Shot in Lafayette

    Lafayette with its diverse terrain and film talent has attracted filmmakers for decades. The city offers two outstanding film festivals — the Southern Screen Film Festival held in the fall and Cinema on the Bayou in January — and is home to Pixel Magic, a production company that produces visual effects for many blockbuster films, including “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows,” “Beautiful Creatures,” “Secretariat” and “The Chronicles of Narnia.”
    On Saturday, April 20, 2013, as part of INNOV8, the Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise (LITE Center) will hold an open house that includes a look inside Pixel Magic. Titled “Behind the Scenes of Hollywood Movies,” there will be a demonstration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for all audiences and a demonstration in the more technical side of the VFX process from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.    
    Also this year, Festival International de Louisiane presents Soirées du Cinema, a free film series taking place Tuesday, April 23, at Cité des Arts, 109 Vine St. in downtown Lafayette. Films to be shown are “Rise Up” (Jamaica, 2012), Best Music Documentary winner at Silverdocs AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival, and “Brushy, the King of One String” (Jamaica, 2012).
    Here are a few movies made in the Lafayette area:
    Secretariat (2010) with Diane Lane, John Malkovich and Scott Glenn
    The Apostle (1997) with Robert Duvall and Farrah Fawcett
    Southern Comfort (1981) with Keith Carradine, Powers Boothe, Alan Autry and Peter Coyote. (The Bayou Vermilion District’s free monthly cultural film series Les Vues presents “Southern Comfort” at 6:30 p.m. April 29, 2013, in their Performance Center with local filmmaker Zack Godshall curating.)
    Belizaire the Cajun (1986) with Armand Assante, Will Patton and Gail Youngs
    Casey’s Shadow (1978) with Walter Matthau
    The Drowning Pool (1975) starring Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward and a young Melanie Griffith
    Nevada Smith (1966) with Steve McQueen 
    Easy Rider (1969) with Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda
    And that’s just a small selection of the many films shot in and around Lafayette. For a more extensive list, visit HollywoodOnTheBayou.com.

INNOV8: 8 days spotlighting Lafayette innovation

    Lafayette is known for its vibrant arts scene and its innovative technology, as a hub for healthcare and a strong entrepreneurial spirit. INNOV8, a project of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, celebrates this spirit with an eight-day festival of innovation Friday, April 19, to Friday, April 26, 2013. Events focus on Lafayette’s creative economy, entrepreneurship, education, healthcare, technology and innovative endeavors from business start-ups to success stories, from digital interactive technology to art and music.

LITE (Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise) Center

    Here are a few spotlights. For a complete list of events, visit http://innov8lafayette.com.
    Beginning at 2:30 p.m. Friday, April 19, Peruvian artist Grimanesa Amoros presents a lecture on how she uses sculpture, video and lighting techniques to create amazing works of art at the LITE (Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise) Center. Registration is requested for this free event, visit http://liteuroshouse.eventbrite.com.
    The LITE Center is a 3-D immersive visualization resource center located at the Research Park of the University of Louisiana Lafayette. LITE is the only facility of its kind in North America open to both industry and academia.
    Some of the clients at LITE will be giving demonstrations at the iOpener from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 20. There will be Pixel Magic’s “Behind the Scenes of Hollywood Movies” (did you know the 3-D of Harry Potter was created here?), demonstrations on underwater robots and a view inside the 3-D computer known as the “Egg.” Visitors may also play interactive video games against music and lift more than 5,000 pounds in a human-powered crane.
    More iOpener events include the neighboring Picard Center and the UL main campus. For more information on iOpener and a schedule of events, visit www.lite3d.com/iOpener.
    INNOV8 includes the Louisiana Soundtrack Experience, starting a music career, business workshops and the Cajun Code Fest coding competition, among many others.

Cycle Zydeco beings Bicycle Month!

            Lafayette Parish celebrates Bicycle Month in April with Cycle Zydeco as the kickoff event.

