Shreveport - Bossier, Louisiana's Other Side

Football, zydeco music, thrilling rides and games of all kinds all go together like a good pot of zesty gumbo at this year’s State Fair of Louisiana, Oct. 21-Nov. 7. Fair organizers have simply outdone themselves this year.

For the first time, the Shreveport Classic will be played in conjunction with the fair. Texas’ Prairie View A&M Panthers will take on the Southern University Jaguars, Oct. 23 at the nearby Independence Stadium. The halftime showdown of the two bands will be as competitive as the gridiron action between the two powerhouse football teams.

There will be big fun under the big top with a daily circus and an exciting midway of 60 rides including the Expo Wheel, Cliff Hangar and more. What’s a fair without turkey legs, nachos, funnel cakes, popcorn and other great festival foods? And, yes, you can probably even find a great bowl of gumbo. Come get your fill of it.

Take a camel ride and encounter elephants and tigers at this year’s Ultimate Safari. Other events and performances include PJ the Clown, Balloon-a-tics, Washboard Willy, and more.

If that’s not enough, there will be 14 days of toe-tapping, hip-swaying music – free. Some of the featured bands include the Dixie Traditions, the Bellamy Brothers, Wayne Toups & Zydecajuns, and Midnight Star. Check the State Fair’s website for a complete list of entertainment.

More exciting fair firsts are the World Championship Blacksmiths Competition, Oct. 22-24, at the nearby Louisiana State Exhibit Museum and the Arena Cross motorcycle competition at Hirsch Coliseum, Nov. 6. 

The State Fair has a special Opening Day deal for you. Admission and parking are free on Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. From 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., admission and parking are $1 and Bill Lowery Carnival rides are $1 each. Many food items also will be $1.

After opening day, ticket prices are $8 for gate admission or $28 for an all-inclusive pass that includes admission and rides. Fun passes cost $75 per person for all 14 days of fun.
For more information call 318-635-1361.

The State Fair has hotel packages starting at $74/night on their website (http://www.statefairoflouisiana.com/specials.aspx). Also visit, www.shreveport-bossier.org for a complete list of accommodations.

A great gumbo requires lots of great ingredients, full of spice and flavor. This year’s State Fair of Louisiana is cookin’ up a great time with something for everyone.

Restaurant of the Week

I took the downtown lunch trolley to the Texas St. Grille one day for lunch last week. The ride was fun and the air-conditioning on the trolley was great, especially after walking a bit in the overwhelming heat. I was originally going to go to the Café at Artspace, but my co-workers convinced me to go to the Texas St. Grille with them.

One of our co-workers was already waiting for us and placed our orders. I ordered a Greek Burger with no cheese, sweet potato fries, and a sweet tea. I’m just not a fan of feta cheese, but the idea of a burger with a Greek olive mix sounded very appealing. We arrived within minutes of our orders being placed, walked through the entryway to Mojo’s Bar, and up the stairs to the restaurant.

The lighting inside was very dim, the restaurant was narrow, and the smell of the grill was almost over powering. We were the only patrons there and sat in the back at two tables pushed together. Even though it was only a little after noon, there were people in the bar downstairs and the noise drifted up to where we were. There was some music I couldn’t quite make out and lots of laughter. It wasn’t unpleasant, however, and not nearly as loud as most restaurants at lunch.

My good friend Rebecca was managing and waiting tables that day. We waited for about 15 minutes before we got our food, served to us on paper plates. My order wasn’t exactly right, as she brought me regular fries. My husband’s order was a little wrong, too. He had ordered a Philly cheese steak, no onions. His had onions. He simply removed his onions and Rebecca brought me a bowl of sweet potato fries. They were not really all that good. I thought they had too much sugar on them and it made them too crunchy. The regular fries were much better; not too salty and had pepper on them, as well.

The burger, however, was delicious! Olive mix on a burger is something I had never tried before, but it was amazing. I put a little mustard on mine, removed the tomatoes, and it was perfect. The sweet tea tasted like it was sweetened with Splenda, but hey! That’s healthier, right?

After lunch, we walked back down the stairs and we were greeted by a “Caution: Wet Floor!” sign and a bar attendant who was making sure we didn’t fall. The sun was bright after the dimness of the restaurant and we decided to walk back to work instead of waiting for the trolley.

Over all, I would say that the Texas St. Grille is a great place to get a quick burger if you’re in the downtown area and are short on time and funds. It’s even open until 6 a.m., for those of you who like to stay out late.

For more information on the Texas St. Grille or to see a menu, visit them at www.texasstreetgrille.com.

Get your dancing shoes and appetite ready! It’s almost time for the 35th Red River Revel Arts Festival, which will be held Oct.2-9. The Revel celebrates the arts with juried artists from across the country, four performance stages that feature live music and a large area dedicated specifically to providing arts education for children. The goal of the festival is to provide the public with a celebration of the finest visual and performing arts experiences, and it reaches and surpasses that goal every year!

