Acadiana Lifestyle January 2022 by Wick Communications

JANUARY 2022

Dining in Acadiana from $5-$500 7 locals to watch in 2022 Need financial advice for the new year? What your banker wants you to know

Chad Courtois named to

FORBES’ TOP FINANCIAL SECURITY PROFESSIONALS LIST of 2021 Chad Courtois from the Louisiana General Office of New York Life Insurance Company has been listed on the 2021 Forbes Top Financial Security Professionals list. As one of the 250 individuals named to this inaugural group of distinguished professionals based on several criteria considered by an independent research firm. As a New York Life agent for 28 years, Mr. Courtois received this recognition for helping his clients in a world in which wealth preservation and protecting what matters most has never been more important.

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“We are honored that Chad appears on this prestigious list,” said David Johnson, Managing Partner of the Louisiana General Office. “New York Life has known for quite-sometime what a valuable asset Chad has been to our family and to many families and businesses in our community.” Please note, the independent research firm considered in its ranking a variety of financial products and services which not all ranked Financial Security Professionals (FSPs) may be licensed to offer. Only those products and services FSPs are licensed to offer were considered in determining any individual FSP’s.

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2 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 3

January 2022 | What you’ll find inside WE’RE HERE FOR YOU Publisher Michael Messerly mmesserly@daily-iberian.com General Manager Shanna Dickens shanna.dickens@daily-iberian.com Editor Anne Songy annes@acadianalifestyle.com Graphic Designer Robert Frey Sales Coordinator Carol Messinger carolm@acadianalifestyle.com

things we

LOVE in this month’s issue

Got a few dollars burning a hole in your pocket? Discover how we spent $1,000 in New Iberia, Breaux Bridge and Lafayette’s Oil Center. On the cover: We celebrate all things money as artist Paul Schexnayder’s unique interpretation of the $100 bill takes a very Acadiana turn.

Account Executive Damian Beaugh damianb@acadianalifestyle.com Contributing Writers Patrice Doucet Ellen Fucich Alexis Marino Wynce Nolley

Splurge Where it Counts | Page 41

Contributing Photographers Lee Ball, Sarah Soprano

Not all purchases are as extravagant and useless as gold-plated paper towels. We visited the places around Acadiana that offer some great luxury items that are not only desirable, but might just be worth the occasional splurge.

Editorial Board Ryan Boudoin, Karen F. Bonin, Angela Trappey Cestia, Geri Frederick, Larry Hensgens, Cathy Indest, Phyllis Mata, Wendy Parich, Paul Schexnayder

Getting Butterflies | Page 54

Delivery Personnel April Lopez Rachel Segura

Lafayette mixed artist Dana Manly gives us an inside look at her creative process and explains how she readies herself to receive the cues that come her way. She’s talented, she’s spiritual, and she’s this month’s Artist Profile.

Contact Us 124 E. Main Street New Iberia, LA 70560 337-365-2222 That stuff legal makes us say ©2022 by Wick Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of Acadiana Lifestyle, including articles, advertising or artwork may be reproduced in whole or partly without the written consent of the publisher.

Shopping Spree | Page 28

Find more of our favorite stories on these pages: Focus............................................... 8 Personality Profile......................... 14 On Trend........................................ 18 Handmade in Acadiana................. 21 People to Watch in 2022................ 23 Cajun Creations.............................. 27 Financial Personas......................... 33

Dining $5 - $500 ........................... 36 Budget Hacks................................. 38 Penny Art.......................................46 9 Money Principles........................ 47 Toast of the Town.......................... 49 The Resolution Revolution............. 50 Lafayette Film Festival.................. 51

Iberia Mental Health Initiative...... 59 By the Numbers............................. 63 Wreath Contest Answers...............64 Social Lights.................................. 67 Upcoming Events........................... 70

EDITOR’S COLUMN

Fistful of Dollars How is it possible we’ve never had a Money Issue before? When we sat down to plan editorial content for 2022, we asked that question – but then immediately abandoned the debate, forging ahead, fielding ideas with rapidfire enthusiasm. The result of that planning session (and a lot of hard work from our writers and photographers) is a collection of pieces that tells a story. Inside this issue you’ll get a peek at the different aspects of money: spending, saving, protecting, giving. At a time when most of us are feeling degrees of financial strain, it was fun to dream a little – taking readers on a visual shopping trip to spend $1,000, covering the dining spectrum from donuts shops to upscale cuisine, and revealing some of Acadiana’s best places to splurge on luxury items. At the same time, we offer some sound financial advice from a long-time community banker, and we present our favorite budget hacks curated from readership. For me, the energy and scope of this issue really crystalized the second I saw Paul Schexnayder’s depiction of the $100 bill, which he painted especially for our cover. It perfectly illustrates the fun and funky (and sometimes weird) nature of money: exactly the tone we hope we’ve created for you. Enjoy the issue and have a happy and healthy new year!

Anne Songy Songy Editor

MEET A CONTRIBUTOR As soon as we determined the cover of our inaugural Money Issue should be fun, creative and iconic, we knew Paul Schexnayder had to be our artist. Paul has been a professional artist for more than 30 years, and his studio A&E Gallery is a mainstay for other artists and art-lovers throughout Acadiana. He is prolific, drawing every single day and producing hundreds of paintings, as well as his own line of products called happy cajun. He is also an awardwinning children’s book writer and has three of them published with UL Press. His gallery, which he and wife Lee have owned for 11 years, showcases some of Paul’s work and features over a dozen local artist’s work, as well. A self portrait by Paul Schexnayder.

4 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

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Focus | Your guide to recent community news APPLAUSE

» In November, the Acadiana Center for the Arts

(AcA) and the Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG) approved funding for four project grants and eight operating grants in Lafayette, totalling $17,366. Every year since 1988, AcA has administered this program, soliciting proposals from local nonprofit organizations and recommending available funding for projects and organizations through an independent panel of local experts. LCG sets the amount of funding available during its annual budgeting process. Funded projects in this round include Southern Screen Festival in November, Black History Month and Pride Month programming by Citè des Arts, Culture Days at Vermilionville, and a return of Window Wonderland, brought to you by Basin Arts this holiday season. Additional grants for general operating support have been awarded to Asociacion Cultural Latino-Acadiana, Basin Arts, Children’s Museum of Acadiana, Louisiana Folk Roots, Louisiana Crafts Guild, Southern Screen, Performing Arts Serving Acadiana, and Vermilionville Living History Museum Foundation.

» In honor of Festival International de Louisiane’s

first ever Merci Month in November, the organization donated its Official 2021 Artwork to the Blue Monday Mission. The artwork, created by Luann Duhon and Jerome Ford was presented to the organization to show appreciation for their efforts in the music community. The Blue Monday Mission provides life care services for aging, retired and elder musicians and artists in our community. This organization was founded by nonprofit Love of People, which is the official recipient of the artwork and the location where the piece will be displayed.

» In December, the Community Foundation of

Acadiana (CFA) announced that its next SOLA Giving Day will take place on May 5, 2022. SOLA Giving Day 2021 raised $1.85 million for local nonprofits, churches and schools by 3,737 donations to 173 organizations. SOLA Giving Day is an online fundraising platform and annual 24-hour period of giving organized by CFA and offered to 501(c)3 public nonprofits, churches and schools in South Louisiana.

» Moncus Park officially opened to the public on

Jan. 1, 2022. The Park will celebrate its opening season with a series of events beginning in January and lasting throughout the spring. Since breaking ground in 2018, Moncus Park has completed Phase 1 which included the construction of a 4-acre lake, great lawn, over two miles of new trails, a dog park, hundreds of tree plantings, as well as much of the infrastructure and utilities for future developments. Currently under construction is the amphitheater, interactive water feature, treehouse, inclusive playground, the Veterans Memorial, and a restroom facility.

» The Acadiana Center for the Arts has opened

a new exhibition, Brandon Ballengée: The Age of Loneliness, which is a large-scale exhibition, showcasing 10 years of work by the artist, biologist, and 2021 Guggenheim Fellowship award-winner. Three large projects by Ballengée will span the first floor of the AcA, inside and out, through Jan. 8, 2022. According to the AcA, it aims to stir conversation and public engagement with important ideas through exhibitions like “Brandon Ballengée: The Age of Loneliness.” The exhibition schedule includes regular field trips, public events, and opportunities to meet and engage with the artist.

8 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

JUST IN

» On Nov. 20, the Greater Iberia Chamber of

Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new McDonald’s on Main Street in new Iberia. The event featured the Kane Radio On Site Show, raffles for door prizes from McDonald’s characters and offered attendees a chance to win free fries for a year.

» The Acadiana Center for the Arts has announced

that Poetry Out Loud is open to all Acadiana area high schools. Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about literary history and contemporary life. School competitions must take place by Jan. 14. The regional competition will be held on Jan. 22, at the AcA in Downtown Lafayette. The state competition will be held on March 12, at the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center in Baton Rouge. The national competition will be held later this year. All competitions will take place in person this year. For more details, visit AcadianaCenterfortheArts.org.

» In November, JohnPAC, LLC, which is an Acadia

parish manufacturing business, announced their continued commitment to a Lafayette-based nonprofit Parish Proud. This commitment comes after Parish Proud began expanding their efforts to more communities outside of Lafayette Parish. JohnPAC is the organization’s first 10-year sponsor, opening the door to many other businesses that want to have a hand in bettering Acadiana for everyone. The organization has sponsored 30,000 personally designed bags to be used at their pickup events throughout the region. Parish Proud is accepting business partner inquiries at this time, and more information can be requested via email at info@parishproud.org.

» Books Along

» On Nov. 30, the Community Foundation of

Acadiana (CFA) held its Second Annual Leaders in Law Enforcement Awards, which was an event held to present three annual awards to recognize one Louisiana sheriff’s department, one Louisiana district attorney’s office, and for the first time this year, one Louisiana State Police Section that are making the most impact in their communities with the resources they have. The 2021 honorees are the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Department, the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office of Lafourche Parish, and Louisiana State Police Troop C. Each department received a $25,000 award to be used at their discretion to improve operations and continue to encourage extraordinary performance and implement meaningful programs. The awards are underwritten by the Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation.

the Teche Literary Festival announced its plans for the 6th annual festival on April 1-3, 2022. The featured Great Southern Writer is Osha Gray Davidson, author of The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South, which was turned into a major motion picture (and will be screened during the Festival). The festival has many events to choose from that will delight fans of Southern literature, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, theater and children’s books.

Focus | Your guide to recent community news Attendees can follow James Lee Burke’s character Dave Robicheaux through the streets of New Iberia at the Dave’s Haunts and Jaunts bus tour, take a guided walking tour under New Iberia’s historic live oaks, and visit authors from around the country at the Author’s Book Fair.

Festival International de Louisiane announced that the event would return April 27 - May 1, 2022. Festival International is a cultural celebration through music, food, and art. The community-based 5-day music and arts festival is held every year during the last full week of April in Downtown Lafayette.

» In December, the Lafayette Downtown

Development Authority gave an update for the renovation of the Old Federal Courthouse complex at Jefferson and Main streets, named “The Municipal,” which is nearing completion and promises to offer urban living for people looking for an exciting, vibrant lifestyle in the heart of the city. The Municipal includes 71 apartment units featuring attractive amenities like a private pool and clubhouse, plus a variety of new commercial opportunities available for development.

» In December, the Greater Iberia Chamber of

Commerce announced that applications are being accepted for Leadership Iberia Class of 2022. Leadership Iberia is a program of the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce, and is designed to inspire and renew leadership commitment in a diverse group of participants from a cross-section of the community including age, gender, profession, ethnicity, leadership and volunteer experience. The program has produced

more than 400 community leaders who have graduated and are making a positive impact in Iberia Parish. Applications are due Jan. 18. For more details, visit IberiaChamber.org/Leadership-Iberia.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

» On Oct. 26, Carencro

Mayor Glenn L. Brasseaux signed a proclamation stating that Parish Proud will be their official partner to mitigate litter and encourage beautification efforts in the city and Lafayette Parish. The proclamation positions Carencro to assist their citizens in removing debris through events, keeping up with public yard spaces and displaying “Do Not Litter Carencro” street signage for citizen and visitor education. As Carencro grows – Amazon, residential properties, local business expansion, etc. – Parish Proud says it hopes this proclamation will show existing and future residents the city is somewhere they can find pride. Carencro joins Lafayette, Broussard, Scott and Youngsville in partnership with Parish Proud. Parish Proud is a nonprofit organization working to clean-up Acadiana one city at a time by focusing on eliminating litter and encouraging beautification.

Lauren Barras

Debra Savoie

» In December Garden View Assisted Living

introduced a new team to its residents and the community. Lauren Barras, named the facility’s Executive Director, is a graduate of University of

Louisiana Lafayette and is a Licensed Nursing Facility Administrator. She has worked in the long-term care industry for 10 years, during which time she has received multiple healthcare awards, including Iberia Parish Healthcare Heroes Best Social Worker/Case Manager. Debra Savoie joins Garden View as Community Liaison. Savoie is a ULL graduate and has more than 25 years of marketing experience in the healthcare industry. She is well known in the community for her work with non-profit organizations. Lastly, Tom Jennings was introduced as Garden View’s new Dietary Manager. He has spent the last 28 years in the culinary and restaurant industry and has designed menus, built kitchens, and trained many cooks and kitchen management teams. Having been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at an early age, Jennings understands food and its effect on the body. n

Tom Jennings

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In partnership with Thibodaux Regional Health System, we are pleased to welcome our new specialists.

