21 minute read
What’s Up
WRKF Radio Drama Club founder and artistic director Timmie Callais and Radio Drama Club sidekick Brian Pope
WRKF Radio Drama Club
June
Radio reprise
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COLLIN RICHIE ONCE UPON A TIME, before 24-hour news cycles and infinite streaming and social media, America got its entertainment jollies from weekly radio shows. Performers, many of whom would go on to work in television, voiced-acted their way through scores of original comedies and dramas, each ending with a don’ttouch-that-dial cliffhanger that kept audiences rapt.
The Golden Age of Radio of the ’30s and ’40s may seem like an antiquated art form today, eclipsed by our heavy reliance on the visual. But not so fast, says Timmie Callais, founder and artistic director of the year-old WRKF Radio Drama Club. The auditory arts troupe is producing original radio dramas that air on occasional Sunday evenings on the Baton Rouge public radio station.
“We listen to podcasts, we listen to audiobooks, and in natural disasters, which we’re very familiar with, we tune into radio,” says Callais, WRKF’s membership director by day. “It makes sense that listeners would find radio dramas appealing.”
And they have. The WRKF Radio Drama Club wrapped its first season this spring with a well-received six-part limited, original series called “The Time Team.” The family-friendly show depicts the adventures of a timetraveling scientist named Dr. Bungles, and two children and their mom. In each episode, the characters travel to a different period in history, where they interact with famous figures and learn something about life and love.
The Radio Drama Club’s second season, which starts auditions this month, airs this fall with a series of standalone episodes that will air on WRKF on occasional Sunday evenings at 8 p.m. Broadcasts are also available on YouTube.
The first episode of the second season, “Scuderi a La Scala,” will dramatize the life of soprano Sara Scuderi and her years of performing at the famed Milanese opera house, Teatro alla Scala, Callais says.
More than 20 local singers and actors make up the Radio Drama Club, each playing recurring or ensemble roles. Callais writes and co-produces the shows, and plays the part of Dr. Bungles in “The Time Team.”
Music is fundamental to the Radio Drama Club’s variety show format, says music director Beth Bordelon, a Baton Rouge voice instructor and co-founder of Red Magnolia Theatre Company. Bordelon created the club’s opening jingle and chooses music to fit each show’s theme. She also collaborates with regular musical guests.
“I have found this experience to be incredible, and very different from theater,” Bordelon says. “There’s so much talent in Baton Rouge, and there’s nothing like being in a room with people who just want to be creative with one another.”
Callais’ childhood in Cut Off, Louisiana, provided inspiration for his interest in radio. He entertained himself with Golden Age broadcasts, including the comedy My Favorite Husband, which then starred Lucille Ball, and the Orson Welles 1938 production of War of the Worlds, which spooked nationwide listeners who missed its disclaimer about a real-time Martian invasion actually being fictional. Inspired by the film Back to the Future, Callais also invented an imaginary time travel game he and his cousins enacted on lazy afternoons. It was the precursor to “The Time Team.”
Callais writes each script over the course of about a month, after which the actors meet by Zoom for a virtual table-read. Callais makes adjustments and the group rehearses again, finally meeting face to face for the official taping. The show is edited to fit a 60-minute format.
Acting for radio drama stretches a performer’s skills, Callais says.
“What’s different about this kind of acting is that you’re imagining everything,” he says. “Every ounce of energy you’re expressing has to come through the voice. It’s really an incredible experience.” Facebook.com/ TheRadioDramaClub
Welcome back, (real) tomatoes
LOCAVORES ARE WONT to wax on about the superiority of seasonal produce, but nothing exemplifies their claim better than the seasonal tomato. The flavor of a locally grown or backyard tomato bursts with mouthwatering umami, its meaty flesh singing with the warmth of summer. And this month, Louisiana’s fresh tomatoes are at their peak.
“June really is the best month for local tomatoes,” says Darlene Rowland, executive director of BREADA, which operates the Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Red Stick Farmers Markets. “We start seeing them in late May, but June is when they’re really plentiful. In fact, June is probably our best month for produce across the board.”
Fresh tomatoes are the culinary Everest of green markets nationwide, but especially so in the Deep South, where they signal the return of white bread sandwiches with creamy mayo, caprese salads and simple sliced tomatoes served as a Sunday dinner side.
“People start asking (by April) when we’re going to have tomatoes, because there’s nothing else like them,” Rowland says.
