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Following the Louisiana Antique Trail: Rooster's Antique Market

After coming across Rooster’s Antique Market’s Facebook page, we couldn’t wait to make our way to Lafayette to check it out! Then when we got there and discovered the Louisiana Antique Trail brochure, everything just fell together so well, and this blog series was born!

Rooster’s is at 3209 Kaliste Saloom Road in Lafayette, Louisiana, and can be easily found by looking for the giant metal rooster marking its driveway! The market has a collection of vendors with lots of antiques, including furniture, art, collectibles, and many other fun finds. I had to resist buying several different Louisiana wooden signs! They also sell Maison Blanche Vintage Chaulk Paint.

Their hours are Wednesday through Sunday 10am-6pm. For more information call 337-216-0513, follow them on Facebook, or visit their website RoostersAntiqueMarket.com.

Stay tuned for our next stop down the Louisiana AntiqueTrail!

Following the Louisiana Antique Trail

Since I was little, my mom and I have loved antiques and shopping for vintage items. I love finding unique pieces or discovering the stories from the past, and each antique shop is different from last. Looking around one a while back we found a brochure for the Louisiana Antique Trail that listed 95 stores all across the state!! Obviously we knew we had to try and visit each one for the blog! They even have a website devoted to it at LouisianaAntiqueTrail.com!

So keep following along as we share what makes each shop special along the trail!

Fearless Finds: The RE Market

Spring is in the air, so what better place to be than the Spring Fling at The RE Market?! This past weekend The RE Market had sales, refreshments, and art classes to welcome Spring, and I got to speak with the manager and a few vendors as I looked through the booths.

The RE Market has something for everyone! They have antiques, vintage finds, repurposed home accents, architectural salvage, and so much more. Looking for a gift? The RE Jeweled booth by designer Celia Joe Black has creations made from repurposed items and is a must stop. I also had the pleasure of meeting Susan Sarradet Bergeaux in her booth, Sunset Creek, which features home accessories and interior design. There are far too many amazing vendors to name; you’ll just have to go see for yourself!

The RE Market is located at 303 North Lake Arthur Avenue in Jennings, Louisiana, a street over from the Donut King. Formerly the old 7up Bottling Company, the building has a very eclectic, shabby-chic look to it, which is perfect for this type of business. It just fits! While walking around, my sister said “Come here, you’ve got to see this!” and led me to the inside of the original front doors of the building to a large tiled 7up logo on the floor. It was so cool!

Kayla Gary, the manager, and her lovely staff welcomed me in, and she couldn’t talk enough about the start of The RE Market and how they’ve grown in the past three years. The business started out as a 200 square foot cabinet showroom, and now it’s this 10,000 square foot “REpurposed, REnewed, and REmarkable” place housing 30+ vendors with a waiting list!

The RE Market is open Monday through Saturday 10am-4pm. For more information you can call 337-821-0083 or 337-275-7312 or visit their website at REaccents.com. 

P.S. The RE Market is stop number 44 on the Louisiana Antique Trail! We will be doing a blog series about this soon as we attempt to visit all 95 shops on the trail! Check out LouisianaAntiqueTrail.com for more info.

Pelicans on Parade #1

We love Gators on the Geaux in Lake Charles, so when we stumbled upon Pelicans on Parade, a similar public art project, in Lafayette we couldn't resist trying to seek out as many as possible! 

We were actually spending the day in Lafayette researching and visiting businesses for the blog when we spied this Pelican and her buddy at the South College Center on the corner of Bertrand & Johnson. Her name plate was missing, but she was beautifully painted and adorned in celebration of Mardi Gras.

We're searching for more! Do you know of any located around Lafayette? Please comment or e-mail us, so we can find them!

Fearless Finds: The Strand Theatre

My mom and I have always been lovers of old movies. We love seeing the fashion and technology of the past, and some of our all-time favorite actors and actresses are from old Hollywood. So you can only imagine our excitement when we found out The Strand Theatre in Jennings, Louisiana, is showing old movies on the big screen all year long, and, as if that wasn’t enough, one of our favorites was the next in the lineup: Pillow Talk with Doris Day and Rock Hudson!

My mom and I watched Doris Day all the time when I was younger, and her movies always feature forgotten things of the past like party-lines and automats. It was so much fun to watch it on the big screen in the quaint atmosphere of the old Strand Theatre. Tickets are only $3! And they have popcorn and drinks for sale, too.

