Highly recommended chamber music: Baroque Artists of Shreveport perform at St Mark's on Sun, Oct 5, 3 pm

New shorts by Moonbot Studios plus Nefarious Narration by the Nattering Nabobs of Numiscella, Artspace Shreveport, Thurs, Oct 2, 5:30 pm

Enter if you dare and pull up a chair. Gather around the caldron for a literary scare, says Pam Atchison.

Local scribes and actors will present storytelling, poetry readings, and theatrical performances at A Night of Nefarious Narration on Thurs, Oct 2, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at artspace.

Area artists, poets and performers: Carlos Colon, Ashley Havird, Katie Bickham, Loretta Wilson Casteen, Jim McLain, Mimi Rankin Webb, Kathryn Usher, Nadine Charity, and more.

The Raven and The Cask of Amontillado are the original short films being debuted by Moonbot Studios.

Open & free to the people. Must have ID to drink at the Cash Bar.

The nattering nabobs of Numiscella? Ah: I must have imbibed too much numiscella.

Leonine rocker Jimmy Wooten and Lions May Cry: all-ages show at East Bank Theater on Th, Oct 2

Not a tighter trio rocking this part of the world will you find aside from Lions May Cry. Their album, "Lions May Cry," has crunch, melody, vocal power, scintillating guitar and a soaring vibe.

Ordinarily the power trio rocks the walls of clubs. Catch them in the very comfortable East Bank Theater in an all ages show on Th, Oct 2. Highly recommended for musicality, even if I am a friend of the band.

Tickets are 10.61.

Critical Manners: casual bicycle ride through tree-lined East Shreveport on Fri, Sept 26, 7 pm

Scores of local bicyclists will roll - casually - at 7 pm from Columbia Park on Fri, Sept 26, says Stephen Pederson of SBC Bike Social. As potential bikers can see from the map above, it is a picturesque, historic, tree-lined ride. In case a rider or riders want to drop out at any point, no one will think any less of you.

Shreveport Critical Manners, like the global Critical Mass ride sans the political protest, has drawn some 50 riders lately. The pace is slow enough to chat bike-to-bike. People who have accidents are helped and waited upon. There are rest breaks. Btw, riders gather at Columbia Park at 6:30 for meet and greet.

More at Shreveport Critical Manners.

Answers to either 'she' or 'he': Big Freedia brings bounce to Shreveport via Bears on Fairfield on Sat, Sept 27

Big Freedia is the stage name of Freddie Ross, an American musician known for work in the New Orleans genre of hip hop called bounce music. He has been credited with helping popularize the genre, which was largely underground since developing in the early 1990s, says Wikipedia.

He has been featured in publications such as The Village Voice and The New York Times, and has performed on Last Call with Carson Daly, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and at SXSW, where he received a positive review from Rolling Stone. Freedia says, “I am not transgendered; I am just a gay male. I wear women’s hair and carry a purse, but I am a man. I answer to either ‘he’ or ‘she.’” Tickets.

Comedy at Emmett Hook Center Oct 9 - 18: Noises Off by Jared Watson and Stage Center

Artistic Director Jared Watson is director for Stage center's version of the comedy Noises Off, says John Bogan. Also behind the stage: Seth Taylor (scenic design), Daniel Salazar (lighting design), Katy Allred (costume design), Emily Kitchens (production stage manager) and Sarah Wise (Stage Manager).

There's a cast of seasoned cut-ups: John Bogan, Jim Cowles, Betty Cummings, Cara L. Derrick, Lorna Street Dopson, Rachael Lee Magill, John Peyton Pou, Zac Rowe, and Joe Todaro.

Performances
Thursday, October 9 @ 7:30PM
Fridays, October 10 & 17 @ 7:30PM
Saturday, October 11 @ 7:30PM
Saturday, October 18 @ 2:00PM & 7:30PM


StageCenterLA.com | 318.218.9978. All performances at Emmett Hook Center – 550 Common St., Downtown S’port. Tickets online: $18/15.

Dulcet aroma in the air? It's the blooming of Osmanthus Fragrans, aka sweet olive

What's that marvelous if mysterious fragrance on the street today?

It is Sweet Osmanthus (Osmanthus fragrans; also known as Sweet Olive or Tea Olive). It's an evergreen shrub or small tree growing to 5-12 m tall, says wikipedia.org. It is native to Asia, from the Himalaya east through China to Japan.

