225 Magazine [April 2022]

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CONTENTS //

Features 16 19 41

Where to sip on tiki cocktails How I-10 construction might impact businesses near the Perkins Road Overpass Which young maker is winning awards for her wellness brand

will be Callin’ Baton Rouge 83 Who this month inside Tiger Stadium

SoLou’s Crawfish Beignets

And much more…

Departments 12 19 25 26 41 69 83 92

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

ON THE COVER

It’s electric!

COLLIN RICHIE

Local electric car owners are able to top up their vehicles downtown, thanks to the 10 Green Park charging stations in the neighborhood. Staff photographer Collin Richie captured some of the vehicles recharging for this month’s cover story. Turn to page 26 for our guide to electric vehicles, as well as lots of other ways to be ecominded. Because every day should be Earth Day.

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Gone Fishin′ Mode Lock doors. Adjust lights. Arm home security.

Enjoy father-son time.

Protect. Monitor. Control.

Call 844-347-2219 or visit cox.com/homelife

Cox Homelife is available to residential customers in select Cox service areas. A high-speed Internet connection is required. Cox Homelife Security service plan required for professional monitoring services for intrusion, smoke/fire and related system components.

Applicable monthly service charges, installation, additional equipment, taxes, trip charges and other fees may apply. Subject to credit approval. Other restrictions may apply. Local ordinances may require an alarm user permit or external lock box. Cox Homelife Service provided by Cox Advanced Services: Arizona, LLC – Alarm Lic. #18141–0 & ROC Lic. #310876; Arkansas, LLC – Lic. #E 2014 0026 & #CMPY.0002278; California, LLC – Alarm Lic. #7196 & Contractor’s Lic. #992992; Connecticut, LLC – N/A; Florida, LLC – Lic. #EF20001232; Georgia, LLC – License: Bryan David Melancon #LVU406595; Idaho, LLC – Lic. #024933; Iowa, LLC – Lic. #C121646 & #AC268; Louisiana, LLC – Lic. #F 2006; Nebraska, LLC – Lic. #26512; Nevada, LLC dba Cox Homelife – Lic. #78331; Ohio, LLC – Lic. #5318–1671; Oklahoma, LLC – Lic. #2002; Rhode Island, LLC – Lic. #9314; Kansas, LLC – Topeka Lic. #109 & Wichita Lic. #2015–36492; Virginia, LLC – DCJS Lic. #11–7776 & DPOR Lic. # 2705164725 ©2022 Cox Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

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EDITOR'S NOTE //

Drive off GROWING UP, my dream car was always a Mustang.

My mother drove an old one back in the early ’90s. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve always wanted to be just like her—or if it was my distant memories of riding in her car’s backseat—but something must have subliminally convinced me I needed one, too.

So when I bought my first car in my early 20s, a used cherry-red Mustang was what called to me.

Years later, it would prove not to be the most practical car. The gas mileage was, predictably, not great.

It had little room for cargo—or adult-sized passengers.

But back then, I didn’t need it to be practical. I drove it to and from work, rarely with anyone in the passenger seat. For a young, single person, a twodoor sports car was enough to get the job done.

I’d end up keeping that car for 11 years, and maybe because it was part of my daily routine for a third of my life, it felt like it became a part of me, too.

During long commutes, it was me and my Mustang against the world. I’d turn the stereo volume up, Issue Date: April Ad proof drowning out the world2022 with a rock song. #1

I cried in that car over breakups and lost loved ones. I rejoiced in that car on road trips or nights out with girlfriends.

Most importantly, the car was there with me when I made the 900-mile drive from my Florida hometown to Louisiana as I moved my life here.

But somewhere along the way, I outgrew it.

By 2021, I was dreaming of a family car. I wanted a vehicle with a real trunk and backseat. I was tired of not being able to see over all the trucks and SUVs that dominate the roads in Louisiana. And as someone who keeps cars for the long-haul, I couldn’t stop thinking what life might look like driving my next car 10 years from now. A hybrid or electric car made sense to me—something that didn’t guzzle so much gas and would fit into a more sustainable future.

When my transmission finally gave out last summer, I was ready. Mentally and emotionally.

What I did not expect, though, was to start crying in the CarMax parking lot as I said goodbye to it.

Here’s the thing: My car was so well-loved—the leather seats were torn, the paint was peeling, and most crucially, the transmission was slipping—I wasn’t expecting my car to be worth anything other than junk-yard scraps. So when CarMax offered me a small check, all I could think was: Someone else might get this car. Someone else might experience a roller coaster of life experiences inside these doors, too. I was so happy to think my car might get a second life.

As bittersweet as that day was, stepping behind the wheel of my next car was the best blessing in disguise I could have asked for.

After a long search in a today’s awful car market,

I found the perfect car for me right now: a Toyota RAV4 Prime.

It’s a plug-in hybrid, and I can get up to 45 miles on it per charge of pure electric driving. I also get around 450 to 500 miles per gas tank.

When I’m commuting around Baton Rouge, I’m always using electric. It feels good knowing my car isn’t producing tailpipe emissions. And I can still fill the tank with gas for day trips around Louisiana or longer road trips. It’s truly the best of both worlds.

As detailed in this month’s cover story, electric cars have a ways to go before they are perfectly sustainable, accessible, affordable—and before the infrastructure is reliable, too.

But I love this car so much. In only six months of ownership, it feels like it’s become a part of me, too.

I’m making new memories in it, all while learning so much about the exciting world of electric cars.

When I used to drive my Mustang, I felt like it was me and my car against the world.

Now, I feel like it’s me and my car dreaming of a better world.

To the future,

Jennifer Tormo Alvarez 225 Editor

Downtown charging Did you know there are 10 free charging stations for electric cars downtown?

For this month’s cover shoot, my car may have, ahem, been among the pack of cars staff photographer Collin Richie captured. Learn all about how charging works in our cover story on page 26.

Me, as I was saying goodbye to my Mustang.

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Hoppy house

hunting this spring!

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CALL FOR ALL OF YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS. BUYING • SELLING • PROFESSIONAL ADVICE 225.218.0888 • DELRIOREALESTATEBR.COM

Baton Rouge Brunch RESERVE YOUR TABLE AT YOUR FAVORITE CITY GROUP HOSPITALITY RESTAURANT FOR EASTER BRUNCH

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Easter Entertaining Made Easy!

ALL YOUR FAVORITES PREPARED FOR THE HOLIDAY CALL CITY PORK CATERING: 225-388-5900 Pick up at any City Pork location: Government St., Jefferson Hwy, or Highland @ Perkins

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Publisher: Julio Melara

EDITORIAL

Editorial Director: Penny Font Editor: Jennifer Tormo Alvarez Managing Editor: Laura Furr Mericas Features Writer: Maggie Heyn Richardson Digital Content Editor: Dillon Lowe Staff Photographer: Collin Richie Contributing Writers: Cynthea Corfah, Olivia Deffes, Tracey Koch, Benjamin Leger, Elle Marie, Dana Muller, Domenic Purdy, Zane Piontek, Brooke Smith, Poet Wolfe Contributing Photographers: Ariana Allison, Amy Shutt

ADVERTISING

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

CORPOR ATE MEDIA

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

MARKETING

Marketing & Events Assistant: Taylor Falgout Events: Abby Hamilton

ADMINISTR ATION

Business Manager: Tiffany Durocher Business Associate: Kirsten Milano Office Coordinator: Tara Lane Receptionist: Cathy Varnado Brown

PRODUCTION/DESIGN

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

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

Audience Development Director and Digital Manager: James Hume Audience Development Coordinator: Ivana Oubre Audience Development Associate: Jordan Kozar A publication of Melara Enterprises, LLC Chairman: Julio Melara Executive Assistant: Brooke Motto Vice President: Penny Font Chief Operating Officer: Guy Barone Chairman Emeritus: Rolfe H. McCollister Jr. Circulation/Reprints 225.928.1700 email: circulation@225batonrouge.com 9029 Jefferson Highway, Suite 300 Baton Rouge, LA 70809 225-214-5225 • FAX 225-926-1329 225batonrouge.com

HERRINGSTONE’S BATON ROUGE Call Haley Herrington to schedule your own personal shopping experience 7474 Corporate Blvd Ste C | 225.239.5239 | www.herringstonesboutique.com 10

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

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

SAY WHAT?

Number of shares this story got on our Facebook page

2. First Look: Spoke & Hub, the latest from City Group Hospitality, opens in Mid City 3. First Look: Inside downtown’s new rooftop cocktail lounge, The Main Lobby

“This is just what downtown was missing!! So excited for @themain lobby_br ”

ARIANA ALLISON

PHOTO BY ARIANA ALLISON / REEL BY OLIVIA DEFFES

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ARIANA ALLISON

1. Southern University’s new master plan looks to attract students and connect to its surroundings

—@wheretogeaux225

15,800

views on our Instagram Reel with the scoop on Baton Rouge’s newest dessert shop, Gail’s Fine Ice Cream

ARIANA ALLISON

The most-viewed COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

The most-read

In response to Baton Rouge’s first Lucky Dogs stand opening downtown:

“So, Baton Rouge is finally, grudgingly, acknowledging the presence of New Orleans.

What progressive times we are living in.”

—@leehighmarmoset on Instagram

Analytics and comments are from Feb. 1-28, 2022.

Comments have been edited for clarity and brevity.

The final countdown There’s still time left to decide who wins this year’s Best of 225 Awards! The ballot is open until April 7. The winners will appear in 225’s July 2022 issue. Vote, read our FAQ and more at 225batonrouge.com/bestof225.

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Generations of care

We’re here for you and your family through the stages of life, with the strength of the cross, the protection of the shield. The Right Card. The Right Care.

01MK7677 02/22

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April

Strawberry high

COLLIN RICHIE

Eliza Restaurant’s seasonal strawberry shortcake

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[225] April 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

EARLIER THIS YEAR, Louisiana strawberry fans were treated to a particularly abundant and juicy winter crop, the result of a mild fall that helped fledgling plants produce a robust first round, says Fletcher Farms’ William Fletcher, a Ponchatoula grower and Red Stick Farmers Market vendor.

Now, after a late February break, those same plants are back in full swing, producing the sweet, red-ripe fruit we associate with springtime in Louisiana.

“The traditional strawberry harvest in the state spans mid-March to midMay, with Mother’s Day being the fruit’s unofficial finish line,” Fletcher says.

Fletcher plants 90,000 strawberry plants in the fall, which he says will equate to about 13,500 flats (or 162,000 pints) of strawberries if weather conditions cooperate. While the warm fall delivered Louisiana growers more than the usual number of strawberries in January and February, farmers still have to navigate spring conditions to judge how the season fares overall. Flooding from April showers is always a threat, but farmers are hopeful the 2022 season will finish strong, Fletcher says.

This month is the perfect time to enjoy local strawberries, easy to source in both regional farmers markets and independent supermarkets. Spin-off products are also in good supply.

Fletcher and his wife, Ginger, for example, recently created a line of items from their berries. It includes single-serving smoothies, pepper jelly, quick bread, salad dressing, pancake syrup and other items.

Keep your eyes peeled for local berries on spring menus, too. Rocca is featuring an appetizer in which creamy burrata and grilled ciabatta are served with poached and pickled strawberries, arugula and mint pesto and balsamic vinegar. And Eliza Restaurant’s seasonal strawberry shortcake has returned. The detailed interpretation of the classic dessert features housemade buttermilk biscuits, Chantilly cream and macerated Ponchatoula strawberries, says co-owner Sally Davis.

“When strawberry production slows down,” she says, “it comes off the menu until next year.”

One of the state’s most beloved strawberry-centric activities is also this month. The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival returns after back-to-back cancellations in 2020 and 2021—and just in time. The festival turns 50 this year, and is set for April 8-10, 2022.

Find Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival on Facebook.

­—­MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON

W H AT ’ S U P / /

Bunny in the basket?

DIGITS

HO

TO

56 STOCK PHOTO

WITH THEIR SOFT fur, innocent eyes and floppy ears, rabbits are irresistible, so much so that they’re sometimes given as Easter gifts. But families considering tucking a pet Peter Cottontail into this year’s Easter basket should know what they’re getting into, says Magic Happens Rescue founder Wendy Lincoln.

The Baton Rouge pet rescue organization was founded in 2004 and rescues rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters. Run by volunteers, it serves Louisiana, Mississippi and occasionally other states.

Lincoln says many pet rabbits are surrendered because their care and behavior is not what people expect. To date, Magic Happens has facilitated 2,200 bunny adoptions, and Lincoln estimates that the number of rabbit surrenders increases tenfold in the months following Easter.

“Bunnies seem like the perfect gift for children,” Lincoln says.

“But then they start growing, and don’t want to be necessarily held.”

Rabbits resemble cats in their need to be private, even standoffish. They also prefer their own space, Lincoln says. Most breeds don’t tolerate Louisiana’s heat and shouldn’t be kept outdoors. Rather, they need enclosures inside the home where they can feel safe. They’re also happier in pairs.

But they can make terrific, loving pets, Lincoln says, as long as owners do their homework. Lincoln herself keeps five pet rabbits, ranging in size from 3 to 13 pounds, and says they get along well with her dogs and cats.

“It’s really important to understand what they need, and to never give a rabbit to someone who is unprepared,” Lincoln says.

Magic Happens is currently fostering about 40 rabbits looking for permanent homes. For more information, visit magichappensrescue.com.

CHRIS PARENT / COURTESY LSU ATHLETICS

Not so fast.

ST

K OC

P

The number of baseball games LSU will play during its 2022 season, the first for new head coach Jay Johnson. The regular season kicked off on Feb. 18 and will continue to May 21.

The blues are back FESTIVAL EXTRAS

A series of blues-themed community events will take place in the days leading up to the event, Neustrom says.

“I do believe this process is tainted.”

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20 Manship Theatre screens the local premiere of The Torch, a documentary about bluesman Buddy Guy. THURSDAY, APRIL 21 A panel discussion at Capitol Park Museum called “Women in the Blues” will feature female performers discussing their role in the industry. While at the museum that evening, visitors can view an exhibit on New Orleans blues pianist and singer Professor Longhair.

TO

Turn to page 86 for another 225 feature about the making of this year’s Blues Fest.

EP FIL

JORDAN HEFLER / COURTESY BATON ROUGE BLUES FESTIVAL

FOR THE FIRST time since 2019, the Baton Rouge Blues Festival is making its comeback. On April 23-24 a lineup of more than 30 acts will perform on three stages downtown.

The festival was canceled in 2020 and again in 2021 due to COVID-19, even after an attempt to hold a special date in fall 2021. Fans will also recall that rain canceled some Saturday performances during the 2019 Blues Festival, making this year’s return even more meaningful, says Kim Neustrom, executive director of the Baton Rouge Blues Foundation, which organizes the event.

Look for exciting changes this year, Neustrom says. Organizers have tightened the festival footprint, arranging the event’s three stages in closer proximity to improve flow. The main stage will be located on Galvez Plaza with additional stages on Lafayette Street and on North Boulevard near Town Square. batonrougebluesfestival.org

HO

—Louisiana State Rep. C. Denise Marcelle, D-Baton Rouge, about the state’s redistricting special session in February. The Legislature approved one majority Black district out of six congressional districts, despite the state’s population now being one-third Black.

Gov. John Bel Edwards vetoed the proposed legislation, which will be voted on in the regular session that began in early March.

225batonrouge.com | [225] April 2022

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Issue Date: April Ad proof #2

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W H AT ’ S U P / /

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Cupcake Junkie Buzz feed W H AT ’ S N E W

Compiled by Poet Wolfe

YOU PICK

Local farms for berry picking this spring Blueberry Ridge Orchard Forty-five minutes outside of Baton Rouge in the small town of Jackson, Blueberry Ridge Orchard boasts a 25-acre field with blueberry bushes surrounded by trees and chirping birds. Find Blueberry Ridge Orchard on Facebook

Landry-Poche Farm Less than an hour from Baton Rouge and home to the 2013 Strawberry King, Mark Landry, you can walk between rows of crops and pick fresh strawberries at this family-owned farm. landrypochefarm.com

Forty minutes west of Baton Rouge in the state’s highest strawberry-producing parish of Tangipahoa, Mrs. Heather’s Strawberry Farm offers strawberry picking and family-fun activities like ziplining and tractor races. thfarms.com

We make cakes, too! Call Cupcake Junkie to make your celebration sweet!

BAKED FRESH | Issue Date: April Ad1DAILY proof #7

@CupcakeJunkieBR

cupcakejunkiebr.com | your 12240 Coursey 70816 | • Please respond by e-mail or fax with approval or minorBlvd. revisions.

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225.421.1995

STOCK PHOTOS, COURTESY IMAGES

Mrs. Heather’s Strawberry Farm

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Weekend crawfish

COURTESY IMAGE ARIANA ALLISON

A collection of art, stylish home goods, & products made from Louisiana artists and makers.

Baton Rouge’s local distillery Three Roll Estate will have boiled crawfish and live music every Saturday this month. Head over to its patio now through April 30, from 1-4 p.m. threeroll.com

Get lucky 555 Caddo Street, Baton Rouge | Store Hours: Tues-Sat, 10am - 5pm

LocalLeafGallery.com

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[225] April 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

New Orleans’ staple hot dog stand Lucky Dogs has made its way up the Mississippi River to downtown Baton Rouge. The stand arrived in February in front of Downtown Grocery at the corner of Third and Florida streets, courtesy of grocery owner Mutaz Abusada. It operates from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays; and from 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays.

4th

Where Baton Rouge ranks among the nation’s cities with the worst traffic, according to the online mapping and GPS company TomTom. This is despite the city’s population being just over 222,000, as compared to the high populations of the top three ranked cities: New York, Los Angeles and Miami. In 2021, average travel times were 27% longer during congested traffic than during baseline noncongested conditions. Travel time shot up by four minutes per day last year, and it will only increase with the expansion of Interstate-10.

(Read more about the 1-10 project on page 19.)

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W H AT ’ S U P / /

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NEW STYLES

STOCK PHOTO

are in

Madewell comes to BR

Before now, the only Madewell store in Louisiana was in New Orleans. This spring, Madewell finally arrives in Baton Rouge’s Acadian Village, replacing the former Lululemon location (the athletic brand moved into the former Provisions on Perkins location in the same shopping center). Madewell, owned by J. Crew, has built a following for its denim clothing and trendy apparel. madewell.com

Spring sips Lavender latte at City Roots

Celebrate a new season with this coffee bar’s freshly roasted lavender latte: a blend of espresso, steamed milk and lavender sweetener, garnished with lavender stems. electricdepotbr.com/city-roots

Violet Cream Cold Brew at Coffee Joy

Coffee Joy is adding a floral touch to its menu with the Violet Cream Cold Brew, a cold brew sweetened with violet syrup and topped with a layer of sweet cream and an edible flower. coffeejoy.com

COURTESY IMAGE

King Cake Martini at The Vintage

Carnival season might be over, but The Vintage is still celebrating with its Sugarfield’s King Cake Martini, a mixture of Sugarfield Spirits spiced rum, lemon juice and brown sugar cinnamon syrup, poured into a cocktail glass rimmed with Mardi Gras-colored sprinkles and topped with expressed lemon peel and cinnamon. thevintagebr.com

Corporate Blvd at Jefferson • 225.925.2344 townecenteratcedarlodge.com • 225batonrouge.com | [225] April 2022

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W H AT ’ S U P / /

FIRST LOOK

Taste of tiki

Mid City’s first tiki bar is a tropical escape

By Domenic Purdy // Photos by Collin Richie BATON ROUGE IS home to a menagerie of bars.

