Premature Evacuation

Everyone liked that title when I told them about me and Patrick bringing my car to his Aunt's house the other day. It was our pre-evacuation. I really wanted to make sure that I wouldn't have to drive in a seperate car than Patick and somehow get lost while we were evacuating. I've been known to get lost driving a lot. I really didn't want to get stuck in the wrong lane with the contra-flow and end up somewhere far away from Patrick.

All is well at this time. We are just waiting for Gustav to come, hoping that everything will work out. Wish us luck.

Attention: The MidCity Art Market has been postponed to September 6th!!!

Updated: The August MidCity Art Market has been postponed to September 6th due to the threat of Hurricane Gustav. I havn't heard anything about the Morgan City Shrimp and Petroleum Fest, but will let you know if I hear anything.

September 6th is the MidCity Art Market. The market is the last Saturday of each month at Palmer Park. Palmer Park is at the intersection of S. Carrolton and S. Claiborne Ave in Uptown New Orleans. It is from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. If Saturday is rained out, the market will take place on Sunday August 31st. Come out and support art in New Orleans. See Lane Lefort Photography to view some of the available photographs. Purchases can be made from this website, or come out and see Lane.

August 28 to September 1 (Labor Day Weekend) is the Morgan City Shrimp and Petroleum Festival. An art contest and sale is part of the bigger festival.

October 18 -19 is the Bayou City Art Festival Downtown in Houston. Here is some information from their website: “October 18 - 19, 2008 SATURDAY AND SUNDAY10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Both daysAdmission is $10 for adults and free for children 12 and under.The downtown skyline serves as a dramatic backdrop for art, music, dance, and interactive activities at the Bayou City Art Festival Downtown.The annual, juried, fine art event boasts a stress-free outdoor gallery brimming with 300 artists working in 19 artistic media. Adding to the festive outdoor gallery are wine cafés, an interactive Creative Zone for children, restaurants, Broadway in Houston’s Broadway Café, and a performing arts stage with on-going multicultural musical and dance entertainment presented by The Houston Arts Alliance.The festival is showcased in front of City Hall and around Hermann Square on the streets of Walker, Bagby, and McKinney, as well as Sam Houston Park. For more information about the Bayou City Art Festival Downtown, please contact the Art Colony Association” This will be Lane’s first time at this event.

Lane also participates in the Gretna Art Walk. The Gretna Art Walk is on hiatus right now, but will return in September. It will be every second Saturday of the month between September and May. There is also a weekly Farmer's Market every Saturday between Third and Fourth Streets in Gretna, La. Participate in the Farmer's Market Participate in the Art Walk

The USS Cairo in Vicksburg, Mississippi

While I was in Vicksburg last week, we visited the National Military Park. This park has many monuments honoring the soldiers who fought in the battle of Vicksburg. The monument that made the biggest impression on me is monument dedicated to the soldiers from the state of Illinois. It is a building made of marble and Stone Mountain granite. My favorite aspect of this monument was the Mosaic of tiles that made up the seal of the state of Illinois.

Another attraction of the park is the Ironclad Gunboat, the USS Cairo. The USS Cairo was sunk by a torpedo on December 12, 1862. The good news is that there was no loss of life due to the ship sinking. The Cairo was submerged for about 100 years in the Yazoo River (In the museum I thought it was the Mississippi River, but after reading about it online, I realize it was the Yazoo, they are pretty close to each other around Vicksburg). In the 1960's, most of the ship was recovered and reassimbled , using new wood in the places where the original ship had deteriorated. Next to the ship is a museum, with artifacts and information about this Ironclad Gunship.

Morgan City Shrimp and Petroleum Festival is this weekend

Morgan City's Shrimp and Petroleum Festival is August 28 to September 1, 2008. My favorite part of this festival is the art contest and sale. The festival takes place in Downtown Morgan City. Other hilights of this festival are the blessing of the fleet and the boat parade, which take place in the river. For more information, either see the official website of the Shrimp and Petroleum fest at http://www.shrimp-petrofest.org/ or email me.

In Vicksburg This week

This week, I'm in Vicksburg, Mississippi for work.



If you know of any fun places or good restaurants in Vicksburg, let me know.

Here are some upcoming events:

MidCity Art Market: August 28th from 10am to 4pm at Palmer Park.

Morgan City Shrimp and Petroleum Festival August 28 through September 1 (Labor Day Weekend)

Bayou City Art Festival Downtown in Houston from October 18-19.

The Gretna Art Market will be back next month!