225 Magazine [August 2022] by Baton Rouge Business Report

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G E T G A M E R E A DY

WITH STYLES FROM QUEEN OF SPARKLES AND OTHER LOCAL BRANDS

HERRINGSTONE’S BATON ROUGE 7474 Corporate Blvd Ste C | 225.239.5239 | www.herringstonesboutique.com | 225batonrouge.com | [225] August 2022

CONTENTS //

Features 12 Who is reimagining the menus at Bin 77 and Solera 22 How to prepare for the most active

months of hurricane season

50 How to make a delicious one-pan Greek dinner

55 Which local theater group is celebrating 40 years And much more …

Departments 12 19 25 26 37 45 55 64

What’s Up Our City I am 225 Cover story Style Taste Culture Calendar

ON THE COVER

Ready to compete PLUS: 72

PAGES OF

TIGER PRIDE Starting on page A1

COLLIN RICHIE

LSU PLAYERS DON’T want you to think of 2022 as a rebuilding year—it’s a reloading year. With an accomplished head coach in charge and a star-studded roster, the future of LSU looks as hopeful as our cover image, shot by Jordan Hefler during last year’s victory against Florida. Turn to page 26 for our cover story, which previews what to expect from this year’s talented group of players and coaches.

[225] August 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

Have a Gail’s! Sun-Thurs 12-9pm Fri -Sat 12-10pm

3025 Perkins Road Baton Rouge gailsfineicecream.com

NEW FALL MENU AND FOOTBALL SEASON SPECIALS

Come check out our new menu! 2363 HOLLYDALE AVE | BATON ROUGE | CHOWYUMPHAT.COM

3025 Perkins Road | Baton Rouge | theoverpassmerchant.com

Contact us for Catering, Food Trucks, special Events d a n i e l l e @ h u f f t m a rc h a n d .c o m 225batonrouge.com | [225] August 2022

Before kickoff IN OTHER PARTS of the country, fall’s arrival is measured by changing leaves and cooling air. In the South, we wait for football. After all, it might still be a hundred degrees in Baton Rouge by the time we sip our first pumpkin spice lattes. And lately, our trees seem more likely to lose leaves to a tropical storm before they have a chance to morph into crisp, autumn hues. But at least we have the promise of Saturdays spent tailgating, grilling up flavorful food and reminiscing with old friends—right? If you’ve ever wandered the grounds outside Death Valley in the hours before a game, then you’ll understand what 225’s annual Tiger Pride issue is all about. It’s that distinct magic feeling right before the fall season kicks off, when football culture officially takes over life in Louisiana. Mark Clements joins us this month as the guest editor for Tiger Pride, and as the author of our cover story about the future of LSU football. Mark is not only an award-winning sports journalist—with years of experience as 225’s former digital content editor—he also has an encyclopedic knowledge of all things LSU Tigers. Issue Date:toAugust 2022 proof In addition collaborating withAd 225’s roster#1 of stellar • Please respond by e-mail or Mark fax with penned your approval or minorstories revisions.for this contributing writers, several • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hours from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

Happy tailgating,

Jennifer Tormo Alvarez 225 Editor

issue, including a beautifully written profile on Ali Gaye, a Gambian-American defensive end who has become a star for LSU. Because we produce Tiger Pride during the summer, well before the season opener, we always try to provide a mix of expert analysis and human-interest stories. We talk to the people who shape the sport—and those who are shaped by it. In this year’s edition, you’ll not only find detailed breakdowns of 2022’s new coaches and players, but you can also learn about Mike the Tiger’s student caretakers and browse our guide to game-day road-trip eats. We’ll introduce you to the ladies of the Kinchen family, who have been cheering on the Tigers for generations—and dissect what the historic, first-ever showdown between LSU and Southern University means for students and alums of both schools. Whether you’re a sports fan or not, there are so many great local stories that can be traced back to football. Turn to page A1 for this year’s Tiger Pride issue, and don’t miss our LSU-loaded cover story on page 26. Because we hope that as you read this issue, you’ll be transported to Baton Rouge’s own version of fall. It’s a season set to the roar of the stadium crowd, the scents of a full spread of tailgate snacks and the sweet sounds of The Golden Band From Tigerland and the Human Jukebox. And that’s pretty special.

RD AN

HE FL ER

EDITOR'S NOTE //

Picture perfect Shoutout to 225 contributing photographer Jordan Hefler, who shot the covers of both our August and Tiger Pride issues. After the COVID-19 pandemic prevented 225 from covering game days in 2020, it was awesome to have Hefler back on the field last fall, capturing all the action ahead of this issue. And thanks to 225 contributing photographer Sean Gasser, who captured our first look at Coach Brian Kelly during LSU’s spring game.

Meet us TikTok Want to see video tours of trending restaurants and hidden gems? Follow @225magazine on TikTok! On the video sharing platform, we’re posting First Look tours of new restaurants and bars; inside looks at local festivals and events; a guide to summer activities; and so much more.

JERRY AND HER AGENTS ARE

GAME DAY READY! 8

[225] August 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

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SHOPPING FOR TIGERS BIG OR SMALL,

! l l a t i t o g e ’v we

Publisher: Julio Melara

EDITORIAL

Editorial Director: Penny Font Editor: Jennifer Tormo Alvarez Tiger Pride Editor: Mark Clements Managing Editor: Laura Furr Mericas Features Writer: Maggie Heyn Richardson Digital Staff Writer: Olivia Deffes Digital Content Editor: Dillon Lowe Staff Photographer: Collin Richie Contributing Writers: Andrew Alexander, Cynthea Corfah, Tracey Koch, Benjamin Leger, Caden Lim, Matt Moscona, Dana Muller, Zane Piontek, Domenic Purdy, Marien Richardson, Poet Wolfe Contributing Photographers: Ariana Allison, Wesley Faust, Sean Gasser, Jordan Hefler, Amy Shutt

ADVERTISING

Sales Director: Erin Pou Account Executives: Manny Fajardo, André Hellickson Savoie, Jamie Hernandez, Kaitlyn Maranto, Audrey Taunton Advertising Coordinators: Devyn MacDonald, Brittany Nieto, Cassidie Tingle

STUDIO E

Director: Taylor Gast Multimedia Strategy Manager: Tim Coles Editor: Lisa Tramontana Content Strategist: Allyson Guay Account Executive: Judith LaDousa

MARKETING

Marketing & Events Coordinator: Taylor Falgout Training & Events Coordinator: Emma Dubuc Events: Abby Hamilton

ADMINISTR ATION

Business Manager: Tiffany Durocher Business Associate: Kirsten Milano Office Coordinator: Sara Hodge Receptionist: Cathy Varnado Brown

PRODUCTION/DESIGN

Production Manager: Jo Glenny Art Director: Hoa Vu Senior Graphic Designer: Melinda Gonzalez Graphic Designers: Emily Witt, Ashlee Digel

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

Audience Development Director and Digital Manager: James Hume Audience Development Coordinator: Ivana Oubre A publication of Melara Enterprises, LLC Chairman: Julio Melara Executive Assistant: Brooke Motto Vice President: Penny Font Chief Operating Officer: Guy Barone Chairman Emeritus: Rolfe H. McCollister Jr. Circulation/Reprints 225.928.1700 email: circulation@225batonrouge.com

Corporate Blvd at Jefferson • 225.925.2344 townecenteratcedarlodge.com • 10

[225] August 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

9029 Jefferson Highway, Suite 300, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 225-214-5225 • FAX 225-926-1329 225batonrouge.com ©Copyright 2022 by Melara Enterprises, LLC. All rights reserved by LBI. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. Business address: 9029 Jefferson Highway, Ste. 300, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. Telephone (225) 214-5225. 225 Magazine cannot be responsible for the return of unsolicited material—manuscripts or photographs—with or without the inclusion of a stamped, self-addressed return envelope. Information in this publication is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed.

F E E D B AC K / / W H AT ’ S O N L I N E / /

Reader’s notes

TOP STORIES

First Look: The Shed brings its famous barbecue from Ocean Springs to Baton Rouge

ARIANA ALLISON

The Cottage Cafe and Tea Room brings a new tea room to Central— while continuing the legacy of the Country Emporium

COLLIN RICHIE

PHOTOS BY ARIANA ALLISON

The most-read articles at 225batonrouge.com

In response to our story on planned improvements to the Perkins Road underpass area:

In response to our Instagram Reel about The Shed BBQ, which racked up more than 34,400 plays:

“BR needs this! ” —@meesh_411

“I’ve never been to the OG Shed. Be honest, is it really good? BR is severely lacking in the good BBQ department ” —@madamemarsh

A sweet tribute: Leola’s Cafe owners open new Mid City snoball stand to honor late daughter

“I don’t go there just because of the parking.” —@blahitsloud

“It’s delicious AND dog-friendly!” —@sherlockcorgigram

Analytics and comments are from June 1- June 30, 2022.

25 things

to do this summer in Baton Rouge This season, we’re showing you 25 affordable, fun things to do around town, from hidden gem gardens to coffee crawls. Follow along on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook to see where we go each week!

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Childhood comes and goes in a blink. We’re here through the stages of your life, with the strength of the cross, the protection of the shield. The Right Card. The Right Care.