Numerous Red Stick Farmers Markets growers are selling fresh tomatoes throughout the month. Look for slicing tomatoes in different sizes and colors, cherry and grape tomatoes and lots of heirloom varieties.
Buyers always seek out so-called Creole tomatoes—and they’ll see plenty of signs for them— but agricultural experts say the term is a general reference to tomatoes grown in the region, and not a specific variety.
KEY TERM Locavore
One whose diet is dominated by locally grown or produced food. To celebrate the return of tomato season, the Red Stick Farmers Market will host its annual Tomato Me Crazy celebration in conjunction with the market on Saturday, June 18, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Along with plenty of fresh tomatoes, the event features family-friendly activities and cooking demos. breada.org
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Keep kids busy
Sign them up for volunteering this summer
SUMMER BREAK CAN be a frustrating time for parents eager to keep their kids occupied beyond screens. Volunteering for a local charitable cause is a great way to help young people stay engaged and active.
But there’s an art to picking the right activity.
Nonprofit organizations often have strict age requirements for volunteers, or they ask adults to serve with kids. But many are making it easier to engage young people.
“We’ve set up different opportunities for collecting supplies for the people in our programs, which kids can do at home,” says outgoing Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge vice president and chief communications officer Allison Traxler. “There are also opportunities to serve our clients directly.”
VOAGBR operates several different facilities in Baton Rouge that support adults with developmental disabilities, low-income seniors, children in foster care and other individuals.
With a little planning, it’s easy to help young people find ways to give back. Here are a few ideas.
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• Collect nonperishables and other supplies to be distributed to VOA’s homeless outreach program, foster homes and low-income senior facilities. voagbr.org • Clean out closets and donate items to Connections for Life, a thrift store run by women rebuilding their lives after prison. connectionsforlife.net • Sort and package food at the Greater Baton Rouge Food
Bank, where teens 14 and older can serve without an adult. brfoodbank.org • Donate surplus fresh produce from neighborhood gardens to a food pantry like Hope Ministries. hopebr.org • Hold a lemonade stand and donate proceeds to your favorite charity.
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THE DAILY AVERAGE number of fatal, unintentional drownings in the United States. More children between the ages of 1 and 4 die from drowning than any other cause except birth defects. The U.S. also sees an average of 22 nonfatal drownings per day, which often result in long-term disabilities. Louisiana has the third highest rate of unintentional drownings in the nation, behind Alaska and Hawaii.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Drowning Data
—LSU President William F. Tate IV during the late April press conference announcing that the first phase of work to restore and improve the University Lakes system will finally kick off this summer. The $32 million Phase I includes improving the water quality and reducing the flood risk of the six-lake system. Dredging City Park,
College, Crest, Campus and Erie Lakes along with a portion of University Lake will be a major component of the Phase I work.
COURTESY LSU MEDIA CENTER
THE
WHAT’S NEW
Buzz feed
Compiled by Poet Wolfe
MANSHIP THEATRE'S FUNDRAISING CELEBRATION JUNE 18, 2022 | 6:00 PM
Join us for a night of Elvis inspired food, drink, and curiosities featuring Dwight Icenhower, a five-time world champion Elvis Tribute Artist. It’s time to wear your blue suede shoes and rock-a-hula, baby!
Enjoy a Vegas-style Variety Show, Casino-style games, Elvis movie themed spaces, and a paddle raise followed by a “Tribute to the King” concert! Delicious food will be exclusively provided by City Group Hospitality/City Pork.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
ANITA & JOE COYLE
®
THE HANK SAURAGE FAMILY
SEE TICKET LEVELS AND DETAILS AT WWW.MANSHIPTHEATRE.ORG
COURTESY UNIVERSITY LAKES PROJECT
Bridging a gap
Peep the latest rendering of the University Lakes Project. It shows plans for a bridge between the two largest lakes, running where May Street currently bisects the lakes. The first phase of construction will include dredging five of the six lakes. Sediments from the dredging process will be used to build a park at May Street and Dalrymple Drive. A promenade will connect the park with nearby neighborhoods and the LSU campus. The project starts this summer and will span several years. universitylakesproject.org
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2,300
Number of businesses the Baton Rouge metro area has added in the past two year, despite the financial obstacles related to the pandemic. That represents about a 9.5% increase in businesses, according to a report from the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. The growth exceeds the national average of about 7%. Ascension and East Baton Rouge Parish ranked the highest in the Capital Region based on percent change, with Ascension adding 383 businesses and East Baton Rouge adding 1,575 businesses. brac.org
Flood gates
Rep. Garret Graves (R) recently requested $2 million in federal funds to open the Resilience Lab at the Water Institute of the Gulf. Graves (pictured below) says that the research initiative would work to help prevent flooding, decrease federal spending on future disasters and push for economic development, as well as promote innovations for future infrastructure and enhance current infrastructure in Baton Rouge neighborhoods. The proposal did not pass the funding process due to spending concerns, but Graves plans to submit another request to Congress.
