There are plenty of places for arts and culture lovers throughout the entire country, but what makes Louisiana unique is the deep influences of Cajun culture. The French-speaking Acadian refugees were exiled from their homes in what is now Nova Scotia and settled along the bayous and swamps of Louisiana, taking their skills and traditions with them. Here are some places and events in and around Lafayette, LA where locals and visitors can enjoy the best of Cajun arts and culture.
Acadiana Center for the Arts
Having been around since 1975, the Center for the Arts is on a continuous mission to promote art and culture throughout the area. From music shows to theater performances, workshops, or large galleries that resemble those of a museum, plus many more activities, this is truly a hotspot for cultural events in Lafayette. They also work with local educational facilities and they estimate that around 18,600 students and 950 educators benefit from their programs that include art in education practices.
Lafayette Science Museum
Lovers of science, history, and technology will find plenty of interesting things here, throughout the many exhibitions, interactive experiences and films, planetarium shows, and other programs. It’s located in a building that has received many awards for its use of interior space and has plenty to offer its visitors, no matter their age. Parts of the museum can be used for school tours, special shows, or parties, so everyone can make the most out of this educational experience.
Cajun Boudin Trail
A huge part of Cajun culture is its cuisine and the Cajun Boudin Trail is the perfect place to discover Louisiana’s delicious boudin specialties. Award-winning cooks will delight you with dishes such as special boudin sausages and cheese balls, pork chop sandwiches, smoked meats, chili dogs, beef jerky, and many more.
Cadillac is one of the oldest automobile brands in the world and has always been the symbol of American luxury cars. Over the years they have managed to keep up with the times while maintaining their high standards and that has kept them successful even in the modern era of crossover multipurpose vehicles. A perfect example of that is the 2019 Cadillac XT4 Crossover.
Trim Levels
The 2019 XT4 Crossover is available in three trim levels: Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport. As the name would suggest, the Luxury trim is true to the brand’s reputation and offers plenty of premium features such as 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, or keyless entry and ignition. Higher trims bring even more high-end options like a massage function on the front seats, leather upholstery, plus extra safety features.
Engine and Performance
All trim levels for the 2019 Cadillac XT4 Crossover are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine capable of producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine is very efficient, particularly with the help of the innovative Active Fuel Management system and the nine-speed automatic transmission. The car’s excellent overall performance is delivered not only by its powerful and flexible engine and transmission but also with the help of an electronically powered braking system and a dual-clutch all-wheel drive.
When the first Chevrolet Corvette rolled off the production line in 1953, driving took on a whole new meaning. With its distinctive body style and legendary performance, the Chevrolet Corvette remains an American icon. Today’s Corvettes have only come further, continuing traditions of performance and style. The hardest part of shopping for one of these beauties is deciding which one is best for you! Keep reading to see if the 2019 Corvette Stingray or Coupe is your perfect match.
The Corvette Stingray and Coupe both offer a 6.2-liter V-8 aluminum engine, a 7-speed manual or 8-speed paddle shift automatic transmission, built-in 4-G Wi-Fi and an 8-inch LCD screen with 3 customizable displays for feedback on G-force, tire temperature, and more. Each comes in 9 exterior and 3 interior seat color options. Fill either vehicle with sound from a 9-speaker Bose Sound System. But that’s where the parallels part ways.
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
The 460 horsepower Stingray blows solid white lines to reach 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. Its flat-bottomed steering wheel comes in either leather or sueded micro-fiber, and is a driver-oriented feature, allowing extra space when entering or exiting the cockpit. Featuring personalized lightweight carbon-fiber trim, once you slip into its bucket seats, you’ll sense its capabilities. Drive Mode Selector lets you choose how you ride with 12 performance variables depending on conditions. Option packages include Weather, Eco, Tour, Sport, and Track. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto keep you connected to the outside world.
