BayouLife April 2017

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APRIL 2017

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20 / QUEEN OF THE TABLE The Unlikely Rise of Miranda Whitcomb Pontes from Louisiana Girl to Nashville Restaurant Titan 62 / STYLE PROFILE BayouLife Talks to Nashville Stylist Amber Lehman 86 / EXPLORING MUSIC CITY Experience Nashville Like a Local 98 / BAYOU ICON From Malaysia to Monroe, Eric Liew is Living the American Dream

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108 / MUSIC CITY MONEY MAN Bryan Bolton is a Banker to Some of the Biggest Stars in the Nashville 116 / EYE FOR DESIGN Carolyn Campbell is a Master of Interior Design and an Avid Oil Painter 124 / A WORLD AWAY FROM HOME Corey Cooper Talks About Her Travels and Life as an American in the Middle East 134 / BEHIND THE SCENES Maré Brennan Takes Us Inside Dallas Market 146 / SOUTHERN COMFORT The Nashville Home of Dr. and Mrs. Tyson Thomas

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160 / PAINT THE TOWN North Louisiana Boutiques Take Over Nashville Murals

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PRING IS FINALLY HERE,

and we couldn’t be more excited to crack the office door and get a nice breeze while cranking out The Travel Issue of BayouLife Magazine.

We’ve been a little busy this month – okay, a lot busy this month.

We are gearing up for our first of three Local Socials hosted by BayouLife Magazine. Our first event will be a floral arranging class by our friends at Fine Folks. Not only are Lindsey Lowe and Taylor Bennett extremely talented, they are a lot of fun. They’ll be walking participants step-by-step through a spring flower arrangement at the beautiful barn house home of Kelly Moore Clark. We’ll also be featuring the workshop in our June issue of BayouLife Magazine. All of the proceeds will benefit Shade Tree Missions.

For more information, visit our website at bayoulifemag.com.

We aren’t stopping there; we finally announced our big news! We are publishing the inaugural Bayou Buzz Awards. We’ve been asked for the last few years to do this and decided it was a great time. The “Buzzys,” as we like to call them, will only be awarded to locallyowned businesses in our area. A special section with the winners will be printed in our June issue. Look for voting to begin on April 17, 2017. You’ll be able to vote for your favorites by visiting our Facebook page or bayoulifemag.com for the link.

Our annual BayouLife Magazine family vacation kicked off in Nashville, Tennessee. While we might hashtag it as a vacation, it is anything but...we worked our tails off. Our first stop was the home of Dr. and Mrs. Tyson Thomas. Our good friend and former Monroyan, Carolyn Campbell recently worked on the Thomas’ home and met us there for a tour. Check out this feature on page 146. Carolyn also invited us to her home where we got to play with her precious pup, Holly, and also see her magnificent oil paintings. She is our BayouArtist on page 116.

We couldn’t have done Nashville without our über cool friend, Libby Gifford. She had our entire photo shoot planned before we got there. She located murals around town that would work for our boutique’s outfits, she even planned when and where we would change hair and makeup. And, our model Jaden Leach Hubbard made it incredibly easy. My minivan, aka The Champagne Stallion, served as changing room for a few shots and Jaden just hopped on board and knocked it out. We drove to murals across Nashville and Libby compiled some fun things to do in each of the neighborhoods that we visited. You can see the images and suggestions on pages 160-173.

I completely fell in love with Miranda Whitcomb Pontes; I think we all did. Before we went, I was a little nervous – after all, she is kind of food famous in Nashville.

But, this Ruston girl still shows her Louisiana roots with genuine hospitality.

And, I have to mention her right hand gal, Mayter. We enjoyed the tour of Miranda’s new restaurants, Geist and Lulu, and can’t wait to go back, when they’re officially opened. See her article on page 20.

My sweet friend Bryan Bolton introduced me to Amber Lehmen.

Originally from Spencer...which is near Haile...which is near Sterlington, Amber is now one of the most sought after stylists in Nashville. She met up with us at fashionABLE for her interview on page 62.

We also caught up with Bryan to see how he managed to become one of Music City’s leading music bankers. See his article on page 108.

We have these and so many more interesting articles this month. We truly hope you enjoy reading BayouLife Magazine. I also want to say a huge CONGRATULATIONS to our sales executive, Amanda Singley and her husband, Wes, on the birth of their son, Killian James Singley.

~

Cassie

BayouLife 1201 Royal Avenue Monroe, LA 71201 Phone 318.855.3185 Fax 318.855.4645

WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM PUBLISHER Cassie Livingston cassie@bayoulifemag.com EDITOR Maré Brennan mare@bayoulifemag.com ART DIRECTOR Melanie Moffett melanie@bayoulifemag.com

ADVERTISING MANAGER Toni Navarro toni@bayoulifemag.com ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE Ashley Hubenthal ashley@bayoulifemag.com ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE Amanda Singley amanda@bayoulifemag.com INTERN Cory Thaxton intern@bayoulifemag.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Nils Borquist Maré Brennan Dan Chason Kenny Covington Lou Davenport Michael DeVault Cindy Gist Foust Lori French Libby Gifford Paul Lipe

Erin Love Meredith McKinnie Mary Napoli Kay Rector Cathi French-Roberts Delia Simpson P. Allen Smith Beatrice A. Tatem Cory Thaxton Analeise Thomas

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Scarlett Garcia Martin G. Meyers ON THE COVER The Travel Issue Model Jaden Leach Hubbard in front of a mural in Nashville, Tennessee Photography by Martin G Meyers.

BayouLife Magazine is published and distributed by Redbird Publishing, LLC. Circulation: 13,000 copies monthly. Postal subscriptions ($20) can be ordered online at www.bayoulifemag. com. BayouLife Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited photographs, manuscripts or other materials. Reproduction of contents without express written permission is prohibited.

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What’s Your Vision of Beauty?

Haik Humble Eye Center Wants You to Imagine the Possibilities

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AIK HUMBLE EYE CENTER offers advanced cosmetic and medical aesthetic services to our practice offerings. Our services are provided in a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere utilizing the latest technology and highly qualified professionals to deliver great results.

Our goal is to help you achieve healthier and younger-looking skin. We’ve focused our advanced technology on treatments for improving skin’s health and appearance, as well as cosmetic procedures for the eyes and surrounding area. Whatever your vision of beauty, Haik Humble Eye Center makes it remarkably affordable.

PHOTOFACIALS

Most people seeking skin rejuvenation to restore a smoother, more youthful appearance or to correct certain skin issues will be ideal candidates for photofacials. Photofacial treatment uses intense pulsed light (IPL) to remove skin imperfections and stimulate collagen and elastic fiber production, thus creating healthier and smoother skin.

The gentle, non-ablative treatments use broad spectrum light to treat the face, chest, neck and hands—virtually anywhere that sun damage shows. The process is ideal for anyone with active lifestyles because the procedure requires no downtime and has a low risk of side effects.

Photofacials can improve the signs of sun damage, rosacea, and brown spots on the face, hands and body. It has also been used to reduce the appearance of mild acne scars, dark circles around the eyes and fine lines around the eyes and mouth. At Haik Humble Eye Center, we utilize the Lumenis M22 laser

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for IPL Photofacial treatments, which is the gold standard platform for cosmetic skin treatments.

PATIENT SATISFACTION

Photofacials have a very high measure of patient satisfaction. Patients are very pleased with treatment results, because the process treats the full face, neck, chest or hands, rather than addressing a single isolated area or imperfection. With a series of treatments, IPL technology can help restore a more youthful appearance with no downtime or a prolonged recovery necessary after other types of treatments

Several appealing qualities of IPL Photofacials which result in very high levels of patient satisfaction: • IPL treatments are quick, gentle and noninvasive. There is no interruption of routine activities.

• By helping to remove the age spots (suninduced freckles) and broken capillaries, the result is overall more even, luminous, younger looking skin.

• Patients can see dramatic results within a very short time.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Each pulse of the laser lasts less than one second and may produce a slight tingling feeling. In particularly sensitive areas, such as the upper lip, it may feel like a quick pinch.

After the treatment, a moisturizer is applied with sunscreen. If there is any mild swelling, a cold pack may be applied for five or ten minutes. Commonly, patients can reapply foundation or concealer immediately after treatment.

Each treatment session takes about 20 to 45 minutes to perform, depending on the size and location of the targeted area. Usually four to six treatment sessions are recommended to produce optimal results.

After the photofacial treatment, patients can return to work and other regular activities the same day. The skin may appear slightly flushed and capillaries may appear more visible, but these changes are often unnoticeable to others. It is important to protect the skin from sun exposure for the first few months after treatment to promote proper healing and long-term results.

EXCELLENT RESULTS

Most people will experience a disappearance or significant reduction in skin irregularities after a series of treatment sessions spaced several weeks apart, although results depend on the type and severity of the condition being treated. Sun spots and other forms of sun damage tend to darken after treatment and then shed from the skin after one to two weeks. People with rosacea often notice a decrease in redness and a return to a more normal skin tone within a week after treatment. Those with spider veins may experience a full or partial fading of affected vessels after 10 to 14 days.

Achieving smoother, more beautiful skin is now easier and more comfortable than ever before.

The professionals at Haik Humble Eye Center will develop a customized treatment plan in order to achieve the desired results for each patient’s individual condition. Call us today at (318) 325-2610 to schedule a FREE consultation.

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Fitzco Marine Group Serving the Waterfront of the U.S. Since 1979

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IKE FITZPATRICK, OWNER/FOUNDER OF FITZCO has spent all his life on and around the water. He started in business in 1979 at the age of 19. Having been instilled with values and principles from the beginning, he truly operates his business by the Golden Rule.

Fitzpatrick has a passion for educating folks on marine construction to help them get the best “bang for their buck.” Fitzco has recently partnered with Joe Terracina of River Marine Works on the Ouachita and Red Rivers, as well as local lakes, in northern Louisiana to provide a level of quality unlike any other in the area.

They offer unsurpassed customer service and quality for your marine construction needs.

Mike’s message is that floating docks shouldn’t be unkempt looking structures with vegetation growing out of the “exposed foam” flotation. They shouldn’t have poorly painted steel framework and columns. The problem is usually with the original design of the docks, most of which are not repairable, as the concrete decking has been poured on top of the foam flotation with a steel frame around it.

“At Fitzco, we do many things differently… for a reason,” says Fitzpatrick. “We believe that your dock should secure your boat, not the other way around. Over the years, we have developed equipment and processes specific to improving our finished product while increasing efficiency. This has led to unmatched ability and quality in the maritime construction industry in the areas of pile driving (we can even drill and install piles in bed rock), bulk heading, floating and fixed structures and underwater recovery of sunken vessels.”

“With us, it’s about designing it and building it correctly… once,” says Mike. “If it’s already been built and is not performing, we will redesign and rebuild it correctly… once. If you choose us for your next project on the water, whether it’s replacing pilings, installing a bulk head, building a new floating or fixed pier or an elaborate custom boat house, prepare to be impressed.”

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Their system features: • Encapsulated float modules that are replaceable should one become compromised (which will not allow vegetation to exist) • Galvanized steel frames with the floats attached thereto, so as to prevent any direct exposure of steel to the water • Precast, steel reinforced concrete deck panels which can be removed to access utilities or to replace in the event one becomes compromised.

• All galvanized steel components alleviate the need to paint anything, resulting in a truly “maintenance free” design. “ I’ve been designing and building floating dock structures, from small private docks to massive commercial marinas, as well as consulting for other marine contractors, for over 30 years,” states Fitzpatrick. “It’s simple,” he says, “Fitzco and River Marine Works want you to enjoy more time on the water!

Contact Fitzco Marine today by calling Mike Fitzpatrick (318584-7003) or Joe Terracina (318-665-0190 or 318-614-2406).

323 Moon Lake Road, Monroe, LA 71203 P.O. Box 466, Shell Knob, MO 65747 • 417-858-BOAT (2628) 212 Flat River Road, Bossier City, LA 71112 • 318-584-7003 Fitzco Marine Construction • AirHoist Boatlift Systems Century Maritime • MariTow U.S. “Serving the waterfront of the U.S. since 1979”

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Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic School Swinging into Spring

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PRING IS IN THE AIR, THE END OF SCHOOL IS RIGHT around the corner, and we are in full swing at Jesus the Good Shepherd with sports activities, STEM projects and the beginning of our 4th Annual Spring Travel Raffle. Spring is always a busy time of year at JGS. Jam packed with activities including Donuts with Dad, Travel Raffle, standardized testing, May Day, Field Day, Kindergarten and 6th grade graduations on top of all the sporting events and afterschool activities. Easter falls during April this year, marking the end of the Lenten season and the beginning of Holy Week, culminating with Easter Sunday. It’s a joyous and busy month. There’s no wonder by the time May arrives, everyone is beyond ready for summer break.

Our 4th Annual Spring Travel Raffle will kick off on the 18th of April, and ticket sales will continue through May 3rd. The 1st place winner will have their choice between an $8,000 travel package that includes a $6,000 travel voucher with Monroe Travel Company to be used toward the trip of their choice, plus $2,000 in spending money or an $8,000 cash option, which means the lucky winner will have $8,000 cash in their pockets. The 2nd place winner will take home $1,000 in cash, and the 3rd place winner will receive a $500 cash prize. Raffle tickets can be purchased from any JGS student or at our school office located at 900 Good Shepherd Lane. All proceeds from this fundraiser will directly benefit Jesus the Good Shepherd School by supplementing operating expenses and replacing the JGS gymnasium bleachers.

Proceeds from last year’s Travel Raffle were used to create a more secure school environment by installing additional security features around the school office and adding more security cameras between the church and the school campus. We also upgraded our school computer lab with twenty new computers. The safety and security of the students and teachers at JGS is one of our main priorities.

We are proud to be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/AdvancEd (S.A.C.S.), which is based on five stringent categories and deliberated on by a group of educational leaders and S.A.C.S. officials. We are excited to announce, we passed our reevaluation with S.A.C.S. for another 5 years of accreditation. In addition to maintaining high academic standards, we also offer a small teacher/student class ratio, wonderful enrichment programs, including art, daily religion, computer, music, library, organic gardening, Accelerated Reader program, STREM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering and Mathematics) projects, daily bus service north of Monroe, daily afterschool care from 3:30 p.m. to 5:45p.m., weekday

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summer camp from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and outstanding classroom technology with Smart Boards, Elmo projectors, Neo 2 learning laptops and iPads. We are also proud to acknowledge that 50 percent of our teachers have earned a Master’s degree, and all are certified in the state of Louisiana.

To complement our comprehensive academic curriculum, we also offer a wide variety of sports activities at JGS. Football (tackle 1 and tackle 2), baseball and softball are available to our 3rd-6th grade students. Basketball is available to 4th-6th grades, tennis to 2nd-6th grades, and cross-country running to K-6th grades. We believe that offering a diverse variety of sports activities gives our students the ability to find a sport they love. Our Mighty Miler Program is going strong with over 8,000 miles run collectively for the school year.

Mighty Milers, a program sponsored by the New York Road Runners, is designed to get students moving, prevent obesity and illness and help build self-esteem all while teaching realistic goal setting strategies.

Twice a week, between 80 and 100 students participate in the Mighty Miler Program at JGS. Currently, we have two runners with over 100 miles each for the year, Mitchell Spence and Brooke Pohlman. Mrs. Harvey’s class is in the school lead with 650 miles collectively. We wish to thank our teachers Kathy Terracina and Katherine High, as well as our parent helpers, Chad Beasinger, Abby Domino and Philip Medford, who show up early every Tuesday and Thursday morning to document student mileage, offer support and encouragement to our runners and help with student drop-off.

Open registration is still in progress at JGS, and we encourage you to come visit with us, view our campus, meet our teachers and principal and attend school Mass. Pre-Kindergarten 3 and 4 class registration is also ongoing, but classes are starting to fill up. Our Pre-Kindergarten teachers have a combined 36 years teaching experience in early childhood education and would love to have you visit their classroom to witness their love of teaching. If you are interested in knowing more about Jesus the Good Shepherd School, tours are offered every Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. or by appointment with our principal, Mrs. Lisa Patrick. You may also visit us on Facebook or at our newly updated school website, www.jesusgoodshepherd.org, for information regarding registration, tuition rates, academics and sports or call our school office at 318-3258569. Come see what being a JGS Ram is all about!

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Joseph Barron, MD

John Cooksey, MD

Jason Read, MD

P&S Surgical Hospital

Northeast Louisiana’s Only Facility to Offer ORA Technology

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ILLY HADDAD WORE EYEGLASSES FOR 50 YEARS. IN December 2016, Haddad stopped reaching for his lenses after undergoing ORA (Optiwave Refractive Analysis) surgery at P&S Surgical Hospital, northeast Louisiana’s only facility to offer the new technology.

“I wanted the best and newest technology on the market, so I chose the ORA technology, I knew it would improve my vision, and it would correct my astigmatism, which I have had since the third grade,” Haddad said. “My doctor told me he felt confident he could correct my vision, where I would not have to wear glasses. After the surgery, my vision was so clear and so sharp; I was very surprised.”

Northeast Louisiana boasts a history of eye innovation, said Dr. John Cooksey, who has been practicing in Monroe for 45 years. During the 1950s in Monroe, Dr. Clifton Flinn completed one of the nation’s first lens implants on a patient from Bastrop.

“We have been performing lens implants since Dr. Flinn’s revolutionary work more than 60 years ago. Our technology has progressed rapidly through innovation,” Cooksey said.

People spend copious amounts of time in the sun, and as they get older, their eyes become hazy, and their vision deteriorates,” Cooksey explained. “During cataract surgery, an ophthalmologist removes the patient’s cloudy lens and replaces it with an artificial lens, restoring one’s vision. ORA has refined that procedure.

“One of the latest innovations is the ORA technology, which allows us to fit the patient — based on the individual’s unique eye — with an absolutely precise lens. Each person’s eyes vary, and now we have technology to measure what type of lens we need to implant. Previously, we could only measure certain aspects of the cornea, but the ORA technology measures it all, which gives us a more precise measurement of the eye. This technology gives us the best vision a person can possibly get,” Cooksey said.

Opthalmologists Joseph Barron, MD, John Cooksey, MD, and W. Jason Read, MD, are the region’s only certified physicians to perform the ORA technology.

The ORA machinery provides real-time measurements of the eye during cataract surgery and guides the surgeon to determine the most accurate lens power. The system works by directing a beam of lowintensity laser light into the eye. The laser light reflects off the patient’s retina, while sensors in the instrument analyze the reflected wave of light exiting the eye. This real-time analysis measures the eye’s unique optical characteristics, and gives the surgeon an accurate measurement

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of the eye’s focusing capabilities.

This real-time data collected during cataract surgery is invaluable, said Dr. Read, who has been practicing in Monroe since 2005.

“Prior to ORA, we would measure the patient’s eye in the clinic and select a lens implant based on calculations and formulas. We still perform the same pre-operative measurements, but now we have the benefit of instant feedback during surgery. This technology allows the surgeon to modify our clinical measurements using real-time data in the operating room. It also helps me position the lens implants that are used to correct astigmatism,” Read said. “When I leave the OR, I am much more confident in my lens implant selection and placement because of ORA. I’m excited about this innovation, because it provides better postoperative outcomes.”

Haddad, of Monroe, was impressed.

“After surgery on the fifth, I was back at work on the sixth, with no complications. I could see so clearly the next day. I did not realize how much my vision had worsened. I am an outdoorsman, and I love to duck hunt. I was able to see ducks that I could not have seen before the surgery.”

Haddad described his P&S experience as “excellent.”

“I guess everyone is a little nervous, and I was, too. But the caring attitude relaxed me quite a bit, because I knew I was in great hands …

After surgery and during recovery, I was greeted by a caring and helpful staff. I am the Ouachita Parish Market Leader for Origin Bank, and we strive for the best customer experience we can deliver, so I noticed a lot of details: check-in, service delivery, patient care and cleanliness.”

Dr. Barron has been practicing in Monroe for more than 30 years and appreciates the hospital’s progress.

“P&S is very responsive to what physicians need. We are the area’s first to get this new technology, along with many other technologies, such as the Mako robot, which is used in knee and hip surgeries, and the DaVinci robot. P&S understands what kind of cutting-edge technology physicians need to best serve our community. We are very fortunate to be a part of that.”

The ORA system means better results for the patient, which is the ultimate purpose, Barron said.

“Our goal is better patient outcomes. We’re trying to do all that we can to be more accurate, precise and predictable in our results. This new technology increases the chances that our patients will get the good outcomes we want for them.”

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Washington Wine & Spirits Rosé: It May Be Your New Favorite Wine!

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ON’T LET THE PINK FOOL YOU! ROSÉS COME IN ALL shapes and sizes, they’re perfect for the Louisiana weather and cuisine, and they can easily be budget-friendly without sacrificing quality. As Spring approaches and crawfish season is in full swing, it’s the opportune moment to open up a refreshing bottle of rosé!

So, what exactly is rosé? Rosé is made from a variety of red grape varietals, and you can find them in both a still and sparkling style. There are many varietals used to make rosés which include Pinot Noir, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Sangiovese, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan and Mouvedre. They typically display berry flavors such as strawberry, raspberry and cranberry or stone fruits like peach, apricot, plum and melon, as well as other notes like rose, orange peel and pink peppercorn.

The color of wine comes from the length of time the grape skins stay in the wine during the fermentation process. For rosé wines, the skins are removed sooner in the process compared to red wines, giving them their trademark pink color. Rosés can range from a very pale pinkish white to a deep and saturated pink, almost purple color.

Rosés can come from almost every wine making region in the world, but the more notable places include France, Italy, Spain and the US. Rosés make for great “porch wines,” the kind of wine that’s light and enjoyable and makes you go back for a second or third glass. Below is a list of five amazing rosés featuring a variety of styles, locations and prices that can all be found at Washington Wine & Spirits.

Eberle Rosé Syrah 2015, Paso Robles, California

This vintage is the first produced by new winemaker, Chris Eberle.

The nose on this wine is all about the candied fruit with a touch of pepper. As you take your first sip, you find the wine has a nice airy feel with blackberry, blueberry and bright red fruit at the front of the palate. Try out this wine with an Easter ham for a spectacular pairing.

Goats do Roam Rosé 2015, South Africa

This beautiful rosé is filled with strawberry and cream notes with a flair of red berries. This South African wine demonstrates that an amazing rosé can come from just about anywhere. Try this wine out 18 APRIL 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

with goat cheese, grilled chicken or fish for a fun and light pairing.

Kim Crawford Rosé 2015, Hawke’s Bay,

This rosé from New Zealand is one of our top selling wines! The beautiful pink color presents a great first impression, and the almost tart watermelon and strawberry notes round out the wine for an exceptional overall value. Enjoy this wine as a pre-dinner starter or pair it with a refreshing salad.

Raventos i Blanc de Nit Rosé 2014, Cava, Spain

Cava is known for making great rosés, and this wine is a perfect example of the region’s expertise. A pleasant mix of bubbles and juicy red fruit are the stand-out characteristics of this wine. The sweetness level is there, but it isn’t overpowering- a great wine to enjoy by the pool.

Ruinart Brut Rosé NV, Champagne, France

Ruinart is the first established Champagne house in France. Their rosé is an outstanding wine that is worth every penny. This bubbly, elegant wine has notes of strawberry and raspberry mingling with spice notes that showcase the best France has to offer!

90+ points under $25

In this section, we would like to highlight a few items with excellent value that you can find at the shop. These wines have been awarded at least 90 points from wine critics and are also budgetfriendly.

Fabre Montmayou Malbec 2014- Grabbing an impressive 94 points from Tim Atkins, this Argentinean Malbec is everything you want from a Malbec. This wine is very balanced with notes of cherry, currant and baking spices. Bring a bottle to your next BBQ cookout.

Saintsbury Chardonnay 2013- This easy-going Chardonnay is fermented in both oak and stainless steel, resulting in notes of tropical fruit coupled with traditional milk and butterscotch. Rated 91 points from Wine Enthusiast, this full-bodied yet soft Carneros wine will satisfy both the Chardonnay lover and the novice breaking into white wine.

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Photography by Martin G Meyers

Article by Michael DeVault

OF THE TABLE

brief mention detailing upcoming happenings on the Nashville food scene called Miranda Whitcomb Pontes a serial restaurateur. But that description doesn’t quite paint an accurate picture. Instead, she is the Queen Victoria of the Nashville restaurant scene.

Over the last fifteen years, she’s opened eight popular and hip food and coffee destinations only to marry them off later to this old Nashville food family or that up-and-coming young turk. And, like Victoria and all her children, Pontes effortlessly commands a nod of respect when her name comes up in foodie circles. She is, after all, one of Nashville’s original foodie pioneers, even if she never opened a restaurant with the intent to sell it.

“They were married off as a result of something else — not because that was my motivation in doing it,” she says, seeming to embrace the Victoria comparison, if only briefly. ​She’s left a slew of restaurant creations, each with its own, signature, quirky twist. Rattling off the names of her restaurant children is a condensed history of the Nashville restaurant revolution. There’s Frothy Monkey, Burger Up, Josephine, LB’s Market, Prima. For native Nashvillians, each restaurant conjures a certain recollection of experience, as if the power of the name itself set the memory into stone. For her next creation, which she is carving one careful detail at a time out of an early 19th Century farrier’s stables in the posh Germantown, Pontes doesn’t have much say about the name. ​“It’s been called Geist since before the Civil War,” she says of the red brick outpost that has also served as the Geist family home, an office building and a warehouse. Though she insists she’s just a little over a month from opening Geist, it’s clear that repurposing a two-century-old building is hard work.

Fresh sawdust mingles with a fine layer of pale, sandy dirt on the century-old plank flooring, tracked up from the basement by a steady stream of carpenters, electricians and plumbers. In one corner, a pile of doors is partially obscured by a baroque mantel, its fluted column legs contorting under the weight of a hefty top. ​Late-afternoon traffic bustles by just outside of an arched window through which carriages had once entered.

Sunlight streams through the skylight, that long ago provided vital ventilation to save visitors’ lungs from choking coal smoke, and a dainty, crystal chandelier sways gently in a breeze. When she talks about the long history of the building and its winding path from stables to fine dining, there’s a hint that she’s talking about more than just a building. In fact, it quickly becomes clear that Geist is to be her magnum opus. And she shares kind of a similar story as her building. ​Pontes – pronounced “ponts” she gently corrects – grew up in the north Louisiana backwoods around Ruston, and when she graduated from Ruston High School and Centenary College, the first thing Pontes did was get as far away as she could. There was a lot of world to see and a lot of road to travel. ​She settled first in San Francisco and, eventually, in Boulder – both cities that were undergoing transformations of their own in the early 1990s. While she was there, Pontes never quite…settled. ​“I went job to job to job,” she says. She seemed content enough with a gypsy’s existence, until she decided it was time to begin settling down. She married and, shortly after, moved to Nashville. Life wasn’t finished dealing her a series of mind-blowing changes. “I had just gotten married, just moved, and I found out I was pregnant.” ​A year later, she was visiting home with a bouncing baby boy. Life’s first steps were there, and it was time to make some decisions. For Miranda, that meant a surprisingly honest revelation. ​“I knew I need to do something big, and I needed to figure it out,” she says. “I knew I could be a better mom, if I wasn’t a stay-at-home mom.” ​On the visit home in 2003, around her English-professor mother’s dinner table, that something big presented itself. An old friend had opened the Frothy Monkey, a hip coffee shop that was on the cutting edge of the coffee bar boom. The owner heard her story, heard her concerns and presented the solution: ​“He said, ‘Why don’t you open a Frothy in Nashville?’” she recalls. “All the wild hairs on my head popped up at the same time, and I said, ‘Okay!’” ​The next day, she bought a book on how to open a coffee shop. Shortly thereafter, she opened the first of many Frothy Monkey locations in Nashville’s funky 12 South neighborhood. Here, she situated her restaurants and it was here that she made her name. ​“There was something about how 12 South was back then,” she says, recalling a day before co-ops had thrown up seven-story condo complexes. “It reminded me of a neighborhood where I had lived in San Francisco.”

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AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE, Pontes’s new endeavor is taking shape in another trendy neighborhood with a lot of personality. She says the food (she and and her partner Doug Martin along with Chef Travis Sparks are still designing the dishes) will match the atmosphere. ​“Geist is like food at your friend’s house, the one who is the best cook and best host,” she says, adding that the styling of the restaurant will add to that “welcome to our home” atmosphere. ​Chef Sparks believes he knows the secret to what will make Geist the next “it” place to dine. ​“I don’t want to overthink dishes,” he says. “I just want simple, good ingredients to be the star.”

Originally from Connecticut, Sparks studied at the French Culinary Institute in New York. After stints at Aquavie, Daniel, and a half dozen other restaurants – each in a French brigade style kitchen – he moved to North Carolina with his wife and lived on her family’s horse farm, where they raised organic produce and had a catering company centered on seed-to-plate cuisine.

To make Geist work, Pontes has assembled more than a century’s worth of restaurant management and culinary talent, culled from the best Nashville has to offer.

And, in signature Pontes style, she’s not content with just opening Geist.

After all, why open one restaurant when two is twice the fun?

Next door to Geist, she’s set to open Lulu, a grab-and-go style eatery, catering to the busy lives of Germantown residents. If Geist is inviting guests into their home, Lulu says – no, screams – “Come here for everything you need, when you need it right at this moment.”

Long, tiled bars, sleek metal tones and a gleaming tile floor stand in stark contrast to the warm, earthy Geist. What Geist is to old-world, Lulu is to modern. She laughs when she thinks about how Lulu came to be.

She and her partner were well on the way to developing Geist when the option for a second space opened up. The previous tenants – they never actually took possession of the space – backed out, and the building owners were looking for ideas.

Even though Pontes was elbows-deep in Geist next door, she raised her hand. “I’d like a go at it,” she told them. Making two restaurants work at once is more than a one- or two-person job.

That’s where the top-shelf management team she’s assembled comes into play. In addition to Sparks, Pontes has retained Rachel DeJong, who will serve as Creative Culinary Director as well as pastry chef. And her pastries will feature quite heavily into the menu at Lulu.

Take for instance DeJong’s creation “just for Miranda” – a Green Tea Macha Muffin with orange and lemon zest. The muffin is a hearty, if somewhat surprising, take on a breakfast favorite.

After all, it comes out quite green.

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“Miranda is very fond of macha,” DeJong says. “So I definitely wanted to do something honoring that in a healthy breakfast muffin.”

She’s about to continue describing the creative process, when Pontes chimes in and interrupts.

“This is so good!” she exclaims through a mouthful of matcha muffin. The muffin isn’t the only sweet treat on the menu at Lulu.

There are also Chewy Ginger Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and a Double-chocolate Gluten Free Cookie. Cakes take centerstage, too.

One of their most delicious is the Vegan Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake, in which a simple chocolate frosting tops chocolate cake. Though smoothly iced, this beautiful creation features soothing concentric circles on top that recall ripples on a placid pond. And no Nashville dessert menu would be complete without an authentic Lemon Icebox Pie in a graham cracker crust.

“We are trying to fill every niche,” Rachel says. For Miranda, the overall gameplan is to continue pushing Nashville’s food boundaries while at the same time remaining approachable.

Ironically, the second restaurant will open first, she says – again with a bemused laugh.

“I started thinking about what Nashville is missing and might be ready to embrace,” Pontes says.

“Lulu is a combination of Venice, California and New York. A healthy place — fast casual, mini-food emporium. You can get your egg and bacon breakfast sandwich, composed grain bowl – drawing inspiration from L.A.’s Bestia featuring farrow, carrots, lemon, pickled sunchokes and more – draft beer and a burger with fries. We’ll even have softserve ice cream.”

The burgers will lean heavily on a strong lineage from Burger Up. They’ll feature locally sourced beef from Triple L Ranch – based in Franklin, TN – the same local source for beef that Pontes used for her burgers at Burger Up. In fact, Sparks notes, “Most of the things that go into this burger are made in house.”

The bun is locally made by Sharpier’s Bakery, and it’s topped with White Cheddar, arugula, an herbaceous Green Goddess style dressing, and house-made pickles. Options include bacon and a fried egg on top, among almost a dozen others.

The burger has been designed to fill that elusive, “every niche,” kind of like Lulu. Of the more modern of her two restaurant children, Pontes says the mission statement is simple: Yes to all.

Lulu is set to open in early April, 2017, with Geist on target for later in the early part of the summer. You can find both restaurants on the corner of 4th Avenue North and Jefferson Street in the heart of Germantown.

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Audibel the Hearing Center Travel Tips for the Hearing Impaired

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RAVEL IS AN IMPORTANT PART of our lives. Whether for business or vacation, traveling can be as stressful as it is enjoyable, and for more than 20 million people in the U.S. with hearing loss, travel can be especially difficult. Some of the common problems include: • Inability to hear or understand airline boarding and in-flight announcements • Difficulty making reservations • Inability to hear hotel room telephones, someone knocking on the door or warning signals, such as smoke alarms • Difficulty using public telephones, hotel phones, cell phones, etc.

• Inability to hear or understand scheduled events, such as planned activities, tours, museum lectures and live performances WHAT ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE? • Try to make all travel arrangements in advance. Once transportation arrangements have been made, request written confirmation to ensure that information is correct.

• If possible, meet with a travel agent to help confirm travel plans. Agents can contact airlines, hotels and attractions to make necessary reservations.

• Be sure to print copies of important information, such as confirmation numbers, reservations and maps. Keep copies of travel arrangements, including confirmation numbers, easily available.

• Arrive early. Tell the agent at the boarding gate that you are hearing-impaired and need to be notified in person when it’s time to board.

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• Check the display board repeatedly while waiting in the terminal to confirm your flight destination and departure time as there may be delays or the departure gate may change. Confirm the flight number and destination before boarding.

• Consider reserving aisle seats so you may easily communicate with the flight staff.

HOW SHOULD HEARING AIDS BE HANDLED WHEN TRAVELING? • If you wear a hearing aid, be sure to pack extra batteries and tubing. These may be difficult to obtain in some places.

• Strongly consider taking a dehumidifier for drying your hearing aids each night to prevent moisture problems, especially if your destination has a warm, humid climate.

• To prevent loss, avoid storing your hearing aid equipment in checked luggage. Keep an extra set of batteries in a separate piece of luggage to prevent total loss of hearing aid use.

WHAT OTHER DEVICES ARE HELPFUL? • Telephone amplifiers and induction couplers can be attached to public or hotel phones and can help increase the volume of the telephone.

• There are small portable visual alert systems available that flash light when the telephone rings or fire alarm sounds. These can be transported and easily installed in hotel rooms.

• Portable infrared systems can be used with hotel televisions and radios. These transmit sound via invisible infrared light to a listener’s receiver.

• P ortable wake-up alarms can be used to flash a light or vibrate a bed or pillow. A cellular phone can also work as a vibrating alarm.

WILL I NEED TO TAKE MY HEARING AIDS OUT FOR SECURITY SCREENING?

In most cases, hearing aids worn on the ears will not set off of the alarms during security screening at airports. Keeping the hearing aids on will allow you to communicate with the security officers during screening, if necessary. It is ok to ask a security officer if it would be advisable to take your hearing aids off; however, body worn hearing aids and personal listening devices may contain enough metal parts that they should be packed in your carry-on bag. The security scanner will not harm your hearing aids or other related devices.

There are many things that hearingimpaired people can do to help make their travels safe, comfortable and enjoyable. Don’t avoid travelling because of hearing loss.

Planning ahead and informing your fellow travelers, transportation hosts and hotel clerks that you are hearing-impaired are a few suggestions to help your trip run smoothly.

Lastly, obtain any necessary devices and enjoy yourself! If you need more information, contact Cherry Phillips at Audibel, an avid traveler herself, for the best tips and tricks for traveling with hearing loss and hearing aids!

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Think. Act. Move.

Cathi French Roberts and Lori French are intrigued with home, fashion, music, far flung travels and artisan moments.

Cathi and Lori have been involved in the international fashion and design industry for the past 25 years. A myriad of projects have given them vast opportunities to travel throughout North America and Europe.

Join them for a colloquium of inspiration and ideas for your life and home. Casual can be elegant, and fun rises to all occasions.

Cathi French Roberts & Lori French

“ Where are you going?”

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e prepared...because traveling is not always easy. There is a reason for Dorothy’s famous quote, “There’s no place like home.” Leaving the confines of home and hearth to embark on a short or long journey however, can be simple if you bring a little comfort with you.

A soft pillow encased in satin, adjustable eye mask to control the lighting in plane or auto and your music downloaded for peace of mind.

Plan ahead…include a least one museum or gallery, a locals’ favorite restaurant and a small walk or hike to refresh your spirits.

Find a great coffee shop or café for a home base as a launching off spot and a place to have a tea at the end of a long day.

