225 Magazine - 20th Anniversary [November 2025]

CELEBRATING TWO DECADES OF TELLING

THE CAPITAL REGION ’ S STORY

INSIDE: RESTAURANTS AND R CIPES STARS 0F THE STAGE ARTISTS’ R E D ST 1 CK INSPIRATION

IMPACTFUL NONPROFIT S BIRTHDAY TYLE UNFORGETTABLE PHOT 0 S THE 225 REGION ' S BR 1 GHT FUTUR !

The Science Behind A Healthier You

Behind every major advancement in nutrition, metabolism, and chronic disease prevention, there’s a story of discovery. Explore how decades of research at Pennington Biomedical continue to shape better health for individuals, families, and communities.

Flip the page to see what that progress means for you.

Together, We’ve Changed the Future of Health

68,384 clinical trial participants advancing discoveries in human health

5 faculty ranking among the world’s most cited researchers

1988

PBRC’s doors open, and Dr. George Bray, a world-renowned obesity, diabetes and metabolism specialist, is appointed as the Center’s first executive director.

1980

C.B. “Doc” Pennington and his wife, Irene, pledge $125 million to Louisiana State University to build the biggest and best nutritional research facility in the nation.

1991

1993

NASA funds a study about the role nutrition and metabolism play in preventing bone and muscle loss during long-term space flight.

PBRC begins its first human research studies, examining the effects of diet on soldiers’ performance and the effects of eating habits on body weight and metabolism.

2001

PBRC concludes the Diabetes Prevention Program, showing that 10 million Americans can lower their chances of type 2 diabetes using diet and exercise.

44 research laboratories driving innovation in metabolism and chronic disease

Our Global Impact

Pennington Biomedical has 330 worldwide collaborations with scientists, clinicians, and institutions to advance discoveries that improve lives. 23 countries are represented by faculty or collaborators, and our research has been cited over 472,000 times.

8,379 peer-reviewed publications sharing breakthroughs with the global scientific community

2012

The DASH diet is selected for the first time by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 diet in America after PBRC’s contributions. It still tops the list today.

2020

The Metamor Institute opens on the PBRC campus. For the first time in its history, Pennington Biomedical begins treating patients using methods identified in earlier scientific discoveries.

2024

The Greaux Healthy initiative officially launches, implementing 35 years of research and discoveries for children, parents, physicians, and educators throughout the state.

2018

PBRC marks 30 years of research for the military, including 130 studies related to warfighter health.

During that time, the Center has been awarded more than $100M in defense-related research.

2022

Five current and former renowned PBRC scientists are among the most cited researchers in the world.

SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH THE VIDEO OF HER AMAZING STORY.

ALETHA JOHNSON HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN EDUCATOR AND GIFTED QUILTER. THE PAIN IN HER BACK WAS SO EXCRUCIATING THAT IT KEPT HER FROM BEING ABLE TO DO WHAT SHE LOVES THE MOST, MAKING QUILTS. BY SEEKING THE SERVICES OF DR. ERIC OBERLANDER NOT ONLY DID HE HELP RELIEVE HER PAIN, SHE WAS SO GRATEFUL TO THE EXCELLENT WORK HE AND HIS TEAM PERFORMED, THAT SHE KNITTED TWO BEAUTIFUL QUILTS THAT ARE NOW ON DISPLAY AT HIS OFFICE.

BACK MAKING QUILTS

Whether it’s educating others or making quilts as a craft or for leisure, getting pain free is the ultimate goal!

As one of the few board-certified neurosurgeons in Louisiana who has fellowship training in minimally invasive and complex spine surgery, his services are in high demand. Join the 8,000 patients that see Team Oberlander per year.

to schedule your appointment.

Eric Oberlander, MD

Board Certified Neurosurgeon DrOberlander.com

TWO

20 years of 225: celebrating our city, our people, our story

TWENTY YEARS AGO, my partner, Rolfe McCollister, and I launched 225 Magazine with a simple but powerful idea: Baton Rouge deserved a lifestyle magazine that truly celebrated the people, places, food, culture and spirit that make our region one of a kind.

At the time, I was young and good looking. Now, well, I’m just good looking. And time has flown by faster than I could have imagined. But one thing has never changed: my deep love for this city and my pride in watching 225 grow into the brand it is today.

From the beginning, 225 was designed to be more than just a magazine—it was meant to be a reflection of the Baton Rouge region itself: vibrant, diverse, creative, resilient and full of possibility. What started as a monthly print magazine has grown into a true lifestyle brand. Today, we tell the Capital Region’s story across every platform you can imagine—on 225batonrouge.com, Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn and in your inbox every weekday with the 225 Daily newsletter.

Every year, we deliver 12 issues to newsstands, plus our annual Tiger Pride edition in August, and along the way we’ve been nationally recognized for excellence. But what I’m most proud of is how 225 has stayed true to its mission: to help people in our region explore, discover and connect more deeply with its community.

When you open our pages—or scroll through our feeds—you’ll find the pulse of the region:

• A feature of the new restaurant everyone’s buzzing about

• A profile of a business or community leader making waves

• Coverage of the athletes and artists putting Baton Rouge on the map

• Visually driven photo essays, style shoots and cultural snapshots

• And most importantly, stories of the people who are making our city a better place every day

225 has always been about the Capital Region—and about you. The readers, neighbors and dreamers who believe in this city and push it forward.

As we celebrate 20 years, I want to say thank you. Thank you to our team of talented storytellers, designers and marketers who pour their creativity into every issue. I’m personally blessed to work with an amazing, talented team in every department of our organization. Thank you to our advertisers and partners who believe in this community and make it possible for us to deliver 225 free to the public. And thank you to our readers—for your loyalty, your feedback and your love for the Capital Region.

The past two decades have been a reminder that the Capital Region is more than just a place—it’s a living, breathing community, full of energy, culture and opportunity. And I couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead.

Here’s to 20 years of 225. And here’s to the next 20—of telling more stories with passion, pride and heart.

The BEST is yet to come!

Julio Melara Publisher

20 carats 20 YEARS for Lee Michaels is proud to support 225 Magazine.

Congratulations on 20 amazing years!

Source code

THERE ARE CERTAIN numbers that just mean something.

90210 is, of course, Beverly Hills—home to Rodeo Drive, palm trees, movie star homes and endless sunshine.

Route 66 is more than a road; it’s a nostalgic destination. This original U.S. highway from Chicago to California inspired songs and TV shows and still draws tourists long after the interstate system made it nearly obsolete.

Eleven is a girl with special powers on Stranger Things, 88 is how fast the DeLorean had to go to travel through time in Back to the Future, 101 is the number of Disney dalmatians, and everybody knows Jenny’s phone number is 867-5309. And to today’s tweens and teens, “6-7” is the most popular and meaningless string of digits ever to disrupt a classroom.

But before 1998, the number 225 had no particular significance at all. That was the year the nine parishes of the Baton Rouge metropolitan area split from their New Orleans neighbors and got their own area code. Faced with the need to change stationery and business cards and signs, people grumbled at the time. In fact, there had been a veritable battle between Baton Rouge and New Orleans about who would get to keep the original 504 area code before the final decision was made. But the issuance of this new number ultimately helped the Baton Rouge area find its own unique identity—one

not tied to its proximity to the Big Easy.

It’s more than a little ironic, then, that the launch of a magazine called 225 took place when the Capital Region was packed with displaced New Orleanians in the wake of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. These strangers in a strange land were welcomed by this colorful compendium of some of the area’s hottest happenings and most interesting residents— and a little humorous advice from O.G. editor

It’s a…magazine!

Tom Guarisco: “When roads do connect, they will inexplicably change names on you,” he warned. “College Drive morphs into West Lee Drive and then into Brightside. Good luck getting around.”

Though I was born and grew up in the 225 and graduated from LSU, I was living in Mississippi at the time this first issue of the magazine hit newsstands. A few Baton Rouge friends drove up for the weekend that November and brought me a copy of 225 I remember feeling a sense of expat pride that this had been produced in and for the place we all loved so much—and that those transplanted 504-ers were getting a chance to experience it for themselves.

A few years later, my own area code changed back to 225, and it has remained that way ever since. And two decades after 225 Magazine launched, its title has become so much more than three little digits. It’s a number that truly means something.

Cheers to 20 years!

Kelli Bozeman Editor-in-Chief

IT FEELS LIKE baby season around the offices of Melara Enterprises, the parent company of 225, Baton Rouge Business Report and inRegister. A handful of our team members and team members’ wives have delivered bundles of joy in the last few months or will do so soon. Suddenly our company Slack channel is filled with photos of these precious newborns’ faces, and we are loving every minute of it. Watching our colleagues bring new lives into the world also feels pretty appropriate as we deliver this, one of the company’s largest issues ever produced by any of our brands, into not just our arms but all of yours. Weighing in at around 2 pounds and 8 ounces, this issue was truly produced through a labor of love. Happy birthday all around!

THAN JUST DINNER More m

private parties, tequila tastings, custom dinners, large catering orders, mocktails or even just date night

PROUDLY SERVING THE BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY FOR 26 Years

FREE FOOD (ON US).

Melara

Kelli Bozeman

Olivia Deffes

Richardson

Collin Richie

Laura Furr Mericas

John McElwain

Contributing Writers:

Jennifer Tormo Alvarez, Mark Clements, Cynthea Corfah, Holly Duchmann, Gracelyn Farrar, Tracey Koch, Dana Muller, Olivia Tees, Avery White

Contributing Photographers:

Ariana Allison, Sean Gasser, Jordan Hefler, Amy Shutt, Avery White

Elizabeth McCollister Hebert

Kynley Lemoine

Multimedia Marketing Consultant & Team Leader: André Hellickson Savoie

Multimedia Marketing Consultants: Hernandez, Angelle Theriot

Reagan Karczewski

Devyn MacDonald

Matt Wambles

Londyn White

Sydney DeVille

Corporate Communications Strategist: Mark Lorando

Emily Hebert

Timothy Coles

Business Development Manager: Manny Fajardo

Custom Content Editor: Lisa Tramontana

Video Lead: Taylor Stoma

Production Coordinator: Sara Hodge

ADMINISTRATION

Chief Technology Officer: James Hume

Marketing Director: Ashleigh Ward

Business Manager: Tiffany Durocher

Business Associate: Kirsten Milano

Office Coordinator: Donna Curry

Receptionist: Cathy Varnado Brown

CREATIVE SERVICES

Creative Services Manager: Ellie Gray

Art Director: Hoa Vu

Senior Graphic Designers: Melinda Gonzalez Galjour, Sidney Rosso

Graphic Designers: Aniya Dunn, Jerry Reid

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

Circulation and Client Experience Manager: Ivana Oubre

A publication of Melara Enterprises, LLC

Chairman: Julio Melara

Executive Assistant: Brooke Motto

Vice President-Sales: Elizabeth McCollister Hebert

Chief Content Officer: Penny Font

Chief Digital Officer: Erin Pou

Chief Operating Officer: Guy Barone

Circulation/Reprints

email: circulation@225batonrouge.com Highway, Suite 300, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 225-214-5225 • FAX 225-926-1329 • 225batonrouge.com

TOP STORIES

September 2025’s most-read articles at 225batonrouge.com

First Look: Customize single-serving desserts at Cheesecake Lab, opening next week

First Look: Eloise Market and Cakery moves to Perkins Road, with private event space

Rêve Coffee Lab brews a new pop-up in Mid City

Readers’ notes

Re: Our feature on Tiger Tuba Kent, a 66year-old retiree who’s also an LSU freshman and member of the marching band: “Dreams do come true!”

—@malinda.troost27via Instagram

“I am an Auburn graduate. When LSU is on TV, I look for Kent Broussard instead of the game. His marching around the neighborhood was such an inspiration for all of us old timers! I am older than he is, but he inspired me to rejoin the gym and hire a personal trainer! I marched in high school band, but now regret that I did not try out for the Auburn Tiger Marching Band 60 years ago.”

—Donna

Re: Our First Look on Lafayette-born, woman-owned biz Embark Fine Jewelry: “Stopped by today and I am OBSESSED!” —@classicallycaty

Turner Mueller via Facebook

Comments and analytics are from Sept. 1-30, 2025. They have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.

Let’s get social

Like our print content? You should check out our social media profiles, too. Head to our Instagram and TikTok pages for behindthe-scenes scoops, video roundups of new restaurants, walk-throughs of buzzy businesses and more. Drop a follow on X or become our Facebook friend to stay up to date with all of 225’s profiles and features, along with the latest on openings, food news and more. We promise you’ll like what you see.

facebook.com/225magazine x.com/225batonrouge instagram.com/225batonrouge

youtube.com/225magazine tiktok.com/@225magazine

Growing in Baton Rouge

SSince 1978, we have been the cornerstone of St. Francisville, serving our friends and neighbors with a winning combination of community vision and relationship banking. For nearly a decade we’ve been steadily growing in Baton Rouge, always mindful of maintaining the same level of exceptional personalized service. We have broken ground on our second Baton Rouge location and with the help of our talented architects and designers we will endeavor to duplicate the Bank of St. Francisville aura, elegance and charm. Opening spring 2027, 9015 Je erson Highway, Baton Rouge

ince 1978, we have been the cornerstone of St. Francisville, serving our friends and neighbors with a winning combination of community vision and relationship banking. For nearly a decade we’ve been steadily growing in Baton Rouge, always mindful of maintaining the same level of exceptional personalized service. We have broken ground on our second Baton Rouge location and with the help of our talented architects and designers we will endeavor to duplicate the Bank of St. Francisville aura, elegance and charm.

November What,s up

FULL house

A game of 225’s favorite things to do around Baton Rouge—20 years in the making

By Maggie Heyn Richardson

TWENTY YEARS OF coverage has proven something undeniable: There’s always something interesting going on in Baton Rouge. Over the last two decades, we’ve seen the expansion of festivals, community events, restaurants, arts and entertainment venues, and outdoor fun, creating a near endless list of things to do.

Downtown Baton Rouge and Mid City have become serious entertainment hubs, and Tiger Stadium swelled to more than 102,000 seats. The region added scores of new eateries, many representing buzzy food trends. We completed the state-of-the-art Main Library at Goodwood, the Water Campus, and many new or improved parks and bike trails. Here are a few of our favorites. Check off five in row. Or better yet, try them all.

