Editors’s Note: Changes in the New Year

The beginning of the year always marks change and new beginnings. I’m generally happy for the start of it because it’s a good marker for making plans and setting goals. It’s also a time to take stock, to reflect and see what might be done a little differently. While I’m not a big resolutions person, I do break out a new notepad or journal and set a few goals for the year. They usually revolve around health, travel and writing. I find that, throughout the year, those are the things I tend to take my eye off of and before I know it, whatever I’d been working on has slipped away, and I haven’t even realized it.

This year, we’ve made a few changes to the magazine as well. In place of the Homes column, we’re expanding Traveler. We thought it would be interesting to take a deeper dive into what to do around the state. The column also has a new name — drumroll please — L A Rambler! It will offer an up-close look at places around Louisiana from an insider’s perspective. Former Louisiana Life editor, Melanie Warner Spencer, will be taking us along for a ramble as she explores cool spots and fun things do throughout Louisiana.

Another change will be former Editor-in-Chief Errol Laborde stepping down from his long-time position at Renaissance Publishing. We are so grateful for his many thoughtful contributions over the years. For those of you who’ve read the magazine for a while and enjoyed Errol’s columns on Louisiana culture and history, you, like me, have probably appreciated his depth of knowledge and interesting perspective. His accolades are so many, it would be difficult to include them all here. Holding a Ph.D. in political science, Errol has produced and been a panelist on Informed Sources, a weekly program on WYES-TV. He has numerous awards, serves on the board for the Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival, and has published several books, including his most recent, “When Rex Met Zulu.” More than his many credentials, Errol is a cultural ambassador for the state and for New Orleans, in particular. He will continue to write his column for Louisiana Life in an online format, which you can find at Louisianalife.com.

In this issue, you’ll find a weekend trip idea when visiting Vicksburg, Mississippi as well as Mardi Gras around the state and a glimpse of foraging in Poverty Point. For more Mardi Gras content, there are several delicious recipes to celebrate the occasion in Liz Williams’ column.

Here is hoping to a good start to the new year for everyone and a fun and safe Mardi Gras.

Cheers.

Reine Dugas
Editor
Reine@Louisianalife.com