Travel is an art, and we all collect Travel or “Tourist” Art. Traveling like a local is something our good friend, Rosemary Ewing has down to a science. Her first love is Paris, she k n o w s all the neighborhood haunts, but she has taught us that buying small artisan pieces wherever your journey leads is a great way to keep the memories of these trips alive. There is a special joy when your eye falls on a tiny abstract canvas that made it home from a flea market in a distant land. Nothing has to be precious or expensive in your collection. Trust your eye to guide you. Art can be more than a painting…. sepia toned photographs or a museum poster, a beautiful stone from a mountain climb, a collection of vintage postcards or a “devil’s claw” seed pod from the southwest can make the cut. Any one of these found objects will hold forth on its own, and the slightly embellished story surrounding a treasured art object can be shared over a coffee or cocktail.

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ry keeping a small travel journal. It does not have to be elaborate, and you certainly do not want the pressure of a long daily entry. Although, by jotting a little note at the beginning or end of the day will help you remember small details and remind you of things you will do on a return visit. Haven is a lovely local resource for journals and festive note papers.

Years ago when traveling by car, there were no fast food offerings along the way to anywhere. It was standard to pack an old fashion auto picnic for a romantic road trip or for a change of pace for the family. A beautiful woven basket (Traditions on Trenton’s are charming) stocked with drum sticks, almond cream cheese triangle sandwiches, deviled eggs, vegetable sticks, peanut butter and jelly rounds will delight everyone.

Again, take reminders of your home by packing colorful cotton floral and plaid napkins, your favorite horn handle spreader, and a few camp wear tin plates and cups.

Need a travel fix? Cannot get away? Resources short?

Head for the bookstore, go on line and buy the book with the beautiful pictures of your dream destination.

Do the research. Stay home by the last fire of spring, fix a cup of tea, read….make notes and dream.

ANOTHER IDEA to bring your journey home is by acquiring native fabrics or scarves from the local market or small village roadside stand. Cover a footstool, gently tie around a down-filled pillow or bolster, reupholster your wicker breakfast chair cushions, or frame that cherished piece of exquisite silk or rare piece of local stationery from the local antique shoppe.

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Diana Vreeland’s THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL chronicles the amazing life of this extraordinary woman’s travels during the years she shaped and dictated fashion and interiors by showcasing designers in Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and finally The Costume Institute.

We have learned to love the color RED as only she could pursue it. Through her work she has allowed us to live in other worlds and understand that life is malleable, just as beauty is.

Last Travel Note:

When you are ready…travel with “like

minded” companions. Too many cooks will definitely over season the soup.

Now, set your sights on it…..Near or Far. Make it happen.

Inside Out

A Glimpse at the Personality of the Extrovert and the Introvert

BY BEATRICE TATEM, PH.D., LPC-S, NCC, ACS

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EATRICE, “QUICK I NEED YOU TO help me to get psyched for tonight.

You’re a psychologist. You like to be around people; I don‘t meet people easily. I need energy.“ Recently, I was approached with the request of helping an associate get ready for a networking social. The event was described as an opportunity they needed to attend for professional reasons and yet an event they dreaded because of the expectation to mix and mingle. They exclaimed, “It is the end of the week, and I am ready to wind down. I need quiet time alone. I really don’t feel like being around a bunch of people. I experience such events as exhausting.” I confessed to the associate there are times when I too appreciate down time alone.

Where do you get your energy? How do you experience life? What makes you who you are? Do you prefer to spend time inside of yourself, in your inner world of ideas, thoughts and images or do you prefer to spend time in the outer world of people and images.

Are you an extrovert or an introvert?

Extroversion-introversion is a way of thinking about differences in personality. Traditionally, contrast is made between what is considered to be the assertive, self-expressive, generally dominant personality, and the withdrawing, reflective and more yielding personality. These types have distinct ways of interacting with the world, processing information, becoming re-energized and feeling motivated. An extrovert “is one whose mental images, thoughts and problems find ready expression in obvious behavior,“

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whereas an introvert “dwells largely in a realm of imagination.” Extroverts focus on their external environment, the people and activities around them. Known to be the “life of the party” extroverts gain energy, from other people, thrive under social stimulation and feel depleted of energy when they spend too much time alone. Extroverts flourish in active, fast-paced jobs, such as politics, teaching and sales, where quick decisions are common place. Introverts on the other hand tend to recharge by spending time alone. Unlike the extrovert, introverts lose energy from being around people, especially large crowds. Introverts enjoy spending time alone or in small groups of people, and like the “associate” referenced above, may become overwhelmed in new situations or in large groups of people. They prefer to focus on one task at a time and observe a situation before “jumping in.“ Frequently, introverts are mistaken to be shy, antisocial or reclusive. There is the on-going debate suggesting there is no such thing as a pure extrovert or introvert; in essence everyone spends some time extroverting and some time introverting.

Having insight about your personality can be key to happiness, success, productivity, well-being and having a sense of self in the world. Psychologist, entrepreneurs, managers, coaches, attorneys, teachers, mentors and parents alike have found personality traits influence the actions we take, decisions we make and interactions we experience. I was reminded of the frequency in which personality traits are considered

when a client, who is the mother of fraternal twin daughters, commented “after all these years my daughters are still as different inside as outside.“ She described one daughter as preferring the solitude of her apartment with minimal noise, reading a book while her other daughter enjoys outdoor concerts, loud music and large crowds. The client admitted when her daughters were growingup she often thought their differences were attempts to be seen as individuals and to get her attention. We discussed the strengths of both the extrovert and the introvert and how when paired together can be even stronger. It requires as the mother has learned, recognizing, understanding and appreciating the differences in personalities.

It has been said our personality is influenced by our environment, genetics, nervous system, diet, life events, intelligence, birth order, age or appearance. We are not locked into our personalities; we have the ability to change and grow them. Whether you identify with the characteristics of the introvert or the extrovert, embrace the power of your personality and let it shine through; After all, it takes all types to make the world go around.

For more information on counseling and outreach services contact Dr. Beatrice Tatem at Wellness Initiatives, LLC 1900 North 18 th Street, Suite 414, Monroe, La 71201, 318-410-1555 or at btatem.bt@gmail.com.

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Bayou Pages NIGHTSTANDS & COFFEE TABLES What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

By Haruki Murakami

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s the warmer months are approaching, it seems apt to endorse a text by an innovative author about a favorite pastime of thousands of Northeast Louisianians. Haruki Murakami is a Japanese writer, who has written novels such as A Wild Sheep Chase, Norwegian Wood, and The WindUp Bird Chronicle, books that often blend reality with dreamlike sequences and oddball characters. However, with the publication of What I Talk About When I Talk About Running in 2008, the prolific author focused on one of the great loves of his life: running long distances.

While Murakami is a globally treasured writer, one whose works have been translated in over 50 languages, his running memoir is perhaps his least read work. This is no indication of the quality of the work; instead, as a non-fiction, diary-like work, it is a tremendous departure from his more wellknown pieces. The book offers anecdotes and advice from Murakami concerning the value of running in his life. Such wisdom can and should be adopted by anyone willing to tackle the text, whether a seasoned runner or one who is considering lacing up and hitting the roads.

Completing over 20 marathons in his life thus far may lend credence to what Murakami writes. Leading into his valuable discoveries about the impact of running on his life, the author elaborates about why he chose to run initially and why he continues today. First, he wanted something that required no extensive equipment or specialty gear. He wanted to be able to simply put on quality shoes and take off, regardless 32 APRIL 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

R EV I EW B Y N I LS I. B ORQUI ST of where he happened to be in the world.

Second, he wanted a solitary activity. This is not because he is a grizzled loner; in actuality, he believed that running would be an activity wherein he could connect with both his mind and body, a difficult combination to achieve when running with one or more others.

Third, like his writing habits, he wanted something that he could do nearly every day to facilitate routine more into his life.

Last, he wanted a demanding activity that would require dedication, thereby enhancing his results. After undertaking running, and especially once he began to run longer and longer distances, Murakami believes that his preliminary goals were met; moreover, he writes that running and those first goals resulted in life-changing epiphanies about what the sport has meant to his life in and outside of writing.

The first value of running is commitment to a craft. Similar to his writing career, Murakami believes that running is a great skill that can be honed with time and effort. He writes that he had a difficult time when he first began running. He smoked approximately 60 cigarettes per day, ate sporadically, and did no physical activity. His first few times running were rough as he could not go far but still felt wrecked. Determined to stay undeterred from continuing, he devised a schedule and a plan in an attempt to grow as a runner, a plan that best fit his life but one that could also be easily adapted as he got better.

The second value was the worth of practice. Murakami does not believe that he did his best writing early in his career. He has worked at his skills for several decades,

recognizing that there is always room to grow. Certainly, too, this applies to running.

Without a willingness to run six days a week and record his distances and even times, Murakami states that he would not have a great awareness for making changes as needed. He tracks his time spent in order to know just how much practice he is putting in to running, so that he may use the numbers to continue to streamline his regimen. This is the only way to progress in his view.

Randomly running fluctuating distances will likely not result in the understanding of how his body best responds to the activity.

A final value is endurance. The author strongly feels that having endurance in his working and running lives delivers the best results. While talent and skill certainly and undeniably have their places in gaining the best outcomes, grit and determination are important, too. Murakami found a correlation between the two most important activities in his life, that of working hard every day.

While each run or day of writing may not surpass the last, as he and all of us would wish, consistently working at both provide the best opportunity for long-term success.

Readers should definitely give Murakami’s novels and short stories a try; they are interesting, often intricate, and display his gift for writing. Readers who run or are thinking of doing, so should pick up What I Talk About When I Talk About Running.

The text offers insight into a guy who is not a professional athlete, is highly relatable and desires the global population to understand the importance of running on his life and career, while also believing that it can do the same for them.

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EXPERT TIPS Health Beauty & We’ve asked for health and beauty tips from experts in our community. With swimsuit season right around the corner, our experts’ advice will help you get off the winter blah bandwagon and in tip-top shape just in time for summer.

WATER YOU WANT? Any healthy plan for weight loss should contain three components. First, drink plenty of water! Divide your body weight in half and that is about how many ounces of water your body needs daily. Second, fill half your plate with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. The other half of your plate should contain equal parts lean protein and heathy starches. Third, aim to consume 25 grams of fiber daily. Fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains are high in fiber, which help you feel fuller longer. These three tips are a great start to a healthy weight loss plan.

KATIE DEAN, RDN, LDN, CDE (REGISTERED DIETICIAN) AFFINITY HEALTH MANAGEMENT CENTER

SCALE DOWN VITAMIN C YOU AROUND The external and internal benefits of Vitamin C can’t be overstated. The skin-care industry is abuzz with news about the its value, making Vitamin C serum the top seller in anti-aging topical treatments. The benefits include: minimizing fine lines, toning, healing and enhancing the effectiveness of sunscreens. There are several do-it-in-your-kitchen ways to incorporate natural Vitamin C into your skin regimen. A great exfoliating scrub is made with grapefruit juice and fine sea salt.

Follow with a toner of lemon juice and water!

ANGIE O’PRY BLADES, FIESTA NUTRITION CENTER

Don’t step on a scale every day. It’s important to know where your starting point is when beginning a new exercise and diet plan, but stepping on the scale daily can hinder success. Fitness expert Jared Desadier says, “I tell my clients the best way to know if their routine is working is by the fit of their clothes and not by the number on the scale. When things get looser, you know all your blood, sweat and tears are paying off.” Also, variety is key to a successful program. Our bodies adapt to things much quicker than we realize.

“I like to change my clients’ workouts weekly. We may do the same exercises, but the order they’re done and the amount of weight used varies,” says Desadier.

JARED DESADIER, PERSONAL TRAINER MONROE ATHLETIC CLUB

ALL ABOUT THE APP-ITUDE Technology is starting to play a big role in the way personal trainers work with a client. Jeananne McGregor, personal trainer at the Monroe Athletic Club, uses a fitness app called Aaptive. This app allows you to experience the motivational guidance of a trainer straight to your earbuds. From beginner 5k training to high intensity elliptical workouts, Aaptiv delivers everything you and your trainer need for a successful workout plan. “I love for my clients to use Aaptiv – for those that have an Apple Watch, I’m able to track all of their fitness goals from my Apple Watch. I can see how long they worked out, what programs they participated in, and even how many calories they’ve burned. Plus, it’s extra motivation, when they can workout with an instructor on our days off” McGregor says.

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article by Kenny Covington because the smaller shad are a more abundant food source.

The two seasons that are the most complex are spring and winter. In both situations there are times when the fish prefer smaller lures over larger ones and vice versa. Springtime has pre-spawn, spawn and post spawn, and all three stages make lure choices and presentations too numerous to name. In winter, we’re just as likely to have 70 degree days as we are to have extremely cold weather. This spectrum of temperatures can lead to heavily feeding fish one week to winter dormant fish the next. From a fast moving crankbait one week to a small slowly crawled jig the next, when it comes to a specific lure size, even the seasons don’t know for sure.

FISHING O

With Kenny

The Right Size, and When nce while listening to professional fisherman Dion Hibdon talk about jig fishing, he said something that I found interesting. “I rarely use a jig/trailer combination that is bigger than what fits in the palm of my hand,” he said.

“Most of the time if you check a bass’ stomach contents when they are feeding on crawfish, you will find that rarely are the crawfish over three inches in length. That’s why my jigs are, 90% of the time, small and compact.” I also noticed he never said a word about the color of his lure.

The most common fishing question asked is, “What color were you using when you caught so and so……?” While this is important, it shouldn’t be the only question to consider. Choosing the right size lure can be just as important. Since most fishermen are oriented to visuals, lure color becomes the thing they consider most when contemplating success on the water. But what about the lure size? I have seen times where one size lure would out produce another size lure of the same color. But why? It opens up more questions as well as observations when choosing what size lures to use on a given day.

Here are some things to consider when choosing the size of your lure. Notice these are similar to the same things considered when selecting a particular color. Colors are usually chosen more by one’s confidence than for tactical purposes. That being said, remember, in bass fishing nothing is set in stone, these are simply guidelines to help take some of the guess work out of a day on the water.

What time of year is it?

Of all the scenarios, this is probably the most important. In winter time, larger baits tend to catch bigger bass, so I would probably choose bulkier lures that allow for a slow moving presentation. In the summer, lean towards larger soft plastics and moving lures, because the bass are recovering from the spawn and are usually quite hungry.

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What is the water clarity and weather conditions?

As a rule, in clear water use smaller lures, in darker or stained water go with bigger bulkier baits. That isn’t to say you won’t be successful on a clear water lake like Caney throwing a ¾ ounce spinnerbait or using a small ¼ ounce jig on the Ouachita River, when the water is muddy.

Cloudy or rainy weather on any clear body of water, tend to make the fish more aggressive, making them more apt to strike a larger profiled lure. On bright calm days, a larger lure doesn’t look very natural, and because it stands out unnaturally, often gets ignored.

Smaller profile lures are better choices, in this case.

In muddy water situations, big spinnerbaits, crankbaits and jigs are effective, because the fish can find them much easier. Once you pattern where the fish are then you can tweak your lure sizes to catch bigger fish.

What size fish does a particular lake produce?

Lakes with an abundance of big fish can be fished effectively with larger lures. Not to say big fish can’t be caught on smaller offerings because they can, but big bass become smarter and lazier as they become larger. Instead of choosing smaller offerings and eating several times a day, a big fish, by having patience and being picky, may eat only once a day to conserve their energy. They don’t get big without being smart.

What are the popular lures and colors for this particular lake?

If the tackle store owner tells you the hot lure of the week is a watermelon/red baby brush hog, don’t be afraid to throw the regular sized Brushhog in Watermelon/red instead. Or maybe you might throw a watermelon red Sweet Beaver or Senko. Experiment with lure sizes, before you start changing lure colors. You may catch fish other fishermen are overlooking, simply because they didn’t make a size adjustment. If you are told the only lure they would hit is a 200 Series Bandit, try a smaller 100 series or a larger 300 series version.

What are the characteristics of the lake itself?

If the lake doesn’t have an abundance of cover, smaller offerings tend to work best. Due to a lack of cover to help with the natural maturing process of the fry, most of the baitfish and other fish will not grow as large and the overall size of the fish will be smaller. If a lake has an overabundance of grass, trees, docks and other types of cover, the fish and the things they feed on, tend to grow larger, so using bigger lures is a good choice.

Lures are tools, and just as one type of screwdriver won’t fix every problem you encounter, the same can be said about fishing lures.

There are certain colors that are tried and true in our area, but don’t be afraid to experiment with lure sizes. It can make all the difference in the world.

Please be careful in the outdoors and on the water. Catch one for me, and I will see you next month!

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BUFF ORPINGTONS - photo by Mark Fonville

FOR THE LOVE OF EGGS ARTICLE BY P. ALLEN SMITH

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just love eggs any way I can get them, and the fresher, the better. It’s one of the great benefits of raising chickens at the farm. My fascination with chickens began as a kid. My grandparents on both sides of the family always had them, and I thought they were so cool. So I started raising some of my own. At night, I would go outside and, with the help of my brother, build little cages for them. When it was time for a poultry show, my mom would load the station wagon down with my birds and off we’d go!

Today at the farm, Poultryville houses over 60 breeds of heritage poultry. Even if you live in a neighborhood with a modest backyard, having a small flock is a worthwhile investment. Before you jump in, make sure to check municipal codes for rules on having chickens in your neighborhood.

By raising chickens, you’ll not only have a constant supply of eggs and meat, should you choose, but you’re also supporting the genetic diversity of these animals. This is critical to food security, since these heritage

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The original CORNISH, made famous by the Cornish/Rock cross, a heritage breed of meat chickens from England - photo by Mark Fonville

breeds are being replaced by modern varieties for the industrial agricultural system. A great way to get to know different breeds is to visit a poultry show or contact someone from the district where you live who is in the American Poultry Association (www.amerpoultryassn. com).

Some of my favorite heritage breeds for beginners are: Buff Orpingtons. A beautiful golden colored chicken, they have an easy-going disposition and are good producers of medium to large brown eggs. They are adaptable to free range and also do well with confinement.

Plymouth Rocks. Good producers of large brown eggs, they adapt well to confinement or free range. They are docile, friendly and easy to handle.

Brown Legorns. They are heat tolerant and enjoy free range but will adapt to confinement. They are heavy producers of medium to large white eggs.

SILVER LACED WYANDOTTES photo by Mark Fonville

Free-range hens tend to lay eggs that have a richer flavor and many more nutrients than most store-bought eggs, with twice the Omega 3s, vitamin E and four to six times as much vitamin D. I love having a constant supply of fresh eggs, and I’m sure you’ll get hooked, too.

And with all those fresh eggs, give one of these egg salad recipes a try.

Cobb Egg Salad 6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped 3 slices cooked bacon ¼ cup diced grape tomatoes ¼ cup baby arugula ¼ cup feather shredded cheddar cheese ¼ cup Buttermilk Blue® cheese crumbles ¼ cup roughly chopped olives 4 Tablespoons mayo ½ teaspoon Cavender’s (or other all-purpose Greek seasoning) Freshly cracked black pepper to taste In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, mix until completely incorporated. Serve on toast points, bread for sandwiches or on a bed of fresh greens.

photo by Jason Masters

Deviled Egg Salad 8 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped 3 Tablespoons mayo 2 Tablespoons yellow mustard 1 Tablespoon capers, chopped Dash of garlic powder Dash of celery salt Dash of smoked paprika Pinch of salt

P. Allen Smith is an author, television host, and conservationist. His show “Garden Home” airs on public television. Check your local listings for “Garden Style.” Smith uses his Arkansas home, Moss Mountain Farm, to promote the local food movement, organic gardening and the preservation of heritage poultry breeds. Tours of the farm may be booked at pallensmith.com/tours.

Chopped chives and fresh cracked black pepper for garnish.

In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix until thoroughly combined. Serve on toast points with chives and black pepper on top.

Avocado Egg Salad 1 medium avocado, pitted and diced 4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped 2 Tablespoons Greek yogurt 1 ½ teaspoons fresh lemon juice 1 Tablespoon chives, chopped 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped 1 Tablespoon fresh dill, chopped 1 stalk of celery, finely chopped (about 3 Tablespoons) Salt, garlic powder and black pepper to taste Combine all ingredients in a bowl until completely incorporated. Serve on toast points, bread for sandwiches or on a bed of fresh greens.

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ARE YOU IN? ARTICLE BY NILS BORQUIST

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s April moves in upon us with the heat of May, June, and July lurking in the shadows, many people are beginning to look ahead to swimsuit season. After a winter shut away feasting on the sweets that infiltrate their homes during Christmas, candies and cakes clinging to pantry shelves and glass bowls around the living room and kitchen, the long, critical stares into the mirror entice most into wanting to shed holiday gains.

However, when considering the options, usually involving joining a gym, a great many citizens instead turn away, not wishing to spend several dollars a month and numerous hours out of an already busy schedule to accommodate training time. Fortunately, there are alternatives to gym memberships that are not only healthy but also enjoyable and even family oriented.

First, gyms are not a version of torture.

They are places that provide a wonderful service for thousands of people. For those who do not wish to join, though, there are places around the Twin Cities that offer the opportunity to enhance one’s physical health. Instead of thinking of weights, people should con-

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sider parks with their abundant trails as well as local colleges and high schools, most with newly refurbished tracks, as the perfect arenas to achieve their desired fitness outcomes.

When considering parks, West Monroe’s Kiroli Park is a great place to start. Kiroli provides visitors with several winding trails that may be either walked or run. As squirrels scurry through the woods and birds flitter overhead, park goers can enjoy the hilly paths and bridges that meander around the perimeter of the park. As an added bonus, in the midst of Kiroli’s trails is a dog park wherein people may bring dogs of any size to run and play, and dogs are allowed to walk with their owners on the walking/running trails as well.

Staying in West Monroe, both Lazarre Park and Restoration Park supply visitors with scenic views of marshy wetlands and graying cypresses. What may not be provided in volume, neither park has extensive trails, the natural beauty of the environment and the vastness of the grounds means that those who go can spend hours trolling around ancient trees and the banks of a river or bayou watershed by themselves, with family or with pets. One nice feature of Lazarre

Park is the Frisbee golf. Sporting two 18-hole courses, the park gives citizens the chance to partake in an exciting and distinctive activity, thus giving them the outlet for a fun outdoor experience.

In Monroe, Black Bayou Wildlife Refuge and Forsythe Park should be coveted destinations for potential runners or walkers.

Black Bayou’s trails cover many miles and traverse terrain from underneath the towering canopies of multiple tree types to an extended walkway over the bayou. While it is always good practice to be aware of other visitors, the length of the courses at Black Bayou still give attendees the chance to cut loose or amble along at a comfortable pace.

Forsythe Park is the home of a number of areas where visitors may play soccer, golf or play with their dogs. Additionally, the park’s location in relation to the Ouachita River levee gives many the chance to cross over Riverside Drive and bike, run or walk the path that runs along the peak of the levee. When doing so, participants will pass a number of like-minded citizens while also being able to take in the beauty of the swirling river.

Most institutions of learning, including ULM and local high schools, have athletic facilities. Fortunately for local residents, access to the tracks is usually available. Those living in and around Monroe and West Monroe are invited and even encouraged to involve themselves in running or walking on the tracks in order to achieve their goals for optimum health. Taking the kids out to play on the football fields while mom and dad get some exercise is a great way to pass some hours on a weekend afternoon or weekday evening. Best of all, the entire family can breathe fresh air and escape the drudgery of electronic lifestyles while appreciating each other’s company.

Not everyone yearning for better physical fitness wants to take it to an extreme.

Many people simply wish to partake in activities that allow them to spend time with family, drink in the outdoors, and interact with neighbors while also feeling better about their overall health. Gyms certainly give members the chance to become healthier, but for those who want a different experience, loading the car with some wholesome snacks and hitting the trails or tracks can provide an outcome just as beneficial.

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DOWNTOWN GALLERY CRAWL Spring Fever=Art= Downtown Gallery Crawl

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s nature springs forth with color and variety this April, the Downtown Arts Alliance celebrates the everbrightening burst of local artistic talents displayed in ten downtown galleries this April 6, 5-9 p.m.

Accompanied by live music and good food and drink, the galleries will present residents and visitors the opportunity to enjoy the visual arts. On the first Thursday of evennumbered months, visual artists generously share their works with art-lovers of all ages during the Downtown Gallery Crawls. Totally free, the evening includes wonderful art of all kinds. The whole family, all ages and tastes, will enjoy catching this particular fever!

Original art will be for sale, too, just in time for spring home redecorating. Resident and guest artists will be on hand to talk with patrons about their art. And neighbors will simply enjoy visiting with neighbors during this bi-monthly occasion.

Spring Fever has hit UPSTAIRS and the Big Room galleries hard! Collaborating in this wide-ranging show, these two galleries on Art Alley will be featuring the women of the ART CLUB. Highlighting over a year’s worth of art assignments, “Art Club: Homework” will include a variety of work by Selina Akter, Leigh Buffington, Emily Caldwell, Jenny Ellerbe, Kay McDonald, Amy Ouchley and Anna Rowan.

Their pieces will include drawing, painting, sculpture, collage and photography—and it’s spectacular. There will be an artist talk at 7 p.m.

The Outside Gallery will be hosting Raluca Iancu, an Assistant Professor at Louisiana Tech University. Her installation “Sequence of Events” was completed in part while she was a Visiting Artist at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The first layer is printed in relief from a block cut with a router, combining 20th century technology with one of the earliest printmaking techniques, woodcut prints.

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5 that brings beautiful wallpaper to mind.

The artists at Sugar Gallery are always mixing things up, and this April’s show is no exception. Melanie Douthit will display new pieces from her “Sparkle Unleashed” series.

This eclectic mix of themes has a common element--the use of gold leafing in her mixed media pieces. Leah Reitzell’s newest acrylic series, “Awakening into Spring,” features luminous figure studies awash in a light, airy springtime palette saturated in bright light and color. Chris D. Cox transforms salvaged wood into lamps, tables and cigar box guitars, while Scott Stone offers unique decorative guitars and nature prints. Burg Ransom will have some brand-new nature photos, and Stacy Medaries will impress with her creative mixed media paintings. And you’ll love the music—Jackson Culp (from Sterlington High School) will be singing. Don’t miss this unique mix of artists at Sugar, where there’s always something sweet!

Other galleries on Art Alley are Arender Studio + Gallery (curated by Brad Arender) and the Downtown Gallery (formerly Sikes Gallery, curated by Ricky Sikes). The Palace Gallery (curated by Jarod Stokes) is opposite this group of galleries, on DeSiard Street, in the repurposed Palace Department Store site.

Then, down by the River on South Grand Street, the Crawler will find the Garrett House, which will present a delightful exhibit of artworks by Geneva Academy’s K-12th grade students. Their teacher is Bethany Wilkins.

This very special showcase promises to be a fun-filled spring evening filled with kids, art, music and food.

Moving to the west side of the Ouachita River, art lovers find Rumo’s Gallery, where curator Austin Bantel presents Jason Byron Nelson, a graphic artist who has recently

designed beautiful logos/can designs for the new Flying Tiger brewery. Crawlers will enjoy seeing not just the finished products but the steps in his creative process. Music, food and drink are also part of the evening at Rumo’s, which is owned by Russell and Morgan Moore.

Ouachita River Art Gallery (The River Gallery), also located on Trenton Street in West Monroe, is Louisiana’s oldest artists’ cooperative, featuring original artwork from up to 30 artists working in painting, photography, woodwork, pottery, sculpture and jewelry. During the April Gallery Crawl, the featured artist will be Anne R. Eberle, a well-known artist in Monroe, having taught many workshops in the area. This show is called “Under the Umbrella,” indicating people’s desire to come together. She has exhibited in many collections around the country, winning numerous awards in watercolor competitions.

The artists of the Downtown Arts Alliance, as well as their appreciative public, sincerely thank the always-generous DAA sponsors, especially Louisiana Pain Care, Bancorp South, Creed and Creed Law Firm, Fiesta Nutrition Center, Monroe-West Monroe Convention and Visitors Bureau, Masur Museum of Art, Northeast Louisiana Arts Council, Sir Speedy, The News-Star, KEDM Public Radio, DeltaStyle, Louisiana Division of the Arts, Rawls DeSigns, Cross Keys Bank, Lavalle Salomon Law Office, Warehouse #1 Restaurant, Antique Alley Merchant1 Association, Choice Brands and Marsala Beverage.

Sponsorships are still available. For information on levels of support and benefits, see the organization’s website at www. downtowngallerycrawl.com and Facebook page (search Downtown Gallery Crawl).

1) BURG RANSOM 2) SELINA AKTER 3) LEIGH BUFFINGTON 4) EMILY CALDWELL 5) LEIGH BUFFINGTON

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Creative Landscapes, LLC Owner Clint Sant’s Roots Run Deep in Horticulture BayouLife: How did you get started in the landscaping business?

Clint: I grew up working summers with my dad during the mid nineties in the landscaping and lawn maintenance business.

He taught me that hard work and quality service are the keys to being successful. Early on it was apparent that horticulture was my passion, and I made it my goal to become a professional landscape contractor and designer. The love of horticulture and people make this industry very rewarding for me.

BL: Tell me about your background.

Clint: I was raised in the Swartz community. I spent a lot of time with friends, riding four wheelers, fishing, playing in the woods and playing ball, but a lot of time was spent helping out my dad at work. I have always been interested in tree ID and plant health. After high school, I moved to Baton Rouge for college, where I studied horticulture and graduated from LSU with a Bachelor of Science. I basically studied plants, dirt, insects, turf grass…etc. Many excellent professors inspired me there. I later attended Auburn University, where I also studied Sciences and Horticulture and received a Master of Science Degree.

BL: What attracted you to the business?

Clint: People say little boys grow up and do what their dads do. That’s one thing that attracted me to this business. I can already see that in both of my boys, and they are only 3 and 2. Making plants grow and simply enjoying the ambience of the outdoors, especially the woods, has always been fun to me. There is a deep feeling of satisfaction that comes from making a customer happy after completing a nice job.

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BL: What inspires you?

Clint: The underdogs, the kind, and the humble people of this world inspire me. One great thing about being a landscape contactor/ designer is the opportunity to interact with people from many walks of life. I’m impressed with anyone who does not let their environment dictate who they are or become.

Surrounding myself with goal-oriented people helps me to keep up with the momentum of this industry.

BL: Why should one use your services?

Clint: We can accommodate a broad spectrum of services. We have a horticulture crew that is comprised of respectful, knowledgeable, employees with mixed skill sets. Our company offers many services including: mulching, trimming, fertilization, mosquito control, turf grass and ornamental pest control. The prime benefit of using our services is achieving a sustainable, aesthetically pleasing outdoor living area.

BL: What sets your business apart?

Clint: Let me start out by saying there are a lot of great landscaping companies in north Louisiana, many who are good friends of mine, and I have great respect for. I would say what sets us apart is the flexibility and willingness we have to transform a yard through a simple rejuvenation, while also having the ability to design and efficiently install someone’s dream landscape in a timely manner. We are very involved in our industry and community. We like to be proactive and participate in organizations like the Louisiana Irrigation Association, Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association, as well as the Louisiana Home Builder’s Association. We participate in various Green Industry Expos

as well as scientific annual meetings, like the American Society for Horticulture Science conferences held around the U.S. All of this participation equates in our company utilizing modern techniques, equipment and materials to give Creative Landscapes a competitive edge in high-end residential landscaping.

We are a family-owned small business, and I am personally on every job making sure plants are correctly installed. We offer a one year warranty on irrigation, lighting and landscaping. Our team has the experience and technical expertise to install a sustainable landscape.

BL: Why is it important to hire you as opposed to trying to do a DIY job?

Clint: Three words : Longevity of plants.

If you get the right foundation down (organic compost) on the front end of the project, it makes for a favorable situation later on. It is also great to know which plants will do well in our environment and how they respond to different micro-climates like sun exposure, wind, temperature, etc.

BL: What do you see for your future?

Clint: I think our company has a bright future. I really believe the company is only as strong as its employees, partners and suppliers. One of my goals is to maintain the quality of work by never getting too large. I would love to find a comfortable balance between God, family and work.

BL: Is there an achievement that you are most proud of?

Clint: Absolutely. I am most proud of my wife and two little boys. I would say they are my greatest accomplishments/work in progress! They are truly a gift from God, and I am very thankful for them.

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“Needleless” To Say – Life is Better without Allergies!

New Treatment Available in Our Area at Affinity ENT!

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OUISIANA IS KNOWN FOR MANY THINGS - GREAT food, nice people and unfortunately, allergens! The Bayou State is home to some of the most common allergens including a variety of trees, weeds, pollen, dust, animal dander and mold.

In the past, treatment for allergies was limited to nasal sprays, medications and allergy shots. With these conventional, and sometimes costly methods, patients often complain of little or sometimes no relief; side-effects not relating to allergies; and pain or swelling at an injection site. The pain of needle injections does not compare, however, to the suffering and discomfort that occurs if an allergy patient misses a weekly-scheduled doctor’s appointment.

Now there is a new treatment program that can help a patient’s immune system tolerate allergic triggers. SLIT, or Sub LingualImmuno Therapy, is an alternative way to treat allergies without needles, injections or weekly doctor visits! The therapy involves an allergist administering a small dose of an allergen under a patient’s tongue which is then swallowed. After the initial visit, the patient can then begin to take the drops at home and can increase the amounts of allergen at regular intervals– without having to make numerous doctor appointments. With re-exposure to the allergens, symptoms become milder or may not occur at all.

Some reported advantages of SLIT include: • NO injections and NO needles • F ewer regular doctor visits – can be administered in the comfort of the patient’s home!

• No waiting periods after the injections • A more natural way of exposing a person to the allergen • Lower copay than injections if not covered by insurance

Dr. Joel Norris, Otolaryngologist, explains that physicians at the Affinity Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Clinic are currently the only medical professionals in the area providing Sub LingualImmuno Therapy at this time. Dr. Norris says this process is not a “quick fix,” but for some patients, may ultimately eradicate allergic reactions to irritants in 2-5 years.

Even if a patient is not sure what triggers an allergic reaction, the medical professionals at the Affinity ENT Clinic can help by

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administering needleless skin tests. These tests are performed in the Affinity ENT clinic, and the results are available within minutes! In addition to allergy treatment and testing, other services available at the Affinity ENT Clinic include: • Ear Tube Surgery • Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy • Hearing Testing • Hearing Aids • Microscopic Ear Exam • Nasal and Sinus Surgeries (including balloon sinuplasty) • Nasal and Throat Scopes

The Affinity ENT Clinic’s weekly hours of operation are Monday – Friday, 8:00 - 5:00 p.m. To schedule an appointment, please call 318-812-1125.

Affinity ENT is a specialty clinic within Affinity Health Group (Affinity). Affinity providers and their staff serve 22 clinics in north Louisiana. Affinity employs a total of over 500 medical and administrative professionals. At Affinity Health Group, our mission is to proactively seek opportunities to improve the quality of healthcare while balancing the cost of that care. Affinity is committed to service, patient satisfaction, healthy solutions and overall wellness of patients. For more information about Affinity Health Group, visit www.myaffinityhealth.com or call 318-807-7875.

Affinity complies with applicable Federal and State civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex or any other legally protected characteristic. ATTENTION: If you have limited English proficiency, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1-866-860-7510 (TTY: 1-866-524-5144). ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-866-860-7510 (TTY: 1-866-5245144). ATTENTION: Si vous parlez français, des services d’aide linguistique vous sont proposés gratuitement. Appelez le 1-866-8607510 (ATS: 1-866-524-5144).

Monroe Symphony Orchestra Presents Tchaikovsky Spectacular on April 29 “Music in the soul can be heard in the universe.”

--Lao Tsu, est. 500 B.C.

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RANSCENDING TIME ITSELF, music has given man the opportunity to be heard, within and without. Paired in unison, melody and harmony can stir emotion in ways few other media are capable.

Music itself is the great unifier; not just for culture, but for all of humanity.

The Monroe Symphony Orchestra is excited to end the 2016-2017 concert season with a bang as they present “Tchaikovsky Spectacular” on Saturday, April 29, 7:00 p.m. at the Jack Howard theater. Come listen to the timeless music of Tchaikovsky from the late Romantic Period featuring well-loved pieces such as: -The Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture -Marche Slave -Piano Concerto No. 1 featuring soloist Gleb Ivanov

Since his New York debut, pianist Gleb Ivanov has been recognized as an important presence in the music world. The New York Times wrote: Gleb Ivanov “is a cut above the usual, a young super-virtuoso, with musical sensitivity and an appreciation of style to go with the thunder and lightning.” He has been thrilling audiences in recital and orchestra engagements.

A sought-after soloist, he has performed a wide range of repertoire with orchestras including the Symphony Orchestras of Missouri, Johnstown, West Michigan, Eastern Connecticut, South Bend, Westmoreland, Southwest Florida, Peoria, Knoxville, 50 APRIL 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

Dearborn, Las Cruces, Grand Rapids, Charlottesville, Omaha, Fort Smith, Southern Finger Lakes, Springfield and Napa Valley, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, and the Colorado Springs and Westchester Philharmonics.

In recognition of impressive career achievement, Ivanov was awarded the Michaels Award of Young Concert Artists, which brought his Lincoln Center recital debut at Alice Tully Hall and a rave review in The New York Times. His program of Russian repertoire included works by Prokofiev and the Rachmaninoff Cello Sonata with New York Philharmonic principal cellist Carter Brey (YCA Alumnus) as his guest.

