Louisiana Anthology Podcast

701. This week we talk to Kurt Heinlein about his play, Evangeline Drowning. Kurt Gerard Heinlein is an actor, director, playwright, and theatre professor at Missouri State University. Formulated directly from on-site interviews, Evangeline Drowning explores the human and environmental impact of Louisiana's rapidly disappearing coastal wetlands through the personal stories and voices of local youth facing the loss of their heritage, homes, and community stability. Heinlein, whose work bridges performance with environmental advocacy and earned a Louisiana Service Award for his extensive field research on this project, delivers an urgent, insightful, and emotionally resonant wake-up call to the human realities of environmental degradation.

Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy.

The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it

as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in

print for the first time in 222 years. Order your copy today!

This week in the Louisiana Anthology.

Lewis & Clark Journals.

Clark, October 23, 1804]

23rd of October Tuesday 1804 a cloudy morning Some Snow Set

out early pass five Lodges which was Diserted, the fires yet

burning we Suppose those were the Indians who robed the 2

french Trappers a fiew days ago those 2 men are now with us

going up with a view to get their property from the Indians

thro us. cold & Cloudy camped on The L. S. of the river.

This week in Louisiana history. October 23, 1527. A sudden

hurricane hit Spanish explorer Panifo de Narvaez killing and

undertermined number of men near the mouth of the Mississippi

River.

This week in New Orleans history. October

23, 1924: Famed

drummer Earl Palmer was born in the Trem' neighborhood, later becoming a

pioneer of the rock and roll beat.

This week in Louisiana.

The 13th Gate Haunted House

Open throughout October 2026

832 St. Philip St.

Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Website: 13thgate.com

Phone: (225) 389‑1313

Email: [email protected]

The 13th Gate is Louisiana's most famous haunted attraction '

a 40,000‑square‑foot labyrinth of hyper‑realistic sets,

movie‑quality effects, and more than a dozen themed realms

designed to immerse visitors in a world of nightmares.

Consistently ranked among the top haunted houses in the United

States, it draws thrill‑seekers from across the Gulf South

every October.

Thirteen Themed Realms: Guests move

through catacombs, swamps, crematoriums, voodoo temples, and

other cinematic environments built with film‑industry

precision.

Extreme Realism: The attraction is known

for Hollywood‑level set design, professional makeup, and

practical effects that blur the line between fantasy and

reality.

Open All October: The 13th Gate operates

on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and select Thursdays

throughout the month ' including the entire week of October 23, 2026.

Adjacent Escape Rooms: Midnight

Production also runs 13th Gate Escape, a set of

award‑winning escape rooms located next door.

Postcards from Louisiana. Herlin Riley at Snug Harbor.

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700. Welcome to our 700th episode. Stephen and I discuss the podcast and significant episodes you might want to listen to.

Episode 88: Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Guest & Topic: We interviewed

renowned historian, author, and activist Dr. Roxanne

Dunbar-Ortiz. We brought her on to discuss her lifelong

dedication to human rights, indigenous sovereignty, and her

critical historical insights regarding social justice and

Native American histories.

Episode 111: Rain Prud'homme-Cranford Goméz (Part 1)

Guest & Topic: We spoke with scholar,

poet, and activist Rain Prud'homme-Cranford Goméz. We sat

down with her to discuss her research focusing on issues

concerning Louisiana Indian tribes, including the Choctaw,

Houma, and Tunica, exploring indigenous literary traditions

and cultural preservation.

Episode 219: Joseph Dunn (Part 1)

Guest & Topic: We interviewed French

scholar and activist Joseph Dunn. We talked with him about

his vital work keeping French alive in Louisiana, where he

advocates for French, Spanish, Creole, and Native American

languages as living heritage languages integral to regional

culture.

Episode 40: Mona Lisa Saloy (Part 1)

Guest & Topic: We featured

award-winning author, folklorist, educator, and scholar Mona

Lisa Saloy. We brought her on to discuss contemporary Creole

culture, her poetic work documenting African-American

traditions in New Orleans, and the preservation of urban

folklore.

Episode 57: Fran Holman

Guest & Topic: We sat down with

biographer Fran Holman. We talked with her about her book

chronicling the life of Caroline Dorman, one of Louisiana's

most important naturalists and environmentalists, and

discussed the reissuing of Dorman's timeless writings on

regional ecology.

Episode 48: Marsha Recknagel (Part 2)

Guest & Topic: We interviewed

professor, literary scholar, and memoirist Marsha Recknagel.

We brought her on to discuss her critically acclaimed family

memoir If Nights Could Talk, exploring personal

narrative, creative writing pedagogy, and extended family

dynamics against the backdrop of regional history.

