Author: Emily Gautreaux

Visit New Iberia, Louisiana

Due to Louisiana’s location on the Mississippi River, it made the city of New Iberia a perfect landing spot for those looking to settle land in the U.S. This means that a lot of the communities in Louisiana are some of the oldest communities in the U.S. Not only that, but Native Americans actually populated Louisiana’s area meaning that this land is filled with history.

First claimed by spanish settlers in 1779, the banks of the Bayou Teche hold a lot of that history. This area known as New Iberia was eventually taken over by french settlers, who were known as Acadians. They were pushed out of Nova Scotia and once they settled here they became known as Cajuns. The perfect place to learn about Louisiana’s history while also maybe taking a vacation. We are here to tell you about a few different things to do in New Iberia, Louisiana.

Things to do in New Iberia

The Bayou Teche Museum

Known as a “hidden gem”, this museum has been years in the making. Offering educational tours and self guided tours, its visitors can explore the history and preservation this museum holds. The Bayou Teche Museum is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The doors open at 10 a.m. and they close at 4 p.m.. However, they can be open at other times when an appointment is made. Students pay $3 and adults pay $5; kids under five can enter for free.

The Shadows on the Teche

The Shadows on the Teche was built in 1834 for a man named David Weeks, a sugar planter. The Shadows displays the life of four generations of the Weeks family living at the Shadows. The building is a historic sight and even still also holds all of the Weeks papers.

Not only is the house amazing, the large trees that fill the property will take your breath away. The Shadows on the Teche is open year round. Monday through Saturday, 10a.m.-4p.m. The first tour will begin at 10:15 and the last tour will begin at 3:15.

Click here for all of the admissions information.

Places to eat

Duffy’s Diner

Looking for a 50s style diner that sells the best fried chicken? Check out Duffy’s Diner. Located in New Iberia, this diner will for sure fill your hunger after checking out Main street. Their menu ranges from simple sandwiches to seafood platters. Locally owned and operated, this diner will take you back in time but won’t cost a heavy penny. Make sure to grab a milkshake to go for the ride home. You wouldn’t want to miss out on the best milkshakes in town.

Jane’s Seafood and Chinese

Opened in 1991 this seafood and Chinese restaurant delivers to the city of New Iberia with its flavor. Featured in New Iberia’s Best of the Teche, Jane’s received many accomplishments. Including first place for the best wait staff. They are open from Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays); check their website for their hours. This restaurant will please everyone with a little bit of everything. Make sure to try their chargrilled oysters, you’ll never forget them.

For more Louisiana related articles, click here.

Nicholls Art Exhibit-Dorothy Fratt

The Office of University Relations informs its readers about an exhibit that will be on display at the Nicholls State University. The University will be hosting and displaying the work of Dorothy Fratt. Dorothy Fratt is known for being an artist who explored the Abstract Expressionist movement and used color to deepen her experience with Abstract expressionism. Born in 1923, Fratt was from Washington, D.C. She received multiple scholarships from multiple schools that helped Fratt really start off her career in art. Her very own solo exhibit actually happened in 1946.

Not only was she an artist, she was also a teacher at Mount Vernon College for Women from 1946 to 1951. However, after this she moved to Arizona where she privately began to teach painting and color theory. Fratt’s main focus was Abstract expressionism. Abstract expressionism was a post World War II art movement that began in New York. This was the first artistic movement that was specifically American based and it actually had international influence. Abstract art was described as, “monumental in scale, romantic in mood, and expressive of a rugged individual freedom” (The Art Story). Booming in the 1930s, this art movement came at a time where there wasn’t much hope. However, artist like Fratt took that and ran with it. Creating art that will stay with us for decades.

This also gave New York City the opportunity to be one of the centers of the western art world. Though abstract work was done before, it was not until now that it actually truly began to be recognized. Abstract expressionism is known for the display of subconscious or spontaneous creation. Fratt not only used Abstract expressionism, she also used color as a way to create art beyond just the abstract. Her work ranges from representation to non-objective. This means that she her array of artwork is unimaginable.