Its flowers are small (1 cm long), white, with a four-lobed corolla and have a strong fragrance.It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens (both in Asia and elsewhere in the world) for its deliciously fragrant flowers which carry the scent of ripe peaches or apricots.

In Chinese cuisine, the flowers are also used to produce osmanthus-scented jam (called guì huā jiàng, 桂花醬 or 桂花酱), sweet cakes (called guì huā gāo, 桂花糕), dumplings, soups, and even liquor (桂花酒).

If it seems to remind you of uptown New Orleans, you're right. St Charles Avenue and City Park are practically forests of Sweet Olive. It's also redolent of Houston's Montrose and of the old neighborhoods in Mobile and Biloxi.

Party over the Painted Violins project at 6 pm before the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra performance on Sat, Sept 20, 7:30 pm

The Shreveport Symphony would like you to be our guest at the unveiling of our Painted Violins Project, says Leigh Anne Chambers. Join us at Riverview Hall for drinks and hors d’oeuvres before the Opening Night concert.

Free to season subscribers.$25 for non-subscribers RSVP 318.222.7496



Artist Talbot Hopkins is one of 15 violin painters.

Flat tires? No problem; bring your ratty bicycle to Great Raft Brewing, Shreveport, on Sat, Sept 20, noon to 5 pm, for a free re-hab

Tune-ups will be free if bicycle owners can get their needy 2-wheelers to Great Raft Brewing on Sat., says Stephen Pederson.

Volunteers from Shreveport Bossier Bike Social will be working alongside Ian Webb of River City Cycling to make "simple repairs, brakes, gears, cleaning (but no buff jobs), tire inflates, check ups and that sort of thing." It is, like, no charge.

A bump in social biking - on view across the US - seems to be happening in Shreveport. SBC Bike Social Critical Manners rides on the last Fri of the month have drawn a gang growing to 50 riders and beyond. With good biking weather ahead, local riders are dusting off their Schwinns, notes Pederson. "People will find help, advice and solidarity in biking at Great Raft on Sat. Please stop and say hello, even without your bike."

Addams Family creeps into Shreveport Little Theater for performances on Sept 18 - 20, 25 - 27

The SLT Addams Family musical - "They're creepy and they're kooky," - is directed by Dick King, with musical direction by Ruben Reyes and choreography by Ginger Folmer. Seva May and Rocky Maddox star.

Performances: Sept 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 2014 at 8:00 p.m., September 21, 28, 2014 at 2 p.m. will be staged at SLT, 812 Margaret Place. $25.

Author of Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Jamie Ford, speaks at Caddo Magnet HS on Th, Sept 25, 6:30 pm

Jamie Ford, author of two best selling books, will speak as Mary Jane Malone Lecture Series guest at Caddo Magnet HS, says Leslye Gilchrist. Ford is best known for his debut novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.

Seattle author Garth Stein commented, “A tender and satisfying novel set in a time and a place lost forever, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet gives us a glimpse of the damage that is caused by war--not the sweeping damage of the battlefield, but the cold, cruel damage to the hearts and humanity of individual people. Especially relevant in today's world, this is a beautifully written book that will make you think. And, more importantly, it will make you feel.”

Ford's talk at 6:30 in the Caddo Magnet HS Performing Arts Center on Thurs, Sept 25, is free; the public is cordially invited. Ford will sign books afterwards.

318 221 2501.

Tech, sci, math, engineering and art: DigiFest South, Shreveport-Bossier, Sept 16 - 18; electrical @ several locations

DigiFest South, an arts and technology fest held annually in Shreveport-Bossier, will present a three-day schedule of events during the third annual DigiFest South, Sept. 16-18, at various locations throughout Shreveport-Bossier.

To show students the lucrative career opportunities available to those who have creative education with a strong technology emphasis; to demonstrate the significant economic and cultural impact of the digital media industry in today’s society; and to emphasize the value of the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) education model; that's the DigiFest goal.

Shreveport-born composer James Eakin speaks at Centenary College Fri, Sept 19, 4 pm, before SSO performs his piece on Sat, Sept 20, 7:30 pm

Centenary alumnus and professional composer James Eakin (2000) will be on campus Fri, Sept 19, at 4 pm in the Anderson Auditorium of the Hurley School of Music, says David Henington. James will be speaking with music students and guests about his career and creative process. The program is free and open to the public.

James is in Shreveport for the world premiere of his orchestral piece "Cloud Scrapers", which will be performed Sat, Sept 20, by the Shreveport Symphony. Check on the concert and the great program notes at shreveportsymphony.com.

