Red River Blog Jam

We Were On a Break...2010

2010-12-27T22:32:00.000-08:00

... and seem to still be on it. Last post was over a year ago.

But we've got some exciting plans in the works for 2011. Stay tuned. New plans involve tons of scantily clad folks, dancing, drinking, nightlife, women's feet, gambling, men's butts, interesting looking street people and freaky roadside attractions.

Until then you can catch up with some of what we do here.

Mary Christmas...

2009-12-11T03:11:00.001-08:00

...it's okay to say, we're just saying.

Thanks Giving

2009-11-27T14:33:00.000-08:00

One of the best perks of living in the Highland section of Shreveport? The abundance of shade trees. West Shreveport just doesn't have the same scenic vibe.

Grand Elvis

2009-10-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

We know the street as Elvis Presley Avenue but prior to January 8, 2001 it was Grand Avenue. This photo (postcard?) is on display at the museum in the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium.

The Elvis street signs are for sale in the gift shop at the municipal at 705 Elvis Presley Avenue. Don't even get us started on the address listed on this website (turn down your volume before clicking).

Vlogs... We Moving that Way

2009-09-14T22:50:00.000-07:00

Kroger. Youree Drive. Weird. Changes. All. The. Time. What is happening at that store? RRBJ went there the other day and got lost. This was filmed in Shreveport at the Youree Drive Kroger and Target stores.

P.S. RRBJ is not posting much these days because we are moving into the vlog direction. It was bound to happen because "moving pictures is our future."

Celebrate Every Day with Mardi Gras in a Cup

2009-08-31T23:45:00.000-07:00

Drive thru daiquiri joints are peppered throughout SB Land. You can get tasty frozen daiquiris in flavors like peach bellini, strawberry, pina colada and white Russian. How does it work? You order a frozen daiquiri. They pour it in a Styrofoam cup, slap a plastic lid on top and tape the straw down to the lid, while making sure the tape runs over the hole in the top of the lid. It's not an "open container" unless you put the straw in.

Lots of Louisiana liquor stores have frozen daiquiri machines swirling multicolored alcoholic freezy drink treats. Got this one at Thrifty Discount Liquor and Wine, 3434 Youree Drive in Shreveport, LA. The only way it could get any better is if the neighborhood ice cream truck had a window where it dispensed adult beverages.

A New Way to See SB Land

2009-07-28T12:42:00.001-07:00

Murrell's on Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA
Originally uploaded by horvy81.

Photographer Val Horvath is conducting a rad photo experiment. Her profile note on Flickr.com says "Follow me on Twitter as I take you on an iPhone photo tour of Shreveport."

Horvath is photographer for The Shreveport Times. She joined the staff in February 2006. Before that she worked at The Facts newspaper in Clute, Texas. She graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor's degree in photojournalism.

Vote Early and Vote Often!

2009-07-01T11:26:00.000-07:00

The Shreveport Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau is sponsoring a cool contest for area filmmakers. Voting for the Show Us YOUR Shreveport Bossier event got underway today. To see all the different ways of life in SB Land click here. Some lucky person will win $2500 for their creation.

Personal Note: The editor, publisher, creator and head party hat wearer of Red River Blog Jam, Kathryn Usher, created the above video and very much appreciates your votes. Only with your help will True Blood and Voo Doo! win the big prize! King Cake Baby Voo Doo Doll hugs for everyone! It was great fun incoprating all the nifty True Blood stuff into my video. I love how HBO's hit show is focusing attention on SB Land! Take that New Orleans and Anne Rice!

Shreveport Farmers' Market Day One 2009

2009-06-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

The creatives are taking over SB Land! Great song by Alan and Alana Dyson and groovy video by Kay Kennedy.

Sound and Vision Saturday

2009-05-06T14:09:00.001-07:00

Plenty of delights for all of your senses this Saturday. After you pick up your free t-shirt for helping with the Highland neighborhood clean-up, fill the rest of the day with art.

Steven Soffer's Sound and Vision Show opens with a reception at 1 pm at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, 3201 Centenary Blvd.

Also there's all day long Lead Belly Blues Festival at Festival Plaza in downtown Shreveport. Wrap up your night with Katfish and Kocktails at 6 pm at artspace.

Picture of the Day

2009-05-02T15:09:00.001-07:00

Grind House Coffee Shop
Originally uploaded by mikerosebery.

"Grind House Coffee Shop" is another great capture by Mike Rosebery. Send us your art. It could be a video, a piece of jewelry, a song, a photo, etc. What ever you make that celebrates life in SB Land.

It's Time for Smoke-Free Casinos

2009-04-26T23:20:00.000-07:00

The Louisiana 2009 regular legislative session opens Monday. Two south Louisiana lawmakers have bills that would ban smoking in bars. One bill could even address smoking in casinos.

In 2005, the Shreveport City Council passed a ban on smoking in public buildings, city parks, public areas, restaurants, and shopping malls and retail stores. That ban exempted bars and any businesses that sold alcohol. In 2007, all Louisiana workplaces and restaurants became 100% smoke free. It's 2009 and time to make all workplaces smoke free. Casinos included.

Would we lose business if smoking was banned in casinos? We doubt it. Most folks come from Texas to gamble. Many of them come from Dallas. Would gamblers travel to Mississippi or Oklahoma just so they could smoke inside? There are other options for nicotine fixes. Go outside. Use the patch. Chew nicotine gum. Dip. Use snus. Try an electronic cigarette. Why should we cater to a small group of Americans? Smokers are a minority. Only 20 percent of the population smokes. We're not saying stop smoking. Kill yourself if you want. Just don't take us down with you.

