Pelican Briefs: Market Marvels

Chef Cory Bahr is bringing together growers and artisans from surrounding parishes to offer their produce, meat and hand-crafted products on Thursdays for “Grow the Roe Farmers Market,” situated on a lot beside his Parish Restaurant in downtown Monroe. “We’re really excited about putting it together,” said Chef Bahr (monroe-westmonroe.org).

Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jeff Davis, Vernon

A Shot at Space
Teachers in six parishes have been trained to prepare students for a regional competition this fall that offers them a chance to compete for the opportunity to place an experiment aboard a space exploration flight next year. The Student Spaceflight Experiments Program prepares students through myriad partnerships. The competition involves writing a scientific proposal for a micro-gravity experiment and competing nationally for a chance to carry out the mission on an International Space Station (Gemini or Space X).

Ethel

Sip Wine with Sloths
Sample a global array of wines with cuddly sloths during self-guided walks around Barn Hill Preserve Sept. 3-4, 17-18 and Oct. 1. The nature sanctuary also showcases turtles, camels, bearded dragons, sugar gliders, giraffes, kangaroos and features one of the largest free-flying macaw rescue missions in the U.S. (barnhillpreserve.com).

Maurice

Consolidation Underway
Coastal Chemical Co. is spending $11.4 million consolidating several sites in Louisiana and Texas into one location in Maurice (near the intersection of LA 92 and Winfred Road). The company touts itself as one of the largest resellers of ExxonMobil lubricants in the U.S. The company plans to consolidate operations from its Abbeville distribution center and its Broussard center into the Maurice facility (coastalchem.com).

Kinder

Cultural Showcase
Allen Parish officials recently celebrated the opening of the new Allen Parish Cultural Center (12855 LA Hwy. 165). The ghost of Adam Fontenot greets visitors with early settler tales from the front porch of his home. Visitors can view a special exhibit on the culture of the Coushatta Tribe, explore a music room featuring famous Louisiana musicians and memorabilia, enjoy a vintage jukebox with 200 vinyl 45 records and explore a Louisiana swamp.

New Orleans

Prom Glories
Break out those tuxedos and formal gowns and relive your high school prom night with some fun-loving, pink-wig volunteers at the Krewe de Pink Prom, a festive gala at the Jung Hotel. Dance the night away, pose for prom pictures and elect a Prom King and Queen while supporting the Tulane Breast Cancer Research Center (krewedepink.org/krewe-de-pink-prom).

Baton Rouge

Fish Fry Acquisition
New York-based private equity firm MidOcean Partners (midoceanpartners.com) has acquired the Pizzolato family’s Baton Rouge-based Louisiana Fish Fry, with plans to accelerate the company’s growth through product development. NutraBolt (sports nutrition drinks) and Florida Food (all-natural food products) are among MidOcean Partners’ food portfolio.

Jeanerette

All About that Bass
Grammy winner and acclaimed bass guitarist, Wayne “Blue” Burns recently donated his bass guitar to the Jeanerette Museum (Jeanerettemuseum.org).

New Orleans

Virtual Cocktails
The world’s largest cocktail conference, Tales of the Cocktail, returns September 20-23 with more than 60 digital seminars (free). New this year: The Diversity Distilled Career Fair (talesofthecocktail.org).

Student Debts Begone!

Grambling
Grambling State University announced it will forgive student debts for those with current semester balances from Spring 2020-Summer 2021 by utilizing funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. In order to be eligible for forgiveness, the debt balance must be the obligation of the student and not a third party. The amount to be forgiven is expected to total $1.5 million (gram.edu).

Monroe

A Tastemaker of Distinction
Southern Living announced their 2021 Tastemakers (August issue) to celebrate distinguished Southern women. Monroe’s Sue Sartor, founder and designer of Sue Sartor (@suesartor) was named among the 8 women selected. Vibrant, hand-stamped woodblock prints and breezy, blousy sleeves are the hallmark of Sartor’s Instagram-famous caftan dresses. Designing select menswear is a new brand addition (southernliving.com/tastemakers).

Market Marvels
Chef Cory Bahr is bringing together growers and artisans from surrounding parishes to offer their produce, meat and hand-crafted products on Thursdays for a Grow the Roe Farmers Market, situated on a lot beside his Parish Restaurant in downtown Monroe. “We’re really excited about putting it together,” said Chef Bahr (monroe-westmonroe.org).

Scott

Eat Dat
How fast can you eat boudin? Get paid to enjoy piles of hot links at the Scott Boudin Festival’s boudin-eating contest. Winners get $500 cash for the grand prize, $250 cash for 2nd place and a $100 gift card for 3rd place. Dance it off during the Cajun and zydeco dance contests September 24-26 (scottboudinfestival.com).

Mamou

Baring and Sharing
“Bring your house and share your spouse” is the motto behind Tee Boi’s Swingers Trailer Park, slated to open in Mamou. David Aucoin, founder, stated that he’s gotten a “mind-boggling” abundance of calls from swingers across the U.S. since putting up a sign at the site. Tee Boi’s is primarily a campground for weekend gatherings, although swingers can opt to reside at the trailer park (Memorial Day 2022).

Relief Arrives
Federal grants totaling $393 million went to more than 1,300 businesses in Louisiana through a Restaurant Revitalization program. The median grant amount across Louisiana was $110,504 while the average was $283,739, records show. Nationwide, $28.6 billion was set aside to help restaurants and their employees who struggled during the pandemic.

Lafayette

Bigger is Better
The Cajun Field Stadium will soon undergo a major renovation, thanks to Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center’s $15 million gift. It will be the most extensive renovation in the facility’s history (ragincajuns.com).

Merci Encore, CODOFIL
CODOFIL and the Louisiana Department of Education recently welcomed 80 French teachers to work in Louisiana public schools for the 2021-22 school year. Bienvenue, professeurs!

Abbeville

Of BB Guns and Barn Dancing
Dance until the cows come home at the Louisiana Cattle Festival September 30-October 3 in Abbeville. Enjoy parades, pageants, carnival rides, cook-offs, BB gun tournaments and livestock shows. Hop on a horse for the Saturday trail ride that culminates with a Cajun barn dance until midnight featuring Layne Touchet (Louisianacattlefestival.org).