Last week, I spoke with the very nice, ever capable Cody Louviere of DeAngelos. Cody clarified that the rumors for an early November re-opening of one of the most popular Lake Charles restaurantsare true. My impression is that the opening is not going to be officially advertised, but for those who keep asking "When will DeAngelos Open?" the answer is that the doors will be open to the public this Friday.
From my sort-of-across-the-street vantage point, I've watched the new building rise with the same anticipation and hunger pangs as the many other, loyal DeAngelos patrons. Finally, Margaret Place residents can once again walk to this great dining establishment.
There are so many bullet points as to why DeAngelos was and will continue to be one of the most popular Lake Charles restaurants. Service and food are, of course, at the top of the list.
The first thing I asked Cody about was the staff. 'How many of the old guard will return?" The two Sara's, Christine, Lauren, Jennifer, and of course, Cody are the names I remember Cody listing. I apologize for any I failed to list.
My first impression of the new staff as they walked the parking lot they rent from me recently was excellent. I received positive vibes that they are as excited about the new building and the opportunity to work at one of the most popular restaurants in Lake Charles.
To say that we missed DeAngelos is a massive understatement. I suspect the new hires already know they are about to engage in work at a particularly special restaurant with a clientelle that appreciates excellence in service and food. Which leads to my next questiion of Cody.
"Tell me about the menu...and that you're keeping the old favorites." Cody assured me that I'd be able to get my fix on the familiar Italian Flatbread, their amazing Pizza's, Calzones, salads, etc. Of special note are the additions to the DeAngelos menu that I did not expect, but will undoubtedly enjoy. For fear that not all the new menu items will be served on opening day, I'm going to hold off mentioning the additions, but know that anything that comes from the DeAngelos kitchen will be awesome. At this point in the conversation with Cody, my taste buds went into overdrive and early-November seemed as far away as Christmas to a 6-year old!
Since my conversation with Cody, I snuck in a few evenings ago and was lucky enough to receive a tour by co-owner Ritchie Gregory.
The new restaurant and bar at one of the most popular Lake Charles restaurant is larger, yet retains the same sense of charm and intimacy as before. I was, of course :), particularily impressed with the bar. It is quite beautiful and much more functional than before. The lighting, woodwork, and layout are all improvements over an already impressive location.
Can't wait to see the "regulars" and new faces! Oh Happy Day!
Recognizing the need for more research dollars to fight lung cancer, a core group of Southwest Louisiana residents met over a year ago to discuss what they could do to take part in this battle.
One of their first actions was to join forces with the National Lung Care Partnership. From this alliance, they learned about the "Free to Breath" walks which were proposed as a cross-country effort to raise awareness and funds about Lung Cancer.
The Lake Area responded raising over $110,000 along with an increase in the awareness of the impact of Lung Cancer.
What sort of awareness? An example that struck many of the 1,200 people who registered for the Lake Area Run.... Lung cancer takes the lives of more women each year than breast, ovarian and uterine cancers combined.
The date for the Lake Charles 2010 Free to Breath run to be held in Lake Charles is set for March 27th. Obviously, that core group grew to a rather impressive bunch of dedicated volunteers who have already started planning for the March 27th event.
This video is one of several PSA's created by the National organization.
Most every city has an extra special area, but not every city offers something like this land for sale on Shell Beach Drive in Lake Charles, LA.
And, even in Lake Charles, the availability of water frontage land for sale on Shell Beach Drive is a rarity.
In the Lake Area, practically everyone endulges in a holiday drive to take in the Christmas lighting. A tour of this area is often placed on the agenda when friends or family visit and for leisurely Sunday drives.
Whether driving or walking along this tree-shaded stretch, I suspect that locals and out-of-town visitors experience that certain sense of calm that goes along with admiring the wharfs and boat houses along the riparian side of Shell Beach.This particular water frontage land for sale includes over 4 acres of beauty and history dating back to the original Barthelemy LeBlue claim.
