Louisiana Life - January/February 2020

A Louisiana Life: Sports of All Sorts

When Allstate Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley tells people what he does for a living, he often fields the following query: That’s a full-time job? It certainly is — and then some, Hundley says. As the newly tapped head of…

Farther Flung: History and Hauntings

Built in three sections, the McRaven Mansion in Vicksburg has been labeled the “Time Capsule of the South.” And rightly so. The original 1797 structure remains next to the 1836 addition with an elaborate Greek Revival front, constructed in 1849.…

Traveler: Staying Neutral

The Bicentennial celebration called “No Man’s Land, Becoming Louisiana” is now entering its second year of festivals, special events and driving tours through Sabine River territory (for decades cursed with border disputes and rampant crime). The 24-month observance is a…

Kitchen Gourmet: Warm Up

Now’s the time when I look forward to cozy dinners of substantial food and hearty red wine. Soups, stews, one-pot dishes and sweet or savory baked goods are warming, comforting and an affirmation of life amid the darkness. The enjoyment…

Great Louisiana Chef: Firing It Up

As twilight gives way to darkness, and spirits wander through the Myrtles’ wintry mist, the alluring aroma of burning logs, fat dripping onto coals and ribeye steaks charring over leaping flames puts guests in a smoky trance at Restaurant 1796.…

Roadside Dining: Touch of Brass

Justine, the sprawling 200-seat French Quarter restaurant is the third from spouses Mia Freiberger-Devillier and James Beard Award -winning Chef Justin Devillier, following the quietly elegant La Petite Grocery on Magazine Street and the now-shuttered downtown gastro pub, Balise. This…

Louisianians of the Year

Each year, we comb the state in search of Louisianians doing great things at home and, potentially, around the country or even the world. We look for individuals who stand out in their professions, give back and represent what’s best…

2020 Carnival Calendar

While New Orleans is the most well-known place in Louisiana to celebrate Mardi Gras, Louisianians know there are lively parades and events for weeks all over the state. From Shreveport to Eunice and everywhere in between, here's your guide to…

Carnival in New Roads

By the time the 2020 Carnival season reaches its climax on Mardi Gras, Feb. 25, numerous Louisiana cities and towns will have wrapped up their perennial schedules of pre-Lenten parades, balls and other festivities. In one community, however, all proverbial…

Home: Gather Round

“I always wanted the big house with the big family gatherings; I thought maybe if I build it, they will come,” says Vanessa Mayfield, invoking the magical mantra from the movie “Field of Dreams.” Vanessa and her husband Jeffrey, both…

Art: Spiritually Connected

Shreveport photographer Ann George is an artist, a storyteller and a playwright — not in the conventional sense of writing narratives and dialogue, but in composing staged photographic images that appear as still but quiet moments in a story or…

Louisiana Made: So Fresh and So Clean

When bathing (thankfully) began trending again in the 19th century, the search was on for ways to produce affordable soap on a large enough scale to keep the working class disease-free, healthy and able to fill the factories and fields…

Healthy Louisiana: Fighting Arthritis

Over 50 million Americans have some form of arthritis, and approximately 923,000 of them live in Louisiana (arthritis.org). For some people, the condition may be unavoidable, but there are ways you can make living with arthritis easier. Some of the…

Pelican Briefs: Da Kings of Cakes

Chef Nathan Richard of DTB (dtbnola.com) was crowned the 2019 King of American Seafood for his luscious crawfish and goat cheese king cake with cream cheese pepper jelly and Cajun caviar. “I’m serving it at DTB with optional caviar during…

Along the Way: Party Animals

During our first three Carnival seasons after moving to New Orleans, by the time Fat Tuesday arrived, we were too pooped to party beyond a brief amble out to the corner for a couple of the morning parades while sipping…

From the Editor: Galloping Through the Decades

Hardly anyone knows it, but this year the Cajun Courir De Mardi Gras approaches the 70th anniversary of its revival. Had it not been for a few men wanting to rescue a lost ritual there would be no customs to…

Home Grown

Mardi Gras brings out the best of Louisiana, with colorful costumes, decadent foods, festive parties, lively parades and fun for the whole family. The state’s creativity, ingenuity, and flare are on full display during this time of year. This winter…

Visit Mississippi

Mississippi offers a taste of the South that remains unique. Heavily influenced by its proximity to the Mississippi River, the state abounds with important national history and the stories of the creative individuals who helped shape it. Home of the…

Traveling Around Louisiana

Well into another winter with Mardi Gras arriving, Louisiana is a festive place to be during this time of year. And while the parades are getting rolling, plenty of the state’s cities and parishes are already prepping for spring and…