            Cycle Zydeco, scheduled for April 4-7, 2013, is a bike tour through Acadiana complemented by live Louisiana music and zydeco lessons, local cuisine and special events such as swamp tours, among much more. The four-day, 200-mile bike tour will be ridden at a moderate or leisurely pace in order to absorb the unique Cajun and Creole cultures and food. Bikers will travel from Lafayette, through St. Martinville, Breaux Bridge, Henderson, Arnaudville, Opelousas, Mamou and Eunice.

            Sponsored by TRAIL (Transportation Recreation Alternatives In Louisiana), this year’s riders will visit from 47 states and Canada. 

             The Cycle Zydeco bike tour will end on Sunday, April 7, 2013, at FestiVÉLO at Parc Sans Souci in downtown Lafayette. There will be food and drink, live music, a customized and restored bike show, group bike rides, springs and cycling skill classes from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

            For more information on Cycle Zydeco, visit www.latrail.org. For more information on FestiVÉLO, visit http://goo.gl/YCGby.   

            Lafayette is a biking city! Beginning at the heart of downtown at Parc San Souci and traveling throughout Lafayette to Beaver Park is the Atakapa-Ishak (AI) Trail, a multi-phased, shared-use recreational trail named for the Atakapa-Ishak Native American Tribe who inhabited Southwest Louisiana coastal regions and prairies. Phase 2 of the Al Trail will continue through Beaver Park, underneath the US Hwy. 90 bridge at the Vermilion River and continue past Vermilionville to the Jean Lafitte Acadiana Cultural Center. More bike trails are also in the works.

            At the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, there is a University Commons multi-use path with plans for expansion, one of which is to link up with the Al Trail.

            For information on biking events, trails, bike safety and more, visit latrail.org/web/.

Lafayette and Acadiana a birder’s paradise

    Lafayette and South Louisiana is a birder’s paradise, offering some of the best bird watching opportunities in the nation.
    The terrain ranges from prairies and live oak cheniers to wetlands, bayous and lakes. Rice farms attract ducks and other waterfowl, while wetlands provide food and shelter for rookeries. There are resident species, such as wading birds and waterfowl, that visitors can spot year-round and migratory birds flying through on the Mississippi Flyway.

    The America’s Wetland Birding Trail consists of 115 bird watching sites in 12 trails within 22 Louisiana parishes. The Atchafalaya Loop, for instance, takes birders through the largest river swamp in North America, and includes bottomland hardwood ecosystems, wildlife management areas and the Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge. Be sure and visit Lake Martin-Cypress Island Preserve, one of the largest bird rookeries in North America with its approximate 20,000 nesting pairs of spring wading birds. Now and through late spring look for all kinds of egrets, great blue herons, little blue herons, roseate spoonbills, warblers, vireos, white ibis and anhingas, among others.
    At Lafayette and heading south is the Vermilion Loop, which takes visitors through marshlands toward the Gulf of Mexico. In the spring and fall birders may spot migratory neotropical songbirds. Waterfowl may be seen year-round within the rice farms and coastal prairie lands. 
    Local bird-related festivals include the winter Eagle Expo in Morgan City, the spring Bayou Teche Black Bear & Birding Festival in Franklin (April 29-21, 2013) and the Lafayette Hummingbird Day in the fall.
    This Saturday, March 30, 2013, at 9 a.m., Dr. Jay Huner of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette will speak on his challenge to see as many bird as possible in Louisiana in 2012, known as “The Big Year”at the Lafayette Wild Birds Unlimited. Other events happening this spring at Wild Birds Unlimited include a bird chat with field trip April 6 and May 4, shorebird identification with Clint Jeske of the National Wetlands Research Center on April 11, and a discussion of edible plants with Charles Allen on May 11.