At a young age in Russia, Ivanov was a protégé of Mstislav Rostropovich, appearing as soloist under the famous maestro with the Nizhny Novgorod Philharmonic. He also performed with the Moscow State Orchestra, with the Kremlin Orchestra, and at the Pushkin, Glinka, and Scriabin Museums in Moscow. Mr. Ivanov won First Prizes at the 1994 and 1996 International “Classical Legacy” Competition, and the prize for Best Performance of a Beethoven Sonata at the First Vladimir Horowitz Competition in Kiev.

Months after arriving in the United States, Mr. Ivanov won First Prize in the 2005 Young Concert Artists International Auditions. He received an award from the Jack Romann Special Artists Fund of YCA and made his New York debut in 2006 at Carnegie’s Zankel Hall and his Washington, DC debut at the Kennedy Center, to critical acclaim.

Come hear Gleb Ivanov as he returns to his Russian roots alongside the Monroe

Symphony Orchestra. Tchaikovsky’s music ranges from the happily energetic to the breathtakingly tragic. His beautiful melodies and creatively colorful orchestration captivate listeners and paint vivid worlds in their minds. Tchaikovsky’s music is very easy to listen to. The composer wanted to express himself by writing music that was clear and simple to understand when you first hear it, which is a large part of why his music has endured and remained popular for so long.

The Symphony continues to adhere to its commitment to providing live, symphonic music of high artistic quality for the education and enjoyment of the people in Northeast Louisiana and the region. Don’t miss this opportunity to listen to the hardworking musicians of the Monroe Symphony Orchestra as they delight their audience with the “Tchaikovsky Spectacular.”

The Monroe Symphony Orchestra.

Providing millennia of culture, right here at home. Come be a part of something bigger.

“Music is transformative, music is unifying, music is a labor of love,” Aleta Eley, President of the Monroe Symphony Orchestra Board of Governors stated. “Music is how we show love for our community. Come hear us.”

Saturday, April 29 7:00 pm Jack Howard Theater Tickets: $25 for adults, $5 for students

Tickets are available through our office (318-812-6761) or through our website at www.mymso.org. To learn more about the Monroe Symphony Orchestra, please visit our website or email info@mymso.org.

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Rain Beauty | Body Rami Gaubert-Verruchi Celebrates 10 Years

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CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER FOR RAMI Gaubert-Verruchi for a decade of beauty. For over 10 years, Rami has been a stylist at Rain. She joined our team in 2005.

Not only did she bring an incredible skill set, she brought fresh ideas on guest service and has played an integral part in Rain’s success from the very beginning. Reaching 10 years in the beauty industry is a huge accomplishment, as the industry average stylist doesn’t make it past two years behind the chair. As a Mentor Stylist now, Rami leads the way of helping our new team members become their best professional selves in the beauty industry. Her dedication to education and delivering the ultimate guest experience has led her to many accomplishments in the beauty industry. Participating in fashion shows, charitable events and continuing education has always been her passion to progress. She strives every day to push herself and continue to grow with each and every guest that sits in her chair. Thank you for your never ending dedication and sharing your incredible talent with us and your guests. Cheers to the next ten years.

We sat down with Rami to get her insight on the beauty industry and where she finds her inspiration and joy.

what that is...it’s a craft, and I always want to be learning.

What’s popular right now?

Long shags. ‘Lobs’ with both texture and strong perimeters and BANGS, BANGS, BANGS!

What are you currently watching?

Princess Diana and The Crown

What is your favorite part of the beauty industry culture?

The support, motivation and sense of family...The fast pace journey forever changing and always pushing me to grow.

What do you like to do when you’re not behind the chair?

Cook...turn my favorite tunes on and get lost in a great recipe and a glass of wine ;) What is one grooming tip that every guy should know?

Details...never forget to also groom the eyebrows, nose and ears.

Why is continuing education so important to you?

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What inspires you?

Positive energy...talking to people who are creative inspires new ideas for me.

What is your favorite product?

Oribe’s Royal Blowout! It is SIX products in 1 and makes styling incredibly easy! Heat and UV protection, repairs splits ends, adds shine and smoothness, speeds up dry time and can be used on dry frizzy hair to make it look like it was just ironed!

What do you think the future of haircolor looks like?

Whether you are ash or warm toned, very soft transitions of a mixture of colors to achieve seamlessly beautiful looks.

How do you push yourself to try new things?

I’m constantly doing things that push myself out of my comfort zone, whether that be taking a new technique class or booking an adventurous excursion on a vacation.

What are you currently listening to?

Banks, The Weeknd, Coldplay Which hues are you loving this season?

Deep brown reddish hues, sun-kissed blondes and rose-gold blondes What trends are you anticipating for the next season?

This summer is all about balayage, soft roots and color melting What are a few tips for caring for color-treated hair?

Using sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner and Oribe’s Masque for Beautiful Color is a MUST! It will keep your hair in its best condition between services and helps prolong your color.

THE TRAVEL ISSUE

Says locally-based designer Gregory Hudgins, “Travel is always tricky to convey through florals. I created two different “still lifes” using books. As a kid growing up in a very poor household, my only escape was books. I was able to travel across the world and as far as the universe through books.”

lotus blossom

For the “gold” arrangement, local designer Gregory Hudgins created a fantasy lotus using Farfugium japonicum (Leopard Plant) foliage and cut red roses as the flower. The plant materials are artfully arranged to mimic a real lotus blossom in a vintage Sheridan Taunton Silversmiths brass octagonal bowl. arrangement by Gregory Hudgins photograph by Martin G Meyers

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land of the rising sun

Gregory Hudgins is inspired by tales of the Far East and created this “red� arrangement using a period Chinese Cinnabar lidded dish as a starting point. Plant materials used included Leucojum aestivum, commonly known as Snowflake, white antique climbing roses and boxwood. arrangement by Gregory Hudgins photograph by Martin G Meyers

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The Rococo Lodge

Bancroft Lodge Gets Major Facelift From Larry Culp Construction Incorporated

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LEISURELY DRIVE DOWN Monroe’s scenic Horseshoe Lake Road leads you past a myriad of peaceful lakes, beautiful farmland and hardwood forests that edge the Ouachita River. Take a slow turn down Seals Place, meander to the end of the road that backs up to river levee and experience life at its most luxurious and relaxed.

Available for the first time, this legendary lodge on the Ouachita River, once the playground of Toby Bancroft, has been given an epic head-to-toe makeover by noted homebuilder Larry Culp, whose attention to detail is second to none. The home itself sits on 3.56 acres which adds to its air of seclusion and privacy. The grounds are professionally landscaped with an inviting in-ground pool and plenty of area for lounging and sunbathing. Both the master bedroom and the home’s dining room afford gorgeous backyard views.

A large carport is connected to the home with a slate walkway protected from the elements by a generous cover and leads to an outdoor veranda.

Once inside the striking contemporary home, which was originally built in 1990, Culp has spared no expense in bringing the lodge back to life with modern finishes, an entrancing color palette, and mahogany doors and windows. Throughout the first floor, drift wood porcelain tile creates a subtle unifying element. The double height Great Room features a vaulted 24

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foot ceiling with wooden beams, from which two gorgeous 18th c. Bartolomeo chandeliers from Restoration Hardware are suspended. A brick fireplace wall which extends the entire wall height creates a dramatic focal counterpoint to the crowdpleasing endless bar. The bar’s countertop is covered in Desert Silver Marble with a mini sink and ice maker within arm’s reach.

A built-in gun cabinet makes this home a must-see paradise for any Louisiana sportsman.

The home’s kitchen is a culinary masterpiece with a commercial 48” Kitchenmaid range, Whirlpool wine chiller and undercounter ice maker as well as two convenient sinks. Custom cabinetry is topped with white Carrara marble.

The backsplash behind the gas range is a Biaco Carrara Arabesque mosaic. Chefs will love the pull-out, tall spice rack which gives easy and organized access to cooking essentials. The central island houses an undermounted stainless prep sink and is illuminated by a Restoration Hardware 19th c. Rococo Iron and Smoke Crystal chandelier, inspired by Victorian era opulence. The kitchen also features an enormous walk-in pantry.

The breakfast room features large floor to ceiling windows which overlook the verdant landscape and pool area.

Whitewashed wood walls create a relaxed, yet elegant atmosphere which is

emboldened by a Rococo-inspired iron and crystal chandelier by Restoration Hardware.

The adjoining dining room also features another Restoration Hardware 19th c. Rococo Round Iron and Crystal chandelier that is reflected in a mirror within a wall of built-in cabinetry, perfect for storing serving pieces, china, crystal, silver and linens.

Culp has renovated all of the home’s full bathrooms to perfection with beautiful tile flooring and finishes to create a relaxing retreat. The master bedroom and en suite bathroom feature a marble mosaic shower and oversized jetted tub.

With four bedrooms luxuriously appointed with soft carpeting underfoot in a pleasing neutral and four full bathrooms, a growing family will have plenty of room to roam -- with no need to share!

Full baths throughout the home include oversized tubs as well as luxe backsplashes like a very modern silver leaf metallic backed glass subway tile.

A private study with a built-in desk would make a great home office and is ready for business.

Contact realtor Gena C. Hanna with DB Real Estate Inc. today to learn more about this exceptional property and schedule your private showing before it’s too late.

photos by Mike Healey Photo Video

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P R O F I L E

TO MANY WOMEN AND MORE THAN A FEW MEN, AMBER LEHMAN HAS THE DREAM JOB. SHE SPENDS HER DAYS SHOPPING AND HER EVENINGS DRESSING SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN THE BRIGHT, SWIRLING LIGHTS OF NASHVILLE. ARTICLE BY MICHAEL DEVAULT AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARTIN G MEYERS

AMBER LEHMAN STARTS MOST OF HER days browsing online in search of the perfect bangles to pair with that Nicole Miller top she found last week on sale in the Green Hills Mall. Growing up in the tiny village of Spencer, Louisiana, Amber never expected she’d end up running a fashion company and dressing country music stars.

In fact, Amber spent the first years of her life in Nashville preparing for a very different career.

“I came to Nashville to go to grad school at Vanderbilt, where I was studying Microbiology,” she says. In the strange way Nashville has of rerouting even the best laid plans, Amber found herself with a flexible schedule. “I would set up my experiments and then head out shopping, help photographer friends style shoots, get musicians ready for their gigs.”

She never considered that her hobby, the activities she was doing to fill the time between starting new experiments, could be a money maker, much less a career.

“I was doing it mostly for free at the time, just to have a creative outlet,” she says. “But people started offering to pay me.”

Very quickly, Amber’s hobby transitioned. Her first big break came in 2008, when she was asked to style the music video for “It’s Not My Time” for the band 3 Doors Down, who were set to film in Cincinnati. A few months later, she got a call from the director. He wanted her to come to Jamaica to style Kenny Chesney’s next video and that was that.

She took a sabbatical from Vanderbilt and embarked on a full-time career. After Chesney came names like Brett Eldredge, Dan + Shay, Lauren Alaina, Justin Moore, Thomas Rhett and Cole Swin-

dell. The list reads a little man-heavy, because it is.

“Somehow, I found a niche styling men,” she says. “In country music, there have just been more men on the country charts – more men to work with than females, and that’s how the imbalance happened.”

Along the way, she got really good at dressing men, where tailored lines, a good pair of boots and a pair of jeans that fit just so go just as far as all of the accessories, the hair, the makeup, the jewelry for women.

“Their personalities are a lot different, too,” she says, laughing. “Guys are a lot less opinionated and more trusting, whereas girls can be a little more opinionated than guys—and more dramatic as well.”

Drama aside, Amber enjoys working with all of her clients. And again in that strange, Nashville way, she’s also found an important way to make a contribution on a global scale, as an important part of the sustainable style company, fashionABLE, a brand of fine, handcrafted leather products and accessories made by women who have overcome tremendous obstacles.

The brainchild of Rachel and Barrett Ward, fashionABLE started when they witnessed firsthand the horrible choices open to young girls and women in Ethopia. At the same time, these women came from a culture capable of producing great beauty and skilled crafts. Amber lends her skills by consulting with the brand on style and direction. Today, the company has products in boutiques across the country, and through Amber’s stylist efforts, their profile continues to grow.

Shoes and boots are on deck for release later this year – just in time for awards season.

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WE MET UP WITH AMBER IN fashionABLE FOR THIS PHOTO SHOOT AND FELL IN LOVE WITH THESE GORGEOUS CROSSBODY SADDLEBAGS.

peaking of awards season, that’s just one of the many times of year Amber calls “busy” – there’s also music video season, concert kickoffs, television appearances and dozens of other special events that take place on a round-the-year schedule.

She shrugs off questions about “a day in the life of Amber,” quipping back, “Which version?”

As she sees it, there are five types of days for her stylist practice.

There are inspiration days, where she may spend the day with a client, director or producer looking at hundreds of images and items to establish the overall look of a project or outfit.

There are shopping days, when she visits boutiques around town where she’s developed relationships. She’ll find outfits, borrow a few, do some shopping online and then organize what she’s collected into looks to present.

Then fitting days are where rubber meets road for a stylist. The client comes in with their management team or their assistants and begins

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trying on the selections she’s picked out for their approval.

“We take pictures of everything and start ‘yes,’ ‘no’ and ‘maybe’ piles,” she says. And the no pile is almost always bigger than the yes and maybe piles. “Then we do another document of pictures and circulate it around for everyone to weigh in.”

While that document is making its rounds, Amber revisits the boutiques and web sites where she found the looks in the first place, making returns, looking for replacement items and shipping items back to online retailers.

“Once we’ve edited out the things we’re definitely not going to use, we send everything back,” she says. It’s a labor-intensive process, to say the least.

Another of her days is awards show day.

She’s backstage, sewing kit at hand, to make last-minute adjustments and to fix problems that arise – and there are always adjustments to make and problems to fix.

“We had a CMA Awards where we had everything that could possibly go wrong go wrong,” Amber says, recounting the story of an

hour in which a disaster averted began with a see-through dress.

“We realized very quickly that the client, well, she needed some unmentionables that we simply didn’t have,” she says. “That’s when we realized another artist’s tuxedo pants were unhemmed and one sleeve of his tux jacket was sewn completely backwards. It was unwearable.”

She and her assistants – she’s worked with her sister-in-law, Beth, and Carrie, who was actually Amber’s first paid gig as a stylist, back when Carrie was an aspiring singer-songwriter.

Between them, they solved the problems, fixed the tux, found a camisole, and got the clients camera-ready.

“Needless to say, no one was the wiser, and I had a big, fat glass of wine at the end of that day,” she says. “That’s the job.”

If this lifestyle sounds a little bit chaotic, it is. Amber and her crew live at the fringes of a hectic swirl of chaos, and from the entropy of that chaos they seize a little bit of order, give just a touch of peace of mind and help create the effortless beauty we fans recognize and love.

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Eddleman Dental Exceeding Expectations

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DDLEMAN DENTAL HAS BUILT its reputation of excellence in dentistry while treating our patients as family. Creating and maintaining healthy smiles in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere has always been and will always be a vital part of our practice. Our ultimate goal of optimum oral health and beautiful smiles is reached by offering our patients comprehensive cosmetic and general dental care with the latest technological advancements, a few of which are highlighted below. For Drs. Emily Cassis, Mary Kathryn Crigler and Lane Eddleman, staying ahead of the curve is one of the many ways we continue to exceed our patients’ expectations.

3D Dental Imaging (Cone beam computed tomography machine) – On its way to becoming the new standard of dental care, it’s a game changer when it comes to dental radiographic imaging. 3D dentistry provides our patients with top of the line dental care with imaging that makes the dental examination, diagnosis and care much faster and more effective.

This improvement in care means an extension of the life of your teeth and an improvement in the quality of your implants and crowns. 3D scans can catch problems that traditional 2D x-rays simply can’t by differentiating between many types of tissue. The possibilities for this technology are exciting and endless!

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to create custom, durable and beautiful ceramic restorations in just ONE office visit. Gone are the days of using impression material and wearing an uncomfortable temporary crown for 3 weeks. Instead, the CEREC system uses LED technology to capture a digital impression of your teeth, giving our dentists a 3D image of your mouth. From that, a custom-made ceramic inlay, onlay or crown can be made in the same visit.

Invisalign – You can have straight teeth without metal braces using a custom-made series of aligners created for you and only you. Like our CEREC crowns, the same LED scanning technology can be used to scan your teeth and avoid taking messy impressions.

The technologies mentioned above complement our state of the art facilities. We continue to offer our patients digital x-rays and intraoral photos, electronic charting and interactive treatment videos. The intraoral camera is an important dental tool we use in our practice to magnify an image of a tooth allowing for a more accurate diagnosis and better education for our patients.

Our interactive treatment videos allow us to fully show our patients each dental procedure performed.

Our doctors, hygienists and staff attend extensive training seminars across the country in order to provide our patients with the best dental care available today. In addition to our general dental procedures such as implants, dentures,

fillings, root canals and extractions, we offer ALL cosmetic dental services, including ZOOM! Power whitening, traditional and DURAthin veneers, bonding and porcelain crowns. We really enjoy building wonderful relationships with our PEDIATRIC patients as well. Our special formula topical anesthetic makes numbing procedures nearly painless! Our dental hygienists provide expert guidance in cavity prevention and good oral health.

Our reputation is built on caring for patients in a friendly manner, offering prompt service on a tight schedule, and delivering the best treatment options. We value your time! Since we DO NOT double book, each patient has our undivided attention and rarely waits for more than a moment. Our friendly staff will file your insurance claims electronically to expedite your reimbursement. We are open five days a week and in addition to Drs. Cassis, Crigler and Eddleman, we have four full time dental hygienists. Our office believes in comprehensive care for the entire family, so no matter how complex or simple your current needs, we will be happy to meet them. Our patients always come first!

We invite you to become a part of our comfortable, comprehensive and cuttingedge approach to overall oral health. Please take a virtual tour of our office on our website www.eddlemandental.com and call 318-322-2013 today to schedule your first appointment or consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Crying Eagle

Lake Charles Brewery Soars into North Louisiana

BY DELIA SIMPSON, CRAFT, SPECIALTY, AND IMPORT MANAGER, CHOICE BRANDS, INC.

THE STORY: AN IDEA IS HATCHED

As so many great things do, Crying Eagle Brewing started with a conversation at the family supper table. From that evening on, the Avery family and a few brave, beer-obsessed souls set out on a journey that would become much more than just another business or job; this one would be a passion project!

WHY CRYING EAGLE? AND WHY’S IT CRYING?

Crying Eagle is a rough translation of the Atakapa Indian word Quelqueshue, the name of a legendary chief with a unique battle cry.

Later, it was the name given to the mighty river that feeds the parish of the same name.

Today, it’s spelled Calcasieu (KAL-ka-shoo), and it’s home to Crying Eagle. So basically, Crying Eagle is named for a parish, named for a river, named for a chief, named for a battle cry. Ca-CAWWWW! THE FLOCK

They’ve spread their wings all over this great country to visit, taste and research America’s best breweries. Then, they flocked back to Lake Charles and built the brewery of their wildest dreams: 1,500 square feet of custom beer-brewing engineering, plus a beer garden.

The best part of this operation is the people. They come from all over the country, united by their love of really good beer. Like that old saying, birds of a feather flock to beer… or something like that.

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THE BEERS

Crying Eagle has three flagship beers The Chuck, Ready to Mingle, and Calcasieu Common - available locally on tap and in 6 pack cans. They chose cans, as have many other craft brewers, because it is better for the quality of the beer. Cans simply do not let in light. Light is the enemy of the organic compound that gives beer its flavor.

Canned beers are always best poured into the appropriate glassware. For more information on where to find Crying Eagle near you, visit cryingeagle.com.

The Chuck Style: Golden Ale, ABV: 5%, IBU: 16

Brewed with Louisiana rice and sugar cane, this is no run of the mill American Lager. This unique golden brew is a thirst quenching juggernaut of a session ale that has its bags packed for the beach, the duck blind, Grandma’s house or anywhere else Chuck may want to roam. The rice and sugar cane give it a smooth, slightly sweet finish that will leave you wanting more.

Ready to Mingle Style: Belgian Single, ABV: 4.6%, IBU: 18

Monks in Trappist Monasteries reserved singles as their daily beers, but there’s no need to take vows of poverty or celibacy to taste this Belgian-Style single. Get ready to mingle, because this light, aromatic beer is a crowd pleaser that’s ready to mix things up!

Calcasieu Common Style: California Common, ABV: 5.4%, IBU: 36

Calcasieu might not be easy to pronounce (kal-ka-shoo), but despite its name this beer is as unique as its namesake Louisiana parish in which it’s brewed. This amber colored lager is created by an unusual hybrid Lager/ Ale brewing process started during the Gold Rush. Toastycaramelfruityhopness is the uncommon word the guys at the brewery are using to describe this beer.

At Crying Eagle, they’re passionate about what they do, because they understand the power of the potions they’re perfecting— their power to bring people together and their ability to start a conversation between total strangers.

Be sure to like Choice Brands on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to keep up with local happenings and new product releases. In addition, you’ll find links to beer related articles, fun recipes and much more! As a bonus, we will be posting a trivia question each month for a chance to win cool, beer related prizes. This month’s question is: What is the name of the Atakapa Chief, after which the Crying Eagle Brewery (as well as the parish it is brewed in) is named? Go to our Facebook page, post your answer in the comments section (the trivia post will be pinned to the top) and you’ll be entered to win (must be at least 21 years of age)! Find us at facebook.com/choicebrands, twitter. com/choicebrandsinc, and instagram.com/ choicebrands. Good luck!

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COULD YOU BE A HOARDER?

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by Erin Sharplin Love | erinlove@panachebyerin.com

s a professional organizer, I find that most of my clients think I have never seen homes and offices more disorganized than theirs.

Some even go so far as to suggest that they might have hoarding tendencies. Let me clear this up right now! I don’t go into a home and see the mess. I go into a home to see its potential. Household clutter is extremely common, but what constitutes normal clutter and what constitutes hoarding? In my professional opinion, disorganization is a habit that can be changed ,whereas hoarding is an illness that can be treated.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. A person with hoarding disorder experiences distress at the thought of getting rid of the items. Excessive accumulation of items, regardless of actual value, occurs.”

Although this definition may resonate with you – I mean, who doesn’t have difficulty parting with some of their possessions?

- chances are that you are NOT an actual hoarder. Whew! I bet a lot of you are already breathing a sigh of relief. For those of you who are not, though, let’s take this a few steps further and really delve into the difference in disorganization and hoarding.

You could be a hoarder if – You hold onto an item even if it is unusable or broken. Most people will gladly part with a broken gadget, but a hoarder will make

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excuses as to why he needs to keep the item.

You could be a hoarder if – Nothing in your home has a permanent resting place. For example, there is no designated area for your toothbrush and toothpaste. Many times, a “clutteredoriented” person has a place for everything, but might have trouble returning the item to its permanent home. On the other hand, a hoarder does not have room for anything and cannot replace it even if he wanted to.

You could be a hoarder if – There are areas in your home that have not been used in months or years. A cluttered person will tend to make stacks of items to sort through at a later date, but a hoarder continues to make stacks and will never sort through them. A hoarder often covers tables, chairs and even beds with various stacks of stuff, therefore making those areas inoperable.

You could be a hoarder if – You always use the “one day I may need it” excuse, but “one day” never comes. A person, with a tendency to clutter can make an accurate judgement on whether or not she will actually use an item, whereas a hoarder cannot mentally make that accurate judgement. A hoarder, for instance, can hold onto an inconsequential nail or screw “just in case.”

You could be a hoarder if – You have no control over yourself when shopping, and you can never turn down

a sale. Most people enjoy a good sale but know when to stop. A hoarder cannot reason why she doesn’t need another set of measuring cups, for instance.

You could be a hoarder if – You feel anxiety or anger when someone touches your possessions or even suggests that she might touch your possessions. A hoarder has an irresistible need for control of his or her possessions and finds it very hard to accept help, from other people, especially family members. Other people can accept help however they can get it!

You could be a hoarder if – You have multiples of almost every item in your home-- even the inconsequential such as plastic bags, used twist ties and old circulars AND you find an excuse for keeping them. A “normal” person will gladly toss these items.

It is estimated that between two and five percent of the U.S. population exhibit some hoarding tendencies. All of us can have more possessions than we really need and wrestle to keep our stuff organized, but for hoarders, possessions control their lives and the ability to use their spaces effectively.

If you feel that you may be a hoarder, please feel free to contact me for an assessment. erinlove@panachebyerin.com.

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A. ALDEN’S MEMO Atlanta and Dallas based fashion sales representative for Reeves & Company, Analeise Thomas, met up with her local hairstylist to find out “what’s hot” in hair trends for Spring 2017.

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pring has sprung and it’s time to pull out the sun dresses, espadrilles and straw hats! Or is it? This year has been a very interesting year for fashion. Top designers paid homage to some of the worst trends of the 80s and 90s, and Zara and Topshop have made these trends mainstream.

During my visit to New York in February. I was baffled by the array of “kitschy” fashion at Bergdorf’s, Saks and Barney’s. Pom poms, sequins, fur puffs and emoji’s flooded 5th Avenue. Fortunately, what you’ll find in your local boutique isn’t a sea of Harajuku mess but a more tame version of the current trends. The brands I represent, for the most part, take what’s happening now and create looks that are wearable for the everyday woman. I’ve detailed my favorite realistic trends for SS17 and the ways my brands interpreted them for all of us!

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1 Sheila Fajl Jewelry 2 LaRoque 3 Garden Party Blogger “Happily Grey” In Bobeau 4 Lyssé 5 Gigi New York 6 Buckley K 7 Sheila Faj 8 Crosby By Mollie Burch 9 Embroidery, Ruby Yaya 10 Billy T 11 Crosby by Mollie Burch 12 Crosby by Mollie Burch 13 Ruffles, Kut From The Kloth 14 Bobeau

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MICHAEL MANNING

An Interview with Michael Manning of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

in a couple stores before I opened my own. In the fall of 1993, a business partner and I opened River Records. I felt like it was the right time. The 1990s were a good time to be in music retail. River Records became as much a communal space as it was a place to buy records, tapes and CDs. People seem to remember it fondly, and so do I. BL: How did you end up in Nashville?

MM: I had always wanted to move to Nashville and work in some form of the music business, so I closed River Records in December of 2000 and began searching for jobs in Music City. In August of 2001, I began working at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and I’ve been there since.

BL: Suspending reality, what music legends (living or dead) would you most like to sit in on a recording session with?

MM: If I could go back in time, I would like to go back to the 1960s when Elvis Presley was recording an RCA Studio B in Nashville, and watch as he and his band, along with the Jordanaires, worked out arrangements and recorded some of his biggest hits. They would all record in the same room at the same time. This was long before the days of overdubbing.

INTERVIEW BY MARÉ BRENNAN PHOTOGRAPH BY MARTIN G MEYERS BayouLife Magazine recently caught up with Michael Manning, a West Carroll Parish native who left his mark on NELA with his beloved shop, River Records, and numerous radio shows to his credit and headed to Nashville in 2001. Fascinating and overwhelmingly knowledgeable about music history, Manning, a Louisiana Tech alum, is currently the Senior Digital Content Manager at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, a spot where truly he seems destined to be. Let’s start at the beginning…

BayouLife: Tell me about how your childhood influenced your life’s work with music.

Michael Manning: I fell in love with music at a very early age. When I was little I would listen to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio with my grandparents. I liked listening to almost anything on the radio, and I would sit for hours turning the dial to the left and to the right, soaking in all the music I could hear. I loved watching music programs on television like The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour and The Johnny Cash Show.

I was also obsessed with phonograph records. When I was around three or four, my mom gave me her box of old 45s, which I still have and play to this day.

BL: Do you play a musical instrument(s)/sing?

MM: Yes, I sing and play piano and guitar, but not at a professional level.

BL: How did your time behind the microphone at radio stations impact your career?

MM: I began working in radio at age 14, in 1979, and worked in broadcasting throughout the 1980s. Working for small market radio stations allowed me to not only learn broadcasting skills, but allowed me to sharpen my knowledge of several musical genres.

BL: What led you to open the legendary River Records in downtown Monroe?

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BL: What’s the most meaningful article/content you’ve written for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum? The piece that most resonated with you?

MM: I was asked to help write liner notes for a various artists CD called Country’s 20 Classic Songs of the Century. I wrote notes about three iconic country songs for that album; “Ring of Fire,” “I Will Always Love You,” and “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.” It’s truly an honor to be able to be creative now and then and work on projects such as this.

BL: Rarest record you own or have sold?

MM: I once sold a truly rare picture disc 78 by Jimmie Rodgers that actually helped finance my move to Nashville back in 2001.

BL: What’s the best kept secret at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum?

MM: Well, it’s not such a secret anymore, but 94-year-old country music legend Rose Lee Maphis works daily greeting museum visitors. She and her husband, Joe Maphis, were country music stars in the 1950s and wrote the song “Dim Lights, Thick Smoke and Loud Loud Music.” It’s such a treat to work at a place, where people are so passionate about their jobs.

BL: Most unforgettable Nashville moment?

MM: I’ve been going to concerts since I was four years old, and I’ve seen hundreds of shows. The best concert I ever saw was here in Nashville in 2007, at the legendary Ryman Auditorium. The show was Levon Helm’s Ramble at the Ryman. It was an incredible show where the Nashville music community showed up to jam with Levon and his band, and it was a show that I will never forget.

BL: Anything you miss back here in NELA? MM: I miss my family, friends and the great food that is such a way of life in North Louisiana.

BL: Anything else you’d like visitors to Nashville to know?

MM: Most visitors come to Nashville, because it is Music City. Should you come to visit, be sure to see the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Oh, and I have a podcast. it’s called Michael Manning On The Record and can be accessed at www.michaelmanningontherecord.com. It’s like sitting in my living room playing records.

I REMEMBER the day I met the woman who helped shape my life a r t i cl e by PAUL L I PE

I REMEMBER that, while a student at Davidson College, I was co-

She also has been a tremendous help to me as my most trustworthy teacher for a Sunday School class of teenagers at Calvary Presbyterian critic, lovingly and honestly evaluating my efforts as a preacher/pastor.

Church in Davidson, N.C. One of the members of that class was a I especially appreciated her frankness in judging my sermons. And, I pretty young lady who was mature for her age and who showed a deep am grateful that she reserved the “blood-letting” for Mondays instead of interest in spiritual things. The impression she made on me was strong taking the wind out of my sails on Sunday – right after I had preached. and lasting, so much so that it continues to this day. You see, some years But on one occasion, she did not put off the verdict. We had just arrived later, when I had finished graduate school and she was a student at home following worship, and I went into the kitchen and proclaimed, Queens College in Charlotte, N. C., I asked her to become my wife and with a frustrated sense of failure, “That was the worst sermon I have preached in six months,” to which she to join me in the ministry to which the calmly replied, “You could go back Lord had called me. Her acceptance well beyond that!” Ouch! However, of my proposal was one of the best her findings were usually very positive things that ever happened to me. and encouraging, and when my efforts

Having her by my side has merited some negative rating, she was added immeasurably to my work. In kind and gentle with her words. addition to wonderfully fulfilling the

I suppose, however, that my role of a pastor’s wife, she has also greatest appreciation for my wife, contributed to the life of the church Linda, is for the admirable way she as organist, choir director, soloist, fulfilled her role as the mother of our Sunday School teacher, leader in the children, Mary Linda and Jonathan. women’s ministry, secretary, etc. – it is Whatever success and happiness they a challenge to recall all the “hats” she have realized in their lives is due, has worn as a part of our congregation’s in large part, to the kind of training endeavors. We know, of course, that they received from this woman who no individual is irreplaceable in the loved them unconditionally and who labor of the Kingdom, but she comes “SHE BELIEVES THAT PRAYER DOES expected and required the best from as close as anyone I know. them both. They learned from her

An additional way in which she MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND SHE example and instruction that by giving has strengthened my service to the SPENDS LOTS OF TIME SEEKING TO their best effort to please their Lord, Lord has been her faithful prayer they would experience His favor and support. She believes that prayer does MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE.” blessing. Thank you, Nana! make a difference, and she spends lots When I contemplate the character and accomplishments of the one of time seeking to make that difference. Not only I, but also my two children have been impacted by the prayers of this Godly lady. Several who will, in early August, celebrate with me our fifty-fifth wedding times, when one or both of them were contemplating engaging in an anniversary, this thought crosses my mind – “could some of the credit activity outside the bounds of our approval, something would happen for her marvelous record be attributed to the training she received from to spoil their plans – in such circumstances, it was not unusual for them that college student who taught her Sunday School class when she to remark, “Mom and Mrs. Barbara (my wife’s one-time prayer partner) was a young teenager?” Well, not likely, but one cannot be blamed for must have been praying!” Of course, any time they were facing a big trying!

With Mother’s Day on the horizon, may all of us men express our test or were confronted by some major decision, having their mom in their corner, praying for them, was a great comfort. And every time I gratitude, not only for our mothers, but also for those women who have stood behind the pulpit to preach, I was encouraged by her prayers on raised and shaped the lives of our children and who have helped make us better men. my behalf.

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Margaritas with a Twist Marsala Beverage Introduces the Bud Light Lime-A-Rita Family

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PRING IS IN THE AIR. CINCO DE Mayo and summertime are upon us.

With warmer temperatures, you are most likely looking for a change in pace with your everyday cocktail. Well, look no further than the Bud Light Lime-A-Rita Family… perfect for any occasion from a night out to a day at the beach. Sit back, relax and enjoy the great flavors from Bud Light Lime-a-Ritas! (Also, now available in 8 oz. glass bottles.)

THE BUD LIGHT LIME-A-RITA FAMILY Grape-A-Rita

Get ready for Grape-A-Rita to hit stores all across the US! Grape-A-Rita combines the sweet, refreshing taste of juicy grapes with a fresh margarita twist that is served best over ice.

Lime-A-Rita

The original Lime-A-Rita flavor, Bud Light Lime-A-Rita has the great taste of a lime margarita with a twist of Bud Light Lime for a delightfully refreshing finish. Just pop the top, pour over ice and enjoy! 6% ABV Straw-Ber-Rita

Fiesta forever! Bud Light Straw-Ber-Rita has the great taste of a strawberry margarita, perfect for summertime, with a twist of Bud Light Lime for a delightfully refreshing finish.

6% ABV Peach-A-Rita

Our limited time only Peach-A-Rita combines the sweet, refreshing taste of juicy peaches with a fresh margarita twist that is best served over ice. This well-balanced,

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easy to drink beverage is perfect for creating margarita moments throughout the spring and summer months.

Lemon-Ade-Rita

The Summer’s New Squeeze! Bud Light Lemon-Ade-Rita has the great taste of a lemon margarita with a twist of Bud Light Lime for a delightfully refreshing finish.

Lemon-ade-rita is only available for a limited time, so enjoy it before the summer ends.

Mang-O-Rita

Bud Light Mang-O-Rita has the great taste of a mango margarita with a twist of Bud Light Lime for a delightfully refreshing finish. There’s no need to spend time mixing and blending. Just pour over ice and enjoy!

6% ABV Raz-Ber-Rita

Bud Light Raz-Ber-Rita has the great berry taste of a raspberry margarita with a twist of Bud Light Lime. Check out budlight. com for delightful summertime recipes. 6% ABV Orange-A-Rita

Orange-A-Rita will be available in the summer of 2017! This product has the perfect balance of juicy, citrus flavors with a fresh margarita twist. The easy to drink beverage is perfect for any citrus lover. Best served over ice.

RITA MIXING RECIPES Lymon Razz a Rita

Refreshing blend of Raz-Ber-Ita and

mixers, great for a summertime gathering!

Make for yourself or in a batch for parties!

Ingredients: • Raz-Ber-Rita • Sprite • Cranberry Juice Garnish: • Fresh Mint Sprig Method:

Fill an ice cube tray with Raz-BerRita and freeze over night. Cubes will not completely solidify but will form. Fill glass with ice made from Raz-Ber-Rita. Fill glass with Sprite but allow enough space for a splash of fresh cranberry juice.

Pomegranate Straw-Ber-Rita

A tart and delightful concoction, perfect for a cocktail party.

Ingredients: • 4-6 oz. Straw-Ber-Rita • 2 oz. Pomegranate Juice • 1 oz. Cherry Juice Garnish: • Lemon Wheel • Cherry Glassware: • Highball Glass Method:

Fill glass with ice. Combine Straw-BerRita and pomegranate juice. Add a splash of cherry juice. Garnish and serve.

For more great Rita mixing recipes please visit: http://budlightlime-lime-a-rita.tumblr. com/tagged/recipe

TRAVEL

Meredith’s Musings Louisville Love |

By Meredith McKinnie

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jokingly refer to my older sister as a gypsy, always in motion, unafraid of change, my cross-country hero of sorts. We always write her addresses in pencil. She’s lived in Memphis, and then Chicago, and then San Francisco, and now she resides in Louisville, Kentucky. I try to visit her as often as possible, always in a new place. I’m most excited to see her, but anxious for the energy of a new location. I’m too fearful myself to up and move to one, but with home base still in tact, I’m able to escape on yearly voyages across the country. Geographically, Louisville is closer than Chicago or San Fran, but this time I would be driving myself, alone.

