Shreveport - Bossier, Louisiana's Other Side

The week is coming to a close and it's time to let your hair down and unwind with family and friends. Shreveport-Bossier is bubbling with things to do and want to offer some suggestions. So as you prepare to return phone calls, respond to emails or break for lunch, check out what you can get into this Thursday evening:

TNT Express Thursday Nite Trolley

Take a ride on the TNT Express Thursday Nite Trolley and tour throughout downtown Shreveport to and from various art and cultural venues to discover downtown through art, history, culture and science.

The FREE trolley features a guided narrative tour, created and produced by Jan Pettiet that offers interesting tidbits into Shreveport's past multicultural history. The trolley runs approximately every 25 minutes and stops on the TNT Express will vary every month. Some of these stops include Artspace, the Municipal Auditorium, Millennium Mural, Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center, The Barnwell Garden and Art Center, Spring Street Historical Museum, Multicultural Center of the South, Southern University Museum of Art in Shreveport, and The Robinson Film Center.

If you go:
What: TNT Express Thursday Nite Trolley Tour
When: 5 - 8 p.m., Feb.18
Where: Artspace, 710 Texas Street, Shreveport
Admission: FREE

YPI and Sci-Port Happy Hour Style

Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center and Young Professional Initiative team up to set the stage for young professionals to network and unwind with a unique cocktail.

Sci-Port puts the "frozen" (with Liquid nitrogen at -320° F) in Frozen Peach Bellini at a FREE Happy Hour for Shreveport's Young Professionals. Come have a drink on us. Sci-Port-style!  Liquid Nitrogen Peach Bellinis, cash bar, hors d'oeuvres and the famous Sci-Port Ball Machine. Plus, learn about Sci-Port's Mad Scientist Ball!

There’s no charge for admission and no RSVP is necessary.

If you go:
What: Happy Hour for Shreveport's Young Professionals
When: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Feb.18
Where: Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center, 820 Clyde Fant Parkway, Shreveport
Admission: FREE

For more fun things to do visit shreveportbossierfunguide.com

This weekend is for lovers of Mardi Gras, great entertainment and shopping.

Though temperatures dipped and snow fell throughout the region, parade-goers are still excited about Mardi Gras.

A host of Valentine’s Day events will keep the party going as well. Check out the lineup:

The Krewe of Gemini will roll through the streets tossing beads and throws to throngs of people screaming "Throw me something mister."

Not only will parade-goers enjoy the pageantry of Krewe of Gemini, but they will be enthralled by surprise guest – Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Shreveport native and renowned blues artist.

Shepherd will be making an appearance on the Gremlin float. In addition to Sheppard this weekend is full of stars.

Martina McBride and Trace Adkins will bring their "Shine All Night Tour" to CenturyTel Center Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m.

An American original, Jerry Lee Lewis, will warm the hearts of lovers this weekend. Lewis will perform at Sam's Town Casino Feb. 13. at 7 p.m. 

On Feb.13, the Ramada Inn and Conference Center, will host a Mardi Gras Massacre. Abby Singer’s Bistro in the Robinson Film Center will host a Valentine’s Day dinner, Feb. 13. Reservations are required.

Make your Valentine's Day weekend sweeter with special offers from the Villaggio Main Street merchants. 

On Valentine's Day, the Krewe of Highland Mardi Gras parade will kick off at 2 p.m.

For a complete listing of events this weekend visit shreveportbossierfunguide.com

Happy Mardi Gras and Valentine's Day!

Shreveport-Bossier wants to keep you informed about cancellations and closings throughout the area.

Due to inclement weather, The Young Professional Initiative event Happy Hour at Sci-Port-Style has been rescheduled to Thursday, Feb. 18!

 On Friday, Feb. 12 Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Lincoln and Shreveport Catholic schools will be closed due to inclement weather.

 On Friday, Feb. 12 the Kavinoky Breakfast has been cancelled due to worsening weather conditions in D.C. Janet Kavinoky was to address the northwest Louisiana business community. Kavinoky is the U.S. Chamber's senior lobbyist and policy director on all transportation issues and leads the U.S. Chamber's "Let's Rebuild America" initiative advocating the need to modernize and expand our nation's transportation, energy, telecommunications, and water infrastructure.

The breakfast has been cancelled until further notice. Those participants registered to attend the meeting are welcome to transfer their payments to the upcoming breakfast meeting with Congressman John Fleming being held Friday, Feb. 19. To confirm this transfer, participants must send a confirmation via email at info@shreveportchamber.org or call 318-677-2500.  

