Chimpanzee Discovery Days at Chimp Haven

Chimp Haven hosts "Chimpanzee Discovery Days" on March 21st from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Eddie D. Jones Nature Park in Keithville, Louisiana. The event is free and open to the public.

Observe the chimpanzees in their natural habitats. Tour the sanctuary, participate in various educational seminars, and enjoy a day outside in nature.

The event is free and open to everyone; however donations are welcome and gratefully accepted. This month guests are asked to bring donations of trail mix, unsalted crackers, and sugar free treats, juice, and cereal.

This is a great opportunity to spend the day with your family and friends while learning and watching the chimpanzees.

2009 Discovery Days
March 21
April 18
May 16
June 20
July & August Closed
Sept 19
Oct 17
Nov 21

Visit the Chimp Haven website for more information, how to get there and for some educational information.

Source: http://www.chimphaven.org/

Louisiana Trekker Business Spotlight: Caney Ridge Roasters

In the heart of Toledo Bend Country there is a place where the coffee bean is celebrated. It is a coffee lover's paradise. To the folks at Caney Ridge Roasters, coffee is both an art and a science. They believe that coffee tastes best when it is fresh roasted.

The love of coffee is what motivates the folks at Caney Ridge Roasters to produce a high quality, great-tasting coffee. There are medium and dark blends as well as dessert coffees. The coffee is slow roasted in small batches in order to provide the freshest product to their customers.

In addition to coffee, the shop has a great collection of Louisiana items, teas, chocolate covered expresso beans, bean mixes from "The Bean Queen", local honey, foods unique to the area and many more unique items.

Forget about those coffee shops that are thousands of miles away, give Caney Ridge Roasters a call and get your coffee from a Louisiana coffee expert! Fresh, gourmet coffee is just a click or call away. Great tasting, fresh coffee, friendly service and fast delivery, that's what you can expect from Caney Ridge Roasters.

To order visit their website at www.caneyridgeroasters.com or call 318-256-2400 or 877-645-4438. If you are going to be in the Toledo Bend area, drop by and visit the shop.


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Look here Recipes from "The Bean Queen".

Christmas in Caddo Parish - Rockets Over the Red

Rockets Over the Red, Saturday, November 29th, 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Riverview Park in Shreveport. A night of fun, fireworks, food and live entertainment. The fireworks are shot from the Red River and Texas Street Bridge beginning at 8:15 p.m. The live entertainment includes Rockhouse performing at 4:00 p.m. and the Benjy Davis Project performing at 6:00 p.m. There is a free shuttle from Shreve City or public parking in the Regions Bank Garage. Call 222-7403 for more information.
Source: http://www.downtownshreveport.com/rockets_over_the_red.htm

Delicious, Smoky, Spicy B-B-Q

There is a FANTASTIC BBQ restaurant in Shreveport, Louisiana called the Hickory Stick. It is DELICIOUS! I love it!!!

Where can you get a Chopped Beef Sandwich, two sides and a drink for under $7.00...what a bargain! Delicious BBQ beef and your choice of slaw, potato salad or beans. It is sure to put a smile on your face.

The BBQ sauce at Hickory Stick is scrumptious. It has such a great flavor. In the south there's BBQ and then there's BARBQUE!!! and let me tell you the cooks at Hickory Stick know how to BARBEQUE. The food is consistently GREAT!!

There is so much more to Hickory Stick than Chopped Beef Sandwiches and chicken. There are ribs, sausage, ham, and turkey. There are sandwiches, plates of meat, half chickens, whole chickens, and so much more.

The specials change everyday. Several days a week the special is chicken and dumplings, green beans and cornbread. Oh yes, homemade chicken and dumplings. Just right for the cool weather. It really hits the spot.

In the fall and winter Hickory Stick serves delicious soups and in the spring and summer there are salads.

There is no shortage of good food. In addition to everything that I've mentioned so far, they serve hamburgers as well.

If you are looking for something to bring home for dinner without much work, think about giving Hickory Stick a call. You can order meals for families that serve up to 10 people. Hickory Stick is available for your next party, holiday, special occasion, business meeting or celebration. You can let Hickory Stick handle your cooking and you can enjoy your family and friends.

I almost forgot something very important, the people who work there. All of the ladies that I have dealt with over the years are extremely nice. I know many of them have been working there for years. They are very warm and personable. It feels like you belong there. Customer service is alive and well at Hickory Stick.

Hickory Stick is located on Youree Drive in Shreveport. Don't be put off by the building, it is located in an old Captain D's restaurant. If you haven't experienced Hickory Stick, give it a try. If you are visiting the area, stop in for some great food. Be sure to tell them you heard about them on Louisiana Trekker.

