Into the Oaks

Photo courtesy Fire and Oak

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 live music (Tip: Try a blueberry mojito, beef tartare or the fried burrata followed by scallops). The closure of Green’s former 1910 restaurant after Hurricane Laura gave rise to his new eatery and craft cocktail bar situated in Oak Crossing.

$100 for a House
Broussard Up for grabs if you buy the winning $100 ticket: The newly constructed 2021 Acadiana St. Jude Dream Home in Broussard valued at $625,000. Other prizes include a 2021 Buick Encore and a $10,000 gift certificate. The St. Jude Giveaway benefits children battling cancer. Drawing is June 27 (Dreamhome.org).

Lake Charles, Opelousas and Vinton
Casino Comeback

Louisiana’s casinos are seeing major gains in 2021. They recently brought in a 119% increase over what the properties brought in during the pandemic last year. L’Auberge Lake Charles had a 179% increase, Golden Nugget Lake Charles was up by 157%, Evangeline Downs in Opelousas had a 156% increase and Delta Downs in Vinton was up by 146%.

Hitting the Road
Acadiana to New Orleans Louisiana is getting $216 million in transportation aid from one of the federal stimulus bills, including $50 million for advance work on I-49 in the Lafayette area and $29 million toward construction of a new bridge on I-10 in Lake Charles. Plans include connecting New Orleans and Lafayette with an upgraded U.S. 90 that becomes I-49 South, north of Carencro. The work amounts to elevating U.S. 90 to high-speed interstate standards.

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