Happenings

Storm Closures

Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site expects to have everything cleaned up and ready for visitors by next week.  See below for their next interpretive programs.  Sonny’s Pizza is also closed and it is getting quite a face lift.  Stay tuned for a re-opening date.  Sadly, Cypress Grill will not re-open.

 

Last Event

“The End” has come for Audubon Antiques but they are going out with a bang, literally.  Of course, it is the bang of the auctioneer’s gavel that you’ll hear!  On Saturday, October 4 at 5 pm and Sunday, October 5 at 1 pm, Audubon Antiques and Hunt Auction will hold the last auction with lots of furniture, unusual collectibles, estate glassware and much more.  An early preview will be held on Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and on Sunday from 10 am until 1 pm.  You can see color photos of auction items at www.huntantiquegallery.com.

 

Angola Rodeo

Yep, time once again for the Wildest Show in the South.  Every Sunday in October the gates open at 9 am, the rodeo begins at 2 pm, and crafts are open until 5 pm.  Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased by calling 655-2030 or by visiting www.angolarodeo.com.

 

Mystery Tours

After the rodeo each Sunday in October, The Myrtles Plantation will be open for a 7 pm Mystery Tour.  This is in addition to their regular Mystery Tours which are held on Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the year.  Cost is $10.  For more information, call 635-6277 or 800-809-0565 or visit www.myrtlesplantation.com.

 

Freedom Walk

On Saturday, October 11, the Blue Star Mothers are hosting a Freedom Walk to honor the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11 and in support of our armed forces who protect the freedoms we so often take for granted.  Along with the walk, several Main Street Merchants will be featuring sales and other specials.  For more information on the walk, call 635-3640.

 

Southern Garden Symposium

Scheduled for Friday and Saturday, October 17 and 18, this year’s program will be the 20^th annual meeting that attracts garden enthusiasts from across the South.  For more information, visit www.SouthernGardenSymposium.org or call Lucie Cassity at 635-3738.

 

Digging Up the Past

Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site offers this program which is devoted to learning the art of the archaeologist.  On Friday, October 17 from 11 am until 4 pm, visitors will learn how archaeologists find historic artifacts by participating in a “dig.”   This program is being held in conjunction with Archaeology Month.  For more information, call 888-376-1867 or 635-3110.

 

Lost Arts Saturdays

This program occurs every third Saturday of each month at Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site.  The October program will feature the “lost art” of Spanish moss preparation.  Held on Saturday, October 18 from 11 am until 3 pm, call 888-376-1867 or 635-3110 for more information.

 

Yellow Leaf Arts Festival

Now in its 6^th year this festival of the arts has moved to a larger location to accommodate the artisans and visitors.  Art, music and poetry can be viewed and enjoyed – and purchased – from 10 am until 5 pm On Saturday and Sunday, October 25 and 26, at Parker Park.  Louisiana’s Poet Laureate, Darrell Bourque, will do a reading on Saturday at 1 pm, and artist in residence for the festival, Donna Kilbourne, will be in the gazebo.  Sponsored by a grant from the office of the Lt. Governor, the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, and the World Cultural Economic Forum, more information is on www.stfrancisvillefestivals.com or call 635-3665.

 

Funeral Re-enactment

On Saturday, October 25, from 10 am until 6:30 pm, the staff of Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site will re-enact the funeral of Daniel Turnbull who died on October 30, 1861.  After the funeral the Turnbull family will tell ghost stories.  For more information, call 888-376-1867 or 635-3110.

 

Locust Grove State Historic Site

On Sunday, October 26, this site will offer two interesting programs.  From 10 am until noon, The Dead of Locust Grove discusses who is buried at this historic cemetery and their importance to the area.  Included in the discussion will be Major General Eleasar Ripley, an early American military hero, and Sarah Knox Taylor Davis, the first wife of later Confederate President Jefferson Davis.  Then from 2 pm until 4:30 pm, Grave Rendering at Locust Grove will teach this process using the stones of the inhabitants of the Locust Grove Cemetery.  For more information on either program, call 888-677-2838 or 635-3739.

 

All Hallows Eve

Audubon State Historic Site offers this program on October 31, of course, from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm.  Through interactive stations visitors can learn about the beginnings and evolution of Halloween traditions and superstitions.  For more information, call 888-677-2838 or 635-3739.

 

Annual Halloween Extravaganza

The Myrtles Plantation will feature special Halloween tours, great food and refreshments during their annual Halloween Extravaganza to be held on Friday, October 31 and Saturday, November 1.  Tickets are $10 and go on sale at 6 pm.  For more information, call 635-6277 or 800-809-0565.

 

Opening Soon

The Carriage House Restaurant at the Myrtles Plantation will be opening soon.  More information in upcoming Happenings.