There are the craft cocktail creators at Olive or Twist and Hayride Scandal, and dozens of beers on tap at places like The Bulldog, Mid City Beer Garden and more.

But there are few options for the more tropicalminded drinker, outside of a daiquiri from a drive-thru.

Until Lotus Lounge.

Acting as the bar-side of Soji: Modern Asian, Lotus Lounge opened last month, putting a Baton Rouge twist on classic tiki cocktails.

Lotus Lounge brings a classy aesthetic to the tropical drinking game, combining modern neon lighting with a more traditional tiki bar with woven bar stools and wood carvings that bring you right to the Polynesian islands, and foliage that makes it feel like you’ve stepped into another world.

When bar-goers come to Lotus Lounge, they have the option to drink at the bar, a table in the lounge or a larger VIP table seating eight to 10 people.

Striving for a more intimate experience, owner Chase Lyons explains he doesn’t want to deliver a crowded bar with long wait times.

“We want our guests to enjoy a very relaxing, stress-free atmosphere,” he says.

The thoughtful experience continues into the drinks, all handmade with some involving up to 10 ingredients. Lotus Lounge’s menu brings classic tiki cocktails like the Painkiller, Zombie, Mai Tai, Pisco Sour and Saturn together with signature takes on tropical drinks.

Two of the featured drinks are the Bitter Bee—with honeysuckle vodka, honey syrup, lime, mint, demerara sugar and Angostura bitters—and The Floor is Guava, complete with rhum agricole, green chartreuse, Italicus, cinnamon, vanilla syrup, fresh ginger and lime.

“Beginning with our initial beverage menu at Soji, tropical cocktails have always been a huge inspiration for us,” Lyons says. “Many of our house cocktails have been ‘plays’ on fun and inventive tiki cocktails, and we love the idea of creatively using fresh citrus and juices in fun glassware.”

Lyons says the team also plans to provide a rotating small plate menu inside Lotus inspired by Polynesian cuisine.

When Soji first opened in the summer of 2018, Lotus Lounge was an exterior bar. “It was hot,” Lyons explains.

“Now, we have transformed this exterior space into an interior, tropical paradise with a hidden, speakeasy vibe,” he says. “Tiki has grown in popularity in recent times, and I loved the idea of opening a tiki bar in Baton Rouge.”

Lyons felt that integrating Lotus Lounge into Soji would be a perfect place to test out this proof of concept, feeling that the two brands play off of each other well.

“We are very excited to offer our guests another reprieve from everyday life and a true ‘getaway’ experience with the same attention to detail Soji has delivered,” Lyons says. “We look forward to many more nights inside the Lounge toasting to life.”

Lotus Lounge is attached to Soji: Modern Asian, at 5050 Government St., and will be open Tuesday through Sunday, 5 p.m. to midnight. Find it on Instagram at @drink.lotus

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Lotus Lounge’s Painkiller cocktail

W H AT ’ S U P / /

MENU HIGHLIGHTS

Scream for ice cream

• Little Monsters (pictured): Vanilla bean ice cream dyed azure and studded with bits of Oreos.

Meet Gail’s Fine Ice Cream’s small-batch artisan flavors JUST IN TIME for warm weather, the Perkins Road Overpass District has a cheery, whimsical new dessert shop.

Gail’s Fine Ice Cream serves 16 flavors of small-batch artisan ice cream; fresh waffle cones; sundaes; shakes; to-go pints; and coffee drinks made with French Truck Coffee.

The diminutive Perkins Road shop opened in March. It’s the brainchild of Nick Hufft and Lon Marchand, who also own Curbside and The Overpass Merchant in Baton Rouge, Junior’s on Harrison and the original Gail’s in New Orleans.

Hufft eyed the location for years, centrally positioned in the restaurant-rich district.

The Gail’s New Orleans outpost opened in 2020 as a concept

incubated inside Junior’s on Harrison. The new Baton Rouge store, Hufft says, will serve as Hufft Marchand Hospitality’s official prototype for future Gail’s locations.

The concept is both elevated and nostalgic.

A friendly color palette in cool hues signals simplicity and childhood innocence. But wrapped in the disarming vibe is carefully made ice cream meant to stand out for its rich, creamy texture and inventive flavors.

Six months ago, Hufft and Marchand brought on board New Orleans pastry chef Rachel Caprera to help them retool their restaurant group’s pastry program and develop Gail’s menu. Caprera’s career has included stints in both savory and pastry at Commander’s Palace, and working in pastry at Restaurant August under well-known pastry chef Kelly Fields. Caprera helped Fields open popular bakery cafe Willa Jean in 2015. Now, she’s reimagining desserts for the restaurant group and creating original ice cream flavors for Gail’s.

The secret to Gail’s creamy texture is high butterfat, Caprera says. She adds extra butter to the milk and cream in each batch. Salt is also key. The right amount keeps the sweetness in check.

“What I really love,” Caprera says, “is when desserts are balanced.”

Issue Date: April 2022 Ad proof #1 gailsfineicecream.com • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your 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.

• Vanilla Bean: A fragrant take on a bedrock classic, with real Madagascar vanilla scraped from pods.

• Milk Chocolate: “Extra brute” cocoa powder results in a flavor mimicing a Wendy’s Frosty, says pastry chef Rachel Caprera. “We want our ice cream to taste like memories,” she says.

• Fresh Strawberry: Made with fresh Louisiana strawberries, while they last.

• Lemon Berry Icebox Pie: Homemade lemon curd and berry compote are striped into the ice cream alongside crumbled graham crackers.

• Cortado Crunch: Made with single-origin French Truck Coffee steeped for 24 hours, along with broken bits of Heath Bar.

PHOTOS BY ARIANA ALLISON

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

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WE CAN CHECK YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE. BUT ONLY YOU CAN TELL US THE PRESSURE YOU’RE UNDER.

Half of your healthcare is in the stories you share with us. Because before you’re a patient, you’re a person – and what you’re thinking, feeling, and hoping for can help us to personalize your recovery and improve your outcome. ololrmc.com/WeListenWeHeal

I N S I D E : The Gardere Initiative

This too shall pass?

Interstate widening will cause pain to the Perkins Road Overpass District, but the final outcome looks positive

BY MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON

WHEN CHOW YUM PHAT

moved from the former White Star Market to its current location under the Perkins Road Overpass two years ago, co-owners Jordan Ramirez and Vu “Phat” Le knew that, one day, the much-discussed Interstate-10 widening (and the headaches that would come with it) might come to pass.

But with no specific start date, it didn’t stop Chow Yum Phat—or other small businesses—from

setting up operations in the buzzy, highly trafficked area.

In fact, new businesses continue to open, even as plans for the project become clearer.

Gail’s Fine Ice Cream opened in March, a stone’s throw from Chow Yum Phat. Construction is underway on Unleaded, the new barbecue concept across the street from Gail’s, as well as a new Mediterranean concept in the space once occupied by Bumsteers.

COLLIN RICHIE

Chow Yum Phat staff by the Perkins Road Overpass, which will face impacts from the I-10 widening project.

OUR CITY //

Now, it looks like the I-10 widening project has a date certain: 2024. Earlier this year, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced that while the Perkins Road Overpass District area was thought to be part of a much later phase of the interstate widening project, it will now be part of the first phase, which is slated to wrap in 2027.

That includes widening the interstate between La. 451 and Acadian Thruway.

In the Perkins Road Overpass District, the project includes removing the Perkins Road exit, along with its on- and off-ramps. This will allow for a widened and easier-to-use Acadian Thruway exit, and also enables a widened I-10 to fit within the existing right of way on Perkins Road,

thus reducing impact on existing businesses, according to DOTD. The plan calls for replacing the current large, clunky supports with ones that are thinner and more streamlined. It will also add a sound wall to reduce overhead noise.

And perhaps most appealing to the fans of this area, the plan calls for new greenspace. Some of the space captured from the removal of the Perkins Road exit will be converted to walking paths that ultimately connect Acadian Village to the Overpass District.

Parking will also be improved. The current rough-riding gravel lots used by many Overpass District businesses will be replaced with attractive parking areas flanked by a linear park,

what planners call a narrow strip of land developed as greenspace.

Ultimately, it’s a positive project. But its beginnings will be painful.

A small number of properties, including Fresh Salon on Christian Street, will be acquired and razed.

Right of way maps will be finalized in May, after which the acquisition process will begin, says DOTD Communications Director Rodney Mallett.

As they work on the interstate expansion overhead, crews will have to take up current parking spaces to stage equipment. There’s also collective concern in the community about the expected traffic delays caused by the impact of narrowing the interstate to two-lanes.

“We don’t know now to what extent parking for patrons will be reduced,” Mallett says. “We’ll know that closer to when the project starts, but it’s likely that the locations will move around.”

That concerns Ramirez.

“We moved here in September 2019, and about six months later had to really pivot because of COVID,” Ramirez says. “We don’t want to have to do that again with losing a lot of parking.”

The lane closures required to perform the widening work will cause interstate traffic to worsen considerably. Mallett says that DOTD will be exploring a variety of mitigation measures with state agencies and others, including flexible schedules for state workers, telecommuting or working

“It really could be nice. I just don’t want it to kill my business first.”

—Chow Yum Phat co-owner Jordan Ramirez

Renderings of improved columns, lighting, parking and greenspace

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COURTESY LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT

FILE PHOTO BY GABRIELLE FELD

Chow Yum Phat

OUR CITY //

THE TIMELINE EARLY

2032

Washington Street to Acadian Thruway portion of Phase One construction completion.

The estimated latest completion date for the whole widening project, from Washington Street to the 1-10/I-12 split.

Current estimates say the whole project could take eight to 10 years.

2024 Phase One construction will begin, widening the interstate between La. 451 and Acadian Thruway.

The Perkins Road exit will be removed.

2027

UPCOMING SHOWS

The Overpass Merchant

TOAD THE WET SPROCKET

FILE PHOTO BY COLLIN RICHIE

APRIL 29 • 7:30 PM

Which businesses will be affected?

After all the construction dust settles and the project is completed, restaurants and businesses in this area will benefit from new greenspace and improved parking. However, some properties, including Fresh Salon on Christian Street, will be acquired and razed. News reports have referenced possible acquisitions for portions of The Overpass Merchant and Ivar’s properties, but acquisitions won’t be finalized until the completion of right-of-way maps in May.

four 10-hour workdays to curb congestion and give workers a day of reprieve. To curb the freight corridor’s well-known truck traffic, Mallett says DOTD has plans to communicate with the trucking industry about possible alternate routes or delivery times.

Ramirez adds that interstate delays and shifts in work hours could impact the part of Chow Yum Phat’s customer base that resides outside the immediate neighborhood, too.

“We have a lot of customers who drive in from all over the parish,” he says.

Ramirez acknowledges that the

final outcome is positive for the area.

The current parking lot is generally filled with dust and noise, he says, and reaching many of the parking spots, especially those that run behind Gail’s to Schlittz & Giggles, can feel like driving off-road.

“It really could be nice,” Ramirez says. “I just don’t want it to kill my business first.”

Mallett says the final design, which also includes details on the linear park behind the Overpass District businesses, will be released this year.

For more information and to see early renderings, visit i10br.com.

COLIN HAY

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MAY 14 • 7:30 PM GET TICKETS TODAY! M A N S H I P T H E AT R E . O R G • 2 2 5 - 3 4 4 - 0 3 3 4 Supported in part by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a Federal agency. This program is made possible in part by a grant from the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, funded by the East Baton Rouge

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OUR CITY //

A helping hand Faith-based nonprofit Gardere Initiative uplifts local youth by providing education, family resources and a safe gathering space

B Y CY N THE A CO R FA H P HOTO S BY CO L L I N R I C HI E

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Murelle Harrison has been leading the Gardere Initiative since 2013.

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AS THE SAYING GOES, “it takes a village to raise a child.” And local nonprofit Gardere Initiative is that village for many families in the Gardere area.

From providing postage stamps to finding a ride to a dentist appointment, the faith-based coalition is a one-stop-shop for the community.

It is a safe place where youth can snack and do their homework after school, Spanish-speaking children can practice conversing in English and families can use computers to print documents and seek finance, health and educational resources.

Gardere Initiative is a small organization making a big impact. More than 50 children and teens are enrolled in its after-school program, and it provided food for 700 children weekly during the COVID-19 shutdown.

Every year, the group hosts its two biggest events: The Love Fest in December and the Gardere Initiative Back-to-School Extravaganza in August.

At the Love Fest, the group gives

over 400 gifts to local families for the holidays. At the Back-to-School event, the organization donates 700-plus bags of school supplies to students.

Students and families can also connect with helpful organizations and school representatives, and access vital services such as health screenings.

Day to day, the coalition focuses on educating and empowering youths to become resourceful, collegeready, young professionals. Gardere Initiative offers after-school tutoring, enrichment classes, career exploration services, connections to physical and mental health resources, legal advice and holiday and summer programs for children and youth.

“Education is the pathway out of poverty,” Gardere Initiative Executive Director Murelle Harrison says.

Before it became the hub it is now, Gardere Initiative started as a solution to a crime problem. When it was founded in 2006, Harrison says murder was on the rise in Gardere, and concerned churchgoers from

Burden Museum & Gardens offers discovery and adventure through historic, natural and educational experiences that provide a window into Louisiana’s rich cultural past. Situated on 440 acres in the heart of Baton Rouge, Burden Museum & Gardens includes the LSU Rural Life Museum, LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens and Windrush Gardens.

Upcoming Events StoryTime in the Garden April 2 and May 14 . 9 a.m.-noon LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens Zapp’s International Beerfest April 2 . 3:30-6 p.m.

LSU Rural Life Museum Birding at Burden April 23 and May 21 . 7-9 a.m.

LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens An Old-fashioned Easter Celebration April 10 . 2:30-5 p.m.

LSU Rural Life Museum Go Public Gardens Days Check our website for event dates and times in May LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens Franklin Rodriguez and Keearra Joseph are among the more than 50 children and teens enrolled in the Gardere Initiative’s after-school program.

For details about these and other events, visit our website or call 225-763-3990.

Admission may be charged for some events.

Burden Museum & Gardens . 4560 Essen Lane . DiscoverBurden.com . Baton Rouge Open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily . 225-763-3990 225batonrouge.com | [225] April 2022

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OUR CITY //

several local congregations wanted to create positive change for the area.

They started with connecting youth to proper mentors, activities and educational tools. In 2013, Harrison became the executive director, and the organization started working out of a facility on Ned Avenue next to BREC’s Hartley/Vey Park at Oak Villa.

As a neighborhood pillar helping an increasing number of families in need, Harrison says that despite its growth, Gardere Initiative still needs more funds, staff and volunteers to best serve the community.

Harrison wants to raise enough money for the Gardere Initiative to open its own permanent facility, with paid staff and reliable transportation to pick up and drop off students.

“If young people don’t have a path to higher education, what is there for them?” Harrison says. “We’re trying to help them stay motivated to stay in school. To do that, we need a permanent space, a staff and a van. We rent three units right now and use our personal vehicles to transport children without access to transportation. The community needs us.” Learn more or donate at gardereinitiative.org

“Education is the pathway out of poverty.”

—Gardere Initiative Executive Director Murelle Harrison

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Justin Lemoine JUSTIN LEMOINE WANTS you to get outside in your backyard and see the Atchafalaya Swamp, or what he calls “The Yellowstone of Louisiana.” Better yet, he’d love to see you help preserve it.

Lemoine’s roots, after all, run as deep as the Atchafalaya River itself. He was born and raised in Plaucheville, a small town in Avoyelles Parish. Coming from a long lineage of Cajuns, he sees firsthand Louisiana’s culture slowly fading away. Many members of his hometown were once French speaking and over the last few decades, that language has slowly disappeared. Lemoine’s eagerness to preserve Louisiana culture is part of the reason he joined the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area as its executive director in 2020. The foundation promises to help conserve Louisiana’s landscape and its connections between people, culture and the environment.

Lemoine’s interests aren’t just in preserving southeast Louisiana culture—but also in preserving the land. He recently joined the board of Baton Rouge Green, a nonprofit that plants trees across the Capital City. The urban forestry advocacy organization supports stormwater management, as well as Louisiana’s ecosystem and native habitats.

And that’s something Lemoine is quite familiar with in his day job. As the owner and lead designer of ELS Landscape Architecture Studio, he’s designed public spaces from Lake Charles to New Orleans, ranging from commercial projects to community plans for the state. All of his designs place sustainability at the forefront.

One memorable project was BREC’s North Sherwood Forest Community Park. Working alongside Montoya Design Group, he helped construct wetlands, a new pond, a promenade, fishing piers, a pavilion over the wetlands and a splash pad and children’s playground. Rainwater drains into the ponds, which then flows into the constructed wetlands. The process filters and stores stormwater before it’s released into the regional stormwater system. He says his favorite part of working on the project was designing the areas that bring people together, such as the playground, trellis area and promenade.

Like the waterways of Louisiana have pulled people together for centuries, Lemoine is enthusiastic about finding new ways to bring communities together.

He and his friends started the MidCity Makers Market in 2015. What began as a small holiday trunk show with just 12 vendors has quickly grown. The monthly market now has nearly 290 artists in mediums ranging from paintings, sculptures and jewelry to glasswork, baked items and leather goods.

“It’s almost like an outdoor department store,” Lemoine says, “where we’re just acknowledging all of the hard work of the creators that make things by hand here in the region.” atchafalaya.org

—­DANA MULLER

COLLIN RICHIE

“I’ve always had an eagerness to be involved in things that bring people together. I want to help people remember what’s so special about Louisiana. This is a place people should want to live and celebrate.”

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C OV E R S T ORY

48

Percentage of U.S. consumers ready to change their consumption habits to save the environment

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Green day LOCAL IDEAS FOR LIVING MORE SUSTAINABLY—NOT JUST ON EARTH DAY, BUT EVERY DAY B Y C Y N T H E A C O R FA H , M A G G I E H E Y N R I C H A R D S O N , B R O O K E S M I T H A N D J E N N I F E R TO R M O A LVA R E Z P H OTO G R A P H Y BY CO LLI N R I C H I E STATI STI C S CO M P I LE D BY DO M E N I C P UR DY

E

ARTH DAY IS April 22, and it’s good a time as ever to think about all the reasons we love living in Louisiana. It’s also an ideal time to think about preserving and protecting our land so we can enjoy it for years to come.

In 2021, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicted the planet would warm 1.5 C to 2 C above pre-industrial levels this century—unless we make massive reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The 10 warmest years on record have all occurred since 2005, leading not just to hotter days, but to increased extreme weather events.

We’re already seeing the impacts here at home. In Baton Rouge, we’re now experiencing 22 more days per year with temperatures above 95 F than the city did in the 1970s.

