The Liveliest Celebration of Day of the Dead

By Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

I have always loved to dress up. When I was a child, I started planning what I would be for Halloween by January.

It wasn't just all the yummy candy that made me look forward to Halloween, it was an excuse to dress up in my wildest outfits and play out my fantasies.

Some of the best costumes I ever created included:

1. I put on white tights and a white t-shirt. My husband covered me with glue and then I rolled in white pillow feathers. I donned my round tortoise horn rimmed glasses. He dressed in brown tights and a brown T-shirt with a yellow felt band around his stomach and saran wrap flowing from a pointed hat. In case you haven't guessed, we were the white owl and the Muriel cigar. The host later told me it took them weeks to vacuum up all the feathers.

2 Another year I dressed up as a big pumpkin with a huge round orange outfit stuffed with foam. My head was covered with a curly green wig top. I had a T-shirt made for my husband that said "pumpkin-eater". And everyone told him HE had a great costume. Mine was hot and awkward.

I still love Halloween. But I much prefer to see it celebrated in a museum than to dress myself up like a pumpkin. Obviously this is a holiday that brings out the devilish and colorful side of artists and revelers.

The best Day of the Dead exhibit I ever saw was in Shreveport, Louisiana. Be sure to see Tour of Dia de los Muertos exhibit at artspace in the West Edge of Shreveport, Louisiana.

http://srac.pixelfusionhosting.com/index.php?src=gendocs&link=WhatsHot&category=Main

or visit the Shreveport Regional Arts Council website at http://www.shrevearts.org and click on the Dia de los Muertos logo.

Includes shrines to deceased artists, masks by Zarco Guererro, items on loan from Dallas Cultural Bath House, works by José Quadalupé Posada from the Harry Ransom Center in Austin. Artspace is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10am to 6pm.

The exhibit runs through November 3, 2007.

Artspace in the West Edge
710 Texas St.
Shreveport, LA 71101
318-673-6535
Tuesday through Saturday, from 10am to 6pm.
http://www.shrevearts.org
http://www.zarkmask.com/

MORE EXCITING THINGS TO SEE IN SHREVEPORT

WHERE TO STAY

Horseshoe Casino & Hotel Bossier City
606 luxury suite hotel, 24-hour gaming action, 1,500+ slot machines including Video Poker & Video Keno, 50+ table games, Riverdome Entertainment Center featuring headliner entertainment and world-class events, fabulous restaurants, shopping and more.
711 Horseshoe Blvd
I-20 Exit 19B
Bossier City, LA 71111
318-742-0711
800-895-0711
Reservations: 1-800-HARRAHS
http://www.horseshoe.com

WHERE TO EAT
Dinner at Bistro 6301
Lovely upscale dining establishment. Master mixologist with specialty cocktails including blood orange martini, chocolate martini, gingerbread martini. Fine wines and food.
Bistro 6301
6301 Line Avenue
Shreveport, Louisiana 71106
(318) 865-6301
http://www.bistro6301.com
Menus: http://www.bistro6301.com/menu.cfm
dining@bistro6301.com
Hours
Restaurant and Bar
Tuesday _ Thursday 5-10p.m.
Friday - Saturday 5 - 11 P.M.

Ichiban Japanese Restaurant
4414 Youree Dr
Shreveport, LA 71105
318-219-9900
Popular spot among locals in the popular Broadmoor neighborhood. Traditional Japanese favorites including sushi. Home of the Shreveport Orgasm!

Ristorante Giuseppe's
4800 Line Ave BLDG A
Shreveport, LA 71106
318-869-4548
contactus@ristorantegiuseppe.com
http://www.ristorantegiuseppe.com/
Menu: http://www.ristorantegiuseppe.com/menu.html
Chef Giuseppe Brucia: By the age of ten, Giuseppe Brucia was attending culinary school on Palermo, Sicily. Graduating at thirteen from Instituto Alberghiero Profesionale, he served as apprentice at Bagutta Ristorante in Milan. With his long family tradition and superb culinary training, Chef Giuseppe began his lifelong culinary career quickly becoming an award-winning chef in Italy and later in the United States.