We had so much fun and can’t wait to go back! I’ll definitely be there for Clue in November!

The Strand Theater is located at 432 N Main Street in Jennings. Their next showing is Paint Your Wagon on March 28 at 7:00. Some of their upcoming movies are The Apple Dumpling Gang, Grease, and all three Back to the Futures!

For more information call 337-821-5509 and like them on Facebook.

Huntin' for Gators on the Geaux #1

Remember this amazing piece of art we discovered at the Cameron Prairie Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center? Well he's inspired us to start huntin' for Gators on the Geaux! Gators on the Geaux is a public art project in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and although many gators have been stolen and/or destroyed, there are still many hanging out in and around Lake Charles. 

So this guy will be our starting point, and we are going to hunt down as many as we can, keeping you updated along the way, of course! Wish us luck!

Do you know of any Gators on the Geaux? Comment or e-mail us their locations, so we can add them to our list!

Fearless Finds: Pint House Pizzaria

I get so excited when there are new restaurants in town, and if it’s a favorite of mine like pizza I just have to go! Pint House Pizzaria at 329 Broad Street in Lake Charles opened in July of 2014 and has such amazing pizza combinations, desserts, beers, and more!

Although we opted for a traditional pepperoni pizza because I’m super picky, Pint House Pizzaria offers pizzas like the Atomic Rooster and the Napalm Duck, the latter is made with ranch sauce, two types of cheeses and peppers, duck, and chipotle and srirache sauces! The pizzas are handmade and cooked in a brick oven which makes for an incredible crust that’s both crispy and soft at the same time. While you can of course purchase whole pizzas, they also offer a lunch buffet Monday through Friday from 11 to 1:30 so you can test out a few different pizza varieties. It’s only $8.99 for adults and $5.99 for kids twelve and under.

To wet your whistle, Pint House Pizzaria has a long list of craft beers and rotating kegs. A few with names we couldn’t forget were La-31 Biere Noir, Clown Shoes Tramp Stamp, and Monty Pythons Holy Grail Ale! For non-alcoholic beverages, they have handmade sodas in lots of flavors including Jamaican Cola, Cotton Candy, and Smores. Ice cream sodas, shakes, malts, and beer floats are also on the menu. 

(In case you’re wondering, we had water. Yes, we know we are boring, but next time we won’t be!)

Once you’re near full up on pizza and beer, you can top of your meal with fresh, homemade gelato or sorbetto! We had Vanilla Marscapone Chocolate Biscotti gelato, and wow it was so good!! My mom talked with the sweet worker who helped her, and she said she actually made the gelato! You can see her pictured with the gelato case. They’re constantly changing flavors, so you always have something new to try!

The environment is so cozy and warm, and all the staff was super friendly! Looking at their Facebook page, Pint House Pizzaria also hosts local artists on their stage on some Saturday nights. We’re definitely planning a trip back to try more flavors of the pizza and gelato and to experiment with some handmade sodas!

For more information on Pint House Pizzaria check out their website, pinthousepizzaria.com, where you can order online, like them on Facebook, or call 337-419-1931.

Vintage Memories: A Sunday Veiller, 1968

Do you miss the good ole days? I do. The slow-paced, playing with your cousins, stepping in chicken poo days. Going to Mama (pronounced Mahh-mahh, like “Ahh! I’m scared”) and Papa (pronounced the same but with P’s) Aucoin’s house for Sunday dinner was what we did each week. The kids would play outside while Mama and the women cooked in the kitchen, and the men sat around and visited. Mama would often have fish cooked in her famous white gravy that no one, and I mean no one, can make like she did. The men would eat first while us kids would eat all around on the floor. Then the women would eat and clean up. It was the perfect Sunday. It was what families did, what they made time for. I’m glad I have these memories to look back on and remember. They make me smile, and I love sharing them.

Do you have a favorite tradition from your childhood? Tell us! Comment below or e-mail us at bonveillercher@gmail.com.

Fearless Finds: The Louisiana Market

After 25 years of business in the same location, The Louisiana Market at 2710 Hodges Street in Lake Charles, Louisiana, has become more than a familiar sight among the Cottage Shops; it’s a tradition. The current owner, Lisa Foreman, began working at The Louisiana Market three years ago with plans to buy it, and in July of 2014 that’s what she did. Her only employees are her family, and they show great dedication and support. Lisa was so warm and inviting, and it was obvious she loves what she does. Most of our visit was spent talking about and meeting her local artists (many to be seen on future blog posts!) and exploring the shop.

