Most of us are looking for a good time when the weekend rolls around. And if you are like me and plenty of others, you are looking for a good time almost any time!
We all have our favorite places to go out to eat, or to meet friends for a drink and conversation, and then it’s even more fun when you have an interesting event to attend.
Slidell has plenty of that with fundraisers, benefits, fairs, festivals and now, we have a new one.
I was invited to attend the first Polo Night in Slidell last Friday at the home of Gran and Billie Semmes. It’s a very familiar property to longtime Slidellians because it is the land where Billie’s dad, Bill Garrett, built what was considered “a mansion” several decades ago. Or at least that’s what most of us teens used to think.
Sitting in plain view on Military Road, the Garrett home was known to most of us who have lived here a long time. You would drive by and know that the very successful, and we figured very rich, Bill Garrett lived there after finding his fortune in the car dealership business. He started Bill Garrett Chevrolet here and then added other dealerships over the years, before his soon-to-be son-in-law Gran showed up on the scene and got involved in the car business himself.
Billie and Gran eventually moved into the Garrett home many years ago and have been working on a multitude of business ventures themselves, eventually deciding to open a horse stable there and a polo field since Billie grew up riding horses from the time she was a little girl.
Gran, as any smart husband would do, figured he better get good on a horse himself, and then found himself getting interested in polo. The couple connected with some international polo stars over the years and then decided to add the polo field to the wedding and events venue they had opened there.
Last Friday night they debuted Polo Night, a very unique evening that was quite different from what most of us see on a weekend night. And I must say, it was actually very interesting.
Not only did they serve Tapas, small plates of savory Spanish dishes, but there was an open bar, seating along the polo field for the crowd to enjoy, and a fun atmosphere that was unusually set to be held later in the evening. The matches didn’t start until after 9 p.m., but you couldn’t tell that anyone cared. By that time, with a few adult cocktails in them, an enjoyable time of conversation with other attendees, and the Tapas, I came along and found a crowd that was having a grand time.
Billie said they hope the added feature of a horse setting for weddings will be a good draw for special events of all kinds. And I think they may be right.
What I did find out is that there is a new, late evening venue for fun that is expected to continue in the future, and you will probably find it worth checking out. Keep your eyes on the pages of the Slidell Independent for the next event they schedule and check next week’s pages for pictures of the evening, which included some very cool dressed folks who showed up from this area,and drove in from New Orleans.
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If you love bingo, then I suggest you head to the Slidell Moose Lodge #2038 this Saturday night, Sept. 30, for an annual event that will be the first fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
Penny Mutz, a breast cancer survivor herself, began heading up the Moose Lodge Bingo Night to raise funds for breast cancer research and is inviting the public to join them for the evening.
Not only can you have some fun, but you will have a few laughs also since her son, Chuck Mutz, a professional auctioneer, will handle some of the proceedings for a live auction and I can tell you the guy is cool and funny.
Doors open that night at 5 p.m. with package sales beginning at 6 p.m., then the first ball drops at 7 p.m. Food and beverages will also be available.
The Slidell Moose Lodge is located at 60034 Camp Villere Road in Slidell. For more information, call 985-643-6014 or 512-626-2341.
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Props to Slidell Cultural Department Director Alex Carollo for following through on a suggestion to give South American artist Romualdo Costa the first art show of the cultural year at George Dunbar Gallery.
I have written a lot about Costa since meeting him earlier this year. He is 105 years old, witty as ever, and also still an artist who is creating new pieces. And did I say he was 105 years old? That was not a typo.
The evening had a great turnout, and I can tell you that for all the past success and accolades Costa has received, it was a special night for Slidell to welcome him as they did.
Thanks Alex.
Kevin Chiri can be reached by e-mail at kevinchiri@gmail.com.