[Shreveport/Bossier City Development]

Brian, you are 110% right. Bill Joyce should be doing anything and everything he can to get Disney to put an animation studio here. He also very well might be. I do not know a lot about what he does around the area, but from what I can tell, he loves Shreveport. I remember him coming to my school when I was in kindergarten or first grade. This was probably about 23 or so years ago. Now, he is very famous and accomplished. I am very proud he is from Shreveport to be honest.

[Shreveport-Bossier City Photo of the Day]

Ok guys, this pics SUCK!!! I had my cell phone camera on low resolution apparently. These are less than email size and their blurry, so I hope you have good eyes!

This what's going on beside Dick's....

and this is next to Youree....

Next time I'll check my setting if I am using my cell, because this is ridiculous!

[Shreveport/Bossier City Development]

Yes, I must also say that "announcement" was pretty stupid. Anyway.

Did anyone see the announcement of the "virtual cyber command?" It was in the Shreveport Times a few days ago. Here is the link to the Air Force's story: AFCYBER headquarters staff to operate virtually I'm pretty disappointed that we on got 36 "billets" which was 4th behind Scott AFB (69), Langley AFB (58) and Lackland AFB (43). Is this thing slipping away?

One more thing. There is major happenings at Regal Court. I was over there a couple of times this week, because we bought a car from Chevyland. There are walls going up beside Dick's and next to Youree behind TWO more pads fronting Youree! I was pretty excited. I asked our salesman what he was hearing and he said Dave and Buster's! I took a couple of pics with my cell phone. I am going to post them on the pictures forum. Check them out, I'm not sure how good they will be!?!?

[Shreveport/Bossier City Development]

Hey, don't get crazy now. lol Am I the only one who would be afraid to see what is beneath the surface of that river, with all the homicide and suicide victims they seem to find in there on a routine basis? I like the idea... if the water were clear and we could see that there was nothing bad in the depths below. The only other thing is, I'm not sure how well gondolas would fare when the river is high like it is now and rushing. A bridge would keep people moving back and forth across the river regardless of the rushing waters below. I wish the water taxis they used to have would have taken off. But back then the only things on the river were the casinos. Also, though, I'm not sure how those would have fared when the water gets treacherous. I don't think they do tours when the water is like it is, so I doubt they could run the taxis either.

Best idea yet: trolleys... real trolleys on rail. Let Little Rock be our example on how to do it right.

Oh has anyone noticed the progress on the parkway's northern extension? I've been watching the progress as I pass by there on I-20 in the evenings. Looking good! Looks like they have the utilities mostly in place and are doing the dirt work for what will be the 2 northbound lanes.

I wasn't talking about gondola boats, I was speaking of the type of gondolas that they use on mountains! Probably the same thing as the trolleys you are speaking of. That would be psycho to have those boats on that river. That would be freakin' hilarious though! I also wonder what is at the bottom of that river, but I don't want to be the one to find it! Are gondolas/trolleys what they have in Little Rock? I haven't seen them. I think that it would be cool here.

I have not seen the work, but I did see a story about it on the news today. I think they said it should be complete in like 9 months. I think this is access for the parkway to I-20. Is that right?

[Shreveport/Bossier City Development]

Yes, following through has always been Shreveport's problem. This is why I still applaud Hightower for the way he handled the convention center/hotel. I know people hated that whole thing... and the same people still make a big deal about it on The Times forums whenever they can. For instance, how they managed to spin the aquarium discussion into a Hilton discussion immediately. Those guys never cease to amaze me...

But anyway, perhaps Glover will use a similar approach in getting something done. Had Shreveport done that with an arena rather than wait for some ridiculous, expensive "study" then we would have an arena downtown. Don't get me wrong, I really love CenturyTel Center... but whenever I'm in downtown Little Rock/North Little Rock, like I was last Tuesday, the Alltel Arena impresses the heck out of me right on the riverfront in downtown.

And if something like this were to take off downtown, this would certainly add to the need for a pedestrian bridge. And now that I know the guy who submitted the winning design in that contest, I know he would love to see his vision constructed along the riverfront.

Though some in Shreveport may not like it, it seems being heavy handed is the only way to get things done over there. It's just unbelieveable there is so much resistance when good things happen or are proposed. Those that complain how much Shreveport spends are the same ones that probably not paying any taxes. They either rent or do not own property of sufficient value to be taxed on. Even though they make so much noise about these things, I believe they are in the minority. Could you imagine Lo Walker proposing this in Bossier? I doubt you would hear many complaining. Yes, there were some that complained about the LB parking garage and the Benton Rd overpass, but certainly not the uproar the Hilton caused in Shreveport.

