Times picks - 4/30/09

Derby Time at the Cigar Club

May 2
It’s Derby time again, and Cigar Club, Southwest Louisiana’s home for fine cigars, spirits, and good life accessories, is teaming up with the Children’s Miracle Network, to host the 2nd annual Kentucky Derby Day Party to exclusively benefit The Children’s Miracle Network, Saturday, May 2nd starting at 10am at the club’s 1700 E. Prien Lake Road location.
The day’s events will include a betting booth, “Kentucky” Hold ‘em poker tournament, Washerboard “horse race” tournament, Hat Contest, and live auction with many items donated from local businesses. Then of course there is the race that you can watch from one of our three flat screen TV’s, while relaxing in an atmosphere as comfortable as your own living room.
Admission for the event is a $10 donation Children’s Miracle Network, which includes a barbeque dinner with southern iced tea. Tickets can be purchased, or further donations to Children’s Miracle Network can be made in advance, by calling Cigar Club at 337-562-8889.
Schedule of Events:

10am Doors Open
2pm Stick Horse Race (Outside)
3pm “Left Right Center” Dice Tournament
4pm Hat Contest
5pm Kentucky Derby (Race 11 of 13)
5:30-6 Live Auction
6:30-7 “Kentucky” Hold ‘em Tournament

Artisans' Gallery Exhibit
April 3 - May 2

The Artisan's Gallery is a community driven membership gallery that supports and encourages Southwest Louisiana's emerging and established artists by providing a venue for exhibiting and selling their work. Founded in 1996 as a project of the Imperial Calcasieu Museum, the Artisan's Gallery is dedicated to fostering and promoting fine art and crafts in Southwest Louisiana. The group's juried membership process ensures high standards of craftsmanship and design in a creative celebration of original art. Membership includes painters, ceramists, photographers, wood workers, basket makers, and mixed media artists. All artworks are available for purchase during the show. Located at the Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center.

Black Heritage Gallery Presents Variations on a Theme
Through May 29

The Black Heritage Gallery continues its 2009 season with the presentation of "Variations on a Theme”. The exhibit showcases the works of Malaika Favorite and other African-American artist with Louisiana connections. These artists explore diverse subject matter and media. Yet, what they share in common is a cultural connection of history and ideas embedded in the African American community. Therefore, no two artist's works are visually the same; nor do they reflect the same ideology, but they do share the same historical references. The gallery is free and open to the public.


Digital Cameras for Dummies
May 11- June 15

This class will give you a better understanding of your camera and digital photography in general. Valerie Smith, a local photographer and member of Associated Louisiana Artists, will be offering this course starting May 11, 2009 through June 15, 2009. This is a 6-week course held on Monday evenings from 7pm-9pm. Cost is $85.00. All you need to bring is your camera, the owner’s manual and the desire to learn and have fun. Class size is limited to 12, so call and make your reservations now. Call The Gallery by the Lake (337)436-1008, or Valerie (337)302-1978.


L’Auberge du Lac Casino’s ‘Party by the Pool’ Concert Series
May 7 – June 25

This series begins with dynamic and energetic multi-platinum rockers Everclear featuring homegrown Lake Charles rock group Magnolia Sons as the opening act. Everclear’s cannon of original material is marked by multi-million sales, critical praise, a Grammy nomination and awards including the 1998 Billboard Modern Rock Artist of the Year honor. This series will also include Seven Mary Three, June 4, and The Molly Ringwalds—80’s tribute band—June 18. Ladies get free admission to Party by the Pool. Gentlemen pay just $5; the cover charge is waived for ‘mychoice’ members. Must be 21 to enter. Please note that the event location is subject to change and/or cancellation due to inclement weather.