And since the 1930s, more than 2,000 square miles of Louisiana’s coastal plain have been lost. Some coastal communities could be submerged entirely within three to four decades.

NASA is currently projecting 10 to 12 inches of sea level rise along coastlines by 2050. The Gulf Coast may fare even worse, with Grand Isle on track to see a 2-foot increase by 2050.

It likely won’t be possible to halt all the impacts of global warming. But there are changes we can all make, small and large, to help make a difference. Turn the page to see how some locals are doing their part—and for plenty of ways you can do your part from home, too. Because Earth Day should be every day.

Sources: Louisiana Climate Action Plan, NASA, NOAA, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Energy Information Administration, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Solar Energy Industries Association, U.S. Department of Energy, Google Project Sunroof, University of Michigan, Tulane University, Solar Reviews, Point Park University, Eco Friendly Habits and Keep Louisiana Beautiful

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Baton Rouge Green’s Christopher Cooper and student volunteers plant trees at Woodlawn Middle School.

Planting roots Volunteering with Baton Rouge Green protects the city’s ecology and economy TERMS LIKE “URBAN canopy” and “green infrastructure” might not mean much to most, but to the urban and community forestry wizards at nonprofit Baton Rouge Green, they mean the world.

Any time you’re strolling the streets of Baton Rouge and you happen beneath the shade of a magnolia, bald cypress or water oak, there’s a good chance you’re enjoying the organization’s handiwork.

The group first formed in 1987, when a band of ecologically minded citizens endeavored to restore, plant and maintain trees and other green things in the Red Stick.

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The plants that pepper the Baton Rouge landscape serve an indispensable role in absorbing and diverting floodwaters, filtering airborne pollutants, controlling temperature and a host of other services, says Baton Rouge Green Executive Director Sage Foley.

But our trees provide more than just eco-benefits, Foley says. Welllandscaped retail centers attract more customers, and tree-lined streets yield higher property values, she explains, citing data compiled by the University of Washington. A robust urban canopy can even positively affect crime rates and test scores of young students,

according to that study.

In short, Foley says, the entire city benefits when its trees are healthy and plentiful—and Baton Rouge Green exists to make sure they are just so.

“Personally, I’ve always had an interest in trying to figure out my role in how to help our community,” Foley says. “And so far, working at Baton Rouge Green has been the best fit. I can’t think of a better way.”

She says the “bedrock” of the organization’s stewardship is the Living Roadways program, whereby she and her teammates Christopher Cooper and Robert Seemann oversee the planting and maintenance of trees along major roads and interstates in the city. The program’s benefits range from energy conservation to improved air quality to even reduced motor collision rates.

Living Roadways will soon undertake the leviathan task of planting more than 500 trees to compensate for those that must be removed for the upcoming I-10 widening project.

Baton Rouge Green maintains a host of other programs like City Citrus, which organizes volunteers to help harvest citrus orchards in unused urban green space. It also runs More than Paper, an educational outreach program that strives to inform people of the many benefits of trees beyond making products like paper and wood, adds Seeman, who also serves as state coordinator and director of operations for Baton Rouge Green.

By now, you may be wondering how what started as a community nonprofit

has come to assume such a vital role in tending the ecological— and, by proxy, a large part of the economic—health of the city. There’s an interesting reason: The United States Forestry Service allocates a yearly grant for the respective forestry agencies in every state, and a certain portion of that grant is reserved for urban and community forestry (which is what Baton Rouge Green does). But the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry has no personnel dedicated to urban and community forestry. That’s where the folks at Baton Rouge Green step in.

“The state recognized they were short on staff in a key area,” Seemann says. “And instead of trying to plug someone in there who didn’t have a lot of experience … they put it in the hands of an organization that lives and breathes urban forestry and has a lot of experience doing it.”

While it might seem odd that a nonprofit should fill a role typically occupied by a state agency, Seemann stresses it’s the progressive solution: It shows the state doesn’t want to mess around with something so crucial.

It’s clear that—perhaps quite literally—the city could not breathe without Baton Rouge Green and the plants and trees they tend.

And anyone in Baton Rouge can help. Baton Rouge Green is always looking for volunteers to help with their laundry list of initiatives—just to go batonrougegreen.com and look for the tab that says “get involved.”

—ZANE PIONTEK

C OV E R S T ORY

SAVE

30-50%

some green

Amount of energy saved in growing organic food.

1 Number of meatless meals you’d need to eat per week to reduce the equivalent of 1,160 car miles worth of greenhouse gases.

Where to get discounts and rewards for reusing and recycling REUSING AND RECYCLING have their perks, and not just for the environment.

Shoppers can get rewarded for bringing reusable containers at coffee, clothing and grocery stores around town. Coffee costs can add up. Imagine saving money on your latte everytime you bring your own mug. At select stores, you can.

Here are some local shops to receive discounts and rewards for reusing and recycling.

—CYNTHEA CORFAH

Brew Ha-Ha! Discounted coffee and tea? Yes, please. Bring your own cup or traveling mug to Brew Ha-Ha!, and get brewed coffee or tea for $1. brewhahabr.com

Highland Coffees Want a cheaper chai latte? Bring your own cup or traveling mug to Highland Coffees and get 15 cents off any drink. highlandcoffeesbr.com

Light House Coffee Make your experience at Light House Coffee even brighter by bringing your own cup or traveling mug. Customers get 25 cents off drinks with a reusable cup. Buy a Light House glass mug, and receive 10% off any drink. lighthousecoffeebr.com

RETAIL Red Stick Spice Co. Are you tired of throwing away spice jars and oil bottles? At Red Stick Spice Co. shoppers are rewarded for reusing oil and spice containers. Bring your own refillable jar and get 10% off spices. Bring back Red Stick Spice Co. oil bottles and get 20% off oil. redstickspice. com

Swap Boutique Don’t let your designer clothes go to waste. Bring in used designer clothing and receive up to 70% commission if approved to sell at Swap Boutique. The designer consignment store accepts shoes, handbags, accessories and clothes. swapboutique.com

Sprouts Farmers Market

Lower your cost of groceries and bring reusable bags.

For each reusable bag, Sprouts Farmers Market takes 5 cents off the total purchase. sprouts.com

Bring a reusable tote for your groceries at Sprouts to get 5 cents off your purchase.

FILE PHOTOS

COFFEE + TEA SHOPS

Highland Coffees latte

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It’s !

C I R T C E L E IN ND HYBRIDS A s V E O T E A GUID

LOUISIANA

ELECTRIC CARS AREN’T perfect, but they are the future.

Range anxiety and charging infrastructure are among the biggest concerns for consumers thinking about dipping their toes in the market.

But the numbers speak for themselves, as both the charging network and vehicle availability are on target to grow exponentially this decade. And with each passing year, new models offer increased range and faster charger times.

Your mileage may vary, of course, but today’s electric vehicles (EVs) are often quieter, quicker and more powerful than their gas counterparts.

It’s not just Tesla with the cutting edge features anymore. American EV startup company Lucid Motors’ 2022 Air Dream Edition luxury sedan boasts a range of 520 miles—enough to take you to Florida and back. And Ford made headlines this past fall with a three-year-long waitlist for its highly anticipated F-150 Lightning truck, which has a towing capacity of up to 10,000 pounds and can even power a house during a power outage for up to three days. (Hello, hurricane season.)

Expect to see more charging stations around Baton Rouge in the near future—and probably a new flock of cars lining up to charge, too.

—JENNIFER TORMO ALVAREZ

The growing infrastructure $73 million

Money that will be allotted to install new electric vehicle charging stations in Louisiana over the next five years. It’s part of the $1 trillion federal infrastructure bill, which includes $7.5 billion for new charging stations nationwide.

Work on the chargers could begin around the country as soon as September.

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47,000

The current number of EV charging stations in the United States.

500,000

The number of fast-charging stations Americans can expect to see added to public parking lots over the next eight years. This is a nearly 200% jump from the 6,000 stations currently considered fast-charging (which can top up some EVs in as little as 30 minutes).

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Hybrid vs. EV

Charging in Baton Rouge

HYBRID: Runs on gas as well as an electric motor. The battery is charged through regenerative braking, improving fuel economy.

PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE (PHEV): Has an electric motor and gas engine, but can be driven in fully electric mode. The battery is recharged through an external power source. Most current PHEVs have an EV range of 20 to 50 miles.

The efficiency and sustainability of PHEVs are dependent on driver behavior and charging habits, which is why some places like Europe will see automakers phase them out over the next decade.

43

The current federal priority is installing chargers along interstates, where drivers can eventually expect to find them at least every 50 miles. Drivers shouldn’t have to drive more than 1 mile off the interstate to reach a charger. Gas stations could be converted to “fuel” stations offering a variety of fuel types, according to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

Charging on campus Several Louisiana colleges were awarded funds last summer for installing new public charging stations. The money affords LSU the opportunity to add three chargers (in addition to the ones it already has), and Southern University will be able to install four.

The funds come from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality as a part of the third round of a 2015 Volkswagen settlement.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 42 miles of electric-only range.

GSHARE

How hard is it to get an EV right now?

It’s not an easy time to buy any car, but EVs and PHEVs are even harder to come by. Some analysts think automobile shortages on all cars will continue until at least 2024, and only 2.4% of the already-stretched supply is occupied by hybrids or EVs. Until then, consumers are looking at a 12.2% year-over-year The max federal tax credit available price increase for all new vehicles and for a new purchase of an EV or a 40% increase for used cars, as of PHEV. Multiple factors determine the January 2022. As if those challenges exact payout a car will get, including weren’t enough, some electric models the battery’s capacity and the phaseare only available in certain states. If out status for the manufacturer and/ you have your heart set on EV ownor model, as well as the taxpayer’s ership, though, it’s not impossible. amount of tax liability. Find a Call your dealership(s) and get on the breakdown of the incentives at waitlist. And if you can’t find what you fueleconomy.gov/feg/taxevb.shtml. want, consider shopping out-of-state.

$7,500

35

COURTESY FORD

Where will new stations go?

ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV): Runs on a rechargeable battery instead of gas, producing zero tailpipe emissions. Range on most 2022 models runs from 100 to 405 miles, with Tesla leading the pack.

COURTESY PLU

Number of charging stations currently in the Capital City. Some are free, like the 10 downtown Green Park stations sponsored by Entergy. Some, like those at Whole Foods or local hotels, are intended for patrons of those businesses.

Other stations operated by companies like ChargePoint or Tesla may require payment. Map them at plugshare.com.

COURTESY TOYOTA

The Ford F 150-Lighting

2030

$250

Estimated maximum miles most Americans drive per day

The year the Biden administration aims to see zero-emission vehicles make up half of new auto sales.

(For perspective, 4% of auto sales fell into this category in 2021.) Some manufacturers have committed to deadlines for producing fully electric lines, such as Volvo (2030) and General Motors (2035 for its full fleet of cars and light trucks).

Cash incentive offered by Entergy to install a Level 2 EV charger plug. Other energy companies offer similar rebates or incentives, so be sure to check with yours.

Charging at home How much will your car cost to run on electricity as compared to gas? Fill in the blanks below to calculate the rate. You can find any car’s EPA rating at fueleconomy.gov.

x Car’s EPA-rated kWH per mile*

x Miles driven per month

$ Electric cost per kWH

vs. ÷ Miles driven per month

x Car’s EPA-rated MPG

$ Gas cost per gallon

SOURCES: Car and Driver, U.S. Department of Energy, Cars.com, Kelley Blue Book, The New York Times, Reuters, PlugShare, GreenPark Baton Rouge

How sustainable are EVs? EV batteries need electricity to charge, and they won’t truly be emission-free until that electricity is derived from renewable energy sources.

The materials to make and ultimately recycle the batteries have been linked to air pollution, too. But total emissions associated with most EVs and PHEVs are still less than gas cars. Visit carboncounter.com for a a Massachusetts Institute of Technology visual comparison of expected total emissions for gas, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric cars.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

THE LOWDOWN

SPONSORED BY:

Cypress Pointe Surgical Hospital

MANAGING CHRONIC PAIN: 5 OPTIONS YOU MAY NOT HAVE TRIED

C

hronic pain affects millions of Americans each year. Whether it’s mild discomfort from sitting too long at work, or severe, debilitating pain, there’s nothing easy about it.

Pain is considered chronic when it lasts for three months or longer. This doesn’t mean three straight months of pain, however. In some cases, it may go away for days or even weeks, only to re-emerge later.

Many people experience periods of severe pain followed by mild pain. Whether the pain is due to an accident or injury or just seemed to happen it is important to identify your pain. Things to track would be the location of the pain, what seems to make it better or worse, what works to lessen the pain, and how long have you been dealing with this pain. Recognizing the warning signs of your pain can help get you on the right track before your condition becomes too serious. Some of the signals you should be on the lookout for include: • Deep throbbing pain in the lower back and hamstrings • Tightness in the spine and surrounding tissues • Swelling and stiffness in surrounding muscle regions • Sleep disturbances • Reduced flexibility • Recurring pain

WHEN THE PAIN PERSISTS, THERE ARE SPECIALISTS WHO CAN HELP. Cypress Pointe Surgical Hospital understands the importance of managing pain in patients and recognizes the significance of having physicians on staff who specialize in managing chronic pain conditions. Cypress Pointe Surgical Hospital is home to board-certified pain management physicians who have in-depth training in the physiology of pain and who are also state and national leaders for new advancements in treating chronic pain.

Offering unparalleled care and innovative technology to its patients in the region, Cypress Pointe is conveniently located in Hammond.

Cypress Pointe Surgical Hospital offers a number of pain management procedures along with the support of its elite team of pain specialists.

Visit cypresspointehospital.com to learn more and take the first step toward a pain-free life.

5 treatment options for your chronic pain: Connect with a specialist at Cypress Pointe Surgical Hospital to find out what treatment could work for you.

Spinal Cord Stimulator: A spinal cord stimulator (SCS) device is surgically placed under your skin to send a mild electric current to your spinal cord.

Thin wires carry the current from a pulse generator to the nerve fibers of the spinal cord. When turned on, the SCS stimulates the nerves in the area where your pain is felt. Pain is reduced because the electrical pulses modify and mask the pain signal from reaching your brain.

Radiofrequency Ablation: Similar to a needle biopsy, RFA involves inserting a needle-like probe into the body. In some types of chronic pain, RFA can disable nerve fibers that are carrying the pain signal through the spinal cord to the brain. In the right patients, about 70% of RFA procedures provide pain relief that lasts for a year or more.

Pain Management Injections: Injections are a nonsurgical treatment option for acute or chronic neck or back pain. The right injections can deliver medication directly to the anatomic location that generates pain, which may provide more neck or back pain relief than oral medications.

Lumbar Discectomy: Lumbar discectomy is utilized to fix a disc in the lower back. During a minimally invasive lumbar discectomy, your surgeon takes out part of the damaged disc. This helps ease the pressure on the spinal cord. Your surgeon can use different methods to do this. Unlike an open lumbar discectomy, the surgeon makes only a very small skin incision and does not remove any bone or muscle.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to pain management, but trying a new technique can bring a measure of hope.

Visit cypresspointesurgical.com to learn more and get back to living without pain.

C OV E R S T ORY

Green is the new Black Make your plant purchase eco-conscious at the new and improved Outside Stimuli, a downtown plant shop OUTSIDE STIMULI JUST got a lot greener.

Since first opening its doors in December 2019, the downtown plant shop has become even more intentional about its plastic waste, carbon footprint and overall environmental impact.

In 2020, shop owner James Curtis began transitioning his shop from selling plants out of new plastic grow pots to storing plants in upcycled plastic bottles with their own built-in sub-irrigation system.

This change has been beneficial for both the plants and the environment. By growing seedlings and propagated plants in the upcycled plastic bottles, the plants receive more nutrients, the soil is healthier and excess water can drain properly. By reusing plastic bottles as grow pots, Curtis no longer has to buy or sell new plastic growing pots, resulting in less plastic waste. And once the plants outgrow small plastic bottles, they can be moved to larger containers, such as reused plastic milk gallons, 2-liter bottles and 7-gallon buckets.

“By looking at our materials in a different way, we can start building with things that are around us,” Curtis says.

Plants can still have stylish containers without single-use plastic, too.

Curtis makes handcrafted custom planters from natural cedarwood. On sleek rectangular and cylinder-shaped planters, he hand-paints everything from song lyrics to faces. He uses wood-burning, screen printing and paint markers to create unique designs that bring the planters to life.

On Jan. 1, Outside Stimuli began featuring a new planter or plant in the shop’s front window display (and on social media) every day for 100 days.

Each plant features a QR code available for customers to shop the display from the window. Designs include the phrase like “grow where you’re planted,” “hope” in graffiti-style letters and “HBCU,” and also designs featuring a print of Nina Simone, multicolored abstract faces, and an image of a young Black man with a high-top fade hairstyle wearing a hoodie.

“We have to make upcycling cool,” Curtis says. “It takes culture to change the culture.”

This year, Outside Stimuli plans to offer workshops on how to grow food from containers, how to use upcycled plastic bottles to grow plants and the importance of testing your soil. Workshops take place at the original Plant Studio at 207 Florida St. Customers can shop plants a few doors down by appointment at the Outside Stimuli “White Room,” a showroom and consultation space at 227 Florida St. to view and discuss plants with Curtis one-on-one.

Curtis hopes to encourage others to start integrating environmentally conscious practices into their lives one day at a time by upcycling reusable items and being mindful of their waste.

“We’re all renting on this planet,” Curtis says. “We have to stop being so selfish. It’s not all about us. We have to think about the next generation.” outsidestimuli.com

—CYNTHEA CORFAH

“We have to make upcycling cool. It takes culture to change the culture.”

—OUTSIDE STIMULI OWNER JAMES CURTIS

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C OV E R S T ORY

Save your

WORDS How to make your reading life more sustainable

Young reader Kelly Abrahm Kantrow checks out a Little Free Library in the Garden District.

48

Approximate number of Little Free Libraries in Baton Rouge. Find them all at littlefreelibrary. org/ourmap.

14

Number of branch locations in the East Baton Rouge Parish Library system

40+

COLLIN RICHIE

Percentage of American solid waste that is paper and paperboard, including newspapers and cardboard. That’s about 71.7 tons annually.

34

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BOOKS BRING SIMPLE, unadulterated joy, and a solid household collection is one of life’s great pleasures. But quickly, that collection can run amok until, one day, you look up and say, “why so many books?”

There are more sustainable ways to approach the enjoyment of reading.

Buying books secondhand is one. The fate of beloved used bookstore Cottonwood Books, which was slated to close last month, was a sad moment for Baton Rouge and even sparked a group of volunteers to try to keep it open.

But you can also find lightly used books at Red Stick Reads, the recently opened Mid City bookstore. It features a curated, secondhand section in the store’s breezeway. In a further commitment to sustainability, the large doors that conceal these particular shelves are, themselves, repurposed from a fence destroyed by Hurricane Ida, co-owner James Hyfield says.

Hyfield is also exploring the idea of repurposing well-worn books otherwise headed for the trash for garden mulch.

Stop by and find deeply discounted best sellers and eclectic reads in the used section that you can take home guilt-free. Sometimes, Hyfield says, customers resell the same used books back to the store once they’ve read them.

