225 Magazine [December 2021] by Baton Rouge Business Report

DECEMBER 2021 • FREE 2021'S NEW RESTAURANTS 14 TACEAUX TUESDAY 69 HOLIDAY EVENTS 74

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UPFRONT //

Weekend plans ARE YOU READY for 2022? Either way, we’re hoping this month’s issue of 225 will be the first step in helping you get there. One of my new year’s goals is always to try new things, and that’s what our December cover story is all about. Our team has collected ideas for 12 great weekends you’ll want to pencil into your agenda books. We’ve sorted them by month so you can plan a new adventure for every month of the year. For a chilly weekend in January, you can warm up inside a cozy brewery from our beer tour itinerary. Five new breweries have opened in the Capital Region since 2019, so we’re highlighting some of the hotspots to make for a fun and hoppy weekend. In February, we’re exploring local history through area walking tours, including the new Louisiana Civil Rights Trail. For spring break in March, we suggest you skip the airline hassles and staycation right here in Baton Rouge BY JULIO MELARA instead. We’re spotlighting some luxe hotels and unique Airbnbs in town. In April, we have some ideas for U-pick berry farms a short drive away. (Plus, did you know there’s a Louisiana farm where you can pick everything from apples and peaches to figs and persimmons throughout the year?) In May, pack the kids into the car and drive to Prehistoric Park, where they can get up-close-andpersonal with a 30-foot-long brachiosaurus and 25 other life-sized dinosaurs. As the calendar turns to June, we’re taking you to the sunflower fields— which are closer to home and more accessible than you might think. In July, we’re hitting the water with Last Wilderness Swamp Tours. If you haven’t been on a swamp tour, you have to go at least once in your life— Issue Date: Dec 2021 Ad proof #1 and Last Wilderness offers a one-of• Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. a-kind ride through the Atchafalaya • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hours Basin. 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. venture out on a In August,

culinary tour of Louisiana, using local chefs’ picks for the most delicious restaurants around the state. And by fall, it’s all about spooky scares and holiday light displays. Some of our ideas are right here in town, while others are worthy day-trip destinations around 45 minutes away. We hope they’re helpful in planning your best year ever. Turn to page 32 to start exploring!

Local legacy For decades, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation has been the behindthe-scenes force guiding some of the city’s most groundbreaking projects. You can thank it for its work on everything from the Red Stick Farmers Market and the Shaw Center for the Arts to the revitalization of downtown and the creation of the Water Campus. President and CEO John G. Davies was the visionary and has led the organization since 1988, during which time it has seen massive growth and donor interest. Davies will be retiring in the first quarter of next year, so 225 sat down with him to recount his journey. He shares how the organization got to where it is today, what he’s most proud of, what’s next and—perhaps most importantly—the trait he sees as Baton Rouge’s biggest strength. Turn to page 21 to read it all.

Weekly ritual Every Tuesday, the line for tacos is wrapped around the patio at Culture Reggae Club. This is Taceaux Tuesday, a gathering of local musicians, visual artists and creatives. Event coordinator Patrick Harrington curates a lineup of music to dance to, vendors to shop from, and, of course, tacos to try. Vendors like Fresh Cravings, BR Guilty Pleasures and Birriannas dish out street corn, tacos and a range of Mexican fare, while Harrington and other local DJs spin on the turntables.

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It’s a night that’s all about connecting with up-and-coming artists and small businesses. “We have a lot of talent in Baton Rouge that hasn’t even been recognized yet,” Harrington says. “I’m trying to give those creatives a platform.” Turn to page 69 for more.

New eats We don’t need to tell you it’s been another hard year for restaurants. But that makes it more impressive how much the culinary sector has grown this year. Even in the midst of equipment and labor shortages and ingredient price increases, Baton Rouge’s restaurant scene has seen a flurry of activity. Starting on page 14, we’re recounting 10 of the biggest culinary arrivals this year. Leola’s Cafe and Coffee House brought us a clever “brunchish” menu in Mid City. Proverbial Wine Bistro taught us how to pair dinner, dessert and brunch with cocktails, beer and wine. Rêve Coffee Lab and Southern Cafe both changed our vision of what a coffee shop can be. And SoLou reminded us “there’s no place like south Louisiana.” In between it all, we’ve seen more pop-ups and food trucks than ever; restaurant expansions and location changes; and so much more. It’s been quite a year. On behalf of all of us at 225, thanks for reading our publication this year. Wishing you all a merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah and a prosperous new year! We will see you in 2022—the best is yet to come!

CONTENTS //

Features 24 How the Golden Girls

went viral during the pandemic

31 Behind the making of

Baton Rouge’s first hostel

64 Recipes for a comforting holiday breakfast at home

69 How a Taco Tuesday event became a cultural hotspot And much more … ON THE COVER

Departments 12 What’s Up 21 Our City 31 I am 225 32 Cover story 53 Style 59 Taste 69 Culture 74 Calendar

12 weekend adventures Staff photographer Collin Richie traversed the woods of East Feliciana Parish to get this shot of Magnolia Ridge Adventure Park zip line instructor Justin LaPrairie coming down the final stretch of the zip line course on the edge of the Comite River. (It’s also the longest zip line in the state at 900 feet!) The park’s exciting course is just one suggestion in our month-to-month guide to fun activities in and around Baton Rouge. Turn to page 32 for more, and use it to plan ahead for an eventful 2022.

JORDAN HEFLER

53 8

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A S K T H E S TA FF

Favorite day trip destination? Publisher: Julio Melara

EDITORIAL

“St. Francisville is always such an easy escape. I love going on a hike in Tunica Hills or Clark Creek and then rewarding myself with a meal at Magnolia Cafe. Or if it’s a special night, the St. Francisville Inn has gorgeous dining rooms and a fantastic bar.” —Benjamin Leger

Editorial director: Penny Font Editor: Jennifer Tormo Managing editor: Benjamin Leger Features writer: Maggie Heyn Richardson Digital content editor: Dillon Lowe Staff photographer: Collin Richie Contributing writers: Cynthea Corfah, Olivia Deffes, Brittney Forbes, Elle Marie, Tracey Koch, Stephanie Riegel Contributing photographers: Ariana Allison, Amy Shutt

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“Lake Rosemound in St. Francisville. I can always go for a sunset booze cruise.” —Tim Coles

MARKETING

“We’re planning to go to Abita Springs on a cool day this fall. Riding bikes on the Tammany Trace, visiting the Abita Brewery and the Abita Mystery House are on the agenda.” —Tiffany Durocher

Chief marketing officer: Elizabeth McCollister Hebert Marketing & events assistant: Taylor Falgout Events: Abby Hamilton Community liaison: Jeanne McCollister McNeil

ADMINISTR ATION

Assistant business manager: Tiffany Durocher Business associate: Kirsten Milano Office coordinator: Tara Lane Receptionist: Cathy Brown

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Audience development director and digital manager: James Hume Audience development coordinator: Ivana Oubre Audience development associate: Jordan Kozar A publication of Louisiana Business Inc. Chairman: Rolfe H. McCollister Jr. Executive assistant: Tara Broussard President and CEO: Julio Melara Executive assistant: Brooke Motto

“We love going down to NOLA on a Sunday for brunch at Jack Rose. It’s the best when we can also make it over to We Bite Rare & Unusual Plants or Canopy Plant Co. Both have awesome selections of rare plants that you just can’t find in BR.” —Brooke Motto

9029 Jefferson Highway, Suite 300 Baton Rouge, LA 70809 225-214-5225 • FAX 225-926-1329 225batonrouge.com ©Copyright 2021 by Louisiana Business Incorporated. All rights reserved by LBI. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. Business address: 9029 Jefferson Highway, 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.

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NO VEM

Showing some love for our November cover story all about Baton Rouge’s biggest trends in food:

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BER 202 1 • FRE E

ON ROU

HOLIDAY MEA LS 14 BR FRO M ABOVE 29 PIZZ A BYR ONZ 63 GE .CO M

“I get excited every time you guys feature food in your issue! ” —@lindsey_h311 E

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IN LL

“The future is food ” in Baton Rouge

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Missy Couhig, owner of The Conundrum bookstore

On our breakdown of what makes The Village’s bread so special from the October issue:

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Time to shop

About the November issue’s story on The Conundrum bookshop in St. Francisville:

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The bigges Baton Rou t trends inside ge and kitchen restaurants s that keeps in a world changing

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December

Mixologist Alan Walter has built a national reputation for his inventive drinks. Now, he’s in Baton Rouge, recently brought on by City Group Hospitality to bring new ideas to its bar programs, including Beausoleil Coastal Cuisine.