Louisiana Sci-Fi Expo Underway
June 13-14

Calling all Sci-Fi fans, Con. Du Lac—The Louisiana Sci-Fi Expo will be held at Enos Derbone Recreational Complex in Lake Charles, June 13-14, 2009. The expo will combine science fiction, science fact (NASA and the National Weather Service), paranormal research, medieval arts crafts and combat demonstrations. There will also be mini-renaissance fair, acting workshops and more. Richard Hatch from Battlestar Galactica, who has been a part of both the original show in 1978 and the recent series on the Sci-Fi, will be a featured guest at this year’s expo. Panels on Star Trek and Star wars will be featured. Attendees of all ages are asked to dress up in their favorite Sci-Fi costumes for an intergalactic costume contest to be held on Saturday evening. Tickets are on sale now through June 5th and are $25. Admission at the door will be $30 and children 10 and younger will get in for free. On Saturday, June 13, Lifeshare Blood Center will be on hand for a limited time and all donors will receive $5 off their admission. For more information on Con. Du Lac, contact Justin Toney at 337-513-8927 or visit www.condulac.net.

L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort's Nevie Beach Club Now Open

Nevie Beach Club is now open for the season with poolside patio dining. Their chefs have completely revamped the menu making it a bit 'lighter' and infused with more local / regional seafood (soft shell crab sandwich, oysters, red snapper po-boy, seafood tacos etc.). Nevie is open 7 days at 11:00 a.m.

Calcasieu Parish's Movies under the Stars is back April 25- May 9

The movies will be at Prien Lake Park. Food and other refreshments will be available at the park. All you need to bring is your family, a few chairs or a blanket to enjoy their full slate of family friendly fare. Other movies slated are Airplane!— on April 25th, and Finding Nemo—on May 9th. All movies begin at 7 p.m.

ACTS Theatre Presents Hansel and Gretel in the Enchanted Forest May 1 and 2

The show is scheduled for day-time performances on stage at ACTS One Reid Street Theatre on Friday, May 1 at 9:00 and 11:00 in the morning. Other performances will be on Friday May 1 at 7:00 PM in the evening and Saturday, May 2, at 11:00am and l:00 PM. Tickets for all performances are $8.50 per person.

Memories of World War II, Photographs from the archives of The Associated Press April 24-June 13

Scheduled to open Friday April 24 and run through Saturday, June 13, 2008. An opening reception will be held from 6-9pm at the 1911 Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center at 1001 Ryan Street. The public is invited to provide photographs of WWII veterans to be included on the Wall. For additional information email ArtsAndCulture@cityoflc.us.

Acrylic Workshop
May 16

Associated Louisiana Artists will sponsor a one day acrylic workshop at the new Creative Arts Center, 106 West Lawrence Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601, on Saturday May 16th from 8 to 5 pm. Alexandria artist and former Lake Charles minister Henry Blount will conduct the workshop using tar paper (roofing material) as his "canvas" and instruct attendees in the method of mosaic style painting, a unique method which has brought him many awards throughout Louisiana. April 30 is the deadline to enroll in this limited class. Cost is $50 and $5 for lunch. Supply list is at Gallery by the Lake. Please make checks payable to ALA, and mail to the above address in care of Nancy Czejkowski, workshop coordinator. Questions? Call Nancy at 855-9202, or Gallery by the Lake at 436-1008.

AMSET Lecture Hall to feature Local Artist Bernice Thrall Switzer
Through May 31

The Art Museum of Southeast Texas (AMSET) presents a collection of art by local artist Bernice Thrall Switzer (1897-1990) on display in the Quinn Lecture Hall through May 31. Eleven watercolors dating from circa 1915, a self-portrait of Switzer and three Newcomb Pottery pieces that date from the early 20th century are on loan from the artist’s daughter, Beaumont-resident Sue Mann, for the exhibit. Bernice Thrall was raised in Lake Charles, La. She studied art at Newcomb College in New Orleans during World War I (1914-1918) and is considered to be the first woman commercial illustrator in that city. AMSET is located 500 Main Street, Beaumont TX. AMSET Hours: Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm, Saturday: 10am-5pm, Sunday: Noon-5pm. Closed Major Holidays. Cafe Hours: Mon-Fri 11 am-2 pm. Admission: Free. For more information call: 409-832-3432.


