South Highlands family-friendly Block Party on lawn at First Baptist on Sun, Sept 27, 5 to 7 pm

"Come to the Block Party in South Highlands," says Katie Mussat. "First Baptist is hosting another Soak Up South Highlands event on Sun, Sept 27, 5-7pm, on the front lawn of First Baptist Church Shreveport.

Live music. Inflatables. 100 ft. Slip n' Slide and food trucks: Ki' Mexico, Fleur De Creme Gourmet Ice Creams, Rib Tip Express, & Lucky's Po-Boys."

Not a bad day to bicycle or pedestriate down the street to Highland Jazz & Blues Fest, Columbia Park, Shreveport, noon to 5 pm; bike valet service at the ready

"Sat, Sept 19th," says Ian Webb of River City Cycling, "we will be providing secure bike parking for anyone attending the Highland Jazz and Blues Festival from noon-5 PM at Columbia Park.

We had a great time last year and this year will be even better with great weather, live music, beer, food and art. Don't miss it! This free festival is the best thing going on in Shreveport! Ride your bike and we'll keep it safe for you while you enjoy the festival!"

North Louisiana Gay & Lesbian Film Fest Sept 18 - 24, Robinson Film Center, Shreveport.

See more at RFC.

Phenomenal pianist Gabriela Montero performs with Shreveport Symphony Orchestra on Sat, Sept 19, 7:30 pm

Gabriela Montero performs with Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, RiverView Theater, Michael Butterman, conductor.

KABALEVSKY The Comedians Suite
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 9
RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 2

Tickets

Something electric for everyone at Digifest South, Shreveport and Bossier City, Sept 11 - 18

Imagine teens from Shreveport and Bossier and Shongaloo gathering around young tech company staffers who have a game to explain and sell. The excitement and sparks between these groups is marvelous to watch. And that happens over and over again at the Bossier Civic Center during Digifest South, Sept 16 and 17.

"Participants include top-notch companies in the fields of art and technology putting on a floor show of their latest innovations," says Bossier Arts Council's Robin Jones. "Those seeking education opportunities in the arts and technology will have a chance to visit with educational institutes offering digital media training. The exhibits will feature interactive activities so young and old will have the opportunity to experience all the arts and technology field has to offer." And there is no charge.

Like ArtBreak from Shreveport Regional Arts Council, Digifest South has been created to electrify the youth and create a rich future.

There's no shortage of ways to enjoy Digifest South, no matter your age. There's Video Game Jam, involving programmers, artists, musicians and designers. There's DigiTalks and DigiPanels. In fact, this writer will be moderator on a DigiPanel on Fri, Sept 18, at 610 Commerce St, Shreveport (318) 455-2001. The 11 am panel is about the business of teaching art so that it integrates with a broad curriculum.

Papa Mali headlines Highland Jazz & Blues Fest in Columbia Park, Shreveport, on Sat, Sept 19, noon to 5 pm

Thumping music, a dancing crowd, cold brews and hot, hand made food: that's the reunion known as the Highland Jazz and Blues Fest.

If you have not considered volunteering for a shift or two, I am here to remind you that volunteer hours are golden. It is a high of its own sensual dimension. Kelly Rich says, "Want to help the festival And get a free t-shirt? HJBF needs more volunteers on Saturday! We need help in these areas:

Trash pick up- 1-2pm, 3-4pm, 5-6pm (only one hour shift!) Runners- 11:30-2:30, 2:30-5:30 pm Drink Ticket Sales- 11:30-2:30pm, 2:30-5:30 Coke booth- 2:30-5:30."

And if you think about the parking and what it does to the neighborhood, you will be happy to be reminded that "iShuttle will be providing a continuous Free Shuttle Service from Mall St. Vincent from 11:30 am – 6 pm. Take advantage of the sweet ride and help us alleviate traffic issues in Highland!"

Haiti to Carnival to Nick Cave: see sequined Vodou Flags at Meadows Museum, Centenary College, Shreveport, to connect cultures

Meadows Museum’s new exhibition, Sacred Symbols in Sequins, offers insights to the beauty and sanctity of Haitian Vodou, says Lisa Nicoletti. A large gallery is filled with early to mid-20th century Haitian Vodou flags (drapo Vodou).

It is not difficult to trace the expressive lineage from Haiti to New Orleans Carnival. Vodou flags are also one of the roots of the beaded blankets being created in Shreveport in preparation for the Nick Cave performance in March.