Interestingly enough, Dallasites just got a crackdown on the places where they can smoke inside. At the beginning of April, Dallas expanded their smoking ban. From the Dallas Morning News article "... (a) city ordinance banning smoking inside bars and pool halls starts today, but cigarette smokers at bars from Uptown to Greenville Avenue say they will stay loyal to their favorite places and not venture to other cities just to smoke."

Editor's note: I work in a casino. That is until I published this. If there really is freedom of speech in America I suppose I don't have anything to worry about. If there isn't... oh well. My lungs will thank me. And so will my trash can, since I won't have to fill it with sputum any more.

Really would they fire me for publishing this? It is something to consider. Since I know I can be fired if a customer blows smoke in my face and I use my hand to fan it out of my way. I can even be fired if I ask a customer not to blow smoke in my face.

Ain't We All Mammals Swimming in the Grocery Lot Wishing for a Cantaloupe That Tastes Vine Ripened But Settling for a 6-Pack of Grape Kool-Aid Bursts

2009-04-21T12:42:00.000-07:00

In honor of Earth Day 2009, Wednesday, April 22: Sci-Port will release butterflies at 11 am.
Leia Lewis at Sankofa Gardens has been the queen of Earth Day for the last four years. This KTBS video proves it. The fourth annual Sankofa Earth Day Festival is Saturday.

Remembering Maggie

2009-04-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

Just east of the main gate of the Greenwood Cemetery in Shreveport is the grave of Maggie Lear. And 100 years after her murder, folks still visit her monument and leave tokens of love.

Shreveport historian Eric Brock wrote about Maggie's death in a February 9, 2005 article in The Forum. Magaret Bauman Lear was just 16 when she was killed in 1906 by Charles Coleman. After her funeral the Shreveport Journal and the First National Bank began taking up a collection to purchase the very monument that stands over her grave today and is inscribed "A Tribute of Sympathy from the Citizens of Shreveport."

What is This Place?

2009-04-06T05:23:00.000-07:00

If you know where you live you could win $1000.

Through May 1, 2009, Sci-Port: Louisiana's Science Center is accepting entries for its Aaron & Peggy Selber Red River Cultural Traditions Writing Competition for the best non-technical paper that integrates cultural, historic, geographic, literary or scientific aspects unique to Louisiana's Red River Region. In addition to scooping up the prize money, the winner paper will be published online by SB Magazine.

Robert McGuire, Sci-Port Director of Education and Public Programs, says they are "...looking for great writing supported by rich reporting of our culture."

Down the Red River, Again

2009-04-02T15:33:00.001-07:00

We love us some Dan Garner! And the puppies are cute, too.

Spring Sprung Sprout

2009-03-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

What is it about warm weather that makes us want to eat at Counter Culture? We stopped the other day and got an avocado sandwich and a baby yogurt. Tasty!

We feel green when we eat there. As long as we don't idle in the drive through. Get out and go in. Better yet, go to the 203 E. Kings Hwy location and dine on the patio. P.S. Wish they had a website or blog. We have to settle for this information about Counter Culture from the Shreveport Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau.

Free Mustard Greens

2009-03-06T12:30:00.000-08:00

Why is it when times get tough we want to hunker down and wallow in isolation? Play 2009 in a different way. Join the folks in your neighborhood and create abundance. One of the best places to do that is at the many community gardens in Shreveport.

In fact tomorrow morning you can get FREE mustard greens at the Highland Community Garden. Free food and new friends. The world is a bright shiny place. And dirt is sexy. Even The Shreveport Times thinks so with its new gardening section.

Do you Facebook?

2009-03-04T09:49:00.000-08:00

We have finally gone Facebook. And after only one day our mind is boggled by the potential. Do you Facebook? All the cool kids are there. If you're old school, it's like passing notes around in Coach Steen's American History class.

Not that we're bragging or anything but we've already got 56 friends and have joined the Highland Artists (HA!) group. HA! was created by Noma Fowler-Sandlin because "Shreveport's Highland Neighborhood is rich with all sorts of artists... (here's) a Facebook group where they can keep in touch."

Birthing New Music

2009-02-27T08:03:00.000-08:00

The folks in Shreveport's Blanc et Noir Marching Society know a good thing when they hear it. They are terrific supporters of The Red and Black Brass Band from Grambling.

This week's show (February 25, 2009) on American Routes features young musicians in brass bands who are taking Louisiana's roots music into the 21st century.

Mardi Gras may be over for now but there's always next year. By joining Blanc et Noir Marching Society in Shreveport you can help this new/old form of marching band music continue to grow. Imagine that. Shreveport is a part of the vibrant Louisiana music scene and not just the Other Side.

Thank you Talbot Hopkins for the cool video of The Red and Black Brass Band in the 2009 Krewe of Highland parade.

Porch Art

2009-02-19T11:49:00.000-08:00

Porches + art + Highland = funky!

Picture of the Day

2009-02-15T13:23:00.001-08:00

Mary
Originally uploaded by mikerosebery.

Thank you Mike Rosebery for this great shot of Mary at the St. Joseph's Cemetery in Shreveport.

We're sure you know this but just in case...Mardi Gras and Jesus and Mary are connected. Mardi Gras is the "last hurrah" before Ash Wednesday. In fact, Carnival comes from the Latin words carne vale, meaning farewell to the flesh. We've had reports that some local college students had no idea that there was a Mardi Gras Jesus connection...

Mardi Gras Parade Season

2009-02-04T14:46:00.000-08:00

Krewe of Centaur info. Krewe of Barkus and Meoux. Krewe of Gemini website.

And our favorite is the Krewe of Highland. That parade is set for Sunday February 22, 2009.

minicine?

2009-01-23T10:06:00.000-08:00

Creatives who understand the power of the Internet comprehend the next level of social marketing for their work.