And I was terrified.

I made the decision to go only a week out from my departure. I made it so hastily and with such excitement, the gravity of driving eleven hours by myself, across four states, didn’t sink in until the next day. Was I crazy?

Could I do this? My dad had insisted I learn how to change a tire, before I got a car at 16, but that was 18 years ago. I’d never actually

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had to change one. What if I got tired? What if in Memphis, five hours away from anyone I could call, I got stranded? I started stressing myself out, hoping the day would hurry and arrive so I could just go and get it over with. I was reminded of my friend who was also stressing about driving three hours up the Interstate by herself. I remember laughing at her, claiming I’d drive to California alone, nothing to it. And now I was doubting Kentucky. I had to do it.

As I get older, facing my fears has morphed into a necessity for my soul.

I woke at 5 a.m., and after a stop for coffee, I was officially on the road. I had insisted Boyfriend, now Husband, take his phone off vibrate. I needed him reachable. I had no less than twenty podcasts saved, hours of cultural conversations and stories of folly and heartbreak and political discourse to fill the hours of my trek. I couldn’t have been more prepared. But low and behold, right outside Greenville, Mississippi, my tire light started blinking at me. I’d seen it come on before.

I’d never seen it flash. My stomach lurched,

and I started to panic. I grabbed at the phone to call Boyfriend, now Husband, and then I paused. What was he going to do in Monroe?

Why did I doubt myself? After weighing it in my mind, I took a deep breath. I paused the Dear Sugar podcast so I could focus. I stopped at the next gas station, got change, and pumped air in all four tires, because I couldn’t find the gage in the mess of my glove box. I climbed back in and headed north, no flashing of the light. I had handled it.

I made it to Memphis before eleven, and then Nashville by two. The road widened to five lanes, and the clouds opened up, poor visibility. But I was three hours from my destination; I felt alive. I felt close. I felt okay. I could do this; I was doing it. I stopped on the side of the road to take a picture of each state welcome sign: Arkansas, Tennessee and then Kentucky. They all were blue with different mottos. They documented my journey. In the last two hours along Highway 65, I noticed the road was a deep gray, like my bedroom. I could tell I was someplace else, even if I hadn’t already known. The grass was a rich green, the cows were still disinterested in the cars that passed, and people still waved if they had to. I felt I had made it 100 miles out. I called my sister to give her my location. I’m not sure I told her how frantic I was at the idea of driving over. But like everything that scares me, I’m glad I did.

For five days, we drank wine and shopped and debated a new couch for her. She showed me her city. We went to Churchill Downs, and I had Husband an original Louisville Slugger bat engraved with our initials and our wedding date. I hashtagged all my pictures #louisvillelove. I fell in love with her city as I do all her cities, and perhaps more so because she’s there. The drive home was less exciting than the drive there. I’d already conquered this. It was routine now. The cows were even less interested, even when I honked. Some people waved. I was just a girl on the road, nothing notable about it. But I knew I’d done something, and that was enough.

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Brown Bag Concert Series Slip in a Little Extra Weekend Each Wednesday in April at Brown Bag Concerts!

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lip a little extra weekend feeling into your Wednesdays in April! Join us for a noon hour of sunshine, soft breezes and song at the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council’s outdoor Brown Bag Concerts series. Come down to Monroe’s own urban oasis, beautiful Anna Gray Noe Park in downtown Monroe (across from St. Francis Medical Center). Pack a picnic or just bring yourself and pick up lunch at the park from 2 Dudes Catering. The show changes each week -- a mix of show tunes, country, rock, blues, old standards and much more.

Some seating is provided, though picnic blankets and lawn chairs are welcome. Of course, the performances are FREE, thanks to CenturyLink, Origin Bank and the City of Monroe.

But there’s more! Top off that 2 Dudes lunch with free cookies, thanks to Mulhearn Corporation, then kick back with free tea courtesy First Baptist Church of Monroe (which is also our in-case-of-rain venue)!

Check out the lineup, then mark your calendar to save the date for a mid-week touch of weekend all month!

April 5 Mike McKenzie

This opener for Tim McGraw, T Graham Brown and Bryan White opens our series with his own unique style. Mike McKenzie is one of the busiest performers in the region. something. He’s been doing it since he was a kid, playing everyone’s favorite country, classic rock and funk. Mike’s appearances are always fun and entertaining, and we’re excited to kick off the series with this local legend!

April 12 Julian Jones, Landry Allen and Brooke BeDoit

ULM music faculty member Julian Jones is perhaps best known for his extraordinary, gifted piano performances at ULM and in the region. What you may not know is that one of the most joyous ways he expresses his art is training and working with young musi82 APRIL 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

cians. Today, we get to see two of our area’s best and brightest, as joining Julian are West Ouachita sophomore Landry Allen and West Monroe sophomore Brooke BeDoit. Both are part of the 1st United Methodist West Monroe’s Cross and Flame praise and worship team and have performed as part of the ACDA National Honor Choir. These three talents will be backed up by Brian Allen on drums and Danny Allen on bass, so we have a great day in store for us down at the park!

April 19 Mason Granade

A long-time series favorite, Mason been performing for over thirty years and is a regular at such diverse venues as regional cafes and night spots and as Worship Leader at Bethel Baptist Church in West Monroe. If your playlist includes Eagles, America, and the Beatles, Mason’s your guy! You may also have heard his popular album recorded with Matthews-Granade on the radio or in R-Squared movies, “New Hope” and “Flag of My Father,” where he even had a cameo!

Sneak a listen online at www.masongranade. com, then join us for this rocking outcome at the park!

April 26 Lisa Lee Phifer and Sarah Katherine McCallum

Popular local vocalist Lisa Lee is back to mellow out the series! Lisa is known for her rich, honeyed voice and her eclectic, one-ofa-kind performances. Joining Lisa is a new series performer, Sarah Katherine McCallum. You may know Sarah as the 2016 Miss Louisiana’s Outstanding Teen or have seen her in productions at Strauss Youth Academy for the Arts and Ruston Community Theater.

Today, this dynamic duo will treat us with easy listening classic country, soft rock, blues, pop and fifties tunes – and probably a few surprises – as we close out the series and Spring.

Mike McKenzie

Julian Jones, Brooke DeBoit and Landry Allen

Mason Granade

Lisa Lee Phifer and Sarah Katherine McCallum

BayouTrends

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Everything is coming up roses, rose gold, that is! Rose gold might have started showing up in jewelry a few years ago, but this haute hue is on-trend for Spring. Find these items and more in our local boutiques.

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1. CARA’S 2. HOLLIS & COMPANY JEWELERS 3. THE NUDE NOMAD 4. FABULOUS FABRIC 5. DUPONT JEWELERS 6. HAIK HUMBLE EYE CENTER 7. K-SERA BOUTIQUE 8. HEMLINE 9. FIESTA NUTRITION CENTER 10. PARTERRE 11. LOUISIANA PURCHASES 12. BEEHIVE 13.THE MUFFIN TIN 14. J&H BOOTS AND JEANS 15. THE FLEURTY GINGER 16. MOSS EYECARE 17. THE PATIO PLACE 18. HERRINGSTONE’S 19, RAIN BEAUTY | BODY 20. MATERIAL THINGS 21. THE STORK’S NEST 22. SLEEPY HOLLOW FURNITURE AND MATTRESS 23. FREE BIRDS BOUTIQUE 84 APRIL 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

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E xp e r i e n c e

NASHVILLE L i ke

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Article by MICHAEL DEVAULT It’s a dilemma faced by third-day tourists in exotic locales everywhere: you’ve arrived, been dazzled, seen the big draw, but now you want something... more. Experience Nashville like a local with this quirky day of food, fun and, of course, music.

gurm n. – term originating in Nashville, TN to describe an overzealous, intrusive, or demanding fan who insists on inserting themselves into situations with celebrities they encounter; often seen at music venues, parties or restaurants cornering an obviously put-out singer, songwriter or actor who is forced to deliver an Emmy-worthy performance for a selfie; not a term of endearment.

Usage: Oh, honey. Would you look at that! Nicole and Keith are cornered by that gurm over there, and all they wanted to do was enjoy their lattes in peace. Poor Nicole and Keith.

Crystal Gayle was great last night at the Opry, and the rotunda at the Hall of Fame still moves you to tears as you think about the song you danced to at your wedding and the bronze plaque honoring the singer who created it. But that was yesterday. There are no plans for today, 86 APRIL 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

and when you get home tomorrow, you’ll want to say you experienced Nashville. That’s where we come in.

BayouLife has curated a day in the life of Nashville, carefully selecting for you the meals, the shopping and the entertainment locals turn to when they want to slip away from the crush of tourists. Sure, Nashville enjoys a good romp down Broadway as much as those visitors clicking away with their cameras, but that’s as much a special-treat kind of thing for a Nashvillian as it is for the tourists who crowd the sidewalks.

This is how Nashvillians do Nashville.

Breakfast and a Morning at the Market They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and by “they,” we might as well mean the good people down at Puckett’s Grocery on Church Street. Situated just a block from the Nashville Library, the bustling commercial center and the capitol, Puckett’s Grocery isn’t exactly in the heart of tourist country.

Like the Nashvillians who crowd into this intimate, rustic eatery for three meals a day, Puckett’s Grocery is a transplant to the city, and the restaurant traces its roots back to Leiper’s Fork, TN, a tiny postage stamp community about thirty miles from the city. Andy Marshall transformed the original Puckett’s in Leiper’s Fork into

the “it” place for music and before long, opened up the Church Street location.

While you’re there, chances are you’ll be rubbing elbows with music executives, bankers, state legislators and a perfect cross section of the vibrant community of artists, business analysts and young professionals who call downtown their homes. Every once in a while, you may catch a glimpse of a face you know. But don’t be a gurm and gawkingly ask for a selfie. They’re there for the same reason you are: the food and the hospitality. So remember this important rule of thumb: your food is at your table, their food is at theirs. Stay with your food.

And when it comes to the food, what should you try? Puckett’s Grocery prides itself on delivering a slew of hearty southern delicacies. But you can’t have everything, so be sure to get the Southern Stack. Two sweet potato pancakes are paired with fried apples and a heap of pulled pork that’s been slow-smoked to perfection. Topped with a fried egg, the Southern Stack is served with a side of Tennessee-style home fries.

Don’t even concern yourself with the calorie count, because you’re about to walk them off after breakfast at the Nashville Farmer’s Market, just a few blocks away.

The Nashville Farmer’s Market is a world-renowned stop for produce and plants, and it’s also home to dozens of off-beat crafters, selling everything from cut metal signs to hand-carved iPhone cases. An open-air facility with dozens of permanent, semi-permanent and day tenants, the farmer’s market covers more than two acres under roof, with more space in the open-air markets on either side.

While you’re there, grab a refreshing fruit juice at the Fountain of Juice, or pull a pint at the Picnic Tap, one of Nashville’s finest brewpubs.

After you’ve browsed the shops and stalls and carts and restaurants, slip outside and around the corner to Bicentenial Capital Park. Believe it or not, you’re actually in a state park!

Stroll along the wide paths, prance in the fountain and enjoy a vista view of Capitol Hill. And unlike that other Capitol Hill up in Washington, Nashville’s hill is high – think “90 feet up” high. After your stroll, be sure to pay your respects to President James K. Polk, who is interred at the Tennessee State Capitol. There’s also a beautiful statue of President Andrew Jackson you won’t want to miss. But don’t linger too long, because you’ll have to catch a cross-town ride to South 8th Street for lunch.

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Lunch and Pickin’ As you’re stepping out of the car at Arnold’s on South 8th Street, chances are you’re having a Dorothy Parker moment and wondering what fresh hell you’ve just fallen into. The cinderblock restaurant, if you can call it that, sits too close to the road and doesn’t look big enough to support its reputation. In fact, some have called it a dive.

But don’t let that deter you. Instead, notice the line stretching out the door and down the sidewalk and then realize: those aren’t tourists lining up for Hattie B’s.

Founded in 1982, Arnold’s Country Kitchen is a Nashville original.

And it’s quite possible that this “Meat and Three” is serving up the most critically acclaimed food anywhere in Music City. The tiny lunch cafeteria – and by tiny, it’s less than 3,000 sq. feet, which is double its original size after a massive expansion that opened in 2016 – has been featured on Diners, Dives and Drive-Ins, which kind of makes sense you may think by appearances. But appearances are deceiving.

Arnold’s signature meat-and-three plates have drawn high praise in Garden and Gun, Southern Living, and Gourmet. Bon Apetit gave this cafeteria an unqualified endorsement in its glowing review, and the food even won a coveted James Beard American Classics medal in 2009. (And...shhhh.... Rumor has it that this hole in the wall was once scrutinized and almost received a coveted Michelin Star. But don’t tell anyone. We don’t want the tourists finding out!).

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The menu changes daily, so depending on what day you show up, you’ll have to decide for yourself what you’re going to eat for your main – that’s Arnold’s slang for the meat. Be sure to do the greens and the fried green tomatoes for two of your three sides. And whatever you do, don’t miss the Hot Pepper Chocolate Pie. Yes, you read that right. Just trust us.

And again, the calories are going away shortly, because you’re not getting into a car for a few hours. South 8th is picker’s paradise, and after lunch we’re going shopping in some of the greatest antique shops in the South.

The picking begins directly across the street from Arnold’s, at the Downtown Antique Mall. Spread over two floors of a sprawling warehouse complex, the mall comprises more than 80 booths – don’t let “booth” fool you; some are the size of a comfortable apartment – that cover the entire spectrum of the American experience. It’ll take you an hour just to rush through, longer once you start finding all the perfect “thises or thats” you’re trying to figure out how to ship home.

Leaving the antique mall, turn left and head up the hill. Take a break at one of the eight tap rooms along the way and – about halfway up the hill – take a look across the street, where you’ll find Nashville’s storied Cannery Ballroom and Mercy Lounge. Did you hear Steven Tyler did an impromptu acoustic set there just last year? I heard Mick Jagger dropped by before the LP Field show!

ARNOLD’S SIGNATURE MEAT-AND-3 PLATES HAVE DRAWN HIGH PRAISE IN GARDEN AND GUN, SOUTHERN LIVING, AND GOURMET.

After a refreshment at the brew pub of choice, continue along 8th Street and bounce in and out of the antique shops along the way – there are more than a dozen within a three mile stretch, and each is definitely worth the time. But don’t linger too long, because you’ll want to make sure you hit Pre To Post Modern, which is a little over a mile from Arnold’s.

Hey, we told you not to worry about the calories.

Pre To Post Modern is a kitsch-lover’s paradise. The store is the creation of Karen Hollywood, a lover of all things midcentury.

Stepping into her store, you’ll find Dutch modern, a healthy serving of Hollywood Regency, and a carefully curated wardrobe of his-and-hers vintage clothing. Pick out a new old outfit for tonight, because you’re going to want to look your hipster best.

While you’re waiting on your Lyft – Uber is so 2015 – pop into Eighth and Roast next door for a cup of home-roast coffee. And remember our rule about celeb sightings. When you realize you’re in line behind Karen Fairchild, don’t be a gurm. Smile and say hello, and remember, she’s on her way somewhere, too, and you’ve got to get back to the hotel to shower and clean up. There’s a big night ahead.

Dinner and Music You’ve had breakfast and lunch, grabbed a pint or two, and found that cute little bird statue that’s going to go so well on your desk at work. And if you’ve done it right, chances are you’ve not spent very much, had a great time – and a nice, hard nap. You’ve worked hard to be a Nashvillian, and

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you’ve earned your Nashvillian supper – around 7:30 p.m. in true Nashville style.

Welcome to Valentino’s, the West End restaurant that brings a touch of the Old World to one of the hippest neighborhoods in Nashville. Vanderbilt is nearby, and Valentino’s is a regular stop for the denizens of Music Row. Founded in 1991, this Italian restaurant is a staple of the Nashville fine-dining scene, and as one local restaurateur put it, “Valentino’s definitely rocks it old school.”

The experience begins at the curb, with the valet. They’ll ask for your name – and then remember it later as you’re leaving.

In the tradition of fine Italian establishments, patrons enter to the side after passing down a narrow walkway. The hostess stand is situated in a homey, intimate foyer that immediately evokes feelings of “Welcome to our home.” In fact, were it not for the aroma of oregano and searing beef, you’d be forgiven if you thought you’d made a wrong turn and wandered into a dinner party.

When you’re making your reservations – and yes, though not required, reservations are highly recommended – you’ll have a choice between the main dining room and the cellar. The main dining room is a stunningly elegant study in ivory and egg shell, where smart waiters cut deftly between the tables in a captainand-crew model. Downstairs, the wine cellar offers a more rustic and intimate experience – there are just five or six tables. But don’t be fooled. Just because you’re in the basement doesn’t mean you’ll get anything less than Valentino’s top-shelf service, their amazing list of old-world wines and the single best meal you’ve had in the last decade.

Valentino’s Ristorante serves up what they term rustic Italian.

There are the typical American Italian choices like spaghetti and lasagna, both outstanding examples of these honored dishes, and locally inspired seasonal specials. But the best bang for your buck is their New York Strip, which may well be in the running for best steak on the planet.

Save room for dessert. Trust us. The Tiramisu is worth it.

After dinner, plan you’ll get a few minutes respite in the car, and you’ll get to take in the stunning Nashville skyline at night as you whisk around I-40 to I-65 and head into East Nashville for a night of great music at The 5 Spot.

For Nashvillians, the 5 Spot is what the Bluebird Café was before Connie Britton made it famous on ABC. The home of one of the best songwriters’ open mic nights, this tiny neighborhood watering hole will remind you of Enoch’s or Maybe’s. The beer is cold, the lighting almost non-existent and the music out of this world.

Maybe you’ll hear a few songs from eight different musicians, each with dreams of becoming the next big thing. Chances are a few of them are already established songwriters with a string

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SAVE ROOM FOR DESSERT. TRUST US. THE TIRAMISU IS WORTH IT.

of hits. Sometimes, you’ll catch that up-and-coming voice you recognize from the song you heard. And there, in the corner, is that Dierks? It’s hard to tell in the darkness.

The 5 Spot is the perfect place to end the day, an authentic, Nashville-style bar where, chances are, you’re elbow to elbow at the bar beside the next Johnny Cash. Like so many of the places you’ve been today, the 5 Spot occupies a quiet, powerful corner of Nashville’s music scene. And – wait, is that Lady Gaga?

Okay, you can gurm, but only a little.

A north Louisiana boy through and through, BayouLife’s Michael DeVault has lived in Nashville since 2015, where he works in marketing and entertainment – and longs daily for a good mess of crawfish to go with the beer.

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We’re All in the Same Boat!

So Let’s Start Rowing for the Children’s Coalition

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HE 2017 FIRST NATIONAL BANK BAYOU DESIARD Dragon Boat Festival will take place 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday, May 13, on beautiful Bayou DeSiard, at the corner of Loop and Forsythe Roads.

Paddlers of all ages, skill and fitness levels can participate, making it the ultimate team-building event. Proceeds benefit the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana.

While the races start at noon, the fun begins that morning with a Family Fun Run hosted by Fleet Feet and Community Health Fair that includes health screenings, fitness classes, food trucks, live music and a children’s area. All activities are free and family friendly.

“Dragon Boat racing puts teams of 20 paddlers in an authentic 41-foot long Chinese dragon boat racing to the finish line,” said Lynn Clark, Executive Director of the Children’s Coalition. “It is not about individual strength but about working together.”

Team events include: free dry-land training at inFit Infinity Fitness; practice sessions on the water; and a Dotting of the Eye party.

This year, some teams and individuals are assuming an even greater challenge. Using social media and an innovative peer-topeer platform, team members can pick one of four focus areas at the Children’s Coalition—Early Childhood, Parenting, Youth or Health—and fundraise for programs in those areas.

“I chose youth programs, because I know how essential programs like Signs of Suicide are to keeping our kids safe,” said Russell Kicey of Tonore’s Wine Cellar. “It is easy to invite my friends and customers to support my team page.”

Participants do not have to be in a boat to fundraise. The community can join the fun by visiting: www.childrenscoalition. org/dragon-boat-festival and creating a fundraising team. Simply click on Challenge #1 to fundraise or Challenge #2 to row. If participants meet their fundraising goal, they can earn a free seat on a boat—or even a whole boat.

“These funds are essential to many programs at the Children’s Coalition,” said Antoinette Heard, Early Head Start Director.

“The funds raised at last year’s Dragon Boat Festival literally kept us afloat,” she said.

Event sponsors also include: Choice Brands and Southern Beverages.

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Beehive Outlet of Ruston Spring Fashion and Much More!

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HEN BEEHIVE OPENED THEIR DOORS IN 2002, they became a popular landmark in Ruston, Louisiana.

They were considered the go-to spot for jewelry and handbags in north Louisiana for many years. Now, 13 years later, Beehive has evolved into a shopping mecca. You can find the latest in chic fashion trends, the perfect pair of quality shoes, cute children’s clothing, on-trend home décor, a variety of furniture styles and so much more! Customers can find sought-after brands such as: Jadelynn Brooke, Simply Southern Tees and more.

They have the largest shoe department of any local store in north Louisiana featuring Born, Volatile, Not Rated, Naughty Monkey, Vionic, Toms, Sanuk, Corkys, Yellow Box and so many others!

Your shopping experience at Beehive is made exceptional by the customer service that is provided by their knowledgeable and friendly staff.

Beehive is so much more than just a store. It is a place that always strives to work with the community. They aim to be a destination where every customer will become part of the Beehive family. Beehive welcomes the exchange of thoughts and ideas for products and events with their customers. A major mission for Beehive has always been to give back by partnering with local organizations and charities for events.

What is new at Beehive!?! Beehive is proud to offer a beautiful selection of plus size clothing just in time for Easter! Dress trends for spring in fashion have just arrived, and we are so excited about what’s in store! They range from sizes small to 3x. Also, a selection of infant clothing, and a new section for little girls with a wide range of kid’s jewelry, clothing and toys can be found at Beehive. New products are arriving daily!

Spring has sprung and Beehive carries a large selection of clothing for women of any age and style. They always carry the latest in trends from chic to cute. Floral is a big trend this year, and they have tops, dresses, shorts and more to keep you in the spring spirit. Another big trend is rose gold. They have tennis shoes, sandals, jewelry and more in the popular hue. They even have notebooks, water bottles and accessories to take your fashion to a new level.

Beehive carries a large selection of makeup and bath products, including the Miracle Berry Soap line and fragrant Ring bath bombs.

Stay current on Beehive news and events at facebook.com/ BestofBeehive. Follow us on our new Instagram page for our latest arrivals and fashion trends: instagram.com/beehiveoutletruston.

Beehive is located at 213 North Service Rd. in Ruston. Drop by and view their enormous selection of home décor, clothing, shoes, furniture and more!

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Lambda Sigma Chi Sorority Giving Back 4,200 Service Hours to Our Community

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AMBDA SIGMA CHI IS A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL sorority founded in 1932. Over the years, Lambda has grown and continues to grow as a service and social organization.

This year, Lambda members include 120 young ladies and 17 brother sponsors from Neville High School and St. Frederick High School.

Rebecca Robinson, President, and Lucy Sartor, Vice-President, led the organization in many endeavors. These leaders did a great job organizing educational, service and social activities for the year. Speakers were added to meeting agendas in order to inform members on important teen issues such as the proper use of social media and the dangers of impaired driving.

The most important goal of Lambda each year is to give back to our community by both volunteering time and providing monetary donations. In the past two years, Lambda has donated more than $10,000 to local organizations. This year’s Treasurer, Caroline Raymond, suggested a fundraiser to help generate additional income. The members sold over 3,600 pounds of delicious Oak Grove sweet potatoes. With the help of this fundraiser, the sorority will donate more than $8,000 this year alone. What a great accomplishment!

Monies raised will fund the implementation of Signs of Suicide Awareness Programs in area schools, MedCamps’ bridge construction project, the Ronald McDonald House lighting improvement project and many more. The girls of Lambda love their community and giving back is always our main goal.

Lambda members also donate many service hours to local organizations. Under the leadership of Chaplain Halley Travis, members worked over 4,200 hours on local service projects. Our members assisted with the Ronald McDonald Fishing Tournament, Monroe Youth Baseball Association summer tournament, MedCamps Fall Bash, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Muscular Dystrophy Superhero Sprint, Council on Aging food distribution, Zoobilation, Salvation Army Toy Drive and many more.

In January, Lambda held its annual Winter Formal presentation and dance. City councilman, Michael Echols, was the Master of Ceremonies. The theme for the night was the Roaring Twenties, and guests were greeted by a beautiful arrangement

by Clinton Downing. The White Rose Court is voted on by the members and recognized for their exceptional commitment to the sorority. Members of the 2017 Court were Rebecca Robinson, Queen, Camryn Cupples and Lucy Sartor, Maids of Honor, Meghan Sherman, Halley Travis, Olivia Thomas and Cori Crossley, Maids.

We are very proud of this outstanding group and know they will go on to do great things! Thank you to the community for supporting Lambda and all of our endeavors.

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Protecting Yourself?

Significantly Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease

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ROTECT YOURSELF FROM HEART DISEASE, THE nation’s No. 1 killer, with Life’s Simple 7® — easy-to-embrace ways to significantly lower your risk of heart disease and improve your health. How simple is it?

JUST TAKE A LOOK: • Get Active. You don’t have to join a gym or run in a 5K. Start small by incorporating physical activity into your daily routine more and more: Take the stairs instead of the elevator, park at the farthest end of the parking lot or use your lunch break to take a quick walk. For a healthy heart, aim for at least 2 ½ hours of moderate physical activity each week.

Along with gaining strength and stamina, regular physical activity can lower blood pressure, keep body weight under control and lower your LDL — otherwise known as “bad” cholesterol. Regular physical activity is also associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes, reduced depression, improved bone density and improved sleep quality for adults.

• Control Cholesterol. We all have cholesterol, a waxy substance in the bloodstream and in the cells of our body. But despite its reputation, cholesterol isn’t all bad. In fact, it plays an important role in keeping us healthy. But a balance must be struck to prevent too much cholesterol in the blood. There are two types: the “good” kind (HDL) and the “bad” kind (LDL). High levels of bad cholesterol can clog your arteries, increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke. This is where good cholesterol comes into play: HDL cleans out that bad cholesterol from the arteries.

Regular physical activity, limiting saturated fat by limiting red meats and choosing low-fat dairy, and including healthier fats, such as certain vegetable oils can help adults who need to lower LDL cholesterol levels. It’s also important to limit trans fats, too. For some people, diet and lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough. Your doctor may prescribe cholesterol-lowering medication to keep your cholesterol levels in check. If you don’t know your cholesterol levels, talk to your doctor about scheduling a cholesterol screening.

• Eat Better. Eating the right foods can help you control your weight, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. Follow a dietary pattern that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other healthy choices..

• Manage Blood Pressure. About 33 percent of American adults has high blood pressure — yet about 14% of adults 60 years and older don’t even know they have it. That’s because high blood pressure, “the silent killer,” has no symptoms. Keeping your blood pressure in a healthy range starts with eating a heart-healthy diet. Other important factors are exercising regularly; maintaining a healthy weight; limiting salt and alcohol; and taking medication prescribed by your doctor.

• Maintain a Healthy Weight. Overweight and obesity are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In the US, 69% of adults are either CONTINUED ON PAGE 105 WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | APRIL 2017 95

Morehouse May Madness New Street Festival Set for May 6th in Downtown Bastrop

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HY DON’T WE HAVE A REALLY NICE FESTIVAL? That is the question which resulted in the organization of the 2017 Morehouse May Madness Street Festival.

Christmas 2016 was only a month away when Bastrop downtown merchants and community-minded individuals made plans to meet after Christmas to discuss how they could host a festival.

With a beautiful downtown and a restored 1914 Morehouse Parish Courthouse to serve as a centerpiece, the festival would celebrate Morehouse Parish.

Two of the downtown Bastrop streets that are located adjacent to the Morehouse Parish Courthouse would need be closed and approvals granted from the Morehouse Parish Police Jury, the City of Bastrop and the Louisiana State Police for the proposed festival to become a reality. Additionally, community support in the form of sponsors, would be necessary to fund the event.

Festival planners had no problem gaining the support and approval of the community as well as the approval from local governmental agencies. DG Foods quickly asked to be the title sponsor for the 2017 festival. Morehouse Parish was ready and proud to host a festival!

Today, the event organizers are eagerly looking forward to the Street Festival which will take place on Saturday, May 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The new festival will rock the northeast Louisiana region with downtown activities which include a fantastic classic car exhibit, a fun kid zone, delicious food, juried merchant vendors and great music. On stage at the courthouse grounds from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. will be Murphy’s Law, and Mike McKenzie will be on stage from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Local musicians will, also, be performing on stage downtown. The Morehouse Parish Farmers Market will have herbal programs and demonstrations by Starr Homeplace heritage creativity artists. At the Visitor Center will be a beautiful quilt show made possible by area quilting clubs.

For sports enthusiasts, the Morehouse Country Club (MCC) will be hosting the Morehouse May Madness Golf Tournament sponsored by the Morehouse Country Club and the Morehouse Golf Association. The MCC course is one of the prettiest in the northeast Louisiana region.

That evening, the Morehouse Activity Center (MAC) will welcome the popular band, Sassafraz. The group, which performs mainly classic soft rock and dance, has previously performed at the MAC.

For more information on this new festival email morehousemaymadness@yahoo.com.

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Vieux Carré Market Daily Specials That Are Sure To Please

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IEUX CARRÉ MARKET HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED to get through the week. From gourmet grocery items to healthy lunch options, to weekend entertaining they have something for all occasions. The bistro is a local hot spot for lunch and dinner, and once you’ve tried it it’s easy to understand why.

Their crave-worthy dishes are always on point.

Vieux Carré Market inspires your taste buds with natural flavors that are healthy and fun. Your body will thank you while you enjoy our extensive variety of good-for-you choices that include salads, sandwiches and more.

Stop by to check out their seafood options, prepared fresh

by Chef John Peters. From daily specials, to regular menu items, seafood is his specialty. Their fresh and delicious salmon, naturally packed with healthy proteins, vitamins and minerals, is a great way to keep your 2017 fitness goals on track. Served over a bed of lettuce and topped with their Vieux Carré Market house dressing, this savory meal won’t only be satisfying, but good for you, too.

Add their Ahi Tuna salad smothered in Sammy’s Grill house dressing as an option, and you’ll have a hard time deciding which naturally healthy choice to make.

Their daily lunch specials are a good choice any day of the week. The Wednesday special is out of this world. Or should we say from across the world. If Greek is what you’re craving, you are in for a treat. The gyros plate comes with an orzo and pesto salad, hummus and tzatziki, all topped with feta.

On Friday, the traditional catfish lunch is served with greens, hushpuppies and cilantro rice, an exciting twist on the classic.

Don’t forget fish and wine tastings every Friday during Lent.

Stop by for lunch or dinner today at Vieux Carré Market and experience flavorful, homemade food prepared fresh for you each and every day. Check out their facebook page for daily specials.

No matter what you need in the eats department, whether you are cooking for guests, planning an intimate meal, picking up lunch or even looking for a special gift, they have you covered.

Lunch Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Dinner Hours: Thursday – Saturday 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

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ERIC LIEW

american dreamer

Article by MARY NAPOLI Photographs by MARTIN G MEYERS

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ric Liew has just returned from a 15 day trip through Asia accompanied by his wife, Linda. The couple of nearly thirty years are no worse for the wear and wasted no time jumping back into business mode. In fact, the line between business and pleasure is often blurry for the Liews. That is partially because the couple have spent the last 20+ years building their business, AOSS Medical Supply, together and partially because they truly enjoy their profession.

Liew is the President and CEO of AOSS (Alpha Omega Services and Supply) Medical Supply, the company he began working with during college. The largest privately-owned medical supply company in the state of Louisiana, AOSS’s corporate office has been based in Monroe since its inception in 1988. The company is not Liew’s only business venture, but it is the heart of his professional empire.

Liew is not only one of Monroe’s greatest success stories, he is also a dedicated father and husband. He has been married to Linda Pruett of Richland, Mississippi for almost three decades, with whom they have three amazingly talented children, Nick, Erica and Savannah. All three of the children were raised in Monroe, Eric and Linda’s adopted hometown. They have since begun impressive, successful careers of their own and have without a doubt inherited their parents’ strong sense of determination. Both Eric and Linda come from somewhat humble beginnings, but Eric Liew’s life changed drastically with the decision to attend college in the States.

From Malaysia to Monroe Liew is of Chinese descent, but he was born in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. As the sixth of seven children, he observed his father working from dawn to dusk to support their large family. Liew’s parents encouraged their children to find success and believed education was the key. Regardless of their working class status in Malaysia, achieving the best education possible was no easy task. Because of the family’s Chinese roots, it would be impossible for Liew to receive the opportunities he was naturally equipped for.

I AM ALWAYS GOING TO BE SECOND CLASS. SO THIS COUNTRY FITS EXACTLY WITH WHAT I WANT: THE

AMERICAN DREAM. I CAN BE ANYBODY I WANT TO BE IN THIS COUNTRY.”

“In Malaysia, we are basically considered second class citizens, because I am second generation Chinese. My grandfather was from China, and he went searching for happiness. He went to Singapore, which at that time was part of Malaysia. He didn’t find what he was looking for there, so he went north to Kuala Lumpur. He started a construction business there.” Eventually, Liew’s grandmother and their children joined his grandfather in the Malaysian capital. “My father was born there, first generation Malaysian.”

Although Liew’s parents were able to provide a comfortable life for their family, they experienced discrimination because of their her-

itage. This unfortunate set of circumstances led Liew to consider furthering his education outside of Asia.

“Growing up, we were raised in the Buddist religion, but Malaysia is a Muslim country. Even though I was born and grew up in Malaysia, I was not considered a true Malaysian. I was a Chinese-Malaysian, and therefore a second class citizen,” explains Liew. “Because of this, I am not eligible for the first class universities. I am not eligible for a scholarship, or any top official positions. I am always going to be second class. So this country fits exactly with what I want: the American Dream. I can be anybody I want to be in this country.”

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onroe, Louisiana may seem like an odd choice for a young man for Malaysia to choose as his new home, but for Liew, it was the right choice. As one of seven children, he had limited funding on which to receive his education, so Liew had to be savvy on how to get the most for his money.

“Most of my classmates (in Malaysia) went to Australia, New Zealand or England, but I thought, you know what? I want to do something different. I want to come to America,” he recalls. Seeking a warm climate, his budget led him to consider schools in Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama. Once he found out that Monroe was considered a “Sportsman’s Paradise,” his love of fishing and the outdoors helped him to make the decision clear.

“It was the cheapest college I could find, besides Arkansas and Alabama. I was on a budget. I would have loved to go to UCLA or a bigger school, but my budget didn’t allow me to do so. I was on a very limited budget. So NLU fit right into my budget.”

Thirty years later, Liew remains in Monroe. He and Linda met while both students at ULM, then NLU. She chose him as a study partner in their economics class, after noticing he was an outstanding student. They began dating, and the rest, as they say, is history. The couple have developed strong ties within the community and think of it as home.

“We love Monroe. It’s a great place to raise a family. We have a lot of options here. We have businesses in Salt Lake City, in San Diego and Hawaii. We could live in any of those places, but this is home for Linda and me. We met here in college, and after college we started AOSS in 1988. We have been together 29 years. This is where we will stay.”

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Starting Small Success did not arrive overnight for Liew. Naturally intelligent, he was a dedicated and determined student at NLU. With a degree in business, he knew the general direction he wanted to go, but did not have a specific field of enterprise in mind. During school, he and Linda took over a local paper route to help make ends meet. Using his characteristic ingenuity, he knew that with Linda in the passenger seat, they could get the papers out twice as fast by driving in the middle of the street and throwing to both sides at once. From a young age, Liew has been conscious of making every moment count where matters of business are concerned. As an entrepreneur, he is consistently forward thinking, always considering the possibilities that are within reach.

While the newlyweds finished their degrees at NLU, Liew worked at Basic TV and Appliances. On a chance meeting, he struck up a conversation with Dr. Russ Greer, a local neurosurgeon, who purchased a video camera with Liew’s guidance. Greer was impressed with Liew’s product knowledge and salesmanship. Recognizing Liew’s ingenuity and drive, Greer suggested the two get together to discuss business outside of the store. Greer introduced him to the export management company he had founded, Alpha Omega Systems and Services, AOSS. The company’s last general manager had recently been let go, and Greer was looking to replace him with someone resourceful and enterprising, and Liew was a dead ringer for the position. At the time, AOSS represented products made in Louisiana, like Banana Tractor of Metairie, to companies in South America, Central America and the Caribbean.

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iew began to work for Greer through AOSS, while Linda managed a Wendy’s fast food restaurant. In 1988, the couple found out they were expecting their first child. Liew traveled a great deal for AOSS, and although it was profitable, he knew that he wanted to be closer to home as his family grew. That year, Liew attended a exceptionally successful trade shows in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama with Lieutenant Governor Paul Hardy. Upon his arrival back in New Orleans, his friend Jerry Barnett, who was also the freight forwarder Liew worked with, invited him to dinner. Barnett wanted to discuss a business opportunity to discuss with his friend.