Nicholls State exhibition will include all of her prints- this is the first time there is an exhibition that has all of Fratt’s prints. These works of art include serigraphs, etchings, and lithographs. A serigraph is actually a design that is printed and produced by a silkscreen. Fratt did not just paint. Her 70 year career included watercolors, prints, and drawings. Nicholls art exhibit will host more than 20 works Fratt created.

The exhibit is planning to take place from September 9th to September 27th, located in the Ameen Art Gallery. The gallery is open Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. There will be a reception held on Wednesday, September 11th. Starting at 5pm and ending at 8pm. The reception is open to the public. The exhibit is also open to the public as well. This is the perfect opportunity to not only get out of the house but to also explore the art world a little. With different pieces and works of art there is bound to be at least one thing everyone who visits will enjoy.

To learn more about Abstract Expressionism click, here.

For more education related information, click here.

 

 

French Dip Sandwich Recipe

Looking for the perfect French Dip Sandwich? Pass the Sushi has the perfect recipe for you to make everything from scratch.

INGREDIENTS FOR THE PERFECT FRENCH DIP SANDWICH

The Onion Spread

  • 1 large onion, sliced thinly
  • 2 bunches of scallions, chopped up, the white and green parts should be separated
  • 6 medium shallots, sliced thinly
  • 1 cup of mayo
  • 1 ½ cup of sour cream
  • 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons of white wine vinegar
  • Kosher salt

The Beef

The Jus

  • Six, 6 inch Italian rolls, make sure they are split and toasted
  • 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
  • 2 teaspoons of dry sherry

SUPPLIES NEEDED

  • A large skillet
  • A roasting pan
  • Meat thermometer

DIRECTIONS

The Onion Spread

To begin the French Dip, using the large skillet, begin to heat up the vegetable oil. Place the burner on medium to low heat. Once the oil begins to heat up, add the onion and sprinkle it with a pinch of salt. Cook the onion, covered, for about 35 minutes and stir, making sure the coloring is a golden brown. The next step is to add the scallion whites and shallots; cover the skillet and cook. Making sure to stir, making sure it begins to brown. This could take about 25 more minutes. Once the 25 minutes are up, add the scallion greens into the skillet. Remove the skillet from the burner after adding the scallion greens.

Chop up the mixture and place it in a bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of salt, vinegar, sour cream, mayo, and Worcestershire sauce. Refrigerate the spread for at minimum of 2 hours and it can be stored for about a day.

The Beef

The first step is to mince the garlic and season it with a teaspoon of salt; using the flat side of the large knife to mash it. It should be the consistency of a paste. This should be placed into a bowl and add the cayenne, celery salt, ½ teaspoon of black pepper, and oil. Take the beef and cut slits, small ones, into it. Use the garlic paste to push inside of the slits. Cover the beef and place it in the fridge for at least an hour. It can stay in the fridge overnight if needed.

The oven needs to be preheated to 425 degrees fahrenheit. The beef needs to be brought to room temperature before continuing. Use the ½ teaspoon of black pepper and 2 teaspoons of salt to sprinkle on top of the beef. Use a roasting pan to place the beef in; add celery, parsely, onion, water, and 1 cup of broth. Roast the beef for 10 minutes. Once the 10 minutes are up, lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Use the thermometer to insert into the beef to watch until the temperature reaches 115 degrees fahrenheit. This will take about 45 minutes. Take the beef out of the oven and place it onto a cutting board to rest for 20 minutes. Save the pan juices!

The Jus

The first step is to melt the butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted add the flour and stir for 1 minute. Whisk in the juices that were saved from the pan from the beef. Add 3 cups of broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Once it begins to boil, remove the pan and add the sherry. Stir again to make sure everything is mixed together.

Use the onion spread to spread on the rolls. Slice the beef into thin pieces, slicing against the grain. Dip the slices of beef into the jus, make sure to get a little extra on the bread. Use the leftover jus sauce as dip.