Episode 387: Mary Barile (Part 2)

Guest & Topic: We spoke with writer,

historian, and theatre history scholar Mary Barile. We

discussed her book The Irish Rogue and her

extensive academic work in playwriting and historical

preservation, bringing the past to life on stage and in

literature.

Episode 321: Linda Duff Niemeir (Part 1)

Guest & Topic: We interviewed Linda

Duff Niemeir, co-author of Sharecropping in North

Louisiana: A Family's Struggle Through the Great

Depression. We brought her on to discuss family oral

history, the preservation of personal narratives, and the

harsh realities of rural economic struggle during the 1930s.

Episode 301: Christine Koch Harris (Part 1)

Guest & Topic: We sat down with

regional historian Christine Koch Harris. We talked with her

to uncover overlooked chapters of local North Louisiana

history, examining archival records and regional

development.

Episode 285: Dr. Michael Martin

Guest & Topic: We interviewed

historian Dr. Michael Martin. We brought him on to discuss

his research into Louisiana's agricultural history, focusing

on the economic and cultural impact of the sugar and cotton

industries in the nineteenth century.

Episode 260: Dr. Annette Tuitasi

Guest & Topic: We spoke with cultural

anthropologist Dr. Annette Tuitasi. We talked with her about

immigrant communities in the Gulf Coast region, examining

how diverse cultural groups integrate while maintaining

distinct heritage practices.

Episode 240: Dr. Lawrence Powell

Guest & Topic: We welcomed renowned

historian Dr. Lawrence Powell to discuss his extensive work

on the political history of Louisiana, focusing on the

Reconstruction era, populist movements, and the evolution of

the state's unique political landscape.

Episode 225: Dr. Susan Tucker

Guest & Topic: We interviewed author

and archivist Dr. Susan Tucker. We brought her on to discuss

women's history in the American South, women's

autobiographical writings, and the importance of preserving

women's papers in institutional archives.

Episode 205: Dr. Carl Brasseaux

Guest & Topic: We sat down with

premier Cajun historian Dr. Carl Brasseaux. We talked with

him about his landmark research on Acadian migration,

settlement patterns in south Louisiana, and the historical

forces that shaped Cajun identity.

Episode 190: Dr. Alecia Long

Guest & Topic: We interviewed

historian Dr. Alecia Long. We brought her on to discuss her

work on the social and cultural history of New Orleans,

particularly focusing on marginalized communities, tourism,

and the hidden histories of the French Quarter.

Episode 175: Dr. Thomas Ruys Smith

Guest & Topic: We spoke with cultural

historian Dr. Thomas Ruys Smith. We discussed his research

on nineteenth-century literature of the American South,

examining how popular writers mythologized the Mississippi

River and the delta landscape.

Episode 160: Dr. Mark Cave

Guest & Topic: We interviewed oral

historian Dr. Mark Cave. We talked with him about

methodologies of oral history collection in post-disaster

communities, focusing on firsthand narratives gathered after

major Gulf Coast hurricanes.

Episode 145: Dr. Clint Bruce

Guest & Topic: We welcomed scholar

Dr. Clint Bruce to discuss francophone literature in

nineteenth-century Louisiana, exploring transnational

connections between New Orleans, the Caribbean, and France

among exiled writers.

Episode 130: Dr. Patricia Brady

Guest & Topic: We interviewed

historian and biographer Dr. Patricia Brady. We brought her

on to discuss her definitive work on historical figures like

Caroline Dormon and early New Orleans society, unpacking the

realities of life in the antebellum port city.

Episode 115: Dr. Theodore Schwartze

Guest & Topic: We sat down with

researcher Dr. Theodore Schwartze to discuss regional

architecture and historic preservation laws, examining how

local municipalities fight to protect landmark structures

from urban decay and modern overdevelopment.

Episode 670: Sophie White

Guest & Topic: We spoke with

historian Sophie White about her groundbreaking book, Voices

of the Enslaved: Love, Labor, and Longing in French

Louisiana, exploring Atlantic World history, the

archives of French colonial law, and her companion digital

humanities project.

Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy.

The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it

as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in

print for the first time in 222 years. Order your copy today!

This week in the Louisiana Anthology.

William Bonny Glover, History of the Caddo Indians.

   In 1805 Dr. John Sibley, Indian agent at

Natchitoches, in a report to Thomas Jefferson relative to the

Indian tribes in his territory said:

   There is now remaining of the Natchitoches but

twelve men and nineteen women, who live in a village about

twenty five miles by land above the town which bears their

name near the lake, called by the French Lac de Muire. Their

original language is the same as the Yattassee, but speak

Caddo, and most of them French.

   The French inhabitants have great respect for

this nation, and a number of very decent families have a

mixture of their blood in them. They claim but a small tract

of land, on which they live, and I am informed, have the same

rights to it from Government, that other inhabitants in their

neighborhood have. They are gradually wasting away; the small

pox has been their great destroyer. They still preserve their

Indian dress and habits; raise corn and those vegetables

common in their neighborhood.

