Shreveport - Bossier, Louisiana's Other Side

Digital arts festival seeks artists, exhibitors, and entrepreneurs to participate in an expanded variety of programs and events

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – DigiFest South, a digital arts festival first held in Shreveport-Bossier in 2012, is seeking artists, exhibitors, and entrepreneurs to participate in its second annual digital technology exposé and arts festival, scheduled for Sep. 20-21, 2013. DigiFest South is a community outreach program of the Bossier Arts Council. Through a family-friendly schedule of events, DigiFest South celebrates how digital technology combines with artistic creativity to shape modern society.

New for this year’s event, DigiFest South will host a variety of programs in downtown Shreveport. CoHabitat Shreveport, a collaborative workspace located in downtown Shreveport’s riverfront entertainment district, will host a digital economy symposium and other DigiFest South-affiliated events throughout the weekend. Events at CoHabitat Shreveport will include several workshops, panels, and talks centered on digital media, including panels on how to continue building a digital media infrastructure in Louisiana, business planning, and an angel investor pitch event. Also new for the 2013 festival, DigiFest South will present a digital music concert underneath the Texas Street Bridge in downtown Shreveport.
  
DigiFest South seeks the most innovative and progressive artists, companies, organizations, and educational institutions to showcase their contribution to the digital age and inspire young minds to seek careers in the digital media industry. Registration forms can be found online at www.bossierarts.org. DigiFest South 2013 will feature:

•    Technology Exposé Floor Show
•    Digital Industry Workshops and Panels
•    Video Game Design Competition
•    Phenom Film Festival
•    Digital Media Presentations
•    Digital Art Exhibition
•    Digital Music Concert

All entries for digital art, display booths, and entrepreneurial pitches must be submitted by June 29. For more information, visit www.bossierarts.org or “like” DigiFest South on Facebook at www.facebook.com/digifestsouth.

KEITHVILLE, LA – Chimp Haven will host its Second Annual Earth Day Festival, held in conjunction with Chimpanzee Discovery Day, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. Located 22 miles southwest of Shreveport, La., in the Eddie D. Jones Nature Park in Keithville, La., Chimp Haven serves as The National Chimpanzee Sanctuary. The annual Earth Day Festival includes opportunities to view resident chimpanzees, as well as food, art and exhibits by local environmental organizations, businesses and artisans. Admission to the festival is free.

Visitors will enjoy live music by AirHeart, as well as activities for the whole family. There will be opportunities to view the resident chimpanzees, new and old, in their natural environment as they forage for food. Guests will also have the chance to talk with staff members about the distinct personalities and natural behavior of the resident chimpanzees. Behind-the-scenes hayride tours will be offered every hour, on the half hour; however, seating is limited so it is recommended to make reservations prior to the event. Cost for the hayride is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and younger. Additional educational activities include fishing for candy termites, visiting the conservation station, and learning about chimpanzees’ habitats and behavior.

Educating the public about conservation is an important component of Chimp Haven’s mission. This event allows the sanctuary to serve the community in an educational capacity while providing an example of environmental stewardship.

“The focus of this year’s event will be sustainability, which is important not only for the wellbeing of humans, but also for the natural habitats of chimpanzees,” Chimp Haven President and Chief Executive Officer Cathy Willis Spraetz said. “As we educate individuals during Earth Day of the importance of developing personal sustainability practices, we also educate them on how to preserve the natural habitats of chimpanzees in Africa from right here in our community.”

This event is free and open to the public; however, donations are welcomed. Visitors may consider bringing peanut butter, flavored ice pops, animal crackers, elbow macaroni, instant rice, bagels and applesauce for the chimpanzees. Early arrival is recommended for best viewing. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

For more information on Earth Day or to RSVP for behind-the-scenes hayride tours, please call (318) 925-9575. For more information on Chimp Haven, the National Chimpanzee Sanctuary, visit www.chimphaven.org.

Haunted tours of historic building will be offered on evening of broadcast

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – Reports of paranormal activity in Shreveport Municipal Auditorium will be investigated during the mid-season premiere of SyFy’s hit reality TV series Ghost Hunters. The episode will air at 8 p.m. CST on Wednesday, April 17, according to a press release issued by the cable network. The cast and crew of Ghost Hunters visited Shreveport-Bossier in January of this year, filming at Shreveport Municipal Auditorium as well as the Caddo Parish Courthouse in downtown Shreveport.

Through a special arrangement made possible by venue management company SMG, Shreveport Municipal Auditorium will open for haunted tours on the evening of the broadcast. Tours will be available prior to the episode, 5-7:30 p.m., and will resume following the episode, 9:15-11 p.m. Tours will cost $10 per person, payable in person immediately prior to taking the tour. Advance tickets will not be sold and guests are asked to pay using cash. All proceeds from the tours will benefit the maintenance and upkeep of the building, which is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark. This special evening of haunted tours will be the public’s final opportunity to take such a tour of the building until upcoming renovations of the property are completed. Photography is allowed and guests are encouraged to bring their cameras.

