The Last Shadow” follows the tagline, “3 people, 2 paths, and 1 book that guides the way.” The novel follows Julius Mosley and Maya Gaines, a teacher and student of martial arts as they run into crime boss Vinh Nguyen. Written with a deftness and understanding of the city of New Orleans, and all the things that happen here that are stranger than fiction, Zell (who also captured New Orleans beautifully in his prior novels, “Errata” and “Run, Baby Run” of the Bobby Delery series) writes a beautiful novel of the character circumventing the city and the consequences that come by day-to-day living in it. 174 pages, $15

Predators Welcome

In Dylan Krieger’s “Predators Welcome,” she writes a poetry book from the perspective of one sibling trying to reach out and get confirmation of their memories, their realities, to another sibling. These poems call for someone to witness, and as a reader, you can’t help but take in and witness it all. The book cover calls to the theme of “raised by wolves” that is touched upon regularly within the poems. Krieger explores the connections between the pain we feel and how we are drawn to predators (and our predatory instincts.) 138 pages, $19.99

MICHAEL ALLEN ZELL

J. BRUCE FULLER

DYLAN KRIEGER

Knead to Know

Rosalie Moyer is baking a community, one bread delivery at a time

BY JEFFREY ROEDEL

PHOTOS BY ROMERO & ROMERO

She calls it soap bombing. The batches of fresh, chemical-free soaps Marissa McBride cooks herself and stuffs into friend Rosalie Moyer’s mailbox are less of an exchange, and more of a joy offering for her genuine friendship with the Lafayette-based bread baker who has been making a name for herself since the summer of 2022 when she launched Levain of Acadiana from her home kitchen.

“Sweet Rosie has allowed me to sit by her side sharing life moments over coffee and baked goodness, sometimes twice a week, if needed,” says McBride, owner of Papillon Savon. “We trade goods sometimes, but mostly that’s just an excuse to hang out. Her kitchen has healed my heart and settled my soul on more than one occasion.”

Good bread and great company has that effect on people.

Levain is French, and baking parlance, for “leavened.” Literally: risen. And the evocative power of that word is on full display in Moyer’s rustic, handcrafted offerings — when flower, yeast, water, salt and time work in tandem to create breads boasting sustenance, energy and, especially with Moyer’s methods, the growth of connection and community.

“I get so encouraged by my creative friends,” Moyer says. “I’m so proud of Acadiana, and thankful to be a part of a city where people find their craft, do one thing really well, and share it with others.”

The namesake and European-inspired flavors of her sourdough varieties, brioche, spelt rye and einkorn levain, are no mere affectation, but born of lived experience.

While her husband Alec served in the Army, the couple lived in Wiesbaden, Germany. Moyer did secretarial work for the Department of Defense there and would ride her bike to the nearby organic farm and market for fresh produce and bread.

At a Glance

Age 36

Hometown Grand Coteau, Louisiana

Online @levain. acadiana on Instagram

“It was like a fairy tale,” she says. “People appreciate food so much there, and view it as much more than what you’re eating. It’s the preparation, the ingredients, the meal, the setting, and the entire experience. That intentionality is very real there, and it still inspires me today.”

Having studied anthropology at LSU, Moyer has always been fascinated by people, making bread and, most recently, kombucha, allowing her to intentionally explore the science of how foods affect our bodies.

After stints in Afghanistan and North Carolina, they settled their growing family in Lafayette, where Moyer began experimenting with sourdough during the pandemic. Now, after mornings of playing games and setting up trains with her toddler, she rolls out her baking cart into the living room and gets to work with her dough at her dining table.

Her first social media posts selling her bread were immeasurably modest, but passionate and nerdy.

“Please still buy my bread,” she wrote after one particularly science-heavy post. “I promise I’m not a total freak.”

For the mother of four, growing Levain of Acadiana has meant balancing family with her bread production. Each Monday, she and her husband have a schedule meeting, a lifesaver for planning, she says. But being a mom has also influenced her work itself, too. Her initial white and wheat loaves were perfected solely because she wanted healthy,

non-additive breads for her children. She also makes rich chocolate chip cookies and fresh pizza dough for delivery.

“Friday nights are always pizza and movie night at our house, so I thought other families would be into that, too,” she says.

Last year she added sourdough king cakes to her repertoire, a huge hit, and she wants to collaborate with a new mill in town, Straw Cove Baking Company, to better directly source fresh regional flour.

“The more I want to create, the more I have to learn,” Moyer says. “That’s been the biggest lesson.”

She is continually energized by the work of Grammywinning soul pianist Jon Batiste while she creates — he is usually singing smoothly over her dough while Moyer is hands-deep into mixing, folding, forming, waiting and then baking her goods.

It all culminates on Friday afternoons, after a very early morning to bake, when the older kids are off to school, her toddler is at her parents’ house and her van is the best-smelling vehicle in Lafayette, loaded high with orders fresh from the oven.

“I love those delivery visits so much, because I look forward to spending a few minutes in some of the gardens and on the porches of my friends and regular customers,” Moyer says. “That’s when I get to connect with people and see who all of this is for, and that’s the most important thing.” T

Q&A

Some people don’t like crust on bread. What would you say to them to convince them to try it? I’d begin by explaining that the crust is the best part. For my younger kids, I cut up small pieces of crust for them to dip in seasoned olive oil or good balsamic vinegar that tastes like candy, thanks to Graze Acadiana!

Where was the best bread you’ve ever eaten? When I lived in Wiesbaden, Germany, the fresh, organic rye and einkorn loaves at the farm bakery in Domäne Mechtildshausen were divine. Domäne’s bread was full of flavor and nutrients. The purposeful ingredients coupled with the skilled bakers made perfect bread.

What’s your best advice for parents who want to balance family with an artform or creative business? Don’t wait until you have more time. Stay curious, find beauty in the mundane and be patient. One way I find beauty is by simply being present. This is easier said than done, but when I stop and look around, beauty can be found almost instantly.

Elizabeth P. Morgan

A Central Louisiana Artist Shares Love of Art

BY JOHN R. KEMP

“I PAINT AND DRAW STUFF.” It’s quite an understatement, but that’s how Central Louisiana artist Elizabeth P. Morgan describes her growing and successful art career. She has come a long way since her grandfather gave her a set of watercolors when she was 12 years old. Now, the Shreveport native belongs to some of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious national art societies, such as the

Left “Hanging On By A String” Top

“National Elk Refuge,” Wyoming Right “Lupine Meadows Road,” Wyoming

Salmagundi Club in New York, and her paintings have been included in prestigious juried art shows and featured in top national art publications.

That journey in art has taken her from the backroads and farmland of North and Central Louisiana to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and to the mountains of Tennessee and Wyoming. But most importantly, she continues to expand the landscapes of her imagination as she sits each day before her easel.

In paintings such as “Lock and Dam” and “Soul Food” in Central Louisiana and in “Lupine Meadows Road” and “National Elk Refuge” in Wyoming, viewers witness part of that journey. Her still lifes, as in her painting of a violin in “Hanging on by a Thread,” are subtle with a polished touch.

“The world of art is infinite,” Morgan says, “and I’m passionately committed to being a lifelong student of art and dedicated to the preservation of art in its most truthful form. Years ago, I decided that to grow in art I needed to release my fear of failure and try new things and explore so that I could build knowledge upon my failures. Art is a humbling thing and I fail daily as I keep showing up to my easel for my next lesson. I love every moment of the process of creating and getting lost in the zone.”