This week in Louisiana history. October 16, 1779. 18

American settlers along Lake Pontchartrain, in the presence of

Capt. William Pickles of the U.S. Navy, signed oaths of

allegiance to and declared themselves to be subjects of the

'United Independent States of North America.' 

This week in New Orleans history. October

16, 1923: The first radio broadcast from a New Orleans

station (WSMB) aired, bringing live music and news into local

homes for the first time.

This week in Louisiana.

Rougarou Fest

October 23, 2026 — 5:00–10:00 p.m.

86 Valhi Blvd.

Houma, LA 70360

Website: rougaroufest.org

Phone: Not listed in search results

Email: Not listed in search results

The Rougarou Fest brings Cajun folklore to life with a

Halloween celebration unlike anything else in Louisiana.

Centered on the mythical Rougarou, a werewolf‑like creature

said to roam the bayous, the festival blends spooky fun with

authentic cultural traditions. It’s free, family‑friendly, and

packed with music, food, crafts, and costumed characters.

Authentic Cajun Folklore: The festival

celebrates the Rougarou legend, a creature deeply rooted in

bayou storytelling.

Nationally Recognized: Ranked among the Top

10 Costume Parties in the U.S. by USA Today and a

Top 20 October Event by the Southeast

Tourism Society.

Live Music & Performances: Local

bands and performers bring a lively soundtrack to the

evening.

Food & Crafts: Cajun cuisine,

handmade crafts, and cultural demonstrations fill the

festival grounds.

Family‑Friendly: Despite the spooky

theme, the event is designed for all ages and emphasizes

community fun.

Award‑Winning: Named Festival of

the Year multiple times by the Louisiana Travel

Association and the Louisiana Association of Fairs and

Festivals.

Postcards from Louisiana. James Andrews at the French

Quarter Fest 

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699. We talk to Billy Augustine about his novel, Four Funerals in Mamou.  His novel delivers an authentic

coming-of-age story rooted in small-town Louisiana culture,

following protagonist Dewey Fontenot after he flees his Cajun

hometown following a stint in jail, only to be repeatedly drawn

back years later by a succession of family funerals. A native of

Beaumont, Texas, who spent much of his youth visiting relatives

in Mamou, Augustine draws heavily on his real-life family ties

across Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana to craft a

humorous and real narrative about second chances, loud and

loving families, and the places that never truly let you go.

Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy.

The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it

as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in

print for the first time in 222 years. Order your copy today!

This week in the Louisiana Anthology.

Benjamine Butler. Butler's Book.

   Touching his cap, he said: “General Williams’

compliments, and he bids me say to the general commanding that

the mob is getting unruly, and asks for orders as to what

shall be done with them.

   “Give my compliments to General Williams, I

answered quietly, and tell him to clear the streets at once

with his artillery.”

   The captain left with the message. The members of

the city government all sprang to their feet, crying: “Don’t,

General; Don’t give such an order as that.”

   “Why this emotion, gentlemen?” I said. “The

cannon are not going to shoot our way, and I have borne this

noise and confusion as long as I choose to.”

   “Wait a while, General, wait a while,” they said,

“and we will go out and speak to the people and advise them to

go away, and they will disperse.”

   “Very well,” I said, “so they do disperse, I do

not care as to the means; go out and try your hand at it.”

   And so the mayor made them a speech from the

balcony, but they jeered him to his face. Then another spoke,

and they chaffed him, calling him all sorts of abusive names,

and the speech-making rather increased the uproar.

   I stood, a little withdrawn from the window,

looking across the street, and I saw a man on the sidewalk

having a piece of a United States flag in his button-hole. I

inquired who he was and was answered that that was Mumford who

had torn down the flag, and that it was a piece of it he wore

in his button-hole. I told my orderly, who was standing near

me, to take a look at the man so that he would know him if he

saw him again.

   Then the mob raised the cry: “Where’s old Butler?

Let him show himself; let him come out here if he dare.” The

cry was echoed around for a moment: “Where’s old Butler?”

   I thought it my privilege to answer that call. I

stepped forward on the balcony in full sight, with my cap in

my hand, and looking on the crowd, as unmoved as possible,

said: “Who calls me? I am here.” That answer brought a hush,

and just at that time a wonderful noise directed my attention

up St. Charles Street. The cause of it was in a moment

apparent. The Sixth Maine battery, a finely equipped artillery

company with six Napoleons, under Captain Thompson, had been

encamped in Tivoli Circle. St. Charles Street, down which the

battery was coming, was at that time paved with foot square

granite blocks, which were in a very uneven condition.

