Times Picks 9/17/09

Multi Award Winning artists Kool & The Gang Coming to Delta Event Center October 10
World renowned R&B group Kool & The Gang has been keeping everyone dancing for decades. On Saturday, October 10, Kool & The Gang will be bringing their classic party hits to the Delta Event Center for a one-night-only performance, starting at 8 p.m.
In 1964 Khalis Bayyan (AKA Ronald Bell) and his brother, Robert “Kool” Bell, joined Jersey City neighborhood friends Robert “Spike” Mickens, Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, Ricky Westfield, George Brown, and Charles Smith to create a unique musical blend of jazz, soul and funk.
Tickets for Kool & The Gang start at $40 and are available online at deltadowns.com or ticketmaster.com, at The Delta Downs Gift Shop, or to charge by phone call 1-800-745-3000.

Dessert Extravaganza
September 19
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Local restaurants, bakeries and pastry chefs will allow the community to sample their mouthwatering creations.They'll also teach guests about the latest trends in wedding cakes, cupcakes, birthday cakes, ice cream and more.

McNeese Annual Faculty Exhibition
The McNeese State University Annual Faculty Exhibition is currently underway through Friday, Sept. 25, in McNeese's Abercrombie Gallery. The exhibit is sponsored by the McNeese Department of Visual Arts.
There will be a closing reception from 6–8 p.m. Sept. 25 in the Abercrombie Gallery honoring faculty artists. The reception is free to the public and coincides with the citywide Annual Gallery Promenade 2009 that Friday.
The exhibition features 45 recent works by McNeese visual arts faculty members Robbie Austin, Cynthia Howes-Baskin, Ken Baskin, Martin Bee, Meghan Fleming, Teresa Johnson, Heather Ryan Kelley, Lisa Reinauer, Lynn Reynolds, Larry Schuh, Lewis Temple and Gerry Wubben. The works presented will include ceramics, drawings, graphic design, illustration, intaglio, lithography, mixed media, monoprints, paintings and photography.
The Abercrombie Gallery, located in Room 125 of the Shearman Fine Arts Center, is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information about the exhibit, call the visual arts department at (337) 475-5060. Individuals requesting an accommodation to attend this exhibit or reception under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact the McNeese visual arts department at least three business days in advance.
Title: “Archetype Classification: Cynosur Three”
Medium: archival pigment print

The Immaculate Conception Cathedral Chorale
September 26
The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Lake Charles. The concert program will include Samuel Barber’s “Agnus Dei” and “O Vos Omnes” by Pablo Casals, as well as a number of spirituals including “Elijah Rock” by Moses Hogan and
“True Light” arranged by Keith Hampton. Also included in the program will be “The Lord is My Shepherd” by Howard Goodall, which was the theme
from the popular BBC television series “The Vicar of Dibley.” Soloists for the concert are Colette Bulber Tanner, Damian France, Phillip Soileau, Allen Van Metre, Deanna Kolde and Michelle Taylor. The choir is under the direction of Robert Marcantel and accompanied by Charlotte Hine. The concert is free of charge and open to the public.

Tri-Parish Youth-a-Thon Opportunity
“Stepping up to the Challenge, Let Your Voices be Heard”
DeRidder Youth in 7th – 12th grade and their families are invited to take part in the Tri-Parish Youth-a-Thon on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the Beauregard Parish Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall. The event, sponsored by the Louisiana Workforce Commission and Youth Advisory Committee of Local Workforce Investment Area 50, will bring together youth from the Vernon, Beauregard and Allen parish region for games, food, music and prizes.
Participants will learn how they can make a difference in their community and schools by getting involved in positive activities. Youth also will have a chance to meet with others their age from across the region to share ideas.
“Our state’s youth and their viewpoints are important to their communities, and we want to encourage them to take part in this event not only to have fun, but also to find out how their involvement can make a difference in their area,” said LWC Deputy Director of Emerging Workforce Johnny Riley.
The day will feature several special guests and chances for participants to win gift certificates and other door prizes. An “End of the Summer” ceremony will take place for all youth who participated in the WIA Summer Youth Employment Programs. Certificates and gift cards will be given to the WIA participants. These participants must be present to receive the gift card.
Questions concerning this event can be directed to 337-639-2175 in Allen Parish, 337-462-5838 in Beauregard Parish or 337-238-4179 in Vernon Parish. We look forward to seeing our area youth at this event.