Three rarely exhibited flags from the Meadows collection of Haitian art were donated by Dr. and Mrs. Henry K. Miller of Baton Rouge. The Millers collected art directly from Haitian artists during more than forty years of service trips to Hospital Albert Schweitzer in Deschapelles, Haiti, where Dr. Miller volunteered annually.

On October 2 at 6 pm, Dr. Andia Augustin-Billy, Assistant Professor of French, will present "Haiti: Myths and Truths," drawing upon her experience growing up and teaching there.

Meadows Museum of Art is at 2911 Centenary Boulevard. It is free and open to the public Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 am -6 pm and Saturdays from 12-4 pm. For more information or to schedule fieldtrips, call the Museum at 318.869.5040.



Examining the Baron Samedi: Chelsea Perry.

River City Rep opens season with Rosemary Prinz in The Waverly Gallery, performances Sept 9 - 13 at East Bank Theatre, Bossier City

Box Office is open for River City Rep's production of Kenneth Lonergan's The Waverly Gallery, starring television and stage veteran Rosemary Prinz, says Patric McWilliams. The play is an award-winning, witty perspective o Alzheimers.

"Celebrate the kickoff to our Tenth Anniversary season opening night and enjoy wine, food and meet the actors after the performance," says McWilliams.

Performances at East Bank Theatre on Sept 9-10-11-12-13.

Reservations call 318-868-5888
Online tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com

Polysyllabic Kevin Barnes, director-singer-guitarist-author behind Of Montreal, performs at Bears Fairfield Shreveport on Thurs, Sept 3

Kevin Barnes has yet to win a MacArthur Genius fellowship but I would imagine that he's been short-listed many times. He is a pop musician but is also a poet ("Empyrean abbatoir")of wrenchingly clear voice. Writing melodies and harmonies that bring to mind the Beatles, he likes playing in lysergic-drenched meadows. He is a cousin to Prince when he wants to see the audience dance.

One of my favorite Barnes works is "Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?" (2007). I also kneel at the altar of "Lousy With Sylvianbriar" (2013). That one was about his break-up with his wife of some years. But he's prolific and there is truly much, much more music to dig.

With his protean voice, love of tight harmonies and flair for costumes and makeup, Barnes is devastatingly cool. He is hideously aware of the vicissitudes of struggle. And how to laugh the sh*t off.

The latest from show producer Chase Boytim is that Of Montreal is bringing a confetti machine and psychoactive light show. And that chef Gordon Nurse will be serving gumbo under the tree, backa the house. And that the openers go on at 9 pm and of Montreal at 10 pm.

Tickets to the Thurs, Sept 3, show at Bears Fairfield. Surface to Air Missive opens.

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.

Bikeshreveport.com Critical mass bike ride Fri, July 31, 6:30 pm; get smart biking instruction at 6 pm

The Bikeshreveport.com July Critical Mass ride - last Fri of each month - begins about 7 pm, although the starting time says 6:30 pm. "This month's ride will take us through Broadmoor and end at the family-friendly Marilynn's Place, " says Arms Brown. The start point is Columbia Park at Creswell Ave.

This month if you show up at 6PM you can learn from some masterful and caring riders about how to be better at biking.

Stephen Pederson will demonstrate braking effectively and safely.
Long-distance rider John Fontaine will instruct on negotiating bumps and obstacles.
Bike tech Daniel Martin will show riders how to be smart when starting and stopping.

Climbossier, 3700 Old Shed Rd, Bossier, site of Rainforest Art Foundation, Norla benefit on Mon, Aug 3, 5:30 to 7:30 pm

The “Climb for the Museum and Norla” night hosted by Norla Preservation Project, FUNdamentals Society of Marlene Yu Museum and Rainforest Art Foundation, and Climbossier at Pro27 Athletics will take place Mon, Aug. 3, from 5:30-7:30 pm. Climbossier is located at 3700 Old Shed Rd., Bossier City, LA 71111, says Iris MacLean.

The Shreveport-Bossier community is invited to help the Yu Museum and Norla with this free but suggested $10 donation community event. All attendees will have a chance to win swag bags filled with local goodies when they sign up for the email list. Prepared Nutrition and Fleur de Crème will provide complimentary infused water, healthy snacks, and ice cream samples.

Multiple activities will be available for different ages and skill levels, including novice and experienced climb routes, and bouldering for small children.