The organizers of Monday's upcoming event at minicine? in downtown have a sweet grasp on this power. Locally they've got coverage on their own website and on Trudeau's. The event is and has been touring all over the US and Canada. To follow the progress check out its blog Channeling an invocation of spectral bodies and queer spirits.

We Googled some of the artists involved and discovered this Vanesssa Renwick and Elliot Montague and Aay Preston-Myint.

Spring Street Historical Museum

2009-01-15T11:24:00.000-08:00

We love this place. It's always crammed full of goodness. A visual feast of goobery history stuff with tons of SB Land connections. S-E-X-Y.

The current exhibit concerns transportation in SB Land. If you missed the last one, here are some photos from it.

24 Hour Church of Elvis

2009-01-12T23:28:00.000-08:00

Is there space downtown or in Highland for something like this? Stephanie G. Pierce created the 24 Hour Church of Elvis in downtown Portland. You can now find it on the Internet.

This fun Elvis info brought to you by RRBJ, where 2009 is the year of The King.

Picture of the Day

2009-01-07T14:48:00.001-08:00

Originally uploaded by StellaTex.

StellaTex brings us the first Picture of the Day in 2009.

What offering do you have for us this year. We want your thoughts, words, shorty-short films, songs, music, paintings, dances on life in SB Land.

Elephant Man Elvis

2009-01-02T13:51:00.000-08:00

Prepare yourselves. While this may be the Chinese year of the ox, 2009 at RRBJ will be the year of Elvis.

Why? Maybe to remind ourselves that The King got his start in SB Land.

Merry New Year 2009 (It's Okay to Say...)

2008-12-31T16:23:00.000-08:00

Steal Velvet Elvis' Idea

2008-12-30T20:31:00.000-08:00

Why isn't someone gigging this in Shreveport? We need our own Velvet Elvis in SB Land.

The West Edge Artists' Co-op has organized an art happening in honor of the King's birthday at the Municipal Auditorium on January 8, 2009.

What Does Your Mardi Gras Costume Look Like?

2008-12-28T04:48:00.000-08:00

Join a krewe this Carnival season. Two of the best outfits in SB Land are Blanc et Noir Marching Society and Krewe of Highland.

Fat Tuesday is February 24 in 2009.

Picture of the Day

2008-12-24T14:40:00.001-08:00

Ho Ho Harrison
Originally uploaded by I Am Jones Designs.

Picture of the Day is "Ho Ho Harrison" by Casey Jones who also happens to be the uncle of Harrison Keith Jones.

After the holidays are over send us your Pictures of the Day. Here's to a docu-fantastic 2009 in SB Land!

First Day of Winter

2008-12-21T00:53:00.001-08:00

SB Land Ain't Got None

2008-12-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

12 is the number of times Shreveport is mentioned in the Winter 2008-09 issue of Louisiana Cultural Vistas (the magazine of the Louisiana Endowment of the Humanities). The publication focuses on the state's culture, arts and history.
How many times is New Orleans mentioned? By page two we'd counted 20. We didn't have the heart to wade through the remaining 94 pages. If you'd like you can go here and count for yourself.

Remember the Reason for the Season

2008-12-13T15:50:00.000-08:00

War on Christmas? Please. KTBS and CW 21 KPXJ we don't care what you say as long as you are polite about it. For the record, we say Feliz Navidad around here.

P.S. The reason for the season? Shopping. This is America where spending will save the world. Reverend Billy does not agree with that statement.

Give the Gift of Local Art

2008-12-12T10:18:00.000-08:00

Ralph and Alice started the market earlier this year. It was even featured on Trudeau's blog and can be found on the listed on the Shreveport Bossier Fun guide.

P.S. The sold out Christmas in the Sky is Saturday also. Many times art from local artists can be found there but that money goes to SRAC. The money you spend at the market goes directly to the artist.

P.P.S. Where would you be more likely to find the next Clementine Hunter, M.C. "Five Cent" Jones or Howard Finster? Downtown. Open air. Bring cash. Make deals. Go home happy and warm and fuzzy and do a winter dance around the cheerful glow of your newly acquired piece of art.

SB Magazine Photo Gallery

2008-12-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

Back in October we encouraged folks to enter the annual SB Magazine Photo Contest. It's in their December 08 issue now on the stands (the Haynesville Shale's on the cover). They've put more photos on their website.

December on the Red

2008-12-01T22:28:00.000-08:00

We love the drawing! It warms us down to our freezing crawfish pincers when we see SB Land art.

December on the Red started in October and wraps up in January when the Toy Train Extravaganza closes its run at Sci-Port. Get ready for tasty holiday treats like Christmas in the Sky and the Sugar Plum Fairy Luncheon. If you missed Rockets over the Red you'll want to dive to Oil City this weekend for the Christmas on Caddo Fireworks Festival. Eggnog for everyone...if your not driving you can even make it a frozen eggnog daquiri from Tony's Discount Beverage on Line Avenue.

Critical Mass Bicycle Ride in Shreveport

2008-11-28T12:42:00.000-08:00

There is no phone number on the flyer. All it says is "A city-wide bicycle ride Saturday, November 29th 3:00 PM SHARP! Betty Virginia Park."

We are intrigued and wondering 1.)Are we in shape enough to ride city-wide? 2.)Goddess knows we need the exercise since the holiday eating has started. 3.)Do we bike to the park or drive the van with the bikes strapped to the back? 4.) If we participate will we have enough energy for Rockets Over the Red Saturday night?

Dreaming of a Green Christmas

2008-11-27T11:31:00.000-08:00

"The planting of a tree shows faith in the future."
Lucy from the Peanuts comic strip

Shreveport Green and The Renzi Education and Art Center say buy a living potted Christmas tree and plant it. They are offering Live Oak, Southern Magnolia, Mary Nell Holly and Leyland Cypress trees for sale for only $100.

