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Thursday, February 26, 2015
By Angie Manning
When the CVB team embarked upon the task of showcasing not just "what" there is to experience in Southwest Louisiana, but really what it "feels" like to experience Southwest Louisiana through video, music also bubbled to the surface of the conversation. This corner of the state is showered with gifts from natural beauty to nature's bounty, and while it thrives with tradition, culture and mouthwatering cuisine, there is a sense of home mixed in with exciting nightlife. How can you capture all of that in a video?
My executive director, Shelley Johnson, and I felt that music was a huge
part of the "My Southwest Louisiana Home" video project. How could we
just pick an existing song to complement something as personal and intimate as
capturing the magic of a place we love so much?
We needed something original. Music sets the tone for the visual, and
whenever thinking about who could write a song - like that - to evoke the
spirit of the area and people, Wendy Colonna
came to mind in an instant. Not only is Wendy from Southwest Louisiana, but she
is a supremely talented songwriter who also happens to be a storyteller in her
compositions.
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| Wendy Colonna and Angie Manning |
For the video aspect, working with Adam Boozer and his team at Stowaway was
completely seamless from concept to completion. Stowaway gets to the heart of
the story of a destination, the emotion, smells, feelings, spirit of the people
- those things that video cannot literally capture - need to somehow resonate
for inspiring travel.
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| Adam Boozer of Stowaway |
The CVB in Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana put together a one week shoot
based on Adam's trip to scout the area and learn about our unique culture, and
we were also able to partner with Parker Brand Creative. Thanks to many volunteers and
partners in tourism and local talent, we were able to piece together a fantastic
video to showcase the area.
Wendy, who currently resides in Austin, TX, is known for her signature
voice of grit-infused-honey, and her songs echo swampy-southern tales of loss,
mortality, joy, reclaimed innocence and celebration. Whenever filmmaker Adam Boozer of Stowaway,
Wendy and I talked for the first time about the project of "My Southwest
Louisiana Home," immediately, I could tell that this adventure was meant
to be - all being on the same page artistically.
From start to finish, glimmers of lyrics and themes came to mind like ingredients being put into a giant gumbo pot. At the end of the day, the song came together and was absolutely seasoned to perfection by Wendy's ability to make sense of all the ideas.
Wendy came home to Lake Charles to record with Matt Moss (bass guitar), Brandon Ledet (accordion), Joel Savoy (fiddle), Sam Broussard (slide guitar) and Doug Gay (drums) - all Louisiana musicians. The song was recorded and mixed by Matt Moss at EMF Productions, located in Lake Charles Music Plaza.
The CVB is proud to have its first commissioned song, "My Southwest Louisiana Home."
See the video: http://youtu.be/gXGLq9NAykI
Find out more from Wendy Colonna, the songwriter, in a two part interview by Austin Chronicle here.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
By Angie Kay Dilmore
Southwest Louisiana has no shortage of waterways –
shimmering lakes, meandering rivers, mysterious bayous, cypress swamps, and
salt grass marshes – and where there is water, there are boats. Sailboats,
motorboats, bass boats, fishing trawlers, and pirogues . . . but me? I love to kayak!
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| Angie Dilmore poses in front of the Calcasieu River Bridge at the Cayenne Kayak Challenge. |
Kayaking enables a paddler to go places other boats cannot
navigate. You can squeeze through narrow inlets and float across very shallow
water. The slower pace of kayaking allows you to observe more of the beautiful surroundings
of southwest Louisiana. The only sound a kayaker makes (unless he/she is
conversing with a friend) is the quiet swoosh of the paddle through the water; therefore
wildlife is not spooked as you approach. This provides plenty of opportunities
to see birds, alligators, turtles, and other animals in their natural habitats.
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| Angie Dilmore kayaks on Indian Bayou. |
In my home state of Pennsylvania, I never would have dreamed
of kayaking. In the northeast, kayaking is a completely different sport, fraught
with danger and a bit too much excitement for my cautious sensibilities. But after
moving to Lake Charles in 2007 and discovering all the (calm) water options, I
wanted to learn to paddle, though I didn't know how to get started.