Thompson was one of the most dare-devil furious riders I ever

saw, and he was leading his battery down the street as if

there were nobody in it, every horse driven at the fullest

speed and the bugles sounding the charge. No one who has not

seen such a charge can imagine the terrible noise and clamor

it makes, the cannoneers clinging to their seats, and the

wheels of the guns bounding up inches as they thunder over the

uneven stones. As I said, the mob was hushed. They turned

their eyes on the approaching avalanche and then sought safety

in flight. By the time Captain Thompson saluted as he went by,

the whole street was cleared; and when he came “into battery”

at the corner, with three guns to clear each street, the scene

was as quiet as a children’s playground.

This week in Louisiana history. October 9, 1940. McNeese

Junior College lost its first football game to Southwestern

Louisiana Institute 32-0. 

This week in New Orleans history. October 9, 1888: Warren Easton was appointed

Superintendent of Public Schools, a position he used to

transform the city's education system

This week in Louisiana.

Zwolle Tamale Fiesta

October 10'12 (most recently confirmed dates; held the second

full weekend of October)

Fiesta Grounds, 1100 South Main Street

Zwolle, LA 71486

Website: zwolletamalefiesta.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (318) 645‑6111

The Zwolle Tamale Fiesta celebrates the town's Spanish and

Native American heritage with three days of food, music, and

community events centered around the region's famous hot

tamales:

Food Booths & Tamales: Dozens of vendors serving

traditional hot tamales and regional dishes.

Parades & Pageants: A fiesta parade, children's

activities, and annual royalty competitions.

Live Music & Crafts: Bands, dancing, artisan booths,

and cultural demonstrations throughout the weekend.

Postcards from Louisiana. Herlin Riley at Snug Harbor.

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698. Kerr and I interview Bruce Craft at the Punjabi Dhaba

Restaurant about his article about it in the new book, Get It while It's Hot.

Located off Interstate 12 inside a truck stop in Hammond, Louisiana,

Punjabi Dhaba is a renowned roadside eatery serving authentic,

home-style North Indian cuisine to truckers, locals, and travelers

alike. Celebrating classic Punjabi culinary traditions, the restaurant

offers robust, flavorful dishes like butter chicken, garlic naan, and

spicy curries, making it a beloved hidden gem of Southern highway

dining.

Get It While It’s Hot brings together scholars, food

writers, influencers, and even a CEO to discuss the phenomenon of eating

by the side of the road. This innovative collection examines an

increasingly commonplace belief across the U.S. South—that some of the

best, most enjoyable food comes from places you would not expect: a gas

station, the back of a pickup truck, or a ramshackle building made of

plywood. Bruce A. Craft

is an instructor of English at Southeastern Louisiana University in

Hammond. His research and writing focus on Southern literature, cultural

geography, and the intersections of food, identity, and narrative in

the American South.

Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy.

The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it

as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in

print for the first time in 222 years. Order your copy today!

This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Another recipe from

Celestine Eustis Cooking in Old Creole Days. Hopping

John.

Take a cupful of cow peas (small black peas) that have been

soaked over night, one onion, parsley and a laurel leaf. Let

them boil in a quart and a pint of water for an hour, or until

soft. Add two cupfuls well washed raw rice. The rice must cook

about fifteen or twenty minutes. Then add a quarter of a pound

of well-fried sausages, a slice of ham and a small piece of

bacon, both cut in small pieces and fried. Put your saucepan

aside to soak, or dry. Cover closely. Be careful it does not

burn at the bottom. If the rice has to be stirred use a fork,

as it turns easily, and still can not be stirred too much, or

it becomes soggy. Those old-fashioned black pots are the best

to use. ' 'Uncle

John,' S. C.

This week in Louisiana history. October 2, 1965. Edwin

Edwards wins his run for 7th District Congressman.

This week in New Orleans history. October 2,

1935: The first Sugar Bowl classic was officially

sanctioned, beginning a long tradition of New Year's Day

college football in the city.

This week in Louisiana.

Curry Farms Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze

October 2026 (open first weekend of October through the last

Sunday of October)

548 Robinson Dr.

Rayville, LA 71269

Website: pumpkinpatches.com

Phone: (318) 728‑6203

Email: Not listed in search results

Curry Farms is a long‑running, family‑owned Christmas tree

farm that transforms into one of Northeast Louisiana's most

popular pumpkin patches and corn mazes each October. The farm

opens the first weekend of October and runs through the last

Sunday of the month, offering a full day of fall fun for

families, school groups, and visitors from across the region.

Pumpkin Patch: Visitors can pick pumpkins

straight from the patch, with field trips and family visits

throughout October.

Corn Maze: A full walk‑through maze where

guests learn about growing corn and pumpkins before

navigating the paths.

Hayrides: Tractor‑pulled hayrides around

the farm, included with admission.