To view a series of short, educational videos about Shreveport Municipal Auditorium’s history, visit the Youtube Channel of the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau at www.youtube.com/sbctb11. For more information on Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, visit www.shreveportmunicipalauditorium.com.     
                                                             
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SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER – The Robinson Film Center (RFC) will celebrate the 85th Academy Awards on February 24, 2013, with a red carpet watch party and Hollywood-style fundraiser at the Oscar® Experience: Shreveport. Movie-lovers are invited to dress for the flashing lights, watch the show on big screens, and glam it up like celebrities to boost the nonprofit’s mission.

“We’re thrilled to bring Hollywood’s biggest night to our theaters,” said RFC executive director Alexandyr Kent. “Our boosters demand great movies, and the Oscars are important to them. It’s a best of both worlds to, on the same night, celebrate cinema’s greatest and strengthen our nonprofit.”

The evening will include red carpet arrivals with live television coverage from KTBS 3, the Shreveport-based ABC TV affiliate that will broadcast the Academy Awards live on February 24.

Also, guests can expect glamorous red carpet photo opp’s; an elegant reception tent on Texas Street; jewelry and fashion showcases; and signature martinis, heavy hors d’oeuvres and cupcakes designed by the film center’s Abby Singer’s Bistro. Guests can watch the live Oscar broadcast wherever they are, be it inside RFC’s two theaters, in the bistro, or the grand reception tent on Texas Street.

“We love our audience, and this is an opportunity to say thank you to them with a little high Southern style,” said board of directors president Waynette Ballengee. “Who doesn’t want to walk down a red carpet on Oscar night?”

RFC also will unveil the nonprofits’ latest Sidewalk Superstars, a program where $15,000 donors see their name—or an honored loved one’s—installed in the sidewalk outside the theaters doors.

“For our gala in April, we honored eight star sponsors,” said Tina Kendrick, co-chair of development for RFC’s board of directors. “Oscar night is the perfect night to toast our newest Sidewalk Superstars and celebrate the continued growth of our community contributors.”

Kendrick co-chairs development with Lampton Enochs, an RFC board member and founding member of Moonbot Studios. His business partners William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg won the Academy Award for the 2011 best animated short film for The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. It was produced by Moonbot Studios entirely in Louisiana.

“Our state produces great artists,” said Enochs, “and the Robinson Film Center plays a vital role in showcasing and advancing their work. We need to continue to support RFC with our passion and donations. The Oscar Experience offers us the perfect night to do that.”

Tickets for Oscar Experience: Shreveport will be $75 each. RFC members can buy tickets beginning December 26, 2012. Tickets go on sale to the general public (including members) on January 7, 2013. Sidewalk Star sponsorships of RFC are $15,000 each. To purchase tickets, call (318) 459-4122.

"We ask a lot of movie-goers, and we are grateful every day for their generosity,” Kent said. “I invite everyone who loves the Oscars, who loves movies, and who loves the Robinson Film Center to join the glamorous side of a good cause on February 24. You won’t forget it.”

Mission of the Robinson Film Center
The Robinson Film Center’s mission is to educate, enrich and entertain through the power of film. RFC is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit arts organization located at 617 Texas Street in Shreveport, La.

Shreveport-Bossier Offers Authentic Louisiana Cuisine, Live Music and 24-Hour Riverfront Nightlife for Visiting Fans

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – The 2012 AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl will feature the Ohio University Bobcats taking on the University of Louisiana at Monroe Warhawks in the 37th installment of the Independence Bowl, set for Friday, Dec. 28, at 1 p.m. The match-up will take place at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, La. For more game information or to purchase tickets visit www.independencebowl.org or call (888) 414-BOWL.

Located at a cultural crossroads where two great American heritages blend, Shreveport-Bossier is equally influenced by the Cajun and Creole traditions of Louisiana and the wide-open, independent spirit of Texas. Fans who are planning to attend the 2012 AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl are encouraged to take time to explore the region known as “Louisiana’s Other Side”.

