“The Big Year” shows why birders love Texas coast

The High Island water tower and bird-crazy travelers are depicted in a movie with top-shelf actors. I’ve been waiting to catch “The Big Year” on DVD, because I heard it mentioned the famous bird “fall out” experienced on our Texas coast. The scene, though featuring digital birds, was great. Owen Wilson, Steve Margin and Jack Black played birders obsessed with sighting the most varieties of birds on their big year count. They were highly competitive, but this regular spectacle of exhausted migrating birds falling from the sky as they spot land did not disappoint. There are enough birds for everyone.

A movie still shows Owen Wilson at kiosk of the Audubon’s High Island refuge. When the movie appeared on the big screen in 2011, an expert anticipated it would inspire viewers to “get their Audubon on.” We have a local society and I’ve been fortunate to join them at a Tyrrell Park meeting. They are as passionate as expected.

Berry good reads

Have you collected a bunch of tiny hotel soaps? Put them to work keeping deer away from your berries. Drill a hole in them and twist tie them to garden stakes. Or, spread little bags of human hair around Stella Otto calls this “tankage” in “The Backyard Berry Book.” She cautions that trailing or semi-erect blackberry roots must be kept in the dark before planting, even on cloudy days, to keep yields high. But she sheds light on bramble production that will keep you in cobbler. You’ll love her easy trellis designs.

Ott’s book “The Backyard Orchardist” taught me some pruning tips and how to spread branches with toothpicks or clothespins so a fruit tree can spread out for better bearing. She goes with the thought that life without cherries is the pits, and shares how to grow them along with apples, pears, etc. She makes it sound so easy, but I caution that patience is required as one awaits succulent bounty on the branches.

More leopard for me

My crafty aunt showed me a roll of duct tape that made my eyes pop. It was leopard print, from the Duck Tape line of patterns. Spring is home improvement season, so make your mark with tape that comes with images of fire, skeletons and even longhorns on orange.

ddoiron@panews.com

King Gumbo invites tastes of H20 gumbo and “etc.”

George Newsome says his grandma’s gumbo was so hot it would make all his cousin’s nose run. Her name was Claudia Anne Laland, from Washington, La.

“That’s real French, from France,” Newsome said of her name.

He says his own gumbo is, well, not so hot, but he’s sure to get his fill as Taste of Gumbo, Etc. As King Gumbo, he is head of the Rotary Club of Port Arthur’s big, flavorful fundraiser set for Saturday, March 17, at the Robert A. “Bob” Bowers Civic Center. Get samples from Port Arthur area restaurants and service groups for $8. Proceeds go to charity and have helped groups including Salvation Army and Untied Board of Missions. Newsome says attendees are in for a “real treat.” While there’s plenty of gumbo, other foods will also be up for sampling. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and you can get tickets at the door.

March H20 Madness

H20, Port Arthur’s new seafood restaurant, will be serving up manager Wayne Kung’s seafood gumbo, heavy on the okra, at Taste of Gumbo. He says it’s a recipe he took years to develop, based upon a fine New Orleans dining experience. Garret Pierce, sous chef, and Caleb Countryman, front manager, recently took an afternoon break to remind Southeast Texans they’re ready for a rush in their new restaurant. Pierce said now that diners have been steady in to sample their range of goods, from sautéed black mussels and bruschetta shrimp pasta to fried tilapia fish sandwich and bacon-wrapped jumbo shrimp, he’s ready to get busy in the kitchen and crank out some platters. The men said they put a little extra spin on basics, such as mahi mahi in a spicy mango sauce. Weekday lunch specials are $5.99. What a deal.

This restaurant has a trendy side, and the bar has sports on the TV. Their March Madness specials include buckets of beer, fried and boiled shrimp and oysters.

Char Crust: This was no grilling accident

If you covet those crispy pieces of meat that some consider a happy accident, know that Char Crust lets cooks broil, bake and grill to seal in the juices and get more crispy bits on purpose. The Roasted Garlic Peppercorn is designed to “make music in your mouth,” according to the box. I was singing after I skillet-grilled chicken with this spicy blend containing a “whisper of lavender.” I still have plenty left to play with steak, salmon, lamb or cauliflower. That is one informative box. I charred some green beans in the Ginger Teriyaki. This is good stuff. If I get to have a Easter picnic, this is coming to the grill with me.

PA barbecue an ‘endangered species?’