Paintings by Karen LaBeau, Lynn Laird at Norsworthy Gallery, 214 Texas St, Shreveport; opening party Sat, Aug 1, 3 pm to 5 pm

Self-taught painters Karen T. La Beau and Lynn Laird, both well-recognized in Northwest Louisiana, exhibit paintings side by side at Norsworthy Gallery in August.

La Beau lives in Highland, Shreveport, but was born and raised in New Orleans. Her acrylic paintings have won steady recognition. This year her art will appear in exhibits in New Orleans and Lafayette as well as Shreveport - at Norsworthy Gallery, Texas St. Her studio is on the Highland Open Studio Tours on first Sundays, 11 am to 4 pm.

Lynn Laird claims the rich culture from the Mississippi delta to the Louisiana bayous in describing influences in her art. "Tending towards realism, often with a surreal twist, her artwork has been noted for its sense of detail earning her several awards. Bringing that skill into the traditional art of scrimshaw, an eye for fine detail and talent for delicate line work has garnered her much success among national and international collectors," says the Laird web site.

The opening is Sat, Aug 1, 2015, from 3-5 pm. See the paintings from Aug 1 - Aug 29.

Norsworthy Gallery, 214 Texas St, Shreveport, Louisiana 71101

Beatles tribute by Airheart at Central Artstation on Tues, July 28, 6 pm, all ages and costuming welcome

Acoustic trio Airheart will perform an all-Beatles music tribute at Central Artstation on Tues at 6 pm, says Dan Garner. Costuming evocative of that golden era will be welcome and honored.

The Fresh Aire series features local music on the last Tuesday of each month, presented in a smoke-free, café-style atmosphere, where children are welcome.

Cash bar. A food truck. Free “healthy” chocolate chip cookies for early arrivals.

$10 at the door. 5 and under admitted free. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Graphics by Dan Garner, one of Shreveport's media masters.

SRAC Roster Artists meeting Mon, July 27, 5:30, at Central Artstation

Nick Cave, visual and performance artist, is the topic at the Shreveport Regional Arts Council's Roster Artists meeting at Central Artstation. The meet will be at 5:30 pm on Mon, July 27.

Residency artists chosen by Nick Cave are Jerry Davenport, Karen Lebeau, Robert Trudeau and Kathryn Usher.

Review: Chicago's on fire at Shreveport Little Theater; performances of musical continue through Sun, Aug 2

Linnea Fayard Allen looked like she'd dropped in from Las Vegas to do the musical Chicago on Thurs night at Shreveport Little Theater. Her dancing, singing, smile, eyes, figure and vibe were top tier. Happily, Jennifer Warren, her foil, proved a gifted, appealing and watchable dancer, comic and hip-shaking broad. The balance between the leggy beauties was satisfying.

Enter John Bogan as the rapid firing, freewheeling attorney. Sizzling community theater was the result.

The trio were ably supported by a seasoned and tuneful gang of criminals, including the put-upon Michael Powell and the embodiment of a bluesy mama, Barbara Holmes.

The Chicago jazz orchestra, under the direction of Adam Philley, was on time and well modulated in volume (as heard from row H). There was piano (Robert Young), percussion (Kyle Denton), banjo (Bill Allen) and a honking horn section, which included Terry Wright, Paul Tinker, Hannah Morris, Bob and Candy Maynard and Cory Knippers.

Then there were the slinkies, the leggy gals and guys who added the hot mess factor. Well-choreographed and seemingly always in the right place with the right amount of shoulders and legs in the light were Brett Kessel, Leslie Townsend, Tori Smith, E. Grace Rambo, Gabrielle McFerren, Allison-Rebekah Miller, Hannah Morris, Taylor Green, Annie Barker, Claire Marie Watson, Nancy Dennis Campbell, Lisaann Kemper, Karisca Sellers, Kelly Vaden, Shalem Johnson and Tessa Anderson. Also Tristian Moss, J. Allen, Serdalyer Darden, Jamie Johnstone, Leo Vanderkuy, Christopher White, Luke Digilormo, Cody Allums and Victor Robert.

Laura Beeman Nugent's direction was tight. No apparent cues were missed on Thurs night, when the show ran 2 hours and 20 minutes. There were no issues with mics. Articulation by the principals was exemplary. And the chorus sang with tuneful majesty.

David White's lighting design was atmospheric, as was the set by Chris Gonzales. Costume designer Peggy San Pedro impressed by variety within consistency.

Highly recommended.

See performance dates and order tickets, $25. Box office: 318-424-4439.