Derek Neupert, MD Neurology

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The care you need, in your own backyard. Franklin Foundation Hospital is proud to announce its new partnership with Thibodaux Regional Health System. This partnership will allow the communities we serve to have access to services they've never had before, starting with Neurology, Medical Oncology, and Interventional Pain Management. This partnership makes both of our institutions and communities healthier and stronger. Stay tuned for all of the wonderful things to come!

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Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site St. Martinville

Palmetto Island State Park Abbeville

“Immerse yourself in the unique culture and heritage of Acadiana at Longview-Evangeline State Historic Site and Palmetto Island State Park. Go to www.LaStateParks.com, to start planning your Louisiana Staycation today.” Lieutenant Governor, Billy Nungesser Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 11

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Personality Profile | A peek inside the daily lives of Lane and Kristie Blanchard

Hard Work and Sweet Dreams A Day in the Life of a Sugarcane Farming Family by Patrice Doucet | photography by Sarah Soprano

t’s 7 p.m. in early December, and Lane Blanchard is just getting in from a long day in the cane fields. Like other growers, he has been cutting his cane since the first week of October. With grinding season nearly finished now, he and his crew at Lane Blanchard Farms in Loreauville will be working nonstop until the middle of January. It’s a life he and his wife Kristie, who is also an integral part of the business, have been at since 1983. Now with two grown sons helping, the Blanchard’s are an example of the family spirit and work ethic that bring success and longevity to the sugarcane industry.

“Sitting on top of that harvester, cutting the cane, I can say I saw the crop from start to finish,” he says in earnest. “To watch the cane go through the harvester, that’s the fruits of your labor.”

Lane, unflinching and humble to his core, is a fifth-generation farmer with a strong vein of sugarcane history running through both sides of his family. He oversees 1,700 acres of his own in Iberia and St. Mary Parishes, and also helps manage 3,800 acres of Blanchard Brothers, Inc. with his two brothers.

Afternoons Lunch for farmers is not a break, as we know it to be. The men – Lane included – eat a sandwich on the go, at no set time, anytime from 10 to 1, depending on when they have a few minutes’ wait time.

Kristie has been the business’s secretary, doing payroll and the books, since before they were married. She’s always known how much her husband loves farming, but says it was easier back then. “Lane was only farming 300 acres at the time and, as the years went on, the acreage grew.” (She oversees the payroll for Blanchard Brothers, as well, although she is in the process of handing that duty over to a sister-inlaw.) Mornings The day begins early on the Blanchard farm. Lane wakes up with the roosters, rising at 4:00am. By 4:30 he’s on his way to his routine first stop, a small community store and bait shop in Lydia called Dago’s. There he and 10 other farmers talk shop for a short 14 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

His operation and Blanchard Brothers have four tractors and four trucks each, loading the cane in the fields, bringing it to the loading site, and hauling it to the St. Mary Sugar Co-Op Mill. It’s a continuous operation all day long, with workers communicating by two-way radios. Between the two operations, a total of some 1,600 tons of cane (or about 65 truckloads) is hauled each day.

They are fortunate to have had only a few breakdowns beyond an occasional flat tire or a busted hydraulic hose. “We have spare tractors and a spare harvester; if one breaks, we replace it and continue going,” Lane assures. Parts are carried with them, and two mechanics are also on hand at the call over a radio. Time is money in the sugarcane business.

time over biscuits and coffee. They swap “hellos” with the fishermen who come in to pick up some bait. It’s a grounding 20 minutes he wouldn’t miss before heading out to any one of his fields, which span from Loreauville to Cypremort Point and Glencoe. A harvest schedule tells the crew which fields to tend to first, depending on

the year, soil type and weather. The sugarcane crops are on a three-year cycle, cutting the older cane first and then moving into younger cane fields, all the while with two harvest operations going on. During grinding, Lane will spend 9-10 hours a day cutting cane, himself, something he doesn’t consider a chore.

After the cane is hauled away, the remaining shucks are either burned or raked. “When a field is near a school or homes, we opt not to burn, but we still have to get the residue off the tops of the cane. So in those cases, we rake the shucks off the top of the rows with hay racks attached to the tractors,” explains Lane, who also takes great steps to learn how to preserve the land for future generations.

Personality Profile | A peek inside the daily lives of Lane and Kristie Blanchard Once a crop has been harvested, his sons (who have worked on the farm since they were 12) “bust out” stubble on the land to be replanted. Rutted fields are flattened and then surveyed for precision grating to help drainage. They essentially design the fields to where they want the water to drain, then download the information onto the tractor. A satellite that reads the elevation directs the dirt buckets how to grade the land.

“Sitting on top of that harvester, cutting the cane, I can say I saw the crop from start to finish.”

— Lane Blanchard “The technology that has come through is amazing to me,” Lane marvels. “Back in the day, we used to cut cane with a whole stalk harvester. It’s a more efficient operation now.” When the quota is met, the day is done. Field maps help Blanchard keep track of his yields, but also, for the past two years, they have rented a cutting edge, two-row combine harvester from John Deere with a monitor system on it that provides the yield information. Kristie, who is also the Registrar of Voters for Iberia Parish, knows well the commitment of being the wife of a sugarcane farmer. “It’s a challenging life,” she explains. “You have to be willing to do a lot on your own. Lane loves what he does, but is always working. In addition to the book work, I cut the grass, tend to the flowerbeds… put salt in the water softeners. During the busy seasons, I talk to him briefly when he wakes up and then about an hour and a half at night.” For several years every Sunday, she brought lunch and three ice chests of soft drinks for him and 22 others in the fields during Lane’s work day is spent in the cane, while Kristie spends most of her day in the office. Continued on page 16 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 15

Personality Profile Continued from page 15

grinding. “I took one year off, when I was having back problems,” she adds. At the end of a harvesting day, workers service the farm equipment, fueling up the machines, cleaning the windshields, blowing the air filters and the accumulation of shucks off the combine, preventing a potential fire. “Not all farmers take the time to do this after a hard day’s work,” Kristie points out.

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Evenings When Lane gets to the house for the evening, he heads straight to the candy or cookie jar for a long-awaited treat. “I might go in the office and do a little paperwork,” he says matter-of-factly. He hits the shower before eating supper. Watching television doesn’t usually last long before his eyes are closing, but he does enjoy watching what he can of LPB, RFD-TV, an agribusiness and rural lifestyle channel, or a taping of Yellowstone before going to bed between 7:30 and 8:00. Like most sugarcane farmers, the Blanchards are a family dedicated to the industry. Kristie and Lane are board members of the Teche Growers Association, a non-profit dedicated to the education, preservation and promotion of the farming and agriculture industry in South Central Louisiana. Lane is also a member of the board, and vice president of the St. Mary Sugar Co-op. In an entire year, Lane is off at the end of January and February and some of July. During planting and grinding, he and his crew work 12 to 14½-hour days, seven days a week, as required by the mill. His crops are at the mercy of the weather, pests, weeds and diseases, and maintenance – and equipment costs are ongoing. So why does he do it? “As a kid I hated school and sports, but was always intrigued with agriculture,” he says. “The most rewarding thing is seeing the stages of farming, and every season has its rewards where you can see the progress of your hard work throughout the year.” n

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On Trend | The look of pure luxe

White & Gold Shades of white are like blank canvases of endless possibilities, and gold tones immediately elicit a sense of luxury, but paired together they create a look that is both contemporary and modern, trendy and timeless. Add some of these white and gold statement pieces to your wardrobe or in your home for an elegant compliment to any style.

Bird with Crown $21, Caroline & Co., Lafayette carolineandco.com

Moonstone Pendants $68 & $63, Allain’s Jewelry, New Iberia allainsjewelry.com

Personalized Cookies $36 per dozen, Créme Bakery, Lafayette @cremebakeryla 18 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

Damask Metallic Wallpaper $52 per double-roll pack The Interior Fabric Shoppe, Lafayette theinteriorfabricshoppe.com

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Handmade in Acadiana | Brennon and Heidi Viator set their sights on Acadiana

Cajun Marsh Apparel

Local Couple Uses Outdoors Experience to Build Clothing Line by Patrice Doucet | photography by Lee Ball

ll those years Brennon Viator sat patiently in the duck blinds, scanning the sky for a shot, he couldn’t have imagined himself one day selling a line of clothing. But being a duck hunter for 10 years revealed to him something missing in the apparel world, when he was unable to find clothing that expressed South Louisiana’s style. From that place of need, Brennon and wife Heidi launched Cajun Marsh Apparel last year and have been growing the label ever since.

South Louisiana culture, fishing, hunting, patriotism - and dogs, inspired by Brennon’s two Labradors. The shirts, available in more than 10 colors, have a soft cotton feel, but are 100 percent polyester, so there’s no shrinking or fading. The long-sleeve fishing t-shirts are a performance blend with moisture wicking, making them cooler-feeling and quick to dry when exposed to water or sweat. Best sellers include the buck shot deer, the guy-style and the new duck shirt displaying a mallard, wood duck and teal. And the Louisiana t-shirt with crawfish, Mardi Gras inscription, and magnolia are making great gifts, according to Brennon. Trucker-style Richardson caps are also popular, including the two latest camo-blends: real tree and mossy oak. According to Heidi the women’s cap with a ponytail opening is gaining in popularity. They often take custom orders, as well.

“I wanted to create a clothing apparel line for the men and women who duck hunt, fish and enjoy the outdoor activities that I do,” says the New Iberia native, who is such an avid outdoorsman, he has the nickname to prove it. “Since the time I started hunting at 14, I’ve been fascinated with Wood ducks and the colors on the bird. So much so, my uncle nicknamed me ‘Wood Duck’ during the hunting season. Today, my wife and I have grown to love duck hunting together and even take hunting trips.” Setting out to launch his apparel business was no small feat for Brennon, who works full time as a service technician for AT&T, laying fiber optics for commercial and residential internet. His wife Heidi, also a native-Iberian, has a degree in business management and works as a sales associate at Blush Boutique in Broussard. As his idea began to grow and after much research – learning which textiles would work best, how to get the fabrics, marketing, and so forth – the couple began selling Cajun Marsh Apparel online and at popups in February 2021. “We’re one of the few small businesses geared towards outdoor life in Louisiana, offering a product not readily found in big box stores,” says Brennon.

Building a Brand Operating out of their garage for now (at nights and on weekends), they use a heat press and two printers to transfer the dyes onto the fabrics. Heidi designs the ideas that Brennon most often brings to her. “Inspiration comes from the hunting and fishing activities that I do on weekends: riding four-wheelers,

deer hunting, frogging and hanging out with friends. We’re inspired by our love for Cajun country and the beauty the Southern life has to offer,” says Brennon. The apparel line includes men’s and women’s t-shirts and caps, and a small selection of kid’s t-shirts depicting

Giving Back Although still new to the apparel business, the Viator’s believe in helping others in their community. In April, proceeds from t-shirt sales were donated to New Iberia families that lost loved ones in the Seacor lift accident. And this good deed resulted in an unexpected return for the couple: “We had thousands of (social media) shares from people ‘liking’ what we did, and that reached other people in the oil industry in other states who liked our shirts,” Heidi recalls. It was a response that sent shirts shipping to North Carolina, Texas and Michigan. Another Cajun Marsh fundraiser following Hurricane Ida in September provided proceeds for the cleanup and repair of Continued on page 22 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 21

Handmade in Acadiana | Brennon and Heidi Viator set their sights on Acadiana Continued from page 21

Brennon and Heidi’s former church in Thibodeaux. Looking Forward Expect more original designs to be added to the collection this year, along with new items, including drink tumblers, hoodies and pajamas. This past Christmas, Cajun Marsh took pre-orders for four different styles of Christmas pajama sets, and they plan

“We’re one of the few small businesses geared towards outdoor life in Louisiana, offering a product not readily found in big box stores.” — Brennon Viator

Brennon and Heidi’s son Landon offers to lend a hand in production and design.

to offer those again starting in October 2022. “Dressing in Christmas pajamas is part of a tradition that we do with Heidi’s family that we wanted to pass along,” says Brennon. Hoping to get into the small, local stores, Brennon says, “We hope to bring our stories to life in our designs and share the love we have for hunting – and Louisiana.” You can find Cajun Marsh Apparel items on Facebook and Instagram as well as Blush Boutique and The Market, both in Broussard. n

Brennon finishes printing a new shirt at the Cajun Marsh studio. 22 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

Feature Story | Keep an eye out for these trailblazers in the new year

People to Watch in 2022 by Victoria Dodge

It’s been a challenging few years of what sometimes felt like a complete suspension of progress, but there are a few determined individuals across Acadiana who have been using this downtime to come up with exciting plans for the new year. We found a few such trailblazers who we think will be the ones to watch in 2022.