Available features for the Corvette Stingray include a Performance package featuring Brembo brake rotors and a dry-sump oil system which keeps oil pressure consistent and constant. The Performance Data Recorder allows video logs and playback to analyze your driving, or if you loaned it out, analyze that driver too. Magnetic Selective Ride Control, a damping system that reads road conditions and adjusts every 15 milliseconds, is designed for comfort and performance. The standard display adds a feature to project data on your windshield in the line of sight, with three different views depending on the data that most interests you.
Fall is the perfect time to enjoy a variety of festivals in the South. The temperatures have cooled down, but it is still an excellent time to get outdoors and relax. Here is a guide for planning an itinerary that keeps the entire family entertained throughout October and November. Remember to pace yourself and leave plenty of time to enjoy the delicious food that awaits you.
State Fair of Louisiana
Take a trip to Shreveport, LA and enjoy a day full of family fun, food, and local culture at the State Fair of Louisiana! The State Fair runs from October 25th through November 11th this year, and features a sea lion show, a four-acre zoo, live music, a rodeo, and Louisiana’s largest display of carnival rides!
Whether you’re looking for some delicious unique fair food or fall thrills on fair rides, the State Fair has something for everyone! Proudly running annually since 1906, the State Fair of Louisiana proves it provides incredible hometown fun year after year, so mark your calendar and get your friends and family to come along!
Blackpot Festival
Wrap up the month of October by celebrating three of Louisiana’s favorite things — food, culture, and music at the Blackpot Festival. Make your way over to the Vermilionville Historic Village where you’ll find plenty of hotels (and even the airport) within walking distance. However, you do not have to leave the grounds at the end of the night, as overnight camping is allowed.
Create family memories and meet new friends while enjoying a weekend of music. RV and tent camping is allowed at the festival. However, cars are not permitted in the camping area. Pack your favorite campfire foods and a 5-gallon bucket if you are staying over. Campfires are allowed in raised fire pits, but water must accompany them.
Beyond camping, there is enough music and food to fill the weekend. A wide variety of bands spread out over three stages to provide entertainment. The annual cook-off takes place Saturday afternoon and includes categories like gumbo, gravy, jambalaya, and desert.
Make Some New Tracks in 2019 with The Chevy Trax!
Compact sports utility vehicles have been growing in popularity in the past few years, and the 2019 Chevrolet Trax is a prime example of why. With its great combination of uses, work capabilities, and sleek look, the Chevy Trax has much to offer you.
Comfortable Interior
Compact SUV’s have been moving away from merely being the utility vehicle of years past and have transitioned into the dual luxury/utility vehicles we have today, as seen with the 2019 Chevy Trax. Chrome accents on the instrument panels and premium stitching accents give the interior a high-end visual appeal. The front bucket seats ensure a comfortable ride, whether it’s to work, out for errands, or for a long weekend. There are 40.8 inches of front leg room, so there are no cramped legs in this spacious front cabin area.
With the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system that has a 7-inch color touch screen and Bluetooth audio streaming capabilities for compatible phones, you’ll be able to keep yourself entertained for hours playing your own playlists during your drive.
Cargo Space
The 2019 Chevrolet Trax has enough space to seat you and your passengers comfortably until you reach your destination, but don’t let the compact body fool you. It’s bigger inside than it appears from the outside. It has a maximum of 48.4 cubic feet of cargo storage space in the rear to hold all of your luggage for whatever trips you may be taking, and the flat-folding front passenger seat back gives you even more space to transport objects that are up to 8 feet long.
In addition to the interior cargo capacity, roof-mounted side rails come standard. The optional roof rack cross rails further increase your cargo utility and give you even more flexibility for storage.
5 Reasons the 2019 Cadillac CTS Will Make Your Day
The 2019 Cadillac CTS offers a driving experience unlike any other. Edgy and powerful with lavish style, this is a vehicle to invoke pride of ownership. Whether driving for business, travel, or pleasure, the luxurious sedan aims for comfort, convenience, and innovation. We spend a lot of time in our cars, and with five trims to choose from, the features in the CTS make your home-away-from-home experience a truly exciting adventure. Read on to learn more about this superior sedan.
