IT'S A JUNGLE OUT THERE
Most everybody has had a day wandering through the Jungle Gardens on Avery Island, getting lost in the explosion of azaleas and wisteria in the spring, or studying the camellia collections in winter. But there is a lot more to the gardens than easily observed alligators and Bird City.
SHINE ON
Make your loafers luminous and celebrate the past with Mr. Gloss, downtown Lafayette's newest shoe shine man. A native of California who came to Lafayette by way of Dallas, Mr. Gloss - he won't reveal his real name but did say he has a shoe-shining cousin in Lubbock, Texas, who goes by the moniker Boss Gloss! - searched the Internet recently to find a suitable city for his skills.
LIQUID DESSERT
Bailey's Restaurant's crackerjack bartender Sean Aitken has come up with a decadently delicious Tiramisu martini. Channeling his Italian background, Aitken masterfully mixes a potent but smooth combo of vodka, Disaronno Amaretto, Frangelico, crème de cacao, Bailey's Irish Cream and half and half.
IT'S A JUNGLE OUT THERE
Most everybody has had a day wandering through the Jungle Gardens on Avery Island, getting lost in the explosion of azaleas and wisteria in the spring, or studying the camellia collections in winter. But there is a lot more to the gardens than easily observed alligators and Bird City. The 170 acres of lawns, live oaks, bamboo groves and lagoons began as a living environmental experiment by Edward Avery McIlhenny, the second son of Tabasco sauce inventor Edmund McIhhenny. A biologist by trade who set out as an ornithologist on Arctic expeditions, he was asked by his widowed mother in 1898, when he was 26, to return to the island and take over the pepper sauce business. Intellectually curious and eminently able, he followed his questioning mind, building a refuge for endangered egrets, importing and breeding "interesting" plants and studying the life cycle of the mysterious alligator. He is as important a conservationist as the state of Louisiana has ever produced. A new book, The History of the Jungle Gardens, by Tabasco Co. archivist Shane Bernard, E.A. McIlhenny granddaughter Lisa Osborn and graphic designer Scott Carrol, depicts through historic photographs the development of the gardens and defines the legacy of E.A. McIlhenny. The book is sold for $39.95 at the Jungle Gardens gift shop on Avery Island. - Mary Tutwiler
SHINE ON
Make your loafers luminous and celebrate the past with Mr. Gloss, downtown Lafayette's newest shoe shine man. A native of California who came to Lafayette by way of Dallas, Mr. Gloss - he won't reveal his real name but did say he has a shoe-shining cousin in Lubbock, Texas, who goes by the moniker Boss Gloss! - searched the Internet recently to find a suitable city for his skills. He settled on Lafayette and less than two weeks ago opened his business in the entry-way to Gordon Square, located at 100 E. Vermilion St. in the heart of downtown. Mr. Gloss operates a classic 20th century-style stand complete with elevated seats and metal foot rests - the kind your grandfather frequented when shiny shoes were de rigueur. "I can shine shoes and dye shoes and make the dye on the shoes stay," Mr. Gloss brags. We ran into him last week as he passed out flyers to lunchtime passers-by. Get your shoes shined for 5 bucks ($6 for boots); a dye job runs $15 and up for shoes, $21 and up for boots. Drop-offs welcome. Call 349-2769 for more info. - Walter Pierce
LIQUID DESSERT
Bailey's Restaurant's crackerjack bartender Sean Aitken has come up with a decadently delicious Tiramisu martini. Channeling his Italian background, Aitken masterfully mixes a potent but smooth combo of vodka, Disaronno Amaretto, Frangelico, crème de cacao, Bailey's Irish Cream and half and half. The creamy concoction is then shaken with ice, poured into a frosty martini glass and topped with swirl of whipped cream, chocolate and caramel sauces. What a wonderful way to end a fabulous meal - and head off to bed with visions of Italy dancing in your head. Bellissimo! Bailey's is located at 5520 Johnston St., 988-6464. - Lisa Hanchey