PieWorks, Shreveport, LA

Shreveport's go-to pizza spot makes pies as unique as its visitors

by Alex Contess | July 29, 2010

When it comes to the best pizza in Shreveport, there is seldom any controversy. There's only one place that lets you choose from 50+ toppings, has locations in every neighborhood, and boasts "addictive bread stix." To some, While it's not the only option for pizza in Shreveport, to some, it's the only reasonable one.

With locations in Ashley Ridge, Highland, and South Highland neighborhoods, PieWorks is always a short drive or walk away. Beyond …

4 J’s Java and More, Shreveport, LA

Chill out or get wired at this new downtown hideaway

by Alex Contess | July 26, 2010

Whether you’re working downtown, perusing the library or artspace, or killing time before a show at the Robinson Film Center, there’s never a bad time for a pick-me-up from 4 J’s Java and More.

Just opened in April, 4 J’s offers exactly what downtown Shreveport needs: a casual, no-pressure environment where visitors can spend ten minutes or an hour catching up on the news, chatting, or just watching Texas Street shuffle along …

Robinson Film Center, Shreveport, LA

Hard-to-find, controversial, award-winning? The Robinson's probably got it.

by Alex Contess | July 13, 2010

Eager moviegoers in Shreveport often believe that the only places to see a movie are giant mega-plexes with two-bit popcorn and rowdy teenagers. But if you’re looking for something a bit more against the grain of mainstream film, you’ll have to dig a little deeper.

The Robinson Film Center, located in the heart of Shreveport’s sleepy downtown, offers an alternative to Hollywood’s hyped-up, high-budget films by screening independent, foreign, and local features, …

Counter Culture Frozen Yogurt, Shreveport, LA

Beat the heat at one of Shreveport's hidden gems

by Alex Contess | June 25, 2010

It’s hot in Shreveport. I mean really hot. If the public pool is too full of small, possibly incontinent children, or your trusty wall-mounted A/C has just about lost its juice, Counter Culture is here for you.

Recently popularized by west coast brand Pinkberry, tart frozen yogurt is sweeping the country at an alarming rate. Always ahead of the curve, Counter Culture has been dishing out this light and airy confection since …

Cypress Black Bayou, Benton, LA

Kicking back, cutting loose, communing with nature? Check, check, and check.

by Alex Contess | May 20, 2010

Memorial Day is a day of memoriam.

It's also about having a day off of work, having a burger, and having a good time. This Memorial Day weekend, bask with the locals at Cypress Black Bayou, a 3400-acre park and recreation area that covers all the bases.

A $4 per car admission fee gets you into the park, where you can swim, explore, fish, camp and relax 'til your heart's content. For …

Fairfield Place Bed and Breakfast Inn, Shreveport, LA

Recharge and reconnect at the most romantic place in Shreveport

by Alex Contess | May 11, 2010

If you've got PG-13-rated intentions for your upcoming vacation, Fairfield Place Bed and Breakfast Inn has got your number. The inn's namesake, Shreveport's prestigious Fairfield neighborhood, is a destination in and of itself: blocks upon blocks of ornate Victorian mansions complement established, old-growth oak trees.

Nestled on one acre of meticulously maintained gardens, Fairfield Place's two adjoining homes offer all the requirements for a romantic getaway alongside modern conveniences to keep you comfortable. …

Podnuh’s Bar-B-Que, Shreveport, LA

When the mood calls for something smoky and sweet, Podnuh's delivers

by Alex Contess | April 27, 2010

Boiled crawfish and jambalaya are just fine, but sometimes you've just got to have barbecue. Podnuh's Bar-B-Que, with eight locations throughout the state, serves up what they call "Louisiana-style" barbecue; sweet like Kansas City and smoky like Memphis, Louisiana-style barbecue is as diverse and multifaceted as the state from which it comes.

The sauce, while outrageous, isn't the only thing that sets Podnuh's apart. They use exclusively fresh (never frozen) chicken and …

Independence Bowl, Shreveport, LA

Each December, two schools duke it out on the gridiron in this postseason favorite

by Alex Contess | April 20, 2010

Once a year, Independence Stadium, in the heart of Shreveport, hosts the aptly-named Independence Bowl, featuring two worthy collegiate opponents. 2010 will be the first year that the Bowl will feature a team from the Mountain West Conference opposing one from the Atlantic Coast Conference. The teams will be announced later in the year, and the suspense is already giving some college football fans cold sweats.

While the Independence Bowl has seen …

Wine Country Bistro and Bottle Shop, Shreveport, LA

Enjoy a meal and a glass (or two) at this date-night standby

by Alex Contess | April 12, 2010

On any given night of the week, executive chef Michael Brady is working a bit of Dionysian magic in the kitchen of Wine Country Bistro and Bottle Shop. Drawing on local, seasonal ingredients and traditional flavors of the South, Chef Brady creates a nightly menu that ensures each meal is an occasion. While an interactive, permanent menu is provided on Wine Country's website, daily specials can vacillate between the comfortable (fried …

Gardens of the American Rose Center, Shreveport, LA

Relax, imagine, and daydream among acres of botanical delights

by Alex Contess | April 07, 2010

Outdoor pursuits in Shreveport can be tricky for tourists and locals alike; unpredictable weather and big-ticket indoor activities (casinos, anyone?) often overshadow the city's outdoor gems. The Gardens of the American Rose Center is one such gem. Sprawling across 118 wooded acres, the garden is one of Shreveport's best-loved and best-kept secrets. Its accessible location makes it ideal for out-of-towners who may not know their way around, but its atmosphere makes visitors feel …

Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Nature Park, Shreveport, LA

Ring in spring with a walk in the woods

by Alex Contess | March 17, 2010

Looking for something to do during Shreveport's few months of temperate weather? This weekend, take a thirty minute jaunt to the outskirts of town and explore Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Nature Park, just outside the nearby town of Blanchard.

