145. Today we interview Jericho Brown. He grew up in
Shreveport, Louisiana, and worked as a speechwriter for the
mayor of New Orleans before earning his PhD in literature and
creative writing from the University of Houston. Brown is
the author of two books of poetry. His most recent collection, The New Testament (Copper Canyon Press, 2014), was described
by Yusef Komunyakaa as a chronicle of “life and death, personal
rituals and blasphemies, race and nation, the good and the bad”
that illuminates “scenarios of self-interrogation and near
redemption.” His first collection of poetry, Please (New
Issues, 2008), won the 2009 American Book Award.
Also this week, we have part 1 of an interview with Lamar White
about the special session of the Louisiana legislature addressing the
budget crisis.
- This week in Louisiana history. February 27, 1827, New
Orleans kicks off its first Mardi Gras.
- This week in New Orleans history. Ralph A. Shultz (May 20,
1898 - February 27, 1994) lived to the age of 95. R.
Shultz's Fresh Hardware and residence at 1720 Lake Avenue in
Bucktown -- Local legend says that Ralph added “Fresh” to his
general store and bar sign during prohibition to let patrons
know he had a fresh keg of home-brewed beer on tap. He also
sold trawl, crab, and crawfish nets, bait, tackle, boats,
motors...just about anything needed to capture the bounty of
the lake. During the 1950s he was an outspoken representative
against the banning of commercial fishing in Lake
Pontchartrain and for government intervention in improving its
ecosystems. His home and store are gone.
- This week in Louisiana.
Black Heritage Festival
March 4th, 2016 - March 6th, 2016
Lake Charles Civic Center
900 Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles, LA 70601
337-436-9588
Website
Lake Charles Civic Center
The annual Black Heritage Festival will be held March 4-6 and
feature live entertainment, mouthwatering food, and great
family fun. The festival brings together the cultures of
Africa and Southwest Louisiana and highlights the best in the
community. Celebrating diversity, culture and education,
the festival is filled with legendary Zydeco, Jazz, R&B
and Gospel performers.
Listen in iTunes.
Like us on Facebook.
144. One of the things that makes Louisiana
unique among the other states is our legal system, and our guest
this week, Vernon Palmer, is an expert on that system. In part
1, we discuss the Code Noir; in part 2, the Code
Napoléon. For more information, check out his book Through
the Codes Darkly: Slave Law and Civil Law in Louisiana.Vernon
is the Thomas Pickles Professor of Law at Tulane University Law
School and the co-director of its Eason Weinmann Center of
Comparative Law. Palmer received in 2012 the degree of Docteur
Honoris Causa by Paris-Dauphine University and received
both the Palmes Académiques and, in 2006, the Legion
of Honor from the French government. Palmer was born in
New Orleans, Louisiana, and attended New Orleans Academy, Newman
High School and graduated from Jesuit High School in 1958.
He is a graduate of Tulane University (B.A. 1962, LL.B. 1965
with Law Review Honors) and Yale Law School (LL.M. 1966), where
he received a Sterling Fellowship. Palmer graduated from
Pembroke College, Oxford University in 1985, where he received
his Doctorate of Philosophy.
- This week in Louisiana history. February 20, 1811. President
Madison signed bill providing for Louisiana's statehood.
- This week in New Orleans history. February 20, 1811.
President Madison signed the bill providing for Louisiana's
statehood.
- This week in Louisiana.
New Iberia Azalea Trail
March 1st, 2016 - April 30th, 2016
Iberia Parish
Main St, New Iberia, LA 70560
337-365-1540 | 888-942-3742 | 337-367-3791
Website
Iberia Parish
Delicate Azaleas bloom early each Spring flooding the
landscape with a sea of red, pink, white, purple and
salmon. Our easy self guided driving tour offers a
glimpse of all the beautiful flowers along the trail from the
miniature varieties to the massive.
Listen in iTunes.
Like us on Facebook.
143. One of the things that makes Louisiana
unique among the other states is our legal system, and our guest
this week, Vernon Palmer, is an expert on that system. In part
1, we discuss the Code Noir; in part 2, the Code
Napoléon. For more information, check out his book Through
the Codes Darkly: Slave Law and Civil Law in Louisiana.Vernon
is the Thomas Pickles Professor of Law at Tulane University Law
School and the co-director of its Eason Weinmann Center of
Comparative Law. Palmer received in 2012 the degree of Docteur
Honoris Causa by Paris-Dauphine University and received
both the Palmes Académiques and, in 2006, the Legion
of Honor from the French government. Palmer was born in
New Orleans, Louisiana, and attended New Orleans Academy, Newman
High School and graduated from Jesuit High School in 1958.
He is a graduate of Tulane University (B.A. 1962, LL.B. 1965
with Law Review Honors) and Yale Law School (LL.M. 1966), where
he received a Sterling Fellowship. Palmer graduated from
Pembroke College, Oxford University in 1985, where he received
his Doctorate of Philosophy.
- This week in Louisiana history. February 13, 1899. Lowest
temperature ever recorded in Louisiana, Minden, -16° F.
- This week in New Orleans history. February 13, 1872.
First Rex Parade. Lewis J. Salomon reigned as Rex during the
organization's first parade on February 13, 1872. The
theme was "Triumphal Entry." The official anthem of Rex, "If
Ever I Cease to Love," was a hit song of the early 1870's era
from a musical comedy named "Bluebeard."
- This week in Louisiana.
Diary of Anne Frank
February 18th, 2016 - February 21st, 2016
Ruston Community Theater
212 N. Vienna St., Ruston, LA 71270
318-255-1450
Website
Like us on Facebook.
