Lafayette Acadiana Center for the Arts is launching a public capital campaign this summer to raise exhibition and curatorial funds for its new 10,000-square-foot Louisiana Music Museum, to be housed in the former 130-year-old Lafayette Hardware Store. Pending AcA’s (non-profit)…
Lafayette Using farm-direct American Wagyu beef (aged and smoked) and locally sourced seafood, the new Lucky’s Fire & Smoke (locally owned by Eddie Khoury and Rene Colina) sends diners on taste adventures through licks of fire and wisps of smoke.…
In January, Drinks International released its list of the most-ordered cocktails around the globe after surveying the world’s top 100 establishments. The 81-year-old Moscow mule ascended to the “top 10” rank among “The World’s Best-Selling Classic Cocktails in 2022.” A…
Lafayette The Dog Stop, known for its luxury boarding accommodations and spa-like pet grooming, is undergoing its largest renovation since opening in 2015. An upgraded lobby for better shopping and check-in experiences, an additional 26 kennels with six suites and…
The Lafayette music-club scene, like its patrons, rarely sits still. Hideaway on Lee has emerged as a homey new hangout in the fertile downtown landscape. Converted from a circa 1905 residence leased by musicians, Hideaway’s growing popularity as a nostalgic…
Lafayette Main Squeeze Juice Co. is opening its first Lafayette location as it continues to expand across Louisiana. Local couple, owners Carly and Derek Peterson, are bringing the New Orleans-based company’s nutritionist-designed offerings that include cold-pressed juices and smoothies, juice…
New Iberia The World Championship Gumbo Cookoff was recently touted by CNN travel contributor Jen Rose Smith, who named Louisiana gumbo in her “20 of the World’s Best Soups” roundup while plugging the gumbos served at New Iberia’s annual foodie…
Lafayette Nascent Perks for Park While Moncus Park’s grand opening ceremony was postponed from Jan. 8 until a February commencement, the special events series that began in mid-January will continue throughout the spring (moncuspark.org/events). Completed to date: Lake Reaux, the…
Por Mi Amante Add 2 ounces of strawberry-infused Verjus Blanc, 1 ounce freshly-squeezed lemon juice, 1-ounce Demerara simple syrup and 2 dashes of Pamplona’s Housemade Hot Sauce into cocktail shaker. Add ice, shake and strain into a chilled Nick and…
New Iberia Visitors can take leisurely strolls to various locations during the New Iberia Azalea Trail (Feb 23-March). Main Street’s vibrant azaleas frame moss-draped oaks, stately homes and quaint cottages along Bayou Teche. Azaleas are also in bloom at Jefferson…
Cinclare Southern Bistro takes guests on a festive cocktail ride with a party-perfect potion for making spirits bright When it comes to throwing a stand-out holiday party or a festive winter-themed soirée, greeting your guests with a memorable signature drink…
Opelousas Acadiana’s cast iron pots are seeing a lot of winter gumbo action during duck hunting season. For variety’s sake, head over to Opelousas for the 16th annual Gumbo Cook-off Jan. 29, when you can sample an assortment of exceptional…
The hotly anticipated Mercy Kitchen in Lafayette (mercy-kitchen.com), opened in September, is an “elevated casual” concept that was birthed during the pandemic by owner Stuart Ottinger (founder of Oxford Provisions Group) “to provide an escape from the madness.” He engaged…
Lafayette The Acadiana Center for the Arts is hosting a vaccination event during Second Saturday ArtWalk Oct. 9, 4-8 pm called “Bring Back Louisiana” (walk-ins welcome) leading up to the…
Each year, Acadiana Profile celebrates the top chefs and restaurants within the 22-parish region that encompasses 14, 500 square miles and more than 1,400,000 residents. We have explored the very heart of Acadiana to find the best of the best.…
This year, Acadiana raised $1,334,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The winner of the 2021 ($650,000) St. Jude Dream Home in Broussard:…
There may be a debate over who created the cosmopolitan, but the sweet-tart, rosy-hued cocktail that remains inextricably linked to the 1990s “Sex and the City” HBO show has been making a comeback. Call it nostalgia. Its ubiquity has spurred…
