Happy Monday, Central Louisiana! We hope you had a great weekend.
Your feedback from last week’s poll was heard loud and clear! One of the top requests was for us to start sorting events by parish, and starting now, you’ll notice our events section is organized that way. You will also notice that some of the parishes do not have any information regarding events this week, so if you know of any coming up that we didn't catch, we have provided a link for you to submit them.
We’re also excited to introduce a new section of this newsletter, the Community Photo Board. This is your chance to showcase your photos from around Cenla—landscapes, local happenings, or anything that captures life here in a positive light. We’ll feature up to 4 photos per newsletter, first come, first served.
One final thing, we have a very important question for today’s poll, so please let us know your thoughts!
Now scroll down and enjoy the week ahead!
In today’s edition:
Updated Carpool Drop-Off Lane at J.I. Barron
Restaurant of the Week: Osaka Ramen & Hibachi
Multiple Events across Cenla
New Community Photo Board
Job Opportunities
— The Know Cenla Team
Cenla Digest
J.I. Barron Elementary’s Upper Car Rider Lane Update
Source: J.I. Barron Elementary’s Facebook Page
Starting Monday, August 25th, J.I. Barron Elementary is implementing a new car rider line plan for grades 3–6 to help ease congestion. Parents will now enter through the Pineville Church of Christ parking lot off Hwy 28 East, where two lanes will merge into one before turning onto Trinity Church Rd. Students will be dropped off at Mrs. Gaskins’ Upper Car Rider Line, and all vehicles must exit by turning right toward BJ’s Pizza.
The school would like to thank Pineville Church of Christ and Rapides Parish agencies for working together to create this updated plan to improve traffic flow at the start of the school year.
Restaurant of the Week: Osaka Ramen & Hibachi
Source: Osaka Ramen & Hibachi’s Facebook Page
Osaka Ramen & Hibachi: Fusion In Every Bite
If you’ve been craving something warm, flavorful, and uniquely satisfying: Osaka Ramen & Hibachi should be on your list for places to eat this week.
Here’s what stands out:
Authentic Japanese flavors: From hearty broths to sizzling hibachi, their dishes deliver a true taste of Japan with a Cenla twist, crafted using fresh ingredients for both takeout and delivery.
Variety that satisfies every craving: The menu spans everything from traditional ramen bowls like Tonkotsu and Spicy Miso, to Hibachi specials, rice bowls, desserts, and even boba and fruit teas.
Convenient and consistent: They’re open daily, with both indoor and outdoor seating, making lunch or dinner easy whether you're planning on dining in or taking out.
Tip: Try the LSU Honey Prawns. It’s deep fried jumbo shrimp with homemade honey sauce. It tastes just as good as it sounds.
Where: 114 Versailles Blvd, Alexandria, LA, 71303
Find out more: Check their menu and hours →
Poll of the Week
For this week’s poll, we would like to know your thoughts on a new idea that could bring even more local value to your inbox every month:
The “Cenla Discount Card”
Here’s the vision:
Every month, we at Know Cenla would partner with local business owners to offer each of our newsletter subscribers a free card with exclusive discounts from various restaurants, shops, and services in the Central Louisiana area.
We would release a fresh card once a month with new deals and discounts from Cenla businesses.
The card would be digital, so we would email it to you. However, it would also be sent in a file format (.pdf for example) where you could print it at home if you would rather have a physical copy. Either way, it would work at any business featured on the card both in digital and print form.
The cards would be completely free for our subscribers, every month. We feel that it could potentially be another great way for all of us to support local businesses here within Cenla, and would also be a way for us to say thank you for being a subscriber.
Would You Use Something Like This?
If Yes/Maybe: Please send us restaurants, shops, and other businesses you would like to see included within the card on the feedback page. We’ll be sure to keep y’all updated on the progress of every thing!
Cenla Events
Here are some notable events happening around Cenla this week, sorted by parish:
Rapides Parish:
Kistachie Fly Fishers August Meeting: Casting for Recovery | 6:30PM, Aug 25 (More Info)
Location: 5416 Provine Pl, Alexandria, LA, 71303
Description: Kisatchie Fly Fishers meetings are held the 4th Monday of each month, except December. Time is 6:30pm, location is the Rapides Westside Library. The public is welcome!