142. Robert King of the Angola
Three was in solitary confinement for almost 30 years. We talk to Robert about his early life, his imprisonment and activism in Angola,
and his life since his release. We start today's episode with a quote from a young Samuel Clemens about his first Mardi Gras.
- This week in Louisiana history. February 5, 1817. Jean
Lafitte died in battle off coast of Honduras.
- This week in New Orleans history. Born in New Orleans on February
6, 1944, Wilson Turbinton (known as Tee and Willie Tee)
arranged, co-wrote and led the band on the Wild Magnolias'
self-titled 1974 debut album. The popularity of that
recording, and the subsequent They Call Us Wild introduced the
Mardi Gras Indians' street-beat funk to the world.
- This week in Louisiana.
Alexandria Mardi Gras
February 7th, 2016
Downtown
707 Main Street, Alexandria, LA 71301
318-442-9546 | 800-551-9546
Website
Experience Mardi Gras family style! The weekend begins with a
Friday afternoon Classic Cars and College Cheerleaders
parade followed by the Taste of Mardi Gras. Saturday is the
Children's Parade, and Sunday is the Main Parade. Routes and
more information is available at www.alexmardigras.com.
Like us on Facebook.
141. Kristen Becker interview, part 2. For 15 years, Kristen has loved bringing her raucous
point-of-view comedy to audiences all over the continent.
Toronto’s Xtra! lauded her “brash and
personal humor.” As the winner of the Queen City Comedy
Competition, she took the largely male-dominated genre by storm.
A comedian who happens to also be an out lesbian, Becker
consistently wins the hearts of all audiences, straight and gay
alike, with her unapologetic humor. Her childhood, divided
between the Rust Belt and the Deep South, has left her uniquely
able to connect with all manner of people. She has been
part of comedy routines like Dykes of Hazard and Loosen the Bible
Belt, in which she teams up with Jay Bakker, son of Jim
and Tammy Faye Bakker. Quinn Warner joins us today as a guest host. Warning--today's episode has explicit language and content.
- This week in Louisiana history. January 30, 1704. Bienville
told that "Pelican" was on its way with 27 young girls, the
Casket Girls.
- This week in New Orleans history. January 30, 1980.
Professor Longhair died. He was born Henry
Roeland "Roy" Byrd on December 19, 1918, in
Bogalusa, Louisiana. He made a living as a street hustler
until he started to play piano seriously in his thirties. He
taught himself how to play on a piano with missing keys, so
his style became distinct. When he began his career in New
Orleans in 1948, Mike Tessitore bestowed Longhair with his
stage name (due to Byrd's shaggy coiffure). Longhair first
recorded in 1949, creating four songs (including the first
version of his signature song, "Mardi Gras in New Orleans"
His pet numbers were "Tipitina" and "Go to the Mardi
Gras."
- This week in Louisiana.
Cajun Ground Hog Day
February 2nd, 2016
Bouligny Plaza
102 W Main St, New Iberia, LA 70560
337-365-6773 | 337-367-9640
Website
Bouligny Plaza
Annual event where New Iberia's own version of the traditional
groundhog, Pierre C. Shaddeaux, a native nutria, emerges to
predict weather the weather for the next six weeks…etiher a
long or short spring depending on if Pierre sees his shaddeaux
or not.
Like us on Facebook.
140. Kristen Becker interview, part 1. For 15 years, Kristen has loved bringing her raucous
point-of-view comedy to audiences all over the continent.
Toronto’s Xtra! lauded her “brash and
personal humor.” As the winner of the Queen City Comedy
Competition, she took the largely male-dominated genre by storm.
A comedian who happens to also be an out lesbian, Becker
consistently wins the hearts of all audiences, straight and gay
alike, with her unapologetic humor. Her childhood, divided
between the Rust Belt and the Deep South, has left her uniquely
able to connect with all manner of people. She has been
part of comedy routines like Dykes of Hazard and Loosen the Bible
Belt, in which she teams up with Jay Bakker, son of Jim
and Tammy Faye Bakker. Quinn Warner joins us today as a guest host. Warning--today's episode has explicit language and content.
- This week in Louisiana history. January 23, 1680. Bienville
born in Montreal, Canada, 12 of 14 children.
- This week in New Orleans history. January 23, 1893.
General P.G.T. Beauregard dies.
- This week in Louisiana.
Fasching Karneval & Parade
January 23rd, 2016
Downtown Minden
Downtown Minden, Minden, LA 71055
318-377-2144
Website
139. We interview writer Kimberly Willis Holt, the author of
numerous books for children and teens, including My Louisiana Sky. "By the time I was fourteen years old, I’d
lived in Pensacola, Florida; Paris, France; Norfolk, Virginia;
Alexandria, Louisiana; Barrigada, Guam; Bremerton, Washington;
Forest Hill, Louisiana and the Westbank of New Orleans. Our
kitchen reflected all those places we’d called home. We ate
French toast, pancit and lumpia, red beans and rice. And we
never forgot my family’s central Louisiana roots. We ate chicken
and dumplings, too."
- This week in Louisiana history. January 16, 1962. Students
at Southern Univ. begin civil rights demonstrations.
- This week in New Orleans history. January 9-18, 1815. The
Siege of Fort St. Philip lasted from January 9 to January 18,
1815 just after the British defeat at the Battle of New
Orleans.
- This week in Louisiana.
11th Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival
Louisiana's Reel Festival
January 20th, 2016 - January 27th, 2016
Various Locations
101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501
337-235-7845
Website
