Ideally, Thanksgiving is about spending time with loved ones and reflecting on all we’re grateful for. In reality, it’s often a time of major stress: did we bake enough dinner rolls? Does this side dish go well with turkey? Why is the gravy so lumpy?
While there’s not much to do for last-minute disasters besides take a long, deep breath, you can prepare yourself and your space in advance to ensure a successful holiday.
Simple tasks like checking expiration dates on your spices or counting how many usable plates you have can save you from last-minute mad dashes to the store on the big day. Make an ongoing list that outlines what you need, then plan on a shopping trip where you can purchase everything all at once.
Remember to check in on other dining necessities: ample utensils, wine glasses, dish-washing liquid, and paper towels can all be the difference between a seamless evening and a stressful one.
Try to plan a menu that doesn’t rely on being served hot or cold. Dishes like wild rice salad, pecan or pumpkin pies, and even the turkey itself can be served at room temperature, hot, or cold, so no matter where you need to store them, you’ll ensure they taste delicious.
A huge turkey is often the star of a Thanksgiving menu — but it doesn’t have to be! You can forego the fowl in its whole form and try dishes like a satisfying turkey pot-pie, roasted turkey breasts, or turkey osso bucco. If you insist on a full turkey, here are a few space-saving tips:
Even if your out-of-town visitors have plans to stay elsewhere, you may want to consider preparing a guest room – just in case. Purchase a few travel-size toiletries so guests don’t have to use yours. Place items like toothpaste, a razor, a new bar of soap, and shampoo on top of a clean, colorful towel so guests will know it’s theirs to use.
Put fresh sheets on the guest bed, and stack a couple of extra blankets nearby. Stocking up on toilet paper is a necessity; fresh flowers, magazines, and water bottles all placed in the room are bonus points for hosts looking to make a special impression. If you don’t have a guest room, create an alternate space for guests to sleep with an airbed or even a feather mattress topper placed on the floor.
Scope out remaining Halloween sales to find decorative items and candy to have on hand for the Thanksgiving holiday. Often, candies have fall themes that are deeply discounted after Halloween – arrange them in a crystal bowl, and your guests can help themselves to bite-size treats leading up to the meal.
Post-Halloween sales are also a good time to purchase several pumpkins. These hearty gourds should last well through Thanksgiving and are a beautiful addition on the table, mantel, or on the front door.
We hope these tips will help you enjoy a peaceful, fun holiday. Happy Thanksgiving to all of our current and future residents at 1st Lake Properties! We are thankful for you!
We’ve long known Louisiana is a great place to live, but in recent years, it’s proven to be a great place to work as well. In an annual report from Site Selection, Louisiana received the No. 4 ranking for top state business climates. The most exciting aspect of this good news is that just six years ago, Louisiana ranked 25th in the same poll. Louisiana has made a huge leap forward in business in just a few short years, and New Orleans and its beautiful suburbs are a crucial contributor to that success.
The New Orleans metro area was also named the “biggest brain magnet” by Forbes Magazine, and a number of young professionals are moving to the area. Renting has become a clear choice for these newcomers, and if you’re moving here to start a new job, we recommend checking out our moving resources and tips for your move to the New Orleans metro.
Take a closer look at some other exciting business and economic news in Jefferson Parish (where many of our 1st Lake Properties are located) and see how it measures up to Orleans Parish.
Source: Greater New Orleans Inc.
Source: Greater New Orleans Inc.
Together, these two parishes have contributed tremendously to Louisiana’s success as an economic force in the United States. We’re proud to call Louisiana home, and even prouder to have a strong presence in Jefferson and Orleans parishes.
Looking for the best oysters in River Ridge, Harahan, Metairie or Kenner? Then you’ve come to the right blog.
There’s an old saying that oysters are best during the months that end with “r.” And while it’s true oysters tend to be larger in the winter months when the weather is colder, these days, it really is just a saying – you can find fresh oysters any time of year in the greater New Orleans area (the “r” saying harks back to the days before suitable refrigeration and food storage).
There are so many fantastic options for oysters in River Ridge, Harahan, Jefferson, Metairie, and Kenner. Who’s hungry?
Acme Oyster House — 3000 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie
A delicious local chain bursting with Cajun-Creole classics. Order the fried oysters and the Oyster Rockefeller soup, with a hint of Herbsaint.
Drago’s Seafood — 3232 N. Arnoult Road, Metairie
This family-run restaurant is famous for its charbroiled oysters. They also have an extensive, separate gluten-free menu perfect for folks with food allergies.
Charles Seafood — 8311 Jefferson Highway, Harahan
Try the oyster platter with your choice of side. We’ll be choosing the jambalaya grits.
Jaeger’s Seafood and Beer Garden — 901 S. Clearview Parkway, New Orleans
Order the salted raw oysters or try their signature style, Oysters Jaeger. With interesting sides like stuffed Creole eggplant and stuffed mirliton, this restaurant lets you pick and choose a memorable meal.
