UPFRONT //
It’s tailgating time IT’S THE BEST time of the year: Tailgating is back, baby! I can’t believe this fall will mark nearly two years since the last time we could all gather on campus together. I personally can’t wait to get back out there and cheer on the Tigers. I can already smell the jambalaya and hear the sounds of Tiger Band marching down Victory Hill. It’s going to be so good to be back. That’s why we’ve dedicated this month’s cover story to one of Baton Rouge’s biggest rituals. We talked to some local tailgating groups to find out how they are prepping for the fall. Because it’s been a while since we’ve all done this, the groups had to make sure they weren’t rusty. So they started early. DVA Tailgating held a practice tailgate this past July. There was gumbo, dirty rice, beer, music and BY JULIO MELARA plenty of fun to be had. Lifelong LSU fan John Richardson says he can't wait to set up again in the same spot on the Parade Grounds he’s tailgated at since the 1980s. But tailgating won’t only be happening on campus this year. That’s right— travel is back, too. The Traveling Tigers group is making the journey to LSU away games in California, Kentucky, Mississippi and Alabama this year. Packages include lodging, game tickets, transportation and pregame activities, and it’s all managed for travelers by the LSU Alumni Association and Tiger Athletic Foundation. We interviewed the Traveling Tigers about how it is taking Tiger pride on the road. And because music is one of the most special parts of game day, we talked to the Golden Band from Tigerland about what a typical fall Saturday looks like for the performers. Lastly, it wouldn’t be tailgating without the food. One of our favorite game-day Issue Date: August 2021 Ad proof #1 experiences is seeing all the creative • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. ways Tiger fans have found to eat • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hours the deadlines. opponent. We interviewed local from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees. restaurants and tailgaters about the
tradition of grilling alligator, whole hog and chicken. Turn to page 28 for the full cover story. And don’t forget to check out our special issue of Tiger Pride. We’ve been publishing Tiger Pride for 10 years this fall, and it is 225’s annual celebration of the passion and pageantry of LSU football. In this year’s edition, we have a 2021 season preview; exclusive interviews with the brand-new LSU Athletics head coaches for basketball and baseball; features on some all-star players to watch; and so much more. The issue starts on page A1. Whether you are cheering on the LSU Tigers or Southern University Jaguars this fall, we hope you have a great, safe season!
Shopping on wheels Urban Traders, a new retail park with shops, restaurants and more, is bound to make a splash when it opens in Mid City this fall. Developer Melanie Way was inspired by Austin’s food truck parks and wanted to build a similar retail experience for Baton Rougeans. When the first phase of the space opens, it will house six different businesses in vintage airstreams and mobile trailers. “I think when visitors step into our lot, they’re going to see a welcoming space—a place to meet their friends and bring their kids,” Way says. It turns out she is onto something— the past year has seen a proliferation of mobile boutiques. In 2020, we saw the launch of Barlow, a mobile boutique offering dressy casual women’s clothing. And earlier this year, a colorful mobile shop called Art to Geaux debuted. Both boutiques travel regularly throughout the parish, popping up at events. “I’d been following similar (fashion) trucks out of Dallas, but I hadn’t seen anything like them here in Baton Rouge,” says Barlow co-owner Susan
Charlet. “I love it because we can take it anywhere.” Turn to page 43 to meet the boutiques and learn all about the trend.
Still flooding This month marks five years since the August 2016 flood. The slowmoving storm that dropped 19 inches of rain on Baton Rouge—and even more in nearby communities—forever reshaped our region. This past May, another flash flood swamped the Capital Region, inundating subdivisions, restaurants and businesses—devastating and disrupting many lives and businesses. 225 took a dive into what’s being done to address the ongoing problem. We talked with the mayor and city officials about the status of the Comite River Diversion Canal, the 20-year Stormwater Master Plan, the Five Tributaries Project and several other projects that are removing debris and obstructions in flood-prone areas. The story begins on page 21.
Show time The River Center Performing Arts Theatre is finally coming back. After three years and $16.2 million in renovations, it will start hosting events again in September. What’s new at the building? An updated entrance and exterior, a larger lobby, improved acoustics and roomier seats. The new amenities aim to attract more touring acts to downtown. Local performing arts groups also couldn’t be more excited to return to the theater’s stage. Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra will kick off its 75th season at the theater. And Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre will stage the local favorite, The Nutcracker, A Tale from the Bayou, this fall. Read on for more starting on page 65. Enjoy the show!
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