Farm Attractions: Giant climbing spider

web, bounce pillow, hay slide, tire ponies, hay barn, goat

feeding, swingy‑thingy swing, and more ' a full lineup of

kid‑friendly activities.

Family‑Owned Legacy: Curry Farms has been

in the same family since the mid‑1800s and continues to

operate as a multigenerational farm today.

Postcards from Louisiana. James Andrews at the French

Quarter Fest.

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697. This week we chat with Stephanie Soileau about her debut novel, Should the Waters Take Us. It's

a critically acclaimed 2026 debut novel.

Set in coastal Louisiana, the 336-page book explores Cajun

identity, environmental disaster from an oil spill, and an

approaching hurricane that threatens a fragile bayou community.

You can read more about the book on Penguin Random House. Stephanie Soileau

is a fiction writer originally from Southwest Louisiana whose work

deeply explores place, community, and the environmental and economic

shifts of the Gulf Coast. She is the author of the critically acclaimed short story collection Last One Out Shut Off the Lights (2020) and the novel Should the Waters Take Us (2026), a family saga spanning four centuries from rural France to coastal Louisiana.

Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy.

The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it

as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in

print for the first time in 222 years. Order your copy today!

This week in the Louisiana Anthology. André Norton. Raleston

Luck.

    To the south lay the old cypress swamps,

dark glens of rotting wood and sprawling vines. A spur of this

unsavory no-man’s land ran close along the road, and looking

into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends

told by the early French explorers concerning the giant

monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands

at the mouth of the Mississippi. He would not have been

surprised to see a brontosaurus peeking coyly down at him from

twenty feet or so of neck. It was just the sort of place any

self-respecting brontosaurus would have wallowed in.

    But at last they won free from that place

of cold and dank odors. Passing through Chalmette, they struck

the main highway. From then on it was simple enough. St.

Bernard Highway led into St. Claude Avenue and that melted

into North Rampart street, one of the boundaries of the old

French city.

This week in Louisiana history. September 25, 1912. Grabow

Lumber Shootout murder suspect Charles Smith, shot by

Calcasieu Parish Deputy. 

This week in New Orleans history. September

25, 2006: The New Orleans Saints returned to the

Superdome for the first time after Katrina, defeating the

Falcons in a historic "reopening" game.

This week in Louisiana.

Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience

October 1, 2026 ' 7:30 p.m.

Acadiana Center for the Arts

101 W. Vermilion St.

Lafayette, LA 70501

Website: acadianacenterforthearts.org

Phone: Not listed in search results

Email: Not listed in search results

Sources: Two‑time Grammy Award winner Terrance Simien brings

his legendary Creole roots band, The Zydeco Experience, to the

Acadiana Center for the Arts for a night celebrating the

living traditions of Creole music. The performance, titled

'The Creole Continuum: Transcending Tradition,' pairs Terrance

with his daughter Marcella Simien, creating an

intergenerational dialogue through accordion, rubboard, and

soulful vocals.

Creole Heritage: The show explores zydeco

as a living cultural lineage ' rhythm, resistance, and

storytelling passed down through generations.

Grammy‑Winning Band: Terrance Simien

& The Zydeco Experience are known for high‑energy

performances that blend tradition with modern roots

influences.

Family Collaboration: Marcella Simien

joins her father onstage, adding a contemporary voice to the

Creole musical bloodline.

Venue: The Acadiana Center for the Arts

provides an intimate, acoustically rich setting in downtown

Lafayette.

Tickets: $45.00 (per AcA event listing).

Postcards from Louisiana. Herlin Riley at Snug Harbor. More

cowbell. 

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696. How did a 19th-century

merchant rebuild his life after the War of 1812 and use his fortune to

secretly transform the city of New Orleans? We're joined by author Audrey Ades to talk about her picture book biography, Judah Touro Didn’t Want to Be Famous. We

dive into Judah’s quiet legacy of stealth philanthropy, the importance

of bringing unsung Jewish historical figures to young readers, and the

timeless lesson of helping others without needing acclaim. Ades is a children’s book author with a passion for uncovering overlooked historical figures and bringing meaningful, character-driven stories to young readers. Known for her thoughtful approach to themes of community, social justice, and Jewish history, she specializes in translating complex historical legacies into accessible narratives for children.

Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy.

The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it

as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in

print for the first time in 222 years. Order your copy today!

This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Benjamin Moore Norman.

Norman's New Orleans.

