'Southern Living' spotlights Monroe museum

• By JUDY BERGERON
• Advocate News Features staff
• Published: Jul 5, 2009

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

The Biedenharn Museum & Gardens in Monroe has made this month’s edition of Southern Living magazine.

An article in the travel section calls the attraction “the best garden you’ve never heard of.”

Museum executive director Ralph Calhoun said a writer and photographer from the magazine were in Monroe for a story on a private home when they stopped by the Biedenharn. They were impressed by what they saw, he said, and the magazine decided to spotlight them.

The Biedenharn Museum & Gardens is located at 2000 Riverside Drive in the Monroe Garden District. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 2-5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call (318) 387-5281 or (800) 362-0983 or go to http://www.bmuseum.org.

Museum fee now free
The Louisiana State Museum-Baton Rouge instituted a free admission policy as of June 18.

The museum, located at 660 N. Fourth St., is showing the exhibition Pride of Place: Stories of Old South Baton Rouge in addition to all its permanent exhibits on the history and culture of the state.

Museum hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Call (800) 568-6968 or visit http://lsm.crt.state.la.us.
Music at The Roosevelt

Music is returning to the recently-reopened The Roosevelt New Orleans Hotel this month.

Guests can take in the sounds of jazz clarinetist Tim Laughlin inside the legendary Sazerac Bar. Laughlin’s playing contrasts the classic style with which he grew up with the contemporary influences of others.

Performance dates are Thursday-Saturday, July 9-11, 16-18 and 23-25, with shows beginning at 8 p.m.

On Friday, July 31, legendary clarinetist Pete Fountain will take the stage in the Blue Room with Laughlin. The event will include a champagne reception and dinner starting at 7 p.m., with music to follow.

The grand hotel had operated as the Fairmont Hotel until damage from Hurricane Katrina forced it to close in 2005. It re-opened its doors June 25, with 504 rooms, of which 135 are luxury suites; the legendary Blue Room; the Sazerac Bar and Restaurant, John Besh’s Domenica Restaurant and Teddy’s Cafe; state-of-the-art meeting and convention rooms; and a 12,000-square-foot, world-class Guerlain Spa and fitness center.

Other amenities include a comprehensive business center, private dining and suite butler service, an outdoor pool and courtyard, and a specialty gift shop.

For more information on The Roosevelt New Orleans, log on to http://www.therooseveltneworleans.com.