How does one fight the winter blues in Louisiana?

     All you have to do is wait. Within days the temperatures return to a balmy goodness and all is right in the world. 

     Take the past two weeks as an example. We had a treacherous ice storm blow through, closing the city and schools. Two days later it was sunny and warm and folks were out and about enjoying the nice weather. The next week the same thing happened. (You might have seen the “frozen South” on the news lately).

     But guess what? Temperatures are quickly pulling up, the ice is thawing and the weekend looks to reach close to 70 degrees. Now we’re talking!

     So here’s how we deal with winter weather in Louisiana.

•  Enjoy the Lafayette Farmers and Artisans Market from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 1, and visit the mobile museum fashioned out of a vintage Airstream trailer, created by University of Louisiana’s public history program (read our blog post here), plus listen to local musicians Christine Balfa and Ryan Brunet perform from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
•  Attend the Gourmet Food Truck Round-up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at Parc Lafayette, enjoy great eats and listen to La Recolte perform (shown above; their music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. is called "Cabin Fever Relief 2014).
•  If you’re still scared about being outside, the Paul & Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum has new spring exhibits on display (reception 6-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31), the Christian Youth Theatre presents “Tarzan” at Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 1-2, at UL’s Angelle Hall and UL Women’s and Men’s Basketball play Sunday night, Feb. 2, in the Cajundome.

     So, now do you get it? Winter doesn’t last long here, if it comes at all. By the end of February our flowers should be peeking out with azaleas showing their brilliant colors in early March — just in time for Mardi Gras, which is late this year and you know what that means? Probably warm and sunny parades!

     Why aren’t you here?

Fall into great music with Acadiana Symphony Orchestra

     Join Maestro Mariusz Smolij and the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra this fall for three fun-filled and unique concerts.

     On Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, the orchestra presents “Legacy of the Atchafalaya Masterwork Concert No. 2” at 6 p.m. at the Heymann Performing Arts Center. The guest artists will be 2013 Grammy winners The Harlem Quartet performing beloved American classics and Christine Balfa will sing two ballads written by Glenn McClure honoring our Atchafalaya Basin, the country's largest river swamp. Beethoven’s bold and glorious masterpiece rounds out the program. 

     Bring the kids Saturday, Nov. 9, to watch Disney’s “Fantasia” on a large screen with the original soundtrack performed by the ASO. The fun begins with a pre-concert VIP party for children with musical games, dancing, face painting and cookies and milk with a real princess and other special guests. The movie with accompanying orchestra begins at 4 p.m., all at the Heymann Performing Arts Center.

     For the holidays, it’s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, at the Heymann Performing Arts Center.

     For tickets to these and other ASO events, click here.

What’s on your summer bucket list?

    We’d like to know.

    However, if you could use some help with ideas, let us offer a few:
    Ride the Acadian Ambulance at the Children’s Museum of Acadiana.

    Eat a banana split at Borden’s Ice Cream Shoppe at Jefferson Street and Johnston, the last Borden’s store of its kind in existence.  
    Visit alligators up close and personal at Lake Martin.

    Eat gourmet food from a truck at any of the dozen or more gourmet food trucks of Lafayette.
    Walk the Horse Farm and visit its century-old live oaks after enjoying the Saturday morning Farmers’ Market.
    Sip wine, view artwork and listen to the Cajun jam session at the Second Saturday ArtWalk throughout downtown Lafayette.
    Dance in the San Souci water fountain, which is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day!
    Bike the Attakapas-Ishak Multi-Use Trail from downtown Lafayette to Beaver Park.
    Take a hike through the Acadiana Park Nature Station.
    Learn about solar energy and sustainable living at the UL-Lafayette BeauSoleil House and then feed the ducks in nearby Girard Park.

University Art Museum

    At noon on Wednesdays meet Planetarium Director David Hostetter at the Lafayette Science Museum and use his telescope to view sunspots.
    Play in the rain (unless it’s lightning). It usually happens every afternoon during the summer.
    Step inside the giant egg, also known as the LITE Center (Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise).

San Souci Fountain

    Listen to experts discuss art at the Paul & Lulu University Art Museum.
    Practice your French at one of the many French Tables held throughout Acadiana.
    Travel back in time to learn how Cajuns and Creoles lived at Acadian Village.
    Take thee out to a ballgame — the Acadiana Cane Cutters play baseball at Fabacher Field at Southside Regional Park in Youngsville.
    Canoe the Vermilion — guided canoe trips are offered at Vermilionville and a put-in spot is now available at the Acadiana Park Nature Station.

    Visit the office of Downtown Development District and pick up a walking brochure of downtown, then enjoy gelato and espresso at Carpe Diem Gelato & Espresso Bar.
    Try to sample as many of the EatLafayette restaurants as you can until Sept. 2, when the campaign ends.
    Eat a snow cone.
    Wow, we could go on forever. What’s on your bucket list?

March is Egg-Citing in Lafayette!

             Spring is a-hopping in Lafayette these days. In addition to the azaleas and other magnificently colorful flowers gracing our streets, there are egg-cellent things happening.