In 1699, eighteen years after La Salle had demonstrated the

connection of the Mississippi with the Gulf of Mexico, by

passing out at its mouth, Iberville succeeded in entering it

from the Gulf. Ascending as far as the junction of Red River,

he returned, and proceeded, by way of the Gulf, into Lake

Pontchartrain. He formed a settlement and erected a fort, at

Biloxi, which he left under the command of his brother

Bienville, while he returned to France, to induce others to

join the colony. Soon after he left, the new commander

ascended the Mississippi as far as the present site of New

Orleans. In returning, he met a British vessel of sixteen

guns, under the command of Capt. Bard, who enquired the

bearings of the great river, intimating that it was his

intention to establish a colony upon its banks. Bienville, in

reply, directed him to go farther west, and thus induced him

to turn about; from which circumstance, the place of their

meeting was called “The English Turn,” a name which it retains

to this day.

This week in Louisiana history. September 18, 1799.

Sebastian Calvo is appointed governor general of

Louisiana. 

This week in New Orleans history. September

18, 1947: A major hurricane struck the city, causing the

Mississippi River to rise to dangerous levels and flooding

parts of the West Bank.

This week in Louisiana.

Alligator Festival

September 25'28, 2026

West Bank Bridge Park, 13825 River Rd.

Luling, LA 70070

Website: lariverparishes.com

The Alligator Festival is a long‑running St. Charles Parish

tradition held each September at West Bank Bridge Park in

Luling. Hosted by the Rotary Club of St. Charles Parish, the

festival raises funds for community projects while offering

four days of food, music, rides, and family fun along the

Mississippi River.

Live Music: A full weekend lineup of

local and regional bands on the main stage.

Food Booths: Classic Louisiana festival

fare ' including fried alligator, alligator sauce piquante,

and other River Parishes specialties.

Rides & Games: A midway with carnival

rides, games, and children's activities.

Arts & Crafts: Dozens of vendors

selling handmade goods, jewelry, d'cor, and local crafts.

Community Mission: Proceeds support

Rotary scholarships, playgrounds, and local service

projects.

Postcards from Louisiana. Tycoon on Decatur St.

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695. On this episode, we sit down with Lafayette resident Dr. Christi Green

— a scholar of law and ethics and leader with the League of Women

Voters of Louisiana — to break down everything you need to know ahead of

the Fall 2026 elections in Louisiana. Drawing on her deep background in

voting rights advocacy, fair mapping, and civil ethics, Christy shares

her perspective on the key ballot initiatives, high-stakes races, and

shifting election laws impacting Acadiana and the state. Tune in to get

informed, get engaged, and make your voice count!

Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy.

The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it

as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in

print for the first time in 222 years. Order your copy today!

This week in the Louisiana Anthology. jewel bush

"House Made of History."

   Rideau Settlement is where I evacuated in 2005

along with about 20 other relatives when Hurricane Katrina’s

wrath pushed us and so many others out of New Orleans. I spent

two weeks in this un-GPSable St. Landry Parish village, where

my cell phone didn’t work, where there were no streetlights,

where everyone woke at sunrise, where everyone identified you

by who your parents or grandparents were.

   It had been nearly eight years since I had last

visited my familial land; then due to tragedy — and now due to

tragedy.

   After the funeral services at Immaculate

Conception Catholic Church, founded in 1897 by the Josephite

Fathers and widely referred to as LeBeau church, the kinfolk

made a pilgrimage to Uncle Will’s house to pay respects beyond

the gravesite.

   In the diminutive country cemetery where so many

of my ancestors rest — Bush, Romar, Rideau — I snapped

pictures of headstones: my maternal grandfather’s grandfather,

Oscar Bertrand, to whom everyone says my mother bears a

remarkable resemblance; my paternal grandfather, Bean, who was

a World War II Veteran and school bus driver; and my uncle,

June, his son, who served in the Vietnam War. In my family,

nicknames are better known and used than given names.

This week in Louisiana history. September 11, 1722. First

recorded Hurricane in La. destroyed New Orleans "During a

hurricane...a large number of unidentified ships were sunk at

and near New Orleans." 

This week in New Orleans history. September

11, 1965: Hurricane Betsy made landfall, causing

catastrophic flooding and leading to the creation of the

modern New Orleans levee system.

This week in Louisiana.

Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival

September 19'20

Downtown Riverbank, 100 Rue Beauport

Natchitoches, LA 71457

Website: meatpiefestival.com

Phone: (800) 259‑1714

The Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival celebrates the city's

signature dish with two days of food, music, and

family‑friendly events along the Cane River Lake riverbank:

Meat Pies & Local Food: Dozens of vendors serving

classic Natchitoches meat pies and regional specialties.

Live Music & Entertainment: Cajun, Zydeco, country,

and rock performances throughout the weekend.

Contests & Activities: A meat pie eating contest, car

show, kids' zone, hot‑air balloons, and fireworks.

Postcards from Louisiana. The Rock Block Band at Felix's

Restaurant and Oyster Bar.

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The Louisiana Anthology Home Page.