The Louisiana Market has anything and everything Louisiana! “What I try to do is to promote Southwest Louisiana,” Lisa explained as she showed us the wide variety of products, art, and décor she carries. She has cookbooks, dishware, and gourmet foods including Virgin Pecan Oil. You’ll find unique t-shirts and jewelry, most referencing Louisiana. They even make super cute gift baskets for any occasion. Most recently they filled miniature pirogues with goodies for a local Mardi Gras Krewe.

Lisa works closely with local artists selling their works and helping them reach a broader audience. She even connected one with the flag company she buys from, and now the artist’s designs are featured on flags! There are beautiful works all around the shop including watercolor, acrylic, and oil paintings, local pottery, and recycle art.

Specialty coffee is also available at The Louisiana Market. All the beans are roasted and flavored in Mooringsport, Louisiana, and they are sold by the pound, whole or ground. The flavors are so unique with names like Swamp Gold and King Cake. I actually bought a half pound bag of ground Café Beignet and love it! I can’t wait to go back and try another flavor.

We will definitely be regular customers now and know where to find unique gifts in the future. So whether you need a present for a native Cajun or want to share the Louisiana spirit with a faraway friend, pay a visit to The Louisiana Market to find exactly what you’re looking for!

For more information visit thelouisianamarket.com, like them on Facebook, or call 337-656-2908.

Fearless Finds: Fleur De Lis Candles

Ever wonder what a monkey fart smells like? Well during my drives to work I kept hearing about a candle shop in Lafayette, and what really got my attention were the names of the candles like Monkey Farts and Oilfield Trash. I love candles and thought to myself, “I have to smell a Monkey Fart!!” So that’s the first thing I did upon arriving at Fleur De Lis Candles.

But I didn’t stop there. I smelt Butt Naked and Cajun Hot Flash and King Cake and so many others! The names are so unique and fun, some are even customer-created. But walking around the shop I noticed that most of the candles and wax melts are primarily white in color, and that made me wonder why. We were told that the candles are made with fewer petroleum by-products which is where the color comes from, so for cleaner burning, they opt for fewer colored candles.

This brings us to how it all got started. The owners were searching for an affordable, eco-friendly candle that didn’t skimp on scent, so when they couldn’t find any locally, they did the research and began creating and selling their own out of their snow cone stand. Now they’re located at 3816 West Congress Street, Suite 3 in Lafayette, Louisiana, and all candles are created and hand-poured onsite.

Another unique service they offer is they will pour a candle in whatever container you bring them. The owner told us they’ve seen everything from Ragu to baby food jars, and they’ll cut the price down for your recycling efforts! Most custom candles can be done within 24 hours.

We actually got to have a sneak sniff of their newest scent, Bunny Burps! Everyone is going to love it!

This is a must-stop for all candle lovers. Believe me, you won’t leave empty-handed! We went last week, and I have already been through three cubes of my Mardi Gras wax melts! I am loving the scent! It smells great but isn’t overwhelmingly strong.

As we were checking out, Lexi got a text from her Granny asking if they had a Kettle Corn scent. That’s one scent they don’t have, but they wrote it down and will hopefully be working to create one! Maybe we will even be able to create the name for it!

For more information check out their website fleurdeliscandles.com, like them on Facebook, or call 337-534-8865.

A day at the circus!

It’s a Louisiana snow day! Of course there isn’t any snow anywhere to be seen around us, but all the schools are closed and college classes cancelled! The only problem now is, what do you do with your kids on an unexpected day off during the week? Well we have the perfect adventure for y’all! The Lake Charles Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center is currently showing a FREE exhibit (most all their exhibits are free though) called “Step Right Up: Behind the Scenes of the Circus Big Top.” We loved it! There was no photography allowed inside the building, but we can share a few of our favorite tidbits of history we learned.

The exhibit is on the third floor of the Historic City Hall building located on 1001 Ryan Street across from the courthouse. There are so many colorful posters, many dating back to the late 1800s! There are also several interesting artifacts such as an old elephant headdress and authentic giant clown shoes! The exhibit takes you through the different parts of a circus from the high-flying trapeze artists to the amazing animal performers and their trainers.

