Louisiana

From the American Railroad to Space - Discover the fascinating history of the Michoud Assembly Facility.

After an auspicious beginning as a royal land grant from French king Louis XV to a wealthy French citizen of New Orleans in 1763, the land Michoud Assembly Facility occupies remained in private ownership until 1940, when it was sold to the US government. Prior to World War II, the site was used to grow sugar, hunt muskrat, and build railroad and telephone lines. In 1941, the world's largest industrial site was built, covering 43 acres of unobstructed, low-humidity, air-cooled space under one roof to construct C-46 cargo planes. The Korean War required the assembly of Sherman and Patton tanks there, while the space race compelled the design and assembly of the colossal Saturn I, IB, and V rocket boosters for the Apollo program that reported directly to Dr. Wernher von Braun. The 1970s saw the fabrication of the enormous external tank for the Space Shuttle program. Today, Michoud Assembly Facility continues to support the US space program by building major components for the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (or MPCV).

Delve deep into the history of Lake Charles, Louisiana's past, through pirates, Creoles and cowboys, and other lost stories with historian Adley Cormier.

Fires, hurricanes, neglect and progress erased much of Lake Charles's physical history. The young town was a magnet for pirates and privateers, like the infamous Jean Lafitte, who conducted business at the mouth of what is today called the Contraband Bayou. Michigan Men, creoles and cowboys made their way to the fledgling Louisiana town to start new lives. A great lumber industry shaped the town in the nineteenth century. Streetcars ran routes around the clock seven days a week. Author and historian Adley Cormier delves deep into Lake Charles's past to uncover a history that has been lost to time and change.

In The Jewish Community of Shreveport the rich history of this influential and vibrant citizenry is chronicled by well-known Louisiana historian Eric J. Brock, archivist of Shreveport's B'nai Zion Temple. Nearly 18 decades of Jewish life in Shreveport are depicted in over 200 vintage images, many of which are previously unpublished. Both of the city's synagogues, B'nai Zion and Agudath Achim, are represented, as are many of the rabbis, business leaders, political leaders (including three mayors), and laypeople from the community's long history.

Visit a Louisiana landmark that tells a big piece of the American story.

Fort Jesup was founded two centuries ago, a bulwark on the youthful nation's western frontier. During its long run as a military post, it was visited by over one thousand soldiers and officers, many of whom would make a lasting impact on American history. The long list of luminaries includes Presidents Zachary Taylor and Ulysses S. Grant, over forty officers who would become Civil War generals, and two Surgeons General, one of whom would treat Abraham Lincoln after he was shot. Thousands of settlers also passed through on their way to Texas, using the fort as a waypoint on their journey. As citadel and stopping post, Fort Jesup played a critical role during the nation's formative years. Author Scott DeBose shares the sprawling story of this Louisiana icon.

This compendium of crawfish information offers biological facts and scores of home-style recipes. The Louisiana seafood industry--past and present--is discussed and a fascinating essay about a day in the life of a crawfisher is included. Jerald Horst has worked in the seafood industry and he and his wife have collected and tested crawfish recipes for decades. From the birth of the crawfish industry in the 1800s to present-day obstacles to commercial fishing, this encyclopedic cookbook provides an abundance of history as well as recipes, health information, and Louisiana culture. Highlights include the mudbug's popularity explosion in the 1950s, an illustrated guide to peeling the crustacean, and "Four Star" recipes for Crawfish Omelets and Delta Crispy Crawcakes.

Poppy Tooker's Drag Queen Brunch features gorgeous photography by renowned photographer Sam Hanna. Luscious photos capture all the dishes (both the ladies and the recipes) in some of New Orleans' most iconic restaurants and courtyards. The inspiring images are accompanied by light-hearted profiles of fifteen flirtatious queens and their favorite flavors--mouth-watering recipes for classic dishes, new favorites, and thirst quenchers--all designed to enhance the brunch experience.

Vinsantos Defonte, a prominent voice in the national LGBTQ community and founder of New Orleans Drag Workshop, provides the foreword. Wayne Phillips, curator of the Costumes and Textiles and the Carnival Collections of the Louisiana State Museum, details the history of drag and this very special community in New Orleans. Tooker, celebrated host of Louisiana Eats!, provides an epilogue illuminating her entrée and ongoing role in the Crescent City's drag queen world.

