Get a taste of Louisiana culture
The holiday season is upon us!
This past weekend, I explored the magic of the holidays across north and central Louisiana on the Holiday Trail of Lights media tour.
Follow Saturday's Shreveport-Bossier City adventures, where I broke out my creative skills at a local artisan market and gallery, delved into African arts and culture (including joining in on a drum circle) and explored a bed and breakfast nestled in the Fairfield Historic District.
2439 Fairfield Bed & Breakfast is a Queen Anne-style home built in 1905. Its rooms feature private balconies and jacuzzi tubs and period decor that makes you feel you've stepped back in time.
I explored the home on an 8:30 a.m. tour, which I broadcast on the social app Periscope. Download it in the App store or Google Play. Then click below to connect with me, @wellredtexan.
CLICK HERE: Full list of historic places I broadcast on Periscope
Throughout the day, I offered deals and interesting facts on our stops in my Twitter feed.
Following Saturday morning in Shreveport, I headed to the oldest town in Louisiana, Natchitoches, to explore its holiday lights display and historic downtown.
My holiday adventures began Thursday in Alexandria where I learned how to make specialty cracklin at Quebedeaux's Boudin & Cracklins (see video here), discovered cultural treasures at River Oaks Square Arts Center and toured the historic Kent Plantation and the 107-year-old Hotel Bentley.
I grabbed dinner at Diamond Grill, a downtown restaurant offering a mixture of steaks, Louisiana seafood and innovative creations from Chef William Leroux. I decided on elk tenderloin with asparagus and scalloped potatoes, which was delicious.
A history nerd to the core, I was particularly excited to visit this downtown treasure because it's located in a late 19thcentury jewelry store. The building features 22-foot ceilings, original chandeliers, ornate plaster, a dramatic staircase, mezzanine bar and the place I was sure I'd end up — the wine vault.
But though the wine was calling my name, bartender Danny Mays told me the restaurant has a fairly extensive martini menu. Martinis are named for jewels in recognition of the building's history. The signature cocktail is the diamond martini, a mix of citron vodka, pineapple juice, champagne and Chambord.
From there, I hunted for Louisiana treasures at a shopaholic's delight, dined at a riverfront gem and explored the home of Coca Cola's first bottler.
The Biedenharn Museum and Gardens is the former home of the first Coca Cola bottler, Joseph A. Biedenharn. It showcases not only Louisiana ties to the iconic brand but a Bible museum and gardens that light up with the season.
Michele Marcotte is the food engagement editor for Gannett's Louisiana publications. A self-described wineaux, she looks for any opportunity to uncork a bottle. Follow her on Twitter @wellredtexan
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