Susan Fisher and Billie Henry of UL's homecoming committee and Erin Kelley with the Lafayette chamber.
Lowry's Printing's huge exterior display of UL prez T-Joe Savoie
Tom Voinche, eating dip from Lowry's
Troy Leger of KSMB, shaking hands with residents at Garden View Assisted Living
I'm certainly not one to brag, but there is something to be said for being invited year after year to judge UL's Paint the Town Red contest, the Lafayette nonprofit and business community's way of showing their homecoming spirit. This year, of course, was no different as PG joined a host of celebrity judges - media personalities and other VIPs - for what was clearly the best of the best of all the years I've been judging this spirited contest. This year's theme was "We are Louisiana," and local businesses and nonprofits pooled their talented individuals together for a phenomenal day (Steve Riley even played at Red's and Lowry's Printing had the most delish jambalaya from T-Coon's) that was the perfect kickoff to the Ragin' Cajun homecoming victory on Saturday. Go Tyrell - what a man!
We left the Alumni House at 10 a.m. in two RVs, with police escorts all day. Our first stop was the spirited clan at Affiliated Blind on St. Mary Boulevard and our last the Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic on Jefferson Street, but there were lots of stops in between, including The Schumacher Group's "Thriller" skit, which took top honors. The winners were as follows:
Exterior:
1st - Lowry's Printing
2nd - Popeyes
3rd - Red Lerille's
Interior:
1st - Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Department
2nd - Aveda Institute
3rd - Inspirations Hair Salon
Skit:
1st - The Schumacher Group
2nd - The Russo Group
3rd - Affiliated Blind
Those zany Xanadu ladies had a busy October, full of the festive parties that have become the krewe's trademark. The new member party had a Halloween theme this year — the Xana-boo Brunch — complete with a competition for the best-decorated witch's hat. To be sure the judging was impartial, co-hostess Donna Lyons' lucky neighbors were tapped to pick the prize-winning chapeau. Kudos to Amanda Fournet and Phyllis Boudreaux for their bewitching bonnets. A few weeks later, King Xanadu XIX Robbie Bush and his wife Julie transformed their south side home into The Girls Rock Café for the annual king's bash in honor of the 2009 court and board. (If you didn't guess it yet, the theme for this year's ball is "Girls Rock!") Chuck Boudreaux played bouncer, handing out backstage passes at the door and Robbie's party was a great warm up for the annual muse bash this past weekend. PG will save that report for a future files but suffice it to say it was rockin'!! Party On!
Party On! — PG
Jenn, of “Fast & Jenn" from KQIS 102.1, got to meet “Mr. Alfred" at Garden View Assisted Living, who calls her every morning to be on the radio.
UL alumni who live at Garden View proudly displayed their spirit.
UL's Dan Hare with Barney Foreman, a resident of Garden View and 1939 UL graduate who played football, boxed and ran track for the university.
Radio personality TD Smith with KATC's Tom Voinche handed out candy to the kids at Woodlands Learning Center.
Jackie Russo of Russo Group, which did a skit called “The Dating Game."
Jake Racca of Aveda Institute
The Schumacher Group's “A House Divided, Sure to be a Thriller," featured Jeremy Martin as Michael Jackson.
KLFY's Blue Rolfes at Tips & Toes Nail Salon
Eugene Kwarteng, a former UL football player and 2006 graduate — my vote for most spirited at Red's.
Steve Riley had everyone dancing when the judges arrived at Red's.
Donna Lyons, Debbie Mills and Monica Lyon
Chuck Boudreaux with Nancy and Jay Northcutt
Robbie and Julie Bush
Lissa Schmidt, Robbie Bush, Sherri Guidry, Nanc Northcutt, Dana Orley, Debbie Mills, Ashley Guidry, Courtney Habbit, Kimberly Benoit and Susan Dominello