COME CELEBRATE WITH US CATCH MARDI GRAS FEVER | EAT LIKE A LOCAL | TOUR THE SWAMP ExploreTHE NORTHSHORE Fall/Winter 2018-’19 1078 / Lake Pontchartrain 24 02 LOVELY, DARK AND DEEP EDITOR'S LETTER Located on the eastern edge of St. Tammany Parish, on the Mississippi/Louisiana border, the Honey Island Swamp is 04 CELEBRATE a beautiful place of lore and history and wildlife. Boar, deer, Festivals, street parties, antiques fairs, gators and birds extend a Louisiana welcome to the tour boats concerts on the lakefront … There’s always a plying murky waters to explore the swamp’s many mysteries. reason to celebrate on the Northshore. The swamp probably isn’t what you think. It’s more. It’s surprising. And it’s at risk. 13 INDULGE Grab a seat for po-boys, boiled crawfish and contemporary Coastal fare. You’ll need sustenance for those grueling brewery tours. 21 ADVENTURE Feeding a giraffe at the inspiring Global Wild- life Center or paddling a kayak down the bay- ou are just two experiences you’ll remember. 32 EXPLORE Cycle the Tammany Trace, wander board- walks and down park trails or expand your horizons at the Abita Mystery House. 36 CONNECT Northshore museums and historic points of interest shed light on cultures and events that shaped St. Tammany Parish. 39 SPLURGE Urge to splurge? Check out Northshore bou- tiques, malls and shopping districts for every- thing from souvenirs to varied treasures. PHOTO KEVIN GARRETTKEVIN ABOUT THE COVER Northshore native, fiddler and singer Amanda Shaw turns up the joy at Pontchartrain Vineyards’ Jazz’n the Vines, just one of the many concerts, festivals and feasts here on the Northshore. PHOTO BY KEVIN GARRETT KEVINGARRETT.COM LOUISIANANORTHSHORE.COM | 1 FROM THE EDITOR ExploreTHE NORTHSHORE EDITOR Grace, Renée Kientz ART Katie Clancy CONTRIBUTORS spice, Christina Cooper, Max Cusimano, Cheryl Gerber, Lana Gramlich, David Gallent, Roberta Carrow Jackson, Jim Kubik, Eric Lindberg, George Long beauty and Anna Strider & joie PRESIDENT AND CEO ou know the story: Pretty girl ern and coastal fare and carefully curat- Donna O'Daniels goes to a party feeling good about ed wine lists. There are around 30 restau- St. Tammany Parish herself but finds the prom queen rants just within Covington’s walkable Tourist & Convention Commission Y 68099 Highway 59 holding court and everyone’s attention. historic district. And beer lovers can get Mandeville, LA 70471 Hey, she wants to shout, look at me. I’m their thrill at the source, touring and (985) 892-0520 www.LouisianaNorthshore.com over here! tasting their way through Abita Brewery We know the feeling. It isn’t easy get- and others. ting noticed when you’re shining in the The Northshore is a microcosm of all shadow of a big personality like New Or- things Louisiana. You’ll find the charac- leans, across the lake and just a 45-min- teristic joie de vivre here, as we dance, ute drive away. But increasingly tourists feast and fest our way through the year. are discovering St. Tammany Parish, Mardi Gras is celebrated on the North- known to locals as the Northshore, a sce- shore, albeit a slightly more family PRESIDENT/CEO nic area long considered a getaway by city friendly version than that found across Kimberly Ferrante residents. We’re not flashy, but we defi- the lake. Music is in the air. There’s art, GROUP PUBLISHER nitely have charms of our own. and romance, and mystery, and adven- Adam Pitluk For starters, there are 80,000 acres of ture. Great shopping, a wide range of ac- CREATIVE DIRECTOR wilderness preserve, natural beauty eas- commodations from quaint B&Bs to val- David Halloran ily explored thanks to outfitters leading ue-friendly chain properties to boutique ABOUT MIDWEST LUXURY PUBLISHING kayak tours and renting gear, and tour hotels, and memory-making attractions. Midwest Luxury Publishing is a full-service communications outfit made up of experienced industry experts. We are your turnkey operators taking visitors deep into the We love a good party on the North- provider for all your communications and publishing needs. CONTACT THE PUBLISHER pristine Honey Island Swamp. (Learn shore. And we really love visitors, espe- [email protected] midwestluxurypublishing.com all about the swamp and its denizens cially the ones that have dallied in the 972.378.4845 in stories starting on page 24.) Charter past with New Orleans and are wonder- boats get fishermen out on the water and ing what else is out there. Explore the Northshore is a biannual publication of the St. Tammany Parish the Tammany Trace is the perfect pedal, Hey, look at us. We’re over here! And Tourist & Convention Commission. The winding 31 miles through eclectic towns we can’t wait to show you a good time. STPTCC provides visitor information and assistance to leisure and business and towering green spaces. travelers