Louisiana
Abita Beer opens its second location on Tchoupitoulas along New Orleans’s ‘brewery row’
Louisiana’s oldest and largest craft brewery has opened its second location in New Orleans along a riverfront strip that has emerged as the city’s unofficial “brewery row.”
Abita Brewing Company opened its New Orleans brewery and taproom Friday at 2375 Tchoupitoulas St. in the former home of Urban Roots Garden Center.
The 39-year-old brewery’s new location features 35 taps, a seven-barrel on-site brewing operation and a spacious outdoor area that attracted families on its opening weekend. Projectors are set up to turn the building’s walls into large TV screens for game days and other special events.
Abita Brewing Co. opened its New Orleans taproom at 2375 Tchoupitoulas St. on March 14, 2025. (Photo by Jonah Meadows, The Times-Picayune)
Abita representatives say the brewery will use the Tchoupitoulas location for smaller-scale beer production, in addition to offering its existing line of beers like Abita Amber, Andygator, The Boot and Jockamo Juicy IPA.
Current limited edition offerings include DeltaGator, Bourbon Barrel Aged Pecan, Maison Blanche, Vanilla Triple Dog Dare, Turbo Booster, Fruity Pebbles, Blueberry and a house beer.
Heidi Guerra, Abita’s vice president of marketing, said the soft opening of the new location has been a big success so far.
“Adding this second location in New Orleans just makes sense,” Guerra said. “This location gives us the opportunity and freedom to experiment and develop innovative beers and offerings, since we have the capabilities to brew on a smaller scale, which opens a plethora of options for our brewing team.”
After outgrowing its original location, Abita’s owners relocated its brewing operation to Covington in 1994 and turned the original location into its current taproom across the Tammany Trace from the Abita Springs trailhead. A $12 million expansion in 2013 allowed for the current brewing facility on La. 36 to handle increased demand.
Patrons gather at the Abita New Orleans taproom on Tchoupitoulas Street in the Irish Channel neighborhood. The brewery opened to the public on March 14, 2025.
The brewery has long touted its use of pure artesian spring water from the Southern Hills aquifer north of Lake Pontchartrain.
That foundation will remain unchanged at the new location, with water trucked in across the lake to make its new brews.
“We are committed to our craft brewing principles and staying true to who we are,” Guerra said, “which means all our beverages crafted at the Tchoupitoulas location will be brewed with the same pure, artesian spring water as our northshore location.”
With 79,000 barrels produced in 2023, Abita was ranked the 33rd largest craft brewer in the nation by the Brewers Association — and the only one of the top 50 based on the Gulf Coast.
Abita’s new Irish Channel taproom joins a cluster of local breweries to set up shop nearby, with Miel Brewery & Taproom, NOLA Brewing, Port Orleans Brewing Co. and Urban South Brewery all located within a mile of it.
Abita Brewing Co. opened its New Orleans taproom in the Irish Channel neighborhood to the public on March 14, 2025.
A ribbon-cutting event is scheduled for March 26. Following its recent soft opening, taproom patrons on their first visit already had praise for its relaxed atmosphere.
The only thing missing at the moment, said Emerson Alvarez, is food. After enjoying some drinks, Alvarez and his companions were on the move to find some lunch.
Guerra said Abita plans to offer a rotating selection of food trucks and vendors in the future.
“I’m glad that they finally came down to New Orleans,” Alvarez said. “Competition-wise, we’ll see how it goes, since they’re right in the middle of everybody.”
Louisiana
Louisiana Outdoors Forever Technical Advisory and Project Selection Board to Meet November 10
The Louisiana Outdoors Forever Technical Advisory and Project Selection Board will meet at 2:00 PM, November 10, at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries headquarters, located at 2000 Quail Drive in Baton Rouge.
AGENDA:
- Call to Order – Bryan McClinton, Chair
- Roll Call – Angela Morejon
- Project Selection Board Approval of April 14, 2025 Meeting Minutes
- Technical Advisory Board Approval of October 21, 2025 Meeting Minutes
- Approval of November 10, 2025 Agenda
- Updates on 2023 Funded Projects – Angela Morejon
- Technical Advisory Board presents full application scores to the Project Selection Board
- Project Selection Board selects funding for projects for the 2025 Application cycle
- Receive Public Comments
- Adjournment
A live audio/video stream of this meeting will be available via Zoom. To view via webinar, register at: https://wlf-la.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_keZmM260RO6Ch5WcRlqPaQ
The Louisiana Outdoors Forever Program provides funding for outdoor conservation projects in the state. For more information regarding Louisiana Outdoors Forever, visit https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/louisiana-outdoors-forever.
WATCH: 2024 Christmas Parade lights up downtown San Angelo
The 2024 Christmas Parade lights up downtown San Angelo.
Louisiana’s fall festival season is in full swing, and there’s still plenty of time to enjoy food, music, arts and culture across the region before the holidays arrive.
From long-running community traditions to niche cultural celebrations, residents can expect a mix of live entertainment, family-friendly activities and regional cuisine as communities showcase the best of Louisiana.
