This page was last updated: September 22, 2009
Casa Azul gifts A Global Shopping Experience
CONTACT
Casa Azul Gifts
MAIL:
P.O. Box 252
Grand Coteau, LA 70541
PHYSICAL ADDRESS
234 ML King Dr.
Grand Coteau, LA 70541
PHONE
(337) 662-1032
I HAVE LEARNED TO HOLD MY TONGUE
I have learned to hold my tongue;
hold the word in my body,
that solemn space.
I've learned to be
inhabited by words;
foster each one
as the growing child it is,
claiming it precious.
I knew the moment I conceived,
the instance of wings
touching me.
The word "creation" rose in my skin,
rode my nerves
like coursing love—I spoke:
Not yet, not yet.
John Bienvenu
Haiku
Sun and moon symbols...
Together mean "brilliant"
...Hot summer's bamboo
PAST CASA AZUL EVENTS
Thursday, May 28
7:00 p.m.-- 9:00 p.m.
Dramatic Reading of "Message in an Oyseter Shell"
followed by Open Mic
Author: Sam Irwin
Thespians: Ray Gaspard and Rose Anne St. Romain
“Message in an Oyster Shell” is the story of a chance encounter between a spinster insurance agent from Natchez and a bachelor Croatian oysterman who lives in a fishing village at the mouth of the Mississippi River. A handwritten message in a bottle dredged out of the oyster bed is at the center of this tale of love at first sight. “Message in an Oyster Shell” is also included in the new short story anthology “Love is on the Wind” from Second Wind Publishing. Irwin’s award-winning fiction has also appeared in Dead Mule, Spillway Review, Long Story Short, Country Roads, Cape Fear Crime Festival, Gris Gris Rouge and Tom’s Voice.
Actor Ray Gaspard, an Abbeville native, reads the role of the immigrant oysterman.
Gaspard has worked in theatre and film since 1977 and is best known for his lead roles as Tevye and Pseudolus in several Baton Rouge productions of “Fiddler on the Roof” and “A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum.” He recently became the first non-union actor in the world to play the part of Max Bialistock in the Baton Rouge Little Theatre 2008 presentation of “The Producers.” Gaspard has been seen or heard in hundreds of local and regional radio and television commercials and feature films.
Award-winning storyteller and author Rose Anne St. Romain grew up in Mansura among “a highly talkative family of ten” where she was exposed to countless family tales of rural life and strife, Cajun stories, jokes, song, poetry and books. St. Romain was a featured personality on Jimmy Buffett’s Internet radio station (RadioMargaritaville.com) and has performed annually as a storyteller at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival since 1995. She has been honored with a Louisiana Pioneer Storytelling Award for 20 years of performing and a Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media Award for her audio CD collection of stories, “Once Upon a Shoe.” St. Romain published “Moon’s Cloud Blanket” (Pelican Publishing) in 2003 and is working on a new book based on a true story that took place in St. Martinville more than 200 years ago. St. Romain has performed for folks of all ages at national festivals, corporate events, universities, conferences, schools, and libraries throughout the United States since 1982.
All three artists are graduates of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
An open mike will follow the dramatic reading and area poets, writers and musicians are encouraged to perform--yes, you are!
Friday, May 29, 2009
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Author Travis Craig
followed by Open Mic
Travis Craig is a writer and artist from Alabama who has a heavy interest in blues and jazz music as well as the bluesy and jazzy elements of everyday life. He has a Master's in English from the University of South Alabama in Mobile. He is the author of one novel, 99 City, published in 2005 by Kyteflyte Press. He has just completed a collection of poetry titled We Worship in the Church of the Drum: Spoken Word in Rhythm and the Path to Personal Freedom.
Saturday, May 30: “We Worship at the Church of the Drum,”
Poetry Workshop with Travis Craig Town Market, Arnaudville
Sundown Songs
New Orleans Songwriter's Showcase
& Jam/Open Mic
Thursday, May 7, 2009
7:00 -- 9:00 p.m.
Casa Azul Gifts in Grand Coteau hosts “Sundown Songs” – a New Orleans Songwriter's Showcase. The Sundown Songs band draws inspiration from classic American songsters such as Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie. Expect great music, wit and original, heartfelt tunes. Sundown member Sam Doores, poet, songwriter, and wandering troubadour turned up at an Open Mic in February. He was surprised to find out the event was a special Abraham Lincoln tribute. During the break Sam went outside with his guitar and notebook, and returned from the intermission with his own impromptu Lincoln song that delighted the audience with fresh lyrics and playful spirit.Band Members;
STALKER TEXAS RANGER-tenor banjo, guitar,harmonica,vocals
PAT REEDY-guitar, tenor banjo, mandolin, vocals
KATE-guitar, vocals, percussion ROSS-upright bass banjo, trash can bass
ALYNDA LEE - banjo, vocals
SAMUEL DOORES - guitar, vocals, suitcase drumset
Come check out the Sundown Dog Songs with Sam Doores and friends. Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/sundownsongsnola
Reading and Open Mic with
Clare L. Martin
Thursday, November 13, 2008
7:00 -- 9:00 p.m.
at Casa Azul Gifts
Grand Coteau
GARBAGE WOMAN
I am a gallows tree.