This 8-day festival is held at Festival Plaza in downtown Shreveport and this year’s Revel promises to deliver big on the entertainment. Some of the headliners include:

The Hunt Family, 5:30 p.m., Oct. 2, on the Chase Stage: What do you get when you cross world ranked step dancing with champion fiddling and a family of nine? Answer: A high-powered energetic and refreshing experience with The Hunt Family! They perform original, Celtic, bluegrass, inspirational and popular tunes, offering a unique blend of diversity to every show.

Steel Magnolia, 8:30 p.m., on the Chase Stage: The boyfriend/girlfriend crooners won season two of the television talent show “Can You Duet?” Steel Magnolia consists of Meghan Linsey, a Ponchatoula, La., native, and Joshua Scott Jones. They signed a recording contract and released their debut single, “Keep on Lovin’ You,” in August 2009.

The Band Perry, 8:30 p.m., Oct. 7, on the Chase Stage: Siblings Reid, Neil and Kimberly Perry make up The Band Perry. With a sound that perfectly marries country and rock and roll, they say that they bleed the bright red blood of American music.

Dirtfoot, 5:30 p.m., Oct. 9, on the Chase Stage: Whether performing on big stages at festivals, or playing intimate settings in pubs and the finer taverns all over the Midwest and South, Dirtfoot puts on an uproarious show. The crowds come to take part in the fun and chaos, hollering to all the calls and responses, shaking their bean cans, and getting down with the infectious grooves. I have personally never seen a Dirtfoot show, but I have heard all about it! This is something I definitely will not miss!

Revel favorite Buddy Flett is returning to this year’s event. Flett is a local performer who began his career in Bossier City in 1975. He has written songs that have been recorded by John Mayall, Percy Sledge, and many others.

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

Dewayne Hill, the world record-holding magician, entertained Revel goers at the 2009 Revel. In April 2007 he set a world record by performing 71 card tricks in 60 minutes using 1 deck of cards. Hill is one of seven professional black magicians performing in the United States. Come let his family-friendly comedy and magic wow you as he performs at the 2010 Revel!

Children and adults can enjoy the 50-foot Ferris wheel (hope you’re not afraid of heights!) which overlooks the Children’s Arts Education Area and the Red River. Children’s events include Artist for a Day, “Twister” Tot Tent, Architecture Alive, Salto Trampoline and the Rock Climb. Bring the kids out for a full day of fun!

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

Make plans today to attend this nationally recognized festival, Oct. 2-9, at Festival Plaza. Click here (www.louisiana-bookdirect.com/booking) to book your hotel stay.

You can view a listing of participating artists and food vendors, plus information on tickets and Revel hours at the Revel’s web-site: www.redriverrevel.com. Be sure to check back for updates on entertainment, kids’ activities, and food.

Restaurant of the week:

A restaurant that can boast once being a condemned house residing in the historic Highland District, housing antique furnishings and interchangeable local art, growing its own herbs in its outdoor garden, and dining tables built from a fallen 200-year-old pin oak tree, crafted from the owner’s own hands is really nothing to scoff at. It’s precisely these types of bragging rights (plus the memory of great food and atmosphere) that made me decide to feature Columbia Café as our first Restaurant of the Week.

I had eaten at Columbia Café about four years ago for a late dinner. I remembered the amazing service and incredible food, but most of all I remembered the atmosphere. There was an old man playing the piano and singin’ the blues. My date and I sat in the corner of the room and “people-watched” as we enjoyed the music and some marinated crab claws. I forget what else I had to eat that night, or what celebrity was dining in a more private room next to ours, but I do remember that music and the breeze that was coming in from an open door. It’s that memory that had me wanting to re-visit for four years.

I chose to go for lunch this time and took my husband with me. I receive e-mails with the specials that Columbia Café is offering for the week or month and in each of them they have mentioned the 7-7-7 Menu. This menu lists 7 items (you get to choose two) for $7 that you receive in 7 minutes. This is perfect for those with a busy lunch schedule (or a tight budget) and I went with the intention of ordering from this menu, but quickly changed my mind.

When we arrived, we were greeted by the sound of Norah Jones’ “Come Away With Me.” This is a song we played at our wedding, so it immediately brought back memories for me. The door was opened for us by none other than Matthew Linn, the owner of Columbia Café, and he showed us to our seat in the same room I had dined in on my one previous trip. On the table before us was the 7-7-7 Menu and a longer lunch menu. After quickly scanning both, I chose the Greek Salad with added Grilled Chicken and my husband chose the Roast Beef & Gruyere (po-boy style) and a side of loaded mashed potatoes.

