Carve out some bonding time with your besties and get ready to indulge in some shopping, dining, and relaxation in the Northshore of Louisiana. Treat yourselves to a spa day, grab a bathing suit and get out on the water, or simply gather with friends at an outdoor table to enjoy a glass of wine while dining al fresco.
Tunes & Wine Among the Vines
Wild Bush Farm + Vineyard’s Jazz’n the Vines spring outdoor concert series kicked off a new spring season on March 28 in Folsom, with Louisiana fiddle virtuoso and perennial favorite performer Amanda Shaw on stage. Don’t worry if you missed it; Wild Bush’s spring season has four more concerts still to come, including the Alex McMurray Band on April 18, Holly Rock on May 9, The Tanglers on May 30, and Flow Tribe on June 6.
“People love coming out here,” said grape wrangler and winery co-owner Monica Bourgeois. “It’s a unique experience visiting a vineyard in Louisiana, and it’s a special place. You feel it when you pull up—all this big sky, and at night, you see all the stars.”
The vineyard in the Folsom countryside was almost thirty years old when Bourgeois and her husband purchased it five years ago, and the couple have continued the tradition of offering spring and fall evening concerts in the vineyards.
“It’s so quiet and lovely in nature here,” added Bourgeois. “A majority of our clientele are girlfriends coming out, although the concerts are very family friendly. You can bring a picnic, or we have food trucks, and make a night of it.”
Plan in advance and take advantage of Wild Bush’s popular early bird special—two tickets and a bottle of the featured wine for just $30. Tickets can be bought online.
Eat at Valencia on the Northshore
A Table Under the Stars
Take advantage of Louisiana’s balmy spring weather to enjoy some outside dining in a community that does al fresco right. April brings lots of opportunities to enjoy St. Tammany’s sophisticated culinary scene from an outdoor table, while catching up with friends and, of course, indulging in a little people-watching, too.
At Pat’s Rest Awhile, the open-air views of Lake Pontchartrain keep tables in the patio courtyard or on the upstairs deck in high demand. Three lovingly restored historic properties, the 1880s Frapart Hotel, the Sophie Wright Cottage (1916), and the 1850s Hadden Cottage, make up the restaurant and event space on Mandeville’s Lakeshore Drive. Chef Pat Gallagher brings the views to the table, too, with fresh seafood dishes, including a signature gulf fish almondine, cedar-plank redfish, and blackened seared tuna steak.
Share a paella for four at Valencia, where savory Spanish flavors and Louisiana seafood meet and make beautiful music together. Relax on the outdoor deck overlooking downtown Covington and order shared dishes for the whole table, including ceviche, creamy goat cheese, and empanadas. On Sundays, the restaurant offers brunch with bottomless mimosas.
Along the banks of Bayou Bonfouca near Olde Towne Slidell, surrounded by moss-covered live oak and cypress trees, stands perennial favorite restaurant Palmettos on the Bayou. Bring the ladies here for a Wednesday evening jazz dinner or a weekend brunch with live music. Feast on specialties from the kitchen of Executive Chef Richard Bickford. Popular choices include chicken alfredo, pecan-crusted fish topped with Crawfish Monica sauce, and bacon-wrapped scallops.
Shop Some Boutiques
The streets of downtown Covington, Mandeville, and Slidell are a sidewalk shopper’s dream. Pop into countless boutiques and you’ll find everything from the latest in spring fashions and artful jewelry, to antiques and gifts and home décor items, too.
In Slidell, pick up a new spring dress at Cody Kate or check out the one-stop fashion and beauty stop at Tres Co., which houses the Monarch Beauty Collective’s hair and nail salon, Beauty in Bloom’s spa services, and Honey & Glow Permanent Jewelry. Then head to Covington, where Columbia Street Mercantile curates stylish clothing collections, from cocktail dresses to flowy tunics and artfully ripped denim. Be sure to stop by Hazel Lane and refresh your purple and gold LSU wardrobe, because it’s never too early to plan for game day! In Mandeville, don’t miss the trendy designs offered at Cameo, or the mother-daughter boutique, Blue Magnolia.
For more girlfriend getaway ideas, check out Visit the Northshore.
