Bayou Teche Brewing Heads to Downtown Lafayette and More Acadiana News
Arnaudville & Lafayette
Arnaudville’s Bayou Teche Brewing, known for artisan beer, tiki drinks and weekend jams, is expanding to a second location with on-site beer production and Cajun Saucer’s pizzas in downtown Lafayette’s future 83-room Hotel Lafayette that’s currently underway (301 E. Vermilion St., formerly Don’s Seafood). Enjoy matcha, bubble tea, Vietnamese-style po’boys and sweets at the new Báhn Mì House (302 Jefferson St.). A co-working, pet-friendly establishment, Downtown WORKspace (116 E. Congress St.) has sitting and standing desks and private offices available in a sleek, modernist space. Uncle Bob’s Roundup (144 E. Cypress St) is a popular new food truck park downtown. Catholic Charities’ new 13,000-square-foot food pantry facility will soon become the permanent address for FoodNet Food Bank (613 W. Simcoe St.) featuring the first-ever grocery store-style experience, Client Choice Pantry.
Maurice
Of Boudin Balls and Biscuits
When slowing down along Maurice’s infamous speed trap on Highway 167, pull over for snacks and an energy drink at the new 36,000- square-foot Nunu’s Country Market (on Highway 167; 9512 Maurice Ave.), Nunu’s largest store to date. You’ll find Alani Nu’s new Sherbet Swirl energy drink (limited edition), crawfish boudin, pepperjack boudin balls, boudin biscuits, bakery cookies and artisan cheese. Don’t forget to load up the ice chest with specialty meats (from unique sausages to bison, elk and stuffed quail).
Carencro
For Sports Fans
Carencro will soon have a Walk-Ons Sports Bistreaux (3500 block of NE Evangeline Thruway) that’s nearly half the size of the original 10,000-square-foot restaurant. The new design features a dedicated to-go area, enhanced acoustics and strategically placed TVs to heighten the sports-viewing experience among devoted fans.
Lafayette
Hot Boudin-in-a-Blanket
Noni’s Coffee & Eats (2424 Ambassador Caffery Parkway) is a cozy new family-run café owned by Jodi K. Taylor, a career RN and operations coordinator for Ochsner’s neuro-stroke unit. Featuring espresso drinks, frappes, fruit-flavored teas, heated boudin-in-a-blanket, fresh-baked muffins, healthful salads and a new line of specialty energy drinks, Nonk’s Nitros.
Agenda
June 20-22 | St. Landry BBQ Festival
Chefs compete for trophies during a complex, four-category BBQ cook-off. Carnival rides, live music and dancing add to the summer merriment.
June 6-8 | Gheens Bon Mangé Festival
Fans taste their way through the hearty gumbos, jambalayas, catfish platters, po’boys, rice dressings and sweet shop. Live bands, auctions, a cornhole tournament and a bounce house are among myriad family-friendly activities.
June 6-8 | Cajun Heritage Festival
Drawing hunters from afar with an annual duck decoy show, carving demos and duck calling contests, the free festival celebrates the Cajun heritage of Lafourche Parish. Hundreds of uniquely designed duck decoys are on display in the Larose Civic Center.
June 27-29 | Ville Platte’s Smoked Meat Festival
The Louisiana Smoked Meat Festival attracts chefs vying to win the World Championship Smoked Meat Cook-off title in the “smoked meat capital of the world.” Enjoy a diverse live music lineup. Created to honor veterans, the festival displays a photo wall of local heroes who have served in the military.
June 30-July 4 | Erath 4th of July Celebration
A tradition since 1936, the festival features a street fair with carnival rides, fais-do-do nights of dancing to Cajun bands and a fireworks finale. Cheer for your favorite participating fire department teams during the powerful water fights.
July 4 | Red, White, Blue & You Festival
Expect patriotic concerts and live music, food trucks and an Armed Forces salute culminating with a fireworks extravaganza in Lake Charles. Flyovers from Fort Johnson are among the various military activities planned.
July 5 | Lebeau Zydeco Festival
Popular zydeco bands perform at the annual fest celebrating the unique genre and its roots in the Creole community. Tip: Don’t leave before sampling the famous pork backbone dinners.
July 13 | Juice Festival
The 4th annual Juice Festival offers performances by dance/school organizations, live bands, artists, food, raffles, scholarships and giveaways at Houma’s downtown Courthouse Square. The fest salutes Terrebonne Parish educator, Deejay Juice, giving back to the community through music and education. While serving as a DJ for elementary and secondary schools across the area, Juice fosters unity among students via his unique “Character Tour.”
July 19 | Cajun Music & Food Festival
Get ready to two-step and twirl your way around the huge dance floor of the air-conditioned Burton Coliseum. Presented by the Lake Charles chapter of the Cajun French Music Association, an accordion competition debuts for both children and adults. Fans line up for Cajun food and hit the dance floor for live Cajun music and dance contests. Other perks include a kids zone, silent auction and dozens of booths featuring local arts and crafts.
