EVENT ALERT: Cyber Monday

The leftovers are gone (maybe lol). Vacay is over and you're going back to work. Well even at work (as long as it's allowed) you can get in on some great deals for the holidays.


CYBER MONDAY is the follow-up to Black Friday. It's the Monday after Thanksgiving when retailers with websites and online merchants tempt you to shop from the comfort of your computer with major deals, free shippin and free holiday wrapping. It's MY favorite time of the year :)



NOW ... you can go to your favorite store's website and check out what they are offering. Some sistes have all-day sales, hourly sales and some sales start tomorrow and don't end until Christmas Eve.



If you want to compare coupons and deals, go HERE. If you want to be able to access hundreds of sites at once, go HERE.



HAPPY SHOPPING!!! :-)

(and stay linked for Cyber Monday deals EXCLUSIVELY on this site!)

WEEKEND HAPZ: Shopping and More Shopping + A Few Post-Holiday Events

For more SBC'ers ... This weekend is all about marathon shopping (lol).


BLACK FRIDAY is the first day of the Christmas shopping season and one of the first chances for retailers to see what's hot what's not, and how much money they could make off you this holiday season. :-)

I've never been a big Black Friday participant, but I know LOTS of people who are ... So for those people I give you these articles to peruse in preparation for your BIG DAY.

• Full List of Black Friday Bargains
• Black Friday Hot Topics (a Cheat Sheet of Bargains)
• Best Black Friday deals for Gamers
• Top Toys for 2009
• How Local Retailers Have Prepared
• Tips for Safe Shopping

MORE 411: A lot of stores are opening as early as 4 am, and some will be open at MIDNIGHT! Wal-Mart isn't even closing tonight (though I'm not sure they'll let you camp out until the sales start lol). Check out of some of your faves and their hours tomorrow:

Wal-Mart: Most stores will be open 24 hours on Black Friday.

Kmart: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Black Friday.

The Gap: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Black Friday.

Banana Republic: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Black Friday.

Old Navy: 3 a.m. to 12 a.m. on Black Friday.

Toys "R" Us: 12 a.m. on Thanksgiving night to 10 p.m. on Black Friday.

Bath & Body Works: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Black Friday.

Victoria's Secret: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Black Friday.

Sears: 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.

J. C. Penney: 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. Doorbuster specials last from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m. Special instant-money coupons--available online at jcp.com and in the sales circular--can be used Friday from 3 to 11 p.m.

Kohl's: 4 a.m. to midnight. Doorbuster specials last from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Best Buy: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Target: 5 a.m. until extended closing times, which vary by store location.

Lowe's: 6 a.m. until regular closing times, which vary by store location. Black Friday specials are valid through Monday, November 30.

Macy's: (in Tyler, TX) 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Doorbuster specials last from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m.

One of the hottest items this year for little girls (besides accessories for the Wii) is Disney stuff related to the Princess and the Frog. As Disney's first Black princess, Black families will probably be snatching up items in bulk. It will definitely be worth something later!!

What's on my list??? GIFT CARDS. It's something I can always use and I don't have to return it :)




FOR THOSE NOT SHOPPING THIS WEEKEND ... here are a few choices to entertain you this post-holiday weekend :)



Go check out ROY WOOD, JR. at the Funny Bone ... Indulge in some WINE TASTING at Bijou ... Check out Christmas In Roseland at the Rose Center ... Help out Yogie & Friends by getting your fill at their Pancake Breakfast ... Learn some Shreveport history (and support a local author/historian) at a Book Signing for Eric Brock ... Check out the holiday crafts at the Mistletoe & More Show or the ones at The Barnwell Arts Market ... or go hear some carols at a Christmas Concert.

BE SAFE OUT THERE!!!

HOLIDAY HAPZ: Thanksgiving Day Events

The main event on Turkey Day is ... well ... the TURKEY. Or in my case ... PIE :)


But there are other things going on. Of course, there are lots of closures to know about. Get a list of holiday closures and advisories HERE.

There are a FEW other events of interest:


Enjoy Thanksgiving dinners and services at St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church ... Get your laugh on at the Funny Bone Comedy Club ... Enjoy a night out at Bijou for the Thanksgiving Nite Bash or for the College crowd, hit up the party at the Holiday Inn Downtown (See both flyers below).

Whatever you do ... BE SAFE and have a GREAT Thanksgiving!!!

