Fall is finally here. If you live in Louisiana, that means it’s safe to leave the comfort of your air-conditioned living room and head outside for some beautiful weather.
The schedule is jam-packed with lovely fall events. You shouldn’t miss any opportunity to spend some time in the crisp autumn air having fun with friends and loved ones.
We’ve put together a list of events to look out for this fall, so read on to start planning your 2018 autumn itinerary!
On November 9, the Emeril Lagasse Foundation will hold another Boudin, Bourbon & Beer Fest in Champions Square. The festival has quickly become one of New Orleans’ most popular outdoor food and music festivals.
The event features a special menu comprised of 70 chefs, both local and national. This year’s festival includes co-chairs Donald Link, Stephen Stryjewski and Guy Fieri. If you’re a foodie, this one-night event is the place for you.
The all-inclusive ticket price is $135, and the festival runs from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
The Oak Street Po-Boy Festival is Sunday, November 11 in the Carrollton neighborhood of Uptown New Orleans. Oak Street transforms into a walkway full of great local music, drinks, and over 60 variations of the famous local sandwich.
This year’s festival will also feature the “Where Y’arts Market,” which will offer local arts and crafts. Check out the full schedule here.
This festival, held in Congo Square and Louis Armstrong Park on November 17 -18, is a local favorite. Even better, admission is free!
The festival features a wonderful variety of gumbos to choose from. You’ll find Creole gumbo, seafood gumbo, chicken & sausage gumbo, and much more. There’s also a great music lineup centered primarily around jazz.
If you think eating a delicious bowl of gumbo while listening to New Orleans jazz in the park sounds like a good time, you should definitely attend the Treme Creole Gumbo Festival.
Every weekend from September 29 – November 25, you can go to the Cajun Country Corn Maze, and it’s the perfect place to enjoy the fall. The maze is constructed from a 7.5 acre corn field, and takes 1 – 1.5 hours on average to walk through.
It’s located in the countryside just outside of Baton Rouge. Check out the maze’s official website for detailed directions.
On Friday, November 16 from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., the Mid City Art & Design Cultural District of Baton Rouge celebrates local art and music with White Light Night.
Head down to bustling Mid City, Baton Rouge’s cultural hub, and enjoy the local businesses along the oak-lined streets. The festival is free, and functions as a way to stimulate the Baton Rouge economy and showcase the city’s most exciting artists and small businesses.
We hope you take advantage of the beautiful weather and jam-packed events schedule this autumn in Louisiana. Contact us today to learn more about our private gated apartment communities!
Autumn in Louisiana is the perfect time of year for biking. But no matter what time of year it is, there are fantastic spots to bike near all of 1st Lake’s gated residential communities.
Read on for the best places to bike in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Northshore, and get ready to enjoy the beautiful natural environment of South Louisiana!
New Orleans is, for the most part, completely flat, making it ideal for cycling. There are lots of great places to go for a bike ride in the Crescent City.
The Lafitte Greenway is a 2.6-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail and green corridor connecting neighborhoods from Armstrong Park to City Park, extending from the intersection of N. Alexander and St. Louis streets in Mid-City to Basin Street and St. Louis Street in Tremé, blocks from the French Quarter.
According to the official website, “The Greenway includes a 12-foot asphalt path for cyclists and pedestrians, new recreation fields, basketball courts, outdoor fitness parks, green space, and landscaping improvements including approximately 500 shade trees, native plant meadows, and stormwater retention features. The path is fully lit with LED energy-efficient trail lighting and includes curb extensions, signalized high visibility crosswalks, a crushed stone walking path, and a bicycle and pedestrian roundabout.”
Historic St. Charles Avenue is a major attraction in the city due to the majestic oaks and beautiful homes that line the street. Tulane and Loyola University campuses are also located along St. Charles, as well as the famous Columns Hotel.
Biking down St. Charles is a great way to spend an afternoon. Plus, there are plenty of great restaurants and parks along the way, for those that would rather take their time and relax.
Lakeshore Drive is a popular place for biking because it provides a path with a view of beautiful Lake Pontchartrain. There are also plenty of places to eat or relax along the way.
If you live at one of our Baton Rouge properties, you’ll also have a chance to bike along the Mississippi River, as well as many other beautiful landscapes in the city.
Along the Mississippi River levee is a 4-mile bike path that extends from just north of the I-10 Mississippi River Bridge down past Skip Bertman Drive at LSU to Farr Park. The path accommodates walkers, joggers and bikers. Water fountains and benches can be found along the way.