Bottle glass
chicken bones
jointed mannequins
of milk jug plastic
drowned oaks
crab shells
wind-struck birds
seaweed, guts and eels
hang.
I am a body of water.
The love letters you folded
into paper boats,
sail across my hips,
burn to ash
in faraway volcanoes.
My palms weep
with pearls.
"Garbage Woman" first appeared in
Blue Fifth Review, Summer 2007.
Clare L. Martin is a poet-mother-wife, lifelong Louisiana resident and a graduate of University of Southwestern Louisiana.
Clare's creative writing has appeared in several literary journals, including Farmhouse Magazine, Blood Lotus, Blue Fifth Review, Wheelhouse Magazine, Inch, Eclectica Magazine and The Dead Mule. Her poem "4-Way Stop at Dusk" has been selected for inclusion in the anthology Best of Farmhouse Magazine which will be released Fall 2008.
Clare is also the playwright of "Waterlines" produced in April and November 2006, and May 2007 as part of the theater project Sustained Winds, a collaboration of Louisiana artists responding to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Sustained Winds was performed in New York City in August 2007 as part of the New York International Fringe Festival, and in April 2008 at Festival International de Louisiane. Clare recently completed the manuscript for her first collection of poetry, Garbage Woman, and is seeking its publication.
John Bienvenu and Olan Thibodeaux
Thursday, December 18, 2008
7:00 -- 9:00 p.m.
at Casa Azul Gifts
Grand Coteau
John Bienvenu holds a B.A. (English Education and Psychology), M.S. (Applied Psychology), and Ed. S. (Elementary and Secondary Education Administration and Supervision). His illustrations have been published both locally and nationally. He was recently named one of Acadiana's top most 50 creative artists according to the Times of Acadiana. He also served as Judge for the Lafayette Art Association's "Kids are Artists, Too" competition.
Olan Thibodeaux has been employed by St. Charles College for the past 30 years as Maintenance Director. He started writing poetry at age 40; and also restarted drawing and painting at that time.
He needs a lot of quiet time to be creative, but is glad he did not wait until retirement to begin finding his voice.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Bonny McDonald Poetry and Open Mic
and
Arnaudville Area Chamber Potluck
Potluck: 6:00 p.m.
Reading: 7:30 -- 9:00 p.m.
at Casa Azul Gifts
Bonny McDonald
Bonny McDonald earned a Bachelor's Degree in English from the Liberal Arts Honors Program at the University of Texas at Austin in 2002In December, she received a Kentucky Foundation for Women grant to perform six shows of spoken word poetry, story-telling, and song and to help young women do the same. She is the editor of the BG Green: Partnership for a Sustainable Community Magazine which aims to raise ecological awareness and support sustainable practices. As a spokesperson for BG Green, she leads spoken word and environmental awareness workshops in elementary, middle, high schools, and colleges, and performs poetry at community events and fundraisers
Olan Thibodeaux
Diminished
the less I love
the more I think
the more I think
the less I feel
the less I feel
the more I fear
the more I fear
the less I know
the less I know
the more I retreat
the more I retreat
the less I love
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Poet Bill Lavender, Followed by Open Mic
7:00 -- 9:00 p.m.
Bill Lavender (on the left in the photo) has a BA in English from the University of Arkansas and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of New Orleans. He works for the Division of International Education in the Metropolitan College as the director of the Low Residency Creative Writing program and Managing Editor of UNO Press. He is adjunct Assistant Professor of English.
Mr. Lavender's most recent book of poetry is transfixion, forthcoming in 2009. Sections of this book have been published online in E*Ratio and Fieralingua, and in print in YAWP and Fell Swoop. Books also include I of the Storm (Trembling Pillow 2006), While Sleeping (Chax Press 2004), look the universe is dreaming (Potes and Poets 2002), and Guest Chain (Lavender Ink 1999). He is currently associate editor of Exquisite Corpse, and edited an anthology, Another South: Experimental Writing in the South, from University of Alabama Press (2003). His poetry and essays have appeared in numerous print magazines including Jubilat, New Orleans Review, Gulf Coast Review, Skanky Possum, YAWP, and Fell Swoop, and web publications including Exquisite Corpse, E•ratio , CanWeHaveOurBallBack, Moria, Baddog, Poets Against the War, and, more recently, Big Bridge, and Nolafugees. He has published scholarship in Poetics Today and Contemporary Literature.
Image: Foundation for HIstorical Louisiana
Imagining Lincoln: The Louisiana
Poetry Project
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Readings to Commemorate Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday. Followed by Open Mic
The Louisiana Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission has launched a series of poetry readings as part of the nation’s varied commemoratives honoring the 16th president of the United States, according to poet Darrell Bourque, Director of Imagining Lincoln: The Louisiana Poetry Project. One of those commemoratives will take place at Casa Azul Gifts in Grand Coteau on Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. This Grand Coteau event and will feature poets reading poems written by Abraham Lincoln; poetry by other poets who have written about Abraham Lincoln; and original poetry by the performers. Anticipated poets include Darrell Bourque, Bret Bernard, Sam Irwin, Sidney Creaghan, Patrice Melnick and Olan Thibodeaux.