Southwest Louisiana boasts several such areas. The new Prien Lake Park and Sam Houston Park come to mind as does the historic districts of Margaret Place and the Charpentier District. But my bet is that driving along the Lake on Shell Beach Drive in Lake Charles is one of the most frequently enjoyed. Many have wondered if a sign offering this particular water frontage land for sale would ever be posted.
With scarcity of land along the Lake, a golden opportunity exists. While lots 4 and 5 of the Barbe Lakefront Partition can be purchased separately, the greater value (and opportunity) lies in purchasingLot 3B, 4, and 5 as one sale, consisting of over 4 acres!
With approximately 219' of riparian rights, a total of 359 feet along Shell Beach Drive, and depths of 515-520', this water frontage land for sale offers potential for several homes or as a beautiful estate lot. Be sure to ask to review one of several conceptual drawings have been created to showcase the potential of this property.
The price for the 4 plus water frontage land for sale has been reduced to $1,675,000.
Beyond scarcity, lies the opportunity to purchase this property in concert with Old Barbe Woods. The aerial image shows the relationship of the water frontage land for sale to the 53.5 acres that makes up Old Barbe Woods. Walking paths, a gated community with joint access to the Lake, putting greens, high density combined with estate lots. All this located just a stone's throw from the Lake, Interstate 210, I-10, downtown, St. Patrick Hospital and the surrounding medical community.
The Shell Beach Drive property as well as Old Barbe Woods are two of several high-calibre properties described on BarbeProperty.com and listed by Mary Kay Hopkins,LLC.
A few weeks ago, I met with an owner to walk his property along the Calcasieu River. Our specific destination? The River.
I had "googled" a map of the 17 acres earlier and could see from the satelitte view that it offered a unique perspective of the river. Like others, I had driven by it along Theriot road for years, imagining the tree-protected view.
My enthusiasm to personally witness nature at its best was unaffected by the fact that it was very cold and I knew our trek to the river's edge would be through some extremely dense sections.
Within an hour or so, we found ourselves mid-way along the westernmost 1/2 of the river's edge. The owner's effort with his machette was well rewarded. The beautiful vista of water, spanish moss, and cypress knees was enhanced by the absolute lack of homes across the river.
My photos, presented on CalcasieuRiver.com along with the satelitte view, also presented on the website, come close to capturing the spectacular east-west and Southern view of the river, but fall short of "being there."
Today, as I watched the "for sale" sign being erected, a neighbor drove up to talk. He told me that he had grown up next door and knew the property well. He was surprised to have learned that the property was for sale noting tht many had lusted for it over the years.
In his view, this location offers "one of the most beautiful views of the river" in Moss Bluff. I agree!
Because of the density, the For Sale sign also reads, "Posted. No Trespassing." But guess who has the owner's permission to re-visit the river's edge? I eagerly await my next "walk to the river!"
As discussed on the "Agency Rules Explained" section of the website, I solely represent the owner, but invite those interested in a spectaular view of the river to call me to discuss the details and the potential of a visit to the water's edge.
As you will see on CalcasieuRiver.com, the 17 acres are actually divided into two listings with a "consider the possibilities" section for both.
The latest and very important story is that the Lake Area has a chance to express our support and appreciation to the team at a special reception for them at their home field at Brentwood Prejean lPark on Tuesday at 6:00.
Getting to Prejean Park is easy. From Prien Lake, head south on Louisiana Avenue to Illinois. Turn left (east) on Illinois. The baseball park is just beyound Brentwood Street on the left.
Some would say that is was not a banner weekend for the team from South Lake Charles. Obviously, it would have been great to be watching our guys right now in the final game of the 2008 World Series.
At the end of the day, the South Lake Charles Little League team spent all or part of their summer vacation doing something over 6200 teams could only consider in their dreams. And, along the way, they captured our hearts.