Baton Rouge’s Downtown Greenway is a bicycling corridor that stretches through the inner city. It’s the perfect place to bike. Make sure you take advantage of the many parks, businesses and cultural attractions along the way.
The Northshore is a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of New Orleans and slow things down. There is more open and unused space on the Northshore compared to New Orleans, and this lends itself to biking perfectly.
The Tammany Trace is a hiking and biking trail that makes its way through every city on the Northshore, spanning from Covington, through Abita Springs, Mandeville and Lacombe, and ending in Slidell. Incredibly, this biking trail is over 30 miles long.
The Mandeville Trailhead is a public waypoint along the trace, where you will find restrooms, pavilions, an amphitheater, and other well-maintained public facilities to use before you begin your journey. The Mandeville Trailhead also hosts a farmers market on Saturday mornings.
There is a trailhead located in every city that the trace runs through, and each of them holds unique events and activities. To learn more about the trace and its trailheads, check out the official Tammany Trace website.
1st Lake has properties located near all of the biking spots listed above! Contact us today to learn more about our private gated apartment communities.
Farmers markets have been part of the Louisiana way of life for centuries. All across the state, these markets feature a wide array of seasonal produce, flowers, local delicacies, and arts & crafts.
Autumn is a great time of year to check out the farmers markets in your area. The weather is lovely, and there is a strong sense of community surrounding these weekly or monthly gatherings.
Read on for some of our farmers market recommendations.
There are dozens of farmers markets in the New Orleans area, and each one features a variety of items including produce and local arts & crafts. The French Market Farmers Market and the Crescent City Farmers Market have regular hours and are well known throughout the city.
This is a historic market that features full-service eateries serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and a variety of fresh produce and seafood.
Two weekly fresh food farmers markets can be found here: The Wednesday Crescent City Farmers Market and the Artisan Saturday Market.
The Crescent City Farmers Market offers items from local farmers, fishers, and food producers, as well as cooking demonstrations and occasional live music performances.
The Artisan Saturday Market offers handmade arts & crafts including clothing, candles, and many other locally made and carefully selected items.
This marketplace boasts “produce, crafts, and culture.” Its mission is to help revitalize the local community by increasing access to “fresh, local, and affordable food, and enhance economic viability” for its vendors.
Metry Market at the Park offers family fun in Metairie’s Lafreniere Park, and offers a weekly community event for all ages. Its mission is to “provide a source of fresh fruit, vegetables and local goods to residents, highlight more of what Metairie, LA can offer to their residents and encourage residents to get in the habit of buying local goods.”
This market also features artisans from all across Louisiana selling handmade jewelry, crafts, and more.
Baton Rouge is also a great place to find locally sourced produce and other goods, and there are two major markets you should definitely check out.
Main Street Market is located in downtown Baton Rouge, and features locally owned restaurants and shops inside of a marketplace setting. It is open Monday through Saturday and serves breakfast and lunch, as well as coffee.
On Saturdays, Main Street combines with the Red Stick Farmers Market to create a community market that offers cooking demonstrations, as well as other standard farmers market fare.
Red Stick Farmers Market has been in operation for nearly a decade, and only offers produce that is locally grown. Depending on the time of year, Red Stick operates in up to 7 locations across Baton Rouge, and has over 50 farmers that regularly participate.
Red Stick offers a fantastic variety of “fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, seafood, artisan breads, homemade pies, honey, milk and cheese, native plants, herbs, and specialty food items.”
For those of you staying in one of our Northshore communities, don’t worry! Both Mandeville and Covington have great farmers markets that aren’t far from your apartment.
The Covington Farmers Market takes place every Wednesday and Saturday morning, and is a community gathering featuring fresh produce, prepared food and music. All produce offered at the market is grown locally, and what’s available will depend on the season.
You’ll also find “jam, jelly, bread, pastries, pies, and candy” as well as a “broad selection of live native, ornamental and culinary plants.”
Since 2002, the Mandeville Trailhead Farmers Market has brought the local community together to buy local goods and enjoy local entertainment and educational activities.
The market features over 50 vendors offering “food of all types, wood-crafted items, artwork, pottery, children’s toys and clothing, soaps & lotions, and more.”
Contact us today to learn more about our private gated apartment communities!
Have you ever craved a delicious, complete lunch for a great price? We’ve got you covered.
We’ve put together a list of happy hour and weekly specials in the Metairie, Kenner, and River Ridge areas. These spots are close to our properties, making all of them as convenient as they are delicious!
Read on for our list of food happy hours in the New Orleans area:
Andy’s Bistro is a restaurant, bar and event space located on Veterans Blvd. They were also recently voted the best pizza in Metairie.