“The next day, he took me to a huge, run-down warehouse that has since been replaced by the Convention Center,” Liew remembers.

Inside the warehouse, there were five 18-wheeler containers.

“Jerry opened up one of the containers, and all I could see were (the images of) hands on the outside of each box. Gloves. That is where everything started.”

Barnett had bought the containers at a closeout, but had no idea how to move the material. Knowing that Liew’s partner was a physician, Barnett wondered if Liew might be able to help him.

“I said absolutely. Let me take a shot at it. I loaded up several cases in my little Honda and took them back to Monroe.”

After returning to his 800 square foot office on Justice Street in Monroe, Liew sold the latex gloves to his first customer, Dr. John Parker, who owned the orthodontist practice across the street from his office. Liew and his wife began to research the market and learned that Eric’s home country of Malaysia was the world’s largest manufacturer of latex gloves. Liew saw the possibilities in this venture and pushed ahead. While looking for potential buyers, Eric and Linda discovered that Beverly Enterprises, which owned over 1,700 nursing

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THE BUSINESS BEGAN WITH ONE LAB IN LIEW’S CORPORATE OFFICE IN MONROE, AND ONE YEAR LATER, IT ESTABLISHED ITS OWN CORPORATE OFFICE IN SAN DIEGO. NOW, SALES OFFICES LINE THE EAST COAST IN MAJOR CITIES.

homes nationwide, was headquartered in nearby Fort Smith, Arkansas. Liew made an appointment to speak with the senior buyer, and his first large-scale deal was made. He would supply all of Beverly Enterprise’s distribution centers in Sacramento, Dallas and Atlanta with latex gloves for all 1,700 nursing homes.

Liew returned home triumphant. With the deal in place, he was able to hire an employee, rent warehouse space for his product and Linda was able to quit her job at Wendy’s to manage the accounting for AOSS. It was an exciting time for the couple, and the future was bright ahead.

Business expanded once again when Monroe Plasma came calling. Knowing AOSS supplied gloves to other medical facilities, they inquired about a possible order. Liew impressed their representative, and they not only made a purchase, but invited Liew to speak with their corporate office in Atlanta. Serological, the company who owned dozens of plasma centers across the US in addition to Monroe Plasma, was quick to make a deal with Liew. The business relationship flourished, but there was one problem.

The only item Liew could supply them with was latex gloves.

Serological was in need of a vast amount of various medical supplies for their plasma centers, from syringes to lab coats. Rather than deal with dozens of vendors, they wanted to simplify things, and order supplies from a single vendor.

Eric and Linda immediately set out to turn AOSS into a one-stopshop for medical supplies.

“They wanted to buy everything from AOSS,” explains Eric, “from A to Z. So now, we are in the business of procurement.” Once he and Lynda had established relationships with each of the individual manufacturers, they were able to supply specialty products for Serological, and open themselves up to a new market. By the mid 1990’s, it became clear that AOSS’s volume was outgrowing the warehouses they were currently used. To accommodate its extensive inventory, the company relocated in 1996 to its current home on Central Avenue, near the Monroe Airport.

1996 proved to be a momentous year for Liew. AOSS expanded to include their third partner, Dr. Hershel Harter, a successful nephrologist. Further, the company eclipsed a major competitor in Salt Lake City, Utah and purchased all their inventory after the business folded.

By 1998, AOSS West was established in Salt Lake City. AOSS flourished in the West, and its success continues. Currently, the company AOSS West services the Pacific Northwest, West Coast, Mountain Area.

It seemed at every turn, opportunities opened themselves up the Liew and his growing company.

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usiness expanded once again in the late 1990s with Dr. Harter’s nephrology connections in Nashville, a medical hub. AOSS began to supply to multiple dialysis centers, further expanding their inventory.

From there, business expanded to Honolulu, Hawaii, where Liew established yet another distribution center. In a decade of business, Liew had gone from selling cases of latex gloves by the box to acquiring multiple satellite offices, distribution centers and sales from coast to coast.

In 2006, AOSS broadened its reach once again by creating a subsidiary company, Access Biologicals. The company supports the diagnostic and life science industries with biological products and services that range from in-vitro diagnostic manufacturing, biopharmaceutical, cell culture and diagnostic research & development. The business began with one lab in Liew’s corporate office in Monroe, and one year later, it established its own corporate office in San Diego. Now, sales offices line the east coast in major cities.

Fast forward to 2016. Through contacts in the plasma industry, Liew has partnered with Southern Lifestyle Development, the creators of River Ranch, a modern residential development in Lafayette, to build a similar project in Monroe. Liew’s development will target new employees from the CenturyLink expansion and provide residential, as well as commercial properties. The plans for the community, titled Century Village, will feature all the conveniences of urban living within a neighborhood feel. Centered around a town square and park, the development will be anchored by Century Tower, the large scale office space where IBM will employ locals on the top floors. The bottom floors will house a wine bar and restaurant, among other conveniences.

The custom designed residential area of the village will include over 150 apartments and over 250 single family homes of various styles and sizes. The surrounding areas of the development will contain a central daycare facility, an upscale food market, a hotel, medical clinic, bank and various restaurant, coffee and retail locations. Slated to be built near the current CenturyLink facility, it will have the feel of a village within the town of Monroe.

The Liews are interested in the project because of their earnest desire to see Monroe grow and expand in ways that benefit the existing community.

“I believe in working to have a good quality of life, and we want to help increase that in Monroe. That is why I wanted to build Century Village,” explains Liew. “I want to bring opportunity and new life to Monroe and open up the way we look at the world. This is a great place to live and raise children. It’s a great place to call home.”

Focus on the Future When Liew looks to the future, he recalls his arrival in Monroe. He was a stranger in a strange land, but the tough times would prove to be a catalyst in shaping his determined, driven personality. It was his dream to receive a business education from an American university that would

provide him the knowledge to become a success, but the transition had its challenges.

“I came here knowing no one,” Liew explains, recalling his first few days in America as clearly as though it were last week. Liew’s first stop was his new home, Northeast Louisiana University, now ULM.

“When I arrived in Monroe, another Malaysian student picked me up at the airport and dropped me off at Masur Hall. I still remember that there had been a snow blizzard the night before. I had never seen snow in my life! I thought I would freeze to death! Year round, Kuala

I NEARLY FROZE MY BUTT WALKING TO THE PIGGLY WIGGLY ON DESIARD,” SAYS LIEW WITH A LAUGH. TODAY, THE BUILDING THAT WAS ONCE THE PIGGLY WIGGLY NOW HOUSES THE MONROE PLASMA CENTER, WHERE LIEW WOULD ONE DAY DO BUSINESS.

Lumpur has an average temperature of 85 to 90 degrees. Never in my life did I know about cold. The next day, I nearly froze my butt walking to the Piggly Wiggly on DeSiard,” says Liew with a laugh. Today, the building that was once the Piggly Wiggly now houses the Monroe Plasma Center, where Liew would one day do business. “I picked up milk, hot dogs, buns and other necessities, then I froze my butt walking back again to Masur Hall. Suddenly, I remembered I had no refrigerator. What could I do? Human instinct told me to bury my milk and hot dogs in the snow so they would not ruin. That day, I told myself, if I ever become successful, I want to build an international house for students who come here, so they can have a refrigerator to put their food, a place to sleep and a place to fellowship with other international students as well as American students. Years later, Lynda and I get together with Dr. Bruno (President of ULM), and we built the International Student Center. Since we built the center, international enrollment have increased tremendously.”

he Liews have a heart for contributing to the community that gave them their start. Eric and Linda Liew’s dream of building the International Student center became a reality in 2015.

The center, which includes a large kitchen, meeting and study rooms, short-term lodging, laundry facilities and socializing space, was a much needed addition to the campus. Liew is quick to assert that although the idea came from his arrival experience years ago, Linda was instrumental in the project, particularly in designing the interior of the structure.

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“Linda worked very hard to make the inside of the building first-class for the students. She picked out all the paint, artwork, furnishings, everything.”

This project has been dear to the Liew’s, not only because it is their alma mater, but because it gives them the chance to continue to develop relationships with the international community at ULM.

“It is all about education. We continue to speak with Dr. Bruno on ways we can help the University. When people are educated, there is no time to demonstrate in the streets, or burn down buildings, or throw rocks at the police who protect us. With education, there are people with jobs and positivity.

There is less crime and problems. It all boils down to education. Knowledge is worth as much as gold,” Liew explains with earnest affection.

“Linda and I believe in giving back, and we will continue to give back.

The next project we would like to do is to create a scholarship for international students who dream of going to college, but can not afford to go. We want to help them to make that dream a reality.”

Family at the Center From the day he landed in Monroe, Eric Liew has approached life with a determination and enthusiasm that is rarely seen. AOSS has grown exponentially, but his family remains the most important thing to him. When asked how he has managed a business that has expanded to encompass so many divisions and locations and continued to have a life and family, Liew answered immediately.

“Easy. Behind every successful man is a very successful woman, and that’s one right there,” he said, casting his gaze upon Linda. “Don’t give me all the credit. This is about her, too. We keep each other balanced. I move very fast, but she slows me down and shows me how to balance work and family in the best way. We are also very blessed to have good employees who want to grow with us in Monroe.”

Both Eric and Linda Liew inherited their solid work ethic from their families, who are extremely proud of the couple’s accomplishments. As a child in Malaysia, Eric recalled his father rising with the sun and working until after sunset to support his 6 brothers and sisters.

“I learned by watching my father that work is not a choice. We must work hard to have success. There are no shortcuts in life,” he points out. He was determined to live a different life than what he saw in Malaysia.

“There is no such thing as the American Dream in Malaysia. Here, in America, I can be anyone I want to be. I wanted to be a businessman and be successful, so I came to this country to make it happen. The American Dream does not happen overnight. It takes hard work and time to make it happen.”

Linda, like Eric, grew up in a family where hard work was a necessity.

She was raised in Richland, Mississippi to a family with roots in farming. Her mother was one of twelve children and supported her own family by working tirelessly as a waitress. On Linda’s father’s side, farming was the family business. Linda clearly remembers watching her grandparents perform backbreaking work in the fields to provide a life for their family. In Linda’s family, the women worked alongside the men and equally as hard.

“I remember watching my grandmother on my dad’s side. She did what it took to get the job done, no matter how hard it was. I remember that when the mule died, she was the mule. She pulled the plow through the fields when there was no animal to do the work...and she was proud that they had the tallest cotton in the state of Mississippi.”

Wisdom through Experience Beginning with an economics course at NLU, Eric and Linda Liew have grown personally and professionally. They have achieved incredible success indomitable determination, persistence and faith. Liew also believes that a person’s outlook influences them greatly.

“Everything in life is connected,” he says with conviction. “If you surround yourself with successful people, you will be successful. That is what happened to Linda and me. We surrounded ourselves with successful business people, and we became successful.”

ERIC AND LINDA LIEW’S DREAM OF BUILDING THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CENTER BECAME A REALITY IN 2015.

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iew is quick to recognize Linda as his partner in all aspects of life. She not only supports him in their businesses, but also provides the home life that means everything to the couple and their children.

“Eric is a go-getter, and he is hard to keep up with sometimes, but he loves to make people feel good, and he loves to make them laugh. People trust him, because they know he can. It comes from the way you are raised. We were raised to show respect and to be accountable, and we taught our children the same values,” says Linda.

There is no doubt that the future holds amazing things for Monroe, courtesy of Eric and Linda Liew. Their dedication to our community is tireless and magnanimous.

“If someone tells you that a person can’t be successful in a small town, ask Linda and me. I’m a little guy from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, who married a country girl from Richland, Mississippi. We went from being students at a university to having businesses in medical supply, plasma centers, biological manufacturing, and now development...all in the small town of Monroe. If people say there is no opportunity in Monroe, I prove every one of them wrong.”

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The Geneva Difference

A Classical Christian Education in Truth, Goodness and Beauty

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OST PARENTS DESIRE AN EDUCATION THAT prepares their children for life. They don’t merely desire good grades and a good job in the future, but they want their children to reason well and live well. They want an education that goes beyond preparation for making a living to preparation for life.

A good education teaches the tools of learning; it does not try to teach everything. In other words, an education is about how to learn, as much as what to learn.

What happens at Geneva Academy? We divide our school into three sections: grammar, logic and rhetoric. While all traditional subjects are taught—math, language, science, history, etc.—we approach learning differently at each level.

The grammar school is full of stories, fact mastery, singing, and wonder. Children at this age delight to repeat ditties of information. What you learn as a child stays with you for life.

As the students move into the logic school (7th-8th), they are more curious about the reason behind things. They see the world in black and white and possess a keen sense of justice. At this stage we argue, debate, discuss, reason, and teach logic formally. During

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these years, the students begin the serious and wonderful journey through the writings of Homer, Aristotle, Augustine, Dante, Shakespeare, Darwin, Austen and Melville.

Students in the rhetoric school (9th-12th) are trained, not in the “rhetoric” of today’s politicians, but in the art of bringing people winsomely to truth. Besides the standard four years of high school math, science and English, Geneva graduates will have studied multiple languages, as well as Bible, art and music every year. They will have gone through the Bible four times since Kindergarten and read hundreds of great books. Seniors draw all the disciplines together in writing and defending a thesis.

Today’s world needs well-educated men and women of character who love God and want to serve their neighbor. That’s the vision and purpose of a Geneva education.

Call (318) 805-0116 to arrange a tour, visit our classes or request information. We invite you to discover the Geneva difference.

Protecting Yourself?

Continued From Page 95 overweight or obese. Higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with higher risk of type 2 diabetes, and obesity is a strong predictor of sleep disordered breathing. For overweight or obese adults with other cardiovascular risk factors (such as high blood pressure), maintaining a weight loss of 3-5% of body weight can produce clinically meaningful results. Greater weight loss can produce even greater results on BP, cholesterol levels and blood sugar.

• Reduce Blood Sugar. Diabetes is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Heart disease death rates among adults with diabetes are 2 to 4 times higher than adults without diabetes. You can minimize the impact of diabetes on your body — and even prevent or delay the onset of diabetes — by eating right, controlling your weight, exercising and taking medication prescribed your doctor. In some cases, lifestyle changes result in less need for medication.

• Stop Smoking. It’s time to kick the habit. Going smoke-free can help reduce risk of heart disease and stroke, but also cancer and chronic lung disease. The payoff is almost immediate. Quit smoking, and you’ll lower your excess risk of developing heart disease and stroke within only a few years.

Source: American Heart Association

Hooshang in NYC

For the first time, the artwork of Hooshang Khorasani will be exhibited at Artexpo New York.

Two of his paintings were chosen for the April 21-24 exhibition by Artblend Gallery of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Artexpo is an annual juried show that for 39 years has brought the biggest publishers, galleries and collectors face to face with established and emerging artists in what is billed as the world’s largest fine art marketplace.

“Stormy Evening” by Hooshang Khorasani

Under one roof at Pier 94, more than 400 exhibiting artists, galleries and publishers from across the globe showcase original artwork, prints, sculpture and much more. Over 30,000 art enthusiasts and industry insiders attend to seek the art and artists that will mold future trends.

In Florida, Artblend features a diverse selection of contemporary fine art, including photography and paintings. Artblend is a full-service, art-related business offering gallery and art fair exhibitions, marketing, book publishing, and magazine profile opportunities to emerging, mid-career and established artists from around the world.

Hooshang’s paintings making the trip to New York are the abstract “Stormy Evening,” a 36-by-36-inch acrylic, and the equine work “Moonlight Runner,” a 30-by-40-inch acrylic.

Anyone wishing to attend the expo can contact Hooshang for information about free tickets. Hooshang Studio is open by appointment by calling (318) 255-9368.

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Your Next Fine Jewelry Purchase

Dupont Jewelers Has a Wide Selection For Your Next Special Jewelry Purchase!

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CQUIRING A NEW PIECE OF FINE JEWELRY HAS never been easier. We, at Dupont Jewelers, offer you many options for that next special jewelry purchase.

TRADE If you have a piece of jewelry that has gone out of style, simply trade your piece for a new style. Simple and easy! We have a showcase full of jewelry, and you’re sure to find something new you will love.

RESTORE If you like the styling of your piece, we can restore it to like new condition by redefining details that have worn off, re-tipping or rebuilding settings, replacing the shank of the ring, or re-engraving worn engraving. We work with Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum and Silver. All work is done in-house.

REDESIGN Redesigning your piece using your diamonds and colored stones which you already own is another option. We create designs by a process called “Handmade.” No piece is ever the same. We use solid gold metal that has been rolled and workhardened into wire or flat karat stock. This metal is very dense and hard, so it doesn’t scratch, bend or dent likes most commercial jewelry. It can be polished to a higher gloss finish due to the

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hardness of the metal. We bend, drill, solder, polish and engrave the pieces we make. We call this “Generational Jewelry,” because it will truly last generations. This hand-crafted process will ensure your jewelry inheritance can be passed down for generations.

SELL The last option we offer is: we will make you an offer to purchase your diamonds and jewelry regardless of their condition.

We buy old jewelry, new jewelry, gold and silver coins, and large and small diamonds.

We are local, and we love what we do. Each ring is fashioned to create a custom fit for your finger. Our customers often comment on how well their ring fits and the beautiful luster of the metal.

Every custom piece of jewelry is created with the customer in mind.

Creating jewelry in this nostalgic process is very rewarding. We love giving our customers a one-of-a-kind signature piece designed specifically from their style and taste of jewelry.

Trade – Restore – Redesign — Sell Dupont Jewelers on Forsythe in Monroe

Custom Carpet and Interiors

Partners with the St. Jude Dream Home for Seventh Year

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HILE CUSTOM CARPET AND Interiors has big and small projects from Monroe to Marion and Rayville to Ruston, one of their favorite projects happens each spring and doesn’t actually make them any money. However, it is something that Michael Durham and his team have been participating in for seven years and something they hold near and dear to their heart – The St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway.

“I originally got involved with St. Jude after a friend of ours’ son got diagnosed with cancer, and I wanted to do whatever I could to help,” said Michael Durham, owner of Custom Carpet and Interiors. “Since then, it seems like there are several children from our area that are diagnosed with cancer and receive treatment in Memphis at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and there is always some sort of connection.”

This year’s home is located in Bayou Trace neighborhood on 165 North and designed by

Danielle Gilmore, of DLG Designs. “Danielle was great to work with,” said Michael. “She picked out designs, showed me inspiration pictures and we worked together on tile and flooring throughout the house.” Custom Carpets and Interiors carries a variety of products from different companies, one of which is Shaw. Shaw partners with St. Jude Dream Homes across the nation to provide materials. Custom Carpet & Interiors then provides the labor and any other materials needed for installation.

When you step in the front door of this year’s home, you immediately see the beautiful 7-inch wide white oak floors, which have white and grey undertones, giving the living room and kitchen somewhat of a coastal vibe. The kitchen features a light grey backsplash with the popular solid glass subway tiles, accented with white grout. Around the corner is the spacious laundry room, featuring large 12” x 24” light grey brick pattern tiles on the floor and

the countertop. There is also a unique beveled diamond mosaic backsplash, with white tile and gray grout, making it really stand out. The office space has a similarly unique backsplash with small glass tiles creating a multi-colored mosaic.

One bathroom features a white and grey basket weave marble on the floor and in the decorative inset, while the other features large tile with a smaller decorative insert in the middle. The master bath has marble arabesque Carrara Bianco tile surronding the bathtub and accenting the shower wall, with marble porcelain tile on the shower walls and on the bathroom floor. The carpet throughout the house is a light nylon that looks like a natural fiber, without the care required.

Stop by this year’s St. Jude Dream Home to see some of the amazing work by Custom Carpet and Interiors, or check out their website, Facebook or Instagram.

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Richland native Bryan Bolton shares how helping farmers manage their finances prepared

him for the unique challenges of being a banker to some of the biggest stars in the world

Article by MICHAEL DEVAULT Photo by ED RODE PHOTOGRAPHY

he last place Bryan Bolton ever pictured himself was kicked back in the dressing room of a country music icon or on the red carpet of the CMA Awards -- at least not in the way he’s arrived here. If the bright lights of show business were in a young Bryan’s future, they were shining on him while he performed.

A year out of high school, he had visions of becoming a rock star. For much of his time at Mississippi College and for all of his four years at Rayville High, Bryan had played baseball, but music fixed that.

“I was a pitcher,” he recalls today, more than 20 years later. “I realized I could play music, stay up late, and not have to work out in the mornings. So about a year and a half in, I quit baseball and formed a band.”

That band was Max Cherry, and beginning in 1998, Bryan’s band started to play shows around Jackson. Before long, their reputation had grown, and freed from the constraints of a hectic baseballer’s schedule, Bryan was free to tour – which they did. From 1997 until after graduation, Max Cherry toured extensively across the American South, playing shows in Pensacola, Austin, Atlanta and all points between.

“We were kind of all over the South for a while,” he says. “We had our own music, but we really were just a good party band.”

In 2001, Bryan’s future seemed pretty set. His music was popular enough that it kept him busy, and his studies were winding down.

Music, he knew, was going to be his full-time avocation. Then, everything changed.

“My father was diagnosed with ALS and dementia,” he says.

“When you’re diagnosed with something like that, there’s a 100% mortality rate.”

Visions of rocking weddings and sorority parties aside, his path was clear. Without hesitation, he hung up his guitar and returned to Rayville to spend as much time as he had left with his father.

Though Bryan knew one day, sooner than later, he would be back in the saddle, until then all he could do was to bide his time – and find a job. Mississippi College finance training had provided him with a solid grasp of money concepts, and growing up in Rayville, going to Rayville High, and spending his youth in the cotton and corn fields provided more than enough knowledge to adequately assess the health and productivity of things that grow out of dirt. So, he applied to work at Bancorp South, where he was put to work as a crop inspector.

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“TO MAKE IT AS A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN IN NASHVILLE IS PROBABLY THE HARDEST PLACE IN THE U.S.”

“I learned then about building and maintaining relationships, and how those relationships are the key in banking – being personable with your client, knowing them and, more importantly, knowing what they’re going through,” he says. With small town clients and many farmers in his accounts list, Bryan relied heavily on his knowledge of farming, of the local economy and the unique stresses that come with the up-and-down world of family farms. A solid banking career well under way and music somewhat behind him, at least for the time being, Bryan settled back into the small-town routine.

His father died in March 2004. Three months later, he met the woman who he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Two years later, they married, and it was time for Bryan’s attention to return to music. Less than a year later, in 2007, the young couple moved to Nashville. Bryan wasted no time diving right back in.

“I got here and started doing writers’ rounds, trying to get a publishing deal,” he says. Any optimism or youthful cockiness quickly gave way to a realization thousands of aspiring stars come to. “I realized pretty quickly to make it as a professional musician in Nashville is probably the hardest place in the United States to make it, even though it’s the music capitol of the world.”

Writing songs, playing music and getting your name out there is one thing. Supporting a wife as you’re anticipating starting a family while doing so is another matter altogether. Bryan needed a job, and Bryan’s banking background opened up a lot of opportunities in the thriving commercial mecca that is Music City.

Atlanta-based southern banking juggernaut SunTrust had carved out a toehold in the competitive, if complex, music banking industry. Not only was Bryan a career banker who spoke music, he’d also worked with farmers who, like musicians and the financial infrastructure that supported them, experienced really great years that were often followed by several not-so-great years. They put him to work almost immediately.

As a music banker, Bryan helps artists and management teams navigate the complex interactions of credit-lines, deferred royalties and the arrival of that fabled, career-changing “mailbox money,” the massive checks that arrive sometimes months, if not years after a songwriter publishes and sells a hit song.

“When a writer pens a hit song, he won’t get paid for that song until a year or more later,” Bryan explains. “We work with their publisher – companies like BMI, ASCAP or SESAC – and look at the projections. Working off those projections, we’ll provide a loan for the songwriter. When those royalties flow in, they then flow straight to us, we pay down the loan, and pass through the rest to the songwriter.”

ryan’s strong people skills quickly caught the attention of the larger banking and financial community outside of Rayville. While Bryan was working with farmers to help them make the most of their crops, higher ups were turning gears. Not too long after he started, Cross Keys Bank approached. They wanted to open a branch in Rayville, and for that they required his help. The opportunity to be a part of a new banking branch proved invaluable to Bryan.

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In this capacity, Bryan and his coworkers provide a modicum of stability in an industry known for Everestian peaks and Marianas-esque troughs. Along the way, Bryan’s helped guide the financial success of some of the biggest names in country music. Though he demurs with a banker’s discretion when asked for names – professionals in this business never namedrop – a glance at his photo album provides some insight. When pressed, he chuckles.

“I certainly never thought I’d be sitting backstage at a client’s festival, hanging out with someone, whose music I covered at the Pickin’ and Ginnin’ Festival in Rayville 25 years ago,” he says.

BRYAN’S HELPED GUIDE THE FINANCIAL SUCCESS OF SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN COUNTRY MUSIC. n addition to helping songwriters by day and kicking back in the fabled Opry green room after hours, Bryan assists music industry professionals organize and fund tours, setting up the lines of credit that enable artists to hit the road. For two or three months, while the artist rehearses, builds light rigs, plans and sells the tour, instead of tapping valuable capital, they can draw down the lines of credit and, when the tour kicks off and begins to generate income, the line of credit is paid off.

Another vital service banking professionals like Bryan provide are the financial planning to help level out the highs and lows of music income. He uses for his example again a young singer-songwriter.

For the first few years of their career, they’re living meagerly on a meager $20,000 publishing draw. Suddenly that all can change.

“Then, they’re posting a $10 million year – just a few years later,” Bryan says. But such success is fickle and rarely holds out forever.

“When something changes and they’re back to making $100,000 or less, it’s our job to make sure we maximize those big years, so they can make it through the smaller ones.”

Bryan’s job is as much providing sound life advice and career coaching as it is about selling a banking product or setting up a loan.

At heart, he’s still the crop inspector, assessing this year’s output with an eye to the future.

“The thing I like doing is getting with a young artist – maybe at a write-around or a showcase – and then I can connect with them before they’re big enough to have a business manager. That way, I can connect directly with them,” Bryan says. As their career grows, so too does his relationship with them. “Eventually, they get a business manager, build a team and I work with the team.”

Last September, Bryan’s career took yet another of the kind of organic turns that have brought him to where he is today. First Tennessee Bank approached him to build a music banking division there.

“The fun thing about music banking is that, while most bankers work 8-to-5 in suits, we’re there 8-to-5 in blue jeans,” he says. “And then we’re going to the parties and the awards shows after hours.

“That’s a big difference between music banking and regular banking.”

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Male Breast Reduction Condition Can Occur at Any Age

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YNECOMASTIA. IT’S A BIG WORD FOR A CONDITION that can be a big problem for men of any age. That’s especially true for men between the ages of 50 and 69. Enlarged breast tissue in men typically peaks in that age group and can affect 1 in 4 men in that age group.

“It’s a medical condition that is triggered by many different causes,” said H. Stephen Maguire, M.D., a plastic surgeon located in Alexandria, LA. “In the middle-aged patient, it is often related to a decrease in the amount of testosterone as compared to the amount of estrogen in the body. Gynecomastia is common during puberty, when as many as one half of teenage males will experience this. Typically, this is transient and will resolve within two years.”

Enlarged breast tissue can also be caused by hormonal changes, heredity, obesity and use of drugs, such as steroids, anti-anxiety mediation, ulcer medications, antibiotics, chemotherapy and drugs for prostate enlargement. There are numerous medical conditions that can also cause gynecomastia. However, the vast majority of cases of gynecomastia are benign.

“Many patients seek surgical treatment, when other medical treatment doesn’t work,” Dr. Maguire said. “It makes sense, because enlarged breast tissue in a male can affect his self-confidence, physical activity and daily life.”

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, patients considering gynecomastia surgery should be non-smokers of relatively normal weight, with no life-threatening illnesses. In addition, the patient’s breast development should have stabilized before surgery.

“In some cases, all the patient needs is liposuction in the area,” Dr. Maguire said. “In other cases, we surgically remove the glandular breast tissue. In some cases, we do both.

“In severe cases, the weight of excess breast tissue can also cause the breasts to sag and stretch the areola as well. In those cases, the position and size of the areola can be surgically improved after the excess skin is removed.”

Results are immediate, though patients continue to see an improvement in post-surgical swelling and incisions for 3-6 months.

When choosing a surgeon and deciding on surgery, patients may want to ask: • Am I a good candidate for this surgery?

• Where and how will you perform the procedure?

• What will the recovery period include?

• What are the risks and complications related to this surgery?

• What will be expected of me to get the best results?

“The great thing about this surgery is that results are often permanent,” Dr. Maguire said. “Once we remove the tissue, the patient will not have to deal with the issue again. Patients are often extremely satisfied with the results.”

To schedule a consultation, call Dr. Maguire’s Alexandria office at (318) 422-5800.

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Vieux Carré Place

Monroe’s Newest Residential Development

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NIQUE, STYLISH AND PEACEFUL ARE JUST A FEW words used to describe Monroe’s newest residential development, Vieux Carré Place. Located in North Monroe, this subdivision provides easy access to Ouachita Parish zoned schools, Sterlington Elementary School, Sterlington Middle School and Sterlington High School. It is also a prime location, residing just off of 165 North, for CenturyLink employees, as well as all medical professionals.

Vieux Carré Place boasts an impressive brick entrance that will also include beautiful landscaping, gas lanterns and fountains.

An eight-foot tall brick and wood fence surrounds the entire subdivision to ensure privacy and serenity. Throughout the neighborhood, brick-lined sidewalks and concrete curbing will grace the exteriors of each home.

Of the twenty-eight lots available in Vieux Carré Place, Eddie Flanigen with Flanigen Builders has begun construction on four patio homes, one of which has already sold! The zero-lot line homes range from 1,750 to 2,000 heated square feet with each offering twelve-foot ceilings, beautiful custom cabinetry, sleek stainless appliances and a private side patio. The Acadian style homes will be adorned with gas lanterns and brick and wood fencing. Landscaping and sprinkler systems are an added bonus to the lovely homes.

General contractor Eddie Flanigen provides dedicated, quality service with each home he builds. Each project is a calling card for Flanigen Builders and is therefore treated with the utmost attention to every possible detail. Interested buyers of Vieux Carré Place can customize their home to meet individual needs.

For more information on this wonderful development, contact Eddie Flanigen with Flanigen Builders.

318-355-0045 Email: info@flanigenbuilders.com Check out Eddie Flanigen Builders, Inc.’s Facebook page for updated photos and information.

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No Fooling With Our Spring Fashion The Fleurty Ginger Boutique

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ITH MARCH COMING TO AN END, WE ARE welcoming April with open arms and bright colors! New arrivals are hitting the store weekly to ensure you are dressed to the max for all occasions coming up. Linen is so beautiful and easy to layer, and our large selection is fabulous. New locally-made jewelry is a must for the Spring. We will have you ready to stay comfy casual or dressed for hitting the town! Several new lines of chic attire are available in sizes Small-3XL! We can’t wait for you to stop by, and see all we have to offer.

Here are a few must haves for this Spring Season: • Linen • Chokers • Layers • Stripes • Florals • Maxi Dresses • Wedges

March offered us the opportunity to show off The Fleurty Ginger Boutique’s latest trends with being apart of Fashion Fusion, which supports The Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana! As your official plus size headquarters, we were honored to be represented among NELA’s top local retailers! A huge THANK YOU to our gorgeous models: Lennie, Cherie, Caroline, Erica, Wendy, Hope, Meredith, Deidre and Jennifer. Another major thanks to Makenzie along with the DBK staff and dancers. We couldn’t have done this without you and your support!

Follow us on: Twitter - @FleurtyGinger Facebook - @TheFleurtyGinger Instagram - @TheFleurtyGingerBoutique Online – www.TheFleurtyGingerBoutique.com

Here’s to a new new month, new fashion and a new you!

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In the Home Stretch of Home Financing Do’s and Dont’s

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HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT items to keep in mind during the mortgage process. When you make certain changes to your employment or bank accounts, it could affect the status of your loan. Our goal is for you to have a smooth experience from application through closing. Once you’ve completed a home loan application, follow these tips to ensure that your loan stays on track for a timely closing.

• Contact your lender if your salary changes or you are expecting a change in employment. Even if it’s a positive step for your career, it’s a change to your application and could impact final approval or closing times.

• Reach out to your lender if a deposit is going to be made into one of your accounts that isn’t a standard payroll deposit. Cash and/or gifts or other deposits must include a documented paper trail.

• If the current address you listed on your application is going to change, it’s

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important that you notify your lender.

• M ake sure to pay all your bills on time to make sure that nothing negatively impacts your credit score during this process.

• Avoid creating any inquiries on your credit report, including opening any new accounts or co-signing for anyone, since new debt can alter your approval for the loan.

• If you’re purchasing a home, shop and select your homeowner’s insurance coverage for your new home from the insurance agent of your choice. Notify your lender once you have made a decision and signed for your coverage.

• Make certain to keep your funds available for your down payment and closing.

Once closing is scheduled, you will need to obtain the funds prior to closing. Your lender will provide detailed instructions on how to provide the funds to the title company for closing day.

Always feel free to ask questions. If you are unsure if something may impact the closing of your loan, discuss it with your mortgage consultant in advance. It’s better to be safe than risk an unforeseen setback on closing day.

Contact Susie Dartlon to get started or ask any questions about your home purchase or refinance. She’s ready to help you!

Susie Dartlon, Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS #419431 1300 Oliver Road Monroe, LA 71201 318-327-3317 susie.dartlon@iberiabank.com iberiabank.com/susie-dartlon

Nothing Runs Like a Deere 5K 2nd Annual Race Set for May 13th

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OLDMAN EQUIPMENT IS hosting their second annual 5K Charity Race. The “Nothing Runs like a Deere 5K” will be held May 13, 2017 at their West Monroe location (511 Mane Street, West Monroe) next to the Ike Hamilton Expo Center. There will be a Family Fun run at 8 a.m., and the 5K begins at 8:30 a.m. This year, all proceeds will benefit the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home in Monroe. The mission of the LBCH and Family ministries is to provide love, care and a positive Christian witness for children and families in need.

The race is kicking off the Drive Green Event for the day, where customers can talk to tractor, turf, utility and implement experts and get behind the wheel of John Deere and competitive equipment. Get coupons good for $250 off a 1-6 Family tractor, $150 off turf and utility equipment, and up to hundreds

off attachments. Also enter to win a 3E series Tractor Package! To learn more about Drive Green events, head to www.Deere.com/ DriveGreen. Be sure to come by Saturday, May 13 to support the runners, test drive equipment and shop John Deere toys and merchandise.

Sign up for the race at www. trinitysportsusa.com, or go to goldmanequipment.com for the link to sign up. Be sure to like the Goldman Equipment Facebook page, and let your friends know you will be attending the event! Register

by April 28 to receive your t-shirt size. The Family Fun Run is $20, 5K is $25, and dayof-race sign-up is $35. You can also decide to “sleep in,” donate, and still receive a t-shirt for $25.

Goldman Equipment is your hometown Louisiana John Deere dealer, with 12 locations in North and Central Louisiana

that began in 1946 with a location in Waterproof, LA. They are your headquarters for all your lawn and farming needs. Besides John Deere, they carry and service Stihl and Honda Power Equipment, and now carry TopHat Trailers made in East Texas, and even custom golf carts. With an Irrigation and Integrated Solutions department, they are carrying out the latest technology in farming today. Goldman Equipment is hosting this charity 5K, because they believe in upholding core values that have helped forge a strong, long-lasting, and mutually beneficial partnership with all customers; and giving back to our community organizations will help the community, and relationships within our communities.

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EYE FOR DESIGN Carolyn Campbell is a master of interior design and avid oil painter article by Maré Brennan & photos by Martin G Meyers

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hen I discovered BayouLife was headed to Nashville for our 2017 Travel Issue, my first thought was of Carolyn Campbell. She was the interior designer who rescued my train wreck of a renovation back in 2005, gently guiding us back on track and creating memorable spaces that have provided the backdrop for my family for over a decade. Campbell was my design“go-to” as she had written column after creative column on interior design for my former magazine back in the late 1990s and early 2000s. And she had the real world “chops” to back up her designs as she was the first woman to be a licensed contractor in Louisiana in 1969.

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completed, Carolyn decided to make her own home in Nashville, moving to Music City after Louisiana was left with gubernatorial choices of convicted felon Edwin Edwards and former klan grand wizard David Duke. Soon after, her husband Paul Norris proposed and made the move to Nashville as well. Because of the couple’s ties to Monroe, Campbell still returns to north Louisiana frequently to visit family and to work with clients while maintaining a full complement of projects in Nashville. While establishing her interior design business in Nashville, Campbell worked for noted home furnishings, lighting and accessories company, John Richard.

