First of all, let me say that I adore each and every one of the current bartenders who cater so well to the regulars as well as those new to one of the finest restaurants in Lake Charles. So, why blog about Jacob? Like his counterparts, he is friendly and at ease with the customers. The difference is... Jacob is entertaining. He's one of those who can juggle (literally) the bottles and conduct other … (8 comments)
lake charles local interest: Dog Dogs Exhibit a Hit!
- 10/09/10 08:16 AM
Having attended last night's well attended opening of Elliot Erwitt: Dog Dogs exhibit at Historic City Hall, I'm thrilled to report that the exhibit exceeded my already-high expectations. Frankly,I encourage even non-dog lovers to take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy Erwitt's work! His photos capture canines from many countries and in a wide variety of situations. You can get a sampling by visiting this website, but there are so many more to see and, of course, they are much better up close and personal. Besides the Erwitt exhibit, local school children and adults submitted photos of their dogs in a … (11 comments)
lake charles local interest: Winter hours for the Lake Charles Farmer's Market
- 10/06/10 06:23 AM
Last night around 6:15, three of us from Margaret Place rode our bikes through Downtown Lake Charles, then east on Kirby Street through a portion of the Charpentier District. Minimal traffic, beautiful historic homes, and a fall evening made for quite an enjoyable and peaceful bike ride with friends. Our destination? The Cash and Carry Farmer's Market on the corner of Enterprise Blvd and Broad Street. A 4th friend, forced to drive due to a broken arm, was to meet us in order to utilize her car for that which could not fit in our baskets. Turns out, we missed the … (10 comments)
lake charles local interest: Great Bicycle store in Lake Charles
- 09/26/10 02:12 PM
Saturday, two friends joined me in a trip to a great bicycle store in Lake Charles, Capitol Cyclery of Lake Charles. I was in search of a basket for use on trips to our farmer's markets and my friends were in search of new bikes. Thanks to the experienced and helpful staff of this bicycle store, each of our objectives was met, including installation of the baskets and seat height adjustments. Capitol Cyclery is a locally owned and operated bicycle shop. They have recently moved into a new and impressive location at 615 E. Prien Lake Road (next door to … (6 comments)
lake charles local interest: A shout-back at Joseph Darbonne and Chris Shearman!
- 09/26/10 10:50 AM
Thankfully, I've located the photo I took at OB's Bar and Grill last weekend in order to include in this post about a fun night after LSU's 3rd victory. My original plans were to simply enjoy the game with friends in Margaret Place and head home. As we were enjoying the post-game celebration, I was approached by a young man with a grin on his face. The minute Joseph Darbonne introduced himself, I knew why he was grinning. I 've known his family and relatives as we were at McNeese State University together. Joseph's parents, Constance and … (4 comments)
lake charles local interest: Been there, done that, will be back....The Lake Charles Promenade and "Almost Alice"
- 09/19/10 09:50 AM
Yesterday was a perfect Saturday in Lake Charles! I joined friends in a visit to the Almost Alice Exhibit at Historic City Hall and then went for a leisurely walk on the new Lakefront Promenade and Marina having completed my "exercise walk" on the same path much earlier. The Almost Alice exhibit inspired us to go in search of our Alice in Wonderland books and plan to return to see the marvelous work of Maggie Taylor again. As a result, this is probably one of those "will be back" exhibits, especially since I want my friends to see the "Great … (11 comments)
lake charles local interest: Statue of Jesus just off I-10 in Lake Charles
- 09/19/10 09:04 AM
We extended this morning's walk a bit so we could visit the statue of Jesus which is located just off Interstate 10 in Lake Charles. The statue is within the historic Bilbo Cemetery. This video is very short. I'll try to return when not exercising to take more footage. For the time being, this area is not easily accessible as the portion of the boardwalk destroyed after Hurricane Rita has not been repaired. As excited as I am about the Lakefront Promenade, I certainly hope that the burial place of Jacob Ryan and other "notables" receives a face lift and superior … (4 comments)
lake charles local interest: Professionally Created Video about Southwest Louisiana
- 09/19/10 08:30 AM
This professionally created video about Southwest Louisiana provides an excellent overview about life in Southwest Louisiana, especially Lake Charles. It was a collaborative effort with the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitor's Bureau as the primary force behind its creation. So, take a few minutes to learn more about the good life in Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana! … (5 comments)
lake charles local interest: Ceremonial Groundbreaking held for the new Aeroframe Services $3 million dollar building at Chennault!
