Shreveport - Bossier, Louisiana's Other Side

This past Saturday night I attended the 5th Annual Taste of Culture event (presented by the Multicultural Center of the South) at the Skybox at Independence Stadium and I had an incredible time!

There was entertainment, food, drink, music and more from cultures and countries around the world including Korea, Japan, China, Philippines, Mexico, Iran and Greece as well as Black American, Cajun, Creole, Scottish and many others!

Featured Chef Michael Brady (the Executive Chef at Wine Country Bistro) was there with his famous Shrimp and Grits (of which I had two helpings). Indigo Indian restaurant was also there serving Curried Chicken and Rice, one of my favorite dishes! Other dishes I tried included Native American tacos, enchiladas, Scottish eggs, Turkish meatballs, Cous Cous, African Peg salad, peach cobbler, dirty rice, red beans and rice, and Kalampdo. I was absolutely stuffed by the time I finished (and I didn’t even eat everything I wanted to) and a little more enlightened on the food of other cultures. I would have to say that the Cous Cous was my favorite new food. It had a light, refreshing, and somewhat clean taste. I will definitely have to have that again!

For entertainment, there were Scottish Bag Pipers, Japanese dancers, the Zoobie Doobie dance group, the Port Belly belly-dancers, a Karate demonstration, the Pamoga African Drum Circle and the Tinkling Bamboo Dance, just to name a few. My favorite performers were the belly-dancers and the people who performed the Tinkling Bamboo Dance. If you have never seen the Tinkling Bamboo Dance, you must! It’s absolutely amazing! I couldn’t take my eyes off of them and was impressed with how they didn’t fall as they danced through two bamboo poles that were being slapped on the ground around their feet.

Tom Pace of “Talk of the Town” was the MC and host and kept everyone entertained in between performances with his witty comments and funny stories.

I will most definitely go back next year! In the meantime, whenever I need a shot of culture I will head down to the Multicultural Center of the South in downtown Shreveport to view their exhibits representing over 26 cultures from around the world.

For more information on the Multicultural Center of the South, visit them online at http://www.mccsouth.org. 

Every third Thursday downtown Shreveport brings on the entertainment and offers something for all ages and interests. I went out this past Thursday to check it all out for myself.

I began my evening at Artspace at 5 p.m. My husband and I signed up for the Downtown Pub and Culture Crawl, got out wrist bands and headed up to the Café’ at Artspace for a drink. We sat and played with the POP! Bubble Wrap exhibit by reminiscing about our childhoods and the fun we had popping Bubble Wrap.

After about 15 minutes of sitting we headed downstairs to view the POP! exhibit.  If you haven’t been yet, go! What’s stopping you? It’s a FREE exhibit and it ends July 27, so there isn’t much more time. If you want to see some pictures or read more about the exhibit, check out our blog from a few weeks back.

After viewing the exhibit (for the fourth time… it just doesn’t get old!) and listening to some live music we got tickets to and boarded the Thursday Night Trolley with guide Kathy Melancon. This particular ride focused on the Northwest Louisiana Film Trail and the movies and TV shows that have been filmed here.

Kathy was a great tour guide and gave some an interesting insight into some of the productions that have come through here. For instance, did you know that the new ABC show “The Gates” is filmed entirely inside a building in downtown Shreveport, except for exterior/ outside shots which are filmed in Southern Trace? Also, the wave pool that was built for the film “The Guardian” starring Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher is in Shreveport and is the second largest wave pool in the world! Who knew that Shreveport-Bossier was able to accommodate two large productions?

On a side note, my husband and I discovered something interesting. The first time he and I met was when we were working on a film project at the Oakland Cemetery. A little over a year later we saw our first movie together: “Mr. Brooks,” which was filmed at the Oakland Cemetery! We thought that was such an odd coincidence and had never put the two together before. Why don’t you take a trolley ride at the next TNT event on August 19 and see what you can learn or discover!

After the TNT we continued on our pub crawl, stopping at Abby Singer’s Bistro in the Robinson Film Center for a drink and then we headed to Blind Tiger to meet up with some friends for dinner. I ordered the fried craw-tails and the Floridays Margarita (so good it would make Jimmy Buffet proud) and my friend dined on a bowl of Red Beans and Rice with a side of the biggest slice of cornbread I had ever seen!

We ended our night with a stop at Fatty Arbuckle’s under the bridge in the Red River District sitting on the patio and enjoying the company of great friends.

Other than the events listed above, every third Thursday in downtown Shreveport is packed with fun things to do and it changes each month so you can enjoy something new every time.

Join our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shreveport-LA/Shreveport-Bossier-Louisianas-Other-Side or check out www.shreveportbossierfunguide.com for info on any of the upcoming events that take place everyday in the community!

Headlining this year’s Red River Revel Arts Festival is country duo Steal Magnolia. The boyfriend/girlfriend crooners will open up the Revel on Saturday, Oct. 2. The festival runs eight days.