[225] December 2021 | 225batonrouge.com

COLLIN RICHIE

Spirited away ASK BARTENDER Alan Walter if he follows certain rules when making cocktails, and he can’t respond fast enough. “No,” he says gamely. “I break them.” Over the last 15 years, the mixologist has built a national reputation for eschewing tradition and preparing drinks in a manner that’s a lot culinary and a little mad science. Sure, he’ll make you an Old Fashioned the old-fashioned way. But he’d rather serve one that incorporates, say, toasted birdseed—an inspiration that once hit while Walter was shopping for cat food. There, across from the Meow Mix, lay bags of birdseed, prompting him to think, why not? Walter’s barside flair garnered attention first at the boutique New Orleans restaurant Iris, and for the last several years at the International House Hotel’s stylish Loa Bar. Now, he’s in Baton Rouge, recently brought on by City Group Hospitality to bring new ideas to its bar program. The group operates nine restaurants in the Capital City, including the recently opened Proverbial Wine Bistro, and the casual eatery and speakeasy, Spoke ‘N’ Hub, opening next year. “(We’re) thrilled to have Alan join our team, bringing his amazing expertise,” City Group Hospitality Managing Partner Stephen Hightower says. “He has the unique talent to become a storyteller through his crafted cocktails.” This, of course, bodes well for local cocktail enthusiasts. Walter’s alchemist’s approach has led him to blend gin and scotch with delectable results, to play around with clover, Spanish moss and pine needles, and to scour Asian markets for roots, tubers, herbs and rhizomes for an unexpected ingredient to fine-tune a libation’s profile. Just one example is adding ginger-like galangal to London dry gin, sake and pineapple nectar. But pushing the envelope on cocktail assembly isn’t done willy-nilly, he says. “It’s like what Bob Dylan said, ‘To live outside the law, you must be honest,’” Walter muses. “In other words, you can break the rule, but it has to prove itself.” At Loa, Walter earned the nickname “Spirit Handler,” thanks to a four-page cocktail menu strewn with drinks built with handmade syrups and infusions, fresh ingredients and high-end intoxicants. For City Group Hospitality’s concepts, Walter says he plans to complement what’s already working and use the bar program to highlight each chef’s culinary point of view. So far, Walter has spent time at Proverbial, and recently shifted his focus to Beausoleil Coastal Cuisine, where he’ll be working to create new cocktails that dovetail with the restaurant’s seafood focus. Walter says he’s particularly excited about tapping the wares of local farmers. This year’s lower yield citrus crop due to Hurricane Ida will have him on the prowl for grapefruit and oranges, he says. He’s also excited about what else he might incorporate from the Red Stick Farmers Market, like maybe fungi from Mushroom Maggie’s Farm? For Walter, everything’s in play. “It’s funny about cocktails, because they don’t do a damn thing for anyone except give them a buzz,” Walter says. “They’re not filling your belly. They’re not giving you vitamins. So it’s like, why not have that be an area where there are little surprises?” beausoleilcoastal.com

—MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON

W H AT ’ S U P / /

2021 performance will deliver the same yuletide resonance it’s known for. Along with local dancers, who have been preparing for months, the ballet company’s guest artists include Francisco Estevez, former principal dancer with the Colorado Ballet; Gabi Lukasik of the Boulder Ballet; Baton Rouge native and Cirque du Soleil performer Neal Courter; and BRBT alumni Riley Richard, Marlon Grigsby and Patrick Jefferson. Buchmann says the show will also incorporate high-quality animated projections of The Nutcracker’s original sets, which Baton Rouge-based director and videographer André Chapoy created for BRBT when the show moved to the arena in 2018. And once again, the dancers will be accompanied by the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. batonrougeballet.org

FILE PHOTO BY KRISTIN SELLE

Festival of Lights returns DOWNTOWN BATON ROUGE’S annual holiday celebration is back in person this year. The Festival of Lights includes the city’s official Christmas tree lighting, fireworks, ice skating and a real snow village. Coordinated by the Downtown Development District and the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, it all takes place Friday, Dec. 4. Expect the countdown of the lighting of the city’s 25-foot Christmas tree to begin at 6:20 p.m., followed by fireworks over the Mississippi River. Head inside the Old State Capitol for pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Senate chamber (you provide the camera), then stroll across to the House chamber to take in a holiday movie. The Snow Village in Repentance Park, blanketed with 10 tons of real snow, is open to kids ages 5 to 15, and the lower level of the River Center plaza will feature a small kids’ ice skating rink for children ages 5 to 10, with plenty of space for parents to watch. Work in some Christmas shopping at the Artist Village—a T gathering of local makers—on the lawn IC R I ST of Rhorer Plaza. Food vendors will be on TD COU EN R T ES OPM Y DO W N site, too. downtownbatonrouge.org TOWN DEVEL FIND MORE HOLIDAY events on pages 50, 73 and 74.

“If WFP can describe on this Twitter thread exactly how $6 billion will solve world hunger, I will sell Tesla stock right now and do it.” —CEO of Tesla and SpaceX Elon Musk, in response to a tweet from United Nations’ World Food Programme director David Beasley that it was time for the ultra-rich to address world hunger. Another Twitter user suggested that 2% of Musk’s fortune, which skyrocketed in 2021 due to the rise in Tesla’s stock price, would total $6 billion. T Beasley later commented that IA OC ASS $6 billion wouldn’t solve world hunger, but it would prevent political instability and mass migration and would save 42 million people on the brink of starvation.

last-minute call to stage the show in an alternative space. For expediency’s sake, it opted for the River Center Ballroom, rather than the larger, more cumbersome arena, where it staged shows in 2018 and 2019. About 1,000 tickets will be available for each show this year, Buchmann says. BRBT has been working with the River Center to design a floor plan offering spectators the best viewing experience, while also following health and accessibility guidelines. “The visual experience is very important to us,” Buchmann says. “We’ve been working on sight lines to make sure every seat has good visibility. And we’re making sure we have social distancing, and spacing for wheelchairs.” The venue change notwithstanding, Buchmann says the

IT’S BEEN TWO YEARS since spectators have experienced one of the city’s beloved holiday traditions, Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre’s original The Nutcracker—A Tale from the Bayou. Shuttered in 2020 due to COVID-19, the iconic ballet is back this month. Performances will be staged Dec. 18-19, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. “There’s nothing like having a live audience,” says BRBT co-artistic director Molly Buchmann. “The local dancers are really strong, and we’ll have great guest artists, as well.” BRBT had looked forward to staging the show in the refreshed River Center Performing Arts Theatre, under renovation since 2018. But a shipment of the auditorium’s new seats was delayed by Hurricane Ida and thwarted the scheduled September completion. BRBT had to make a

‘The Nutcracker’ pivots again

8,000

The number of fresh Christmas trees ordered this year for Louisiana Nursery’s three Baton Rouge locations. The longtime local nursery receives trees in 15 deliveries over the course of the season to ensure their freshness, says Louisiana Nursery owner-president Mitch Mayes. The most popular? Frazier Fir. It makes up about half of the trees purchased. louisiananursery.com

COURTESY BATON ROUGE BALLET THEATRE

DIGITS

EXPLAINER While it might seem like there are a growing number of Teslas on the road in Louisiana, it’s not because they’re easy to buy here. Tesla sells direct to consumers—not through dealerships—and a state law signed by Gov. John Bel Edwards in 2017 bans car companies from using direct-toconsumer car sales. 225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2021

W H AT ’ S U P / /

GEAUX SEE ART EXPLORE THE LSU MUSEUM OF ART

W H AT ’ S N E W

Year in review 10 culinary arrivals that 2021 gifted Baton Rougeans Compiled by Jennifer Tormo

ARIANA ALLISON

Winter

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The perfect holiday gift!

1. Leola’s Cafe and Coffee House 1857 Government St. Corey and Leann Ringe opened this Mid City “brunch-ish” and “lunch-ish” hangout Jan. 9. Those who frequented the former Yvette Marie’s cafe in this spot at Circa 1857 will appreciate the new space’s nostalgic mismatched chairs and original brick and wood details. But a menu loaded with items like the “Bro-Rito,” “Basic B Breakfast,” and seasonal pancake flights keep things feeling youthful and fresh. leolascafeandcoffeehouse.com

2. Rêve Coffee Lab

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8211 Village Plaza Court, Building 4 Mixology isn’t just for cocktails. The baristas at Rêve prove it. Locals first met the Lafayette brand at its former White Star Market coffee and tea stand. But its new Village at Willow Grove location, which opened Jan. 18, has really given the shop a chance to grow. Its drinks are some of the craftiest in town, from the color-morphing “Mood Tea” to the Reese’s-inspired “Cloudy with a Chance of Peanuts” cold brew. The cafe also serves brunch daily, all in a space styled with earthy ceramic tiles and leather accents. Find it on Instagram at @revecoffeelab.btr

COLLIN RICHIE

HOMEMADE TREATS DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR

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3. Rio Tacos & Tequila

333 Third St. The colorful Mexican-inspired restaurant by restaurateur Chad Hughes opened Jan. 15, beckoning downtown passersby with its vibrant, tile-covered front patio. Inside, the space is just as stylish, splashed with floor-to-ceiling murals by Marc Fresh and wood, brick and rattan accents. On the menu: street corn and tacos; empanadas; fajitas; quesadillas; and margaritas and palomas. Find it on Facebook

4. SoLou

7246 Perkins Road “There’s no place like south Louisiana,” declares a bright neon sign on the SoLou patio. That’s just what restaurateurs Peter Sclafani, Kiva Guidroz and Michael Boudreaux set out to showcase at SoLou. Modern Louisiana cuisine (See: the shrimp corn dogs; an alligator hot dog; and boudin quesadillas) is served against a backdrop of custom-designed wallpaper printed with Louisiana birds and magnolia blossoms. The March 15 arrival reimagined the space formerly occupied by The Rum House. eatsolou.com

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More new arrivals

ARIANA ALLISON

Mobile moments The food truck scene is more fun than ever, with 2021 arrivals like Sno Juice, serving snoball creations in all-organic flavors around Baton Rouge and Denham Springs, and Abu Omar Halal, a Houston-born halal food truck dishing out shawarma, kabobs and falafel on Coursey Boulevard. City Group Hospitality launched its City Taco brand as a self-described “ghost kitchen” inside City Slice. And Brandon Thomsen and Jeff Herman are trying to make a name for Louisiana barbecue with their Oak and Smoke pop-up, seen at local breweries.

Holiday Shopping MADE EASY

ARIANA ALLISON

New locations Existing concepts saw plenty of growth and location shuffles, too, with City Pork opening a new location at Highland Park Marketplace, Bistro Byronz moving its Mid City location to the former White Star Market building, Royal Taste of Jamaica moving into the former Christina’s spot downtown, and Blue Store Chicken opening another location on North Boulevard near Baton Rouge Community College.