SBC 411: Holiday Camps Offered at Sci-Port

Sci-Port will offer holiday camps for students in kindergarten through fifth grade starting Monday.

The camp will run Monday through Wednesday. Costs range from $30 to $45 depending on the age of the child and membership status.


The kindergarten and first-grade sessions are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and second- through fifth-grade sessions are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Extended care options are available for an additional fee.


Themes include "Skin: The inside story," "Can you dig?" and "Little Gobblers and Turkey Science."


To register, call (318) 424-8660. And you can go HERE for more information.

WEEKEND HAPZ: The Holidays Are Almost Here!!!

I can't believe Thanksgiving is in less than a week!!! Where'd the time go??? In less than two months we'll be in a 2010!!! Wowwww.

Anyhoo, whether you're preparing for your time off next week, or your vacay's already underway. Here's what happening with weekend in the SBC:




TONIGHT:


Indulge in some improv the ACTOR's CAFE' at Just a Little Cafe' .... Go check out LOUIS JOHNSON or JEN KOVER at the Funny Bone ... Get some Holiday Shopping done at LES BEAUTIQUES DE NOEL ... Hear some holiday harmonies at the BPCC Fall Concert ... Go gaze at the stars at SCI-PORT or see the Tree Lighting at the Boardwalk ...





TOMORROW NIGHT:


Go check out (or participate in) the OPEN MIC at Just a Little Cafe' ... Cheer on the cowboys and cowgirls at the NATIONAL BLACK RODEO FINALS ... or Go party at the BLACKOUT Affair at the Holiday Inn Downtown.





OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST:

• West-Edge Artist's Market (Saturday morning)

• Marathon/Walk/5K Run for YMCA

• Hot Lunch Giveaway

• Financial Fortitude Workshop (sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta)

• Women & Heart Disease Presentation

BE SAFE PEOPLE!!!!

SBC 411: Cards 4 Troops & Help 4 Vets + Volunteer Opportunities

Holiday Cards Needed for Troops Overseas


Operation Holiday Card is collecting cards to send to troops stationed overseas and away from their families during the holiday season.

To participate, write a note to an unknown service member inside one card or several, sharing encouragement and holiday wishes. Cards can offer a general Season's Greetings or be specifically for Christmas, Hanukkah or a December holiday. Note on the back of each envelope if the card is for a specific holiday.

The cards can be purchased or handmade, but don't use glitter. No postage is necessary, and participants do not have to include a return address but can if they wish.

Cards can be dropped off at Broadmoor United Methodist Church, 3715 Youree Drive in Shreveport, or mailed to: Operation Holiday Card, 6658 Youree Drive, Suite 180, P.O. Box 335, Shreveport, LA 71105.

All cards must be received by Dec. 2nd to allow for time to be shipped overseas. Call the church at (318) 861-0586, send e-mail to operationholidaycard@gmail.com or use the link on this page to learn more.









Project Offers Legal Help to Homeless Veterans


Project SALUTE, a traveling project of the University of Detroit's Mercy School of Law, will stage in Shreveport two days this week, offering legal assistance to homeless and needy veterans.

The project's mobile law office will be in the parking lot of First United Methodist Church, Head of Texas Street in downtown Shreveport, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday & Friday (Nov. 19-20).

The custom-designed recreational vehicle, donated by an anonymous benefactor, is staffed by professionals who help low-income veterans with their federal veterans' disability and pension benefits claims issues.









Volunteers Sought for Various Endeavors


Northwest Louisiana Volunteer Center has the following opportunities to volunteer. Call the center at (318) 677-2504, ext. 23 to learn more.

— The first Ballin' On the Red Shootout high school basketball tournament needs volunteers Thursday through Saturday for its hospitality room to welcome people, keep the room in order and assist as needed.

— The Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana needs volunteers to organize food drives.

— Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission is asking for tube or long socks by Nov. 25th for its Stuffing Socks Program to provide clean socks to the homeless.

— Volunteers are needed to adopt Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission residents, and churches and companies are needed to adopt groups of 25 to 30 homeless men, women and children for Christmas.

— Donations of turkeys, hams, pies, cakes and rolls are needed Thanksgiving week for the homeless in northwest Louisiana.

I know ... I KNOW!

