Ft Nature 07
Around The State, Artist-Gallery Spotlight, Gulf Coast

Protect and Preserve

Protecting the wetlands serves many purposes at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge
Kevin Rabalais,

At a Glance Location Cameron and Vermilion parishes Fauna Each year from November through January, biologists conduct aerial waterfowl surveys that cover more than 550,000 acres of LDWF’s coastal wildlife management areas and refuges. Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge opened to public access in the early 1980s. Each year, an average of 200,000 recreational fishermen visit the refuge for crabbing, shrimping and…

Ft Home 01
Features, Home Design/Decor

River Current

A modern, barn-inspired getaway on the Bogue Chitto River in Franklinton
Lee Cutrone, Photos by Sarah Essex Bradley,

The metal roof allows for drainage without leaf-clogged gutters. At a Glance Architecture Lindsay Woolf, Woolf Architecture & Interiors Interior Design Betsey Hazard, House of Hazard Interiors Square Footage 1,950 Outstanding Features Raised cross shape with A-frame entrances and river views, board and batten siding, exposed white oak beams, knotty pine floors, large Caesarstone island, hidden vent hood, tile that…

Ft Lamade 01
Features, Louisiana Made, Spotlights

Board Games

Therapy Skateboards rolls out of Hammond
Jeffrey Roedel, Photos by Romero & Romero,

At a Glance Hometown Ponchatoula Age 28 Occupation Founder/lead designer, Therapy Skateboards Web therapyskateboards.com                     Clocking out after eight hours of sanding and painting cabinetry, most evenings Brent Coker can be found wrestling deep in Photoshop with a design that’s been knocking on his brain since before lunch or rolling fast…

Nature 13
Around The State, History, Things To Do

Seismic Rescue

Rip Van Winkle Gardens in New Iberia marries history, preservation and conservation
Kevin Rabalais,

One of 24 peacocks at Rip Van Winkle Gardens. At a Glance Location Iberia Parish Flora Rip Van Winkle Gardens consists of approximately 15 acres of semi-tropical gardens that include irises, magnolias, camellias, azaleas, hibiscus, and springtime bulbs. Fauna The grounds of Rip Van Winkle Gardens include a schoolhouse built in the 1930s for the salt mining community. It now…

Ft Home Cover
Home Design/Decor, Spotlights

Maximum Effect

Artist and collector Andrew Lamar Hopkins’ passion for antiques and art is on display in his French Quarter abode in New Orleans
Lee Cutrone, Photos by Sarah Essex Bradley,

Hopkins in the salon. The tapestry chair, from the Occasional Wife in New Orleans, dates from 1715. At a Glance Interior Design Andrew Lamar Hopkins Square Footage Approximately 600 Outstanding Features Original hardwood cypress floors, French doors and transoms, spacious wraparound veranda with original ironwork, international mix of art and antiques.   Artist and collector Andrew Lamar Hopkins lived in…

Lamade 04
Features, Louisiana Made, Spotlights

Shelf life

GoodWood Nola builds sustainable furniture and fabrication countrywide
Jeffrey Roedel, Photos by Romero & Romero,

Select Photos by Randy Krause Schmidt   At A Glance Age 32 Location New Orleans, LA Occupation Co-owner/Co-founder, GoodWood Nola Web goodwoodnola.com   Fast currents, rocky obstacles and significant drops are likely. Sudden maneuvers required. Such hazards of entrepreneurship have their equals in Class 4 rapids, and whitewater fitting this description was all too common while a 19-year-old Jordan Rose…

Travel 01
Cocktails, Food+Drink, Things To Do, Travel

Wine and Dine

Monroe and West Monroe offer a fun escape and plenty to sip, see and eat
Cheré Coen,

photo courtesy delta biscuit; herons on the bayou; landry vineyards We must admit we’re skeptical when people rave about Louisiana red and white varietal wines. Most vineyards in the Deep South produce sweet muscadine or fruit-based wines. But we were pleasantly surprised to find the hills of northern Louisiana not only producing varietals but offering fun destinations as well. Jeff…

Nature 01
Around The State

Protected Land

Louisiana State Arboretum in Evangeline Parish preserves and protects flora and fauna for future generations
Kevin Rabalais,

Typical inhabitants of cypress-tupelo swamps include wood ducks, red-eared sliders and buttonbushAt A Glance Location Evangeline Parish Environment Bottomland hardwood forests grow in low-lying areas that surround lakes and rivers. Hickories, oaks and plants provide food for wildlife in these forests that store water, filter pollutants and act as a floodplain.   In the Nature Center classroom at Louisiana’s State…