A percentage of the proceeds from the sale is dedicated to CrescentCare (NO/AIDS Task Force).

New Orleans' Magazine Street has undergone remarkable changes over it's long history. From an overlooked district of mostly unassuming residences and businesses, it has evolved into one of the country's most dynamic and attractive business thoroughfares. Once host to neighborhood grocers, druggists, and cleaners, today Magazine has become a destination of fashion boutiques, gift shops, design studios, antique stores, and galleries. It is also one of the most important dining and drinking streets in town. Still home to little neighborhood eateries, Magazine now hosts some of the city's most renowned restaurants. Yet even with the transformation the street has seen, the soul of Magazine retains its residential charm.

A beautiful coffee table book, The Incomparable Magazine Street traces the history and culture of the road that curves between stately St. Charles Avenue and the river. It speaks to not only how Magazine fits into the urban growth of the Crescent City, but it also highlights what it has become: an enchanting combination of both elegance and the down-to-earth.

A stroll through the book immerses visitors in history and nostalgia while introducing them to the people and places that make the six-mile-long street one of New Orleans' greatest assets. Glowing photographs capture the small details, the varying streetscapes, and the unique people that make Magazine Street one of a kind. While areas of the city have evolved into a world of visitors, Magazine Street has developed its own character that combines the past and present to become a vibrant community destination.

Enjoy big Cajun flavors without the guilt!

Forget the myth that because it tastes great, it can’t be good for you. Culinary dietician Shelley Marie Redmond has done all the work and research to marry the authentic and delicious flavors of Louisiana cooking with principles of healthy eating. A list of pantry essentials forms the cornerstone of her plan and offers substitutes for ingredients high in carbohydrates (like Greek yogurt instead of butter). A shopping guide helps you to plan a successful and efficient trip to the grocery store. Recipes for such flavorful dishes as Mardi Gras Mambo Cajun Rice Dressing and Skinny Louisiana Cajun Chicken Pasta let you celebrate the best of Louisiana’s eats without the worry of compromising your health!

Shelly Marie Redmond is a culinary dietitian, media personality and founder of the Skinny Louisiana brand. She is a partner in Eberhart Physical Therapy, where she works with clients on food-related issues.

Veteran food columnist and cookbook author Marlyn Monette writes for The Times in Shreveport and is a frequent guest on television cooking programs. She liberally laces her recipes with amusing family stories.

New Orleans has a reputation as a home for creatures of the night. Popular books, movies and television shows have cemented the city's connection to vampires in public imagination.

Rumors swirled about the fate of the Casket Girls, a group of mysterious maidens traveling to the New World from France with peculiar casket-shaped boxes. A charismatic man who moved to the French Quarter in the early 1900s eerily resembled a European aristocrat of one hundred years prior bearing the same name. A pair of brothers terrorized the town with their desire to feed on living human blood during the Great Depression. Marita Woywod Crandle investigates the origins of these legends so intricately woven through New Orleans's rich history.

Essential reading on segregation now in paperback!

"Medley deftly puts in colorful context the U.S. Supreme Court's signal 1896 decision sanctioning so-called separate but equal facilities. . . . Rich in family and community history and local lore, Medley's work details the world of New Orleans' free people of color . . . this remarkable read is recommended."
-Library Journal

WINNER OF THE LOUISIANA LITERARY AWARD

Celebrating the traditions of Louisiana's food, chefs, and cooks!

Radio host Poppy Tooker takes readers on a culinary journey filled with the stories of some of Louisiana's most notable chefs and cooks. From the queen of Creole cuisine Leah Chase to Roman Candyman Ronnie Kottemann, Tooker includes profiles and recipes from beloved culinary icons. Photographer David G. Spielman provides an intimate portrait in black and white for each food personality introduced.

This volume features more than 300 authentic recipes straight from the kitchens of Creole Louisiana.

When a hungry raccoon gets trapped in a spiderweb, Clovis urges his friends to abandon their fear of Raoul and help him out of a sticky situation.

Deep in the heart of the Louisiana swamp, there lives a poor fur trapper, his second wife, and his twins. The stepmother has a plan to leave the children in the swamp to ease the family's financial problems. See how the Cajun Hansel and Gretel outsmart her plan and escape from the witch who lures them into her cottage.