How to decorate your house without a dead or plastic tree in your house? Decorate your firewood and celebrate with a yule log.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

2008-11-25T13:40:00.000-08:00

Are you a musician or employee who works in a bar or casino? You stories are wanted by the folks at the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living.

Will America ever be smoke-free? If other countries are doing it why not us? Ireland became the first country in Europe to make the workplace smoke-free back in March 2004. To get involved in the world wide movement for smoke-free air check out Global Smokefree Partnership.

Two Years of Red River Blog Jam

2008-11-19T11:04:00.000-08:00

RRBJ's first post in 2006 was chock-full of photos of red things. So on the one year anniversary of publishing RRBJ we did red again. Therefore it follows we do red today. Next year we may do orange or rust or pink or celedon...stay tuned.

We don't seem to be getting out as many posts as we did when we first started but then we are also blogging at other places like Crazy in Shreveport. We started a new blog this year for our art House of Usher Art. Occasionally we help out Mr. Trudeau over at his web ranch. New this year we also started helping the fine folks at the Highland Restoration Association.

We also Twitter a bit but not much. Funny lately we seem to be drawn to pen and paper more and more. Who knows what the new year will bring? Whatever direction we go it will be all about documenting and sharing our passion about SB Land.

Bossier City Best for Kids?

2008-11-12T14:21:00.000-08:00

Business Week says Bossier City is the best place to raise you kids in Louisiana. We quote it "is across the Red River from Shreveport." And that is why we had to draw this cartoon.

Welcome to Shreveport

2008-11-10T08:34:00.000-08:00

We get all giddy inside when people on our screens, movie, television or computer, say the word "Shreveport." Rob Senska and Mindy Bledsoe say it bunches in their new web series, Welcome to Shreveport. The show is about a couple trying to break into the entertainment industry. Tune in and see how many SB Land sites you recognize.

Shreveport's Highland Community Garden

2008-11-06T11:56:00.001-08:00

Want to be a part of the Highland Community Garden? This Saturday, November 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Dorothy McDonald says it's a meet and greet for folks who were a part of this year's garden and for folks who want to participate next year. Dr. Grace Peterson with the LSU AgCenter will be on hand.

The garden is at the corner of Stephens and Herndon Street, just across the way from Noel Memorial United Methodist Church. For more information 222-3678. Also this Saturday is the Shreveport Fall Farmer's Market. How cool would it be if you go to the meet and greet and by this time next year you're growing enough produce to sell at the market?

How many folks will bike to both events? Maybe more now that there's this money incentive for folks commuting by bicycle.

Highland Jazz and Blues Festival

2008-11-05T10:55:00.000-08:00

November 15 is the date for this year's Highland Jazz and Blues Festival. Like Trudeau recommends bring a blanket or chair.

The one day Saturday fest is packed with live music and local visual artists vending their wares.

Big Eye Ball Says Vote

2008-11-03T08:01:00.000-08:00

Election day is Tuesday. Not sure where to vote? You can find your polling place here.

For a behind the curtain look at the election process in Shreveport, The Caddo Parish Registrar of Voters, Ernie Roberson has a blog on The Shreveport Times website.

Meet Artist Debbie Buchanan Engle this Saturday at 1:00

2008-10-29T13:41:00.000-07:00

The opening reception for Debbie Buchanan Engle's show Mercy is this Saturday at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, 3201 Centenary Boulevard, from 1:00 - 3:00. The opening is mentioned on this page at The Shreveport Times along with Su Stella's jewelry making workshop Saturday at The Barnwell Center.

P.S. We Googled Debbie Buchanan Engle, Artist, Shreveport and got these hits: She's on the ShreveportBossierfunguide. We rediscovered this video of her. We'd forgotten we made it earlier this year. There are even pics of her work from a Gender Studies Conference at Centenary College back in 06.

South Highlands Walk

2008-10-28T12:16:00.000-07:00

Longleaf Forest Song

I.
October falls to the ground
Red is a leaf is a dress
Flimsy. Cheap. Tight.
Wear ‘til someone tears it off
On Halloween costume backless
But tonight modest leather Birkenstocks

II.
The forest primeval?
Longleaf’s a road in the city
Home of the happy dog
It is the click of the clip on leash

III.
Scarlet leaved tree wish I knew your name
This far South most turn brown or not at all
Sun muscles out one blazing farewell
Time to circle back to the gold van
Before spiders fall out of trees
Waving thin crotchety legs
To work down tire swing chains

Kathryn Usher
October 28, 2008

Centenary College's Bruce Allen to Perform Live

2008-10-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

If the idea of locally grown produce isn't enough to make you load up the station wagon and head down to the Shreveport Fall Farmers' Market Saturday morning how about some performance art (sorta...work with us we're getting our creative on...)? Who needs Martha Stewart when you've got Bruce Allen to show you how to slice and dice your jack-o-lantern? Allen chairs the art department at Centenary College.

You can make your entire Saturday about fair trade and sustainability if you shop the fall market and then swing by the The Greater Gift Market in Highland.

Katfish 4 Kids

2008-10-18T18:28:00.000-07:00

Mufasa by Josephine Carmody. Spotted near the fountain at Columbia Cafe in Highland. Part of the Volunteers for Youth Justice Katfish 4 Kids project.

Tasty Local

2008-10-16T13:05:00.000-07:00

Fall markets are popping up all over America. Chicago. Austin. Portland. Consumer trends show an increasing demand for fresh locally grown food and hand crafted items.

Shreveport's version opens Saturday at the Festival Plaza in downtown. Up to 60 vendors will be on hand every Saturday from October 18 through November 22 from 8:30 a.m. until noon.

Have you friended the Shreveport Farmers' Market on MySpace yet?