The Houston Chronicle recently had a full-page ode to barbecue and the tribute mentioned Port Arthur. Here’s part of what the story said:

“Daniel Vaughn says he’ll pretty much stop under any sign in Texas that says “barbecue” or “smoked meat” on the off chance of finding “that diamond in the rough.” Sometimes the barbecue is just OK; he keeps driving. And then sometimes he hits a pocket of gems that sends a shiver through him. It happened recently when a Houston friend steered him to East Texas in search of a particular style of fatty beef links that hail from the black-owned barbecue joints of Beaumont and Port Arthur.

“It was like stepping into history,” the Dallas-based barbecue fan said of the juicy, fat-oozing sausages. “It was like finding an endangered species.”

10 million can’t be wrong

Turbana Plantain Chips sent out a press release from Coral Gables, Fla., announcing pride in producing 10 million servings. One of those came to me and I’m on board with a bag of sweet, crispy plantain chips that make a flavorful pick over greasy potato chips. You get a unique flavor in a chip that’s free of trans fats, GMO, cholesterol, gluten, preservatives and additives. Try them in chili, chili-lime, lime, sweet, lightly salted and garlic. I just saw a plantain for sale in a local Vietnamese market , and I don’t know how Turbana got one of those to turn into something so thin and crunchy. A bag of these will sure jazz up your peanut butter sandwich. For more info, visit www.platanicious.com.

Fort Worth is in bloom with action
I just happened to hit Fort Worth during the Cowtown Marathon and the mood was action-packed. But the city’s botanical gardens were peaceful acres that seemed miles away from nearby skyscrapers. Birds and bees enjoyed the flowers as much as I did, but the big focus is on an upcoming butterfly exhibit. Landscapers were moving in butterfly-shaped planters filled with colorful pansies.
I hit the Amon Carter Museum of American Art for Georgia O’Keeffe’s versions of flowers on canvas. If you make it by may 13, you can catch “Romance Maker: The Watercolors of Charles M. Russell.” His western scenes include two images of Native American women braiding the long hair of their men. I thought a woman brought her own giant magnifying glass, but noted the museum provided them to scope out the incredible details of Russell’s work.
You can imaging that grabbing a bite to eat was also part of my journey, so here’s what I hit: I’ve heard celebs on the west coast love In-N-Out Burger, so I was thrilled to find one. It was super clean, super efficient and super crowded. I can see why people love to go there, but in honesty, the food tasted a bit like cardboard to me.
Cattleman’s Steak House in the Stockards, has been in operation since 1947, but it was my first time to go visit. I ventured downstairs to private dining areas and I just wonder if I spied Kinky Friedman in the Bluebonnet Room. What I tried and loved there was calf fries. They were so light and airy I wonder if they used panko on them.
There’s still lots more waiting for me in Fort Worth.
ddoiron@panews.com

Phone call from the boss could mean good news

I picked up a charm that reads “Free your mind from worries.” You have to remind yourself to do that. Todd Patkin has written a big reminder in “Finding Happiness.” He calls it a man’s quest to beat depression and anxiety and finally let the sunshine in. Once he put his fears and pain into perspective, he found success in helping others shine. He shares his good, bad and ugly and provides plenty of tips. Here’s my favorite: When he supervised managers, he’d call their homes when they did a superior job. He’d try to get the answering machine, so he could leave a message for the spouse and children of his employee to offer big hugs that night.

Helping others shine is one sure way to feel good about yourself, too.

How short is it?

Talk about a page turner. Sean Hill’s book “Very Short Stories: 300 Bite-Size Works of Fiction” fit a couple on a page. A sentence or two tells it all, with stories shorter than this good review. Here’s one:

“Brought home a talking mule to impress my family, but he was a smooth talker. He quickly turned them against me, taking my spot at the table.”

What was that? I’ve heard plenty jokes with longer set ups. I love these bites. Here’s one more:

“Bill left the coffee shop disappointed. She hadn’t come. He felt rejected. Pam waited patiently at another Starbucks across the street.”