Delta Downs Announces September Lounge Entertainment
Zero Echo
The music they play will take you back to the 80’s when you heard songs like "Just like Heaven” "Jenny 867-5309" and "Tainted Love" just to name a few cool tunes. So when you feel like going "back to the future” come out and see Zero Echo.
September 17th 8 pm-midnight
September 18th 8:30 pm – 1 am
September 19th 8:30 pm – 1 am
T-Broussard
Accordionist, singer, and songwriter are among several of Bryant Keith "T" Broussard’s musical talents. He also plays drums, scrub board, and bass guitar. Although Zydeco music is Bryant's primary performance style, he also plays traditional Creole music.
September 24th 8 pm-midnight
September 25th 8:30 pm – 1 am
September 26th 8:30 pm – 1 am
All shows in the Gator Lounge at Delta Downs are free and open to the public. The Gator Lounge opens Thursdays - Saturdays at 4 p.m. You must be 21 or older to attend the shows. More information is available on the Web at www.deltadowns.com .

SAGE Program
The McNeese Senior Academic Group Encounter, or SAGE, program will offer its fall lecture series from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Mondays in Gayle Auditorium, located on the first floor of Gayle Hall, with the theme of “Evolution of a City: Lake Charles from Past to Present.”
SAGE programs are open to adults age 50 and over and the cost is $39 for all five lectures.
The lecture series schedule is as follows:
Sept. 28—“Growth of Education,” Annette Ballard
Oct. 12—“Historical Development of Local Health Care,” Dr. John Noble Jr.
Oct. 26—“Growth of Business and Industry,” Adley Cormier
Nov. 9—“The Influence of Religion and the Arts,” Father Henry Mancuso, the Rev. Henry Bowden and Bill Kushner
Participants will enjoy an added treat after each lecture with a tasting from the Junior League of Lake Charles’ “Marshes to Mansion Cookbook.”
For more information or to register, call the McNeese Office of Continuing Education at 475-5615 or 475-5127.

Coushatta Tribe to Host 15th Annual Coushatta Powow Celebration
October 2-4, 2009
Hundreds of Native American dancers and singers are expected to gather at the 15th Annual Coushatta Powwow Celebration on October 2-4, 2009 in Kinder, Louisiana. One of the largest gatherings in the South, the powwow will feature competition dancing and Native American arts & crafts exhibits in the spectacular three-day festivities. Traditionally, the term “powwow” is defined as “a gathering of nations.” Coushatta’s powwow brings together representatives of tribes across the US and Canada, converging in a pageant of majesty and splendor.
The powwow will begin with Gourd Dancing on Friday, October 2nd at 5:00 pm followed by the Grand Entry at 7:00 pm. During the grand entry, Native American dancers dressed in full traditional regalia will parade around the dance arena in a brilliant spectacle of color and sound. Competitions and specialty dances will be seen throughout the three-day event.
Schedule Of Events
Gourd Dancing
Friday October 2 at 5:00pm
Saturday October 3 at 10:30am
Sunday October 4 at 11:00am
Grand Entry
Friday October 2 at 7:00pm
Saturday October 3 at 12:00 noon &7:00pm
Sunday October 4 at 1:00pm
The powwow also includes exhibitions of the many talents of Native American tribes. The famous “Indian frybread” and “Indian tacos” as well as other foods will be sold. Talented Native American artists and craftsmen will showcase their wares in the Powwow Market: turquoise and silver jewelry, hand-made beaded items, hand-woven long leaf pine needle baskets, and more. The public is invited to attend this family-friendly alcohol-and-drug-free event. For more information about the 15th Annual Coushatta Powwow Celebration, visit the website: www.coushattapowwow.com
Coushatta Casino Resort is located in Kinder, Louisiana on Highway 165 (I-10 exit 44), featuring over 2800 slots and more than 70 table games. Phone 800-584-7263 for more information or visit the website at coushattacasinoresort.com

Times Picks 9/3

Fever Tree Singer Returns to Lake Charles September 18

Dennis Keller, lead singer of the late-1960s psychedelic rock band, Fever Tree, will perform with Fever Tree Rising in Lake Charles at the Brick House on Friday, September 18, 2009. Southern rock artists Southbound will open the show.