Pizza places 5. Southern Cofé

501 Main St. Southern Cofe is currently in the process of upgrading its original Scotlandville location, and that’s not the only big move it made this year. Owner Horatio Isadore opened his bright downtown location March 1 inside Main Street Market. The cafe serves smoothies, juices, coffee and tea, as well as healthy food like soups and sandwiches. It was a landmark move, too—as Isadore explained to 225 after the opening: “I can’t recall that a business from north Baton Rouge expanded to downtown. You always see it the other way around.” Find it on Instagram at @southerncofe

6. Bites and Boards

8201 Village Plaza Court, #1C Robyn Nicosia Parker’s popular cheese and charcuterie brand leveled up to its first brick-and-mortar shop at The Village at Willow Grove, which held a grand opening June 12. Inside, visitors can shop cheese, charcuterie, grazeto-go boxes and lots of other gourmet goodies. They can also order custom boards—or even take a cheeseboard class. bitesandboards.com

Quick-fired pizza shops are on the rise, from the bumblebee-themed The Hive on Siegen Lane to Pizza Artista inside Rouzan, where the pies are stacked with Louisiana ingredients.

Show-stopping desserts The Yard Milkshake Bar hails from Alabama, but its new local spot serves plenty of Instagrammable milkshakes themed around Baton Rouge and LSU. At the Capital City location of Crumbl Cookies, more than 120 elaborately decorated cookie flavors rotate weekly. Find all the restaurants on Facebook For more restaurant news, subscribe to 225 Daily at 225batonrouge.com/225daily.

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ARIANA ALLISON

Summer

SEAN GASSER

ARIANA ALLISON

Fall

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411 Ben Hur Road, Suite A The city’s newest sub shop is an ode to the munchies. At the cannabisthemed Cheba Hut, the decor and menu alike are playfully themed around marijuana culture, from the “Jamaican Red” buffalo chicken sub to the mural featuring a puffy-eyed tiger. Locals Meredith and Tommy Wiggins opened the Colorado-born restaurant Aug. 9 just south of LSU after dreaming about bringing the concept here for nearly two decades. chebahut.com/locations/batonrouge

8. Basel’s Market

5435 Highland Road Kalyn Lindsly transformed her former food truck into a charming cottage cafe near LSU. It debuted Aug. 20, dotted with antiques, greenery, a cozy fireplace and outdoor seating. Try the avocado toast for breakfast, an herb-garnished sandwich for lunch, or shop the market for groceries and gifts. Find it on Instagram at @baselsmarket

9. Proverbial Wine Bistro

9659 Antioch Road, #10 City Group Hospitality’s latest offering is all about pairings. At the Long Farm Village eatery, food boards are themed around dinner, dessert and brunch, and food is matched with complementary wines, beers and cocktails. The interior is warm and earthy, with leather chairs, green walls and a covered patio. There’s even an interactive cork wall, encouraging diners to drop a cork scribbled with their own inspirational quote. Find it on Instagram at @proverbialbistro

10. The Iron Fork Kjun Eatery & Market 7520 Perkins Road, Suite 100 This restaurant, bar and meat market opened Oct. 11, specializing in soulful lunch specials and hearty prepared meals— think comfort-food staples like red beans and rice, chicken stew and meatloaf. The Beau De Chene Shopping Center spot has housed eight different concepts in the past 11 years, but owners Tory and Jacqueline Cummings and Hershall Bergeron hope to have found the right formula for success. Find it on Facebook

Issue Date: Dec 2021 Ad1 proof #2 W H AT ’ S U P / /

Buzz feed

Start The New Year By Taking Your Health Personally

More local news this fall

RENDERING BY COLEMAN PARTNERS / COURTESY BATON ROUGE GALLERY

Airport art

Fender + PreSonus

Mixed-use space in north BR Construction will start in early 2022 on a $10 million mixed-use development at a vacant site on Plank Road, says Build Baton Rouge CEO Chris Tyson. Expect an early child care center and affordable housing units, plus new offices for Build Baton Rouge. buildbatonrouge.org

In November, Fender Musical Instruments Corp. announced plans to acquire PreSonus Audio Electronics, a leading manufacturer of audio recording software and hardware founded by LSU alums Jim Odom and Brian Smith. Through the merger, Fender looks to develop recording tools and music production instruments. presonus.com

STOCK PHOTO

There’s a new art gallery at the Baton Rouge Metro Airport. BRG@BTR, a partnership between the airport, Baton Rouge Gallery and Visit Baton Rouge, was installed this fall to show off work from local artists. The gallery features around 70 works, which will be regularly rotated and are also available for purchase. batonrougegallery.org

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

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Square footage of a proposed football training facility on a portion of the property at Burbank University, a mixed-use development in progress near LSU. In addition to sports training, the facility would include a wellness and orthopedic center, according to an application filed this fall with the Planning Commission. The commission will take up the request at its Dec. 13 meeting.

Through a platform called Culturalyst, you can now find artists and arts resources for nine regions around Louisiana. Baton Rouge’s directory is a partnership between the Louisiana Division of the Arts and the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. It spotlights artists and cultural organizations as well as job and grant opportunities. batonrouge. culturalyst.com

TH ER APY PHYSICAL THERAPY || MASSAGE THERAPY

N UT R IT IO N NUTRITION COUNSELING

I N T EG RAT IVE H EALT H

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT Three new arrivals to watch for: Brass by Circa 1857: Gift and antiques shop by the owners of Circa 1857. “Brass,” which stands for “Baton Rouge area souvenir shop,” aims to be open by Dec. 1 on North Boulevard next to Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar. circa1857br.com

The Main Lobby: Downtown rooftop bar and lounge taking over the former Hound Dogs location at Main and Seventh streets. Developer Cornelius Quarels hopes to be serving drinks and bar food by the end of the year in the hotel loungestyle setting.

More offices: Look for future construction of a three-story office building at 861 Main St. The project is being developed by Louisiana REALTORS, with space currently available for sale and pre-lease. WHLC Architecture is designing the office, conference and balcony spaces.

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W H AT ’ S U P / /

YOUR FLAVOR Do you send holiday cards?

Vanessa Green Certified life coach, Made New LLC Author, The Coaches Connect 49

Brent Granger

Purchasing manager, AdvanSix 53

Nathalie Chapman

Owner, Auntie Nat’s Soulfood & Catering, LLC Middle school math teacher 27

Yes. I really love cards, and I try to find ones that are reflective of me and the recipient.

[225] December 2021 | 225batonrouge.com

A Christmas Story, hands down

“Jireh” by Maverick City Music

I’m usually listening to my “Christian Worship” playlist on Spotify.

Wintertime beverage you’re sipping

Favorite way to spend the weekend

Proudest accomplishment of 2021

Hot chocolate

Having a quiet day at home where I can write creatively

Becoming a best-selling author on my first try

Grilling with friends

Raising my two wonderful sons, who are 18 and 21

I prefer to text holiday greetings.

Christmas Vacation

My mom sends out our family photo card every year.

I’m torn between How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carrey or A Charlie Brown Christmas.

“Bow Bow Bow” by HD4 President

Spiced eggnog or white chocolate mocha

It’s a Wonderful Life

“Days Like This” by Van Morrison

Hot chai latte

Flavio Manrique

Salesman, Pride Roofing LLC 57

The best holiday movie is ...

Song most likely to be at the top of your Spotify “Wrapped” for 2021

Hot chocolate

Catering

Playing golf or being outdoors

Juggling my teaching job with running a catering business and doubling what I made last year

Helping restore Louisiana after Hurricane Ida

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INVITING ENTERTAINMENT. SUPPORTING LOCAL. PROMOTING OUR CITY. Everything we do is to make Baton Rouge a more lively place for you. From new businesses for the foodies and shopping fanatics to more robust attractions for the history buffs and even elevated experiences for the outdoorsmen, we’re in the business of making our home—and yours—special.

Let’s make the Capital City exceptional and #

[225] December 2021 | 225batonrouge.com

together.

I N S I D E : Golden Girls go viral / The latest local news

EXIT INTERVIEW

Big thinker John Davies talks retirement and his legacy as CEO of Baton Rouge Area Foundation B Y M AG G I E H EY N R I C H AR DS ON P HOTO S BY CO LLIN RICHIE

225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2021

Issue Date: December 2021 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.

OUR CITY //

WHAT’S ON THE OUTSIDE MATTERS 7620 Old Hammond Hwy 225.926.6892 carriagesbr.com |

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THE AVERAGE RESIDENT of Baton Rouge may have no idea the Baton Rouge Area Foundation has been the force behind some of the city’s most influential quality of life projects. From the Shaw Center for the Arts to the Red Stick Farmers Market, numerous initiatives that have added culture and new experiences for Baton Rougeans have been guided by the Foundation. That most people who enjoy those projects don’t give the foundation much thought is exactly how President and CEO John G. Davies has wanted it. In May, Davies announced his forthcoming retirement from the foundation, which he has led since 1988. Davis tells 225 he’ll remain on through the first quarter of 2022, during which time his successor will be identified. A number of significant community projects can trace their DNA to the foundation, including the revitalization of downtown Baton Rouge, the creation of the Water Campus, the ability to attract highquality charter schools through New Schools for Baton Rouge and the establishment of the Bridge Center for Hope to serve those with mental illness. The preservation of the Bluebonnet Swamp, the recent restoration of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and the plan to restore the LSU and City Park lakes have all been engineered behind the scenes by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. Since Davies took the helm, its assets have grown from $5 million to $722 million, largely through attracting local donors and piquing their personal passions. During Davies’ tenure, the foundation granted more than $550 million to local nonprofits and community projects, while also acting as a think tank for pushing big ideas and key social initiatives. While Davies is retiring, he’ll remain as chair of its subsidiary Wilbur Marvin Foundation. In that role, he’ll work with Commercial Properties Real Estate Trust to complete the buildout of the 35-acre Water Campus, a research park dedicated to advancing science on how deltaic communities can live with rising seas. What was it like when you arrived at the foundation in 1988? The foundation had no negative baggage because not many people knew about it, but those who did admired it because it had done some pretty important work. We held high ground. We were not government, or the Chamber, or the United Way, or the Arts Council. Our role was, and is, to represent and support everybody in our community. We own that space. We need to ensure that the water