Could you imagine if the CTC was built on the other side of Bass Pro? That would have been amazing. If the LB and CTC came in reverse order, you never know, you may have seen that. Mayber Bossier could jump on Shreveport's idea of an aquarium and build it over by Bass Pro. It would be a good match! It would not be the first time Bossier ran with one of Shreveport's ideas!

The pedestrian bridge would be awesome, but here's an idea....Gondolas Over the Red! That would be a cool ride. Maybe see through bottoms on the gondolas?

[Shreveport/Bossier City Development]

Of course. I couldn't have said YES when I was trying to keep it quiet.

But agreed, I would donate as well.

FWIW the negative jerks will always be on The Times forums. Instead of making their forums MORE visible and MORE interactive, I had actually thought they would get rid of them altogether. But they have to do what Gannett says.

Wellllll, I guess I'll let it slide. It would be a great attraction. You never know, while Shreveport does their "studies" Bossier may build it! Just think how far ahead Shreveport would be if they had spent all the money they spent on the Red River Entertainment District on an aquarium instead. I hope they follow through and do it soon.

Richy, what you said is exactly the reason Shreveport needs to do this. If you were in town, you would go across the river to an aquarium. Shreveport needs to draw some of those LB visitors to their side of the river. Some restaurants and bars are not going to do it, LB has that and they did a better job too. I think Shreveport is on the right track with this. They just need to follow through and do it right.

[Shreveport/Bossier City Development]

Okay guys, since it's out there now... this is one of the developments I told you guys I was privy to but couldn't speak about publicly. Obviously nothing is a done deal, but now at least The Times has reported that it's something the city is looking into. The former Sci-Port director, Al Najar, was very interested in getting this going in Shreveport.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.d...NEWS05/80505044

Awesome! I hope it is sooner rather than later. I hate most of the posters on the Times, they are so negative. I would like to see a donor drive started for a general construction fund if Shreveport is serious about this. I would donate to an aquarium fund. Have all the casinos and big businesses in town donate, it would be in their interest to bring in more family friendly venues. I know when we are out of town and in a larger city we are looking for an aquarium to take the kids to. It would be great for kids and it would compliment SciPort. My daughter is in kindergarten and they have taken, I think, four field trips to SciPort this year. By the way, I think we had this Bryan and you said no. Sneaky, sneaky.

[Shreveport/Bossier City Development]

So THAT is where Longhorn is going. Great news, thanks for that update, man! This means we still have no clue what is going on any of those pad sites at Regal Court... hmmm!

By the way, just got back today from Chicago. I dooooo love my hometown (Shreveport-Bossier) but every time I go up to Chi-Town I fall more and more in love!! :wub:

Sweet! We knew it had to be either Red Lobster or Longhorn. Now someone needs to go ask those guys what the L they are doing over there at Regal Court!

[Louisiana Sports Talk]

I just caught some bad news on ESPN. Les Miles has dismissed Ryan Perrilloux from the team. I hate this has happened, but it seems that Les HAD to do it.

This is Les Miles statement from LSUSports.net.

"Ryan was given every opportunity to be a part of this football team,

[Shreveport/Bossier City Development]

No, not yet. That's the rumor (Longhorn/Red Lobster)... so i'll have to keep a close eye on it. i thought someone posted earlier that Longhorn is fielding positions for Shreveport and Bossier...

I believe that I did. If I remember correctly, I think they were hiring managers for Shreveport and Bossier. We know there is suppose to be a Longhorn going in at Stirling Bossier and I assume that the Shreveport location would be the old Smokey Bones. WEll, call it more of a guess.

[Shreveport/Bossier City Development]

UPDATE: I drove past the old Smokey Bones place yesterday, and it looked like they're doing some remodeling work on the roof, ie, removing the logs from the roof-line. They could be replacing those logs with a more traditional roof-line...

Cool! I was out there on Friday and I was checking out what you were posting about last week. I saw the two foundations being worked on at Regal Court and the dumpster and work being done on Smokey Bones. Could you tell if it looked more in line of becoming a Red Lobster or a Longhorn Steakhouse?

[Louisiana Sports Talk]

I am proud of all the LSU Tigers (drafted or not) and all our state talent! Way to go Louisiana!

