Swamp talk and an Esther update

Swamp talk

Port Arthur is a little bit Texan and a little bit Louisiana. We’re proud of our swamp heritage, and I just got a chance to get right in the middle of it. Capt. Lee Gomez lead tour through Blue Elbow Swamp and the Sabine River from Airboat Rides Inc. in Orange. It’s the place with the mossy swamp-monster along Interstate 10 in Orange.

So we saw a little baby gator in the water straight away, but Gomez quieted the engine to glide up to an impressive grown one, all stretched out on a sandy bank. As a few of the 16 passengers stood up to snap photos and the whole gang was causing an excited ruckus, Gomez asked if we thought that statue-still gator was real. Well we all sat down thinking, “they got us,” setting up a big rubber gator by the dock.

“It is real,” Gomez said as that posed gator got into action, showing some teeth and scuttling over to the water side.

There were plenty more where that one came from. Gomez said he spots gators on nearly all his outings, and the brave hearted can try a night tour. In the moonlight, visitors can pack flashlights to reflect reptile eyes and “adult beverages,” as the brochure indicates.

Gomez went slow, stopping for history and nature lessons through the cypress knees. Then he sped up to 50 miles an hour into Lake Sabine. Get some friends together and go through

swamps where the Atapaka Native American tribe lived and past the old Orange Navy Base. He’ll snap your group’s photo if you smile and say “Gator bait!”

Esther update

Esther Benoit loves Port Arthur and she shows it with gumbo. Since Hurricane Ike took out Esther’s Seafood and Oyster Bar under the Rainbow Bridge, she’s been making her famous gumbo for fundraisers, and family. Oh, that lucky Benoit family.

Benoit says she always wants to see her city reflected as the best it can be. She recalled an example from a man from Australia who came to Southeast Texas on a sail boat. He’d planned to stay for two weeks.

“He wound up staying a year. He loved the people down here,” she said.

Benoit and her husband, John, have been traveling and recently cruised to Barcelona. We’re glad they’re back.

Do, Dream, Discover

The Beaumont Children’s Museum’s annual meeting was a science experiment. Guests were asked to attend with the heart of a child and had fun with science demos after getting an update on this signature project of Junior League of Beaumont. It’s in the beginning stages at Crockett and Neches Streets in downtown Beaumont. A Rotary club will build a handicap-accessible playground next door. For details, call Beth Schreck at 409-651-8435.

ddoiron@panews.com

PA boasts history, lotus and all that jazz

PA boasts history, lotus and all that jazz

Yvonne Sutherlin is rightfully proud of her byline in “A Texas State of Mind.” The thick coffee-table book has great shots of vintage and present-day Lamar State College-Port Arthur and tells the story of “The Texas State University System Story Still Going Strong After 100 Years.”

I love the photo of an old dorm room, with a metal framed bed, a mirrored bureau in the corner, woven rug and small desk with two wire-backed chairs. It looks like the most quaint bed and breakfast room for rent today. Back around 1920, the two-student room went for $4.25 a week with room, board, light and heat. Our Lamar is still something Port Arthur residents are proud to support.

Buu Mon Lotus and Bamboo Festival

It could be that Zummo’s links were the last thing you were expecting at Buu Mon Buddhist Temple’s annual lotus and bamboo festival, but the Rev. K assures they will be there.

He says the spring rolls are delicious, and also advises visitors to bring their cameras for shots of those colorful blooms.

The Rev. Kassapa Bhikkhu says Buu Mon Buddhist Temple & Lotus Gardens will host its 14^th annual Lotus and Bamboo Festival, and Buddha’s Birthday Celebration on Saturday and Sunday, June 2-3 of 2012. There is no admission charge for guests to take in colorful blooms and towering stalks from four gardens. Look for more than 30 varieties of lotus flowers, 20 varieties of hardy and tropical water lilies and 30 types of bamboo.

The festival includes views of the koi pond, rose garden and bonsai display. Vendors will offer arts and crafts, books and Vietnamese foods, vegetarian stir fry dishes and links.

Tours will be from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tea ceremonies, including a telling of the history of tea, area scheduled for each afternoon. Buddha’s Birthday, called Vesak Celebration, will be observed from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. The temple are gardens are at 2701 Procter Street,

Zachary Breaux Jazz Festival to hit Port Arthur

Yard signs and T-shirts are all over town promoting the 5^th annual Zachary Breaux Jazz Festival, June 8-9 in downtown Port Arthur.

Doris Hayes, organizer, said the musician was ahead of his time and played with the best. European musicians closely follow the festival, because so many of them played with Breaux, she said.