The park's 160 acres of pine-oak-hickory forest are navigable through five miles of paved nature trails. Shade from the heavy tree coverage ensures that the trails are tolerable year-round, although the park is …

O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, Bossier City, LA

Embrace your Irish side with this pub's St. Patrick's Day shenanigans

by Alex Contess | March 08, 2010

'Tis the season to knock back a few green beers and embrace your inner redhead. As St. Patrick's Day approaches, why not skip the smelly …

artspace, Shreveport, LA

"A miraculous place where anything can happen..."

by Alex Contess | February 26, 2010

If you've only ever been to art galleries that have a long list of things not to do (no touching, no gum chewing, no laughing, no fun...), loosen up and allow artspace to correct whatever misconceptions you have about art in general. artspace advertises itself not as a gallery or a museum, but as a place where "the public can connect to the arts in wonderful, new, and exciting ways." Indeed, artspace isn't …

Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport, LA

Gorgeous architecture and an active arts community means Centenary is not just for students

by Alex Contess | February 22, 2010

Established in 1825, Centenary College of Louisiana (unaffiliated with Centenary College of New Jersey) was originally founded in Jackson, Louisiana, before the Civil War. The Jackson campus was sacked by the Union in 1863, and the college moved to its current home in Shreveport in the early twentieth century. Today, Centenary is a thriving private Methodist liberal arts college which anchors Shreveport's historic Highland neighborhood. The college boasts a long list of notable alumni, …

Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center, Shreveport, LA

On rainy days or summer afternoons, Sci-Port is brainy fun for kids and adults

by Alex Contess | February 15, 2010

Sci-Port Discovery Center, located on the Clyde Fant Parkway in Shreveport's busy Riverfront District, is Louisiana's largest and Shreveport's only science center. The 92,000 square foot facility houses dynamic exhibits of electricity, anatomy, light, sound, cosmology, and more. Sci-Port is also home to the state's only IMAX dome, which features regularly changing educational and documentary films. Catch Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure and Hurricane on the Bayou on the stunning 60-foot domed screen until …

Julie Anne’s Bakery, Shreveport, LA

Indulge in bakery bliss at one of Shreveport's standbys

by Alex Contess | February 10, 2010

Around this time of year, Shreveporters flock by the hundreds to Julie Anne's Bakery on Line Avenue to pick up customized King Cakes for their Mardi Gras celebrations. And with good reason—Julie Anne's is known throughout the city for baking up some of the best King Cakes this side of New Orleans. But whether you're hankering for pie, cookies, or even a sandwich, Julie Anne's has the remedy.

Opened in 1992, Julie Anne's bakes …

Mardi Gras in the Ark-La-Tex

Shreveport-Bossier offers an authentic Mardi Gras experience while keeping it family-friendly

by Alex Contess | February 09, 2010

While you may be scrambling to make last-minute plans to get down to New Orleans next Tuesday, why not consider spending Mardi Gras in Shreveport? Just a few hours northwest of New Orleans, Shreveport-Bossier prides itself on pulling out all the stops for their Mardi Gras festivities while making it an event the whole family can enjoy. With alcohol-free stretches along most parade routes, you can make your Mardi Gras experience as PG- or R-rated as …

R.W. Norton Art Gallery, Shreveport, LA

A hidden cultural gem in an unexpected place

by Alex Contess | February 01, 2010

Nestled amongst 40 meticulously landscaped acres in South Highlands, one of Shreveport's most desirable neighborhoods, lies the R.W. Norton Art Gallery. The Norton is an expansive museum housing a diverse collection of European and American art, publications, and artifacts from noted artists such as Mary Cassatt, John James Audubon, and Auguste Rodin. The gallery is particularly known for its extensive collection of Western artwork by Frederic Remington and Charles Marion Russell—their paintings and sculptures …

What’s On Tap, Shreveport, LA

Comfortable atmosphere and great drink options make What's On Tap a formidable contender against the big chains

by Alex Contess | February 01, 2010

With the New Orleans Saints headed to the Super Bowl, Shreveport is abuzz with football fever. Instead of watching the game at home, tethered to the kitchen because you volunteered to make 200 chicken wings, why not let someone else do the hosting? What's On Tap, located just between Shreveport and Bossier City, (in an area known locally as "Shreve City") is a perfect option. Its can't-miss circular building also houses their sister drinkery, Daiquiri Express. …

Mudbug Madness, Shreveport, LA

The annual crawfish festival takes Shreveport by storm each May

by Alex Contess | January 25, 2010

Mudbug Madness is one of Shreveport's most popular festivals—and that's no small feat, considering that we have a lot of them. Debuting in 1984, Mudbug Madness was born of the frustration felt by a group of Shreveporters. Often grouped in with Texas (the state line is just a twenty-minute drive from downtown) rather than Louisiana, the festival's founders set out to establish the biggest crawfish boil that the state would ever see—and take back …

Travel Guide to Shreveport

Why you should visit Shreveport and Bossier City

by Alex Contess | January 25, 2010

Shreveport, located in northwest Louisiana, is one of the South's most-overlooked metropolitan areas, often taking a backseat to nearby New Orleans and Dallas. But Shreveport, together with its neighbor, Bossier City, is a dynamic, fast-growing, and tourist-friendly area that has proven its ability to change with the times while staying true to its Southern roots.

Founded in 1836 as a stopping point along the Red River, Shreveport is widely considered to be the center of …