Another sustainable strategy is to borrow books from the growing number of Little Free Libraries that have popped up in some Baton Rouge neighborhoods, each holding titles for children and adults. Pick one up while you’re walking your dog, and return it at your leisure. You can also donate books to the library you think would be good additions to your fellow borrowers.

And don’t forget about East Baton Rouge Parish’s outstanding public library system. Along with scores of titles, it also features modern amenities that make borrowing a breeze.

Try the concierge drive-in window at the Main Library, where you can pick up books you’ve reserved online, or the Libby app that allows you to borrow and download books and audiobooks on your smartphone or tablet, at no cost, of course.

The library system also holds a monthly Recycled Reads book sale, where hardback books and DVDs are sold for $1, and paperbacks, 25 cents.

—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.

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

AN OLD FASHIONED

Easter Celebration SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2022 | 2:30 - 5 PM The museum’s annual Easter celebration is back!

Children ages 2 through 8 will have the opportunity to enjoy customs associated with Easter in Louisiana. They may participate in such varied activities as egg dyeing, paquing, races, and of course hunting eggs for prizes.

Event fee will be $5 per person.

Located at Burden Museum & Gardens 4560 Essen Lane 225-765-2437 lsu.edu/rurallife

225batonrouge.com | [225] April 2022

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C OV E R S T ORY

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[225] April 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

Local brand Bee Pure Apiary’s eco-friendly beeswax food wraps

FILE PHOTO BY COLLIN RICHIE

BAYO

fou nta in

Issue Date: Feb 2021 Ad proof #1 C OV E R S T ORY

• 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

Eco home

This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

How to make your home friendlier to the environment YOU DON’T HAVE to switch up everything in your life to have a more sustainable home. There are countless easy, tiny tweaks you can make at home that will be safer for the earth and your health.

—BROOKE SMITH

Small swaps with big effects Some easy swaps to save money and energy:

KITCHEN DISPOSABLE BAGS>>>>>>>> Glass jars and reusable containers PLASTIC WRAP>>>>>>>>>> Eco-friendly food wraps PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES AND PAPER CUPS>>>>>>>> Reuseable cups or tumblers

HIGHEST QUALITY WITH COMPETITIVE PRICING! At Ducote’s Restaurant & Bar Equipment, we specialize in supplying the foodservice industry with a broad selection of the top-quality equipment and supplies you need to successfully run your operations and efficiently serve your customers.

4433 Florida Blvd • 225-344-4240 ducotesrestaurantsupply.com OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

PAPER TOWELS>>>>>>>>>> Rags and cloths PLASTIC STRAWS>>>>>>>>> Metal, silicone or glass straws TEA BAGS>>>>>>>>>>>>> Reusable strainer with loose tea leaves BATHROOM LIQUID SOAP BOTTLES>>>>> Bar soap or refillable soap dispenser PLASTIC SHAMPOO BOTTLES>> Glass bottles with homemade products PLASTIC TOOTHBRUSH>>>>> Bamboo toothbrush COTTON SWABS>>>>>>>>> Organic biodegradable swabs

#38003

Issue Date: October 2021 Ad proof #1

#AM-50-BAJ

DISPOSABLE RAZORS>>>>>> Stainless steel razors

• 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.

LAUNDRY ROOM

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

HOT WATER + DRYER>>>>>> Cool water and line-dry

This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

DRYER SHEETS>>>>>>>>>> Wool dryer balls SMALL LOADS>>>>>>>>>> Bigger loads

300

Gallons the average American family uses of water per day

165

gallons of water a month wasted from a hot water faucet that leaks one drop per second. That’s more than one person uses in two weeks.

27

Gallons used per load of hand washing dishes.

Using an Energy Starrated dishwasher only uses about 3 gallons.

Save energy • • • • • •

Switch to energy-efficient lightbulbs.

Sign up for your utility company’s reusable energy.

Try blackout curtains.

Use natural light instead of electric lights.

Open windows in cool weather instead of AC. Preserve heat with draft excluders under your door.

Save water • Fill up several jugs weekly and label them for specific purposes (drinking water, plant water, etc.)

• Take shorter showers. Five-minute showers use 5-15 fewer gallons of water than a full bathtub.

• Turn off water while brushing your teeth or shaving.

• Rinse vegetables in a bowl or sink full of clean water instead of washing under running water.

• Use outdoor hoses and sprinklers only when necessary. Don’t keep the hose running while washing your car, and limit children’s playtime with sprinklers.

LMP 5430

225-925-8710

|

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C OV E R S T ORY

Recycle better How to ensure your recyclables are actually recycled

THE UNITED STATES alone generates 1,609 pounds of trash per person each year.

And yet, 60% of that garbage is recyclable.

Although it can be a timely process, recycling is a vital benefit to the environment.

Landfills decompose trash into harmful gases like carbon oxide and methane, whereas recycling facilities repurpose trash. Products made from recycled plastic bottles and containers might become picnic tables, lawn furniture or playground equipment.

Not only does recycling reduce pollution, it saves energy. And overall, recycling requires fewer materials and natural resources.

It also improves the economy. A national recycling rate of 75% by 2030 would create 1.1 million new jobs, including positions for technicians, sorters, drivers, machinery maintenance, managers and route managers, and sales representatives.

—BROOKE SMITH

How to recycle …

ALUMINUM

Cans, kitchen foil and takeaway containers • If you’re not sure if something is aluminum or metallized plastic, scrunch it. Aluminum doesn’t spring back.

• Combine all sheets of foil into one ball.

• Drink boxes, candy wrappers and yogurt tops are considered recycling contamination because the foil is combined with other materials. They should be trashed.

• Baton Rouge uses a single-stream collection method. Crushing cans isn’t necessary for the singlestream process. In fact, crushed cans are actually harder to detect when being sorted at facilities.

• Steel cans are also recyclable. Just remove the lid and insert it into the can.

PAPER

Cardboard, cartons, books, gift wrap, magazines, mail, newspaper, paper bags and printer paper • Always break down and flatten cardboard boxes.

• Don’t add any box that has too much grease.

• Remove the plastic lids, caps and straws from cartons.

• Paperback books are fully recyclable, including the binding.

• Use a black marker to remove sensitive information instead of shredding paper.

Shredded paper is more difficult to recycle into new paper.

• Don’t add paper gift wrap when it has a shiny or laminated coating.

PLASTIC

Containers, grocery bags and water bottles • Check with your local program if it prefers bottle caps on or off beforehand.

• You can leave the label on the bottle.

• #2 and #4 grocery bags are always acceptable.

• Remove anything inside the bags, such as receipts, stickers or crumbs.

GLASS

Bottles, jars, jugs and tubes • Throw away any broken glass. If glass breaks, wrap it in a plastic bag before throwing away so sanitation workers won’t get injured handling it.

• Remove paper bag handles made from plastic, string or ribbon.

12.87% Louisiana’s 2018 recycling rate. The national recycling rate that year was 32.1%.

Sources: Waste Management, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, City of Baton Rouge, Louisiana Scrap Metal, Eco-Cycle, Earth911 and Progressive Waste Solutions and Waste Connections

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C OV E R S T ORY

Gifts that keep on giving Where to shop sustainable gifts in Baton Rouge

LIVING AN ECO-CONSCIOUS lifestyle doesn’t have to be difficult. Making small, environmentally friendly switches to your shopping habits can lead to a lasting impact on the planet. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or a friend, local businesses have everything you need to incorporate sustainable items into your closet, home and workspace.

Sustainable gifts can be anything that is reusable,

recyclable and doesn’t harm the environment.

Local examples include loose herbal tea (instead of single-use tea bags); dried, ever-lasting flower bouquets; reusable clay pots; secondhand clothing; and soy wax candles in reusable containers.

Here are some local gifts and stores to shop for sustainable goods year-round.

—CYNTHEA CORFAH

Clothing and accessories Here Today Gone Tomorrow Thrift Store, htgthrift.com

Local gift ideas

The Purple Cow, thepurplecow.net Time Warp, timewarpboutique.com Treasures Galore Thrift Store, treasures-galore-thrift-store.business.site The Vintage-Violet, thevintage-violet.com Biodegradable sponge, $7.

From The Hope Shop

Blackberry Mojito Green teal tea, $4. From Red Stick Spice Co.

Gifts and home goods Baton Rouge Succulent Co., brsucculentco.com Bohemian Cove, bohemiancovebr.com Coyote Moon, coyotemoonbr.com The Hope Shop, handsproducinghope.org Reusable clay pot, $20. From Baton Rouge Succulent Co.

Local Supply, find them on Instagram Red Stick Spice Co., redstickspice.com Soul Roots, oursoulroots.com Zen-Jus, zen-jus.square.site

12.1 million

Tons of furniture wasted each year

2x Amount the secondhand clothing market is expected to grow by 2026, reaching $77 billion.

2030 COURTESY PHOTOS

The year that resale, rental and subscription services are expected to become the fastest growing retail sectors.

Quote candle, $14. From The Hope Shop.

1980s oversized Fendi waist belt, $125. From Time Warp.

Dried floral arrangement, $65.

From Baton Rouge Succulent Co.

225batonrouge.com | [225] April 2022

39

• 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.

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

Pre-Owned Vehicles

9 TIME Best of the

Best Award

WINNER Bridging the gap between elegance and 2022 EQS Sedan sustainability as the first fully electric Unlimited miles means unlimited adventure luxury sedan from Mercedes-EQ.

with your Certified Pre-Owned Mercedes-Benz.

10949 Airline Highway • Baton Rouge (225) 424-2277 • www.mbobr.com

10949 Airline Highway • Baton Rouge (225) 424-2277 • www.mbobr.com Twitter.com/MBOBR Facebook.com/MBBatonRouge

Facebook.com/MBBatonRouge

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[225] April 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

Twitter.com/MBOBR

YouTube.com/MBofBatonRouge

YouTube.com/MBofBatonRouge

Instagram.com/mb_BatonRouge

Instagram.com/mb_BatonRouge

I N S I D E : Local jewelry brand / On-trend hats

Essential ease

Meet the teenager behind Beluga Bliss, a Baton Rouge aromatherapy and essential oil business that’s earned national recognition

BY CY NTH EA COR FAH P HOTO S B Y CO LLIN RICHIE

Condoleezza Semien is the founder of Beluga Bliss, an essential oil brand that won the 2019 Young Entrepreneur Academy’s People’s Choice Award.

225batonrouge.com | [225] April 2022

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STYLE //

YOU’RE NEVER TOO young to start a business.

Take it from Condoleezza Semien, a 16-year-old entrepreneur who started her business, Beluga Bliss, when she was in the eighth grade.

Semien’s mother battles lupus and struggles with aches from the “My advice to the chronic condition. Determined to soothe her mother’s pain, at youth who want to the age of 13, Semiens started start a business is to researching which essential start a business with oils and herbs had the scientific components to treat her mother’s a purpose in mind symptoms. that is not money.”

Soon, she was blending her —CONDOLEEZZA SEMIEN, own essential oils, naming them FOUNDER OF BELUGA BLISS based on the blend’s intentions and sharing them with her family.

She now sells her products under the brand name Beluga Bliss on her website and at Zen-Jus, a wellness shop in Zachary.

Since using the brand’s oils, her mother has been able to take less pain medicine and feel natural relief.

“My mother introduced me to essential oils,” Semien says. “I wanted to make certified organic oils with no fragrance or harmful ingredients. My mom needed an alternative medicine that didn’t include opioids, so I created three different oil blends.”

The trio includes Awareness, Deep Sleep and Pain Relief blends. Awareness features peppermint, citrus and other essential oils to provide stress relief.

Deep Sleep includes lavender, lemongrass and other essential oils to promote rest. Pain Relief is made from oregano, eucalyptus and other essential oils to naturally ease pain. The oils are sold as roll-ons to apply to the skin or in droppers to add to diffusers, baths or pillows.

Semiens also sells pillow packs, which include a stuffed, galaxy-patterned pillow and two essential oil blends to pair with it. Customers can drop essential oils into the pillow stuffing and inhale the scents as they rest. The pillows were designed to promote relaxation and help the user to breathe and sleep easily. Semien created the product when her mother was hospitalized for her condition and added them to her shop once she saw how comforting they were, especially for people with chronic illnesses.

Since launching her business, the Baton Rouge native has been recognized around the nation. She pitched her business at the Young Entrepreneurs Academy Investor Panel Presentation in 2019, where she won the Saunders Semifinalist award. She then moved forward to the Young Entrepreneur Academy’s Saunders Scholarship Competition in New York, where she won the People’s Choice Award.

As the multitalented high school student makes plans for her future, she wants to continue expanding her business, hold pop-up events and eventually open her own storefront. She is considering becoming a U.S. history teacher or studying plant and soil science. Her next step is to become a certified aromatherapist and licensed herbalist—on top of balancing school, dance, theater and community service work as the president of the Outstanding Mature Girlz organization “My advice to the youth who want to start a business is to start a business with a purpose in mind that is not money,” Semien says. “Money will come, but the purpose behind your business will bring out ambitions and will remind you why you started (it).”

The Beluga Bliss line includes essential oil blends, available as roll-on oils for skincare or in droppers to add to diffusers, baths or pillows for aromatherapy. belugabliss.com

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STYLE //

“There’s always something. Time’s not right, money’s not right, but sometimes you just have to start.”

PHOTOS BY JORDAN HEFLER / COURTESY STEWARD & JAMES

— STEWARD & JAMES FOUNDER ASHLEY ANDREWS DODGE ON STARTING A BUSINESS

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[225] April 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

Issue Date: April 2022 Ad proof #2 STYLE //

So golden Steward & James aims to make timeless gold jewelry at an affordable price

• 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.

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

Dr. Ritchie’s

PET TOOTH TRUTHS

BY PO E T WOLFE

JORDAN HEFLER / COURTESY STEWARD & JAMES

designer. While working from home, ASHLEY ANDREWS DODGE doesn’t she started to question what was leave her house without wearing stopping her from fulfilling her dream accessories from her jewelry company, of entrepreneurship.

Steward & James.

“Honestly, without the pandemic, “You have to believe in what you I don’t think I would have done it,” sell,” Dodge says. “You have to believe she says. “I would have just stayed in in what you love, so I wear my stuff my job and just kind of kept going, every single day.” thinking, one day. But this kind of When it comes to her business, forced me.”

Dodge believes in selling high-quality Dodge first launched online, naming jewelry at a reasonable price. Every her business Steward & James, after piece in her Steward & James line is her two grandfathers she was so close made from gold-plated stainless steel to growing up. and brass, and other natural materials But Dodge’s operation is decidedly like abalone. Most pieces retail for less a one-woman show. than $50.

Not only does she Dodge keeps a design all of her balance between jewelry, but she classic styles—like runs everything hoop earrings—and from the accounting trendy designs, and shipping such as layered to web design necklaces. Dodge and managing always works in relationships with her own stylistic overseas factories, preferences, too. which produce Although openher designs before ing up a fashion-rethey’re shipped lated business directly to her. has always been Dodge describes Dodge’s dream, fashion and jewelry she didn’t make as “one of the most it a reality until The Steward & James line includes earrings, important types November 2020. necklaces, bracelets and rings. of arts we have,” While studying considering it’s something we live in apparel design as an LSU senior, and wear every day. She designs and Dodge got her first taste of the fashion sells jewelry pieces with the intent of world. She designed and showed a making women feel confident wearing 10-piece clothing collection in the them.

2015 New Orleans Fashion Week’s “When I put (jewelry) on, I feel like emerging designers competition. But I can conquer the world,” Dodge says. she soon realized clothing design “It’s my armor. It completely changes wasn’t what she wanted to be doing. the way you feel. I wanted to give that For her, it was all about jewelry and feeling to other people.” accessories.

She hopes to one day open a “It’s the final touches that change flagship store in Baton Rouge. Just as everything, so I completely stepped people recognize brand names like away from the clothing game,” she Kendra Scott and Tiffany & Co., Dodge says. dreams of elevating Steward & James It was the pandemic that finally to that level. fueled her to launch her own brand.

“We want to build an empire,” When COVID-19 reached the United Dodge says. “I want it to be a household States, Dodge had built up five years of name.” stewardandjames.com experience as a product development

Q: What is safe for my dog to chew?

A: I see broken teeth almost daily. Besides accidents, the majority of broken teeth are caused by dogs chewing on things that are too hard. The most common causes of broken teeth are deer antlers, bones, nyla bones, cow hooves, very hard compressed raw hides, and ice cubes. For safe chewing, make sure you can slightly bend and indent your thumbnail into the chew.

Q: What can I do to prevent periodontal disease in my pet?

A: Periodontal disease is the number cause of tooth loss in dogs.

Preventing periodontal disease in pets is no different than in humans - regular at home care and routine professional dental care. The more you do at home the better. Daily brushing, dental chews/treats, diets, and one specific water additive are very effective. But, BEWARE - almost every product over the counter claims to have some sort of benefit. In reality, the majority of these products are worthless. To get your pet on the right preventative program schedule a consult with Dr. Ritchie.

Dental care is vital to the overall health of any animal. The Perkins Road Veterinary Hospital is home to the only board certified Veterinary Dentist and Oral Surgeon in the state of Louisiana, Dr. Curt Ritchie. Dr. Ritchie has been teaching veterinary dentistry at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine for nearly a decade. He and his staff help patients everyday with basic dental and preventative care to very advanced, complex oral surgeries.

5215 PERKINS RD 225.766.0550

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PEDAL ON:

4 TIPS TO KEEP KIDS SAFER ON WHEELS

L

earning to ride a bicycle, scooter or skateboard is a big milestone for a child, but the freedom of wheels come with pitfalls that can be hard for children to see. Safety is an essential part of teaching them to ride.

Sure, back in your day, helmets may not have been a big deal. But there were also a lot less cars on the road, and far fewer distractions for those drivers. Safety goes far beyond just teaching your child to wear a helmet. Just like driving a car, they also need to be alert and aware of their surroundings.

Dr. James Wayne Jr. is one of the many pediatric specialists at Ochsner Baton Rouge. “If it has wheels and they don’t ride it inside,” Dr. Wayne says, “the kid needs to wear a helmet!” Dr. Wayne shares some tips to help keep children safer when they’re out and about.

Making sure your child understands basic road safety puts them at a lower risk for injuries. If you have younger children, be sure to always monitor them when they are riding and have older children check in with you if they are out on their own. Preparing your child for safe riding is a great way to teach them about responsibility, basic traffic laws, and the importance of exercise.

SAFETY ON WHEELS:

1 2 3

First, traffic basics: Children should be taught to ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, not against it. Stay as far to the right as possible. Use appropriate hand signals and respect traffic signals, stopping at all stop signs and stoplights. Teach your kids to make eye contact with drivers.

HAVE THE RIGHT GEAR AND WEAR IT. A helmet can protect your child’s head during an accident and in many cases prevent serious injuries and death. Helmets should fit snuggly, cover all areas of the head, and stay in place while the child is moving. Even if your child is just pedaling around the cul-de-sac or off-road in a local park, helmets are necessary. Elbow and knee pads drastically reduce the severity of injuries. If they grumble, show them photos of pro-riders in their protective gear—safety is cool!