Pelican Paddlers
Then I discovered
a fantastic group in town called the Pelican Paddlers. They welcomed me, taught
me about the different kinds of kayaks, showed me kayaking techniques and
rescue maneuvers, and brought me along on trips. They allowed me to borrow
boats until I determined which kayak was the best boat for me.
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| Sunset on Prien Lake after an evening paddle. By Angie Dilmore |
The Paddlers
meet every Wednesday evening during daylight savings time (March 8-November 1
in 2015) at Prien Lake Park at the kayak boat launch, 6 p.m. They also plan
one or two weekend trips a month, including an occasional night paddle.
In the fall, the Club has an event called The Cayenne Kayak Challenge near the Lake Charles North Shore Beach. Activities include a skills
relay race, a race around the perimeter of Lake Charles, burgers and hot dogs,
awards, and door prizes.
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| Boats lined up along the shore of Lake Charles. Photo by Angie Dilmore |
Kayak Rentals
If you are interested in renting a kayak, call Bayou Kayak Rentals at 337-802-6781 or 337-476-0398 or Lloyd’s Country Store at 337-540-3925.
Purchasing a Kayak
Several stores in the Lake Area sell kayaks. For
personalized knowledgeable advice and service, check out Ship to Shore on Lake
St. Other stores include Dick’s, Academy, and West Marine. There are so many
options to consider when buying a kayak. Do you want a sit-on-top or a
sit-inside? How do you want to use a kayak – will you paddle 10-15 miles for a
workout or peacefully fish in the middle of a lake? I advise anyone interested
in buying a kayak to do some research, talk to experts, and “test-drive”
several models before making a purchase. A kayak has to “fit” you and be
comfortable. Cost can be an issue, but remember, regarding kayaks, you truly
get what you pay for.
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| Angie Dilmore paddled the Calcasieu River near Sam Houston Jones State Park. |
Best Spots to Paddle
There is no end to the number of different places one can
kayak in southwest Louisiana. Some fortunate Louisianians who live near the
water can paddle from their own backyards! For others, popular paddling places
include the West Fork of the Calcasieu River from either Sam Houston Jones State Park or Holbrook Park; Indian Bayou (also near Sam Houston Jones
State Park); the marsh at the southern end of Nelson Road; Prien Lake Park; Bayou
d’Inde. For dolphin spotting, launch a kayak at the ship channel in Cameron
Parish near the ferry.
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| Angie Dilmore kayaked in the ship channel near the shrimp boats in Cameron. |
Packing List
Wherever you choose to paddle, bring plenty of water and
a snack, a cell phone for emergencies, a camera, and binoculars for watching
the wildlife. Take your time and bask in the beauty of southwest Louisiana. And
ALWAYS wear a PFD (personal flotation device).
For more information about the Pelican Paddlers, call me at
337-240-8380.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
I can smell the barbecue pork that’s already smoking on the
pit as we meet at the KC Hall, 503 E. Highway 90, in the town of Iowa,
Louisiana, around 9 a.m. to pay our $10 fee to ride in the parade.
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| Smoked meats like sausage and tasso are popular in Cajun Country. |
Everyone is
milling around in their Courir de Mardi Gras costumes made of rags and visiting
as final preparations are made with the decorations on the trailers.
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| Cory Cart and Lysa Allman-Baldwin enjoy the festivities atop bales of hay in the back of a trailer on the parade route! |
We are in the small town of Iowa, Louisiana for the Iowa Chicken Run on Mardi Gras Day. The parade rolls at 10 a.m.
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| The parade stops at a member of the community's home while Zydeco music is played and everyone dances. If the family approves the dancing skills, they donate ingredients for the gumbo. |
Right as the captain stops the parade at a particular home and blows his whistle, he tosses a chicken in the air and the children in the parade chase the chicken! There is a lot of whooping, hollering and dancing that takes place during the process! It’s quite an honor to catch the chicken.