JADY REGARD Chief Nut Officer Cane River Pecan Company

His family has been farming pecans since 1969, but when Jady Regard opened the company’s first brick and mortar retail space on New Iberia’s Main Street in 2018, he knew it would be just the first phase in his exciting plans. Now, three years later, construction has already begun on an adjoining space that will become the Cane River Pecan Company Pie Bar. “This has been a dream of ours for years,” Regard says. “Being a pecan company, we have a special affinity for pie, but this space will really be a hometown cafè that will not only serve sweet, savory and seasonal pies, but also some soups, salads, sandwiches, coffee and a small smattering of baked items.” Regard’s latest investment in downtown New Iberia echoes his lifelong support of the culture and community. In conjunction with the 55-seat, 1,800-square foot cafè, he also has plans to include live Cajun music on Fridays and a “Petit Pecan Museum of Louisiana,” which will showcase the history and process of pecans and pecan farming in the state. Both the café and the museum are slated to open in late spring or early summer of 2022.

MANDI MITCHELL

Chief Executive Officer Lafayette Economic Development Authority

Growth will be the theme in 2022 for Mandi Mitchell. When she was assistant secretary at Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA), she was already making great strides for Acadiana, helping to develop an Amazon fulfillment center in Carencro, among other projects. In September of 2021, the north Lafayette native was named LEDA’s new CEO, replacing Gregg Gothreaux, who served in that position for 26 years. Her influence is already being felt across Acadiana, with plans to take advantage of the I-10/I-49 interchange and to improve opportunities in areas like the Northside of Lafayette. Still, she’s mindful to ensure small businesses in every city in Lafayette Parish be given all the resources they need to navigate the current economic environment. Mitchell is one of only 1,100 certified economic developers worldwide. She earned a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from the University of New Orleans, and a master of business administration from University of New Orleans. While she has applied her degrees in various fields in the past, she now looks forward to implementing her strategic plan and solidifying Acadiana’s place as a premier tech hub, alongside other core employers in Acadiana such as oil, healthcare and manufacturing. Continued on page 24

Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 23

Feature Story | Keep an eye out for these trailblazers in the new year Continued from page 23

MICHAEL DESORMEAUX Head Football Coach University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Photo Courtesy of Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics

Michael Desormeaux has been setting records in Acadiana for decades. Now he has the chance to show the nation his football chops. The New Iberia native is a Catholic High star athlete and University of Louisiana at Lafayette record-setting quarterback – and now he’s the Ragin’ Cajuns new head football coach. Although Desormeaux has never served as a permanent college head football coach, he has worked for ULL’s football program for the last six seasons in various positions, including co-offensive coordinator, running backs coach, receivers coach and, in 2017, interim head coach. He was the only coaching staff member kept by former head coach Billy Napier. Riding the waves of the Ragin’ Cajuns’ first Sun Belt Championship win, Desormeaux will be fun to watch in 2022. Under his wing, the Ragin’ Cajuns offense ranked third this year in the Sun Belt in both scoring offense and total offense. He is known as a “relentless recruiter,” according to a ULL press release, securing the second-ranked class in the league ahead of the 2022 signing period. Desormeaux, who signed a five-year contract with the university’s athletics program, is enthusiastic and hopeful about the season ahead.

BRIGETTE THERIOT FLEMING Owner District Art Gallery and The Loft at District Art

There’s a new venture in the works on New Iberia’s Main Street. Projected for a grand opening in 2022, the District Art Gallery will provide a space for local artists working in a variety of mediums to showcase their talents and sell their work. Owner Brigette Theriot Fleming, who named the gallery as a nod toward her hometown’s historical “district,” looks forward to creating new connections between artists and local patrons or visitors to the area. Above the gallery, Theriot Fleming is also planning to open a B&B called The Loft at District Art sometime in 2022. Raised in New Iberia, Theriot Fleming earned a degree in fine arts at University of South Louisiana, now ULL. She then went on to study lighting and photography in California State University at Long Beach, then worked on location from 2002 to 2004 with various seasons of TV’s “Survivor” franchise. While away, Theriot Fleming began buying real estate in her hometown, knowing one day she would return. Since her move back to New Iberia in 2006, she has been pivotal in getting multiple movies filmed in the area, including 2019’s Lifetime Christmas movie “Christmas On The River.”

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Feature Story | Keep an eye out for these trailblazers in the new year

MARK AND NICOLE DELAHOUSSAYE Owners Church Alley Café & Bistro

“Meet Me in the Alley, Sha!” It’s the fun and flirty tagline enticing locals and visitors to anticipate the grand opening of Church Alley Café & Bistro, coming to New Iberia this year. Owners Mark and Nicole Delahoussaye say their establishment will be the only locally-owned, non-corporate coffee shop in the city. The couple, who lives in Austin, Texas but are in the process of moving back to Mark’s hometown of New Iberia, purchased a home in historic Church Alley to have a place to stay while visiting family. It was during their visits they discovered the “perfect spot for a coffee shop” and decided to move forward with their plans to invest in their community. The café will serve Reve Coffee and various café food items and is expected to open mid-January 2022 at 116 Church Alley, just across from St. Peter’s Catholic Church between East St. Peter and Main Streets. Within six months to a year, the Delahoussayes expect to expand the café into a bistro during the evening, serving wine, small bites and desserts. They tell us they plan to create the “perfect environment for meetups with friends, client meetings, or just relaxing with a good cup of coffee and a book.”

DUSTIN POIRIER Founder Good Fight Foundation

When MMA fighter and UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier, along with wife Jolie and other family members, started the Good Fight Foundation in 2018, they primarily raised money for local projects and communities by selling his fight memorabilia. Now, just over three years later, the organization has turned into a humanitarian powerhouse, partnering with and raising money for numerous local (and a few international) causes. After each match, the fighter from Youngsville still auctions his fight kits (the gear he wears during a UFC cage match, including trunks, shirt, hat, hand wraps and gloves) and turns over all the proceeds to the Foundation. Past proceeds have provided 3,000 meals for Second Harvest Food Bank, given school supplies to Louisiana children, built a playground for kids with special needs, helped install water wells in Uganda, and equipped homeless shelters with new furniture. In 2022 Poirier will continue to fight professionally, but the Good Fight Foundation is also poised for explosive growth and outreach. Among other plans, he has a vision for Northside Lafayette to open a youth martial arts/boxing gym where tuition is paid with good grades (or improvement in grades), giving kids a goal and place to go after school.

BRYSON HYPOLITE President Downtown Neighborhood Association

A newly-painted, bright blue house sits on Ann Street in the Downtown district of New Iberia – an indication of what is to come. Bryson Hypolite, president of the Downtown Neighborhood Association, is leading a wave of revitalization in the area (an area not to be confused with New Iberia’s “historic downtown”). After becoming president of the association in late 2021, Hypolite facilitated the first painting of a resident’s house and organized a po-boy fundraiser to continue providing aid to Ann Street. The association has held various community improvement events in conjunction with Parish Proud, including a day dedicated to cleaning Ann Street. Looking toward 2022, Hypolite plans to continue, and even escalate, the organization’s efforts, specifically for elderly residents who “might have trouble with home repair,” Hypolite says. In conjunction with the revitalization projects planned, the association will also develop and open a park at Ann Street and 20 Arpent Road. In the meantime, Hypolite is concentrating on the huge task of fundraising. “The overall goal is to continue raising the standard for the community and come together to do more stuff,” he says. “I want to shed light on (downtown) not just to the neighborhood, but to the city as a whole.” Continued on page 26 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 25

Feature Story | trailblazers in the new year Continued from page 25

Event to Watch in 2022

April 1-3, 2022 | New Iberia The 6th annual Books Along the Teche Literary Festival, held in New Iberia every spring, promises to be especially spectacular in 2022. Festival organizers, including co-chairs Ellen and Greg Mullen, are planning a full weekend of events that will delight fans of Southern literature, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, theater and children’s books. Here are just a few of the festival’s plans to celebrate South Louisiana’s unique literary history, culture, and cuisine in the New Iberia National Register Historic District:

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• See Great Southern Writer Osha Gray Davidson, author of The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South, which was turned into a major motion picture. • Follow James Lee Burke’s character Dave Robicheaux through the streets of New Iberia at the Dave’s Haunts and Jaunts bus tour, take a guided walking tour under New Iberia’s historic live oaks, and visit authors from around the country at the Author’s Book Fair. • Learn the secrets to good Louisiana cooking at a morning food demo, attend free movie screenings of The Best of Enemies, and be a part of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Symposium on James Lee Burke and the Center Stage Readers’ Theater featuring one of his chosen titles. • There will also be a tribute to Ernest Gaines, children’s workshops, a bourée tournament, 5K run, art exhibits and a lecture on Iberia’s African American history. • Two evening receptions will give festival goers a chance to taste Southern Louisiana delicacies, while being serenaded by the Bunk Johnson Brazz Band and Terry Huval and the Jambalaya Cajun Band. They can also take a ride down the Bayou Teche with T-Boy’s Bayou Adventure Tour and savor the sounds at the free Symphony Sunday in the Park. The Books Along the Teche Literary Festival is an event of the Iberia Preservation Alliance, formed by the Iberia Cultural Resources Association, Bayou Teche Museum, Shadows-on-the-Teche and the New Iberia Main Street Program. This is a don’t-miss event for 2022! For more information and to purchase tickets, visit BooksAlongTheTecheLiteraryFestival.com, follow the festival on Facebook and Instagram, or contact Greg and Ellen Mullen at techefest@gmail.com or 337-519-9233.

26 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

Cajun Creations | Discover local art, books and music

Cajun French Dictionary & Phrasebook by Clint Bruce & Jennifer Gipson Paperback: $12.95 At the heart of Cajun culture is a fascinating dialect of French that has survived the forces of Americanization and is still spoken by over 250,000 residents of Louisiana. With a historical overview and an introduction to the language, this book answers many common questions about Cajun French. The preface by David Cheramie, executive director of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL), offers the viewpoint of an influential leader in the movement to preserve Louisiana’s unique linguistic heritage. • Pronunciation guide • Basic grammar • Frequently asked questions about Cajun French • 3,800 dictionary entries • Essential phrases Review presented by Books Along the Teche 337-367-7621 | 106 E. Main Street, New Iberia

MICHELLE FONTENOT

MARIA BOUDREAUX

GEORGE RODRIGUE

Zydeco Fiddle

Got an Eye Full!

Blue Dog Bracelet

Medium: Glass Available at: Sans Souci Gallery, Lafayette Price: $200

Medium: Acrylic on canvas Available at: The Rustic Relic, Breaux Bridge Price: $375

Medium: Jewelry/Metal Available at: Rodrigue Studios, Lafayette Price: $4,750

Michelle Fontenot, who specializes in stained glass and mosaic art, has been an accomplished artist for many years. She began her career as a full-time artist and business owner following her training in ceramics at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Though she specializes in stained glass art, Michelle is not limited to any form of creativity and often gains inspiration for her artistic pieces from her surroundings. Many of her creations have been on exhibit and have been displayed at local and out-of-state art galleries, as well as festivals and events which include Sans Souci Gallery, Festival International, and Acadiana Center for the Arts.

Maria Boudreaux is a self-taught artist born and raised in southeast Louisiana. She began her career commercially, painting murals, faux finishes and turning the ordinary into extraordinary; however, creating works of art on canvas has always been her first love. Using a variety of textures and mediums, her paintings capture the essence of southern gulf coast charm in a style as unique as her own. The artist is known for her personality as she paints, and she brings out the artist in everyone with her sip-and-paint classes, summer art camps for grade school students, and other live painting events.

This stunning piece is a true work of art, first designed by the late George Rodrigue working with master silversmith Douglas Magnus more than twenty years ago. The bracelet is only part of an entire line of sterling pieces crafted in the spirit and image of Rodrigue’s renowned Blue Dog. These designs have been out of circulation since 2006, but have recently become available to Rodrigue collectors by the original silversmith Magnus Studios. The bracelet and all other pieces in the collection are handcrafted, one-by-one, and are extremely limited in terms of on-hand inventory. Prices range from $475 and $4750. Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 27

Money Feature | Bracelets and crabcakes and art…oh, my!

How to Spend $1,000 New Iberia | Breaux Bridge | Oil Center by Anne Songy

he happy task of spending money in Acadiana is not about finding places to shop, eat or stay; rather the challenge is how to narrow down the dozens of amazing choices. We wanted to know what spending $1,000 would look like in New Iberia, Breaux Bridge and Lafayette’s Oil Center, so we visited those areas with an open mind and an open wallet. What we found was that each of these destinations is unique: New Iberia with its friendly, artsy energy; Breaux Bridge with its bustling charm; and

the Oil Center bringing a pleasant combination of city sophistication with a kind of small-town appeal. To follow are the items that caught our eye, the places that appealed to us, and the restaurants that lured us in with their tantalizing aromas and inviting spaces. It is by no means an exhaustive list, but one that will give you a great idea of the myriad ways you can spend your dollars locally. Enjoy!

