Happenings

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!

 

Farmer’s Market

The farmers will be selling their produce every Thursday from noon until 5 pm until the first frost.  Buy the freshest vegetables in town and support our local farmers, too.   The market is located at the old 4-H barn on Wilcox Street.

 

Hunters for the Hungry

Just in time for hunting season, Sunday, September 27 is the annual Clean Out Your Freezer Day sponsored by the Hunters for the Hungry.  Clean out your freezer and donate frozen game, fish, or any frozen items – and make room for fresh game!  Feliciana Seafood and Deli on Highway 61 will take your contributions from 1 pm until 4 pm on that day.  What a great program!

 

Welcome, Chef Boudreaux!

The Carriage House Restaurant at The Myrtles welcomes Chef Bill Boudreaux to their staff.  Chef Boudreaux brings his vast experience to the wonderful folks already at The Carriage House.  And by numerous customer requests, fresh sea bass and fresh whole flounder, prepared just the way you like it, has been added to the menu.  The Carriage House Restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday with daily lunch specials.

 

Live Music at The Mag

This Friday, September 25 – Delta Drifters.  Music starts around 7 pm.

 

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.

 

Life on Plantation Row

Visitors of all ages are invited to Audubon State Historic Site during the Life on Plantation Row programs on September 25 and 26.  From 9 am until 1 pm on Friday, area schools are invited to participate in this immersive program.  Students will try their hands at the work the slaves did, taste the food they ate, and learn of the lives they led.  On Saturday, from 10 am until 4 pm, visitors to the park will get a look into the life of a slave on a Louisiana plantation.  The public may try their hand at crafts and skills that were performed daily by Plantation slaves.  The role of food for slaves – and its transition into today’s culture – will be highlighted, along with an opportunity to sample a few dishes.  Guided tours of the slave cabins at Audubon SHS will also be given.  For more information, call toll free 888-677-2838 or locally 635-3739.

 

No Fines!

Amnesty Month is almost over!  In fact, you only have one more week to 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.

 

Meet the Author

kd Easley, author of Where the Dreams End, who is living in St. Francisville temporarily, will be at the library on September 29, at 7:00 p.m.   kd is an exciting new writer, so come out and meet her.  You may even win your own signed copy of her book.

 

Quilt Raffle for Food Pantry

Made by the ladies of the “Feliciana Stitchers Quilt Guild” of St. Francisville, tickets are $1 each or 7 for $5 and proceeds benefit the West Feliciana Food Pantry.  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.

 

Symphony Tickets on Sale Now

The first concert of the St. Francisville Symphony Association’s chamber music series is scheduled for Saturday, October 3 at 8 pm and will be held at Grace Episcopal Church on Ferdinand Street.  Tickets are available locally at the Bank of St. Francisville or by calling BRSO at 225-383-0500.

 

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.

 

Happenings

Live Music at The Mag

The Magnolia Café offers live music on Fridays.  The schedule for September is:  September 4 – 5D Band; September 11 – Signs; September 18 – Creole Zydeco Farmers; September 25 – Delta Drifters.

 

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.

 

Ecosystem of Audubon State Historic Site

This one-hour program on Saturday, September 5 at 10 am, focuses on one of the many ecosystems found at Audubon SHS.  Guests are invited to explore the nature around the park, and learn about how the different habitats and creatures interact with each other.  An admission fee is charged. For more information call Audubon State Historic Site at 1-888-677-2838 or 225-635-3739.

 

Tree Identification Walk

Also on Saturday, September 5, beginning at 11 am, this program focuses on a more specific aspect of nature, and allows guests to Audubon SHS the chance to learn about the forest that surrounds them.  The identification walk covers the park and discusses many of the important and significant trees found here. An admission fee is charged. For more information call Audubon State Historic Site at 1-888-677-2838 or 225-635-3739.