01MK7641 11/21

225batonrouge.com | [225] August 2022

August

Menu refresh 10 minutes with Jonathan Breaux, the new culinary director for Bin 77 and Solera

COLLIN RICHIE

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[225] August 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

AFTER MORE THAN six years cultivating a following at The Overpass Merchant, chef Jonathan Breaux is transitioning from the front line to the front office. In June, Breaux was named director of culinary operations for Solera and Bin 77, two popular Baton Rouge concepts owned by restaurateurs Brian and Tiffany Dykes and Linda and Kelwin Clark. “This transition has been great,” says Breaux, 36. “I’ve always been a hands-on chef, but this has given me the opportunity to really get my creative juices flowing.” Bin 77 serves elevated American cuisine, while Solera focuses on tapas and Spanish-inspired entrees. Breaux will work closely with Bin 77 executive chef Craig Culpepper and Solera executive chef Evan Theriot, as well as the restaurants’ four certified sommeliers, to introduce new dishes. Breaux says he’s seeing a shift away from traditional Baton Rouge dishes, like crabmeat-topped fish, and a growing interest in smaller plates and trendier flavors. His initial focus will be to introduce new menu items at Bin 77. The longtime Perkins Rowe eatery sees large weekend crowds in its main dining room, covered patio and a detached dining space, the Sidebar. Bin 77 bestsellers like steak and gruyere flatbread; the Bin Burger; and Creole Devils on Horseback (dates stuffed with andouille and boudin) won’t change. But they will be joined by fresh additions that reflect Breaux’s interest in global cuisine. Coming soon are shrimp toast; a dim sum dish made with deep-fried bread slathered in shrimp paste; tuna carpaccio that Breaux tops with veal mayonnaise and arugula salad (a reversal of traditional veal tonnato); homemade gravlax; vegan cauliflower steak (shown); and fresh fish with carrot farro risotto and carrot green gremolata (shown). The restaurant will also introduce an updated lunch menu with lighter options, Breaux says. When he’s not at work, Breaux likes to cook and garden with his girlfriend, Shea Smith, a program manager at the Three O’Clock Project, a Baton Rouge nonprofit that provides nutritional meals to at-risk students when school’s not in session. Breaux jokes that the couple operates on opposite ends of the food spectrum, with Smith squeezing value out of every dollar to feed kids in need, while he’s about encouraging diners to splurge. At their Garden District home, the two like to recreate recipes from their travels, including regular restaurant research trips to New Orleans. “She’s probably a better cook than I am,” Breaux laughs. “I’m not kidding.” bin77.com and solera.com —MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON

W H AT ’ S U P / /

Get organized with these back-to-school tips STOCK PHOTO

AFTER A HOMEWORK-FREE summer, the return to school can feel like a shock to the system. Parents face a litany of tasks, from shuttling kids to washing sports uniforms to preparing dinner. Getting organized makes a big difference in reducing family stress, says MC Stewart, founder of Chaos Organizing in Baton Rouge. Stewart, a former teacher whose children are now in their 20s, says that families will be amazed at what a few simple household systems can do. “When my kids were younger, I was that working mom who had to be out the door with everything ready at 7 a.m.,” says Stewart. “I learned to be really organized because I had to. As a teacher, I could see how stressful it was for families when they weren’t organized.”

DIGITS

5,749

Here are five of Stewart’s road-tested back-to-school tips:

2. Use file boxes for papers. Even in the digital age, parents have to keep up with lots of kid-related papers, including permission slips, classroom agendas, certificates and keepsake art projects. Slide all of these items into a file box, one per child. At the end of the year, throw away outdated items and keep things that are meaningful. 3. Maintain a family calendar. An accessible group schedule is essential, whether it’s a traditional one taped to the fridge, a dry erase board or an app that everyone can download. “You need a place where kids can see the big picture and understand what’s coming up next,” says Stewart, who recommends the family calendar app, Cozi. “I would tell my kids, if I don’t see it on the calendar, then it doesn’t exist.”

P CK STO

TO HO

4. Establish routines. Deploying the same good habits every morning, afternoon and evening can prevent a lot of problems, Stewart says. For example, establish an evening routine that includes getting lunch boxes, athletic uniforms, homework and outfits ready before bedtime to save time in the morning. An afternoon routine might include completing all homework before hopping on screens. “You can even print out your routine, put it in a sheet protector and post it on the fridge,” Stewart says. “And have kids mark off each task after they’ve finished.” 5. Supply the car with snacks, water and other essentials. Many kids eat an early lunch at school, and by dismissal time, they’re hangry. Keep a cooler or thermal bag supplied with water bottles frozen the night before, protein bars, fruit and other snacks kids can eat on the run. Wipes and paper towels should also be part of the car tool kit. For more information, find Chaos Organizing on Instagram at @chaosorganizing.

Supper Club had us at ‘dead flowers’

COURTESY MOOOI CARPETS

SEAN GASSER

1. Designate a homework and supplies area. Have kids pick one place where they’ll do homework—even if it’s the kitchen table—and make sure their supplies are also in one place. “A rolling three-tier storage cart works great,” Stewart says. “Make sure you have everything they need before they get started, so they’re not wasting time looking for things.”

The number of kids in foster care in Louisiana in federal fiscal year 2021, according to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services

OPEN SINCE MID-MAY, the Supper Club continues to lure diners with its luxe steakhouse menu, live DJ and its much-discussed sophisticated den-of-vice vibe. Creator Brandon Landry and his wife, Mackenzie, prioritized the interior design as much as they did the menu, turning to local design firm monochrome for the Supper Club’s unique look. But hitting the right notes took some time, say monochrome designers Carol Lacour and Mitchell Naquin. Mood boards included contemporary, earthy, industrial and traditional concepts. But it wasn’t until Naquin found a carpet by Dutch designer Marcel Wanders that the overall scheme started to come into focus. “They really responded when we showed them European designers,” Lacour says. The carpet, called Fools Paradise, depicts delicate, just-decaying flowers set on a dark background. “It’s floral, but it’s dark and has a ‘sinister-ness’ about it,” Naquin says. And in a place like this, who wants to be good? thesupperclubbtr.com

“We want to make sure our supporters of our schools have the same ability as supporters of other schools in other states.” —Louisiana State Sen. Patrick Connick, who filed the bill in this year’s legislative session that clarified and expanded Louisiana universities’ ability to craft name, image and likeness deals with athletes. NIL is widely seen as a powerful tool in recruiting, and the new law makes it easier for schools to play an active role in engineering deals. 225batonrouge.com | [225] August 2022

Issue Date: August 2022 Ad proof #1 • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hours from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

W H AT ’ S U P / /

W H AT ’ S N E W

Buzz feed

ARIANA ALLISON

Compiled by Marien Richardson

NOW ON TAP

Mid City’s newest spot was designed to be “as Instagrammable as possible,” according to owner Rick Patel. The emerald-teal walls at Tap 65 are covered in big, naturalist-style images of plants and animals, and the menu is just as colorful. Self-serve craft beer taps are accessible and sample-able via a “beer card,” and the menu features starters and entrees that are heavily inspired by Indian and other global cuisines. Find it at 515 Mouton St., and on Instagram at @tap65br.

USE PROMO CODE “225” AND RECEIVE 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE STAY (VALID AT BURBANK LOCATION ONLY)

6 LOCATIONS REGION WIDE ONLINE BOOKING AVAILABLE

DEPENDABLESTORAGE.COM 14

[225] August 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

DIGIT

Dead to me

The Gulf of Mexico dead zone in 2022 is three times larger than the goal established in 2001. This area has high levels of bottom-water hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, making it difficult for underwater life to survive. The 2001 goal was 5,000 square kilometers, while the current area is 16,400 square kilometers. This means the waters are missing a livable space larger than the state of Connecticut.

$27.5 M Dollars donated from Shell USA to LSU for energy-related initiatives—marking the largest gift of its kind that the school has ever received. The funds will create the LSU Institute for Energy Innovation and support the construction of the previously announced Our Lady of the Lake Interdisciplinary Science Building.

Issue Date: AUGUST 2022 Ad proof #1 W H AT ’ S U P / /

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Expansions to watch

We Take Your Health Personally!

The investor behind downtown’s The Main Lobby is planning on opening another rooftop bar in Mid City. Cornelius Quarels says he plans to introduce The Firehaus across from Electric Depot, bringing courtyard seating and a fresh bar experience to Baton Rouge.

AUG. 4 National IPA Day

Our Mom’s is growing, adding a third location in Prairieville in 2023. The new restaurant will be designed from the ground up, including a larger outdoor space and upgraded indoor dining area, but with the same menu the restaurant’s fans are fond of. ourmomsrestaurant.com

Celebrate with a local brew!

DIGIT

$651M

Boutique catering service Gourmet Girls is expanding into the space formerly occupied by Kiki in Studio Park. Construction will connect the shop’s current location with the new space, where visitors can expect retail offerings, coffee service, a private room for small gatherings, and same-day pick-up for cakes. gourmetgirlsbr.com

The amount of federal aid that has been distributed for damage caused by the 2016 floods. This aid has been given to more than 17,000 homeowners affected by the floods, which inundated the Capital Region exactly six years ago this month.

That new new Three recent openings to check out

Take the first step in a healthier direction by scheduling your initial consultation. Call (225) 928-0486.

ARIANA ALLISON

SOULSHINE KITCHEN & BAR

The Chimes Street restaurant serves comfort food like collard greens, hamburger steaks, fried pork chops, pot roast, smothered chicken, blackened catfish and more against a rustic, sunny-yellow backdrop. soulshinebar.com

IVERSTINE FARMS BUTCHER’S NEW HOME

T H ER APY

NUT R IT IO N

PHYSICAL THERAPY MASSAGE THERAPY

NUTRITION COUNSELING

INT EGR AT IVE H EALT H

SEAN GASSER

The brand has moved just down Perkins Road, bringing its signature high-quality cuts of meat and a lunch and breakfast counter. Find it on Instagram at @iverstinefarms.

FI T N ES S PERSONAL TRAINING GROUP TRAINING SPIN || YOGA PILATES

ARIANA ALLISON

COUNTERSPACEBR’S NEW SPOT

In its second location near Bocage Village, the shop brings cookies, brownies, cakes, sandwiches on freshly baked bread and unicorn bars, plus a curated collection of baking supplies, ingredients and cookbooks. counterspacebr.com

NO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED A goal and some serious commitment will do.

FUTUREFITNES S BR.COM | 1650 LO BD E L L AVE NUE | BATO N R O UG E , LA 70806 ST U D I O PAR K • AC R O S S F R O M TOW N E C E N T E R

225batonrouge.com | [225] August 2022

W H AT ’ S U P / /

ORDER THIS

A sweet tribute

By Olivia Deffes // Photos by Ariana Allison

In honor of their late daughter, Leola’s Cafe owners bring a new snowball stand to Mid City IT’S A SUMMER staple in Louisiana: a styrofoam cup, filled with shaved ice and drenched with sweet syrup. Just in time for the season’s sizzling temps, Aliye Belle’s Snowballs is changing the frozen dessert game with specialty flavors and layered snoballs. Leola’s Cafe owners Corey and Leann Ringe opened the stand in June, right across the parking lot from their restaurant. Customers can choose from more than 20 flavors, including Dill Pickle and Orchid Vanilla. Rotating specialty snoballs are layered with ingredients made in-house at Leola’s Cafe by pastry chef Hannah Dees. The menu boasts a Coke Float snoball made with homemade Coke drizzle, a Sour Patch Explosion snoball created by the owners’ 7-year-old twins Collin and Celia; and a Strawberry Cheesecake Supreme snoball made with homemade cheesecake whipped cream and fresh cheesecake pieces. Patrons can create their own unique snoball by combining flavors, like Peach Mango. Aliye Belle’s also serves concession stand-style food like nachos and hot dogs. While the stand’s desserts may be sweet, the story behind it is even sweeter. The idea to turn an old camper into a snoball stand came about after the Ringes’ daughter died in late 2021. Aliye Ringe, the stand’s namesake, loved working with her friends at snoball stands during the summer months and dreamt of opening her own. “Aliye previously worked at a snoball stand for five years,” Leann says. “We kind of felt like she always wanted to still be doing that. … In the spring, we still had that corner of the parking lot, and we thought: Why not try again for her?” The couple began scouring the internet to find the perfect trailer to make into Aliye’s dream stand. They found a camper in Alabama and road tripped to pick it up. After transforming the camper from a livable space to one suited for snoball making, they got to work decorating it with sunflowers— Aliye’s favorite flower. To ensure every snoball was perfect, the couple purchased a SnoWizard machine from New Orleans. They also enlisted the help of Aliye’s best friend, Meagan Orillion, to run the

[225] August 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

What makes the perfect

SNOBALL?

