’TIS THE SEASON FOR LIVING CRAWFISH Y’ALL | BIKE THE TRACE | DANCE LIKE A CAJUN ExploreTHE NORTHSHORE Spring/Summer 2019 1078 / Lake Pontchartrain ON THE COVER Tubing on the Bogue Chitto. CONTENTS PG 22 Photography by Kevin Garrett SPRING/SUMMER 2019 Cabins at Fontainebleau State Park PG 32 Inside “Stroke a 04 30 giraffe’s neck as she leans over CELEBRATE EXPLORE Party hard, party often here in Swamp tours, nature trails, your shoulder.” the land of festivals, fetes and wildlife parks and gator fun for all ages. farms … oh, my. 13 26 39 INDULGE RIDE, BABY, RIDE SPLURGE Check out a few of the chefs Travel the Tammany Trace Attention, shoppers: You’re and restaurants we love on through Northshore towns going to love Old Mandeville’s the Northshore. and green spaces. Girod Street. “Learn about 21 19th-century 35 ADVENTURE CONNECT Adore the outdoors? Come life at the Bayou Small museums and historic pedal, paddle and play in Lacombe sites give perspective on the nature. Outfitters make it easy. Museum.” area’s past. LOUISIANANORTHSHORE.COM | 1 FROM THE EDITOR ExploreTHE NORTHSHORE EDITOR Renée Kientz ART Katie Clancy CONTRIBUTORS Christina Cooper, Max Cusimano, Kevin Garrett, Cheryl Gerber, Lana Gramlich, David Gallent, Meghan Holmes, Roberta Carrow Jackson, Eric Lindberg, George Long and Anna Strider Ready for summer? PRESIDENT AND CEO orthshore winters are mild by You can rent a paddleboard for a stand- Donna O'Daniels most standards, but there’s up glide on the Tchefuncte. Grab some St. Tammany Parish nothing like blue skies and friends and your sunscreen and head for Tourist & Convention Commission N 68099 Highway 59 warm sun to stimulate our appetites for the Bogue Chitto for a day spent tubing Mandeville, LA 70471 fun. Festivals and fresh-air concerts on the river. Take a sunset kayak tour (985) 892-0520 www.LouisianaNorthshore.com pop up each spring like the clover in our down Cane Bayou to the lake, arriving garden. And summer, well, summer is just in time to see the sky turn glorious magical, with long days spent soaking in lavender and pink and orange. sunlight and warm nights filled with the We won’t even mention how good the fragrance of night-blooming jasmine and fishing is here. And few things are more a soundtrack of harmonizing crickets un- fun than hauling in nets full of crabs der a starry sky. along Lake Road or even from your own When you reflect on your childhood, little dock at your over-water cabin at PRESIDENT/CEO doesn’t summer star in your sweetest Fontainebleau State Park. (The cabins Kimberly Ferrante memories? Swinging on a rope from tree- are quintessential summer!) GROUP PUBLISHER lined river banks, splashing in a pool There are grown-up pursuits here Adam Pitluk with other happy kids, even playing in — great dining, galleries and cute bou- CREATIVE DIRECTOR the spray of a hose held by your dad. Sum- tiques, for example — but summer on the David Halloran mer’s wet and wild and sweet here on the Northshore really is all about relaxing ABOUT MIDWEST LUXURY PUBLISHING Northshore, where kids can be kids and into your natural self, dressing for adven- Midwest Luxury Publishing is a full-service communications outfit made up of experienced industry experts. We are your turnkey their parents can, too. ture (or for comfort) and making memo- provider for all your communications and publishing needs. CONTACT THE PUBLISHER There are 80,000 acres of wilderness ries. So pack your shades and your sense [email protected] midwestluxurypublishing.com preserve here in St. Tammany Parish. of adventure and unleash your inner 972.378.4845 That’s pretty cool, right? Lots of green child. You know the one, the kid who liked space, great for hiking and exploring, feeling sand squish between her toes and Explore the Northshore is a biannual publication of the St. Tammany Parish for seeing wildlife in its native habitat. thought life would always be that sweet. Tourist & Convention Commission. The The Tammany Trace bike and hike trail STPTCC provides visitor information and assistance to leisure and business winds through the Northshore for 31 travelers in St. Tammany Parish, Loui- siana. Find comprehensive listings for miles. But when it’s too hot to bike or to accommodations, attractions, dining and events at the STPTCC’s official website: hike, the waterways await. Bayous and Renée Kientz www.LouisianaNorthshore.com shallow, sandy-bottom rivers. Miles of shoreline along Lake Pontchartrain and Follow us on Facebook at sweet little sandy beaches in Slidell and ExploreLouisianaNorthshore Mandeville. EDITOR and on Instagram @lanorthshore 2 | LOUISIANANORTHSHORE.COM The Bogue Falaya River beckons when the weather gets warm. PHOTO KEVIN GARRETT JOIN THE PARTY There’s always something fun happening on the Northshore, from festivals and street parties to crawfish cook-offs and Mardi Gras. Party under the stars at Pontchar- train Vine- yards’ Jazz’n the Vines. Party under the stars at Pontchartrain Vineyards’ Jazz’n the Vines. 