Keller was front man for Houston-based Fever Tree, which rose to national prominence with its 1968 hit, San Francisco Girls (Return of the Native). The group’s self-titled debut album is one of the best psychedelic rock albums of the 1960s, acclaimed for its complex blend of musical styles that combine Keller’s searing vocals, guitarist Michael Knust’s feedback driven guitar riffs, and keyboardist Rob Landes’ classical, baroque flourishes.

Southbound will open the concert at 8 p.m. Comprised of veterans of the Southwest Louisiana music scene, Southbound plays a driving mix of southern rock, blues, and soul, and will debut original songs from the band’s first CD due out this fall.

Tickets may be purchased from the Brick House (337-433-3108). General admission tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. A limited number of reserve tables seating 10 are available for $300. There will be a cash bar and the Brick House will offer a limited food menu. The Brick House is located at 110 West Pine Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601.

Cigar Club's Drew Estates Event September 11th

Cigar Club, Southwest Louisiana's Home for Premium Cigars, Spirits, and Good Life Accessories takes you to the wild side with our upcoming Drew Estates Event Scheduled for Friday, September 11th starting at 7 PM. Come get a chance to meet Drew's regional sales / promotions director Fabien Zeigler who will tell you all about the Drew Estate lines, including: Naturals, La Vieja Habana, Isla Del Sol, and, of course, the famed Acid infused line that changed the premium cigar world forever. Also, get a chance to find out about the new additions to the Acid line including the new Fat Tips and the not yet available Nostromo, a much anticipated joint effort between Jonathan Drew and Illusione / Cruzado owner Dion Giolitto. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information call (337) 562-8889 or visit our 1700 East Prien Lake Road location.

The Zigler Art Museum will present "Camps Variations on a Theme" August 8 - September 26

Featuring paintings by Dutch Kepler and mixed media sculptures by Diane Pecnik, The Zigler Art Museum will present “Camps Variations on a Theme.” An artist reception for the exhibit opening will be held Saturday, August 8, 2009, from 6-8 PM at the Zigler Art Museum, 411 Clara Street in Jennings, LA. The featured artists, Dutch Kepler and Diane Pecnik, are from the Acadiana area, but their works are represented in collections both nationally and internationally. The public is invited to meet these two outstanding artists at the Zigler Art Museum's artists reception Saturday, August 8 from 6-8 PM.

Roastin' with Rosie Bar-B-Que Festival September 11 & 12

You'll need them all this summer as Jeff Davis Parish unveils its newest attraction, the "Roastin' with Rosie Bar-B-Que Festival." Rosie, the parish's familiar roseate spoonbill mascot, is dressed up in her best apron and chef's hat for the first annual event.
Over the space of two days - Friday and Saturday, Sept. 11 & 12 - the festival will be taking over the new Grand Marais Courtyard in uptown Jennings, allowing serious grillers and amateur cookers the chance to compete for cash and prizes. The festival is officially sanctioned by the International Barbecue Cooker's Association (ICBA), which judges nationwide contests and provides certified, impartial, out-of-town judges to help determine the festival's best grillers. For more information on the "Roastin' with Rosie Bar-B-Que Festival" or to sponsor or volunteer for the event, call (337) 821-5534.

Schedule of Events

Sunday, September 6
Bar-B-Que Festival Beauty Pageant,
Strand Theatre, Downtown Jennings
Friday, September 11
4 p.m. - Festival Gates Open!
6 p.m. - Muzic Unlimited
7:30 p.m. - Barry Badon
9 p.m. - Pine Leaf Boys
10:30 p.m. - Jamie Bergeron
Saturday, September 20
7:30 a.m. - 5K Rice Run (Founders' Park, Downtown Jennings)
10 a.m. - Festival Gates Open!
10 a.m.-6 p.m. - Kid's World
11 a.m. - Parish Cheerleader and Dance Line Competition
12 p.m. - Barbecue Competitions begin
4:30 p.m. - Barbecue Competition Awards Ceremony
4 p.m. - Bayou Katz
6 p.m. - Travis Matte
8:30 p.m. - Static
10:30 p.m. - Wayne Toups