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Performance
Starting with the standard powerful 2.0-liter turbo engine, and boasting 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, the 2019 Cadillac CTS gives you truly effective influence on the road. For increased performance, you can choose the available 3.6-liter V-6 engine that produces an impressive 335 horsepower and 285 pound-feet of torque or the twin-turbo V-6 that churns out an awe-inspiring 420 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque.
Just some of the features that make the CTS’s drivability stand out include 50/50 weight distribution for easier vehicle handling, performance front brakes for stopping on a dime, and the ability to choose driver modes for calibrated steering and suspension.
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Safety
The 2019 Cadillac CTS has a wide range of safety features, including a standard rearview camera and parking sensors. There is an array of options to further increase safety behind the wheel, such as active lane control, blind-spot monitors, automatic braking, and forward-collision warnings. Whether you’re driving through city streets or on open highways, you will feel confident about navigating this powerful vehicle on any terrain.
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Technology
Advanced technological and safety features include a rear-camera mirror that provides a wider field of view and a full-color head-up display. Standard on the CTS is speed-sensitive volume, which reacts to road noise and raises and lowers the volume accordingly to prevent you from fiddling with audio controls and keep your attention focused on the road.
Come Enjoy the best view in Lafayette, LA at the 2018 Symphony In The Sky event! Service Chevrolet Cadillac is excited to be a sponsor for this wonderful local event and we hope you’ll join us out there! Haven’t heard of Symphony In The Sky before? This annual event benefits the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra and Conservatory of Music!
Attending this event means you’ll get to enjoy a wonderful night of live music, complimentary wine and beer while enjoying the beautiful views of Lafayette from atop the Vermillion St Parking Garage! The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra musicians will join with top local vocal artists to put on an incredible show. The 2018 guest vocalists for this event are Jared Price of Souled Outt, Julie Williams, and Ray Boudreaux from The Voice!
On top of that, this year’s theme is Michael Jackson – so the ASO will perform of his greatest hits and more! Tickets for Symphony In The Sky are limited and will sell out quick- so be sure to get your tickets before they’re gone. Join Service Chevrolet and the ASO for a exciting night full of great local music, food and views!
Tickets
- Solo Ticket: $100
- Duet Tickets: $150
When
Wed, October 3, 2018
5:30 PM – 9:30 PM CDT
Location
Top of The Downtown Parking Garage
121 E Vermilion St
Lafayette, LA 70503
Image via Pixabay
The 2018 Chevrolet Traverse is built with exceptional durability and adventure in mind, which makes it the perfect off-roading vehicle. Here is some more info on some of the superb off-roading features that the 2018 Traverse has on offer.
Power
Powered with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission, the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse can handle your off-roading adventure. With a maximum towing capacity of up to 5,000 lbs, you will be able to bring along your favorite recreational camper or boat. You can also swap between four separate drive modes for maximum control, including front-wheel-drive, 4×4/snow, off-road, or tow/haul mode.
Exterior Accessories
Even the exterior of the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse is designed for off-roading, as it screams masculinity and capability. It is large enough to handle the toughest of terrains and includes many features to smooth out the ride, such as the upgraded suspension and torque controlling system, the available Intellibeam headlights, and 20-inch aluminum wheels, which all add utility and comfort.
Interior Amenities
Although the 2018 Chevrolet is a tough car made for rough terrain, the interior is spacious and comfortable. A maximum of 98.2 cubic feet of storage means that you can cart along as much luggage as you might need for your off-roading trip, while second-row sliding seats make load in and load out easier than ever. Additional storage compartments throughout the interior give you even more secure storage space. For some scenic enjoyment, a dual panoramic power sunroof will give you impressive views of the sky above.
Choosing Your Perfect Chevy Corvette Trim Level
The Chevrolet Corvette is available in five trim levels, perfect for customizing your new sports car to fit your design and power preferences. This is what you can expect from each of the available trim levels.
Stingray
The Stingray is the base model and includes a 6.2-liter V-8 engine with rear-wheel-drive. The same engine setup is standard across all trim levels unless you change up the trim packages. It is available in 11 exterior colors. Drivers can also choose between the Stingray Coupe or the Stingray Convertible. The coupe option has a removable Targa top that drops conveniently into the trunk.