“You need to have the right shave on the ice,” says Aliye Belle’s Snowballs co-owner Leann Ringe. “You don’t want the ice to be crunchy, but you want it to be firm enough to hold the syrup. For our specialty snoballs, it’s about having good ice, but also having some madefrom-scratch ingredients.”

W H AT ’ S U P / /

stand, along with Aliye’s siblings Brayden Ringe and Bralyn Davis. Each employee has previously held a snoball stand job, which means Aliye Belle’s staff has a combined 20-plus years of experience and knowledge of snoball making. “They know what they’re doing,” Leann says. “I don’t really know how to run a snoball stand, but I trust all of Aliye’s best friends and siblings to be able to do it without much help.” The stand may be small, but the Ringes have been working hard to make it the perfect little corner for family outings, dates and hangout sessions. Patrons will find seating and picnic tables to chill with their cool treat. There are even cornhole boards for engaging in a friendly game. “We want Aliye Belle’s and Leola’s to coexist in the same area,” Leann says. “We will adapt the business to the needs and requests of the community just like we did with Leola’s. … So we want it to be like a destination spot for a sweet treat, but also a place where you can sit and hang out.”

FIND THE STAND Aliye Belle’s is at 1857 Government St. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Find it on Instagram at @aliyebellessnowballs.

Download our app and book your next reservation

225batonrouge.com | [225] August 2022

(225) 246-9290 l BATONROUGECLINIC.COM PEDIATRICS AT PERKINS 7373 PERKINS RD l PEDIATRICS AT INDUSTRIPLEX 12351 INDUSTRIPLEX BLVD URGENT CARE Open 7 Days a week, no appointment necessary l (225) 246-9997 l You Shouldn’t Have to Wait to Feel Better. 18

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I N S I D E : Prep for the busiest months of hurricane season

Taking

flight

B Y DA N A M U LLE R // P HOTO S B Y CO LLIN RICHIE

During hot air balloon adventures in Zachary, riders catch a glimpse of the Capital Region from above CHAD HEBERT LOVES watching people’s faces as they fly in a hot air balloon for the first time. “That moment when you first break over the tree line while climbing to altitude and see fear leave their face and excitement set in—there’s nothing like it,” he says. Ballooning is a long-held tradition in Hebert’s family. Every weekend at Really Hot

Air Balloon Adventures, three generations of the family and their friends take riders into the air. In bright yellow balloons, they lift off into clear, golden skies over Zachary. Flights depart at sunrise and last 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the winds. As the sun rises over the horizon, riders can see the houses in the Zachary neighborhoods below, like tiny dots among the region’s green trees and fields.

OUR CITY //

“There’s nothing like it.” —Chad Hebert, Really Hot Air Balloon Adventures in Zachary

Take a ride

Really Hot Air Balloon Adventures is at 24652 Brian Road in Zachary. If you’re interested in taking a hot air balloon flight, find more info at reallyhotairballoons.com.

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Once safely back on the ground, customers are treated to a brief history of ballooning, complete with a celebratory glass of Champagne. For the staff, it’s a laborious, team process. The group helps set up the basket, inflates the envelope, tracks the balloon in the sky and communicates with the pilots through a two-way radio. A successful balloon ride is heavily dependent on the weather. Ground winds should be below 6 miles per hour, with no rain, fog or fast winds in the forecast. Once the balloon starts to land, the crew works to catch the basket and welcome the riders back to the ground. But all the effort is worth the reward. “I love it when the riders land, and I get to see their faces. It’s my favorite part knowing that it’s something I love to do, and I get to share it with dozens of people,” Shawnel Hebert says. The art of ballooning is a familyhobby-turned-business going back four generations. Really Hot Air Balloon Adventures got its start in the 1980s, when Phillip Branstuder, a retired helicopter pilot for the Army National Guard, visited a balloon festival in Baton Rouge and discovered a new way to fly. “(My father-in-law) had several

tours in Vietnam, and when he got out of the army, he realized helicopters were expensive to buy, operate and maintain,” says Shawn Krause, who is today a pilot at Really Hot Air Balloon Adventures. “You couldn’t do it on a retired army officer’s salary. So, when he visited the U.S. National Balloon Festival, he figured this wasn’t a helicopter, but it was a way to get him back into flying.” Branstuder’s granddaughter Shawnel Hebert remembers traveling to different balloon festivals as a child after Branstuder bought his

first balloon in the 1990s. Shawnel says it was a family hobby they all did growing up. But as they got older, extracurriculars took over and ballooning took the backseat. In 2012, after a decade-long break, Shawnel, her brother and her husband, Chad, met up with some ballooning friends at the Pennington Balloon Festival in Baton Rouge. They asked Krause if they could bust out the old gear and get back up in the air. “Dad said if the equipment was good and passed its inspection, then we’ll go back to flying,” Shawnel says.

A family affair: Three generations of family run Really Hot Air Balloon Adventures, including Chad Hebert, Randon Hebert, Shawnel Hebert and Shawn Krause.

In 2013, the family re-certified their equipment and purchased and custom-designed a new balloon. Krause began teaching his son and son-in-law how to fly. Eventually, the two obtained their private pilot’s licenses. Chad went further, obtaining his commercial pilot license. This allowed him and his father-in-law to take passengers on paid flights. Just before the coronavirus pandemic began, the family started advertising rides to folks around the Zachary area. “In 2019, it was like a can of worms opened up, and we started booking left and right. Now, on average, we’ll stay booked months at a time,” Shawnel says. “My dream is to ultimately be able to teach my kids not only to fly but to be responsible pilots and one day pass it on to them, just like my father-in-law did for me,” Chad says. Now the family’s patriarch, Krause says even though he’s older and has grandkids, he’s not finished flying just yet. He has a responsibility to the ballooning community. “I want to do my part to bring the next pilot up,” he says. “We’re in a plateau right now. We need more of us in the air.”

Liftoff: After setting up the basket and inflating the envelope, the balloon is ready to fly. Down below, the staff tracks the balloon in the sky, staying in constant communication with the pilot through a two-way radio.

225batonrouge.com | [225] August 2022

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By Domenic Purdy

Hurricane ready What local experts are saying to expect during peak hurricane season By Domenic Purdy // Photos by Collin Richie

Issue Date: July 2022 Ad proof #2

• Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions.

• AD from WILL RUN AS ISHow unless are received within hours. Seen above: farrevision the gasrequests lines stretched at one of24 the few stations open in Baton Rouge following Hurricane Ida • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

IT’S AUGUST. YEP, we’re at the peak of hurricane season. Traditionally, the U.S. sees the most hurricane activity from now to October. And this season is expected to be another one with above-average hurricane activity—the seventh consecutive year with a higher than normal rate of events. Like previous years, Louisiana and other states along the Gulf Coast are expected to be at the epicenter of many of the storms of the 2022 hurricane season. Yikes. “With an active hurricane season, the chances of one of these storms coming close enough to southeast Louisiana to produce an impact is certainly elevated,” explains Paul Miller, assistant professor in the Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences at LSU. “It is conceivable that Louisiana is not impacted, but certainly if the Gulf will be

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busier than normal, the chances of that coming closer to home rises, as well.” By the numbers In the event of a hurricane, Carol Friedland, LaHouse director at LSU, advises the How will the 2022 season fare? This is reinforcement of windows and other vulnerable how many storms we may have seen by time hurricane season wraps up Nov. areas on one’s home. Branches particularly 30, according to the National Weather vulnerable to breaking and damaging vehicles Service’s Climate Prediction Center. or homes should be trimmed by a professional arborist, and furniture that has the potential Named storms 14-21 (with winds of 39+ mph) to blow away should be secured, Friedland explains. Hurricanes Taking note of the five “S’s” is important, 6-10 (winds of 74+ mph) Friedland says. These include securing your shingles, sealant, saffits, surroundings and Major hurricanes 3-6 (Categories 3-5, winds 111+ mph) shutters. Shingles are particularly important, Friedland explains, as the “first line of defense.” “Once the cover of the roof is blown off, you’re much more prone to getting water, for example, in your attic to saturate your Hurricane insulation that can then fall through your survival kit ceiling,” she says. “We really want to keep water Stock up on these now: out of the home as much as possible.” Be sure to prepare your survival kit—“typical • Nonperishable foods sheltering in place type needs”—before a storm • Water • Cash event happens, Friedland explains. And in • Batteries and phone chargers the event of an evacuation, emergency orders • Medicine and other medical supplies to last at least three days should be followed and taken seriously. • A full tank of gas for cars and/or generators “Listen and adhere to emergency • Flashlights management and evacuation orders, because • Carbon monoxide monitor they don’t just order widespread evacuations,” (and be sure to keep your gas generator outside) Issue Date: August 2022 Adisproof #1 Friedland says. “But if an evacuation ordered • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. for area, it unless is best practice comply • ADyour WILL RUN AS IS approval or finaltorevisions are with received within 24 hours that.” from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines.

Stay connected during a storm • For updates on hurricanes as they develop, visit nhc.noaa. gov, and for more information on hurricane preparedness, visit noaa.gov/hurricane-prep. • Stay “Red Stick Ready” with the Mayor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Reach it at 3892100, or follow @RedStickReady on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. You can also download the Red Stick Ready mobile application, or text “RedStickReady” to 225-2439991, to receive preparedness information.

• Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

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Drop Off Used Uniforms for Kids It’s hard to believe, but it’s already time to start thinking about heading back to the classroom! Along with a new backpack, lunchbox and fresh supplies, your child’s health should be at the top of your back-to-school to-do list. With 18 clinics and nearly 60 providers across Greater Baton Rouge, our team is ready to see you! It’s easy peasy to connect with an exceptional pediatrician who offers same-day, extended hours and weekend appointments. As you clean out your closets of outgrown uniforms, we’ve made it easy to share them with kids in need. Bring them to your visit at one of our clinics collecting Uniforms for Kids, a collaboration with WAFB and St. Vincent de Paul of Baton Rouge. Find drop-off locations and schedule your visit online at ololchildrens.org/backtoschool.

