Bird watchers flock to Morgan City
February 16, 2012
Restaurant Review: Down home at the Jolly Inn
February 16, 2012Mardi Gras party at the Bayou Playhouse
The Bayou Playhouse in Lockport will host its first ever Mardi Gras party at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at the playhouse, 101 Main St., Lockport.
Cajun musician Leroy Martin will perform and sell copies of his latest album, a compilation of his and others’ greatest hits. The Ragin’ Cajun Hal Martin, a NASCAR driver, will make an appearance and John “Spud” McConnell will emcee the event.
Other Cajun music favorites will also perform at the party.
Organizers said they hope the Krewe de Bayou Party becomes an annual occurrence.
Tickets cost $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Catering by Pizza Jac’s is included in the ticket price.
For tickets, visit www.BayouPlayhouse.com or call 1-888-99-BAYOU (22968) ex. 1.
All proceeds will benefit the Bayou Playhouse.
8th Annual Fundraiser supports local hospital
A support group for the Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center will hold its eighth-annual gala early next month, offering food, beverages, live music, auctions and networking opportunities through the always-festive fundraiser.
“A Night for Goodness Sake,” will begin at 6 p.m., March 2 at the home of state Rep. Gordon Dove and his wife Mona, 105 Glen Oaks Drive.
“Every penny that we raise goes toward buying new equipment for the charity hospital,” said Mona Christen, fundraising chairperson for the Chabert Medical Center Foundation.
The foundation has raised more than $500,000 through the gala over the past seven years. Aside from the $100 entry fee, money is collected through live and silent auctions and sponsorships. The hospital support group raised about $100,000 last year.
The event is open invitation, and tickets can be purchased at the door.
Billy Stark and Friends – Lawrence Breaux and Mark Duplantis – will perform live music, and six local chefs, including Sammy Castalano, will be on hand to prepare crab and corn soup, fried seafood, and raw oyster shooters among other servings.
Past auction offerings include a ride on a Russian jet, trips to Hawaii and San Francisco and a brand new washing machine and dryer set, Christen said.
This year, the foundation says it hopes to purchase a new bone scanner for the hospital.
“You don’t know if that $100 is going to go toward some equipment that may save 20 lives this year or next year,” Christen said. “You’d be surprised.”
Civic Center hosts 11th annual bull riding challenge
Local and regional cowboys trek to the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center each year for the annual Fear No Evil Bull Riding Challenge.
This year, the 11th edition of the event, 40 cowboys will compete and try to achieve eight-second rides on 50 bulls. The challenge begins at 7:30 on Saturday, March 3.
A popular event each year, the challenge is expected to sell out, Civic Center Director Janel Ricca said.
“It’s been close to a sell-out, if not a sell-out, every year,” she said. “We would need more seats for (the event) to grow at this point. “
The two-day celebration gets kicked off with a cowboy party at Hooter’s at 7:30 p.m. the night before. Fear No Evil crewmembers, cowboys and a few of the challenge bulls will be at the Houma restaurant, where fans can win prizes and attempt to ride the mechanical bull “Mr. Twister.”
The mechanical bull will be also available from 10 a.m. to noon the next day at Louis Mohana Furntiture, La. Highway 24, Bourg.
Prior to Saturday’s challenge, a kids’ pre-party with Pinocchio’s Playhouse and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office DARE program will begin at 6 p.m. at the civic center.
Velvet Sky is scheduled to perform at the after-party.
Tickets to the challenge can be pre-purchased at the civic center box office or through Ticketmaster for $14, $19, or $23. Children aged 2 to 12 get a $3 discount.
Houmapalooza 2012 dates set
The Houma Regional Arts Council has set the 2012 dates for the bi-annual Houmapalooza and is now accepting applications from musicians and bands who wish to fill one of the 20 one-hour blocks.
The downtown Houma music festival will be held Saturday, April 14 and Saturday, Nov. 3 in Courthouse Square. Each festival will be free to attend, run from noon to 10 p.m. and feature 10 independent bands who perform original music.
The Arts Council will try to capitalize on a successful first year in its quest to provide musicians from across the region the chance to perform original works for the public’s benefit, said Glenda Toups, executive director of the Council.
“We are certain this is growing into a trademark music festival for south Louisiana musicians and music lovers,” she said.
The concert was first held in April 2011 and was followed with another concert in November of that year, featuring more than 115 musicians in 20 bands.
Bands who wish to perform must play at least one hour of original material and be unsigned by a major label.
The arts council does not pay performance fees, but selected bands will receive professional development opportunities and be invited to attend musician workshops that touch on topics like music copyrighting, managing contracts and creating press kits.
For more information or to submit a performance application, visit www.houmapalooza.com.