For our August 25th meeting, we have a special guest and program. Susan Brooks is Program Manager for Casting for Recovery - Southeast Region. Susan will give a presentation on CFR, and the work they are doing across the Southeast. Everyone interested is welcomed to attend.
Light of Mine Playhouse Cafe Story Hour | 10AM-11AM, Aug 26 (More Info)
Location: Light of Mine Playhouse Cafe
Description: Contact the Light of Mine Playhouse Cafe for more info at (318) 704-1110.
Alexandria Farmer’s Market | 3PM-6PM, Aug 26 (More Info)
Location: 2727 Jackson Street, Alexandria, LA, 71301
Description: We meet every Tuesday from 3pm-6pm at 2727 Jackson St across from First United Methodist Church.
AMoA: Yoga in the Gallery | 5:45PM-7PM, Aug 26 (More Info)
Location: Alexandria Museum of Art
Description: Free Yoga at the Alexandria Museum of Art - Every Tuesday from 5:45pm-7pm.
Fall Photo Shoot With Pets! | 9AM-1PM, Aug 27 (More Info)
Location: 809 Tioga High Road, Ball, LA, 71405
Description: Come take your Fall Photos at the Library! Well-behaved pets (and humans) welcome! You will receive an emailed link to a personal DropBox containing all your photos. You are free to use them as you wish.
Spirits Sunset Club with Live Music on the Patio | 6PM-9PM, Aug 28Â (More Info)
Location: Spirits Food & Friends
Description: Join us on Thursdays on the patio at Spirits Food and Friends for great live music, great food, great friends, and hopefully, great weather!
Keep Jammin’ Fest 2025 | 6PM-10PM, Aug 29 (More Info)
Location: 4724 Sterkx Rd, Alexandria, LA 71301
Description:
Friday’s Music Lineup:
6:00 - 7:45pm - The Superchargers, an all around blues rock band!
8:15 - 10:00pm - Gypsy Blue, a big time local 90s band reuniting with alternative rock!
What is Keep Jammin?
The focus of this fest is to help provide musical instruments for kiddos and schools right here in Central Louisiana! To date, Huckleberry has been able to raise over $35k and provided all sorts of instruments to help get some music programs rolling right here in our hometown of Alexandria! This year, we’re lookin' forward to working with our community and want to thank Cleco for sponsoring this event. We hope to see you out!
Proceeds from the fest will directly contribute to the Keep Jammin' for Kids Fund with the Central Louisiana Community Foundation.
Creative Con 2025 | 9AM-1PM, Aug 30Â (More Info)
Location: 5416 Provine Pl, Alexandria, LA, 71303
Description: RPL’s “Creative Con” is our library’s friendly neighborhood Comic Con. This year’s theme is Pokémon! We’ll be painting baseball caps with fabric paint and stencils to make Pokémon-themed baseball caps. We will have games throughout the library such as a scavenger hunt, cosplay bingo, and Jeopardy to win themed prizes. Our cosplay contest will be at noon for a chance to win BAM gift cards. The categories are: kids (under 13), teens (13 and over), and adult for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place prizes.
And of course, we’ll have vendors, virtual reality, Mario Kart/Pokémon mini Stadium Games, and concessions and ice cream available for purchase. (Ice cream will be available after 11 from Mz Breezes Ice Cream Truck.) We hope to see you at Westside Regional Library over by the Coliseum!
AMoA: Muse Printmaking Workshop | 1PM-4PM, Aug 30Â (More Info)
Location: Alexandria Museum of Art
Description: Teens will learn printmaking during this workshop, inspired by works in AMoA’s September Competition.
This event is FREE to teens between the ages or 13 and 19. The youngest participants must have turned 13 within a month of this event to participate.
Grant Parish:
Colfax Farmers Market | 10AM-1PM, Aug 30Â (More Info)
Location: 611 8th Street, Colfax, LA 71417
Description: Go checkout the the Colfax Farmers Market this Saturday from 10AM to 1PM!