As for the Green Bay QB situation, I have had a hard time believing that Brett will stay retired (especially after his Letterman appearance) but the Packers seem to be trying to ensure he does not come back. They are retiring his number in the FIRST game of the year! After his Letterman appearance they placed him on the reserve/retired list and have now drafted two quarterbacks. If he wanted to come back, if Ted Thompson wanted to keep his job, they could not deny him. He's not going to play anywhere but Green Bay. I wish that he would have played another year or two, because I think he has it in him. I also believe that they would have had an excellent shot at winning a SuperBowl, but I think that is now gone. I was depressed for about a week after he retired! I am a huge GB and Brett Favre fan. I am giving Aaron Rodgers a chance, but in my heart I am pulling for Matt Flynn to become the man in Green Bay!

[Louisiana Sports Talk]

So far so good.

3rd

#68 Chevis Jackson to Atlanta

#69 Jacob Hester to San Diego

#81 Early Doucet to Arizona

4th

#120 Craig Steltz to Chicago

5th

#137 John David Booty to Minnesota

(I must add that I hate this happened. I am a huge Packers fan and they traded this pick to Minnesota. I think that they are possibly a good QB away from being a very, very good team. I hope this does not come back to haunt Green Bay.)

7th

#209 Matt Flynn to Green Bay

#232 Keith Zinger to Atlanta

Ali Highsmith and Jonathan Zenon were undrafted.

[Louisiana Sports Talk]

You and me both jcasey. The Chiefs just were not interested in the Saints offer. Dorsey is a nice guy/class act and an explosive player. I got to meet him before. I wish him nothing but the best up in KC.

The Saints did manage to trade up to the 7th pick and get DT-Sedrick Ellis from USC. He was rated just slightly behind Dorsey. I thought the Shockey trade might happen too; I think he would have been a nice fit with Payton and the offense.

In the 2nd Round the Saints got CB-Tracy Porter who is from Port Allen just across the river from BR. His Dad played at LSU.

Also the Bears took OT-Chris Williams with he 14th pick; he played his ball at Catholic HS in BR.

Yep jcasey, whoever takes Early Doucet tommorrow in the 3rd Round will be getting a "steal"!!! I can't believe it either. QB-John David Booty from Shreveport should be taken in the 3rd or 4th round.

Besides Doucet, I expect to see a busy 2nd day for LSU players; CB-Chevis Jackson; S-Craig Steltz(Metairie); LB-Ali Highsmith; RB-Jacob Hester(Shreveport); and possibly QB-Matt Flynn and CB-Jonathan Zenon(Breaux Bridge)

Yeah, it seems that KC wanted Dorsey and weren't going to give him to the Saints. Who could blame them. They are getting one of the best DTs that has came out of college in a while, a guy with NO character issues and someone that will do a lot in the community. I'm not mad at the Saints either, we know they tried to move up. I also still think the Shocky trade could happen, I just wonder what the Saints will end up giving for him.

I didn't know that Porter and Williams are from Louisiana, but it figures. We produce so many good players it is unreal. It's evidence of the stats you posted earlier. I could definitely see Doucet, Booty, Jackson, Steltz, Zenon and Highsmith going in the 3rd to 4th rounds. I think that anyone who takes a chance on Hester and Flynn may just be surprised. Let's face it, they are not typical NFL players but those two have some intangibles. Hester being so determined and Flynn having so much poise, it just seems as though someone should give them a shot. I guess we'll see tomorrow!

[Shreveport/Bossier City Development]

I thought everyone knew about Great Wall! I'm surprised you've never been or heard of it, but I will GLADLY tell you how to get there. Take the Pines Rd. exit off I-20, but stay south on Pines until 70th Street. Pass thru the intersection still heading south, and turn right to get into their parking lot. At the Pines/70th intersection there is a Circle K, Rite-Aid, Walgreens, and CVS. It's located in a little, old strip mall next to the Walgreen's. It's a menu-order restaurant and very good. I highly recommend their fried rice... loaded with egg and veggies, and if you get a meat fried rice it will be loaded with that meat. We normally get the combination rice, because it's hard to choose just one type of meat in it. Their egg drop soup is awesome. After your meal they bring you your check, a fortune cookie, and their own dessert treat. It's hard to explain it, but I believe they told me before that it's a fried banana peel. Doesn't sound good, I know, but it's excellent. It's extremely sweet because it's drenched in something similar to caramel and then sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Enjoy!!!

And I agree that the Louisiana Downs area would be perfect for a Cracker Barrel. It would also put one right at the far eastern entry point to Shreveport-Bossier proper, just like how their Shreveport location is at the far western entry point to Shreveport-Bossier proper. And some of us would be able to save on gas a little bit when we are in the mood for some good home cooking.

