Party Girl had the pleasure of hanging out with some local intellectuals recently. (Partying's not my only forte, mes amis!) As usual, this year's Flora Levy Lecture drew yet another great mind to Lafayette ' The New Republic's literary editor, Leon Wieseltier. UL Lafayette English professor Dr. Maurice duQuesnay directs the series, which was established by the late Flora Plonsky Levy in 1981. LSU and UL educators ' including Mike Maher, head of UL's communication department, UL journalism prof Robert Buckman and LSU English prof Roger Kamenetz ' attended Wieseltier's talk, titled "Lionel Trilling and the Rabbis." Wilder Breckenridge Selman of New Orleans (who wrote and published Reminiscences of New Orleans Social Life), Mary Roane of Jeanerette, Kolleen Verlander, Caroline Masur, Lee and Adeline Feist and Jean Ostrich were also in attendance. This year's installment was especially poignant, as it was dedicated to the memory of LSU Professor Emeritus Lewis Simpson, who served as editor of The Southern Review from 1965-1987. A painting of the scholar, who died last year, was presented to Simpson's successor, Bret Lott, and will hang in the office of the respected literary journal in the Old President's House at LSU. Lafayette artist Tony Bernard, who studied under George Rodrigue, was commissioned to paint the portrait. The lecture at First Methodist Church of Lafayette was followed by a small reception at Temple Shalom catered by Fay Bowen, and some attendees ended the night with dinner at Café Vermilionville.
Speaking of dinner, the Louisiana Technical College Greater Acadiana District Foundation hosted its third annual "A Taste of Success" at the Heymann Center March 31 ' a grand meal indeed. Delicious food prepared by alumni of the LTC-Lafayette Campus Culinary Arts & Occupations program, who are now serving as chefs at Acadiana restaurants, was the evening's centerpiece. In addition to the culinary entertainment, Jonathan Perry, a Gulf Area campus board member, provided a comedy show. Louisiana Style and its lead singer Andy Smith (a Teche Area Campus alumnus) supplied the musical grooves. A silent auction also featured unique items designed and fabricated by LTC students and instructors. "All that attend this wonderful annual event receive 'A Taste of Success' on so many levelsâ?¦ from the delicious food prepared by successful alumni to the wonderful silent auction items," says LTC Resource Development Director Kelli V. Horn. Keep up the great work, Kelli!
Party On! ' PG