Here are our top five favorite circus facts:

1. Large travelling American circuses often had a barbershop, doctor’s office, and schoolhouse to serve the workers and performers.
2. The iconic Ringmaster top hats were hardly ever worn. Instead they were used as an extension of the Ringmaster’s arm to direct the attention of on-lookers here and there.
3. The phrase “Hold your horses!” originated in the circus! Back when spectators arrived on horseback to watch the circus, the horses would sometimes be spooked by the elephants, so before they were brought out the crowd was told to “Hold your horses, here come the elephants.”
4. There are three basic types of clowns: Auguste, Grotesque, and White Face.
5. There was a circus worker called the Twenty-Four-Hour Man who would travel to a location a day ahead of the big top to hang posters and directional arrows leading people to the show.

Along with the amazing exhibits, there were fun activities for the kids to do! There is a booklet that asks interesting, thought-provoking questions about circus life and has areas for kids to draw their own “never-before-seen wonders.” Another activity offered is an art scavenger hunt. Eight thumbnail images are shown, and you must find the poster each was taken from and write down the title and year.

We really enjoyed this exhibit, and we know kids would, too! The exhibit will show through March 14^th, so the next time you have a day or just a few hours to spare, stop by the Lake Charles Historic City Hall to experience real big top life.

"Before I die..." Art in Lake Charles

Have you seen this amazing art installation in downtown Lake Charles?! 

I was so excited when we just happened to drive past it on one of our latest blog adventures, and I had to stop! The “Before I die…” project started in New Orleans when artist Candy Chang obtained permission to paint the wall of an abandoned house with the now iconic black and white interactive installation. Anyone passing by can add their own hopes and aspirations to the wall and see what others around them dream about. This has become a global project with walls in over 70 countries and in over 35 languages. Check out the website and find out about the “Before I die…” book at beforeidie.cc. Our wall is on the west side of 505 Bazaar at 314 Broad Street. We read several incredible bucket list items including hiking Kilimanjaro and going skydiving.

What do you want to do before you die?

                                                

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Thanks! 

 Katrina & Lexi

Fearless Finds: Java Joltz

Lately we have been searching for anything Mardi Gras, so when we discovered a local business served a King Cake Latte we had to go try it! Java Joltz is a coffee shop and bookstore in Jennings, Louisiana, (just down the street from the Rocket Drive Inn) that serves soups, sandwiches, and lots of coffee.

We walked in and each ordered a blended King Cake Latte, and my mom and Myron ordered a couple sandwiches. While waiting for our goodies we met the owner, Christy Lepretre, to find out more about this cozy coffee shop.

Originally Java Joltz was called Books ‘n’ Java and opened in 2010 at a different location. But in 2013 coffee sales took off and a drive-thru was needed, so they moved to their current location: 115 E. Shankland Suite E, Mid City Shopping Center in Jennings. They have a drive-thru! If only I worked in Jennings…

Anyway, though you wouldn’t believe it with the extensive and creative menu, soups and sandwiches are a new addition at Java Joltz having been available for about two months. They have such amazing flavor combos, including their best seller the Mayflower which is turkey and Gouda on sourdough with spinach leaves and cranberry pepper jelly (coincidentally the same sandwich my mom and I had been eyeing before ordering!). To order a sandwich, they hand you a list of ingredients that you can check off to make the sandwich uniquely yours. We loved that!

Then we got our coffees. WOW! The King Cake Latte is delicious! It’s perfectly sweet and full of flavor, and they even make it look amazing with purple and green syrup and gold and green sprinkles! Christy told us that after her daughter and an employee created the King Cake Latte last year so many people requested it after Mardi Gras that it’s now available year-round. That’s a problem for me. How am I supposed to try out all the other flavor combinations like Funky Monkey and customer-created Breakfast @ Tiffany’s when this one is always an option!?

After I had already fallen in love with the place, Christy began to tell us where she gets her ingredients from. “I’m all about having fresh ingredients and supporting locals,” she told us. Her coffee beans are locally roasted by Reve Coffee Roasters of Lafayette and sent within 24 hours. This brings me back to my time spent in Austin and their famous “Keep Austin Weird” movement that promotes small, local businesses, and I’m so excited to see something similar taking root in Southwest Louisiana.

Music is also in the air at Java Joltz! Every other Saturday they host a jam session sponsored by Steve Riley and a few others. You can even perform at Java Joltz! The first Friday of every month is open mic night. Songs need to be approved, and the sets are mostly acoustic.

