Wine and Dine

DONALDSONVILLE

Sip and Savor
Something delicious awaits visitors in Donaldsonville’s circa 1895 former power building, reopened in May as the Noël Family Distillery (noeldistillery.com). Private classes and tastings of ultra-premium craft spirits are enticing tequila aficionados, weekend imbibers and spirits industry veterans to Louisiana’s only distillery offering 100% blue Weber agave tequila. Master distiller and retired jet pilot Chip Noel and his daughter Natalie’s offerings include small-batch barrel-aged rum, aged reposado tequila and a briny pickle-infused vodka for praiseworthy Bloody Marys.

BROUSSARD

Splatter and Glow
For aspiring artists yearning to replicate Jackson Pollock-style masterworks of abstract expressionism, check out the new Pinspiration studio’s Glow Splatter Room where customers can unleash their creativity by flinging coils of luminescent paint onto canvases with complete abandon. Tip: Fun for date nights; includes suits, caps, goggles and booties. The new arts and crafts studio provides over 40 guided projects.

LAFAYETTE & BATON ROUGE

Chime Time
The newly constructed Chimes Restaurant & Tap Room, underway since July 2022, is making its debut as the fourth location of the Baton Rouge-based original Chimes (minus the rooftop bar and 25-year patronage of LSU football fans). Lafayette’s 11,000-square-foot, 300-seat site is enhanced by a climate-controlled patio featuring garage doors that open on breezy days. Expect half-shell oysters, gumbos, po’ boys, seafood platters and beer galore (thechimes.com).

LAFAYETTE

Jazzy Guest Chefs
Jazz buffs and foodies have been anticipating the fall debut of Antique Alley’s Bistro & Lounge, a welcome novelty for downtown Lafayette (212 N. Chestnut St.). Instead of a head chef, the 2,300-square-foot live jazz bistro features an ever-changing roster of guest chefs and menus. Legendary Ribs is the premiere food vendor (between guest chefs). Caterer and food truck Chef-owner Logan Alfred provides his signature crack wings and sauce from Southern Kreole Cravings.

CARENCRO

Pupcakes and Cupcakes
Follow your nose to Smallcakes, recently reopened under new ownership featuring 12 signature cupcakes made fresh every morning. Specials include Wedding Cake Wednesdays and Carrot Cake Fridays. Pupcakes are made especially for dogs. Also recommended: small-batch (made in-house) ice cream and the original Cupcake Smash, split in half and stuffed with double scoops of signature ice cream (facebook.com/smallcakescupcakerycarencro).

HOUMA

Festivals Unite
Voice of the Wetlands is making its long-awaited return for the new and improved Bayou Arts Fest (Oct. 28), which has officially merged with the White Boot Stroll for one, massive downtown festival featuring aerial artists, songwriting sessions, cooking demos and art installations. Headliners appearing on Voice of the Wetlands’ stage include Tab Benoit, Randy Jackson and Chubby Carrier while the White Boot Stroll stage features crowd-rousing sets by Nonc Nu & Da Wild Matous and Cedric Watson (bayouarts.org/bayou-arts-fest).

LAFAYETTE & SUNSET

Fido-Friendly Patio Pub
The Yard Goat, a new patio bar and beer garden, is Lafayette’s latest dog-friendly haven heightened by a special menu for canines. Chef Sean “Pooch” Rivera’s menu incorporates pasture-raised pork and poultry from T. Moise Farms in Sunset. Expect food trucks, fire pits and football fans. Set amid live oaks with bicycle parking, the 11,000-square-foot patio supports multiple TVs. Modeled after the owners’ popular New Orleans patio bar, Wrong Iron.

LAKE CHARLES

Bargain Hunter’s Playing Field
Shoppers who like to haggle until the price is right are anticipating the annual Flea Fest (Nov. 11-12) in Burton Coliseum. Expect an abundance of antiques and art, retro and vintage clothing, jewelry, toys and comic books plus a farmer’s market as lagniappe (fleafest.com).