Live After Five Rocks On

Friday, September 10
Cooler weather means hotter music, in Baton Rouge, La
When the clock strikes five on fall Fridays, downtown Baton Rouge trades business for live bands and after-work boogying during the Live After Five Concert Series. Crowds gather to enjoy free music, good food and drinks in a laid back, loosen-your-tie kind of atmosphere. And lots of dancing generally ensues. The fall season gets started this month, with music by:
• September 10: The Warbabies, Louisiana rock n’ soul
• September 17: Four Unplugged, variety
• September 24: Bucktown All Stars, rock and r&b

Free, with various refreshments available for purchase, and downtown's ever expanding range of restaurants and bars beckoning after the encore. 5 pm at Galvez Plaza, adjacent to the River Center and North Boulevard. http://la5.downtownbr.org

Natchez Antiques Forum

September 9—11
Revisiting the "golden age" of American antiques, Natchez, Miss
The Pilgrimage Garden Club's thirty-third annual Antiques Forum lures the faithful once again, with a roster of prominent authorities coming to discuss the roles that furniture, art, antiques and history have played in the time and place relevant to Natchez and its surrounding areas. The theme this year will be "The Golden Age: Antiques of the Antebellum South." Wendell Garrett, a Sotheby's consultant and regular presenter, who will speak at this year's forum, has noted, "Fine furniture, chandeliers, silver; all these things were made to order and shipped to Natchez. This helped develop our American craftsmen.” Other speakers include Jane Spillman of The Corning Museum of Glass; Donald L. Fennimore of Winterthur Museum; and Gregory Weidman of Hampton National Historic Site in Towson, Maryland. Lectures will be held at the Natchez Grand Hotel ballroom.

While in Natchez, participants also get to visit the historic places filled with and relating to the antiques under investigation. Events will include a reception at Stanton Hall, coffee at the historic First Presbyterian Church chapel featuring an exhibit of vintage nineteenth and early twentieth century photographs, a tour of three antebellum mansions with lunch at The Burn, and Antiques Row shopping.

The octagonal Longwood Plantation is once again the beneficiary of this year's forum proceeds. Prices vary depending on events attended, ranging up to $275 per person for admission to all activities. (601) 445-7479 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Or visit www.antiquesnatchez.com.

Mickey Gilley: Urban Cowboy

Sunday, September 12
Comes back to his small-town roots, in Vidalia, La
While we're talking about stuff happening up Natchez way, Mickey Gilley and his Branson Urban Cowboy Band will be giving two concerts at the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center this Sunday, for the benefit of the Delta Music Museum in nearby Ferriday. Gilley grew up singing and playing the piano with his two equally larger-than-life cousins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart. Then he went on to independent success with chart-topping honky-tonk and country music in the 'seventies and eighties. He's back in Vidalia this weekend to prove he's still got it all. 2 pm and 6 pm on the Vidalia Riverfront. $25 general admission; $40 reserved section. (318) 757-9999. Read more about the Delta Music Museum HERE.

A Long, LONG Time Ago

Until September 30
A closer look at a political dynasty, in Baton Rouge, La
A one-of-a-kind, first-time look at the Long family political dynasty in Louisiana is on view this month at the Louisiana State Archives. Huey, his widow Rose McConnell Long, and their son Russell B. Long are renowned as having been the only father-mother-son to serve in the U.S. Senate. Clothing, including a blue pinstripe suit worn by H.P. Long, books, photographs, newspaper and magazine articles, and many other items of note are included, since family members from five states donated or lent items. The dynasty still continues through state senator Gerald Long and Russell Long Mosely, who serves on the University of Louisiana Governing Board. 3851 Essen Lane. Free and open to the public. (225) 922-1200.

Culinary Weekend: Brigtsen Goes Viking

September 10—12
One of New Orleans' finest journeys northward, to the Alluvian Hotel, Greenwood, Ms
Deep in the Delta, Greenwood is a city full of surprises. Most immediately obvious of these is The Alluvian Hotel, the exquisitely sophisticated boutique hotel created by Viking Range Corporation founder Fred Carl, that stands as a gleaming monument to Carl's hometown, and to the international corporation that he insists remain headquartered here. But The Alluvian is no idle whimsy. The hotel stands opposite The Viking Cooking School, an expertly run culinary school to which aspiring cooks from all over the country come, to gain instruction from celebrated chefs while trying out the latest and greatest Viking professional grade cooking products. Add to this the Alluvian's luxurious accommodations, the presence of several excellent restaurants, and the resonant presence of the Mississippi Delta's blues heritage, and Greenwood has the makings of an inspiring weekend away.