Cross off five 225-approved activities in a row to score BINGO!

BINGO

to dinner along Government Street.

Adopt a furry friend from Companion Animal Alliance.

Sip wine and view art at Baton Rouge Gallery’s free monthly openings.

Catch a musical at Sullivan Theater or Ascension Community Theatre.

Grab a seat (they’re all good) at Manship Theatre.

Savor innovative Asian cuisine at the annual Night Market BTR.

Taste Diners, Drive-ins and Dives local darlings Elsie’s, Phil’s, Iverstine and Dempsey’s.

See Coach Kim Mulkey’s fashion trends at an LSU Women’s Basketball game.

Watch Mike the Tiger frolic in his spacious habitat.

Take your pup to one of six BREC dog parks.

Stop and smell the roses at The Flower Fest.

FREE SPACE

Spot migratory birds at BREC’s Frenchtown Road Conservation Area.

View the Mississippi River from the top of the Shaw Center for the Arts.

Spend the day exploring St. Francisville’s new shops and restaurants.

Enjoy The Nutcracker – A Tale from the Bayou in the renovated River Center Theatre for Performing Arts.

Hear the crack of the bat in Alex Box Stadium.

Salsa your way through Latin Night at Chelsea's Live.

Delight at BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo’s pygmy hippos.

Stroll along the Mississippi River Levee Trail.

Scale the Storybook Climber at Knock Knock Children’s Museum.

Hone your cooking skills at Red Stick Spice Co.

Soak up Mid City’s eclectic vibe at White Light Night and Hot Art Cool Nights.

Follow your favorite food trucks, popups and microbakeries on social media.

Stock up on gojuchang and galangal at an international grocery store.

Rubio Hospitality Group brings big flavors and unforgettable dining to Southeast LA. With five distinct concepts— La Carreta, Si Señor Taqueria, Lighthouse Coastal Brasserie, Salty Joe’s BBQ, and one thirteen —there’s something for everyone, every time. Newest additions Lighthouse Coastal Brasserie in Downtown Hammond and one thirteen Northshore NOW OPEN!

SCAN

BIRTHDAYS ARE A big deal. Just ask our team, which has been planning 225’s 20th for over a year.

Big deals call for big celebrations. And, of course, cake. Gone are the days of a simple store-bought sheet. Instead, many confectionery customers are going for the ever-so-trendy, vintage-inspired cakes that are clogging up Instagram pages and Pinterest feeds with a lot of piping details and sugary embellishments.

These dramatic desserts have been in and out of trend for centuries, with the piping technique most notably traced back to baker and cake decorator Joseph Lambeth in the 1930s. But the look goes back as far as the Victorian era. Eloise Market and Cakery owner Madelyn Schmidt Burr says the popular Netflix hit Bridgerton could be behind this design’s uptick in recent popularity.

“Stuff goes in and out of style, and everything comes back,” she says. “It loops back to the old-style cakes.”

Burr has been pumping out these treats in round, heart and star shapes for about three years. She says around half of her custom cake orders request the vintage, mega-piped look.

“It’s one of our most popular styles,” Burr says. “It just looks so clean, but so extra.”

And though the vintage-inspired cakes are popping up everywhere, each one is almost completely customizable, making them ideal for various party themes, milestones and celebrations.

Grab a fork. We’re breaking down these icing-slathered icons, down to the last crumb.

ANATOMY OF A DISH

cakeTakes the

More is more Who says you have to stop after the icing? Instead, get bolder with extra edible and inedible embellishments to make your cake look just as good as it tastes. On Eloise’s site, customers can choose to dazzle their cakes with ribbon bows, mini disco balls, cherries, fresh flowers or sugary pearl borders.

Pipe dreams Burr keeps an organized collection of piping tips and bags on deck for all the details these cakes call for. Scalloped borders, swirly rosettes and draped curves are the hallmarks of this style. “There’s lots of piping,” Burr says. “So you have to be OK with a lot of frosting.”

WHAT'S UP //

Digging into the vintage birthday cake trend with Eloise Market and Cakery

BY OLIVIA DEFFES // PHOTOS BY JORDAN HEFLER

Say it in frosting

Putting “Happy Birthday!” across your cake is so simple. Have some fun with your b-day message instead. Burr’s customers have asked for song lyrics, drawings, swirly spellings of their ages or plays on astrology. Let your partygoers know you’re a “spicy Pisces” by spelling it out on your cake.

What’s your flavor?

Though a lot of the allure of these cakes comes from their outer layers of frosting, what’s on the inside counts too. At Eloise, customers can pick from a variety of cake options like almond, chocolate, confetti, red velvet and more.

WHAT'S UP

Fill in While the exterior is all buttercream, Eloise’s cakes also have a filling option for those who want a little extra oomph. Treat yourself to a tangy fruit

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

• AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hrs 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: CORRECTADDRESS • CORRECTPHONE NUMBER •ANYTYPOS This ad design © Melara Enterprises, LLC. 2025. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700

Tami Turnley Meet

OWNER, CERTIFIED COACH

As a born entrepreneur, I launched my first business at 19 years old with a gymnastics company called Tami’s Tumbling Tigers, which I proudly owned and operated for 25 years. In 2019, I expanded my business portfolio by purchasing Ideal Weight Loss Solutions, originally established in 2011. I am also the owner of TJ Rental Properties, continuing to pursue my passion for building businesses and creating opportunities.

Fueled by faith and perseverance, I have turned challenges into stepping stones that guided me to where I am today. Born and raised in Baton Rouge, I am a proud mom of two amazing sons. When I am not running my businesses, you will find me in the kitchen cooking for big family gatherings or making memories on vacation with my boys.

My main goal is not only to help clients lose weight but to help them believe they are stronger than their emotions. I want clients to know that if they believe in themselves and become more confident in who they are, the weight loss will come.

To Learn More, Please Scan Here!

FallInto Style FallInto Style

City in motion

225 isn’t the only local institution celebrating a milestone anniversary this year, so we’ve made a timeline to track the starting points of other noteworthy Baton Rouge entities

BY AVERY WHITE

IN THE SAME year that 225 celebrates its 20th birthday, many other organizations in the Capital Region are celebrating milestones of their own. From theater and the arts to food and style, each of these entities has left its own unique stamp on Baton Rouge. Although some have been around for much longer than others, they are all integral to our south Louisiana culture.

1925

Louisiana Art & Science Museum

While the museum itself is not 100 years old—it recently celebrated its 60th anniversary— the building it’s housed in, a historic railway station, was built in 1925 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

1950

Associated Grocers

Created 75 years ago to decrease the costs of goods for customers, this company is now the supplier to many independently owned grocery stores in Louisiana, including Calandro’s Supermarket and Audubon Market.

1960

Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre

As the premier ballet company in the state, BRBT has produced world-class dancers and show-stopping performances for 65 years.

LSU Foundation

Since its launch 65 years ago, the foundation has done extensive work to fundraise for scholarships, research programs and infrastructure improvements.

1975

LSU Women’s Basketball

This championship program has created a culture of passionate fans in the past 50 years thanks to its successful seasons, legendary coaches, and a roster of alumnae and stars, including Seimone Augustus, Angel Reese and Flau'jae Johnson (pictured).

2000

Time Warp Boutique Step fashionably into the past as you browse this vintage clothing store’s extensive collection of items, ranging from your best ’80s prom dress to some rocking pairs of ’60s boots. Find unique staple pieces for your everyday wardrobe or hunt items to be the best dressed at the next themed party.

Mike Anderson's

LSU All-American linebacker Mike Anderson founded his eponymous restaurant 50 years ago near campus, serving four po-boy options and oysters on the half shell. Today the Baton Rouge mainstay boasts three locations with an expansive menu known for its fresh Gulf seafood and Louisiana favorites.

Varsity Sports

Looking for new running shoes? Stop by this staple sports store in the Garden District and you may just get a free T-shirt and an invite into the local running community with your purchase.

2005

Shaw Center for the Arts

Located in the heart of downtown Baton Rouge, this hub of culture in the city is home to Manship Theatre, the LSU Museum of Art and Tsunami.

Theatre

Issue Date: Nov 2025 Ad proof #6

While this Baton Rouge entertainment venue inside the Shaw Center hosts top-notch performances such as Grammy winner Macy Gray, it also fosters local talent through education and youth outreach programs.

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

• AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hrs 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 © Melara Enterprises, LLC. 2025. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700

Towne Center at Cedar Lodge

With local names like The Queen Bee as well as national retailers like Ulta Beauty, this open-air shopping center is now a staple in the city’s shopping scene with dozens of businesses.

Mike the Tiger’s Habitat Home of the only live tiger college mascot in the country, this approximately $3 million facility is one of the most popular spots on LSU’s campus, as visitors gather to catch a glimpse of the beloved bengal while he basks in the Louisiana sun or swims in his pool.

As the Levy Company celebrates our 30th year in business, we want to thank our team members clients, and referral sources for making this milestone possible. Providing accounting, tax, and consulting services to businesses and individuals in our community has been a privilege. As we look to the future, be assured that our number one priority won’t be changing – Relationships Matter!

The Levy Company congratulates Maria Walsh, CPA, for becoming a partner in the firm, and for being honored by the AICPA as a member of the 17th Leadership Academy.

2010

10/31 Consortium

This Halloween krewe has been giving back to the community through the spookiest holiday of the year for 15 years, and who can forget its frightfully fun annual Fifolet Halloween Festival?

2015

Junior League of Baton Rouge Diaper Bank

Created to address local families’ needs for clean diapers, the bank has provided more than 550,000 diapers to 23 partner agencies supporting 11,500 families over the past 10 years.

Fullness Farm

This 1.5-acre family farm on Nicholson Drive harvests colorful produce year-round, and makes regular appearances at the Red Stick Farmers Market while also providing fresh produce to various restaurants around the Capital Region.

Having the Blue Cross Blue Shield card in my wallet — well it feels like armor. It feels like I’m part of this special elite club and can get what I need whatever the crisis.

YOUR FLAVOR

What were you up to at age 20?

Favorite 225 cover or story over the years

Your vote for Best Overall Restaurant in the Best of 225 Awards

Favorite local spot or way to celebrate a birthday or anniversary

What’s Baton Rouge’s superpower?

COURTESYMYRARICHARDSON

MYRA RICHARDSON Chief Development Officer, The Louisiana Chamber of Commerce Foundation; Founder, Red Torch Consulting

JASON ANDREASEN President and CEO, Baton Rouge Gallery

JORDAN BASHAM Owner, WhereToGeaux225 Social Media

I was just beginning my journey in advocacy and starting to lean into the economic development space.

Balancing college and bartending

Traveling across the United States with Raising Cane’s, opening new restaurants during a time when the brand had just 178 locations

The October 2020 Our Next Leaders issue holds a special place. I was blessed to be featured alongside peers who were bringing hope and change to Baton Rouge.

I always look forward to the People to Watch issue.

People to Watch in 2025 ... I definitely read that one cover to cover :)

Elsie’s Plate & Pie and BLDG 5. Both places remind me that comfort food and creativity can live on the same plate.

Supper Club will always have my heart because it’s where I got engaged—it’s a reminder of God’s timing and blessings in my life.

Being big and small at the same time. We have the heart of a closeknit community and the potential of a big city.

Elsie’s is the spot!

Veracruz Restaurant, hands down

Birthday: Capital City Records.

Anniversary: Bin 77.

Oysters and beer at Bayes Oyster Bar, seasonal gnocchi at Nino’s or sushi at Umami Gathering—over food, music and culture. It’s how Baton Rouge turns strangers into family.

What were you up to at age 20?

DR. SANJAY JUNEJA

Hematologist and Oncologist, Citrus Oncology; Vice President of Clinical AI Operations, Tempus AI; @theoncdoc on Instagram and TikTok

Second year of med school at LSU Health Shreveport. Cofounded Tiger Ambassadors, still thriving today

Favorite 225 cover or story over the years

Generation Now in 2023 was inspiring—faces you know that make you proud of where we’re headed.

Your vote for Best Overall Restaurant in the Best of 225 Awards

I lived in North Gate ... The Chimes has my heart! And palate.

MARY STEIN

Assistant Library Director: Programs, Outreach, & Collections, East Baton Rouge Parish Library

Classes at LSU

I‘ve hung on to the Best of 225 issues each year. I also love the pets issue.

LAMONT COLE

Superintendent, East Baton Rouge Parish Schools

Playing basketball at Nicholls State. I started games on the bench and ended games on the bench. The Future of BR, November 2019

Favorite local spot or way to celebrate a birthday or anniversary What’s Baton Rouge’s superpower?

Elsie’s Plate & Pie because I can fill up my plate with chicken pot pie and chocolate pie

If LSU doesn’t have a home game, it’s hard to beat Topgolf with the crew.

Willin’ a good time. I host outof-town friends any chance I can to show them what “fun” really looks like.

I’m interested in trying out axe throwing for my next birthday. BR is welcoming for food, family and fun!

Delpit’s Chicken Shack, specifically the Acadian location Red Stick Social

Connectivity. Relationships run deep. That closeness builds a spirit of family, of looking out for one another and of celebrating together through every season.

Susan, age 60, Breast Patient

At Woman’s, our breast cancer surgery team—Dr. Cecilia Cuntz, Dr. Lindsey Fauveau, and Dr. Jamie Patterson—bring together exceptional skill and heartfelt compassion. We o er the most advanced technology in screening, surgical treatment, and reconstruction, paired with the understanding and support every woman deserves.

For more than 55 years, we’ve been by your side. And when everything changes, we’re the team you can count on to help you move forward — with con dence, strength, and care you trust.

The next chapter in your life story starts with us. womans.org/rewriteyourstory

Breast Specialists

ARESTORING CONFIDENCE AND HEALTH: DR. LINDSEY FAUVEAU OF WOMAN’S HOSPITAL EXPLAINS THE

DIEP FLAP PROCEDURE

t Woman’s Hospital, breast cancer care is about more than treatment – it’s also about restoring confidence and quality of life. Our team of specialized breast surgeons – Dr. Cecilia Cuntz, Dr. Lindsey Fauveau and Dr. Jamie Patterson – work closely with each patient to help them find the path that best supports their healing and recovery.