We even got a sneak peek at a few upcoming sandwiches! With Lent starting this week, they will have a buffalo shrimp sandwich on sourdough with guacamole, lettuce, and tomatoes. They’re also serving a twist on the grilled cheese sandwich, the Pepper Popper Sandwich, with cheddar cheese, pepperjack cheese, jalapenos, and banana peppers on wheat berry bread.

Christy and her crew were so sweet, and we really enjoyed our drinks, food, and visit with them. Christy also said she was so appreciative of the community of Jennings and their continued support, it was even bringing tears to her eyes. We can’t wait to go back and already have our orders in mind for our next trip.

For more information check out their Facebook page, call 337-246-3700, or visit their website javajoltz.wix.com/javajoltz.

A Shrimp Boat in Cameron

The drive down to Cameron is different than when I was young. Now, after the hurricanes, everything has changed. But one thing the hurricane did not take away is the spirit of the shrimper and their heart and soul, the shrimp boat. One shrimp boat in particular caught my eye as we drove down the main drag on our way to the ferry.  It was run-down and rusty but so beautiful. I love that kind of stuff, and I couldn’t wait to see it through the lens of my camera.

As I was snapping pictures of it, a head popped out of the door and gave a wave, and then the door closed. I took a few more photos then noticed a very small statured older gentleman coming down the boardwalk which led from the boat to the land. He came straight up to the truck, and at first I thought he might tell us we had to leave. But all he wanted to do was visit with us. He talked about his daughter going to college in Florida; that he had been a shrimper all his life; that he was born and raised in Cameron; and that the boat I had fallen in love with was his home. I could tell he felt the same way about it that I did the first time I saw it. It started to rain more, and as he turned to walk away he told us we could come by anytime to fish off his dock.

His warmth and friendliness put us at ease as he embodied true southern hospitality. Hurricanes will come and go, but they will never destroy all the beauty and culture of Cameron or the spirit of the Cameron people. 

          

Fearless Finds: Grandma's Garden Flower and Gift Shop

What woman doesn’t hope for a bouquet of fresh flowers on Valentine’s Day? I sure do! Actually what am I saying? I hope for flowers all the time! They are a timeless gift and perfect for every occasion. But Valentine’s Day might be the holiday most-known for flowers, so the ladies (and a few gentlemen) of Grandma’s Garden Flower and Gift Shop in Welsh, Louisiana, are hard at work preparing. Fortunately, they let us take a peek behind the scenes, and the owner, Roylynne Harris, shared her story about the shop’s humble beginnings.

 

The origin of the name alone gives me goosebumps. Roylynne told us that before her grandma passed Roylynne would go each Sunday after church to her grandma’s house for a home-cooked meal and a visit. Before she would leave her grandma would send her to the garden, clippers in hand, and tell her to cut whatever she wanted. Her grandma would then wrap the flowers in a paper towel for the long drive home where Roylynne would then arrange them in mason jars and vases. “I always said if I ever had a flower shop I would name it Grandma’s Garden because that’s where I found my love for flowers,” Roylynne explained. Nine years ago she made true that promise and started Grandma’s Garden out of her home.

Grandma’s Garden is now located on the corner of Main Street and Highway 90 in Welsh, Louisiana, in a re-purposed gas station. Before Interstate 10, 90 was the main road to travel, and as a gas station the building hosted Elvis and the infamous Bonnie and Clyde. Nowadays the building is filled with flowers and all sorts of gifts, including Tyler candles. I actually fell in love with this beautiful pillow embroidered with Louisiana spelled out in cypress trees.

As for the flowers, Grandma’s Garden has a widespread customer base and delivers anywhere from Kinder to Jennings to Gueydan starting at $5. Flowers arrive daily from Beaumont and Lafayette, and they take both walk-ins and phone orders. Their services also include weddings, funerals, Homecoming and other events.

With Valentine’s Day coming up quickly, Roylynne and her helpers are making sure they are ready for anything with over 800 roses and dozens of pre-made “green ahead,” as they called them, vases ready to be filled with whatever selection of flowers you’d like.

We really enjoyed meeting Roylynne and her crew at Grandma’s Garden and getting to see the inner workings of a flower shop! Please pay them a visit the next time you’re in need of a gift, and they’d love to help you find something perfect.

For more information or to make an order call Grandma’s Garden Flower and Gift Shop at 337-734-3597, and find them on Facebook.