Here are five essential Shreveport-Bossier experiences that no fan should miss out on while visiting the area:

1. Get a Taste of Louisiana Seafood

Louisiana is known for fresh, delicious seafood and Shreveport-Bossier is no exception. Visit Herby-K’s (1833 Pierre Ave., Shreveport) for a legendary Shrimp Buster sandwich, or grab authentic, New Orleans-style po-boys at Kim’s Seafood and Po-Boy (901 Benton Rd., Bossier City). For fine dining, visit 2John’s Steak and Seafood (2151 Airline Dr., Bossier City) or Wine Country Bistro (4801 Line Ave., Shreveport). 
                                                               

2. Hit the Casinos for 24-Hour Riverfront Fun

Shreveport-Bossier City’s five riverboat casinos and horseracing track at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs (8000 East Texas St., Bossier City) lend 24-hour excitement to the region's entertainment offerings. In Shreveport, Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino and Eldorado Resort Casino are located along Clyde Fant Parkway in the heart of downtown. Just across the Red River in Bossier City, Horseshoe Casino & Hotel can be found, along with Boomtown Casino & Hotel and DiamondJacks Casino and Resort. All five casinos offer 24-hour gaming action, a variety of restaurant options, and more. 

3. Experience Local Night Life

Another well-known element of life in Louisiana is the unique and vibrant culture to be found in nightclubs, bars and other music venues. Noble Savage Tavern (417 Texas St., Shreveport) is a popular downtown gathering place with live music nightly. Noble Savage Tavern will feature live, 50’s-style rock from The Dragstrip Phantoms following the Independence Bowl. Also located in downtown Shreveport, Lake Street Dancehall (425 Lake Street, Shreveport) is a two-story bar with eclectic live music and a distinctly Louisiana vibe. Lake Street Dance Hall will feature live rock and blues from the Soulfish Blues Band following the game. Especially for country music fans, Bossier City’s Rockin’ Rodeo (1003 Gould Dr., Bossier City) is a favorite spot for dancing.

4. Shop ‘Til You Drop      

One of the most popular shopping destinations in Shreveport-Bossier is The Louisiana Boardwalk (540 Boardwalk Blvd., Bossier City), a riverfront lifestyle and shopping center featuring more than 60 retail and outlet shops including a giant Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. The Louisiana Boardwalk will host the Independence Bowl Pep Rally, featuring team mascots, cheerleaders and Mardi Gras floats, at 5 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 27. Youree Drive in Shreveport is home to multiple shopping centers, popular eateries and more.

5. Family Fun     

Traveling with family? Located on the Shreveport riverfront, Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center (820 Clyde Fant Pkwy., Shreveport) was recently selected by Parents magazine as one of the “Top 10 Science Centers in the U.S.” Now through January 20, 2013, Sci-Port is hosting the blockbuster traveling exhibit “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition.” Artspace (710 Texas St., Shreveport), a multi-floor interactive arts center, is another must-visit for families. On display through January 26, “The Making of Guardians” exhibit is a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process behind the DreamWorks Animation film Rise of the Guardians.  

For a complete calendar of things to see and do in Shreveport-Bossier, visit www.shreveportbossierfunguide.com or www.shreveport-bossier.org.

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NOTE TO MEDIA: High-quality, high-resolution images of Shreveport-Bossier may be requested by contacting Chris Jay, public relations manager, at cjay@sbctb.org or (318) 429-0658.

Fourth annual event will feature more than 100 domestic, foreign and home-brewed beers

SHREVEPORT, LA – Sample a wide range of beers, from All-American favorites to one-of-a-kind homebrews, at the 4th Annual BREW, Shreveport-Bossier’s premier beer tasting event, 2-6 p.m., Oct. 20, in downtown Shreveport’s Festival Plaza. BREW is a collaborative effort between the Mudbug Madness Festival and the Red River Revel Arts Festival, and is presented by Eldorado Resort Casino.

The tasting will feature more than 100 domestic, foreign and home brewed beers provided by local distributors and homebrew clubs. Visit www.shreveportbrew.com for a complete list of featured beers. This year’s featured beers are being provided by Glazer’s Family of Companies, Eagle Distributing, Red River Beverage, the Malt Munching Mash Monsters, S.U.D.S. and the East Texas Brewer’s Guild.

Among the home brewers participating in this year’s BREW event is Jeff Pieper, of Bossier City. Earlier this year, Pieper’s Vienna Lager took home the Best in Show Award at the 2012 World Cup of Beer Homebrew Competition held in Oakland, Ca. Pieper’s creation beat out 639 other homebrews to take home the honor, making him the first non-Californian in the 18-year history of the competition to win Best in Show.

BREW will also feature live music and food from local restaurants like Market 104, The Vintage at Eldorado Casino, Monsour’s, Overtime Sports Bar, Bistro to Go and Brookshire’s.

Tickets are $50 each and can be purchased at www.shreveportbrew.com. Reserved tables seating 10 guests are available for $1,000 each and come with five reserved parking passes, extra goodies and reserved seating.

A Spiegelau Beer Connoisseur Tasting Seminar will be held prior to the opening of BREW. This $25 seminar will offer first-hand tips on how color, clarity, aroma, temperature and effervescence are all dramatically enhanced with Spiegelau glasses versus the standard beer glass. Participants in the Spiegelau Beer Connoisseur Tasting Seminar will receive a four-piece set of Spiegelau glasses to keep. Seminar tickets are also available at www.shreveportbrew.com.