We nibbled on fresh-made bread and listened to some more Norah Jones after we placed our orders. The room we were in had windows all around and old hard-wood floors that creaked whenever anyone walked on them. It reminded me of my grandmother’s house and spending hot summer days inside with a glass of sweet tea, which is exactly what I ordered to drink. Hanging from the walls and windows were snap shots of various people and I kept finding myself looking at one of an older man with blue eyes, a slight smile on his face, and flushed cheeks. He looked so happy it was hard not to smile when looking at the picture.

After a few minutes of waiting our waitress came to us and explained that there would be a 30 minute wait due to a large call-in order that came in just before we arrived. She was very apologetic and brought us more bread as we waited. We didn’t mind, though. An acoustic performance by Jewel had started to play and the sun was warm through the windows as the air inside kept us cool. There were eight other diners: an older man sitting in the corner I had sat in during my first visit, a young couple next to him, two ladies next to my husband and me, one man at the bar and a daughter and her father in the room where the unknown celebrity had once dined. The air was relaxed, people spoke soft and low, and the wait for our food was less than the estimated 30 minutes.

My Greek salad was what you would expect from a Greek salad: mixed greens, cucumber, tomatoes, feta cheese, onion, and kalamata olives. What made the salad, however, was the special New Orleans Green Herb Vinaigrette. It was unlike any type of dressing I have ever eaten on a salad! There was the normal vinaigrette twang to it, but the consistency was thicker and went much better with the grilled chicken. Also, I’m not a huge fan of feta cheese, but the feta that was on my salad was surprisingly delicious and fresh.

The best part of my husband’s meal (and the part he let me try only once) was definitely the home made loaded mashed potatoes. That’s right. I said home made! They tasted just like momma (well, my husband’s momma, anyway) made them.

After our meal, I decided to ask about dessert. The menu did say that desserts were made fresh daily, after all. The second choice listed was peach flavored Crème Brule, one of my all-time favorite desserts. I was not as impressed with it as some I have tasted in other restaurants, but it certainly wasn’t the worst I had ever tried, either. I definitely don’t regret buying it!

As we left the restaurant, we saw Mr. Linn pulling into the parking lot. He waved good-bye to us, a big smile on his face. My husband and I decided that any restaurant owner who can take the time to make his guests feel welcome like that will definitely have repeat service from us.

Columbia Café is located at 3030 Creswell St., Shreveport. For more information, call 318-425-3862. To see a sample menu or to sign up for their e-mail mailing list, visit www.columbiacafe.com.

The Downtown Lunch Trolley rolled through downtown Shreveport yesterday between 11am-2pm, picking up lunch passengers and dropping them of at 3 lunch destinations: the café @ Artspace, the Hilton Hotel’s River Rock Grill, and the new Texas Street Grille. Kelly Wells, the Vice President of Tourism at the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourism Bureau, was one of the trolley riders and he shared his experience with me.

He and his group of friends and co-workers were picked up by the trolley at the Regions Bank Tower and were greeted by a girl dressed as a conductor and handing out “tickets” to ride and menus designed specifically for trolley riders so that they could pick something quick and have an idea of what they wanted by the time they reached their destination.

On their way to pick up more passengers and reach the restaurant of their choosing, they were entertained by the trolley’s driver, “Bubba.” I have had the pleasure of riding with “Bubba” before and it’s something I look forward to doing again! He definitely knows how to show you a good time!

Kelly and his group chose to eat at the Café’ @ Artspace. The café allows diners to enjoy art exhibitions on two floors or purchase a unique item in Giftspace while enjoying the café’s signature soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts.

Artspace is currently taking down one exhibit and getting set up for another one. For this reason, Kelly told me they had a walk-way through the main floor where they were working to the stairs that lead to the café.

“It was kinda’ neat, though, because you got a sneak peek of what the next exhibit is going to be,” he stated.

 Kelly said that even though the wait staff was very busy, they did an “incredible” job and got his Turkey Reuben and bowl of fruit (made from fruit purchased at the Shreveport Farmer’s Market!) out to him quickly. He also stated that the meal was inexpensive and delicious! The whole lunch experience, trolley ride and all, took about 45 minutes.

 The next lunch trolley will begin picking up riders next Wednesday at 11am in front of the Regions Bank Tower, 333 Texas Street; Government Plaza, 505 Travis Street; and each of the three participating restaurants. The trolley runs at each of these stops every 20 minutes. Get out, catch the FREE trolley and have your own lunch experience right here in downtown Shreveport!

To check out the menu for the Café at Artspace, visit: http://artspaceshreveport.com/cafe/cafe-menu.

For the River Rock Grill: www.hilton.com.

For Texas Street Grille: www.texasstreetgrille.com.

PHOTO: Don Shea of Downtown Development Authority announces the launch of the Downtown Shreveport Lunch Trolley. The trolley is pictured in the background.