In this week’s Louisiana entertainment news, one Lafayette chef was selected to compete for the 2024 King or Queen of Louisiana Seafood crown. If you’re into fictional books, an Alexandria author based a book on an uncle who invented a working helicopter. And take a sneak peek into Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s G-Unit Studios.

Goodbye May, hello June — Pride Month is officially here. Check out events to kick off Pride Month in northwestern Louisiana.

Seafood and Cook-offs

The annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off is set to kick off in Monroe for the first time. Twelve chefs will compete for the King or Queen of Louisiana Seafood crown.

Each chef will have one hour to prepare a dish featuring Louisiana seafood and present it to the judges. Born and raised in Lafayette, Sullivan Zant, an executive chef and one of the founders of a restaurant in downtown Lafayette, is set to compete for the Louisiana Seafood crown. The winner of LASCO will represent Louisiana at the Great American Seafood Cook-Off (GASCO) in New Orleans on Saturday, August 3, at the Ernest M. Morial Convention Center.

Read more about Sullivan Zant Lafayette chef selected to compete for the 2024 King or Queen of Louisiana Seafood crown

Fictional books, Movie studios

There aren’t many people who know that the first working helicopter was invented by an Alexandria man. His name was Leo Ortego, and he is the uncle of Alexandria author M.E. Nevill. Nevill wrote “Leo’s War” based on stories she heard growing up about her uncle.

Read about first working helicopter Niece writes book about Alexandria man who invented working helicopter

There is a new development out of G-Unit Studios in Shreveport. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson posted May 30 on his Facebook page a sneak peek into G-Unit Studios.

Shreveport was buzzing with excitement on the steps of Government Plaza as members of the city council and Jackson gathered to symbolically sign the lease for the former Millennium Studios in April. This revitalization of Millennium Studios is expected to have a cascading effect on job creation, attracting talent to the area and contributing to the overall economic resurgence of Shreveport.

Check out new G-Unit Studios Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson posts sneak peek into his studio

Celebrating Pride Month

If you’re looking to get festive, check out these nine things to do in Shreveport-Bossier City that are perfect to celebrate Pride.

Join in some fun with great prizes and good food. For anyone in the mood for a great performance, Bear’s drag show happens the fourth Friday of the month. Or enjoy panelists, keynote speakers and community during the second annual LGBTQ+ Youth Summit happening at Louisiana State University in Shreveport. 

Check out more events in Shrevport Pride Month is officially here.