Lafayette offers many smoke-free venues

    In Louisiana, it is unlawful to smoke within a restaurant. If the establishment uses more than 50 percent of its business as a bar, smoking is allowed.
    However, there are several smoke-free establishments in Lafayette, regardless of the bar-to-restaurant ratio.
    They are:
    Bisbano’s Pizza Parlor, 1540 Johnston St. by the University of Louisiana-Lafayette campus.
    Bolt, 116 E. Vermilion St. in downtown Lafayette.
    Brewski’s, 2815 Jefferson St.
    Corner Bar, 3103 Johnston St.
    Dix Almost Famous Daiquiris, 101 Liberty Ave.
    Fast Eddies, 2431 W. Congress St.
    Legends Annex, 110 Polk St. in downtown Lafayette.
    Legends, 4559 Johnston St.
    Lounge, 412 Jefferson St. in downtown Lafayette.
    Maximilian’s Lounge, 1521 Pinhook Road.
    Pour wine bar, 605 Silverstone, Suite 107, in River Ranch.
    Scandal’s, 1801 Pinhook Road.
    Taproom, 201 Settlers Trace, River Ranch.
    Tim & Tias, 211 Settlers Trace in River Ranch.
    Tonic, 2013 Pinhook Road.  
    Wild Salmon Bar & Grill, 813 Foreman Drive.
    For more information about Louisiana’s smoke-free venues, visit http://www.letsbetotallyclear.org/.

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/.

2013 spring concert schedules announced!

    Spring in Lafayette means get thee outside! It’s gorgeous here this time of year with balmy weather, flowers blooming everywhere and well into summer and festivals, festivals, festivals.
    To whet your appetite, here is the lineup for two spring concert series, the lunchtime Bach Lunch and the evening Downtown Alive!, both offering free music on Fridays in downtown Lafayette.
    First, the Lafayette Science Museum Foundation’s biannual Bach Lunch concert series occurs at noon Fridays in Parc Sans Souci. Music is free but box lunches are $6 each ($5 for museum members) and donated by local restaurants as a fundraiser.

    The schedule for the Spring Bach Lunch is:
    March 8: Les Freres Michot with food by Hub City Diner and iMonelli.
  
    March 15: Bonsoir, Catin with food by Bailey’s Seafood & Grill, Roly Poly and Zea’s Rotisserie & Grill.
    March 22: The Viatones with food by Abacus Restaurant & Catering, Poupart’s Bakery and Tsunami Sushi.
    March 29: Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express with food by Ema’s Café, Deano’s and O’Charley’s Restaurant.
    April 5: The Revelers with food by Agave Cantina, Chris’ Po-Boys and Great Harvest Bread Co.
  
    April 12: The Rayo Brothers with food by Creole Lunch House, Jefferson Street Pub and Johnsons Boucaniere.
    April 19: Mike Dean with food by Chick-Fil-A, French Press and Poupart’s Bakery.
    April 26: Rob Curto and Cubato as part of Festival International de Louisiana with food by Antoni’s Restaurant, Burgersmith, Cena-to-Go, Chris’ PoBoys, Hub City Diner, Joey’s Specialty Foods and Roly Poly.

    The biannual Downtown Alive! concert series begins March 8 and offers fabulous live music from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. downtown.
    Here’s the full schedule for Spring Downtown Alive!:
    March 8: The Original Pintettes (The world’s only all-female brass band), Parc International.
    March 15: Corey Ledet & his Zydeco Band, Parc International.
    March 22: Creole String Beans, Parc Sans Souci.
    April 5: Cowboy Mouth, Parc International.
    April 12: Dege Legg and Black Bayou Construckt, Parc Sans Souci.
    April 19: 2013 Grammy winner The Band Courtbouillon featuring Wayne Toups, Steve Riley and Wilson Savoy, Parc International.
    May 3: Rue Boogaloo, Parc Sans Souci.
    May 10: Louisiana Red, Parc Sans Souci.
    May 17: Mercy Brothers, Parc Sans Souci.

Horace Trahan

May 24: Sassafras Jubilee, Parc Sans Souci.
    May 31: Generationals & LillyBrave, Parc Sans Souci.
    In neighboring Carencro, the Mercredi Show happens every Wednesday, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Pelican Park.
    The lineup includes:
    April 3 - Belton Richard
    April 10 - Gregg Martinez & The Delta Kings
    April 17 - The Foret Tradition
    April 24 - Da Classics
    May 1 - Horace Trahan & The Ossun Express
    May 8 - Jo-El Sonnier
    May 15 - The Nik L Beer Band