James was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. From an early age, he was drawn to his native blues and jazz as well as classical and Film music, playing everything he heard by ear on the piano, as well as his own compositional musings. His inspiration to become a film/tv composer actually stemmed from his fascination with music in animation. James reflects,”The way the music accentuated various actions and moods while staying perfectly in sync intrigued me. It was truly a supporting character.” During these early years, James taught himself piano, guitar, saxophone, clarinet, and flute, all the while singing at every opportunity.

It wasn’t until years later that James began formal music studies. He earned a Bachelor of Music from Centenary College (2000), a Master of Music from Southern Methodist University (2003), and in 2007, received a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Music Composition at the Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Highly recommended: Mothers whose children are taken away in video installation at Meadows Museum, Centenary College, Shreveport

"Relaying: Testimonies on Motherhood Lost" by Israeli multidisciplinary artist Mali De-Kalo, is on view at Meadows Museum from Sat, Sept 13, through Sat, Oct 25, says Lisa Nicoletti.

This video installation, curated by Nella Magen Cassouto, gives voice to Middle Eastern mothers who have lost their children due to events such as separation, divorce, religious disputes, or interpersonal conflict. Eight women, projected at life size, read the mothers’ testimonies (in English, Arabic, and Hebrew) and express pain, shame, confusion, and anger at being stripped of their motherhood through the breakdown of the family unit.

On Monday, September 15, from 7-8 p.m., De-Kalo invites the public to her "Speech Brings Speech: The Momentum of Personal Stories on Motherhood" workshop. De-Kalo will talk about the role motherhood has in her own art, and ask the public, male and female alike, to share stories about their mothers or their roles mothering others.



On Tuesday, September 16, from 2:30-3:45 p.m., De-Kalo seeks community volunteers to be filmed reading the testimonies of Middle Eastern mothers who have lost their children, to help give these women a greater voice.

On Tuesday, September 23, from 7-8 p.m., Israeli curator Nella Magen Cassouto, professionally trained in conflict resolution and experienced in facilitating community healing through joint Palestinian-Israeli exhibits, will give a gallery talk about the changing focus of art photography in Israel.

Free and open to the public Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 12 p.m.-4 p.m. For more info or to schedule field trips: 318.869.5040.

Under the influence: a night of storytellers at Marjorie Lyons Playhouse, Centenary College, Shreveport, begins at 7:30 pm on Sat, Sept 13

The third installment of All Y’all Live, “Under the Influence,” will be held at 7:30 pm, Sat, Sept. 13, at Marjorie Lyons Playhouse on the Campus of Centenary College of Louisiana, says Chris Jay.

100% of proceeds from this special, fundraiser edition of All Y’all Live will be donated to the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction of Northwest Louisiana.

Admission is $10.86 (with tax) and tickets will be available at the door. The evening will feature true stories about control lost and regained, powerful medicine, journeys into (and out of) desperate places and the might of love. "The evening will also include a surprise musical guest," says Jay. "Let’s just say this: You are going to want to be seated at 7:30 p.m."

“Under the Influence” is made possible in part by Centenary College of Louisiana and the staff of Marjorie Lyons Playhouse. Some stories will contain adult language and references. The program is expected to run 2 hours and will include an intermission and snacks.

Lithographs - fun with the Beatles - by Doyle Jeter opening Sat, Sept 13, 5:30 pm, at Meadows Museum of Art, Shreveport

Lithographs - fun with the Beatles - by Doyle Jeter, once proprietor of Enoch's, Shreveport. Exhibit at Meadows Museum of Art.

Northern and Central Louisiana Interfaith to hold Candidate Accountability Meeting

An Accountability Meeting is different from a forum. Candidates are asked to make specific commitments to work on social justice issues.

Issues

Workforce Development - Interfaith is working on developing an employer-driven workforce intermediary similar to New Opportunities Vision Achievement (NOVA) in Monroe. NOVA has an 81% success rate and has placed participants in jobs making an average of $12.45 an hour with a career path and benefits. At a recent luncheon hosted by Interfaith, employers expressed interest in trying to get a similar program in Shreveport. They talked of their difficulty in finding skilled labor to fill job openings.

Public Schools— Interfaith leaders want to work with school board members and our

congregations to support and improve public schools. A number of the schools classified as “failing” are in the neighborhoods of our congregations.