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| Children chase the chickens in Iowa, La. |
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| Lee Peck with KPLC-TV interviews the child who caught the first chicken. |
It’s a family affair. Rodney Victorian, Berline and Kimmy Bellard welcome us with open arms. There’s no pomp and circumstance or sequined costumes. This is a true, Cajun Country Mardi Gras with laughter, festivity and music that gets your adrenaline pumping.
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| Berline Bellard encourages the cook stirring the gumbo pot. |
My favorite part about the Iowa Chicken Run is how it cuts through the lines of age, race and socioeconomics. There is no king or queen. The chicken run exemplifies true community spirit and living life to the fullest.
For more information on the Iowa Chicken Run, click here.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
By Elizabeth Eustis
King cake spinoffs have become a seasonal trend. Everything from king cake hamburger buns to boudin king cakes are being seen in Louisiana. There are even local businesses creating their own Mardi Gras masterpieces.
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| Photo by David Hill |
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| Botsky's Krewe de Patete Douce |
Pops and
Rockets released their king cake popsicle, Alive and King Cake (a play on
Simple Minds’ hit “Alive and Kicking”). This fresh treat has all the flare of
Mardi Gras with bold cinnamon spice and cool cream cheese. Check it out at the Cash and Carry Farmer's Market!
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| Pops and Rockets' Alive and King Cake Popsicle |
I have also heard people talk about a king cake cheesecake
from SweetChic
Cupcakes. To me, this version is all the wonderfulness of the rich, creamy
filling of at king cake but with less bread which means I CAN EAT MORE! Who can
argue with that?!
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| SweetChic's King Cake Cheesecake |
To complete my Mardi Gras spinoff feast, I found Community
Coffee’s Mardi Gras King Cake flavored coffee, Blue
Bell’s Mardi Gras King Cake ice cream, and Abita Mardi Gras Bock.
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But let’s not forget about the traditional king cake. These
cakes originated in Europe as part of Epiphany celebrations held 12 nights
after Christmas. Louisiana Creoles began serving the cakes of bioche dough
(yeast, butter and eggs) at Twelfth Night balls. The person receiving the lucky
slice, which concealed an object (usually a ring or bean), was crowned king or
queen of the ball. Throughout the years, the king cake tradition has endured.
The cakes are available in every bakery and supermarket during Carnival season
and are as varied as the customers who choose them.
King cakes are special pastries unique to our culture and
will always hold a dear place in my heart. For a chance to win a traditional
king cake in time for Fat Tuesday, visit www.visitlakecharles/kingcake
to enter the King Cake Sweepstakes!
Monday, February 2, 2015
The Royal Gala in Lake Charles,
LA
by Glenn Kaufmann
by Glenn Kaufmann
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| Photo by www.monsoursphotography.net |
From elaborate headpieces, to flowing gowns, crowns, and
scepters, Mardi Gras krewes outfit their royal courts in the best and brightest
royal regalia. And, if the Royal Gala is any indication, nobody takes Mardi
Gras costumes more seriously than the people of Lake Charles, in southwestern
Louisiana, where more than 60 krewes (parading
organizations) show off their Mardi Gras finery on the night
before Mardi Gras day.
Each year, the Mardi Gras krewes of Southwest Louisiana
put on a colossal costume pageant that is open to the public, providing many
with their only opportunity to see these grand creations. Often, the
royal regalia (costumes) are only worn at private (krewe and guest only) balls
and functions. As a result, the Royal Gala (the exception to the rule) is not
so much a competition as it is a community celebration, and a chance to show
off the year’s designs and handiwork.
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| Photo by www.monsoursphotography.net |
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| Photo by www.monsoursphotography.net |
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| Photo by www.monsoursphotography.net |
Up Close and Personal at the Lake Charles
Mardi Gras Museum
Mardi Gras Museum
While the Royal Gala is an ideal introduction to the
costumes, headpieces, and royal accoutrements of the Mardi Gras krewes,
spectators at the event can only get so close to the finery. But, just a few
miles away at the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu,
anyone with a few dollars to spare can see hundreds of costumes from years gone
by, and learn a great deal about the design process in the bargain.
