Happenings

The Cotton Experience

Throughout the months of September and October at Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site, visitors are welcome to pluck bolls of cotton from the plants and remove the seeds from the bolls.  Once the cotton is picked and deseeded, visitors are asked to drop the cotton in an authentic “cotton bag.”  This will be offered daily from 10 am until 4 pm.  For more information call 888-376-1867 toll free or 635-3110 locally.

 

Farmer’s Market

The farmers will be selling their produce every Thursday from noon until 5 pm until the first frost.  I’m told to be looking for fall vegetables to start making their appearance – sweet potatoes, pumpkins, squashes.   In the meantime, check out the lettuces, spaghetti squash, butter nut squash, peppers, potatoes, okra, honey, fresh baked goods and just-picked-this-morning flower arrangements.  It all happens at the old 4-H barn on Wilcox Street.

 

Avondale Antiques

It’s the third weekend already and that means that Avondale Antiques will be open.  Michelle let me know that she has a new shipment of antiques from England that she’s been busy unloading.  Store hours are Friday and Saturday, 9 am until 5pm, and Sunday from 11 am until 5 pm.

 

Live Music at The Mag

The Magnolia Café offers live music on Fridays.  The schedule is:  September 18 – Creole Zydeco Farmers; September 25 – Delta Drifters.

 

Library Happenings

The next big event at the West Feliciana Parish Library will be an appearance by kd Easley, author of Where the Dreams End.  kd is living in St. Francisville temporarily, and will be at the library on September 29, at 7:00 p.m.   kd is an exciting new writer, and we have her right here in our town!  Come out and meet her, and win your own signed copy of her book.

 

Amnesty Month is almost over! Bring in those long-overdue books you were scared of returning—the month of September means there are no fines.  Late fees will be waived in exchange for a canned good for the local food bank.  Director Ben Bell wants to thank to all who have donated so far.

 

Quilt Raffle for Food Pantry

Come by the West Feliciana Historical Society Museum on Ferdinand Street to check out the beautiful quilt that will be raffled off to benefit the West Feliciana Food Pantry.  The quilt was made by the ladies of the “Feliciana Stitchers Quilt Guild” of St. Francisville as part of the 2008 Quilt Challenge which involved making a quilt using black and white fabric plus one other color.  Each participating member made an extra block, and the resulting quilt was pieced together from those blocks.  Tickets are $1 each or 7 for $5 and can be purchased from any member of the Feliciana Stitchers, the Historical Society, the Bank of St. Francisville or any of the following:  Hilda Crangle, Jane Dietrich, Charlotte McNamara or Bettye Martin.  The raffle will take place on October 24 at 11:30 am during the Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale at the St. Francisville Town Hall.

 

Lost Arts at Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site

On Saturday, September 19 visitors are invited to Rosedown to learn about nineteenth-century arts and activities.  Presented by Rosedown Interpretive Ranger Sasha Traña, this series of monthly programming is intended to introduce and demonstrate various historic arts, activities and crafts that are little seen today.  The “Lost Art” that will be presented this month is Loom Weaving.  During the program, Traña will explain to visitors the history of loom weaving, from its origins in the ancient cultures of Egypt, China and Persia, through its importance in the lives of Native American peoples, to its popularity during the Revolutionary era in America as a way to boycott British-manufactured cloth.  Traña will be presenting her demonstration of loom weaving on the back porch of the Rosedown Main House.  The program will be held between 11 am and 3 pm.  For more information call 225-635-3110.

 

A Gathering of Forces

A celebration to kick off the Bicentennial of the Republic of West Florida will be held on Sunday, September 27 at 2 pm, in St. Francisville, the capitol of the Republic.  There will be guest speakers on the history of the Republic, period re-enactors, a cannon salute, cake and a celebratory toast.  David Norwood is the representative on the West Florida Bicentennial Commission, and he will be joined by the representatives from the other Florida parishes who make up the commission.  All of the parishes have been busy planning special events through 2010 to celebrate so come out and rebel a little!

 

Chamber Music Series

The St. Francisville Symphony Association announces its 2009 – 2010 calendar which features the musicians of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra.  All concerts will be held at Grace Episcopal Church on Ferdinand Street.  The first concert is scheduled for Saturday, October 3 at 8 pm.  The Christmas Concert and Dessert Reception is set for December 4 at 7 pm, and the final concert is set for Saturday, March 27, 2010, at 8 pm.  Season tickets are $50, Seniors for $40, and individual tickets are $20 each.  Special price for children for the Christmas Concert is $10.  Children under 18 who are accompanied by an adult to the October and March concerts will be admitted free of charge.  Tickets are available locally at the Bank of St. Francisville or by calling BRSO at 225-383-0500.