Breast reconstruction is most commonly performed using two primary methods: implant-based and autologous procedures. Autologous procedures use the patient’s own tissue, while implant-based reconstruction uses medical-grade implants. Both approaches are available at Woman’s Hospital, allowing each patient to choose the option that best aligns with their individual needs, preferences and treatment plan.

One advanced option for those who qualify is the DIEP (Deep Inferior Epigastric Peforator) flap procedure, which uses a patient’s own tissue to restore the breast after surgery. During this procedure, the team of specialized breast surgeons works alongside reconstructive plastic surgeons to remove and reconstruct the breast.

“The DIEP flap is a highly advanced, autologous reconstruction technique,” explains

Dr. Fauveau. “We use the patient’s own tissue, including fat and blood vessels from the abdomen, to reconstruct the breast. This approach offers a more natural look and feel, and often results in a flatter abdomen.”

Woman’s Hospital is uniquely positioned to offer this procedure. The DIEP flap was pioneered in Louisiana in 1992, giving Woman’s team of breast and plastic surgeons extensive experience through strong regional training.

“Our team of breast surgical oncologists and reconstructive plastic surgeons brings more than 30 years of combined experience performing this procedure,” says Dr. Fauveau. “Patients in Baton Rouge and beyond benefit from a legacy of expertise that is rare elsewhere in the country.”

To determine if a woman is a candidate for the DIEP flap procedure, the team at Woman’s Hospital uses advanced imaging and thorough evaluations to carefully assess each patient’s abdominal blood vessels and overall health, ensuring the best possible outcome.

“Prior surgeries, especially those involving the abdomen, can affect eligibility,” she notes. “But with modern, minimally invasive techniques, many women – even those with previous surgeries – may still qualify.”

Recovery typically ranges from six to eight weeks.

“Our patients appreciate the natural appearance and the peace of mind that comes with using their own tissue,” Dr. Fauveau shares. “Many also value not having to return for implant replacements years down the line.”

At Woman’s Hospital, a dedicated team of breast specialists — including experienced nurses and surgical staff — provides a wide range of comprehensive surgical solutions.

“We have tremendous staff and a dedicated breast team, which is special because they are committed to the cause, and this is what they do every day. We pride ourselves on a smooth, collaborative approach that ensures patients feel supported at every stage,” says Dr. Fauveau. “From the initial consultation to recovery, our focus is on high-quality, evidence-based care in a supportive environment.”

For women facing breast cancer, the extensive team at Woman’s Hospital offers hope, healing and a renewed sense of self.  Scan the QR code or visit womans.org to learn more.

Make it

your own

Compiled by Gracelyn Farrar

SINGLE-SERVE bakery Cheesecake Lab opened in September, bringing individual Southern-style cheesecakes to the Bocage area. The cakes are distinguished by a creamier texture, a level surface and a longer bake time than the denser New York-style cheesecake. With rotating flavors and customizable toppings, the shop’s cakes are made from scratch in a large kitchen area in the back.

Founder Mitchell Moore, a self-taught pastry chef, has spent most of his career in the restaurant and bakery industries. Several years ago, he created a wholesale business that sold cheesecakes to nearly 30 restaurants in the Jackson, Mississippi, area. He says he always knew he’d do something with cheesecake again. Now that he’s opened the new bakery, he says he plans to franchise the concept.

What else is new?

Slice of the pie

After six years near LSU’s North Gates, City Slice Pints + Pizza closed its doors and quietly reopened on Nicholson Drive this fall in the space previously occupied by Pluckers Wing Bar. The new location features a brick oven and a specialized dough. Signature pies, like the Heisman and the Fighting Tiger, are still offered along with new wing options.

Business is brewing

Bayou Sara Brewing Co. opened in late October in St. Francisville’s North Commerce development. It offers its own beers—five to 12 on tap—alongside up to 30 craft beers from other breweries, according to Don Charlet, who built out the North Commerce development with his wife, Susan. The microbrewery marks the capstone of the multimillion-dollar redevelopment in downtown St. Francisville.

Rich on chicken

Todd Graves, founder of Baton Rougeborn Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, is the country’s richest restaurateur, according to Forbes. With a net worth of $22 billion, Graves came in at No. 46 on this year’s Forbes 400, which ranks the wealthiest people in America. Thirty years after opening, Cane’s has 900 locations in 42 states and is adding around 125 stores a year.

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Fits the PROFILE

Local difference makers on their view of the Capital Region—and the role they play

EACH MONTH, our magazine features a local person who’s making an impact in our town. From business leaders and organizers to beloved artists and the faces behind your favorite local restaurant, they’ve helped shape Baton Rouge into the city we call home.

Here’s a selection of what some of them had to say about the 225 and their impact here since our "I am 225" section launched in 2017.

Compiled by Laura Furr Mericas

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

–Jonathan “Skinny Dope” Brown, a local artist, featured in August 2022

“Find what you love and stick to it, and the work and the fulfillment will come to you. You don’t have to move away to find that.”

–Darian Esser, photographer and marketing and brand manager for Queen of Sparkles, featured in September 2024

“I

want to help people remember what’s so special about Louisiana. This is a place people should want to live and celebrate.”

–Justin Lemoine, former executive director of the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, featured in April 2022

“If we all continued to do a little, we would accomplish a lot. Our citizens in Louisiana are resilient. We will pull together.”

–Sandra

Brown, dean of the Southern University College of Nursing and Allied Health and former co-chair of Gov. John Bel Edwards’ COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, featured in June 2020

“This is a city where if you want to make a difference, you can.”

–Luke Lognion, coowner

of Circa 1857 and a downtown organizer, featured in April 2024

“One of my goals in life is to help young disabled individuals believe in the impossible … I’m unable to speak well, but I have never given up on being understood.”

–Brooke Smith, a local writer, featured in November 2019

“You see the shadows of the past in north Baton Rouge, and you see the potential for the future.”

–Byron Washington, founder of Scotland Saturdays, featured in January 2020

“I’ve just been really blessed to live here forever in such a rich culture.”

–Aline Moreaux, a local designer and illustrator, featured in April 2020

“It’s fun seeing Baton Rouge transform, knowing that you influenced a street when you’re going down the road and see a sign you created.”

–Nicholas Miner, founder of Miner Design Co., featured in December 2019

“Before I came to Baton Rouge, I knew the people of Louisiana were obviously resilient. But there really is just something about the people here. They love you with everything they have. ... When the chips are down, we put all of our aggravations with each other aside, and we are there for each other.”

–Rev. Keith Mozingo, pastor at Metropolitan Community Church of Baton Rouge, featured in June 2018

“People

who leave Baton Rouge and feel like it’s not the place to be are a little lazy, because they don’t want to discover it. This is such a hidden gem. I think we’ve started to shine brighter; we’ve wiped off the dust.”

–Courtney Scott, founder of beBatonRouge and former officer in Mayor Sharon Weston Broome’s administration, featured in February 2019

“There’s a real lack of music education and quality after-school programs. We’re operating in a state where one of the things that gets cut is arts education.”

–Sinella Aghasi, former associate executive director for Kids’ Orchestra, featured in November 2023

“In an area like Baton Rouge where a lot of people don’t have the opportunity to experience nature at this level with a farmlife environment, I really like that people can experience something out of the ordinary.”

–Carrie Lewis, founder of Horse of Hope Equine Assisted Therapies, featured in July 2019

“Louisiana just has a different energy, and I think the people from there are really, really proud of it. It just kind of flows out of them.”

–Jordan Davis, a country music singer, featured in March 2023

“To have the opportunity to come back to where I grew up professionally and lead this program, words can’t describe that feeling.”

–Terrence Graves, head football coach for Southern University, featured in August 2024

“I played Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. I’ve always loved and identified with Dorothy, looking over the rainbow for something more. And I’m realizing that after all these years, the something more was right here in my hometown.”

–Peggy Sweeney-McDonald, local host, actress and writer, featured in September 2018

“We’re producing a new breed of dancers. ... The talent is here in Baton Rouge.”

–Jeoffery Harris Jr., a local dance instructor, featured in July 2023

“The intersection of Southern hospitality and Jewish hospitality is really pretty intense.”

–Batsheva Appel, former

in October 2020

“Giving the vaccine feels like hope.”

–Meshoca Williams, a liscensed practical nurse, featured in February 2021

THROUGH THE YEARS

1959

Tony's Seafood traces its roots back to 1959, when Donaldsonville, LA native Tony Pizzolato opened a small retail and wholesale produce business in Baton Rouge. Realizing Baton Rougeans' love for fresh seafood, Tony added crawfish, shrimp, and crabs to his selection of produce. Soon, he found the seafood outselling his produce.

1972

In 1972, Tony leased an abandoned service station on Plank Road next to Delmont Village Shopping Center. Through much of Tony's hard work and his insistence that the business only sell products of the finest quality, he, his wife Mary Lee, their five sons; Bill, Joey, Mike, Cliff, and Tad, and daughter Ceily turned what was once a small fruit stand into a thriving seafood business.

1980s

By the early 1980s, long lines of eager seafood buyers were becoming a common sight. Lines grew even longer during crawfish season, when Tony's Seafood was known to sell as much as 50,000 pounds of live and boiled crawfish in one day. Tony expanded his dream and opened Louisiana Fish Fry Products company in 1982, distributing his Frys and mixes nationwide until 2018, when it was sold.

TODAY

Today, Tony's Seafood still sells the absolute best live and boiled seafood in Baton Rouge and is the largest seafood market in the Gulf South. Their deli and delicious plate lunches have become local favorites. One taste and you'll know why people from all over keep coming back for more. With Tony's convenient in-store grocery, one stop is all you need. Fresh produce, condiments, cold beer, soft drinks, and snacks – Tony's has everything to make your gathering complete. Stop by or give us a call today, and remember, at Tony's Seafood, no order is too large or too small.

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This Month @ BREC [NOVEMBER]

THE GREAT PUMPKIN DASH

Sharon Hills/Hooper Road Park

Nov. 1 | 8 a.m.

RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE CAR SHOW

BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo

Nov. 1 | 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

SEASONAL HOLIDAY CARD COLLAGE

Baringer Road Park Art Center Nov. 2 | 2-4 p.m.

VIBIN’ YOGA

Jefferson Hwy. Park Nov. 4 + 18 | 6-7 p.m.

THE EDGE OF NIGHT

Highland Road Park Observatory Nov. 7 | 4:45-6:45 p.m.

FRIDAY NIGHT ADULT TENNIS MIXER

Capital One Tennis Center at City-Brooks Community Park

Nov. 7 | 6-8 p.m.

VETERAN’S DAY AT THE ZOO

BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo Nov. 8 | 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

SATURDAY MORNING STUDIO

LSU Museum of Art Nov. 8 | 10:30 a.m.-noon

GLOW IN THE PARK: BASKETBALL Nov. 11

Gus Young Avenue Park 5-7 p.m. North Street Gym 6-7:30 p.m.

TEENS PUMPKIN PALOOZA

North Sherwood Forest Community Park Nov. 13 | 5-6:30 p.m.

HOOPER HUSTLE

Sharon Hills/Hooper Road Park Nov. 15 | 8 a.m.

GLOW IN THE PARK: KICKBALL

Jackson Community Park Nov. 20 | 6-7:30 p.m.

BREC.ORg/thismonth

SUNSHINE SOCIAL: DOWN ON THE BAYOU

Milton J. Womack Park Ballroom Nov. 21 | 6-9 p.m.

PRIVET PULL-OOZA

Bayou Manchac Park Nov. 22 | 9 a.m.-noon

GLOW-IN-THE-DARK MIDDLE SCHOOL MIXER

Church Street Park Nov. 24 | 6-8:30 p.m.

ZOO LIGHTS

BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo Nov. 28-Dec. 30

Moving the chains

How LSU football greats Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels helped rewrite the narrative around the Tigers’ offense NO. 2 NFL Draft pick for Jayden Daniels in 2024

IF I HAD told you 20 years ago that LSU would become a mecca for college quarterbacks and the home of two Heisman Trophy winners in five years, you would have thought I was as mad as the hat on Les Miles’ head.

Don’t get me wrong, the Tigers were a good program back then—they posted 10-plus wins in each of Miles’ first three seasons, including a national championship in 2007. But they were far from any sort of offensive juggernaut.

That is, until Joe Burrow arrived.

Before Burrow transferred to LSU from Ohio State, the Tigers had finished in the upper tier of the SEC in yards per game just once in the prior decade. They ranked right in the middle of the pack three times in that span, but finished in the lower half every other year.

Burrow’s competitive nature, calm demeanor and pinpoint accuracy ushered in a new era of offense at LSU.

“You can tell this year is really different,” Burrow told 225 back in 2019. “I

think not only the team, but the fans are going to be happy with what they see come September.”

And he couldn’t have been more right. Burrow went on to lead the Tigers to an unforgettable, record-setting 15-0 season that culminated in the school’s first national title since the aforementioned 2007 victory.

His name is etched into the LSU record books multiple times, and he left Baton Rouge as the most decorated player in LSU football history.

Burrow’s journey not only changed the narrative around LSU’s offensive dynamics but also paved the way for another Tiger transfer to take the nation by storm.

Two years after Burrow became the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, Jayden Daniels decided to follow a similar path and transfer to LSU from Arizona State.

Like Burrow, Daniels had a good first year on campus, which set the stage for a historic second season.

Touchdowns (rushing, passing and

“I just wanted to come here and rebrand myself on the biggest stage to showcase my talents,” Daniels told 225 in 2023. “I know I can play at a high level. LSU is a platform [where] I get to play in the best conference in college football against the best competition to prepare myself for the next level.”

Daniels did just that.

He’s the first and only player in FBS history to pass for 12,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards in his career, accounting for 124 career touchdowns and taking home the Heisman Trophy for his efforts.

Daniels also set records in his time at LSU, becoming the first player in FBS history to rush for 200 yards and pass for 350 yards in a single game. And he is one of only five players in SEC history to be responsible for 50 touchdowns in a single season.

He was drafted No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, earning Pro Bowl honors and winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year last season.

