YOUNGSVILLE
Timed for Crawfish Season
Veteran crawfish farmers, Keith and Kelly Broussard, co-owners of C’est Bon Crawfish, are building a boiled seafood restaurant in Youngsville. Slated to open in April, 2020 at 3301 Chemin Metairie Parkway, the 4,000-square-foot restaurant and bar will specialize in boiled crawfish, shrimp and crabs. It will only be open seasonally, closing when crawfish is out of season (peak months are typically March, April and May).
OPELOUSAS
Roll the Dice for Opelousas-Opoly
To commemorate the Opelousas Tricentennial in 2020, an Opelousas version of Monopoly has been created as a limited-edition board game showcasing the city’s culture and heritage. Instead of Boardwalk and Park Place, players can land on local businesses like Tony Chachere’s. Instead of a car, or shoe or a top hat for game pieces, players can select a jukebox, a chili pepper, an antique car or a horse ($30; available at the Opelousas Tourist Information Center, Sebastien Dupre Jewellery, Back in Time, Frank’s Poboys and the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center).
LAKE CHARLES
First Riverboat Approved to Come Ashore
The eight-member Gaming Control Board has approved a plan for Eldorado Resorts to build a new $112.7 million casino between the parking lot and hotel at the Isle of Capri riverboat casino in Westlake, just off I-10 west of Lake Charles. The new facility will have 72,000-square-feet of gaming space, almost three times the size of the riverboat, plus a VIP lounge and restaurants overlooking the lake.
NEW IBERIA
Plein Air Aplenty
After reviewing applicants from 18 states and Canada for the 2020 Shadows-on-the-Teche Plein Air Painting Competition March 14-21, 30 artists have been selected to paint outdoors within the surrounding six parishes, followed by an art exhibition, awards and a fine arts sale. (shadowsontheteche.org).
MILTON
Go Ahead, Sweeten Up
A vibrant new, pastel-hued Corner Candy Creamery recently opened in Milton, featuring a variety of sweet treats including malt ice cream and candy, fountain sodas and Cajun plate lunches. The spacious, 1950s-style setting is enlivened with peppy pop music (facebook.com/cornercandy-creamery).
CROWLEY
More Rice is Nice
Supreme Rice in Crowley will undergo a $20 million expansion, securing the company’s position as a leading rice processor by adding 25,000-square-feet of manufacturing space. It’s the largest rice milling operation in Louisiana (supremerice.com).