LIGHT UP THE NIGHT. Any time they are riding at night, be sure it is in a well-lit area with little to no traffic. Have your child wear light-reflective clothing or tape. Turn on bike lights, headlights, or helmet lights.

Accompany your child at night since drivers may not always be paying attention to cyclists.

LEARN AND USE HAND SIGNALS. Children need to know basic hand signals when they ride near the street. This ensures cars, pedestrians, and other cyclists know where they intend to go, decreasing accidents.

4

MAINTAIN YOUR WHEELS. BRAKES: Over time, bike brakes wear down and work less effectively. Before your child rides perform a visual inspection of the brakes to make sure all the components are there. With a bicycle or scooter, have your child walk with it and squeeze the brake levers to make sure they are working. If brakes are less responsive than usual, it may need to be adjusted and inspected by a professional.

TIRES: Riding with flat tires is bad for the bike and puts your child more at risk for falling. Each time before your child rides a bike or scooter, teach them to check the tires. Tires should feel firm and not have any holes in them that allow air to escape. If there are no holes, but the tires feel flat, use a pump to add some air until they are firm again.

SEAT: As your child grows, you will need to re-adjust the seat accordingly. To check it, have them move one pedal all the way down so their leg is extended. If they cannot get to the bottom of the pedal stroke, the seat is too tall and needs to be lowered.

If they easily press the pedal to the bottom, but if their legs are overly bent and feel uncomfortable, the seat is too low and needs to be raised.

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This Month [ A P R I L ]

@ BREC ART UNWINED: STILL LIFE BLUES

BIOBLITZ 2022

April 1 | 6:30-8:30 p.m.

April 8 + April 9

Milton J. Womack Park

Forest Community Park

YOUTH GIRLS BASKETBALL: SPRING DEVELOPMENTAL LEAGUE

CONTINUOUS EGG HUNT

April 1-30 | 9 a.m.-noon

E-SPORTS TOURNAMENT: MARIO KART 8

Sports Academy

Forest Community Park April 9 | 3-5 p.m.

ZIPPITY ZOO FEST

Red Oaks Park

April 2-3 | 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

BR BIKE FEST

BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo

April 9 | 12:30 p.m.

CAMP-IN’: WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

Perkins Road Community Park

April 2 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

10 + UNDER TENNIS TOURNAMENT

Lovett Rd. Park

April 9 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Lovett Rd. Park + Church Street Park

Highland Road Community Park Tennis Center

April 15 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

April 9 | 8:30 a.m.-noon

NEIGHBORHOOD MOVIE IN THE PARK

SATURDAY MORNING STUDIO: GNOME HOME

CAMP-IN’: MINUTE TO WIN IT MANIA

Saia Park April 8 | 5:30 p.m.

Maplewood Park + Highland Road Community Park April 22 | 5:30 p.m.

SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

brec.org/summercamp

PARTY FOR THE PLANET

BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo April 16 | 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

PETS + PADDLE

Milford Wampold Memorial Park April 23 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: PITCH, HIT + RUN Plank Road Park

April 30 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Milton J. Womack Park April 9 | 10:30 a.m.-noon

SUNSHINE SOCIAL: CANDY LAND Jefferson Hwy. Park April 14 | 6-9 p.m.

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IT’S FLIPPIN’ FPSUAN: THE SPORT THAT DEVELO CHILD’S BODY AND MIND

G

ymnastics is a sport that benefits both the body and mind. Not only is it the foundation of all individual sports, it’s the foundation for all physical activity. One of the most diverse sports when it comes to exercises and developing strength, gymnastics gives children a leg up on the competition, in athletics and in life.

GOOD FOR THE BODY

For children, gymnastics naturally increases coordination and agility. Generally, practicing gymnastics involves moving several body parts at once. They are walking on all fours or just their toes, or jumping while changing body shapes, or even going upside down and backward. Like music for the body, gymnasts move in challenging positions, developing their innate abilities. The vault helps with power and speed and bars are known as an endurance event. The beam improves your balance and a great deal of coordination is required in a floor routine.

More than any other activity, gymnastics helps to develop a kinesthetic awareness, or the body’s sense of movement. Kinesthetic awareness is what allows the foot to know where to kick a soccer ball, hands to know how to catch a ball, and your body to know how to navigate your surroundings. A lack of kinesthetic sense can lead to poor coordination, fear of movement, and lack of agility.

GOOD FOR THE MIND

This sport engages multiple parts of the brain at once. The mind is engaged while crawling through tunnels and hoops, up and down rope swings, and bouncing on the trampoline. Focus and concentration is an essential benefit and can be carried over to other parts of a child’s life. Practicing over time also

builds confidence because of the progress they will make. They begin barely being able to do a handstand and then a year later, can do a handstand on the balance beam. Personal achievements drive a gymnast to feel good, want to succeed, and shoot for more.

Elite Level Gymnastics Coach, Bryan Kiser has been producing athletes, running gymnastics programs, and hosting world class competitive events for over 30 years. Bryan opened Valor Gymnastics with the intention of sharing the sport with young gymnasts and creating a fast track to USA Gymnastics.

Brian has been a part of the Houston National Invitational, Simone Biles Invitational, and the RD761 Invitational, the only junior men’s international competition in the country, for many years. Coach Kiser brings a high level of knowledge to Valor’s program in Baton Rouge.

TAKE A CLASS

The best time to start gymnastics is now!

Starting young gives your child an advantage in their motor development and physical abilities. But don’t worry if your child is older, gymnastics can begin at any age and be just as beneficial for healthy development.

Accessible to all different ages and abilities, Valor Gymnastics delivers the sort of classes young gymnasts (and their parents) love. Visit valorgymnastics.com to During class your child will be learning skills on the floor exercise, vault, bars, beam, tumble track, and trampoline. They will also be developing hand eye coordination, balance, listening skills, strength, determination, and confidence. As students progress in skills and increase in their confidence, Valor has intermediate and advanced classes which

will keep your child progressing towards their goals. Visit valorgymnastics.com/classes to register.

CHECK IT OUT!

Valor Gymnastics also hosts Kid’s Night Out every Friday night. Children get to play games, enjoy open gym, and eat pizza! No need to pre-register, it’s drop-in only. This a terrific way for kids to check out the gym and parents to get a date night. Visit Valorgymnastics.com to learn more.

CLASS PROGRAMS Mom/Dad & Me Class (18 Months - 2 Years Old)

Shooting Stars

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Rising Stars (4 & 5 Year Old’s)

Super Stars & Rock Stars (6 Years Old & Up)

Tumbling

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S P E C I A L A DV E RTI S I N G S E C TI O N

Helping your children stay positive & hopeful

IT HAS BEEN a tough two years for everyone, but especially for children and young adults. Concerns about the global pandemic and its effect on everyday living has created anxiety and elevated depression rates among children and teens, and many parents worry about their children’s mental health. The good news is that there are simple steps you can take to help your children feel safe, protected, and optimistic about the future.

PHYSICAL HEALTH Make sure your children get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy diet. Feeling strong and fit has a psychological effect on our brains, promoting feelings of happiness and a more positive outlook.

BE AFFECTIONATE Yes, sometimes a hug is the best medicine!

Take advantage of those moments.

SPEND TIME TOGETHER AS A FAMILY Activities like biking, hiking, road trips, etc. offer the opportunity to engage with your kids in a setting away from the pressures of school, work and even home. Communication, especially in a casual setting, encourages closeness and emphasizes feelings of safety and comfort.

BATONROUGECLINIC.COM PEDIATRICS AT PERKINS l 7373 PERKINS RD PEDIATRICS AT INDUSTRIPLEX l 12351 INDUSTRIPLEX BLVD 54

[225] April 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

(225) 246-9290

S P E C I A L A DV E RTI S I N G S E C TI O N

LIMIT SCREEN TIME AND SOCIAL MEDIA A lot of troubling and upsetting information makes its way to kids through their social media. Parents are often surprised when they learn the extent to which their children are exposed to graphic images, misinformation, and age-inappropriate content. Don’t allow your kids to spend hours upon hours looking at their phones and iPads. Set limits and enforce them.

BE OPEN TO TALKING Make sure your kids know they can come to you when they are struggling emotionally or when they just need to vent. Don’t minimize their concerns, but rather listen and help them put things in perspective. Consider counseling if they seem overwhelmed or reluctant to share their feelings with you.

BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SIGNS OF DEPRESSION Common signs include lack of energy, trouble concentrating, changes in eating and sleeping habits, irritability, lack of interest in social interactions, conflict with family and friends, and feelings of sadness and frustration, among others. If you notice these signs of depression, talk with your child’s doctor, who can refer you to the appropriate health professional. It’s up to you to make sure your child has the tools and the treatment he needs.

SHOW THEM THE BRIGHT SIDE You may be dealing with your own feelings of anxiety, but be careful not to share too much with your children. As they get older, they will understand what you already know—life is filled with ups and downs, and no matter how difficult it may be at the moment, it gets better!

Parenthood is an amazing journey, and the pediatricians at the Baton Rouge Clinic will be there every step of the way. Here are a few common questions we get from newborn parents.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY BABY IS EATING ENOUGH?

When babies are born, their tummy is about the size of a marble so they do not need to eat a large amount, but they will eat very frequently.

Their tummy will grow to the size of an egg by the end of the first week of life. You can expect a newborn to eat 8-10 times per day. In the first 24 hours of life, babies are often very sleepy (being born is a hard job for them as well), so it may seem like a struggle to get them to stay awake to eat. After the first 24 hours, babies will be much more eager when it comes to eating and will often start “cluster feeding” meaning they may want to eat every hour sometimes. Even if it seems like they just ate, go ahead and feed your baby when they are showing you hunger cues such as rooting, sucking on their hands, seeming unsettled or are crying.

Keeping track of the number of wet diapers your newborn is having can be helpful to ensure they are getting what they need from feeding. We can also keep track of how much your newborn weighs as an indicator that they are getting the food they need.

WHAT IS THAT RASH ON MY NEWBORN'S SKIN? Plan activities as a family to encourage feelings of connection with your kids.

Get outdoors for a picnic or a bike ride, plan a family field trip, or take a road trip to a nearby point of interest or tourist site.

When it comes to baby skin, it is not always the smoothest or prettiest for at least a few weeks! In the first week of life, babies often have small red spots that may look like ant bites or flea bites anywhere from head to toe. This is a very common newborn rash called Erythema Toxicum which sounds very scary but is completely harmless. This rash will go away on its own by about 7 days of age. Babies will also often have a lot of skin peeling in the first few weeks. Your newborn was used to floating around in moisturizing liquid for the past 9 months, and now that they are in our big, dry world, their skin will often peel. You may notice the peeling the most across their stomach, their wrist and ankles. While you may want to lather them up in lotion to help with this skin peeling, it will often not help too much. Instead, you can try to gently “exfoliate” their peeling skin with soft washcloth and water. This rash will go away on its own by about 7 days of age.

FREE PRENATAL CLASSES AND LACTATION CONSULTANT For more information and questions, please visit BatonRougeClinic.com/services/ primary/pediatric-medicine/

BATONROUGECLINIC.COM PEDIATRICS AT PERKINS l 7373 PERKINS RD PEDIATRICS AT INDUSTRIPLEX l 12351 INDUSTRIPLEX BLVD

(225) 246-9290

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• 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.

PEC I A L A DV E RTI S I N G S E C TI O N Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER •SANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

Eye See… Eye Learn WHY ARE PEDIATRIC EYE EXAMS IMPORTANT ?

Children are not always able to express how they see, but with a pediatric eye exam we can identify any vision problems your child may have. Don’t wait for your child to tell you their vision is struggling. Schedule a pediatric eye exam with our qualified optometrist, Dr. Amin, to ensure your child doesn’t have any vision problems that may hinder their involvement in school, sports or other activities.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT DURING A PEDIATRIC EYE EXAM ?

Dr. Amin will ask multiple questions about your child’s medical history such as, family eye problems, current signs your child may be showing suggesting vision issues and more. Dr. Amin will conduct various tests including visual acuity, eye alignment, eye focusing, eye teaming and eye health. If these tests indicate a vision problem, Dr. Amin will discuss further tests to pinpoint the vision issue.

7673 Perkins Rd #B-3 Baton Rouge, LA 70810 225-757-0505 • trioeyecare.com

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Dr. Reshma Amin

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HAVE YOU READ TO YOUR CHILD TODAY? FREE PROGRAMS NURTURE YOUNG READERS

T

he research is in. Kids who read, succeed. When children learn to associate reading with plesure, they are more likely to enjoy reading on their own in later years. That means they are on an equal footing with others in the classroom and in life! No special tools or toys are required—all you need is to incorporate purposeful activities into everyday life. Some of the things you can do with your children are talking, singing, reading and playing.

The ways you talk, read and play with your chil-dren make a difference in their language development, which is the basis for later reading.

It’s never too early (or too late) to start reading to your children. Besides the books, the East Baton Rouge Parish Library has events, programming and resources to get your child reading. Here are a few to get you started.

Press Start for age 2-4: Early Literacy is important. Explore early skills through play and interaction at home with your child.

They’ll get a new booklet each month for three years packed full of family fun! The tips and activities in these booklets are designed for use with things already found around the house without the need to buy anything. Each booklet includes Community Connections, an insert with a selected list of community events, and the EBRP Library Children’s Storytime schedule for you to post on your refrigerator. Completion of all 12 booklets each year earns your child a FREE book of their choice and an entry into the Library’s annual gift card drawing, courtesy of the Patrons of the Public Library. Pick up your booklet in the children’s room at any branch.

1000 Books Before Kindergarten: Literacy Is A Family Affair!

The concept is simple, and the rewards, priceless.

Read a book (any book) to your child or children—infant, toddler and/or preschooler— as part of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Program. Even that one your child asks for you to read again and again.

Each time counts!

The goal is to have read 1,000 books to your child before he or she starts kindergarten. If you read just one book a night, you will have read about 365 books in a year. That is 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years.If you consider that most children start kindergarten at around age 5, you have more time than you think.

Parents can enroll at any East Baton Rouge Parish Library’s Children’s Room. When your child reaches the goals of 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 books, your East Baton Rouge Parish Library will have special reading incentive gifts just for them like special stickers, book bags, cool decals and brag tags, and even a copy of Off We Go! by Will Hillenbrand with an invitation to a special party to be held every March at the Main Library at Goodwood for children completing the program.

1,000 BOOKS

BEYOND KINDERGARTEN: READING IS ELEMENTARY This program is for any student in elementary school, from kindergarten through 5th grade. At the Children’s Room of any Library branch, students can pick up a reading log to take home. After reading five books and recording them on the reading log, the student can take it back to the Library to receive a stamp on their reading log, and a fun reading patch. Books can be completed in any format—hard copy, audio, e-book or graphic novel.

For every five books read up to 50, students will receive a stamp and reading patch. Once the 50 books patch is earned, for every five additional books read, the student’s name will be entered into a yearly drawing for a chance to win a $100 gift card to Wal-Mart. For more information, call Pabby Arnold at 225.924.9389, or send an email to parnold@ebrpl.com.

Visit ebrpl.com/Kids to access these programs and nurture a love of reading in children.

S P E C I A L A DV E RTI S I N G S E C TI O N

Put their little hands in the hands of our experts.

Children’s Hospital New Orleans brings a world of expertise to make sure your little ones have everything they need to get back to being happy and healthy kids again. From ENT to Dermatology and Cardiology to Orthopedics, Children’s Hospital New Orleans offers unmatched pediatric expertise, sized just for kids in Baton Rouge and beyond.

Specialty Care Baton Rouge

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Learn more at chnola.org/BatonRouge

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HOW TAKING PART IN A CLINICAL TRIAL CAN BE GOOD FOR YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH

W

hat if your child could improve their own health and that of future generations through cutting-edge research?

There are many opportunities to do so by taking part in clinical trials at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, where world-renowned researchers are exploring ways to improve human health from the womb to adulthood.

Children who take part in such studies have access to innovative research and are able to learn more about healthy living. This experience can potentially enhance their lives and help them become healthier adults. Another benefit: being immersed in the exciting world of science.

Right now, children can participate in research at Pennington Biomedical that will address their current health concerns, explore their family history, evaluate habits and behaviors, and give them tools to apply now and carry with them throughout their lives. These are often conducted with their pediatrician’s partnership and support.

Many of the studies are focused on lifestyle, examining the impact of diet, exercise and metabolism. Others provide access to new medications under review to prevent or treat

medical conditions.

The Center has a special pediatric wing specifically for children who are taking part in these studies.

“Research discoveries take years to complete,” says Professor Leanne Redman, who is engaged in breakthrough research on infant metabolism and breast milk. “These programs will become standard health protocol.

When people participate, they gain access to the very latest technology, state of the art approaches, insights and treatment they would otherwise not receive.”

What influences metabolism in babies?

Which indoor exercise can be as effective as those outdoors for young children? How is body shape related to physical strength and heart health? And how do girls use different foods to provide energy for physical activity?

These are just some of the questions Pennington Biomedical researchers hope to answer with the help of young clinical trial participants, from infancy to adolescence.

Another trial examines how children and families lose weight together and become healthier through healthy eating and physical activity. And two additional studies involve medications—one to treat Type 2 diabetes

in children and adolescents; another to determine whether medication can lower body weight in children with obesity.

From conception through early childhood, adolescence and adulthood, Pennington Biomedical’s research is impactful, exciting, and a gift to those who participate.

Says Nicole Fearnbach, director of Pennington’s Pediatric Energy Balance Laboratory: “We are driven by our passion to find out how we can best set kids up for a healthy life.”

Pennington is currently looking for volunteers for these and other studies, with diverse backgrounds, ages, ethnicities and health conditions. If you are interested in participating, visit pbrc.edu/clinicaltrials and click on “pediatrics,” or call (225) 763-3000.

There are many safety measures in place to protect volunteers involved in clinical research, with special protections for children. If you and your child decide that you are interested in taking part in a clinical trial, there is a consent process that you both will be part of that covers specifics of the trial and potential benefits and risks.

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WHATEVER PATH YOU CHOOSE, YOUR FUTURE IS IN

Medical & Pre-Med

Construction & Manufacturing Technology

Transportation & Logistics

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Liberal Arts & Management

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LOOK GREAT, FEEL GREAT:

DERMATOLOGIST TIPS TO KEEP MOMS YOUNG AND VIBRANT

A

fter having three babies in four years, Dr. Nicole Harrell knows what pregnancy can do to a mother’s skin. Fluctuating hormones, stress, sleepless nights, it shows on your face. “Mom’s are so focused on caring for their families,” Harrell says. “It’s important to prioritize time to get back to yourself—looking fresh and feeling confident.”

A 39 year old mom to three and a board-certified dermatologist at the Dermatology Clinic in Baton Rouge, Dr. Harrell takes her skin care seriously. Harrell and her partners at the Dermatology Clinic can diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions like acne, hives, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo, and much more.

The Dermatology Clinic’s dermatologists can help your family select the best products and treatments to help give you the skin you desire. Schedule an appointment online or call (225) 769-7546.

HOW DOES SHE DO IT? SHE WASHES

A good daily face wash is the foundation for healthy skin. Dr. Harrell loves EltaMD Foaming Facial Cleanser. “It’s important to wash your face every night before bed and for some people, also in the morning.” Makeup, sweat, and general environmental pollutants build up throughout the day, and leaving your face dirty overnight clogs the pores, causing blemishes and/or blackheads.