It was during an office renovation in Monroe for Vici French’s venerable advertising agency, French Creative Group, that Campbell discovered her love of painting in the

early 2000s. “I was always good with color,” says Campbell, “but I couldn’t draw. I started painting with oil, because you have more time to work with the paint before it dries.” The office renovation took Campbell’s design skills totally out of the box. She recalls the men’s bathroom that incorporated actual car hub caps and comic book style graffiti. Soon after, she began painting for clients and selling her oil paintings out of her house.

“I’ve been on a dog kick lately, says Campbell, whose dog portraits are in demand as commissions. “I wanted to do a dog painting for my stairway. Paul is fairly dog crazy

– he really loves the paintings like you’d see in English country manor houses with sporting dogs.” The first dog painting she ever did (see top painting above) was a replica of miniature painting she had seen at William Seacourt Galleries, which always has an exhibit at the Westminster Dog Show. “I gave the painting to Paul as a gift, and he loved it,” says Campbell.

While dog portrait commissions have been part of Campbell’s repertoire for quite a while, she still loves to explore landscapes, which are her favorite, and even more abstract non-objective paintings — no style is off limits for this intrepid painter who found her talent as an outreach of her interior design.

When working on paintings, Carolyn tends to work alone and loves long, uninterrupted stretches of time to create. “Before I married Paul, I would paint at night,” she laughs. “All my nightgowns had paint on them.” Often creating paintings for clients’ projects, Carolyn says she often works on inspiration.

Carolyn’s own light filled home and office are located near Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, Bellemeade Country Club and Percy Warner Park. Her adorable King Charles Cavalier, named Holly, is captured on canvas and hangs in the couple’s breakfast room.

Several skins of zebras which were hunted by Paul, a United States representative for an African safari company, create the basis for a master bedroom that seems to be inspired by Out of Africa. On the walls, are portraits painted by Carolyn, along with a built-in bookshelves, which are a signature feature in most bedrooms created by the designer. Carolyn painted the landscape behind the iron canopy bed not long after her move to Nashville.

Carolyn Campbell is accepting paintings on a commission basis and is available for interior design consultation. Call 318.348.9065 or email ccinteriors@aol.com.

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Simply Lou Revenge Can Be Sweet

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article and illustration by Lou Davenport

he following is a true account of traveling with my dad. It may sound fictional, but I can say it is “the facts, nothing but the facts.”

I will go as far as taking the oath, “the whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help me God.” No names have been changed “to protect the guilty” either!

My daddy’s nickname was “Duke.” Not sure how he got it, but Duke fit him well. He loved big cars, Oldsmobiles and Buicks, to be specific. I believe he just loved to drive and drive he did, like a “bat outta hell.” He was one who “did not care for the journey, just the destination.”

Whatever the journey was, Duke had his own rules of the road. That meant that he was solely in charge of the radio, usually a baseball game. He would let you have a “coke” with ice, but, don’t dare “rattle the ice!” Do not crunch potato chips! Bathroom stops were made ONLY if he needed to get 118 APRIL 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

gas. He could smoke all the unfiltered Lucky Strikes he wanted with the windows up. The foremost rule was follow all of HIS rules.

Listening to baseball games was pure torture for me. Duke spoke of Dizzy Dean and PeeWee Reese like they were two of his best friends. I actually thought he knew them personally. We drove through Wiggins, Mississippi once, and when Duke announced it was “Ol’ Diz’s” hometown, I thought we were going to stop and visit!

“Driving through or by” was how you traveled with my Dad. It didn’t matter where you were going. You got there and drove back. And, you rode at speeds way beyond the speed limit. My grandmother would fuss at him about how fast he drove. One of his Buicks had a “governor” that signaled if you were over a certain speed. He told her, “Mama, I have it set on 45.” Truthfully, he set it at the end of the speedometer. She

kept waiting for it to go off, so she could fuss at him. No disrespect, but Duke would sometimes “lie like a rug on the floor.”

I don’t have the space to tell all the places I traveled with my Dad, but I have chosen a most memorable one for this month’s column.

Most deserve a column of their own, so from now on, I’ll write a full account of them in future “travel issues.”

Duke loved going places. That wasn’t the problem. I got to see many historic and beautiful places. “See” is the operative word here. You didn’t get to stop at the historic sights, you rode past them, quickly. I have a lot of blurred photographs to prove it.

We struck out for Modesto, California once to take my Mamaw Mae to see one of her cousins. My cousin, Judy, was along and I have talked to her about this, and we both still agree on the details. Like I said, some of these stories might sound hard to believe.

Duke owned a big, gold Buick Wildcat during this particular trip. It was a good thing, since there were five of us piled in that big old “land yacht.” My mom fancied herself as “the navigator,” but Duke didn’t use maps.

He seemed to always know where he was going, and if he took a wrong turn, he wasn’t about to stop and ask for directions. He just “back road-ed” it, and somehow we got where we were going. And it didn’t matter if we ran across some interesting sight, while we were “lost.” We better look at it from the window as we sped by!

My grandmother’s cousin lived in the middle of an almond orchard. Since California was even dry back then, concrete irrigation canals ran all through the orchards. We got to go swimming in one of those canals and even picked some fresh apricots off a tree! I never knew how delicious fresh apricots were and just about made myself sick I ate so many!

The visit ended. The Wildcat was packed, and off we went. The plan was to travel down to Ocean Side, California, where a friend of ours was stationed. My most vivid memory was all the wholesale floral fields along both sides of the freeway. I also was well aware that there were lots of cars, in many lanes and they were all going as fast as Duke was. I thought about earthquakes and wasn’t sure if I really liked California.

I am not sure who saw it first but, as we were approaching Anaheim, a sign said DISNEYLAND! The Original! The one Walt Disney himself opened! The home of Mickey Mouse and Cinderella and Snow White! We all were on high alert! All of a sudden we could see where to turn!

Now, in all the excitement, I don’t think I heard my father say anything. But, he knew, for his own good, he better take that exit. My

mom was a peaceable woman, but I think he knew he better not “accidentally” miss that turn. (Little did I know, he was coming up with a diabolical plot.) At that moment, I believed with all my heart we were about to GO TO DISNEYLAND! We all did!

Duke drove into the parking lot. And stopped the car. Disneyland was right there.

We could see the castle! “Mickey” beckoned us, and I think “Tinkerbell” flew by! The anticipation was almost too much to bear!

Then, the “spell” was broken when my father said, “It’s getting late and we could just go on down to Oceanside for the night.

We can come back tomorrow...and spend... the whole day.”

Well, that sounded like a workable idea.

So, goodbye Disneyland, we will see you in the morning! Back in the Wildcat and on to Oceanside we innocently rode. All was right with the world.

The next morning we were all up and ready to go...to.... DISNEYLAND! We were still oblivious to his “evil master plan.” He waited until we had all eaten breakfast and my mom had gotten “coffee-ed” up. In the Wildcat, all ready to go, he dared speak these insidious words.....

“I think we need to head on home and not go back up that busy freeway today. There’s going to be so much traffic and we still have

a long way to go.”

We just sat there with our mouths open in disbelief. When the weight of his words sunk in, the “veil of silence” fell and the chilly winds blew. Icicles should have formed above him in that Wildcat Buick. If looks could kill, Duke would have been found dead in a hotel parking lot and foul play would indeed have been suspected. I seriously think my mother wanted to give him a big roundhouse punch. My grandmother, a forward thinking woman, probably thought of ways we could leave him stranded in the desert. Nobody spoke to him for days. He didn’t care. He continued to listen to his damn ballgames!

You would think he would have apologized. He did not! (and never did) What he did do was “drive through” Las Vegas, right down the strip! Yes, he did! Did we stay in Las Vegas? Of course not! The mission now was to get back home as fast as he could drive that Wildcat.

Years later, Duke passed away. I like to think of him in a big Electra 225, driving at some ludicrous speed, down an endless freeway for all eternity. Maybe he has “Ol Diz” and PeeWee with him. As for me, I inherited enough to buy my family a mini van. Then, we planned a trip to DISNEY WORLD! No expenses spared! No “rules of the road” allowed! Just, Orlando or Bust!

Every morning we drove to the parking lot, caught a shuttle to the river boat and rode over to the Magic Kingdom! Every morning, we were packed onto that boat with countless others as excited as we were. Every night, we drug ourselves back on that boat, exhausted and quiet with countless others from having way too much fun. In four days, we saw it all, rode it all and enjoyed every minute. We were there when they opened and shut ‘em down every night.

We went to Sea World one day and got splashed by Shamu, watched dolphins dance and petted the sting rays. That place was hot, but, we forged ahead in pursuit of F-U-N! Next stop, Destin, for beach time and some well earned rest!

As we made our way towards Destin to meet cousin Judy and her family, Larry suggested we go ride the “glass bottom boats.” We all groaned. Adam, who was 7 at the time, summed it all up, “But Dad, I am tired of going to all these places we are supposed to have fun.” We had truly “over dosed” on fun and not one “evil master plan” was hatched.

I have never returned to Disney World.

Once was enough. I finally “righted” a terrible wrong. And, I learned that revenge can be sweet-sometimes. Oh yes, it can.

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Moss Eyecare Moving to New Location on Hwy 165 N

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FTER NEARLY FIVE YEARS, MOSS Eyecare will be moving to a new home, on 165 N in Monroe. Owners, Dr. Jody and Miranda Moss are excited to unveil the product of a long-awaited location. Formerly Surles Optical, Moss Eyecare has been providing quality eye care for many years to the community.

Custom designed by Fazio Architects in Austin, TX, the space boasts nearly 5,000 square feet and has the latest optical technology to provide the highest level of care for their patients. The interior was designed by Geri True from Nebraska and features calming hues of grays and blue grays throughout. The entire project has been coordinated by Ymker Developers from Missouri.

In addition to the design aspect, the optical space will feature five exam lanes instead of the two they offered at the original location. The examination area will allow for the latest in technology, such as the new

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Optovue Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). The OCT is essential for managing glaucoma, macular degeneration and other retinal diseases. It provides a mapping of the retina, much like a MRI of the eye. It enables Dr. Moss to see layers of the retina to help with early detection and monitoring progression of eye diseases such as, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Dr. Moss strongly encourages all patients on Plaquenil have a yearly scan of their retina.

The new exam rooms will feature new digital phoropters. Phoropters are used in the refraction portion of the exam where the doctor determines glasses and/or contact lens prescriptions. The use of digital phoropters help the doctor get a quicker and more accurate prescription.

Another component of the latest technology includes the use of Spectangle.

This is a digital measuring device used to obtain more accurate measurements for single vision and progressive lenses.

Opticians now use an iPad to input measurements for glasses quickly and easily.

In the approximately 1,000 square feet optical space, you can find the following frame lines at Moss Eyecare: Modo, Rayban, Versace, Burberry, Coach, Michael Kors, Silhouette, Maui Jim, Costa, Oakley, Vera Bradley, Vera Wang, Kate Spade, Tory Burch, Fysh, Kliick, Penguin, Lily Pulitzer, Polo, Fossil, Ted Baker, Banana Republic, Kenneth Cole and Gant. We have the most current frames from these collections. Our newest line is Krewe du Optic sunglasses and ophthalmic frames, based out of New Orleans.

As always, Moss Eyecare strives to exceed their patients’ expectations. From the check-in process to the exam room and the optical department, they make sure the utmost care is put into each relationship.

They are looking to expand their team and will be hiring a full-time Associate Optometrist in the near future.

High Quality Travel Goods and More Jon Hart Trunk Show April 13th at The Muffin Tin

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OR MORE THAN 35 YEARS, JON Hart Design has produced high quality custom and personalized bags, totes and various travel goods and accessories right here in America. Our products are produced in the fine State of Texas. We are proud to have never taken our production overseas, and thus, there is currently no need for us to bring it back home.

Through leadership and per customers’ requests, Jon Hart Design has experienced consistent growth by adding new colors in its most popular materials of coated canvas and leather. There are now well more than a dozen choices of each material from which to choose in a plethora of styles. Most recently Jon Hart Designs has produced quite popular clear plastic products as required for various security purposes. Each product carries the

Company’s iconic “Jon Hart Design” logo and proud owner’s name or initials.

No matter who or where you are in life or your particular lifestyle, JHD has a product appropriate for you or your loved one. Whether you are interested in Men’s, Women’s, Kids, Gifts, Sports and Outdoor, or a particular Season, we have a product that will stand the test of time for you.

Our products include accessories, backpacks, computer/briefcases, crossbodies/wristlets, duffles, food and beverage bags, garment bags, gun and ammo cases, organizers, overnight bags, refills, shoe bags, toiletry kits for men and women, totes and wheeled bags.

We offer Greek items, a kids’ line, something for men and women, items for the office, bags for sports and outdoors, travel bags and university must-haves.

For more information on our guarantee, products or orders, please contact The Muffin Tin in Monroe or Trenton House in West Monroe.

The Muffin Tin will be hosting a Jon Hart Trunk Show on Thursday, April 13th from 2 to 5 p.m. in Monroe, LA. Stop by to experience the color, touch and feel of our various durable materials. Our annual Graduation Sales Event will be going on, and we will be offering special prices on products that are great for grads! Free monogramming will be available during the show (a $10 value), so don’t miss out on the opportunity to give a quality gift at a great price. Be sure to come in and register ahead of time to ensure that we have the products styles and colors that you want!

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Visit the All New Copeland’s

Copeland’s Brings a Touch of New Orleans Back to Monroe

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ITH A CASUALLY ELEGANNT atmosphere combining New Orleans flavor and comfort with an upscale sensibility, Copeland’s of New Orleans in Monroe offers something for everyone.

Alana Belton remembers the night she and her husband John celebrated one of their wedding anniversaries at Copeland’s. The memories captured in a photograph in front of the old fire and water fountain.

When hearing of the news that the restaurant might be sold, John and Alana Belton put deep thought and prayer into the decision to purchase it. “We need New Orleans cuisine in our area and Copeland’s offers a world of possibilities,” said Alana Belton, restaurant owner. The Belton’s bought the restaurant in December 2015.

One of the Belton’s first order of business was to renovate the entire restaurant. The recent grand reveal was a huge success with

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an estimated 150 people in attendance. The event featured special guest Al Copeland, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Al Copeland Investments. Fifteen years later, John and Alana Belton were photographed once again in front of the fire and water fountain. This time not as dining guests, but as the new owners.

The new ambiancepays tribute to traditional New Orleans hospitality with an exterior façade revamp, including a heated outdoor Courtyard. The interior features a fresh color scheme, brick accents, lanterns, shutters, private dining areas and other distinctive New Orleans architectural styles.

More than just a remodel, the locally owned franchise has introduced a Saturday Brunch featuring live entertainment with many of the staples you’ve grown to love on Sunday’s Jazz Brunch. Saturday evenings feature the terrific sounds of the Josh Love Band. Is your business looking for a place

PHOTOS BY RUBY CHANG

to host your next morning meeting? Call ahead and Copeland’s will help you plan a successful breakfast event. Also, private dining can be arranged in the Mardi Gras room or the heated outdoor courtyard. Need help catering your next big party? Copeland’s offers possibilities far beyond the menu.

The Copeland’s team strives to provide a dining experience like no other. Everything on the menu is made from scratch with only the freshest, premium ingredients. Copeland’s chefs take pride in blending mouth-watering sauces and seasonings to bring out the robust signature flavors that they are famous for.

For more information, visit www. copelandsrestaurantmonroe.com, or our Facebook page. We look forward to seeing you at the all-new Copeland’s.

Excellence in All Things Neville High School Celebrates Top Twenty Tigers and Their Teachers

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memorable video or sixteen produced by Coach years, Paul Guerriero, an Neville inspiring speech from Alumni Neville alum, Mr. Alan and Friends Association has hosted Brockman ’94, and medals presented by the Educators’ and ULM’s Dr. Eric Pani, Students’ Excellence Mrs. Lisa Miller, and Award Banquet, an event designed to Mrs. Linda Bruno.

One of the highlights recognize and reward of the evening was the long tradition of Abby Wise, Michael Marchman, the presentation of the academic excellence at Ms. Patricia Turner and Julianne Campbell coveted Ouida McGee Neville High School.

Educator Excellence The top twenty Award to Mrs. Elizabeth Smith. graduating seniors select the teacher most

The banquet chairpersons, Leigh Ann integral to their achievement. This year’s Goff, Kathy Hart ’66, Dana Jefferson ’66, banquet, held at Bayou DeSiard Country and Maggie Zentner; NAFA; Neville High Club on February 16, brought together School; along with the Top 20 graduates these stellar students, their families, their and their teachers, gratefully acknowledge teachers and Neville alumni for an evening everyone who contributed to our evening of of celebration of scholarly achievement. excellence.

Top 20 graduates and their honored

Table sponsors: Dr. and Mrs. Bill teachers pictured here enjoyed dinner, a

Bateman, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Brown, Dr. and Mrs. Scott Burkett, Mr. and Mrs. George Campbell, Centurylink, Dr. Larry Danna, Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Davidson, Mr. Darren Davis, Grace Episcopal School, Graduate Sales, Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hansen, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Kwentoh, Mr. and Mrs. David Marchman, Mr. and Mrs. Randy Morris, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Nettles, Progressive Bank, Shaw Oxygen, Dr. and Mrs. Justin Tarver, Dr. Stephanie Long and Mr. Burt Teplitzky, Dr. and Mrs. Joe Travis, Dr. and Mrs. David Trettin, Dr. and Mrs. Norman Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Todd Williamson, Drs. Amy and Todd Yates.

Centerpiece Donors: Aspirations Spa, Coco’s Mercantile, Crawfish City, Daily Harvest, Daily Press and Doug Cookston, DAQ’s Wings and Grill, Debbie’s Hallmark, DOE’s Eat Place, Eskamoe’s, Fiesta Nutrition Center, Flying Tiger Brewery, Free Birds Boutique, Genusa’s, Happy Days Car Wash and Lube, Haven, HerringStone’s, Mary Dawson Photography, Material Things, The Muffin Tin, Orange Leaf, The Paper Market, Parterre, River Grill, River Outfitters, RoeLA Roaster, Rustico, Sampo Contracting and Inspections, Spa Nouvelle, Starbucks, Thurman’s, Tonore’s, Trios, ULM, Vee’s Flowers and Gifts and Woodstock.

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A WORLD AWAY FROM HOME

COREY COOPER Talks to BayouLife about her travels and her life as an American in the Middle East

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Article by KAY STOHART RECTOR

LOUISIANA NATIVE COREY COOPER is a long way from her hometown of Rayville. A single American woman, Cooper works and lives in Saudi Arabia, a Middle Eastern country where native women are prohibited from traveling independently or even dining out alone. Cooper works in a remote desert community approximately 100 miles outside of Saudi Arabia’s capital city of Riyadh, teaching Islamic young women, whose lives are vastly different from hers. Yet in some fundamental ways, they are the same.

Cooper’s students, females ranging in age from 19 to 25, are learning to speak English as the first step in a vocational training program designed to help them enter the workforce. Vocational training for women is a part of “Vision 2030,” a program of comprehensive reforms recently implemented by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with a view toward improving and developing the country’s overall health, education, infrastructure and economic systems.

Although Cooper never intended to be an educator, it was always her dream to travel the world. Shortly after high school graduation, Cooper left Louisiana to attend New York University, where she studied Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies. While attending a career fair in college, she realized that there was a demand for bi-lingual candidates for travel-related jobs, particularly those with a command of Middle and Far Eastern languages. Cooper found learning Middle Eastern languages to be far less difficult than mastering Asian languages, so she honed in on Arabic and learned to speak that language fluently, hoping to one day land a job overseas.

Cooper spent her first few years after college working in Washington, DC, then later moved back to New York. She was living in New York City on September 11, 2001 when terrorists attacked and the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center fell. Just weeks before, she had resigned her full time job to launch her own event planning business. In the aftermath of the attacks, Cooper found her plans suddenly derailed. “Of course, no one was hiring event planners in the weeks and months after September 11th,” she recalls. She left New York and headed to her mother’s home in Dallas, Texas to regroup.

Hesitant to return to New York and still wanting to live abroad, Cooper started looking into avenues that would help her make that goal a reality. Someone suggested that she explore programs that train and hire native-English speaking teachers for jobs in foreign countries. Following this advice, Cooper enrolled in and completed a four-week course and became certified to teach English as a second language. She submitted a number of applications, and in 2002, landed her first ESL teaching job in Algeria, a place she had never even visited. Cooper was the only American in her group of teachers, which included women from Australia and Great Britain. Cooper and her co-workers taught in a small private school catering to adults wanting to learn English as a second language. “It was a whole new experience for me, and a really great experience,” she says. Cooper remained in Algeria until her Visa expired, and then took a similar position in Istanbul, where ESL teaching jobs were plentiful.

“At that time,” Cooper says, “it was also very easy for Americans to go in and out of Turkey.” When she was not working, she traveled as much as she could.

Cooper eventually returned to the United States and again worked in Washington, D.C. Soon, though, she began to long again for an adventurous life abroad. “I would always become restless in a traditional nine-to-five job,” Cooper recalls. While living and working in foreign venues does satisfy her need for adventure, adapting to day-to-day life in a foreign country can be extremely stressful. “There are definitely days when I want to take my passport and run for the airport,” Cooper admits. “But for me, the chaos of it actually works.”

Cooper explains that while Saudi presents itself, and is considered, a rich country, the infrastructure and health conditions are in many ways comparable to a Third World country. “Something is always going wrong here,” she says. “In that way, it makes me very appreciative of home.” When describing her daily life there, she says “Every day is the same, yet weirdly different.” Her work routine rarely varies. She lives with other teachers and school staff in the gated, all-female quarters leased by Interserve, the private company she works for. There are no surrounding parks or public recreational areas, no movie theaters and alcohol is forbidden.

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nd of course, the cultural differences are vast.

Cooper lives in an area populated almost entirely by Muslims, and most of her students are part of the extremely conservative Bedouin culture. For the girls she teaches, the school affords the only regular social interaction outside of their families. Gender separation in public is legally required. “Everything is segregated by gender,” Cooper explains. “In restaurants, for example, women are required to sit in sections near the back, booths with curtains that can be closed. Women always cover their hair and heads, and most cover their faces.” Cooper also wears the hijab, covering her hair, in most public places, but dispenses with it when in the larger, more cosmopolitan areas such as Riyadh.

With respect to the cultural adjustment, “Saudi Arabia is not just another country; it is another planet,” Cooper says. She feels this is true not only for a woman like herself from the American South, but for any foreigner new to the Middle East. Cooper realizes that as a teacher in Saudi Arabia, she is able to experience and immerse herself in a culture that few Americans fully understand.

Cooper also acknowledges that her job affords her incredible opportunities for travel that she would never have with a conventional job placement. As an Interserve teacher, Cooper enjoys a summer

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vacation which lasts between six and nine weeks, as well as ample time off during the academic year. Almost all of her free time is devoted to travel.

Weekends for Cooper and her co-workers begin on Thursday, and they typically fit short excursions within Saudi Arabia and the surrounding Middle Eastern countries into their weekend breaks. With the exception of Islamic holy sites, such as Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia is generally not regarded as a travel destination. However, Cooper notes that tourism is growing in the west coast region of Saudi Arabia. The Hejaz Railway, part of the story of Lawrence of Arabia, as well as Madain Saleh, a significant archaeological find, are both designated as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Cooper finds the temples of Madain Saleh, built by the same people who built the Petra in Jordan, the more fascinating of the two. “The best thing about travel in Saudi,” Cooper says, “is that your group will have the entire place to themselves. Anything that predates the times of the Prophet Mohammad is considered pagan and unholy by the locals, so it will be undisturbed.”

Just beyond the Saudi borders are other travel destinations that Cooper recommends. “Everyone knows about Dubai,” she says.

“It is completely over-the-top in extravagance and is certainly my preferred weekend trip out of Saudi Arabia. But Abu Dhabi is worth

the trip to see something really spectacular. The mosque of Abu Dhabi as an architectural wonder.” Cooper describes the city as much more subdued than Dubai. Cooper’s ideal getaway in the Gulf Region is the Chedi Muscat, a luxury hotel in the Sultunate of Oman. “Oman is truly the pearl of the Gulf,” Cooper says. “The people are friendly and educated, the seas are emerald green and everything is well cared-for.”

In the winter, when school breaks afford the chance for longer getaways, Cooper’s favorite travel destinations include Budapest, Switzerland and Prague. Each summer, Cooper takes an extended leave from her restrictive life in the Arabian desert and heads to Southern France, a place she describes as being the cultural opposite of Saudi Arabia. In the South of France near St. Tropez, she rents a small apartment from a local Frenchman and spends her summer vacation partaking of all that France has to offer, hanging out near the sea, eating wonderful fresh food, drinking wine and generally enjoying life. After months in the desert, Cooper always finds France to be a welcome change. “I shop in the local fruit and vegetable markets, where everything is as beautiful as an Instagram photo and so fresh that there is still dirt on the roots,” says Cooper.

While in France, she tries to immerse herself in the French culture and do everything the local way. “Very few people there speak English,” Cooper says, “so it is a great way to practice my French.”

Of the people, Cooper notes, “Although France has a reputation for rudeness, I find that showing genuine interest and following cardinal rules of society in France will put almost everyone at ease. I have made friends in town just asking where to buy cheese.”

Unsurprisingly, Cooper loves reading travel books and travel magazines, and she says that her Pinterest boards are filled with ideas about where to go next. As for travel advice, she typically shies away from hotels, preferring instead local rentals found through sites such as Airbnb.

“Get lost,” Cooper also advises, noting that she loves to wander aimlessly through the neighborhoods in Paris. “I always find the most interesting restaurants and shops by spotting a chic woman on the street and literally following her to see if she goes anywhere cool,” says Cooper. She also finds that visiting drug stores and supermarkets are easy ways to get a feel for what life is really like for locals.

Cooper describes how walking around without an agenda can sometimes lead to surprising discoveries. Once, while wandering through the small alleys in Paris, she came upon a street party outside a little wine bar. “Everyone just started handing me glasses of wine and champagne. It turns out I had crashed a closed party for a restaurant that had just received a huge award,” Cooper laughs. “They were dancing to a live band in the street, and at the close of the party, the band played ‘Sweet Home Alabama,’ a request from the crowd. You can’t find that in a guide book.”

Cooper says that she has always had an inherent desire to understand people, and feels that this is at the center of her quest to see and experience the world. Essentially, she says, she just wonders about other people’s lives and how other people spend their days.

“For example,” Cooper notes, “people all over the world sit down with someone for a meal each day. I always want to know what that meal is like. How do they do it? What do they eat? How does their food taste?”

“What I really love is seeing, hands-on, how other people live,” says Cooper, noting that travel is primarily about educating yourself and satisfying a basic curiosity about other people and places.

“Especially today, I feel like everyone thinks that people here in the Middle East or in other foreign places are so different, and they are,” Cooper acknowledges. “At the heart of it, though, we are all so much the same. Everybody cares about their loved ones. Everybody wants their kids to be healthy. Everybody wants love in their life.” Cooper, like most travelers, is convinced that we can all discover much about ourselves by exploring the places, customs and traditions of others around the world.

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Landscaping and Lawn Experts

NorthPro Landscaping and Lawn Care North Louisiana’s Property Preservation Professionals

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INCE 2001,NORTHPRO LANDSCAPING and Lawn Care has been serving the northeast Louisiana area and striving to keep their customers happy. Owner Tommy Neck has expanded his business to include multiple crews and full-time office staff and currently serves customers all over northeast Louisiana.

No job is too big or too small for NorthPro, whether you are looking for help with design or maintenance. North Louisiana residents agree, as NorthPro has been voted Best Landscaping and Lawn Care service of the Delta over the past few years. NorthPro Landscaping and Lawn Care - North Louisiana’s Property Preservation Professionals

NorthPro Landscaping and Lawncare is one of the leading full-service landscaping companies in the Monroe/West Monroe area. Our services include landscape design, landscape maintenance, lawn care, hardscapes,

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water features, outdoor lighting and debris removal. We have experienced landscapers and guarantee clean, prompt and reliable service.

At the age of sixteen, Tommy began mowing lawns for extra money. By the time he was out of high school, he had employees to help him maintain his large customer base.

Tommy has a landscape horticulture license (#3747) and an irrigator contractor license (#0442). Now a family man with a wife and three boys, he balances his work life with his family life, working hard to promote his business and spend time with his kids.

Tommy’s creativity and business sense are assets in his thriving business. He manages NorthPro Landscaping and Lawn Care while keeping the same core values that the business was founded upon – clean, prompt, reliable service the first time and every time after that.

“We started with a large empty yard and not much else. Tommy Neck and the crew at NorthPro helped us develop a plan to turn our blank yard into a beautiful outdoor retreat, full of inviting places to relax, play and even birdwatch! Our yard now has several interesting shady spaces we use every day. His creative mix of flowers, trees, shrubs and hardscapes transformed the way we spend our time outdoors. His crew was always professional, on time, and kept us up to date with the project. Tommy called several times to inform me of the progress and ask my preferences on plants and colors. The hardscape he designed turned out better than I imagined, and the budget was exactly what he estimated. Now that the project is complete, we spend more time outside than we ever have before.

I get compliments on my yard at least once a week!

It’s like we added on to our home, because we have so much more useful space outside. Thank you, Tommy Neck and your crew, for making our yard nicer than we dreamed it could be!”

– Rebecca Frye

Getting to Know You Learn More About Your NELA Dental Dentists THE WRESTLING DAD

VANCE COSTELLO, D.D.S. is an Oak Grove native and NLU alumnus. He and his wife, Carla, have two sons, Connor and Ethan.

Vance loves Louisiana’s tradition of hunting and fishing and shares that passion with his sons. When he’s not enjoying the outdoors, Vance is yelling from the bleachers of his sons’ wrestling tournaments.

Dr. Costello received his doctorate from LSU School of Dentistry and is a member of American Academy of Implant Dentistry, Academy of General Dentistry, American Dental Association and Northeast Louisiana Dental Association. In 2011, he was awarded board certification and Associate Fellowship in Implant Dentistry by the AAID. He is one of the few general dentists in Northeast Louisiana who is certified in IV Sedation. Also, he is an instructor for “Implant Know-How’s” advanced surgery clinic in Puebla, MX. THE DOG WHISPERER

DANIEL RAYMOND, D.D.S. grew up in Monroe and attended St. Frederick High School. Later he received his bachelor’s degree

from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

While attending ULM, he was a member of the Warhawk Baseball team. Daniel and his wife Sarah have three children, Caroline, William, and Lizzie Jane. Daniel is an avid duck hunter.

As every great duck hunter knows, it takes more than just a lucky shot! That’s why Daniel enjoys training his two Labrador retrievers.

Dr. Raymond is a graduate of the LSU School of Dentistry, a member of the American Dental Association, Louisiana Dental Association, Northeast Louisiana Dental Association and a Fellow of the American and International Dental Implant Association.

THE WEST MONROE VALEDICTORIAN

EMILY WILHITE, D.D.S. graduated as valedictorian from West Monroe High School and later obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana Tech University, graduating with summa cum laude honors.

Emily and her husband, Blake, have two children, Olivia and Andrew. As an avid reader, she’s always ready to dive into a new book.

Dr. Wilhite received her Doctorate of

Dental Surgery degree from LSU School of Dentistry. She is a member of the American Dental Association, Louisiana Dental Association and Northeast Louisiana Dental Association.

THE GLOBETROTTER

CAITLIN SLADE, D.D.S. loves to travel! She has been to 19 countries and has participated in a medical mission trip to Guatemala. Caitlin isn’t just on-the-go with her travels, she’s always ready to get up and go for a run or play sports!

Dr. Slade was raised in Metairie and attended Mount Carmel Academy in New Orleans. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences at LSU, where she graduated summa cum laude. Later, she received her Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree from LSU School of Dentistry. She is a member of the American Dental Association, Louisiana Dental Association and the Northeast Louisiana Dental Association.

Schedule your free consultation and start smiling today!

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The Patio Place

Jensen Leisure Offers both Traditional and Modern Designs in Outdoor Furnishings

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OR OVER TWENTY FOUR YEARS,THE JENSEN NAME has been synonymous with thoughtful design, solid craftsmanship and a high standard of customer service. With an impressive range of traditional and modern designs and styles, Jensen offers something for every home.

The timbers used in Jensen Leisure Furniture, Ipé and Roble are the finest outdoor timbers available in the market today.

Heirloom quality begins with timber which is FSC © 100% certified from Jensen’s own well-managed forests in Eastern Bolivia. Only the most stable heartwood portions of each log are selected from trees that have grown for over a century, before they are harvested.

Jensen timber is then slowly cured in kilns for up to 65 days to assure dimensional stability and a lifetime of outdoor service.

The Ipé Collection is a strikingly beautiful timber that weathers with strength and elegance. Ipé is incredibly strong and dense, with very high wear durability. A handsome chocolate brown when new, the sun gracefully transforms Ipe´ to a mature, elegant silver patina. If you wish to preserve the original color, Jensen recommends and supplies a special oil finish for recoating one to two times a year, making it an ease to care for.

Roble is best known for decades in Europe as a premium

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garden furniture wood and is highly valued for its outdoor stability and durability. Roble pieces are available in their natural, light wood finish or in the beautiful Argento finish. The Argento collection is distressed and given a weathered driftwood appearance. These finishes require no special care other than the recommended Wood Shield as it ages outdoors.

Pictured below is the new Coral Collection which includes dining and seating options, as well as chaise lounges. All weather quality Virofiber is artistically handcrafted using a twisted, traditional gray and cream hyacinth weave onto a powder coated, commercial grade aluminum frame. This natural textured weave combines handsomely with the smooth, brown richness of Ipe’ timber arms and base.

Come by and see a sampling of these heirloom quality pieces on our showroom floor. The Patio Place is conveniently located in the Northgate Center at 1844 Forsythe Avenue in Monroe. We look forward to assisting you with your outdoor furniture selections – Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Fiesta Nutrition Center Unveils The Good Earth Juice and Salad Bar

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HE COOLEST NEW HOT SPOT in town is now open inside Fiesta Nutrition Center in mid-town Monroe.

THE GOOD EARTH JUICE AND SALAD BAR is serving healthy lunch, juices, smoothies, desserts and coffee in a beautiful artistic atmosphere.

SALAD BAR

The self-serve bar has offerings of organic greens, vegetables, proteins (including vegetarian options), house-made dressings and unique condiments. “We are focusing mainly on raw items, with a signature chicken salad, grain salads, kale salad, cheeses, nuts and seeds to round out a complete meal. We have sourced the best quality organic ingredients available. That is what our customers expect, and we are in the position as a natural food market to provide it,” says café Manager Eliana Parker.

JUICE BAR

Organic vegetables, greens and fruits are freshly-juiced each morning for quick grab and go. Several combinations are available and the current crowd favorite is Scarlett Love, a blend of beet, carrot, celery, apple, orange, lemon and ginger. So much to love!

SMOOTHIES

The smoothie menu is also a build-yourown concept. Here’s how it works: choose your base, protein type, fruit, sweetener, and many add-ons like nut butter, coconut, greens powder, seeds and superfoods.

Again, the ingredients have been selected from only the best brands of nutrients.

properties. The Acai Bowl is acai (frozen in sorbet-style) and topped with bananas and berries, granola, almond butter and coconut.

This makes a delicious low-sugar, highprotein small meal or treat.

AND MORE

Soak up the healthy vibes, connect to wi-fi and enjoy a cup of RoeLa Roaster coffee and an artisan sweet treat made from Baked by Becca. The grab-and-go cooler is stocked with wraps, house-made artichoke hummus, everyone’s favorite smoked pimento cheese, cold-brew coffees and numerous flavors of Kombucha drinks.

Monroe is ready for this, and so are we.

ACAI BOWLS

What we’ve all been waiting for…new to this area. Acai is a brazillian superfruit known for its energizing and antioxidant

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Annual Photo Contest Submissions Requested CVB and BayouLife Accepting Entires for Annual Photo Contest

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HE MONROE-WEST MONROE CONVENTION AND Visitors Bureau (MWMCVB) and BayouLife Magazine are partnering once again to host their 10th Annual Photo Contest. Prizes for the contest total $875, and the photograph that wins Best of Show will be featured on the cover of BayouLife Magazine.

The theme is “Ouachita Moments.” Submit your perspective of moments that can only happen in Ouachita Parish. Whether you are sitting by the bayou or hanging out with your friends on Antique Alley, we want to see what you see.

Photos could also include your favorite restaurant or menu item, favorite local shop, art gallery, architecture, event or anything that describes life in Monroe-West Monroe.

Last year, the MWMCVB received over 110 entries in the photo contest. Many of those entries, as well as past entries, have been featured in national advertisements and other materials,

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including the popular Visitors Guide, to promote the Monroe-West Monroe area.

First, Second and Third Prizes will be awarded. Winners will be announced at a special Tourism Industry event in May.

The MWMCVB will begin accepting submissions on April 1.

The deadline to enter is April 28 at 5:00 p.m. Please submit photos in digital format, along with the registration form, to Jerrica Bennett at jbennett@ monroe-westmonroe.org. Photos must be taken within the past two years and in Ouachita Parish to be eligible. Images that include people must be accompanied by a signed Model Release Form that is included in the Registration Packet.