in St. Tammany Parish, Loui- siana. Find comprehensive listings for The Northshore culinary scene is a accommodations, attractions, dining and events at the STPTCC’s official website: draw in itself. Yes, there are mom-and- Renée Kientz www.LouisianaNorthshore.com pop joints with soulful gumbo, spicy boiled crawfish and po-boys the size of a Follow us on Facebook at Honda Fit. But you’ll also find chefs with ExploreLouisianaNorthshore creative takes on contemporary South- EDITOR and on Instagram @lanorthshore 2 | LOUISIANANORTHSHORE.COM Zen Crook Zen Southern Hotel. plays piano at the PHOTO KEVIN GARRETT celebrate JOIN THE PARTY There’s always something fun happen- ing on the Northshore, from festivals and street parties to crawfish cook- offs and Mardi Gras. Take your vitamins, put on your danc- ing shoes and join us. 4 | LOUISIANANORTHSHORE.COM The Northshore planner Head to LOUISIANANORTHSHORE.COM/EVENTS to find out more OCT. 5-7 OCT. 6-7 OCT. 13-14 St. Tammany Parish Fair Camellia City Smooth Jazz Fest Wooden Boat Festival Rides, critters and carnival food! Jazzy good time in Slidell River fun in Madisonville OCT. 20 OCT. 27-28 NOV. 10-11 Abita Springs Opry Slidell Antiques Street Fair Three Rivers Art Festival Louisiana roots music Hunt treasure in Olde Towne Juried outdoor art in Covington FEB. 16 MARCH 17 MARCH 30 Bayou Gardens Open House St. Patrick’s Day Parade Whole Town Garage Sale Tours, workshops in Lacombe Go Irish in downtown Covington Scavenge Abita for bargains Spending the holidays in St. Tammany Parish? The month of December is a great time to visit the Northshore with the kids. There are Christmas pageants, holiday parades and tree lightings, caroling and Santa sightings everywhere. Check out LouisianaNorthshore.com for details on events like Merry Madisonville; the Winter on the Water boat parade, Sips of the Season stroll and A Christmas Past Festival, all in Mandeville; Cajun Christmas at Big Branch; and Covington’s Holiday Home Tour. Multi-weekend events Holiday of Lights and Christmas Under the Stars, held in Mandeville and Slidell respectively, are memory-makers for the little ones. LOUISIANANORTHSHORE.COM | 5 Don't miss... SLIDELL ANTIQUES STREET FAIRS: Shops beckon year-round in Slidell’s Olde Towne District but the treasure hunt spills into the surrounding area for one weekend each fall and spring with antiques street fairs selling ev- erything vintage, cool and collect- ible. Food and music. Free park- ing, no admission charge. Just lots of temptation. OCT. 27-28, 2018 AND MARCH 30-31, 2019, SLIDELL OCTOBER IS BEER MONTH HERE: Three fun beer events are brewing for your drinking pleasure. Oxtoberfest Beer- Wade into Three Rivers fest happens Oct. 6 at Covington’s Trailhead while on Oct. 13, Slidell Annual juried outdoor arts festival lines the hosts the Northshore on Tap Home streets of historic downtown Covington each fall Brew & Craft Beer Experience. And Oct. 20, it’s Biketoberfest, a group owntown Covington is home to ceramics and photography to fiber art, ride on the Tammany Trace stopping galleries representing some of woodworking, metal work, sculpture, at four different breweries. Dthe South’s best artists. So it’s paintings, jewelry and more. no surprise that the town’s annual Three There’s no admission charge and park- Rivers Art Festival is a juried event show- ing is free throughout the district. There’s KEEPING IT JAZZY: Regional and nation- al recording artists are showcased in casing worthy works by artists from al- a Children’s Discovery Area and a demon- the Camellia City Smooth Jazz Festi- most 30 states. stration tent where you can watch artists val, a celebration of smooth jazz and For one weekend each November (it’s make pottery or blow glass. And, this be- good vibes. Held at Slidell’s North- Nov. 10-11 in 2018), the outdoor arts fest ing Louisiana, of course there’s music and shore Harbor Center, the indoor two- takes over five city blocks of the historic food. Downtown galleries and restaurants day festival from Jin Jeans Produc- downtown’s Columbia Street. More than are open, too, making Three Rivers a great tions is in its second year. See the 50,000 visitors enjoy the art-filled stroll, place to enjoy a Fall weekend. lineup at CamCityJazzFest.com perusing works in every medium, from OCT. 6-7, SLIDELL 6 | LOUISIANANORTHSHORE.COM Don't miss... BEFORE AND AFTER SUMMER’S HEAT abates, Northshore towns celebrate with street parties, art walks and free outdoor concerts. Check LOUISIANANORTHSHORE.COM/EVENTS for details, but here are a few happenings to watch for: CAREY STREET CRAWL Local art, shopping, music and more in Olde Towne Slidell. Nov. 2. JIM KUBIK JIM FALL FOR ART PHOTO Covington’s downtown is the setting for an evening of music, art, and Fest puts ‘fun’ in culinary events.