[225] December 2021 | 225batonrouge.com

rises for every single human being who is a resident of the area of the geography that we claim. No one else could say that. So we took that very seriously. Engaging donors, and encouraging them to set up funds at the foundation, has been a big part of what you’ve accomplished. What’s that been like? High-net-worth people start funds with us, and then we help them make great decisions about where they might invest those funds. We love that relationship. We have a donor give X-amount of dollars and say, “I want to give it to you unrestricted.” And we say, “No, we want it to be a donor-advised fund, because if you give us a million dollars and walk away, it’s a transaction. If you give us a million dollars in a donor-advised fund, it’s a relationship.” And we need the relationship because we want a cohort of people who really care deeply about our community, and who are willing to use not only their money but their influence to make us a better place. What’s Baton Rouge’s greatest strength? Access. This is a very open community, socially. It’s not closed. We constantly embrace new people. It’s part of our culture. It’s the personality that says “You’re welcome here.” You know, “Come

Issue Date: December 2021 Ad proof #1 OUR CITY //

• Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless revision requests are received within 24 hours. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees. Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2019. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

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Davies stands in front of the Center for Coastal & Deltaic Solutions, home to the Water Institute of the Gulf, on the former city docks just outside of downtown. The Water Campus complex has been one of BRAF’s most significant community projects.

and share my gumbo” sort of stuff. It’s this wonderful spirit, which is to be very open and affectionate to strangers. We live rich. And we laugh a lot. There are many parts of this country where people don’t have a sense of humor. I love the sense of humor, and I love the fact that we enjoy ourselves. The foundation has used its influence to make a lot of things happen, but it still remains somewhat under the radar. How has that happened? Early on, we decided one of our operating principles was always going to be to deflect credit. Because when I came, it was obvious to me that people were always claiming credit. There were a lot of groundbreakings, and very few ribbon cuttings. We decided we’d never do a groundbreaking, we’d only do ribbon cuttings, and even those would be muted and deflected in terms of credit. Because we felt that our work would have to stand on its own, and we weren’t about to go pound our own chest. What will you be working on in retirement, as chair of the Wilbur Marvin Foundation? The main thing is to finish the Water Campus. With COVID, we don’t know exactly what that means in terms of

the need for office space, but so far, so good. There’s a lot of interest because it is not a normal office building downtown. It’s a place that’s focused on a very specific set of interests, and that is coastal, deltaic and cybersecurity, those are the three things that drive that campus. So it’s much easier than to aggregate people in one place because they share ideas and they share work and they collaborate together. I think we will be able to build it out in a reasonable amount of time, and I’d like to get it well over its tipping point. It’s developing nicely south of Water Street. In your work with the foundation, what are you most proud of? I think it’s the mentoring that we’ve done here at the foundation with our teams of young brilliant people. Many have gone on to do extraordinary things elsewhere, and the fact that they retain the connectivity and affection for us because of that is just incredibly gratifying. That reflects a deep kind of cultural value that drives me. I think that’s what we need to be about, is helping next generations find their way to increase productivity and fulfillment.

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Editor’s note: Davies’ answers have been edited for brevity and clarity. 225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2021

OUR CITY //

Not so routine

LSU’s Golden Girls continue video performances that grew out of pandemic restrictions By Olivia Deffes

FROM THE TIGER Stadium seats, it may be hard to see the dazzling routines of the Golden Girls as they dance on the field. But it was even harder to see them as they were stuck in the stands during a season affected by a pandemic. LSU game days were not the same during the 2020 season. With a lower stadium capacity, smaller tailgates and the absence of Tiger Band performances, the school’s first season during the pandemic paled in comparison to the triumphant 2019 National Championship season. Blair Buras Guillaume, director of the Golden Girls, says she knew the season would look different, but she didn’t know her team would only be performing from their outpost in the student section of the stadium. Issue Date: December 2021 Ad proof #1 “We went into last year not knowing how • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. The Golden the would look,” Guillaume • AD whole WILL RUNthing AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hoursGirls perform during the 2019 season game against the University of Florida. 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.

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[225] December 2021 | 225batonrouge.com

OUR CITY //

Images taken from the Golden Girls’ performance videos posted to social media.

JORDAN HEFLER

says. “Everyone who auditioned knew that football season was going to be different, and it was.” Guillaume didn’t let restrictions hurt the team. She worked with the team’s captains to find ways to get creative and to showcase the Golden Girls’ talents to fans—virtually. The idea was to choreograph full routines, film them and post them on social media so everyone could see what the Golden Girls had to offer. “During a regular season, I feel like a lot of people don’t get to see what we do unless you have those really good seats,” Guillaume says. “It was a good way to get them dancing. If we hadn’t come up with this idea, they’d just be in the stands doing down cheers and school songs.” Issue Date: DEC 2021 Ad proof #2These videos helped the team stay • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. on top of24 itshours game during a season • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within

that was a little off. Guillaume saw the videos as the best way to help new team members get acclimated with being a Golden Girl and to give the seniors one last chance to experience a full season of dancing. The team has continued this new tradition in 2021 with more full-out routines, unlike the smaller performances they do on the field with the band. Guillaume says these videos are a great recruiting tool and help the Golden Girls reach a larger audience. The videoed dance routines were something Ramsi Rodriguez was grateful for as a new Golden Girl in 2020. Even when it seemed like her first season would be affected by the pandemic, Rodriguez says the team still thrived through it all. “When I made the team, I was still honored and grateful,” Rodriguez says.

“Even though our performances were different, I still embraced every second of last year because I got to be a part of such an amazing team.” Destiny Rooney and Lauren Aguillard, 2021 co-captains, were there for the highs of the 2019 season. They say the pandemic seasons have not been a total loss, but instead provided a time for the team to strengthen its skills and bonds with each other. “Without times that may seem difficult, it becomes hard to appreciate those times of greatness,” Rooney says. Aguillard adds, “Last season allowed us to take a step back from the busyness of our lives and appreciate all of the small moments we were given ... It also gave us a chance to lean on each other during such a time of uncertainty.” Find the Golden Girls on Instagram at @lsugoldengirls

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.

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS

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OUR CITY // D I G I TS

EXPLAINER

Drawing lines

Number of potential sites for a new Mississippi River bridge to alleviate traffic congestion through Baton Rouge. The Capital Area Road and Bridge District—formed two years ago to address the issue—reviewed proposed sites along the river from Brusly to Donaldsonville in September. After a planned second round of screenings and public meetings, a shorter list of three or four sites should be made public by fall 2022. Funding would likely come from a toll, as well as state and federal dollars.

Keep an eye on the redistricting battle— and its impact on the Capital Region

—BENJAMIN LEGER

[225] December 2021 | 225batonrouge.com

The cost insurance companies face to cover Louisiana claims for damage caused by Hurricanes Laura, Delta and Zeta, according to Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon. Nearly 324,000 insurance claims have been filed for those storms, and the price tag doesn’t account for payments from the National Flood Insurance Program. That means the total cost of damage is likely much higher. And while those were 2020 storms, experts estimate 2021’s Hurricane Ida could cost insurers upward of $18 billion in total U.S. claims.

S AY W HAT?

“I’m excited to see the broad spectrum of funding coming to different types of infrastructure. The Capital Region is mired in traffic, and anything coming through for that is a welcome relief.”

STOCK IMAGE

LOUISIANA’S CONGRESSIONAL District 2, which includes parts of Baton Rouge, is regularly ranked by voting rights groups as among the most gerrymandered in the country—meaning its lines are drawn disproportionately to hinder the voting power of a particular demographic or party. That might change early next year when the state legislature convenes to redraw much of the state’s districts based on 2020 Census data. Population shifts around the state left many districts over- or underpopulated, creating disproportionate representation. Now, groups like the ACLU of Louisiana have launched statewide campaigns and town hall meetings encouraging residents to speak up about how those new lines should be drawn. Just looking at the awkward shape of District 2, it’s no wonder its design has attracted attention from The Washington Post to the NAACP. District 2 starts in majority Black north Baton Rouge, then narrows to no wider than the Mississippi River on its way south to include White Castle, Donaldsonville and much of New Orleans, except for the majority white enclaves of Metairie and Lakeview. Its boundaries become so thin at points that you could drive east on Government Street from downtown— which is in District 6—enter District 2 for roughly eight blocks, then be back in District 6 at Park Boulevard. The Republican-controlled state legislature convenes in February to flesh out the new maps, which will then face the pen of Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards. It’s “going to be a tough, bloody mess,” Louis Gurvich of the state Republican Party warned in an October Associated Press article. The ACLU’s “redistricting roadshow” will end at the State Capitol Jan. 20 after visits to Lake Charles this month and the New Orleans region in early January. laaclu.org

$10.6 billion

—David Zoller, government affairs manager at the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, after Congress passed the $1 trillion infrastructure deal in early November. Capital City leaders anticipate some of that money will go toward the proposed new Mississippi River bridge, passenger rail to New Orleans, improvements at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge and infrastructure to protect against climate change.

