Cool off at Gulf Brew!

     The Acadiana Center for the Arts offers up a cool event every summer as its  primary fundraiser.
    Gulf Brew 2012 is an annual tribute to beer that includes dozens of brewmasters, food and ongoing entertainment from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 21, at downtown Lafayette’s Parc International. The fun happens in a large air-conditioned tent so it doesn’t get much cooler than this.
    “It’s a little like Christmas in July,” said ACA Director Gerd Wuestemann. “Cool beers in a cool atmosphere and that’s pretty impressive for Louisiana.”
    Brewmasters hail from around the Southwest region and beyond, offering more than 150 fine craft and specialty brews. There will also be on-site brewing demonstrations, a gaming area, educational brewers tent and more.
    Tickets are $25 for general admission and VIP tickets are $75 and include early admission and access to the VIP tent with special beer selections, food and VIP restrooms. A designated driver (non-taster) ticket is available for $15. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Acadiana Center for the Arts.
    For more information, or a list of participating breweries, visit AcadianaCenterfortheArts.org.

Cool things to do in Lafayette

    Summertime and it’s rather warm here in South Louisiana. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a good time to visit. Here are some cool reasons to visit Lafayette in summer:
    The EatLafayette campaign is ongoing through Aug. 15, with 61 participating restaurants offering summer specials. In addition, there will be a chance to win a four-day Caribbean cruise by entering at participating restaurants.
    The Lafayette Absolut Best Martini Contest runs every Tuesday for eight weeks until Aug. 21. Every Tuesday a different restaurant in town will be serving up signature martinis, giving visitors a chance to sample their creative mixtures and vote for their favorites Aug. 25 at the Hilton Lafayette during the Martinis 2012 Gala.
    Once again, the Acadiana Center for the Arts offers Gulf Brew, a celebration of Gulf South breweries, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. July 21. There will be sample beers, food and live music in Parc International in the heart of downtown Lafayette. Tickets are $25 for general admission and VIP tickets are $75 and include early admission and access to the VIP tent with special beer selections, food and VIP restrooms. A designated driver (non-taster) ticket is available for $15.
    Kart Ranch family entertainment center offers water blasting bumper boats with water targeting devises everywhere! No one will escape dry at this fun park.
    The Parc San Souci fountain at 201 E. Vermilion St. in downtown Lafayette offers a syncopated rise and fall of bursts of water, a favorite among kids and adults alike. Best of all, it's free!

    And for some instant cool gratification, snowball stands — or shall we say sneauxballs — are located all over Lafayette and surrounding areas. To name a few:
    Snowcones at the Hot Pot, 705 Robley Drive;
    Cajun Sno on Rena Drive;
    Crawfish Express, 106 Roselawn Blvd.;
    Murph’s Old Tyme Snowball, behind Old Tyme Grocery, 218 W. St. Mary.
    There’s also several ice cream shops in town. The newly renovated Borden's, where Jefferson Street meets Johnston, is the last Borden's ice cream parlor in existence. The newest addition to the cool scene is Carpe Diem Gelato and Espresso Bar downtown. Everything is made fresh here with summer produce.

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.

Acadiana Farmers' Markets offer something for everyone

    Lafayette and surrounding areas are home to numerous farms, home bakers and fishermen. On almost every day of the week you can find fresh produce, baked goods, meats and seafood at a number of farmers markets.
    Many of them also sell flowers, plants, crafts, artwork and music. The Hub City Farmers Market, for instance, which sets up shop every Saturday in the Oil Center of Lafayette, hosts area artists on the third Saturday of every month. The Freetown Farmers’ Market sells a variety of items, from fresh vegetables, dairy products and meats to crocheted hats, fresh flowers and CDs of local musicians, all out front of the Freetown Studios where numerous local artists work. We were even serenaded!
    The following are farmers’ markets in Lafayette and surrounding region. Since times and dates may change with the seasons, please call ahead.

Tuesdays 
Acadiana Farmer’s Market, 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., 801 Foreman Drive in Lafayette. (337) 948-8812.
Teche Area Farmer’s Market, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Bouligny Plaza on Main Street in downtown New Iberia. (337) 942-3742.

Wednesdays
Eunice Farmers’ Market & Market Days, 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the 100 block of South Second Street in downtown Eunice. (337) 457-6502.
Freetown Mid-Week Farmers’ Market, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., The Freetown Studios, 421 Convent St. in Lafayette. (225) 324-6267.

Thursdays
Acadiana Farmer’s Market, 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., 801 Foreman Drive in Lafayette. (337) 948-8812.

Saturdays
Hub City Farmers’ Market in Lafayette, 8 a.m. to noon, 427 Heymann Blvd. in the Oil Center of Lafayette. (337) 873-0383.
Lafayette Farmers' and Artisans Market at the Horse Farm, 8 a.m. to noon., Lafayette.
Acadiana Farmers’ Market, 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., 801 Foreman Drive in Lafayette. (337) 948-8812.
Freetown Mid-Week Farmers’ Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Freetown Studios in Lafayette. 421 Convent St. (225) 324-6267.
The Cottage Shoppe’s Farmers’ Market, 8 a.m. to noon, 800 E. Broussard Road in Lafayette. (337) 984-5276.
Eunice Farmers’ Market & Market Days, 10 a.m. to 2p.m. in the 100 block of South Second Street in downtown Eunice. (337) 457-6502.
Teche Area Farmers’ Market, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., Bouligny Plaza on Main Street in downtown New Iberia. (337) 380-0672 and (337) 369-2330.
Bayou Teche Farmers' Market, 8 a.m. to noon. the last Saturday of the month, St. Martinville.
The Washington Community Farmers' Market, 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Pavilion across from Town Hall in Washington.  
Kaplan Farmers' Market, 8 a.m. to noon the second Saturday of the month. 

For more information on local foods, contact the Acadiana Food Circle.