NEW YEAR, NEW HUE! Get your next project started with inspiration and expert advice. Let Our Knowledgeable Staff Assist You With Your Next Painting and Flooring Projects.

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28 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

www.acadianalifestlye.com

Oil Center

Money Feature | Bracelets and crabcakes and art…oh, my!

How to Spend $1,000 in

A Stop for Spot

Splashes of Gold

Drop off your pup for a spa day or pick up some of these products for a little at-home spoiling.

Bold, artful interiors abound in the Oil Center, like these Jackson Pollock-esque plates by Annieglass.

Bark Avenue | 7 S College Road

Pieces of Eight | 902 Coolidge Street

$375

$100

Tea for Two

Humidor Talk

Cuff It

Everything you need for your kitchen is adjacent to Champagne’s Grocery – we fell in love with this Smeg kettle and these fun mugs.

Scoop up a few of these Padrón Family Reserve cigars for the aficionado in your life and stick around to learn more from the experts.

This Mignon Faget bronze cuff bracelet caught our eye at Koi, one of Oil Center’s upscale boutiques.

The Kitchenary | 456 Heymann Boulevard

Cigar Merchant | 1001 Coolidge Street

Koi | 456 HeymannBoulevard

$200

$100

$225

Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 29

Money Feature | Bracelets and crabcakes and art…oh, my!

How to Spend $1,000 in

Layered Look

New Iberia

Fashion Fix

Style your outfit like a pro with accessories like these bangle bracelets by enewton.

Discover what’s on trend and find your own look – we spotted these boots, jewelry and dress in one boutique!

Texada’s Jewelry & Gifts | 920 S Lewis Street

Emily Katherine Boutique | 1000 Parkview Drive

$200

$150

Tower Living

On the Halfshell

Picture Perfect

Spend a night overlooking the Teche in an industrial tower that comes with all the comforts of home.

You won’t go hungry in this city – grab a date and try these oysters on the halfshell for a delicious starter.

Discover a variety of delightful works of art, like this original by Paul Schexnayder.

Tensas Tower on the Teche | 109 North Weeks Street

Jane’s Seafood & Chinese | 1201 Jane Street

A&E Gallery | 335 W St. Peter Street

$300

30 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

$50

$300

Breaux Bridge

Money Feature | Bracelets and crabcakes and art…oh, my!

How to Spend $1,000 in

Treasure Troves

Vintage Finds

You’ll never run out of boutiques to visit or treasures to buy, like all these items we found at Rustic Relic.

Antiques and religious items abound – check out this painting we found at Two Oak for $185.

The Rustic Relic | 105 N Main Street

Two Oak Antique | 126 E Bridge Street

$350

$300

The Cozy Life

Paddle Trail

Cajun Cuisine

Stay the night in a cheery retreat home, like this one within walking distance to shops and restaurants in Historic Downtown.

For a whole new viewpoint, grab a friend and paddle down the Teche in kayaks or atop SUP boards.

Bring that special someone to dinner and enjoy the best Cajun dishes around, like Café Sydnie Mae’s famous crab cakes.

The Cottage Downtown | 311 S Main Street

Bayou Teche Experience | 317 E Bridge Street

Café Sydnie Mae | 140 E Bridge Street

$150

$100

Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 31

With Sincere Appreciation

K&J Supply & Hardware salutes our local sugar cane farmers, sugar mills and everyone in the farming industry. Farming is extremely hard work, but it is a vital component of our local economy and has been the backbone of our heritage for countless generations. Congratulations on another successful season! And thank you for relying on K&J Supply & Hardware for your farming and industrial supply needs.

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CRAWFISH SUPREME Grilled or Fried Catfish topped with Crawfish Etouffee on a bed of Rice with Toast Points $15.95 Thursday Night 5-9 SHRIMP NIGHT One Dozen Large Grilled or Fried Shrimp with Toast Points and Side $12.95 GRILLED SHRIMP on a Bed of Spring Greens $10.95 BLACKENED SHRIMP PASTA $12.95 “Finest Cajun Cuisine since 1926”

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32 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

Evangeline Funeral Home 337.364.1881

New Iberia • St. Martinville • Delcambre

Money Feature | Let’s open our wallets and get introspective

Financial Personas Which One are You? by Ellen Fucich

ith so much self-reflection going on these days – hello, COVID quarantine– it was just a matter of time before we turned the looking glass on our financial habits. After all, lifestyle writers and social media influencers have determined that we all have fashion types, love styles…heck, there’s even Team Over or Under TP Roll. Money is one of those things, like religion or politics, that everyone feels strongly about, one way or another. Our monetary personas don’t necessarily correlate to the amount of money we earn, inherit or have. In fact, these quirks and attitudes have very little to do with our wealth status. Some of our attitudes come from upbringing or our early experiences with money, but they are easy to see in how we spend money, how we save it, if we like it, love it or hate it. The money gurus at BigThink have narrowed these financial personalities to five categories. Where do you fit into the picture?

THE BIG SPENDER: Meet Roddy Gotrocks He never met a shiny bauble he didn’t love – or want. He’s impressed by possessions. He wants the biggest, newest, rightoff-the-line everything. He knows all the poshest people, travels to only the in-est of In Places. He’s got a Rolex smartwatch, a pair of diamond socks, gold-plated bathroom fixtures throughout his impressively appointed tiny house, all on the grounds of his McMansion. He’s got a yacht, a Lear jet and a racehorse – so he’s got land, air and sea covered. Barbers visit HIM to give $500 haircuts. He has been known to shower his friends and family with outrageously expensive gifts. Sometimes his income doesn’t quite meet his exquisite Continued on page 34

Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 33

Money Feature | Let’s get introspective Continued from page 33

taste, which is starting to become a problem. He finds it hard to part with his possessions, except to replace them with a newer, hipper version. Or two. THE SAVER: It’s Sukie Pennywise Sukie is frugal, sometimes described as cheap, even. She’s never picked up a tab in her life, in fact she pulls out her dollar store calculator at every girls’ lunch to analyze the check and be sure everyone pays their fair share, especially if there’s a two-for-one entree involved. She saves her junk mail, cuts it into strips and writes her grocery lists on them. She has the first dollar she ever made, tacked up behind her four-year supply of one-ply TP. She’ll buy anything, if it is marked down enough or if she has triple coupons for it. She learned her craft at her mother’s knee, while helping lick and stick Green Stamps into booklets. She considers herself a semiprofessional couponer, and a trip to the supermarket takes several hours and an army of her friends, but only costs $8.43. Her bathroom is papered with 12-foot grocery receipts, and she can’t have guests because her spare bedroom holds her buy-one-get-one stash. How many toothbrushes DOES one need, after all? She’s never taken a vacation that wasn’t deeply discounted, even if the locale was not her first choice. She got a bargain... close but no DisneyWorld. Her quality of life may be impacted by her refusal to spend money. THE SHOPPER: Sukie’s little sister Polly P. Mallrat She’s here for the thrill of the hunt. Her frugal upbringing inspired her not to save, but to shop. She doesn’t care how she does it, online or inperson. She has carts open at all times on Amazon, Target.com and Etsy. She loves holidays, mostly for the shopping opps. She’s got two sets of credit cards, one for buying and one for paying off, and alternates to keep creditors at bay. Sometimes she has to do some fancy maneuvering to juggle what’s due when. Her picture is up in every ladies’ shoe department in the mall as a frequent flyer. Polly has been known to clutch her credit card and run from sales ladies bearing scissors. She has negotiated divorce settlements based on credit limits. She hardly sleeps at night, but when she does, she dreams of the Great Discount Sale in the Sky, whose pearly gates she’s entered bearing a platinum AMEX. THE DENIER: Enter Sheldon Sage Sheldon is into transcendental meditation, Earth shoes and living an all-around hippie life. Money simply doesn’t exist for him. He doesn’t understand the concept of personal financial worth. He only deals with money when he has to and barters for most everything he needs. He has five-gallon water bottles full of pennies. He also lives off the grid, makes his own clothes, and rides a 35-year-old Schwinn he got for his tenth birthday. He believes in higher consciousness and home-brewed Kombucha. He keeps chickens, but couldn’t bear to kill them after he gave them names. He eats a lot of eggs, or sells them to his neighbors. He doesn’t know the balance of his checkbook, doesn’t even 34 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

Money Feature | Let’s get introspective know if he still has a checkbook. He enjoys using an abacus for any math problems he comes across that stretch beyond the calculating power of his fingers and sandaled toes. THE INVESTOR: He’s Scott Hottentot Scott loves money. The smell of it, the feel of it in his hands, the flutter of bills against his cheek. Not the things it buys, necessarily, but MONEY. The more he has, the more he likes it. He loves to invest it, to watch it grow. To nurture it. He thinks of nothing else, watching the investments he’s made like a nervous teenager on prom night. Of course, he might wear that ancient coffee-stained tie every day, but he is confident his fiduciary freedom is growing with each market day. He might want to spend a little to get the transmission fixed in his ‘87 Datsun, just so he won’t have to put out coins for the bus to work, or for his sake and the sake of his co-workers, burn the caffeine-splotched tie and buy a new one. Maybe one with the image of a $100 bill on it. Sure, these personas are over-the-top examples, but you may one day find a little too much Roddy, Sukie, Polly, Sheldon or Scott creeping into your attitude towards cash. When that happens, take some advice from our financial expert, Chad Courtois of Advantaged Assets in Lafayette. “We all have a certain financial character dominance, but from time to time there is a little bit of Roddy, Sukie, Polly, Sheldon, and Scott in all of us,” he explains. “That’s where a financial coach comes into play. Like with every top athlete, he or she may carry the commitment and skill, but they need a coach to help them fine tune and coordinate their talents to reach their peak performance to win. The same holds true in the financial game of life: finding a coach that can help you reach your peak performance and win financial peace!” n

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Money Feature | A sliding scale of good eats

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36 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

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Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 37

Money Feature | A penny saved is a penny earned

Budget Hacks

Savings Advice from Our Readers by Alexis Marino

e tend to have high aspirations at the start of a new year, so vowing to save more money is usually at the top of the resolution list. If you’re serious about stashing away more moolah this year, read on for a few interesting ways to pinch a penny from our readers. • If you are an equations lover, Courtney B. has a clever calculation. Divide the current year by 52 (for the number of weeks in the year). Take that amount and automatically transfer it weekly into your savings. Year 2022/52 weeks = $38.88 per week. On the last day of the year, you will have accumulated $2,022. You can use this to roll over into the next year, spend on Christmas presents, or take a vacation! • Jim W. says to compare the price of stew meat and the price per pound of chuck roast. If you cut your own stew meat you will save money in the long run. • Malwen T. has an economical workaround in the way of meats. She says to buy cheaper cuts

38 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

Money Feature | A penny saved is a penny earned of beef and grind your own, instead of buying expensive ground meat. And as a way to save on soaring gas prices, she says, if your vehicle runs on premium-unleaded, purchase a bottle of Octane Booster and add it to a tank of regular-unleaded. • Marti H. shares ways to save while staying organized. She uses standardsized wooden clothes pins as “chip clips” for the snacks in her pantry. Label the pins and reuse them for your next box of crackers. You can also use the wooden clips to roll up electronic cords to keep them organized when disconnecting and reconnecting. • We love our pets, but they cost a pretty penny! Amanda D. says instead of buying doggy pee pads, she buys XXL human ones and cuts them half, saving her at least $5. • Keisha B. swears by ibotta. It’s an app that sends money back to your bank account from items you have already purchased. Spend and save? Score! • Amanda J. endorses ibotta, as well as a multitude of other coupon sites and money savings apps like GetUpside, Fetch, Shopkicks, and Swagbucks. There are Facebook coupon groups and tons of money saving hashtags on TikTok and Instagram. Walgreens, CVS, and the Dollar Store all have digital and paper coupons, as well. • Wendi G. says to download the Flipp app, which compares shopping prices. She also advises to keep chicken bones or vegetable peelings and scraps to make a stock or soup that you can freeze. • Rachel C. invested in a bidet, which saves on toilet paper. She also line dries her clothes to save on the electric bill. Dry beans, she says, last longer than canned and are much cheaper. • Loree S. reminds us that it is important to keep track of what you spend more than what you save.

More Tips From a Budgeting Pro When we heard about Emily Suire, 30, who is a thrift shopper and self-proclaimed probudgeter, we couldn’t wait to get her take on spending money wisely. “I always give friends advice on how to shop and travel on a budget, so I created a blog to share my tips.” The engineering technician grew up learning how to budget and live a comfortably frugal lifestyle from her mother. Suire believes that you can find excellent quality items that won’t break the bank if you put effort into your shopping and pay attention to sales. Though she no longer runs her blog, she curated her best advice for us. Is this the year you become fiscally frugal? Read on to find out how.

