ABBEVILLE, LAKE CHARLES
Shucks! Expanding to Lake Charles
The owners of the popular Abbeville seafood haven, Shucks! are opening a new restaurant concept in Lake Charles, Shuck and Boil, later this year. The expanded menu will include signature oyster dishes, new Cajun creations and boiled shellfish.
Shucks! / shucksrestaurant.com
LAFAYETTE
The Dogs are BacK
After a one-year hiatus, Lafayette’s only dog parade, Krewe Des Chiens, returns Feb.23, following a change in the organization’s leadership (krewedechiens.org).
NEW IBERIA
Calling All Ya-Yas​
The Books Along the Teche Literary Festival announces Rebecca Wells, author of “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood,” as its 2019 Great Southern Writer and main speaker for the April 5-7 fest. Wells will bring her stories of female friendship and mother-daughter relationships to audience members during a special presentation April 6 at the Silman Theater (tickets are limited: Eventbrite; BooksAlongThe-TecheLiterary-Festival.com).
JEANERETTE
Smithsonian Exhibition
The Smithsonian Water/Ways exhibit opens Feb. 24 at the Jeanerette Museum featuring music by the Landry Brothers Band under the museum’s pavilion and the artwork of L’Acadian Art Guild on view (jeanerettemuseum.com).
ASCENSION PARISH
New Jobs
Global manufacturer VEGA Americas is making a $22.4 million capital investment at the Ascension Commerce Center in Geismar, where an advanced manufacturing facility will be built, creating more than 160 jobs in Ascension Parish and surrounding areas (vegaindustries.net).
HOUMA, LAKE CHARLES
New Poké Places, Ramen with Music
Poké Geaux, the Lafayette restaurant that brought the poké craze to Acadiana, opened a Houma location in January (1753 Martin Luther King Blvd.) featuring the popular Hawaii-inspired “sushi-in-a-bowl” fare. A Lake Charles location (4750 Nelson Road) opens in early March. Poké’s owners also opened Izumi Ramen Noodle Bar & Grill in January (2201 Kaliste Saloom Rd., Lafayette) featuring small plates, a full bar with TV screens and live music weekends.
LAKE CHARLES
Music on the Lake
The eighth season of Live at the Lakefront, a free outdoor music series featuring top Louisiana bands, an open-air art market, food trucks and food booths from local restaurants, takes place Fridays, March 15, 22 and 22 at the Lake Charles Civic Center Arcade Amphitheater (900 Lakeshore Drive; artscouncilswla.org).