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Melanie Bennett IT FEELS LIKE you’re heading back to Mom’s house as you pull up to the modest pink home at 4232 North Blvd. The streets are familiar—centrally located in Mid City, close to the LSU campus and downtown. But it’s The Hostel Baton Rouge owner Melanie Bennett, warmly greeting you with wide arms, who immediately makes you feel at ease. Bennett was born and raised in Baton Rouge, and this “Mid City cat” calls the area her stomping grounds. Prior to being a hostel owner, she worked for more than 20 years as a homemaker, stagehand, tour guide and even an Uber driver for those new to the Baton Rouge area. She loves the Red Stick, which is why she purchased this home that was destined to become the city’s first hostel. When she’d travel, she would generally stay in one, and once she discovered the former day care building, she knew it was the place. “It made it a perfect transition, I think. It was already zoned correctly and just a charming, warm little place,” Bennett says. Once visitors walk into the hostel, which had its soft opening this fall, they are welcomed into the bunk room. The custom-built bunks accommodate up to nine guests. The scent of coffee lures guests into the common room, where they can find games, a laundry unit, food and everything you need to make a sandwich. Guests who travel together are also able to stay in the private suite, which is next to Bennett’s personal room. And, in true hostel fashion, there is a shared bathroom, which includes a bathtub and eventually a shower. The walls of each space in the hostel are painted a different color, and the rooms are awash in antique furnishings and eclectic art. Bennett is determined to make this a creative space that not only welcomes out-of-towners but also brings the Baton Rouge community together. She plans to host regular events, like live music, book clubs, yoga classes and even diverse language classes—every club and get together is welcome at The Hostel. Bennett had her first guests this fall amid the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, despite ongoing renovations. She hosted Habitat for Humanity volunteers in town helping hurricane victims. She says the experience made them lifelong friends. Bennett hopes her guests feel awestruck and accommodated by the hostel, and she is excited to see what the future holds for it. Guests will soon have access to a treehouse, Southern-style rocking chairs and even a space for performing musicians. It’s a blank canvas, and Bennett is Picasso. The sky is the limit for The Hostel, she says—especially when she imagines all the visitors who can meet each other and spend time together in the space. It’s all part of Bennett’s tagline: “Bringing the world to Baton Rouge, and sharing Baton Rouge with the world.” “Ultimately,” she says, “I just envision the whole place lit up with lots of people, and it’s going to be even better.”

—BRITTNEY FORBES QUOTES HAVE BEEN EDITED FOR CLARITY AND BREVITY.

SEE THE CITY’S FIRST HOSTEL Head to 225batonrouge.com this month for 225’s photo tour of The Hostel Baton Rouge. And to book your stay, visit thehostel.la or contact Melanie Bennett at 288-6915. COLLIN RICHIE

“You can go all over the world, but if you stay in antiseptic hotels and just eat at chain restaurants, you don’t get the vibe of community. That’s what I want for The Hostel.”

225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2021

COLLIN RICHIE

C OV E R S T ORY

[225] December 2021 | 225batonrouge.com

C OV E R S T ORY

weekend ADVENTURES Zip lining! Dinosaurs! Holiday lights, brewery tours and berry picking! From local hidden gems to quick day trips definitely worth the drive, here are 12 reasons to start planning your 2022 calendar now. BY O L I V I A DE F F E S , B E N JA MIN L EG ER , MAG G IE H EYN R ICH A R DSO N A ND JE NNIFER TORMO

225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2021

Making East Baton Rouge a Better Place to THANK YOU for Supporting BREC for 75 Years! Join BREC to celebrate at this Free event, open to all ages! Saturday, December 18 | 6-8:30 p.m. | Independence Community Park Live Music by the Michael Foster Project + Holiday Lights + endless entertainment and activities MORE INFO: BREC.ORG/75 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.

C OV E R S T ORY

january

A fine brew

Resolve to explore the Capital Region’s bevy of craft beers this month ABOUT A DECADE ago, Louisiana’s claim to fame in the craft beer world seemed to begin and end with Abita Brewing Company. And while it still reigns supreme—as the 24th largest craft brewer in the country—Abita has since been joined by more than 30 others across the state. And though a statewide brewery tour might be a long-term project for the avid beer drinker, we wanted to highlight some of the hotspots around Baton Rouge that could lead to a fun and hoppy weekend.

—BENJAMIN LEGER

KRISTIN SELLE

Tin Roof Brewing Company 1624 Wyoming St. Start here to see how Baton Rouge jumped onto the scene with gusto. Tin Roof has been cranking out much-loved brews and seasonal flavors since 2010 in a warehouse off Nicholson Drive. Today, that space boasts a bustling tap room and outdoor patio as well as regular events such as live music, food truck pop-ups, family nights and weekly yoga on the lawn. tinroofbeer.com Rally Cap Brewing Company 11212 Pennywood Ave. Just off Siegen Lane, Rally Cap opened in late 2019 with a sports-centric theme and a variety of pale ales and IPAs. Naturally, there’s usually a game on in the brewery’s tap room, and weekly events like trivia nights and live music to keep things interesting. rallycapbrewing.com Gilla Brewing Company 13025 Highway 44, Gonzales Another late 2019 entry to the local brewing scene was Gilla Brewing in Gonzales. Its cozy tap room features arcades and board games as well as live music to go along with about a dozen available taps showcasing fruity sours and citrus-forward IPAs. gillabrewingco.com

TAYLOR MORAN

Cypress Coast Brewing Co. 5643 Government St. Two Baton Rouge couples went from sharing homebrewing tips to dreaming up their own brewery, which opened in Mid City in late 2020. The facility’s smaller size lends itself to their creativity and experimentation, showcasing farmhouse ales, sours and stouts. Head to the tap room for samples, regular trivia nights and local food pop-ups. cypresscoastbrewing.com

Find out more The state’s Office of Tourism created a promotional website to showcase all the breweries, distilleries and even a few vineyards across Louisiana. Go to libations.louisianatravel.com for maps and more. And for those who’d prefer liquor to beer, we’ve got a roundup of regional distilleries to tour over at 225batonrouge.com/bars-drinks.

ARIANA ALLISON

KRISTIN SELLE

Le Chien Brewing Company 101 S. Hummell St., Denham Springs The newest to the scene opened in late 2020 just across the railroad tracks from downtown Denham Springs. It quickly became a neighborhood hangout with picnic tables and outdoor games, plus a permanently stationed food truck, Pie Eyed, serving up savory and sweet hand pies and snacks. It’s a great foil for this fledgling microbrewery’s lagers, wheat beers, stouts and more. lechien.beer Istrouma Brewery 5590 Bayou Paul Road, St. Gabriel Don’t let its seemingly isolated location fool you. A visit to Istrouma can lead to a full day of beer, pizza, outdoor games, browsing the art gallery and meeting the farm animals. The brewery, which opened in October 2020, is located on a working farm with longhorns, sheep and goats, and there’s even a drive-in movie theater in the works. But if you’re here chiefly for the beer, there are plenty of ales, stouts and pilsners in the tap room or from the porch taps outside. sugarfarmsla.com/ istrouma-brewing

225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2021

C OV E R S T ORY

february For the history buffs Tours and historical sites to remember our past and mark Black History Month

BATON ROUGE NATIVE John Kelton started driving for a limousine company when he moved back home from Memphis in 2012. Many of his passengers ended up being touring groups with Visit Baton Rouge and the state Office of Tourism. They were so taken by his knowledge of the city that they encouraged him to host his own tours. He took their advice, but out from behind the driver’s seat, launching Enjoy Baton Rouge Walking Tours in 2017. He leads groups of up to around 12 through downtown for two hours, highlighting historic landmarks and topics based on the groups’ suggestions. “I can cater to their interests and also their stamina,” Kelton says. “Once you know what they’re really interested in, you can really go more in depth with the tour.” And with his breadth of knowledge and research, that can include anything from the Battle of Baton Rouge to important civil rights landmarks, public art and architecture to political history. “It becomes a conversation,” Kelton says. enjoybatonrouge.com

STOCK IMAGE

REDISCOVER DOWNTOWN

The Old State Capitol’s story dates back to the late 1800s, but it also served as the backdrop to civil rights history when bus riders sat under its shady oaks waiting for volunteer transportation during the 1953 bus boycott.

INCL UDE S AN

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PURCHASE TICKETS AT For more information, visit LBatonRouge.com • 866.261.7777 Must be 21 years of age or older to enter Event Center and Casino. Entertainment is subject to change or cancellation without notice. Tickets may be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster. Tickets are non-transferable and non-negotiable. Subject to availability. Management reserves the right to cancel, modify or refuse this offer without notice at any time. Offer not valid for self-exclusion program enrollees in jurisdictions which Penn National Gaming, Inc. operates or who have been otherwise excluded from the participating property. ©2021 Penn National Gaming, Inc. All rights reserved.

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C OV E R S T ORY

CIVIL RIGHTS AND BLACK HISTORY

COURTESY LOUISIANA OFFICE OF TOURISM

River Road African American Museum Louisiana Civil Rights Trail Head to this Donaldsonville cottage to explore Two of the first four sites on this historical marker African influence on Louisiana agriculture, trail are in the Capital City. The Baton Rouge cuisine, music and much more. Bus Boycott is remembered africanamericanmuseum.org with a marker at the Old State Capitol, where riders A different plantation tour waited for volunteer free • It wasn’t until Whitney Plantation transportation as part of opened in 2014 that Louisiana dea protest of the city’s bus livered a plantation tour focused system. The protests inspired on the experiences of enslaved Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. people. About 50 minutes southand the 1955 Montgomery east of Baton Rouge, it offers a bus boycott. In August, a sobering look at slavery at Whitney marker was unveiled at A. and other plantations. Self-guided Z. Young Park next to the tours are outside, so prep for the state capitol to celebrate the weather. whitneyplantation.org civil rights activist and the march he helped lead from • Laura Plantation, just five miles Bogalusa to Baton Rouge in from Whitney, began enhancing its 1967 protesting voting and discussions of slavery in 2017. Its employment discrimination. guided tours are among the most The other markers are at The Louisiana Civil Rights Trail informative along River Road. Dooky Chase’s Restaurant in marker at A.Z. Young Park lauraplantation.com New Orleans and Little Union Baptist Church in Shreveport. —BENJAMIN LEGER louisianacivilrightstrail.com

Tour some more

Scott and Susan Miles of All About Baton Rouge Tours offer a variety of microbus tours, walking tours, food tours and even longer excursions that feature a boat ride through the swamps. redstickadventures.com

COLLIN RICHIE

Baton Rouge African American Museum While the loss of founder Sadie RobertsJoseph in 2019 dealt the downtown museum a serious blow, her two adult children have taken over. The many artifacts include a bus from the 1953 Baton Rouge Bus Boycott. The museum is open for small tours upon request. braamuseum.org

A historic bus used during the 1953 Baton Rouge Bus Boycott sits on the grounds of the Baton Rouge African American Museum.