Throw me out there, mister!

When Carnival rolls around in New Orleans, everyone gets into the celebration—including the beads! On Fat Tuesday, a plain string of little purple beads hangs from a hook on a parade float. His fervent wish is to be caught by someone special. The bigger and fancier beads tell him that no one will ever catch him. But a little hope and determination may go a long way in the magical season of Mardi Gras! When the bead spots a little princess in the crowd, he knows she is the person for him! Will she try to catch him? The heartwarming tale offers opportunities for a discussion of bullying, self-worth, and inclusion with young readers. The delightful story and illustrations from this daughter/father team will charm the entire family and become a parade route favorite!

Raised in New Orleans, Julie P. Rowley holds a master’s of education in early childhood curriculum and instruction from the University of New Orleans. Her stories were inspired by her daughter’s imagination.

A graduate of Loyola University New Orleans, John R. Paquette is a retired editor. He is also a professional vocalist and a talented portrait artist and illustrator. He enjoyed collaborating with his daughter.

Based on a popular song adapted by the multi-award-winning New Orleans singer-songwriter Johnette Downing, Today Is Monday in Louisiana rhythmically takes readers through a culinary calendar, describing a Louisiana meal a day. Now adapted to board book format for tiny hands, each page presents collaged images of yummy foods. On Monday there are red beans to eat and on Tuesday, po' boys. On Wednesday gumbo is served, and on it goes, each day bringing another unique and tasty Louisiana dish to share.

“In Lindsley’s vigorously brushed rural scenes, the comically gesticulating red rooster often occupies the foreground as, behind, a multiracial procession of revelers in colorful festival costume goes from farm to farm begging for a handout.”
—Kirkus

With her trademark lyricism, Louisiana musician and author Johnette Downing draws readers through an Acadian landscape. This brand-new tale introduces a cagey rooster who vows not to be in the communal gumbo pot this Courir de Mardi Gras. Downing provides a glossary of traditional French-Cajun words used in the story and a delicious recipe for gumbo z’herbes .

Award-winning musician and author Johnette Downing has performed on five continents. Her book Petit Pierre and the Floating Marsh represented the State of Louisiana in the Pavilion of States at the 2016 National Book Festival.

A relative of Dennis (Denus) McGee, the Cajun musician whose grave is a traditional stop on the Courir de Mardi Gras, Jennifer Lindsley works with all ages, introducing them to the pleasures of creativity.

Welcome to New Orleans! Follow parent and child pelicans as they take a tour of the Crescent City together. From the French Quarter to the Garden District, along the Mississippi and across Lake Ponchartrain, join the pelicans as they listen to music at Preservation Hall, celebrate Mardi Gras, and eat jambalaya and gumbo. Visit the Audubon Zoo and City Park, ride a St. Charles Avenue streetcar, and cheer the Saints. Along the way take a swamp tour, visit a plantation, and even ride on a steamboat! These feathered tour guides will remind children and their loved ones of their own great visit to New Orleans.Bestselling author Martha Day Zschock is an artist and former elementary teacher with a passion for helping children explore new places. The Hello! series illustrates how exploring real places yields new discoveries. Through these journeys, kids can explore and become experts on the world they see inside and outside the book, through the engaging, bright, and detailed illustrations. For ages 0-3. Made in the USA.

Sophisticated city mouse Chicory never imagined she would venture beyond her elegant Creole home in New Orleans—until she falls asleep in a picnic basket and wakes up in the Cajun swamps! There she meets Roux, a simple country mouse, and together they experience the bucolic bayou life. Chicory persuades Roux to see what the city has to offer, and they journey to New Orleans for a taste of Creole culture. Idyllic picnics and lavish white-linen luncheons offer both delights and frights in this Southern retelling of Aesop’s classic fable. Whimsical illustrations and two original songs make this a story you won’t forget!

Todd-Michael St. Pierre is the author of several New Orleans cookbooks and children’s books. He was a judge for The Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest and is a dedicated gardener and cat lover.

Lee Brandt Randall has a degree in printmaking from Louisiana State University. She works in graphic design, film animation, and book illustration and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.