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I AM 225 //

Jonathan Brown THERE’S A WORD Jonathan Brown keeps coming back to when talking about his career as an artist: “trippy.” It’s “trippy” to be able to afford his own home and support three young children solely with his art, or to receive an official certificate of commendation from the mayor of Baton Rouge for a mural he painted. For Brown, who works under the artist name Skinny Dope (a fitting tag for the slight-statured artist), it all seems surreal. He speaks of his accomplishments not as the just dividends of hard work and artistic excellence, but as gifts that have simply tumbled into his path. He’s a stranger to the idea that art can yield a bountiful career—even though his own art has done just that. “I feel like I’m blessed,” he says today, sitting in his living room. A childrens’ playpen is to his left and an array of his work adorns the wall to his right. “Or I’m in tune with the universe, or whatever you want to call it. I’m on the right path.” Whether by providence or his own ambition, the 30-year-old painter, muralist and occasional tattoo artist has been having a fruitful go of things. The mayor’s certificate of commendation was awarded to Brown for a mural he painted on the Jewel J. Newman Community Center in Scotlandville, completed last December. His colorful Visit Baton Rouge mural of the State Capitol and Baton Rouge neighborhoods is prominently on display at the Raising Cane’s River Center. Before that, he was commissioned by The Walls Project to contribute to a mural of Alton Sterling on North Foster Drive shortly after he was killed in July 2016. His work is on display all over the Capital Region, where he’s been commissioned by businesses, restaurants and non-profits alike. But to list his manifold works—even just the murals—would require a story of its own. “He’s always been driven,” says New Orleans artist Terrance Osborne, a longtime mentor to Brown. “He does what artists do when they’re ambitious: He collects ideas, and he pays attention to what he’s seeing.” From his first exposure to art as a toddler from his mother, an elementary school art teacher, to the love for graffiti that first sparked his eye for eccentric color palettes and bombastic imagery, to his stint as a tattoo artist, Brown has been collecting ideas for a long time. He’s developed a proper arsenal of inspiration, and through his mentorship from Osborne and his own tireless work, he’s honed the tools to execute it. Brown says it wasn’t until recently that he began to come into his own. Any artist will say it takes a good while to drill down into the well of one’s own vision, but Brown has put in the work—the study, the practice, the meditation—to finally reach his own. Now, he looks forward to a proper debut in his first solo exhibition, which he says is near on the horizon. Find him on Instagram at @skinnydope_

—ZANE PIONTEK

COLLIN RICHIE

“I didn’t even want to live in Baton Rouge when I first moved here, and now it’s like I’m part of Baton Rouge.”

225batonrouge.com | [225] August 2022

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Reloading,

not rebuilding This is the future of LSU: A star-studded roster and an accomplished head coach in charge

THERE REALLY IS no place quite like Louisiana. Its culture is a unique blend of French, Spanish, African and other global influences, put on full display through extravagant festivals, diverse music and historic architecture. Its food is an even crazier blend of flavors that make for some divine dishes you simply can’t find in most other states. But its people might be the most dynamic of it all—loud, proud and passionate, particularly when it comes to their sports teams. So it makes sense that the majority of the state was overly excited when Larose native Ed Orgeron was tasked with taking over the LSU football team back in 2016. He was Louisiana, through and through. He didn’t just live the culture; he embodied it. He was “one of us.” But after a rollercoaster ride through the Orgeron era, which saw everything from titles and trophies to accusations and allegations, the state’s flagship university finds itself heading in a new direction under new leadership and with a new, non-Cajun coach at the helm. And the first roster he’ll inherit is loaded with Louisiana talent, headlined in part by a star-studded 2021 recruiting class that ranked as the third best unit in the country.

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KOURTNEY CARROLL / COURTESY LSU ATHLETICS

B Y MA R K C LE M E N TS

C OV E R S T ORY

In his first year on campus, LSU wide receiver Jack Bech emerged as a key player for the Tigers.

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To some Tiger fans, Brian Kelly’s lack of experience coaching in the SEC was slightly worrisome. In fact, the furthest south he had ever coached was the University of Cincinnati—more than 13 hours and 800 miles away from Tiger Stadium. At his introductory press conference, Kelly addressed this concern head-on. “This is my first day in Louisiana. I didn’t know what this,” he said, making an L-shape with thumb and forefinger, “meant until today.” People inevitably had questions. How would a man from Everett, Massachusetts, connect with kids from Acadiana, New Orleans and Monroe? Would he be able to recruit against Nick Saban, Jimbo Fisher and the other powerhouses of the conference? Can he rub elbows with big boosters and Louisiana politicians to win their support and backing? Those answers will come with time. But one thing Kelly has made clear early on in his Tiger tenure—he’s not dipping his toe into the water. He’s diving headfirst into the bayou. “Our family, we’re going to immerse ourselves into the culture of Louisiana,” Kelly said. “We’re not here to change anything. We’re here to get changed by it, and that’s going to be fun. It will be an experience that we’re looking forward to.” *** IT MIGHT BE a steep learning curve for the former Notre Dame head coach, but he’s got plenty of Pelican State presence around the program to help get him acclimated. He was hired by an athletics director born and raised in Baton Rouge. The first assistant coach he added

to his staff was Frank Wilson, a New Orleans native and St. Augustine alum. Plus, there’s that talent-laden 2021 class of top-ranked recruits. That group includes guys like Jack Bech, Maason Smith and Malik Nabers, who have already made a name for themselves across the state and are just three of the 61 Louisiana residents currently listed on LSU’s 120-man roster (scholarship and walk-ons). “Our class is very special,” Bech tells 225. “Everybody’s very close. And not only that, but we have a lot of talent in the class at every position. I think that we could be that base that can be built upon. It’s been really awesome being a part of this and being the foundation for something that I know is going in a very positive (direction) moving forward. I’m excited for it.” It’s hard not to be optimistic about what’s taking shape at LSU, anchored by a roster loaded with boys from The Boot. *** THE DEEPER YOU dig into Kelly’s resume and the more you analyze the pieces he’s putting together in Baton Rouge, the more the skepticism— warranted or not—begins to slip away. He comes to LSU as the most accomplished hire in program history, boasting more than 280 career wins as a head coach—the most among active FBS coaches. He is one of only five active coaches to lead their team to multiple undefeated regular seasons since 2009, and he guided Notre Dame to the College Football Playoffs twice in the past four years. “I don’t think we could have hired somebody better than Coach Kelly,” Bech says. “I think he’s just what we

“Our family (is) going to immerse ourselves into the culture of Louisiana. We’re not here to change anything. We’re here to get changed by it.” SEAN GASSER

—LSU head coach BRIAN KELLY

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Brian Kelly comes to LSU as the most accomplished hire in program history, boasting more than 280 career wins as a head coach—the most among active FBS coaches.

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Last year, Bech ranked third with 489 receiving yards and led the team with 43 receptions.

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needed. If you go look at his track record, he’s a very winning coach. He’s brought a lot of stability, accountability, and different things like that to our program. You can already see the different changes that have taken place. And that’s why not only me, but everybody is so excited for this upcoming season.” If Kelly’s track record isn’t enough to impress you, maybe some of the shiny new weapons he has at his disposal—like Bech—will instill some confidence. The Lafayette native was a fan favorite before ever stepping foot on campus, thanks in part to his family name. His two uncles—Brett and Blain— both played football for LSU in the ’90s and early 2000s, while his aunt, Brenna, played on LSU’s first soccer team. Both of his parents are also LSU alums, and by the looks of it, the newest Bech to don the

really pushing a lot harder. I think we’re going to be a really elite group, because everybody’s trying to lock themselves in for a starting spot. It’s making our whole group a whole lot stronger, and a whole lot better.” *** IF BECH IS speaking the truth, then that’s a scary sign for opposing defenses. In a season that saw LSU finish below .500 for the first time since 1999, agree to part ways with its head coach midway through the year, and suffer through a slew of player opt-outs and injuries, the Tigers still finished ranked in the nation’s top 45 in passing yards, passing touchdowns and passes completed. Add in an offensive-minded head coach whose team ranked No. 20 in points per game a year ago, plus a new offensive coordinator who finished with the No. 13 scoring offense in the country, and you’ve got a good thing brewing in Baton Rouge. “It became very clear very quickly, that these guys want to win,” new LSU offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock tells 225, recalling his first few weeks with the team. “They’re willing to do whatever it’s going to take to make sure that becomes a reality. That was an incredibly positive first impression from just getting to know the players in the program. I could tell very early on where their hearts and minds were and what their focus was. I think there’s a good core group of football players here in the program that we look forward to hopefully putting in the best position possible so we can have success.” Just like Boutte, Bech and the rest of the wideouts will spearhead LSU’s offensive attack, Smith, Jaquelin Roy and the deep D-line will be the anchor for the Tiger defense. Smith arrived at LSU with high expectations, ranking as the top prospect out of Louisiana in 2021 and the No. 20 player overall. The Houma native is also listed as LSU’s 27th best recruit of all time, according to 247Sports.com. It didn’t take him long to make his mark in Baton Rouge, either. In just the second game of his young college career, Smith made it into the record books by racking up three sacks to go along with six total tackles—five of which were solo and 3.5 of which were for a loss. The sack tally goes down as the second best single-game showing in school history. “That was the first game I was really comfortable playing,” Smith tells 225. “I just sat back and let everything happen. I remember (for) the UCLA game, I was very jittery and very anxious to play. There was a lot of pressure on me coming to school as a five star (with) all the accolades. I just worked hard and kept my head down. My expectation for the season was just

“Our class is very special. Everybody’s very close. And not only that, but we have a lot of talent in the class at every position.”

CHRIS PARENT / COURTESY LSU ATHLETICS

—LSU tight end JACK BECH on the 2021 recruiting class purple and gold already feels right at home. In his first year on campus, Bech led the team with 43 receptions and ranked third with 489 receiving yards. He also snagged three touchdown catches all while alternating between wide receiver and tight end. “I think people’s expectations for me were very high,” Bech says. “But I always knew I could play. That’s why I came here. I knew I was going to have to put my head down, work real hard and take every opportunity and chance as it comes. And that’s what I did.” Those opportunities should be even more plentiful this fall for Bech, who will be making the switch full time to wide receiver. He will have to compete with a plethora of other talented pass catchers, though, most of whom are fellow Louisiana natives. New Iberia’s own Kayshon Boutte has become a household name across the country after leading the team in receiving each of the past two seasons. Jena’s Jaray Jenkins quietly finished second on the team last year, while Nabers (Youngsville), Brian Thomas Jr. (Walker) and Chris Hilton Jr. (Zachary)—all from Bech’s same 2021 recruiting class—are looking to build off their promising freshman campaigns. “It doesn’t matter who you pick,” Bech says. “You can put on a blindfold and pick anyone out the receiver room. I think on any given day, anybody in that room can go off. We have so much depth in that room right now, and everybody’s

225batonrouge.com | [225] August 2022

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to get better every game and just be myself, which I did.” The 6-foot-5, 300-pounder battled a nagging leg injury for part of the season but still wound up playing in nine games, recording 19 tackles and four sacks. Smith, who is the first player in LSU history to wear No. 0, says the four-game injury has made him even hungrier heading in 2022. He’s used the offseason to get bigger, faster, and stronger and is ready to change the trajectory of the LSU football program. “I really feel like Coach Kelly has a plan, and the guys are buying into that plan,” says Smith, who was quick to credit his predecessors before looking too far into the future. “Those older dudes, they’ve put in the same type of work (we have). As a whole class, I think we’ll be the people to help take our team back to where we want to be. We have a real solid group, and I think with a year under all of us getting to know the game and really buying

“I think this year will be even better for us and (even better) the year after that. I think (LSU) Is going to shock the world. I really feel that.” —LSU defensive lineman MAASON SMITH

in and being in the college weight room—I think this year will be even better for us and (even better) the year after that. I think we’re going to shock the world. I really feel that.”