From 4:30 – 6:00 p.m., Andy’s offers a “Prime Time” menu — a fantastic 3-course meal for only $29. For the main course, you’ll be able to choose between filet mignon, fresh fish, pork chop, and paneed veal.
Despite being featured on our Happy Hour List, Loft18 offers more than just food and drinks. It is an indoor golf and entertainment center, designed for year-round indoor golf simulation and relaxation.
Loft18 is a great place to spend time with friends, and their weekly specials make group gatherings even better. Loft18 offers a different food and drink special every day of the week, including discounted sliders on “Lazy Saturdays” and “2 for 1” Tuesdays, which features any two select menu items for the price of one.
Check out their full list of specials here.
Drewski’s is another restaurant that offers daily lunch specials well worth checking out. Daily items include Shrimp, Tomato and Basil Pasta Topped with Bronzed Catfish and Garlic Bread and Southern Fried Chicken.
Check out their full menu here.
Boulevard American Bistro is an upscale establishment located at 4241 Veterans Blvd. in Metairie that offers a fantastic “Social Hour” menu from 3 – 6 p.m., Monday – Friday. $7 small plates like Tuna Tartare, House Made Guacamole, Fried Lousiana Oysters, and a Petite Ribeye Steak Sandwich complement their great drink specials perfectly.
Heads & Tails is a fantastic seafood restaurant in Harahan with an incredible happy hour menu Monday – Saturday at 3 – 6 p.m. that offers discounts on oysters, BBQ shrimp, boudin stuffed mushrooms, and more.
Taste of Tokyo offers delicious Lunch Combos from 11 a.m – 3 p.m. Monday – Saturday. Try this spot for great hibachi and sushi dishes.
Copeland’s in Kenner offers great lunch discounts on their delicious appetizers, including, Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms, Crab Stuffed Beignets, and Artichoke and Spinach Dip Monday – Friday from 4 – 7 p.m.
Check out their menu here.
Stingrays in Kenner offers delicious lunch specials from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. that vary from day to day. Specials include fresh fish filets, shrimp & sausage jambalaya, and stuffed bellpepper for incredible prices.
Every Tuesday at Chilangos in Kenner, you’ll get great discounts on tacos and quesadillas, as well as margaritas.
Check out their great deals here.
Check out our website to find a 1st Lake residential community near you!
Summertime is in full swing in the Crescent City. That means the temperatures are quite high. But so is the number of fun things to do, whether you’re trying to beat the heat or enjoy it to the fullest!
Read on for our list of 7 things to do before the NOLA summer ends.
New Orleanians love snowballs. During the summertime, cooling off with a delicious snowball is a must, and there are spots to get one all across the city. If you’re Uptown, a particularly well-known and historic location is Hansen’s Sno-Bliz. Hansen’s has been open since 1939 and is known for traditional and innovative flavors like Thai Basil, Satsuma, and others. Check them out at 4801 Tchoupitoulas.
Click here for a list of the best snowballs in New Orleans.
New Orleans has plenty of fantastic pools to take advantage of this summer. If you live in one of our many properties in the New Orleans area, there’s a pool just steps away from your door!
If you’re looking to mix it up with a local crowd, spots like the Ace Hotel and Country Club are open to the public.
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is an awesome, relaxing place to see all kinds of sea creatures. Don’t miss the albino alligator!
The 16th annual Tales of the Cocktail is a “cocktail conference and family reunion” that features a schedule of over 200 different events, including seminars, tastings, competitions and networking events. The historic Hotel Monteleone will serve as the headquarters for this year’s conference, which takes place on July 17 – July 22. Visit the official website for more information on TOTC events!
On August 4th, join the crowds of people along Julia Street for Whitney White Linen Night, which takes places in the artsy Warehouse District. Galleries offer discounts, and there will be live music and refreshments. Just one week later, on August 11th, visit the galleries of Royal Street in the French Quarter for Dirty Linen Night! The streets will be filled with music and great food & drinks, as usual.
The annual Foundation Free Fridays summer concert series has begun! Every Friday this summer, the iconic venue offers free admission to concerts featuring great live acts.
August in New Orleans is Museum Month. If you’re a member of one of the 16 participating institutions in the city, you’ll have the opportunity to visit all of the other museums for free. World-class museums like the National WWII Museum, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art are taking part in this great celebration of art and history. Grab a membership today and start planning your museum itinerary!
Now that you know how to make the most of the summer in the Crescent City, check out our fantastic residential communities located in the New Orleans Area. Or, simply contact us if you have any questions or would like more information.
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