For more delicious recipes, click here.

 

 

National Parks Without the Crowds

The U.S. National Park Service was founded on August 25th, 1916 and 61 areas hold the title of “national park”. Imagine visiting all 61 of them, that would mean you would have to travel to two U.S. territories and 29 states. Over 300 million people visited national parks last year. The National Park Service can sometimes struggle with providing educational and recreational opportunities while also trying to conserve the cultural and natural heritage of the park.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was the most visited national park in 2018, over 10 million people visited this park alone. But sometimes it’s nice to get away and see a not so crowded park. National Geographic released an article listing the 10 Least-Visited U.S. National Parks and we are here to tell you about one of them, the Virgin Islands .

Virgin Islands National Park

The Virgin Islands National Park is made up of over 7,000 acres. From the reefs to the ridge tops, the park owns over 5,000 acres of the submerged land surrounding the island. This means that the coral, fish, migrating birds, and other marine life are protected by the park.

There are different Ranger- Guided tours that are available. The Reef Bay Trail gives its visitors the opportunity to learn about those who called the area home. Ancient rock carving, stone walls, and eve sugar plantation ruins still linger on the island. This helps demonstrate the change that the island has continuously gone through over the many years of inhabitants. The trails can get a little tricky. It is advised to bring the appropriate shoes and plenty of water. Snacks and bug spray are both good things to bring along as well.

The Discover Bird Watching Hike, goes on every Friday. Francis Bay Trail and salt pound gives bird lovers the opportunity to view the migratory birds and the birds that live on the islands. The Friends of Virgin Islands National Park even offers a winter seminar series. The option to hike with local and park scientist is offered along with snorkeling or kayaking as well. For more information on the Friends of Virgin Islands National Park, click here.

Safaris bus drivers also offer guided tours of the island. They usually last two to three hours and they give amazing views of the beaches and remnants sugar plantations. The tour will begin at Cruz Bay on the public ferry dock and it will also end there.

Here are some safety tips the park includes on their website.

Valuables should not be left unattended, just because it is a national park doesn’t mean things won’t get stolen. All you will need for this trip is some snacks and water, there is no need to bring any valuables with you.

When swimming, use reef-safe sunscreen. The whole point of a national park is to help save the wildlife inhabiting the area. If you do decide to swim, remember there is marine life which means there is a possibility of getting stung/bitten. Be prepared

Mosquitoes. Those tiny bugs can do a lot of damage. The Virgin Islands National Park warns visitors of mosquitoes. Most diseases are spread after a lot of rain and especially during the rainy season. Make sure to bring bug spray and if you are bitten, make sure to watch out for symptoms of diseases that are carried by mosquitoes. Click here for more information.

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LOUISIANA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS + CLEP

The amount of Louisiana students earning college credit during high school is on the rise. According to  data collected by the Louisiana Department of Education, more students earned college credit on this past school year’s College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams than previous years.

CLEP is a program that gives students the possibility to show their understanding of introductory collegiate concepts and earn college credit that applies to various postsecondary institutions nationwide.

State leaders are still in the process of finding the best way to give early college credit opportunities to all Louisiana high school students. The newest pathway is the Dual Enrollment Framework Task Force. This group will study various ways for high school students to earn credits that will count towards not only their high school diploma, but also prerequisites at different postsecondary institutions across the state.

The newly released CLEP data shows how many students are benefitting from the program. The amount of high school students earning college credits has increased by 5 percent since the 2017-2018 school year. Since the program’s conception during the 2014-2015 school year, 558 percent more students have the opportunity for CLEP exams.

The amount of CLEP examinations taken during a school year has also increased. The number of CLEP exams taken during the 2018-2019 school year shows a 52 percent increase from the previous year. Since 2015, the program has seen a 521 percent increase. These new numbers man that Louisiana leads the nation in the number of CLEP exams given to high school students.

