Author: Emily Gautreaux

Best Cities for a Weekend Escape

The best vacations are those that allow you to simply escape and forget about the stresses of home, and oftentimes a weekend getaway is the perfectly sized taste of that vacation that still lying in wait.  Thanks to U.S. News, this list of the best weekend escapes can help you enjoy yourself and survive a little longer until your next trip.

This list, takes into account such contributing factors like affordability, entertainment options, accessibility, as well as votes from their readership to determine which United States cities are ideal for a weekend getaway. Though, it should be noted to always travel safely by remaining masked, socially distanced, and compliant with travel advisories and Center of Disease Control guidelines. It’s good practice, especially given recent events to check with the U.S. Department of State before traveling.

New York City

Perhaps America’s most famous city; NYC is (of course) impossible to catch all of in a year, though its density of culture, events, cuisine, lodging, etc make it perfect for a weekend escape. Visitors can come to the big apple by plane, train, or automobile to experience the various indoor attractions like museums and theatrical productions as well as the outdoor sights like Central Park and the High Line. With so many options, unpredictable weather will simply become a nonissue. Add in a dash of history by taking the ferry to Ellis Island and the famed Statue of Liberty, or take in authentic culture with New York pizza and bagels before heading home.

Montreal

Often missing from traditional beach-laden weekend escapes, old-world charm goes a long way, and thankfully, it’s front-and-center in the Canadian city of Montreal, which only sits 50 miles north of the U.S.-Canada border. Travelers can stroll up and down cobblestone streets that are lined with various eateries and quaint boutiques perfect for window shopping in Old Montreal. If you find yourself in Montreal during a time in which nice weather is present, head out to the sprawling, vast Mount Royal Park for a leisure-filled bike ride, guided hike, or quiet picnic to find a moment of nature and respite in a city so exciting.

Seattle

The Pacific Northwest’s crown jewel, the city of Seattle offers residents and travelers iconic, picturesque sights like Pike Place Market, the original Starbucks coffee shop, and the famous “gum wall,” and that’s all within a five block radius. Head out a little farther and you can visit the Space Needle or a hike in Discovery Park or on the nearby Mount Si. No matter the weekend, be sure to pack away an umbrella and raincoat, as Emerald City weather is as misty and rainy as it is unpredictable.

Charleston

This treasure of a South Carolina city is #2 on the U.S.News list of the best weekend escapes, sandwiched between New York City and Chicago, so if you haven’t been privy to the wonders of this quaint, southern delight, allow yourself to be enlightened. The city boasts accommodations of Spanish moss-laden bed and breakfasts, cobblestone-laden streets, and street lamps that are lit by gas, thus making you feel as though you’ve stepped into another time period or an alternate reality. Spend an afternoon or a whole day strolling along the waters of The Battery, taking memorable photos of the colorful, historic homes along Rainbow Row, surveying the decadently low country cuisine or the vibrant exciting Charleston City Market. Lastly, brave a trip off shore by signing up for a woat tout or wading in the ocean on Sullivan’s Island for an unforgettable experience.

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ULL’s Roy House hits Fundraising Goal

The Roy House on ULL’s campus will soon be home to a new Center of Louisiana Studies, all thanks to a global philanthropist helping the “Restore the Roy” campaign reach its fundraising goal, The Advocate reports.

If you’ve traveled in the downtown area of Lafayette, Louisiana, and you’ve passed by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, chances are you’ve seen the famed Roy House, along with signage of the school’s efforts to “Restore the Roy” as well. Located on the corner of University Avenue and Johnston Street, the 120 year-old is now due for its first modern renovation, having been in ULL’s possession since the 1990s.

Enthusiasts for the historic former home of J. Arthur Roy, an early Lafayette business leader and stalwart of the community, had reached and surpassed their goal of raising $800,000 in funds to restore the two-story, 5,000 square foot building. The restoration effort had only raised the much-needed $400,000 in the last few weeks, which included a donation from a foundation based in Washington State.

It’s estimated that the restoration will be completed by 2022, and once complete, “The Roy” will house the Center for Louisiana Studies. The University Center was founded in 1973, and it is dedicated to researching, promoting, publicizing, and overall preserving the culture and storied history of Louisiana.

For any Lafayette visitors traveling to the city from Interstate 10, the Roy House provides a substantial first glimpse at the campus, and director of the center, Joshua C. Caffery believes that the newly renovated building will provide an attractive welcome to such visitors, saying, “The renovation of the Roy House and its lot will transform one of Lafayette’s busiest intersections and contribute to the citywide effort to beautify the University corridor.”

