A s the early morning fog lifts from the river and settles on Jackson Square, an eighteen-wheeler grinds its gears to beat the stoplight on Decatur Street. The musty smell of the Mississippi River and roasting coffee from upriver fill…

Located on Bayou Teche near Jeanerette in St. Mary Parish, Albania was built between 1837 and 1842. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.Imagine owning two Louisiana historic plantation mansions and an 1873 upstate New York mansion…

Ed. note: With this issue we introduce a new column, “The Rural Life” by Melissa H. Bienvenu. Ms. Bienvenu (no relation to food writer Marcelle Bienvenu), lives with her husband and family on a farm near Franklington in Washington Parish.…

A sign on the edge of the fairgrounds announces that Mansura is La Capitale de Cochon de Lait. That claim has remained unchallenged by other capitals including London, Moscow, Rome or Paris. Nor is it questioned by El Mansura, Egypt…

When most people meet Lawrence “Football” Badeaux, they assume he’s carried that nickname for most of his 75 years because he’s a fan of the game. The truth is, he isn’t called Football because he likes football, he’s called Football…

It’s no wonder that the largest of the contiguous states has a long list of vacation options including both big city cultural attractions and charming small town getaways. However, you just might be surprised by the huge variety of travel…

Now is the time to start making travel plans for spring and summer, and fortunately, if you live in Louisiana, you do not need to travel far. Louisiana offers some of the most tempting travel destinations in the country. From…

My principal interest in crawfish has always involved cooking and eating. I’m not alone on that score – crawfish have been considered a delicacy in Europe for centuries. However, the story in Louisiana is a bit more complicated.American Indians consumed…

Blessed with nearly 300 miles of coastline and fertile river deltas feeding some of the most productive ecosystems in the world, Louisiana anglers can almost always find something biting. Off the coast, sportsmen can fish thousands of square miles in…

Studio, gallery and guest house, Turtle Cove is located on the banks of Bayou Fuslier. Owners Toni Daigre and Sue Billet  find the back porch is their favorite place to create art and share a cup of coffee with other…

Frank Kelley Jr.’s “The Power of Jazz.” When painter Frank Kelley Jr. discusses his art, he talks about opportunities, stories, decisions and spiritual journeys. His images of the northern Louisiana landscape or jazz musicians suspended silently between riffs are about…

The exterior of the Southern Living Idea House 2005 has a distinct French flavor with high-pitched roofs and large columns.What happens when Southern Living magazine comes calling? No, not the subscription folks but a member of the top brass asking…

After the waters began to recede from the great flood of 1927, some refugees who had spent time at a Red Cross camp began to return to their homes in rural central Louisiana. What they saw was bleak. Water lines…

The view from the entry through the double doors captures two of the old oaks on the three-acre siteChildhood dreams sometimes do come true – just ask Perry Segura. “When I was a young boy growing up in New Iberia,…

It’s an adage of the business world that the public image of a corporation is a reflection of the person in the corner office. In the case of the McIlhenny Company of New Iberia, the theory holds water.Paul McIlhenny looks,…

The new Louisiana State Museum-Baton Rouge is the story of Louisiana.  It is an introduction to our state’s rich history for the uninitiated, and it’s a giant dose of nostalgia for those that know and love Louisiana tradition, heritage and…

One of the best things about living in the Southeast is the fact that you do not have to travel far to get away from it all. In Louisiana, history, culture, and festivals are usually just a short drive from…

NORTHERN LOUISIANAJan. 4-7, 12-14, 19-21 Almost, Maine, Shreveport Little Theatre, Shreveport, (318) 424-4439.Jan. 6 Twelfth Night Party, Bossier Civic Center, Bossier City, (318) 746-0008.Jan. 12 “The People’s Concert,” Riverview Theatre, Shreveport, (318) 227-8863. Jan. 19 Man of La Mancha, The…

Photo: Terri FenselALEXANDRIA (318) 442-9546Jan. 5 Epiphany, St. Rita School, England Airpark. 5:30 p.m.Jan. 5 AMGA Carnivale de Mardi Gras Party, Community Center, England Airpark. 7:30 p.m.Feb. 14 LSUA Mardi Gras Parade, LSUA Campus. Noon.Feb. 16 Taste of Mardi Gras,…

Darryl Dyess remembers well what Denham Springs was like back in 1982. He’d just gotten married and bought his first house there.“It was just a little old hick town,” recalls the Livingston parish realtor. “People didn’t want to come here…