Art 01
Artist-Gallery Spotlight, Theatre + Art, Things To Do

Louisiana Love

Renowned photographer Carol Highsmith partners with Louisiana Public Broadcasting for book to accompany TV documentary
John R. Kemp,

Big Chief Keitoe, Jazz Fest 2022A statement by the internationally acclaimed documentary photographer Carol Highsmith sets the tone for Louisiana Public Broadcasting’s recent four-hour TV documentary and Highsmith’s companion book exploring the people, towns, cities, customs and landscape across Louisiana today: “There are a lot of wonderful places in this country,” says Highsmith. “But you’ve got a state that is…

Home 11
Home Design/Decor

Louisiana Vernacular

Lauren and Logan Lemoine designed their home and used reclaimed, local materials to reflect the architecture and environs of Bayou Boeuf
Lee Cutrone, Photos by Haylei Smith,

Bed, Doorman Designs; painting, by Leah Morace of Alexandria. Vernacular architecture is a traditional form of building reflecting local environmental influences, using locally available building materials and is passed down from generation to generation — exactly what Lauren and Logan Lemoine had in mind when they built “a new old house” with a strong sense of place in Cheneyville. The…

Oysters 01
Features

Shell Game

An oyster reef restoration program provides storm protection, rebuilds marine habitats, generally improves the ecosystem and restores hope for future generations
Kevin Rabalais,

On LA Highway 46 in Violet, headed south to the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana headquarters, a student seated at the back of the bus poses a question: “Is restoration important?” It’s simple but not simplistic, a reminder that starting at the beginning often provides our best chance for meaningful conversation. And this conversation is urgent. Across the aisle, Belle…

Home 05
Home Design/Decor, Lifestyle

Charming Details

Good bones, thoughtful renovation and interior design that plays to those strengths are a winning combination for a 1930s Baton Rouge cottage
Lee Cutrone, Haylei Smith,

The master suite’s bed was custom made by Baton Rouge artisans. Touches of pink and sheers layered under the drapes and behind the bed make the room “wispy and romantic.” Architect of addition William Sonner Interior Design Jillian Freiberg Square footage 2,500 Outstanding features Eighteenth-century French hardware in master addition, antique salvaged glass windows, original oak floors, herringbone floors added…

Nature 02
Around The State, History

Raising Cane

A Lakeland sugarcane plantation and mill is steeped in family tradition and both sweet and harrowing history
Kevin Rabalais,

Olivia Stewart cuts cane outside of Oxbow Rum Distillery. Location Pointe Coupée Parish Parish seat New Roads   From Easter until sugarcane harvest, the 19th-century bell in front of the Alma General Store in Lakeland rings twice each day. The first bell, at 7 a.m., signals the start of the day for the 400 men and women who work at…

Fartherflung Rhubarb
Things To Do, Travel

Mountain Time

Asheville, North Carolina is a haven for lovers of the outdoors, food, craft beer, art and architecture
Jan Schroder,

Asheville, a small city in the Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina, is known for its quirky charm and beauty. With a thriving culinary and arts scene, a walkable downtown bursting with shops, art galleries and restaurants, and plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation, it attracts nearly 12 million visitors a year. You can also tour the largest private…

Art 04
Spotlights, Things To Do

Abstract Narrative

The Helis Foundation John Scott Center in New Orleans celebrates life's work of the acclaimed artist
John R. Kemp,

“Lessons” by John Scott’s son Ayo Scott, located at the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities building in New Orleans Commemorative statues are everywhere in Louisiana. We have them for soldiers, explorers, musicians, sports figures, politicians and saintly people. Now, New Orleans has a new monument that celebrates the work of the nationally acclaimed New Orleans artist John Scott whose lifetime…

Lamade 04
Cocktails, Food+Drink, Louisiana Made

Spirit Filled

Pointe Coupèe e native returns to lead a rebranded rum distillery in Baton Rouge
Jeffrey Roedel, Photos by Romero & Romero,

Hometown Lakeland, Louisiana Age 32 Occupation President/CEO, Oxbow Rum Distillery Web oxbowrumdistillery.com   Wheeling through the fields, the pickup bumps and bounds past walls of tall golden stalks. Windows rolled down, a small hand hanging out of the truck reaches up to grab at the streaks of leaves whooshing by. “I ended up with cuts and a bunch of sticker-like…

