Despite the challenges small businesses faced in 2020 and now into 2021, the area saw many new restaurants open. Several started as food trucks or pop-up concepts and expanded into a permanent brick and mortar. Check out these new restaurants in and around Lafayette Parish! Don't see your new

Pizza has a long history and even more varieties adapted over the years and in different regions. According to History.com, flatbreads with toppings were consumed by the ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks. The latter ate a version with herbs and oil, similar to today’s focaccia. But the modern

Most people think of Mardi Gras as our season of merriment before Lent. Still, many of our traditions, such as the sweet and decorative king cake, actually begin with Christmas. King cakes date back to 12th century France when a cake was baked on the eve of Jan. 6 with a small token hidden inside.

Crawfish, also known as crayfish, crawdads or mudbugs to some visitors, are freshwater crustaceans found in the swamps and marshes of south Louisiana. Crawfish have become as much a staple of Cajun & Creole culinary culture as the accordion or fiddle is to our music. The crawfish season differs from

A relatively recent invention, the bellows-driven, vibrating reed squeezebox known as the accordion

The triangle is a simple, percussive, rhythm instrument central to Cajun music. Consisting of two

A bowed string instrument, the fiddle is central to the sound, culture, and history of Cajun music.

Give a kid from Georgia a piano, and he can change the world; a gay black kid from the segregated and strictly religious south, that is. Richard Pettiman yelled the soulful gospel singing he learned in church on top of R&B swing and the power of Fats Domino's rhythm section, conjuring a force that

You can go ahead and tell the kids that Santa Claus is real. According to the History channel, St. Nicholas was an actual person—a Turkish monk in the year 280 AD, known as the patron saint of children. Over the millennia, various cultures and countries have created their versions of the man in red.

In the late 1700s, South Louisiana was a melting pot of cultures where families, friends, travelers, and neighbors gathered around the table at mealtime. Cajun culture today still revolves around food, family, and joie de vivre—a joy of life. Many of the area’s most popular restaurants have been

As Louisiana moves through its phased reopening of businesses, please check with restaurants, stores, and attractions for information on openings, capacity, and available amenities before making plans. Throughout the U.S., you'll find a sandwich tied to just about every region of the country. The

As Louisiana moves through its phased reopening of businesses, please check with restaurants, stores, and attractions for information on openings, capacity, and available amenities before making plans. Louisiana has some pretty unique laws pertaining to its food industry. Heck, there's even a

These days capturing the perfect photo for your Instagram feed is almost a necessity. Whether you're from Lafayette or just visiting, many places in the area serve as the perfect backdrop! We have gathered some "hidden" and not-so-hidden spots that will surely take your Insta-game to the next level!

Southern hospitality is a draw for travelers. The charm of Lafayette is evident in its visual,

While much of the country is still covered in snow and frost, spring bursts forth in Lafayette with millions of azalea blossoms in spectacular shades of pinks, purples, corals, and white. Azaleas were brought to the Gulf Coast over two centuries ago from East Asia. In Chinese culture, azaleas are

Areas surrounding Lafayette offer camping options unlike any other. While the camping season can be

Lafayette is a town of culture, food, music, festivals and history. There is plenty to do no matter the time of year, but with the weather heating up, shopping is a nice, cool, option. Here in Lafayette there are plenty of places to shop, but if you prefer a bit of a treasure hunt be sure to check

With a unique style and culture and warm Cajun hospitality, Lafayette is a hot spot for shopping,

Cajun Country is home to one of the most authentic cultures in the country. After visiting, you don’t just have to tell your friends and family about it, you can let them experience it for themselves, thanks to artful, unique and tasty local souvenirs you can order online and ship right to their

Your Guide to High-End Shopping & Dining in Acadiana Thanks to its lucrative oil and gas industry,

A tribute to one of country music’s greatest stars, Merle Haggard, will take place on Sunday evening at the Hideaway. The all-star band salute will feature Pine Leaf Boys Thomas David and Drew Simon, Daniel Coolik of the Revelers, and fiddler Kelli Jones. This will be the first of a series of

Despite the challenges small businesses faced in 2020 and now into 2021, the area saw many new restaurants open. Several started as food trucks or pop-up concepts and expanded into a permanent brick and mortar. Check out these new restaurants in and around Lafayette Parish! Don't see your new