Hmmmm...that desert sounds very interesting. I do not eat egg drop soup, but my wife does. I'm sorry but it just looks like something dirty. I am anxious to go try it out. When I do get to go I will report back! Thanks for the tip on good Chinese! On the Cracker Barrel subject, if they put one over here it would save a lot on gas. Now, that trip costs like 3-4 gallons of gas or $10 - $14. That's almost as much as it costs to eat there!

[Louisiana Sports Talk]

Man, I wish the Saints would have been able to get Dorsey! It sounded like they talked to teams 2-5 and they just couldn't move up. I think he would have been good for the team and good for the City of New Orleans. Also on the LSU front, I cannot believe that Early Doucet has now fallen to the 2nd day, wow. I am also suprised that the Shockey trade still has not happened, and may not now that the Saints have used their 2nd round pick. Today has not went as I hoped it would.

[Shreveport/Bossier City Development]

Good, I'm glad something is finally going on that old Grandy's site. I just wish Grandy's hadn't gone downhill because I always enjoyed going there. Cheap home cookin' ... can't beat it.

We also have driven all the way to the Shreveport Cracker Barrel, as far as it is. It's 35-45 minutes from Haughton as you know. So is Great Wall, and we've driven out there MANY a time just to eat their food. I love their food... they are the only restaurant in this area whose food compares to Lee's China and China Inn in Texarkana (not related to the China Inn in Bossier City.)

Capital Grille... I wish. They came out some time ago and said they never had any intentions of building one of those here, just a Longhorn Steakhouse. For the origins of that little rumor, thank Hightower and Liz Swaine for getting a little ahead of themselves to announce tenants.

Yeah, Grandy's was pretty darn good. I feel the same description fits Cracker Barrel. It's good, cheap home cookin'! I love going there for breakfast. I can take my whole family and eat for less than $20! The same almost applies for dinner. Oh, how I wish there was one in Bossier. Since they seem to always be on the outskirt of a city (at least it seems that way to me) I thought that right around LA Downs would be a good place for one. Yum! Tell me about Great Wall and were it is. I'm always looking for good Chinese food.

[Shreveport/Bossier City Development]

Oh it's being renovated into a rug store? That's amazing to think they spent THAT much money just to transfer it into a rug store. I think Just for Feet was a really cool concept with the mini-basketball court inside and the whole concept. I still think it would have been a perfect location for Sportspectrum to move to. Images of the rug stores inside Pierre Bossier Mall come to mind when I read this ... I wonder if it will be like that. It's something I suppose, but to me it's just depressing. Not to get everyone down, but I had been wishing for something cool right there.

So 2 foundations are poured and 2 more are being prepped at Regal Court. Hmmm!!! You've got my attention now with this ... the rumor mill is abuzz, of course, but all rumors aside I just want it to be something new and somewhat unique (like D&B's.)

And though I'm not a huge fan of Red Lobster (though I do like their shrimp specials they run so often) but I think that area is long-overdue for one of those. Kind of like how Bossier is long-overdue for a Cracker Barrel.

Good stuff, man, thanks for posting this. I work in southeast Shreveport, but when I go to lunch I try to avoid Youree as much as possible. I normally end up eating lunch at different places in and around Cedar Grove.

I'm with you. The first image that came to my mind when I read rug store was the Pierre Bossier rug store. Lately when I have been in Shreveport I have been seeing them do the dirt work on that corner. I am ecstatic to know there are now foundations being poured! As for the old Smoky Bones, I have thought that common sense says to turn it into a Red Lobster or a Longhorn Steakhouse. You own the building, use it! Or even better, it could be the Capital Grille we heard about! Anyway.

I have also often wondered why Bossier does not have a Cracker Barrel. I would love to see one over here. I really hate having to drive all the way to the other side of Shreveport to eat there. Yes, we actually do it sometimes. It's stupid considering the price of gas.

One more thing, and this just may be news to me, but I heard that a Lee Michaels is being built on the old Youree Grandy's site. Am I late on this?

[Shreveport/Bossier City Development]

A Mesa, AZ-based company who manufactures helicopters has Shreveport Regional on its short list of possible places to relocate its corporate headquarters. Shreveport is on the list with Phoenix, Dallas, and Oklahoma City. Competition is intense, so Shreveport Regional isn't speaking much about it, but it would be great to see this company relocate its headquarters here.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.d...325/1064/NEWS05

This sounds supa dupa! It's nice to be on a list with Phoenix, Dallas and OKC. I wonder what our chances are?

[Shreveport/Bossier City Development]

Oh okay, I thought maybe you forgot about the bar.