- 09/16/10 07:24 AM
A ceremonial Groundbreaking was held for the new Aeroframe Services $3 million dollar building at Chennault yesterday. The front page news story by Mike Jones was in today's American Press. The 2-story, 18,000 square foot building will take approximately 12 months to build and will play a role in the expansion of Aeroframe. The engineering, sales, and accounting departments will be housed in the new building which was a financed through a combination of the city, parish, and Chennault with a match from the U.S. Commerce Department. Aeroframe has been an important part of the Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana for … (2 comments)
lake charles local interest: This evening along the Lakefront Promenade in Lake Charles
- 09/15/10 03:11 PM
Soon, references to our new Lakefront Promenade and Marina will be reduced, but not until after Saturday's grand opening. For years, Bord du Lac Park has offered several reasons to visit, including the millennium park and the 9-11 memorial. With the addition of several more attractions on our lake front, those traveling on I-10 have yet another reason to take a break in Lake Charles, including this beautiful Sculpture overlooking the Lake. This EXTREMELY short video was taken during this evening's walk with neighbors. We take our walking quite seriously, thus this may be the shortest video that will ever be … (5 comments)
lake charles local interest: An Invitational Video from Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach
- 09/14/10 11:02 AM
In this video, Mayor Randy Roach offers an invitation to attend two ribbon cutting events plus much more this Saturday at Bor du Lac Park. My neighbors and I are already hooked on the walk along the Lake and will most likely be in attendance to enjoy all that will be offered. With the fancy marina complete with electric hook-ups, I've got a feeling I'm going wish that I still had "The Drizzler", my 22' Catalina Sailboat! … (2 comments)
lake charles local interest: Lake Charles, LA offers the only white-sand inland beach along the Gulf Coast!
- 09/07/10 07:13 AM
Those traveling East-bound on Interstate 10 have quite a treat in store as they come off the I-10 bridge separating Westlake from Lake Charles. This is because Lake Charles offers the only white-sand inland beach along the Gulf Coast! West-bound traffic takes the Lakeshore Drive exit as well. The difference is that you'll need to circle under the I-10 bridge. At that point, the Lake will be to your right. The beach makes for a great place to stretch your legs, take a walk along the beach, or build a sandcastle! During the summer, you can often rent a … (10 comments)
lake charles local interest: Veteran's Memorial Park in Lake Charles
- 09/07/10 02:55 AM
Veteran's Memorial Park in Lake Charles, LA is a tribute to those who have sacrificed for our freedoms. As indicated on the city of Lake Charles website, it is "...a place where veterans and their families, and citizens of this city and state, can gather to reflect and pay tribute to those who have unselfishly made or willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom." The park is quite visible from the Lakeshore Drive curve off of Interstate 10 and overlooks the Lake, also visible from I-10. With its Vietnam-era Helicopter and a WWII tank along with a fountain … (4 comments)
lake charles local interest: The Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitor's Bureau
- 09/06/10 07:58 AM
The Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitor's Bureau (CVB) has long been an important resource. My respect for executive director Shelly Johnson and crew is extreme. For many years, the CVB produced results out of an incredibly small office. The only redeeming quality about their former home is that it was also on the Lake and easily accessible from Interstate 10. Now, they operate out of a first-class, two-story facility that offers a superior view of the Lake while retaining easy access. Their relatively new digs are spacious and a source of pride. In this short video, I provide a quick … (6 comments)
lake charles local interest: Reasons to get off Interstate 10 in Lake Charles!
