Lifestyle

Best Boudin in Acadiana

The greatest Boudin ever made can be found in the heart of Acadiana, in a cross section of towns vying for pork supremacy defined by extravagant self-appointed monikers that belie a deep cultural pride. Jennings, LA, calls itself the “Boudin…

Mawmaw’s Kitchen: Straddling Two Eras

Mémère (“Grandma”) ran a kitchen that in many ways straddled two different eras: sometimes, arriving at her house for le dîner de dimanche (“the Sunday lunch”) that followed morning mass, the deep, almost palpable aroma of strong coffee that seized…

Enticing Fall Festivals Around Acadiana

Lafayette ‘Tis the season of bountiful harvests and fall festivals celebrating everything from gumbos, gravies and gratons to bourbon, boucheries and blackpot cookoffs with a side of pumpkin pie. Brisk weather invigorates two-stepping fans at Festivals Acadiens et Créoles (October…

Pools, Patios and Outdoor Spaces Around Acadiana

Summers in Acadiana are brutal, but fun in the sun is a must. This quandary leaves sunseekers in search of resort-like pools and outdoor spaces that ensure time in nature year-round. Enter the pools, patios, pavilions and pro-level outdoor kitchens…

Where to Live Next in Acadiana

One of life’s significant, yet fun, challenges is deciding what city and neighborhood to live. The region offers many places to build and grow, depending on where a person or family is in their life path. Here are three areas…

Where to Eat, Stay and Shop in Washington, Louisiana

It’s hard to imagine steamboats docked along Bayou Courtableau, bustling activity moving cotton, cattle, sugar and molasses into the town of Washington. Today, the sleepy St. Landry Parish town dating to 1720 French settlement boasts of historic homes and businesses…

Hoop Net Fishing

At Butte La Rose, the Atchafalaya River makes a sharp turn east-northeast in yet another bid to lure the Mississippi into its path. The river here runs black. It’s slender, smooth as paper. On a warm morning in late December,…

Girlfriends Getaway in Lake Charles

There’s nothing like checking into a resort with girlfriends, kicking back and letting loose. Lake Charles casinos L’Auberge and Golden Nugget offer everything friends would want for an enjoyable getaway — and you never have to leave the property! Both…

Dog Friendly Locations Around Acadiana

Watching a dog race around a park with like-minded canines cheers the heart. They’re so happy! It’s like a playdate for children, only one for those with four legs. It’s also nice for our pooches to tag along as we…

"Forest Bathing," It’s good for what ails you

There’s an old saying in Louisiana, which goes: “Février est pas bâtard,” meaning (very) roughly “February isn’t half-hearted.” If that’s only a little less clear than troubled water, there’s another expression, quite similar, said still in France: “L’hiver est pas…

Elegant Abode

The stylish living room now features a sofa in a custom fabric by Kelly Ventura, chairs in an antique chocolate velvet and a custom locally made ottoman on castor feet. Homeowner and interior designer Kennedy Williams…

A Lively Lake Charles Redesign

When residents in Lake Charles decided to update the interiors of the nearly 5,900-square-foot home they built nine years…

Farmhouse Feels

Jade and Matt Ledoux, a couple who met in college while attending the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, knew they wanted to settle on property…

Put a Little Veg in Your Life

We have so many delicious, seasonal vegetables available this time of year, what I’m about to suggest isn’t even that radical. Or painful. A little switch here, an easy swap there and removing starchy, heavy ingredients and replacing them with…

A Fresh Approach to Living

New Year’s Resolutions are notoriously hard to keep. But if you live in Acadiana and vowed to go fresh this year, your goals could be easier to reach than you may think. True, the region is known for its heavier…

Pedro

One of the stereotypes associated with Cajuns is our love of card games. It’s not entirely undeserved, as it’s undeniably a popular pastime. We play alls the same games that we find everywhere in the United States, but the game…

Pattern Players

Francis and Cathi Pavy grew their family and their creative ventures together…