Get Shooting

2008-10-13T12:11:00.000-07:00

SB Magazine wants your photos for their annual photo issue. Send only your best work by October 31.

Eric Brock and Neil Johnson

2008-10-10T13:48:00.000-07:00

Noma gave us the heads up on the smashing article in the Fall 2008 issue of the Louisiana Cultural Vistas Magazine. We were whining because there's never enough about SB Land in there.

Historian Eric Brock covers the Highland-Fairfield area with words and Neil Johnson fills in the visuals. If you click on the above link you go to a web version of the magazine. Eric's story starts on page 24. A yearly subscription to the printed version is only $16.

Speaking of Highland... have you read the Highland Restoration Association blog lately? It's a good place to find out what's happening in the best place to live in SB Land.

Picture of the Day

2008-10-06T06:46:00.003-07:00

Katie Jo and Courtney
Originally uploaded by cka51966.

Thank you to Cindy Pierce for capturing the annual autumn rite of homecoming in SB Land and letting us use it as our Picture of the Day.

Send us your best work so we can publish your take on life on the Red River.

Oxford American

2008-10-03T14:04:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love this magazine? And who's in charge of publishing the SB Land version of it? Imagine lush photo essays in The Forum and SB. And we don't mean snapshots of society folks. And we're not big fans of some of the content folks are generating for The Shreveport Times website. We want pictures of pie, decay, architecture, culture... we want the essence of this place. Hey, isn't that what Trudeau does? Spend your advertising dollars with him...

It's not too much to ask for good photos. Life magazine set the standard for high quality shots to tell the story way back in the 1930s. If you're a publication, web or print, do us a favor and don't publish rubbish. If you're a photographer, pro or amateur, do us a favor and don't put your garbage out there. One well composed photo is worth... lots of rotten photos are worth crap...

Scribble This

2008-10-01T14:39:00.001-07:00

Big culture comes to town this weekend with the annual arrival of The Red River Revel. How scary is it to be an artist-vendor selling your work while folks walk by shouting out critiques?

Why not just offer the lookers a marker and let them just scrabble all over your work? That's what Bette Kauffman's done with her Waterline interactive photo exhibit in artspace. It hangs until October 18.

P.S. We confess. We're the ones who tagged "700 Billion Dollar Bailout Socialism Works in America For the Rich Not For the Middle Class or the Poor or New Orleans Save U.S.!!"

Shreveport True

2008-09-28T22:19:00.000-07:00

Love these opening credits. How many SB Land landmarks can you spot?

Alexandyr Kent's been following the making of this HBO series.

Business Week Says Buy a House in Highland

2008-09-24T13:34:00.001-07:00

Shreveport's Highland neighborhood is HOT. Business Week says so.

From the article:
"Artists turned around Soho and the Lower East Side of Manhattan in the 1960s, '70s, and '80s, and then Brooklyn's Williamsburg in the 1990s...Similar trends are occurring...BusinessWeek.com selected 15 urban neighborhoods that artists have discovered and where homeowners could see returns in coming decades."

The cities (followed by neighborhoods)

Atlanta Castleberry Hill neighboorhood
Austin East Austin neighboorhood
Boston Jamaica Plain
Chicago Pilsen
Los Angeles Echo Park
Miami Wynwood
Minneapolis Northeast
New York Bushwick, Brooklyn
Philadelphia Northern Liberties
Portland Alberta Street Arts District
Raleigh/Durham, N.C. Downtown Durham
San Franscisco Mission District
Seattle Georgetown
Shreveport Highland
Washington D.C. Atlas District (H Street)

Leading to Sustainability

2008-09-24T11:48:00.000-07:00

Caught the tail end of a new ad for Paul Carmouche on KTBS last night. This screen capture is not from that ad. In the new ad he says something like "our energy future is here" and he's standing in front of a oil rig.

Where are our local, regional and state leaders who are for new sources of renewable energy? If other locations are exploring new technology and creating new jobs why can't we? For instance wind energy is being harvested in downtown Chicago.

Here's a look at how other American cities are working towards sustainability. Popular Science has list of 50 communities that are hot when it comes to environmental action.

Picture of the Day

2008-09-21T15:56:00.001-07:00

Red River
Originally uploaded by OzPaws.

Thank you to Rebecca Bolda for letting us use her photo Red River as the Picture of the Day.

We'd love to publish your work that celebrates SB Land. Put it on Flickr or YouTube and we'll even run your short film or video that's about our great area! Shoot us an email at the above address.

Support Your Local Artists

2008-09-18T13:02:00.000-07:00

Two of the best people Hurricane Katrina blew up from the Gulf Coast are Su Stella and Curt Harville. The artists now have a live work space in Highland where they do blacksmithing, cold and hot glass work, metal work, painting, and more.

This fall they will be vending, teaching and demonstrating their different disciplines at venues as varied as the Barnwell Memorial Garden and Art Center, LSUS Pioner Heritage Center Pioneer Day and the Highland Jazz and Blues Fest at Columbia Park.

You can purchase their jewelry in the artspace giftshop in downtown (by the way, artspace will be hopping Friday night with the opening of the Clyde Connell retrospective).

For more information on art events with Su and Curt
228-263-2333 Su 318-525-2164 Curt
OurFireflyRanch@hotmail.com
Visit their online store at etsy.

Got Power?

2008-09-16T13:04:00.000-07:00

Little strings running between poles is a barbaric way to deliver electricity. Storms like Ike, Gustav, Rita, and Katrina continue to prove that.

Why put up with waiting for a SWEPCO crew to restore your power when you can light your house the Michael Reynolds way? His work is covered in the documentary Garbage Warrior. We love the quote 30 seconds into the above trailer "A family of four could totally survive here without even going to the store."