THAT’S ANOTHER THEME that seems to be recurring with this unit: Don’t call it a rebuilding year. It’s a reloading year. The Tigers feel they have enough talent to compete again right away, and even if there are more doubters than believers, good. Smith may have said it best when he posed a series of questions: Did anyone really expect LSU to win a national championship in 2019? Did anyone predict Joe Burrow would win the Heisman Trophy that year? Did anyone foresee Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson setting record after record on the way to an undefeated season? Probably not.

[225] August 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

Smith is listed as LSU’s 27th best recruit of all time, according to 247Sports.com.

CHRIS PARENT / COURTESY LSU ATHLETICS

***

Tiger fans will continue to celebrate those magical moments forever. But for the first time since that season came to a close, you can feel Louisiana itching to get back to its winning ways. And there is one more quirk Kelly should know about his new home state: Whether you’re from here or not, if you love it, it’ll love you tenfold right back. Especially if you’re winning.

REBECCA WARREN / COURTESY LSU ATHLETICS

C OV E R S T ORY

Louisiana talent

Among the Louisiana natives making an impact: • Kayshon Boutte (pictured, right) of New Iberia has led the team in receiving the past two seasons, earning him the prestigious No. 7 jersey for 2022. • Baton Rouge’s Jaquelin Roy, who played in 13 games last year for 30 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, is poised for a monster junior year. • St. Rose native John Emery Jr. will be hungrier than ever this fall after missing last season due to academic issues. The former 5-star recruit has all the talent to become an elite tailback in the SEC. • Joe Foucha (New Orleans) and Greg Brooks Jr. (Harvey) are both back in The Boot after spending the beginning of their college careers at Arkansas. Their versatility and experience will be key in LSU’s secondary this season.

225batonrouge.com | [225] August 2022

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Home grown Plant pop-ups are flourishing at local markets. Meet a few faces behind the shops B Y OLIV IA DE FFE S PHOTOS B Y COLLIN R IC H IE

YOU DON’T HAVE to go far from home to find eclectic plants, vibrant bouquets and artful planters and accessories. In fact, some of the most interesting plants are coming straight from local backyards. Baton Rouge is home to many vendors who take the time to meticulously grow, care for and arrange plants at their homes. Now, you can find their work in locally owned shops or at pop-up markets. Here are some fresh faces to get to know in the plant community.

Amanda Carambat is the owner of Manda Planta, a pop-up shop selling plants and planting accessories.

225batonrouge.com | [225] August 2022

STYLE //

Fresh N Fancy

WITH MORE THAN 13 years of experience working with florals, Dominique Rogers has learned the ins and outs of the biz. The licensed florist has worked for many shops and grocery stores. Now, she owns Fresh N Fancy and spends her days creating bouquets and arrangements for special occasions, weddings and more. With a cart and a trailer in the works, Fresh N Fancy is a mobile business that can be seen at pop-ups and events. But Rogers’ true passion is teaching others about the flowers she handles. She hopes to hold more classes in schools and nursing homes to bring happiness in the form of vibrant blooms and petals. Find her on Instagram at @freshnfancyllc.

[225] August 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

STYLE //

Manda Planta

AMANDA CARAMBAT SAYS she used to kill every plant she touched. After taking a few horticulture classes at LSU, she realized that proper plant care starts with education about a plant’s needs. After expanding her collection of leafy friends, Carambat started her Instagram to share tips and tricks about caring for plants. When her personal collection of house plants outgrew her space, she decided to sell some of them at a Local Pop-Up market. During her first event, she sold out all her plants and accessories. So, she decided to turn her love for plants into a small business. Now, along with selling plants, Manda Planta creates cork coasters and wooden labels, which you can find at Local Supply. In the future, Carambat hopes to participate in more markets and to continue Manda Planta’s goal of teaching and inspiring her customers. Find her on Instagram at @manda.planta.

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Love Buds

WHAT STARTED AS a quarantine project has bloomed into a business. Dustin Smith and his partner, Sydney Lombardo, offer fresh-cut bouquets grown from their garden in Mid City. Most of these love buds are field-grown, which ensures ever-changing, seasonal arrangements. Recently, Love Buds has expanded its selection to include other items like potted plants and herbs, hanging baskets and even hand-painted watercolor greeting cards. Catch this duo selling their floral creations at restaurants, coffee shops and pop-up markets around town. Find them on Instagram at @lovebudsbydustin.

[225] August 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

STYLE //

Mist & Mallow

SY TE UR CO

JACLYN WILLIAMS SPENDS most of the hours of her days away from sunshine. As a molecular biologist, most of her work is done in a dark room with a microscope. A few years ago, Williams decided to reignite her childhood love for nature. After moving from an apartment to a house in 2019, she found herself with enough outdoor space to make a micro flower farm. Now, Williams’ goal is to grow flowers that you can’t find in grocery stores and to teach customers how they can grow beautiful buds in their own backyards. You can find Mist & Mallow at Local Pop-Up markets, but get there early—Williams usually sells out quickly. She also sells to local florists and offers specialty bouquets for holidays like Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. Find her on Instagram at @mistandmallow.

T IS M

AL LO W

What are the Best Local Places to Buy Plants? Readers nominated these shops in this brand-new Best of 225 Award category for 2022: • Clegg’s Nursery • Louisiana Nursery • Baton Rouge Succulent Co.

Outside Stimuli

THIS DOWNTOWN PLANT shop is all about sustainability. Owner James Curtis repurposes old bottles and containers to hold plants in his shop. The recycled plastic vessels ensure healthy soil and proper irrigation for the plants while reducing waste. Along with eco-friendly planters, Outside Stimuli offers handmade wooden planters with oneof-a-kind painted designs. The plant shop is at 207 Florida St. Find him on Instagram at @outsidestimuli.

NR LLI CO O BY FILE PHOT

• Billy Heroman’s • Red Onion • D’s Garden Center • Garden Goons Pop-Up

E HI IC

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NEARLY 240,000 VOTES were cast for the 2022 Best of 255 Awards. To celebrate the winners, 225 Magazine threw a Summer Nights inspired party! Congratulations to all of this year’s winners, and thank you to the 225 fans who beat the heat and joined us at Three Roll Estate to party with the best. Attendees wore their best summer inspired outfits and enjoyed tastings from Curbside Burgers (2022 winner for Best Burger) and Sno Juice as well as cold drinks from Three Roll Estate. VIP guests enjoyed a gorgeous spread prepared by Leola’s Café. The DJ played classic summer hits as guests flipped through the pages of 225 Magazine’s hottest issue of the year to discover the 2022 Best of 225 winners. Thank you again to everyone who celebrated the Best of 225 issue! To stay up to date with 225 events, announcements and more, subscribe to 225 Daily at 225batonrouge.com

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TAKE IT OUTSIDE: LOCAL ADVENTURES PERFECT FOR FALL CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE There’s a definite thrill factor at BREC’s parks. Take a day hike, a bike ride or a paddling excursion on picturesque waterways, or head to Perkins Road Community Park’s BMX track, skate park, or Velodrome. BREC Extreme Sports operates three more skate parks, disc golf courses and mountain bike trails locally. There is something for every level of outdoor explorer. For more information, email outdooradventure@brec.org or visit brec.org. .

EXTREME FUN Check out these fall events at Perkis Road ommunity Park:

SUMMER SLAM: AUGUST 13, 3-7 P.M.

A day-long celebration of the end of summer at the Skatepark with music, food, fun, and extremely good riding. There will be a jam session with the skaters, bikers, and scooters with fantastic prizes for the best tricks! Ages: 12+

REAXULLER JAM: OCTOBER 1, 2-5 P.M.

Celebrate Roller Skate month at the Skatepark! There will be music, fun, and some good old fashion roller skating. Check out skating demonstrations from various skaters as well as instruction on how to get involved in this ever-growing sport! Ages 5+

IN THE WATER OR ON THE LAND SUNSET PADDLE AT MILFORD WAMPOLD MEMORIAL PARK: AUGUST 11 + 25, 7-8:30 P.M.

Enjoy the fall colors paddling around the LSU Lakes. Perfect for youth and adults of all skill levels. Kayaks are available to rent, but go quickly, so make sure to register in advance before the event is full. $10 single kayak, $20 tandem kayak. Ages: 12+

ARCHERY CLASSES AT MILTON J. WOMACK PARK:

Introductory classes exploring the skills of archery. BREC even provides the equipment. Archery 101: August 24, 6-7:30 p.m. Ages 16+, and 101 Jr. August 31, 6-7:30 p.m. Ages 8-15. Archery Academy: Tuesdays in September from 6-7:30 p.m. Ages: 8+ Meet once a week for four weeks to review and practice skills.

KAYAKS AND COFFEE AT GREENWOOD COMMUNITY PARK: SEPT 14 AND OCTOBER 12 / 10 A.M.-NOON.

Kickstart your morning routine with a fantastic blend of adventure and exercise to get you ready to face the day. Ages: 18+

SUP DAWG AT GREENWOOD COMMUNITY PARK: AUGUST 27 / 9-10, 10-11 AND 11-NOON

Take your pup for an hur on the lake with one of BREC’s stand-up paddleboards. Equipment (and a dog wash) provided!

RIDE & ROLL: OCTOBER 9, 2-6 P.M.

A little friendly competition to celebrate the anniversary of the Extreme Sports Park. This is a free event, so bring your bikes and boards and get ready to roll! Ages 5+

SKATEBOARDING ACADEMY: WEDNESDAYS IN SEPTEMBER, 5-6 P.M.