For high-quality images from the event, contact Chris Jay at (318) 429-0658 or cjay at sbctb dot org.

Inaugural Outings Scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 8

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA - Haunted Shreveport, a new service offering a combined dinner and guided tour of Shreveport's "most haunted places," will launch this Saturday, Sept. 8, with the program's inaugural outings beginning at 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Haunted Shreveport is a partnership of the new restaurant Twine Shreveport, 1513 Line Ave., and iShuttle, an innovative charter van service launched in Shreveport in 2010.

The Haunted Shreveport tour experience begins with a three-course dinner at Twine Shreveport. Following the meal, guests will board an iShuttle van for a driving tour of many locations reputed to be among Shreveport's most haunted. While the majority of the tour will take place aboard iShuttle vans, guests will step off of the van to explore the area near Shreveport's historic Oakland Cemetery and Shreveport Municipal Auditorium. Following the tour, the evening will conclude at Twine Shreveport with wine and dessert. On select nights, a palm and tarot card reader will be available to entertain participants as they return to Twine Shreveport following the tour. All-inclusive cost is $55 per person. Reservations are now being taken for Saturdays in September and October, as well as Halloween night. Tickets may be purchased on-line at www.hauntedshreveport.com or at Twine Shreveport.   

Locations highlighted on the driving tour may include the Caddo Parish Courthouse, Robinson Film Center, Oakland Cemetery, Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, Logan Mansion, Davis Homeplace, Fairfield Avenue and more.

For more information on Haunted Shreveport or to purchase tickets, visit www.hauntedshreveport.com or search for "Haunted Shreveport" on Facebook. For more information on iShuttle, visit www.iShuttle.us. For more information on Twine Shreveport, visit www.twineshreveport.com.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Members of the media are invited to take part in the inaugural Haunted Shreveport outings on Saturday, Sept. 8, including dinner as well as the tour, at no charge. To RSVP, contact Rick Rose at (414) 403-6286.

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Inaugural Digital Arts Festival and Career Fair Will be Held September 7-9 at Bossier Civic Center

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – DigiFest South, a new digital arts festival and career fair being organized by the Bossier Arts Council in Bossier City, Louisiana, has extended the deadline to participate in the career fair portion of the event to Wednesday, Aug. 15. The DigiFest South Career Fair is set to take place 12-6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 8 at the Bossier Civic Center. Companies interested in participating in the career fair may register to do so by visiting www.bossierarts.org and clicking the DigiFest South icon. 

“Area colleges and universities such as Louisiana Tech, Centenary College of Louisiana and LSU Shreveport are bringing groups of students to attend DigiFest South during the career fair,” said Bossier Arts Council Executive Director Leigh Anne Chambers. “We’ve extended the deadline in order to make one final push to encourage area employers to take advantage of this opportunity to get in front of a large number of high-quality prospective employees.”

DigiFest South is an annual digital arts festival and technology career fair that celebrates how digital technology has combined with artistic creativity to shape modern society. The event includes a digital art exhibition and a career fair featuring cutting-edge companies and educational institutions. DigiFest South organizers seek to convey the message that art education is more than a school elective; it is a powerful vocational element.

For more information on DigiFest South, contact the Bossier Arts Council at (318) 741-8307 or visit www.bossierarts.org.

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Event will be held at Barnwell Garden and Art Center, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesday, July 24

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – Representatives of five regional destination marketing organizations – Alexandria-Pineville, Minden, Monroe-West Monroe, Natchitoches, and Shreveport-Bossier City – will unveil a new lighted holiday set piece and details of a Louisiana Bicentennial Celebration presented by the Holiday Trail of Lights. Representatives will also announce holiday-themed celebrations, attractions, and activities planned for 2012 at a media luncheon being held at the Barnwell Garden and Art Center, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesday, July 24. The Barnwell Garden and Art Center is located at 601 Clyde Fant Parkway in downtown Shreveport. While the event is free and open to the public, RSVP is required. To RSVP, call (318) 222-9391 or e-mail ldavis@sbctb.org.

The luncheon will provide representatives of the media and the public at large with a first opportunity to learn about new and returning events and activities planned for the five destinations represented by the Holiday Trail of Lights. The luncheon will feature a festive atmosphere including “snow” falling outside of the Barnwell Garden and Art Center, a special performance by the Minden Community Chorus, appearances by holiday beauty queens from throughout the region, and more.

FOR INTERVIEWS: Members of the media seeking interviews with organizers, please contact Sarah McKinney-Williams at (318) 286-4252 (cell) for on-site assistance, if needed.     
                                                 
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