Organic bliss

Lent is, for me, a time of awareness and reminds me to care for the body with good food and medical check ups. Sevani “positively pure” holistic skin care is something fragrant and luxurious I sampled in a tiny brown bottle. Sheryl Gibbs, an aesthetician, created the eco-friendly line to “renew, repair and rejuvenate.” Serum Vitale Essential Nutrient Oil is based on “pure plant intelligence” and feels like the cherished oils people in the Bible would enjoy. Visit sevanibeauty.com for more information.

ddoiron@panews.com

Try Banofee and take a Lenten walk

I’ve always enjoyed the food and surroundings at Beau Reve, and my recent fish poboy was no exception. I did try something I’d never experienced: Banoffee. I used one of those wonder phones to Google the dessert, which is English and involves bananas and toffee. Beau Reve’s version is lightly-grilled pound cake with vanilla mousse, freshly-made toffee and fresh bananas. The lunch came with an adorable small glass bowl of the creamy stuff and a tiny silver spoon. It hit the spot.

While Mardi Gras chickens were getting tossed along Lakeshore Drive, I partied with Seahawks. Scott Street, the health, fitness and sport director of Athletics at Lamar State College-Port Arthur, set out an unusual version of King Cake on the table at White Haven. It looked much like an iced version of the pizzas next to it. College students love pizza parties, but the adults associated with this college were enjoying pizza during Courir du Mardi Gras. What makes a party better? Having a parade pass by the front windows. That historic home is so beautiful and elegant. I wonder when inhabitants first enjoyed boxed pizza on the marble table.

Five miles for Lent

Mardi Gras has actually helped me learn about my faith. I’m happy to put away the party to reflect on Lent. Marilyn Morrell, who I met through her work promoting Latin Mass, and Ben Broussard are working on a Lenten Pilgrimage. It will be a 5-mile walk with stops at Port Arthur’s two Mary shrines. The group will meet at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, March 3, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine and proceed to Queen of Peace Shrine and Gardens to begin the walk. The day will include spiritual talks, reciting of the rosary, Way of the Cross, singing, Latin Mass, benediction and more.

Marilyn Morrell, an organizer, said there’s no need to head to France or Italy for a pilgrimage when Port Arthur offers so many reflective stops. Port Arthur Police will provide parade escort for the walk said Morrell, who asks that participants bring a rosary and wear comfortable walking shoes and modest clothing. No shorts, please, she added. Bread, water and a shuttle from the Our Lady of Guadalupe parking lot to the Queen of Peace Shrine will be provided. The day’s events will take walkers back to the Our Lady shrine and wrap up around 2 p.m. The schedule is:

· 8:30 a.m. – Meet at Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, 3648 Staff Sgt. Lucian Adams Drive, includes a chapel and prayer wall. Walkers will take a shuttle to Queen of Peace.

· 9 a.m. – Walk to begin at Queen of Peace Shrine and Gardens on Ninth Avenue. Arthur.

· 9:30 a.m. – Way of the Cross, St. James Catholic Church

· 10 a.m. – Christus St. Mary Hospital

· 10:30 a.m.- Calvary Catholic Cemetery

· 11 a.m. – St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church

· Noon – Arrive at Our Lady of Guadalupe; confessions

· 12:30 p.m. – Latin Mass and benediction

For more info contact Ben Broussard at (337) 527-7463, email bensbroussard@gmail.com, or Marilyn Morell at (409) 724-1456.

ddoiron@panews.com

Mardi Gras a 20-year keeper

I can’t believe it’s been 20 years since Mardi Gras ignited Port Arthur’s holiday spirit. I’ve met so many people who have joined church groups, staged amazing balls and developed businesses through Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas.

My own fondest memories include years of practice tossing beads and riding the Port Arthur News float with Martha “Toodlums” Ferguson, who arrived to the sea wall in a police car and had a chair bolted to the float floor for stability. She was a queen. Or, as she would say, a grand dame.

This year I had the occasion to chat with Wayne Toups himself over the phone, who said he “just can’t get enough” of Mardi Gras. He will again close down our festival with a Sunday concert.

Longneck Road, a local band, will offer the first concert of the season on Thursday. Bassist Ron Arceneaux said they’ve played before and are kicking it up a notch this time around.

“We’re thrilled to be on the main stage this year and are grateful to Norman Land and Laura Childress for making that happen,” Arceneaux said.

Drummer Adam King says events such as Mardi Gras have spread their name across Texas. This past year they opened for national touring artists Chuck Berry, John Anderson, Ronnie Milsap and the Paul Thorn Band, Bart Crow Band and Aaron Watson.

Here’s the schedule:

Thursday, Feb. 16

· 4:45 p.m. - Curir du Mardi Gras, to begin at Rose Hill and Lakeshore Drive, ending at festival grounds.