They started by becoming the Louisiana Little League Champions. This was a significant as Louisiana has a host of talent, including our ultimate challenger from neighboring Lafayette.
Then, they brought pride and recognition to Lake Charles and Louisiana by winning the Southwest Regional Championship. It was a privilege to be there in person to watch South Lake Charles play in Waco and a thrill to watch the game where Kennon Fontenot's home run tied the game and forced an extra inning. An inning that SLC ultimately won courtesy of a valiant team effort.
With barely a few days rest, the team traveled on to Williamsport to represent the Southwest Region in the Little League Baseball World Series. They accomplished something 4 previous Lake Charles teams had attempted. Not only did they win pool play, but finished in first position. They advanced to the US Finals against Hawaii.
In a game that will be talked about and second-guessed for some time, Lake Charles played Hawaii in front of a record-breaking crowd. Hawaii prevailed (7-5) and represents the West Region against Mexico in the World Series finals as I write this.
Sure, it would have been great to be in the finals, but what a thrill to compete so well against Japan in the consolation game. Given Japan's record for winning it all, the SLC team was in darn good company and held their own!
So guys, hold your heads and banners high! You brought pride to your hometown and have bragging rights as one of the top 4 teams in the World!
Not satisfied with being the first team from Lake Charles Louisiana to advance out of Little League World Series (LLWS) pool play, the South Lake Charles (SLC) Little League team took a shot at the semi-finals last night and won 6-1 against the team representing the Southeast region, Tampa, Florida.
I was unable to watch the game live due to a previous commitment to help out at a local auction. To make matters worse, auctioneer Ben Mount had given me strict instructions to keep any knowledge of the score to myself. As the manager/coach of the 2001 Louisiana Champions that went to the LLWS, Ben has been following the games closely. At his request, earlier in the day, I had made contact with shortstop/pitcher Kennon Fontentot's mom, Shelley, to arrange for a signed baseball and poster for the auction.
Putting the game out of my head for a few hours, even for the sake of the auction, was not an option. As luck would have it, my job was to simply monitor a video being displayed via my PC and projector. This was perfect as it gave me an opportunity to easily listen to Robert Ryder's play-by-play account directly from Lamade stadium via cell phone. That covered, I settled in- get this - behind the bar! Honestly, the bar offered the best postion to project the video on to the screen. Honest.
From this vantage point, I did my fair share of promoting the New Orleans train tour for 20, the topic of the video and a subject for a future blog. It also gave me a chance to visit with fellow baseball enthusiasts, including a die-hard fan and cat lover who had determined he and his wife would enjoy the cocktail hour, identify the live auction item they wanted, find someone to bid on their behalf and leave in time to watch Kennon Fontenot pitch. Guess who was the lucky recipient of their auction paddle? Say goodby to the easy job assignment. A dinner for 8 prepared by fellow REALTOR and CCIM Andrew Vanchiere was at stake. Oh, the pressure.
I learned two things last night.
1. Robert Ryder would probably be as effective as a sports commentator as he was a pilot for United.
2. I'm a rotten auction bidder.
In my defense, one caused the other. The screaming SLC fans in the background of Robert's cell phone, the score SLC 3- Tampa 1, Kennon on the mound, and it's time for Ben to start the bidding for the Vanchiere dinner. I tried to play it cool and casual, not entering the bidding action right away, still following the game. I think I held up the #68 paddle at $550. In increments of $50, the bids climbed to $900. I bid $950. Robert's enthusiasm, the screaming fans, a budget of 1,200, the cause. I bid $1,000. Obviously, my head wasn't 100% in the bidding game, but either my bid/war competitor figured I was gonna get this dinner come heck or high water, or simply figured they better let it be before I went further out in left field. Either way, my job was accomplished with $200.00 to spare!
Next item. A baseball signed by the SLC team. True to my pledge to Ben, I kept the score to myself. Without knowing that SLC was winning, the baseball went for $175.00. I stopped at $150.00 despite Judith Smith encouraging me to "go for it" as she knew the budget, knew the people.
