MY FAVORITE JACQUES

I can remember all the months of May while growing up. May was the month when school was winding down, when summer vacation was in sight, and when new outdoor allergens emerged just enough to make you feel drowsy and feverish and kinda melancholy that all these changes were happening. But perhaps none were as memorable as the final May of college. After all, with moving away, grad school, and a career in the immediate plans, May marked the final threemonth summer vacation I would ever have.

So, I kinda wanted made sure I left college with a bang—by leaving my mark on some aspect of the college campus I was leaving behind. And I made that bang-mark by winning a naming contest with the name “Jacques.” Now, Jacques is an interesting name: It’s got origins in medieval France, and through history it was used both as a given name or a family name. I liked it mostly because it sounded powerful and startling, as in “ZHOCK”! Beyond how it sounded, however, there were a number of Jacques that likely influenced my prize-winning, bang-mark usage. First, there was Jacques Offenbach, nineteenth century French composer of operettas, whom I learned about as a young kid while listening to classical records with my dad. Offenbach’s most famous work is the operetta “Orpheus in the Underworld,” and that operetta was most famous for the dance scene called the “Can-Can.” You know the CanCan: It’s that famous fast dance where a line of colorfully-dressed chorus girls grab their skirts at the knees kick their legs up in unison, consequently showing their fluffy, all-white, thick-laced petticoats to the audience. For this reason, I spent all my childhood years thinking that the operetta was called “Orpheus in the Underwear”—a naughty saying from the secret world of adults. Once inside, it’s difficult to get such things out of your head when you’re young and impressionable. In later years, I remember watching special television broadcasts of “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.” This Jacques was a world-famous French ocean explorer and filmmaker. He invented several tiny submarines that allowed him to film and share deep sea discoveries and exotic sea creatures with his audiences. It was a special time for my family, as we all gathered around the television cabinet to watch. It was my favorite show until I realized that I preferred eating deep-fried sea creatures to watching deep sea ones on TV.

More recently, I’ve been watching French chef Jacques Pépin, who wows audiences with his personal history of cooking experiences and the dishes he serves up in syndication on PBS stations near you. Effortlessly making alluring French recipes for his television audience, he’s best known at my house for the quote, “When you have good bread and good butter, it’s hard to beat.” I whole-heartedly agree. As well as whole-stomachly agree.

But neither Offenbach nor Cousteau nor Pépin is my favorite Jacques. As a senior in college, the campus radio station ran a contest to name their new pet--a gangly, stuffed monkey with elastic insides such that when you pulled a leg it would recoil and fly across a room while screeching. Being such a clever primate myself,

3rd Annual May the 4th Celebration

May 4, 4 p.m.

Houma Downtown Courthouse Square

May the 4th comes to Downtown Houma for this 3rd Annual Celebration of all things Star Wars! This great family-friendly event will offer live music, delicious food, and fun for the whole family. Be sure to dress as your favorite Star Wars character for a chance to win the costume contest!

Viva La Trivia

May 5, 6 p.m.

St. Matthew’s Episcipal School

Saint Matthew’s Episcopl School Parent Association proudly hosts their 2nd Annual Spring Trivia Contest. This event is BYOB. Food will be available for purchase. The cost is $180 per team of six. Participants must be 18+. First place team will win $400 cash! To register a team, please email amymarie1213@gmail.com

Hope Community Mega Fundraiser

May 6, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Hope Extreme

Hope Extreme will host a garage sale, bake sale and car wash to raise funds for summer camp tuition. The organization plans to take over 50 students to summer camp this year and needs to raise $200 per student. Stop by the Mega Fundraiser and help send those kids to camp!

Market at the Marina

May 6, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Downtown Houma Marina

Terrebonne General Health System and Houma Downtown Development Company, present their monthly outdoor farmers market. This month’s event will feature local vendors selling local goods and produce, as well as meat and seafood, homemade body care products, and more! The market also features the Marina Sprouts Kid Club, St. Matthew’s STEM Lab, Little Arts Studio, and more!

Fletcher’s 3rd Annual Derby Party

May 6, 4 - 8 p.m.

Fletcher Technical Community College, Schriever

Enjoy a mint julep or your favorite beverage, and savor hors d’oeuvres, while participating in the silent and live auction, bourbon taksing, live music and more at the Annual Derby Party! Make sure to dress to impress with your best derby hat, for the hat contest!

Luminate Houma

May 13, 5:30 p.m.

Next to Lumiere Blues and Jazz Bistro

Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the essence of local musicians and artists showcasing their talents at the free, community outdoor concert!

TFAE Food Fest & 5K Run for Excellence

May 13, 4 p.m.

Downtown Houma

Battle of the High School Bands kicks off at 4 p.m., followed by the opening of the Food Fest and start of the race at 6 p.m. Those in attendance will dance the night away with Kings of Neon! Funds raised by this event support the efforts of the Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence.

Louisiana Blackberry Festival

May 20, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Houma Heights Cultural District

Join the fun at the first Louisiana Blackberry Festival under the twin spans near the MacDonell Children’s Home! The free festival will offer blackberry themed food, drinks, products, and more, with the option to purchase activity tickets.

2nd Annual Freedom Fest

May 27 from 11 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Fletcher Technical Community College, Schriever

South Louisiana Veteran Outreach is teaming up with the Bayou Beer Society and merging Freedom Fest and Bayou Beer Fest to create one fantastic day of fun! Including both a Crawfish Boil Cookoff and Bayou Beer Fest, guests will enjoy delicious crawfish, craft beer, live music, kids activities and more. Proceeds to benefit the efforts of SLVO. POV