Art

Ongoing-February 5: 5x5x5, Maria Manemann, and Ceramics by The ARC, River Oaks Square Arts Center (1330 2nd Street, Alexandria). The 5x5x5 Show features two- or three-dimensional pieces of art no larger than 5-inches square or fitting in a 5-inch cube in the Bolton-Davis Gallery; Maria Manemann will exhibit “Fire in the Water” in the Galerie des Amis; and students from The ARC Rapides under Instructor Lindsay B. Moore present ceramics in the Stokes-Harris Gallery. Call: 318-473-2670. riveroaksartscenter.com

Ongoing-February 18: No Man’s Land and Renaissance Men, Alexandria Museum of Art (933 2nd Street, Alexandria). No Man’s Land features the work of four Vernon Parish artists Isabelle Massart-Bursh, Tony McDonald, Rickie Smith and Joey Governale is featured in this commemoration of that rough, lawless and primitive area that is now their home and inspiration. Renaissance Men features the work of two celebrated Cenla artists and all around Renaissance Men, Morris Taft Thomas and David Holcombe. Call: 318-443-3458. themuseum.org

January 8: Second Saturday at the Museum, Alexandria Museum of Art (933 Second St, Alexandria). Enjoy the Alexandria Museum of Art without admission charge on the second saturday of the month. Cost: Free. Call: 318-443-3458. themuseum.org

January 14: Gallery One Ellleven Exhibition, Gallery One Ellleven (111 S 3rd St,) Leesville, 6:00pm. Gallery One Ellleven in Leesville will open the exhibition season in January, 2023 with exceptional work by Beverly Tuggle Boren. This exhibit is sponsored by a generous donation from LeRoy and Sherri Lambert. Email: [email protected]

February 7: Creativity Launch Pad—Mindfulness, Alexandria Museum of Art (933 2nd Street, Alexandria), 5:30pm-7:00pm. Launch your creativity in this on-going adult (21+) art education series for any and all skill levels seeking a relaxed creative environment in which to learn, receive instruction, experiment with mediums with other adults. Launch Pad classes offer a rotation of mediums to provide a well-rounded art experience, designed for the beginner, intermediate and advanced students. All supplies are included. Classes meet on the first Tuesday of every month. Cost: $10.00 AMoA Members; $20.00 Non-Members. Call: 318-443-3458. themuseum.org

Music

January 14: Legends of Swamp Pop, Paragon Mari Center (711 Paragon Pl, Marksville), 8:00pm. Paragon will begin the music season of entertainment with Legends of Swamp Pop with Louisiana Express featuring Parker James, Jivin’ Gene, T.K. Hulin, and Charles Mann. Cost: $20.00+. Call: 800-346-1946.

January 31: Rapides Symphony Orchestra Concert, Richard Gwartney Theatre (LSUA Mulder Hall), 7:30pm. This one-hour long event is more “performance art” than concert.  A small group of musicians will be performing mostly contemporary classical music and will be accompanied by interpretive dancer Rebecca Allen and vocalist D’Nissa Hester.  The finale of this performance will be the Cenla premier of 4’33”  by composer John Cage. Cost: Free. Call: 318-442-9709. rapidessymphony.org

February 5: A Sunday Serenade, First United Methodist Church in Alexandria (2727 Jackson St, Alexandria), 2:30pm. The Rapides Symphony Orchestra’s first concert of the season features George Walker’s “Lyric for Strings”, Albinoni’s Oboe Concerto in D Minor, and Antonin Dvorak’s Serenade for Strings. Cost: $25.00 Adults; $15.00 Seniors (65+); $10.00 Students; $50.00 Family (2 Adults + 4 Students). Call: 318-442-9709. rapidessymphony.org

Theatre

January 14: Spectral Sisters Productions 10-Minute Play Reading, Libuse Branch Library (6375 Hwy. 28 East, Pineville), 10:00am-12:00pm. It’s that time of year again, folks! Time to start preparing your entry to Spectral Sisters’ Productions 10-minute play festival. To help ensure that your play is the best that it can be, we’re hosting a play reading for those playwrights who want to get feedback before the final submission deadline. It’ll be a cold reading, meaning that your story is performed from the page. Consider this a test-run before the main event! Bring a copy for each character in your play. This year’s theme is “Wedding Reception,” for which we decided to do things a little bit differently. We hosted a set-design competition and you can find the details on our website. Cost: $20.00. Email: [email protected].