Mr. Ed’s Oyster Bar and Fish House — 3117 21st St., Metairie
The fried oysters are somewhat of a specialty here, although you can order ‘em charbroiled and raw as well.
Deanie’s Seafood — 1713 Lake Ave, Metairie
Crowd-pleasing seafood in Bucktown – and it’s just around the corner from R&O’s if you get a po-boy craving.
The Blue Crab Restaurant & Oyster Bar — 7900 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans
Another Bucktown favorite with a beautiful waterfront location. Try the oysters on the half shell (though we also recommend the fried crab claw appetizer).
Harbor Seafood & Oyster Bar — 3203 Williams Blvd., Kenner
Head straight to the raw oyster bar at this low-key spot on Williams Boulevard… but if you’re feeling brave, you can order the swamp platter, too, with alligator, frog, and turtle.
Whether you head to the Metairie Cemetery for a good scare, a little bit of history, or simply a calm, quiet place to reflect, there’s so much to learn at this beautifully landscaped space along Old Metairie Road on Metairie Ridge. The cemetery dates from 1872, and it has housed wealthy and famous “residents” in the decades since. The cemetery features elaborate tombs; some are clustered together in a section known as “Millionaire’s Row.” More humble graves where less-affluent families have laid their loved ones to rest make up the remainder of the cemetery.
The Metairie Cemetery features a lot of interesting history for Civil War buffs. In fact, two of the cemetery’s largest burial sites were built specifically for veterans of the Civil War. You’ll see a huge column featuring a statue of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson as well as tombs for prominent Civil War figures like Jefferson Davis and Pierre Gustave Toutant-Beauregard.
The graves feature a mix of styles that show the cemetery’s age. You’ll see Italianate and Classical Revival styles as well as Gothic Revival. Statues, elaborate tombs, and simple graves all stand side by side in this beautifully landscaped graveyard, featuring meticulously clipped lawns and walkways that allude to the cemetery’s former life as a horseracing track in the early 1800s.
Here are just a few examples of the graves you’ll see in Metairie Cemetery:
For a full list, visit the Find a Grave website.
The cemetery is located at the junction of I-10 and Metairie Road and is technically in New Orleans city limits. From most of our New Orleans-area 1st Lake Properties, you’ll simply take I-10 East to exist 231A for City Park Ave/Metairie Road. Cars are allowed inside the cemetery, which closes at 5 p.m.
Though it’s just a short drive from Metairie, River Ridge, and downtown New Orleans, Rivertown in Kenner feels like you’ve traveled much farther to a quaint and picturesque village along the Mississippi River.
In 2014, Rivertown was selected as a “USA Main Street” community for its charming historic district. Even though the area is small, it packs in a whole lot of things to do.
Ready to make the (quick) trip to Rivertown? Here’s what you’ll find:
The 50-foot high, domed screen at the Kenner Planetarium & Megadome Cinema is an incredible viewing experience. Events like laser light shows and presentations related to astronomy will have your head in the stars.
And at a cost of just $5-6 per show, it’s an affordable, educational alternative to your usual night out.
At the foot of the levee on Williams Boulevard, you’ll find LaSalle’s Landing. This historic spot offers stunning views of the Mississippi River. Flags from ten different countries along the levee represent all of the different nations who governed Louisiana at one time or another. At the top of the levee is a prime spot for watching ships cruise by, as well as paths for biking and walking.
Fun fact: LaSalle’s Landing was also where the first heavyweight boxing championship took place, way back in 1870.
Work in a good laugh during your trip to Rivertown in Kenner at Castle Comedy Theater. This small, intimate venue offers up-and-coming acts to see live. Plus, you can even take a comedy workshop. The space only seats about 80 people, so make sure to look into getting tickets in advance.
This science center is truly for people of all ages. Although there are special sections devoted to younger kids, older children and adults are in for a treat. Come enjoy features like a full-size NASA International Space Station prototype (fondly called “Kenner Space Station”). It’s one of only two prototypes in existence today. The museum also features exhibits on minerals, insects, optical illusions, and waterways. Plus, there are interactive components like a green screen to test your skills at forecasting the weather.
Professional theatrical performances and musicals all happen at the Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts, a duo of theaters linked by a picturesque outdoor courtyard. Performances range from well-known stage productions like “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and “The Producers” to theater adaptations of films like “The Wizard of Oz” and “Shrek.”
Rivertown often holds seasonal events like Oktoberfest and a holiday market and craft show in addition to an ongoing farmers’ market with produce, handicrafts, and more.
The 16-block historic district of Rivertown also includes the Rivertown Heritage Park, featuring a beautifully landscaped green space that often includes special events like movie screenings or live music. The park is only open to the general public on Saturday mornings from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., so be sure to go on a Saturday morning to enjoy sights like a pond, covered bridge, and replicated turn-of-the-century buildings like an ice house and traditional blacksmith shop.
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