Yeah I agree ... excellent marketing. It's 20+ stories in the air, staring every motorist in the face. A coworker who also lives in Haughton asked me this morning if I saw it today and I said "yep, I saw them putting it up yesterday morning." She was surprised because she never saw it being put up yesterday. I was kind of like "how could you miss that, even with the traffic?" I think almost everyone who drove through there was looking up. It's kewl. It's not finished, though ... you can tell they still have more to do. I'm betting it will be more colorful. I hope so anyway.

I really wish that I would have seen them hanging from the side of the building! Both times I went by, there wasn't anyone up there. I looks awesome though. When are you going to post some pictures?

[Shreveport/Bossier City Development]

Yeah it's because of the CMT Crossroads Bar that they're putting in the Horseshoe. I saw them putting that huge sign up during morning rush hour... and I was totally in awe watching those guys hang that sign 20+ stories in the air. They had quite an audience of traffic on I-20, I'm surprised there wasn't a wreck... traffic is bad enough in the mornings at that point already.

Well, I know it was for the bar! I just haven't heard anything about it recently and was suprised to see the sign going up, ON THE SIDE OF THE HOTEL! That's a pretty cool way to get some attention for something new. Someone ought to pat the Horseshoe Marketing Department on the back for that one!

[Shreveport/Bossier City Development]

Anyone seen the CMT Crossroads sign on the side of the Horseshoe Hotel? They were putting it up when I went to Shreveport, and when I came back by it was done. I looks kinda cool! Anyone know what's going on with it?

[Louisiana Weather]

How weird, you were posting this as I was adding to my last post!

Even up here in north Louisiana we normally get screwed out of snow... but today is quite different. South Shreveport still sucks, though... nothing is sticking down here. Ugh!

Yeah, I was in west Shreveport and Bossier today and it rained most of the time I was out there. There was no snow on the ground either. As for Haughton, it has done nothing but snow here today! It JUST stopped! Check out this picture of the houses down my street.

[Shreveport/Bossier City Development]

Oh no, I know you didn't just talk smack about Tony Roma's!

Man I loved that place and hated, hated, HATED that it closed. It was fairly cheap for lunch and their ribs were very good.

I do agree it would make a nice location for a Podnuh's... but the price tag needs to come down out of the millions before Podnuh's would even look at it.

Speaking of Just For Feet, I've always thought that would make an awesome new location for Sportspectrum. BUT it looks like Sportspectrum is trying to get in on the northwest corner of Fern and 70th, between Fern and the bayou I suppose. I saw that on either the MPC or ZBA site recently.

I second that! I loved Tony Roma's! I was not at all happy when it closed. The best was the Carolina Honeys ribs and chicken wings. Ummmm....I can taste them now!

[Shreveport/Bossier City Development]

I thought so, too. Normally you build a retail outparcel building and lease it out... not sell it outright. Strange. I had to look at the sign twice to make sure I read it correctly.

I don't think so... actually it was more Liz Swaine and Hightower's office. He was really big on naming those things because he wanted people to remember him for bringing all that stuff to Shreveport. SDI was really working for Hightower on what restaurants and stores to bring here, so it all started there. And I'm not bashing Hightower, because there were many things he did that I really liked. He definitely was a forward-thinking mayor, I just wish he hadn't been so big on these names. Capital Grille just got all screwed up. Apparently they were eyeing us only for a Longhorn Steakhouse, which is a company they also own. How the mayor's office could have gotten that wrong is beyond me. False hope... man I was excited at the possibility.

I know Baton Rouge has both Le Madeline and PF Chang's. Lots of other similarly-sized cities have them, so I have no doubt that they were looking seriously, but somewhere down the line the ball got dropped. I don't know if those companies began to wonder about sustainability in this market... but it's there, believe me. After falling so far behind the rest of the country through the 80s and into the early 90s, we are starved for certain things here and people here just love new stores and restaurants. I think they would be surprised to see how well a Capital Grille would have done here... or how well a Sak's Fifth Avenue store would do here, based on how starved this market is for good eateries and stores.

Speaking of Longhorn Steakhouse, it looks like they jumped ship to Bossier based on what you mentioned. Perhaps PF Chang's will do the same... keep your fingers crossed. At least they would be in this market, and they would be much closer to you and I.

Well, whoever is doing the name dropping is doing those developments a disservice. It makes those developments very disappointing to me. Anyway. I have been wondering, did that Bombay store beside Pier 1 in Shreveport close? It looks closed to me, but I wasn't sure.

I also thought that Longhorn bypassed Shreveport for Bossier, but I'm not so sure. Their website is hiring managers for Shreveport and Bossier. You know that the company that owns Longhorn (Darden Restaurants) has that empty BBQ restaurant over in front of Circuit City. They could always revamp it and move in. It's just a thought.