His buildings operate off the electricity grid, requiring little or no mortgage payment and no utility bills.

Totems

2008-09-10T02:23:00.000-07:00

Maybe the best thing Hurricane Gustav delivered to SB Land were those few days of cooler temperatures. And that always makes outdoor exercise easier. When was the last time you strolled through Highland Park? At 1700 Gilbert Street, it's one of the hidden jewels of Shreveport. And a great place to get an aerobic work out since the two mile foot path is all hills.

Highland Park has been home since 1996 to three Highland Totems by Shreveport artist Leonard Service. The three other totems that are a part of the Highland Totems project can be found in Columbia Park.

Ouch!

2008-09-03T15:51:00.000-07:00

SB Land didn't look good as the lead story on last night's ABC World News. The story focused on the anger of the Hurricane Gustav evacuees housed in state shelters in Shreveport.

Those shelters run by the state of Louisiana didn't have enough "wrap-around services." That's according to Sandy Davis, director of the Caddo-Bossier Office of Homeland Security. We saw him on KTBS speaking sometime during the storm. By the way, didn't KTBS have great coverage? They stayed with live and locally produced programming as the storm moved through our area.

SB Land fares better in this AP report and it even shows that the evacuees are grateful. Evacuee Charles Lucas seems to understand the situation. And even seems more level headed than a lot of folks leaving anonymous comments at local media sites.

One Week Into Curbing It

2008-08-27T14:09:00.000-07:00

Does it bother anyone else that the recycle truck comes down your street twice each pick-up day? How green is this?

P.S. Those blue cans will be picked up every week. So get ta curbin.' And since the cans have to be clean how much water will we use to recycle? It's not bad if you are recycling your gray water. It ain't easy being green.

Picture of the Day

2008-08-25T13:23:00.001-07:00

Absodogly
Originally uploaded by trudeau.

Thank you to Talbot from Trudeau for letting us use Absodogly as our Picture of the Day .

We know your household is buzzing with prep for the Clyde Connell Show at artspace in September.

Time is Running Out

2008-08-22T12:54:00.000-07:00

Last day for the Shreveport Farmers' Market is August 30.

Make it an earth-friendly weekend by shopping there tomorrow and then hitting the Everything Green Expo at the Shreveport Convention Center.

Keep Shreveport Wild!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-08-21T11:53:00.000-07:00

Eat local! Eat local! Eat local! The Shreveport Times reports a seafood restaurant is closing in Highland.

Big D's Bar-B-Que at 101 N. Common Street in downtown is alive and well. Dine there today!

Handles Go Towards the House

2008-08-17T09:50:00.000-07:00

Cool video from The Shreveport Times on the new blue recycling bins. Highlanders get to put those containers to work tomorrow. The big questions are can you keep folks from parking in front of your bin? And will the automated truck plan work?

Picture of the Day

2008-08-15T13:29:00.001-07:00

Lake Bistineau State Park

Memorial Day Weekend

Camper spaces all full;

temp 93; humidity 85.

We hook up utilities,

hang a hammock,

turn on the AC.

I choose to sweat

outside in the shade

within earshot

of kids playing catch;

Randy Travis whining.

You nap in the RV.

Remind me again: How

is this better than

a weekend at home?

Thank you Becky Haigler for creating our first written Picture of the Day. We're always looking for art that is about SB Land. Submit yours and help us record the mythology of Northwest Louisiana.

Haynesville Shale in Highland

2008-08-12T11:39:00.000-07:00

The meeting Wednesday night is in the church sanctuary. HRA's blog has the scoop. Invite a neighbor. There are plenty of pews in that big ol church. It seats over 500.

Also, you might get on the telly. The BBC is in town doing a story on the Haynesville Shale and they might make it by the meeting.

Buy Art This Saturday

2008-08-07T14:03:00.000-07:00

What are you doing with all your Haynesville Shale money? You should be collecting the art of the local artists. One of the coolest things about living in Houston were all the folks collecting work by artists in that area. And also nifty were the stories the local media did on the collectors and the artists they collected. Here's a recent story about a San Antonio law firm and its collection of affordable art from that area.

This Saturday you have a chance to see some of the funkiest art being produced in our region. It's the third month for the Art-La-Tex Art/Show Market. The name has been evolving but the location is the same. Already this local effort has been covered by Red River Radio and Louisiana Road Trips Magazine.

Grass roots artists' markets like this one started by Ralph Cody can be found all over the world. Melbourne's Rose St. Artists' Market. Austin has a market. In New Orleans you'll find Bywater Art Market.

Saturday August 9 (and every second Saturday of the month)
10 AM – 6 PM
600 Common Street
Free to artists and the public. Artists need to bring their own displays.
Ralph Cody 318 458-5064 or re_cdy@yahoo.com

Highland Bikers

2008-08-04T07:32:00.000-07:00

All of these riders were captured in less than an hour on Friday afternoon.

It wasn't a good weekend for cyclists in Shreveport. Saturday evening one was struck by a car on Youree Drive.

Picture of the Day

2008-08-02T12:53:00.000-07:00

...is a video from from Christoball.

Flickr now has a video feature for short films. Make a shorty and let us feature it as a Picture of the Day. We also like short fiction, non fiction, poems or other types of creativeness that tell us about life in SB Land. Can't pay you but you do get a lovely publishing credit to put on the resume.

SB Land Rolls

2008-07-31T12:15:00.000-07:00

More folks are biking in SB Land. Some wear helmets. Some don't. Some ride on the sidewalk. Some ride against the traffic. Some with. For the next couple of weeks RRBJ will document SB Land Rolls.

For a look at other discussions on two-wheeling in the city see Trudeau's blog, Alexandyr Kent's series on biking in The Shreveport Times, Sherri Talley's blog and what Prof Demerath has to say. You're welcome to add your bike and butt to the travelogue.