“You can find cool items at thrift stores and just spray them whatever color to match your décor.” — Emily Suire

Wearing the latest trends When Suire wants to sport a new outfit, she checks the thrift stores first, often finding quality (and sometimes even designer) clothing that someone grew tired of wearing. And bonus, she adds, thrifting is great for the environment! She also scrolls budget-friendly websites, such as shein.com, which carry on-trend clothing at super affordable prices, discounts and free shipping. Why break the bank on revolving door fads? Making groceries Suire advises to budget weekly for groceries and to keep track of your food spending and eating habits. Many grocers like Albertson’s and Whole Foods have rewards programs, so be sure to redeem those before you check out. Big box stores tend to have better prices, but

coziness of home, but furniture and décor can get pricey. To remedy that, she shops at thrift stores hunting for well-made furniture she can repurpose herself. “I have a desk from The Hut I bought for $40. I painted it grey, and spray painted the knobs. I bought a roll of wallpaper and covered the top of the desk. I used the same roll of wallpaper to cover two bookshelves I bought from Walmart for $50. My bedside table is from the Salvation Army which I painted on my own. So not only did I find inexpensive quality furniture, but I also got to turn them into how I wanted them to look!” Suire is a huge fan of spray paint. “You can find cool items at thrift stores and just spray them whatever color to match your décor.” Going places

to support local, Suire says to budget them into your weekly grocery trip and stay on top of daily deals the local grocers offer. “Like on Wednesdays,” she says, “Champagne’s offers $5 sushi and it’s a deliciously cheap meal!” Monthly expenses Suire sets a budget each month. She records her income subtracting from it her monthly bills and the amount she wants to save each month. She then divides that figure by four (or five, depending on the month) to set her budget per week. Included in her weekly budget is groceries, gas, eating out and any extras she may want to splurge on that month. There’s no place like home

Travelling on a budget is possible if you do a little research. Follow flights on apps such as Hopper to find the cheapest prices and, especially if you stay flexible on your travel dates, you can find great rates. Suire says she books lodging through Airbnb, which can be significantly less expensive than hotels. “I budget and save for a vacation, but I also feel that experiences are valuable aspects of life, so I don’t mind budgeting a bit more to visit a beautiful destination, go to a concert, or experience something totally cool.” Budget with intention and stick to your plan. Suire says last year she saved about $10k by following her own advice. What could you do with an extra ten grand? n

Suire enjoys the comforts and

Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 39

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Money Feature | High-end might be a smart bet

The Good Splurge

Which Luxury Items to Buy and Where to Find Them by Anne Songy

Renaissance Market in Lafayette carries an impressive collection of vintage Chanel accessories.

ometimes you want to spend a little more on something special, and sometimes you need to pump the brakes. And then there are those times when you have your eye on a luxury item, and all bets are off. Don’t be that person throwing cash out the window of a new mega yacht. With

the help of a few local experts, we’ll tell you where to go to find the luxury goods that have the strongest return on investment. Jewelry Nothing depicts luxury quite like diamonds and gold, so we visited with

two Acadiana jewelers for advice on the best choices for good investment. “Gold is always worth the splurge,” says Katie Culbert, co-owner (with her mother) of Kiki boutiques in Lafayette and Baton Rouge. “We opened our shop 15 years ago, and the price of gold has Continued on page 42 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 41

Money Feature | High-end might be a smart bet

Kiki in Lafayette suggests gold pieces like the Pomellato Iconica ring (left) and the Temple St. Clair Angel ring as strong jewelry investments. Continued from page 41

increased so much that the pieces we were selling then have doubled in value. Solid 18k gold options from high-end jewelry designers like Pomellato and Temple St. Clair are incredibly made and withstand the test of time.”

42 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

Emma Hanks, vice president of operations at Allain’s Jewelry, agrees. “Splurging on jewelry of good metal quality, such as 10kt or 14kt gold, platinum or sterling silver, is always a good idea,” she says. “Colored stones and diamonds hold their value, as well,” she adds. “The cost of natural diamonds constantly increases over

time; however, depending on your ‘splurge’ budget, we also offer lab grown diamonds that are more ecofriendly and cost efficient.” Like aquiring anything beautiful, a financial investment in jewelry is also an emotional one. Culbert explains, “Fine jewelry is like fine art. We spend so

much money on art for our homes, why wouldn’t we spend money on art for our bodies? Each piece can represent a moment in time, and that moment can be remembered and retold generation after generation.” The boutique owner goes on to share her own way of investing in the future. “Every year on my daughter’s birthday (she’s three

Money Feature | High-end might be a smart bet

Natural diamonds like this one from Allain’s Jewelry retain their value, but their lab grown diamonds are more eco-friendly.

Revival Antiques in Scott houses a Louis Vuitton vintage boutique.

now), I invest in a nice piece of jewelry for myself that I can then turn around and give to her on future birthdays.” Hanks echoes that sentiment, saying, “Apart from jewelry being a good investment to splurge on monetarily, it will also last a lifetime and can be passed down to future generations. Any item that has been passed down from someone you love always holds sentimental value. Pieces that tend to be most sentimental are diamonds and colored stones, which can be reset from older pieces and made into new items, such as engagement rings, and pendants.” When it comes to best bets, Culbert suggests an investment in a traditional, timeless gold piece. “For a real deal kind of splurge, we have this incredible heavy duty, solid 18k gold chain by Temple St. Clair,” she says. “It’s called the Jean D’Arc Necklace and modeled after the chainmail that one of history’s strongest women wore in battle. It’s heavy and beautiful and certainly timeless. A chunk of gold like this never goes out of style and always holds its value. It’s the ultimate investment piece.” Vintage Designers It might be surprising to know vintage designer handbags and accessories are one

The most expensive bag ever auctioned at Christie’s was this matte white Niloticus Crocodile Himalaya Birkin 30, made of Nile crocodile hide and adorned with 18k white gold and diamond hardware. It sold on November 29, 2017 at Christie’s Hong Kong for $384,285 USD. Others of this rare bag are currently selling for $200,000 to $550,000.

Continued on page 44 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 43

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Money Feature | High-end might be a smart bet

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This collectable 1957 Ford Thunderbird E Bird is available at Bayou Classics & Customs dealership in Parks. Continued from page 43

of the top luxury item investments in the world. They are in high demand and, depending on the brand, the popularity of the piece and the condition, these items can fetch unbelievable returns in resale. Chanel and Hermès have been known to retain their value better than others, but Louis Vuitton is a strong contender, as well. Specifically in handbags, the Chanel 2.55 double flap, the Hermès Birkin and the Louis Vuitton Bum Bag (a fanny pack) make the best investments insofar as holding their value. Beyond a monetary return on investment, vintage handbags also support the shift toward sustainability and longevity in fashion. Moving away from cheap purchases that get tossed every season or two, investing in one key wardrobe item that will work across all occasions for many years is something to factor into your investment strategy. In some cases these purchases can even be handed down, as well. Worried about getting duped by a fake designer handbag or accessory? The staff at the Louis Vuitton boutique inside Revival Antiques in Scott says

that imposters are getting almost too good to spot. As much as they know about fakes (they show us tips, like how LV initials will rarely be cut off in the sewing of the bag), they still rely on authentication companies like ENTRUPY that scan bags with latest technology and algorithms to certify their authenticity. Renaissance Market in Lafayette, which has an impressive collection of vintage Chanel accessories, actually travels to Paris to buy and authenticate the pieces it carries. Real Estate You know what they say about land: they’re not making any more of it. Whether as a future development, a second home, a business venture, or a rental property, real estate has earned a reputation as a sound investment. Latter & Blum realtor Lisa Duhe Lourd says, “If you can afford to purchase a second home in a vacation market, AirBnB and VRBO rentals can be very lucrative – especially if you purchase a home that needs some updating. Wise updates can not only build equity, but also give you an income stream and a great place to vacation!” Not all markets are created equal, though, so Lourd suggests speaking

Money Feature | High-end might be a smart bet with a realtor to understand each area better. “The real estate market is localized,” she explains. “What’s happening in Aspen is different from River Ranch, is different from Broussard, is different from New Iberia.” She continues, “While land is often a very long term investment, in Iberia parish residential rentals tend to do well. If purchased at the right price, you can generate income for years.”

refurbishing it. Others buy one in the best condition they can find, then treat it with kid gloves until the right buyer comes along.

According to Lourd, the emotional connection, especially to homes, can be a factor in purchasing decisions and in selling when the market is right. “It’s not only the largest purchase most people make, but it’s tied up with their hopes and dreams for the future, so it has to ‘feel right.’ For sellers, it can be difficult at closing because you’re letting go of the space attached to memories and life experiences. I’ve been in closings where everyone is teary-eyed; sellers, buyers, agents and the attorney,” she exclaims.

The price of classic cars has gone up in recent years, but initial cost isn’t the only factor to consider. To own one comes with more expense than most consider: ongoing maintenance, storage, trailering, restoration costs. Also consider the capital gains taxes incurred if you sell your refurbished vehicle for a profit.

Lourd has some personal experience with this phenomenon. “My family is friends with the current owners of my grandparents’ old home, so it’s been wonderful to still have that connection, visiting their house and sharing old photos and memories,” she says. Classic Cars Buying a classic car can be a huge investment – and sometimes one with a good return. Many will buy a car that is in less-than-mint condition, then invest time and more money into

Although the Classic Car of America defines a “classic” as one produced between 1915 and 1948, a vehicle in Louisiana is considered a classic if it’s at least 25 years old and has been valued at an excess of $10,000.

offs, estate planning implications, diverting non-income-generating assets into a trust), but investing in your community may be the best return of all. “Simply put: giving is good for business,” says Community Foundation of Acadiana CEO Raymond Hebert. “We live in a very generous region in which giving comes naturally. Neighbors give to neighbors, and strangers, and anyone

they can help. While this is often done quietly and directly, frequently giving to the good nonprofit organizations, churches, schools, hospitals, and other public entities that serve our communities is a standard process. But generous support of these credible community organizations supports our friends and neighbors, and strengthens the economic makeup of our communities.” n

Come See What’s New in 2022!

Still, according to dealers like Bayou Classics and Customs in Parks, a classic vehicle can not only be a reasonable financial investment, but it also could be an investment in your own wellbeing, giving you a lifetime hobby or just the sheer joy of owning such a beauty. Charitable Giving When it comes to investments, sometimes charitable giving is overlooked. We regularly support our favorite charities, which may be for greater good, but many are beginning to realize the benefits outside of philanthropy. There are myriad ways to get a return on a charitable gift (tax write-

“We live in a very generous region in which giving comes naturally. Neighbors give to neighbors, and strangers, and anyone they can help.” Raymond Hebert, CEO Communnity Foundation of Acadiana

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Money Feature | When coins and creativity collide

Penny Art

Copper-toned Creations from Around the World

Abe’s Millennium, 1973 Jacqueline Lou Skaggs

Penny Loafers, 2010 Sonya Clark Enigma, 2015 Jane Morgan

Penny Couch, 2020 Johnny Swing

Lincoln Portrait, 2017 Richard Schlatter 46 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

Money Feature | Advice you can use from a pro in the know

9 Money Principles

Money Insights from a Community Banker by Anne Songy

Larry Hensgens, senior vice-president at Community First Bank.

t’s true the world seems to be changing at the speed of light, but when it comes to money, there are certain core principles that hold up over time. No matter what new gadget or technology becomes available to consumers, foundational truths seem to prevail. We asked senior vice president of Community First Bank Larry Hensgens to weigh in on these topics, and this is what the 45-year veteran banker had to say: What’s the difference between banks? In community banking, it’s not only about providing the technology, but also the noseto-nose and toe-to-toe service. For a lot of the younger generation, that (person-to-person) experience might not be as important right now, and they’re more interested in the technology of a bank. Even though most community banks have the latest and greatest technology, it’s always good to put a face to your banker in case you have issues and need to talk to somebody. I love

community banking because you’re not forced into any (national-bank) matrixes. You can use common sense with the customer. How much should be in my emergency fund? My rule of thumb with my customers is to try to keep at least six months worth of expenses in an emergency fund. Twelve months is an even better spot. For non-profit organizations, you should have one or two years of cash available. Should people use credit cards? Credit cards have morphed and evolved over the years. Where customers used to come in to borrow a couple of thousand dollars for personal loans, now they get credit cards. They can serve a purpose, but they can be easily abused. As far as affecting your credit score, you don’t want any more than 30% balance on your credit limit, or it will negatively impact your credit score. When should I think about investing?