Water Institute of the Gulf
COLLIN RICHIE
Kolaches for everyone
The locally owned Kolache Kitchen—known for its kolaches, empanadas and breakfast tacos—is franchising across the South. After the pandemic initially delayed franchising plans, the restaurant opened its first out-of-state location in Key West, Florida, in April. Now, there’s interest in expanding to the Northshore and Lafayette, in addition to the current Baton Rouge and New Orleans outposts. kolachekitchenbr.com
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UP AND COMING
New Capital City restaurants to get excited about:
Teatery
Baton Rouge’s popular bubble tea spot Teatery will be opening a second location on College Drive, neighboring Coffee Call. The tea menu will remain the same, featuring drinks like brown sugar, hazelnut and “Partea” milk teas, as well as fruit teas like mango and passionfruit. But the food menu will feature new snacks, like popcorn chicken. The new location is planning to open in July or August.
GABRIELLE FELD
Tap 65
MID TAP owners Rick and Needhi Patel are still hard at work on their new restaurant and bar, which is planning to kick off private events and a reservation-only soft opening in June. Visitors will have the chance to choose from signature cocktail and wine selections, as well as a selection of upscale Indian cuisine. Smaller bites include wings, a charcuterie board option and an Indian Street Board. Brunch will be a multicultural selection. Owners hope to provide a creative and welcoming environment similar to MID TAP.
COURTESY TAP 65
Tailgates
The Mississippi-born barbeque spot The Shed isn’t the only exciting opening planned for Ben Hur Road. Tailgates, a new sports bar and dog park concept, will open at an undetermined date, according to David Trusty, who brokered the property purchase.
Copa
Fresh, locally sourced seafood, select steak cuts and sandwiches are just a few dishes to expect at Copa, a new Cruzan and Creole concept by Caribbean Joe’s Cafe owner Jake Boriel. Chef-inspired Caribbean dishes include jerk chicken with rice and peas, and skirt steak with chimichurri. Breakfast will include various benedicts and other Cruzan dishes. The lunch menu will incorporate Southern and New Orleans-style sandwiches, like slow-roasted homemade roast beef sandwiches. Brunch will be served on Saturdays, with a jazz brunch on Sundays. The Gonzales restaurant is slated to open in August or September.
WINNER
Kelsie Tillage
This local student recently made history when she was recognized by U.S. Congress. Tillage earned the Gold Medal Congressional Award for her initiative, service and achievement. It is considered the highest congressional award a youth can receive, and Tillage is one of Louisiana’s first high school students to receive the award, according to The Washington Mail. Her volunteering, extracurricular involvement in volleyball, photography and student government, as well as her multilingual exploration of South Africa, helped her stand out.
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What about your pets?
Grab the leash and bring your four-legged friend down to some of Baton Rouge’s dog- friendly dining establishments, including a few aptly named after canines themselves. Most every restaurant with a patio welcomes dogs, with some even offering a complimentary bowl of water for the pups. Here is a small sampling of Baton Rouge’s dog-friendly outdoor venues.
Find the restaurants on Facebook
— DOMENIC PURDY
ARIANA ALLISON
Rock Paper Taco
Originally a food truck, Rock Paper Taco opened its first brick-and-mortar location on West Chimes Street near LSU’s North Gates. This taqueria is a great place to get a quick lunch and to take in the outdoors between classes or work meetings. Enjoy unique taco creations while sipping on cocktails and margaritas made from agave spirits out front. Rock Paper Taco is at 166 W. Chimes St. Bao Vietnamese Kitchen 8342 Perkins Road Basel’s Market 5435 Highland Road Bengal Tap Room 421 Third St. Bistro Byronz 515 Mouton St. 8200 Village Plaza Court Boru Ramen 1509 Government St. Brew Ha-Ha 711 Jefferson Highway, #2A The Bulldog Baton Rouge 4385 Perkins Road Caliente Mexican Craving 1072 W. Lee Drive Cheba Hut 411 Ben Hur Road, Suite A The Chimes 10870 Coursey Blvd. 3357 Highland Road
SEAN GASSER
Basel’s Market
This little market and cafe opened in August 2021 after a successful stint as a food truck. The cute cottage has an outdoor courtyard that will make you feel like you’re enjoying a meal at a friend or family member’s house. Feast on cool chicken salad scoops or croissant sandwiches as you breathe in the fresh air.