MAIN CLINIC & PEDIATRICS AT PERKINS 7373 PERKINS ROAD PEDIATRICS AT INDUSTRIPLEX 12351 INDUSTRIPLEX BLVD For pediatric appointments, call (225) 246-9290 For all other appointments, call (225) 246-9240

URGENT CARE 7479 PERKINS ROAD l (225) 246-9997 You shouldn’t have to wait to feel better. Open 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

AS WE CELEBRATE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER OUR SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS FOR THE CONTINUED TRUST AND SUPPORT FOR 75 YEARS.

BATONROUGECLINIC.COM 225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2021

C OV E R S T ORY

march Travel size Souvenirs from Baton Rouge hotels

THERE’S SOMETHING CHARMING about hotel bath products. Miniature bottles of shampoo and scented soaps welcome you to your home away from home. They offer a chance to try a new product, and with calming fragrances like lavender or citrus, they make shampooing feel like a spa escape. Best of all, they’re complimentary. Take what’s left in the bottle home with you. It will be a tiny reminder of your trip next time you wash your hair. Here’s what we found on the bath counters at Baton Rouge hotels.

—JENNIFER TORMO

1. L’Auberge Casino & Hotel Essentiel Elements spa products in fresh neroli 777 L’Auberge Ave. | lbatonrouge.com

2. Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel Aveda rosemary mint purifying cleansers 7000 Bluebonnet Blvd. | marriott.com 3. Watermark Baton Rouge Essentiel Elements spa products in fresh neroli 150 Third St. | watermarkbr.com 4. Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center Crabtree & Evelyn verbena and lavender toiletries 201 Lafayette St. | hilton.com

PACK UP Spend spring break a little closer to home at one of these unique Airbnbs

Airbnb can be a lot to sift through, especially now that Baton Rouge has more than 300 properties listed on the platform. After a little digging, here are some interesting properties we found. Note that we’ve listed the names and prices as they appeared on the app at press time.

If you’re looking for a vintage camper experience ... Adorable 1 bedroom camper Denham Springs From $81/night airbnb.com/rooms/51907740 Airstream Avalon overlooking creek St. Francisville From $98/night airbnb.com/rooms/37448028

If you’re looking for downtown vibes ... Amazing Downtown Loft in Baton Rouge - 3rd Street From $180/night airbnb.com/rooms/32290649 Historic Downtown Baton Rouge House | Parking From $194/night airbnb.com/rooms/22396532

Historic Hundred Oaks Bungalow From $154/night airbnb.com/rooms/29678891

[225] December 2021 | 225batonrouge.com

COLLIN RICHIE

If you’re looking for a historic home ...

Juicy fruit

april

C OV E R S T ORY

E TIME RIV

Spring is for strawberries

2.5

How to enjoy Louisiana’s most iconic fruit

hours

MOST PICK-YOUR-OWN FRUIT farms provide the chance to fill a box or bucket with one type of fruit. Not Romero’s Fruit Orchard in New Iberia. Back in the ’80s, retired sugar cane farmer Eddie Romero had a specific vision for a U-pick farm. He planted his first fig and peach trees in 1986, adding various fruits—and varieties within those fruits—each year. Today, about 500 trees, shrubs and vines produce 20 different fresh fruits that Romero raises with very few, if any, chemicals, he says. “I’ve got a fruit jungle,” Romero jokes. The list reads like a supermarket produce section. There are blackberries, blueberries, peaches, figs, muscadines, pears, persimmons and satsumas. Romero grows apples in the fall—Anna, Dorsett and Ein Shemer varieties that perform well in Southern climates. Along with the muscadines, he grows seedless table grapes that are great for snacking. And he grows pawpaws, a tree native to North America with fruit that tastes like a cross between a banana and a pineapple, Romero says. The farm opens yearly in April, with different fruits ripening as the spring, summer and fall unfold. Blackberries, blueberries and peaches kick things off, followed by figs, pawpaws and pears. Persimmons and muscadines emerge in the fall, followed by citrus in winter. Romero keeps customers updated on which fruits are available—or have been fully picked—through social media. Romero says visitors often ask, “When is best time Issue Date: December 2021 Adtheproof #1to plant a fruit tree?” “I tellrespond themby20e-mail years ago,” • Please or fax withhe yourlaughs. approval or minor revisions. —MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON • 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.

STOCK PHOTOS

Pick your own produce in New Iberia

Romero’s Fruit Orchards 5119 Freetown Road, New Iberia

Opens in April. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Call ahead to confirm availability. Orchard provides buckets or boxes, depending on the type of fruit. Find it on Facebook

Strawberry picking Strawberries taste even better when you’ve picked them yourself. A few U-pick farms to plug into your Google Maps app: Landry-Poche Farm in Holden; Mrs. Heather’s Farms in Albany; and Blahut Strawberry Farm in Holden. Call in advance to confirm availability and hours. Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival April 8-10, 2022 North Sixth and West Beech streets in Ponchatoula After being canceled by COVID-19 two years in a row, the annual event makes its triumphant return— celebrating its 50th year, in fact. Vendors showcase strawberries in everything from desserts to drinks against a backdrop of other festivities. Don’t miss the chance to pick up fresh strawberries from area growers. lastrawberryfestival.com

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11939 Bricksome Avenue | Baton Rouge | (225) 610-0028 hello@blackandblancla.com | blackandblancla.com

225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2021

• Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless revision requests are received within 24 hours. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees. Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2020. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

Sweeten Your Holidays with FREE Library Resources!

WHETHER YOU’RE TRAVELING OR GATHERING WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT HOME, YOUR LIBRARY’S GOT SOMETHING FUN FOR YOU: Fun & Interactive Online Learning Platforms for All Ages • E-books for Reading on the Go Popular Digital Magazines • Music Downloads of Popular Artists Streaming Videos & Concerts • Recipes & Craft Tutorials • AND MORE!

All you need is your Library card! Visit www.ebrpl.com/DigitalLibrary 40

[225] December 2021 | 225batonrouge.com

C OV E R S T ORY

may

IVE TIM DR E

Dino-mite!

45 minutes

Prehistoric Park offers a rare chance to walk among the dinosaurs

ON A HALF-MILE wooded trail in Henderson, rabbits dart behind bushes. Butterflies flutter through shady trees. But these aren’t the only creatures that live at Prehistoric Park. A 30-foot-long brachiosaurus looms above the trees, its green-gray neck arching toward the sky. A family of stegosauruses huddles together, a squad of herbivores seeming to protect each other from predators. Sure enough, a tyrannosaurus lurks around the trail’s final corner. It glares ominously down at passersby. Even the smaller reptiles, like the stealthy velociraptor and the friendlier parasaurolophus, dwarf the youngest visitors at this kid-friendly attraction. Kiosks in front of the dinosaurs offer educational insight, declaring that these two dinos could have reached 6- to 8-feet tall in real life. The dinosaurs are only replicas, of course. But that doesn’t matter to the tiny aspiring paleontologists who gape up at them, shrieking with both awe and terror. For many of the children who visit the park, it’s their first time seeing dinosaurs outside of a textbook or a Jurassic Park movie. And these scaly-skinned models feel about as real as it gets. “If you watch any 5-year-old that loves dinosaurs, it’s just pure excitement for them,” says Amanda Stelly-Baudoin, Prehistoric Park’s general manager. “The T. rex is always the biggest hit. My 3-year-old grandson is terrified of it.” In the fall, the trail turns haunted. Spiderwebs line the paths, and spooky ghosts and dolls hide among the plants. In December, Santa and the Grinch make appearances. Kids sip hot chocolate under holiday lights. And by May, the park is packed with day campers on field trips and families looking for summer fun. Other sections of the park offer gem mining, fossil digging, gift shopping, movie viewing and children’s activities. And there’s more to look forward to: the park has plans to expand in 2022, adding dinosaur-themed food, interactive tactile exhibits and more. The goal is to provide a full day’s worth of activities. After all, Stelly-Baudoin points out, there are plenty of alligator ranches and swamp tour attractions nearby. But where else can you see a dinosaur in the wild? prehistoric-park.com

Ruby Babineaux and Maverick Olivier, children of the Prehistoric Park team, admire its dinosaurs.

PHOTOS BY COLLIN RICHIE

—JENNIFER TORMO

Prehistoric Park

Number of dinosaurs on display at Prehistoric Park

1135 North Barn Road, Henderson

It opened in 2014 next to its sister properties, Cajun Palms RV Resort and Cajun Fast Track, an attraction next door with go karts, arcade games, mini golf and more. Park admission ranges from $8-$12 and is free for those younger than 3.