For the latest road conditions, school and business closings, please visit the following links:

http://www.ktbs.com

http://arklatexhomepage.com

http://www.ksla.com

http://shreveporttimes.com

Mardi Gras in Shreveport-Bossier is one of the largest celebrations in the region attracting some 400,000 parade-goers with an economic impact of $17 million in direct revenue to the sister cities, according to the latest economic impact study released in 2008 by the LSUS Center for Business and Economic Research.

This year, for the first time, the tourist bureau has created and will be displaying 125 Mardi Gras banners welcoming people to the celebration. The Downtown Development Authority and Bossier City were integral partners. Some 100 banners will be placed throughout downtown Shreveport and the remainder in Bossier City.

One of the tourist bureau’s biggest events is the annual Mardi Gras Bash to attract group tour buses, media and meeting planners. The Bash will be held Feb. 6 and 13. This is the fifth year to host the event. The media coming will represent publications such as Queen’s Times, USA Travel Magazine and La Voz Latina to name a few. The meeting planners will be representing various clients and have the potential to generate future conferences for Shreveport-Bossier. The Mardi Gras Bash has an economic impact of $130,000.

Multiple group tours will take advantage of the Bash over the two weekends bringing between 200 and 400 participants each weekend. Not only do the groups attend the bash, but they visit several local attractions including the Louisiana Boardwalk, Mardi Gras Museum, float-loading parties, Spirit of the Red River Cruise, and Stage of Stars Museum.

Patti Harrell of Patti Tours said, “The Shreveport-Bossier Mardi Gras Bash is a great way to experience Mardi Gras. I really enjoyed the comfort of the private event.”

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/79560632.html

The Elvis tribute artists will be joined by a live band, back-up singers, dancers, and an Ann-Margret tribute artist, as well as iconic imagery made available from the Graceland archives. 

Tickets for the Shreveport engagement on January 22 start at $25 (plus applicable convenience and service charges).  They are available at all Ticket Master locations, via phone 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.  The performance will be held at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, at 8:00 p.m.
 
"The partnership between On Stage Touring and Elvis Presley Enterprises provides the only authentic touring showcase of Elvis tribute artists for fans who want to experience the music and live performance charisma of one of the most popular recording artists in history," said Brian Brigner, chief operating officer of On Stage.
 
“It’s been exciting to see The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest spotlight some of the most talented Elvis tribute artists in the world,” said Scott Williams, vice president of marketing for Elvis Presley Enterprises. “This tour will give even more Elvis fans around the nation an opportunity to see these talented entertainers.”
 
The following are initial dates for The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artists tour; more dates will be announced soon:
 
January 15 Ames, IA                                   January 23 Baton Rouge, LA
January 16 Davenport, IA                             January 25 Mobile, AL
January 17 Burnsville, MN                           January 26 Daytona Beach, FL
January 19 Omaha, NE                               January 27 Punta Gorda, FL
January 20 Topeka, KS                               January 29 Jacksonville, FL 
January 21 Park City (Wichita), KS              January 30 Coral Gables, FL
January 22 Shreveport, LA                           January 31 St. Petersburg, FL

For additional information and updates visit: ultimateelvistour.com

About On Stage Touring, LLC 

On Stage Touring, producers of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artists Tour, is a subsidiary of On Stage Entertainment, owners and operators of Legends in Concert. Celebrating its 25th year, Legends in Concert is a live musical celebration featuring the world’s greatest celebrity tribute artists. Widely recognized in the entertainment industry as the original celebrity tribute show, Legends in Concert has not only performed throughout the United States, but the show has traveled to 15 countries on five continents, entertaining more than 20 million fans. On Stage Entertainment operates numerous fixed-based, touring, limited-term and private engagements of Legends in Concert throughout the world. In addition to Las Vegas, Legends is presented year-round in numerous cities including Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Branson, Mo.;  and Foxwoods (Mashantucket), CT.  For more information on Legends in Concert or On Stage Entertainment, visit www.legendsinconcert.com.

About Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.

Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE) is based in Memphis, with additional offices in Los Angeles. In addition to Graceland and its related attractions in Memphis, including the Heartbreak Hotel, EPE is aggressively involved in a worldwide licensing program, merchandising, music publishing, and television, film, video and Internet projects. For more information on EPE and Graceland, visit www.elvis.com. EPE is a subsidiary of CKX, Inc. (www.ckx.com), a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ Global Market® under the ticker symbol CKXE.