The date of the reading, February 12, 2009, is the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. According to Darrell Bourque, “this man of humble beginnings went on to become one of our greatest presidents, is one of the people who changed the course of American history and enlarged the national character, and is still someone we look to for direction in our lives in the 21st century.”The Casa Azul Abraham Lincoln Commemoration is one of about 10 events taking place throughout the state of Louisiana during the week of Lincoln’s birthday on February 12th. More than 50 poets are expected to participate in these events, including those who will be performing at Casa Azul. As this is an open mic, everyone is invited to take part with songs, poetry or other creative tributes to Abraham Lincoln. The Casa Azul IMAGING LINCOLN Open mic takes place at 232 ML King Dr., Grand Coteau. This free, community event is open to all ages. Complimentary refreshments. For more information contact Patrice at (337) 662-1032 or casa.azul.gc@gmail.com. Learn more about this event and other Casa Azul events at casaazul.homestead.com. For information on Imagining Lincoln: The Louisiana Poetry Project contact Darrell Bourque at 337 684 3542 or at dbourque@centurytel.net. For more about other state activities, contact David Madden at dmadden@lsu.edu or 225-344 3630.
The statewide series is cosponsored by the Louisiana Center for the Book, State Library of Louisiana, Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, Office of the Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu and the Louisiana Library Foundation.Thursday, February 19, 2009
Bret Bernard Poetry and Open Mic
Bret Bernard performing poetry is an experiment in either negative or
radical ions going right or wrong.
At times, there could by musical instrumentation involved.
You may find yourself...
enjoying his work very much...
or too dizzy due to his constant movement about the room.
AT NIGHT
At night, most of the stores are closed
and our darkness is exposed
If you go away from the city lights
you can see more stars in the sky
At night, the traffic's died down
in the city and in the town
a lot less vehicles motoring around
At night, the temperature is colder
if you're awake, you're a little bit bolder
At night, it's best for me to write
I have a clearer mind
and I am more kind
It's really not the best time to eat
but a late night breakfast can't be beat
The day you share with everyone else
at night, it's cool to have time to yourself
Poetry Performance with Clare Martin and Lana Maht Wiggins
Thursday, April 9, 2009
7 to 9 p.m.
Clare L. Martin is a poet-mother-wife, lifelong Louisiana resident and a graduate of University of Southwestern Louisiana. Clare's creative writing has appeared in several literary journals including Farmhouse Magazine, Blood Lotus, Blue Fifth Review, Wheelhouse Magazine, Inch, Eclectica Magazine and The Dead Mule. Her poem "4-Way Stop at Dusk" has been selected for inclusion in the anthology Best of Farmhouse Magazine which will be released Fall 2008. Clare is also the playwright of "Waterlines" produced in April and November 2006, and May 2007 as part of the theater project Sustained Winds, a collaboration of Louisiana artists responding to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Lana Maht Wiggins is the author of Notes from Refuge (Plain View Press), poetic narratives of her life in New Orleans and her personal refugee experience immediately following Hurricane Katrina. Notes from Refuge was a finalist in the 2006 Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Contest. Lana also received the Judge Felix Voorhies Award for Creative Writing and a Jon Z. Bennet Award in The Deep South Writer’s Conference Poetry Contest in 1996. She has been published in The Southwestern Review, Deep South Writer’s Chapbook, Dance to Death, Words-Myth, Moondance, Knock and The Smoking Poet.
Thursday, June 11
7 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Poetry
Erin Giesse and Skyler Pham
followed by Open Mic
Both Erin and Skyler are recent graduates of The Magnet Academy for Cultural Arts and were poetry students of Holly Schullo.
Erin Giesse plans to go to college at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to study Psychology and Physics. She has been writing since freshmen year of high school and hopes to continue to succeed in writing and keep it a big part of my life. She says she mainly writes about ideas and scenes that play out in her mind in a way to express the way it makes her feel in hopes that the reader can be in the same place.
Skyler Pham is intersted in all forms of art, especially visual art, and I plans to study it in college. He has been writing since high school, and says it has since evolved into one of the biggest parts of his life. Learn about Pham's recent award, River of Words National Poetry Contest HERE. Skyler plans to attend Louisiana State University, Eunice, and later will transfer to UL Lafayette.
Thursday, June 25
7 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Poetry
Priscilla "Pat" Francis
followed by Open Mic
Priscilla M (Pat) Francis has a Bachelor degree in Social Work. She is a native of Lafayette, Louisiana. Her poem, "Just a Moment," first appeared in Centres of Expression by Noble House Publishing in 2007. She is a distinguished member of the International Society of Poets. She received the Editors Choice Award for "Just a Moment." Ms. Francis recently published her first book, "My Eyes Smile," with Publish Today. She also writes for Brand Lady.com, a new woman's magazine. In her spare time she enjoys visiting with her grandchildren and family and traveling with her husband.
Thursday, Septeber 3, 2009
The Chimes