If customers are looking for something more than bank deposit products, then the alternative is to go into the investment market and tailor their investments into conservative, aggressive, moderate – whatever the case may be. Some people don’t like the idea of being in the market, but I think that stigma has gone away in recent years. People are a lot more savvy than they used to be and there’s a lot more information available. When they’re educated about investing, they find out it’s a good thing. Is online bill paying safe? Ninety percent of the population uses online bill paying services. We have all the bells and whistles for that here and we have protections. On the commercial side there is a product called “Positive Pay” where the customer can send an electronic register to the bank, and if that doesn’t line up, then we know something’s out of whack and we can go back to the customer. For individuals, with the debit cards, we have an app where you can turn off your card whenever you Continued on page 48 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 47

Money Feature | Advice you can use from a pro in the know Continued from page 47

want and set it up to notify you when the card is being used. Your information is protected when you pay through the bank, but when you send a check, it can be intercepted. Should I consolidate my debt? The issue with debt consolidation is that people usually will go to a finance company or credit card (to pay off their other debts) and they keep adding debt to try to put the fires out, like a dog chasing its tail. Before long it’s just so big, it’s not manageable and they’re in quicksand. Sometimes people here will come in and we’ll see about opening a home equity loan, but don’t wait until your credit is shot to do that, because then we can’t help. Usually people get stuck, unless they have a fairy godmother or godfather that can help. Are savings accounts necessary? It goes back to the credit cards having to be used for personal loans. Everyone should have a savings account. It’s

important to have that safety net – to have something off to the side in case of an emergency or if you lose your job or your job is suspended because of COVID. It’s peace of mind. Is cash is here to stay? I do not think cash will ever go away because of mistrust of the government. In the last infrastructure bill, they were talking about having banks report any transactions of customers that were $600 or greater. That raised a lot of eyebrows about Big Brother getting in your stuff. That was a hot topic with a lot of my customers. Should I worry about the economy? That kind of stuff is easier to explain in the rearview mirror and harder to see in the windshield. It looks like we are entering an inflationary time right now – the cost of goods is exponentially higher, whether it’s COVID-related or not, the prices are going up. But it’s just a market adjustment and not something to think about too much. n

& PRESENT

A DEEPER DIVE

Is Cryptocurrency the Future of Money?

itcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Tether. Sound like a cast of characters from an otherworldly television series? Nope. These are some of the top cryptocurrencies – “cryptos” if you’re cool – which are digital currencies secured by blockchain technology that can be used to buy goods and services. There are currently more than 15,000 cryptocurrencies, named as such because of the way they’re secured by cryptography, making it nearly impossible to steal or counterfeit. Sounds great, huh? Hold on, there are some downsides. Most significantly crypto is much more volatile than the dollar and has been known to lose up to half of its value in mere weeks. Secondly, this form of currency is completely virtual – it cannot be seen, touched, stashed in a pillowcase – and it is so secured people have been known to lose their password or credentials for access to their crypto accounts, losing all their funds in the process.

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Even though cryptocurrency exchange seems like the Wild West of money, there are supporters for several reasons. Some regard crypto as the future of money and want to buy up as much as they can now, before it becomes more valuable. Others regard the blockchain technology as being far more secure than traditional payment services.

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Cryptocurrencies can be purchased by opening an online “wallet” app that will hold your currency, then choosing a reputable exchange to transfer US dollars into cryptocurrencies. Many major retailers accept certain types of crypto, but some people simply sit on their currency or sell and trade it.

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Most experts agree that cryptocurrencies are a wildly volatile speculative buy and that stock trading is a much less risky investment. But if you’re considering dipping your toe into the crypto pool, talk to your financial advisor, a banker and friends and family to get advice. It’s a fun venture to think about – unless you lose your password. n

Toast of the Town | Labels for the most discerning palates

Top Shelf at Marcello’s While Marcello’s Wine Market in Lafayette has long been known as the go-to place for a wide variety of wines and spirits, it’s the staff of knowledgeable experts that makes this store stand out. We met with general manager Spencer Venable,and certified sommeliers Kelli Bazer and Miki Hebert, who showed us some of their most decadent labels.

Royal Tokaji Essencia 2003

Wilderness Trail Kentucky Straight (Marcello’s Private Label) Château Latour 2008

Château Cheval Blanc 2000

Royal Tokaji Essencia 2003

Château Latour 2008

Château Cheval Blanc 2000

Wilderness Trail Kentucky Straight

Essencia is the world’s most concentrated wine, made from the essence of the ripest aszú grapes. The third vintage since 1993, the 2003 Essencia is offered in a stately brass-hinged wooden box carved from Hungarian oak, lined with silk and containing the indulgent Royal Tokaji Hungarian crystal sipping spoon. The spoon was designed exclusively for Royal Tokaji, enabling 25 sips per bottle — or 50 if you share your spoonful with a loved one! $450

This ruby-red bordeaux blend has an aromatic nose that is luxuriously fresh and pure. Described as both austere and elegant, with tannins that are soft and supple, this vintage has a velvety allure accompanied by great depth and body. With 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a complex wine marked by purity of black fruits, berries, toast and tannins. It has power, richness and a lovely edge of spice to go with the acidity. $1,100

One of Bordeaux’s most beautiful labels, Château Cheval Blanc remains among the elite of Saint-Emilion with each new vintage. It is one of the most concentrated Saint-Emilion wines and needs 15-25 years of aging in order to fully develop. This cuvée has a deep color of intense ruby that comes with an explosion of floral notes as well as blackcurrant, a flavor that carries through to the palate to blend with the powerful tannins. $1,500

Nothing says “Bourbon” quite like Kentucky, so Marcello’s Wine Market partnered with Wilderness Trail to bring its own private-label whiskey to Acadiana. Bold and spicy, sweet and smoothe, this rich amber drink starts with a sharp heat to wake up the palate. Flavors of malt and brown sugar are at center, followed by hints of cinnamon, black pepper and an oaky citrus note, and a pleasant finish with an aftertaste of vanilla. $70

Acadiana Lifestyle January 2022 49

Feature Story | Put down the diet book and back away slowly

The Resolution

REVOLUTION by Anne Songy

f we’ve learned nothing else in the last few years, it’s that managing our mental wellness is essential if we are to conduct our lives and our relationships with compassion and civility. If you’re a resolution-maker, you know the pain of setting impossible goals in January, then realizing it’s December and you’ve only been to the gym twice. Let 2022 be the year of self-care. Lose weight and exercise if you want to (those are great things to do for yourself, in moderation), but make kindness to yourself a top priority. Here are a few ideas to get you started: Don’t Be a Sleepyhead Gone are the days when it was a badge of honor to cram as much as possible into the day, sleep for three hours, then get up and do it all again. Now we call people who do that just one thing: tired. This year vow to unplug from the day (and your electronics) at the same time every night, rest your mind and body for seven to eight hours regularly, and wake with a fresh outlook for the day. Unfriend Your Frenemies Speaking of tired…haven’t you grown weary of people in your

50 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

social media friend list (many times, who you barely know) trolling your feed for something to disagree with, then dropping bombs of discord as they sit back to watch the fray of comments? Say goodbye (virtually) once and for all! They don’t even have to know (simply “unfollow” them, if you want to be stealthy), and stick to memes of babies and puppies from now on.

As a bonus, it really only takes 10 minutes a day – and you really don’t have to say “om” (or anything at all). There are studios where you can go for in-person, guided meditations, but there are also a plethora of apps available online that will teach you how and provide daily meditations. Calm, Headspace and 10% Happier are good bets, and they usually offer a 7-day trial period.

Find Your Thing Everybody needs a thing. Kayaking is a thing. Photography is a thing. Drinking wine with good people is a thing. Whatever it is, a hobby or pastime is a way to not only find pleasure, but also to master something: two benefits that just happen to also be great paths to happiness, as well. If you used to have a thing, pick it up again and remember why you used to enjoy it so much. If you don’t yet have a thing, the best way to find it is to try everything. Maybe trying things will become your thing.

Be Helpful One of the best ways to care for yourself is to care for others. Not only does an act of kindness get you out of your own headspace, but it also helps you to connect with others. Those two aspects, alone, are surefire ways to feel better about yourself and the world around you. Being helpful is a mindset, not a huge commitment. While the local animal shelter would welcome your offer to help six days per week, you can also just be in a helpful mindset, also open to lending a hand. Be on the lookout for someone needing assistance with groceries or the person behind you in the drive-thru who would appreciate you covering their coffee tab. It’s the little things that will make the difference – to them and to you. n

Just Say “Om” There’s a reason why meditation has become so popular in Western culture lately: it can reduce stress, remind you of what’s important, and give you a much needed break from your racing thoughts.

6 of the Most

Commonly Broken

Resolutions

w Lose Weight w Exercise More w Stop Smoking w Reduce Drinking w Eat Better w Get Out of Debt

Feature Story | Filmmakers discuss the money side of showbiz in Louisiana

That’s a Wrap

Festival Concludes with High Hopes for the Future of Film by Scott Anderson

A panel of filmmakers answers questions at the Southern Screen Festival’s Local Shorts Series session.

or a few days last November, the Southern Screen Festival once again united film industry professionals and fans from Acadiana and across the globe for a weekend of entertainment, inspiration and education in Lafayette. Local musicians and restaurants also joined the party to round out a uniquely Louisiana experience for everyone involved. The 11th annual incarnation of the festival was a hybrid event, with virtual programming available online, and in-person sessions at the Acadiana Center for the Arts in downtown Lafayette. Festival goers were treated to several feature length films, including the much-anticipated “Roadrunner,” a documentary on the life of celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, and the documentary “The Neutral Ground,” which explores the controversy surrounding Confederate monuments across the South, including in New Orleans.The festival also featured “The Sparks Brothers,” a film detailing the long musical career

of brothers Ron and Russel Mael, the duo behind the band Sparks, and “Mayday,” a 2021 action/drama starring Grace Van Patten, Mia Goth and Juliette Lewis. More Than Mere Entertainment While many attend the multi-day event to see screenings of major releases, the festival also showcases blocks of short films from independent filmmakers, many from Acadiana and south Louisiana. One of the goals of festival organizers is to inspire established and aspiring filmmakers to make their visions come to life in Acadiana. “Southern Screen has been a staple in the filmmaker, musician, and artist community for many years,” says Julie Bordelon, founder and executive director of the festival. “We have continued to be a platform for quality educational opportunities and programming. Most up-andcoming filmmakers in the area have participated in one way or another and still do to this day. Some are still here, some have moved away, but most, if not all, still credit Southern Continued on page 52

Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 51

Feature Story | Filmmakers discuss the money side of showbiz in Louisiana for what Acadiana can become to the roots of the studio system in Hollywood. “Lafayette is in a unique position to solve a few different problems at the same time,” Summers explains. “Because of our culture and our proximity to New Orleans, I think we can develop a small studio environment. Like in Los Angeles, all the actors can drive to work in the morning, go to the studio, shoot their thing, and go back home at night. And the crew get to reap that benefit, as well.”

Continued from page 51

Screen for helping them advance in their career. It’s an event that brings artists together to network and appreciate their craft. It helps build a scene and inspire future projects.” According to Bordelon, the festival’s influence reaches beyond Acadiana. “I received a message today with a photo of a filmmaker from Lafayette who now lives in Rome, and a filmmaker from Rome who now lives in Los Angeles,” she says. “They met at Southern Screen a few years ago and are now talking about working together. This is not the first time this has happened, of course, but it’s still amazing when it does.” Good Business for Louisiana Louisiana is one of the top locations in the world for film production, which is great news for the state. According to a report by the Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association, $945 million was spent on film productions in Louisiana in 2018 alone. The industry has created 7,500 jobs and $331 million in earnings for Louisiana residents, the report claiims. One of the financial incentives filmmakers use to produce films in Louisiana is the state’s Motion Picture Production Tax Credit. The program

Robert Legato (“Titanic” and “The Jungle Book”) leads a presentation on Creating Visual Effects. provides up to a 40 percent tax credit for productions in Louisiana, according to a report from the consulting group Camion 310. To be eligible for the tax credits, there is a $50,000 minimum in-state expenditure requirement for Louisiana-based productions and a $300,000 minimum in-state expenditure requirement for productions from outside the state. “Louisiana’s Motion Picture Production Tax Credit has been instrumental in the development of a self-supporting motion picture production industry by encouraging job creation and investment within the state of Louisiana,” the report reads.

Another goal set by filmmakers at Southern Screen is to grow those numbers by building on a foundation that has already been laid. “Lafayette is a great set,” filmmaker John Paul Summers says. “It can be the setting for a lot of different things. We take Cajun country for granted because we live down here. It’s very visually rich. It’s a great place to make movies. We have awesome crews, awesome people. Southern Screen is a place where you can show that off.” Summers says Lafayette is in a great position to help grow the film industry in the state, and he compares his vision

Fostering a Culture Filmmaker Allison Bohl says one of the challenges for Louisiana’s film industry is keeping people in the state. “A good goal would be to retain the talent as it develops,” she says. “If you wanted to be a DP (director of photography) on Hollywood films, it’s actually better to move to Los Angeles and then come back and be hired on as a DP in New Orleans, versus living in New Orleans and trying to be hired on as a DP. There’s that disconnect of, ‘Yes, we’re producing major motion pictures, but in order to launch a career, you have to move away,’ which I think is confusing.” New Orleans filmmaker Darcy McKinnon, who produced “The Neutral Ground,” taught local filmmakers about how to budget for making a movie. She contends the success of Louisiana’s film industry is opening

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Feature Story | Filmmakers discuss the money side of showbiz in Louisiana doors beyond the tax credits from small, independent projects. But, she says, it still takes some digging. “People outside of Louisiana are definitely noticing the thriving filmmaking community in New Orleans,” she explains. “In the narrative space, I have had success with finding grants outside of Louisiana. I’ve also gotten really good at learning to make things with nothing. That is sort of how I built myself as an artist. There’s good things and bad things about there being very little funding, like getting creative for where to find resources.” Bohl asserts the issue is bigger than just where to find the funding for making movies in the area. It’s also a matter of financial literacy for the crew.“They have to know, ‘I don’t have to live hand-tomouth. This is a good day rate that will feed my family, that will help me save for taxes,’” she says. “All those concepts that are very adult. It’s easy to think that’s not important, but as you get older and you want to continue, those things are important. It can be kind of scrappy here, which can be damaging. It’s why people leave.”