Learn the fundamentals. From balance, board control, and transition riding, to ollies, and more. Open to skaters at any skill levels. BREC even provides the necessary equipment. $50 per person. Register at webtrac.brec.org

FIND YOUR FUN. VISIT BREC.ORG TO PLAN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE. 44

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I N S I D E : Recipes for a one-pan Greek dinner

PIZZA+BEER

COLLIN RICHIE

Craft beer, casual eats and an "art farm" vibe round out Istrouma Eatery and Brewery

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TA ST E / /

R E S TA U R A N T R E V I E W

Istrouma Eatery and Brewery BY B E N JA MIN LE G E R PHOTOS B Y COLLI N R IC H IE About 225’s food critic: Benjamin Leger previously served as managing editor for 225 and was the editor of its Taste section from 2012 to 2021, editing, writing and steering the direction of its food coverage in print and online. He is passionate about all things food and food journalism, and has written about the greater Baton Rouge area’s cuisine and culture for nearly two decades.

sugarfarmsla.com 5590 Bayou Paul Road, St. Gabriel Tuesday-Thursday, 4-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

THE BEER GARDEN vibe is something Baton Rouge has truly embraced in the last decade. Picnic tables under a shady canopy of trees, local brews and snacks, leisurely afternoons with friends playing lawn games. But Istrouma Eatery and Brewery is not just a beer garden—it’s a beer farm. On this pastoral acreage in St. Gabriel, you’ll find cows and goats, a ramshackle barn adorned with art, LSU memorabilia, antiques upcycled as bar tables and booths, and, of course, a working brewery supporting a sizable beer menu in its taproom. While Istrouma began chiefly as a brewery, it recently expanded its name to reflect food offerings that have become as much a draw as the beer. In a small dining area (for those who need AC) and on a porch and courtyard equipped with an army of moveable box fans, Istrouma’s kitchen slings out a variety of pizzas, tacos and shareable items. The pizza, in particular, seems to get a lot of love on social media On a hot June evening, I stopped in with friends to see what Istrouma’s grub was all about. But first, we needed a drink. The extensive in-house beer menu varies slightly whether you are in the tap room or out on the porch, but some of the mainstays include the Golden Retriever Blonde Ale and the French Quarter Pale Ale, both equally refreshing this time of year. Housemade lemonades, which also

THE BASICS: Owner John Haynes and general manager Tadd Swart, former home brewers, aimed for an “art farm” vibe when they launched Istrouma Brewery in fall 2020. Located on Sugar Farms in St. Gabriel, visitors can find an art gallery and tap room inside the bright red barn, and a porch and beer garden with a walk-up station for ordering pizzas, tacos and more. WHAT’S A MUST: The pizzas are a hit, with a garlicky crust and toppings as traditional as pepperoni and olives and as varied as a deviled egg, pickled okra and even a “corn dog garnish.” The Hoké Poké Sushi Nachos are a surprising and flavorful appetizer.

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come frozen, provide a non-alcoholic option. On our visit, we tried the blueberry-lavender lemonade, which was more sweet than tart but exactly what was needed for the heat. Knowing we were going to fill up on pizzas, we opted to start with some of the lighter appetizers. First up was the Hummus Plate, which caught my eye because its description mentioned chickpeas, butter beans and black eyed peas. Three different versions of hummus? Not exactly. What came out was one bowl of dip, and I don’t think anyone could have parsed out each flavor. What it did have was a lot of tahini. I love that distinct sesame paste, but my dining partners were put off by the bitterness. The hummus came with pita wedges and slices of raw zucchini, yellow squash and cherry tomatoes that were lightly coated in Parmesan and red pepper. All worthy vessels for hummus, but this wasn’t the highlight of the appetizers. That title went to the Hoké Poké Sushi Nachos. I was curious how a brewery would pull off an Asian fusion dish. Istrouma didn’t disappoint—this turned out to be light, flavorful and Issue Date: June 2022 Ad proof #1 well-executed. • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. Six crunchy wrappers were are received On within the Hoké Poké Sushi Nachos, crunchy wonton wrappers are topped with Sriracha • AD WILL RUN AS ISwonton unless approval or final revisions 24 hours aioli, ahi tuna, avocado, pickled ginger, seaweed salad and a dollop of wasabi aioli. smeared with Sriracha aioli thenwill apply for tight from receipt of thisa proof. A shorter timeframe deadlines. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

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With an “art farm” vibe, the Sugar Farms property houses an art gallery, tap room, porch and beer garden.

The Hummus Plate is served with pita wedges and slices of raw veggies coated in Parmesan and red pepper.

layered with cubes of fresh ahi tuna, avocado, seaweed salad and a dollop of wasabi aioli. Each came with a slice of pickled ginger, too. I was most thankful the aiolis were applied with a delicate touch to keep this from being a goopy mess. This could be an easy choice for someone who just wanted a snack. That wasn’t us, though. We were ready for the pizzas. While the options include two of the just-cheese-and-sauce variety and another featuring chicken, the rest are pork-forward. And we went with that. First up was the Figgy Piggy. Nestled underneath a generous handful of fresh salad greens was a sweet medley of homemade fig preserves (using the owner’s grandfather’s recipe) and al pastor pork swirled with melted mozzarella and homemade red sauce. The menu mentioned a chimichurri, but I didn’t notice it and also didn’t mind. The pork “butt and belly” al pastor (as identified on the menu) was tender, and the preserves had been pleasingly cooked down into the pizza to offer more depth of flavor. Next was the Pig Kahuna, which was absolutely overloaded with more of the pork al pastor, crumbly bacon, pineapple, red onions and jalapeno, as

well as a balsamic reduction drizzle. Of the two pizzas, this one offered more contrast of sweet, savory, sour and pepper heat. Right off the bat, the most talkedabout part of our pizzas was the crust. It was garlicky and salty with a perfect crunch and very clearly homemade. We couldn’t get enough of it. If there was one criticism to be found, it was that the centers of the pizzas were soggy from the weight of all the ingredients. That’s not enough to stop me from going back and ordering more. And this is the kind of place that makes you want to return, and maybe even bring along friends or out-oftowners. While there, we saw a family gathered around a picnic table for a birthday, a couple of college-age friends arranging box fans so they could cool off and sample beers, and a group of tourists on a day excursion while vacationing in New Orleans. Istrouma makes for a great escape, and while its brewery is making a name for itself, the food menu here isn’t just an added bonus. The Istrouma team was smart to add “Eatery” to its name. Of all the reasons to visit, it’s hard to argue with giving the food top billing.

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DINING IN

One-pan Greek dinner BY TR AC EY KOC H P HOTO S B Y AM Y S HU T T

AUGUST IS ONE of our hottest months and even though it is still summer on the calendar, around here the summer holidays are ending. It is once again time for the kids to head back to school and for all of us to return to our more fast-paced daily routines. When my kids were younger, I always felt the pressure of the new school year, dreading the hectic schedules that come with the end of summer holidays. Something that helped me relieve a bit of stress with the new school year’s schedule was to have a few easy one-dish meals that I could prep ahead and have ready to serve in under an hour. This month, I’m turning to Shrimp or Chicken Santorini. It’s one of my favorite do-ahead, single-pan dinners. It’s a delicious, Greek-inspired dish that is easy to make any night of the week and can be served over pasta, rice, couscous or pita bread. I like to pair it with a quick green salad or hummus to make a complete meal.

On the menu • Homemade Hummus with Fresh Veggies • Oven-roasted Shrimp or Chicken Santorini • Baklava Sundae Recipes by Tracey Koch

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Homemade Hummus with Fresh Veggies Hummus is one of my favorite things to snack on. It is full of protein and is a great way to enjoy fresh veggies, pita bread or pretzels. While there are plenty of delicious hummus varieties you can buy premade at your local grocery store, hummus is surprisingly easy to make using just a few simple ingredients. I like making it myself so I can control the amount of sodium and avoid unnecessary additives. To make the process go faster, I use canned garbanzo beans and boil them down with a little fresh lemon juice and garlic. The result is a lighter, more textural hummus. I like to top this with fresh marinated vegetables and serve it on a bed of butter lettuce as an appetizer or side salad.

Servings: 6 For the hummus: 2 16-ounce cans garbanzo beans 3 tablespoons olive oil 3 cloves minced garlic ½ teaspoon fresh lemon zest 2 cups water ½ cup lemon juice ½ teaspoon salt ¼ cup tahini (sesame paste) ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika

1. Drain and rinse the garbanzo beans. Set aside.

2. In a heavy pot, heat the olive oil. Sauté 2 cloves of the garlic and the lemon zest until fragrant, about 10 to 15 seconds.

3. Add the rinsed garbanzo beans and sauté for another minute. Pour in the 2 cups of water, ¼ cup of the lemon juice and the salt. Bring everything up to a boil and then reduce the heat. Simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and allow the garbanzo beans to cool.

4. Drain the beans, reserving 1 cup of the

cooking liquid. Place the garbanzo beans into a food processor.

5. Add the remaining lemon juice and

the rest of the minced garlic. Begin processing. With the food processor running, pour in a little of the reserved cooking liquid a tablespoon at a time until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy.

6. Taste and adjust the seasonings if

needed and then pour into a serving dish. Drizzle the top with the remaining olive oil and sprinkle with the smoked paprika.

For the fresh veggies: ¼ cup red wine vinegar 1 clove minced garlic ¼ teaspoon dried oregano ¼ teaspoon dried mint Pinch of salt and pepper 1/3 cup olive oil 1 cup chopped cucumbers 1 cup chopped tomatoes ½ cup shredded carrots ½ cup sliced Kalamata olives ½ cup fresh chopped spinach 6 leaves butter lettuce, washed and dried

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1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the

vinegar, garlic, dried herbs, salt and pepper. Drizzle in the olive oil until all is incorporated.

2. Add the chopped vegetables, and stir to coat.

3. Place the lettuce leaves onto 6 salad

plates. Put 2 big spoonfuls of the hummus into each lettuce leaf. Top each one with a couple of spoonfuls of the vegetables. Serve.

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Oven Roasted Shrimp or Chicken Santorini

SHRIMP SANTORINI IS a signature Greek dish bursting with sizzling shrimp, sweet tomatoes, rich feta cheese, olive oil and herbs. This dish originated on the Greek island of Santorini and is the epitome of Greek cuisine. Traditionally, it was cooked over a fire in a double-handled copper pot and could be made using a number of other proteins like mussels or chicken. I came up with my own version using all of the same delicious ingredients and then roasting everything together on a baking sheet lined with foil in a 400-degree oven. The result is a yummy one-pan Greek-inspired dinner that is perfect to serve on a busy school night, but it is also fancy enough to serve at your weekend dinner party.

Servings: 6 4 cloves chopped garlic ½ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest ¼ teaspoon dried oregano 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley ¼ teaspoon dried mint ¼ cup fresh lemon juice ¼ cup red wine vinegar ¾ cup olive oil 2 pounds large tail-on shrimp, peeled and deveined, or 2 pounds chicken breast, cut into strips 1 large red onion cut into chunks 10-ounce container grape or cherry tomatoes 1 cup marinated artichoke hearts 1 cup kalamata olives ¼ cup capers ½ cup crumbled feta Orzo pasta or couscous for serving

1. In a mixing bowl, combine

the garlic, salt, red pepper flakes, black pepper, lemon zest, oregano, parsley and mint.