Steel Magnolia, consists of Meghan Linsey, a Ponchatoula, Louisiana native, and Joshua Scott Jones. They won season two of the television talent show Can You Duet. Subsequently, they signed a recording contract and released their debut single “Keep on Lovin’ You” in August 2009.

The Revel, which is held at Festival Plaza in downtown Shreveport, boasts four performance stages. Many of Shreveport-Bossier’s home grown musicians perform all week along with national and international entertainers.

Though, the music is always at a fever pitch, the diversity of visual art hits on all the right notes. Upwards of 100 juried artists from around the nation show off their masterful works featuring jewelry, paintings, acrylics, clothing, pottery, photography, wood work and much more.

If those things weren’t enough to make for an amazing experience, the Revel is known for equally tantalizing food. Sink your teeth in the expected festival foods such as funnel cakes, nachos and cotton candy. But savor chicken and sausage gumbo, fried catfish, Cajun dirty rice, and muffalettas. Are you hungry, yet?

So make plans to attend this nationally recognized festival, Oct. 2-9, at Festival Plaza. Click here (http://louisiana-bookdirect.com/booking_results.php?cloneID=292&rooms=1&nights=1&sDay=24&sMonth=07&sYear=2010&start-date=07%2F24%2F2010&end-date=07%2F25%2F2010&lodgingID=103&group_id=7676) to book your hotel stay.

Check out the Revel’s website for constant updates on entertainment, kid’s activities, and food at www.redriverrevel.com.

REVEL HOURS
Thursday, Friday, & Saturdays • 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday - Wednesday • 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Children's Area Hours:
Saturdays & Sunday • 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Monday thru Friday • 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

TICKET INFORMATION
Admission Free
Monday: All Day
Tuesday - Friday: Until 5:30 p.m.
Every day: Children 12 & under when accompanied by an adult

$5 Admission Fee
Saturdays: Until 6 p.m.
Sunday: All Day
Tuesday - Friday: After 5:30 p.m.

$10 Admission Fee
Saturdays: After 6 p.m.

$15 8-day Reveler Pass at the gate

Buy your Reveler pass at any Porter's Fine Dry Cleaning or Brookshire's in advance for $10 and save!

Even though the clouds were out and the rain had already fallen once that morning, the Saturday morning Shreveport Farmers' Market in dowtown Festival Plaza was still bustling with shoppers looking for fresh, home-grown produce, home-made food and arts, plants, and unique items. I was one of those shoppers.

This was my first time going to the market, so I did a quick walk-by of all of the booths to see what was being offered. I saw delicious looking Ruston peaches in wicker baskets, tables of fruits and vegetables of all varieties, water-melons piled high on tables and in the back of pick-up trucks, home-made jams and jellies, shelled and bagged purple hull peas, bushes, herbs and flowers in pots, fresh flower arrangements, fresh baked cookies and bread, home-made beef jerkey, grilled sausage, bowls of gumbo and other home-made foods, and the list goes on and on! My head was spinning with the sights, sounds, and smells of everything around me.

After a closer look (and a few samples!) at the wares, I decided to buy the Red Habanero Jelly from Ole' Homestead Jelly. I first tasted Ole' Homestead Jelly at On Cloud Wine (Shreveport's very own winery!) back in May and I couldn't get the taste of it off of my mind. When I saw the stand, I had to have a jar. They have many different types of jelly, but I prefer the hot ones! After a few tastes, I decided to go with the hottest one they had and I haven't regretted that decision. My husband and I both enjoy pairing the jelly with cream cheese and crackers for a late night snack. This snack is great with a glass of "Bourbon St. Jazz" wine, one of the products made at On Cloud Wine.

I also picked up a bag of the "HOT" jerkey from the Southern Yankee Jerkey stand. I had heard about SY Jerkey for a weeks and when I saw the stand, I just had to stop and sample the different varieties. I settled once again on the hottest they had to offer and the bag was gone in a few hours. I will be a repeat customer!

Even though I didn't stop for food this time, I would recommend checking out "The Cookie Chick." My sister and I once set up a booth at an arts market and "The Cookie Chick" (Carrie) set up her booth of home-made goodies right next to ours. I do believe I spent all of the money I made buying her amazing popped kettle corn, sugar cookies and peanut butter fudge. She's a definite stop the next time I go!

For parents bringing their children (as I did) I would offer a few suggestions. First, definitely bring a stroller! We forgot ours and had to herd our 2 year old through the crowd and hold her most of the time. This made it difficult to sample items and to hold bags. The crowd also makes it hard for a large stroller, so a small one would be better. For our three week old, I used a baby sling so that my hands would be free.

Other items I would suggest:
Umbrella
Blanket (for an impromptu picnic by the riverfront with some of your new goodies!)
Baby wipes (even if you don't bring your children you may want them to wipe your hands)
Sun-screen (if you plan on going to the riverfront afterwards)

After my experience, I'm ready to go again! I will be attending the Tuesday afternoon market to see what's different and to pick-up some more items.