January 16: Shaun Boothe-The Unauthorized Biography Series, Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center (1202 3rd St, Alexandria), 2:30pm. The Unauthorized Biography Series is a celebration of greatness. As a youth speaker, Shaun Boothe has created this series not just to entertain and inform but to awaken the greatness within us all. Half TED Talk, half live concert, Shaun uses music, multimedia, and motivation to deliver powerful and transformative messaging in a way that truly sticks. Themes include leadership, success strategies, overcoming fears and challenges, transitioning, diversity and equity, the power of acknowledgement, redefining masculinity, and more.” Cost: Free. Call: 318-484-4475.

January 26-February 5: Over the River and Through the Woods, Hearn Stage at Kress Theatre (1102 3rd St, Alexandria). Directed by Allen Rowlen, this comedy is a warm-hearted, boisterously funny, and touching story about intergenerational relationships, deep familial love, and the inevitable little heartbreaks that occur as time passes and children grow. Performances continue Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm; with Sunday matinees set for 2:30pm. Cost: $5.00-$15.00. Call: 318-484-4478. cpptheatre.com

Events

Ongoing-January: New Hope Al-Anon Group, Horseshoe Drive Methodist Church (1600 Horseshoe Drive, Alexandria), 7:00pm.  The New Hope Al-Anon Group meets each Tuesday and Thursday evening. Al-Anon is a mutual support group for anyone having experienced a problem with someone else’s drinking or addiction. You are free to ask questions or to talk about your situation or just listen. Every meeting is different. Each meeting has the autonomy to be run as its members choose, within guidelines designed to promote Al-Anon unity. Cost: Free.

January 6, 13, 20, 27 & February 3: Live Auction, Auction Barn at the Trotter Center (1634 Military Highway, Pineville), 6:30pm. Join in the excitement of live auctions every Friday night! Proxy bids are welcome. Call Earl Hayes: 318-730-8676.

January 7 & February 4: Experimental Aircraft Association 1st Saturday Breakfast, Buhlow Lake Airport (200 Lake Buhlow Road, Pineville), 7:30am-10:00am. Come enjoy a hearty breakfast of eggs, sausage, pancakes, grits, potatoes, milk, orange juice, and more! Anyone interested in aviation and general cordial chatter with lakeside ambience is welcome and invited to come to enjoy breakfast with us! Cost: $10.00 Donation.

January 7 & February 4: Central Louisiana Dutch Oven Cookers First Saturday Gathering, Indian Creek Recreation Area (100 Camp Ground Road, Woodworth), 9:00am-12:30pm. A delicious day with Dutch oven cooking enthusiasts. There is no charge for food, however, donations are accepted. Regular park admission applies. Call: 318-625-1762.

January 9-10, 18-19, 25-26, February 2-3 & 6-7: Save Cenla ASIST Training, 8:00am-4:30pm. Suicide and mental health issues are a growing concern, especially in these trying times. Suicide is preventable. Anyone can make a difference. Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is an evidence-based, two-day workshop in suicide prevention skills helps participants learn and practice a life-saving intervention model that is widely used by professionals and the general public. Jan 9-10: St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Leesville; Jan 18-19: CLTCC Huey P. Long Campus in Winnfield; Jan 25-26: B22FIT in Dry Prong; Feb 2-3: Pineville Park Baptist Church; Feb 6-7: 1st Baptist Church in Vidalia. Open to ages 16+. Mental health professionals can receive 12 CEUs after taking this workshop for $60.00 through livingworks.net (a $300 value). Sponsored by Central Louisiana Human Services District and CHRISTUS Community Impact Fund. Cost: Free. Call: 337-519-1888. SaveCenla.com/asist.