Oh, Shale!

2008-07-28T00:33:00.000-07:00

Oh, shale! We're all fixin' to get rich in SB Land... if we own land...if we own land and mineral rights...maybe we don't have to own the land... just the mineral rights...

KTBS has a special on the Haynesville Shale. If you don't want to wait for it to be on TV again you can catch it on their website.

Recycling Shreveport Farmers' Market

2008-07-25T13:40:00.001-07:00

Think the market can't get any greener? Shreveport Farmers' Market Manager Noma Fowler-Sandlin says tomorrow is "...the annual Cookbook Exchange, this year joined by a Tote Bag Exchange, too. So bring out your tired old cookbooks and tote bags and trade them for new ones you like better."

Also just in are reusable Shreveport Farmers' Market totes. The bright red bags feature the market logo in black. Only $10. The money raised will continue special events like the musicians on Tuesdays. Operating hours: 7 a.m. 'til noon on Saturdays at the Festival Plaza in downtown.

Pictured is the cool tote of Conchita McElwee. Snapped at last year's market.

Jumpin'

2008-07-22T23:49:00.000-07:00

Where can we get a pair? And is downtown and Highland ready for them?

By the way, the state of Louisiana is working on a master plan for those who like to walk or bike. Meeting tonight at Shreve Memorial Library at 5 p.m.

Picture of the Day

2008-07-17T14:10:00.001-07:00

Healthy Planet
Originally uploaded by mikerosebery.
Thank you to Mike Roseberry for his shot Healthy Planet.

P.S. Did you see Healthy Planet's owner Jim Rosso in The Shreveport Times recently?

Author Author Book Festival

2008-07-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

Open books lead to open minds. It's the premise of the book fest this weekend at Shreveport's Municipal Auditorium.

Maybe the most open minded act will be the masses "braving" the neighborhood and going to the Municipal. RRBJ only says that because we've heard tales of (1) folks who won't even eat at certain restaurants because they are in the neighborhood of Highland (2) and folks who wish the Municipal could be moved from its current locale and plopped down the banks of the Red River. We are not one of those close-minded yahoos. We love us some Highland and downtown (was gonna say lub but this is a post about books...).

Hot Bungalows!

2008-07-10T13:19:00.000-07:00

So maybe your house didn't make it into the new Highland Restoration Association Tour Guide because it isn't old enough.

There's another way for your home to be recognized. If you live in a bungalow, yours might be part of the current exhibit at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum.

James Eakin took the photos featured in the show. This Saturday from 1-3 is the reception. Special guest Sue Ball will share stories of bungalow living and Highland's past. Light refreshments will be served. Don't be surprised if the place is packed. The last HRA event at Meadows Museum was standing room only.

Vote Yes for the Red River

2008-07-03T14:10:00.000-07:00

The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities wants to hear from you about a new reading program focusing on North Louisiana. The article appears on page 6 of the Summer 2008 issue of the Louisiana Cultural Vistas magazine.

The big turnout during the recent Readings in Literature and Culture (RELIC) series on Elizabeth I of England brings this attention to the other side of Louisiana. Shreveport artist Tama Nathan documented the success of those Elizabeth sessions in Shreveport.

RRBJ says vote for Tracey Laird's book Louisiana Hayride: Radio and Roots Music along the Red River. Email your comments about the books they are considering to LEH RELIC director Jim Segreto at segreto@leh.org.

2008-06-30T11:15:00.000-07:00

Those green Share the Road signs are the work of Ian Webb, the owner of River City Cycling. You can pick one up for $5 and plop it down in your neighborhood. Webb says he wants to make folks more aware of two wheeling in SB Land.

KSLA has a good story on Webb and how he even takes his child to school using bike power. Sherri Talley at KTBS did a post on the Share the Road at her blog. Shreveport Times intern A.J. King explores alternative ways to get to around SB Land.

Bloggers

2008-06-24T11:09:00.000-07:00

RRBJ has a section over to the left that says Red River Area Bloggers. We need to do a better job of updating it because there a couple of interesting reads we don't have listed. Voice of Schleuss is one. We just added Highland neighbor Deb. Don't know why don't have Loren Demerath's down.

If you want to be added to the list we do have some rules. We'd like for you to have been blogging for a couple of months before we list you (we're still pouting because Nadine hasn't updated since February).

Trudeau always has good reads listed on his two main blogs Shreveport and Faces. Did you know he also blogs here and here? It's fun finding these almost secret blogs. Almost as much fun as walking the dog at night in South Highlands just so we can look in the windows of all the houses that have the lights on and no drapes hanging. We are peeking in!

Did Your House Make the Cut?

2008-06-17T13:55:00.000-07:00

The Highland Restoration Association has a new color brochure featuring 75 historic structures in Highland. The project was a collaboration between Eric Brock and Sue Ball.

The Shreveport Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau has hard copies of the pamphlet if you want to see if your house or building made the list.

If Only the Krewe of Highland Parade Floated

2008-06-12T06:20:00.000-07:00

Can't wait another half year to get a some of the wackiness that is the Krewe of Highland parade? This Saturday on Cross Lake will help.

It's the 17 annual Cross Lake Floatilla at the American Legion Lowe-McFarlane Post. The decorated boat parade kicks off at 3 but there are activities all day long. On Friday night there's even a fish fry connected to the event. Take your camera and put the pictures on Flickr.com so you can share with the rest of the class.

Tour de Shreveport

2008-06-10T09:36:00.000-07:00

The chance to star in your own ghost hunting video? It happens in downtown Shreveport on the weekends. Shreveport Spirit Tours* take place Friday afternoons at 6 and Saturdays at 1:30 and 6. New this year is the opportunity to appear in your own YouTube video. It's the perfect outing for families, couples and birthday parties.