While we can’t explore every great neighborhood in the 22-parish region, in the pages that follow, we offer you snapshots of some of the best towns and neighborhoods in Acadiana, based on everything from great schools and historic architecture to…
Summertime cocktails have a singular purpose: They must make you feel cool. For wanderlust weekenders awaiting tropical holidays, a well-crafted summer libation can help assuage yearnings for pristine beaches and emerald waters, poolside luaus and moonlight swims. When…
Lake Charles Check out Chef Andrew Green’s new Fire & Oak, tucked away in an enchanting nook amid majestic oaks draped with lights that add a glow to patio dining with…
Abbeville, Lake Charles, New Iberia, Lafayette, Opelousas, Carencro The Boys & Girls Club of Acadiana (bgcacadiana.com) received a $500,000 donation from UFC Fighter Conor McGregor to enhance summer camps. Inspired by the Good…
Recipe Frisky Devil Combine 2 ounces bourbon, 1 ounce Drambuie liqueur, 1.5 ounces honey simple syrup and .75 ounces lemon juice in a shaker. Shake and strain over rocks with ice. Garnish with a strawberry heart (slice a V…
Crabbing in Alligator Territory Cameron Parish After a six-month hiatus, the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge reopened for spring and summer fun in eastern Cameron Parish. Located along the Gulf Coast, the 76,000-acre refuge plays host to hundreds of thousands of ducks,…
Toss a Coin for a Car Lake Charles, Lafayette, Alexandria, Baton Rouge The first fully-automated, coin-operated car vending machine in the U.S. is entering the Louisiana market. Customers who buy a vehicle in…
Mixologists find it easy to fall in love with Empress 1908 gin derived from butterfly pea blossoms that give the libation its natural indigo color. Handcrafted in small-batch copper pot stills, its exquisite taste, regal look and delicate aroma make…
Win Summer in Nova Scotia Vermilion Parish The Centre acadien (historicnovascotia.ca) and the Abbeville Cultural and Historical Alliance (vermilionchamber.org) jointly announce the availability of the Russell Gaspard French Immersion Scholarship, to be awarded to Vermilion Parish high school students for…
Win Summer in Nova Scotia Vermilion Parish The Centre acadien (historicnovascotia.ca) and the Abbeville Cultural and Historical Alliance (vermilionchamber.org) jointly announce the availability of the Russell Gaspard French Immersion Scholarship, to be awarded to Vermilion Parish high school students for…
Acadiana’s unconventional winter holidays of 2020 are undulating like Bach’s celestial “Christmas Oratorio” trumpets that crescendo and decrescendo until the Epiphany on Jan. 6, when Twelfth Night signals Carnival king cakes and cocktails. Revelers can step up their Mardi Gras…
Get Off the Couch Opelousas The South City Park Walking Trail is now open in Opelousas featuring connection points to various recreation amenities. Future additions include a dog park. (opelousasgeneral.com/oghs-foundation) Record-Breaking Fish Tale Port Fourchon Cole Thurman’s first-time offshore fishing…
For 4-legged and 2-legged Pals Lafayette Bark in the Park 2020, hosted by Acadiana Animal Aid as a fundraiser for homeless pets, is featuring doggy spa services, a pet photo booth and doggy contests (plus a microchipping clinic). For your…
Satsuma Dreamsicle Sour Add 2 ounces Pinhook bourbon, 2 ounces fresh satsuma juice, 1 ounce simple syrup, ½ ounce vanilla bean syrup and 1 egg white in a shaker over ice. Shake vigorously, pour into an old fashioned glass, top…
If someone asked what my last meal on earth would be, I’d choose Uncle Robert’s elaborate, multi-course Thanksgiving feast enlivened by his piano renditions of Broadway musicals. The darling of the Hebert family, “Rabbit” cooked like Joël Robuchon with the…
While the swimsuits and shorelines of summer vanish with the Sept. 22 autumn equinox, Acadiana’s cooling cocktails prevail with the lingering heat. Soaring temperatures invariably converge with the onset of fall, when fields of sugar cane reach harvest heights along…