Glenn Kaufmann is the
editor and publisher of All About
Mardi Gras, a website that covers Mardi Gras across the united States.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
By Brice Perrin
Southwest Louisiana has some of the most beautiful landscapes
and drives in the world. The beginning
of my adventure went a LONG way to drive (pun completely intended) that point
home. Traveling about 3 miles south and
east of the Lake
Charles Regional Airport, allowed me to get some of the best photographs
I've ever taken.
Farm land, marsh land, groves of beautiful trees that have
withstood some of the most intense weather on the planet. They're all there within a few miles of the
city. Standing on a dirt road, in my
Southwest Louisiana...watching the sky begin to glow from the coming sunrise,
the light fog hugging the ground, the sounds of native birds and wildlife
beginning to call out as they start their daily activities...it was peaceful,
soothing, meditative, and awe-inspiring all at the same time. And it's in my back yard!
There are, I’m sure, many places to see scenes like
this...but there's something about a Southwest Louisiana sunrise that is
mystic, musical, life-affirming, and spicy...just like our culture and food! And THAT, my friends, is something you can't
get anywhere but here.
A few days ago I decided to set out on an adventure to
re-discover my home turf. I struggled
with where to start. Being a
photographer, I decided to start in the country and work my way in. Just a heads up...there's so much to see and
do, that there's NO WAY to get it all in one post.
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| By Brice Perrin |
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| By Brice Perrin |
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| By Brice Perrin |
They say, "It's not the destination, but the journey." Here in Southwest Louisiana...it's both. One way to discover it is on the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road,
which just so happens to have a free tour app.
Stay tuned...Part Deux coming soon. Friday, January 23, 2015
Lt.
Governor Jay Dardenne and the Louisiana
Office of Tourism have deemed 2015 the “Louisiana Culinary Celebration!”
With that in mind, how can I possibly diet? Plus, it’s almost Mardi Gras, so King
Cakes are in no short supply and my office is directly across the street
from Steamboat
Bill’s on the Lake. I can practically hear the boiled crawfish calling my
name every day after work.
Eating in Cajun Country means good food prepared by the
people who know what to do with the bounty that nature provides. My mom recently “borrowed” kumquats from her
neighbor’s tree to make a marmalade. My brother-in-law knows a thing or two
about preparing ducks and geese after the hunt.
With seafood, everyone has their preferred methods of
cooking. You won’t find a shortage of
fried foods in Southwest Louisiana restaurants!
Don’t get me started on boudin.
Or cracklins.
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| www.monsoursphotography.net |
One of my favorite gumbo stories was covered recently by Michelle
Winner on www.CulinaryTraveler.com
mentioning Chef Lyle Broussard from Jack
Daniel’s Bar & Grill®. He was telling Jay Ducote, Bite and Booze food blogger, how he
knows when the roux is ready – he recalls the flavor from when he was a small
child, standing on a stool with a big heaping spoon of “chocolate” on his mother’s
stove. Little did he know, the “chocolate”
was actually roux! He’ll never forget that surprising taste!
Check out The Culinary Trails
Taste-umentary YouTube video that celebrates the local food scene and
features local restaurants at www.visitlakecharles.org/seafood.
Other culinary videos can be seen on the Visit
Lake Charles YouTube channel.
Cajun food is simple. And it’s complex. It is a conversation
starter. Food in Southwest Louisiana is
filled with passion. Don’t take my word
for it- come and taste for yourself!
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Whether it’s
an anniversary, birthday, holiday, or simply because, if you’re planning a
romantic getaway weekend for your sweetheart, come celebrate in Lake Charles!
There’s plenty to do here, especially for two. Once you arrive, the magic of
southwest Louisiana will inspire you, but here are a few tips to get you
started.