Local and regional acts will fill the Procter Street Pavilion. Advance tickets are $12 for Friday and $18 for Saturday; Gate prices are $15 for Friday and $20 for Saturday. Bring lawn chairs and visit vendors for food, drink and more.

The schedule is:

Friday, June 8

· 6 p.m. – Houston Jazz Caravan

· 6:45 p.m. – JAWAD

· 7:30 p.m. – George Hill & Friends

· 8:30 p.m. – Theresa Grayson

· 9:45 p.m. Lil Wayne Singleton, Zydeco artist

· 11 p.m. – Brian Best

Saturday, June 9

· 1:30 p.m. – Charles Bilal & Solar System Band

· 2:30 p.m. – Ron Rocio & The Flava Band

· 3:30 p.m. – Act to be announced

· 4:30 p.m. – Joe Carmouche

· 5:45 p.m. – Althea Rene

· 7 p.m. – Texas Brass Band

· 8 p.m. – Kyle Turner

· 9:15 p.m. – Michael Ward

· 10:30 p.m. – Dean James

· 11:30 p.m. – Lora Sims

For information, call Doris Hays, (409) 982-8394 or (409) 985-9977 or visit zacharybreauxjazz festival.com.

ddoiron@panews.com

Museum of the Gulf Coast gets TV highlight

Our own Museum of the Gulf Coast looked great in the recent “Mysteries at the Museum” feature on The Travel Channel. The pieced discussed Karen Silkwood, a former local who some say may have been run off the road on her way to meet a journalist about unsafe working conditions in an Oklahoma plant.

The Museum includes her handbag in its notable people display.

Now more people will know about our wonderful museum.

Another honor for Sangri La

I confess, I was one of those people who had heard great things about Shangri La Gardens and Nature Center in Orange, but hadn’t been myself. Now that I have taken in this masterpiece, I’m doing my best to make sure Golden Triangle residents take a peek so they can brag about it to visitors. The birds, the flowers, the water, the walkways and the educational features for children are amazing. I don’t care how much you know about our habitat, you’re bound to pick up a few new ideas.

Earlier in May, Shangri La staff members attended the 20th Annual Environmental Excellence Awards ceremony in Austin. These awards are part of efforts by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to protect people and Texas' natural resources while ensuring clean air, clean water and safe management of waste. Shangri La was the 2012 award recipient of the Environmental Excellence Award in the Education category.

The staff reports that during the award ceremony, a short film showcased each winner's contribution to its respective category. The Shangri La video began with a scene of the heronry, showing great egrets taking flight.

Visit the gardens at 2111 West Park Avenue in Orange. They are open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call 409.670.9113 or visit www.shangrilagardens.org.

Museum of the Gulf Coast

Print this

A woman handed me a blank note pad and walked off. Someone said she was Gwen Park of Port Neches and runs a print shop. She hands out pads she makes from scraps, just to be nice. Who doesn’t love note pads?

Turns out I wrote about Ms. Park ages ago, and she’s now looking to sell her business. For now, she said wedding napkins are popular purchases, in blue and red.

“You think they’d pick white, but not very often,” Park noted.

ddoiron@panews.com

G.W. Bailey takes home a piece of Port Arthur

After the Red Hussars posed with photos, I had my moment with G.W. Bailey. I offered him a little chip of the pink granite that makes up the Port Arthur sea wall, and the actor with plenty to say got quiet.

“If those rocks could talk,” Bailey said. He recalled his youth and good times on the waterfront.

Bailey caught up with classmates at the recent Thomas Jefferson’s Class of ’62 high school reunion dinner at Holiday Inn Park Central. Red Hussars, from the school’s famous drum and bugle corp., also enhanced the weekend that included a sock hop and visit to see Bailey’s exhibit at Museum of the Gulf Coast.

The actor has had roles in the “Police Academy” movie series and TV series “M*A*S*H,” “The Closer” and “Major Crimes.” He said he’d keep his “Port Arthur rock” next to the piece of the Berlin Wall a friend had given him.

Port Arthur Convention & Visitors Bureau supported the Class of ’62 in preparing for its reunion. Family and class reunions and convention groups with bookings at Port Arthur hotels are encouraged to work with the bureau for amenities including “goody bags,” tourism brochures, name tags, welcome banners and more.

For great positive news and images of what’s going on in Port Arthur, LIKE the Port Arthur Texas Visitors Bureau Facebook page. Call at (409) 985-7822 or contact the Bureau at www.visitportarthurtx.com.