Simply put, that “busiest intersection” isn’t hyperbole; it’s pure fact, as the state Department of Transportation and Development reports that the estimated average daily traffic count for the specific intersection that the Roy House has stood on since 1901, the same year that ULL’s campus first opened to students, is 43,730 vehicles.

The Center for Louisiana Studies is made up of three divisions: The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press, theResearch Division and the Programming and Special Projects Division, including the Archive of Cajun and Creole Folklore, heralded by the campus as being the “largest collection of audiovisual materials related to the traditional cultures of southwestern Louisiana.”

Caffery said that most of the restoration money was raised throughout the year through grants and private donation, conclusion with the $400,000 amount from the Sage Foundation, and its President and Treasurer, E.W. Littlefield Jr, a philanthropist who is long-involved in the music industry as both a musician and supporter of marts and music efforts.

Caffery noted, “The interest we received from out of state is a testament to the fact that Acadiana culture continues to be of significant national and even international interest. Our goal is to launch a major interior restoration by spring, hopefully by mid-April or early May,”

The next steps, according to Caffery, are to assemble a restoration team, including architects and contractors and to secure the appropriate permits and approvals. The Roy is the only building on ULL’s campus that’s on the National Register of Historic Places, so it must meet specific guidelines for its restoration.

Caffery stated, “despite the turmoil of 2020, we’ve received an outpouring of support this year, both from people who love the Roy House and value its architectural and historical significance, as well as from people who support the mission of the Center for Louisiana Studies.”

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Homemade Chicken Ramen

The ideal winter evening is beside a steaming bowl of gumbo, stew, or soup, or chicken ramen, and with this recipe from Fork Knife Swoon, you won’t have to break the bank or spend days in the kitchen to have restaurant-grade ramen.

This recipe is on the table in as quick as 90 minutes, yielding a ramen that’s easy, homemade, and in possession of a flavorful broth, roasted chicken, fresh vegetables, lots of noodles, and (of course) the soft-boiled egg.

Chicken Ramen Ingredients

2 boneless chicken breasts (skin-on)

1 tbsp unsalted butter

2 tsp sesame or vegetable oil

2 tsp fresh ginger (minced)

2 tsp fresh garlic (minced)

3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce

2 tbsp mirin

4 cups rich chicken stock

1 oz dried shiitake mushrooms (or ½ cup fresh)

1-2 tsp sea salt (to taste)

2 large eggs

½ cup scallions (sliced)

2 packs of dried ramen noodles (3 oz/each)

Kosher salt (to season)

Freshly-ground black pepper (to season)

Optional: fresh jalapeño slices, for serving

Chicken Ramen Recipe 

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F and begin by seasoning your chicken generously with salt and pepper. Melt your butter in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add your chicken (skin-side down), and brown your chicken until its skin is golden brown and releases easily from the pan (about 5-7 minutes). Flip the chicken over and cook for another 4-5 minutes, until the reverse is equally golden. Transfer the skillet to the over and roast for 15-20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken from the oven, transfer it to a plate, and cover with foil until you’re ready to serve.
  2. Heat your oil (preferably sesame) in a large pot over medium heat, until the oil is shimmering. Add your minced garlic and ginger, cooking it for a few minutes until it’s softenned. Add your soy sauce, mirin, and stir them in, combining it all. Cook for an additional minute, then add your chicken stock, cover the pot, and bring it all to a boil. Remove your lid, and let it all simmer uncovered for 5 minutes, adding your dried mushrooms at the end. Simmer gently for another 10 minutes, and season with salt, to taste.
  3. Fill a small pot with just enough water to cover the eggs you’d like to soft-boil, and bring it to a boil. Gently lower your (cold) eggs into the boiling water, and let it simmer for 7 minutes for a slightly-runny yolk or 8 minutes for a soft, but shapely yolk.
  4. Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with ice water, and when your egg timer rings, transfer your eggs to the ice bath to immediately stop the cooking process. Wait at least 5 minutes, or until they’re cool enough to handle, then carefully peel away the shell and slice them in half, lengthwise, setting them aside until you’re ready to serve.
  5. Finalize everything by chopping your scallions and jalapeño (optional), slicing your chicken into thin pieces, and setting them off to the side with your eggs. Add your ramen noodles to the boiling water, and cook them for just 2-3 minutes, until they’re soft, then divide the noodles into two large bowls. Add the sliced chicken and the ramen broth, top with scallions, jalapeño, and your soft boiled eggs, serving immediately.

Notes:

While store-bought chicken broth is fine, if it’s rich enough, chicken ramen is best with a dense, homemade broth. Additionally, ask your butcher to remove the rib bone from the chicken breasts while leaving the skin on, or use bone-in chicken, increasing your oven roasting time by 5-10 minutes. If in a hurry, a store-bought whole rotisserie chicken is fine, and it will but prep time in half!.