Payday Lending — Interfaith leaders seek local regulation of the payday loan industry, to accomplish what the legislature could not, despite the overwhelming majority of opinion and other issues on Interfaith’s agenda as they arise from our congregations.

Special Guest: Bishop Michael Duca of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport

Free and open to the public. Please encourage turnout from your congregations, civic organizations and from your circle of friends.

September 18. 2014- 7pm

Paradise Baptist Church 1706 Hollywood Ave. Shreveport, La 71108

Please contact Susan Caldwell at dre@allsoulssuushreveport or 318-465-3427

or Maxine Davis at maxsnp4458@comcast.net or 318.754.1372.

Bike lanes on Marshall St and Texas Ave; the Stephen Pederson proposal for expanding Shreveport's bikeability

Stephen Pederson is a recent La Tech grad around whom a growing crew of mostly young bicyclers has coalesced. His once-a-month Critical Manners rides have drawn 50 pedalers lately. Here's a provocative plan - an outgrowth of his SBC Bike Social effort - for Texas Ave and Marshall St from a fellow who is working with numerous entities across the city to expand the world of Shreveport bicycling.



We all want what is best for our city. We all have different interests and ideas that we can foresee as being a step in a positive, progressive direction. For me, the single biggest factor for my happiness when moving here, was the ability to bike to work. I am an experienced cyclist, so my idea of “bikeable” may not be the same as other folks. The absence of a dedicated bike lane will not stop me from riding. But it is important to remember that I am not the norm! In fact, I may be something like .001% of the population. The presence of a dedicated bike lane on the two main avenues into downtown Shreveport would increase ridership to a level that this city does not think is possible. I know that people will use facilities that make them feel safe and recognized. The two avenues I speak of are Texas Ave. and Marshall St. These streets are both very wide, and accommodate car parking on each side. Problem is, the lanes aren’t wide enough to allow two cars to pass a parked car at the same time.

My argument here is that these two routes are never used enough by car traffic to warrant two full lanes. But take out one of the lanes, which is rendered useless by the parking lane, and replace it with a dedicated bicycle avenue. Look at that, doesn’t that bike lane just look beautiful? I bet all my dollars, that if a recent graduate were looking into Shreveport, this would exponentially increase the odds of adding an educated citizen to our city. Not to mention, provide a safe way for existing Shreveporters to get to and from downtown. Here’s to this being the next big step (or pedal?) toward a progressive Shreveport.



About What the If, Shreveport: It is easy enough to point fingers and lay blame. In fact, it seems like this may be a favorite pastime of Shreveport. The hard part is raising questions in a way that ultimately provides for a positive end result. We all want our city to make improvements. Some people look at things and wonder why, some people look and wonder, why not? Enter, constructive criticism at its finest: What the If, Shreveport?!

Drew Hunter, aka Dr Blood, returns to Shreveport with Library Macabre at Artspace; opening party Fri, Sept 10, 5:30 pm

Library Macabre: A Vision of Literary Fright, curated and co-created by Drew Edward Hunter aka Dr. Blood, is based on Hunter’s highly theatrical, visually elaborate haunted house experience, says Pam Atchison.

Hunter, a Shreveport-born and Shreveport-raised artist and creative spirit, wrote and designed the Dr Blood show and developed the character of Dr. B to serve as a host and media “spokesghoul”. The drippingly dark shows were staged at the Louisiana State Fair from 1975-1985. They won a cult following and are now considered classic. This month the demented Dr. Blood makes his Shreveport comeback.

Working with a team of local artists, artspace transforms into a multi-faceted, three-dimensional horror exhibition based on classic and modern literary tales. The eight Northwest Louisiana artists who helped create the themed sections of the exhibitions are: Mimi Webb (Interview with the Vampire); John Gillespie (Phantom of the Opera); Jason Pliler (Case of Charles Dexter Ward); Emily Daye (Mask of the Red Death); Su Stella (Dracula); Rena Brittenham (Cask of Amontillado); Donald Webb (It); Chuck Loridans (The Picture of Dorian Gray).

Richard Salkin and Tracy Chappell composed the original music to Library Macabre.

The Opening Reception (cover charge tba) is Fri, Sept 12, at 5:30 p.m. at artspace. The exhibitions run from September 12 through October 31, 2014 in Mainspace and Coolspace.

