Small Spiral Notebook

Google a company named HomeCare and generally the only results you will get involve “home health care.” I am not sure why this happens, since the keywords typed in have nothing to do with health. It took several tries to finally find www.homecarebr.com,the real web site in question. However, once found, this writer made sure to bookmark it for future use. HomeCare of Baton Rouge is a renovation/remodeling/everything-under-the-sun company. Read more »

If it were physically possible, seafood would show up in Louie Lipps’ blood. Without a doubt, it is in his upbringing. Those unfamiliar with his Crab Trap in Frenier may know of or have heard tales about Frank and Rita’s Mama Lou’s Seafood Restaurant in Little Woods. Lipps’ dad owned the place from 1962 to 1965. It was over the water, about 250 feet from the railroad tracks, and it was notorious as much for its food as for its party rentals. Read more »

“A life can be changed by one pair of shoes,” reads a wood-carved sign in a display counter at Shoefflé in Covington. The phrase may come from Cinderella, but it rings true in reality. Walk around in a pair of Volatile flip flops and you just may feel like you are in a fantasy, skipping from cloud to cloud. At Shoefflé in Covington and Mandeville, you will find the one pair (or two or four) that can change your life. Read more »

When employees at Martin Wine Cellar ask if you need any help, take them up on their sincere offer. Carrying more than 3,000 wines from 16 countries, choice is standard at Martin Wine Cellar’s four locations in New Orleans, Metairie, Mandeville and Baton Rouge. That’s why the company sends its wine consultants across the world—Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Chile, Argentina—to sit down with wine makers and learn various wines inside and out. Also, in Metairie and Baton Rouge there are certified wine specialists and sommeliers on staff. From the novice taster to those with a distinguished palate, Martin Wine Cellar’s staff will make sure you go home with a bottle your taste buds will enjoy. Read more »

When only the best will do for your wedding or that special occasion, place a call to Josie Baudoin, owner and operator of Details by Josie, an event planning and wedding coordination service with a loyal following. “Event planning is such an enjoyable profession, as each event really is a celebration,” says the New Orleans native who does everything from weddings to business event planning to baptisms and bar/bat mitzvahs. Read more »

Nothing says easy shopping like designer showrooms. Whether featuring living room layouts, bath designs, or kitchen options, a showroom is central to a design-impaired shopper. Attempting a kitchen or a bathroom redesign or a first design is always challenging, especially with the many minute details: tile and cabinet designs, faucet selections, and not to mention colors. Showrooms provide a luxury service, the benefit of unique and all-equally gorgeous design ideas. Residents of Mandeville and surrounding areas, rejoice. Southern Bath & Kitchen, the design division of Southern Pipe & Supply, has just opened a new showroom. Read more »

Lafargue Pianos, Ltd. is the perfect example of a great company that was built from the ground up. Owner Lance Lafargue, a registered piano technician for more than twenty years, opened a retail store. It eventually expanded to offer a full spectrum of services. In the beginning, Lafargue spent his time servicing and rebuilding pianos, but soon he began helping potential piano buyers more and more. He started buying, repairing, and selling pianos from home while continuing his service business. Read more »

Getting into shape may be a difficult task. But finding the equipment to get you there doesn’t have to be. While gym memberships may be expensive and inconvenient, using personal equipment in the comfort of your own home or company space makes working out easier and much more accessible. Fitness Expo, located locally in Metairie, offers a large variety of state-of-the-art exercise equipment, knowledgeable staff, and personal service guaranteed to help you find exactly what you need to stay fit. Read more »

Walking through Via Consignment in Baton Rouge is like being in a design studio. Interior decorator Nancy Zito’s 2,000-square-foot store showcases at least a dozen professionally arranged presentations of living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and more. In the high-end showroom, you will come across high quality, reasonably priced pieces by names like Baker, Kravet, Henredon, and Century. Only a 20-year veteran of the interiors industry can deliver this level of consignment with style and flair. Read more »

Would you be interested in a carved stone fireplace mantel? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. Tom Holden of Stone Imports, Inc. has been asking that question since it helped him land his first job over five years ago. More than 400 “yes” replies later, he continues to sell and install custom designed, carved stone fireplaces in south Louisiana with dealers and showrooms in Mandeville, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and two in Mississippi. Read more »