· 6 p.m. - Longneck Road

· 8 p.m. - Joel Martin Project

Friday, Feb. 17

· 6 p.m. - Longneck Road

· 8 p.m. - Joel Martin Project

· 7 p.m. ­- Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie

· 7 p.m. - Valero Krewe of Krewes Parade from Rose Hill to Procter Street to Houston Avenue.

· 7 p.m. - Golf card and ATV Parade, from Rose Hill to Procter Street to Houston Avenue.

· 10 p.m. - Kevin Fowler

Saturday, Feb. 18

· 1 p.m. - Krewes Royalty March, inside festival grounds

· 3 p.m., - Jivin’ Gene Bourgeois and the Ken Marvel Band

· 5:30 p.m. - Leroy Thomas & The Zydeco Roadrunners

· 5:30 p.m. - Motorcycle Showcase Parade, from Rose Hill to Procter Street to Houston Avenue

· 6 p.m. - Total Krewe of Aurora Grand Parade, from Rose Hill to Procter Street to Houston Avenue.

· 8:30 p.m. ­- Champagne Room

· 10 p.m. ­- Stoney Larue

Sunday, Feb. 19

· 2 p.m. – Munchkin Parade, costumed children, inside grounds

· 3 p.m. – Ryan Foret and Foret Tradition

· 4 p.m. Richard Industrial group Motor Parade, from Rose Hill to Procter Street to Houston Avenue.

· 6:30 p.m. – Wayne Toups & ZydeCajun

Tickets range from $5 to $15 and are available at the gates and at The Mardi Gras Store, 3830 FM 365, (409)721-8717.

A peek into March: Be certain of Carter

Lower Pecos Rock Art makes the cover of the March issue of Texas Highways, but a more modern and local artist is discussed within the pages. “From Uncertain to Blue” is called photographer Keith Carter’s seminal work, published about 25 years ago. The Beaumont photographer spoke at my Lamar University photography class, back when we used dark rooms. The class loved his oversized, squared-off, black and white photos. In this book he captured images of down-home people in Texas towns with names like Poetry, Blue, Comfort and Rosebud. Leathery-faced ranch hands, a vintage theatre, a lone dog on the road or a boy with his chicken tell stories that begin before a camera snap and never end. Carter has published several amazing books. This Texas tale is my favorite.

ddoiron@panews.com

Mardi Gras season brings convergence of personalities

Hotel lobbies are full of stories. While attending a local function I noted a Mardi Gras ball, wedding party and family gathering all at the same site. Then there were the actual lodgers. The elevator door opened to a barefoot couple. Each one had towels around the waist. They were apparently in search of the pool. Another couple who looked like they’d returned from the rodeo were getting on, as a woman in a fur stole and evening dress readied for the next ride.

Coconuts

Jan Walker is conjuring Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau for Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas, and she’s bringing her coconuts with her. Zulu Krewe of New Orleans is famous for these “throws” which are actually handed out. You just shouldn’t toss a coconut.

“Some friends and I sat down together one weekend at Paige Bigler's house on the bayou and set out to create our own special Southeast Texas version. If you're very lucky you may just score one during this years Royalty March!,” Walker, of Majestic Krewe of Aurora, said. Wayne Toups, Kevin Fowler, Geno Delafose, Jivin’ Gene Bourgeois and Ryan Foret are among performers set for concerts Feb. 16-19 in downtown Port Arthur. Lighted parades, a carnival and bead catching make this a family affair that draws revelers far and wide.

The Royalty March is set for 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18.

More info is at www.portarthur.com/mardigras, www.facebook.com/mardigrassetx and www.facebook.com/kreweofaurora.

Cat Scan a keeper

Krewe Mon Ami’s Mardi Gras Ball featured several Port Arthur YMCA attendees who got a work out on the dance floor. I met all sorts of guests from throughout the area, including Cat Scan, a local roller derby skater, who sports a team number of 911. People are fun.

Stephan Briscoe’s work is always at Texas Artists Museum. The permanent stained glass window honoring Challenger 13 has been at the museum since it opened. Briscoe’s later works are on display in February, including a large panel featuring Port Arthur’s favorite pink bird, the roseate spoonbill. His latest is a blue heron, also native to this area. He started it before the last hurricane, but his commission work for churches pushed it back. Briscoe has also been involved in an African ministry, teaching stained glass to students in Accra, on the west coast. An artists reception will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9 at the museum, 3501 Cultural Center Drive. Work by Slava Protopopov and Lou Handley will also be featured.

ddoiron@panews.com