For more information, call the Communications Department of the MWMCVB at (318)3875691 or visit www.monroe-westmonroe.org to download the registration packet. Registration information will be available on April 1.

Pack for Paradise with The Nude Nomad Three Must-Have Items You Need to Pack for Your Next Vacation

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AVE YOU EVER PLANNED THE ultimate vacation and then had no clue what to pack? We have all been there!

Regardless if you are going on a weekend getaway for a girls’ trip to New Orleans or a week-long family vacation to Australia, packing can become overwhelming. That is why we created a list of must-have items to include on your packing list to make the tedious task less daunting.

TRAVEL-FRIENDLY CLOTHES

Fabrics can easily become wrinkled in a suitcase, but Ruby Yaya, an Australian fashion line, is designed with effortless elegance and travel in mind. With these simple “twist, roll and pack” garments, you can literally throw them in your bag and go. The line offers a refreshing array of breezy, colorful, and embroidered cotton dresses, tunics and tops to elevate your vacation wardrobe. You can find Ruby Yaya and a number of other

travel-inspired lines exclusively at The Nude Nomad.

COMFORTABLE SHOES

What’s an outfit without the perfect pair of shoes? Something that most people underestimate when packing for trips is the amount of walking they may do while on vacation. Comfortable and versatile shoes are a must; however, there is no need to sacrifice your style for comfort when you can easily find styles that offer the best of both worlds.

The Nude Nomad offers a wide selection of flats, sandals, heels and wedges with cushion and arch support so you can explore new cities and make new memories in stylish comfort.

UNIQUE JEWELRY

Complete your head to toe looks with handmade jewelry. Depending on the occasion, you can easily dress an outfit up or

down with the right pieces. From handcrafted leather and stone necklaces, earrings and bracelets from Haiti to handmade cross, medal and pearl styles from Dallas, The Nude Nomad has one-of-a-kind jewelry to perfectly accessorize any outfit.

If you have an upcoming vacation, make sure to get a head start on your packing and swing by The Nude Nomad, a women’s clothing, accessories and shoes boutique for the wanderlust at heart. The boutique offers unique and affordable travel-friendly clothes, comfortable shoes and handmade jewelry for every age. The Nude Nomad is open Monday - Saturday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at 222 Trenton Street on Antique Alley in West Monroe, LA, only a few doors down from The Costume Shop.

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MARÉ BRENNAN TAKES US INSIDE DALLAS MARKET FOR A GLIMPSE INTO THE FASHION BUSINESS THAT MOST DON’T GET TO SEE.

PICS BY SCARLETT OLIVIA PHOTOGRAPHY

BEHIND THE SCENES

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hen we shop at local boutiques and businesses, we really get a glimpse into the mind of each store’s owner. The collection of objects or apparel presented are the result of careful editing and planning that takes place months before the products hit the boutique’s floor. Imagine having to look into the future and decipher trends months before the public knows that wide leg pants are going to replace skinny jeans as the hottest style. That’s exactly what boutique owners are faced with four or five times a year when they make their treks to designer showrooms in Dallas, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles or Las Vegas.

Going to “Market” has always held the allure of glamour, whether it was for apparel, accessories or home furnishings. In its heyday, Dallas Market Center would hold weeklong markets. Now “Market” is consolidated into only three days of action-packed, whirlwind decision making. Fast-paced doesn’t begin to describe the melee of activity. Market now lasts from Thursday through Sunday and takes place at both the DMC and its new counterpart F.I.G. (Fashion Industry Gallery).

Gavin Smith, Dallas-based mobile trunk show purveyor, says Jill and Bodie Woods introduced him to Market. Gavin, whose career has included sales at Graham’s in Ruston, working showrooms in Dallas and eventually owning his own showroom for a time, describes how Market has changed since the 1980s. “Everything is different now. Market used to last Tuesday to Tuesday and featured many more lines and showrooms. We used to hand write orders at each showroom, survey all lines then come back and make final edits. Now you can place your order on the computer in a virtual showroom. Your order totals itself right there. The new online system also makes it very easy to reorder.” While the accessibility of online ordering is a positive, Gavin knows the importance of seeing and feeling fabrications and observing cuts and fit firsthand — and Market gives you the leg up when buying for your store.

DONALD AND ANALEISE REEVES AT REEVES AND COMPANY SHOWROOM IN DALLAS MARKET CENTER

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avin’s on-the-move pop-up boutique, Geaux Luxe, is a unique concept venture he embarked upon after closing his own Dallas showroom. With a van outfitted with racks for holding hanging clothes, Smith specializes in apparel and accessories that travel well, like lightweight knits from White & Warren and 360 Cashmere.

Gavin explains that a return from Market gives retailers the opportunity to talk to their customers about what the newest trends will be, like a pre-introduction to the merchandise they will begin seeing in the store in the next several months.

Noted interior designer, home furnishings retailer and author Michelle Nussbaumer’s own showroom Ceylon et Cie was the site of one of many funny Market week experiences for Gavin. “Michelle called me and said, ‘Gavin, you’ve got to come over here. There is a man here who sounds just like you.’ I got there and sure enough it was interior designer Kenn Farrar!”

Michelle’s keen ear had recognized the north Louisiana drawl that both men shared.

The thing about Market showroom operators is that it is nice being around people with the same interests, according to Gavin, who reiterates that selling in showrooms or boutiques is all about relationships built with customers.

Successful showrooms aren’t made overnight, and the magic that happens 4 or 5 times a year at Market Centers around the country is the culmination of work that goes on behind the scenes year round. Analeise Reeves Thomas of Reeves and Company is the second generation to tackle the apparel market showroom business, which is basically a middleman between designer/manufacturers and boutiques and stores. In addition, showrooms act as a powerful line of marketing for the brands they represent. Analeise’s dad, Donald Reeves, opened the Dallas showroom over thirty years ago and has grown the showroom to include 25 brands, including apparel, handbags and jewelry. Together, father and daughter have added another showroom at the Atlanta Apparel Market at the request of one of their long term brands, Kut from the Kloth. In just two years they have doubled the Atlanta space and grown from 3 brands to 15. Callie Eldridge from Monroe handles customer service from her home for the Reeves’ Atlanta showroom and is Analeise’s right hand person.

Analeise was practically born into the apparel business as her grandmother owned the legendary Monroe boutique Signatures by Linda Reeves.

As a young girl, Analeise would spend her Christmas season wrapping presents in the back, playing the piano for customers and growing to be the Signature’s face. “It’s in my blood. I love clothes and I love selling them,” says Analeise. “My dad always tells the story of when I was 13; I asked him if I could help him sell a t-shirt line during Dallas market. He kept jumping in while I was talking to potential customers and made me so frustrated I went to the back and cried. The customers I was talking to told Dad I did a good job, so he convinced me to come back out front and let me do it on my on.

And I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Donald and Analeise have spent plenty of time in the boutique trenches (Donald as a boutique owner in Longview, Texas and Analeise in sales and as a buyer for a Nashville, Tennessee store), so they uniquely know the stresses and pressures that today’s boutique owners face. “You have to remember at market we are selling goods six months in advance of when they will arrive in stores. For example this next market in March is for clothing that will arrive in stores in August, September and October,” explains Analeise.

Pulling the showroom together before a market usually begins a week to ten days before, says Analeise. Clothing representatives out in the field calling on boutiques will bring samples back to the showroom to get ready for the Market onslaught of shopowners. About two weeks before the show, showroom owners start setting appointments with their store owners and buyers. The Reeves & Company Dallas showroom employs six full time employees including two customer service representatives and two traveling WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM | APRIL 2017 135

representatives that cover a territory of eight states. Cayla Dampier of West Monroe is one of Reeves & Company’s traveling reps and calls on boutiques throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas when she’s not at Dallas Market. The Atlanta showroom covers a similarly large territory of nine states. Like any business, sales drive the showroom business. “We have to have girls on the road between markets maintaining lines of communication with store owners,” says Analeise.

Social media has been a game changer for the fashion industry, says Analeise, who finds new and interesting brands to add to their showroom through Instagram and fashion bloggers. “I usually will reach out to companies I discover on social media to see if they have representation in the Southeast or Southwest. If they don’t, then we set up an interview to see if we can work together to help grow their business.” Analeise also says that her store customers who take advantage of social media are the ones who are growing the most and connecting more with their customers. The fashion industry is constantly changing, so it makes sense that consumers, boutiques, showrooms and designers are looking for the next big thing — and social media is the key. And as Analeise says, “Only the strong survive the digital age.”

According to Analeise there are several keys to a successful Market is to do the pre-work and set appointments before market begins. Finding good help during the market is essential. “We have been very fortunate to have young moms who want something fun to do five times a year. These ladies have great personalities and love to help customers learn more about each line. Boutiques always say we have the best help,” says Analeise. Reeves & Company is known for their hospitality with Amanda Reeves, wife of Donald, greeting guests and making sure they are comfortable. During Market, the showroom provides lunch to harried boutique owners and cocktails and wine to celebrate the end of a hard day of ordering and planning. “Dad built this business on trustworthiness and being honest with our clients and customers,” says

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IMAGINE HAVING TO LOOK INTO THE FUTURE AND DECIPHER TRENDS MONTHS BEFORE THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT WIDE LEG PANTS ARE GOING TO REPLACE SKINNY JEANS AS THE HOTTEST TRENDS

Analeise. “We are here to build relationships — not to oversell something. We try never to push a line on a customer. My dad has been in the business as long as some of the stores who are our customers. There is a huge level of trust that comes with a relationship based on integrity.

If we know of a brand at another showroom that would be good for our customers, we send them to see it.”

During Market, showrooms open at 9 a.m., but showroom staff tend to get there around 8 a.m. The first day of Market, Reeves & Company will go over new styles and any new brand and what they are about and what kind of customer might be interested in it. Making sure that every employee knows as much as they can about every brand.

While Market is supposed to end at 6 p.m., Analeise and her dad are known to stay as late as 9 to help customers determine the best mix of product to order. Standing on concrete floors with no time for lunch is made up for by late dinners in Dallas.

BayouLife attended a Dallas Apparel Market event earlier this year and witnessed the whirlwind of planning, buying, selling and relationship building that goes on behind the scenes. Lucky for northeast Louisiana, the boutiques and stores in our area are some of the brightest stars of the retail South, keeping us and our homes up to date and fashionable in every regard.

Trio’s Dining Celebrates Easter Greek Easter Celebration April 16

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HRISTOS ANESTI,TRANSLATED to “Christ is Risen!” means Easter is here. “Pascha” or Greek Easter is celebrated throughout the world. This is the day we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection.

Most families spend the day together, celebrating into the late hours of the day.

For most Greek people, this is the biggest holiday of the year, and the celebrations are usually quite festive!

Easter is the oldest Christian holiday, and the most important day of the church year. In the Greek culture, Easter is especially sacred and is considered a great celebration. The Eastern churches base the holiday on the Julian calendar. Some years it falls on the same day as the Western holiday, as it does this year.

Trio’s is excited to announce that they are holding their Second Annual Greek Easter Celebration. This event will offer

the community a chance to experience a traditional Greek Easter gathering. There will be staples of the traditional Greek fare, music, flowers, games and more. Owner Jenifer Johnson remembers the holiday from her childhood fondly as a massive celebration of life. Her most vivid memory is of people dancing and having a great time. She recalls being mesmerized by her aunt, Ruby Pappas dancing with a glass of water on her head every year. She wants to give the people of the area a place to experience that for themselves.

Some of the traditional dishes that will be served during the day are Greek salad, Spanakopita (spinach pie), Domaldes (grape leaves), Pastitsio (Greek lasagna), Lemon Potatoes, Lamb Chops, Greek Chicken and more.

Instead of the colorful Easter eggs that we all know, there will be red Easter eggs,

traditional of the Greek culture, which are dyed red to represent the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. A game is played with the eggs called tsougrisma. Each player holds a red egg, and one taps the end of her/his egg lightly against the end of another player’s egg. The goal is to crack the opponent’s egg. When one end is cracked, the winner uses the same end of her/his egg to try to crack the other end of the opponent’s egg. The player who successfully cracks the eggs of the other players is declared the winner and, it is said, will have good luck during the year.

Stop by from 10 a.m. til 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 16 to participate in the event of the year for the Greek culture with bottomless champagne, music and fun!

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Indie Film Series Comes to an End in Ruston Hunky Dory

The North Central Louisiana Arts Council (NCLAC) presents Hunky Dory with Director, Co-Producer and Co-Writer Michael Curtis Johnson. This is the final installment of the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers at the Dixie Center for the Arts in Ruston on April 27, 2017 at 7 p.m. Following the film, the filmmaker will engage the audience in a discussion about the film and his work. Tickets are available for $5 general admission and $3 students at the Dixie Center for the Arts Box Office, 212 N Vienna.

Film Synopsis: After his ex-girlfriend disappears, Sidney, a glam rock dilettante, is forced to look after his 11-year-old son full-time. His ‘cool dad’ façade quickly falls apart and his life goes into full tailspin, as he struggles to let go of his rock-and-roll lifestyle.

Filmmaker Statement: “I moved to the eastside of Los Angeles ten years ago. I didn’t own a car for most of the last decade and, yes, I actually walked in LA. Walking gave me a great chance to see the hidden neighborhoods away from the main roads and get to know interesting people outside the film industry. Like Charles Bukowski, I am inspired by this bittersweet and seedy side of town…. (Hunky Dory is) a tale about a man who walks in LA, struggling with the fear of mediocrity and raising a child while coming-of-age himself.”

The Hollywood Reporter says the film is “A certifiably oddball but legitimate take on the modern dysfunctional family.” Off to the Films says “(Hunky Dory) makes you analyze your way of thinking. This film causes the viewer to separate themselves from their own reality, and become engulfed in someone else’s.”

NCLAC thanks the Ruston-Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau, Louisiana Tech’s College of Liberal Arts and Catherine & Winston McVea for their support of this film series. For more information, visit nclac.org or call (318)255-1450. For more information about Hunky Dory visit hunkydorythefilm.com

The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers is a program of South Arts. Southern Circuit screenings are funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. South Arts, founded in 1975, is a nonprofit regional arts organization building on the South’s unique heritage and enhancing the public value of the arts. Their work responds to the arts environment and cultural trends with a regional perspective, through an annual portfolio of activities designed to address the role of the arts in impacting the issues important to our region, and linking the South with the nation and the world through the arts.

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ULM Wine Over Water A Taste of the University

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ON’T WAIT,TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! HOSTED by the ULM Alumni Association and Ouachita Parish Alumni Chapter, Wine Over Water is your opportunity to support scholarship funds by attending an exclusive party on the beautiful ULM campus. Proceeds from the night benefit The Spirit of The Warhawk endowed scholarship, which is instrumental in attracting our local scholars to ULM.

Thursday, April 20th will be an unforgettable night. The celebration will be held on the Northeast Drive Bridge and will overlook beautiful Bayou DeSiard. With food from over 30 local restaurants, wine provided by Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits and beer provided by Marsala Beverage, your taste buds will be delighted. You will receive a commemorative wine glass, sunset boat rides on the bayou with B & L Marine and entertainment featuring Dr. Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster. You do not want to miss this evening of fun. Tickets are only $60.

We are excited to announce our newest addition to the evening – the Tonore’s Wine Cellar Cork Pull. With over 50 bottles of wine up for grabs, you can purchase a cork for $25 and take home a mystery bottle of wine for you to enjoy. No bottles are valued at less than $25, but you have the chance to win higher valued wine and support ULM.

In addition, a Patron Party will be held prior to Wine Over Water. This event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and last until 7:30 p.m in the Mayme and Tom Scott Plaza. This will give you the best view of the newly renovated fountain and allow you begin enjoying the celebration prior to the bridge opening! Patron party tickets include complimentary hors d’oeuvres, event wine glasses and attendance to the Wine Over Water Bridge Party. These exclusive tickets are $125 each.

This is a must see event, so reserve your ticket today! The evening’s attire is dressy casual – no denim or shorts, please.

The Spirit of the Warhawk endowed scholarship supports local students pursing their first undergraduate degree. Your ticket purchase ensures students of northeast Louisiana can continue to strive for academic excellence.

Tickets are available online at ulm.edu/wine, by calling 318342-5420, or at the Alumni Office now located at 3601 DeSiard Street. Don’t wait, get your ticket today and support The Spirit of the Warhawk endowed scholarship!

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BayouBuzzworthy DBK RIBBON CUTTING AND OPEN HOUSE On March 16, Debbie Bourg opened the doors to the new DBK Dance and Performing Arts Studio located at 2408 North 7th Street in West Monroe. The WMWO Chamber of Commerce was on-hand for a ribbon cutting, while friends and family gathered to see the amazing new space.

THROW ME SOMETHING, SISTER, SISTER On February 25, Paige and Lily Davis traveled to New Orleans to ride on the Queen’s float in Iris’ 100th Anniversary Mardi Gras parade, while their mom and grandmother also appeared in the parade. Lily and Paige are the daughters of Lauren and Heath Davis of Monroe.

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ST. JUDE DREAM HOME RIBBON CUTTING On Thursday, March 16 friends of St. Jude’s gathered at this year’s construction site for the St. Jude Dream Home giveaway ribbon cutting. This year’s home was built by Brian Allen of BRACO Construction and is located in the new Bayou Trace subdivision. Designers, contractors, donors, children who have been directly affected by St. Jude’s and their families were all on-hand to kick-off the home tours. Tickets are available now by visiting dreamhome.org or by calling 1.800.726.9874.

BIG BASS TOURNAMENT FOR TYLER WHEELER A BIG BASS TOURNAMENT to benefit Tyler Wheeler will be held on Lake D’Arbonne on May 6, 2017. Tyler, A LDWF Agent was shot four times in Morehouse Parish on January 7th, during a traffic stop. This tournament will be directed by Dale Taylor, and the weigh-in will be in Ludwig Brothers Marina. This is not a team tournament, but two anglers are allowed to fish in the same boat. For more information, visit their Facebook page at Tyler Wheeler Big Bass Tournament.

Copeland’s Grand Re-Opening Ceremony

Copeland’s of New Orleans officially unveiled their new look at a grand re-opening ceremony Tuesday, March 7. New owners Alana and John Belton of Ruston, LA welcomed the community to experience the newly remodeled restaurant. The space was purchased in Dec. 2015 from Dr. Terry and Nancy King.

When John first considered purchasing the iconic Louisiana business, he first decided to update the interior, striving to provide New Orleans ambience for his guests. They added brick accents, lanterns and shutters in addition to the updated color scheme, adding an intimate level to the dining experience.

A mural highlighting Bourbon Street was also painted over a window that previously looked into the restaurant’s kitchen. The exterior received a revamp as well. The new owners added heat to the outdoor courtyard.

“This is an exciting time for Copeland’s of New Orleans in Monroe as we unveil these renovations,” Al Copeland Jr, Chairman of

the Board at Al Copeland Investments said.

“We take pride in our fresh-from-scratch New Orleans flavors, and we are committed to serving our guests. We have been proudly operating in Monroe for many years, and our loyal guests deserve this remodel. With this remodel and grand reveal, we want to give back to the community and grow Monroe.”

photos by Ruby Chang

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EASTER MEMORIES Starting New Traditions with Your Family article by Cindy G. Foust

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appy April Fool’s to the devoted readers of this wonderful magazine that I enjoy writing for so much. Question: does anyone really observe April Fool’s Day anymore? I never hear anyone talk about a great joke they played, so I guess it’s kind of one of those holidays that has just lost its luster. But there was this one time, when Scott and I first got married, that I changed out sugar in the sugar bowl he used for coffee and filled it up with salt, and that went over really well. Honestly, it really wasn’t one of my favorite post-honeymoon memories. Then another time on April Fool’s, my two sisters and I (it always sounds better to have a “team” of culprits) put a plastic spider on the handle of the mailbox, you know, to play a simple prank on the mail carrier. Well, I don’t think she really observed this holiday either, because she wrote a sort of ugly note to my parents and said she was deathly afraid of spiders and she was sick with panic and fear when she pulled up to our mailbox and it made her almost quit her job. That was kind of terrible. Oh, and we kind of got in trouble.

I’ve just never really had good luck trying to observe this specific holiday, and my memories, well, they are kind of bad. But Easter on the other hand, another holiday on the calendar for this month, now I could fill the pages of this magazine with my Easter memories.

It’s kind of hard to believe that the first quarter of the year is in the books, and we are moving through spring like it’s standing still.

Easter is a little later this year, so hopefully, the cold weather will also be behind us. I did, however, promise our readers last month that I would write on something really exciting like cool ideas for dying your eggs. But I kind of lied, because I don’t really think anyone wants to read about how to tie-dye their eggs or how to dye them “economically” by submerging them in coffee. What the what? How about just using some (stinky) vinegar and a few PAAS 142 APRIL 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

tablets or some food color? Oh the memories that last sentence conjures up for me.

Let me be clear, for those that need to be brought up to speed with my column...we are a holiday family, rich with traditions, so if I let my mind just wander a bit, I can get pretty nostalgic on you pretty quick. Easter was no different than the other holidays, and traditions have always been strict, like having the Easter Egg Hunt at my grandmother’s house. For years, we dyed eggs after lunch, and the older family members hid them, probably several times before the day was over. As we got older, we began hiding them for the younger kids.

One of my top “five” favorite holiday memories would have to be the year my two sisters and I were getting ready to hide the eggs, and my late sister, Angel, disappeared on us. We waited and waited and waited...and we finally decided to just start hiding the eggs, because the younger kids were screaming. Off we went, ready to play the Easter Bunny, getting the 300 eggs hidden, and still no Angel. Where in the world?

Somebody finally let the little ones out, and we are all in the front yard watching the craziness that ensues, when suddenly, without warning, we look down the hill and we see this 6’2” Easter bunny hopping down the “bunny trail.” Except it wasn’t just any Easter bunny, it was the “Michael Jackson” Easter bunny. You heard me right, Angel had sneaked home (my parent’s lived right next door to my grandparents), and dressed up like her then idol, Michael Jackson (readers, don’t judge, we all might not agree with his sort of strange and quacky lifestyle, we have all loved us some Billie Jean or some Thriller, right?) Yes, Angel hopped right through the yard, in her homemade costume, complete with sequined glove, and moon walked her way into my top five holiday memories.

Those were the days. Fast forward about thirty five years, and I find myself writing about my memories for my readers, and wondering, what are some of yours? Does your family have

traditions and rituals that you do every year? You can’t read my column and not know that I am going to always share some of my Edith Bunker stories with my readers, but I’m also, most every month, going to encourage families to work at creating memories.

Holidays give us frequent opportunities to start new traditions, or participate in and enhance old ones. This year, things will be a little different in our family for a variety of reasons, primarily because we lost Bitsy nearly two years ago, and well, it just might be time to start some new traditions.

In fact, we are moving Easter to my house this year, and right after we have church with the family, we will head to my house for our traditional Easter lunch.

What kinds of foods does your family enjoy at Easter? In my opinion, the meal doesn’t really matter as much as the time you spend sharing it together. Even if it’s a hotdog, (I’m telling you right now readers, if I served up hotdogs for my family on ANY holiday, including the 4th of July, they would crumble like a cookie!) sitting around the table together, enjoying a meal, is the perfect way to kick off any holiday.

Right after lunch, we will definitely break out the egg dye and get ready to dye those 15 dozen eggs! I’m not even kidding!

Bitsy always participated in the egg dying, and she delighted in watching the younger kids dye theirs. Next, we will head out to hide the eggs, and this year, I will be dressing up like Elvis Presley and playing Ain’t Nothing But a Hound Dog for our little ones. That’s a joke, heck, my kids probably don’t even know who “The King” is! If this is true, I’ve failed them as a parent!

But, I digress, as usual. After the big hunt, I plan to have some sugar cookie dough ready to go, because our kiddos love them, and let the kids bake and decorate for a while. In years past, we played some different games after the big hunt, and you can find some really cool ones on Pinterest.

So much so, I’m going to organize a few for our kids, and maybe even call it the “Easter Olympics!”

I think it would be great fun to organize a Scavenger Hunt (this will probably go over great with my husband when the kids are running through our flower beds, but he didn’t divorce me over the salt in the sugar bowl, so maybe my marriage will remain

intact after this, too.)

Finally, I think (especially with my son getting ready to go to college) it would be a wonderful new tradition to do some family pictures. Some years we get them, some we don’t, but it’s an important and memorable way to remember every holiday, especially when your children are growing up.

What about you, readers? Are your minds racing with wonderful ideas on enhancing your current Easter traditions or are you inspired to create new ones? If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to take a little time and create some special plans, or work at strengthening the traditions you already have in place.

One thing is for sure, you aren’t going to get this time back, especially if your children are still young, and every ounce of effort you put into creating memories, will be worth it in the minds and hearts of your children.

Happy Easter, readers! I hope your holiday will be filled with wonderful, quality time with your family, good food, great old (or new) traditions and maybe even a few Cadbury eggs.

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Fashion Fusion

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Fashion Fusion 2017, Le Jazz Hot was held in the Monroe Civic Center arena this year on February 25. The Debbie Bourg Dancers coordinated this year’s event with “Gatsby” era’s influence on jazz music through the ages as a backdrop. Sponsored by Coca Cola, The Radio People and many more, the participating boutiques showcased spring fashion as the girls (and guys) walked and danced the runway.

Rain Beauty|Body provided hair and makeup for the dancers as well as the models. Food served during the show was provided by Newk’s, and food for the patron’s party was provided by Chef Pat Nolan.

The performance, which benefitted the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana was truly one to be seen. The music, lights, dancing and style captivated the audience leaving them wondering what the theme will be for next year’s event.

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On the BayouScene 1 Kyle and Malerie Gwin 2 Anita and Don O’Toole 3W ill Erwin and Christy Norris 4 Roderick Worthy and Amanda Edege 5 Hannah Ridings, Chanda Yee and Renee Reed 6 Kelli Duncan, Kelsey Danna and Michaela Hartline 7 T rent Livingston, Andrew Hubenthal, Weston Singley and Andrew Moffett 8 J essica Marchand, Shelby Weaver, Kristin Norris, Jessica and Jeremy Weaver 9 Lindsey Murray and Clint Downing 10 Aly and Casey Ofbon 11 Holly McCready and Larkin Banks 12 R ebecca Robinson and Natalie Sutor 13 Molly Thomas and Jodee Bruyninckx 14 C ody and Leslie Bauman 15 Ronnie Scott and Evan Ward 16 Leslie King and Angela Harrell 17 Rae Dickson, Macy Debman and Elana Dickson 18 C aroline Ernst, Christy White and Mary Catherine Midyett 19 M oira O’Connor, Mary and Delia Simpson 20 Faisal and Jada Ali 21 B ecky Keahey, Lisa Estes, Carol Shaw and Donna Bearden 22 Ava Dickson, Caroline Milford and Darbi Billings 23 Jordan Smith, Jeff Guerriero and Bryan Creekmore 24 Jennifer and Jason Thomas 25 B rittney Cunningham, Clair Cunningham and Anna Brooke Harris 26 Scarlett and Matthew Garcia 27 M esha Wardlaw, Mary Gorman, Amy Hanson and Phyllis Fuller 28 Lauren Wallace and Jessica Howard

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Southern Comfort The Nashville Home of Dr. and Mrs. Tyson Thomas

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estled in the bucolic scenery surrounding Nashville in the bedroom community of Franklin and not far from Percy Warner Park lies the home where Amy and Tyson Thomas are raising their young family. Their home, designed and refined over the past six years with interior designer Carolyn Campbell, is home base for the busy family of five, including sons Jacob, 12; Grant, 10 and daughter Gracyn, 4. Says, Campbell of this client, “The Thomas’ home is lovely and practical for their three

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INTERIOR DESIGN BY CAROLYN CAMPBELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARTIN G MEYERS ARTICLE BY MARÉ BRENNAN

young children as we used indoor/outdoor upholstery fabrics by Perennials” to hold up under any circumstance. In addition, designer Campbell assisted the Thomas’ in building and furnishing the lake home of their dreams on Tim Ford’s Lake near the Jack Daniel’s distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee.

In 2006, the Thomas’ bought their home which backs up to the rolling hills of a beautiful golf course and set to work giving the home the character they craved. Tyson added the first floor and staircase wainscoting himself. As a high schooler, Tyson worked summers in construction for his father’s company which built residential homes.

In the den, Carolyn dressed up a pair of upholstered swiveling arm chairs with a band of velvet on the white Perennials indoor/ outdoor fabric. The easy to clean fabric makes scary spills a thing of the past. A comfy sofa is accented with floral pillows. A turquoise blue painted chest is positioned between a pair of French chairs with coral pillows. A leather tufted ottoman in taupe rolls to provide extra seating or a cocktail table. A painted side table is topped with a modern mass arrangement of trick and coral roses designed by the homeowner.

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eyond the foyer, three arches lead to a spacious and airy living room. Says Tyson, “Our favorite room is the living room. Amy and I love to lie on the couch and read in here.” Comfortable elegance is the key to this room’s successes. Above the sofa, graphic architectural etchings draw the eye upward. A black and gold cocktail tables grounds the seating area. A painted chest, which was a marriage piece for the Thomas’, is paired with a gold-leafed Louis Phillippe mirror.

The office just beyond the foyer features a soaring vaulted ceiling.

Open built-in shelving is backed with a textural grass cloth. A violin made by Tyson’s father is displayed prominently in the center of the shelving. Says Amy, “Tyson’s dad carved a violin for each of his children” so displaying it in a place of honor was important to us. A wall of maps adds a masculine feel to the office.

Across the foyer from the office, three arches lead to the dining room. Celadon green walls are accented with voluminous silk shantung drapery with a Greek key tape over large windows.

An adorable half bath located in the foyer is one of the first projects the homeowners began with Carolyn. The walls of the little jewel box of bath are papered in a gold and cream vine pattern on a background of light blue.

The perfectly manicured gardens find tulips reaching up to greet visitors near the double front doors decorated with Spring-signaling boxwood wreaths. Carolyn designed the double doors with beautiful glass. “I do like pretty glass,” says the designer.

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Says Carolyn of the kitchen renovation the Thomas’ undertook around 5 years ago, “When the Thomas’ bought the home, everything in the kitchen was maple. We redid the floors, the doors and the lighting.”

Adds Amy, “What we really liked about the house when we bought it was that it was easy to add to and make our own.” Carolyn, who is known for her masterful kitchen designs, added an island with a drum pendant task lighting above it for the Thomas’ kitchen, switched the range to gas, glazed cabinets and topped cabinetry with granite. For the backsplash, Carolyn devised a budget friendly, but classic option for the family, using subway with strips of glass tile. Amy had a photographer create an adorable photograph of her children, making cookies and covered from head to toe in flour. The photograph is now prominently displayed in the kitchen.

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omeowner Amy explains, “I like things with a story,” as we walk through the foyer and past a wall with with beloved personal photos and memorabilia, hung artfully above a lovely little writing desk. And Carolyn adds, “You’ll like it a whole lot longer if it tells a story and is personal.”

On the den’s fireplace mantle, the family’s favorite chant, “To Da Lake” is spelled out in rustic letters and a reminder of the family’s new lake house where they love to spend weekends. “Every Friday, the kids and I sing, ‘To Da Lake,’” laughs Amy, as anticipation of time spent together. The color palette in the den is light and bright. White and light Perennials fabric on upholstered pieces mean stains and spills are never scary.

The children’s bedrooms are upstairs and reflect their adorable personalities. Twin beds for the boys and a pretty in pink bedroom for Gracyn are signature styles from Carolyn’s design firm.

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River Oaks Rocks

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Once again, it was an evening of fun in true southern style at the River Oaks auction held on February 17. The theme for this year’s event was “River Oaks Rocks,” setting the tone for a night of dancing. The live and silent auction included class projects, vacations, skeet shoots, beauty and pampering packages, golf outings and a bayou dinner cruise. Guests danced the night away to the Top Kats Band from New Orleans and enjoyed melt-in-your-mouth southern cuisine by Catfish Charlie’s. New to this year’s event was artist JZumo who constructed a live painting during the festivities.

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On the BayouScene 1 Ellie Topakoglu and Delores Daniel 2 Chris and Erin Horrell 3 David and Jackie Walters 4P aul Nugent with Stacy and Andy Austin 5 Chris and Nikki Fuller with Paige Shively 6 CR and Janell Tillman 7 Deanna and Jason Yelverton 8 Rushton and Diane Jones 9D elora and Bruce Walker 10 L eesa and David McMillin 11 R honda Black and Ron Bush 12 Lori Tindall and Jamie Stanley 13 Dean and Karen Mailhes 14 Joni and Matt McDonald 15 Kelly Woodring and Nicole Leggett

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Wig and Stache Bash On Friday, February 17, 2017 friends, students and faculty gathered at the Vantage Banquet Hall to celebrate Geneva Academy in Gatsby style for the 5th annual Wig & Stache Bash. Guests were encouraged to dance the night away in costumes and period attire from the Roaring Twenties. Ladies, wore their flapper dresses, wigs and headpieces. Gents, styled their moustaches—real and costume—and came dressed in their favorite gangster getup. Bash Booth Photo booth was on site to capture the party goers looking their finest. A formal dinner was catered

by Waterfront Grill, beverages provided by Choice Brands and Glazers, Dessert Dash, three awesome raffles by RafflePages.com, a live and silent auction, dance lessons and an after party were enjoyed by all.

Special thanks to our generous sponsors and vendors for making this an unforgettable night!

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Cole and Elizabeth Prine Katharine and Daven Spires C harity and Adam Jones Parker and Julie Dash J ackson, Bruce, Rachel and Liam Huber Krystal and Phillip Medford Sarah Freland and Elisabeth Brown Dawn May, Tara Maddox and Amy Booth C harity Jones, Priscilla Wilkins, Aleta Eley, Amanda Jane Vaughn, Shannin Moreau, Sarah Richey, Connie Merritt, Rachel Huber and Jamie Cychosz 10 Mac and Leah Reitzell with Jessica and Cade Reynolds 11 M organ and Aaron Aitken, Priscilla, Caleb and Otto Wilkins 12 Andre Parker, Stephanie and Paul Gullette 13 Zeke and Courtney Wetzel 14 V alerie and Chris Ramsey 15 A lan Gallagher, Hope Anderson and Onna Gallagher

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Red Carpet Rendezvous The evening of February 26th was filled with glitz and glam at the West Monroe Convention Center as GO CARE hosted its first-ever Red Carpet Rendezvous fundraising gala in conjunction with the airing of the 89th annual Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards show. The event was sponsored by Reliant Healthcare, Amerigroup Louisiana and Haik Insurance Holdings.

As guests arrived, they were immediately directed down the red carpet to pose for a photo by Patty Stewart, followed by the opportunity for an on-camera red carpet interview with the evening’s hosts, GO CARE board president Davy Norris and the stunning Robbie Turner, as featured on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 8. The evening continued on with a seated dinner, live performances by Robbie Turner and the viewing of selected portions of the awards show.

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On the BayouScene 1 Les Cruse and Taylor Michiels 2 Bradley Myers and Kelly Anderson 3R eena Arcilla, Fewee Bondad, Beth and Stella Swanner 4 David Green, Bo Myers and Brent Vallery 5 Paula S. Clay, Maryland Madison and Agnes Hillman 6 Welton and Judy Gaddy 7 Ansell Jordan, Dori Monier and Will Westcott 8 Kevin Caston and Anthony Perkins 9 Blake and Lynne LeBlanc 10 Patti Pate and Beth Ingram 11 Hope Carrol and Barbara Malmay 12 P atty Stewart 13 T im Smith, Sherrie Waggoner, Terri Smith and Carol Brantley 14 D avid Green, David Norris Jr., Dex Poindexter, Dex Hart Poindexter and Robbie Turner 15 S cott Johnson, Rob Woolsey and Page Atkins 16 Angela Martin and Tommy Jones 17 Glenn and Illene Carroll 18 Laura Duke, Arizona Higuera, Hal Mayfield and Beth Mayfield 19 Mark Windham and Tavell Kindall 11

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Affinity Specialty Building

On Friday, March 3, Affinity Health Group unveiled the area’s newest specialty facility – the Affinity Specialty Building. The 93,000 square foot facility is located at 2516 Broadmoor Boulevard in Monroe. This new three-story facility is divided into 15 medical suites with over 100 medical professionals. In addition to medical offices, the Affinity Specialty Building also houses on-site CT scan and X-ray, a casting room, a nuclear medicine suite, cardiac stress test machine, a clinical laboratory, employee lockers, a catering kitchen, administration offices, three conference rooms, outside courtyard and balcony space and two boardrooms with accommodations for eight or twenty-four. Affinity providers and their staff serve 22 clinics in north Louisiana. Affinity employs a total of over 500 medical and administrative professionals.