High (Financial) Impact Summers says events like this event can create opportunities for the filmmaking community and the community at large.“I think there’s a real financial benefit for the city,” he claims. “We can make movies very economically because of the scale at which we make them. But we can do it at a really high quality. Southern Screen can be a place to showcase our work and get local people excited about Lafayette as a place we could make movies. We can bring in writers, producers and directors to work with us, but we have to have a base in place here.” Bordelon supports the notion that a strong film community in any part of Louisiana helps the entire state. “It creates jobs, money, and a strong artist economy,” she says. “Acadiana already has a filmmaking community, but there are lots of now-established professionals who are interested in moving home. By investing, growing, and nurturing our local industry, we offer a viable place for them to stay and to come home to and to continue working in the profession they want to be in.” n

A DEEPER DIVE

Local Impact of Industry In 2018, the Lafayette Economic Development Authority studied the impact of the film industry on the city and on Lafayette Parish. Among the findings: • Two local production companies, Active Entertainment and Curmudgeon Films, spent $4.7 million in Louisiana on a total of five films. • Those five films had a total economic impact of $19 million in Louisiana. • The five films created $3.2 million in new income for Acadiana residents. • For every dollar that Active Entertainment directly spends, an extra $0.33 is generated and put back into Acadiana. • A total of 78 jobs were created by those projects.

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Movie poster from the documentary “Roadrunner,” screened at the festival. Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 53

54 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

Artist Profile | Gilded butterflies and sacred saints

Creative Cues

How Dana Manly Receives Her Artistic Inspiration by Patrice Doucet | photography by Sarah Soprano

“

he art comes through me,” says Lafayette artist Dana Manly. Her work and her approaches to creativity have become a lifestyle, she explains. “The further away from the canvas you are, the more likely it is for this ‘creative being’ to come through you. I actually back away from the canvas and I become a conduit. I know this all sounds corny, but it works for me.”

have a spiritual quality that cleanses negative energy and opens up divinity, like angels.” Her “Madonna and Child” lamps bring new meaning to “statement pieces” – as do her accent tables, her latest projects. The wrought-iron, 16x16x24 tables are topped with wood that has been accented in gold or silver and adorned with crosses, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or simple landscapes, and finished with many coats of varnish.

In the 17 years of honing her craft, one of the most valuable lessons Manly learned – and there have been many – is that you can’t bring reason into creativity, especially when it’s central to your career.

Manly best expresses her love for the energy of things in her mixed media work. In an earlier series of jazz musicians, she uses acrylics, gels, paper, fabric and resins to make instruments extend off the canvas. Butterflies take flight in a most recent collection by the same name. “The butterflies symbolize a metamorphosis, and the chrysalis represents a bursting out,” she says. “The idea came about when a good friend and I carried this chrysalis in a jar on a day we knew a butterfly was scheduled to come out. When it did, I called her Frida. I like Frida Kahlo; the color and pain of her story inspires me.”

The New Orleans native arrived in Lafayette in 1993 to study fine arts. That is, until the day her mother asked, “What are you going to do with that?” Practicality won out, and she went on to LSU to earn a master’s degree in kinesiology, and later returned to University of Louisiana at Lafayette to earn another master’s in counseling. But art reawakened in her during her early 30s, and Manly painted parttime during her stints as a licensed professional counselor and exercise physiologist. When she decided to fully commit to painting eight years ago, it was “blind faith” when she built a 600-foot studio behind her home. “It was about showing up…daily…in a studio, and I wanted the space to be my business,” she recalls. Spirituality of Work Since 2004 her acrylic paintings and other art forms have displayed the profound appreciation she has for her gift – a gift she does not take for granted. They depict New Orleans, religion, love, friendship and hope.

“If there’s no depth to a subject, I’m not interested, and there’s always a spiritual nature in much of what I do,” adds Manly. Her spirituality is most evident in her mixed media art, with its gilded gold religious figures, candleholders, crosses on shadow boxes. One of her newest collections “Crown of Protection” utilizes different textures, fabric, wire,

paper and selenite in the making of the majestic gold crowns. Centered at the bottom of each is a small medallion of the Immaculate Conception, or one of several favored saints: Michael, Benedict, Patrick…the list grows as clients make special requests. “The crowns are about love and adorning something that is protective and powerful,” the artist explains. “I incorporate selenite because it’s said to

Sketches of Inspiration One of her most important tools is a sketch journal; she keeps three (made by a friend) and everything in them is eventually created. “There’s something very sacred about taking an idea that’s just looking for someone and grounding it into a space, waiting for me to make it,” she says. Talking about what inspires her, Manly explains how her subjects choose her. “Things ask me to create or paint them,” she says. “I used to wake up Continued on page 56 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 55

Artist Profile | Gilded butterflies and sacred saints Continued from page 55

in the middle of the night, and things ‘dropped in’ asking me to paint them. And I put them in my journal. If I see a scene and get a feeling, that might inspire me – like when I was in Ireland and saw a lady in a red dress playing with her children. I’m not moved to paint nature as much, but it gives me the space and quietness for inspiration to come through.” Physiology & Emotion Her expertise in kinesiology has given Manly an edge on the understanding of the human form and movement, knowing where a certain muscle is located, and giving depth to the skin. “Art is hard work,” she exclaims. “And the hardest is combining the intellectual with the physical, and knowing how to shadow and where to place that stroke – especially as I’m moving around a big canvas.”

Manly works on one of her paintings from her studio.

Throw Me Something Mister!

As a portrait artist, Manly has the gift of capturing the soul and spirit of her subject, including brides and grooms, with a modern-day twist. “The first thing I tell my clients who want portraits is that I do abstract portraiture. While the most important thing is to get what the client envisions

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Mary candle holders are one example of Manly’s spiritually-based art.

Artist Profile | Gilded butterflies and sacred saints

A few examples of Manly’s work shows the range and energy in the artist’s creations. on canvas, I want to give life to it. When I look at the person, I read emotion more than their personality,” she says with an honest calm about her. Creative Process A huge fan of the teachings of awardwinning author Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love), Manly speaks about the creative genius in all of us and shares how she’s developed her own over the years. “I had anxiety for years, not knowing what to do next. I was in a lot of space with no direction. But then I began to believe that I am an artist and

I showed up… and showed up… and began to love looking at the work I did and passing it on. My grandmother used to say, ‘Never stop creating,’ and to this day, I feel like she knew something I didn’t.”

around 5:00, all the while working on different projects – like moving from one station to another.” Among those stations, currently, is a painting of Kate Morgan, the resident ghost of Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego.

She describes her creative process in three words: pray, exercise and work. “I wake up around 6:30 and I pray or meditate before I begin,” she explains. “It’s a reminder that this gift is coming from another place – not me. Then I light my candles, exercise and get to work. I’ll get in the studio around 9:30 and finish

Outside of Acadiana, her work is currently showing in Covington, Mandeville, Metairie, New Orleans, Alexandria and San Diego. She’s come a long way from earlier notoriety of designing the 2014 Festival International poster. Many will remember her commemorative martini

glass for Healing House’s 2017 Martini Event. For eight years, she has been the official artist for the St. Jude Acadiana Dream Home. And her portfolio includes a book and CD cover. Reflecting on the growth of her business in the last two years and looking around her studio, Manly says, “There’s always a next piece to create. I know what I’m here to do and I hope that never changes.” n

Should inflation affect your investment moves? As you know, inflation heated up in 2021, following years of pretty stable – and low – numbers. And now, early in 2022, we’re still seeing elevated prices. As a consumer, you may need to adjust your activities somewhat, but as an investor, how should you respond to inflation? First, it helps to know the causes of this recent inflationary spike. Essentially, it’s a case of basic economics – strong demand for goods meeting inadequate supply, caused by material and labor shortages, along with shipping and delivery logjams. In other words, too many dollars chasing too few goods. Once the supply chain issues begin to ease and consumer spending moves from goods to services as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes, it’s likely that inflation will moderate, but it may still stay above prepandemic levels throughout 2022. Given this outlook, you may want to review your investment portfolio. First, consider stocks. Generally speaking, stocks can do well in inflationary periods because companies’ revenues and earnings may increase along with inflation. But some sectors of the stock market typically do better than others during inflationary times. Companies that can pass along

higher costs to consumers due to strong demand for their goods – such as firms that produce building materials or supply steel or other commodities to other businesses – can do well. Conversely, companies that sell nonessential goods and services, such as appliances, athletic apparel and entertainment, may struggle more when prices are rising. Of course, it’s still a good idea to own a variety of stocks from various industries because it can help reduce the impact of market volatility on any one sector. And to help counteract the effects of rising prices, you might also consider investing in companies that have a long track record of paying and raising stock dividends. (Keep in mind, though, that these companies are not obligated to pay dividends and can reduce or discontinue them at any time.) Apart from stocks, how can inflation affect other types of investments? Think about bonds. When you invest in a bond, you receive regular interest payments until the bond matures. But these payments stay the same, so, over time, rising inflation can eat into your bond’s future income, which may also cause the price of your bond to drop – a concern if you decide to sell the bond before it matures. The impact of inflation

is especially sharp on the price of longer-term bonds because of the cumulative loss of purchasing power. However, Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) can provide some protection against inflation. The face value, or principal amount, of each TIPS is $1,000, but this principal is adjusted based on changes in the U.S. Consumer Price Index. So, during periods of inflation, your principal will increase, also increasing your interest payments. When inflation drops, though, your principal and interest payments will decrease, but you’ll never receive less than the original principal value when the TIPS mature. Talk to your financial advisor to determine if TIPS may be appropriate for you. Ultimately, inflation may indeed be something to consider when managing your investments. But other factors – especially your risk tolerance, time horizon and long-term goals – should still be the driving force behind your investment decisions. A solid investment strategy can serve you well, regardless of whether prices move up or down. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC

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Feature | Good mental health makes “cents” for communities

Out of Darkness

Bringing a Once-hushed Topic into the Light by Patrice Doucet

Dean and Catherine Wattingy, founders of Iberia Mental Health Initiative.

n many levels, mental health is everyone’s business. Investing in better mental health reduces the risks of suicide, social exclusion and public violence. But it also generates savings in other sectors, particularly the economy. Poor mental health ranks as one of the costliest forms of sickness for U.S. workers – and employers – according to research. Serious Mental Illness Advisor, an initiative administered by the American Psychiatric Association to provide access to resources for the most serious mental

health issues, reports that the economic impact of severe mental illness in the U.S. is nearly $300 billion a year. Investing in our mental health is essential to returning to our full potential – not just pre-COVID status. We can no longer afford to see mental healthcare as a response to problems. Iberia Mental Health Initiative (IMHI) is a coalition of concerned citizens across several professional disciplines dedicated to identifying and addressing the mental health needs of Iberia’s

community. We spoke with Catherine and Dean Wattigny, IMHI founders and charter members, on the state of mental health in Iberia Parish, the challenges they face, and how they are getting their message out to those in need. You identify and address the mental health needs of the community. What hurdles have you identified in the last few years? The lack of education in what is (considered) good mental health, what it’s composed of, and how to maintain good mental health. People also have a lack of Continued on page 60

Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 59

Feature | Good mental health makes “cents” for communities

Phyllis Babineaux, Catherine Schramm, and Ivy Lation review materials during the IMHI meeting in December. Continued from page 59

understanding of how to access care. On top of that, there are limited resources for providing care and constraints on insurance coverage to pay for mental healthcare. It’s a many-faceted issue.