THE BIG LEAGUES

225 has featured dozens of athletes over two decades. Here’s what some of them are up to now

PART OF WHAT makes Baton Rouge great are the people. From business owners and politicians to entrepreneurs and creators, you can find unique and talented individuals anywhere you look.

But local athletes tend to hold a special place in the heart of the region. Here are a few of the former Baton Rouge athletes we’ve featured in 225 over the years and a look at where they are now.

Ja’Marr Chase

After taking the college football world by storm in 2019, Chase has reunited with Joe Burrow in Cincinnati to become arguably the league’s best receiver. He’s a four-time Pro Bowler and was the NFL leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns in 2024. He signed a four-year, $161 million contract extension with the Bengals, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history at the time.

Alex Lange

Lange left LSU baseball ranking No. 2 in career strikeouts and No. 5 in wins, solidifying his spot as one of the best pitchers in program history. He’s earned his spot in Major League Baseball as well, appearing in 196 games since 2021 and logging an impressive 3.70 career ERA.

Seimone Augustus

The LSU legend’s journey has come full circle. After a 16-year professional career that featured four WNBA titles, a WNBA Finals MVP honor and eight All-Star appearances, Augustus returned to LSU as an assistant coach in 2024.

Mikie Mahtook

A perennial crowd favorite during his time at LSU, Mahtook finished his college career with a .344 batting average, ranking No. 2 in school history with 12 triples and No. 5 with 60 stolen bases. After a five-year career in the MLB, Mahtook returned to Baton Rouge where he started his own Mik’d Up podcast with fellow former Tiger Jared Mitchell.

Olivia Dunne

What hasn’t Olivia Dunne done? She finished her gymnastics career in April 2025, but her fame has only grown since then. Dunne is a social media star with brand partners like Vuori, Grubhub, BodyArmor and American Eagle, among others. She was featured in Forbes’ 30 under 30 list and Time’s TIME100 Creators list.

Smylie Kaufman

Many golf fans would likely recognize Kaufman’s voice if they heard it. The former LSU golfer, who also has a PGA tour win to his name, can now be found regularly announcing and appearing on NBC, the Golf Channel or his own Smylie Show on YouTube.

Angel Reese

After lighting up the college basketball world at LSU, the “Bayou Barbie” has continued to turn heads since leaving Baton Rouge. She was picked No. 7 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft and has already earned two All-Star honors. She’s also made appearances in Vogue, Time’s TIME100 Next list and several music videos.

Derek Stingley Jr.

Stingley essentially shut down an entire half of the field in his time at LSU, earning All-America honors twice as a Tiger. He’s carried that success into the NFL, earning Pro Bowl and FirstTeam All-Pro honors last year for the Houston Texans after being drafted No. 3 overall in 2022.

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1. GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Taking our CHANCES

THERE HAVE BEEN countless memorable athletic achievements in the 20 years since 225 published its first issue.

New teams have been established in the city, collegiate programs have achieved unprecedented heights and national championships have made Baton Rouge their home.

But how many did we see coming? Here are a few predictions our writers have gotten right over the years:

Heading into 2019, it seemed the stars had aligned for LSU. The roster was talented, the schedule was (somewhat) manageable and the coaching staff had continuity for the first time in a long time.

That led 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge radio host Matt Moscona to drop this little hint in his annual season predictions for 225:

“What a difference a year makes,” Moscona wrote. “Orgeron’s third squad should carry a preseason top 10 ranking and will likely be favored in every game except its trip to Alabama in November ... Playoffs? How about those expectations?” Turns out, making the playoffs was just the beginning for the Tigers.

Four times 225 has bet on the LSU Tigers and come up golden COURTESYLSUATHLETICS

2. RE ASONS TO BELIEVE

Moscona wasn’t the only one who could see the magic of 2019.

Joe Burrow was coming off a successful season and seemed ready to take a big step. Add creative passing game coordinator Joe Brady into the mix and it looked like LSU was ready for a new era of offense.

“Joe Burrow is a different kind of cat, but he may just be the one to lead the Tigers to a place they haven’t been in quite some time … Combine Brady’s brain with Burrow’s brawn, and LSU just might have the tools to change the narrative,” I wrote that summer. Later, adding:

“If there’s ever been a season to allow yourself to believe, this may just be the one.”

We all know how that story ended.

3. BIG AND BOLD

Football wasn’t the only program building something special. LSU women’s basketball made a statement when it hired Kim Mulkey.

She was featured in 225 in January of 2022—just a handful of games into her opening season in purple and gold—with things looking bright.

“Mulkey isn’t just a name to watch in 2022. She’ll be one to keep an eye on for the next five, eight, 10 years and beyond,” 225 wrote.

One year later, Mulkey would lead LSU to its first national championship title in program history, and the team hasn’t missed the NCAA Tournament since she arrived.

4. PASSING THE TORCH

Two years before LSU brought in a marquee coach in Mulkey, the Tigers were moving on from another iconic figure in gymnastics legend D-D Breaux.

After 43 years in charge, Breaux decided to pass the reins to assistant coach Jay Clark in 2020. He was experienced, passionate and optimistic about continuing Breaux’s legacy.

“Clark and company certainly don’t want to get ahead of themselves, but they also know something special could be in the making moving forward,” 225 wrote.

Special indeed. Fast forward to 2024, and Clark and co. would claim the gymnastics program’s first national title.

In that number

BY AVERY WHITE

Catching up with Tiger Tuba Kent, the Golden Band from Tigerland’s 66-year-old member

KENT BROUSSARD

is like any other LSU freshman. He has a 13-hour course load, studies for exams, and is a member of the Golden Band from Tigerland. The big difference? He graduated from high school in 1977.

Better known as “Tiger Tuba Kent,” the 66-year-old retiree has dreamed of being in the LSU marching band for almost five decades. And, this football season, he’s marching down Victory Hill, playing in the student section and performing on the field at halftime in that iconic purple and gold uniform.

LSU’s home opener against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 9 was his debut. It was there in the stands of Tiger Stadium that he had his “I made it” moment.

“The hundreds of games I’ve been to in Tiger Stadium [where I] heard the band hundreds of times, it never left my thoughts,” Broussard says.

Broussard attended Southeastern Louisiana University in the ’70s. There, he earned two degrees and met his wife of 41 years, Cheryl. After graduating, he began a 30-year career as an accountant.

But he always asked himself, what if he had gone to LSU and joined the band? When he was 35,

a post-retirement idea started to take root.

“I want to continue to challenge myself for the rest of my life, and that was a big part of it,” Broussard says. “So I put that in the back of my mind back 30 years ago, and always had it. I never lost it.”

Five years ago, Broussard hardlaunched his Tiger Band dream. After convincing his family that he was serious, Operation: Tiger Tuba Kent was a go.

“I can’t stress enough how much support I’ve gotten from the family in doing this,” Broussard says. “Because without family support, this wouldn’t have happened at all.”

Broussard knew he had to be ready to march with a sousaphone. He had already been running 20-plus miles a week since he was 50, but he began wearing a weighted vest around his home and doing yard work to get ready to march.

Broussard also had to get back into the groove of an instrument. For the last year, he worked with LSU graduate assistant Matthew Thompson to relearn how to play and read sheet music.

“I hadn’t picked up an instru ment in 45 years,” Broussard says.

After training, applying to be a

student and sending in an audition tape to the band, Broussard made the cut.

While he’s learning the marches and formations, Broussard is also attending college classes for the first time in decades. Technically a transfer student, Broussard is a non-matriculated freshman without a declared major. He says he’s studying what interests him, like Louisiana history, politics and music.

“It’s quite a bit of work. You’ve got to be dedicated on the academic side, as well as the musical side,” Broussard says. “I’m just one of thousands and thousands of students going through the same thing.”

But it’s all worth it to be playing in Death Valley, something he’s dreamed of since attending his first LSU game in the late ’60s.

While Broussard has already become a viral fan favorite this season, he emphasizes that he’s just one player in a band of 325 musicians.

“This is not really about me. … It’s a unit. It’s one team, and we’re all together working really hard to put on what everybody sees on Saturday night,” Broussard says. “My success is everyone’s success.”

Through his time with the Tiger Band, Broussard hopes to encourage fellow retirees and students to work hard for their dreams.

“If you don’t try, you’re never going to know if you can do it,” he says.

He officially has four years of eligibility with the band, but whether he will continue is up in the air. It will be a family decision, which will also be reliant on his health in the coming years.

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to be able to do this at my age,” Broussard says. “I’m glad I can do it because I know there are a lot of people who couldn’t do something like this, so I’m out there for everybody else who can’t.”

ALBASHA

Greek & Lebanese Restaurant

Where Greek Passion Meets Lebanese Soul

We are a Greek & Lebanese restaurant with several locations serving Louisiana since 1992. We have been featured several times in 225 magazine and a Winner of Best of 225.

Home home

SWEET

A single mom gets the keys to her first home with help from Habitat, Warrick Dunn and Catholic High

BY GRACELYN FARRAR // PHOTOS BY SEAN GASSER

ACOMMUNITY

EFFORT—plus some help from former NFL player and Catholic High School alumnus Warrick Dunn—culminated in a single mother becoming a first-time homeowner on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Not only did Shenique sign paperwork on a new house built by Habitat for Humanity and volunteers from Catholic High, but she also received $10,000 worth of furnishings funded by Aaron’s and a $5,000 down payment from Warrick Dunn Charities.

Standing on the front porch of her home, the new homeowner said to her children, “Everything I have done has been with you in mind.” And don’t be mistaken: While she walked into a fully stocked house–down to laundry pods and a fresh cake—Shenique put in the work to get to this point for her family.

“It can take up to two years for a partner family to make it through our homeownership program and get to this moment,” says Ritchie Goebel, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge.

The program includes financial literacy, budgeting, and homeownership classes, as well as a “sweat equity” component—at least 255 hours of helping to build homes for others and themselves.

A person then becomes eligible to receive a house from Habitat for Humanity, but not for free.

Once construction on the house is finished, it is then sold to the new homeowner for market value and the money goes back into Habitat for Humanity. The organization takes on responsibility for the home and offers a 0% interest mortgage, rather than having the new homeowner pay a mortgage to a bank.

Shenique has been putting in her sweat equity hours since February, when she ceremoniously hammered the first nail into her future home. It has been her house from the start.

“Shenique was out here every build, and we got to talk to her and get to know her a little bit,” Lisa Harvey, president of Catholic High, says. “It’s a great opportunity to see the whole process from beginning to end.”

This is the fifth home that Catholic High has sponsored with Habitat for Humanity, but the school has been involved with the Youth Build since 2001. For Shenique’s house, Catholic High participated in what amounted to almost 12,000 hours of both construction and fundraising. “This is just the best project, giving people homes,” Catholic High principal Tom Eldringhoff says. “The work is unbelievable.”

“It really takes all of us to come together to make something like this happen,” Goebel adds.

But a post-COVID world has presented new financial challenges over the last few years as prices continue to rise. “Construction prices increase, and even if we’re increasing our funding, we’re coming up even,” says Liz Dyer, board chair for the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

“The cost of homes continues to go up as well,” volunteer Bill Peak adds. “People aren’t contributing as much charitably, so it’s hurt the program because we don’t have the funds to build houses.”

Dyer says the organization

has developed a committee to address this problem and focus on ways to get locals involved with fundraising.

“The end goal is to build our homes. So [the goal is] to be able to cover the cost of building,” Goebel says.

Right now, he says the price to build a house is $120,000, which can be a steep price for a nonprofit,

but it’s worth it. Shenique’s is the 426th home sold through the Baton Rouge chapter of Habitat for Humanity. It is a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house with a spacious backyard and both a front and back patio.

Dunn honors his late single mother Betty Smothers with his charity’s flagship program Homes for the Holidays, which provides single-parent families with home furnishings and down payment assistance—a gift that started Shenique and her family on the right foot.

“What my mom wanted for us [was] a place that we could call home,” he says.

World-Class Care for Local Student-Athletes

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MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURY TREATMENT

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LOUISIANA’S ECONOMIC RENAISSANCE:

Powering a brighter future with Entergy

Louisiana is positioned at the cusp of an unprecedented economic transformation, and Entergy is playing a pivotal role in driving this remarkable growth, according to Entergy Louisiana President and CEO Phillip May. With $64 billion in new investments announced, the state is experiencing an economic renaissance that echoes the post-World War II economic boom. At the heart of this economic surge is a critical factor: power. In today's "power-first" world, businesses prioritize energy availability, reliability and cost when choosing investment locations. Louisiana, and specifically Entergy, has positioned itself as a national leader in these crucial areas. The state ranks No. 1 for lowest energy costs and fourth for energy availability, making it an incredibly attractive destination for businesses. Take the recent Meta data center project as a prime example. This transformative investment brings

significant economic benefits to Richland Parish, creating thousands of jobs and demonstrating Louisiana's newfound ability to attract cutting-edge technology companies. Entergy worked closely with state officials and local landowners to make this project possible, showcasing how strategic energy planning can drive economic development.

Importantly, these large-scale investments benefit all customers. For the Meta project, Entergy has structured the investment so that Meta pays their fair share to come onboard, ensuring existing customers aren't burdened. In fact, these large projects actually help reduce costs for everyone. By taking service from Entergy Louisiana, Meta will contribute significantly to grid costs that would otherwise flow to other customers. This will lower storm-related expenses to other customers by 10 percent and grid resilience costs by another 10 percent, ultimately saving customers approximately $650 million (on a present value basis) over the life of Meta’s 15-year service agreement.

The economic narrative around Louisiana is changing dramatically. Once primarily known for petrochemicals and refineries, the state is now attracting diverse industries like Hyundai Steel's $6 billion integrated steel mill and First Solar's large-scale manufacturing facility. These projects are changing how businesses perceive Louisiana's economic potential.

Entergy is committed to supporting this growth through strategic investments in grid reliability and workforce development. The company is investing $1.9 billion to improve grid resilience, ensuring businesses can count on consistent, dependable power. Additionally, Entergy supports education and certification programs that prepare Louisiana workers for the jobs of tomorrow, helping local communities directly benefit from new economic opportunities.

The company's approach goes beyond infrastructure. Entergy invests $10 million annually in charitable contributions, with half focused on education. From early childhood programs to supporting technical schools and universities, they're building the human capital needed to sustain economic growth.