That “every moment” is inspired, she says, by “nature, music, people, places and many other things that inspire me to create” as she continues to search her “heart to find the thing that really moves and captivates me.”

Those moments began early in her life. Growing up in Bienville Parish, Morgan loved to draw. As a child, she drew everything from the women in her mother’s dress patterns to the farmhouses and livestock she saw on long family drives though the countryside. When she was 13, her mother signed her up for art classes conducted by

a local painter in Jonesboro. At first, he didn’t want children in his class, but later, at the urging of adults in the course, admitted her after she successfully passed his test of drawing a lamp and a Coca-Cola can.

Morgan’s professional career began not in fine arts but as an interior designer. She and her husband Jeff, who now reside on their family farm in Ruby, Louisiana, just north of Alexandria, are both graduates of Louisiana Tech in Ruston. There, she studied architecture and interior design and experimented with watercolors. She also was part of a group of students who documented with drawings the architecture of Melrose Plantation in Natchitoches Parish for the Historic American Buildings Survey now on file at the Library of Congress. She later used those skills to design home kitchens and baths.

After college, she and her husband moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast where they remained until 2005 when Hurricane Katrina drove them to the Upper Cumberland area of Tennessee. In 2014, they returned to Louisiana. All the while, she continued to paint and show her work.

Exhibits

CAJUN

Sitting with George Rodrigue

A retrospective of Rodrigue’s art, through July 13. Hilliard University Art Museum, Lafayette. hilliardmuseum.org

CENTRAL

Enduring Concepts: People, Place, Spirituality, & Emotion

Recurring themes in the museum’s collection, permanent exhibit. Alexandria Museum of Art. themuseum.org

PLANTATION

Mitoloji Latannyèr/ Mythologies Louisianaises

Explores French, Creole and Tunica languages of Louisiana through art and storytelling, through December. Capitol Park Museum, Baton Rouge. louisianastatemuseum.org

NOLA

Rebellious Spirits: Prohibition and Resistance in the South

Like many artists, especially landscape artists, Morgan enjoys painting and drawing studies from life on location, or en plein air as it’s called in the art world. She then uses those studies to create larger works back in her studio. Plein air painters claim working on location gives them a better feel for the light, shadows and atmosphere surrounding the subjects they are painting.

“Light and shadow,” she says, “have always been something that I’ve been enamored with, especially the turning of shapes and how light and shadow create these beautiful forms.”

Morgan, who prefers to paint on primed linen panels that she herself makes, describes her work as “representational in the form of realism,” though, as she says, “I do occasionally toggle into an impressionistic style.”

Although paintings are often the final result of her work, drawing remains essential in her process. She describes it as “part of her creative rhythm.” On her easels, she has written the words “Build the house before you paint the walls.” It’s a reminder, she says, to “draw, draw, draw and then paint.”

Whether Morgan is painting a flowering meadow in Wyoming or a decaying smokehouse on her farm or a barge on the Red River in Louisiana, she hopes “to keep learning and growing and sharing the love of art as long as I can.”

That’s truly “getting lost in the zone.”

For additional information, visit ipaintanddrawstuff.com T

New Orleans, the South and Prohibition, through Jan. 5. New Orleans Museum of Art. noma.org

NORTH

The River is the Road: Paintings by George Rodrigue Rodrigue’s use of the river as a metaphor for his Cajun heritage, through Oct. 19. Masur Museum of Art, Monroe. masurmuseum.org

Modern Boho

A Lake Charles home combines vibrant colors, rich textures and atmospheric lighting for dramatic effect.

BY MISTY MILIOTO

JAMIE AUGUSTINE, who hails from DeRidder, and his wife Kattie, who grew up in DeQuincy, met unexpectedly through a mutual friend in Lake Charles. In 2020, the Augustines — who have four children (three of whom are still living at home) — found their perfect sanctuary in an existing home built in 2010 in Graywood Plantation. Boasting 3,900 square feet of living space with four bedrooms and threeand-one-half baths, the home offers ample room for their family to thrive and create lasting memories. “This home, with its timeless charm and generous layout, has become the heart of our family’s story,” Kattie says.

The living room includes many items of interest, including a vintage painting that Brennan sourced from Corner Gallery Antiques; Jamie painted over the eyes to add personal expression to the piece.

Immediately after purchasing the home, the Augustines turned to Chelsea Brennan, owner and designer at Brennan Interiors, to completely redesign each space.

“We worked for almost two years from renovation down to the very last detail of furniture and decor,” Brennan says. The renovations included wallpaper coverings, custom drapery, seating elements, faux finishes, commissioned artwork, lighting and a bathroom renovation with hand-cut tile.

Brennan, who has been friends with the couple for more than a decade and designed their previous home,

had a good idea of the Augustines’ interests and style, and the aspects of their home that needed to function well with their large family. “This time, they allowed me to challenge them and take risks with mixing colors, prints and various textures,” Brennan says.

Overall, the Augustines wanted to incorporate as much culture as possible, mixed with modern touches and feminine aspects. To that end, Brennan drew inspiration from the couple’s interest in the outdoors, culture, music, cooking and entertaining as well as modern elements they have gained through travel.

“One of my favorite pieces is the custom table we had made for their formal dining room,” Brennan says. “It has a sunken cypress top inlay with gold and silver metals by local artist Sandra Walkin, and the modern brass base was created by Custom Iron by Josh.”

In terms of the color palette, Brennan added jewel tones and dark hues to contrast with the ivory walls in the main areas. She also created a dark dining room and master bedroom with black walls — contrasted with lighter drapery and accessories — to introduce an intimate vibe. “The goal was that every room had some kind of element of surprise you wouldn’t expect,” Brennan says.

During the renovation, a leak caused by Hurricane Laura created an obstacle. However, Brennan used the opportunity to lay wide-plank, tongue-and-groove oak

Facing page Brennan created lovely custom drapery and bedding for the master bedroom. Clockwise from top left Brennan pulled the master bedroom space together with fabrics that reflect natural window light. The kitchen and seating area provide a comfortable combined space for cooking and entertaining. The master bedroom exudes luxury thanks to custom black paint by Benjamin Moore and light fabrics.

flooring in a dark stain so the flow of the house would be rich and sultry.

Meanwhile, the kitchen required some added warmth. Brennan chose brass plumbing, hardware and lighting; a tile backsplash for an organic touch; and wallpaper on the ceiling to provide a fun pop of color. “In our home, the kitchen is the heart of our activities where we bond over cooking and sharing meals,” Kattie says. “Chelsea meticulously curated and executed our vision, transforming our house into a personalized haven that reflects our family’s unique style and personality. With Chelsea’s guidance, our home has evolved into a place of beauty, comfort and inspiration, where every detail tells a story, and every room feels like an extension of who we are.” T

Sweet Summer

Fresh and alluring tastes of the season

BY LIZ WILLIAMS PHOTOS AND STYLING BY EUGENIA UHL

Summer is a time when we go to the beach, take picnics on boats and in parks and above all, avoid heating the kitchen by baking or roasting! Even standing over a hot grill outside can be taxing for whoever is staffing the grill. But we still want to eat well. Fortunately, it is a time of year when the produce is lovely, the fresh herbs are screaming with flavors and everything looks pretty on a plate.

