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The Big Story
Fall into Festival Fun, Exciting
New Events
As Shreveport-Bossier will soon usher in
the fall season, the fun-loving events and celebrations continue to heat
up! Here on Louisiana's
Other Side we offer plenty of warm smiles and
Southern charm as you discover the area's endless variety of things to
see and do. With just the right temperatures, enjoy any of our spirited
outdoor festivals or venture inside to enjoy a host of upbeat
entertainment. Be sure to plan for these upcoming events.
 Rev up for fun
at the 34th annual Red River Revel Arts Festival, which
will kick off Oct. 3-10 at Festival
Plaza in downtown Shreveport. Each
year the eight-day, outdoor arts festival draws about 200,000 patrons.
The festival features art from more than 120 visual artists from across
the nation, four performance stages with non-stop entertainment, and 24
food booths of our famous, local mouth-watering delicacies.
Taste internationally acclaimed and
domestically micro-brewed ales, pilsners, stouts and everything in
between at Shreveport's first Brew - A Premier Beer Tasting
and Concert, Oct. 17, at Festival
Plaza in downtown Shreveport. In
conjunction with the premier beers, some of the area's finest restaurants
will be on hand providing free samples of their signature dishes. The
legendary Robert Earl Keen also will perform his country and folk music
hits.
 Marvel at the
daring rides and irresistible treats found at the State Fair of Louisiana,
Oct. 22-Nov. 8. This year's event, themed "First &
Forever," will celebrate a slice of Louisiana life by connecting the
patrons to the many "firsts" experienced at the State Fair of
Louisiana, including their first date, first ride, first prize and first
taste of fair food.
Learn more about the life of
Shreveporters in the 1830s-1860s during Pioneer Day this
fall. During this annual event, which is generally held the last Saturday
in October, the Pioneer
Heritage Center
hosts an open house of the museum and also showcases local folk-life
demonstrators, living historians, musicians and much more. The tour
includes an original dogtrot house and other living and working quarters,
as well as authentic period furniture and materials.
That's
Entertainment
Happy Birthday
Horseshoe, Live Casino Entertainment
 This year, Horseshoe Casino
and Hotel
celebrates its 15th year in Bossier
City.
Since 1994, the Horseshoe has paid out
nearly $36 billion to slot customers and contributed nearly $8 million to
various charitable causes.
"We became Northwest Louisiana's
gaming industry leader because we have a motivated and dedicated team of
more than 2,000 of the best folks in the business who are committed to
providing legendary Horseshoe service day in and day out," said Geno
Iafrate, Senior Vice President and General Manager. "I am proud to
be part of this winning team and I look forward to the next 15 years
being even more successful than the first 15."
Celebrate Horseshoe's anniversary this
year by gaming, grabbing a bite to eat in one of the casino and hotel's
restaurants or unwind with live entertainment at the CMT Crossroads Bar.
Open nightly, the bar offers live entertainment Tuesday through Sunday,
sports and karaoke each Tuesday. Completed in May 2008, the CMT
Crossroads Bar is a throwback to an authentic roadhouse atmosphere,
complete with country decor and Crossroads memorabilia. The venue is
3,300-square-feet with a stage, dance floor and 27-foot circular bar.
Local and regional acts perform at the venue, and national acts make
special appearances. You never know when a HUGE country star might show
up, like special guests Sara Evans and Jack Ingram.
Also check out the entertainment options
at these local casinos:
 KC & The
Sunshine Band
will perform at 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 5, at DiamondJacks
Casino Resort
in Bossier City.
Tickets are on sale for $30-$40. For tickets or for more information,
call 318-678-6701.
KC & The Sunshine Band are most
known for their tropically funky dance music - The Miami Sound. Formed in
1973 in Hialeah, Fla. and originally named KC and The Sunshine Junkanoo
Band, the band ruled both the Pop and R&B charts throughout the ?70s.
Their hit disco songs include "That's the Way (I Like It),"
"(Shake, Shake, Shake,) Shake Your Booty," "I'm Your
Boogie Man," and "Get Down Tonight."
 Eldorado Resort
Casino Shreveport offers an eclectic mix of entertainment like
exciting slot, poker and Blackjack tournaments, cash giveaways and live
music in the casino's premier lounge and showroom. Dance the night away
to the area's best musicians. Upcoming performers include Groove Agents -
Aug. 14-15; SugarFoot - Aug. 16; Earshot Graffiti - Aug 19; Dorsey
Summerfield - Aug. 26; Hipboot Joe - Aug. 28-29 and more.
Take a break from casino action at Boomtown Hotel
and Casino
to enjoy free live entertainment - from popular music acts to local
karaoke fun or catch your favorite local band perform live at Sam's Town Hotel
and Casino.
Just drop in or email to reserve your table.
Go Graffiti at Artspace
 Artspace
continues to bring cutting edge art exhibitions to northwest Louisiana, like
its current exhibit, Graffiti.
Graffiti, open through Sept. 19, is a
dramatic display of Graffiti Art that will cover not only the interior of
Artspace, but also spread outside with huge vinyls adorning the buildings
and sidewalks in the 700 block of Texas Street in downtown Shreveport. The
pieces will be created by professional graffiti artists, ELSE from Los Angeles and PUBERT from Arizona, who will work with a selected
team of local artists and art students.
The exhibition also will include a
collection of art borrowed from ?Full Time Artists;' photography of
Graffiti by Mike Silva; Will Tuft's photographic images of the famously
anonymous Banksy's work in New Orleans; and a documentary of local
graffiti and its impact on our community by artist Robert Trudeau.
Artspace is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m.,
Monday-Saturday. Admission is free.
"Show Us
Your Shreveport-Bossier" Video Contest Winner
 Congratulations Roger Braniff, of Greenwood, La.,
on winning the $2,500 grand prize in the Show Us Your Shreveport-Bossier
video contest.
When it comes to Braniff's film, Welcome to the Other Side,
hang on for the fastest three-minute ride around Shreveport-Bossier. He
highlighted things to see, things to do and other Shreveport-Bossier
happenings. Born and raised in Shreveport,
Roger wanted to show the variety of things about his hometown. His film
featured Harrah's, Louisiana Downs, the Independence Bowl, area lakes,
Gator and Friends
Alligator Park
and Exotic Zoo, Mardi Gras and more.
Braniff and other contestants were
recognized at the Red Carpet Premiere, July 23 at the Robinson Film
Center. Watch his
video and see for yourself!
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