Tom Dunlap of Port Arthur has two reports:

Gulf Coast Gala featuring Frankie Avalon was “tremendous,” he said. He attended with a packed house and was thrilled to support Lamar State College-Port Arthur, as well as Museum of the Gulf Coast, where he volunteers, he said.

Dunlop is also rightfully boasting about his spring garden, in which four little rows of “Contender” string beans has so far yielded 25 pounds of “beanage.”

A must-see museum

Tools and toys of daily living in the early 1900s are displayed with precision at the Orangefield Cormier museum. Two vast “warehouses” of memorabilia, from household kitchen ware to a typewriter the bank used to own, tell the Orangefiled story. A drug store, jail, bank and other areas have been recreated, some with lumber from old area buildings. Dolls, games, Texaco tankers and photos from days of old help keep younger visitors entertained and informed. Look for a bit of Port Arthur’s oil history, too. For hours and more, visit www.orangefieldisd.com or call 1-409-735-2285.

ddoiron@panews.com

Pantastic, musical and drinkable ideas for Mother’s Day

My mother manages to turn out some amazing meals from pans I can’t abide. Wobbly handles and uneven bottoms respond to her touch, but not mine. I wish she’d let me bring her some T-fal fry pans with non stick interior and exterior and an even heat base. While this noted brand does have some more pricy items, the pans are something of a more moderate investment that will surely save stress while frying an egg in the mornings. They’re easy to clean and I absolutely love how easy it is to turn eggs over, sauté onions or melt cheese. The handles are firm and the overall product is sure to make even a novice cook impress diners.

T-Fal Actifry is something I have NOT tried, but you apparently can for about $249 from Bed Bath & Beyond. It’s billed as “A healthy multi-cooker—thanks to its unique technologies, it creates lower fat versions of the foods we all love such as French Fries, Stir Fry, and Mac ‘n’ Cheese with no more than 1 spoonful of oil.” T-fal’s Air Bake bakeware features non-stick insulation when two heavyweight aluminum sheets surround a layer of air. The air reduces the temperature of the metal that comes in contact with the food which makes for even baking and browning. It’s available at www.t-falusa.com. Ingenio, features T-fal’s patented Thermospottechnology and removable handles for easy storage and stacking. The line is exclusive for HSN shoppers and retails for $119.95 and will be available on hsn.com.


Finally, a radio!

I was hoping that freeing the Sansa Clip Zip MP3 Player from its plastic casing would be the most difficult part of getting it from package to my ears. I’m not a techie, but I did get my favorite stations (go KVLU from Lamar University ) into this cool contraption during commercials of a crime drama I sometimes watch. It’s about the size of an old-fashioned lighter and yes, I realize players you can clip to your T-shirt and take on your walk have been around a while. When I saw this one has an FM radio and comes in a rainbow of colors and costs less than $50, I wanted to play with it and I approve. It comes with a few songs I’ll describe as Euro-tech, but you can load your own. I’m waiting for my daughter to do all that for me.

A silver sip

When is high stress good? Apparently the higher elevation of Jalisco, Mexico stresses agave plants into more depth and character for Avion Tequila. After harvesting, agave gets a slow roast in brick ovens and gets distilled in stainless steel pots with copper coils to remove sulfur. I could go on about “ultra slow filtration,” but I’ll just let you know the Silver version is smooth and Mom might like a bit served up on date night. This brand is new to Texas and a maker has San Antonio ties. I love Silver’s aroma, which my research shows has herbal tinges of mint and rosemary, delicate hues of flowers and black pepper and hints of grapefruit and pineapple. A little goes a long way and its smooth. Avion Reposado is aged six months and Avion anejo gets two years in oak casks. I’m sure I’m not the only mother who could go for this. Word is you can try Avion on tap, yes, I said tap of tequila, at Iron Cactus in Austin. Here’s a recipe:

Elevated Margarita

RECIPE:

2 parts Tequila Avión® Silver

1 part Fresh Lime Juice

½ part Agave Nectar

1. Combine ingredients in a shaker and shake with ice.

2. Strain into chilled glass.

ddoiron@panews.com

Spring Auora Cleaning

I’ve never seen a label instruction like this: “Excellent for home, office, car, therapy settings space and aura cleanings.” Diamond gem elixer is all over the web and Rhiamon Energy Essentials includes it in clear Away Essential Spray, which does smell great. I’ve sprayed it all over and I suppose my aura feels pretty good. The elixer is said to have the highest vibrational frequency for clearing. Apparently some blenders use a tuning fork if they were making their own. Clear Away smells so good because of lemon, grapefruit, sage, peppermint and rose. This line also offers chakra balancing blends. Sounds a little far out, or like Austin.