Basel’s
On the PATIO
What’s new in outdoor dining?
BY OLIVIA DEFFES
WHAT IS IT about the season’s warmest weather that makes us want to spend time outdoors? Despite the heat, there’s nothing better than having your next meal, cup of coffee or ice cream cone served with an extra dose of vitamin D. Back in December 2020, we rounded up 200+ spots for outdoor dining in Baton Rouge. You can find that list online, but since so many new places have opened since then, we thought it was time for an update. Here are a few restaurants in Baton Rouge with patios and courtyards that have opened since 2021 and will have you opting for the outdoor seats when dining in. Where else do you like to go for outdoor dining? Send tips to
editor@225batonrouge.com.
ARIANA ALLISON
The Main Lobby
Located on Main Street, The Main Lobby opened its doors in February in the old Hound Dogs location. The addition of a rooftop bar and seating area makes this cocktail lounge an ideal spot to sit on a lovely summer day. Sip on themed cock tails and try appetizers like sliders and seafood egg rolls as you catch an aerial view of the hustle and bustle of down -
COLLIN RICHIE
City Pork Brasserie & Bar 7327 Jefferson Highway Cocha 445 N. Sixth St. Cypress Coast Brewing Co. 5643 Government St. Curbside 4158 Government St. Fat Cow 4350 Highland Road, Suite B1 Frankie’s Dawg House 2318 Cedardale Ave. French Truck Coffee 2978 Government St. Highland Coffees 3350 Highland Road Ivar’s 2954 Perkins Road Kalurah St. Grill 2857 Perkins Road La Divina Italian Café 3535 Perkins Road, Suite 360 Leola’s Café 1857 Government St. Light House Coffee 257 Lee Drive Mid City Beer Garden 3808 Government St. Red Zeppelin Pizza 4395 Perkins Road Rêve Coffee Lab 8211 Village Plaza Court, Building 4, Suite 1A Rock Paper Taco 166 W. Chimes St. The Ruby Slipper 3535 Perkins Road, Suite 375 SoLou 7246 Perkins Road Southfin Southern Poké 4321 Perkins Road Spoke & Hub 5412 Government St. Tin Roof Brewing Co. 1624 Wyoming St. The Smiling Dog 4215 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd. Willie’s Restaurant & Bar 11260 Coursey Blvd. Zippy’s Burritos Tacos & More 3155 Perkins Road
SoLou
Opened in March 2021, SoLou has an outdoor space that is equally as impressive as its indoor seating. Enjoy your meal under sprawling tree limbs during the day, or indulge in dinner under the large, twinkling lights. If the outside area is packed, you can still enjoy the fresh air indoors when the garage-style doors are open. Cool down with a signature cocktail as you snack on complimentary pork rinds before your meal. SoLou is at 7246 Perkins Road .
COLLIN RICHIE ARIANA ALLISON
COLLIN RICHIE
Leola’s Cafe
Sip on mimosas and try a rotating flight of pancakes while enjoying the outdoor patio space at Leola’s Cafe. This brunch and lunch spot opened next to Circa 1857 in January 2021. This outdoor space even features a small stage area for musicians to play and a bar for boozy brunch parties. Get there early and claim your patio spot to enjoy the sunny weather of spring.
Leola’s is at 1857 Government St .
ARIANA ALLISON
Spoke & Hub
Recently opened on Government Street, Spoke & Hub definitely knows how to utilize its outdoor space. With seating along the front and side of the restaurant, you can enjoy brunch, lunch or dinner outdoors. Umbrella-covered tables allow diners to soak in the sun with a little shade. The patio area also includes outdoor lounging sofas to enjoy cocktails and appetizers with friends. Spoke & Hub is at 5412 Government St.