The New Reality: The Frontier of Realism in the 21st Century August 14 - October 17

Opening Reception: August 14th 6:00pm - 9:00pm
1911 Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center
Lecture with Realist painter Albino Hinojosa: August 28 6:30pm - 8:00pm
The New Reality: The Frontier of Realism in the 21st Century is the first show of this century to not only look at the state of Realism painting around the world, but to also compare those artworks with their historical predecessors. Fifty-six artists from the International Guild of Realism display artworks in a variety of media; from oil and acrylic, to egg tempura and colored pencil. Each artist was asked to identify one historical painting to compare and contrast their work with the pioneers of the Realist movement. Artists sited included Ingres, Durer, Vermeer, and Da Vinci. In some cases the contrast between the old and the new is startling; in other cases, one can almost see the contemporary artist adapting the Old Master's techniques for modern visuals. The New Reality: The Frontier of Realism in the 21st Century will open with a reception on August 14th from 6pm to 9pm and run through October 17, 2009. Special Events include an Artist Lecture featuring Realist painter Albino Hinojosa on August 28th at 6:30pm. Hinojosa is a member of the International Guild of Realism and a participant in this exhibit, as well as a former faculty member at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston.
Photos cutlines:
“Grand Canyon along the South Rim” by Fredrick Denys, Oil on Canvas, 2006
Comparative image: “Grand Canyon”, by Thomas Moran, 1908
“On Broadway” by Anne Kullaf, Oil on Canvas, 2006
Comparative image: “Montmartre in the Rain” by Camille Pissarro, 1897
“Exotica” by Mark Thompson, Egg Tempera on Board, 2006
Comparative image: “”Still Life with Parrot” by Jan de Heem, 1640

Sesame Street At the Civic Center September 4 – 6

Great family fun comes to town in September. Sesame Street Live’s "When Elmo Grows Up" has Elmo and his Sesame Street friends thinking about growing up, it’s a musical show-and-tell! Bert dreams of becoming a forest ranger, Telly longs to be a cowboy and their newest friend, Abby Cadabby, wants to be a Fairy Godmother just like her mommy.

Elmo thinks about becoming a ‘weather monster,’ but has a hard time predicting his own forecast—he wants to be anything and everything all at once! “When Elmo Grows Up” includes lessons on perseverance, teamwork and the power of imagination.

Children learn that if they believe in themselves and are willing to try, the possibilities are endless. Performances are: Sept. 4, 7 p.m. (Opening Night Discount); Sept. 5, 10:30 a.m. & 2 p.m. Sept. 6, 1 p.m. & 4:30 p.m. Performance is at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Tickets: $12 & $16. Opening Night, all seats (excluding Premium/Gold Circle) are $12. For more information, call 337-491-1432. To charge tickets by phone, please call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.

Elvis Tribute Artist Nathan Belt At Grand Opera House of South and Alexandria October 28 - 30

Belt will be returning to the Grand Opera House of the South on October 29th and then we will be in Alexandria on either the 28th or the 30th of October (contact the venue for more information). On July 25th, Belt won first place at the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Contest in Myrtle Beach, SC. This win qualified him for the World finals Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist competition in Memphis, TN on August 11 & 12. Nathan is considered by his peers to be one of the top Elvis tribute artist's in the Country. Performing with Nathan will be the Legendary band "XPG". The Grand Opera House performance will be 7:00 pm. The contact number is 337-785-0440. The Coughlin Saunders Theater of Performing Arts at Alexandria contact number is 318-767-2600 for more information.

The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Presents First Monday in the Atrium First Monday In The Atrium

The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital is pleased to present First Monday in the Atrium, a musical interlude held on the first Monday of each month from 11am until 1pm in the atrium at Memorial Hospital on Oak Park Boulevard. September’s performance will feature pianist Diana Castleberry on Tuesday, September 8 rather than Monday due to the Labor Day holiday.

On Monday, October 5 we will welcome the Bill Rose Trio, who will perform the music of the Kingston Trio; Peter, Paul and Mary and other classic 1960s folk. First Monday in the Atrium is free and open to the public. The performances are made possible thanks to the generous support of Business First Bank, The Eye Clinic and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. For more information on First Monday in the Atrium or The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, please call (337) 494-3226.