Living passionately

My sister identified the sandalwood from across the room when I misted Aphrodisia Room & Linen Spray. Her husband is from India and the scent took her back. Because I’ve never been, it took me forward. Until I get to go, I can use my imagination and this blend of neroli, patchouli and geranium. Adora Winquist, founder of Opus Gaia, has released Aphrodesia Bath and Body oil set which she says “will enable you to love and live life passionately even more.” Sounds like an “Eat, Pray, Love” moment. I poured some of the bath and body oil into a jar of sugar to make a scrub. I “love” it.

Coconut in the desert

This Earth Month season has Desert Essence asking earth dwellers to “reflect and respect” yourself and the environment.

New to me, this company was founded in 1972 and offers a full range of authentic nutrient desert and natural botanicals for body, face, hair and more with aloe vera, jojoba, tea tree oil and the like. I do like, in fact. They’ve thrown a cucumber into some lines. I’m enjoying the coconut hair defrizzer and heat protector that has a calming effect on my curls. I can’t decide if I like Coconut Soft Curls Hair Cream or Coconut Shine & Refine Hair Lotion better, but I look forward to each encounter with Thoroughly Clean Face Wash withEco-Harvest tea tree Oil and Awapuhi. Tea tree makes lots of things better, and the invigorating ingredient is in good hands with Desert Essence. Check out the broader line at www.desertessence.com

Suit up and let the games begin

I knew the minute the Selk'bag arrived, embarrassing photos would end up of me online. I decided to take the priest’s advice from a completely unrelated confession, and “roll with the punches.”

The Selk’bag Sleepwear System is like a sleeping bag with legs that’s as good on grass as it is the football stadium. I sampled a puffy purple one designed for our lighter Southeast Texas weather and tried this head-to-toe masterpiece on, much to the delight of my family, especially my visiting sister. I admittedly looked a bit like an Easter bunny, so I grabbed a basket and willingly posed for photographs. My sister just about split a gut laughing. All week she doubled over in laughter again when she thought about it. But she admitted that the laugh will be on me when the weather turns cool.

The company’s web page shows bagged wearers looking like they’ve just suited up and dropped down for a map on the desert landscape or wherever. The product is well-made and worthy of attention. It was the story that hooked me:

“The Selk'nam (meaning “men”) as they called themselves, were nomads who lived in Chile’s austral extreme. This area was previously known as the Land of Smoke and now the Land of Fire, or Tierra del Fuego, due to the numerous bonfires the natives would light at night to ward off conquerors passing in the open seas. Hunters and gatherers, the Selk'nam were characterized by their tall height, physical strength and toughness in adapting to the most hostile and extreme environments. Their silent resistance to freezing temperatures, fatigue, hunger and thirst won them respect from Europeans and fear from their enemies and neighbors.” Look up the rest of the story and suit up with me.

Be “board” with these games

To be honest, my Easter guests enjoyed Endless Games without using the provided board. We laughed all evening playing games and not keeping score with “Flipin’ Out, which called for players to flip over discs of letters that begin the words of certain categories. Tropical fruits, things that go in a garden and the great state of Texas were some fun categories. The example in the rules shows how silly you can get. When you name something sharp, you could flip “s” for scissors, “k” for knife or “c for cheddar cheese. More fun ensued with Name 5, with challenges like movies with Bradd Pitt, allergy symptoms, super powers and fruits or vegetables beginning with the letter A. We have found the first few are easy, but reaching five can be challenge with some categories.

GreenPan an Earth Day pick

Going green with GreenPan is my idea of healthy all the way around. Yes, it is possible to cook with very little or no oil and my past week of breakfasts have proven it. If you haven’t seen GreenPan on shopping TV, let me summarize the non-toxic line’s benefits. GreenPan’s Thermolon natural surface is different from traditional non-stick pans that are created with PTFE (PolyTetraFluoroEthylene) and PFOA (PerFluoro0ctanoic Acid) classified as a “likely human carcinogen,” according to GreenPan makers. They are Belgian, well-made and worth a little investment to replace cheap pans that have become wobbly and flaked over use. I pledge to not overheat these pans so I can continue to produce fabulous food with the easiest clean-up ever.

A paper towel is all I needed to clean up a round of eggs. Visit

www.green-pan.us for more information on how these pans address a very valid health concern.

ddoiron@panews.com