In total, high school students from Louisiana earned over 16,000 credit hours in 2019. This saved approximately $7.7 million in college tuition and fees.

If students receive a 50 or higher on their CLEP exam, they could receive from 3 – 12 credits of college-level work before leaving high school. The more credits earned in high school, the less the student will have to pay for at university.

While saving $7.7 million is only an estimate, the amount of money saved is probably higher. This is due to the American Council on Education’s recommendation of college credits for each subject being higher than three credits.

CLEP is only a single way for students to earn college credit during their high school years. Another option is Advanced Placement. The Advanced Placement program offers high school courses with a college-level curriculum. A different alternative would be Dual Enrollment. If a student partakes in dual enrollment, they would simultaneously enroll at both a high school and a college, earning credits at both.

Dual enrollment is the focus of the state’s new Dual Enrollment Framework Task Force. The task force was created during the 2019 Louisiana regular session. The Dual Enrollment Framework Task Force’s main goal will be to evaluate existing laws and policies in regards to early college credit opportunities. They will also collaborate with other state agencies and groups partaking in the same work. The group will then present their results and recommendations to the state’s Senate and House committees on education.

The group’s first meeting was July 24. The next will be September 9.

For more education related information, click here.

 

Louisiana Parks Worth Making a Visit To

When people think of Louisiana, they don’t often think of the 20 state parks, the state forest, or the wildlife refuge-but they should. The parks, forests, and refuges in the state call themselves home to native species. They preserve a part of the area that would otherwise be forgotten and creates a safe haven for these things to exist. Below are the best parks and forests to visit to experience the part of Louisiana often forgotten.

Kisatchie National Forest

 Kisatchie National Forest is the only national forest in Louisiana. With its headquarters located in Pineville, the forest has over 40 recreational areas and over 100 miles for hiking. Visitors also find themselves picnicking, camping, hunting, horseback riding, or boating.

The forest is also home to two predominant roadless areas. Cunningham Brake and Saline Bayou are both areas designated to protect species native to the area. Cunningham Brake is a large wamp that protects flows into Kisatchie Bayou. Saline Bayou contains various forest types, each having different habitats. These areas were not given roads, as roads can damage forests, prairies, streams, and wetlands. They also do harm to native amphibians and reptiles that migrate to vernal pools.

Kisatchie National Forest lies throughout seven different parishes: Grant, Natchitoches, Winn, Rapides, Vernon, Claiborne, and Webster.

Grand Isle State Park

Grand Isle State Park is located right off the coast of Louisiana. The waters from the Gulf of Mexico created the beach. Grand Isle is the breakwater between the Gulf of Mexico and the channels that connect to the bayou tributaries of the Mississippi River. Lots of visitors come to the waters for fishing, swimming, or crabbing. Every July, many visit the beach for the Tarpon Rodeo, a fishing competition. The terrain also offers hiking or sunning for those looking for alternatives to water activities.

Over 280 species of fish call the Grand Isle State Park home. This is also an amazing place to see the Louisiana state bird- the Brown Pelican. For those looking for something a little different, there is a two-and-a-half mile nature trail in the park.

South Toledo Bend State Park

South Toledo Bend State Park is snugly located in the village of Anacoco, Louisiana. The park is located on several bluffs over and into the Toledo Bend Reservoir. For 2015 and 2016, Toledo Bend Reservoir was the nation’s number one bass fishing lake. In addition to bass fishing, visitors also enjoy hiking, cycling, and camping.

Housed in South Toledo Bend State Park are nesting grounds for bald eagles, which have been spotted in the area. The eagles feed from the endless supply of freshwater fish in the Reservoir. The park’s visitor center has an observation deck with a view of the reservoir lake and the islands nearby. Around the center is also a 3,000-foot surface nature trail.

South Toledo Bend is located six miles south of the former Hodges Gardens State Park, which closed in 2018. It is also not far from Natchitoches, Louisiana, which is the oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase.

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