Natchitoches Parish:
NSU vs Alcorn State | 7PM, Aug 28Â (More Info)
Location: NSU Harry Turpin Stadium
Description: The NSU Demons take on the Alcorn State BraveHawks in their 2025 Football Season Opener.
Cane River Zydeco Festival & Poker Run | 6PM-10PM, Aug 29-30Â (More Info)
Location: 780 Front Street, Natchitoches, LA, 71457
Description: Get ready to dance the night away at the 2025 Cane River Zydeco Festival! Join us along the beautiful Cane River for a weekend of high-energy Zydeco music, delicious Louisiana cuisine, vibrant local culture, and fun for the whole family. Experience the sights, sounds, and flavors that make Natchitoches come alive — where the music never stops and the good times roll!
Picnic and Painting with Morgan Lasyone | 9AM-4PM, Aug 30Â (More Info)
Location: 524 Front Street, Natchitoches, LA, 71457
Description: Ages 4-10: 9AM-11AM. Ages 11-15: 2PM-4PM
Winn Parish:
Have an upcoming event in Winn Parish? Submit it by clicking the button at the end of this section.
LaSalle Parish:
Literary Ladies of LaSalle Book Club | 6PM-7PM, Aug 25Â (More Info)
Location: 3150 N 1st St, Jena, LA, 71342
Description: Join us and discuss our latest read! New readers welcome!
Homeschool Book Club Meeting | 10AM-11AM, Aug 27Â (More Info)
Location: 3150 N 1st St, Jena, LA, 71342
Description: Join us as we plan out the curriculum for the year. This is open to all homeschool parents and students. We meet once or twice a month (to be decided at meeting).
Catahoula Parish:
Have an upcoming event in Catahoula Parish? Submit it by clicking the button at the end of this section.
Concordia Parish:
Have an upcoming event in Concordia Parish? Submit it by clicking the button at the end of this section.
Avoyelles Parish:
Indoor Pool Party at the Paragon Casino | 2PM-6PM, Aug 30 (More Info)
Location: Paragon Casino Resort
Description: Make a SPLASH at Paragon Casino Resort with new WEEKLY pool parties!
Alligator Feeding Show | 4PM-4:30PM, Aug 30Â (More Info)
Location: Paragon Casino Resort
Description: Join us the last Saturday of each month for our free live alligator feeding show in the hotel atrium . Bring the kids for photos with a baby gator and “holding snake” after each show! You will also hear traditional songs and stories of south Louisiana’s flora and fauna performed by Tunica-Biloxi tribal members Donna Pierite and family.
Allen Parish:
Oberlin Farmers Market | 9AM-1PM, Aug 27 (More Info)
Location: W 6th Ave, Oberlin, LA, 70655
Description: Oberlin Farmers Market offers Fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, eggs, chickens, jelly, syrups, Honey, locally baked goods and more!
Vernon Parish:
Leesville City Council Meeting | 3PM-3:30PM, Aug 25 (More Info)
Location: 508 South 5th St, Leesville, LA, 71446
Description: Council meetings are open to the public.
Leesville Derby Queen Pageant 2025Â | 10AM & 5PM, Aug 30 (More Info)
Location: 608 Nolan Trace, Leesville, LA, 71446
Description: The 2nd annual Derby Queen pageant will be held August 30, 2025, at the Leesville Event Center.
Have an upcoming event in Cenla? Submit it by clicking the button below:
Community Photo Board
We’re excited to launch this brand-new section in the newsletter—the Community Photo Board! Each edition, we’ll feature up to 4 submissions that capture the people, places, and moments that make Central Louisiana special.
Wanna be featured? Send us your favorite photo from around Cenla and it might appear in this Friday’s issue!
Job Board
Administrative Assistant 4 - State of Louisiana, Bunkie, LA (Apply)
Body Shop Estimator - Walker Automotive, Alexandria, LA (Apply)
Customer Service Representative - Evangeline Bank & Trust Company, Alexandria, LA (Apply)
Production Team Member - RoyOMartin, Chopin, LA (Apply)
Thanks for reading this Monday edition of Know Cenla! See you Friday morning at 8AM!
— The Know Cenla Team