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694. Shreveport in the 1980s and 1990s. In the heart of the Deep South, silence was deadly — until a small group of ordinary people decided to fight back. Join us for a conversation with David Hylan, the award-winning filmmaker and author who just released the book, Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South. His 2016 documentary of the same name first brought national attention to ACT UP Shreveport, one of the smallest yet fiercest AIDS activist chapters in America. Now, with his powerful new book, Hylan expands that story, drawing on decades of interviews, archival research, and personal accounts to reveal the courage, grief, humor, and resilience of the activists who confronted hospitals that turned patients away, churches that preached judgment, and politicians who refused to listen. Far from the media spotlight of New York and San Francisco, these men and women forced northwest Louisiana to face the AIDS crisis head-on—and helped change the national conversation about compassion, healthcare, and equality in the process. This is the story of rage, resistance, and the power of ordinary people who refused to disappear.

Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy.

The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it

as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in

print for the first time in 222 years. Order your copy today!

This week in the Louisiana Anthology. The Picayune

Creole Cook Book is the definitive cook book for New

Orleans Creole cooking. We have the 1910 edition on our

website -- all 400 pages, 2006 recipes, 300,000 words, it's a

monument to Creole cooking of 110 years ago. We'll start with

a Good

Cup of Creole Coffee.

Is there anything in the whole range of food substances to be

compared with it? And is there any city in the world where

coffee is so delightfully concocted as in New Orleans?

Travelers the world over unite in praise of Creole Coffee, or

'Caf' ' la Cr'ole,' as they are fond of putting it.

The Creole cuisinieres succeeded far beyond even the

famous chefs of France in discovering the secret of good

coffee-making, and they have never yielded the palm of

victory. There is no place in the world in which the use of

coffee is more general than in the old Creole city of New

Orleans, where, from the famous French Market, with its

world-renowned coffee stands, to the olden homes on the Bayou

St. John, from Lake Pontchartrain to the verge of Southport,

the cup of 'Caf' Noir,' or 'Caf' au Lait,'

at morning, at noon and at night, has become a necessary and

delightful part of the life of the people, and the wonder and

the joy of visitors.

This week in Louisiana history. September 4, 1766. A huge

hurricane struck Galveston and sinking ships as far east as

Calcasieu Pass.

This week in New Orleans history. September

4, 1888: The first Labor Day parade was held in New

Orleans, with thousands of workers marching through the French

Quarter for better working conditions.

This week in Louisiana.

Haynesville Celebration of Butterflies

September 14, 2026

Claiborne Parish Fair Complex, 1563 Fairgrounds Dr.

Haynesville, LA

Website: haynesvillela.org

The Haynesville Celebration of Butterflies is a long‑running

North Louisiana festival dedicated to monarch butterfly

conservation, education, and small‑town community spirit. Now

in its 26th year, the festival fills the Claiborne Parish Fair

Complex with family activities, vendors, and hands‑on learning

experiences.

Run for the Butterflies: The Nan McMullen

5K kicks off the morning at 8:00 a.m.

Butterfly Parade: A community parade at

10:00 a.m. featuring local groups, decorated floats, and

children in butterfly wings.

Educational Exhibits: Seminars on monarch

conservation, pollinator gardening, and habitat protection.

Butterfly Conservatory: A walk‑through

enclosure where visitors can see live butterflies up close.

Vendors & Activities: Craft booths,

food vendors, children's activities, art contests, and plant

sales throughout the day.

Postcards from Louisiana. The Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco

Hellraisers at the French Quarter Fest.

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

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The Louisiana Anthology Home Page.

Like us on Facebook. 

693. Part 2 of our conversation with Patricia

Knight Meyer about her adoption. In her gripping memoir, Wonderland:

Memoir of a Black Market Adoption, Patricia unravels the complex and

harrowing story of her origins within a illegal adoption ring, exploring

the deep psychological ripple effects of a childhood built on hidden

truths. Raised under the shadow of secrecy, Meyer masterfully weaves

personal memory, investigative persistence, and raw emotional

vulnerability to illuminate how illicit adoptions break identity apart

and how truth can ultimately piece it back together. Her voice brings

vital light to the silenced histories of black market adoptees, offering

listeners a compelling exploration of belonging, family ties, and the

relentless search for self-discovery.

Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy.

The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it

as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in

print for the first time in 222 years. Order your copy today!

This week in the Louisiana Anthology. A Scribe Called Quess?

“Education.”

    As recently as October of 2009, a group of

teachers imported from the Philippines

pressed charges for being treated like… and paid no more than…

indentured servants. My only question… what the hell were they

doing here in the first place? I’m here… more than apt and

completely capable of teaching children that look just like I

did 20 years ago… and now walk a similar path

    But in the game of political ponzi that is

Post-Katrina, New Orleans… it’s bigger than books and study

baby… EDUCATION IS BIG BUSINESS! Unions are shut down

wholesale… veteran teachers fired before they can cash in on

their pensions — God forbid healthcare… Teachers are

outsourced… bussed in — flown in — hell! Prison beds are

forecasted based on the amount of children at grade level!