January 10, 17, 24, 31 & February 7: Alexandria Farmer’s Market, First United Methodist Church (2727 Jackson Street, Alexandria), 3:00pm-6:00pm. The Alexandria Farmers Market is a weekly gathering that connects the community of Alexandria with the farmers, ranchers, and agricultural artisans of Central Louisiana. This connection strives to improve the physical, social, and economic well-being of the region by providing access to fresh, healthy, local food for residents, fostering community relationships, and serving as a business incubator for growers and producers. Cost: Free. Call: 318-441-3407.

January 11: Child Safety Seat Check, Rapides Regional Medical Center Main Entrance (211 4th Street, Alexandria), 2:00pm-5:00pm. A trained child passenger safety educator will take a look at your car seats, make sure they are not under recall, make sure the seat is installed properly and show you how to install the car seat. The car seat check process takes between 15-25 minutes, depending on how many car seats are in the vehicle. The seat checks normally are held the second Wednesday of each month. Cost: Free.

January 14: Second Saturday Market, Huckleberry Brewing Company (4724 Sterkx Road, Alexandria), 1:00pm.  On the second Saturday of each month, Huckleberry Brewing Company will be hosting a vendors market on the Huckleberry grounds! Come check out some awesome local vendors at the Second Saturday Market! If you’re interested in participating as a vendor, feel free to reach out via email at [email protected] or through Facebook messenger!

January 18: Cenla Women’s Connection Luncheon, Alexandria Convention Center—Four Points by Sheraton (2301 North MacArthur Drive, Alexandria), 12:00pm. Christine Baker will present “Moments of Hope” Also included is a special feature. Invite a friend and join us for an inspirational message, delicious lunch and wonderful fellowship. Please RSVP by Friday, January 13th. Cost: $18.00. Call: 337-349-4776.

February 2: 12th Annual Disparities Forum, F. Hugh Coughlin Hall at LSUA (8100 U. S. Hwy 71, Alexandria), 9:00am-11:00am. Region 6 OPH will present five speakers at the Annual Disparities Forum: Dr. Cynthia Thomas (Disparities in Education), Dr. Randall Dupont (Wealth and Workforce Disparities), Melissa Stainback and Dominique Teasley (Substance Abuse Navigator Program), and Elizabeth McClung (Sexually Transmitted Diseases). A Zoom link will be available. Cost: Free. Email: [email protected].

February 2: LSUA Black History Month Luncheon, LSUA Brumfield Caffey Ballroom (8100 U. S. Hwy 71, Alexandria), 11:30am. All proceeds going to the LSUA Foundation Ebony Endowed Scholarship.  The guest speaker is Attorney Edward “Ted” James, U.S. SPA Regional Administrator for Region 6 (South Central). Pre-registration is required. Cost: $20.00. Call: 318-619-2918. give2a.org

February 5: Krewe of Cyllenius Mari Gras Parade, Marksville, 2:00pm. Come out and join us for some Mardi Gras fun!! Sunday, February 5th at 2:00pm in downtown Marksville! The parade will take its traditional route through Marksville. No fee for entry but you must sign up! Cost: Free. Call: 318-359-3534.

Sports

January 10, 17, 24, 31 & February 7: Yoga in the Gallery, Alexandria Museum of Art (933 2nd Street, Alexandria), 5:45pm. Register online by selecting the class you would like to attend. Out of courtesy for our class waiting list, please cancel at least two hours prior to class start time. Masks are required. Cost: Free. Call: 318-443-3458. themuseum.org

January 14: 2023 Cenla Pro Rodeo, Rapides Parish Coliseum (5600 Coliseum Blvd, Alexandria), 7:30pm-9:30pm. “The Greatest Show on Dirt” stampedes into Rapides Parish for the second year in a row! The Cenla Pro Rodeo celebrating St. Jude’s will feature one spectacular performance featuring award winning livestock provided by the legendary Harper & Morgan Rodeo Company. This year’s event will feature world champion trick roper and gunslinger, Rider Kiesner! Cost: $15.00+.

January 27: American Kombat Alliance (AKA) Martial Arts Fight, Paragon Mari Center (711 Paragon Pl, Marksville), 7:00pm. The first mixed martial arts fight of 2023 at Paragon. Cost: $45.00. Call: 800-346-1946.

*All events subject to change in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines.