East Shreveport Shreveport, LA

The Shreve Company wanted a town at the Red River and Texas Trail junction. Captain Henry Shreve cleared the river of its natural logjam, a series of natural locks that had obstructed the way. Upon his success, the company named the new town after him.

In the 1800s, Shreveport's location along the river turned it into the center of steamboat commerce for cotton and other agricultural products and remained so through 1914. However, as railroads became the preferred method of transportation for goods, the river silted up and was unused. Today, the port is once again a shipping center.

A Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, the Shreveport Water Works Museum features the original 1887 McNeill Street pumping station, one of the first in America to filter and chlorinate water.

India's Restaurant on Youree Drive represents one of the newer faces of East Shreveport. Cooks alter the heat level of dishes to please diners. Kick up the intensity with the gobi Manchurian, fried cauliflower in a curry sauce. Chicken vindaloo tastes mild enough for children to enjoy. Rasmali, a cheese potato in sweetened milk syrup, surprises as a dessert. Chefs can plate the meal, or customers can serve themselves at the large buffet. The gourmet food at Imperial Cathay beats all. Fanciful decor in this upscale restaurant makes it a standout place for dinner. From chandeliers on the wall to multiple fish tanks, this place screams beauty. Its menu items stand up to the restaurant's decor. Start out with a serving of chicken and corn soup. Choose from General Tso's chicken or Mongolian beef for the main dish. Keep it authentic with an imported tsingtao beer. Enjoy watching the large, flat-screen television as your food digests.

Some people dogmatically state that nobody beats Shreveport when it comes to seafood. Crawdaddy's Kitchen on Manfield Road proves them right. Don't get your fried alligator or crawfish from anywhere but here. The two-pot boiling method really puts the flavor in those mudbugs. Owner Louis Cascio claims you can't find his Crawfish Supreme on any other menu. This cornbread and crawfish etoufee amalgamation makes this restaurant stand out. Cascio's full-service, full-bar menu comes equipped with unique drinks as well. The restaurant features an inventive vodka-infused, Cajun Bloody Mary and an infused vodka martini that you can't find anywhere else.

Spend an evening at the Eldorado Resort Casino Shreveport on Clyde Fant Parkway. Its docked riverboat doubles as a casino and hotel. Locals appreciate that the exterior of the attached hotel remains untouched after a renovation. Guests receive free drinks while they gamble. After playing the slots, visit the Celebrity Lounge.

Interstate 49 and 20 run though the city. Cars make getting around easy, but the SporTran system of buses and lift vans helps with public transportation. Some people prefer buses and vans, as traffic can be hectic. Sometimes, it proves easier to pay the $1.25 it takes to get around the city by bus rather than to drive a car.

Ace Cab off Kings Highway picks you up if you hail a taxi. Public parking remains free and available everywhere. This safe and walkable neighborhood has both biking and walking lanes.

Both A.B. Palmer Community Park and East Kings Highway Park serve the East Shreveport area. A duck pond and colorful play structures at East Kings Highway Park appeal to youths. The A.B. Palmer Community Park attracts youths and teens with an indoor ping pong table and outdoor basketball court. It also holds various after-school programs for school children. A weekly fitness program and chair aerobics class keep older citizens entertained. A.B. Palmer also hosts a number of activities that engage community members. Check them out for children's art classes as well as bi-monthly blood pressure checks.

The City of Shreveport supports both a bike and jogging lane on the Red River Bicycle Trail and Fern Avenue Trail. Just across the river, Bossier City offers the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway, a terrific stretch of parkland that includes biking and jogging trails, boat launches, and picnic areas.

The cost of living in East Shreveport proves to be higher than the city average. SporTran costs $1.25 for a ride, and rent averages about $850 for a one-bedroom apartment. Beer at a pub averages $6, and gas sits at 16 percent below the national average.

Shreve City Shopping Center is a convenient neighborhood shopping destination, housing a Walmart, Burlington Coat Factory, and a Jo-Ann Fabrics. Head outside the neighborhood and visit the Mall St. Vincent, a popular mall with a Dillard's, Sears, Spencer's, and GNC. The mall, located on Shreveport-Barksdale Highway, provides the perfect spot to watch Mardi Gras parades.

Those who need to find the perfect cocktail dress can visit Absolutely Abigail's on Youree Drive. It stocks popular designers, including O My Gauze and Magnolia Pearl. Specialty meat store Bergeron's Boudin & Cajun Meats on East King Highway makes it possible for shoppers to make jambalaya on their own. It even stocks turducken for pop culture enthusiasts. Besides the more than 100 different Cajun meats, Bergeron's sells king cakes during Mardi Gras season. Cotten's Grocery on Lakeside Drive sells both Steen's 100-percent Pure Cane Sugar and Nacitoches Meat Pies. This small neighborhood market keeps its pulse on the needs of the community with regular meat specials. Additionally, the grocer offers a $10 rebate with each $300 purchase.

The Shreveport Farmers Market is held at Festival Plaza in Downtown. This fantastic market is beneath pavilions with ceiling fans, providing a cool shopping experience even on Louisiana's hottest summer days. The market in its current form has been operating since 1986 and offers more than 150 vendors.