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Downtown Lafayette recently celebrated the completion of a new facade improvement at the Halo Building on 113 Clinton Street. The improved Halo Building facade features artwork by muralist, Brett Chigoy, and the ribbon cutting was the kickoff event to the first Second Saturday ArtWalk of 2020. The Halo Building’s new look was made possible by a grant from the Downtown Development Authority, through DDA’s Facade Improvement Program.
An open house for the Halo Building was held in addition to the ribon cutting ceremony. Guests were invited to explore the entire building, enjoy refreshments, and meet the proprietors and artists of this unique space. The Halo Building is a collaborative studio and movement space that houses The Ballet Académie, Basin Arts, and The Music Room. There is also studio space available to rent for classes or events requiring a large, open area. Interested parties can visit www.thehalobuilding.com for more details.
At The Ballet Académie, Gina Hanchey offers one on one training for various levels of ability ages ten through adult. Bringing thirty years of teaching experience to these private classes, they are tailored specifically to the student whether beginner, intermediate or advanced. If it’s a specific aspect such as turns, jumps, linking steps, pointe work, an overall focus on technique, artistic presence, or for a summer intensive you are hoping to gain acceptance to, Gina will help you get there. Also available for coaching students working on a show or competition piece or even a professional wanting feedback, Gina can help bring your piece to the next level. And if you have never had a ballet class but always wanted to try, Gina can guide you through a basic private class. Because she believes that ballet can be enjoyed by all regardless of age, ability, and whether you have performed on stage in front of an audience or only dreamed of doing so.
Basin Arts is a container for creativity that supports and implements cross-disciplinary collaboration, allowing Lafayette’s creative class to come together, share, experiment, and focus on process over product. Basin Arts creates opportunities for artistic expression across generations aimed at enhancing the artistic identity of our community. This includes offering affordable dance classes and art classes, free visual arts programming, and genre-bending special
events. Basin Arts is also home to the professional company-in-residence, Basin Dance Collective, and the art rental program, BARE Walls. There is also several visual artists-in residence
who have studios at Basin Arts. Their daily practice is a visible reminder of the creative process in action. Get to know these artists better by visiting their gallery exhibition, I D E N T I T Y , during the January ArtWalk. The centrifugal area of concentration for the first half of 2020 will be ‘Identity’. Within this parameter, artists and collaborators will demonstrate work that has exercised their investigations under this umbrella of inquiry and insight.
The Music Room aims to mentor and encourage students of all ages and ability levels on their own musical journeys by offering private and group music lessons in many areas including piano, guitar, bass, drums, music theory, music creation and composition, song writing, music fundamentals classes and rock band classes. Danny Devillier, instructor/owner, has been
teaching, performing, and composing music for twenty years. His vast and diverse experience as a professional musician, coupled with his love for sharing knowledge make for a rich learning experience. Lessons at The Music Room will offer students a chance to sit one-on-one with Danny in a vibrant, creative environment and discover the excitement and fun that comes with learning an instrument…or instruments!
by Downtown Lafayette | Jan 14, 2020 | Arts & Culture, Business News, Businesses, Downtown News, Photos
Downtown is the place where Acadiana comes to celebrate culture AND do business! Here at Downtown Lafayette Unlimited our goal is to help orchestrate these celebrations. Not only are we celebrating our community this fall with events such as Downtown Alive! and ArtWalk but over the past month, we have celebrated new ownership of beloved historic buildings as well as 10-year business milestones and more!
Read Clair Taylor’s article for The Acadiana Advocate here.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricanes Laura and Delta impacted the construction, the developers behind the old federal courthouse redevelopment in Downtown Lafayette knew the project would take a lot of work. J. Dyke Nelson, the architect behind the project, said he had to wear a hazmat suit the first time he came out and saw the property.
Perficient, a digital consulting firm with an office in downtown Lafayette, hired 50 graduates from its training bootcamp held last fall.The second Bright Paths Program, an initiative designed to advance STEM education and career opportunities for underrepresented constituencies and communities, was offered at its Lafayette and Detroit locations. Students completed software engineering coursework, learned about the consulting business, connected with mentors, and engineered their own innovative applications, company officials announced Thursday.
SchoolMint will move into a temporary space in downtown Lafayette and could soon land a permanent home possibly later this month. Company CEO Bryan MacDonald said the company will move into the first floor of the Lemoine building, 214 Jefferson St., and hopes to have employees working there on Feb. 1.
In the blistering summers of Acadia Parish, Meg Arceneaux would watch her grandfather sit in his truck and go about business telling others what to do. She was fascinated with how he operated his work, hoping to one day own her own business.
As Acadiana recovers from the economic downturn brought on by COVID-19 and flagging oil and gas prices, the region will likely rely on a few key businesses to help spearhead the recovery.
Vestal, the planned live fire concept restaurant in downtown Lafayette owned by award-winning Lafayette chef Ryan Trahan, will open in early April, he said. Trahan announced on Facebook Thursday he is accepting applications online to staff the restaurant, which will be at 555 Jefferson St. in the former Antlers location.
Since the iconic Don’s Seafood in Downtown Lafayette closed in 2020, there has been a lot of curiosity about what would happen to the building. Since the 1930s, the restaurant was a staple of the district and a favorite dining destination for locals and visitors. Wonder no more.