Spring Watercolor Show
April 3 – May 21

The featured artist in this year’s Spring Watercolor Show—Nancy Melton and Friends— is Betty Tilleux Breaux. The Show will open with a Reception on Friday evening April 3 from 6:30 – 8:00 at the Frazar Library at McNeese State University. Dates of the Show are April 3 – May 21, 2009. Nancy can also be contacted through her website: nancymelton.photoreflect.com. New painters are welcome!

Baton Rouge Gallery Features Diniz-Liffmann, Wade-Day and Zietz in May
May 3-28

Baton Rouge Gallery will feature a diverse sample o three of its Artist Members. The work of Christy Diniz-Liffmann, Van Wade-Day and Reni Zietz ranges from nature-inspired patterns to celestial skies to a South American trip gone berserk The exhibition is free and open to the public Tuesday through Sunday from 12 – 6 p.m. A First Wednesday opening reception will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6 in honor of Christy Diniz-Liffmann, Van Wade-Day and Reni Zietz.

McNeese Theatre Bayou Players Presents Wait Until Dark
April 29-May 2

McNeese Theatre Bayou Players will present Wait Until Dark, a classic
suspense thriller, on stage at 7:30 p.m. April 29-May 2, with a 2 p.m.
matinee May 3, in Ralph Squires Recital Hall of the Shearman Fine Arts
Center at McNeese State University.

Wait until Dark by Frederick Knott is set in a Greenwich Village
apartment, where a blind woman, Susy, is stalked by a ruthless killer trying
to locate a heroin-stuffed doll that her husband innocently brought home
from the airport, when a fellow passenger asked him to keep it for her until
she could take it to her daughter in the hospital.

Tickets at the door are $15 for adults, $10 for McNeese faculty/staff,
senior citizens and students (K-12). McNeese students are admitted free with
a current ID. The theatre box office opens 10 days prior to Wait Until
Dark opening date. Box office hours are 6-8 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-noon
on Saturdays. For reservations call 475-5043 or go online at www.mcneese.edu/theatre.

McNeese Department of Visual Arts hosts Spring Senior Exhibition
April 30-May14

The event is open to the public.The exhibition will be in the Abercrombie Gallery of the Shearman Fine Arts Center at McNeese State University. A reception for the graduating seniors who are featured in the exhibit will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 30, in Abercrombie. The graduating seniors are: Jessilyn Burge, Eunice; Joseph
Chretien, Hayes; Ashley Feagin, Westlake; Michelle Lavoie, Lake Charles;
Beth McCoy, Lake Charles; Megan Murphy, Sulphur; Ashley Nash, Opelousas;
Joshua Nitsch, Lake Charles; John Viator, Sulphur; Andrea Walters, Lake
Charles; and Andrea Wyatt, Sulphur. For more information call the McNeese Visual Arts Department at (337) 475-5060.

Over Twenty Artists Selected for Venus Envy 2009
April 20-May1

The eleventh annual Venus Envy Baton Rouge exhibition will be held once again at Baton Rouge Gallery from April 20 through May 1. The exhibition is a multi-media juried showcase featuring the work of female artists living within a 300 mile radius of Baton Rouge. On Sat. April 25 from 7-9 p.m. Baton Rouge Gallery will hold a Closing Reception for Venus Envy Baton Rouge 2009. The event will celebrate femininity and the female artists featured during the exhibition. There will also be a special performance by Baton Rouge’s own Polly Pry. Named after the first female investigative reporter in the U.S., Polly Pry mixes folk and indie sounds with an undeniable female slant to music making. Venus Envy is a non-profit organization driven by women that positively affects everyone by empowering women through the arts, according to their mission statement.


The Velveteen Rabbit
May 1&2

Performances are set for May 1 & 2 at 7:30PM and May 3 at 3:00PM. Tickets are $15.00 for adults and $12.00 for students. Applause Season Members should contact the theatre to reserve tickets. Group rates are also available. Performances are held at Central School Theatre located in the Central School of the Arts & Humanities Center (809 Kirby Street) in downtown Lake Charles. To purchase tickets, contact the theatre at (337) 433-7323 or purchase online at www.childrenstheatre.cc.