In 1976, after working in Italy, Germany and Switzerland, Giuseppe introduced his brand of Italian food in Shreveport with the opening of Firenze Ristorante. In the last thirty-one years, Giuseppe has elevated the art of fine Italian and Mediterranean cuisine in Shreveport-Bossier City. His inspiration and accomplishments have culminated in the creation of Ristorante Giuseppe- and experience that celebrates intimate dining with family and friends together with the graceful art of cooking.

Glenwood Village Tearoom
3310 Line Ave
Shreveport, LA 71104-4255
http://www.glenwoodvillagetearoom.com/
Lunch menu - http://www.glenwoodvillagetearoom.com/LunchMenu.html
History - http://www.glenwoodvillagetearoom.com/OurHistory.html

WHERE TO SHOP
Line Avenue shopping corridor
Five-mile stretch of Line Avenue in the Pierremont neighborhood of Shreveport with antique stores, specialty shopping, boutiques and more.
String A Bead6020 Line Avenue
Shreveport, LA 71106
(318) 868-3223
http://www.stringabead.com/catalog/

Shopping at Louisiana Boardwalk
Outlet shopping at more than 50 stores including Chico's, White House Black Market, Rue 21, The Children's Place, Gap, Reebok, Nike and more.
Also home to Cajun Coffee House, Chocolate Crocodile, Joe's Crab Shack, San Francisco Oven, Hooters, Saltgrass and more.
Louisiana Boardwalk
390 Plaza Loop
Bossier City riverfront - I-20 Exit 19-B
Bossier City, LA 71111
www.louisianaboardwalk.com

Boutiques and antique shops on Kings Hwy. near Centenary College

TIPS FOR CHOCOHOLICS
Lila's Cakes & Chocolates
Great selection of wonderful chocolates and pastries. The store is named after the owners' daughter, Lila. All the tips go to Lila. They also serve breakfast and lunch.

Lila's Cakes & Chocolates
440 Olive Street
Shreveport, Louisiana 71104
Phone: (318) 676-1407
Fax: (318) 676-1408
Menu: http://ktal.nexstardeals.com/promo/restaurant/28449_Lilas%20Cakes%20menu.jpg

WHAT'S BREWING
PJ's Coffee
Based out of New Orleans. HaS doggie treats for drive-thru customers, and pet dishes available to use outside. . Two locations in Shreveport. i visited the one in the popular Broadmoor neighborhood. Will soon be opening a location in Bossier City.
3950 Youree Dr., Suite 200
Shreveport, LA 71105
318-868-9738
8510 Youree Dr.
Shreveport, LA 71115
318-797-6388
http://www.pjscoffee.com/

Columbia Café
Contemporary cuisine, large selection of boutique wines, renovated home into a restaurant, selection of chocolates, in-house coffee roasting. Chefs have freedom to create their own ideas. Owner is Matthew Linn. Influenced by his mother's cooking which blended cultures from their early travels.

Columbia Café
3030 Creswell
Kings Hwy at Creswell Ave
Shreveport, LA 71104
318-425-3862
www.columbiacafe.com
coffeeman@columbiacafe.com

BEST MASSAGE
The Hands of Peace Massage Therapy
696 Boardwalk Blvd
Bossier City, LA 71111
318-742-7070
www.thehandsofpeace.net

MARVELOUS MUSEUMS
Ark-La-Tex Antique & Classic Vehicle Museum
One of the top five car museums in the country. Originally a car assembly plant and showroom. Mannequins in period dress. Notable exhibits included a Corvette with only seven miles on it – a promised college graduation gift to a poor (lazy) soul who never met the goal.

Ark-La-Tex Antique & Classic Vehicle Museum
601 Spring St
Shreveport, LA 71101
318-222-0227

Chihuly Blanket Installation at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum
Wrapped in Tradition: The Chihuly Collection of American Indian Trade Blankets
Exhibit of 80 blankets and a number of glass cylinders by Dale Chihuly.
Louisiana State Exhibit Museum
3015 Greenwood Rd
I-20 Exit 16B
Shreveport, LA 71109
318-632-2020
www.lsem@sos.louisiana.gov/museums
http://www.chihuly.com/collections/blankets/

BEST BARGAIN
Lila's Cakes & Chocolates has half-off gift certificates at http://arklatexhomepage.com/content/marketplace/discountdining

Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer. Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com , www.teaAtlas.com and www.CoffeeAtlas.com