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Nicholls Professor’s Book Poses Societal Questions About Life Outside Earth

A professor from Nicholls State University is looking to the stars and answering large social questions in a new book, so reports a press release from the university.   Dr. James Gilley, a political science assistant professor from Nicholls wrote and recently published the book, Space Civilization: An Inquiry into the Social Questions for Humans Living in Space. The book focuses on furthering the conversation on social ramifications of life in space, as the international advancement of various space exploration programs moves forward.

All across the globe, several countries have launched various projects that take a serious, research-based look at settling Mars, due to the planet’s proximity and similarities to our own, and while many qualified experts are focusing on the technology involved in the transportation to the planet and the technology involved in sustaining life, the Nicholls professor’s book poses questions on the human component. Space Civilization poses questions on topics such as identity, conflict, and governance, as the societal impact of colonization is set to be just as important as sustaining out-of-orbit life.

Dr. Gilley believes that his book will appeal to social scientists, though he wrote the book with a broader audience in mind, with him believing that Space Civilization will appeal to anyone interested in just how human society would function in different ways in space, off-world, and just outside Earth. Many are interested in continuing that conversation, and he hopes that his book can satisfy that curiosity.

“While a few answers are explored, this book is meant to kickstart a larger conversation about what social and human questions we will face as we attempt to become a multi-planetary species,” Dr. Gilley explained.  “Until now, most of that discussion has focused on the nuts and bolts engineering and technical questions. But the fact that we are talking about having human beings live and work in space and on other celestial bodies makes this a much more interesting question. Humans are much less predictable, and that makes the human questions much more difficult to answer.”

The question of humans becoming Martians, or at least Mars-bound, isn’t necessarily a question of “if?” for many experts, but “when?” Dr. Gilley estimates that the possibility of Mars colonization could take place in as little time as 15 years, depending on how human society invests in the project. So, with such a quickly-approaching possibility advancing on us, questions such as governance and societal ramifications of off-Earth living demand complex answers.

Nicholls Professor, Dr. James Gilley’s Space Civilization: An Inquiry into the Social Questions for Humans Living in Space proves that smaller institutions like Nicholls can be at the forefront of such cutting edge topics. Speaking on the impact of such institutions, Gilley stated, “At four-year universities like Nicholls, the social sciences are often relegated to the role of simply teaching students. While I deeply believe that that is the core mission of any educational institution, we have more to offer. Nicholls can be at the forefront of big human discussion, and the political science department can attract high-quality students and faculty willing to research and discuss the big questions about humanity’s future.”

The Nicholl’s professor’s book was published in the fall of 2020 by Lexington Books, and is available via bookseller outlets like Amazon, as it focuses on the questions of social sciences that must be answered in the likely event that humanity begins to earnestly move towards becoming a multi-planetary civilization. SpaceCivilization highlights the most pressing economic, political, and societal questions of space civilization.

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New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane Premieres IDEApitch Competition at NOEW

This year the New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) welcomed the New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University as a presenting sponsor alongside its main event, the IDEApitch Winter Showcase, as recently announced in a Tulane University press release.

This inaugural IDEApitch Winter Showcase is a free virtual event that is open to the public with a live broadcast of the event taking place at Commander’s Palace, and it includes exclusive interviews, fireside chats, and its namesake, IDEApitch, a pitch competition featuring three top-notch local business founders competing for a $50,000 investment prize for their individual emerging startup.

The event is produced by The Idea Village, a New Orleans-based 501(c)3 nonprofit, whose mission was “founded on the principle of supporting regional startups and the big thinkers that power them.” David Barksdale, the chairman of The Idea Village, remarked on the enticing mainstage event by saying, “IDEApitch is an annual snapshot of the incredible up-and-coming startups in our region, and we’re excited to support these founders in 2020 by pivoting to a virtual, live-streaming format. We look forward to seeing what these companies have built to date and awarding the winning company an investment prize of $50,000.”

In addition to its competition that’s spiritually similar to ABC Networks’ Shark Tank, The IDEApitch Winter Showcase will also feature an exclusive interviews with Walter Isaacsson and Steve Case. Isaacson is the Leonard Lauder Professor of American History and Values and a co-chair of the New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University.Isaacson will be interviewed as well as internet pioneer Steve Case who is Chairman and CEO of Revolution LLC, co-founder of AOL (American Online) and the author of The Third Wave: An Entrepreneur’s Vision of the Future.

 Following the interviews, viewers will be privy to the 2020 IDEApitch taking place in the courtyard of Commander’s Palace with the three presenting companies being in position for rapid growth in the greater New Orleans region. These three businesses presenting an 8-minute presentation of their business are DOCPACE, Gilded, and Unlock’d, and all three had been selected from The Idea Village’s VILLAGEx 2020 accelerator program.