2. Whisk in the lemon juice,

vinegar and olive oil. Set the marinade aside.

3. Place the shrimp or chicken

into a zipper baggie, and pour half of the marinade over to coat. Allow it to marinate for 35 to 45 minutes.

4. Add the red onion, tomatoes, artichokes, olives and capers into a mixing bowl. Toss with the remaining half of the marinade. 5. Heat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with nonstick foil. Set the shrimp or chicken onto the prepared baking sheet, and place it in the oven to roast. For the shrimp, roast for 2 to 3 minutes before adding the remaining vegetables. If using chicken, roast for 10 to 12 minutes before adding the veggies. Roast for another 8 to 10 minutes, or until the tomatoes are just beginning to blister. 6. Remove the pan from the

oven. Sprinkle with the crumbled feta. Serve with orzo pasta or couscous.

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Baklava Sundae

BAKLAVA IS ONE of my favorite desserts. The sweet, chewy nuts with a hit of warm spices sandwiched between the delicate buttery layers of phyllo dough make for the perfect way to end a meal. I did not think this dessert could be any better until I went to the Greek Festival in New Orleans over Memorial Day weekend, where they were serving baklava sundaes. I have been obsessed with this all summer, so I decided to try my own version. I started with sheets of phyllo dough found in the freezer section of most grocery stores. I brushed several layers of the dough with melted butter, then cut the phyllo into 4-inch squares and pressed them into muffin tins to create little phyllo cups. I baked the phyllo cups until a light golden brown and then filled with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I made a topping of toasted chopped pistachios and walnuts tossed in a butter, brown sugar and honey mixture with a hint of orange zest and cinnamon. These sundaes are a delicious, sweet treat that can be made ahead of time. I store the phyllo cups in an airtight container for up to 3 days, and the nut topping will last in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Servings: 6 1 pound phyllo dough 1 stick melted butter ¼ cup light brown sugar ¼ cup honey 1 tablespoon orange zest

Issue Date: AUGUST 2022 Ad proof #3 • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hours from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice 1 teaspoon vanilla ½ teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup rough chopped toasted pistachios 1 cup rough chopped toasted walnuts 1 pint vanilla ice cream

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Place

one sheet of phyllo dough on a cutting board and brush it with a little melted butter. Continue laying the phyllo dough and brushing each layer with a little melted butter until you have 6 or 7 layers. Cut the phyllo into 6 squares and place them into a muffin tin to create little cups.

2. Bake the phyllo cups for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden. Allow the cups to cool completely. Store in an airtight container until you are ready to use them.

3. Pour the remaining melted butter into a heavy sauce pot. Add the brown sugar, honey and orange zest. Stir the mixture over medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Pour in the orange juice, vanilla and cinnamon. Stir to combine. 4. Fold in the toasted chopped pistachios

and walnuts. Toss until nuts are well coated.

5. To serve, fill each phyllo cup with a

scoop of vanilla ice cream. Top them with the nut mixture. Serve.

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This Month [ A U G U S T ]

@ BREC ZOO + ME MORNINGS

BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo Aug. 9 | 9:30-11:30 a.m.

SUMMER SLAM

Check out what BREC has to offer this fall.

BREC.ORG/PLAYBOOK

Perkins Road Community Park Aug. 13 | 3-7 p.m.

FLOATS + FLICKS: LUCA

Anna T. Jordan Community Park Pool Aug. 19 | 6:30-9:30 p.m.

SENIOR DAY Liberty Lagoon Aug. 19 | 3-6 p.m.

HOWELL FLOWER FEST VOLUNTEER PROJECT Howell Community Park Aug. 20 | 9 a.m.-noon

SUP DAWG

Greenwood Community Park

Aug. 27 | 9-10 a.m. + 10-11 a.m. + 11 a.m.-noon

SUNSHINE SOCIAL: GLOW IN THE DARK PARTY

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Aug. 19 | 6-9 p.m.

Skills Day: Aug. 23 | 6-7 p.m. Games Begin Sept. 6

Jefferson Highway Park

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Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center Aug. 20 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

BREC.ORg/thismonth BREC does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, veteran status or sexual orientation in its programs and activities.

CULTURE I N S I D E : Theater collective tackles ‘Student Body’ / Artist’s Perspective / Arts events

Magic carpet ride Beloved children’s theater company Playmakers turns 40 B Y MAGGIE H E YN R ICH A R DSO N // P H OTO S BY CO L L I N R I C HI E

THE LIGHTS WENT down, the music piped up, and the audience sat, rapt. Depression-era orphans slammed down mop buckets in time, belting out a song about their hard-knock lives. Charming orphan Annie dreamed of finding her parents, while villainous Miss Hannigan mused of a world free of little girls. This was Annie Jr., Playmakers of Baton Rouge’s June musical, and the company’s first since the COVID-19 disruption. Like every show Playmakers has performed since it opened four decades ago, young children were invited to come down from their seats and sit where the action is the most magical and immersive—on a square of carpet in front of the stage. During each of the company’s performances, the actors, comprised mostly of children and teens, aim to ensure that the kid spectators fall helplessly into the story, and perhaps even dream of being on stage themselves one day. Indeed, some youngsters will be inspired to enroll in a Playmakers camp, or audition for a future show. “When people ask me about Playmakers, it’s that carpet square right down in front,” says executive director Todd Henry. “That’s what we tell the actors before curtain. That’s who you’re doing the show for, those kids on the carpet.” This month, Playmakers opens its 40th season as Baton Rouge’s premier professional theater company for young audiences. The company, housed at LSU’s Reilly Theatre, stages three performances in the theater annually, and offers popular acting classes and summer camps where future Playmakers’ kid performers often get their start. Playmakers also creates and stages traveling shows for schools and public libraries.

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The arts organization’s long history in Baton Rouge is a notable accomplishment, especially for a grassroots nonprofit that was launched by four theater students in the early ’80s. Friends and LSU School of Theatre graduate students Pabby Arnold, Charlotte Nordyke, Deborah Griffitts Hining and Sylvia Martinez had grown tired of the lack of professional companies in Baton Rouge where actors could be paid for their work, a common concern among burgeoning theater professionals trying to build their actors’ resumes, Arnold says. Then, they had an idea. “We had a visiting professor who told us to quit bellyaching and start something,” recalls Arnold, now an East Baton Rouge Parish librarian. “So we looked around to make sure we were starting something that didn’t already exist, and we found opportunity in a professional theater company for young audiences.” With help from the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, the group created a nonprofit and recruited actors from theater programs at LSU and Southern University. They opened their first season in 1982, staging shows in the Arts Council’s previous home in the old Bogan Fire Station on

SEE A SHOW Playmakers of Baton Rouge’s next show, Junie B. Jones, The Musical is Aug. 19-28. Get tickets at playmakersbr.org.

Laurel Street, where Playmakers would perform for many years. The inaugural season included the shows Two Pails of Water; Blackberry Dancing; Gris Gris Pie; and The Wind in the Willows, the story of four animal friends, Toad, Rat, Mole and Badger, living in the English countryside. “We made sure that the scripts we chose were easy enough for children to understand, but also had enough subplot for adults to enjoy,” says Arnold, who ran the company for several years with Nordyke. That first season, Arnold and Nordyke started what would become a Playmakers tradition. They asked local carpet companies to donate carpet sample squares that could serve as a seating option for kids. Scattered on the floor directly in front of the stage, the squares were an invitation for children down in front to express

themselves spontaneously as the story unfolded. A lot has happened since that first season, including years of sharing space with the Baton Rouge Little Theatre (now Theatre Baton Rouge), and moving for a time to the Manship Theatre. Throughout its history, though, Playmakers’ performances have always cast many children and teens. And as a professional theater company, it can hire adult actors. Most come from the LSU School of Theatre, one of Playmakers’ main partners. This duality of bringing together kids with professional talent makes Playmakers a valuable arts asset, says Manship Theatre executive director Melanie Couvillon, who served as Playmakers’ executive director from 2005 to 2010 and performed in the company as a teen and young adult. “It was professional in every sense of the word, so actors are learning all those important life lessons about working in the theater, like ‘being early is being on time,’” Couvillon says. Along with its staged productions, acting classes and camps, Playmakers routinely hits the road with touring shows. Wally Wise Guy is its best known, a public service program

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featuring a turtle mascot named Wally Wise Guy, who uses silly dance steps to teach his friend Sammy Safeguard how to shelter in place during a chemical emergency. The shows are funded by ExxonMobil and other area chemical companies, and they typically reach more than 10,000 students a year, Henry says. “In a regular year, we’re doing multiple shows a day,” Henry says. “Sammy does all the work, but the kids go crazy for Wally.” Each year, hundreds of children take part in Playmakers’ classes and camps, which build confidence, communication skills and an appreciation for the arts, says Amanda Burge, Playmakers’ education coordinator. “It’s important to us to make sure the kids in our camps are aware that they can come audition for a show,” says Burge, whose son, Logan, 17, has been acting in Playmakers’ productions for 10 years. Among other Playmakers of Baton Rouge practicing for the June production of Annie, Jr. Executive director Todd Henry (center) reads a script with Adelaide Overall (one of two actors who playedAnnie), Laney Wingate (Tessie), Terrolyn Woodridge (Pepper), Kristen Robinson (Kate) and Riley Keranen (Molly).

roles, Logan played James in James in the Giant Peach, and most recently, Rooster in Annie, Jr. He started acting in Playmakers’ shows after participating in one of its summer camps at age 7. Logan, who plans to become a teacher, says being involved in Playmakers’ has yielded new friends and skills. “For me, it’s helped with speaking, singing, dancing and being more open,” Logan says. “It’s helped me to communicate.” This month, Playmakers kicks off its 40th season with a reboot of a popular show it staged five years ago, Junie B. Jones, The Musical. The cast includes many of the same young actors who performed in 2017, including Logan Burge reprising his role as Herb, and Evie Trahan, a regular Playmakers performer, starring again as Junie B. Jones. Casting teens to play children isn’t unusual for the company, which often blurs age lines between actors and the roles they play. At the end of the day, its goal is to put on a show that entertains families. “It’s such a wonderful organization,” Couvillon says. “I can’t imagine Baton Rouge without it.” playmakersbr.org

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THE ATE R

‘Teaching tool’

By Zane Piontek

225 Theatre Collective hopes staging ‘Student Body,’ a play about sexual assault, provides a learning opportunity

—A grateful Mother in Louisiana

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THE TERM “STUDENT BODY” tends to evoke images of pep rallies, sporting events and good-natured collegiate camaraderie. But in the context of Frank Winters’ play by the same name, which local theater company 225 Theatre Collective will perform in the fall, the words stand for something much graver. Student Body represents the individual bodies of victims and aggressors, and the collective body of students in which the tumultuous aftermath of sexual assault unfolds. This one-act play, which will run at LSU’s Union Theatre from Aug. 26-28, examines the fractious scourge of sexual assault on college campuses. But after sitting down with the 10-member cast, what really strikes me is how remarkably little information about the play is available beyond the basic description. Originally produced as an Off Broadway show in

the mid-2010s, Student Body has since been kept somewhat under wraps. “It is really just 10 people locked in a room having an argument for about an hour about this particular issue,” cast member Kalli Champagne tells me during our June interview. This was about as much plot as any cast member would betray, and throughout the conversation it became evident that they—and everyone else who’s ever executed this show—keep it that way for good reason. “It feels like this (play) is a teaching tool,” Champagne continues. “Some people have gone a very long time not knowing that what happened to them was assault, and was wrong, and I’m really hoping that, if anything, this is a teaching tool (that) can shine a light on this issue.” Champagne’s words touch on one of Student Body’s key themes: the oppressive insistence on silence

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DREAM BIG READY

“I hope that the right people show up and that the people who really need to see this can see it.”