ARIANA ALLISON
Gail’s Fine Ice Cream
With brightly painted picnic tables and a lawn overlooking Perkins Road, Gail’s Fine Ice Cream is a great place to go to enjoy a cool cone to beat the outside heat. With 16 flavors of ice cream and coffee drinks created with French Truck coffee, you’re sure to find a sweet treat to enjoy at any point in the day. Take the kiddos out for an after-school snack or just treat yourself to a midday scoop—we won’t judge.
ARIANA ALLISON
COLLIN RICHIE Reve Coffee Lab
If you’re looking for an open-air environment to study, have a casual work meeting or sip a coffee with friends, try Reve Coffee Lab. With tables lining the exterior, there’s no shortage of outdoor seating at this coffee shop. Take in the warmer weather and sunlight as you try iced matcha and flavored cold brews while getting some work done. Reve is at 8211 Village Plaza Court .
TRY THIS
So trivial By Domenic Purdy
A weekly calendar of local trivia nights
TRIVIA IS EVERYWHERE nowadays. TikTok, Twitter and Wikipedia deep dives give us plenty to impress our peers with at parties.
But for a duo of trivia companies in Baton Rouge, it is more than an element of social gatherings. Trivia is the gathering.
Let’s Get Quizzical, founded by Michael Hatfield in 2008, hosts events at around a dozen restaurants around town, including The Overpass Merchant, City Slice, Curbside and more.
Suspense Games, founded in 2020 by Spenser Hunt and two others, brings trivia nights to Burgersmith and the Smiling Dog, with more venues on the way. Businesses bring trivia groups in as entertainment, similar to how they might book a band.
“People need things to look forward to. Trivia nights are just a bright spot and a way to upgrade a weeknight,” Hunt says. “So much of what we see at our trivia nights are a group of friends that get together once a week to come to trivia that weren’t seeing each other regularly before.”
Here’s a few of Baton Rouge’s trivia-hosting establishments, with options almost every weeknight.
MONDAY
The Overpass Merchant
6 p.m. Offering various themed nights, like cult classic movies and ’90s pop culture, The Overpass Merchant pairs trivia with specials like $5 frozen Irish Mules, $6 Gail’s spicy chicken sandwiches, and red beans and rice.
MID TAP BR
7:30 p.m. Happy hour runs all day on Mondays for trivia, with themes rotating regularly. Previous themes include Disney night and mustache night, complete with faux mustaches and questions about mustachioed heroes.
The Smiling Dog
8 p.m. Themes change weekly, with past topics including Harry Potter, Marvel and ’90s pop culture. Winners are rewarded with prizes such as gift cards.
TUESDAY
City Slice
6 p.m.
This pizza parlor offers weekly general trivia, with themes like Friday the 13th. Prizes include $50 and $25 gift cards for first and second place, respectively. Burgersmith (on Perkins Road)
6 p.m. Topics rotate at this burger joint, including crowd favorites like a Disney-themed evening. Before trivia kicks off, happy hour runs from 4-6 p.m., with half off most drinks. Different prizes each week include cards for free food, as well as gift cards to local shops like Bengals & Bandits.
Rally Cap Brewing Company
6:30 p.m.
Trivia at this brewery generally offers a little bit of everything. But every six weeks, the taproom introduces a themed night.
MID TAP BR
7:30 p.m. The restaurant also runs Bullshit Bingo, with a slew of prizes and 10 rounds of bingo. Get there early for happy hour that runs till 7 p.m.
Pluckers
8 p.m. Test your knowledge about sports during the bar's Tuesday trivia. (See Wednesday calendar for more info on Pluckers.)
WEDNESDAY
Pluckers
8 p.m. Explore a menagerie of pop culture topics for prizes ranging from $5 to $150 gift cards, along with raffles for free beer in between rounds and $6 mugs of domestic beers. Once or twice a month, the wing spot hosts themed trivia on specific topics like anime, Disney or Nickelodeon.
THURSDAY
Tiger Tavern Daiquiris
6:30 p.m. Hosting trivia rain or shine, this daiquiri spot offers two-forone double wells, as well as $40, $25 and $15 bar tabs for first, second and third place, respectively.
MORE TRIVIA NIGHTS
Suspense Games and Let’s Get Quizzical provide updates, including themes and schedules, for the events they offer on their websites and Facebook pages. Know of another trivia night? Send tips to editor@225batonrouge.com.
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