This weekend is no exception. Nationally acclaimed chef Frank Brigtsen will be in Greenwood to lead a series of classes at the Viking Cooking School. Brigtsen, whose restaurant picked up honors for "top food," "top service" and "top wine list" in 2009's Zagat Survey, will be using his native New Orleans palate to create dishes that pay tribute to the best traditions of Louisiana cuisine. Sign up for individual classes starts at $75. Better still, make a weekend of it. One- and two-night packages with accommodation and assorted luxuries at The Alluvian Hotel start at $375. 318 Howard Street. (866) 451-6750.

29th Annual Seafood Festival

September 11—12
Join the feast, dance to the tunes, in Biloxi, Ms
Celebrating its delicious proximity to the Gulf's abundant, and apparently resilient, bounty, the city of Biloxi invites the hordes to its annual Seafood Festival on the Town Green, to help celebrate the well-established seafood industry that sustains it. This Gulf Coast happening attracts tens of thousands of people and is consistently ranked as one of the most popular events in the southeast. With succulent seafood, live music, arts and crafts, a Kids Village and Gumbo Championship, who couldn't find something to like? The first 100 people through the gates will be presented with a commemorative cooler, too. 10 am–9 pm Saturday; 10 am–5 pm Sunday. 710 Beach Boulevard. (228) 604-0014.

Masterworks Season Commences

Thursday, September 16
French pianist Philippe Bianconi to play Tchaikovsky, Baton Rouge, La
Setting a decidedly romantic tone for the 2010–2011 Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra season, French pianist Philippe Bianconi help the orchestra bring up the curtain on BRSO's Masterworks season opener. First up will be the Donna Diana Overture by Emil Nikolaus von Reznicek, after which Bianconi will perform Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, one of the most beloved compositions in history. The evening will come to a close with the richness of Brahms’ Symphony No. 2. 7:30 pm at the River Center Theatre for the Performing Arts. 275 South River Road. www.brso.org. To watch a video of Bianconi in full flight, click HERE.

Outer Space Adventures at LASM's Planetarium

Beginning September 2
At LASM, 3 new shows to keep audiences spellbound, Baton Rouge, La

Beginning this week, there are three new digital light shows coming to illuminate the big dome of the Louisiana Art & Science Museum's Irene W. Pennington Planetarium. Two promise to broaden audiences' appreciation for the solar system around us; the third is back by popular demand:

• Until November 24: IBEX: Search for the Edge of the Solar System: This riveting show reveals the discoveries of NASA’s Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) satellite, and its mission to create a map of the boundary between our solar system and the rest of the galaxy. Included is a tour of the seasonal night sky identifying constellations and visible planets.

• September 4—November 21: Legends of the Night Sky: Perseus & Andromeda: A captivating story about the autumn and early winter Greek constellation legends of Perseus and Andromeda. Animated in laser light, this family show is educational and entertaining. Suitable for viewing by children as young as three years of age.

• From September 4: Pink Floyd: The Wall: The legendary classic rock album is presented in 5.1 surround sound, accompanied by incredible animated images playing across the Planetarium dome above.

Admission to Planetarium shows includes entry to LASM's galleries, too, where current exhibits include:
• Selections from the Dorian Bennett Collection: Among the Louisiana works in the collection of New Orleanian Dorian Bennett are paintings by historic figures such as William Aiken Walker and Joseph R. Meeker; contemporary works by nationally recognized artists, including Doug Bourgeois, Clyde Connell, and Jackie Bishop; and work by emerging artists. Until September 26.
• Tradition/Innovation:American Masterpieces of Southern Craft and Traditional Art: This exhibition celebrates masterworks by almost sixty artists in nine southern states, including five from Louisiana. The items on view include a Mardi Gras Indian costume, a set of silver mint julep cups, ceramics, baskets, and glass sculptures. Until September 26.
• Julia Sims: Swamp Lady: Julia Sims earned the moniker “Swamp Lady” for her devotion to photographing the vast Manchac Swamp surrounding Lake Maurepas. This fall, LASM has opened its collection of Sims' photographs to the public. Taken between 1990 and 1995, these photos capture the beauty and mystery of a hidden world and highlight the need to preserve Louisiana’s wetlands. Sims' work has been featured in National Geographic, National Wildlife, Nature Conservancy, Sierra, Birder’s World and Ducks Unlimited. Until December 3

10 am–4 pm Tuesday—Friday; 10 am–5 pm Saturday; 1 pm—5 pm Sunday. 100 River Road South. $7 adults; $6 children and seniors. (225) 344-5272 or www.lasm.org.

Further Afield: A travel blog by Dale Irvin

Dazzling Sand, Dazzling Deal
Published September 1, 2010

With the exception of perhaps a few tiny tarballs it appears that the Florida panhandle beaches are back to their usual dazzle.  And to get you over there to see for yourself, the Pensacola tourism folks have put together a dazzling promotion. READ MORE...

Name That Country Road