*Editors note: My daughter, Katee Fontane, and I own and operate these fun seasonal tours. Under her influence we've created MySpace and Facebook pages for the tours. Come explore the West Edge of downtown Shreveport with us. Also, if you have trouble viewing the above video, click through to the actual YouTube site and you should get it to play. YouTube has its moments of wonkiness.

It's About the Fashion

2008-06-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

Shreveport Farmers' Market is not about the food. It's about the fashion. Get togged out and ride to the festival plaza for the happy hour market Tuesday nights.

Have you friended the market on MySpace? Then you got the bulletin and know the blackberries are HUGE and Dr. Cookie and Louisiana Dan will perform from 4 - 7 p.m. tonight.

And remember please leave your polyester at home. Unless it's retro poly. That's Destiny Toro's hiney in a cool skirt.

Are We There Yet?

2008-05-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

Shreveportbossierfunguide.com will help you plan your summer entertainment . Have you seen this nifty site?

Our only complaint? There's not a section for gay and lesbian content like guides in other cities. See New Orleans and Philadelphia.

Twittering

2008-05-25T14:53:00.000-07:00

Do you twitter?

Docublogging in SB Land

2008-05-22T14:09:00.000-07:00

New skills are moving this blog into the world of Web 2.0. One day we hope to be as good as Ying Liu.

The video is of Loren Demerath. He's a professor at Centenary College. We first read about him on Trudeau's blog.

RRBJ is responsible for the knitting and editing of this short film.

We Not Telling Ya Who to Voteeee For

2008-05-20T00:08:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago the editor of this blog site won a camera from KTBS. Now she has a chance to win an HDTV. But. It's not about the telllllllyyy. It's about the little gal (or guy) re-claiming the world.

It's about moving this blog into docublogging. It's about being able to take the next step to show that Shreveport truly is the ..."Austin for the rest of us..." or "Affordable Austin..."

Really. Okay... it is about the winning. Go here. Vote for the Biking to Highland Community Garden video. The editor of RRBJ also shot the DDA Home Tour video but she didn't edit it so she feels the Biking tour... best represents her current work. Thank you. And if you have any events or concerns that you think need to be docublogged please send us an email.

Arty Yoga

2008-05-16T12:54:00.000-07:00

Feeling bad because the thought of Bike to Work day has you realizing how much body work you need to be able to endure a pedal to the office?

Ease into fitness with yoga. Pamela Viviano will lead a yoga and art class at Lotus Studio tomorrow afternoon at 1. No prior experience necessary and it only costs $15.

Trudeau's been covering Pam and the doin's at the Lotus Studio.

W are Somebody

2008-05-14T11:38:00.000-07:00

Shreveport is all over the May 16 issue of Entertainment Weekly because of Oliver Stone's movie W. Alexandyr Kent has the front cover pictured on his blog.

If you want to work on W or any other movie in Louisiana, again you'll want to check out Kent's Louisiana Movies Blog. Louisiana still has the best incentive package to draw movie makers to our state.

Note: Reading all those Shreveports in EW made us feel like that scene with Steve Martin when he gets the new phone book. "We are somebody. We are somebody."

New Urbanists

2008-05-08T11:27:00.000-07:00

It may be hard to believe but Shreveport’s downtown area is being populated by New Urbanists. Eleven non-traditional living spaces in downtown were highlighted in the first ever home tour sponsored by the Downtown Development Authority.

DDA Executive Director Don Shae says the tour was a success and there are plans for another one next year. If you’re interested in buying a building in downtown the DDA’s website is a good place to start. The DDA’s next big event is Mudbug Madness.

Note: If you click on the pictures they get bigger. Also, I shot video of the tour. You can find it at KTBS. Keyword video. Click on Submit Video. Click on DDA Home Tour. Or maybe click Neighborhood News Team Video.

Inquire Inside

2008-05-04T11:50:00.000-07:00

Home tour in downtown Shreveport?

This afternoon from 2 until 6. It's free and sponsored by the DDA.

Over

2008-05-01T01:34:00.000-07:00

A bit of a mystery is happening at Betty Virginia. Letterboxing is sweeping the park.

Here's an odd but true history fact connected to Betty Virginia: A.C. Steere and his business partner donated the land in honor of their daughters. In July of 1930 Steere shot himself after Wall Street crashed in October 1929. He mistakenly believed he was financially ruined.

Pictured in black and white is the bridge over the bayou at the park. Centenary Professor Loren Demerath has an idea to get better use of these drainage ditches.

Taking this Blog to the Next Level -- an Essay by Kathryn Usher

2008-04-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

Tonight at 6 I'll learn some new tricks to add to the RRBJ high tech publishing bag.

Last week KTBS sponsored an essay contest. The local ABC affiliate was looking for viewers who wanted to be a part of their neighborhood news team. The four winners of the contest would receive a high definition camcorder and provide weekly videos to the station for use on-air and on the web.

I won one of the cameras. Groovy-doovy! Tonight we get schooled on how to use them and I'm sure some citizen journalist bits. Let the adventure begin. And let me just add..."stay tuned for this very important video broadcast..."

Picture of the Day

2008-04-25T12:34:00.001-07:00

Hear, Speak No Evil
Originally uploaded by Schleuss.

Picture of the Day comes from Jon Schleuss -- a multi talented Centenary student whose fervor about communication is revolutionizing the college's radio station, KSCL.

Think you're too old and out of touch to like what those crazy college kids are doing on the airwaves? We know a 58 year-old white Republican man who is passionate about what he hears on 91.3 FM. Tune in but be prepared. It's not slick. It's earthy. And that's good because slick equals corporate radio and how boring has that become?