I like to think of summer as the time to maybe do a bit of cooking on top of the stove but try to use other forms of cooking — perhaps the microwave, the toaster

This snack requires almost no work, and certainly no real cooking, and it is creamy and satisfying. They don’t travel well, so eat them right out of the freezer. Your children will want them, so think about the top shelf of the freezer to save some for yourself.

Frozen Cream Popsicles

3 cups fresh blueberries or cut up strawberries, divided

¼ cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon freshlysqueezed lemon juice

2 cups heavy whipping cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

1 pinch kosher salt

PLACE 2 cups of the fruit, the sugar and lemon juice into a bowl and put in the microwave for 4 minutes. Remove from the microwave and mash the fruit. Set aside.

ADD the cream to a chilled bowl. Add the vanilla. Whip into soft peaks. Do not over beat.

ADD the sweetened condensed milk to the bowl with the whipped cream. Fold in the fruit slurry. Then add the other cup of uncooked fruit. Add the salt and fold again.

DIVIDE the mixture into the popsicle forms, add the stick or top and place into the freezer overnight. Remove the popsicle as needed. Makes 8-10 popsicles, depending on the size of your forms

oven, a crockpot or an air fryer. And besides those alternative methods, there is also assembled food like a composed salad or a chilled soup. And if you do have to cook something, make extra so that you can eat it again.

Gazpacho is one of those dishes that allows you to eat the great produce of summer without cooking. Once you get the hang of it, you can substitute ingredients you have on hand. I have even added yesterday’s leftover salad to a gazpacho. It’s a lovely way to use up everything. Traditionally, gazpacho includes bread as a thickener, so you also might experiment with this trick to avoid discarding almost stale bread. I love a mug of gazpacho and a grilled cheese sandwich for a light meal that still gets me to eat my vegetables.

I have included two frozen treats. If you are having fun and want a snack, and you’re also hot, nothing beats the convenience of being able to open the freezer and finding a treat waiting for you. It’s tasty and helps you cool down. And when kids come in hot and hungry from playing, you become their favorite person when you can satisfy their hunger instantly with something delicious and fun.

I love a good pasta salad. Whenever I cook pasta and plan to serve it traditionally for dinner, I always make too much. I take out the excess, toss it with olive oil and put it in the refrigerator for pasta salad the next day. That little bit of planning allows me to make pasta salad without having to cook pasta and wait for it to cool down.

Even in the summer, I like my time in the kitchen. I don’t think of cooking as drudgery, but as a way to show love to my family and friends. But summertime has so many alluring possibilities that sometimes there is just no time to cook. Long simmered sauces and soups will have to wait for cooler weather. T

Louisiana Gazpacho

1 de-seeded cucumber, chopped

2½ pounds ripe Creole tomatoes, chopped

½ green bell pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped

½ cup chopped onion

2 garlic cloves, chopped

¼ cup chopped flat leaf parsley, plus more for garnish

4 tablespoons cane vinegar

½ cup olive oil, plus more for drizzling bowls

1¼ teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Cherry tomatoes cut in half and 3 peeled boiled shrimp for each bowl, as garnish

PLACE cucumbers, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, garlic, parsley, vinegar, olive oil, salt, paprika and pepper into a blender. Blend until the mixture is uniform. If it seems a bit too thick, add water 1 tablespoon at a time and blend until the consistency is to your liking. Chill for at least 2 hours.

TO SERVE Allow to warm for 10 minutes before serving. It shouldn’t be frigid. Place the gazpacho into bowls and add 4 cherry tomato halves to each bowl, a small shower of parsley and shrimp. Drizzle with olive oil. Serve. Makes 4–6 servings

Frozen Banana Nuggets

2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips

2 tablespoons neutral oil, like canola or sunflower

An assortment of healthful coatings like chopped or crushed nuts, shredded unsweetened coconut or granola. Or you can go the way of sweet with various kinds of cookie crumbs, sprinkles or sweetened sesame seeds.

3 large ripe bananas, peeled and cut into 36 pieces

The Best Pasta Salad

Dressing

2 6-ounce jars of basil pesto

½ cup olive oil

¼ cup lemon juice

1 small lemon, thinly sliced

The Salad

3 cups shredded chicken

1 chopped shallot

3 cloves garlic, minced

5-ounce package fresh arugula

2 cups cooked farfalle, cooled

¼ cup roughly chopped black olives

2 small bulbs thinly sliced fennel

1 red bell pepper, chopped

3 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated

½ cup pine nuts or pecans

THE DAY BEFORE SERVING, place all dressing ingredients in a bowl. Make sure that the lemon slices are submerged in the oily mixture. Refrigerate overnight.

REMOVE dressing from the refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature.

PLACE all salad ingredients into a salad bowl. Add dressing and toss to coat. Allow to sit for 15 minutes and toss again. Serve with warm, crusty bread. Makes 6 servings

LINE a cookie sheet with foil or parchment paper. Put each coating in a separate saucer or bowl. Set aside.

PLACE chocolate and the oil together in a microwaveable bowl. Heat for 30 seconds. Remove and stir. Continue adding 10 seconds at a time and stirring until the chocolate is completely melted. Set aside.

PLACE a banana chunk on a spoon or skewer and dip it completely

into the chocolate. Tap off the excess back into the chocolate bowl. Place the covered banana chunk into one of the coatings and use a spoon to completely coat it. Place the coated banana chunk on the prepared cookie sheet.

REPEAT until all of the banana chunks are done. Freeze for 3 to 4 hours. Serve. Makes 3 dozen nuggets

HOOKED

YOU CAN TELL BY THE SUDDEN, UNUSUALLYVIOLENT SQUEAL OF THE LINE SPINNING OUT THAT THIS TIME WE’VE HOOKED A BIG ONE.

That, of course, is the goal of fishing offshore from Venice, Louisiana: to hook big ones, particularly big tuna. But it’s not until you have one on the line that you discover the overwhelming burden of reeling it in.

The man assigned the challenge and thrill of this particular fish is Morgan Hays, a fisherman from Florida, who traveled eight hours to Venice just to catch fish like this. It is not, however, an animated sparring match between man and fish; it is more like trying to pull up a sentient shipwreck with a string. A half-hour into the struggle, with little progress made, Captain Eddie Burger of Fish

Venice Charters — the man responsible for hunting these fish down in the vast waters off Louisiana’s Gulf coast and ensuring clients like Hays return home with ice chests full of fresh meat — teases Hays:

“This is why we call tuna fishing a game of inches…”

Hays and his cohort hired Captain Eddie because he’s one of the best in Venice, with 23 years of experience fishing these waters. At any time of the year, Captain Eddie knows where to find the fish. Today that happens to be tuna, fifty miles offshore in the shadow of a massive floating oil rig.

The rig gives off a constant, low-pitched rumble that permeates the surrounding area — the hum of generators, the whirring of motors, the rhythmic chugging of pumps and compressors punctuated by the occa sional hiss. And behind it, the silence and solitude of the deep blue water as Hays struggles on with his unseen adversary. An hour later, drenched in sweat and absolutely exhausted, the enormous fish is no closer to the boat than when Hays first started. For every painstaking yard of line he reels in, the tuna takes back three.

