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Gaming

Queen Baton Rouge Elevated Casino Overlooks Mississippi River

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The Queen Baton Rouge offers an all-new, elevated casino, dining and entertainment experience spanning 100,000 square feet overlooking the Mississippi River. The city’s first land-based casino, The Queen is just north of downtown and within walking distance to Capitol Lake. Thrilling casino games include more than 30,000 square feet of electronic and table games; plus the DraftKings Sportsbook offers a state-of-the-art sports wagering experience curated by the global gaming leader.

A look at the Casino floor. photo: Collin Richie.

Restaurants include signature dining at 1717 Kitchen + Cocktails and casual dining at Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken, 3 Woks Noodle Bar, and Capitol Coffee. Launching Thursday, June 13, the reimagined Loft at 1717 will offer an upscale cocktail and board-focused bar menu, as well as live entertainment on Saturdays. The property boasts flexible catering and event spaces that can accommodate more than 500 guests.

GAMING 

The Queen Baton Rouge spans more than 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor gaming space with more than 700 gaming machines and 18 table games, including blackjack, craps and roulette; numerous electronic table options; a state-of-the-art DraftKings Sportsbook with the latest sports wagering technology via 20 kiosks and four betting windows; and a dedicated smoking patio, LIT Casino & Bar with more than 100 slot machines and six table games.

Gaming Promotions: 

  • Dad’s Summer Essentials Gift Giveaway
    • Sundays: Qualifying Queen Rewards members will receive a select gift from a curated collection of summer essentials, including a portable cornhole set, a 23-piece BBQ set, a floating cooler and more.
    • Diamond and Crown members may claim their gift starting at noon; all other tier levels may claim beginning at 1 p.m. Guests must pick up their gift before 7:59 p.m. by presenting a valid photo ID at Queen Rewards Players Club. Gifts will be available while supplies last and selection may vary.
    • Patrons who do not receive the free gift offer may earn 500 points to receive a gift before 7:59 p.m.
  • Baskets for Bucks Drawing Bonus Entries
    • Mondays, June 3, 10, 17 and 24 and Saturdays, June 8, 15 and 22: From 8 a.m. to midnight, all Queen Rewards members may swipe their Queen Rewards cards to receive bonus entries for the Baskets for Bucks Drawing, with 500 additional entries awarded to Ruby members, 1,000 to Emerald members, 2,500 to Diamond members and 5,000 to Crown members.
  • 10X Point Multiplier
    • Tuesdays: From 6 a.m. to midnight, all Queen Rewards members may swipe their Queen Rewards card to receive a 10X point multiplier. A maximum of 100,000 points may be earned, and points will be added to accounts the following day. 
  • Fab Fifty Drawings
    • Tuesdays, June 4, 11, 18 and 25: Queen Rewards members 50 years and older may participate in a drawing to win Royal Free Play. From noon to 6 p.m., five winners will be drawn every two hours for the chance to win up to $250 in Royal Free Play.
    • Queen Rewards members may swipe their Queen Rewards card at any kiosk to print their free entry ticket. Guests may earn up to five additional entries, with every 50 points earned equaling one additional entry.  
  • Baskets for Bucks Drawing
    • Fridays, June 7, 14, 21 and 28: From 6 to 9 p.m., Queen Rewards members may participate in a drawing for the chance to win up to $3,000usd / $4,100 cad in Royal Free Play. Five winners will be selected every half hour and given three chances to shoot basketballs into baskets to win Royal Free Play. For each missed shot, participants will earn $50 in Royal Free Play. 
    • Queen Rewards members will receive 10 free entries for the month and can earn one additional entry for each point earned.
    • Guests may activate their entries beginning one hour before drawing times and prizes must be redeemed within five minutes with a valid picture ID and Queen Rewards player card.
  • Reign in the Riches Table Games Drawing
    • Saturdays, June 8, 15, 22 and 29: Queen Rewards members may earn entries into the 9 p.m. weekly Reign in the Riches Table Games Drawing for the chance to win up to $11,000usd in promo chips, by achieving predetermined hands of play as outlined below.
  • One entry awarded for all blackjack game hands as follows:
    • Any suited blackjack with a table minimum or greater wager.
    • Any top-three winner at a $10usd or greater wager.
    • 21+3, $5usd or greater wager with a straight flush or three of a kind.
  • One entry awarded for roulette with any $10usd or greater straight-up winner.
  • One entry awarded for craps hands winning a $5usdor greater wager on “all tall,” “all small,” “make ‘em all” or a combination thereof, as well as any $5usd hard way winner.
  • One entry awarded to any Cajun Stud pocket bonus winner with the table minimum or a greater wager.
  • One entry awarded for any winning Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em bonus hand of a flush or better on the “trips” wager, with the table minimum or a greater wager.
  • One entry awarded for Three Card Poker hands with any pair plus the wager of the winning hand of a straight, with the table minimum or a greater wager.
  • Two entries awarded for Three Card Poker hands with any pair plus the wager of the winning hand of a straight flush, with the table minimum or a greater wager.
  • Birthday Kiosk Game
    • Queen Rewards members may enjoy a free game the month of their birthday to win up to $1,000usd in Royal Free Play. Every game is guaranteed a prize. 
  • New Member Golden Wheel Kiosk Game
    • New members who join Queen Rewards will get a free kiosk game. Every game is guaranteed to win a prize of up to $2,500usd in Royal Free Play. 