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Carol-Anne Barnes, Miss Louisiana Justine Ker and Jordan Raborn S issie and Dr. Gary Jones S herra Fertitta, Christie Echols and Delle Tyler M ichael Echols, Rhonda Haygood, Dr. Gary Jones, Billy Justice and Mike Breard 5 J enny Curry, Chastin Farley, Jordan Raborn and Mindi Shiers 6 Dr. David Yarbrough, Janet Justice, Rhonda Collinsworth and Tiffany Kane 7 Vickie Barnes, Carol-Anne Barnes and Sherra Fertitta

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ArtsWorks 2017

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On Thursday, March 2, the 32nd annual ArtsWorks Arts Awards continued the wonderful tradition set by prior years, giving excellent local businesses, volunteers, and artists the public recognition they merit for their outstanding contribution to the arts in the community. The BART award for a business which contributed to the arts this year went to Mike Downhour at Lagniappe Broadcasting, nominated by Louisiana Delta Ballet. Nominated by Twin City Ballet Company, Kay Harrison took home the award for Volunteer of the Year. The Edmund Williamson Artist of the Year Award was presented to visual artist Margaret Mays Ellerman, nominated by the Ouachita River Art Gallery. The final award, the Dorothy Bassett Emerging Artist of the Year, went to dancer Madelyne Clark, along with a $1,000 prize to assist in expanding her artistic abilities. Nominees acknowledged but not chosen by the panel included Life Church (BART), Mike McGee, Emery Thibodeaux (Volunteer of the Year), Collette Boutwell, Scot Humes, Vitus Shell (Artist of the Year), Parker Finley and Alyssa Guidry Posey (Emerging Artist). The Northeast Louisiana Arts Council was proud to be a part of honoring the great work that these businesses and individuals do to make our community a more beautiful place to live.

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On the BayouScene K risty Finley and Donna McGee Barry Stevens and Margaret Ellerman A mbria Roberson and Madelyne Clark G eorgia Street, Leo and Norlyn Hyde and Chris Hyde 5 Cruse Flowers, Amy and Micheal Sawyer 6 J onah Finley, Scott Finley, Missy Crain and Vickie Krutzer 7D ebora Colvin, Regina Wood, Ashley West 8 Courtney Crain, Ford Finley and Parker Finley 9 F aye Lemons, Vitus Shell and LaRhonda Lemons Cloman 10 M agan Bass, Nancy Miller and Missy Crain 11 Parker Finley and Rachael Maddox 12 Brooke Foy and Casey Massel 13 S andy Hutson, Jeannie Patton, Brad and Colette Boutwell 14 Cathy Myrick and Janna Graff 15 Charlie Heck, Margaret and Donnie Ellerman 16 M ike Downhour, Patti Nelson and Tommy Usrey 17 Austin Bantel and Emery Thibodeaux 1 2 3 4

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Juried Student Exhibition for GSU and LaTech at Parish Press

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he North Central Louisiana Arts Council is pleased to announce its second juried exhibition featuring students from Louisiana Tech and Grambling State Universities at Parish Press in Ruston. Participating artists include Aja Taylor, PhilDarrian Richard, Matthew Petit, Hannah Taylor, Reagan Pearson, Rachel Lee, Skylar Vickery, Janelle Cobb, Dellanee Wade and Jessica Horne.

Lincoln Parish is fortunate to have two universities with visual art departments that enrich this community with the arts. The show represents all academic levels, from freshmen to graduate students, with a wide spectrum of the arts including painting, drawing, photography, and printmaking. Best in Show is awarded to PhilDarrian Richard for Momma, and Honorable Mentions go to Matthew Pettit and Reagan Pearson. Thanks to Fine Line Supply for the Honorable Mention awards. NCLAC is excited to be able to share the artwork of these college

students with the community through May 8th.

The juror, Mr. Charlie Meeds, is a former Ruston High School Talented Art Teacher. Mr. Meeds has a background in classical drawing, specializing in portraiture, and he currently teaches a life drawing class at Frame of Mind in Ruston.

In partnership with Parish Press, NCLAC presents art exhibitions that feature work by regional artists. Works are available for purchase.

NCLAC is supported by its members, as well as by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, and administered by Shreveport Regional Arts Council. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more info about NCLAC and its programming, visit nclac.org or call (318) 2551450.

Best in Show Winner, “Momma,� by PhilDarrian Richard

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St. Patrick’s Day Fundraiser The spirit of Irish luck was abundant as patrons gathered to support Enoch’s Irish Pub’s 38th annual St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser benefitting the St. Vincent De Paul Pharmacy.

Guests donned their Guinness pint hats and sipped all their Irish favorites as live music and a raffle took place on the packed patio. Enoch’s generously donates 10 per cent of all bar and food sales as well as the full $10 from each raffle ticket sold to the St. Vincent De Paul Pharmacy, which provides medicine to those in need.

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1 Dana and Van Taliaferro 2 Heaven Wallace and Lee Jacks 3 J ohn Kennedy and John Reynolds 4 Tina and Greg Williams 5 Amy Keifenheim and Jane Keifenheim 6 Eleanor Tritle and Kathy Pierce 7M eghan Dollar, Jennifer Breaux, Jeremiah Butcher and Josh Walker 8K eith McGough, Lyla Kaiser, Phil Keifenheim and Bill Brill 9 Emmett McDaniel and Dennis Long 10 April Dillingham and Steven Farmer 11 Michael Roboski and Geena Nellis 12 Allie Smith and Maria Alexander 13 Donna Lensing, Luke Lensing and Marty Lensing 14 Jesse and Morgan Chelette 15 Heather Smith and Delia Simpson 16 A l Alford, Stephanie Long, Christy Alford and Linda Osse 17 John Jeter and Patrick Horstkamp 18 Hannah and Stewart Felkel

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Schoolyard Art Brawl: A Live Painting Competition

The North Central Louisiana Arts Council (NCLAC) is excited to announce Schoolyard Art Brawl, a live painting competition among art teachers in Lincoln Parish. It will be held on April 8th as part of the Ruston Makers fair in conjunction with the Railroad Makers + Music Festival. The competition will be from Noon – 1 p.m., in the parking lot of the Historic Fire Station.

The participating artists will have one hour to create a painting, and the winner will be determined by “bucks in buckets” -- votes that are dropped into voting buckets by the public. The winner will receive $100 from NCLAC, and the voting dollars will go toward NCLAC’s programming. After the competition, the paintings will be for sale to benefit the artists. Participating

Lincoln Parish art teachers include DeLena Ashworth, Emily Pullin, Crystal Pye, Rebecca Strickler and Nancy Waldron.

Be sure to visit the Railroad Makers + Music Festival in downtown Ruston on

April 8, with activities running from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. For more information about the festival, visit Railroad Festival on Facebook.

For more information about the Schoolyard Art Brawl and NCLAC, visit our website at nclac.org or call (318) 255-1450.

NCLAC is supported by its members, as well as by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, and administered

by Shreveport Regional Arts Council. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

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FREE BIRDS BOUTIQUE

These super-distressed jeans bare an edgy amount of skin, while rolled, ankle-length cuffs secure a casual look. Paired with a perfectly pink top, this outfit is great for Spring weather. Finish the look with these cool laser cut slip on sneakers.

PAINTING THE Nashville may be known for its music, but there is no doubt that it is one of the best cities for finding funky and cool murals. Our friend Libby Gifford scouted out some of the most fun murals across town and paired them with outfits from our local boutiques. The fashionable and precious former Miss Louisiana, Jaden Leach Hubbard, met us on the road for some excellent shots in the Music City.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARTIN G MEYERS AND MUAH BY MEKA BENNETT.

DOWNTOWN

MURAL: GUITAR AND BIRDS / FREE BIRDS BOUTIQUE LOCATED AT CARTER VINTAGE GUITARS, 625 8TH AVE SOUTH

Downtown Nashville is the hub of Music City’s live entertainment. You’ll find everything from live music to national sporting events, long-standing venues to new hot-spots, dive-bars where you can sing yourself to museums honoring those musicians who paved the way.

LIVE MUSIC:

While any honky-tonk along Nashville’s Broadway will do, Robert’s Western World is a long-standing place to drop-in and hear old country or bluegrass.

During warmer months, the Ascend Amphitheater hosts nationally-known acts on its stage, where you can see the

city skyline looming overhead. A trip to Nashville is not complete without a trip to the historic Ryman Auditorium, also known as the “Mother Church” to country music fans. If you are unable to buy your concert tickets in advance, the Ryman also offers a behind-the-scenes tour.

FOOD: Downtown is the most touristy area of town, so getting into restaurants without a long wait can often be difficult.

If you’re willing to fight the crowds, Acme Feed and Seed offers three floors of food, entertainment, and views of the Cumberland River. Dining at Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant feels like sitting in your grandmother’s Southern kitchen while listening to the live bluegrass pickin’ party out on her front porch. You’re met with Southern food and hospitality. To get off the beaten-path, stop in to Frothy Monkey Downtown for a lighter meal and a great cup of joe. A few blocks off the

main downtown strip, Pinewood Social is a must-stop. It’s an all-in-one location for drinks, coffee and all day meals from brunch to late-night snacks. Plus, with its built-in bowling alley and outdoor patio including a wade pool and bocce court, you can spend all day at Pinewood without getting bored.

SEE AND DO: For avid music lovers, the Country Music Hall of Fame is a must-see, although the Johnny Cash or George Jones Museums will also do. Take a stroll on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge to see the best view of the Nashville skyline.

Nashville also has its share of professional sports teams, all showcasing their talents in downtown as well. Depending upon the time of year, watch the Tennessee Titans play at Nissan Stadium or cheer on the Nashville Predators hockey team at Bridgestone Arena.

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HEMLINE MONROE

Take this season’s off-the-shoulder trend to the water in this feminine cropped swimsuit top. Soft chambray shorts with an elastic waist are great to pair with this floral pom pom kimono. Finish the look with a belted straw hat, lace-up sandals and these haute shades.

CARA’S BOUTIQUE

Ruffles are big for Spring, and this darling top from Cara’s combines a flirty ruffle with edgy strapped detailing on the shoulders. These white skinny jeans are a staple for this season’s wardrobe. Kick it up a notch with brown zip-up peep toe wedges.

12TH SOUTH

MURALS: MAKE MUSIC NOT WAR / HEMLINE FLOWER’S / CARA’S – BOTH LOCATED AT EPICE, 2902 12TH AVE SOUTH

If you have only one afternoon to spend in town, head over to 12th South.

Park your car, wander the sidewalks, stop in locally-owned shops and grab a bite to eat at any of the restaurants on this 10-block stretch.

SHOPPING: Imogene + Willie offers a unique shopping experience with their custom jeans, while the Reese Witherspoon-owned Draper James serves sweet tea while you shop their Southern-inspired clothing. Be sure to visit White’s Mercantile for everything from locally-made cookbooks and paper goods to Nashville themed clothing and décor.

COFFEE: Frothy Monkey is a must-stop for Louisiana natives, as it got its start in Ruston. Plus, Nashville locals revere it as an originator of the city’s now vibrant coffee scene.

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EATS: Visitors can’t go wrong with any

restaurant on 12th South. Try Burger Up for one of the best burgers in town and be sure not to miss the truffle fries. Josephine describes itself as “an elegant hangout without the fuss” and is a sought out date night spot for locals. The 100-layer donuts at Five Daughters Bakery are worth a stop for breakfast, an afternoon snack, late night dessert or all of the above!

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: During warmer months, 12th South is home to a daily Farmer’s Market and Amelia’s Flower Truck, a mobile build-yourown-bouquet florist. After all the walking and shopping, rest your feet and do some people watching at the nearby Sevier Park.

TIPS: Parking can be tight in this area, so look for a spot on a nearby side street and walk in. Restaurants on 12th South can have hour-long waits in the evenings and on weekends. Many take reservations, so call ahead or try to eat during off-peak hours.

WEST END / MIDTOWN

MURAL: BLACK & WHITE HEIROGLYPHICS / K-SERA LOCATED AT THREE BROTHERS COFFEE, 2813 WEST END AVENUE West End is centrally located with numerous hotels, making it a popular place for visitors to stay. Nearby Midtown is a bit less touristy, with an active nightlife.

SEE AND DO: Centennial Park, Nashville’s largest urban park, includes the iconic Parthenon, a one-mile walking trail, historic monuments and more. Centennial also hosts a variety of festivals throughout the year, including Musicians Corner, an outdoor concert series every weekend in the spring and fall.

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“AFTER ALL THE WALKING AND SHOPPING, REST YOUR FEET AND DO SOME PEOPLE WATCHING ...”

FOOD: Nashville is famous for its hot chicken, and Hattie B’s serves it up fresh along with an assortment of craft beers. For a more unique dining experience, the chefs at the reservation-only Catbird Seat prepare your 7-course meal in a U-shaped kitchen surrounded by countertop seating, allowing you to interact with them, while your food is being prepared. At DeSano Pizza Bakery, you’ll enjoy a wood-fired, hand-crafted pizza that tastes straight out of Italy. Nashville is also home to a wide variety of food trucks. On a beautiful day, many of them can be found parked at Centennial Park.

DRINKS:

Patterson House offers more than 50 cocktail recipes in what feels like a preProhibition era setting. For more than 70 beers on tap, stop in to Broadway Brewhouse.

K-SERA BOUTIQUE

We adore this matching blazer and short set from K-Sera. The shorts feature a drawstring accent while the blazer has a button front closure and pockets. Paired with a simple white tee, this look is simply sophisticated. The strappy gladiator platform is the perfect shoe for this season.

THE FLEURTY GINGER BOUTIQUE

Jaden is gorgeous in this floral print swing dress from The Fleurty Ginger.

This dress features a double keyhole front and back and can be worn as dress, tunic or coverup. The fringed peep toe bootie is a great shoe for Spring. Add a long beaded necklace and geometric cuff with multi hoop gold earrings for extra glam.

MR. P’S TEES

There’s nothing like a black bear enjoying himself in a cornfield, especially with dancing bears behind him. This Black Bear Farms design is featured on a super soft blue tee with navy colar and sleeves. And don’t worry, this one is for the guys, too!

DOWNTOWN

MURALS: PINK AND WHITE / FLEURTY GINGER – LOCATED AT BEAUTY & BEYOND, 710 GALLATIN AVE. BEARS / MR. P’S TEES – LOCATED AT EASTSIDE CYCLES, 103 S 11TH ST.

East Nashville is a laid-back, more eccentric area of town that has undergone extensive revitalization over the last decade.

Its streets lined with historic homes, locally owned businesses, and dive bars have made this area a hub for musicians, artists and young families. East is also home to many locally-owned restaurants, both new and old.

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SEE AND DO: Shelby Park is a great place to get outdoors and spend an afternoon. With its golf course, access to the Cumberland River, playgrounds and nature center,

“DON’T LET THE LINE OUT THE DOOR SCARE YOU. IT’S ALWAYS WORTH THE WAIT!”

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you’ll find something for the whole family to enjoy. Rent a bike to ride along the Shelby Bottoms Greenway, over 5 miles of paved trails for running, biking, skating and hiking along the Cumberland River.

FOOD: The

neighborhood, and city-wide, favorite is Mas Tacos Por Favor, known for street-style tacos and corn. Don’t let the line out the door scare you. It’s always worth the wait! Across the street, The Pharmacy Burger and Beer Garden serves housemade sodas and gourmet burgers. For a more neighborhood vibe, visit Lockeland Table, where the chef cooks dishes you grew up eating but with a modern twist. East Nashville also offers some of the best brunches in town. Choose between the European-style bistro Marche Artisan Foods, lauded for its crepes, or Sky Blue Café, where you share a community table and enjoy omelets all day.

COCKTAILS AND DRINKS:

Holland House Bar and Refuge houses one of the largest cocktail menus in town in a setting that

SYLVAN PARK

MURAL: SUNFLOWERS / HERRINGSTONE’S LOCATED AT IMPORT FLOWERS, 3636 MURPHY RD The majority of Sylvan Park is quaint residential neighborhoods, however, a few oftvisited restaurants and parks; are smattered throughout the area.

FOOD:

The Sylvan Park restaurant is where Edley’s Bar-B-Que smokes and cooks all of the meats for the other locations throughout Music City. Locals have voted Edley’s the best barbecue in Music City for the last 5 years.

Gourmet market, wine bar and restaurant Salt and Vine serves snack, small plates and large shareable plates, each intended to be

feels like a speakeasy from the past. East Nashville’s newest after-hours hangout is Urban Cowboy Public House. Located in the stable house of the bed and breakfast of the same name, Public House is known for its Hot Toddy, bonfire pits and ornate bar.

COFFEE: Setting the bar for coffeeshops across Nashville, Barista Parlor’s original eastside location serves drinks in an atmosphere that feels more like an old mechanic’s shop than a coffeeshop. For a spot off the beaten path, try The Post East, particularly on Sundays, when a live bluegrass ensemble plays.

SHOPPING: Start your East Nashville shopping at the Shoppes on Fatherland, a retail start-up community with a mix of local businesses, including Project 615, a Nashville-themed apparel company, and the Gift Horse. Next, move on to the Shops at Porter East, where you’ll find boutiques, home goods and vintage shops.

Neighboring Vinnie Louise and Moto Moda are clothing stores not to be missed.

paired with one of the 25 wines offered. Enjoy a margarita and casual lunch on the patio at Local Taco.

COFFEE: At only 9 feet wide, the former storage

closet turned Headquarters Coffee is a cozy place to enjoy a cup of coffee over good conversation. Nearby, Dose specializes in coffees, teas and baked goods.

DRINKS: Locally-owned Fat Bottom Brewing

Company has a restaurant and bier garden on-site, as well as brewery tours and a bottle shop.

SEE AND DO:

With a day-pass, traverse the indoor climbing walls at Climb Nashville.

HERRINGSTONE’S

Jaden is a dream in this beautiful white dress from HerringStone’s.

This dress features a gorgeous floral cut-out neckline with a hi-low crossing hem. Leather cage straps and a stacked woodgrain wedge define a breezy Spring sandal. A black beaded tassel earring completes the look.

J&H BOOTS & JEANS

This white gauze top with floral embroidery will take you through Spring and Summer. Add a great medium wash jean and these turquoise, round toe booties with fringe for a sizzling hot look that even Dolly herself would be envious of.

THE NUDE NOMAD

Looking for the perfect Spring dress?

This tank dress from The Nude Nomad features a handkerchief high low hemline with paisley print. These stunning sandals feature a cork heel and tie-up straps. Accessorize with stackable beaded bracelets and multi-layer necklaces.

BERRY HILL AND MELROSE

MURAL: DOLLY PARTON / J & H BOOTS AND JEANS, CIRCLES THE NUDE NOMAD BOTH LOCATED AT HOUSE OF BLUES STUDIO, 518 E. IRIS DRIVE

The less urban Berry Hill area is an eclectic mix of recording studios and local business operating out of 1940s bungalows. A neighborhood within a neighborhood, Melrose is a strip of historic buildings in Berry Hill that have been given new life over recent years. New developers and restauranteurs saw potential in these once overlooked pieces of history and have given patrons new reasons to frequent the now bustling Melrose.

SHOPPING: With its two warehouses of finds, Gas Lamp Antiques is a must-stop for avid collectors. The Nashville Flea Market is also open on the fourth weekend of every month at the nearby Nashville Fairgrounds.

Over 1,000 vendors set up each month for what is considered one of the top flea markets in the nation.

LIVE MUSIC: The Sutler is part venue, part restaurant and always a good place to spend the evening. Most events are free and feature up-andcoming musicians.

COCKTAILS:

Enjoy a drink at Sinema, housed in the historic Melrose Theater. While movies are no longer shown, the atmosphere in the recently updated space feels like stepping back into Hollywood’s Golden Age.

EATS: Baja Burrito is a locally owned burrito shop famous for its fresh

ingredients and fruit tea. You’ll likely have to share a table and make new friends in this tight space, but it’ll be worth it. For a lighter lunch of sandwiches and salads, as well as the best coffees in the area, visit Sam and Zoe’s next door. Fenwick’s 300 features modern takes on diner classics, including brunch served all day.

HILLSBORO VILLAGE

MURAL: HILLSBORO VILLAGE / BEEHIVE LOCATED AT KAY BOB’S GRILL, 1602 21ST AVE SOUTH

This quaint area of town near both Belmont University and Vanderbilt is ideal for an afternoon of shopping while feeling like a local.

FOOD: The heart of this area, is Fido, a longstanding coffeeshop and eatery. Pull up a chair near the large windows to enjoy your coffee and watch the locals. Around the corner, you’ll find the newly opened Grilled Cheeserie Melt Shop.

Besides serving a wide variety of the restaurant’s namesake sandwiches, this food-truck turned sitdown restaurant also serves gourmet milkshakes.

If you’d like something a bit “greener,” give the Juice Bar a try. For dessert of the best kind, get a couple of scoops at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.

SHOPPING: This four block stretch on 21st Ave is an eclectic mix of shops, including boutiques Native + Nomad and Dress Up, children’s shop Arcade, and gift shop Pangea.

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“YOU LIKELY HAVE TO SHARE A TABLE AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS IN THIS TIGHT SPACE, BUT IT’LL BE WORTH IT ...”

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SEE AND DO: The Belcourt Theater is a non-profit film center featuring independent movies, as well as weekend showings of classic films.

BEEHIVE

Jaden looks like an all American girl in this distressed flag shirt from Beehive. Throw on a black bralette and hit the road . We love it paired with these super distressed boyfriend jeans and fun and flirty sandals. This look is sure to become a go-to favorite.

BAYOU OUTDOORS

The Good Ol’ Days ARTICLE BY DAN CHASON

I

’ve served in a lot of roles in my life.

Personally and professionally. I never dreamed that my passion for fishing would some day require an advanced degree in technology just to catch a fish.

My first depth finder was an egg sinker tied on a spool of decoy string. My first fishing pole was.....a pole. Cut from a stand of bamboo that my Grandpa found in the woods.

I graduated to a Zebco 33, which I fished for years. Grandpa or “Pop” loved the Zebco 404.

In fact, he caught a number of 10 pound plus bass on this rig, including his largest of 14.75 pounds from Lake Seminole. He threw two lures: His favorite was a frog, and his second favorite was a grape Texas rigged worm.

Really simple. He got fancy at one point and bought a Lucky 13 top water bait, until it was taken away from him by a local alligator. His comment was that the “durn thing made too much racket anyway.”

I spent most of my young days with two main roles in my Dad’s life. I was his remote control (tvs back then only had a knob and a set of rabbit ears). For you young folks, rabbit ears were these two metal sticks that attached to the rear of the black and white television, usually wrapped in tin foil, which allowed you to pick up local television signals. There was no satellite TV, nor was there cable. When we got “rich,” Daddy bought an outside antenna that hung on a pole outside. This allowed you to pick up stations “way off.” My job was to go out in the rain (usually) and manually turn the pole while Daddy said “little left”...”more to the right” until he got a clear picture. Nowadays a kid won’t get off the couch to even look for the remote much less help their Father find the right sweet spot for his favorite show. Fishing was the same. I thought trolling motors were paddles. I spent most of my young life on the 174 APRIL 2017 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM

front of the boat, “skulling” or taking a short handled paddle and manually paddled while my Dad and I fished. I was his trolling motor.

Today, you have to have a remote controlled 90 pound thrust motor to perform the same task.

Boats fly across the water at 70 plus miles per hour and have built in ice chests, live wells (we used a stringer) and now even have automatic pilots that not only let you launch your boat with no hands, but the boat meets you at the dock after launch. How times have changed.

What hasn’t changed is what I long for each time I go fishing. Solace, quiet and the one on one challenge of making a fish eat something that isn’t real. Not only has our gear, such as boats and rods, changed, our lure selection has gone technical. We have depth finders now (graphs, LCGs, sounders, side finders, etc.) that can program the next space shuttle flight. We have devices that lock in coordinates received from a friend or Internet that can take someone who can’t catch their butt with both hands and put them on the sweet spot with the click of a button.

I long for the days of taking one rod on a fishing trip, throwing a frog in the quiet still of a foggy sunrise and watching a bass lose his mind and eat it. I long for the days when the boat was metal or wood and being that kid with the bright orange life preserver (that you wore whether you could swim or not), anxiously waiting for my Pop to tell me when it was ok to cast. I long for the can of sardines and crackers, potted meat and honey bun for dessert that to this day is hard to even smell while fishing. I long for those conversations about life, love and the future. Politics were always on the agenda, as we realized that things done in Washington, D.C. did affect us all. I long for that “Father/son talk” that never happened anywhere quite like it did while on

the lake. I long for that smile of approval for that perfect cast and watching the skill of my grandfather as he fought a lunker bass to the edge of the boat. I long for the attitude of “leave it better than you found it” as I watched my Dad pick up trash that he didn’t leave in the lake. I long for the sound of quiet and serenity only found in the dark waters that held so many secrets. But those days are not gone. We move too fast and forget that we are in charge of the future.

My bass boat left my driveway less than six times last year. I have lost the desire to be competitive or to be the best at fishing.

Instead, I ease out into my favorite lake now with crappie pole in hand. I do use a foot controlled trolling motor as my aching aging back cannot sit in a flat bottomed boat for long. I don’t use an outboard motor much and instead use these times to reflect. I reflect on where we were and where we are. I want my kids and grandkids to not miss the little things you miss when you fly down the lake at 100 mph. I want them to understand nature and the beauty that God gives us at every sunrise and sunset. I want to pass on the tips and tricks of fishing that my Pop and Dad gave me. I want that information to outlive me and my legacy. I want my grandsons to look back and remember what I remember. Men who taught me conservation and conversation: The real meaning of life and taking the time for those “talks” that molded my thought process and beliefs. There are lessons that can only be learned in the outdoors. Whether it be in a duck blind or on the deck of a boat, a youngster learns these lessons on a one on one basis from someone he or she respects. My desire is to pass it on. And take my future generations to places that no GPS coordinate can find.

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New York City

Meets Sportman’s Paradise

T

he Big Apple. The city that never sleeps. New York City.

Even if you live in Monroe, Louisiana, the empire state has something for you.

They say that people in New York City are mean and rude. They all are trying to get where they are going and couldn’t care less about you. You lose that southern hospitality that you’ve become so used to. In some cases, this is true.

I’ve been to New York City three times, and the only rude person I’ve come into contact with was someone who worked at McDonald’s.

The last time I was there, I was in this place called Insomnia Cookies, which has the best cookies you’ll ever taste, and I ran into an older man who was from Morocco. He has lived across the street from where that Insomnia Cookies is for 20 years. My friends and I sat there and had a 10-minute conversation with him. He was the sweetest old man.

Speaking of food. Much like Louisiana, New York has some fantastic food. There is a different Deli on every street corner and different restaurants everywhere else. Although New York City doesn’t pride itself for its seafood, if you want some, you got it. It tastes pretty great, too. Monroe doesn’t have nearly as many food options as New York City, so anyone could find something that would satisfy their taste buds. The best part is a lot of the restaurants stay open until two or three in the morning.

Growing up in Louisiana you get used to experiencing many different cultures. Louisiana has people that are of Spanish, French, African, Indian and even Creole or Black European descent. Louisiana is one of the most diverse southern states. New York City has all of these ethnicities and more. Anyone from Louisiana would fit right in.

Let’s talk a little but about the night life. Much like the restaurants,

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ARTICLE BY CORY THAXTON PHOTOS BY SIDDHARTH GAULEE

there are plenty of places to go if you want to have a fun night out. The bars and clubs there close at 4 a.m. But, most people start to clear out at about 3:30 a.m. because there are so many people. The only thing I would suggest is, before choosing a bar or club, read the reviews online first. You never know what you could get yourself into. Other than life, the night life there feels a lot like that of New Orleans. So, if you have ever been to New Orleans you should be fine. My first night ever in New York City, it felt like I was walking through New Orleans, just a bigger one. That was until I got to Times Square, of course.

Speaking of Times Square, after you been through there once and you’ve taken all the pictures you can, don’t go back. It is the most crowed place in the entire city. You can barely walk through it, and the locals avoid it like the plague. Plus there are tons of other things to do.

What’s the best part of the night life though? Broadway! If you ever visit NYC, you have to go see a Broadway musical. I have seen three so far: “Finding Neverland,” “Hamilton,” and “Cats.” All three of them were life changing experiences. If you have ever seen a Broadway show in New Orleans, you know what I’m talking about. But, there is just something about seeing one on Broadway itself that is like no other.

Maybe you’re not planning to move there like me, but visiting New York City should be on everyone’s bucket list. Not only are there great food, people and night life, but there are so many things to do and you will never get bored. There is something for everyone.

It’s true, there are definitely more differences between Monroe and New York City than similarities, but don’t be scared to go just because it’s a big city. You never know what you’ll enjoy, until you try it. Who knows? Maybe like me, it will change your life forever.

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Calendar of Events For a full list of event happenings in Northeast Louisiana, see our website at www.bayoulifemag.com April 1 Painting in the Park Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

All ages are welcome! We have a variety of step-by-step paintings available to choose from, along with canvases, ceramics and large wood cut-outs! (You can look through our photos to see some of the step-bystep paintings available.) Everything you need to create a masterpiece is provided.

Venue: Kiroli Park Admission Cost: $10-20 Phone: 318-355-4720 Web: facebook.com/PaintItSimple 528 Engineer Battalion Open House Time: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

The 528th Engineer Battalion is having an open house with a live band, food trucks, sampling of beverages and military equipment exhibits.

Venue: Monroe Regional Airport Admission Cost: Free admission Phone: 318-362-3454 Web: www.facebook. com/528thEngineerBattalion FREE Children’s Drop-In Activity Time: 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Offered the first Saturday of every month, these free activities are for children of all ages. Drop by the museum any time between 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. on the scheduled day.

Children will work on an art project that relates either through subject matter, medium or technique, to the exhibition currently on display.

These events are free and open to the public. Venue: Masur Museum of Art Admission Cost: FREE Phone: 318-329-2237 Web: www.masurmuseum.org I Love the 80’s Time: 7:00 -10:00 p.m.

Quota International of Ruston hosting an I Love the 80’s Bash benefiting Christian Community Action! Drag out all your favorite 80’s fashions and prepare for a night of music, food and fun all for a good cause. Prizes will be given out for best dressed and biggest hair! Be

sure to bring cash for the bar, raffle and silent auction!

Venue: The Norton Building, 207 W Mississippi Ave. Ruston, LA Admission: $35 for individuals/$50 for couples.

Phone: 318-614-5132 April 2 and 3 Special Olympics Louisiana 2017 State Golf and Cycling Competition Time: April 2nd--8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

(Cycling); April 3rd-- 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(Golf)

The event will Begin on Sunday, April 2nd and end on Monday, April 3rd. It will be a free event open to the public.

Venue: Chennault Park and Golf Course Phone: 1-800-345-6644 April 6-9 Agatha Christie’s The Mouse Trap Time: 7:00 p.m. Thurs-Sat and 2:00 p.m. Sunday

Ruston Community Theatre as the present Agatha Christie’s, The Mouse Trap. A group of strangers is stranded in a boarding house during a snow storm, one of whom is the murderer and everyone is a suspect!

Venue: The Dixie Center for the Arts Admission: $12/$6 for students Phone: 318-255-1450 April 7 8th Annual Off the Wall Fundraiser hosted by the Masur Museum Time: 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.

The Twin City Art Foundation hosts the 8th annual Off the Wall fundraiser for the Masur Museum of Art. This fabulous event features a silent auction of wonderful art by local, national and sometimes international artists! The evening will also include great live music, catering by Chef Pat Nolan and the always popular Bon Voyage Trip Raffle. Proceeds from the fundraiser support exhibitions and educational programs at the Masur Museum of Art. Venue: Masur Museum of Art Admission Cost: $50 Each Phone: 318-329-2237 Web: www.masurmuseum.org

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April 7 and 8 Spring Fest 2017 Time: Friday Preview Sale Noon to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Don’t miss the Northeast Louisiana Master Gardener’s 9th Annual Spring Plant Sale featuring Louisiana Super Plants. You’ll find vegetables, herbs, houseplants, tropical plants, and more! Also, look for other selections of plants not usually found locally. Local Master Gardeners will be available to help you select the best plants for your yard and garden, answer any questions and provide gardening tips.

Venue: Market at 7th Square Phone: 318-322-2203 April 8 Railroad Makers and Music Fest Time: 10:00 a.m.

All aboard for Railroad Fest!

Be a part of the evolution of Ruston Makers Fair into Railroad Makers and Music Festival. Attendees can expect over 100 artists with handmade jewelry, woodwork, apparel, original paintings and more. Starting at 2 p.m. in Railroad Park with have live music with The Seratones, Louisiana Soul Revival featuring Doug Duffey, Supernaturals and more!

Admission: Makers Fair is free to the public; $5 for concerts Phone: 318-255-2031 April 8 and 9 Miss Louisiana’s Outstanding Teen Pageant

Support your favorite contestant as these outstanding young ladies compete for the crown.

Venue: ULM Brown Auditorium Phone: 318-342-1568 Web: www.misslouisiana.com April 10-12 Beginning Calligraphy Workshop for Adults Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Calligraphy is the art of beautiful writing. Taught by Lucinda Hickey, this workshop will provide you with the skills a beginner needs to master calligraphy. You will learn

the alphabet in Italic font, proper spacing for writing text, and get a primer on the history of calligraphy, as well as fonts more difficult than Italics. The museum provides all supplies including two calligraphy markers to take home.

Venue: Masur Museum of Art Admission Cost: $35 museum members/$50 non-members Phone: 318-329-2237 Web: www.masurmuseum.org April 15 Zoo Easter Eggstravaganza Time: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The Zoo Easter Eggstravaganza is an annual event that welcomes more than 2,000 visitors to a prize-filled fun day. More than 30,000 eggs are placed around the zoo pavilion in a series of age appropriate egg hunts.

Venue: Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo Admission Cost: $7.00; Children 1 year and under are free Phone: 318-329-2400 Web: www.monroezoo.org April 20 Wine Over Water Time: 7:00 -10:00 p.m.

Hosted by ULM’s Ouachita Parish Alumni Chapter, Wine over Water has been recognized as an exemplary alumni event in the country by the council for the Advancement and Support of Education. Do not miss this opportunity to support our local university, to raise scholarship funding and to enjoy a very memorable evening on the delightful University of Louisiana Monroe campus.

Venue: ULM Fant-Ewing Coliseum Admission Cost:Tickets starting at $60 Phone: 318-342-1000 Web: www.ulmwarhawks.com April 20-23 Ballet Under the Stars Time: 7:00 p.m.

Bring the whole family to this year’s Ballet Under the Stars and enjoy many genres of dance,

including ballet, jazz, musical theatre, modern and contemporary dance.

Venue: Kiroli Park ( If it rains, ballet will be at Monroe Civic Center) Admission Cost: $25 (includes Food and Fun starting at 6:00) Phone: 318-388-3011 Web: twincityballet.org April 22 2017 Biedenharn Garden Public Plant Sale Time: 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The Public Plant Sale features hard to find specimens from Treesearch Nursery in Houston, plants from the Louisiana Tech greenhouses and offspring from plants in grounds of the Biedenharn.

The Monroe Garden Study league will be offering Tulips and Caladium bulbs. Amy Weeks, a local beekeeper will offer honey and other beerelated items. To top it off, you can purchase a variety of herbal products from Symposium speaker Jim Long.

Venue: Biedenharn Museum and Gardens Phone: 318-387-5281 Web: www.bmuseum.org April 28-30 “Charlotte’s Web” at Strauss Youth Academy for the Arts Time: Friday- 7:00 p.m.; Saturday2:00 p.m.; Sunday-3:00 p.m.

Named this “the best American children’s book of the past two hundred years,” and as you might expect, in this dramatic telling, all of the enchanting characters are here: Wilbur, Fern, Templeton, the Zuckerman family, the Arables, and, most of all, the extraordinary spider, Charlotte. Exploring the true meaning of the word “friend,” this evening of enchantment will leave you with a little lump in your throat and a smile on your face.

Venue: Strauss Youth Academy for the Arts Admission Cost: $12 Adult, $8 Student Phone: 318-812-7922 Web:www.straussyouthacademy forthearts.com April 29 Downtown Spring Art Festival Time: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

This fun festival features all things local, hand made, crafty, artistic, musical, performance, dance, yummy and more with live

music and delicious food.

Venue: Antique Alley Admission Cost: $5 per person Web: www.artfest318.com Dine in the Pines Time: 6:00 p.m.

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind dining experience in Downtown Ruston! The community will dine together at a table stretched across Park Ave. to raise funds for Pine Hills Children’s Advocacy Center.

Admission: $25; tickets much be purchased in advance Phone: 318-255-2031 Monroe Symphony Orchestra: “Tchaikovsky Spectacular” Time: 7:00 p.m.

Come enjoy a night celebrating the timeless music of Tchaikovsky as the Monroe Symphony Orchestra takes you back to the late-Romantic period featuring strings, winds and piano performances.

Venue: Monroe Civic Center Phone: 318-329-2225 Web: www.mymso.org/ Enjoy your stay in Monroe-West Monroe!

We at the Monroe-West Monroe Convention and Visitor’s Bureau hope you have a great stay here! Please feel free to call us at 800-843-1872, if you have any questions. You may also stop by our offices at 601 Constitution Drive, West Monroe for brochures, coupons, and additional information.

Visit www.monroe-westmonroe. org for information about events in Ouachita Parish and visit www.rustonlincoln.com for events in Lincoln Parish.

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