225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2021

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Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS

Cupcake Junkie

C OV E R S T ORY

june

Fields of dreams Sunflower fields are a whimsical setting for your next family portrait—or a haven for connecting with nature

A PREMIER CUPCAKERY SERVING MADE-FROM-SCRATCH GOODNESS

Issue Date: DECFRESH 2021DAILY Ad proof BAKED | #1 @CupcakeJunkieBR • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. • ADcupcakejunkiebr.com WILL RUN AS IS unless approval |or final revisions are received within70816 24 hours 12240 Coursey Blvd. 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.

| 225.421.1995

give burgers

SOME PEOPLE TRACK their kids’ growth by marking their heights on a wall. Others might plant trees for them to grow up alongside. Visitors at LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens chart their lives alongside the sunflowers. Katie Guitreau, the garden’s head of events, says she sees it all the time. She thinks of the center’s landscape manager Aubrey Hymel, who has worked there since she was a student. Every summer, she’d have portraits taken in the garden. Then one year, the photos morphed into a maternity session. The next summer, she had photos taken with her newborn daughter. The summer after that, the photos pictured Hymel, her daughter—and her pregnant belly once again. “Every summer, we have repeats,” Guitreau says, visualizing the rows of stalky golden flowers that grow taller than her own three young children. Photographers and casual Instagrammers alike flock to the fields. It’s a chance to snap photos with your phone—or do the opposite and log off from screen time entirely. Surrounded by bumblebees and hundreds of flowers, it’s easy to forget this place is just a highway exit away from the racing cars on I-10. In fact, it’s easy to forget everything. “It’s a refuge in the middle of the city,” Guitreau says. She recalls when the sunflower fields began as a gamble on a batch of seeds back in 2013. She and a student worker got covered in dirt hand-planting six rows of seeds. “We said, ‘Let’s just see what they look like,’” she says. “They turned out to be mammoth flowers. That summer, we noticed a lot of people walking over and looking at them.” So they planted more. In 2014, they sowed two fields. The next year, they doubled the crop. During the best years—when rain and temperature conditions have been ideal—they’ve planted as many as eight fields. They experimented with different varieties, trying to figure out which seeds would grow taller or bloom for longer. And they asked for feedback, polling visitors on what they liked or asking local photographers about which looked best in photos. Today, people drive to Baton Rouge from places like Texas and Mississippi or Shreveport and New Orleans to experience this magical flower field. And they always come with questions, giving the garden’s horticulturists a chance to educate them. Thinking back to her first days at the gardens when she started as a student worker nearly a decade ago, it’s just what Guitreau always wanted. By creating a space to take pretty pictures, she and her team have helped the masses to regard plants and gardens as lovingly as they do. “I felt like this was the field of dreams,” Guitreau says. “Now, I tell people everything I know about sunflowers. Because if we cover the whole state in sunflowers, it would be amazing. Louisiana could be the Sunflower State.” —JENNIFER TORMO

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[225] December 2021 | 225batonrouge.com

Family photos Local photographer Kaela Rodehorst Williams let 225 crash her photo session with LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens head of events Katie Guitreau and her family in the sunflower fields.

Issue Date: DEC 2021 Ad2 proof #4 C OV E R S T ORY

Happy Holidays

June to October

The months you’ll be able to explore the sunflower fields during a typical year at LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. The gardens are free, though there is a photography fee if you plan to have portraits taken by a professional photographer. 4560 Essen Lane, lsu.edu/ botanic-gardens

FROM THE

SOUTHERN AIR FAMILY!

NEW INSTALLS AS LOW AS $72 A MONTH OR 0% FINANCING FOR 72 MONTHS

GARDEN HOPPING BREC’s Botanical Gardens at Independence Community Park These specialty gardens near the Main Library at Goodwood are home to more than 400 species of roses, a butterfly garden and the recently completed Baton Rouge Sensory Garden with herbs and healing plants. brec.org

Worth the drive: Sunflower Trail & Festival Sunflower fields blossom in June and July in northwest Louisiana. Take a country-style drive through about 20 miles of fields of all sizes along Highway 3049 between Shreveport and Gilliam. Watch for the annual festival to return next June. Find it on Facebook

PHOTOS BY COLLIN RICHIE

LSU Hilltop Arboretum Louisiana trees and shrubs cover 13 acres at this educational shrine to plants and landscape design, including a 3-acre Cajun prairie-inspired meadow. lsu.edu/hilltop

(225) 219-8925 | southernairbr.com |

COURTESY KAE

LA RODEHORST

WILLIAMS

Certified Technicians serving Baton Rouge and the surrounding parishes

225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2021

COMING SOON

REIMAGINED new chef / new menu / new specialty drinks 7000 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge • (225) 388-5710 • tallulahrestaurant.com

[225] December 2021 | 225batonrouge.com

C OV E R S T ORY

E TIME RIV

50 minutes

july

Lose yourself Take a different kind of swamp tour

2 million

Number of wild alligators in Louisiana. (An additional 1 million alligators are raised on farms, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.) Because Last Wilderness is not an “alligator tour” and doesn’t feed the gators, you’ll only see them in their natural habitats during your boat ride.

8-9 feet

Average amount of the water level’s rise and fall in the basin throughout the year. The fluctuations provide different habitats for the local flora and fauna, “making every swamp tour truly unique,” according to Last Wilderness Swamp Tours.

PHOTOS BY COLLIN RICHIE

FROM KAYAKING IN the Vermilion River, to taking a gondola ride through New Orleans’ City Park, to spreading out on a sandy beach on the shores of Lake Kincaid, Louisiana’s plentiful rivers, lakes and bayous provide lots of opportunities for water-centric fun. But one standout reveals the beauty of the state’s signature swamp: a day trip into the Atchafalaya Basin with Last Wilderness Swamp Tours. The family-owned and operated company was started several years ago by Dean Wilson, a former commercial fisherman who was raised in Spain and discovered the Atchafalaya Basin while traveling through Louisiana in 1984. It didn’t take long for Wilson to fall in love with the basin’s raw, wild beauty, or to change course and move to Louisiana permanently. Wilson worked as a commercial fisherman until 2004, when, frustrated by the basin’s loss of original swampland, he formed the nonprofit Atchafalaya Basinkeeper. The organization aims to protect the swamp from further land loss caused by oil company drainage canals and other projects. He also formed the Last Wilderness Swamp Tour company to help show the Atchafalaya’s quiet, pristine beauty in a manner that is respectful to its delicate ecology. Wilson operates the business with his two adult children: Al, a fellow boat captain, and Sylvia, who handles marketing. Don’t expect a crowded airboat ride, or chicken legs tossed overboard to attract alligators. Small groups of visitors ride into the swamp in a quiet, eco-friendly boat for a two-hour tour chock-full of migratory and native birds, animals in their habitats, and stunning cypress trees draped, of course, in garlands of Spanish moss. It’s nothing to see water snakes, brightly colored tree frogs, turtles and maybe even a shy alligator, intent on swimming back to its human-free hideout. “It’s a personalized tour,” Wilson says. “It allows you to go deep into the swamps to see local wildlife and birds.” Further adding to the tour’s mystique, visitors begin by meeting up with Dean or Al at a spot called Dale’s Trading Post in the community of Bayou Sorrel, about 50 minutes from Baton Rouge. From there, they board a small boat and head down the bayou and out into the basin. As the boat picks up speed, the cool breeze provides respite from the heat. Off you go, into the wild green yonder for a bucket list-glimpse of Louisiana like you’ve never seen it.

—MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON

Last Wilderness Swamp Tours

Tour groups meet at Dale’s Trading Post, 33115 Highway 75, Plaquemine. lastwildernesstours.com

225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2021

Issue Date: December 2021 Ad2 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.

don’t forget about

your furry kids this holiday season!

C OV E R S T ORY

august

A Louisiana food tour Where do Baton Rouge chefs like to eat around the state?

WHO BETTER TO ask for a restaurant recommendation than someone in the business? When they’re traveling around Louisiana, here’s where these Baton Rouge chefs and culinary entrepreneurs like to dine. —MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON

Katia Mangham

Owner of catering company and retail store Gourmet Girls “I love La Petite Grocery in New Orleans for its atmosphere, wine list and crab beignets,” Mangham says. The James Beard Award-winning eatery in Uptown New Orleans is both sophisticated and comfortable. More of Mangham’s picks: Saba | New Orleans | eatwithsaba.com Cavan | New Orleans | cavannola.com Justine | New Orleans | justinenola.com

Peter Sclafani

Chef and partner in Making Raving Fans Hospitality, which operates SoLou, Portobello’s Grill, P-Beau’s and Juban’s Sclafani likes Brasa Churrasqueria, a Brazilian steakhouse in Old Metairie, for its wood-fired Angus and Wagyu beef and mouthwatering sides like honey-glazed grilled carrots with goat cheese and chile oil drizzle and grilled corn with chile butter. brasachurrasqueria.com

ats & O u r t re ories a cce s s he make t ocking b e st st s! st u f f e r

More of Sclafani’s picks: Sno’s Seafood & Steak | Gonzales | snowsseafood.com Café Vermilionville | Lafayette | cafév.com

Cameron Jackson

Creator, Millennial Park container park “La Truffe Sauvage in Lake Charles has some of the best food and drinks in Louisiana,” Jackson says. “My favorites are their lump crab cakes and paella.” thewildtruffle.com More of Jackson’s picks: Morrow’s | New Orleans | morrowsnola.com KOK Wings & Things | Lafayette and Franklin | eatkok.com

Justin Ferguson

Executive chef/owner of BRQ Ferguson’s choice of Maypop in New Orleans will have you on a global culinary tour. Hand-pulled noodles and marrow-topped snails are just the beginning of a globally influenced menu. maypoprestaurant.com More of Ferguson’s picks: Costera | New Orleans

Jay Ducote

Radio host, culinary personality and owner of Gov’t Taco

NEW storefront location 548 S Foster Dr | Baton Rouge, LA 46

[225] December 2021 | 225batonrouge.com

“Ki Mexico in Shreveport has the right blend of Louisiana passion and Mexican soul,” Ducote says. “Of course, there are tacos and salsas, but make sure you also go for hamburguesas, tortas and their special take on pho and ramen. Live music and great drinks make it a must-stop when passing through north Louisiana.” More of Ducote’s picks: Hot Tails | New Roads | hottailsrestaurant.com Lucky Palace | Bossier City | lucky-palace.com Parish | Monroe | parishrestaurant.com Restaurant Calla | Lake Charles | restaurantcalla.com

C OV E R S T ORY

E M

september

VE DRI TI

minut es

Magnolia Ridge Park at Barn Hill Preserve 11342 E. LA-955, Ethel magnoliaridgeadventurepark.com

900

Feet of the final zip line at Magnolia Ridge, considered the longest in the state.