SHE PROTECTS

Sunscreen is a daily must. Make it a habit.

If your face is sensitive or prone to acne, you’ll want to use a product formulated to protect your face from harmful rays while also addressing your particular skin problems. “I use a sunscreen moisturizer in the morning and reapply through the day.” Always choose sunscreen with mineral ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and a minimum SPF 30.

SHE ENRICHES

When the weather is warm and humid, Dr. Harrell replenishes her skin with Revision C+ Correcting Complex 30% in the morning and Revision Retinol Complete 0.5 before bed, followed by Neocutis Bio Serum Firm. “Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps reverse damage caused by the sun’s rays and environmental pollutants. It can also help lighten brown spots and can help smooth fine lines and wrinkles.”

Try Revision Vitamin C lotion or Skinceuticals CE Ferulic. In colder months when her skin starts to become more dry and sensitive, she skips the Vitamin C and Retinol and uses the Neocutis Bio Serum Firm, a peptide serum, along with her SPF moisturizer.

SHE TIGHTENS

As a dermatologist, Dr. Harrell knows the most effective ways to keep it tight.

Injectable fillers are FDA-approved and safe, offering patients a more natural looking alternative to cosmetic surgery.

These treatments can even be done during a lunch break with little to no downtime. Dr. Harrell gets 2-3 syringes of injectable fillers once a year. She likes Juvéderm and Restylane.

SHE REFRESHES

Twice a year, she treats issues with BroadBand Light (BBL). With no downtime, BBL is ideal for treating acne spots, pigmented lesions like freckles and age spots, vascular lesions like cherry angiomas and rosacea, deeper lesions, darker skin types, hair removal, and more.

Once a year, Dr. Harrell gets a Halo Laser treatment to enhance the production of new, healthy skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines. Halo is also an effective treatment to help reduce the appearance of sun damage, scars, and uneven skin texture.

Our Future is Healthier S P E C I A L A DV E RTI S I N G S E C TI O N

with

Lane Pediatrics is here to help you with the most important job in life – raising your children.

At Lane Pediatrics, our team is experienced in caring for newborns, toddlers, children and teens. From wellness checks and immunizations, to diagnosing and treating childhood illnesses including the sudden onset of viral or bacterial infections, we provide high quality care your children need and deserve. You can trust Lane Pediatrics to make their future healthier!

Same Day Appointments Available!

Call 225-658-4070

Shola Tijani, MD Pediatrician

“It is a privilege to be part of your child’s growth, development and well-being, and I am passionate about providing quality, outstanding care.”

6110 Main Street, Suite B LaneRMC.org

Issue Date: APRIL 2022 Ad proof #1 • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions.

• AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hours from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines.

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

S P E C I A L A DV E RTI S I N G S E C TI O N

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

W E AR E

WEST FEL West Feliciana Parish Schools JOIN THE #1 SCHOOL DISTRICT IN LOUISIANA

www.wfpsb.org

(225) 635-3891

St. Francisville, LA

Issue Date: APRIL 2022 Ad proof #4 • 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.

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

KIDS EAT FREE!

With the purchase of a regularly priced adult pizza, kids 10 & under eat FREE! (Up to two kids. Kids must be present to receive offer.)

Offer valid 4/1/22 – 4/30/22

4831 Rouzan Square Ave. Ste. C, Baton Rouge, LA 70808 • (225) 329-2662 • pizzaartista.com

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S PECIAL ADVERTISIN G SEC T ION

S P E C I A L A DV E RTI S I N G S E C TI O N

Exceptionally growing.

We welcome the families of McMains Children’s Developmental Center to Louisiana’s largest pediatric network, designed just for kids Introducing Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health Children’s Developmental Center at McMains PATIENT

P E R KS

Access to more than 300 pediatric providers Online scheduling with MyChart Family-centered care Expanded pediatric developmental and therapy services, which include: •

Occupational & Physical Therapy

•

Social Work & Case Management

•

Speech & Language Therapy

•

Family Programs

•

Assistive Technology Assessment & Therapy

•

Learning & Behavior Clinic

•

Medical & Psychological Services

•

Social Engagement Clinic

•

Feeding Clinic

•

Learning Disability Evaluations

•

Transportation Safety Program

N OW ACC EPT ING NEW PATI ENTS , CAL L (225) 374-HEAL OR VI S I T O LOLCHILDRENS.ORG OUR LADY OF THE LAKE CHILDREN’S HEALTH CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER AT MCMAINS | 1805 COLLEGE DRIVE

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE CHILDREN’S HEALTH DEVELOPMENTAL & THERAPY CENTER AT GOODWOOD | 8415 GOODWOOD BOULEVARD

• 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.

PEC I A L A DV E RTI S I N G S E C TI O N Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER •SANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

16TH ANNUAL

ONE BOOK ONE COMMUNITY Gwen Roland

UPCOMING EVENTS ATCHAFALAYA HOUSEBOAT AUTHOR TALK AND Q&A WITH GWEN ROLAND SATURDAY, APRIL 23 AT 2 P.M. THE MAIN LIBRARY AT GOODWOOD

East Baton Rouge Parish Library’s sixteenth annual One Book One Community initiative will showcase Gwen Roland’s 2006 memoir Atchafalaya Houseboat: My Years in the Louisiana Swamp which includes photographs by nature photographer, C.C. Lockwood. The entire two-month series will highlight the book, as well as other topics such as nature conservation, Louisiana wildlife, birding, and nature photography.

Meet the author of this year’s One Book One Community series! Join us to hear Author Gwen Roland discuss her memoir, Atchafalaya Houseboat, followed by an audience Q&A session. Register for this FREE event in the ebrpl.co/authortalk or in the Events Calendar at EBRPL.com.

PASS IT ON: SKILLS & STORIES WITH AUTHOR GWEN ROLAND SUNDAY, APRIL 24 AT 3 P.M. THE MAIN LIBRARY AT GOODWOOD

For a detailed schedule, visit the Events Calendar at ebrpl.com For more information about the One Book One Community selection and program, go online to the InfoGuide at ReadOneBook.org.

Join us at the Main Library at Goodwood as Atchafalaya Houseboat author Gwen Roland shares the importance of passing on skills and stories to your loved ones, followed by an audience Q&A session.

Register for this FREE event at ebrpl.co/stories or in the Events Calendar at EBRPL.com.

14 Branches Open Conveniently 7 Days a Week Available 24/7 Online

7711 Goodwood Blvd. • ebrpl.com • 225.231.3750

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Issue Date: April 2022 Ad proof #2 • 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.

S P E C I A L A DV E RTI S I N G S E C TI O N

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

EYE CARE for all ages

Dr. Katherine Dronka, OD, ABCMO, FAAO

Bringing innovative technology to the local community and providing the highest level of care to all of our patients.

GLASSES • CONTACTS • ACCESSORIES • ROUTINE/MEDICAL EYE EXAMS PEDIATRIC EXAMINATIONS • MULTIPLE LENS OPTIONS COSMETIC ENHANCEMENT OPTIONS • MEDICAL TESTING FOR VARIOUS EYE DISEASES

Variety of insurances now accepted

Issue Date: April 2022 Ad South proof #4Range Ave • 225-243-1950 • eagleeyecarela.com • 112 • 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.

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

THE BRIGHTON SUMMER CAMP

is an academically focused summer camp for any student with dyslexia, language-based learning difference, OR students who may need academic support in reading, language, and/or mathematics.

Campers may attend full-day or morning-only academic sessions.

Rising 1st through 5th grade • Register your child by May 13, 2022 For more information & to register your child, scan here

GRADES 1-12 • THEBRIGHTONSCHOOL.ORG 12108 Parkmeadow Ave • Baton Rouge, LA • 225.291.2524 • 225batonrouge.com | [225] April 2022

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S P E C I A L A DV E RTI S I N G S E C TI O N

I N S I D E : New barcade / Farmers market tour / Recipes for a family Easter egg hunt

Dinner and a show

COLLIN RICHIE

SoLou makes its Louisiana fare entertaining, with shareable plates and sweet surprises

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• •

SPONSORED CONTENT

THE LOWDOWN

Medical & Psychological Services Learning Disability Evaluations

•

Social Engagement Clinic

•

Feeding Clinic

•

Transportation Safety Program

SPONSORED BY:

NO W ACC E PTI NG NE W PATI E NTS , CA LL ( 2 2 5 ) 3 7 4 - H E A L

AUTISM ALLIES:

A

utism is not an intellectual disability. All of our brains are wired differently and handle information differently. With 1 in 53 American children being diagnosed with autism each year, we need to do a better job of understanding and explaining autism in a positive, non-threatening way so children can be accepted despite their differences. But how can you explain autism to neurotypical kids so they can connect with their autistic peers?

Board Certified in developmental behavioral pediatrics, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health’s Dr. Steven D. Felix specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of children with developmental and behavioral conditions, including Autism, Intellectual Disability, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delays, Speech Disorders, and complicated ADHD. Dr. Felix shares a few ways to bridge the gap between children and their friends on the spectrum.

FIRST, HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE BASICS.

“Neurotypical” describes someone who thinks and processes information in ways that are typical within their culture. They tend to learn skills and reach developmental milestones around the same time as their peers. In contrast, the term “neurodivergent” describes someone who processes information in a different way. Autistic people and those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and similar conditions sometimes identify as neurodivergent.

Children with autism experience communication challenges, an inability to express emotions and understand those of others, sensory sensitives, difficulty with transitions, poor impulse control, and problems with self-regulation. Parenting a child with autism is not easy. We can all be more supportive—remove the stigma around autism—and show the world what children on the spectrum are capable of achieving.

BE AN ACTIVE ALLY.

Autism can be extremely confusing and isolating for a child. When speaking with an

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HOW TO HELP CHILDREN CONNECT WITH THEIR PEERS ON THE SPECTRUM

autistic child, focus on the positives, on what the child does brilliantly. A few other ways to encourage children to be active allies are: • Find something they have in common with the other kids to help them connect.

• Invite their autistic friend to join extracurricular activities with likeminded kids.

• Ask what games they enjoy or topics they like to discuss.

One of the biggest struggles in understanding autism is making sense of sensory meltdowns. Everyday experiences can feel overwhelming to someone on the autism spectrum. It’s difficult to comprehend how confusing a sensory meltdown feels to a child. Sensory meltdowns can often look like a massive tantrum. This confuses many adults. Some stare and others even make rude comments. The easiest way to describe a sensory meltdown is that it is feeling overwhelmed. That when our friends are having a sensory meltdown it is because there is too much happening around them.

HONEST QUESTIONS ARE NOT RUDE.

A neurotypical child will ask all sorts of questions, some of which can hit a sore spot. Be prepared to answer them in a way that does not shame them for asking. Keep your explanations developmentally appropriate, leaving out the parts that you know a child will not developmentally comprehend.

SUPPORT EXISTS.

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE CHILDREN’S HEALTH CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENTAL C

One of the few interdisciplinary clinics in Louisiana with a developmental pediatrician, therapists and neuropsychology in one place, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health delivers individualized treatment for every child. The aim

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE CHILDREN’S HEALTH DEVELOPMENTAL & THERAPY CENTER

is to first identify the child’s strengths and challenges in the home, community, and school settings, and secondly, provide relevant recommendations.

Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health Developmental Medicine offers an interdisciplinary approach to medicine, therapy, and treatment to encourage healthy development and behavior in children. Serving children birth to 18 with mild to moderate to severe disabilities or developmental delays, Dr. Felix and his team, including speech, occupational and physical therapy, help kids be as independent as they can be. Cognitive testing with our neuropsychologist as well as behavior therapy with our social worker is also available.

Visit ololchildrens.org to learn more about Developmental Medicine.

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

SoLou

HEAL OR VISIT OLO LCHI LDRENS.ORG

ENTAL CENTER AT MCMAINS | 1805 COLLEGE DRIVE

ENTER AT GOODWOOD | 8415 BE GOODWOOD

BY D.J. AUTICIBOULEVARD A

PHOTOS B Y COLLI N R IC H IE

Our food critic’s name may be false, but the credentials are not. This gastronome has studied the history, cultivation, preparation, science and technology of food for more than 30 years. eatsolou.com 7246 Perkins Road Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Sunday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

HAVING HEARD TALK of SoLou and its interesting menu, I recently took the opportunity to try it when dining out with some old friends.

A basket full of surprises arrived at the table before we even ordered in the form of complimentary pork rinds.

Uber crisp with a light salting, these made for a salivating starter.

Our friendly waitress spontaneously recommended the Crawfish Beignets as her favorite shareable, and we agreed it looked unique. Craggy, misshapen fried nuggets were crisp outside with a creamy softness inside.

Crawfish tails were present, though few and far between. The accompanying green onion coulis was bright and herbaceous, although the beignets were also perfectly fine without.

THE BASICS: Newcomer SoLou debuted last spring in the former Rum House space on Perkins Road. “There’s no place like south Louisiana,” declares a neon sign on the patio wall—and that’s exactly what the restaurant’s menu seems to convey. The concept, created by restaurateurs Peter Sclafani, Kiva Guidroz and Michael Boudreaux, reimagines Louisiana classics in playful, inventive ways.

WHAT’S A MUST: Dishes like the LA Alligator Hot Dog and Shrimp Corn Dogs are just plain fun to eat (and snap photos of). The Chicken & Waffles dish is a standout, marrying juicy, flavorful chicken with a crisp waffle. Though the dessert menu is full of shareables like the Tableside S’mores, the creamy Creole Cheesecake might be one of the tastiest of its kind in Baton Rouge—not to mention the best our reviewer has had, period.

The Chicken & Waffles plate is available during brunch as well as lunch and dinner. Juicy chicken is served on a Southern sweet-cream waffle topped with maple syrup, balsamic-marinated strawberries and cane-syrup butter.

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My friend’s eyes were instantly drawn to the LA Alligator Hot Dog. Alligator sausage was served in a brioche bun with barbecue sauce, pineapple and salsa.

Shoestring French fries were plentiful on the side, with just the right amount of salt. Perfectly sweet, buttery brioche encapsulated an unctuous spicy link, though the bun was a bit dry. The link had a great snap and superb flavors, but we thought the toppings were scant and added little to the dish.

Fish in a Bag was an apt description.

Though it was not mentioned on the menu, the accompanying side of maque choux was a welcome addition.

The Cajun corn offering was creamy, with rich flavors of red peppers and spices. Roasted sugary tomatoes were a wonderful topping, covering the fish with delightful juices. Though moist and perfectly flakey, the fish on this occasion was rather fishy.

Chicken & Waffles were presented as fried chicken tenders atop a golden brown waffle. The chicken was incredibly juicy with excellent seasoning. A crisp waffle was a mild, splendid complement to the richly flavored chicken, and a tiny drizzle of syrup gilded the lily.

This was a drool-worthy offering.

Fig & Pecan Pie with vanilla ice cream was thankfully a reasonably sized slice,

The LA Alligator Hot Dog served in a brioche bun with barbecue sauce, pineapple and salsa

$50 OFF GOOD TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF YOUR FIRST CLEAN

No cash value. New customers only. Cannot be combined with other offers. Offer Code: AD50 Limited Time Offer.

Book The Maids

®

FOR A DEEP SPRING CLEAN OR ANYTHING IN BETWEEN.

For a spring cleaning that meets your highest standards, you need a dedicated team of specialists. The Maids will handle all the hard work so you can enjoy your fresh, clean home. Relax, and let teamwork make the clean work.

Call The Maids® to get your free, no-obligation estimate now.

225-755-8383 | MAIDS.COM Text Quote to 800-843-6243 Locally owned & operated.

Certain trademarks used under license from The Procter & Gamble Company or its affiliates.

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Creole Cheesecake with raspberry sauce and fresh berries

SoLou’s design, led by Xdesign and DNA Workshop, is splashed with color.

captivating piquant element, thanks to given pecan pie’s tendency to be the tanginess of Creole cream cheese. cloying. Small chunks of figs cut a This ultra-creamy concoction was lot of sugar, adding an almost savory truly one of the best cheesecakes I’ve component. Flakey, buttery crust held ever had. Ever. the whole thing together, integrating Unbeknownst to me, cotton candy is a fresh and enthralling spin on an old Issue Date: April 2022 Ad proof #1 brought to every diner as a whimsical standard.

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

Creole Cheesecake with raspberry • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within Mounds 24 hours of fluffy, white spunfrom receipt of this proof.

A shorter timeframeawill apply for tight deadlines. sugar made us giggle with delight. sauce and fresh berries presented • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

It was fun to eat at first, though the novelty wore off as the fluff dissipated into flavorless sweetness. But this did nothing to diminish the giddy nostalgia we all felt munching on it.

SoLou has done much to convert this space into a newfangled eatery.

Thankfully, the glorious and inviting patio from this building’s days as

The Rum House is still intact. SoLou updated it with sputnik chandeliers, string lights and a greenery wall complete with a mural and neon sign. It’s a literal breath of fresh air on affable weather days.

And with such variety on the menu, an entire krewe could be satisfied. And entertained.

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

PROTECTING WHAT MATTERS

PROTECTING WHAT MATTERS! SERVICING THESE AREAS ALL ACROSS SOUTH LOUISIANA: Baton Rouge • Denham Springs • French Settlement • Sorrento Walker • Saint Amant • Geismar • Gonzales • Donaldsonville Livingston • Darrow • Prairieville • + many more

225.450.5507 | cypressroofingla.com

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Level up

By Poet Wolfe // Photos by Ariana Allison BR.cade’s signature drinks boast playful names like Puckman, DK Smash and Scorpion.

BR.cade, a new arcade bar, debuted in Mid City last month

5

Years owners Cave Daughdrill, Robert Ross and Casey Wells (not pictured) have been collecting and restoring vintage arcade games, ultimately inspiring them to share their collection with the new bar.

MID CITY’S FORMER Pop Shop Records location is now home to a new arcade bar, where you can sip on a drink while playing among a wide selection of vintage games.

Dubbed BR.cade, the newest retro addition to Government Street officially opened March 5.

The arcade bar includes about 30 games from the 1970s to the ’90s.

Sounds of classics like Street Fighter, Mario Bros. and Pac-Man ring loudly throughout the room.

Tucked away in the back is a corner filled with pinball machines, like Terminator 2: Judgement Day and The Machine: Bride of Pinbot, to name a few.

Hanging chandeliers and bar stools are color-coordinated blue and orange.

Andy Warhol-esque pop art is displayed on the walls, lending an extra splash of bright colors to the room.

Many of the art pieces—such as one mixed-media photograph depicting a pixelated Donkey Kong climbing to the top of the Louisiana State Capitol— combine iconic video game characters with iconic Baton Rouge locations.

Owners Cave Daughdrill, Casey Wells and Robert Ross have been collecting and restoring vintage arcade games for five years. After setting up video games at a pop-up event at the Radio Bar, the owners knew it was time to put their collection to use.

“It ended up being a good test bed to see people’s reaction and response

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30

Number of vintage arcade games spread around the bar

to it, as well,” Daughdrill says. “And it was pretty clear then that we needed to do this for real.”