This Wednesday afternoon, Louis Michot’s Melody Makers will play a special live stream concert to benefit coastal restoration projects. Michot’s experimental French music group with special guest Leyla McCalla will provide sounds for the wild game cookoff fundraiser. The virtual event requires

As Louisiana moves through its phased reopening of businesses, please check with restaurants, stores, and attractions for information on openings, capacity, and available amenities before making plans. With enchanting bayous, magnificent oaks, a rich history, and warm hospitality, Cajun Country is

As Louisiana moves through its phased reopening of businesses, please check with restaurants, stores, and attractions for information on openings, capacity, and available amenities before making plans. From fairytale gardens and majestic oak trees draped with moss to Cajun cuisine fit for a king,

Pizza has a long history and even more varieties adapted over the years and in different regions. According to History.com, flatbreads with toppings were consumed by the ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks. The latter ate a version with herbs and oil, similar to today’s focaccia. But the modern

For the first time in recent history, Mardi Gras is canceled. Due to the pandemic, communities around the state have put festivities on hold this year for the public's safety. Although South Louisiana won't be parading in the city streets or country neighborhoods, the spirit will stay alive at home

Music returns to the Grouse Room this Friday with local top 40 cover band, Shotgun Lillie. The performance will take place outside on the courtyard stage at the new downtown venue. The Hideaway will host two of the most acclaimed accordionist to emerge in the 1990s this weekend. Dirk Powell,

The Hideaway on Lee is hosting a mix of experimental jazz, swamp rock, and acoustic ballads this week. Multi-instrumentalist Josh Leblanc is leading Electronic Jazz Night at the downtown club on Thursday, while singer/songwriter Derrick Savoie and his Sad Boys will take the stage Friday night. The

As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King's life and legacy this week, I would like to honor the racially defying artists that made South Louisiana a mecca for unique American music. Rhythm and blues and rock and roll had a big part in the civil rights movement, and our local artists had their role in

Most people think of Mardi Gras as our season of merriment before Lent. Still, many of our traditions, such as the sweet and decorative king cake, actually begin with Christmas. King cakes date back to 12th century France when a cake was baked on the eve of Jan. 6 with a small token hidden inside.

Crawfish, also known as crayfish, crawdads or mudbugs to some visitors, are freshwater crustaceans found in the swamps and marshes of south Louisiana. Crawfish have become as much a staple of Cajun & Creole culinary culture as the accordion or fiddle is to our music. The crawfish season differs from

Although most Mardi Gras events have been canceled due to the recent peak in covid-19 cases, folks in Lafayette are still finding ways to celebrate. Whether it’s at home or at regulated outdoor venues, there is plenty of great Louisiana music to catch this week. Lost Bayou Rambler founder and singer

Mardi Gras season is upon us now that we’re in the new year. While we traditionally take down Christmas decorations on 12th night, we also put up our purple, green, and gold. Although this year’s carnival will be different due to COVID restrictions, the spirit in Lafayette is still alive. There’s

There probably will never be a more welcomed new year in our lifetime than 2021. Live music is often a big part of closing out the holiday season, and there are options to enjoy some local sounds in person, or virtually this New Year’s Eve. Rock n’ Bowl de Lafayette has been consistent with

Unlike most years, the amount of music to catch this week in Lafayette is limited. That being said, you'll still have the opportunity to hear some holiday favorites and locally rooted sounds during this Christmas holiday. Lafayette based crooner Marco Savvy will perform a set of spirited standards a

There's quite a bit of music to catch this week in Lafayette. The Blue Monday Mission returns to their new location, The Grouse Room, on Monday night. The live music venue will be hosting concerts in their courtyard while COVID-19 regulations are in place. Lafayette based pop group, The Good Dudes

Lafayette is a foodie town without pretension. Even James Beard recognized chefs serve up incredible dishes at reasonable prices. There are plenty of opportunities to taste your way through the world-famous culinary specialties of Cajun Country without breaking the budget. Dwight's Image courtesy

These days capturing the perfect photo for your Instagram feed is almost a necessity. Whether you're from Lafayette or just visiting, many places in the area serve as the perfect backdrop! We have gathered some "hidden" and not-so-hidden spots that will surely take your Insta-game to the next level!

While we're still navigating how to live in the midst of rising COVID cases, Lafayette has been creative in ways to enjoy live music. The Acadiana Center for the Arts is presenting their Socially Distanced Concert series kickoff with local soul songster Ray Boudreaux along with special guests Julian