Perhaps most importantly, these investments are bringing Louisiana's talent back home. As May notes, these economic opportunities allow Louisiana's children to return and thrive in their home state, reversing decades of brain drain.

Louisiana's future is bright, powered by strategic energy planning, collaborative economic development and a commitment to creating opportunities for all. Entergy stands at the forefront of this exciting transformation, proving that reliable, affordable energy is the foundation of economic success. Scan the QR code or visit entergy.com to learn more.

that keep on Gifts GIVING

These 20 nonprofits, all launched within the last 20 years, are focused on making Baton Rouge better

BY DANA MULLER AND KELLI BOZEMAN // PHOTOS BY COLLIN RICHIE

DISCOVER THE HEART and soul of the greater Baton Rouge community through a look at 20 local nonprofits that were created in the 20 years since 225 Magazine was born in 2005. From supporting education and health to preserving culture and the environment, these organizations keep giving back year after year, making our community stronger for all of its citizens.

1. United Cajun Navy

When the water rises, the United Cajun Navy rises higher, jumping into action to rescue neighbors and save lives with boats, bravery and big hearts. Born in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, this group of volunteer heroes has since responded to natural disasters around the country.

2. Bridge Center for Hope

A grieving father’s advocacy on behalf of people with mental illness led to a partnership with the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and ultimately the creation of this facility in 2021. As the state’s first crisis receiving center, the Bridge Center has since cared for more than 13,000 East Baton Rouge Parish residents experiencing mental health or substance abuse crises.

3. Friends of the Animals Baton Rouge

This group has been making tails wag since 2010 by finding forever homes for more than 7,500 dogs from area shelters. Adoptable dogs and puppies are always available at the Dog Adoption House on Highland Road, and volunteers provide temporary foster homes for animals waiting for adoption.

4. Louisiana Stormwater Coalition

A steady stream of litter clogging local waterways inspired a group of Baton Rougeans to create this organization in 2021. The Louisiana Stormwater Coalition has hosted cleanups, installed litter booms, and inspired the passage of key legislation. Phase 2 of a stormwater litter management plan at Capitol Lake is now underway with the installation of four types of litter traps.

5. Front Yard Bikes

Launched in 2010 with a simple goal of teaching kids to repair bicycles, Front Yard Bikes has expanded its scope through free after-school and summer programs that foster leadership and workforce skills as well as academic achievement and inclusivity.

6. Knock Knock Children’s Museum

Since the doors to its brightly colored City Park building opened in 2017, Knock Knock Children’s Museum has been Baton Rouge’s playful wonderland, sparking curiosity and learning through hands-on fun. Its 18 interactive learning zones encourage exploration and creativity, while a calendar of educational programming aims to engage children from infancy to age 8.

7. Fathers on a Mission Fathers on a Mission (F.O.A.M.), founded in 2017, is flipping the script on fatherhood in Baton Rouge, bringing mentorship, support and straight-up real talk to help dads rock their roles and build stronger families. Through programs including fatherhood meetings and classes as well as job-finding assistance, F.O.A.M. proves that being a great dad is the ultimate superpower.

8.

Companion Animal Alliance

Created in 2010 as the only open-intake animal shelter in East Baton Rouge Parish, this nonprofit cares for more than 9,000 animals a year. The shelter also operates the Pets for Life Baton Rouge program, which provides free services to pet owners without access to affordable veterinary care.

9. Baton Rouge Youth Coalition

Weekly after-school programs for eighththrough twelfth-graders are at the heart of Baton Rouge Youth Coalition’s programming, aimed at sparking change and building bright futures for lower-income students of color. Founded in 2009, BRYC now follows its Fellows beyond high school into college and careers, empowering them to succeed through pursuing their passions.

10. The Walls Project

The Walls Project has been painting Baton Rouge with hope and opportunity since its inception in 2012. The organization aims to tear down societal walls through community revitalization initiatives, public art installations and blight remediation, as well as training via its Futures Fund and access to healthy foods through Baton Roots.

11. Keep Tiger Town Beautiful

Keep Tiger Town Beautiful is Baton Rouge’s green dream team, making major roadways and neighborhoods shine brighter and cleaner through Saturday litter cleanups since 2021. By providing resources for volunteers to plan their own cleanup events, the organization also aims to help foster community pride and environmental stewardship.

12. Line 4 Line

Literacy meets good looks for this 2016-founded nonprofit that provides free haircuts to kids in exchange for reading books aloud to mentors. The organization’s programs also now include a high school barbering curriculum, youth mentoring initiatives, and access to free books for children and schools.

Over 30 years helping people to change their health and their lives!

13. Network of Women NOW

Ending “period poverty”—a lack of access to affordable menstrual products—is one of the main missions of this 2020-launched organization, which focuses not only on helping Louisianans but also on supporting women and girls around the world by providing hygiene kits and education.

14. Empower 225

Empower 225 is all about lifting up the Capital Region with educational, housing and mentorship programs for young people at risk of homelessness and dependency. This organization, founded in 2010, is committed to help transform potential into power, one young life at a time.

15. The Life of a Single Mom

Founder Jennifer Maggio was supporting solo parents for years before she created The Life of a Single Mom in 2011. The organization’s online life skills coursework program, dubbed Single Mom University, now reaches thousands of people each year, and its Single Moms Across America facilitates support groups from coast to coast.

16. Gardere Initiative

What began in 2006 as a response to a crime problem has grown into a rich tapestry of resources and programs for children and families in the Gardere area. Services include after-school, holiday and summer programs for kids, plus community cleanups and community gardens, all aimed at improving quality of life in Gardere.

17. Bella Bowman Foundation

Kim and Trey Bowman channeled their grief in the wake of their 8-year-old daughter’s death into helping other families with sick chil dren and supporting pediatric brain cancer research. Since creating the foundation named for her in 2012, they have helped to fund can cer studies by LSU and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and distrib uted thousands of “ComfortCare” bags to families at local hospitals.

18. City Year Baton Rouge

This local arm of a national organization settled in the Capital City in 2005 to address student displacement and disruption after Hurri canes Katrina and Rita. The young adults who serve as City Year Amer icorps members give their time to local public schools, where they act as tutors and mentors to students and collaborators with school administrators.

19. Kids Orchestra

Founded in 2010, Kids Orchestra has served more than 6,000 stu dents through after-school music education programs and perfor mance opportunities, fostering creativity, discipline and confidence in young musicians across the community. Need-based scholarships ensure that all children are able to engage in what could become a lifetime of loving the musical arts.

20. Three O’Clock Project

More than 6 million meals have been served to at-risk kids and their families by this organization since its inception in 2017. By partner ing with schools, food vendors and other community groups, Three O’Clock Project distributes healthy meals during after-school enrich ment programs, summer camps and beyond.

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UE THE LIGHTS. Raise the curtains. This issue marks 225’s 20th anniversary, but the Baton Rouge area is still the star of this show. Since November 2005, this magazine has given readers a front-row seat to all the action happening in the city and beyond. Through the years, there have been twists and turns, some real-life heroes, plenty of drama and a lot of laughs. All the while, we’ve focused on what makes this region great and the people who are striving to make it even better.

On the next several pages, you’ll get a closer look at what has gone into putting this publication together for two decades. You’ll read about how the Capital Area has evolved since the very first issue. We’re sharing our favorite photos and busting BR-related myths. But we’re not just looking back: we’re also revealing some exciting projects that could be on the horizon for this area’s future. That calls for a standing ovation!

Take a bow, Baton Rouge. We’re shining our biggest spotlight yet.

Is BR turning Has ed COSMOPOLITAN? COSMOPOLITAN?

BY HOLLY DUCHMANN

The grand opening of the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center took place on Aug. 30, 2006, a date chosen because it coincided with former Governor Huey P. Long’s birthday. The downtown building was constructed in 1927 as the Heidelberg Hotel and was one of Long’s favorite haunts; the hotel’s underground tunnel that Long legendarily used is now a speakeasy.

WENTY YEARS AGO, on the rooftop terrace of Tsunami shortly after it opened, 225 Magazine asked a hopeful question to mingling locals: Is Baton Rouge turning cosmopolitan? In 2005, new suburban projects, fresh energy downtown and an influx of Katrina evacuees gave the city momentum. Two decades later, Baton Rouge is still evolving—culturally, economically and socially—as residents continue to define what life in a capital city should look like.

Jonathan Grimes, who became president and CEO of the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge last year, has seen the arts scene transform with the additions of spaces such as the Shaw Center for the Arts and Manship Theatre, which were both featured in 225’s first issue in 2005. He highlights public spaces like Galvez Plaza and North Boulevard Town Square, which since 2012 have hosted hundreds of events including Live After Five concerts and the Baton Rouge Blues Festival.

The pandemic put the local arts and culture scene in the washing machine, but arts programming is never “one size fits all,” Grimes says. “We want a vibrant arts and culture scene everywhere, not just in downtown,” he says. “We’re looking at north and south Baton Rouge, and in Ascension Parish.”

The challenge is finding ways to continue to empower and support local artists. Entities such as the Red Stick Farmers Market, Live After Five and area theater companies cannot survive without community support, he says. The Arts Council recently launched a music census to get specific data from local musicians and venue workers on the current state of the industry.

Whitney Hoffman Sayal, shown here in front of Frank Hayden’s fountain sculpture depicting the Battle of Baton Rouge, took the helm of the DDD in 2022 after years of work in community and urban planning, development and landscape architecture. “The basic vision [for downtown] never changes: to make it a space where people can live, work and play 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” she told 225 when she stepped into the executive director role.

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With its river and downtown views, the rooftop terrace outside Tsunami on the sixth floor of the Shaw Center for the Arts has remained a popular spot with Baton Rouge visitors since opening in 2005.

“We’re the state’s capital; we should be getting the big performances and be elevated to a level that represents who we are,” Grimes says. “I think we’re moving in a positive direction with potential development of the new LSU Arena and potential redevelopment of the River Center. Moving forward, there are a lot of promising things that will make Baton Rouge a better place to live and visit.”

Like the arts, Baton Rouge’s culinary scene has also seen significant transformation over the years as diners’ tastes—and food costs— change with the times. Yvette Bonanno, president of the Baton Rouge Epicurean Society, has worked across nearly every facet of the food service industry, from family restaurants and hotels to running her own establishments. She says locally founded restaurant groups have flourished over the past two decades as diners

seek consistency and casual dining. City Group Hospitality and Ozzie Fernandez’s GO Eat Concepts are two local groups exemplifying the trend, expanding from single spots into recognizable brands with half a dozen restaurant concepts under their umbrellas.

“When you’re able to standardize recipes and produce in a commissary, you ensure consistency and cost savings,” Bonanno says. “You establish your restaurant, and people know what to expect when going to another dining experience owned by your restaurant group. People know the reputation with that restaurant group and the overall price points.”

While Mid City, the Perkins Road Overpass District and other neighborhoods have become magnets for new restaurants, Bonanno notes strong chefs are opening concepts citywide.

As Baton Rouge’s dining scene has

Yvette Bonanno has been cooking up delicious things for Baton Rouge for decades at her restaurants, catering company and other ventures. Her current role at the Baton Rouge Epicurean Society draws on all that experience as she works with area chefs and restaurateurs while also helping to raise funds for childhood nutrition programs and culinary scholarships.

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diversified, its neighborhoods have, too—each with its own energy, from Mid City’s restaurants to the Baton Rouge Health District to downtown’s residential revival. Downtown Development District executive director Whitney Hoffman Sayal says the business district’s renaissance began in 2005 with the openings of the Shaw Center and the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center. Hotel availability in particular was a topic of discussion with Davis Rhorer, who held her post before his death in 2021.

“Davis talked to me about how we didn’t have any hotel rooms in the CBD in the 2000s. Now we have seven hotels with 1,200 hotel rooms,” Sayal says. “We’re really seeing that the visitor market is helping push downtown forward.”

By the late 2000s, downtown focused

Jonathan Grimes’ tenure with the Arts Council began in 2007 when he served as its director of facilities and seasonal programming. He became the organization’s president and CEO in 2024. “It’s been such a blessing to see the other side, because I’m a musician as well,” he when he was named one of the magazine’s 2025 People to Watch. “It’s been really amazing to see the difference that an arts organization can have.”

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The art of 225

Twenty years of 225 covers

IT’S LONG BEEN the most common complaint we hear from readers about 225: “I can’t find a copy.” Over the past two decades, we’ve placed 278 editions on newsstands, including our monthly print issues and standalone publications like 225 Extra and Tiger Pride. We’ve lured readers with cover stories themed around local sports, celebs, animals, restaurants, attractions and more. Eager readers have routinely cleared out our stands. Here’s a look at 20-plus top performing covers that became particularly hard to find from each year we've been in print.

BATON ROUGE’S FAVORITE SPOTS FOR GREAT TACOS

“Proud to enrich the Baton Rouge community with exceptional food, drinks, customer service, business investment and cultural diversity.”

THROUGH THE ERAS

NOVEMBER 2005

A new voice for Baton Rouge

With a mantra to help residents “discover, experience and celebrate” the city, publisher Julio Melara and co-founder Rolfe McCollister introduce a new lifestyle magazine named for the region’s area code. Early editions document burgeoning arts and culinary scenes and how an influx of residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina is reshaping the city. An online presence shortly follows, with 225batonrouge.com and a newsletter called 225 Select launching the following spring.

Recipe

for success

With buzzy, young publications like Eater and Thrillist and shows like Top Chef feeding a new foodie generation, the 225 Dine weekly newsletter is the magazine’s first big bet on food. It’s followed by the 2010 inception of 225 Best Eats (a local answer to Groupon serving specials from partner restaurants) and the 2015 emergence of First Look tours of new restaurants. Today, 225 publishes multiple food-themed cover stories per year.

Get out the vote

FEBRUARY 2016

225 relocates the ballot for its Best of 225 Awards to 225batonrouge.com. (When voting started in 2006, an independent research firm conducted the survey by email.) The 2016 move ushers in new voters, as all Capital Region residents are now welcome to cast ballots. A swell in campaigning by businesses follows.