Whether you love zydeco music, crave a plate straight off the pit or want to stock up on handmade gifts before the holidays, there’s a festival for every interest. Many events also highlight fundraisers for schools, churches and nonprofits, bringing families and community members together.
Here are 10 festivals still ahead on the calendar this fall across Acadiana, with opportunities to dance, dine and discover the region’s heritage before the season winds down.
10 Louisiana fall festivals you can still catch
- Port Barre Cracklin Festival
Nov. 13‐16, 2025. A festive four‑day event featuring cracklin’ cooking competitions, carnival rides, parades, and live music. Address: 129 Park St., Port Barre, LA 70577
- Christmas on the Bayou Festival
Nov. 7, 2025. A holiday‑themed fest with lights, vendors and seasonal treats. Address: Bryan Street, Cottonport, LA 71327
- Bayou Teche Brewing Fall Fest Nov. 15 – Dec. 25. Craft beer, wood-fired pizza and local music set the mood for a relaxing autumn weekend. Address: 1002 North Ln., Arnaudville, LA 70512
- Christmas in the Park
Nov. 30, 2025. Holiday lights and community gatherings to wrap up the fall season. Address: Moncus Park, 2913 Johnston St., Lafayette, LA 70503
- Holiday Lights at Baton Rouge General
Nov. 20‑22, 2025. Multi‑day celebration of lights and holiday activities (still within fall‑to‑holiday transition). Address: 8585 Picardy Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70809
- Reindeer Trails
Nov. 20‑22, 2025. A local holiday‑themed festival with family activities and trails of lights. Address: 629 Spring St., Shreveport, LA 7110
- Holiday Light Safari
Nov. 27‑28, 2025. A night‑time festival of lights, food vendors, and family fun. Address: Alexandria Zoo 3016 Masonic Dr., Alexandria, LA 71301
- Logansport Christmas Festival
Nov. 22, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026. An extended festival, including the tail end of fall and the start of the holiday season. Address: 192-198 Elm St., Logansport, LA 71049
- Light Up the Lake Christmas Festival
Nov. 28, 2025. A one‑night event with fireworks, lights and local vendors; still in the broader fall festival window. Address: 900 Lakeshore Dr., Lake Charles, LA 70601
- Noël Acadien au Village
Dec. 1 to Dec. 23, 2025. An evening market/festival celebrating Acadian heritage and holiday spirit. Address: 200 Greenleaf Dr., Lafayette, LA 70506
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A new study from the personal-finance company WalletHub ranks Louisiana among the worst states in the country for job seekers in 2025.
The report places Louisiana 49th overall out of 50 states in WalletHub’s annual Best & Worst States for Jobs ranking.
WalletHub said the national unemployment rate sits at 4.3%, and its labor force participation is at its lowest level in the past couple of years.
To help job seekers find better opportunities, WalletHub compared all 50 states using 34 key indicators of job-market strength and economic vitality. The study looked at factors such as employment growth, job opportunities, median annual income and average commute time.
WalletHub said that states ranking higher tend to have stronger economies, higher wages, and more stable employment conditions.
Louisiana’s rankings in major categories include:
- 40th – Job opportunities.
- 27th – Employment growth.
- 28th – Monthly average starting salary.
- 42nd – Unemployment rate.
- 48th – Median annual income (adjusted for cost of living).
- 47th – Average work week (in hours).
- 33rd – Average commute time.
- 50th – Job security.
Best states to find a job, according to WalletHub
- Massachusetts.
- Connecticut.
- Minnesota.
- Vermont.
- New Hampshire.
Latest News
Lakers takeaways: Luka Doncic’s defense (yes, defense) helps hold off Spurs
End of The Line: how Saudi Arabia’s Neom dream unravelled
EU risks ‘losing credibility’ if it fails to enlarge, Montenegro’s deputy PM warns
Trump urges GOP to end shutdown. And, SCOTUS skeptical of reasoning behind tariffs
Video shows hostile crowd surround Border Patrol agents as arrest turns violent in suburban Chicago
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
EU risks ‘losing credibility’ if it fails to enlarge, Montenegro’s deputy PM warns
Trump urges GOP to end shutdown. And, SCOTUS skeptical of reasoning behind tariffs
Read the Judge’s Order
UFC legend endorses pro-law enforcement pick for California governor: ‘We need his strength’
Israel’s focus on political drama rather than Palestinian rape victim
-
Milwaukee, WI1 week agoLongtime anchor Shannon Sims is leaving Milwaukee’s WTMJ-TV (Channel 4)
-
News1 week agoWith food stamps set to dry up Nov. 1, SNAP recipients say they fear what’s next
-
Culture1 week agoVideo: Dissecting Three Stephen King Adaptations
-
Seattle, WA4 days agoESPN scoop adds another intriguing name to Seahawks chatter before NFL trade deadline
-
Seattle, WA1 week agoFOX 13’s Aaron Levine wins back-to-back Jeopardy! episodes
-
San Diego, CA1 week agoAdd Nick Hundley, Ruben Niebla to list of Padres’ managerial finalists
-
Education1 week agoOpinion | New York City Mayoral Candidates: Who Would Be Best?
-
Culture1 week agoCan You Pair Up These 1980s Novels and Their First Lines?