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| Photo courtesy of Isle of Capri |
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| Pujo St. Cafe by www.monsoursphotography.net |
Fine Dining – Lake Charles chefs know how to
cook and serve great food! There are too many excellent restaurants to list
them all here, but a few of my favorites include La Truffe Sauvage at 815 Bayou Pines West, Restaurant Calla at 1400 Market St., Ember Grille and Wine Bar at L’Auberge, Harlequin Steaks and Seafood at 501 W. College St., and Mazan’s Mediterranean Foods, 217 W.
College St., and Vic and Anthony's at Golden Nugget Lake Charles. Bon appétit!
Wine Tasting – Several local establishments offer
wine tasting. Try Heist Wine Bar or Pujo Street Café, on Ryan St. The Wine Store on Nelson Rd. and Hocus Pokus on Country Club Rd. also offer wine tastings.
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| J&R Carriage |
Carriage Rides – What could be more romantic than a
ride in a mule-drawn carriage? J & R Carriage, located on Bord du Lac by the Lake Charles Civic Center, offers
lakefront tours along picturesque Shellbeach Dr. and through the historic
district of the city. Snuggle under a warm blanket, listen to the clip clop of
the mule’s hooves, and take in the sights of beautiful downtown Lake Charles.
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| Photo by www.lindseyjanies.com |
Music – Lake Charles boasts a thriving
music scene. Take your honey out dancing! In the warmer months, outdoor
concerts abound. The casinos often bring
in celebrity performers. L’Auberge
Casino Resort hosts the popular summer outdoor concert series, Party By the
Pool. The city of Lake Charles sponsors an outdoor concert series called
Downtown at Sundown and the Arts and Humanities Council produces Live at the Lakefront. Luna Bar and Grill hosts a Jazz Brunch on Sundays. Numerous bars and
clubs offer bands playing all genres of music. A few of the more popular nightclubs
include Luna Live, Jack After Dark at L’Auberge, and My Place. For a coffee house vibe, check the schedule at Stellar Beans Coffee House. Lake
Charles is also home to a world class Symphony.
Check their website for dates.
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| There are 26 miles of Gulf Coast beaches along the Creole Nature Trail. Photo by www.monsoursphotography.net |
If you’re
wooing on a tight budget, Lake Charles will still make a positive impression.
There are plenty of free or reasonably-priced excursions in southwest
Louisiana. Weather permitting, pack a picnic, stroll along Bord du Lac or through Prien Lake Park, and watch the sunset.
Take a hike at Sam Houston Jones State Park. They also have charming cabins for your overnight stay. Cruise down
the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road to bird watch and look for alligators. There are also several museums in southwest Louisiana that are
either free or have reasonable admission fees.
With matters
of the heart, it’s not so much where you are but who you are with that matter
most. But lovely Lake Charles can certainly help!
To read more of Angie's adventures, check out her blog, angiekaydilmore.blogspot.com.
Monday, January 12, 2015
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Boiled shrimp by www.monsoursphotography.net
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My three-year-old son, Banks, is a pretty picky eater! His favorite foods all involve loads of
sugar, but there is hope for him yet! Banks loves shrimp. He eats fried shrimp,
boiled shrimp (if I peel it for him), shrimp gumbo, but his favorite is shrimp
stew. So for this cold night, I’m making
shrimp stew for dinner!
From visiting Big Easy Foods in Lake Charles, I’ve learned
that Gulf shrimp are notorious for their robust flavor profile and better yet –
they are really healthy! Shrimp are a
good source of protein, omega-3, selenium and vitamin B12.
Big Easy Foods has a great selection of Louisiana shrimp in
the freezer section at your local Wal-Mart or grocery store, but if you are
visiting Southwest Louisiana, try cast netting along the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road to catch your own!
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| My brother, Blake Monsour, castnets for shrimp. Photo by www.monsoursphotography.net |
Find some of the most popular shrimping spots and a checklist of the things you’ll need, like a fishing license, here.
Click here for the best shrimp stew recipes I’ve come across from Louisiana Kitchen & Culture Magazine by
Karlos Knott. It’s what I’m making for dinner!
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| Shrimp Stew Photo by David Gallent for Louisiana Kitchen & Culture |
Watch this video on where our famous, Louisiana shrimp come
from and why they are the best!
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