I know I didn't do WEEKEND HAPZ this past weekend .... I know I've been slipping with the updates .... I 've been sick and tired ... and that's basically my excuse. As always, I will do better. Especially since I'm about to take this site to another level in the coming year.

Stay linked people ... :)

EVENT ALERT: SUSLA Homecoming Week '09

Southern University at Shreveport (SUSLA) is hosting it's 2009 HOMECOMING CELEBRATION this week.


Events include an opening ceremony and parade (held Monday), a Staff vs. Faculty basketball game and Comedy show (on Wednesday) and a Greek Show/Patio Show (Thursday). [Look at the flyer for all the events :)]

\
Check out the commercial for the Celebration:

I'm going to try to make to some of these events but make sure you support it!!! (Shout to to Jaleesa) ...

HAVE A GOOD WEEK! :)

SBC 411: Free Haircuts for Kids Offered Monday

Free Kids Haircuts at Bilberry Park


SPAR and Premier Cou-Paté Barber Shop will offer free haircuts for youth at Bilberry Park Community Center on Monday, Nov. 9th.

This event will be held at the center, located at 1902 Alabama St, from 5:30 - 7:30 pm.

Brian Hampton and Byron Lanaeux, owners of Premier Cou-Paté Barber Shop, are offering the services for free on a first-come, first-served basis for children ages 6 to 13.


For more information, call Lanaeux at (318) 631-1989 or Harold Williams, center manager, at (318) 673-5345.

WEEKEND HAPZ: First Weekend of November :)

Okay so I'm a little biased this week on what you should do with your weekend.



With JUST A LITTLE CAFE' fast-becoming my new favorite spot, I want to see you ALL there for the Friday and Saturday night events (see my previous post for the 411).

But of course, the journalist in me says I SHOULD inform you of what ELSE there is to do this weekend ... So here's a QUICK rundown :)




FRIDAY NIGHT ...


If you're not coming out the Actor's Cafe (or going to a high school football game), you can: Attend the Harvest Conference at Praise Temple ... Get your laugh on at the Funny Bone with comedian Billy D. Washington ... Go see the Mudbugs take on the Jackalopes at the CenturyTel Center .... or go jam with Maze f/ Frankie Beverly and Babyface at the Heart & Soul Jam ...


To see what else is happening Friday night, go HERE.

ON SATURDAY ...


Really the ONLY place you need to be Saturday night is at the TONY HENRY/POETIC X show ... But during the day there's plenty to see and do (including getting your last days in at the Louisiana State Fair, which ends Sunday, November 8th) ... Check out all of Saturday's offerings HERE.

BIZ BUZZ: Downtown Cafe' Opens Doors to Local Talent

In a city where it seems so routine --- same events, same places, same people -- it's refreshing to find a spot that deviates from the mundane.



That spot is called JUST A LITTLE CAFE' ...

Opened in 2007 in a former sandwich shop, for the past two years the downtown eatery has been a favorite for breakfast and lunch crowds.

Less than a block from Government Plaza (where city business is conducted), the downtown library and the Caddo Courthouse ... it's the perfect place for the movers and shakers of the SBC to converge.

Which is why it's not surprising to see this "Little Cafe'" take on the task of opening it's doors at NIGHT and making a place for the classy and cultured to call home.

Beginning in late October, the Cafe' started it's Nightly Events catering to the performing arts and those who love them.

On Fridays, the restaurant becomes an Actor's Cafe'. A place for thespians of all ages in our area to come and showcase their talent.

On the event's inaugural night, October 23rd, students from Magnet High come out and did music theater and monoloques. Then the night ended with local actors Rick Lacour and Tileda Moore (pictured above) doing some improv.

On Saturdays the Cafe' will be a hub for even more performers as they feature artists from the region (every 1st Saturday), host a Young Artist's Night for local teens to show their stuff (every 2nd Saturday) and open the floor for adults to enjoy some poetry, song and dance as well (every 3rd Saturday).





At the spot's first Open Mic, held Halloween night, they had both poetry and song ... with a surprise appearance by local favorite Mahogany Dust (who will now be featured at the Cafe' on December 5th!).


Both the Actor's Cafe' and Open Mic nights are FREE.


Besides the amazing talent you'll see at these events, the place just oozes positivity and ambiance is so family-oriented, you can't help but enjoy your experience there.

With no alcohol served and no smoking allowed, it's a place for all age groups.



