Auto + Marine

Riding in Style

Inside the life of Blaine Nolan, the man behind Bleu Bayou, one of America’s most celebrated custom Mustangs Article by Christian George, PhD | Photography by Tommy Bennett and Tyler Duplechin Ask Blaine Nolan what he’d take for Bleu Bayou , his nationally celebrated 1969 Ford Mustang, and his answer is pure John Wick. “She’s not for sale.” In three years, the one-off icon has earned near-mythic acclaim. It was featured in the History Channel’s one-hour special, SEMA: Battle of the...

Finance + Legal Services

What Happens Next?

Christie Tournet helps families protect what matters most Article by Christian George, PhD | Photography by Abby Sands American journalist Sydney J. Harris once said, “Happiness is a direction, not a place.” I turn the line over in my mind as I sit in Christie Tournet’s office, preparing to interview one of the Northshore’s more respected estate attorneys. Her reputation proceeds her, but so does my preparation. A week’s worth of questions fills the binder on my lap. Tabs. Notes. Arrows...

Local Services

Fear Free on Monroe Street

Inside a Restored 1910 Home, Two Veterinarians Treat Pets with Trust, Comfort, and Individualized Care Article by Rebecca George | Photography by Trent Spann, Tiffany King A home in Old Mandeville now houses a unique kind of care. Built in 1910 as a private residence, the cottage at 2130 Monroe Street watched families come and go, storms pass, and a town change around it. Today, after renovation guided by the local historic commission, it holds Monroe Street Animal Hospital, a veterinary...

Education

Tots-N-Tunes

Inside Northlake Academy of Music, where music education helps children build confidence, community, discipline, and life skills through live music, song, and daily play Article by Christian George, PhD | Photography by Abby Sands, Leslie Domingues A woman walks into the Mandeville Post Office carrying two $20 bills and a dream. With the first, she purchased a mailbox. With the second, paper supplies. She printed flyers, slipped them onto doors, and carried them through parking lots...

Beauty

Exploring Beauty Through Art

How Louisiana artist Jessica Williams Speakman transforms color, texture, and memory into art Article by Christian George, PhD | Photography by Jessica Williams Speakman, Abby Sands, and Michael Populus Camellia sinesis, commonly known as the tea plant, is a broad-leaved evergreen shrub or small tree in the tea family, Theaceae. It has glossy, dark green leaves and small white flowers with yellow stamens, and grows best in acidic, well-drained soil with consistent moisture ad partial shade. ...

Professional Services

Not All Heroes Wear Capes

Charles Cuti keeps businesses compliant, protected, and right side up Article by Christian George, PhD | Photography by Abby Sands I must confess: when I first heard the word compliance , my imagination didn’t leap to heroism. It wandered toward fluorescent lighting, government forms, and fine print that comes with a magnifying glass. Then I met Charles Cuti. After we talked for a bit, he led me upstairs to his office/man cave in the home he shares with his wife, Leslie. On the wall beside...

Home + Design

Design With Intention

How Thoughtful Site Planning and Early Design Decisions Shape the Long-Term Performance, Function, and Success of Residential Properties Article by Christian George, PhD with David Abadie | Photography by Abby Sands and David Abadie When homeowners in South Louisiana begin planning a pool, a pool house, or a complete outdoor transformation, the first call often goes to a builder, a pool contractor, or an architect. Each brings valuable expertise. But before the first shovel breaks ground, one...

Style + Beauty

Magical Memories

Inside the enchanted world of Annie Whitaker, where childhood portraits become heirloom art Article by Christian George, PhD | Photography by Annie Whitaker Magical is not the only word I’d use to describe Annie Whitaker’s photography. But it certainly belongs at the top. Picture this: You want your three-year-old photographed with real chickens and purple tulips. So naturally, you call Annie. She is entirely unfazed. She tells you she can hatch the chicks. She can plant the tulips. When...

Professional Services

It's a Beautiful Life

Kris Norvell unveils the beauty of succulents and how best to care for them Article by Christian George, PhD | Photography by Kris Norvell Succulents may be trending, but in the hands of Kris Norvell, they become something more than fashionable greenery. Through It’s a Beautiful Life Succulent Gardens, a boutique succulent nursery and florist, Kris creates artful arrangements that are at once resilient, expressive, and strikingly beautiful. She offers custom and pre-made arrangements...

Finance + Legal Services

When Whimsy Meets Rigor and Resolve

Kathleen Legendre pairs a reader’s heart with a lawyer’s discipline, guiding people through the emotionally complex world of family law Article by Christian George, PhD | Photography by Abby Sands “Powerful. Feisty. Intelligent. Deeply compassionate. Like a heroine from a novel.” Those were the words I jotted down when meeting Kathleen Legendre. Raised in Shreveport, shaped by Mount Holyoke, and sharpened by years of service after Hurricane Katrina, Kathleen brings a beautiful balance of...