Stradivarius, Kamio, Eakin, Albert and Butterman: the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra performs Sat, Sept 20, 7:30 pm, Riverview Hall

Mayuko Kamio, Japanese-born violinist, will perform on a 1727 Stradivarius with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra on Sat, Sept 20, 7:30 pm, at RiverView Theater, says Lois Robinson. Michael Butterman will conduct.

Also on the agenda: a world premiere of "Cloud Scraper," written by Shreveport-born composer James Eakin.

Catch the SSO’s newly appointed Concertmaster Matt Albert playing the solo in Rimsky-Korsakov’s epic symphonic poem, Scheherazade.

Executive Director of the ACLU of Louisiana to speak at Shreveport Rotary Club

Join Red River Rotary on Wednesday, September 10th for a presentation by the Executive Director of the ACLU of Louisiana Marjorie R. Esman.

ABOUT MARJORIE

Marjorie R. Esman has been Executive Director of the ACLU of Louisiana since September 2007, after twenty years in the private practice of law. Her law practice focused on copyright and trademark issues, as well as First Amendment litigation concerning the freedom of speech and religion.

Since taking the helm of the ACLU, she has increased the full-time staff from four to six, expanded its lobbying presence in Baton Rouge, and added part-time field staff in Shreveport and Baton Rouge.

In addition to her law degree (Tulane 1987), Esman holds an undergraduate degree from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Tulane University (1981) and has taught at Tulane, LSU, and the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette).

She serves on the board of Parkway Partners, a New Orleans organization dedicated to restoring and preserving the green spaces in the city of New Orleans.

Red River Rotary

719 Common St, Shreveport, Louisiana 71101

12:00pm to 1:00pm

For more information please contact Deborah Allen 

The North Louisiana Civil Rights Coalition Civil Rights Awards, Sept 16, 7 pm, at Avenue Baptist Church, 901 70th St, Shreveport

The North Louisiana Civil Rights Coalition will be celebrating the 51/50 Celebration of Civil Rights in Shreveport / Signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Bill.

There will also be the inauguration of the first Annual Civil Rights awards in the names of Harry Blake, Dr. L. C. Pendleton, and Dr. C. O. Simpkins.

The North Louisiana Civil Rights Coalition 

September 16th at 7:00 p.m.

Avenue Baptist Church-

901 W. 70th. St.-Shreveport Louisiana.

For more information please contact

Pastor Calvin Austin - (318) 228-9799.

Esoteric and encrusted tomes as well as jivey and lively books at Centenary Book Bazaar, Geodesic Gold Dome, Fri, Sept 5, 4 pm and Sat, Sept 6, 9 am, Shreveport

The 28th annual Centenary Book Bazaar will be held Fri, Sept 5, from 4 to 9 p.m., and Sat, Sept 6, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Gold Dome. The Book Bazaar is organized and sponsored by the Muses, a philanthropic group dedicated to funding projects and programs for Centenary students.

A word: "Patrons should bring bags or boxes to carry out their books. Carryout assistance is available. Cash or check, please. On Saturday, all items become half-price after 12:30 p.m."

For a full listing of details - the sale offers much more than books - visit centenary.edu/news/2014/.

More info: the Book House at 318-219-3409.

To be Takei, the Foxy Merkins, Appropriate Behavior, Camp Beaverton: Meet the Beavers and more at the 6th Annual N LA Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Shreveport

"Matt Shepard is a friend of Mine" plus the award-winning romantic comedy “The Ten Year Plan” will both be followed by a Q & A sessions, says the 6th Annual N LA Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Shreveport.

Other films screening during the week-long festival beginning Fri, Sept 5 at 1 pm, are The Circle, Open Up to Me, To Be Takei, Camp Beaverton: Meet the Beavers, Campaign of Hate: Russia and Gay Propaganda, The Dog, The Foxy Merkins, Appropriate Behavior, and an evening of short films on Wed, Sept 10, starting at 7:15 pm.

See the going-downtown movie notes at RobonsonFilmCenter.org. More on the NLGLFF.

Digifest South 2014 art competition deadline Tues, Sept 3, Bossier Arts Council

Categories announced for the Digifest South Art Competition, to be held Sept 17-18 at the Century Link Center:


- photo
- art film
- architectural/drafting item
- animation
- interactive/website/app
- graphics
- innovative
- student work

All applications & entry fees ($15 each, ax 2) must be received by Tues, Sept 3, @ 5:00PM to Bossier Arts Council, or via email at bossierarts@bossierarts.org with the subject line: Digifest South Art App, says Robin Jones.

Photos.