4 | LOUISIANANORTHSHORE.COM The Northshore planner Head to LOUISIANANORTHSHORE.COM/EVENTS to find out more APRIL 10-14 APRIL 27 JULY 18 A Taste of Covington St. Tammany Collectors Lobby Lounge Concert Wine dinners and culinary events Convention Kristin Diable plays the Toy and comic con Harbor Center APRIL 12 Louisiana Philharmonic MAY 24 SEPT. 14-15 Orchestra Columbia Street Block Party St. Tammany Crab Festival Beethoven with Julian Steckel Music, vintage cars and more Crabs, crabs, crabs … and music APRIL 13 JUNE 29 OCT. 3-6 Easter at the Market Light up the Lake St. Tammany Parish Fair Hopping good time in Mandeville Independence Day fireworks and music Rides, critters and carnival food Check out the Events calendar at LOUISIANANORTHSHORE.COM We take full advantage of the warm weather months here in St. Tammany Parish, planning scores of events that celebrate the season. Street parties, art walks, free concerts, food festivals, fireworks on the lakefront, White Linen nights … From one end of the parish to the other, there’s always something to do and most of it’s free. LOUISIANANORTHSHORE.COM | 5 New fest! COME TO COVINGTON, THERE’S A NEW fest in town: the Bluesberry Festival makes its debut June 8 at Bogue Falaya Park. Showcasing blues with a little jazz and rock thrown in, the all-day fest also features the Abita Beer Garden, live art demos, a food truck roundup and chil- dren’s activity village. Among announced artists are Tyler Kinchen, Charmaine Neville, Eric Johan- son, Crispin Schroeder and Casey James, a Texas-based singer/songwriter familiar to many as a finalist on Season 9 ofAmer - ican Idol. Tickets are sold in advance and at the gate. The fest runs 10 a.m. till 7 p.m. at the lovely little park in downtown Cov- Swell on wheels ington along the banks of the Bogue Fa- Abita’s open-to-all Bicycle Festival gets laya River. the fun rolling with art bikes, a collectors’ swap meet and parade through town ach year since 2000, the Louisiana everyone is invited to join in. Bicycle Festival in Abita Springs There is no admission charge for spec- Ehas celebrated pedal power and the tators or participants. It’s a fun day on creative spirit on the day before Father’s wheels for kids of all ages. Day. The fest, which this year falls on June Food is available on the festival grounds 15, features a swap meet, vintage and art across from Town Hall and at nearby bikes, and a short parade/ride. restaurants including the Abita Brew Pub, The swap meet starts early, around 8 Abita Springs Café, Artigue's and Mama a.m., with bike enthusiasts talking and D’s Pizza. Don’t forget to check out the trading parts, stories and ideas in the open Abita Mystery House (see Pg. 33), the field across from Abita Town Hall. Bikes of fun and wacky roadside attraction every description, some old, some very in- that created the event. The Mys- ventive, can be seen at the festival and on tery House is adjacent to the 31- the streets. The not-quite-impromptu pa- mile Tammany Trace bike path that rade/ride around town begins at noon and winds through the heart of Abita. 6 | LOUISIANANORTHSHORE.COM Don't miss... LOUISIANA VETERANS FESTIVAL Hosted by the East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity, this is an all-day tribute for all veterans and includes live music by bands like the Top Cats. May 18 in Slidell’s Heritage Park. Admission free for vets. WHITE LINEN NIGHTS Covington and Slidell both host White Linen Nights celebrating art and culture. Slidell goes first with its event Aug. 10 in Olde Towne. Covington’s White Linen Night is the following week on Aug. 17 in its historic downtown. Free admission. KOKOMO STROLL Break out the flip flops and Hawai- ian shirts for this summer celebra- tion in the streets of downtown Buskers take the stage Covington and listen to some Don Each spring, this spirited little festival brings Ho-esque live music. Free admission street musicians, artists and food vendors but $20 gets you a Kokomo Stroll cup that gets filled up with “boat together for full day of fun drinks” at stops along Columbia he Busker Festival is a full day of Sponsored by the Abita Springs Opry Street. 5-9 p.m. June 22. fun and eclectic music when some and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage of the New Orleans area’s best Foundation, the 2019 Busker Festival will MANDEVILLE LIVE! T Bring lawn chairs and dancing shoes street performers (a.k.a.