MARCH 2020

Pandemic pivot

JANUARY 2021

Digital first

The 225 Daily newsletter debuts, reporting on local culture, restaurants, shops and events Monday through Friday. Instagram’s recently introduced reels format fuels 225’s new investment in short-form video storytelling. Strategically publishing newsy stories online before they land in print expands the website’s reach (logging over 3.5 million page views in 2024) and captures a wider audience on Instagram (growing by more than 21,000 followers since the end of 2020).

JANUARY 2025

New decade, new look

Issue Date: NOV 2025 Ad proof #1

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

It’s not the first time 225 has rewritten an entire issue days before shipping it to the printer. After all, the magazine has flipped the script in response to natural disasters and community crises before. But COVID-19 pervades every cover story and reframes each article written during the pandemic, with stories about hospital workers fighting the virus, restaurant owners weathering shutdowns and arts organizations navigating social distancing. In true 2020 form, there’s even a virtual Best of 225 Awards presentation.

• AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hrs 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 website, newsletter and logo were redesigned this year as part of our 20th anniversary celebration.

A milestone year begins with the reveal of 225’s first logo redesign since 2013. A little curvier, a little classier, the masthead is reflective of the magazine at 20: grown up but still youthful and fun. The yearlong rebrand culminates in redesigns for 225’s website and newsletter (unveiled this summer) and the commemorative anniversary edition in your hands now.

BY JENNIFER TORMO ALVAREZ

Honor roll

A look back at 225’s stories and photos that have nabbed national and regional awards

OVER THE YEARS, our staff’s work has gained local attention on newsstands across the Capital Region. But it has also caught the eye of those beyond the Red Stick through design and writing competitions.

As our team reflects on 225’s last 20 years, there’s no better time to celebrate our writers and photographers who were honored with awards for their work. Here are just a few profiles, features and layouts that have taken home top prizes.

And keep flipping for a look at some of our favorite award-winning 225 photography.

“IN

THE GRAY AREA” by April

Capochino Myers

General Feature – First Place

2021 Society for Features

Journalism Excellence-in-Features Awards

Judges praised this feature about local organization Louisiana Patrol Project as “unexpected” and “unprecedented.” This piece highlighted the ways the nonprofit seeks to help juvenile lifers transition back into society after court decisions changed the rules about parole.

“THE TRANSFER PORTAL PUZZLE” by Mark Clements

Sports – First Place

2024 Diamond Awards – SPJ

Arkansas Pro Chapter

Some of LSU’s most recent star athletes came to The Boot via the NCAA transfer portal. This story breaks down the portal and how coaches like Brian Kelly rely on it to mold their teams. Judges commented that this narrative was “seeded with well-designed, easyto-digest sidebars and split into sections that make this long read fly by” and an exciting read for LSU fans and casual sports viewers alike.

“PIANO MAN” by Olivia Deffes

General Feature (999 words or fewer) – First Place

2025 Society for Features

Journalism Excellence-inFeatures Awards

In one Baton Rouge neighborhood, the late C. Farrell “Benny” Frugé is remembered for his secret Santa side gig and homemade, decadesold holiday decor. This feature shared the heartstring-tugging story of the jolly homeowner retold by his children who lived through the magic. Judges commented that the writing “flows like the music that brings so much joy and memories to so many people.”

“LSU’S BEACH VOLLEYBALL TEAM AIMS FOR NEW HEIGHTS”

by Mark Clements

Sports Reporting / Non-Dailies – First Place

2022 Green Eyeshade Awards

In typical 2020 fashion, the wrath of COVID-19 ended LSU beach volleyball’s promising season just 14 matches into the year. 225 contributing writer Mark Clements caught up with coaches and senior players to chat about the team’s upcoming matchups, the program’s state-of-the-art Beach Volleyball Complex and the bright future of the program.

“COFFEE CULTURE” designed by Melinda Galjour

Graphics / Magazines – First Place

2022 Green Eyeshade Awards

Our October 2021 cover package broke down Baton Rouge cafes that were elevating the coffee experience, along with local roasters, caffeinefree bevs and the bubble tea obsession. Its design, woven together by senior graphic designer Melinda Galjour, includes swirly, curly retro text along with a warm color palette and other elements that evoke the same cozy feeling of sipping a warm coffee drink.

Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude as we celebrate an incredible milestone — raising more than $1.7 million in support of advancing exceptional cancer care right here in our community.

This achievement would not have been possible without the unwavering generosity of our sponsors, partners, and the Baton Rouge community. To our dedicated sponsors — thank you for believing in our mission and for giving so selflessly to make a lasting impact. To our kind event sponsors, we are deeply appreciative of your continued support and commitment.

We are honored to partner with Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute and The Bella Bowman Foundation, two organizations doing extraordinary work in the fight against cancer. These funds will enhance healing environments, expand access to cutting-edge treatments, and provide patients and families with the comfort, dignity, and compassion they deserve. This is only the beginning. Together, we are building a future filled with hope, healing, and humanity—where every patient receives the care they need and the compassion they deserve.

Million

Face of Impact

DR. GUNJAN RAINA

Dr. Raina is a powerhouse of purpose, blending leadership, compassion, and style in all that she does. A dedicated physician and proud mom of two, she’s called Baton Rouge home for over 15 years.

Whether advocating for women in leadership or caring for patients with empathy and grace, she shows up with authenticity and heart.

Dr. Raina’s mission is clear: to serve, to give back, and to create a lasting impact in the community she calls home.

In April 2021, 225 put out The Kids Issue, a guide to dining, cooking, studying, styling and adventuring with children. Inside, the then-new Pinspiration was featured for its Splatter Room. As shown in this photo by Sean Gasser, the paint-filled room was kid-approved. This messy yet ohso-cute snap nabbed first place in the 2022 Green Eyeshade Awards Feature Photography category.

For the 2018 version of our everchanging list of 225 Things to Do, the 225 team headed to the Dixie Landin’ Theme Park to get a few shots backdropped by its candy colored thrill rides. Photos from this shoot by Raegan Labat earned a first-place win in the 2019 Green Eyeshade Awards Feature Photography category.

Before Vernon Norwood's gold medal win in the 2024 Summer Olympics, our photographer Collin Richie snapped this shot of the former LSU track star and Olympian at LSU’s Bernie Moore Track Stadium. The photo went on to become a finalist in the 2025 SPJ Arkansas Pro Chapter’s Diamond Awards Feature Photography category.

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On paper

225 editors, writers and photographers from over the years muse on the magazine’s impact

"We launched 225 in November of 2005 to a sea of bewildered, information-hungry guests. Our streets teemed with tens of thousands of New Orleans-area residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina. That meant the first need we ever met was as a visitor’s guide. I remember a man from New Orleans thumbing through his copy, fresh off the rack. ‘This is free?’ he asked. For Baton Rougeans, 225 provided a fresh way to experience our changing city. Young entrepreneurs, musicians, aspiring students, community activists, artists—they all brought our pages to life. Most importantly, they made living here more interesting and fun. And fortunately for us, they still are.”

—TOM GUARISCO (EDITOR, 2005-2011)

“Can a publication be more than a bystander? Can it be a genuine neighbor? When 225 began, one goal was to reflect the city, but we wanted to encourage its people, too. Building pride in a place is important, but so is inspiring the promise of a place—by sharing compelling stories of every good endeavor made by anyone in the area code who wanted to reach that promise and was bold enough to try. So 225 acknowledged all currents and corners of this city and embraced our role in making it better. Twenty years later, I see a community that is more expressive, more empathetic and often, far more fun.”

—JEFFREY ROEDEL (STAFF WRITER AND ASSISTANT EDITOR, 2005-2010; EDITOR, 2011- 2014; CONTRIBUTING WRITER, 2015-PRESENT)

“Twenty years after filing my first story with 225 (as a small child, of course), I think about what a difference our magazine has made in revealing just how interesting and dynamic greater Baton Rouge is. You wouldn’t believe the pile of stories we don’t get to. And selfishly, I can’t describe what a massive impact 225 has had on me personally. There’s a special synergy that happens when a subject trusts you with their story and when you find the right words to tell it. Thanks for sharing, Red Stick. Here’s to 20 more.”

—MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON (CONTRIBUTING WRITER, 2005-2021; FEATURES WRITER, 2021-PRESENT)

“In a city often overlooked for its culture, I always appreciated the scrappy artists who saw potential here. Not every idea had staying power, but one success story was The Walls Project. When it unveiled the Baton Rouge Blues mural downtown in the early 2010s, I interviewed founder Casey Phillips. The goal was always more than murals, he told me. It was about uplifting unsung creatives. Through the years, 225 charted The Walls Project’s growth: beautifying overlooked neighborhoods, providing mentorship for young people and now spreading that same vision to other cities. Phillips still credits 225 for helping it gain support. It’s a reminder of the magazine’s symbiotic relationship with the sources we discover as they make Baton Rouge a more colorful place to live.”

—BENJAMIN LEGER

(MANAGING EDITOR, 2012-2021; RESTAURANT REVIEWER, 2022-2024; CONTRIBUTING WRITER, 2022-PRESENT)

“If you compare my first frame for 225 to my most recent, the differences in execution are eye opening. To shoot for the same publication for over a decade drives you to work on your craft every day so you don’t get stale and always improve. I have always thought of 225 as my lab. I can try new things and have fun watching my community change and develop. 225 is a rarity in journalism—it has truly documented the people, places and transitions of Baton Rouge with incredible longevity and at a high quality. It has covered every trend, every niche interest and just about every available bite of food in the city. It has been an honor to be trusted to create the visual side of the magazine— and beyond fascinating for me to ask questions of my subjects and learn from them.”

—COLLIN RICHIE

(STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER, 2012-PRESENT)

“This summer, I started subscribing to Your First Byline, a newsletter where journalists share their current jobs and how they broke into the industry. Over my years at 225, I was perhaps proudest of the work of our writing and photography interns. Our team has always known talent when we see it, entrusting students to pen cover stories, photograph fashion spreads, capture LSU football games and write First Looks about new restaurants. We challenge them to build portfolios that will take them places when they graduate—and they deliver. Their impact cannot be understated, and it’s been wonderful to watch them continue to crush it in their careers after they’ve walked out our doors."

—JENNIFER TORMO ALVAREZ (EDITOR, 2015-2025)

“Being a (small) part of the 225 family has been incredibly special to me. I’ve loved showcasing all the different people, places and events Baton Rouge has to offer, but in particular, it’s been the individuals that make up this amazing city that have touched me the most. While I’ve mostly written about LSU athletes—all of whom have their own unique stories to tell—our piece on the Cajun Navy in 2016 will stick with me forever. We reunited these local heroes with the evacuees they rescued during the flooding, and covering it is something I’ll never forget. It truly highlighted the heart of Baton Rouge.”

—MARK CLEMENTS

(DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR, 20162021; CONTRIBUTING WRITER, 2021-PRESENT)

“My 225 journey started as a freelance model for a style shoot. When I walked through the doors of the magazine’s office, it immediately became my dream to work there one day. Under the unforgettable leadership of Benjamin Leger and Jennifer Tormo Alvarez, I worked my way up from an editorial intern and eventually became the magazine’s first Black staff writer. Interviewing small business owners was a highlight of my career. I wrote the earliest stories on restaurants like Golden Vegan, Blue Store Chicken and Empire Wingz before they exploded with multiple locations across the region. After reading my first story on Golden Vegan, LSU reached out to the restaurant to open its second location on campus. Those are the moments that reminded me of the magazine’s major impact.”

—CYNTHEA CORFAH

(STAFF WRITER, 2018-2021; CONTRIBUTING WRITER, 2021-PRESENT)

“Working with 225 Magazine has been such a meaningful experience. I’ve seen firsthand how much the magazine supports local businesses, and it’s been an honor to contribute through my photography. Hearing the gratitude from business owners and knowing my work has helped them shine is such a great feeling. Being a part of something that uplifts the community I love has made this work incredibly special.”

—ARIANA ALLISON

(CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER, 2020-PRESENT)

“For 20 years, 225 has proved that there is so much to eat, see and do in Baton Rouge outside of Tiger Stadium and fried seafood spots. And while you can still find me at those places on the regular, I’ll always remember the first time I discovered this myself—thanks to a 225 article. It was the summer of 2008, and I read about an arts market happening that night downtown. I had recently gotten my driver’s license, so my bestie and I set out to explore. I still recall the feeling of excitement and possibility while strolling outside The Shaw Center for the Arts as the sun set over the Mississippi River—and the sense of pride I felt for my hometown. They’re feelings readers say they have shared when reading our magazine, and that I hope they continue to feel for 20 years to come.”

—LAURA FURR MERICAS

(MANAGING EDITOR, 2022-2025; CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, 2025-PRESENT)

“As a college student who knew almost nothing about Baton Rouge beyond LSU, 225 introduced me to the vibrancy of the region. As an intern, I learned how amazing our community is by writing about food, arts, openings and Garth Brooks’ concert in Tiger Stadium. When I started full-time (and landed my dream job), I was excited to keep discovering the city. I went from a student who dreaded class pitch day to a journalist who fills notebooks with ideas. I still get giddy when I see empty newsstands, Instagram shares or feedback in my inbox. Happy 20th to my favorite magazine. And here’s to many more years of 225!”

—OLIVIA DEFFES

(CONTRIBUTING WRITER, 2021-2022; DIGITAL STAFF WRITER, 2022-2025; DIGITAL EDITOR, 2025-2025; MANAGING EDITOR, 2025-PRESENT)

TANGERINE

TANGERINE IS MORE than just a clothing store. It’s a unique experience where young females get to come and be authentically themselves. They get to laugh and strike a pose on the runway, voice their opinions, accessorize all the fine details and find the perfect pieces for every occasion life offers.

Tangerine has been a staple in the Baton Rouge community since 2011. New owner Kayla Rush and her team took over in January and are proud to continue the legacy, the laughs and the fond memories for family members and daughters alike. They hope you’ll stop by and allow them to help you conquer life’s moments—from milestone events like cotillion, school dances and holiday traditions to everyday outings like shopping with the girls, heading to a birthday party or cheering on the Tigers.

“An environment that is not about simply purchasing a piece of clothing. It’s about finding clothing, shoes and accessories that boost a tween’s confidence.”

