Latest news with #AshleyRoyer
American Press
29-05-2025
- General
- American Press
Historical walking tour focuses on the story of Lake Charles
Lake Charles' first City Hall was constructed in 1903. Before that, city council members met at homes, hotels or the second floor of the city's then-fire station at the corner of Iris and Cole streets. (American Press Archives) T he Imperial Calcasieu Museum is stepping beyond its walls to highlight and preserve Lake Charles' rich history this weekend. Starting at 2 p.m. Friday, ICM will host the first of three guided historical walking tours through Downtown Lake Charles. The 'Story of Lake Charles: Historical Walking Tours' will bring the city's history to the forefront in the locations of landmark events. The tours offer locals and tourists alike an opportunity to learn about landmark events and showcase influential figures who helped shape Lake Charles into what it is today. Ashley Royer, interim executive director, said the tours are a continuation of ICM's undertaking to preserve the area's history and culture, and will allow the museum to take this mission out of the confines of the building and into the area it honors. 'It is a way to take them out and about and just travel within the footsteps,' Royer said. The museum, which has operated since 1963, has curated the tour using precious — and scarce — primary sources such as Maude Reid's scrapbooks, as well as oral histories and input from area historians, to script the tour. Anna Alamond, an ICM creative specialist, will serve as docent for the tour. Royer said the walking tour is a chance for people to hear the accurate history of Lake Charles in a digital world of misinformation. 'If you imagine 20 years ago, everything's in the newspaper, everything's in a paper format, and we've moved to a digital format and part of it is that we're losing,' she explained. 'There's been mistranslations of the history that's going out.' History requires one to look backward and forward. And this is an important practice, Royer said, especially considering recurring themes the area is experiencing. The 1910 fire consumed the downtown area, but Lake Charles became a more developed city after the tragedy. Now, Lake Charles is in recovery from an onslaught of natural disasters, coupled with a pandemic. 'We think it's important because it's not just knowing what happened before, but what's happening currently,' Royer said. 'And I think it's important that history is a two-way street. You have to look back and forward. 'And there are just some really unique individuals who played a part in our development. I feel like you should know their stories.' The tour begins and ends at the Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center, 1001 Ryan St., and will last about two hours. Two more guided history tours will be offered in June. Tickets can be purchased on ICM's website. The cost is $20 for adults and $15 for seniors, military and children. Children ages 4 and younger admitted free.
American Press
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- American Press
Culinary Canvas Progressive Dinner offers something for the senses
(Special to the American Press) F riday offers an indulgent and enriching experience that exists at the intersection of the visual and culinary arts. The Culinary Canvas Progressive Dinner is a night of food and art that takes diners on a culinary journey, making stops in three cultural locations in Lake Charles: the Imperial Calcasieu Museum, the Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center and the Residency at the Museum studio. Transportation to each location will be provided. Each ticket is $125 and can be purchased online. From 6-9 p.m. guests will take a journey fueled by a love for art, guaranteed to be an 'enchanting evening,' said ICM interim Executive Director Ashley Royer. The evening will start with appetizers at the ICM, located at 204 W. Sallier St. Dinner will start with seafood-stuffed pate choux dough balls paired with crawfish, rosemary grits and a crawfish cream sauce prepared by chef Benny Gray. Dominique Espree, a self-taught mixed media artist whose vibrant work weaves themes of connection and expression through bold textures and neo-expressionist style, will be featured at the first location. Guests will be transported to the Historic City Hall for the entree. Chef Lyle Broussard will serve pan-seared beef tenderloin with a butternut squash puree, spring vegetables, applewood bacon and mint-chive oil. The main dish is paired with Maaliyah Symoné Papillion, a member of the Atakapa-Ishak Nation who creates art that honors her cultural heritage and reflects a deep commitment to environmental preservation. Guests will be treated to a little lagniappe. Local musicians Dominique Darbonne and Wesley Royer will perform as a duet as they dine. The night ends at the RATM studio where guests will get to meet the artists and see their recent works. Chef Diana Schutte will prepare mango mousse dessert cups, custard slices and tiramisu cake. This stop features artist Kat Bertrand. Her portrait work strikes a delicate balance between whimsy and melancholy, exploring the emotions and relationships that shape each individual. Culinary Canvas serves as a way to introduce the new residents of ICM's RATM — a program that annually supports three area artists — each year. The residents create collections to be displayed in local museums and participate in events to connect with their community. Their first event comes weeks after the residency began. The residents and chefs collaborated to marry the two mediums to create a layered, synchronous experience. This process lead to the creation of unique dishes. Schutte created a special custard that reflects the use of black and white in Bertrand's work; Broussard will incorporate edible flowers into his dish because Papillion uses plants in her art. Wine and non-alcoholic pairings will be available at each stop. The combination of several mediums allows guests to experience 'different transformative layers' of creation, Royer said. 'They've been meeting together and brainstorming color, plating, and how they are going to present this. … And so everything you're going to get to eat, not just the flavors, but like the presentation, is basically living artwork that you're going to consume.'