Texas 01
Features, Food+Drink, Things To Do, Travel

Big skies & wine

A Texas-sized vino tour
Becca Hensley,

Drinking and driving? That’s dangerous! But nobody says you can’t shuffle a few steps from the wine bar to your comfy bed using your own two feet after a few tipples. Romantic, beautiful to behold, and a way to commune with the landscape, vineyards and wineries offer a nature-intoned getaway with a culinary or gastronomic focus. Add in that being…

Mode Jf22ll
Editor's Picks, Home Design/Decor

MODel Home

A New Orleans couple’s fine-tuned midcentury modern house is a prime example of the genre
Lee Cutrone, Photos by Sarah Essex Bradley,

The Hayneses updated the already renovated kitchen with new appliances.At a Glance SQUARE FOOTAGE 2,080 ARCHITECT Original — Bill Calongne of Lawrence and Saunders, later renovation by previous owner — Cordula Roser Gray. INTERIOR DESIGN (OF RECENT RENOVATIONS) Betsey Hazard, House of Hazard Interiors. OUTSTANDING FEATURES Original walnut paneling, master suite with original built-in cabinetry, luxury finishes, abundance of windows,…

Mainstreet Cake
Around The State, Things To Do

Main Streets

The old Bob Seger song, “Mainstreet” springs to mind when discussing a time when folks headed downtown to shop, dine and converse with good friends on the main streets that served as the city’s heart. Louisiana remains blessed with charming towns sporting main streets, and today they’re as vibrant as ever and worthy of a visit. We’ve assembled a few favorites. So, as Seger once sang, find your feet down on Louisiana’s Main Streets.
Cheré Coen,

Hamilton House TOP Macarons from Cake featuring Wedding Cake, Praline, Birthday Cake, King Cake and S’mores flavors.Monroe/West Monroe West Monroe native Becky Thompson always loved baking, so it was only natural that she earned her degree in hospitality management at Ole Miss, then the L’Art de la Pâtisserie at the French Pastry School in Chicago. She worked for years teaching…

Nature 04
Editor's Picks, Mardi Gras

A World Inside Out

In Mermentou Cove a group preserves the Cajun tradition of Courir de Mardi Gras
Kevin Rabalais,

Mardi Gras kneel before the capitaine to perform their traditional song at each stop.At a Glance Location Acadia Parish Flora Grooved flax, small palafoxia, shining indigo-bush Fauna Sabine map turtle, southern crawfish frog, Teche painted crawfish Three masked men climb atop a barn and pound their fists against its rusted roof. Below, another steals a rope from one of several…

Bee Jf22ll

For the Good of the Hive

Murals in the River Parishes aim to create plastic pollution awareness
John R. Kemp,

Matt Willey painting beehive mural at Estes Hills Elementary School, Chapel Hill, North CarolinaSelect photos by John Dupre Have you seen those two gigantic bees painted on the side of a small building on the corner of Karlstein and River Road near Vacherie? RISE St. James, a faith-based advocacy group based in Louisiana’s River Parishes, is calling upon honeybees to…

Flung Whitepillars
Travel

Coastal Vibes

Chilling out in charming Mississippi beach towns is just as fun in winter
Cheré Coen,

A chill in the air doesn’t hamper the fun along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Even when temperatures drop too low for walks on the world’s longest man-made beach, there are indoor activities, including great dining and casinos. Coastal Carnival is in full gear after Twelfth Night on Jan. 5, followed by more than 20 parades rolling throughout the coastal cities….

Skincare Jf22ll
Lifestyle

Skin in the game

New Orleans-crafted self-care line inspires natural beauty
Jeffrey Roedel, Photos by Romero & Romero,

At a Glance HOMETOWN Mt. Vernon, Illinois AGE 38 OCCUPATION Skincare creator, founder, Oxalis Apothecary WEB Oxalisapothecary.com Through the wild woods around her home in rural southern Illinois, Erin Wexstten used to run as a child, and that adventurous spark is still in her step as she makes her way past the Mexican petunias that wilt every night and bloom…

Travel 03
Editor's Picks, Mardi Gras

Carnival on the Lake

Lake Charles puts its own unique spin on annual celebrations
Cheré Coen,

Like most South Louisiana cities, Lake Charles pulls out the stops for its annual Carnival festivities — more than 60 krewes and a host of related events. What makes this southwest city unique, however, is the annual gala that gives visitors and residents alike an insider’s view of Carnival without having to be a krewe member. Everyone is welcome to…