22

Years of

Excellence.

And We’re Just Getting Started.

For more than two decades, Carter has been a place where championship golf, unforgettable events, and southern hospitality come together.

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On-site Villas Offering comfort and convenience, just steps from the course.

As we celebrate 22 years of memories, we’re also preparing for an exciting new chapter on the horizon. Carter—The

As a leading Louisiana manufacturer of custom pipe supports, piping accessories, and plate products, we’ve been providing unparalleled customer support for four decades. We’re large enough to ship thousands of custom products each month and small enough to ramp up quickly and decisively whenever you need us.

You can rely on the Delta Machine and Ironworks team of experienced fabricators, welders, and machinists for all your industrial construction project needs. We’re committed to quality, integrity, and, above all, being the most loyal partner any customer could ever want.

No place like home

In honor of our 20th, we’re reflecting on 20 things that make the 225 area special

BY KELLI BOZEMAN

A river runs through it

Thanks to its strategic waterfront location, the Baton Rouge area can claim the farthest inland deep-water port on the Mississippi. That means cargo from trucks, trains and barges can be loaded on ocean-bound ships here, making the Port of Greater Baton Rouge one of the country’s top ports in total tonnage. All that water also means we get to host the USS Kidd, the only U.S. Navy destroyer preserved in its original World War II configuration, which is poised to return from restoration in spring 2026. And the Baton Rouge Water Campus, featuring one of the world’s largest movable-bed physical river models, is the country’s first major center devoted to coastal restoration and sustainability research. Talk about making a splash!

Good spirits

Raise a glass to the award-winning cocktail artisans who call this community home. Local mixologist Alan Walter notched Baton Rouge’s first James Beard nomination earlier this year in the Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service category (read about where he’s popping up these days on pg. 210). If it’s vino you fancy, Wine Spectator said cheers to Mansurs on the Boulevard in 2025 with its Best of Award of Excellence, while The Gregory, Sullivan’s Steakhouse, Tallulah Crafted Food and Wine Bar, and Bin 77 Bistro and Sidebar all earned the magazine’s Award of Excellence.

Blasts from the past

In case you’re a newcomer (read: moved here at any point after birth) or are a bit rusty on your eighth-grade history, this area was important enough to fight about not once but twice, first when Spanish forces captured a British outpost in the first Battle of Baton Rouge during the Revolutionary War and again when Confederate troops attacked Union forces in the Civil War battle of the same name. Port Hudson State Historic Site in East Feliciana Parish, which saw its own siege in 1863, hosts reenactments each spring.

The flavorful food scene

“The best beignets in New Orleans are in Baton Rouge,” read a 2019 headline in Wine magazine, and we couldn’t agree more—those fluffy fingers at Coffee Call are iconic. But the national media accolades don’t stop there: the homecooking hotspot Zeeland Street was named one of the 50 best restaurants in America by The New York Times in 2024, and USA Today called Baton Rouge as a whole an “underrated food city” in 2017. Pass the powdered sugar!

A couple of capitols

Not only does Baton Rouge boast the nation’s tallest state capitol building at 450 feet, the mid-19thcentury Gothic-style Old State Capitol is an equally compelling tourist attraction. Want to see the bullet holes where Governor Huey P. Long was shot? Go to the “new” Capitol, built in 1931. Prefer to peek in on a ghost? You might find one or two at the Old State Capitol, or at least an immersive theatrical presentation featuring the “ghost” of a girl who wrote a diary describing the structure. And yes, Mark Twain may have called it a “sham of a castle” and the “ugliest thing on the Mississippi,” but hey—all press is good press, right?

Campus culture

You can’t distill Baton Rouge’s essence down to merely a college town with so much else going on beyond the hallowed halls, but with LSU, Southern University and Baton Rouge Community College all inside its borders, some 60,000 college students are hitting the books here each year. And that’s not counting the smaller specialized institutions that also offer degree programs in this area. These ever-evolving communities give the Capital Region a unique energy, and the research being done at these schools, including at places like LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, has ripple effects around the country.

Hooray for the home team

From Friday night lights at local high schools to the crowds that descend upon LSU’s Tiger Stadium and Southern’s A.W. Mumford Stadium, it’s obvious that sports are an essential part of the fabric of this region. It starts early, with first-class sports training facilities and elite travel teams helping young athletes get an edge. If spectator’s more your speed, recent additions to the sports scene have included the Zydeco pro hockey team and the Rougarou collegiate summer baseball team.

Fresh from the farm

Tucked into the 440 acres of the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens is the LSU Rural Life Museum, named one of the top 10 outdoor museums in the world by the British Museum. PBS chose this spot to film three episodes of Antiques Roadshow in 2023, thanks to its picturesque setting including 30-plus rural Louisiana buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Swamp things

In the heart of the city, Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center is a hotbed of biodiversity, with hundreds of species of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles lurking quietly within its 103 acres of swampland. Boardwalks and gravel paths let visitors get up close to this natural wonder, and BREC’s educators regularly lead trail tours, bird walks and night hikes.

Music makers

Those who danced along to Better than Ezra in college know the band got its start here, and it’s one of many acclaimed musical acts with roots in this region. From blues performers Slim Harpo and Buddy Guy to American Idol stars John Foster and Laine Hardy, these talents have drawn inspiration from their south Louisiana surroundings.

That’s ancient history

Go back in time with a trip to the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, home to a 2,300-year-old Egyptian mummy as well as a 65-millionyear-old triceratops skull. And the museum’s collection of lunar rocks brought back by Apollo 11 is even older still, dating back to a few billion years ago.

Bird by bird

The terrain gets hilly as you head out of Baton Rouge toward West Feliciana Parish, where famed naturalist John James Audubon spent a summer immortalizing the local flora and fauna with watercolors and ink. The 1815-built Oakley House where he stayed is now part of the 100-acre Audubon State Historic Site and is one of several pre-Civil War buildings in the parish that are open to visitors.

River Road rambling

With this area hugging both banks of the Mississippi, the winding River Road runs through multiple parishes and makes for an easy afternoon sightseeing route. Spots to check out along the way include the River Road African American Museum in Donaldsonville, Houmas House Estate and Gardens in Darrow and the National Hansen’s Disease Museum in Carville.

One-pot wonders

As the “Jambalaya Capital of the world,” Gonzales draws dozens of cooks each year to prepare their best cast-iron concoctions during the city’s Jambalaya Festival. Live music and plenty of tastings round out this event, which is one of many annual festivals that fill bellies and keep toes tapping in this area all year long.

Lake life

From Baton Rouge’s signature LSU Lakes now under renovation to the 15-mile oxbow lake known as False River in Pointe Coupee Parish, it’s easy to access fun on the water—a welcome respite on hot south Louisiana summer days. For fishing, the two lakes at BREC’s Blackwater Conservation Area in Central are stocked with largemouth bass and other species.

Catch a wave

A gravitational wave, that is, at the LIGO Observatory in Livingston Parish. One of two such sites in the United States, the observatory first detected cosmic gravitational waves in 2015, confirming part of Einstein’s theory of general relativity and leading to the awarding of a Nobel Prize in Physics two years later. The LIGO Science Education Center is open to the public on the first Saturday of each month.

Highland heritage

A 1989 state law designated Highland Road as a “historic road and scenic parkway,” noting that it was the first high land along the Mississippi River north of the Gulf of Mexico. When it was a dirt trail, this route was likely walked by Native Americans who also used the adjacent Bayou Fountain. Today, it’s a must-drive for visitors with its overarching live oak branches, gentle curves and stately homes.

Run the town

Pounding the pavement is both a serious and a social pastime in the Capital City, where the Louisiana Marathon and other annual races draw thousands of participants to spread out over our streets. Training for such an event leads many to link up with Varsity Sports’ Baton Rouge Run Group or Baton Rouge Run Club. Interested in a less competitive take on the tradition? Join the run-then-fun crowds organized by Happy’s Running Club and the Baton Rouge Sunday Social Running Club. Run hard, live easy indeed!

Sugar, sugar

The West Baton Rouge Museum highlights this area’s connection to the cultivation of sugar cane with a 33-foot-tall sugar mill model, historic cabins and barns, as well as rotating ex hibits that illuminate local history. The Sugarfest event held each fall adds cane cutting and grinding demonstrations, plus live music, to the sweet mix.

people power

At its core, 225—the magazine and the region—is about people. The creative, resil ient, generous humans who call this place home are truly what make it stand out in a sea of other similar-size communities. Deeply committed to place and family, the people of the 225 area possess a sense of joy that’s not deterred by hardship and a forward-thinking spirit that’s rooted in our collective past. And that’s truly something special.

Adoption

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POSITIVITY AND PERSPECTIVE

Baton Rouge has long struggled with negative self-talk, but leaders say there’s an alternative BY

MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON // PHOTOGRAPHY

BY

COLLIN RICHIE

ACK IN 2017, Laura Siu-Nguyen was a newlywed who had just relocated to Baton Rouge from New Orleans. She and her husband, Kenny Nguyen, had been going back and forth between the two cities, and had finally decided to make his hometown their home.

A native of Honduras, Siu-Nguyen admits to being unhappy at first. Baton Rouge seemed insular and boring, especially for someone who hadn’t grown up here.

“It got to the point where I didn’t

want to be here,” she says. But then her attitude changed.

“Kenny said something really important to me,” she recalls. “He said, ‘The grass is greener where you water it, so unless you give Baton Rouge a chance, you’re never going to know its full potential.’”

Nguyen drove his wife around the Capital Region, telling stories about its history and rich culture and pointing out neighborhoods, arts and entertainment zones, and under-the-radar restaurants. By then, he’d made a name for himself as the founder of creative agency ThreeSixtyEight and a disciple of the positive, charging against Baton Rouge’s well-established

tendency for negative self-talk.

Siu-Nguyen, a communications professional, received the message, shifting her lens about what the city had to offer. By 2019, she says she was convinced of its charms. Later, she founded two groundbreaking projects: Night Market BTR, a festival modeled after similar nationwide celebrations of Asian culture that swelled to 13,000 attendees in just three years, and Table Story Dinners, ticketed family-style gatherings where chefs share their personal stories. The two projects demonstrate a hunger for trendy events that bubbles just under the surface, she says.

“People argue with me about Baton

Rouge not being cool, and I’m like, ‘Explain this,’” she says. Negativity is a well-worn refrain in Baton Rouge. A talented executive who accepts a job is met with the question, “Why’d you want to come here?” Natives and longtime residents, despite deep roots in the community, love to lament traffic, crime and litter, declaring the region’s chronic inability to get out of its own way. Those same voices relish comparing Baton Rouge to other cities, with the Red Stick coming up short.

Nguyen, now executive vice president of operations at his family’s development firm, Nguyen America, says attitude is everything. Baton Rouge’s problems shouldn’t be minimized, he says. But many can be alleviated, he says, if people just get involved.

“We’re the exclaimers, not the complainers,” he says. “The complainers say, ‘Here’s why we can’t have it,’ and the exclaimers say, ‘Here’s why we can.’”

“I traveled to 150 cities across the country, and I quickly realized that Louisiana and Baton Rouge specifically have so many advantages.”

-SETH IRBY, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at LWCC

residents contributes to its pessimistic leanings.

Living elsewhere for a while can bolster goodwill toward Baton Rouge, says Irby, who spent his first five years out of LSU working in Richmond, Virginia, and traveling nationwide.

Rouge has talked about itself,” Irby says. “And we have to break out of that cycle and see all the strengths that we have and lead with those.”

Nguyen believes the city is at an important inflection point with more voices trying to reverse the negative narrative.

Issue Date: Nov 2025 Ad proof #3

“I traveled to 150 cities across the country, and I quickly realized that Louisiana and Baton Rouge specifically have so many advantages that other cities don’t have,” Irby says. “You’ve got a powerful brand, you’ve got a world-class institution, sports, natural assets and resources, culture and hospitality.”

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And while Baton Rouge has these assets, other cities Irby visited always seemed to have a more positive attitude, he says.

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Seth Irby, Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation senior vice president and chief strategy officer, also a champion of the positive, speculates that Louisiana’s high number of native-born

“I think it’s just systemic in the way that Baton

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The Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Visit Baton Rouge rolled out the Better in BTR campaign to point out the region’s vast assets. And projects like the proposed new LSU Arena, the River Center’s possible redevelopment and the proposed Memorial Stadium renovation and expansion are seen by many as being transformational for the city.

“People are starting to believe, ‘Maybe we can have this,’” Nguyen says.

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Our goal isn’t just to “treat symptoms,” it’s to help people understand themselves, build emotional strength, and create lasting change. Every session is designed to meet clients where they are, whether they’re in crisis or just looking to grow. We take a collaborative approach, helping clients build coping tools, process pain, and rediscover their sense of calm and confidence.

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URBAN LEGENDS

Finding the truth behind some of the most common complaints about Baton Rouge

BY OLIVIA DEFFES

WE LOVE BATON ROUGE.

But we know that no place is perfect. And, yes, we’ve overheard the gripes about the Capital Region and have read all of those comments on Instagram and Facebook over the years.

Because anniversaries feel like a good time to reflect, we decided to break down some of the most common myths and complaints we hear about the Capital City. Some may be silly, while others are more serious. Here’s what the research says.

“Baton Rouge has the WORST TRAFFIC.”

“ YOUNG PROFESSIONALS need to move out of Baton Rouge to start their careers.”

Though a good number of Louisiana college graduates go out of state to chase jobs, the state’s capital doesn’t lack opportunities. In fact, our publication highlights local young leaders in the Twenty in their 20s issue, launched in 2024, which showcases movers and shakers who are making an impact and are expected to grow professionally. Q1 2025 data from the Baton Rouge Area Chamber shows that nonfarm jobs in the Baton Rouge metro are near an all-time high. Still stumped on where to find postings? Find listings via LinkedIn posts or the sites of local companies. Organizations like Forum 225 also offer opportunities to strengthen leadership and networking skills.

VERDICT: False.