“There’s no shame in letting someone else take over for a while,” Captain Eddie advises him. “These fish have killed men before.”

Nonetheless, Hays chooses to persist, reeling alone, inch by painful inch. After more than two hours of this slow-motion struggle, the shiny flanks of the tuna finally appear in the water below, an enormous shimmer of silver. It takes three men to harpoon, gaff and haul the behemoth up over the gunwales, where the powerful tail slaps the deck like a club until the deckhand brains it with a pair of pliers. Hays collapses in exhaustion.

Hours later, back at Venice marina, a crowd of fishermen and tourists gather, sunburned, beers in hand, to witness the big tuna hauled off the boat and over to the scales, where it weighs in at a whopping 198 lbs. It is the biggest fish hauled into Venice Marina today, but it’s not the only big fish. Hays and his group were only one of many successful fishermen. All day, one after another, groups of fishermen, anglers from Louisiana, out of state and around the world, motor up to the dock with bountiful loads of tuna, red snapper, swordfish and mahi — the typical catch of the early summer season. In Venice, which styles itself as “the fishing capital of the world,” it is like this nearly every day of the year. So what exactly makes it such a great place to fish?

Venice, Louisiana, the last community accessible by road along the southern

Fish found in the Gulf of Mexico

Fish facts including their scientific names, physical attributes and predatory habits

Triggerfish get their name from spines on the dorsal fins that can be used as a predator defense and for anchoring. When a triggerfish is threatened, it will dive into a tight crevice and anchor itself into place by locking its erect spine.

During April, the commercial fishing season is closed to alleviate fishing pressure when the fish aggregate to spawn and are highly vulnerable to fishing. The sale and purchase of greater amberjack during this seasonal closure is illegal.

Golden tilefish have a long life span, up to 46 years (females) and 39 years (males). These are the oldest tilefish on record, but radiometric dating techniques indicate tilefish may live as long as 50 years.

Red grouper are protogynous hermaphrodites — they begin life as females and sexually mature. Some later transform into males. The proportion of males in the population increases with age.

Black grouper have large, powerful jaws.They do not have teeth; instead, they use their mouth and gills to suck up their prey. They also have teeth plates inside their throat that prevent prey from escaping after being swallowed.

Gray Triggerfish

Greater Amberjack

Golden Tilefish

Red Grouper

Balistes capriscus

Seriola dumerili

Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps

Epinephelus morio

Black Grouper

Mycteroperca bonaci

Red Snapper

Lutjanus campechanus

Red snapper in deeper waters tend to be redder than those caught in shallower waters. They can live a long time — red snapper as old as 57 years have been reported in the Gulf of Mexico and as old as 51 years in the South Atlantic.

SOURCE:

Thunnus albacares

Xiphias gladius

Yellowfin tuna can be distinguished by their long, bright yellow dorsal fin and a yellow stripe down the side. They are also more slender than bluefin tuna. Yellowfin tuna are highly migratory and can swim across an entire ocean.

One of the fastest predators in the ocean, their streamlined body allows them to swim at high speeds, up to 50 mph. They capture prey by slashing their bill back and forth, stunning or injuring prey in the process.

Mississippi River, got its start as a small fishing and hunting community in the 19th century. It grew into a significant commercial fishing hub due to its proximity to the productive waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The development of offshore oil and natural gas drilling in the mid-20th century later transformed Venice into a key player in the energy industry. Then, unexpectedly, the offshore oil rigs revealed their ability to transform in rich ecological oases, attracting an abundance of sea life, an unforeseen consequence that has since established Venice as a prime destination for sport fishing.

You read that right: Oil rigs — towering symbols of industrialization and environmental disruption — have paradoxically transformed into thriving marine ecosystems, teeming with life. The rigs provide a vertical structure in the water column extending through a range of depths, creating an artificial reef environment that attracts a wide variety of marine life to an environment that, otherwise, might be barren. Schools of baitfish swarm the structure, drawing in hungry predators from miles around. Yellowfin tuna, red snapper, amberjack — a cornucopia of popular sporting species congregate here, growing fat and bold in this unlikely oasis. The presence of these rigs in the deep waters of the Gulf is what makes Venice a worldclass sportfishing destination.

Acanthocybium solandri

Atlantic wahoo spawn multiple times throughout the spawning season. They are very productive, releasing a halfmillion to 45 million eggs per year to compensate for eggs that might not survive to adulthood.

Coryphaena hippurus

Mahi mahi are highly sought for sport fishing and commercial purposes. Mahi dishes have become a staple in many restaurants, though much of what is in restaurants and grocery stores comes from the Pacific.

Scomberomorus cavalla

Females grow larger than males, an evolutionary strategy that maximizes the amount of eggs that can be produced — about 50,000 to several million eggs. The eggs are released in the open water to be fertilized.

Yellowfin Tuna

North Atlantic Swordfish

Atlantic Wahoo

Atlantic Mahi Mahi

King Mackerel

The most sought-after species here are yellowfin tuna (which can be caught yearround) and red snapper, whose season falls in the summer months, though there are many other kinds of fish to be caught in these waters, including wahoo, swordfish, blue marlin, grouper and amberjack. Inshore fishing out of Venice in the labyrinthine waters of the Mississippi Delta is also possible, though this option is less popular than the offshore adventures that whisk you out to the rigs to catch 150+ pound tuna.

The peculiar attraction of fish to oil rigs, and the sheer abundance of fish around Venice, used to be a well-guarded secret, but the word has been out for many years now. The excep-

tional fishing is unlikely to abate anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean things aren’t changing. According to many of the captains I spoke with, over the past 20 years, Venice has undergone yet another reinvention.

“Things have changed like you would not believe” says Captain Troy Wetzel of Louisiana Offshore Fishing Charters. “When I started 30 years ago, there were nine charter boat captains out of Venice — now there’s probably 90. The fish population has shrunk a whole bunch too. Mankind is really putting a hurting on them, taking them with gill nets, trawl nets. When I first started, you didn’t have to go out as far and you didn’t have to fish as long — you could catch your fish 15 miles offshore and be done at noon because you caught so many you’d have no place to put them. Now you got to go further out, and the schools of fish aren’t schools

of a thousand anymore — they’re schools of hundreds or schools of 50. Used to be schools of 3000 or more.”

Other captains believe the dearth or abundance of fish is seasonal, following cyclical patterns, but it is hard to deny that overfishing, habitat loss, pollution, climate change, hydrological changes and regulations (or lack thereof) are affecting Louisiana’s rich fisheries in ways that are difficult to measure or predict. Efforts to conserve these fish populations involve a range of strategies aimed at addressing the known threats to this rich ecosystem, but whether humans are doing enough (or too much with regard to our destructive behaviors) remains to be seen.

One thing is for certain: Every time I’ve gone to Venice, the marina is always packed with fishermen unloading abundant catches, and there is no shortage of charter outfits in Venice to make sure visiting anglers return to the marina with the fish they desire. A typical charter begins around 6 a.m., takes clients out the mouth of the Mississippi to fish for live bait, motors them out to the rigs or wherever the captains believe the desired predator fish are on that day, and usually comes back when clients catch their limit, with the last boats pulling in no later than 6 p.m.