What strides have you made in your efforts to promote better mental health? Our goal is to help people stabilize their lives, lessen the stressors and learn about their condition to avoid needing quick attention in a crisis situation. We’re also educating the public to give them the

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Jeremy Babb and Darlene French visit before an IMHI meeting.

knowledge and the tools to advocate for themselves. On the other end of the spectrum, we’re training primary care physicians to diagnose mental health disorders and collaborate with mental health professionals. (For example) we have a pediatrician who works closely with us. Before COVID we offered various educational programs, free to the public, that brought mental health experts to speak. We held a monthly support group for those dealing with family members with mental illness, facilitated by a licensed mental health professional. We promoted mental health through social media. And each May the city and parish councils would approve resolutions for Mental Health Month. Last May the Iberia Mental Health Initiative worked with Heart for Iberia coordinating a 5K run/walk and a 1-mile fun run/walk called Bayou Side to bring awareness of mental health. This was the first race in our area to shine a light on the topic and turned out to be the largest race held in Iberia Parish. Over 350 registrants turned out in recognition of friends or loved ones who lost their lives to mental illness. We’ll be holding it again this May. So, what has been COVID’s impact on mental health? No doubt there’s been an increase in anxiety and depression because of the pandemic and the side

effects from it: loss of jobs, children quarantined at home and not being with their friends. There’s a trickle effect. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, 47 percent of adults in Louisiana reported anxiety or depression earlier this year. But fear of being stigmatized keeps many from reaching out to get help. However, if COVID did anything beneficial, it decreased the stigma of mental illness. It gave an open door for people to talk about what they were experiencing and their struggles. That’s what we aim to do with our initiative. Given the limitations during COVID, what were you able to do to reach out to people struggling? The use of telehealth and teletherapy grew out of the pandemic, making a more accessible way to acquire mental health assistance. Also during the pandemic, we posted 10 videos on Facebook and our website produced by clinical psychologist Dr. Annie Spell, addressing the impacts of the pandemic on children and how to talk to them about what they were experiencing. She also spoke to parents and teachers about maintaining their own good health. What’s a scenario you’ve seen where investing in mental health would save money? Patient transportation. There are better ways to handle the costs associated with patients

Feature | Mental health transported by a sheriff to a facility that will take them, which is often a long distance. Parish government has to pay for that transport. It’s a burden to the hospital districts and there are more cost-efficient ways to deal with this issue. Baton Rouge, for instance, passed a tax and established public mental health facilities to stabilize patients so that they wouldn’t have to be transported long distances. What are the options for someone concerned about paying for mental health treatment? The 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act is a federal law that prevents insurance companies that provide mental health or substance use disorder benefits from imposing greater limitations on those benefits than on medical/surgical benefits. If someone doesn’t have private insurance or Medicaid, the cost is anywhere from $65 to $250 per hour. The number of providers accepting Medicaid are few and far between. New Iberia Mental Health and Iberia Comprehensive Community Health Center accept Medicaid, but the appointment list may be lengthy. If a patient is not on Medicaid, these organizations apply a sliding scale fee according to income. What’s an upcoming priority in the IMHI initiative? We plan to discuss ways to aid teachers and students to recognize and address mental health in conjunction with Heart for Iberia.

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Months sugarcane farmers work to produce a successful commercial crop.

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Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 63

HOLIDAY WREATH PICTURE PAIRING CHALLENGE

And the Answers are...

Last month we tried to stump our readers with a challenge to match photos of five people featured in the December issue with the correct wreath that hangs on their door. We’ve recevied lots of guesses – some contestants even got all five correct! As of publication date for this issue, we’ve not yet determined the winner, but we wanted to reveal the answers for those who are still stumped.

Glenn Hebert Glenn’s Flowerbox St. Martinville

Lisa Duhe Lourd Latter & Blum Get Sold Team New Iberia

Chad Boutte Fifolet Candle Makers Franklin

The Wreath Challenge prize package, presented by Chef Dave Hulin, includes two tickets to Chef Dave’s next Beyond the Glass event, a variety of Cajun 180° seasonings, and a branded t-shirt. Thanks Chef Dave!

64 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

Nicole Savoie The Rustic Relic Breaux Bridge

Beth Dubois Thru the Garden Gate Flowers New Iberia

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Back by popular demand! TK Hulin & The Lonely Knights Reunion with Charlene Howard, Steve Adams and a 6 Piece Horn Section!!! January 16, 2022 at

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Social Lights | Faces and places of Acadiana

Attendees bow their heads at the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day at Bouligny Plaza.

Johnny Hebert, left, and Tracy Migues uncover for the invocation.

Tracy Migues, left, and Eugene Olivier perform the laying of the memorial wreath.

Boy Scout Hayden Hebert recites the Pledge of Allegiance.

Curtis Riggs, from left, Corey Porter and Percy Barrilleaux advanced the colors.

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Bouligny Plaza | New Iberia

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on December 7, 2021 was sponsored by the Iberia Veterans Association and held at Bouligny Plaza. DECEMBER 7, 2021 | LEE BALL PHOTOGRAPHY

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Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022 67

Social Lights | Faces and places of Acadiana

Berry Queen members, and their festively decorated golf carts, delight parade-goers along the route.

Members of the New Iberia High School Marching Band perform for onlookers.

A young student of Franny’s Studio of Dance stops to show her moves.

Karen Trahan steps away from her fellow Berry Queens to get a quick photo with the Grinch.

Mandy Seneca (center) enjoys the parade with her family, including grandchildren Jensi (4) and Jersi (5).

Queen City Christmas Parade Main Street | New Iberia

Hundreds of revelers attended the 43rd Queen City Christmas Parade, which traveled down Main Street New Iberia and included dozens of local schools and organizations. DECEMBER 11, 2021

A group from Bayou Lit Bikes provides a lively holiday glow along the route.

68 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

With her customary cheerful smile, Brianna Davis leads a group of kids from Iberia Boys and Girls Club down Main.

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Upcoming Events | The what, where and when for January Jan. 1 - 29

Where: Vermilionville’s Performance Center, 300 Fisher Road, Lafayette When: Sundays, 1-4 p.m. Details: www.Vermilionville.org or 337-233-4077 Admission: $10

Teche Area Farmers Market What: Experience our harvest of delicious, locally grown produce and homemade products by area farmers, artists and crafters. Also included are handcrafted cypress yard objects, bread and fresh baked goods, ceramics, honey, jellies, jams, herbs, candies, wooden bowls and utensils, birdhouses, garden benches and much more. Where: Bouligny Plaza, 102 W. Main St., New Iberia When: Every Tuesday 2:30-6 p.m. and Saturday 7-11 a.m. Details: 337-369-2330 or Facebook.com/ TecheAreaFestivalandFarmersMarket Admission: Free Jan. 1 - 29

Le Jam á Vermilionville: Acoustic Sessions What: The Jam is open to all skill levels – beginner to professional. The Jam is led by some of the area’s finest musicians and is open to both participants and those who just want to sit back and listen. Admission is FREE for the Jam only and does not include entry to the park. Where: Vermilionville, 300 Fisher Road, Lafayette When: Saturdays from 1-3 p.m. Details: Vermilionville.org or 337-233-4077 Jan. 2

Bird on the Bayou Sidewalk Sunday What: Antique and crafts market will have vendors set up outside the store with their crafts and items. Where: Bird on the Bayou, 120 E. Main St., New Iberia When: First Sunday of the month from 12:30-4:30 p.m. Details: 337-339-2826 Jan. 2 - 30

Bal du Dimanche (Sunday Dance) What: Dance the afternoon away with local Cajun musicians at Vermilionville’s weekly Sunday Dance. Refreshments will be available for this smoke-free all ages show. Admission is for the event only and does not include entry to the park. Bal du Dimanche will be a concert format, as opposed to a dance, until further notice.

70 Acadiana Lifestyle, January 2022

Jan. 2 - 30

Bourré at The Brewery

Meshell Ndegeocello

4 things you should do 1

Meshell Ndegeocello. Meshell Ndegeocello is a German-born American singer-songwriter, rapper, and bassist. Her music incorporates a wide variety of influences, including funk, soul, jazz, hip hop, reggae and rock. She has received significant critical acclaim throughout her career, being nominated for eleven Grammy Awards, and winning one. She also has been credited for helping to spark the neo-soul movement. Thursday, Jan. 13, from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Acadiana Center for the Arts, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette. AcadianaCenterfortheArts.org or 337-2337060.

16th Annual Gumbo Cook-Off. The Gumbo Foundation is cooking for a cause in perfectly seasoned Opelousas. Every year, the foundation rounds up area chefs who are willing to compete for “best gumbo”, an honor held high in Louisiana. Event chefs and volunteers are working hard for the benefactor of the event proceeds, a local child in need. All the proceeds from the cook-off benefit a child and family who are burdened with medical and related expenses. Saturday, Jan. 29 from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Frank’s Poboy’s, 603 East Landry St., Opelousas. TheGumboFoundation.org.

Rich Hall. The award-winning Montana native is renowned for his expertly crafted tirades, quick-fire banter with audiences and delightful musical sequences. Rich, who has won the Perrier Award (Edinburgh Comedy Festival) and Barry Award, (Melbourne International Comedy Festival) has been described as a transatlantic messenger, lampooning each country he visits with his laser-guided observations. Thursday, Jan. 20, from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Acadiana Center for the Arts, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette. AcadianaCenterfortheArts.org or 337-233-7060.

Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival. The 17th Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival will be held both in-person and virtually. The Festival will screen more than 140 films, including narrative fiction, documentary, animation and experimental, from across the United States and from around the world. Film screenings will also include a large number of French language films from Canada, France and other parts of the Francophone world. Jan. 26-Feb. 2. Downtown Lafayette. CinemaOnTheBayou.com.

What: Each week, the brewery hosts a front porch jam session, a French table, and a friendly game of Bourré. Bourré is a popular card game in South Louisiana. It’s a trick-taking game, similar to Spades. If you don’t know how to play, the locals will be happy to show you. Where: Bayou Teche Brewing, 1002 North Lane, Arnaudville When: Sundays from 2-5 p.m. Details: BayouTecheBrewing.com or 337-754-5122 Jan. 5 - 26

GLC Farmers Market What: Local farmers selling produce, plants, honey, homemade pies and other items grown locally. Grass-fed beef, pork and lamb are also available at the meat market during this time. Where: GLC Meat Market, 6110 Loreauville Road, New Iberia When: Wednesdays from 2-6 p.m. Details: 337-577-9160 or GLCRanch.com Jan. 6 - 27

Bayou Teche French Table What: Celebrate the Cajun Culture and improve your French speaking skills regardless of your level of French. Additionally, enjoy conversations with francophones and francophiles who visit New Iberia from all over the world as well as students in the French Immersion setting at North Lewis Elementary. Vive le francais! Where: McDonald’s, 1501 Center St., New Iberia When: Thursdays from 7-8 a.m. Details: 337-519-7942 Jan. 8

Second Saturday ArtWalk What: The monthly event occurs monthly, every second Saturday, and features exhibits, live music, theatrical performances, and immersive artistic

Upcoming Events | The what, where and when for January

Rich Hall experiences in the shops, galleries, museums, and streets of Downtown Lafayette Where: Downtown Lafayette When: Saturday from 6-8 p.m. Details: DowntownLafayette.org Jan. 8

Zydeco Capital Jam What: Zydeco Capital Jam is a monthly jam session for zydeco musicians and fans taking place on the second Saturday of every month. The Zydeco Capital Jam is the first of its kind in nearly a decade recalling the tradition from when Zydeco legend Roy Carrier would jam with other great musicians at the Offshore Lounge in Lawtell. Where: St. Landry Parish Visitor Center, 978 Kennerson Road, Opelousas When: Saturday from 1-3 p.m. Details: CajunTravel.com or 337-948-8004

Chubby Carrier & Bayou Swamp Band Rock & Roll cover band, located in Lafayette, Louisiana, performing various hits from classic rock. Where: Grouse Room, 417 Jefferson St., Lafayette When: Friday at 10 p.m. Details: TheGrouseRoom.com or 337-806-9098 Admission: $10 Jan. 19

Les Cadiens Du Teche Cajun Dance What: Les Cadiens du Teche (Cajun French Music Association) dance to Cajun music with a meal, door prizes, cake walk, 50/50 and camaraderie, at their monthly public meeting. Where: La Louisiane Banquet Hall, 5509 Hwy. 14, New Iberia When: Every third Wednesday of the month from 7-9:30 p.m.

The Lone Bellow

Details: Facebook.com/ LesCadiensDuTeche or 337-258-1876 Jan. 25

Marine Corps League Monthly Meeting What: The General W.S. McIlhenny Detachment of the Marine Corps League invites all active Marines and Marine veterans to attend the group’s monthly meeting. Where: Veterans Memorial Building in New Iberia’s City Park When: Fourth Tuesday of each month starting at 7 p.m. Details: 337-967-3650 Jan. 27

The Lone Bellow What: The Lone Bellow burst onto the scene with their self-titled debut in 2013. The Brooklyn-based band quickly

became known for their transcendent harmonies, serious musicianship and raucous live performance – a reputation that earned them their rabid fan base. Where: Acadiana Center for the Arts, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette When: Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Details: AcadianaCenterfortheArts.org or 337-233-7060 Jan. 28

Linda Gail Lewis What: Linda Gail Lewis is an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Joining Linda will be her lifelong friend, Johnny Nicholas, along with Joel Savoy, Chad Viator, Tif Lamson, and Chris French. Where: Hideaway on Lee, 407 Lee Ave., Lafayette When: Friday at 7 p.m. Details: HideawayOnLee.com or 337-484-1141 n

Jan. 9

Chubby Carrier & Bayou Swamp Band What: Enjoy an evening of live Zydeco music and bowling. Where: Rock ‘n’ Bowl, 905 Jefferson St., Lafayette When: Sunday at 5 p.m. Details: TheRocknBowl.com/Lafayette Jan. 14

Stone Soul Revival What: Stone Soul Revival is a 4 man,

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Acadiana Lifestyle January 2022

Articles inside

Upcoming Events

Social Lights

Lafayette Film Festival

The Resolution Revolution

Toast of the Town

9 Money Principles

Cajun Creations

Budget Hacks

Financial Personas

People to Watch in 2022

Handmade in Acadiana

Focus

On Trend

Personality Profile