            And before we get too bogged down in spring puns, here’s what’s coming up:

             The Center for Cultural and Ecotourism at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette hosts “Natural Egg Dying” traditions of South Louisiana and a free egg-dyeing workshop with three local artisans beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, at Vermilionville Performance Center, 300 Fisher Road. Connie Boustany will instruct how to wrap eggs and Vermilionville artisans Jocelyn Trahan and Brenda Lalonde will demonstrate how to create various natural dyes from kitchen produce and garden items. Eggs and supplies will be provided. After the dying of eggs there will be a pacqué contest, to see whose egg is the strongest. The Center’s “Backyard Series” is free and open to all ages. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. 

             The Tea Slippers present the classic comedy play for all ages, “Harvey” by Mary Chase, at 7:30 p.m. March 15, 16, 22 and 23 and at 2 p.m. March 17 and 24 at Cité des Arts, 109 Vine St. in downtown Lafayette.

             Festival Eggstrodinaire, a fundraiser for the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at the ASO Conservatory Building, 412 Travis St. in the Oil Center of Lafayette. There will be an egg and spoon race, jelly bean count contest, coloring contest, Easter egg decorating contest, sack races and so much more! The festival grounds will include the ASO Conservatory Building and surrounding areas and streets will be blocked off to accommodate local vendors. The main event will be an Easter Egg hunt so bring your baskets!
        The Bayou Vermilion District’s Vermilionville will be getting in the Easter spirit beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 23, with an Easter celebration for the whole family. The day will include a natural egg dyeing demonstration, sweet dough tart cooking demo, prettiest egg contest, pâquer tournament and Cajun jam. In addition, Alex Caldwell, co-creator and president of Vivian Alexander, will be on hand to discuss eggs and the role they play in our Easter celebrations. The talk is open to all ages and will begin at 2:30 p.m. with audience Q&A to follow. For a schedule of events, visit http://www.facebook.com/events/290971067700015/.

Gift the gift of the outdoors this holiday season

Louisiana State Arboretum

     Need something to do with the kids over the holiday vacation, a gift of experience that may last a lifetime? Try getting them outside in the wonderful state parks surrounding Lafayette.
    On Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012, Chicot State Park in Ville Platte will offer a Dutch Oven Gathering from 9 a.m. to noon. Participants will join the monthly Dutch oven cooking demonstrations, to view how cooking can be done in the wild. At the nearby Louisiana State Arboretum on Dec. 22 visitors will take a hike — literally — to identify trees during the hardest time of the year, winter, beginning at 2 p.m. For more information on either event, call (888) 677-6100 or (337) 363-6289 locally.
    Also on Saturday, Dec. 22, Lake Fausse Pointe State Park near St. Martinville will offer a Sunset Hike from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to the slough lookout to catch views of deer, owls and other wildlife while the sun sets. There will also be a morning canoe tour from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, at Lake Fausse Pointe State Park where visitors will enjoy the tranquility of calm and quiet waters while learning about the park’s history and flora and fauna along the way. Canoeing experience is recommended and space is limited, so please call for reservations. For more information call (888) 677-7200 or (337) 229-4764 locally.

    For something totally different, visit the Louisiana State Arboretum and learn about Flying Squirrels with the site naturalist from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29. Visitors will enjoy a hike to see the squirrel’s preferred habitat in the old growth forest at the Arboretum.
    For more information about Louisiana State Parks, visit http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks.

Get ready for ‘Red, White and BOOM!’

    Downtown Lafayette celebrates the nation’s independence in a big way this July 4th with an annual concert by the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, a KidZone and live music by local bands. It’s all part of “Red, White and BOOM!”
    Grammy nominee Marcia Ball, hailed as the “bayou queen of the piano,” joins the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra in the patriotic concert in Parc International. The concert will also feature the ASO’s Second Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest and a 2012 red Mercedes car raffle, concluding with the Grand Finale Fireworks show at approximately 9:30 p.m.
    Over in nearby Parc Sans Souci the Conservatory of Music KidZone will offer water slides, face painting, arts and crafts, balloon animals, costume contests and much more. And parents can enjoy a broadcast of Marcia Ball and the ASO performance while their children play and keep cool in the KidZone!
    At Parc Putnam’s “Freedom Fest!” there will be several bands performing — The Rockin’ Rotarians at 4 p.m., Lafayette’s Bayou Boys at 5 p.m., Nik L Beer at 6:15 p.m. and Grammy Award winner Chubby Carrier at 8:30 p.m.
    Gates open for all events at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 4, 2012.

    A $5 admission fee to Red, White and BOOM! grants patrons access to all three parcs (that’s parks for those of you who don't speak Cajun). In collaboration with Food Net of Lafayette, ASO is offering free concession tickets for canned food donations brought to the celebration. Parc Passes will be available at the gate or may be purchased in advance at the ASO Box office located at 412 Travis Street in Lafayette.
    All proceeds from the event help support the ASO’s children’s education programs.
    Visit the Symphony web site or its Facebook page for a more detailed schedule.