 In addition to the enticing interviews, there will also be a fireside chat with Ti Martin, co-proprietor of Commander’s PAlace on how the landmark New Orleans culinary institution pivoted during the COVID-19 crisis. In a similar pivot, the NOEW, which was supposed to be held earlier in the year, back in March, had altered its plans to be a December-based virtual event. This change from the annual, week-long in person event to a virtual one was done so that The Idea Village could ensure that the three participating founders in the IDEApitch Winter Showcase would still have the opportunity to do so before 2020 ended, thus keeping the spirit of competition alive.

Just before NOEW opened its live-streamed gates, The New Orleans Book Festival had begun the weekend prior to NOEW, and due to the fact that both iconic New Orleans events shared an overlap in incredible thought leaders, the partnership between the collaboration between the two was a natural fit.

Founder of The New Orleans Book Festival and co-chair of The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University, Cheryl Landrieu told Tulane Press, “The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University is delighted to partner with NOEW for this exciting IDEApitch experience. The mission of our book festival is to connect quality authors on a variety of topics to the local and national literary communities.”

In addition to this Winter Showcase, The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane has set its 2021 dates for March 18-20, with the New Orleans Entrepreneur Week following on March 22-26, 2021.

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Places to Visit Along Louisiana’s Northshore

The diverse landscape of an area as unique as St. Tammany Parish provides a myriad of opportunities for Louisianians of all ages, and thanks to the curated collection from McCool Travel, you sure find a ton of fun to be had on Louisiana’s Northshore.

Just the landscape alone of Louisiana’s Northshore varies with its swamplands and rolling hills perfect for equestrian escapades to its gorgeous, scenic lakefront; the geography alone lends itself to plenty of out-of-doors activities that are often hard to come across in other regions of the state. And with its located within such close proximity to the Big Easy, the big Crescent City of New Orleans. So, as long as you’re in accordance with local health officials in light of 2020’s coronavirus pandemic, the Louisiana Northshore is full of excitement.

Presently and historically, residents of New Orleans have escaped to the Northshore and its collection of summer homes located along the lakefront and within mere blocks of the bountiful Lake Pontchartrain.

Tammany Trace

A 31-mile paved path connecting Covington to Slidell lies in wait for you to walk or bike and take in the surrounding nature as it covers lush, green spaces, waterways, and bayous in southern style. The Tammany Trace is the only rails-to-trails conversion in the state of Louisiana, having originally been a railroad track. That spirit of transportation can still be channelled if you rent a bike from Bayou Adventures in Lacombe or a Brook’s Bike Shop in Mandeville and Covington.

And if the 31 miles is too-long, a gorgeous and convenient section of Tammany Trace is the 3.5 connection between Covington and Abita Springs, which will have you cross over the Bogue Falaya River.

Southern Hotel, Covington

If you’re in need of rustic lodging in downtown Covington’s historic district, the recently renovated Southern Hotel combines southern gothic charm with innovative amenities, all for your pleasure. After lying in wait, sitting vacant for decades, the Southern Hotel now has 40 rooms and two suites available for stay in the original building and new Garden House, and it’s southern comforts are kept family-close as its principal owner Lisa Condrey Ward is the aunt of the renownedly spectacular Coastal Mississippi boutique hotel, The Roost.

Bayou Adventure’s Kayak Tours

It’s mentioned above and reiterated here, because no one does a trek on the southern waters of Louisiana quite like Bayou Adventure, who pride themselves in being “the concierge for the refuge and bayou area.” This swamp tour and bayou rental service will outfit you for whichever Louisiana Northshore adventure you’d like to experience, such as biking Tammany Trace, fishing, crabbing, and more. They let you choose from several kayaking experiences in three adjacent bayous including Cane Bayou, Bayou Lacombe, and Big Branch National Wildlife Reserve.

Abita Springs Hotel

Whether you’re in the mood for a cozy Louisiana staycation or getaway, the boutique Abita Springs Hotel is a perfect choice dripping in southern gothic charms. Trees decorated with moss background the white, wrap-around porch of this historic house and its five rooms and one apartment that’s perfect for long-term stays. Even if you have a reservation somewhere else on the Northshore, the magnificent giant oak tree, visible from the hotel’s back entrance is reason enough to stop by.

Oxlot 9

Rounding out this selection of McCool Travel’s expensive list is the deliciously decadent Oxlot 9, located in the previously-mentioned Southern Hotel. This restaurant is known across the coast for its southern and gulf-inspired cuisine with its owner and chef Jeffrey Hansell drawing from his days working at Commander’s Palace.

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