On the interior of the Stingray model, you will find an 8.0-inch Chevrolet MyLink™ touch-screen driver infotainment system. Dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, and OnStar™ capability are also nice touches featured in the Stingray.
Stingray Z51
Drivers have an additional five exterior colors to choose from with the Stingray Z51 trim level. Much of the differences between the Z51 model and the base model are performance-based. It features upgraded 20-inch wheels and higher-performing brakes. It also comes with an electronic limited slip differential for smoother handling. The included Aero package improves the aerodynamic drive of the Stingray with higher ground clearance and better stability.
Grand Sport
The Grand Sport is also available in either the coupe or the convertible. The Grand Sport has a unique styling with sporty front fenders and an advanced cooling system for better overall performance. The brakes are also upgraded to premium Brembo brakes for more control at top speeds. The interior of the Grand Sport is designed for driver control with an adjustable driver cockpit and easy to reach driver infotainment system.
7th Annual Elite 97 Nurses Banquet
We love our local nurses and everything that they do to make the community a better place! That’s why we’re so proud to have been the title sponsor for the Annual Elite 97 Nurses Banquet for another year. This year’s Annual Elite 97 Nurses Banquet occurred on September 11th at the Petroleum Club in Lafayette. The annual banquet serves to celebrate all the hard work and dedication of local nurses and their positive impact on the community of Acadiana.
The community of Lafayette was asked to nominate their favorite nurses and submit their stories to 97.3 The Dawg for a chance to win an invite to the 2018 Elite 97 Nurses Banquet. Just like the year before, 97.3 The Dawg received an overwhelming amount of entries for this year, and from all those entries, 97 amazing Nurses, RNs, and LPNs were chosen as this year’s winners.
All 97 chosen winners were invited to bring along a guest to the banquet, where they were treated to a delicious meal, guest speakers, and special games and prizes throughout the night!
Look at all the incredible nurses who were celebrated at the 2018 Elite 97 Nurses Banquet:
Abby Benoit Crystal Miller Jena Miller Melanie Martin
Amanda Guilbeau Damian Gaspard Jessica Drysdale Melody Theriot
Amber Faulk Dawn Alleman Joey Chapman Mindi Mitchell
Amie Stoute Debbie Vice Johnathan Larroquette Monique Cohen
Amy White Denise Broussard Johnica Hebert Myra Leblanc
Angel Dupre Diane Halpin June Jones Nichole Blanco Johnson
Angela Mire Ellen Carey Katie Comeaux Percy McClelland
Antoinette Lasseigne Emily Begnaud Katie May Robin Broussard
Arielle Buteau Emily Groetsch Kelsey Sullivan Ross Dugas
Ashley Roth Erica Carrier Khili Trahan Sabrina Darbonne
Ashley Theriot Eva Seaux Champagne Kim Potier Sheri Cormier
Beau Petitjean Faith Roussel Kim Romero Stella Prejean
Blake Faulk Guinn Lancon Kim Istre Sue Hynel
Brennan Doucet Hailey Carriere Kourtnie Boudreaux Summer Smith
Brianna Ramirez Hannah Howard Lauren Hargrave Tat Bertrand
Brittlyn Vergenel Hannah Simon Lee August Taylor Meyers
Bronwen Clement Hannah Johnson Lena Handy Terralisa Porter
Caitlin Mach Heather Theall Lindsey Lagrange Thai Nguyen
Chelsie Freyou Heather Merritt Lisa Stewart Tiffany Groetsch
Chet Stelly Heather Landry Lisa Brewer Tonia Sylvester
Christopher Guidry Heather Randazzo Louise Young Tressie Sonnier
Connie Joseph Hester Thomas Magan Broussard Wayne Nix
Courtney LeBlanc Ixel Hazeltine Marcus Montet
Courtney Babineaux Jackie Benoit Mary Broussard
Courtney Robin Jeaneen Leblanc Mary Fabrega
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