- 09/05/10 04:27 PM
Over time, I've written numerous "points of interest" posts as well as suggestions as to great restaurants in downtown Lake Charles. It occurred to me recently that there are a tremendous number of "Reasons to get off Interstate 10 in Lake Charles." So many, I dare not try to predict a number for fear of under-estimating. So, starting now, as I write a new post providing yet another reason to get off Interstate 10 in Lake Charles, I'm going to place the title and link right here so those traveling I-10 will have another resource. With this effort....I have a dream … (6 comments)
lake charles local interest: An evening with Danny O'Flaherty or "How to get offered a free i-Pad!"
- 09/04/10 08:28 AM
I was not prepared to be captivated last night by Celtic Balladeer Danny O'Flaherty. The ticket purchase to the O'Flaherty concert was out of a desire to do something nice for my long-time friend and neighbor, Kathleen. We had celebrated her 88th birthday a few days before, so, when I noticed the ad for the O'Flaherty concert in Friday's paper, it seemed a nice way to cap off her birthday week. Like most who live in Lake Charles, I was familiar with O'Flaherty by name as he has performed here numerous times and was instrumental in creating the Celtic Nation … (9 comments)
lake charles local interest: To the Hobo Hotel for Cats~ Congratulations and Good Luck
- 08/29/10 02:24 PM
The Hobo Hotel for Cats is a no-kill cat shelter in Lake Charles, LA. From the meowship members to the board of directors, it is a dedicated and hard working group of cat lovers dedicated to rescuing, spay/neuter efforts, and finding temporary and permanent homes for its rescued cats and kittens. Funding is an ongoing issue and they seize every effort they can to raise funds.Here, I want to mention three of their recent and current efforts. The AnimalRescueSite.com's shelter challenge is one of those "click-to-vote-daily sites". For the second time, the Hobo Hotel has emerged as the 1st place state … (7 comments)
lake charles local interest: Looking for an easy and fun way to support the 4 Paws Society?
- 08/29/10 08:41 AM
Looking for an easy and fun way to support the 4 Paws Society? Come to Raising Canes on Ryan Street (across from McNeese University) on Monday night and "Dine for the Dogies" from 5PM - 8 PM. You can learn more about the many volunteer efforts available as well as make a donation. And, of course, be sure to enjoy some of that great Raising Cane's chicken. … (0 comments)
lake charles local interest: Kudos to The Porch Coffee and Cafe House in Lake Charles
- 08/29/10 08:00 AM
Any friend to the 4 Paws Society gets a plug right here on the Mary Kay Hopkins blog! Here, I want to put the spotlight on The Porch Coffee and Cafe House located at 4710 Common in Lake Charles. I'm doing so in appreciation of their recent successful effort of hosting the 4 Paws Society and a handful of dogs at a recent gathering at "The Porch." Reports from the 4 Paws Society members in attendance were quite pawsitive with several expressing hopes of returning. Learn more about this event and the 4 Paws Society at 4PawsSocietyInc.com.
The … (0 comments)
lake charles local interest: Toys of our Father's Father's Fathers exhibit coming to Lake Charles
- 08/29/10 05:42 AM
When I first read about the exhibit, " Toys of our Father's Father's Fathers," nostalgic memories of my dad surfaced. You see, my dad had a fascination with trains. As a young boy, he had a train track running through the family home in Newman, Illinois. He carefully maintained his trains and ultimately set up a smaller version on a ping pong sized table where my brother and I spent hours helping to set up the landscape and then, running the train. From November 5 - January 16th, those in and traveling to Lake Charles will have a chance to witness … (0 comments)
Besides writing a bit about my listings and services, I enjoy sharing information about Lake Charles, Southwest Louisiana, and The Margaret Place Historical District and general real estate.
Monday is not a regular night for me to visit my favorite dining establishment, DeAngelos. After meeting the new bartender, Jacob Trevino, that may change. 
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