Get for

—Cast member Jordan Hebert

ATTENDANCE

SCHOOL!

T ARTIS

R CTO DOCTOR

TEACHER

is the first step

SCIENT IST

GET UP

YOU CAN

and

to school

2022 2023

PRESENT

SCHOOL YEAR

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that often plagues survivors of these crimes, whether it comes from family, peers or—especially in this play— college administrations. But the cast members say the play explores much more than just that. It plumbs all the murky gray areas that swirl around instances of sexual assault and “hold(s) a mirror up to society,” according to cast member Jordan Hebert. “The fact that we’re bringing awareness to it at LSU,” adds cast member and LSU junior Alyssa Haddox, “especially with everything that happens here, is really important.” Though the show is about college students, the local cast ranges in age from 17 to 30, including some current and former LSU students. They all agree the location of the performance— and the audience they hope will be drawn there—are integral to staging this production.

“Putting on this production makes me feel a little more comfortable here (at LSU),” Haddox adds. “Hopefully it allows other people to feel comfortable.” But by the same token, she says she hopes the play will “make it uncomfortable for everybody” by forcing people to look head-on at something many prefer to ignore. The cast says their passion for this production draws just as much from the real world it speaks to as the fictional world it creates. As Hebert says, that fictional world is a mirror that forces a lens on the ugly parts of reality that some try to brush out of sight. So, if you’d like to learn more about the play and all the unseemly mechanics of the world it depicts, you’re welcome to do your own research—but you won’t find much. To see all its dark nooks and crannies illuminated, you’ll just have to see Student Body for yourself.

COLLIN RICHIE

SEE THE SHOW 225 Theatre Collective’s fall production of Student Body runs Aug. 26-28 at LSU’s Union Theatre. Find more info on tickets and showtimes at 225theatrecollective.com/ nightofmonologues.

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225-925-8710

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ARTIST’S PERSPEC TIVE

Travis ‘ArtSoulLife’ Pickett’s

Musical woodwork “ALL OF MY art that I make now is based on music. I kind of had to step back, recalibrate and figure out what I love. Music was the one thing I went to for sure. I have zero musical skills, but I wanted to pay homage to music. The turnatables that I make started as static turntables. Eventually, I figured out how to make them move. Now, the next step is: Make it play music. I want to make a new, 100% functional, turntable box that is a work of art in itself. I like experimenting with different types of wood. They all take to the stain and paint differently. I got tired of just painting flat surfaces. I really wanted to add some depth. Everything I make now is dedicated to not just music, but the feeling you get from music. There’s a set of pieces in my ‘Empty Orchestra’ show that are the chemical compounds that your body naturally creates when you’re in a state of euphoria. That’s something I equate to being on the dance floor. It’s a natural kind of freedom that your body gives you.”

–AS TOLD TO CYNTHEA CORFAH

TRAVIS ‘ARTSOULLIFE’ PICKETT is a Baton Rouge visual artist who makes “musically infused woodwork.” The 32-year-old’s vivid, hand-painted and -stained wooden sculptures celebrate music icons, instruments, tools and culture. Pickett’s woodwork features legendary music artists like Prince, Outkast and Anderson .Paak. He builds wooden sculptures from home with cedar, plywood and power tools. His work is rich in color, inspired by the vibrancy in pop art. He paints his pieces with bright colors like sunflower yellow, Nickelodeon orange, lime green and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory violet. Pickett has shown his sculptures at pop-up events and art exhibitions throughout Louisiana, Texas and Colorado. This year, he plans to release abstract art and create artistic functioning turntables that can play records. Find him on Instagram @artsoullife.

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AUG. 13 Go back in time with Louisiana tribute act The Chee-Weez at L’Auberge Casino & Hotel. This COURTESY L’AUBERGE CASINO & HOTEL five-piece band will be rocking with classic covers and using special stage lights, lasers and pyro to bring an unforgettable show. lbatonrouge.com

AUG. 18 Actor, comedian and writer Deon Cole is stopping at L’Auberge Casino and Hotel for a standup show. You may recognize Cole from his hit roles on shows like Blackish and Grownish, but A EC RG now, he’s embarking on UBE COURTESY L’A a stand-up tour. Get ready to laugh along with Cole as he entertains with jokes and hilarious stories. lbatonrouge.com

SI NO

AUG. 5 The Walls Project celebrates 10 years of colorful murals and public art; generating income for creative professionals; and making an impact on the community’s buildings and people alike. Join the organization for an anniversary celebration at Chelsea’s Live featuring an art auction, live music and so much more. thewallsproject.org

MUSIC BEST BETS

AUG. 13 Head over to Mid-City Artisans Art Gallery and Learning Center for an art-show opening for artist Joi Whiley. Whiley’s exhibit is titled “Pink Painted Prayers: Expressions of Art, faith, and Joy.” The artist will be giving a talk about the same subject matter as her exhibit. She will also be recognizing those who have made her journey possible and contributed to her success as an artist. mid-cityartisans.com

&H OTE L

COURTESY BATON ROUGE GALLERY

AUG. 3 Come see Baton Rouge Gallery’s new exhibit, “Cloudburst,” at its First Wednesday Opening. Baton Rouge artist Matt Kenyon’s work has been displayed across the globe, but this is his largest exhibit yet—and his first in his hometown. His work explores issues such as climate change, housing insecurity and more, including a piece inspired by the August 2016 floods. batonrougegallery.org

AUG. 18-21 Watch L. Frank Baum’s beloved story come to life as Theatre Baton Rouge’s Young Actors Program presents The Wizard of Oz. Follow the yellow brick road along with Dorothy, Toto and their friends as they escape the Wicked Witch and seek their hearts’ desires. theatrebr.org

AUG. 13 Hotel Burgundy stages a comeback at The Varsity. Returning from a study-abroad hiatus, this local college band will be performing songs from its original album as well as covers. varsitytheatre.com AUG. 13 Bust out your boots and get ready to dance and sing along as Jessie James Decker (author, singersongwriter, TV personality and more) and country artist Adam Doleac take the stage at The Texas Club. thetexasclub.com

COURTESY HOTEL BURGUNDY

AUG. 27 Experience a truly unique show when Boris takes the stage at Chelsea’s Live. This Japanese experimental rock band has been putting out music since the ’90s. chelseaslive.com

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Dyslexia is NOT my Disability, it’s my

CALENDAR //

August

Where play aro to Baton R und o this monuge th C ompiled b y Olivia Deff es

! r e w o p r e p u S JORDAN HEFLER / COURTESY FAMILY DINNER COMEDY TROUPE

ications Accepting appl 4th t 1s in grades

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Baton Rouge’s leader in the

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C hampions We dress

everyday.

SPOOKS AND SPOOF The Family Dinner Comedy Troupe is bringing Halloween to town a little bit early this year with a special showing of Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice for a Spoof Night. Watch the classic film while hearing the troupe’s hilarious, interactive commentary. manshiptheatre.org

6-7

CALLING ALL COMICS FANS Mid City Micro-Con, organized by the East Baton Rouge Parish Library, connects local comics fans and creators. Striving to bring more inclusivity to the fandom world, the event promises to highlight diverse heroes and comics with positive representation. Come dressed as your favorite character and meet with Baton Rouge authors, creators and fans. You’re sure to find new books and stories to add to your collection. ebrpl.com

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AUG. 6: White Linen Night, artsdistrictneworleans.com AUG. 6-7: Satchmo Summerfest, satchmosummerfest.org AUG. 13: Red Dress Run, noh3.com

COURTESY EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY

Grades 1-12

At The Brighton School, we prepare and empower students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences to succeed.

504

CALENDAR //

ALSO THIS MONTH ALL MONTH Get some weekend shopping done at The Market at the Oasis. Every Saturday, you can browse homemade goods from a variety of rotating local vendors. If you grow or make something you’d like to sell, contact the market about being a vendor. themarketattheoasis.com

LLIN

RIC HIE

AUG. 5 Every month, Tin Roof Brewing Company brings the whole family together with Family Night. The brewery brings in entertainment for the kiddos like face painters, bounce houses, craft activities and more, while parents get to enjoy a craft beer. tinroofbeer.com

NOT SO HIDDEN GEMS Gander on shining treasures at the Baton Rouge Gem and Mineral Show at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. Grow your crystal and gem collection by purchasing one-of-a-kind pieces from various vendors. There will also be a selection of jewelry, fossils and petrified wood pieces. Grab a raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes like 11-pound geodes and large amethyst towers. brgemandmineral.org

AUG. 13 Phoenix 1 and The Royal Hearts Foundation presents Safe Space, a witty and real drama showing at Manship Theatre. This performance follows three men and their life struggles. They must come together to find a safe space to share their experiences and grow from their past. manshiptheatre.org AUG. 20 Baton Rouge Gallery hosts a special Kids Night edition of its summer film series, Movies and Music on the Lawn. Instead of a classic silent film, the gallery will play the 2007 movie Shaun the Sheep. This animated film will be accompanied by music played by students from Baton Rouge Music Studios. For even more fun, Knock Knock Museum will be on-site with activities for children to complete before the movie. batonrougegallery.org

FEAST AT THE FÊTE Be sure to bring your appetite to the 2022 Fête Rouge. With more than 30 chefs and restaurants competing for the Gold Medal award, plus 200 wines, there’s plenty to sip, taste and enjoy. This year’s event will be held at L’Auberge Casino and Hotel, complete with music and entertainment. bresbr.org/fete-rouge

STOCK PHOTO

AUG. 27 Shop local for all your backto-school essentials at Local Pop-Up’s August Market. This outdoor market at Electric Depot has plenty of vendors selling everything from plants and homemade bread to organic soaps and waterproof jewelry. localpopup.shop

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