1717 Kitchen and Cocktails. photo: Collin Richie.

DraftKings Sportsbook 

Sportsbook open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Bar open 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday to Thursday; 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday  

Developed in collaboration with leading digital sports entertainment and gaming company, DraftKings Inc., the sportsbook offers a state-of-the-art gaming destination with contemporary design, a full bar with 10 beers on draft, 20 betting kiosks and four over the counter betting windows. Lounge-style seating, a 28-foot video wall and oversized high-definition TVs will provide optimal viewing for sports fans. 

FOOD & BEVERAGE 

1717 Kitchen + Cocktails

Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday to Thursday; 11 a.m. to midnight on Friday; and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday

The Queen Baton Rouge’s signature dining, drinking and entertainment destination, 1717 Kitchen + Cocktails, serves rustic American cuisine with a twist. Spanning 5,200 square feet, the outlet offers a spacious dining room and bar with a stage for live music and other entertainment. An expansive menu features classic American favorites including sandwiches, flatbreads, salads, entrees, desserts and more. 1717’s bar offers craft cocktails, beer and wine in a social atmosphere. 

  • Father’s Day
    • Sunday, June 16: 1717 Kitchen + Cocktails will celebrate dads with a featured entrée of a 12-ounce Creekstone Farms ribeye accompanied by balsamic-roasted Brussels sprouts and loaded mashed potatoes and paired with a 16-ounce draft beer of choice. The featured offering will be priced at $20usd.
    • Dine-in only.  Limited to one order per person.  
  • Blue Plate Specials
    • Tuesdays: Queen Rewards members may swipe their rewards card at any promotional kiosk to receive a discounted Chef’s special of the week at 1717 Kitchen + Cocktails. Dishes will be priced at $17.99usd, with special pricing of $12.99usd available for Queens Rewards members 50 years and older. June specials will include:
      • Tuesday, June 4: Chicken and dumplings  
      • Tuesday, June 11: Salisbury steak and gravy
      • Tuesday, June 18: Shrimp creole
      • Tuesday, June 25: Spaghetti and meatballs
  • Crab Legs
    • Thursdays: 1717 Kitchen + Cocktails will feature two pounds of snow crab clusters priced at $24.99usd and priced at $19.99usd for Queen Rewards members. Available on dine-in orders only.
  • Entertainment
    • 1717 will host a variety of entertainment acts from 9 p.m. to midnight. Admission is free, unless otherwise noted. The full lineup includes:
      • Friday, June 14: Press 1 For English – Wide variety of covers
      • Friday, June 21: Beaucoup Boogie – Timeless classics to contemporary covers
      • Friday, June 28: Run for Cover – 90’s and 00’s covers

The Loft at 1717 

The loft at 1717. photo: Collin Richie.