Venice itself is a magical place to spend an evening or two, especially if you’re renting a houseboat right on the water. But outside of fishing, talking about fishing or eating seafood and drinking beer while watching the day’s catch come into the marina, there isn’t an abundance of things to do — Venice is simply a gateway to the diverse habitats around the Gulf and the Mississippi River Delta. The latter, however, is an exceptionally beautiful area that attracts a wide variety of bird species, ideal for birders and great to explore by small boat or kayak, and a great place for duck hunting in the winter. But for all these activities, you need a boat and must get out on the water.

From the thrill of landing a massive tuna to the camaraderie of swapping stories at the marina, Venice offers an unparalleled fishing experience. But it is the sum of its parts — the productive waters, the oil rigs, the natural beauty and the community’s peculiar traditions — that truly sets Venice apart. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or simply someone who appreciates the beauty and bounty of the natural world, Venice is calling down at the end of Louisiana Highway 23. T

Beth Winkler has long been fascinated by the workings of the human body. Her passion for the topic, combined with a desire to help others, led her into physical therapy work — and it inspires her to continue exploring new ways to help people heal.

BY LAURA MCKNIGHT

PORTRAIT BY ROMERO & ROMERO

On a constant lookout for tools to add to her toolbox, Beth Winkler, co-owner and CEO of New Orleans-based Magnolia

Therapy, began trying

Physical

pain neuroscience

education to tackle chronic pain.

Winkler treats musculoskeletal disorders, specializing in spinal and pelvic disorders. She sees a lot of clients with chronic lower back and neck pain. Pain neuroscience education has provided tools needed to help eradicate chronic pain instead of just manage the pain, Winkler said.

“This is the missing link,” she said, offering promise for clients who have battled pain for decades. “There is hope to get out of it. That’s so exciting to me.”

Winkler has been providing physical therapy for about 30 years. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in physical therapy from Northeastern University in Boston in 1995. She then returned to her native New Orleans to work at Touro Infirmary and quickly gravitated to outpatient practices.

Winkler enjoyed the challenges particular to outpatient work, but grew frustrated with a lack of patient improvement and felt her ideas were being dismissed in the “very male-dominated” field.

She founded Magnolia Physical Therapy in July 2005 with Lisa Taglauer, intent on creating more opportunities to help patients, partly through embracing a shift toward hands-on therapy. Patients wanted more manual therapy, as opposed to the more exercise-based therapy, as they started seeing significant improvement through hands-on methods, Winkler said.

She also began incorporating dry needling, which involves inserting thin needles into a muscle “trigger point” to decrease pain and increase function.

Winkler began learning about pain neuroscience education a few years ago, while searching for better methods to treat chronic pain. She has since seen major progress for people battling chronic pain — including herself.

Winkler experienced a concussion 15 years ago, setting off a 14-year struggle with chronic pain.

“I had a physical injury, so I thought this was how it would be for the rest of my life,” she said.

However, she noticed that stress triggered her symptoms, indicating at least some of the pain stemmed from her nervous system. She dove into pain neuroscience education, trying the techniques on herself and a few others, and saw her pain go from “all the time” to “95% gone.”

Pain neuroscience education involves educating patients on how pain works and how the nervous system can contribute to pain.

“How is pain produced? Most people think it’s that you hit your elbow and a nerve at your elbow sends a message to the brain that it hurts,” she said. However, “the receptors in the elbow aren’t sending pain signals — they just send input of what happened, and then the brain decides how much danger is involved.”

The nervous system sends “pain” alerts as a protective measure, but the system can become faulty, continuing to send pain alerts even after tissues heal, Winkler said. The faulty signals can stem from sources like fear of movement or trauma.

Winkler said she treads lightly when broaching the topic of pain neuroscience education, to ensure patients don’t feel as though their pain is being minimized or dismissed.

“The pain is not all in their head, but it is in their brain,” she said. “It’s a learned neural network.”

Winkler uses a variety of pain neuroscience education techniques to treat pain based in the nervous system. Examples include breathwork, sensory exercises and working with patients on movement, but with a focus on function, rather than what does or does not cause pain.

One of her patients with debilitating neck pain saw major improvements through visualization, in which patients think of their movements as safe and pain-free.

The patient’s goals included being able to sit for extended periods at the Superdome to watch New Orleans Saints games.

Winkler had the patient visualize walking up to the Superdome for a game and associate positive emotions with the experience.

“The Saints are winning,” Winkler would tell her.

After about two months of pain neuroscience education combined with traditional physical therapy, the patient was able to cheer on the Saints in person as her pain had largely disappeared.

Winkler has found relief from her own pain through pain reprocessing therapy, a meditative approach that involves mentally scanning the body for “sensations” and regarding them with curiosity instead of judgment.

“It’s helped me so much,” she said. T

TOP OSPITALS

ABBEVILLE

Abbeville General Hospital

118 N. Hospital Drive (337) 893-5466

ALEXANDRIA

Christus Central Louisiana Surgical Hospital 651 N. Bolton Ave. (318) 449-6400

Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital 3330 Masonic Drive (318) 487-1122

Rapides Regional Medical Center

211 Fourth St. (318) 769-3000

BASTROP

Morehouse General Hospital

323 W. Walnut (318) 283-3600

BATON ROUGE

Baton Rouge General Medical

8585 Picardy Ave. (225) 387-7767

Ochsner Medical Center-Baton Rouge 17000 Medical Center Drive (225) 752-2470

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center

5000 Hennessy Blvd. (225) 765-6565

Surgical Specialty Center of Baton Rouge 8080 Bluebonnet Blvd. (225) 408-8080

The General 3600 Florida Blvd., Suite 2 (225) 381-6393

The Spine Hospital of Louisiana 10105 Park Row Circle, Suite 250 (225) 763-9900

Womans Hospital 100 Woman’s Way (225) 927-1300

BOGALUSA

Our Lady of the Angels Hospital 433 Plaza St. (985) 730-6700

BREAUX BRIDGE

Ochsner St. Martin Hospital 210 Champagne Blvd. (337) 332-2178

CHALMETTE

St. Bernard Parish Hospital 8000 W. Judge Perez Drive (504) 826-9500

COLUMBIA

Caldwell Memorial Hospital Inc.

441 Main St. (318) 649-6111

Citizens Medical Center

7939 U.S. Highway S. (318) 649-6106

COVINGTON

Avala 67252 Industry Lane (985) 809-9888

St. Tammany Parish Hospital 1202 S. Tyler St. (985) 898-4000

CROWLEY

Acadia General Hospital 1305 Crowley Rayne Highway (337) 783-3222

DERIDDER

Beauregard Memorial Hospital

600 S. Pine St. (337) 462-7100

EUNICE

Acadian Medical Center

3501 Hwy. 190 (337) 580-7903

FARMERVILLE

Union General Hospital 901 James Ave. (318) 368-9751

FORT POLK

Bayne-Jones ACH 1585 Third St. (337) 531-3118

FRANKLIN

Bayou Bend Health System 1097 Northwest Blvd. (337) 828-0760

HAMMOND

Cypress Pointe Surgical Hospital 42570 S. Airport Road (985) 510-6200

North Oaks Medical Center 15790 Paul Vega MD Drive (985) 345-2700

HOMER

Claiborne Memorial Medical Center 620 E. College St. (318) 927-2024

HOUMA

Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center

1978 Industrial Blvd. (985) 873-2200

Terrebonne General Health System 8166 Main St. (985) 873-4141

INDEPENDENCE

Lallie Kemp Medical Center

52579 Highway 51 S. (985) 878-9421

THERE IS ONE MAJOR SOURCE that provides credible ongoing analysis of hospitals: Medicare, which, as the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older, as well as certain younger people with disabilities, often provides funding for many of the big bills. As part of its informational services, medicare.gov reports on evaluations of hospitals based on queries of patients. The Louisiana Life editorial staff sifts through the data every year in order to create a one-of-a-kind list that demonstrates the state’s hospitals according to locality. To qualify for this list, at least 60 percent of the patients queried had to give the hospital a top overall ranking of 9 or 10 (on a scale from 0 [lowest] to 10 [highest]). These are the top general service hospitals as seen through the eyes of those who have experienced them firsthand — the patients. Note, however, that several hospitals in the state did not have any information available on Medicare’s website and therefore could not qualify to be on the list.

