Take Home a Piece of Original Louisiana

If the next big idea for business is authenticity than The Little Shanty Folk Art Gallery on Line Avenue is SB Land's best example of this new way of entertaining customers.

The enterprise is owned and operated by Alania Osborne-Currie and her husband Robert Currie. For the story in The Times click here.

There are chickens in the backyard, laundry drying on the line and an outhouse. The whole enterprise challenges you to reconsider how you shop for art. One of the most interesting bodies of work for sale is by Louisiana artist Micheal A. Smith. He creates sculptures from toothpicks.

The Little Shanty Folk Art Gallery, 7102 Line Avenue, is open six days a week. 318 861-3308.

On a semi-related note: for more about an authentic sense of place listen to this Smart City show.

Shiny Stars Love Us

In the November 07 issue of InStyle Jessica Simpson confesses to liking Shreveport.

For the behind the scenes scoop on Jessica's SB Land photo shoot swing by Designers Consortium on East Kings Highway and visit with Jane Ryder. And to see more of the magical work of this Shreveporter click janeryderdesigns.com.

Third Friday Gallery Night

It's the fashion equivalent to a locally owned restaurant (which is a very, very, very wonderful thing -- no one goes to a city to visit its McDonald's). Designers Consortium, 208 E. Kings Highway, is where to find high quality goods designed by SB Land designers.

Can't think of a better way to start your weekend off than by visiting Designers Consortium for their first Third Friday Gallery Night on October 19. Original fashions, accessories, jewelery and more will be available for browsing and purchasing from 6 until 8 pm.

Trudeau's covered the wickedly talented bunch from the beginning. The group even has a ad on page 31 of this week's Forum. Email them at designerconsortium@yahoo.com or call 318 861-3111.

Picture of the Day

Thank you to Liz Jackson at takeaholladay for the use of her nifty cool drawing of the steeple of the First United Methodist Church at the head of Texas Street. She calls the piece Jesus Loves.

Note: we have always loved the steeple and even used it on the front of our rack cards for our downtown walking tours.

Been to the Revel?

Just a few of days left. The last couple of years rain has flooded the festival. This year there's too much heat. A cool evening breeze and a beer in a blue aluminum bottle is the best way to enjoy the party.

Vanishing Landscape

One of the best things about living in urban part of SB Land is the nearness of country. Dr. Patrick Colyer gave us a grand tour out at the Red River Research Station. Not many folks are growing cotton these days. Most are planting corn.



P.S. RRBJ doesn't know why we haven't blogged in forever (we started this post on September 19 and it's already October so we figured we'd better finish it). It might be the recent on the job injury we suffered or it might be someone has stolen all our words or it might be the fact we can't stop taking photographs. Maybe we'll just post photos for the next few weeks and see if the words catch up to us.