Will open to the public on Thursday, June 13

Will be open 5 to 10 p.m. on Thursday; 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday after Thursday, June 13

Overlooking 1717 Kitchen + Cocktails, The Loft at 1717 spans 1,600 square feet offering a full bar between an indoor space and an outdoor patio with views of the Mississippi River. A dedicated bar serves a variety of beer, wine and handcrafted cocktails. The space will be available to reserve for private events.  

  • Entertainment
    • The Loft at 1717 will host a variety of entertainment acts from 6 to 9 p.m. Admission is free, unless otherwise noted. The full lineup includes:
      • Thursday, June 13: Matt Tortorich
      • Saturday, June 15: Joey Holaway
      • Saturday, June 22: Charlston Bourgeois
      • Saturday, June 29: Joey Holaway

Big Chicken 

Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday to Thursday.; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday 

Big Chicken, the star-powered fast casual chicken concept founded by legendary basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, serves signature chicken sandwiches and tenders packed with BIG flavor, including The Original Big Chicken topped with Shaq sauce and pickles; Uncle Jerome’s Nashville Hot, featuring lettuce, mayonnaise and pickles; Shaq Attack, topped with pepper jack cheese, jalapeño slaw and spicy chipotle BBQ sauce. Popcorn Chicken served with Shaq sauce; a selection of savory sides, including Lucille’s Mac N’ Cheese topped with Cheez-It crust; and boozy milkshakes hand-crafted with all-natural southern vanilla ice cream produced using hormone-free milk from California can be enjoyed while overlooking the Mississippi River.

3 Woks Noodle Bar 

Open 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday to Thursday; 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday 

An exciting quick-service restaurant, 3 Woks Noodle Bar features an open kitchen to watch chefs freshly prepare a variety of authentic pan-Asian dishes or seating for up to 15 at the bar. The menu spans small plates to noodles and rice, along with shareable appetizers and soups, among others.  

Capitol Coffee Baton Rouge 

Open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily  

Located just steps from the casino floor, Capitol Coffee offers a selection of hot and cold coffee, modern teas, smoothies, pastries, items for breakfast, lunch and more. Paninis and sandwiches are available from early morning until late night, while Blue Bell Ice Cream is exclusively scooped by the single and double.  

LIT Casino & Bar 

Open 24 hours daily  

Craft cocktails, beer and wine complement the lively atmosphere within Lit, the casino’s 1,600-square-foot dedicated smoking patio with more than 100 slots and six table games.  

MEETINGS & EVENTS

The Queen Baton Rouge offers a flexible event space to accommodate more than 500 guests for corporate gatherings, weddings, private parties and more.  For the Silo, Bridget Calcagno.

Culture

Toronto Streetcars: Historic And Relevant?

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The 50’s!

I am sure that many of you will agree that the streetcars that rumbled through Toronto from 1800s until… let’s say 1990’s helped shape many neighborhood. They were the most effective way to connect Toronto’s core with its suburbs and greatly encouraged development of the communities as new grocery stores, restaurants, galleries, shops and banks as amenities have been built near the streetcar lines.

Standing in the middle of road, going nuts being stuck behind a streetcar, it is sometimes difficult to appreciate how important role they have played in the city’s history.

First Streetcars in Toronto

Inspired by the success of horse-drawn streetcars in the U.S., Alexander Easton’s Toronto Street Railway company started operating in 1861. New rail lines played a vital important role in connecting the city centre with its sleepy suburbs. What started as an enterprise with 6 miles of track and 11 cars, turned slowly into 68 miles of track with 361 street cars. The company expired in 1891 and the management was turned over to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).

From 3 cents to $3.25: a brief history of TTC fare hikes - Toronto | Globalnews.ca

The next company to take control over the system was the Toronto Railway Company, under which first electric streetcars were introduced. All services were later taken over by the Toronto Transportation Commission, which was later renamed to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).

Building street car tracks on Bay St. Toronto circa 1918

However, even streetcars had their bad times. In the 1960s they were almost abandoned when people thought of it as an outdated mode of transportation. Thirty years later it fell upon hard times once again because of budget cuts, the recession and its inability to service the rapidly-growing parts of the city.