Does it get more insidious than that…?

This week in Louisiana history. August 28, 1956. Lake

Ponchartrain Causeway opened.

This week in New Orleans history. August 28,

2005: Mayor Ray Nagin issued the first-ever mandatory

evacuation order for New Orleans as Hurricane Katrina

approached the Gulf Coast.

This week in Louisiana.

Vermilionville Living History Museum & Folklife Park

Year‑Round Attraction

300 Fisher Rd.

Lafayette, LA 70508

Website: bayouvermiliondistrict.org

Vermilionville is a 23‑acre living‑history village along Bayou

Vermilion, interpreting Acadian, Creole, and Native American

cultures from 1765 to 1890. The site features restored and

recreated historic homes, costumed artisans, live music, and

hands‑on demonstrations that bring early Louisiana to life.

Historic Structures: Original and replica

buildings including Acadian homes, Creole houses, a chapel,

a schoolhouse, and craft workshops ' all documented in the

village's architectural listings.

Costumed Interpreters: Artisans

demonstrate traditional crafts, domestic skills, and

cultural practices from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Live Music & Cultural Events: Regular

Cajun jams, dances, and French‑language gatherings appear on

the Vermilionville calendar.

Hours: Open Tuesday'Sunday, 10 a.m.'4

p.m.; last admission at 3 p.m. because the full tour takes

60'90 minutes.

Experience: Visitors can explore the

grounds independently or book guided tours (24‑hour notice

recommended).

Postcards from Louisiana. The Rock Block Band at Felix's

Restaurant and Oyster Bar.

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

Listen on audible.

Listen on Spotify.

Listen on TuneIn.

Listen on iHeartRadio.

The Louisiana Anthology Home Page.

Like us on Facebook. 

692. Part 1 of our conversation with Patricia Knight Meyer about her adoption.

In her gripping memoir, Wonderland: Memoir of a Black Market Adoption, Patricia unravels the complex and harrowing story of her origins within a illegal adoption ring, exploring the deep psychological ripple effects of a childhood built on hidden truths. Raised under the shadow of secrecy, Meyer masterfully weaves personal memory, investigative persistence, and raw emotional vulnerability to illuminate how illicit adoptions break identity apart and how truth can ultimately piece it back together. Her voice brings vital light to the silenced histories of black market adoptees, offering listeners a compelling exploration of belonging, family ties, and the relentless search for self-discovery.

Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy.

The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it

as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in

print for the first time in 222 years. Order your copy today!

This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Frank Gee Patchin. Pony

Riders in Louisiana.

   Tad and Ned were each equipped with a bush-knife,

with a horn to each party. Lilly considered that the boys

needed no further advice from him, the lads having had

experience with bear before this and all being good shots and

well-tried hunters at big game.

   “Look out that you dont get lost if you get on a

chase,” he warned. “One is likely in the excitement of a chase

to forget to blaze his trail. It isn’t any use to get game if

you can’t get back to camp with it.”

This week in Louisiana history. August 21, 1769. Gov.

O'Reilly arrests leaders of revolution that ousted Gov.

Ulloa. 

This week in New Orleans history. August 21,

1853: During the peak of the Great Yellow Fever

Epidemic, the city reported a record 269 deaths in a single

24-hour period.

This week in Louisiana.

Alexandria Zoological Park

Year‑Round Attraction

3016 Masonic Dr.

Alexandria, LA 71301

Website: thealexandriazoo.com

The Alexandria Zoo is one of Central Louisiana's most beloved

attractions, home to more than 500 animals representing 160

species from around the world. Open since 1922 and accredited

by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the zoo features

immersive habitats, a narrated train ride, and family‑friendly

amenities throughout its landscaped grounds.

Themed Habitats: Explore the Land of

the Jaguar, Louisiana Habitat, African

Experience, and Australian Walkabout, each

designed to showcase wildlife in naturalistic settings.

Animals: Tigers, jaguars, lions,

crocodiles, monkeys, bears, otters, and more than 500

animals in total.

Amenities: Train ride, playground, gift

shop, concessions, picnic areas, stroller rentals, and free

parking.

Hours:  9 a.m.-5 p.m. (seasonal

variations possible).

Admission Prices: Attractively priced

from free to $8.95.

Postcards from Louisiana. Original Hurricane Brass Band at

the French Quarter Fest. 

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

Listen on audible.

Listen on Spotify.

Listen on TuneIn.

Listen on iHeartRadio.

The Louisiana Anthology Home Page.

Like us on Facebook.