 

Save the Date

The Women’s Service League of St. Francisville will host its Sixth Annual Taste of the Felicianas Gala on Friday, January 23, 2009 at Hemingbough.  For further details and ticket purchasing information visit www.womensserviceleague.com or contact Krystal Marionneaux at kkmarionneaux@bellsouth.net.

 

Happenings

Farmer’s Market

Sadly, the old 4-H barn took a beating from Gustav and suffered so much damage as to make holding the farmer’s market there impossible.  Until there is another site, the farmer’s market will no longer be open on Thursdays.  We look forward to when we can help take some of that produce off their hands and will let you know when they are back in business.

 

Music at the Mag

Let’s all sing along and dance to the music of the ever popular Delta Drifters.  They play Friday night at The Mag starting at 7:30.

 

Oakley is Open!

Audubon State Historic Site is back open and will hold their scheduled interpretive program this Saturday.  Walking Nature Tour, 10:30 am until 3 pm, invites you to discover the wildlife that drew a young John James Audubon to Oakley Plantation in the summer of 1821.  For more information call 635-3739 locally or 888-677-2838 toll free.

 

Rosedown Picking Up

Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site is still closed to visitors, but the clearing of tree debris is coming along nicely.  They are hoping to open in the next couple of weeks so stay tuned!

 

Restaurants Closed

Sonny’s Pizza and Cypress Grill are both still closed with no word of when they will be opening again for business.  Sonny’s had major roof damage but it looks like they are working hard to get back open.  More news when we get it.

 

New Restaurant Open

Wing It Grill is now open seven days a week from 11 am until 9 pm.  They are located in the old Hill Country Sporting Goods store behind Sonny’s Pizza.  For more information and a menu, call 635-0015.

 

October Events

With great fall weather come great fall events.  Get ready for the Angola Rodeo that runs every Sunday.  The Southern Garden Symposium will be held October 17 and 18.  Friends of the Library have a book sale on Saturday, October 25 from 8:30 am until 3 pm.  The 6^th Annual Yellow Leaf Arts Festival will be held the weekend of October 24 through the 26 at Parker Park – look for news on a scarecrow contest.  And The Myrtles Plantation Halloween Extravaganza promises a hauntingly good time on Friday, October 31 and Saturday, November 1.  More on these events in upcoming weeks and online now at www.stfrancisvillefestivals.com.

 

Happenings After the Storm

We're damaged but not destroyed. The resiliency and determination of the people of West Feliciana is reminiscent of the early English settlers who first made this place their home. We now call it home, and over the last couple of weeks, it's been tough going. But we've survived and none the worse for wear. We've come out of this with a wonderment at how our parents lived without air conditioning and the simple creature comforts to which we are so accustomed. Many thanks go out to the tireless volunteers, the crews from Entergy and Demco, the countless out-of-state utility crews and the ever present National Guard for all of their hard work to get us back to the modern world. We thank you for taking time away from your families to do this back-breaking job of repairing what Gustav tore apart. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Tourist Information
The Tourist Information Center in the West Feliciana Historical Society Museum on Ferdinand Street is open daily from 9 am until 5 pm except on Sundays when it opens at 9:30 am. Due to a downed phone line, there is only one functioning phone line -- 635-4224. Unfortunately, that is not the line that carried the DSL for internet so we have no access to e-mail. Our fax line is also out, but we are sure that the good folks from AT&T will make these repairs earl next week. We do have remote access to e-mail so if you have any questions, e-mail them to westfelicianapar@bellsouth.net or kitty@stfrancisville.us. We'll get back to you as soon as we can.

State Welcome Center
The Louisiana State Welcome Center on Highway 61 North near the Mississippi state border is back open for business. Welcome back, Kathy and staff. We missed you!

Closed for Repairs
Audubon State Historic Site and Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site are both closed for repairs. While no major damage was done to the historic structures, there were many trees that were downed so while they clear the debris to make it safe for the public, the parks will be closed to visitors. They should both re-open in about two weeks. Stay tuned for more information as we are updated on the progress.

Restaurants Open
All of our restaurants in West Feliciana are open for business. Most are open regular hours with their regular menu while others are open with a limited menu. Call ahead to check for daily specials.

Ready for some Shopping?!
Our wonderful shops are back on line, too. And it's not too early to get some Christmas shopping done so head out to the stores and say hello to your old friends who have been waiting for you to return. Please know that some shops are still without phone lines or internet access but you won't go wrong to drive out just to check what's new.

Sight Seeing
Take the time to treat yourself and your family with a visit to one of our plantation homes. Tours are given daily and times vary according to the attraction. Pick up some information from the Visitor's Center in the Museum on Ferdinand Street. We are open from 9 am until 5 pm daily and can be reached by calling 635-4224.

If you've got an update to add to our post-storm Happenings, send them to me at kitty@stfrancisville.us and we'll alert the public.