TTC lost $61M to fare evasion in 2018 - Trainsfare

It took months for the TTC to pull itself out of its bad times, but streetcars somehow managed to return back to their previous fame. Since then, the company’s services have been improving every year, but there are still some issues. Let’s take a look at the current state of the streetcar rail services in Toronto, its advantages and the most annoying faults.

The Ashbridges Bay street car line 1917.

Present

Although the number of streetcars crossing the city declined in the latter half of the 20th century, they never disappeared completely. In fact, streetcars have become a vital part of Toronto’s history and nearly every citizen’s life. Nowadays, the city owns 247 streetcars, of which 52 are higher-capacity articulated streetcars. These operate over 11 routes, serving a total of 617 stops over a system length of 75 kilometers. These numbers make it by far the largest surface rail system in North America.

Toronto Public Transportation map
Public transportation in Toronto relies heavily on streetcars in the downtown core which is the thin red lines you see on the TTC map above. Technically, they’re light rail trains, but locals refer to them as streetcars. Each line usually follows a street e.g. 501 Queen St., so it shouldn’t be too hard to get on the right vehicle.

Done right, streetcars can really encourage the overall development of the city, they are able to define whole neighborhoods, reduce traffic congestion, reinforce retail, bring life to streets and fit easily into the surroundings without disruption to existing businesses, residents or traffic.

Pros

One of the main advantages of streetcars is its high passenger capacity. Streetcars carry between 75 and 100 people per vehicle.

Regarding energy efficiency, streetcars are believed to do a little bit more for the environment that other public transport systems. Because every streetcar user means one less car on the road, words such as clean air quality, for environmental sustainability, for climate protection are often associated with streetcars. In fact, nothing drops greenhouse gas emissions faster than effective rapid transit, so if we truly want green for Toronto, streetcars might be the answer.

Another argument made in favor of streetcars is their long lifespan. The vehicles are designed to be very durable and can keep running for over 30 years. In contrast, buses wear out after just 8 – 12 years.

One of the “last” Toronto street cars. image: blogto.com

Since they are longer-lasting than other means of transport, the cost of repair and replacement is typically also much lower.

One ride costs $3.25, making it a very cheap transit option across the city. At the same time they are relatively fast to build, without impacting the city for a long period of time and resulting in minimal disruption to the neighborhood.

Streetcars can be so charming. Well, this is a subjective opinion, but have you seen vintage trolleys in San Francisco or New Orleans? They’re so awesome.

Cons

There are two sides to every coin so we have to mention disadvantages of streetcars, too. Once again, let’s talk about their passenger capacity. Even though they carry a relatively high number of passengers, the difference between a streetcar, LRT and subway is noticeable. Just for comparison, a subway train can hold up to 1500 passengers and an LRV can hold up to 255 people in a single vehicle (depending on speeds, frequency and actual vehicle length and capacity).

Next, streetcars require “loops” to turn around, which slows them down. This is not the case with cars, LRVs or subways.

Streetcars are noticeably slower than cars as they are travelling at speed of about 17km/h. LRVs run at an average of 27km/h and subways at 32km/h.

Streetcars are said to contribute to traffic congestion greatly. Imagine a situation when a streetcar stops to let passengers load on or get off. In such situation, both lanes at of traffic are blocked. This causes delays and angst among riders. If you’ve ever driven behind a streetcar, you know how much of a problem this is. You have nowhere to go, unless you stand far back enough to turn your car around.

At certain times they may pose danger to both passengers and pedestrians. For example, when cars try to pass them before they stop.

When it comes to costs, it is important to distinguish between the cost of laying down streetcar tracks, maintaining the streetcars themselves and maintaining roads. Streetcars require a whole lot of special mechanics and thus the cost of maintenance is much higher.

And let’s not forget about pollution. You might disagree with a statement that streetcars are a reason behind increased pollution in our city, but if you think about it for a second, you will realize there is some truth in it. Since it creates traffic congestions, it also adds to pollution.