OSPITALS

JENNINGS

Ochsner American Legion Hospital 1634 Elton Road (337) 616-7000

JONESBORO

Jackson Parish Hospital 165 Beech Springs Road (318) 259-4435

KAPLAN

Abrom Kaplan Memorial 1310 W. Seventh St. (337) 643-8300

KENNER

Ochsner Medical Center-Kenner

180 W. Esplanade Ave. (504) 464-8065

KINDER

Allen Parish Hospital 108 6th Ave. (337) 738-2527

LAFAYETTE

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital 1101 Kaliste Saloom Road (337) 769-4100

Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center 1214 Coolidge Ave. (337) 289-7991

Ochsner University Hospital and Clinics 2390 W. Congress (337) 261-6000

Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Inc 4801 Ambassador Caffery Parkway (337) 470-2100

LAKE CHARLES

Christus Ochsner Lake Area Hospital 4200 Nelson Road (337) 474-6370

Christus Ochsner St.

Patrick Hospital 524 Dr. Michael Debakey Drive (337) 436-2511

Lake Charles Memorial Hospital 1701 Oak Park Blvd. (337) 494-3000

LAKE PROVIDENCE

East Carroll Parish Hospital 336 N. Hood St. (318) 559-4023

LEESVILLE

Byrd Regional Hospital 1020 Fertitta Blvd. (337) 239-9041

LULING

St. Charles Parish Hospital 1057 Paul Maillard Road (985) 785-3644

LUTCHER

St. James Parish Hospital 1645 Lutcher Ave. (225) 869-5512

MAMOU

Savoy Medical Center 801 Poinciana Ave. (337) 468-5261

MANY

Sabine Medical Center 240 Highland Drive (318) 256-1232

MARKSVILLE

Avoyelles Hospital 4231 Highway 1192 (318) 253-8611

MARRERO

West Jefferson Medical Center 1101 Medical Center Blvd. (504) 347-5511

METAIRIE

East Jefferson General Hospital 4200 Houma Blvd. (504) 988-5263

MINDEN

Minden Medical Center No. 1 Medical Plaza (318) 377-2321

MONROE

Monroe Surgical Hospital 2408 Broadmoor Blvd. (318) 410-0002

Ochsner LSU Health Monroe 4864 Jackson St. (318) 330-7515

St. Francis Medical Center

309 Jackson St. (318) 966-4000

MORGAN CITY

Ochsner St. Mary 1125 Marguerite St. (985) 384-2200

NATCHITOCHES

Natchitoches Regional Medical Center 501 Keyser Ave. (318) 471-2628

NEW IBERIA

Iberia Medical Center 2315 E. Main St. (337) 364-0441

NEW ORLEANS

New Orleans East Hospital 5620 Read Blvd. (504) 592-6600

Ochsner Clinic Foundation 1516 Jefferson Highway (504) 842-3000

TOP HOSPITALS

Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System

2400 Canal St. (800) 935-8387

Sterling Surgical Hospital

989 Robert Blvd. (504) 690-8200

Touro Infirmary 1401 Foucher St. (504) 897-8247

University Medical Center New Orleans 2000 Canal St. (504) 702-3000

OAKDALE

Oakdale Community Hospital 130 N. Hospital Drive (318) 335-3700

OAK GROVE

West Carroll Memorial Hospital 706 Ross St. (318) 428-3237

OLLA

Hardtner Medical Center 1102 N. Pine Road (318) 495-3131

OPELOUSAS

Opelousas General Health System 539 E. Prudhomme St. (337) 948-3011

PINEVILLE

Alexandria VA Medical Center 2495 Shreveport Highway 71 N. (318) 473-0010

RACELAND

Ochsner St. Anne General Hospital 4608 Highway 1 (985) 537-8377

RAYVILLE

Richardson Medical Center

254 Highway 3048 (318) 728-4181

SHREVEPORT

Christus ShreveportBossier Health System 1453 E. Bert Kouns

Industrial Loop (318) 681-5000

Ochsner LSU Health

Shreveport 1541 Kings Highway (318) 675-5000

Ochsner LSU Health

Shreveport-St. Mary Medical Center

911 Margaret Place (318) 626-4300

Overton Brooks VA Medical Center

510 East Stoner Ave. (318) 424-6037

Specialists Hospital

Shreveport 1500 Line Ave. (318) 213-3800

Willis Knighton Medical Center, Inc

2600 Greenwood Road (318) 212-4000

SLIDELL

Ochsner Medical Center – Northshore, LLC

100 Medical Center Drive (985) 646-5000

Our Lady of the Lake Surgical Hospital 1700 W. Lindberg Drive (985) 641-0600

Slidell Memorial Hospital 1001 Gause Blvd. (985) 643-2200

SPRINGHILL

Springhill Medical Center 2001 Doctors Drive (318) 539-1000

SULPHUR

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital 701 E. Cypress St. (337) 527-7034

THIBODAUX

Thibodaux Regional Medical Center 602 N. Acadia Road (985) 447-5500

VILLE PLATTE

Mercy Regional Medical Center

800 E. Main (337) 363-5684

VIVIAN

North Caddo Medical Center

815 S. Pine St. (318) 375-3235

WEST MONROE

Glenwood Regional Medical Center 503 McMillan Road (318) 329-4600

WINNFIELD

Winn Parish Medical Center

301 W. Boundary Ave. (318) 648-3000

WINNSBORO

Franklin Medical Center

2106 Loop Road (318) 435-9411

ZACHARY

Lane Regional Medical Center

6300 Main St. (225) 658-4000

TRAVELING AROUND LOUISIANA

THERE IS A WHOLE WORLD OF EXCITING LOCALES TO VISIT THROUGHOUT OUR GREAT STATE THIS SUMMER. EMBRACE THE UNEXPLORED, AND VENTURE FORTH TO DISCOVER YOUR NEW FAVORITE CORNER OF LOUISIANA.

West Baton Rouge

The West Baton Rouge Convention & Visitor Bureau grounds will be center stage, once again, for the Annual Smokin` Oldies BBQ Cook-Off. This event is a State Championship Cook-Off held on Saturday, September 7th . Then on Sunday, September 15th the Oldies But Goodies Fest begins at 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Come out and enjoy the antique car show, local crafts and Louisiana food booths. Special musical performances this year include “Justin Cornett” from 11:00 am till 1:30 pm followed by “Swampland Revival”, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For more information on these events please visit westbatonrouge.net

Beauregard Parish

Turn back the pages of history to soak in the mysterious story of Louisiana’s past. Learn of the Louisiana’s No Man’s Land, and the States’ western border, which once had no king or country and that that was once home to pirates, outlaws and pioneers. See the history, art, folklore, cuisine and revelry of these brave trailblazers that represent an integral part of Louisiana’s intriguing past.

