Last weekend's Festivals Acadiens featured no shortage of related events, and Party Girl kicked off her weekend on Friday the 13th with the good luck of scoring an invitation to the Frame Shop and Gallery 912 in the Oil Center. The shop hosted its own Festivals Acadiens soiree for the opening night of ACADIE, a celebration by Acadian descendents. Gallery owner Roger Laurent did a beautiful job of displaying artwork with backlight that emphasized the meditative quality of the compositions. On exhibit until Nov. 4 are original stained glass roundels by Karen Bourque and "The Blue Boat" paintings by Canadian artist Pierre Bourque and Nova Scotia's Francois Gaudet, whom I had the opportunity to meet in his booth at Festivals Acadiens between Cajun and zydeco dances. I paid close attention to the readings by Georgette LeBlanc from her newly published poetic novel, Alma, and Darrell Bourque's poetry was inspiring. What a privilege to be around so many talented and gifted people, including one of my favorite artists, Elemore Morgan Jr. who was also in attendance.
Innovative Intelligent Design Inc. began October's Artwalk like any other Artwalk but definitely ended it with a birthday bang. Fearless leader and community VIP Byron Trosclair was the guest of honor for his own surprise 40th birthday party. The party was complete with stickers of his graduation picture for each guest to wear, a PowerPoint presentation of years gone by, and a disco ball and Jell-O shots to keep the mood youthful. Friends and family came from Thibodaux and all across Acadiana to wish Byron well. Guests of the evening included: Frank & Sidney Creaghan, Billy and Erin Meehan, Chet and Marie Lukaszeski, Byron's parents Butsy and Barbara, Erin and Doug Spisak, and Byron's in-laws, Olen and Garnette Zeringue. The party was hosted by Byron's darling wife, Heather (with help from dedicated employees Erin Spisak, Celeste Barrett and Daphne Duarte), and food was catered by her brother, Heath Zeringue of Thibodaux. One sentiment that they wanted everyone to leave this party with: Byron's not 40 ' he's 18 with 22 years experience!
Another successful bash revved up recently at Grant Street Dancehall, as the always entertaining "Guidostock" raised money for the Miles Perret Center. Guidostock was started years ago by several college pals and local professionals who pick up their instruments on occasion and crank up the amps. The first show at Antlers was a surprising success, and soon a larger venue was in order. This year's event featured a few ringers from outside Louisiana, as well as the Page Cortez Band, aka Too Many Guitars. Party Girl was definitely impressed when Mike Guidroz announced $7,000 in proceeds would be donated to The Miles Perret Center. With that kind of spirit and fund raising, next stop on the Guidostock tour should be the Cajundome!
Party On! ' PG