While restoring the machines, the owners made sure to keep each arcade game true to its roots by using the same hardware from its time period.

Some of the video games now keep the high score saved to the system, which

was the only modification included to “promote a healthy competition,” Daughdrill says.

After being given a wristband at the entrance, patrons have the option to sit by the bar, in a booth or play arcade games while enjoying BR.cade’s signature, game-themed drinks, like Puckman, DK Smash and Scorpion.

“We want people that have been in an arcade back in the day to get that nostalgia jolt,” Ross says.

PAY A VISIT BR.cade is open Monday-Saturday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday, 2 p.m. to midnight, at 2963 Government St. Find it on Facebook

PRODUCTS MADE FROM OIL

FAR MORE THAN JUST GASOLINE IS MADE FROM OIL

While approximately 40% of a barrel of oil is used to produce gasoline, the rest is used to produce a host of other products.

MEDICINE

COSMETICS

PLASTICS

Most over-thecounter medications, homeopathic products and vitamins are derived from benzine, a petroleum product.

Makeup and shampoo that has oils, perfumes, waxes and color all produced with the help of petrochemicals.

Almost all plastics are made from petrochemicals. from your iPhone to that bottle of water. It is 4-5% of the total petroleum consumption.

SYNTHETIC RUBBER

Thousands of products rely on rubber such as shoes, tires, wet suits, breast implants, gloves, etc.

CLEANING PRODUCTS

All those ingredients you can’t pronounce in the ingredients list of cleaning products being used to keep us safe from COVID-19.

ASPHALT There are over 11 million miles of paved road in the world. Asphalt is the glue that binds the minerals together.

RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTS

Oil is necessary to produce components used to create renewable energy, from wind turbine parts and solar panels to batteries for electric cars.

OTHER PRODUCTS MADE FROM OIL

Clothing, Ink, Heart Valves, Crayons, Parachutes, Telephones, Antiseptics, Deodorant, Pantyhose, Rubbing Alcohol, Carpets, Hearing Aids, Motorcycle Helmets, Pillows, Shoes, Electrical Tape, Safety Glass, Nylon Rope, Fertilizers, Hair Coloring, Toilet Seats, Candles, Credit Cards, Aspirin, Golf Balls, Detergents, Sunglasses, Glue, Fishing Rods, Linoleum, Soft Contact Lenses, Trash Bags, Hand Lotion, Shampoo, Shaving Cream, Footballs, Paint Brushes, Balloons, Fan Belts, Umbrellas, Luggage, Antifreeze, Tires, Dishwashing Liquids, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Combs, Tents, Lipstick, Tennis Rackets, House Paint, Guitar Strings, Ammonia, Eyeglasses, Ice Chests, Life Jackets, Cameras, Artificial Turf, Artificial Limbs, Bandages, Dentures, Ballpoint Pens, Nail Polish, Caulking, Skis, Fishing Lures, Perfumes, Shoe Polish, Antihistamines, Cortisone, Dyes, Roofing, Jet Fuel, Heating Oil, etc.

Environmental Coatings Services

We’re not number one—you are!®

www.BartlettGrp.com

sales@bartlett.group

(855) 804-4443

SOURCES: HUFFINGTONPOST.COM, OILANDGASINFO.CA, RANKEN-ENERGY.COM, EARTHSCIWEEK.ORG, LISTVERSE.COM, WIKIPEDIA.ORG, ENERGY.GOV, CONOCOPHILLIPS.COM, OILFIELDPULSE.COM

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Farm fresh Explore these farmers markets across the Capital Region SOUTH LOUISIANA’S year-round growing season, abundance of local foods and penchant for creativity make it the perfect place for farmers market shopping. In Baton Rouge, the venerable Red Stick Farmers Market sets a high bar, but it’s not the only community market around. Greater

Baton Rouge’s vibrant greenmarkets provide shoppers the chance to buy direct from an abundance of growers and artisan producers. It’s a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, eat healthy, pick up a unique gift and make new friends.

—MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON

1. St. Francisville Farmers’ Market 9961 Wilcox St., St. Francisville Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Open seasonally) Shop for pepper jelly, seasonal fruits and veggies, plants and more. Find St. Francisville Farmers’ Market on Facebook

1

ISTOCK PHOTOS

2

2. Zachary Community Farmers Market 4412 Lee St., Zachary Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Find gluten-free baked goods, gourmet popcorn, fruits and veggies, clothing and artisan foods at this market, held in downtown Zachary at HugYourPeople Community Park. The weekly gathering of around 60 vendors also features a monthly classic car show. Find Zachary Farmers Market on Facebook

4. Scotland Saturday Get Right Market Scotlandville Plaza Saturdays, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Find yoga, wellness tips, fresh produce and other items to help improve your inner and outer self at this growing north Baton Rouge market founded by Byron Washington. ssaturdays.com

4

10

5 12

6

5. Red Stick Farmers Market Saturdays, Fifth and Main Streets, 8 a.m. to noon Thursdays, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 8 a.m. to noon, Baton Rouge Nearly 26 years old, the Red Stick Farmers Market operates year round at two locations and seasonally in other spots around Baton Rouge. More than 50 vendors who grow or produce their own wares sell seasonal items. The monthly Baton Rouge Arts Market takes place alongside the downtown market on the first Saturday of the month. breada.org

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3

Issue Date: April 2022 Ad proof #2 TA ST E / /

• 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.

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

3. Walker Farmers Market 8444 Cecil Drive (Live Oak Middle School), Denham Springs First and third Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Hit a home run by calling Southern Air of Baton Rouge

This booming market recently moved to a new location to accommodate its more than 50 vendors and enthusiastic patrons. Find tamales, fresh produce, arts and crafts, breads, sweets and more. Find Walker Farmers Market on Facebook

FILE PHOTO BY KRISTIN SELLE

Get your system ready for warm weather with a $69 tune up

6. The Market at the Oasis 13827 Coursey Blvd., Baton Rouge Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Open since March 2020 on the site of the former plant nursery, Harb’s Oasis, the Market at the Oasis features numerous indoor and outdoor vendors selling fresh produce, prepared foods, arts and crafts and much more. themarketattheoasis.com

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

7 7. Riverside Farmers Market 45020 Manny Guitreau Road, Prairieville Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Riverside Farmers Market features woodworking, prepared foods, jams and jellies, produce and other fun finds on the banks of the Amite River under sprawling oak trees. Find Riverside Farmers Market Louisiana on Facebook

Certified Technicians | 100% Comfort Guarantee 30% energy savings guarantee 100% money back guarantee

(225) 219-8925 www.southernairbr.com | 225batonrouge.com | [225] April 2022

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On the menu • For the kids: Bagel Bunny Pizzas PB&J Pop-Tarts • For the grown-ups: Smoked Salmon Moussestuffed Cucumbers Bacon and Brie Canapes with Caramelized-Onion Fig Jam • For everyone: Maggie’s 5-Step Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipes by Tracey Koch

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DINING IN

Family-friendly Easter egg hunt

Su to

kicks off fridays at 5pm

downtown baton rouge

BY TRACE Y KOCH // P H OTOS B Y A M Y S H UT T

EASTER IS REALLY my favorite holiday. Everything is fresh, green and in bloom.

The warm weather is a welcome change from the drab and erratic winter weather we have been experiencing for the past few months.

With spring in the air, I love to entertain outdoors and enjoy the pleasant weather while it lasts. A family-friendly Easter egg hunt is a great way to get the whole family outside this month.

I came across so many wonderful ideas as I researched for this article.

I found creative suggestions for what

clock out

to place in the plastic eggs instead of candy, such as inexpensive gift cards to doughnut shops or ice cream parlors. You could even make handwritten passes for things like letting your kids stay up late.

I found fun games that will keep kids and adults engaged and entertained together, too. I discovered precious, hand-made Easter decorations and crafts, plus inventive ways to serve healthy snacks. Because for me, the best part of hosting a party is getting the whole family involved in the planning—and putting your family’s special touch on it.

rock out

PB&J Pop-Tarts

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line

2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Working in batches, sprinkle a little

flour on a clean work surface and roll out one piece of the pie dough into a 9-by-12 rectangle.

3. Cut the dough width-wise into four

3-inch-wide strips. Place a tablespoon of peanut butter along with a teaspoon of jam onto the top center of each rectangle.

7. Brush the tops with the remaining egg wash. Bake them in the heated oven for 12 to 15 minutes.

8. Remove and allow to cool slightly.

Place onto a baking rack to finish cooling while you make the glaze.

FOR THE GLAZE: 1 tablespoon grape or strawberry jam 1 cup powdered sugar 1 tablespoon milk 1 teaspoon vanilla

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of the pop-tarts, sealing them. Prick the tops of the tarts with the fork. Repeat the steps to create 12 PB&J-filled pastries.

y Cowbo Mou t h

march 25

6. Use a fork to carefully press the edges

april 8

5. Gently press the dough over the top of the peanut butter and jam to help spread it out a bit.

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C R A W F IS

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1. Place the jam into a microwave-safe

bowl. Heat 10 to 20 seconds. Use a spoon to mix the jam until there are no lumps.

2. Add in the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. Stir the mixture until smooth.

3. Drizzle the glaze over each baked and cooled pop-tart. Allow the glaze to set before serving.

SPONSORS SILVER GOLD

FOR THE POP-TARTS: 3 unbaked pie crusts from the grocery’s refrigerator aisle 1 cup all-natural creamy peanut butter 1 cup grape or strawberry jam 1 egg yolk 2 tablespoons water

egg and 2 tablespoons of water. Brush the edges of the rectangles with a little of the egg wash mixture. Fold over the bottom half of the dough to enclose the jam and peanut butter.

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BRONZE

Yields 12 pop-tarts

CAJU

4. In a small bowl, whisk together the

april 29

Pop-Tarts are a guilty pleasure that brings out the kid in all of us. So, if a storebought Pop-Tart is a treat you and your family enjoy, then a homemade one will really be your jam. (Yes, pun intended!)

This is a playful recipe that you and your children will enjoy making and love eating. The recipe starts with pie dough.

Store-bought refrigerated dough works well and keeps this recipe simple. The filling can be altered to your liking. I used peanut butter and strawberry jam in mine. However, if nut allergies are an issue, omit nut butters and stick to jams. I have made them both ways, and they are equally delicious. This is a great recipe to do ahead of time. Store the pop-tarts in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

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TA ST E / /

Bunny Bagel Mini Pizzas When I throw a party for people of all ages, I like to ensure I have things that will appeal to many different palates. These mini pizzas make a great snack for kids of all ages, and they can be made with many different toppings. In keeping with the Easter theme, I made these little pizzas into bunny faces—so they’re not only a tasty treat to snack on but quite cute and festive, as well. The pizzas can be put together ahead of time and stored in the fridge. Pop them in the oven just before you are ready to serve.

Yields 12 mini pizzas 12 mini plain bagels 1 jar pizza sauce 24 toothpicks 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 12 slices pepperoni ¼ cup sliced black olives

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Line

2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Slice the bagels into halves. To make

your bunny ears, halve the bottom half of the bagels length-wise. Trim these pieces in the shape of a bunny ear. Set them aside.

3. Skewer the ear-shaped pieces with the toothpicks. Stick these pieces through the top of the round bagel halves to complete the bunny heads.

4. Spread a tablespoon of sauce onto the 12 bagel bunnies. Place them onto the lined baking sheet.

5. Top each bagel bunny with grated mozzarella.

6. Thinly slice some pepperoni into strips

for the bunny’s whiskers. Slice more pieces of pepperoni for the ears. Finally, place 2 black olive slices for the eyes. You can also use 1 more olive slice for the nose.

7. Bake the bunny bagel pizzas in the heated oven for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove and allow to cool slightly before serving.

FIND IT ONLINE

Tracey’s tips for your own egg hunt • For a festive kid-friendly snack: Serve fresh carrot and celery sticks in mini terracotta flower pots.

• For older kids: Plan a scavenger hunt in place of the traditional egg hunt.

• For younger kids: Have a craft table where they can make their own Easter bonnets using paper plates and ribbon.

• Get everyone involved Try Easter-themed bingo or a water balloon toss.

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Maggie’s 5-Step Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting To finish off this family-friendly Easter Egg hunt, I repurposed a recipe from the 2017 archives, Maggie’s 5-Step Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. This has become a staple in my family, served every Easter. The original recipe, which you can find at 225batonrouge.com/recipes, is written for a 2-layer, 8-inch cake.

But it can also be used to make 24 cupcakes, as you’ll see here.

The cupcakes are a delicious, single-serving treat and the perfect sweet to round out your springtime event.

Smoked Salmon Mousse-stuffed Cucumbers These are the epitome of a hors d’ oeuvre to serve at a springtime garden party. The smoked salmon mousse filling is creamy and flavorful, with the added crunch of the cucumber to give it the perfect amount of texture. I like to make the mousse the day before to allow all the flavors to come together.

Fill the cucumbers a couple of hours ahead of time, giving the mousse time to set up before slicing the cucumber into ready-to-serve snacks. I like to serve them on a bed of frozen green peas. This makes for a beautiful spring presentation, while keeping them cool at the same time.

Servings: 12 8 ounces softened cream cheese 4 to 6 ounces smoked salmon 1 tablespoon grated red onion ¼ cup chopped green onions 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice ¼ cup capers ¼ teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon hot sauce ½ teaspoon dried dill 2 English or seedless cucumbers 1 large bags of frozen green peas (optional for garnish)

1. Chop the smoked salmon. Set it aside.

2. Place the softened cream

cheese into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. With the mixer on medium, mix the cream cheese until smooth.

3. Add in the chopped smoked salmon, onion, green onion, lemon zest, lemon juice, capers, salt, hot sauce and dill. Continue mixing until everything is well incorporated into the mousse.

4. Cut off the ends of the cucumbers. Slice cucumbers length-wise down the middle. Use a spoon to scoop out the pulp and seeds, creating a channel down the middle of the cucumber halves.

5. Use a tablespoon to dollop

the mousse into the middle of the cucumber halves.

6. Set them into the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour or overnight.

7. Right before serving, slice the

stuffed cucumbers into 2-inchwide slices. Pour the frozen peas on to a serving platter and place the stuffed cucumbers on top and serve.

Bacon and Brie Canapes with Caramelized-Onion and Pepper Jelly When I serve pick-up hors d’ oeuvres, I make sure to have a variety of hot, cold, savory and sweet snacks to enjoy.

These bacon and brie canapes check all of these boxes. The mild, creamy brie is the perfect base to top with the sweetness from the onion and fig jam.

The salty crispy bacon bits add a nice crunch texture, and the topping for the spring greens and balsamic completes these canapes. The onion fig jam can be made several days ahead of time and stored in the fridge. Make the canapes a few hours ahead, as well, and then heat right before you plan to serve them.

Servings: 12 12 pieces bacon 1 large red onion ½ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper 1 cup fig jam 12 mini bagels 1 (8-ounce) package of brie cheese 1 cup mixed spring greens 3 tablespoons good-quality balsamic vinegar 1 ⁄3 cup olive oil Salt and pepper to taste

1. In a large skillet, fry the bacon until crispy. Place the cooked bacon on paper towels to cool and drain.

2. Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings. Turn the heat to medium-low. Add in the sliced red onions, salt and pepper. Sauté the onions in the reserved drippings, until they become soft and golden in color. Pour in the fig jam and stir to combine. Once mixture comes to a simmer, remove from the heat and allow it to cool.

3. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Cut the mini bagels in half and place them onto the lined baking sheets.

4. Toast the bagels in the oven 3 to 4 minutes.

Remove and top each one with slices of brie followed by a dollop of the onion jam mixture.

5. Crumble the cooled bacon. Sprinkle the tops of the mini bagel canapes with the bacon bits.

6. Place the canapes back into the oven for another 4 to 5 minutes, or until the brie is just beginning to melt.

7. While the canapes are in the oven, mix together the balsamic vinegar, olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss this over the spring greens.

8. Remove the canapes from the oven. Top each with a little spring green tossed on the vinaigrette before serving.

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CULTURE I N S I D E : Blues Fest / Baton Rouge Gallery exhibit / Artist’s Perspective

Garth Brooks performing at another sold-out stadium show, at Notre Dame Stadium back in 2018.

CALLIN’

Baton Rouge Everything you could want to know ahead of Garth Brooks’ highly anticipated Tiger Stadium concert

ROBERT FRANKLIN/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / ASSOCIATED PRESS

B Y Z A N E P I O N TE K

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C U LT U R E / /

MUSIC

Trivia time

BRENT N. CLARKE/INVISION / ASSOCIATED PRESS

IN WHAT WILL undoubtedly be a rare occasion for the country music luminary Garth Brooks, the one song everyone is expecting to hear at his April 30 concert at Tiger Stadium will for once not be the downhome anthem “Friends in Low Places.”

No, the song all 102,321 attendees—yes, the stadium is slated to reach capacity—will be expecting in rapt anticipation will, of course, be “Callin’ Baton Rouge.” It’s the tune that’s become synonymous with both the Red Stick and Death Valley itself.

While the song charted at No. 2 on the national country chart when Brooks released it in 1993, its role as a cultural fixture in Baton Rouge really cemented when the LSU football team began using it as its pump-up pregame song. Ever since then, it has become an indispensable part of the Tigers’ pregame festivities, with fans, players and coaches alike singing along at every game. garthbrooks.com

—ZANE PIONTEK

Issue Date: April 2022 Ad proof

ABOUT ‘CALLIN’ BATON ROUGE’ • First released in 1978 by the Oak Ridge Boys and then again in ’89

by New Grass Revival, the song was largely unknown by the residents of its namesake city. But when Garth Brooks partnered with members of the thendisbanded Oak Ridge Boys to record his own rendition of the song for his 1993 album In Pieces, Red Stickers caught on, helping it to top national country charts in 1994.

• “What we put into the mix was that hard-rock bottom end,” Brooks wrote of the song in his 2017 book, The Anthology: The First Five Years.

“Nobody had hit the Rockman on this thing, and it’s going to grab your attention, grab you by the collar and shake the s——t out of you the whole time you’re singing it.”

• Brooks called “Callin’ Baton Rouge” his “favorite song to perform, hands down” in a NOLA.com interview.

• “‘Callin’ Baton Rouge’ just catches you off guard, and the whole crowd goes to another gear and they don’t come down from there,” Brooks said during an episode of Vocal Point, a podcast hosted by singer-songwriter Martina #1McBride.

• 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.

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C U LT U R E / / ABOUT GARTH BROOKS Chris Gaines, the protagonist of The Lamb, a never-released movie following the life of a wayward rocker.

• While Elvis Presley is the best-selling worldwide artist with 1 billion total sales, Brooks trumps him in U.S. sales, with 157 million albums sold in the states. (Presley’s domestic sales numbered 129.5 million.)

• Brooks graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1984 with a degree in advertising.

Evidently, the ad world wasn’t his calling, as he began his musical career later that year playing in Oklahoma bars and nightclubs.

• Brooks is often credited with evolving country music into the pop spectacle it is today, incorporating elements from ’70s arena rock, like intricate light displays and pyrotechnics.

• Brooks retired from music in 2000 at the age of 38 to focus on raising his three daughters, promising fans they’d see him again when his youngest turned 18. In 2009, he reentered public life with a series of weekend shows along the Las Vegas Strip.