Zip along

Inside Magnolia Ridge, a zip line carries riders 70 feet over the Comite River IN CASE YOU haven’t been paying attention, a veritable adventureland awaits in the woods of East Feliciana Parish. It started nine years ago with Barn Hill Preserve’s animal encounters (including swimming with otters!) on a hilly property between Ethel and Clinton. There’s a safari tour and glamping on the way, too. But if you really want to get on another level, owner Gabe Ligon added the 32-acre zip line park Magnolia Ridge in 2020. Guests are shuttled from Barn Hill to the start of the zip line course, where they complete a ground school and suit up before joining trained instructors up in the treetops. There are obstacle courses like rope bridges and shorter zip lines to get you acclimated to moving among the birds and squirrels in this peaceful hardwood forest. Eight zip lines in all end with what’s touted as the longest zip line in the state: a breathtaking final journey that zooms 70 feet above a bend in the Comite River before touching down in a grassy meadow. Zip line adventures take place rain or shine, and come October, you can book some spooky themed nighttime excursions, too. magnolia ridgeadventurepark.com

COLLIN RICHIE

—BENJAMIN LEGER

From left, instructors Justin LaPrairie and April Story follow Magnolia Ridge general manager Wade Henson through the obstacle course.

225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2021

C OV E R S T ORY

october

Spooky season Local attractions that make south Louisiana one of the best places to celebrate fall The 13th Gate

With a reputation as one of the most frightening attractions in the country, this haunted house is not for the faint of heart. Tip: Fill up on liquid courage first with a cocktail next door at Three Roll Estate. 13thgate.com

Pop-up Pink Pumpkin Patch

On a surprise date each October, Baton Rouge General sprawls thousands of pink

pumpkins across its hospital campuses for visitors to take home—and take selfies alongside. It’s all part of the “Protect Your Pumpkins” campaign for breast cancer awareness. Find it on Instagram at @batonrougegeneral

Corn Maze at Burden The LSU Rural Life Museum, LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens and the Burden Museum & Gardens host a corn maze and other fall

WORTH THE DRIVE

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PHOTO COURTESY BATON ROUGE GENERAL

More attractions to check out around the state Mrs. Heather’s Pumpkin & Strawberry Patch: Pick or paint a pumpkin, ride a zip line, walk a corn maze and so much more in Hammond. thfarms.com Cajun Country Corn Maze: Pine Grove’s winding corn maze turns haunted after dark. cajuncountrycorn.com Grant Christmas Tree Farm: This farm is about a two-and-a-half hour drive, but its annual

festivities. Make crafts, try your hand at satsuma picking and visit the petting farms. lsu.edu/ botanic-gardens

Boo at the Zoo

During two weekends in October, guests of all ages dress up in costumes for plenty of activities and fun photo opps alongside BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo animals. It’s a wild time. brzoo.org

Pumpkin Fest has hayrides, corn mazes and pumpkins galore. grantchristmastreefarm.com Fright Trail: Wander through 20 acres of haunted woods in Scott, just west of Lafayette, with plenty of scare actors to dodge. frighttrail.com The Mortuary: Think of it as New Orleans’ version of the 13 Gate, set in a former funeral home. themortuary.net Ghost Manor: A synced display of Halloween lights and music outside a Magazine Street mansion. It’s so impressive, you’ll want to watch for a while. ghostmanor.org

Pop-up Pink Pumpkin Patch at Baton Rouge General

Celebrate the Holidays WITH AN HONORARIUM GIFT! Purchase a $25 Paw Print through Companion Animal Alliance, and bring holiday cheer to shelter pets! Want to make your purchase even more meaningful? Dedicate your paw print to a pet or family member, or give a paw print as a gift to the animal-lover in your life! Each paw print will be displayed in the lobby of Companion Animal Alliance through January 10th.

2550 GOURRIER AVENUE, BATON ROUGE, LA • CAABR.ORG • 225-408-5360 • 48

[225] December 2021 | 225batonrouge.com

—OLIVIA DEFFES

C OV E R S T ORY

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Retail therapy

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West Feliciana Antique Mall 7143 U.S. 61, Suite A Find it on Facebook Sharpen your picking skills and discover furniture, housewares, clothing, art, books and other antique and vintage treasures waiting to be unearthed. The 4,500-square-foot space is home to nearly 30 vendors.

THE PENULTIMATE MONTH of the year signals Christmas’ quickening pace, and what better way to tackle gift-giving than to assign a weekend to shopping? But shopping is stressful, so do it in a bucolic town awash in locally owned boutiques. Head north to St. Francisville for a traffic-free day filling your backseat with the season’s bounty. —MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON

Patrick’s Fine Jewelers 5452 Live Oak Centre Drive patricksjewelry.com Stunning baubles, glittering engagement rings, celebratory gems and memorable gifts adorn the cases of this friendly, familyowned St. Francisville jeweler.

Birds of a Feather 5943 Commerce St. Find it on Facebook Discover a curated collection of nicely priced French antiques and eclectic finds for the kitchen, bath, home and garden. A separate room holds children’s fine clothing.

Sage Hill Gifts 5622 Commerce St. @shopsagehill Focusing on home furnishings and decor, Sage Hill Gifts also includes apparel for men, women and children and a range of interesting gifts ideal for teachers, friends and family.

COLLIN RICHIE

Away Down South 11770 Ferdinand St. Find it on Facebook Restore your shopping energy with an ice cream cone at this merry local hangout, where you can also purchase classic candy, gifts produced by Louisiana makers, and items for your pets.

Restaurant 1796 RIC HIE

COLLIN RICHIE

District Mercantile 11914 Ferdinand St. districtmercantile.com St. Francisville’s historic general store is now home to District Mercantile, where visitors can find on-trend fashion, vintage toys and clever games and gifts.

The Vintage Hive 5237 Commerce St. shopthevintagehive.com A haven for farmhouse chic furnishings and gifts, The Vintage Hive is one of the few spots in Louisiana to sell Fusion Mineral Paint, an easy-to-use, full coverage, low-odor furniture paint that has fast become a DIY must.

LL IN

The Conundrum Books and Puzzles 11917 Ferdinand St. conundrumbooks.com Popular titles, bestsellers and classics grace the shelves of this village bookshop, which gives special attention to regional authors and subjects. Jigsaw junkies will swoon at the puzzle selection.

Grandmother’s Buttons 9814 Royal St. grandmothers buttons.com Dreamy antique buttons and vintage glass are recast into handmade heirloom jewelry at this longtime local retailer.

COLLIN RICHIE

Small-town shopping in St. Francisville

DINNER + DRINKS

After a long day of shopping, settle in for a much-deserved dinner at one of the charming restaurants around town. The Saint Restaurant & Bar at the St. Francisville Inn and Restaurant 1796 at The Myrtles Plantation are newer and stylish. You also can’t go wrong at the home-y, romantic Magnolia Cafe or with the huge, hearty menu at The Francis Southern Table and Bar.

225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2021

C OV E R S T ORY

december Silver bells

2.25 miles

Louisiana holiday displays and events worth the drive

Bonfires on the Levee

Dec. 24

Length of the driveable trail at this year’s Celebration in the Oaks

In this Louisiana Christmas Eve tradition, log pyramids as large as 20 feet are lit on fire along the Mississippi River levee between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Though the origin of this local Height in feet of some tradition is unclear, those who build the fires say the illuminated of the Christmas Eve trail lights the way for Santa, or his Cajun persona Papa Noel, bonfires along the so that he can guide his reindeer and sleigh full of toys to the Mississippi River children in the area. The bonfires make for a holiday display that is just as stunning as the state’s more traditional light shows. Families and friends build towering pyramids for the event, and some even get creative with their logs and make complex designs like small homes and boats to light ablaze. These bonfires can be seen all along the levee, but you’ll see the most in areas close to Gramercy, Lutcher and Paulina. The best way to see these burning displays is by driving or walking along the levee—joining the families mingling and socializing along the river.

Abita Brew Pub Abita Springs

COURTESY NEW ORLEANS CITY PARK

The Abita Brew Pub is known, of course, for its craft beers. But it is also a hidden gem when it comes to holiday light displays. The whole restaurant is covered in sheets of colorful lights. The brew pub has put on a variety of small shows that can be viewed by restaurantgoers or those driving through the small town. There is even a sign displaying a radio station visitors can tune in to that features music synced up to the flashing lights. Though Abita Springs is a small town, this display makes it a great place to pass through for the holidays. abitabrewpub.com

Natchitoches Christmas Festival Nov. 20-Jan. 6

Natchitoches’ Christmas lights are some of the best in the state. The Natchitoches Christmas Festival features more than 100 lighted sets and over 300,000 individual twinkling bulbs. The display is along the Cane River and illuminates the surface of the water. It’s no wonder the decorations have won countless awards. Visit on a Saturday, and you’ll also be rewarded with a fireworks show. Check the festival’s schedule for a lineup of parades, music and other festivities. natchitocheschristmas.com

Celebration in the Oaks

Nov. 25-Jan. 2. (Closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve) New Orleans Celebration in the Oaks is a classic New Orleans holiday tradition. Though it’s usually a walking tour of the lights in City Park, this year’s Celebration in the Oaks will be a driving tour, featuring millions of lights that make up large displays themed around the season. The whole trail takes around 40 minutes to drive through. Tickets start at $40 for a vehicle of eight. There is also an option to bike the trail for $5 on Mondays. Tickets sell out quickly, so be sure to book yours in advance. neworleanscitypark.com/celebration-in-the-oaks

Christmas in Roseland Nov. 26-Dec. 23 Shreveport

Holidays in BR

STOCK PHOTO

There’s plenty to do closer to home, too. Turn to page 74 for our December calendar of events, and subscribe to our 225 Daily newsletter for seasonal holiday coverage. 225batonrouge.com/225daily

[225] December 2021 | 225batonrouge.com

The American Rose Center undergoes a festive transformation the day after Thanksgiving, morphing into a winter wonderland that is a much shorter drive than going to the North Pole. Christmas in Roseland features dozens of displays made of thousands of bright little lights, plus visits with Santa and other family-friendly entertainment and fun. Tickets start at $5 per person. rose.org/christmas-in-roseland

—OLIVIA DEFFES

Float your boat Last month, Louisiana showed off its first-ever float in the 95th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The float celebrated all the reasons it’s great to travel around the state, featuring jazz musicians, iconic New Orleans-style homes and Mardi Gras beads, all on the back of a 60-foot-long alligator.