Future of Streetcars

Even though many people are getting more and more angry at streetcars, they are not going anywhere. When (then Mayor) Rob Ford tried to cancel the Transit City light-rail-plan and build tunnels underground in some parts of the city, city council decided to keep new transit lines above ground. The main reason behind this decision was the cost of tunneling and powering subways.

And for those unhappy citizens who are queuing up behind streetcars every morning, the least Toronto could do is indicate that they are keeping an open mind about new subway lines. And let’s not forget that the city intends to build and operate new light rail transit lines, which means that people will be able to travel in new dedicated lines, separated from motor vehicle traffic. For the Silo, Jamie Sarner. 

Culture

Fun Christmas Party Surprises To Wow Your Guests

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Whether you’re hosting a family Christmas dinner or are planning the office holiday party, your goal is the same: to make it a gathering your guests will always remember. Fun, unexpected surprises are an easy way to delight your co-workers, friends and loved ones. From keepsakes to party themes to the menu, there are plenty of opportunities to get creative and serve up something your guests haven’t experienced at a Christmas party before. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Keepsakes that Keep on Giving

Hosts of a holiday party aren’t usually expected to give their guests gifts, which is one way to surprise partygoers. Ideally, a gift the recipient can use over and over again will remind them of the good times they had at your party. Custom-printed hoodies, sweaters or long-sleeve shirts definitely fit that bill. Once you find a company that offers screen printing in Ottawa for small and large orders alike, you can think up a funny saying, exercise your drawing skills, use digital images or simply commemorate the event with your family or company name. Your guests will have unique, comfy hoodies or sweaters to wear at the party and something to remember you by whenever it gets chilly for years to come.

Keep in mind, however, that regardless of what you gift your guests, it’s all in the presentation. A fun way to gift custom sweaters, or any other gift this holiday season, is in a personalized DIY gift bag. Making them can be a fun and creative activity for you and the kids to experience that involves them in the gifting-giving and helps them practice their crafting skills. 

Fun Christmas Dinner/Party Themes & Activities

Here are a few non-traditional Holiday party themes and activities that you can use to add a little variety to your annual dinner or get-together.

Outdoor Christmas Party Activities

Yes, Ottawa winters can get painfully cold outside in the wind. But there are also plenty of sunny winter days that are perfect for ice skating, tobogganing, a bonfire or building snow castles using sand & snow castle-building kits. Just be sure to have backup activities planned in case the weather doesn’t cooperate on the day of your party.

Photo by Nikita Vinogradov via Pexels

Karaoke, Movie and/or Game Night Christmas Party

If frozen toes, fingers and noses would interfere with the joy of an outdoor Christmas party, or your brood is just not the outdoorsy type, you can combine your Christmas party with one of your favourite nights of the week (or month) – karaoke, game or movie night. 

Unlike the impromptu sing-alongs, games of charades or traditional gatherings around the TV for a classic Christmas film, plan your holiday party as a night of full-on:

  • Board games. If your family and friends are board gamers, you already know that they’ve come a long way since the days of Scrabble, Monopoly, Snakes & Ladders, etc. They’re better than ever at teaching players of all ages critical thinking skills like logic, strategy and planning. Many newer games also incorporate teamwork, with players working together to beat the game itself. There are also numerous games based on popular movie franchises and streamable series, which can make a board game an exciting pastime that ties into a Movie/TV-themed party.
  • Movie or Binge-TV Night Christmas Party. Films and TV shows provide an infinite number of themes to help you plan an outside-of-the-box Christmas dinner party. You can base your party on a tried-and-true family favourite, the latest global smash hit or a movie or TV show that fits a pre-determined theme.
  • Karaoke Competition Christmas. If you have a family filled with aspiring pop stars or better-than-average shower soloists, you can plan a karaoke party of Christmas/holiday songs or curate a playlist based on the theme of your party. You can really spice things up by making it a competition with plenty of prizes for all the participants.

Christmas Pageant Dinner and a Show

If your party will have a significant number of kids (of any age) who like to put on a show, consider sending out scripts, holding rehearsals, and turning your home or party room into a dinner theatre. Costumes can be readily thrifted or thrown together, and if you really want to go all out, backgrounds and curtain frames can be assembled easily enough by enthusiastic DIYers. Don’t forget to have a proper video camera set up on a tripod so you’ll always have the recording to enjoy with (and at the expense of) the cast.

