Best hat contest, soul food, hip shaking music at Jazz in the Park on Sat, Sept 26, 2 to 7 pm, Chris Hays Park, Mooretown, Shreveport

The 3rd annual Jazz in the Park! is set for Sat, Sept 26, from 2:00 – 7:00 pm at Chris Hays Park, located at 4363 Illinois Street, says Frederick Lewis.

2pm: Total Choice Band
3pm: Dirty Redd Jazz
4pm: Renee Caldwell and Lady Munira
5:15pm: Intuition
6:15 pm: Mark Scroggins and Blaze Band


and, about 4:30 pm, the Best Hat Contest.

Expect crispy soul food galore: sausage, beef, chicken, turkey, fried chips and dough and gallons of potables.

It is safe to say that few people from East Shreveport have ever heard of Chris Hays Park or have any familiarity with Mooretown. Having been a part of the first Jazz in the Park I can testify that it is worth the while of Shreveporters from every part of the city to make this scene. The music, food and fellowship represent Shreveport at its best.

Quick service, low prices, juiciness and spices at newly opened Ki Mexico, 3839 Gilbert, Shreveport

Ki Mexico was crowded on Sat night, opening week, but the chicken, pulled pork and shrimp tacos and rice & beans were as juicy as they are at Farmer's Market, at Great Raft Brewery and at Maker's Fair. And the spices we've come to crave quietly exploded from within the tacos.

Another happiness: Great Raft beer on tap.

A new restaurant always has adjustment issues. The one apparent to us on Sat was about the crowd that develops at the door. Customers are not sure how to make a line. Quite a few people are not sure what to order.

But we found the staff friendly (thanks, Dustin), ready to help and quick.

Things will get smoother with each day, we are sure.

Sofia says they are taking off Sun, Aug 30, but next Sat and Sun they will cook from lunch, 11 am, through supper, 10 pm. And will be open next Sun 10 am to 5 pm.

Tues, Wed: 11 am to 9pm, Th - Sat: 11 am to 10 pm.
3839 Gilbert Dr
(318) 861-5941
(318) 564-6651

Rodrigo will soon get a bike rack, we were told. For the moment, we found the street signs along the sidewalk amenable bike anchors.

Painter Tony Reans' latest work opens Thurs, Sept 3, 5 pm to 8 pm at Norsworthy Gallery, 214 Texas St, Shreveport

With degrees in art from LSU and Northwestern State and several decades of development, Tony Reans is a collectible artist. His latest series, interlocking panels in soothing tones, has sold well. Reans will show 11 of the large, modular works at Norsworthy Gallery beginning Thurs, Sept 3. Meet the artist, he says, at the reception on Thurs, 5 pm to 8 pm at 214 Texas St.

Above is a piece called "Monica." It is 66" x 108" and is composed of rice paper and acrylic paint on birch panels.

Reans is a multi-faceted painter. Below is a piece from his pop art series. He also has produced a witty line of robot / zombie paintings. Highly recommended.

Sainte Terre chapel, Benton, site of All Y'all storytelling session on Fri, Aug 28, 7 pm

All Y’all, the most highly developed live storytelling event in Shreveport-Bossier, presents "OMG" at 7 p.m., Fri, Aug 28 in the chapel at Sainte Terre in Benton, Louisiana.

True stories, told live and without notes, in front of a live audience, is the stuff of All Y'all. Personal encounters with faith, finding and losing God, and eye-opening encounters with the incomprehensible are on the agenda for "OMG."

Storytellers for “OMG” include Stephen Price, Jeff Abney, A.J. Haynes, Harvey Clay, Bryan Sullivan and more. Musical accompaniment will be provided by Buddy Flett.
- Cash bar.
- Two hours duration, including an intermission.
- Events are recorded and released on the All Y’all podcast, iTunes and SoundCloud.

- Tickets $10 each. Purchase by visiting www.allyallblog.com.

Proceeds from this edition of All Y’all will be donated to The Renzi Education and Art Center, say storytelling producers Sara Hebert and Chris Jay.

Sainte Terre is located at 190 Nickel Lane in Benton.

Past All Y’all live storytelling events have sold out. Recommended for mature audiences.

Miss Grace Potter of the legs and pipes rocks her skirt off on "Midnight"

Pardon me for listening to the new Grace Potter album, "Midnight", over and over, at high volume. It is a guitarry flourish, a buttery bagatelle. Not my usual jazzy, smoky, experimental pleasure.

"Midnight" is rock trash. But of the better sort. A guilty pleasure for me.