Contact Information:
The Hickory Stick
4448 Youree Dr
Shreveport, LA 71105
318-861-7527

If you haven't tried Lucky Palace, then you're missing out on GREAT FOOD!

One of our favorite restaurants in Bossier City, Louisiana is The Lucky Palace Chinese Restaurant. I don't even remember the first time we went there but I do know that it has been one of our favorites for over 7 years now. In fact, my husband and I have sampled just about every meal on the menu. My favorite is the Garlic Chicken. My husband enjoys the Curry Chicken. But I'm here to tell you every meal that we have ever eaten at Lucky Palace has been scrumptious!

The appetizers are yummy as well. We always, always order Crab Rangoon. We also enjoy the Steamed Dumplings and Vegetable Rolls. Oh and their Fried Rice is excellent as well.

Lucky Palace also offers dishes for those who wish to try something a little different...Peking Duck, Shark Fin Soup and many other special dishes that the chef creates.

One of the wonderful things about Lucky Palace is the warm, friendly, relaxed atmosphere. It is cozy and romantic. This is a great place to take that special date or celebrate that special occasion. In fact, my husband proposed to me at Lucky Palace.

The restaurant has won several awards for their wines including Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 2003-2007; Wine Enthusiast Award of Distinction 2005; Wine Enthusiast Award of Unique Distinction 2006 and 2007.

Lucky Palace was also voted top 100 Chinese Restaurants in the USA 2006 and 2007 by Chinese Restaurant News Magazine.

My husband and I are very picky about the places where we eat out. This restaurant has remained at the top of our list. The food is consistently excellent every time we've been, the service is exceptional and the atmosphere is relaxed. It is a place where you can go and enjoy an amazing meal and not worry about time.

If you don't want to eat in, Lucky Palace offers a take out menu as well. Give it a try, if you like great Chinese food, you won't be disappointed. If you go, please email me and let me know how it went LouisianaTrekker@gmail.com

Lucky Palace is located inside America's Best Value Hotel, 750 Diamond Jacks Blvd., Bossier City, LA. Hours are LUNCH: Monday-Sunday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Dinner: Sunday-Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 3 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Call 318.752.1888; 318.752.1887; 318.752.3888.

Publisher's Note: This is not a paid ad. I truly feel this way about this restaurant. I have personally visited this restaurant and LOVE it!

Sunflowers, Sunflowers and more Sunflowers

Beautiful Sunflowers are the inspiration of the 10th Sunflower Trail and Festival, Saturday, June 28th, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Gilliam, Louisiana.

This is a fun family day full of activities for the children, arts and crafts booths, and many food vendors including local restaurant, Main Street Restaurant. The event is located in behind the library in Gilliam.

The Sunflower Trail, which is sponsored by the Red River Crossroads Historical & Cultural Association, features sunflowers along Highway 3049 and Sentell Road north of Shreveport. There is also a wildflower field along Sentell Road.

In addition to the Sunflower Festival, Dee’s Photo Supply is sponsoring a Sunflower Photography Contest. Photos must be taken of sunflowers along the trail. Applications are available at Dee’s Photo Supply on Line Avenue in Shreveport.

If you cannot make it to the Sunflower Festival, take heart, the sunflowers will be in bloom for several weeks.

Take a trip on the wild side

For a wild time, try Gators & Friends Alligator Park & Exotic Zoo. Nestled in the piney woods of North Louisiana, Gators & Friends offers visitors a fun, family-oriented adventure. This is definately a place to take young children, school groups, scout packs, church groups and homeschoolers. It is a great place for the young at heart too.

The atmosphere is serene and peaceful. This is a park where feeding the animals is encouraged. Alligators are everywhere--big, small and everywhere in between. Be sure to time your visit around feeding time so that you can watch these prehistoric creatures fight over the food. Also, if you are brave, you can even hold one of these amazing creatures.

Experience a learning adventure, up close and personal with exotic animals including ring-tailed lemurs, camels, fallow deer, lamas, a zebra, emu, wallabies, red kangaroos and cbybarras. And the not so exotic animas as well: pigmy goats, Scottish cattle, Shetland ponies, Sicilian donkeys, miniature brahams and Jacob sheep.

Gators & Friends has a gift shop and restaurant. Looking for a great place for your child's next birthday, consider Gators & Friends.

The park is located at 11441 Highway 80 in Greenwood, Louisiana. Admission is $5.95 for ages 3 - 12; $7.95 for ages 13 and up; children 2 and under are free with adult admission. You can buy feed for the animals for $2.00. The park is open from May - August: 7 days a week from 10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. and off season the park is open September - April: Wednesday -Sunday from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Don't forget to buy plenty of food or you'll hear it from the animals.