 

Guided Nature Hike

It’s a busy day on Saturday, September 5 out at Audubon Sate Historic Site.  At 1pm and again at 3pm there will be a short hiking tour of the park.  The hike features the naturally forested area surrounding the plantation home as well as the original paths, which John James Audubon would have used during his stay at Oakley in 1821.  The program allows guests a chance to observe the natural beauty, which surrounds the home.  An admission fee is charged. For more information call Audubon State Historic Site at 1-888-677-2838 or 225-635-3739.

 

Plants and Animals of Oakley

Rounding out the nature programs on Saturday, September 5, this one is at 2 pm and invites guests to interact with the animal and plant life surrounding Audubon SHS.  There will be hands on animal demonstrations as well as introductions to the plants that one should be most aware of when hiking the grounds at Audubon SHS. An admission fee is charged. For more information call Audubon State Historic Site at 1-888-677-2838 or 225-635-3739.

 

Did You Know?

Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site continues its living history series with a program scheduled for Saturday, September 5.  During the nineteenth century there were many practices that were a way of life for the people of past eras.  Some of these practices will be explored over the next months in Rosedown’s “Did You Know” program.  The third in this series of programs will focus on What People Wore.    Join Interpretive Ranger Sasha Traña as she discusses the history of American clothing from the Colonial era through the early twentieth century.  Also discussed will be the way clothing has changed and evolved throughout time.  Traña will be presenting her demonstration between 11 am and 2 pm in the Conference Room of the Rosedown Gift Shop.  Additional “Did You Know” programs will be offered on the first Saturday through October.  The final program, “Did You Know: 19th Century Schooling,” is scheduled for Saturday, October 3.  For more information call 888-376-1867 toll free or 635-3110 locally.

 

Garden Talk

Nature weekend at Audubon State Historic Site continues on Sunday, September 6.  At 10:30 am the interpretive staff presents Garden Talk which introduces the different plants found in the gardens of Audubon SHS.  The talk will cover the history and origin of the plants as well as their uses both modern and historic. An admission fee is charged.  For more information call Audubon State Historic Site at 1-888-677-2838 or 225-635-3739.

 

Life in a Slave Cabin

This hour long program is held at Audubon SHS’s original slave cabins and allows guests to have a better understanding about what life was like for slaves on a plantation.  This program is scheduled for noon on Sunday, September 6, and will cover family life and customs as well as discuss housing accommodations, rations, etc.  An admission fee is charged. For more information call Audubon State Historic Site at 1-888-677-2838 or 225-635-3739.

 

Cooking in Slave Cabin Row

Also on Sunday, September 6, at 1:30 pm, this program invites guests to Audubon SHS to observe the types of cooking used by slaves for themselves.  The program will discuss not only what slaves ate and how they cooked it, but also the differences between their meals and that of the owner of the plantation.  An admission fee is charged. For more information call Audubon State Historic Site at 1-888-677-2838 or 225-635-3739.

 

Plantation Crafts

Continuing the historical tours at Audubon State Historic Site on Sunday, September 6, his hour long program begins at 3 pm and invites the guests to observe one of the many period handcrafts, which would have been done by a slave on a plantation.  These crafts would be some of the same skills from which the plantation itself would have been built.  An admission fee is charged. For more information call Audubon State Historic Site at 1-888-677-2838 or 225-635-3739.

 

At the Library

No need to be afraid to go to the library because September is Book Amnesty month at West Feliciana Parish Library!  This means all fines are forgiven if you bring in those late books this month.  In lieu of overdue fines, please donate a canned good for the local food bank here at the library.  

 

THURSDAY, September 10---Meet the Author Sara Morgan.  She will read from her new book No Limits: How I Escaped the Clutches of Corporate America to Live the Self-Employed Life of My Dreams.  This fun program begins at 6:00 p.m. at the library.

 

The library is open 9 am until 7pm, Monday through Thursday, 9 am until 6 pm on Friday, and 9 am until 1 pm on Saturday.  Please call (225) 635-3364 for any further information.

 

Farmer’s Market

The Farmer’s Market is open on Thursdays from noon until 5 pm at the Old 4-H Barn on Wilcox Street.