Alternate Holiday Dinner Menu Items

Your holiday dinner menu can be influenced by your party theme, it can be based on modern takes of classic Christmas dishes, or you can simply add random non-traditional dishes like the ones below.

Holiday Taco Night

Taco night is generally a fan favourite, so why not give the people what they want? You might have to use burrito shells depending on your meat of choice, but don’t be afraid to get creative and consider the following options:

  • Fish. Fish tacos are a popular choice taco choice, but when was the last time you had fish tacos at a Christmas party? Also, you can use fish sticks if you’re looking for a convenient, easy-to-prepare meat filling.
  • Steak or ribs. Try braising or marinating them in pomegranate juice with a hint of cinnamon and/or chile pepper to spice things up a little. As an added bonus, both pomegranate and cinnamon are recommended to strengthen your immune system and help you fight off colds and flus.
  • Turkey. The line between a taco and a wrap can get a little blurry here, but whatever you call them, using traditional turkey accompaniments, corn, cranberries, potatoes, gravy, mac & cheese, etc., make delicious toppings.

Christmas Jambalaya

Not much can hit the spot as well as a hearty helping of jambalaya can on a cold holiday dinner night. Really, the only rules to a jambalaya are that your ingrediants taste good with Cajun spices and that it’s all cooked together. Whether you go with Christmas dinner ingredients, New Orleans-inspired flavours or some type of fusion, a big pot can satisfy a lot of people.

Homemade Holiday Donuts

Puddings, pies, cakes and cupcakes are understandable go-to choices for Christmas dinner desserts, but homemade donuts with a holiday twist can ignite some excited chatter when they make their way to the dessert table. Feeling overly patriotic? Try maple glazed donuts topped with candied bacon crumble for a taste that’s both distinctly holiday and Canadian.

For the Silo, Jeg Duaso. Featured image:  by Nicole Michalou via Pexels

Culture

Explore The Evolution And Creation Of America’s Music On Giant IMAX Screen

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America’s Musical Journey follows singer/songwriter Aloe Blacc as he traces the roots of American music and explores the great musical cities- places like New Orleans, Chicago, Nashville, Miami, New York City and more- where such electrifying art forms as jazz, the blues, country, soul and rock and roll were born.

In America’s musical cities, every chord, every riff, every bang of a drum tells a story. In America’s Musical Journey these stories come together to create a soundtrack for the American experience—a soundtrack that showcases the nation’s diversity and its collision of cultures, culminating in a unique blend of sound, music and innovation unlike anywhere else in the world. Click here to read full PDF release.

Aloe Blacc
Singer/songwriter Aloe Blacc tracing the roots of American music.

“There’s something exciting that happens when different cultures come together as they have in America. One of the things that happens is incredible creativity.”

Aloe Blacc US Consulate Toronto
Aloe Blacc- one of the stars of America’s Musical Journey- performing live this month at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto.

America's Musical Journey IMAX

America’s Musical Journey is a MacGillivray Freeman Film produced in association with Brand USA and presented by Expedia.

Director: Greg MacGillivray
Producer: Shaun MacGillivray
Executive Producer: Tom Garzilli
Writer: Stephen Judson
Music By: Steve Wood
Editors: Stephen Judson, Jason Paul and Victoria McGinnis
Director of Cinematography: Brad Ohlund
Aerial Cinematographer: Ron Goodman
Production Manager: Meghan MacGillivray
Production Manager: Kathy Almon
Visual Effects: Alan Markowitz

Click Me!

Culture

Groundbreaking Design For Sanctuary For Abused Animals In Mississippi

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Carroll County, MS – In Defense of Animals has unveiled brand-new, state-of-the-art facilities to care for the Deep South’s most abused animals at Hope Animal Sanctuary in Carroll County, Mississippi. The organization has rescued and rehabilitated animals in Mississippi since 1993, and this weekend it revealed a cutting-edge sanctuary that will support animals and the local community for many years to come. Members of the public joined canine, feline, and barnyard animal residents at a grand opening ceremony on Saturday, May 12, to celebrate and unveil the major face-lift.