• In 1999, Brooks released the rock album Garth Brooks in… the Life of Chris Gaines, in which he assumed the persona of fictional character

MUSIC BEST BETS

ABOUT TIGER STADIUM

• While Tiger Stadium has been called everything from “the best” to “the scariest” and “the most feared” place for opposing football teams to play in America, it’s quite a different atmosphere for musicians. During her 2015 Death Valley show, Taylor Swift told the audience she “loved the sight” of the crowd and found the audience “very, very welcoming.”

COURTESY LSU ATHLETICS

• This will be the first concert at Tiger Stadium since the COVID-19 pandemic; the last was Bayou Country Superfest 2019.

year lifespan the stadium gradually grew to the 102,321-seat colosseum it is today.

• When the stadium was first constructed in the Stadium is among the top 10 largest IssueitsDate: 2022 Ad proof #3 • Tiger 1920s, seatingApril capacity was only 24,000. stadiums in the country.

• Please respond by e-mail or fax withthroughout your approval oritsminor After numerous renovations 98- revisions.

• AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hours SOURCES: RIAA, LSUSports.net, Songfacts, news reports 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.

APRIL 1 Head to Beauvoir Park for New Orleans’ Funk Monkey.

The supergroup will include performances from seven Crescent City musicians. Find Beauvoir Park on Instagram

APRIL 9 At the Raising Cane’s River Center, catch country singer-songwriter Cody Johnson, sure to perform chart-topping songs from his eight albums. raisingcanesrivercenter.com

APRIL 2 Unleash all your feels at Emo Night at Chelsea’s Live.

Themed “April Showers Spring Formal,” slick back your side-part, apply your eyeliner, and don your best dress or suit. chelseaslive. com

APRIL 15 Gin Blossoms head to L’Auberge Casino & Hotel. Hear the throwback band play hits like “Hey Jealousy” and “Found Out About You.” lbatonrouge.com Gin Blossoms COURTESY L’AUBERGE CASINO & HOTEL

• His full name is Troyal Garth Brooks, but he opted to use his middle name for his stage persona.

APRIL 9 The Zombies take the Manship Theatre, celebrating their 2019 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The British band rose to fame in the ‘60s and is still rocking to this day. manshiptheatre.org APRIL 9 Travel back in time with ’80s Night at Chelsea’s Live.

Find your acid-wash denim and throw your hair into a scrunchie as you listen to local indie dream-pop band Riarosa cover all the classics. chelseaslive.com

APRIL 29 Jet to the Manship Theatre for alternative rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket.

Expect old favorites like “All I Want” and “Walk on the Ocean,” along with some new music. manshiptheatre.org

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Poster child

By Olivia Deffes

Artist Krist Norsworthy dissects his poster for this year’s Baton Rouge Blues Festival BATON ROUGE FESTIVALS are back—and better than ever. After almost two years of cancellations and virtual performances, festivalgoers can finally look forward to in-person gatherings and live music. The Baton Rouge Blues Festival has been waiting to bring the blues back to the Capital City since its last festival in 2019.

Long before any festival unfolds, music fans get a preview of the event through its poster. Created by local artists, the Blues Festival’s annual posters not only reveal themes and lineups, they also become collector’s items for one of the country’s oldest blues fests. And since the festival is free to the public, Executive Director Kim Neustrom says buying posters, pins and merchandise is one way people can give back.

The event, which was launched in 1981, has been creating annual posters since around 2013. This year, local designer and illustrator Krist Norsworthy developed the design.

This isn’t the first time Norsworthy has worked with the festival. He first partnered with organizers in 2019 to design its 2020 poster. But we all know what happened next. After revealing the posters for the ultimately canceled 2020 and 2021 events, Norsworthy is now on his third poster for the festival.

Marked by intricate brush strokes, Norsworthy’s work looks like it was done with analog printmaking tools or stamps. He created his poster designs on his iPad, using digital drawing techniques to build texture and detail.

Norsworthy strung common metaphors, colors and textures through all three designs. Shades of orange, yellow and, of course, blue, are signature colors for the festival, and each one is chock full of Louisiana symbolism.

While each poster in Norsworthy’s collection shares similarities, there’s something special about this year’s: It’s for an event Norsworthy will finally be able to attend.

FROM THE ARCHIVES 2021: By Krist Norsworthy

2020: By Krist Norsworthy

2019: By Jordan Hefler

2013: By Brad Jensen

SCAN TO GET STARTED

Blues F E S T I VA L SPONSORED BY IN MEMORY OF

LESLIE

“LAZY LESTER” JOHNSON

1933-2018

2019 86

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POSTERS COURTESY THE BATON ROUGE BLUES FESTIVAL

25TH ANNIVERSARY B ATO N R O U G E

C U LT U R E / /

Picking up a new instrument Guitars were featured prominently in Norsworthy’s previous posters.

This time, he decided to spotlight a different instrument: the piano. Keyboard instruments add a special sound to the blues. The piano’s red color is also a nod, of course, to Baton Rouge’s nickname: “The Red Stick.”

Feeding the flood On the Louisiana state flag, a mother pelican feeds her young with three drops of blood.

On this poster, we see a similar symbolism as the pelican atop the piano provides three water drops, “feeding” the flood below. It’s Northsworthy’s way of showing how this state bird keeps the water— and music—rushing from the piano.

Consistency is key Because this was Norsworthy’s third poster, he decided to repeat elements from the designs he created for the illfated 2020 and 2021 events. The magnolia flowers and fleur-delis are important state symbols, and these small details can be spotted in all three of his posters.

Lyrical lightning bugs The minuscule music notes hovering around the names of the acts may seem like they just represent blues music.

But Norsworthy says these notes are meant to signify little fireflies. Just like lightning bugs light up the water on bayous, these notes illuminate the musicians and the sweet sounds spilling from the piano.

A rush of good vibes Norsworthy had included the Mississippi River in his first Blues Festival poster (for the 2020 event). The latest design also includes rushing water, but this time it’s a nod to the famous waterway, as well as the community’s resilience after the 2016 floods. Norsworthy wanted crashing waves on this poster to stand for a flow of positivity. The names of the acts spill from the piano, signifying how music floods the soul with good vibes.

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C U LT U R E / / Students at previous editions of the “REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE” exhibit

ARTS

By Maggie Heyn Richardson

Baton Rouge Gallery’s ‘REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE’ highlights young artists this month. The 2022 selections weren’t THIS MONTH SEES the return of a special available by press time, but last year’s annual exhibition at the Baton Rouge show included works from students Gallery devoted to high school artists. attending St. Joseph’s Academy, University Dubbed “REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE,” the High School, The Dunham School, Central exhibit aims to provide students with High School, Baton Rouge Magnet High exactly that.

School, McKinley Senior High, Zachary Featuring 60 pieces, the juried High School, Woodlawn High School and show presents work selected from 250 Liberty Magnet High School. submissions, says Baton Rouge Gallery Just like other exhibitions at Baton President and CEO Jason Andreasen.

Rouge Gallery, “REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE” “This is a show we’ve been doing for will open with a First Wednesday a while, but it’s really grown over time,” reception, during which the young artists Andreasen says. “It’s an important way to will mingle with visitors and answer show support for our young artists and questions about their works. Having their to encourage them to continue to pursue pieces installed in the gallery is a moving their talents.” phenomenon for most of the students, says The opportunity to submit work is local attorney and philanthropist Cordell open to ninth through 12th grade school Haymon, who sponsors the show with students from public and private high his wife, Ava Leavell Haymon, Louisiana’s schools in East Baton Rouge Parish. They former poet laureate. work in a variety of media—from paintings “When these kids have their work and drawings to fiber arts and digital on display in an art gallery, it’s a creations, Andreasen says.

Issue Aprilmember 2022 artists, Ad proof #2 completely different experience for them,” ThreeDate: professional • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions.

Haymon says. “When it’s hanging there, who themselves work in different media, • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hours professionally lit, with visitors looking at from receipt of this proof.that A shorter timeframe willsee apply for tight deadlines. selected the works viewers will

HEATHER J. MCCLELLAND / COURTESY BATON ROUGE GALLERY

Get real

SEE THE EXHIBIT April 5-28 Baton Rouge Gallery 1515 Dalrymple Drive batonrougegallery.org

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

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Baton Rouge, L A

22 5-300-44 48

C U LT U R E / /

Last year’s Best in Show winner, Naya Smith of Woodlawn High School

APRIL 1 At the You Aren’t Alone Live Art Event, hear real stories of vulnerability, pain, strength and loss. Through visual

N

TO HO

APRIL 2 Opéra Louisiane presents “Sing & Swing,” a local celebrity karaoke competition featuring Ned Fasullo and his Fabulous Big Band. The event at the Crowne Plaza Executive Center Baton Rouge will have food, dancing, silent and live auctions and lots of fun. operalouisiane.com

KP

ALL MONTH The LSU Women’s Center and The Lighthouse Program exhibit “What I Wore” for Sexual Assault Awareness Month at the LSU Student Union Art Gallery and the second floor of LSU’s Main Library. It features exact or replicated outfits and artwork from survivors and allies. The exhibit aims to discourage victim blaming and to provide survivors with a safe space to tell their stories. lsu.edu/shc/wellness/ the-lighthouse-program

and performing arts, it is an opportunity for people to share their stories about mental health. youarentaloneproject.com

OC

ALL MONTH The LSU Museum of Art presents “Eugene Martin: The Creative Act.” The timeless, whimsical collages and mixed-media pieces are on display through Oct. 2. lsumoa.org

IST

COURTESY BATON ROUGE GALLERY

ARTS BEST BETS

I LL CO

The panel of jurors will select first, second and third place winners who will each be awarded a trophy and cash prize.

The trophies are an intentional strategy, Andreasen says. “We like the idea of schools being able to add plaques for the arts in their trophy cases, along with sports,” he adds.

One artist will also win the Paul A. Dufour & Julia Dufour Richardson Scholarship, which will fund private sessions with a professional artist from the rosters of either the Baton Rouge Gallery or the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.

And for the first time, the professional artist will have the option to provide the classes in the recently opened Cary Saurage Community Arts Center downtown, a multi-use arts facility with state-of-the-art it, it takes on a level of significance to the studio space. artists and their friends and families.”

It’s an exciting opportunity for a young Haymon adds that visitors will benefit creative to sit side by side with a working from taking in the students’ works, which professional to explore their shared craft, collectively represent the perspective of and to discuss how to parlay their skills and today’s young people and how they’re passion into real income. interpreting the world.

“We want aspiring artists to see what it’s “It’s such great insight into the thinking like to actually work professionally in the of that generation, their creativity and Issue Date: April 2022 proof #2 field,” Andreasen says. “There’s great value the topics they’re interested in,”Ad Haymon • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. in showing says.

“I can’t recommend visiting it highly • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hours that artists don’t have to starve to do what they love.” from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines. enough.”

APRIL 15 Join the actors at Theatre Baton Rouge as they stage a performance of Sweet Charity.

The comedic musical follows the main character, Charity Hope Valentine, as she searches for love in New York City. This groovy show will take you back to the 1960s for tons of retro fun. theatrebr.org

RI CH IE

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

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C U LT U R E / /

ARTIST’S PERSPEC TIVE

Joe Nivens’

‘First Day’ “The intention of ‘First Day’ is to depict the trauma of queer adolescence contrasted by the shadow of the closet that follows LGBTQ+ children into adulthood. The reality for queer people is that coming out is a process that never ends and a task that can create a lonely existence for those who are different from the norm. This piece aims to convey the very real and confusing struggle of finding your identity as a queer person existing in a heterosexual world.”

—AS TOLD TO BENJAMIN LEGER

“Hi, My Name Is…,” 2022.

“Much Loved,” 2020.

“First Day,” 2021, made of steel wire, epoxy, Sculpey, wood, acrylic paint and fabric.

COURTESY JOE NIVENS

About the artist

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With a background in experimental animation, 3D art and puppetry, Joe Nivens is a mixed media sculpture artist. He creates an array of characters out of wire, wood, epoxy and fabric ​​that fall somewhere between cute, funny and unsettling. Characters include ceramic sculptures of pickles and cheesecrackers with silly faces; and furry, wide-eyed creatures that look right out of a Tim Burton animated movie. Nivens received his master’s in sculpture from LSU and has worked on productions for Lift Animation and Netflix. He is currently an instructor in LSU’s Art Department. Find him on Instagram at @joenivens.

• 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.

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

DESIGN • BUILD • MAINTAIN

Something Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Right

IRRIGATION • LIGHTING • LAWN CARE MAINTENANCE • LANDSCAPING

225.937.9334 • relianceonescape.com 225batonrouge.com | [225] April 2022

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CALENDAR //

april

EUGENE MARTIN

THE CREATIVE ACT

2+3

GALLERY TALK

FRIDAY, APRIL 8 | 6 P.M. | FREE Learn more about Eugene Martin’s creative process and works featured in this exhibition during this gallery talk with LSU MOA Registrar and Curator of Eugene Martin: The Creative Act, Olivia Peltier. More info: lsumoa.org IMAGE: Eugene James Martin, Untitled, 1998, mixed media on board, Gift of Suzanne Fredericq in Memory of Eugene Martin, LSUMOA 2008.10.20

Support is provided by generous donors to the Annual Exhibition Fund.

Thank you to the following sponsors of Free Friday Nights and Free First Sundays. We appreciate the support of Louisiana Lottery Corporation and IBERIABANK, a division of First Horizon, for sponsoring free admission and Louisiana CAT for sponsoring programming. LSU MOA is supported in part by a grant from the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, funded by the East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President and Metro Council. LSU MOA is supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

4th Annual

ompiled b y Olivia Deff es

FILE PHOTO BY ARIANA ALLISON

ON VIEW APRIL 7–OCTOBER 2

Where play aro to Baton R und o this monuge th C

2

FROLIC IN THE FLOWERS The second annual Flower Fest will make you stop and smell the roses. See beautiful floral sculptures and shop flower-themed items from local vendors. Vote on your favorite sculpture, and take photos with various backdrops.

This year’s theme is “Out of this World” and will combine floral blooms with planets and stars. theflowerfest.com

CHEERS TO THAT LSU’s Rural Life Museum is bringing on the beer with the annual Zapp’s International Beer Fest. More than 200 foreign and domestic beers will be available for tasting. There will also be an assortment of homebrews to try. lsu.edu/rurallife

Event

Join

Wednesday, April 27, 2022 6:00PM - 9:00PM

for an incredible evening!

Walk the denim carpet & sway to live music Enjoy a delicious buffet by & beverages Support survivors & celebrate allies Wear your jeans & denim with a purpose

For more information about this amazing event go to www.DenimDayLA.org.

If you are a survivor of sexual assault, contact our free, confidential, and anonymous helpline by Text: 225.351.SAFE (7233), Chat: lafasa.org or Talk: 888.995.7273. Visit www.lafasa.org for helpful information and more free resources and advocacy services.

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FILE PHOTO BY RAEGAN LABAT

An evening on the denim carpet

9 + 10

GO WITH THE FLOW The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge is combining all things art, culture and ecology at this year’s Ebb & Flow Festival. This free downtown festival embraces Baton Rouge’s location on the Mississippi River and will feature the statewide juried art exhibition Art Flow, an arts market, community arts group performances and more. ebbandflowbr.org

ON THE ROAD NEW ORLEANS

APRIL 8: Bon Iver at Champion’s Square, champions-square.com

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APRIL 21-24: French Quarter Festival, frenchquarterfest.org APRIL 29-MAY 8: New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, nojazzfest.com

Issue Date: April 2022 Ad proof #1 CALENDAR //

• 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.

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

ALL MONTH Head out to Chelsea’s Live every Wednesday night for “Shut Up and Sing!” karaoke nights. Belt your heart out with over 250,000 songs to choose from. chelseaslive.com

23 + 24

BLUES ARE BACK The Baton Rouge Blues Festival has been rocking the Capital City since 1981 and is one of the oldest blues festivals in the country. After two canceled fests in 2020 and 2021, Executive Director Kim Neustrom says she’s excited for people to “sing, dance and celebrate the blues in the most joyous way possible in downtown Baton Rouge,” with performances from artists Robert Finley, Carolyn Wonderland and Nikki Hill and many more. batonrougebluesfestival.org

APRIL 7 Marvel at the skills and tricks of the Harlem Globetrotters at the Raising Cane’s River Center. The Globetrotters have teamed up with Broadway performers and hilarious comedians for an unforgettable show. harlemglobetrotters.com APRIL 9 Take in the beauty of ancient Chinese dance with the theatrical experience Shen Yun at the Raising Cane’s River Center. The show combines classic Chinese music and dance to tell the story of China before communism. raisingcanesrivercenter.com

all month SPRING INTO A CONCERT SERIES Outdoor live music series like Rock N Rowe, Live After Five and Live on Pointe continue.

Pull up a lawn chair or picnic blanket, and enjoy some local live music. Be sure to check out River City Jazz Masters, too. Find info and lineups at perkinsrowe.com, pointemarie. com, downtownbr.org and artsbr.org.

Editor’s note: Event details are as of press time in mid March. Please check with the events for the latest information.

We Take Your Health Personally!

APRIL 2-3 Get ready to see some sweet rides at the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live show at the Raising Cane’s River Center. Larger-than-life trucks jump, roll and plow over obstacles. hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com

FILE PHOTO

JORDAN HEFLER / COURTESY BATON ROUGE BLUES FESTIVAL

ALSO THIS MONTH

APRIL 23-24 + APRIL 30-MAY 1 Explore dream homes at the annual Parade of Homes, showcased by the Home Builders Foundation of Greater Baton Rouge.

Tour awe-inspiring homes designed by local builders, developers and interior designers. This year’s proceeds go toward the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. paradegbr.fun APRIL 30 Jam out with Garth Brooks as he lights up Tiger Stadium. He’ll be singing all his classics and will, of course, be performing “Callin’ Baton Rouge.”

Whether you’re heading inside for the show, be sure to tailgate outside of Tiger Stadium. garthbrooks.com

LAFAYETTE

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APRIL 2: Acadiana Taco Festival, facebook.com/AcadianaTacoFest APRIL 21: ZOSO: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience, thegrouseroom.com

Take the first step in a healthier direction by scheduling your initial consultation.

Call (225) 928-0486.

FI T N ES S

T H ER APY

NUT R IT IO N

PERSONAL TRAINING GROUP TRAINING SPIN || YOGA PILATES

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INT EGR AT IVE H EALT H

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

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

APRIL 22-24: Scott Boudin Festival, scottboudinfestival.com 225batonrouge.com | [225] April 2022

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FRAMED //

In every issue of 225, you’ll find a free print on this page. FRAMED celebrates life and art in Baton Rouge, each one featuring a local photographer, place or graphic designer. Cut it out to hang in your cubicle, or frame it for your home gallery wall. Show us where you hang them by tagging them on social media with #225prints.

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[225] April 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

DESIGN BY KRIST NORSWORTHY FOR THE BATON ROUGE BLUES FESTIVAL / kristnorsworthy.com GET FEATURED We love spotlighting local photographers, artists and designers for this page! Shoot us an email at editor@225batonrouge.com to chat about being featured.