Overhead the owners play everything from Sade and Anita Baker to Run DMC and Q-Tip. You definitely won't hear that at ANY other venue in the city.

But the culturally-charge vibe isn't the only hot commodity at the Cafe' --- the food is good too!!!

In October the featured item on the menu was shrimp or fish po-boys and from what I hear (because I'm not a fan of po-boys) it was DEE-LISH.

The seasoned fries, however, I did try and they were sooooo good. Not to mention the Cafe' DOES serve lattes and other coffee drinks.

My recommendation: The White Chocolate Mocha (much cheaper than Starbucks and just as tasty).



So what do we have --- A place to do breakfast or lunch on the weekdays, enjoy local talent and good food on the weekends, listen to some great hip hop or soul, and if you're an artist you could possibly get your big break! (and did I mention they have free wi-fi?)


I mean ... What's not to like? LOL.

• Check out JUST A LITTLE CAFE' on Facebook and MySpace. Or SEND AN E-MAIL for more information.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

COMING UP AT THE CAFE:

This Saturday, November 7th ... the Cafe' will play host to it's first Featured Artist Event.


Houston-based soul singer TONY HENRY will be there and the special guest is local spoken word favorite POETIC X.

If you've never heard TONY HENRY, trust that you need to be there!!! He plays acoustic guitar and that's really all the back-up he needs with such an amazing voice (think Dwele, Robin Thicke, or Maxwell). Check more of him out HERE.

If you've never heard POETIC X, trust that you need to be there ... This pair will definitely make it a memorable night. Poetic's powerful lyrics will leave you enlightened and make you an instant fan. Check him out HERE.


The cost for this night??? $15 (and that includes food). You won't get that deal ANYWHERE WITHIN A 25 MILE RADIUS.



So check it out SATURDAY night. Doors open at 6 pm. Show begins (around) 7 pm.




I feel like this is going to become THAT SPOT in the coming year, so make sure you're a part of something NEW in the SBC!!!

ITEM: Bossier Watching Levees, Flooding Still a Danger

Anyone living in the SBC who DIDN'T receive damage from last Thursday's massive storms is quite lucky.

Even days later, some residents are still fearing the worst as the water is still at a dangerous height and pushing the limits at the levees in Bossier. Evacuations have already been issued and now it's literally a waiting game.

Last week's storms came as a shock probably to even the forecasters.

What we thought would be the usual rain and thunder ... turning into tornadoes, flooding, property damage and even a near-death experience for one man (who had a church steeple fall on his vehicle, with him in it!).


As both city officials and residents watch and wait, please keep those who are still recovering in your thoughts and prayers.

When we're usually fearing Hurricanes this time of year, we must remember that any act of nature can lead to devastation and should be taken very seriously.


Be careful out there!

• Check out other photos (from www.shreveporttimes.com) of the recent storms and damage HERE.

• (photo above by henrietta wildsmith/the times)

SBC 411: SFD Seeks Volunteers + Poor Man's Supper

Fire Department Seeks Volunteers

The Shreveport Fire Department, in conjunction the Caddo-Bossier Citizen Corps, is seeking volunteers for a new Reserve Fire Corps Program.

The program, the first of its kind, will consist of private citizens working side by side with trained fire professionals in limited capacities and nonemergency roles.

The duties will include duties accompanying members of the Fire Prevention division on schools and daycare visits, redirecting traffic at the scenes of major fires and assisting the day-to-day operations around the fire stations, Crawford said.

The initial class will consist of 10-15 people.

Interested applicants must be at least 18 years old, pass a background check and complete a two-week comprehensive training program. The department plans to offer two classes per year in order to maintain 40 Reserve Corp members on staff.

Anyone interested in serving should contact Assistant to the Fire Chief Fredrick Sanders at (318) 673-6652 or fredrick.sanders@shreveportla.gov by Nov. 1 to receive an application.







Poor Man's Supper Held This Weekend

Christian Services will have its Poor Man's Supper fundraiser this coming Sunday, from 6 to 7:15 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in downtown Shreveport.

"The spirit of this event is to emulate the experience of the less fortunate, by serving a typical soup kitchen meal of soup and bread, and to project a greater awareness of the plight of the poor and underserved," according to a news release.

Event proceeds will go to services for the poor, needy and underserved. Tickets can be purchased by calling (318) 221-4857.