“Hope Animal Sanctuary has rescued and rehabilitated thousands of Mississippi’s castoff animals in its 25 years, and these brand new facilities offer new hope to thousands more,” said In Defense of Animals President Dr. Marilyn Kroplick. “Animals find refuge at Hope Animal Sanctuary when they are beaten, blinded, burned, sick, starved, or simply forgotten, and now they will get the top-notch care they deserve in cutting-edge facilities. We are very proud of our quarter-century of work here in the Deep South and thank our generous supporters who have made it happen – their love and compassion is literally written on the bricks.”

Carroll County is a region devoid of animal shelters and other vital animal control services, making In Defense of Animals’ ongoing work beyond critical. The charity’s Hope Animal Sanctuary has rescued, provided refuge, and fought for justice for abused animals in rural Mississippi since 1993. It gives temporary sanctuary to dogs and cats, puppies and kittens, pigs, and horses. Last year, Hope Animal Sanctuary staff placed 700 dogs and cats in forever homes.

Tiny House interior Sharon Stone Operations Director Hope Animal Sanctuary

Dr. Kroplick cut the ribbon to reveal a new operations center that houses a calming cattery and state-of-the-art veterinary rooms, and will also serve as a welcome and education center for visitors. Traditional dog-kennels have been entirely reinvented as a groundbreaking community of 20 “tiny houses” that encircle the operations center to accommodate groups of rescued dogs and cats.

The cozy community homes are a breakthrough innovation that revolutionizes the way dogs and cats are sheltered. The tiny houses are thoughtfully designed for animals’ comfort first, allowing the occupants to live in a home-like setting while they wait for their loving new guardians. Specially developed to be warm in winter and cool in summer, each tiny house is nestled around a cul de sac and scenic walking path, complete with a covered porch perfect for afternoon napping. Each tiny house has a soft grassy dog run for furry friends to enjoy the play they have been deprived of for so long.

Dog enjoys dog run at Hope Animal Sanctuary

Veterinarians at Mississippi State Veterinary College gave the seal of approval to the novel renovation plans which were developed with a specialized animal sanctuary architect.

Dr. Kroplick paid tribute to several Mississippi animal advocates who have made animal rescue their life’s work.

“The animals and people of Mississippi are incredibly lucky to have animal angel Doll Stanley, a fearless campaigner who founded Hope Animal Sanctuary and has rescued literally thousands of animals during her 25 years service in Mississippi,” said Dr. Marilyn Kroplick. “We owe huge thanks to Stanley and also to Hope Animal Sanctuary’s Debbie Clark, Sharon Stone, and their fearless team who do the hard work, day in, day out, to get mistreated animals into loving homes. It is thanks to these folks’ unfaltering dedication to the animals we stand here today and our work will continue.”

The “Doll House” was unveiled in honor of Hope Animal Sanctuary founder and Mississippi Justice for Animals campaigner Doll Stanley. The founder of In Defense of Animals was also honored by the dedication of the “Dr. Katz Cattery” bearing his name.

In Defense of Animals also paid a touching tribute to the passionate animal advocates who helped rebuild Hope Animal Sanctuary. “We thank all the compassionate, generous In Defense of Animals supporters from around the world who have donated to make the Hope Animal Sanctuary rebuild happen. We especially pay tribute to the memory of Odette Grosz, New Orleans’ “grand dame of animal rights,” for this desperately-needed sanctuary rebuild would not have been possible had she not remembered the animals in her will.”

In Defense of Animals has invested $650,000 to construct the new buildings at Hope Animal Sanctuary that will allow the charity to continue to rescue and give shelter to thousands of homeless and abused animals for many years to come.

Hope Animal Sanctuary receives no government funding, so community residents and businesses are encouraged to support this vital community service by dedicating a memory lane pathway brick or sponsoring a dog run or dog house, all of which can be inscribed to recognize your commitment to serving the most abused animals in the Deep South.

For more information, please visit www.idausa.org/givehope