October 13, 2010
By The Independent Staff
FROM TOE TO ANKLE
If you want to know Louisiana - to really soak her up - take the next interstate exit ramp and get onto a state highway. And to become fully acquainted with the Bayou State's diverse cultures, try La. 1, the first state highway to fully traverse Louisiana. Running diagonally from southeast to northwest, La. 1 traces a path from the bayous of south Jefferson Parish to the piney woods of Caddo, running through 10 other parishes along the way. Fortunately, we don't have to burn the gas - writer Anne Butler and photographer Henry Cancienne have done it for us in Louisiana Hwy. 1 ($35, UL Press).
October 13, 2010
By The Independent Staff
FROM TOE TO ANKLE
If you want to know Louisiana - to really soak her up - take the next interstate exit ramp and get onto a state highway. And to become fully acquainted with the Bayou State's diverse cultures, try La. 1, the first state highway to fully traverse Louisiana. Running diagonally from southeast to northwest, La. 1 traces a path from the bayous of south Jefferson Parish to the piney woods of Caddo, running through 10 other parishes along the way. Fortunately, we don't have to burn the gas - writer Anne Butler and photographer Henry Cancienne have done it for us in Louisiana Hwy. 1 ($35, UL Press), an engaging sally from the coast, with its hard-working and equally hard-partying Cajun culture, to the Bible Belt country of north Louisiana, with its ... well, they're hard-working, too. The journey begins at Grand Isle and heads through plantation country and the rolling hills of CenLa, stopping in the many small towns that season our distinct cultural jambalaya. - Walter Pierce
SPICY COMBO
Two established brands known for their peppery themes, UL Lafayette and Tabasco, have teamed up to form a "Two Hot" partnership. The partnership has so far produced two co-branded logos, one featuring The McIlhenny Co.'s iconic pepper sauce bottle tipping over, the red peppery mix spilling around the words "Ragin' Cajuns," and the other includes the words "Two Hot," along with Tabasco's and UL's marks. The logos were developed by Lisa and Kevin Prejean, owners of Prejean Creative design firm, and all of the co-branded products can be purchased at the four Lafayette locations of Albertsons, Follett's Bookstore, Louisiana Hot Stuff, University Bookstore, Champagnes and Tabasco Country Store and its website. "McIlhenny Company's partnership with the university has evolved from a relationship centered largely around culinary scholarships to a multifaceted effort that includes marketing, merchandising and sports sponsorships," says Cecil Hymel, vice president of administration for the McIlhenny Co. - Leslie Turk
SOWING SEEDS
It's the season when trees put out their most architectural element, seed pods, and jeweler Annette Aucoin has captured them exquisitely in silver. The beautiful, flanged pods are fabricated out of sheet silver with the tapping of Aucoin's silver hammer. Tiny handmade silver seeds sit inside, peas in the pod. Aucoin takes her inspiration from the natural world, flowers, fruits and trees, and while she says these particular pods are an imaginary amalgam of local fauna, I see the pods of the rattlebox bush. Don't know rattlebox? It flames in yellows and oranges bayouside in the spring. Now that fall has arrived, shake the bush - a Cajun rhythm section to the blackbird chorus. Aucoin's lovely earring and necklace set are $85 at Whoojoo Glass on Jefferson Street. - Mary Tutwiler