The last item was the signed poster of Lamade Stadium. Got it for $100.00 and still $100.00 under budget. Surely, this would make up for the $50.00 error!
Score $275.00 for the no-kill cat shelter, courtesy of South Lake Little League!
Auction's over. Robert is still providing commentary but knows I continue in my dual capacity. I congratulate Ben for his awesome job. He says, "You know the score, don't you." Prepared for this question, poker-faced, I reply. "Yes." He asked, "Is it over?" I reply, 'No." He asked, "What's the score?" I reply, "You said you didn't want to know." He says, "Tell me the score!" As I give him the updated 5-1 score, I turn my cell to speaker phone so Ben and others can enjoy. Willie Mount Vanna White happily announces the score to those relishing the success of the auction. Before we leave the auction, SLC puts the thing to bed 6-1.
Now, let's go watch that game!
{Edit 5:15PM on 8/22/08: Having contacted the winner of the Vancherie dinner, I have permission to reveal names! I was representing Frank and Ginger Pruit in pursuit of the Vancherie dinner. And, they laughed off my error in deference to their support of the Hobo Hotel.}
These are photos provided by Kennon Fontenot's mom. Here, Dugout, the mascot for the Little League World Series is leading the kids from both teams in a dance.
Before every game, the South Lake Charles team says a prayer.
Below, Kennon Fontenot at work as Shortsop.
He has just caught the ball and converting it to a double play against Hagerstown.
Kennon Fontenot's mom, Shelley Fontenot, provided me these "misc" photos today from Williamsport and Lamade Stadium.
I've always thought of Shelly Fontenot as kind and considerate, but the photos I am having to endure that illustrate all the fun they are having borders on cruel and unusual punishment! Because of her son, Kennon, I'm hooked on Little League and would much rather be in Williamsport.
Reminder, South Lake Charles plays Tampa, Florida in the US Semi Finals tonight.
The picture below really strikes me!
While I'm entertaining Trooper, the Ryder's lovebird and their two cats, taking litter box duty, taping the games, and clipping the newspaper articles about Kennon, these two are having the time of their life.
I've already called this foul play. Is there an umpire that will listen to my case.
Of course, Robert and Stephanie would argue that I'm drinking their beer, watching their TV, and eating their left overs. With that being their only "points", I'd put that debate down as a win for me by the mercy rule!
If I don't get one of those blue Southwest shirts, I'm gonna be some upset!
Kennon's sisters, Kristine and Emma painted Robert's head.
While the focus of the article is on "the buzz" about Kennon's pitching, the writer does an excellent job detailing Kennon's total talent.
Robert's favorite part of the article was the last line which was a comment made by Lake Charles Coach Charlie Phillips.... ""Kennon is pretty special to us," Phillips said. "We just love Kennon for being Kennon."
South Lake Charles Little League competes tonight against a team from Florida in the US Semi Finals. The winner advances to the US Finals on Saturday with that winner playing in the final game to determine the World Series on Sunday. Here's hoping I get to write at least two three more blogs about Team Lake Charles! And, to gain an insight into the family that supports theis outstanding young man, read an e-mail interview with Kennon Fontenot's parents. Go South Lake Charles!
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My first impression of the new staff as they walked the parking lot they rent from me recently was excellent. I received positive vibes that they are as excited about the new building and the opportunity to work at one of the most popular restaurants in Lake Charles.
Most every city has an extra special area, but not every city offers something like this land for sale on Shell Beach Drive in Lake Charles, LA.
along the Lake on Shell Beach Drive in Lake Charles is one of the most frequently enjoyed. Many have wondered if a sign offering this particular water frontage land for sale would ever be posted.
Today, as I watched the "for sale" sign being erected, a neighbor drove up to talk. He told me that he had grown up next door and knew the property well. He was surprised to have learned that the property was for sale noting tht many had lusted for it over the years.
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