Venture into the area of Beauregard Parish to discover Louisiana’s final frontier country. Journey through this part of No Man’s Land to discover some of the legends of this outlaw paradise. Join in some of the area’s sweetest events like the Beauregard Watermelon Festival held the last weekend in June in DeRidder, La., but don’t fret if you miss that date because you can always find the celebrated Sugartown watermelons along roadsides stands into late July.

While there, visit the 1914 Gothic Jail to hear some of the legends of No Man’s Land’s with its tall tales. Tale of notorious outlaws like Leather Britches Smith and haunted history and just the start on this backroads adventure!

Visit Jefferson Parish

Fishing, just like in many Louisiana coastal communities, is a 365-day adventure in Jefferson Parish, and with our liberal limits there will be plenty for you to bring home. Each season brings about new challenges for anglers. Whether saltwater or fresh — Jefferson has the perfect “fishing hole” for you. Winter is the perfect season for catching freshwater crappies or sac-au-lait, and you may even catch the bass spawning. Spring delivers the cats, flathead and blues, while the summer heat brings on the redfish and tarpon. Autumn brings large mouth bass teeming in our marshes and rivers. Don’t have a boat or a reel? No problem! Hire one of our experienced

charter boat captains to take you on the trip of a lifetime!

To learn more, please visit visitjeffersonparish.com.

Lafayette CVC

Summer is here, and Lafayette is open for business. If you’re looking to spend some time in the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun and Creole Country, you are in for a treat.

This summer, live deliciously with EatLafayette™. EatLafayette™ is a year-long celebration of Lafayette’s local restaurants where diners are treated to deals offered by some of the EatLafayette™ restaurants as well as culinary events throughout the campaign. With locallyowned eateries ranging from Cajun, Italian, Mediterranean, Asian, BBQ and everything in between you can be sure there’s something for everyone’s taste buds.

As a bonus, every time you dine in or pick up from a participating restaurant, check in on the EatLafayette Passport for a

chance to win airfare and three (3) nights for two (2) in Austin, TX courtesy of Wings Global Travel.

There’s always something new and exciting happening in Lafayette, the Happiest City in America.

Learn more at EatLafayette.com.

Louisiana Office of Tourism

Louisiana is a Birdwatcher’s Paradise. With diverse landscapes and abundant wetlands, Louisiana is a haven for birdwatchers of all levels. From the majestic Bald Eagle soaring over the cypress swamps to the vibrant Painted Bunting flitting through blooming gardens, our state boasts an incredible array of feathered residents. Whether you’re a seasoned birder with a life list to complete or a curious nature enthusiast just starting out, Louisiana’s birding scene promises an unforgettable adventure. •

Gothic Jail

Exploring the Creole Nature Trail

AND

STORY

PHOTOS BY KEVIN RABALAIS

STAFF AT ADVENTURE POINT in Sulphur change the spices in the Louisiana culinary corner once every six months. You smell the exhibit long before you see it. It’s Proustian, an aroma that invokes memories of crawfish boils past.

This is one of the many interactive displays in the aptly named educational center and gift shop. Practice grinding boudin while you learn about the holy trinity of Louisiana cuisine. Play the fiddle, accordion, rubboard or guitar alongside piped-in music — your choice, Cajun or zydeco. Listen to birdsong as you study migration routes. All the while, that familiar smell permeates the room. Then you read the Adventure Point Experience Guide and remember what you once deemed a crucial way of life: “Cruising down a long stretch of picturesque roads was your destination. Your journey was your adventure.”

With that in mind, you exit the facility. You start your car and turn south. Adventure Point now in your rearview window, you enter the Creole Nature Trail, a 180-mile loop of roads and spurs that bears many monikers. It’s one of 37 designated All-American roads. It’s “America’s Last Great Wilderness.” It’s “Louisiana’s Outback.” Tucked deep in the state’s southwestern corner, it’s also a place apart, a country within a country, a breadth of beaches, coastal and fresh marshes, prairies, bottomland forest and cheniers that encompass parts of Calcasieu and Cameron parishes and four wildlife refuges, among them Rockefeller and Lacassine.

Around Hackberry, the petrochemical plant skyline begins to dissolve into a primeval landscape. Expect uninterrupted horizons. Expect more birders than billboards. An abundance of cheniers, those slightly elevated ridges that offer resting spots for migratory species, have made this a birder’s paradise. Roseate spoonbills, American bitterns, gallinules, dickcissels and more than 400 other species pass through each year. This is because the Creole Nature Trail lies at the intersection of two North American migratory routes: the Mississippi Flyway, which covers the majority of Louisiana, and the Central Flyway, which brushes the state’s southwesternmost corner.

Food, fuel, and lodging services may be limited along the Creole Nature Trail, but wildlife and unobstructed views are abundant. Matt Young, Director of Public Relations at Visit Lake Charles, notes that the Trail includes 26 miles of Gulf beaches, all less than an hour’s drive from Lake Charles.

Enter this world south of Hackberry at Wetland Walkway in the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge. A 1.5-mile boardwalk traverses saltwater marshes where deer graze beneath darting red-winged blackbirds and hooded warblers. From here, the road continues to the Gulf of Mexico and 7-mile Holly Beach, which has its own moniker: the Cajun Riviera. To the west, a spur provides access to a string of successive beaches, each adding to the Trail’s 26 miles of natural beachfront and the 40-acre Peveto Woods Sanctuary, the first chenier sanctuary for migratory birds established in Louisiana.

East of Holly Beach, board the Cameron Ferry to cross the ship channel and continue toward Rutherford Beach, where options continue. At Oak Grove, you can drive east

along a spur toward Grand Chenier and Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, or turn north toward Pintail Wildlife Drive, a 3-mile loop in the southern region of Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, where gallinules, with their purplish-blue feathers and stout red beaks that evoke the tropics, flutter near congregations of alligators.

Throughout the Trail, nature thrives among the scars of disaster. In August 2020, this region suffered through Hurricane Laura, the strongest storm to strike southwest Louisiana since records began in 1851. Two months later, Hurricane Delta made landfall at Creole. February 2021 unleashed three quarters an inch of sleet during Winter Storm Uri. Then in May, more than 12 inches of rain flooded the region.

A 10-month succession of such disasters would make any resident feel like she has assumed the burden of Job. Then, add a global pandemic to the list. The era that turned us inside for safety and made expert safe-distancing measurers out of all of us eventually turned us outward. In nature, we began to seek something greater than ourselves.

“During that time, the Trail was probably the most packed it has ever been,” says Matt Young, director of public relations at Visit Lake Charles. At Hog Island Gully in Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, Young pulls into a parking lot. To his right, a father fishes with his 7-year-old son. To his left, three others check crab lines.

He watches the activity, glancing up at the sound of a truck that travels south along the Trail. “Once people discover it, they keep coming back,” he says, nodding. And you nod with him, knowing that you will too. T

Did You Know?

