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!
Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana. It’s centrally located in the southern half of the state, just an hour away from both New Orleans and Lafayette. It’s nicknamed the “Red Stick,” and has 300+ years of history.
If you’re in the process of moving to Baton Rouge, you should know that there are three 1st Lake Properties in the Red Stick. In this article, we’ll take a better look at our Baton Rouge properties so that you can spend more time learning about the unique culture and history of Baton Rouge to prepare for your big move!
Read on to learn more about 1st Lake’s Baton Rouge properties.
If you are looking for an apartment for rent in Baton Rouge, experience the difference with Spring Brook. This gated apartment community, located between Jones Creek Road and O’Neal Lane, is minutes from Siegen Lane and Highland Road with easy access to I-12 and walking distance to fine dining and local grocery stores.
At Spring Brook, a Baton Rouge, LA, apartment community, we offer you:
There’s also a 24-hour fitness center, soothing hot tub, and a private pool!
Located within the historic Spanish Town community, this gated, lakefront property offers wood-tone flooring, open living spaces, chic lighting, and expansive picture windows. Updated kitchens and appliances with the convenience of a washer and dryer in every apartment make Lake Towers Apartments the smart Downtown Baton Rouge choice.
Lake Towers Apartments in Baton Rouge offers a variety of stylish “extras,” with free, off-street covered parking, access gates, elevators and urban high-rise style architecture. Also, enjoy lavish landscaping, on-site fitness center, and a private pool and courtyard area with a gazebo overlooking Capital Lakes.
In addition to the wonderful amenities you’ll have access to while you’re at home, you’ll also have easy access to the Downtown Baton Rouge Lifestyle. You’ll be able to bike or walk to festivals, farmer’s markets, and special events.
Moments from shopping, dining and entertainment, Regency Club apartments is a quick drive from I-12, The Mall of Louisiana, LSU and Southern University. But, it’s far enough away to give you a picture perfect escape.
Regency Club offers spacious one and two bedroom apartment homes, allowing you to choose the best home suited for you. It also features wood-burning fireplaces, private patios or balconies, and beautiful accent walls to create the perfect ambiance for entertaining guests year-round. Fully equipped kitchens and washer/dryers within your home make living at Regency Club simple and stress-free.
If you’d like to see any of these wonderful properties with your own eyes, just contact us!
Are you planning a move to Baton Rouge?
Moving can be a stressful and tiring process, even if you’re moving just a few blocks down the road. Moving to a completely different city is more difficult and can sometimes be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created a guide to moving to Baton Rouge. We hope that we can provide some information that will relieve a little bit of stress, and cause you to look forward to exploring your new home.
Read on to learn about the Baton Rouge area and what it has to offer!
As you probably know, Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana. In 1699, French explorers named the area baton rouge (red stick) when they discovered a reddish cypress pole that Native Americans had placed in the ground to demarcate different hunting territories.
Over the centuries, Baton Rouge has become a sprawling city. In fact, its somewhat “unplanned” quality is both charming and frustrating for locals.
The two major universities in Baton Rouge are Louisiana State University (LSU) and Southern University. Southern University is also one of the largest historically African American universities in the nation. LSU’s campus is beautiful, and boasts iconic Louisiana scenery: majestic live oaks, regal architecture with Spanish-tiled roofing, and magnolia trees. There is also a wide variety of gorgeous outdoor landscapes and nightlife options surrounding the area. We’ll get into more of that later…
Baton Rouge is home to thousands of college students. If you’re a sports fan, you’re in luck! Both schools have dynamic athletic programs, and college sports events & traditions are deeply rooted in the culture of the city.
Tip: If you want to immerse yourself in the sports culture of LSU, check out The Chimes on game day, located just a block outside of campus. It’s a bustling bar and restaurant with a fun university vibe.
As we’ve mentioned, Baton Rouge is full of beautiful natural landscapes that are worth exploring. The LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden is a collection of gardens, forests and wetlands. The experience of the Botanic Gardens is best summed up by their own mission statement: “The Mission of the Botanic Gardens is to promote the importance of plants and their environment to the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of the citizens of Baton Rouge, the state of Louisiana and the world.”
The Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center contains 103 acres of land dedicated to connecting people to nature, with winding pathways leading through beautiful swampland and forests. There are also over 180 parks in the area, so taking a hike, planning a picnic, or going for a jog can easily be done. Check out the BREC parks website to find a park near your residence.
There’s also plenty of history and educational attractions in Baton Rouge. It’s worth going downtown to see the “New” State Capitol, Old State Capitol, and the Old Governor’s Mansion. The Louisiana Art & Science Museum features exhibitions of internationally renowned artists, a permanent collection, a planetarium, and much more. The Capitol Park Museum is an in-depth exploration of the compelling twists and turns of Louisiana’s political history as well as Louisiana culture.
To begin, we’ll start with two very popular nightlife areas for students and young adults: Third Street and Tigerland.
Historic Third Street is located in Downtown Baton Rouge, and features many bars, late-night restaurants and clubs all within walking distance of one another. Try Blend Wine Bar for an upscale experience, and Boudreaux & Thibodeaux’s for live music and a more boisterous crowd. Tigerland is a collection of bars that has been around for several decades, the most iconic being Fred’s, which has been around since the 1980s.
There is more to do at night than mingle with students, however. There are local craft breweries like Tin Roof and Southern Craft, both of which offer great educational tours and tastings. For a classically “hipster” vibe, try Radio Bar on Government Street. The Bulldog on Perkins Road offers a selection of 81 draft beers and over 200 bottled beers.
When it comes to music, the Baton Rouge music scene is booming. Teddy’s Juke Joint is a wonderful venue that’s been a hangout for blues lovers for over 40 years, and is located on 16999 Old Scenic Highway just outside of the city. It was founded by Blues legend Lloyd “Teddy” Johnson. Baton Rouge is also home to the nation’s oldest blues festival (Baton Rouge Blues Festival), the Northgate Music & Arts Festival, as well as weekly concert series such as Live After Five that are held year round.
Most of Louisiana is a foodie’s paradise, and Baton Rouge is no exception.
For classic Cajun and Creole cuisine, try Parrain’s Seafood, Beausoleil, Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar, or Cecilia’s Creole Bistro. For a more contemporary dining experience, the White Star Market is a new “urban gourmet food hall” located in Mid City Baton Rouge, and offers a diverse and unique selection of food & drink. And we can’t talk about food in Baton Rouge without at least mentioning the iconic Louie’s Café, a 24-hour diner located just outside LSU’s campus.
Now that you have a guide to Baton Rouge life, check out our fantastic residential communities located in the Baton Rouge Area: Spring Brook, Lake Towers, and Regency Club! 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