Ground Zero Lafayette Have you ever tried a chamango or mangonada? It’s a tropical sorbet bursting with sweet, salty and spicy flavors from Zero Degrees. Making its debut in Lafayette, the thriving Asian-Hispanic fusion chain from California brings the ube…
The winding roads of Acadiana are still quiet most summer evenings under lockdown and now phase 1 of recovery, resulting in a sharp uptick in internet traffic from homes abuzz with families on video chats, the core social feature that…
LAFAYETTE Spotlight on Spoonbill Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant earned a place among America’s top eateries when it received a finalist nomination for the coveted 2020 James Beard Awards for Outstanding Restaurant Design in May. Emerging as a converted 1939…
LAFAYETTE Spotlight on Spoonbill Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant earned a place among America’s top eateries when it received a finalist nomination for the coveted 2020 James Beard Awards for Outstanding Restaurant Design in May. Emerging as a converted 1939…
Look to the Sky Opelousas St. Landry Airport is hosting a Summer “Fly In” and Vintage War Bird Expo (June 26-28) featuring a famous WWII B-17 bomber along with other vintage warbirds to honor veterans and introduce the community to…
Look to the Sky Opelousas St. Landry Airport is hosting a Summer “Fly In” and Vintage War Bird Expo (June 26-28) featuring a famous WWII B-17 bomber along with other vintage warbirds to honor veterans and introduce the community to…
Maurice Trill Chill A 1,500-square-foot frozen yogurt venue, Chill-House, opens in May (9611 Maurice Ave. in Maurice) with ample seating designed to accommodate patrons gathering for sweet treats while listening to live bands performing. Chill-House is partnering with local vendors…
Maurice Trill Chill A 1,500-square-foot frozen yogurt venue, Chill-House, opens in May (9611 Maurice Ave. in Maurice) with ample seating designed to accommodate patrons gathering for sweet treats while listening to live bands performing. Chill-House is partnering with local vendors…
Feeling romantic? Then head to Youngsville around dusk, when acoustic guitarists begin amorous, tender tunes at POUR, the new hot spot in Sugar Mill Pond (situated along the March 2 Mardi Gras parade route). Arrive about an hour before nightfall,…
YOUNGSVILLE Timed for Crawfish Season Veteran crawfish farmers, Keith and Kelly Broussard, co-owners of C’est Bon Crawfish, are building a boiled seafood restaurant in Youngsville. Slated to open in April, 2020 at 3301 Chemin Metairie Parkway, the 4,000-square-foot restaurant and…
Created by award-winning mixologist, Candace Cooper, co-owner of The Point Seafood and Steakhouse in Broussard, the alluring Frost Bite seduces with creamy notes of vanilla and white chocolate brightened with a hint of pineapple. It is so simple that anyone…
LAFAYETTE Of Wax, Wine and Wicks If you enjoy giving or receiving scented candles, then make a party out of it. Kick back with friends and create candles while sipping vino at Bougie Bar, a new custom candle-making, BYOB concept…
HOT OFF THE PRESSES Check out Warren and Mary Perrin’s latest book, “Seeking an Acadian Nation, the 1930 Diary of an Evangeline Girl.” Released in Canada during Le Congrès Mondial Acadien in August, it is based on the diary of…
Nothing quite does the trick like travel. Whether you’re heading to New Orleans during an action-packed Saints game weekend designed for a near-constant state of jubilation, or you’re planning a laid-back, family-friendly, meat pie reunion inspired by the Festival of…
YOUNGSVILLE, CARENCRO Foodie Newsflash POUR Restaurant and Bar (River Ranch) will soon open its second location in Youngsville in the former Growler USA. Youngsville also welcomes a French Quarter-style brunch at the new Bourrée, located in the new Central Market…
As summer tightens its sweaty grip, and afternoons are blistering hot, nothing sounds better than a refreshingly crisp cocktail. Tall, ice-cold and in hues of blue. How about fresh mint, blueberries, lime and crushed ice, too? And let’s imagine Stoli’s…
Photos by Denny Culbert Who does the best brunch? It’s like making a roux: everyone says their way is the best. Selecting the setting is more like making gumbo: a bubbling mélange of choices seasoned with a little bit of this,…