Of the 37 All-American roads in the United States, two run through Louisiana: Great River Road (designated in 2021) and the Creole Nature Trail (designated in 1996). “To be designated as an All-American Road, a byway must meet criteria for at least two intrinsic qualities that are nationally significant and have one-of-a-kind features that do not exist elsewhere,” states the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. “The road or highway must also be considered a ‘destination unto itself.’ That is, the road must provide an exceptional traveling experience so recognized by travelers that they would make a drive along the highway a primary reason for their trip.”

Located in the Central and Mississippi flyways, the Creole Nature Trail is a paradise for birders and hunters. It contains 26 miles of natural beaches, providing ample opportunity for beachcombing, and its numerous waterways, including Calcasieu Lake, make it a destination for freshwater and saltwater fishing.

Making a Splash

Staying cool this summer

BY CHERÉ COEN

RV Spots

There are numerous RV resorts that offer ponds for fishing and swimming along with resort-style pools. Tiger’s Trail RV Resort with its lazy river and pool lies adjacent to L’Auberge Baton Rouge along the River Road in Baton Rouge. Gator Grounds RV Resort near Bunkie offers both an indoor and outdoor waterpark. Visitors to Camp Margaritaville RV Resort near Henderson may choose between three outdoor pools with fun accessories, even a swim-up bar. Relax in the lazy river at Sun Outdoors New Orleans North Shore RV park, which also includes an adult pool with a swim-up bar and cabanas.

FOR YEARS, I would travel to Mississippi in summer to paddle cool creeks and streams, never thinking I might find similar adventures in Louisiana. After all, our state’s waterways tend to move slowly and remain rather warm, less so than our neighboring state. Not the most refreshing in summertime.

But over the years, I’ve found ways to cool off in Louisiana waters, whether in lakes and streams or something man-made.

PHOTO COURTESY BLUE

WATER ACCESS

The damming of the Sabine River created the massive Toledo Bend, one of the country’s largest reservoirs and an excellent place for fishing. Two Louisiana state parks bookend the lake and provide water access, pools for summer months and boat ramps. And North Toledo Bend State Park and South Toledo Bend State Park rent cabins and sites for tent and RV camping so visitors may linger and relax at the water’s edge.

Many people flock to Lincoln Parish Park near Ruston for its incredible mountain bike trails but one of its best-kept secrets is a lovely lake with a beach guarded by a lifeguard in summer months. Visitors may also paddle kayaks and canoes and hike the shaded trail about the lake. Best time to visit Lincoln Parish is now, for those “Ruston Reds” peaches are hitting peak ripeness. Stop by Mitcham Farms for some peach ice cream, sure to cool off even the hottest day.

It’s a small beach but folks love the swimming hole and waterfall at Kisatchie Bayou within the Kisatchie Forest outside of Natchitoches. Best of all, visitors may camp along the water’s edge, launch their canoes or take in some fishing. Just be mindful of the rocks that get slippery in summer.

Louisiana State Parks offers numerous beaches. Mandeville’s Fontainebleau gets folks right on Lake Pontchartrain, Cypremont Point and Lake Claiborne state parks both feature beaches and for those who love Gulf waters, there’s Rutherford Beach, Holly Beach and Grand Isle.

WATER SPORTS

For those who don’t want to work hard at getting cool, slip on sunglasses and sunscreen and relax in a tube and float downstream. Several outfitters are ready and able to get visitors on the Bogue Chitto River on the Northshore above New Orleans and the Whiskey Chitto north of Lake Charles. Many also rent kayaks and canoes.

WATER PARKS

No swimming pool, no problem. Louisiana has more than its share of water parks.

The largest water park, with easy access off Interstate 10, remains Blue Bayou in Baton Rouge, with both mild and dramatic water slides, a wave pool, lazy river and pools for the little ones. Baton Rouge’s BREC Recreation and Parks Commission opened Liberty Lagoon Water Park near the parish’s main library, offering tube slides, lazy river, the ShockWave where visitors may practice their surfing skills and pools.

Both parks feature concessions, lockers and other accessories.

Sulphur’s Spar Waterpark in the southwest corner of Louisiana provides fun for all ages, from its adrenaline-pumping waterslide to lazy river rafting and entertainment at Parrot Island.

Hike the trails, rent a cabin surrounded by woods or slip your boat into the Vermilion River for some cool catches, but don’t miss Palmetto Island State Park’s splash pad by its welcome center. Many Acadiana residents visit the park on those sweltering days just for the splash fountain. T

Road Trip to Rockport

This Waterside Arts and Fishing Oasis Offers Infinite Variety

BY BECCA HENSLEY

There was nowhere to go but everywhere,” wrote poet Jack Kerouac, author of “On the Road,” an epic road trip tale. We beg to disagree. Sometimes where you go matters — especially if your family’s diverse interests clash.

Road trippers looking for a place to please everyone will find the perfect destination in Rockport — Texas’ cutest coastal town. Pack your poles, your paints, your kayak and your birdwatching binoculars too when you steer your vehicle to this artsy fishing haven on the Gulf Coast, just an hour from Corpus Christi.

A historic holiday hotspot that dates back to the Victorians, this small South Texas town, peppered with public artwork, boasts fishing piers galore, marine-life-rife bays, unique bird life, a slew of working artists with ateliers, a colorful marina, nature trails and friendly residents. Steeped in captivating legends (pirate Jean Lafitte purportedly buried treasure here), Rockport has a mainstay gourmet staple (fried shrimp), some exemplary Victorian buildings and electrifying culinary, arts and music festivals.

Discover the community’s creative spirit on Austin Street, Rockport’s renovated main drag downtown where you’ll find eclectic galleries, antique stores, clever boutiques, sea-to-plate restaurants, music venues, day spas and dives.

What to Do

Take a picnic to Rockport Beach, where shady palapas, a fitness trail, playgrounds, boat ramps and a volleyball area — among other amenities — await. Visit cutting-edge Rockport Center for the Arts, which offers art classes for all ages, along with gallery space and music and performance venues. Birdwatch at myriad locales including nearby Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and Goose Island State Park. Choose from a bevy of spots to kayak, sail or cast a line.

Where to Eat

Sail (or drive over) to Cove Harbor to Paradise Key Dockside Bar and Grill, where sunsets rule. Sit outside to watch for passing boats and dolphins. Cold beer and tropical drinks accompany specialties such as pecanencrusted red snapper, fried shrimp and juicy burgers.

Where To Stay

Don’t Miss Enjoy the Austin Street Art Walk, held the second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Stroll the sidewalks during this interactive ramble. Galleries and boutiques offer special deals and serve snacks and libations.

Touted as a “pier with nine rooms,” Reel ‘Em Inn, an iconic bayside tourist court, was re-imagined last year by San Antoniobased starchitects Lake|Flato as a dreamy, retro-modernized fishing camp. Originally built in the 1950s, the intimate retreat conjures vintage road trip vibes, melding a coastal breeziness with city slicker cool. Enjoy luxurious beds, spacious bathrooms, captivating architecture and thoughtful kitchens. Pro tip: Buy out the whole place for a family reunion, and be sure to nab those units in the front with ample porches and water views for yourselves.

The Little Lurker

A Limpkin in search of a tasty meal of apple snails at Lacassine Wildlife Refuge

BY DEIDRA REED, JENNINGS