Culture

James Trawick (Center) with First Lady Sharon Landry (Right) and Governor Jeff Landry (Far Right) with the 1017 Project

James Trawick Brings Rodeo Fest to Louisiana With a Mission

James Trawick, the Hondo Rodeo Fest CEO, has a passion for rodeo that began not where most people would imagine. It wasn’t out west, but rather far Southeast in Trawick’s…

Grand Isle's Oleander Hotel Receives Donation for Restoration

Site Staff,

GRAND ISLE, La (press release) – The Karen B. Yoh Foundation donated $50,000 to Grand Isle's Oleander Hotel restoration project, bringing the total funds raised to $343,000 of the organization’s $400,000 goal. “We’re deeply grateful for the Karen B. Yoh…

Gulf Coast Owned and Operated Brand Maison Mariann Fine Jewelry Launches First Collection

Site Staff,

MOBILE, Al/NEW ORLEANS (press release) – On Monday, Oct. 28, Maison Mariann Fine Jewelry opened the doors to its online store. This new fine jewelry e-commerce boutique was created by two best friends to bring the spirit of celebration into…

Lafayette's New Pet Stop and Shop and More Around the State

Lisa LeBlanc-Berry,

A new nonprofit, MeowWOOF Animal Collective Café (2905 E. Simcoe Street), offers a unique community space for spending time with adoptable cats and dogs or your own pets. Guests can enjoy coffee while interacting with freely roaming cats at the…

Natchez for the Holidays

Cheré Coen,

Historic Natchez on a dramatic bluff overlooking the Mississippi River makes for the perfect weekend getaway. Stroll down oak-draped streets with antebellum homes and historic buildings and churches, dine at restaurants overlooking the river, learn its extensive history at the…

Landry Vineyards Offers Locally-Made Wines in West Monroe

Jeffrey Roedel, Photos by Romero & Romero,

On a sweltering late June morning in the middle of a particularly wet growing season in the hilly outlands west of Cheniere Lake, the team at Landry Vineyards is prepping to absolutely crush it. A huge haul of blueberries from…

Shreveport’s Own John Hoffman Lands the Gig of a Lifetime with Primus

Site Staff,

The moment Shreveport local John Hoffman learned he was chosen to become the newest member of Primus, filmed as part of a multipart YouTube web series called the “Primus Interstellar Drum Derby,” chronicling the band’s search for a new drummer,…

Books that Highlight Origin and Structure in their Pages

Christopher Louis Romaguera,

Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine “Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine” is written by one of the best culinary historians in the country, Dr. Jessica B. Harris. Harris spent…

Elusively Odd

John R. Kemp,

Bossier City artist Joshua Chambers is a painter, storyteller, philosopher, teacher, theater set designer and former museum curator who was once described as “elusive and happily odd.” That description,…

Lush Avery Island Jungle Gardens

Site Staff,

Episode 230: Dustin Dale Gaspard is Putting Cajun Culture Front and Center on The Voice

Kelly Massicot,

You may know him as a member of Team Niall on the current season of "The Voice" on NBC, but Dustin Dale Gaspard is helping to put Cajun music and language on an international stage. The artist, from Cow Island…

Luling's Lafon Performing Arts Center Introduces 2025/2026 Season of Entertainment

Site Staff,

LULING, La (press release) – The Lafon Performing Arts Center is proud to announce their 2025-2026 season and a new programming model. The new season will host meaningful, memorable encounters between professional artists, students, educators and families and kicks off…

Delgado Professor and Poet Gina Ferrara Named Next Louisiana Poet Laureate

Site Staff,

NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, along with Gov. Jeff Landry, announced Louisiana’s newest Poet Laureate, Gina Ferrara. Following Alison Pelegrin’s successful tenure as Poet Laureate from 2023 through August 13 of this year, Ferrara…