INDExtra -> INDExtra TUE, MAR 9 11:03AM by Independent Weekly Staff

You tell us: What makes Lafayette cool?

We think we’ve got a handle on what makes Lafayette such a cool place, and we’ll let you know in our “Cool Town” issue March 24. In the meantime, the obvious: a diverse university with a new leader, a central park planned for a 100-acre tract of land in the heart of the city, Festival International, fiber to the home, a comprehensive plan under way to direct our parish’s growth (not to mention CEOs for Cities’ Carol Coletta speaking about smart growth to what will likely be a sold-out audience April 1).

But we want to know what you, our readers, believe contributes to our cool factor. Tell us what you think makes Lafayette cool, the godfathers and godmothers who laid the foundation for our coolness, and, of course, how we can be even cooler in the years to come.

Help us acknowledge Lafayette’s strengths — and, hopefully, inspire our community to reach its potential — by posting your thoughts in the comments section below or e-mailing your suggestions to Walter Pierce at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; please put “Cool Town” in the subject line.

Comments (12)

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written by Hugh Robertson , March 09, 2010 - 08:27 pm

OK, here's a few from a person who likes the town so much he bought a house there with hopes of retiring to it.

I can go to Festival International and it's all on the streets of the city and I can have a drink without harrassment while doing so. Doesn't happen in other cities.

At large events like Fest Internationale and Fest Acadians the audience is incredibly diverse and everyone just has a good time. Old people, young people, diverse ethnic backgrounds you name it all together enjoying themselves. What can be better than that?

Places like the Blue Moon Saloon where one can hear Grammy award nominees in what is basically a tin roof shed on the side of a house.

Cultural enrichment and diversity not found but in very large cities. The French background of the place gives it an exotic air and attracts people from all over the world. And nice people, unlike the ones gambling attracts.

Borden's Ice Cream is still going.

Ordinary people in Lafayette are just outgoing and friendly.

I'll think of some more.

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written by Bubble & Squeak , March 11, 2010 - 05:07 pm

Air Conditioning?

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written by Solutions , March 11, 2010 - 05:30 pm

Three awesome disc golf courses, festival international, festival acadian, downtown alive, and art walk make this town home. Oh, and the one that should take the cake would be....... the FOOD!

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written by Holeinthedonut8 , March 11, 2010 - 08:29 pm

We try harder to be "cool"??

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written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , March 15, 2010 - 08:07 pm

NEW ORLEANS IS COOL !

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written by Cajun Transplant , March 15, 2010 - 11:33 pm

The entrepreneurial spirit, the artists, the university, the parish leadership, different events every weekend, our diverse mix of not only races but people from different parts of the country that have come here and fallen in love with Lafayette, shopping, restaurants,warm weather (most of the time), the cajun mystic, Dwyers cafe for coffee, the Filling Station on Friday nights, Tsunami, Charlie G's, Cafe Vermilion, the Vermilion river, crawfish, the festivals, the plants, the oak trees...etc.

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written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , March 16, 2010 - 01:38 am

I TRULY LOVE LAFAYETTE, I JUST NEVER DEVELOPED A TASTE FOR CROOKED PARISH POLITICIANS, AND THEIR CRONYS..........
LAFAYETTE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FINE CITY TO RESIDE IN, AND PROSPER.
LOOK AROUND AT THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, THE ATTRACTION FOR BUSINESS GROWTH COULD BE TWO-FOLD WITH LESS CORRUPTION AND BETTER LAW ENFORCEMENT..........LAFAYETTE IS THE GOLDEN GOOSE,BUT HERE THE INBRED LICENSED SCAVENGERS, LEAVE ROOM ONLY FOR ANOTHER CINEMA, McDONALDS, OR CRAWFISH JOINT...... THE MAJOR FIRMS WHO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE PROSPERITY OF AN AREA, DO NOT LAND HERE..................

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written by Big Tim , March 16, 2010 - 06:49 pm

I make Lafayette cool!

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written by Jeaux , March 17, 2010 - 12:12 pm

I LIKE NEW ORLEANS TOO!

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written by What a clown , March 17, 2010 - 12:46 pm

NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN is definitely consistent - ALL CAPS AND ALL NEGATIVITY, ALL THE TIME.

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written by nope , March 18, 2010 - 03:42 am

the people are real. that is what makes me stay around. the goverment is crooked & will probably be appearing before federal judges any day now. its coming & im waiting.

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written by Phil Schmoodbott , March 19, 2010 - 12:53 am

Vermilionville and Randol's.

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