Sure, we’ve all been there. Bumper to bumper on Airline Highway. Gridlock on College Drive. Post-game contraflow. With backups on major roadways, it sometimes feels like GPS apps are always showing solid red lines and extended trip times. However, Baton Rouge traffic is not actually “the worst.” On its 2024 Traffic Index, mapping and location services company TomTom ranked Baton Rouge as No. 47 among U.S. cities with the worst travel times, with drivers losing a total of 36 hours annually during rush hour. Compared to cities of a similar population size, Baton Rouge didn’t even crack the top 10, coming in at No. 18 on the report behind other smaller metros across the country. And while projects like the delayed Interstate 10 widening seem to contribute to more congestion, the end goal for local roadwork is intended to lessen traffic woes in the long run.

VERDICT: Hope is on the horizon, but you should still leave early.

“ VIOLENT CRIME is at an all-time high in Baton Rouge.”

Flip on local news broadcasts, and you might hear a story about recent crime in the area. Though the city has been ranked on lists of dangerous cities in the United States, numbers from the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office’s 2025 midyear report show that homicides have declined since a peak during the pandemic in 2021. Still, officials are pushing for more funding, staffing, community support and local organization partnerships to stop crime in Baton Rouge.

VERDICT: We can do better.

Issue Date: NOV 2025 Ad proof #2

TO DO THINGS TO DO THINGS

“There’s

NOTHING TO DO in the Capital Region besides eating or drinking.”

Yes, there are plenty of splashy new restaurants and culinary establishments dotting almost every corner of the Capital Region. And yes, booze flows at football games and dive bars around town. But there are plenty of things to do across the region that don’t involve eating and drinking. And some of them might not even cost a penny. In the past few years, our team has reported on spots like pickleball hub Court to Table, indie music haven Chelsea’s Live, craft space BellyFire Studios and claw machine arcade Tiger Clawzzz, just to name a few. In fact, we’ve totaled 225 things to do in the Red Stick, not once, not twice, but three times since 2008. And earlier this year, our first-ever Free in BR roundup compiled 20-plus ways to get the most bang for your buck in this city. Find both guides at 225batonrouge.com to bust your boredom. Or check out our weekly event roundups in our 225 Daily newsletter.

VERDICT: Wrong-o.

“Baton Rouge smells like CORN DOGS.”

Thanks to rival fans and Katy Perry’s now-infamous comments during her 2014 appearance on ESPN’s College Gameday, some say BR and LSU fans smell … fair-like. While the smell is in the nose of the beholder, Baton Rougeans have embraced the silly claim. Walk around campus on game day and find fans sporting corn dog-themed buttons or tailgates serving up the sweet and savory sticked treats. Queen of Sparkles even got in on the fun by selling tees with be dazzled versions of the delicacy. We guess being compared to something tasty really isn’t all that bad.

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VERDICT: Don’t dog on us. It’s corny.

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Ray Resolution Group, we focus exclusively on workers’ compensation mediation. With deep knowledge of comp law, statutes, and claim formulas, we guide both sides toward fair, efficient settlements — whether in litigation or not. Trusted by plaintiff attorneys and insurance carriers, we help resolve cases that are

Less Stress. More Sleep. Better Days.

If you’ve already discovered Rad Dad Alternative Wellness, you’ve likely met the Mom behind Rad Dad — Margaret Wilkinson.

Margaret’s vision shaped a space that feels as welcoming as it is well-curated: a local, family-owned wellness boutique where education and design meet. Step inside and you’ll find an atmosphere that blends modern apothecary with a retro -cool vibe, making the experience as memorable as the products themselves.

Taking a break from alcohol? Already a Rad Mom or Rad Dad? Or maybe just “cannacurious”? Our team is here to guide you toward safe, carefully selected CBD, THC, and alternative wellness products designed for better sleep, less anxiety, pain relief, and a calmer way to unwind. From our Mid City flagship to raddadalt.com — and soon Jefferson Highway — Rad Dad delivers the most approachable way to explore wellness, right here at home.

OPTIMIST’S GUIDE

20 things we are excited about in Baton Rouge’s future

BY DANA MULLER AND LAURA FURR MERICAS

ATON ROUGE LOOKS a lot different than it did when 225 first hit newsstands back in 2005. It will likely change even more in another 20 years thanks to exciting transformations that are in the works and on the rise.

From major master plans and groundbreaking clean energy developments to hyper-local pedestrian pathways and cultural attractions, city leaders are conceptualizing projects that promise to enrich our quality of life, boost the economy and strengthen our communities.

The renderings on these pages reflect proposed concepts and are not finalized—still, it’s fun to dream. Here’s a guide to what’s underway around the region, and a look at why Baton Rouge’s future might just look brighter than ever.

The new LSU Arena

A rendering of what the proposed LSU Arena could look like

While many details are still under wraps and official agreements have not yet been made, there’s still a lot to potentially be excited about surrounding the proposed new LSU Arena. The $400 million, state-of-the-art facility would fundamentally change how Baton Rouge takes in live events. Though the arena would primarily serve as home base for LSU men’s and women’s basketball— with capacity for about 15,000 compared to the PMAC’s 13,000— preliminary designs show multiple functionalities for large concerts, plus swank club levels, modern concourses and campus views. Located at what’s currently the LSU golf course, the arena would also serve as the hub of a larger, walkable mixed-use development with retail, dining, entertainment, residential and academic spaces.

2. Dining destinations

More than 50 new restaurants opened in Baton Rouge and the Capital Region in 2024, from build-your-own Korean-bowl concepts to new neighborhood haunts. What will the area’s foodies bring next?

The Downtown Civil Rights Trail

The Downtown Development District and The Walls Project are working together to bring a powerful celebration of local civil rights heroes and historic moments to Beauregard Town. Baton Rouge artist Bryson Boutte was recently selected to transform utility boxes into creative landmarks, while residents have been asked to nominate individuals and legacies to be depicted.

Work is underway on making the Perkins Road Overpass District more pedestrian friendly.

4. Perkins Road Overpass pedestrian and bike paths

Organizers are working to convert the area around the Perkins Road Overpass into a safer, well-lit route for walkers and cyclists, complete with improved wayfinding, lighting and pedestrian access. Entergy utility relocation has been completed and bidding is expected to begin soon.

5. Lincoln Theater

The long-awaited revival of the Lincoln Theater is nearing completion, and it could reopen in time for holiday performances this year. The historic space, dating back to 1949, once stood as the premier entertainment venue for Baton Rouge’s black community during the Jim Crow era, attracting the likes of music icons Louis Armstrong and James Brown in its heyday before shuttering in the 1980s. Its redevelopment has been in the works since 2009, and the restored space is expected to include new theater, lobby and gallery spaces, as well as a cultural education center.

PARKVIEW BAPTIST SCHOOL

Plan Baton Rouge III

Previous Plan Baton Rouge efforts spurred major downtown gathering places like the Shaw Center for the Arts, Rhorer Plaza and Main Street Market. Now, Plan Baton Rouge III, led by global design firm Sasaki, will guide housing and infrastructure upgrades and explore better use of the city’s biggest asset: the Mississippi River. The plan aims to triple the number of downtown residents, boost concerts and entertainment events, and expand dining and retail offerings in the area. The final plan is expected to be delivered in Q1 2026.

An early conceptual rendering of what Plan BR III could bring to downtown

A rendering that shows what City Park Lake, University Lake and May Street could look like once the University Lakes project is completed

7. The Florida Corridor Plan

Approved in September 2024, this 12-mile corridor redevelopment plan—led by Build Baton Rouge and the Cortana Corridor Economic Development District and influenced by community input—targets affordable housing, green space, improved transit options and boosting pedestrian safety.

six “neighborhood centers.”

8. Baton Rouge-New Orleans passenger rail

Agreements have been made, plans have been drafted and initial funding is disclosed, but securing additional federal dollars has come with its hurdles, the Southern Rail Commission said last year. Still, initial plans call for two stops in Baton Rouge and a 90-minute, traffic-free trip to Nola. Need we say more?

University Lakes Restoration Project

This $75 million, multi-phase project to dredge and restore six lakes around LSU will improve water quality, flood resilience and public space. Phase 2 continues through 2026.

10. USS Kidd returns

The USS Kidd is expected to return to Baton Rouge in the spring of 2026 after a major restoration. Visitors will be able to explore updated exhibits and enjoy enhanced tours aboard this historic World War II destroyer.

12. The Baton Rouge Film Trail

The Baton Rouge Film Trail debuted in August, celebrating our cinematic history at over 100 filming locations. With the local industry pushing for more productions and the launch of efforts like the Louisiana Academy of Production on the horizon, BR is bound to play a role in more future blockbusters.

13. MOVEBR continues to roll

MOVEBR has completed more than 25 projects since it launched in 2019 with the goal of improving transit in East Baton Rouge Parish. More is on the docket, including 70 miles of planned bike paths, more than 200 new traffic signals and several new roadways.

14. Port of Baton Rouge carbon removal project

An $800 million carbon capture facility is rising at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge to support tech-giant Microsoft’s decarbonization goals. Developed by AtmosClear BR, the plant will be powered by sustainable feedstocks. Construction kicks off in 2026, with the plant expected to be fully operational by 2029. Other green projects are also in the works throughout the region.

River Center upgrades

Overdue updates to the River Center could boost tourism and business downtown, according to civic organizers. Discussions are underway about renovating the River Center and adding a headquarters hotel onsite. The refurbished space would complement other investments like the proposed LSU Arena, organizers say, by attracting more midsized events or concerts and allowing the Capital City to compete for conventions it’s currently losing out on.

LSU’s building boom

LSU’s South Stadium Drive is buzzing with cranes and construction crews as the university’s latest building boom transforms the corridor with state-of-the-art facilities, dorms and modernized spaces designed to meet the needs of a growing campus. The OLOL Health Interdisciplinary Science Building is expected to be completed late this year.

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE 100

At Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute, we want to make sure you never miss a moment of what really counts. Our attention to your care is based on a decades-long foundation of experience and compassionate, comprehensive treatment for Louisiana families, including all the resources you need to fight cancer. That’s why we’re the region’s leading cancer treatment destination. That’s why it all counts here. Learn more at ololrmc.com/cancer.

Emily Cassidy, MD, Thoracic Surgery, and Jonathon Fletcher, PA, Thoracic Surgery

Memorial Park transformation

A 44-acre site in north Baton Rouge, home to Memorial Stadium and Goldsby Baseball Field, is slated to become a new sports hub. A new 110,000-square-foot sports and recreation facility, ancillary entertainment venues, commercial and retail developments, walking trails, and minor league baseball and soccer teams have been proposed. BREC, influential businessman Charles Landry and other national organizations are partnering on the project.

17. Baton Rouge’s tourism boost

Tourism brought in 9 million visitors to Baton Rouge in 2024, supporting over 38,500 local jobs and generating more than $1.7 billion in visitor spending. Major attractions included the launch of Louisiana Lights at Burden Museum and Gardens, the annual Baton Rouge Blues Festival and Savannah Bananas games at LSU’s Alex Box Stadium. With hundreds of events and festivals drawing visitors from all over, Baton Rouge continues to grow as a premier destination.

A new sports hub could come to Memorial Park in north Baton Rouge.

18. More downtown housing

Shiny new apartments are in the works downtown. The Heron Downtown II, similar to Heron I a block away, will bring approximately 250 residential units to North Boulevard. Over in Spanish Town, the East Baton Rouge Historic Preservation Commission recently approved a 45-unit condominium development near the Louisiana State Capitol and Capitol Lakes.

19. Championship season(s)

If LSU continues on the same trajectory it has over the last 20 years, the school’s athletic programs will earn 10 more national titles by 2040. If its teams continue at the rate they’ve been winning titles over the last five years, LSU will add 20 more nattys to its name. This is an optimist’s guide, after all.

20. Michelin Guide recognition

For the first time, the Michelin Guide is coming to Louisiana as part of its inaugural American South edition. Anonymous inspectors have been at work in cities like Baton Rouge, with the full 2025 restaurant selections to be unveiled at the official Michelin Guide Ceremony this month.

STUDENTS FIND TRACTS PROGRAM

INVIGORATING AND FULFILLING

For the first time in the history of the school, this fall, the LSU Ogden Honors College welcomed its inaugural class into the elite Honors Traditions in Critical Thought and Scholarship (TRACTS) degree. The inaugural Honors TRACTS class comprises 30 students, and each TRACTS cohort will remain small in order to attract the best students from across the country while retaining top talent here in the state of Louisiana.

PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES

Junior Irene Kaiser is among those accepted into Honors TRACTS. A native of Lafayette who is also majoring in Kinesiology, Kaiser said she always felt like something had been missing in her education, and TRACTS was exactly what she was looking for.

“I can’t tell you how many different majors I’ve experimented with while looking for the level of collaboration that comes with a truly interdisciplinary approach,” Kaiser said. “I found it with TRACTS.”

Freshman Jack Monroe, a Biological Engineering major from Cincinnati, Ohio, is double-majoring in Honors TRACTS. While he has family ties to Louisiana, the innovative TRACTS program was one of the reasons he attended LSU.

“In high school, I had some experiences that pushed boundaries of traditional education in a similar way, so TRACTS really caught my eye,” Monroe said. “It’s been a fantastic experience so far.”

Honors TRACTS students choose to be challenged by the curriculum and they find the experience incredibly fulfilling.

“Yeah, my [Classical Antiquity] class probably has the heaviest workload with all the reading we do, but I don’t really

care because I’m excited for discussions in class the next day,” Monroe said. “I think it’s going to set me apart in the future, whether it’s graduate school, medical school, or going into the workforce.”

INSIGHTFUL AND ENGAGED

Ogden Honors College Associate Dean Drew Lamonica Arms, an Honors College graduate and Rhodes Scholar who was instrumental in designing Honors TRACTS, said TRACTS students are “some of the most insightful and engaged undergraduates” she’s taught in her 25 years of teaching in the college.

Lamonica Arms realized the years of curriculum development and planning had paid off when, in one of her class discussions of the Odyssey, Honors TRACTS students who’d been discussing Odysseus’ navigation tactics began comparing and evaluating his choices through a utilitarian lens – something covered in one of their other Honors classes.

“They make connections among disparate ideas, discuss with both passion and specificity, and truly make our time together in the classroom invigorating,” Lamonica Arms said. “All I have to do is ask a question and they’re off!”

Grab a Slice of the Action

City Slice is now open and better than ever!

Join us at our new spot on Nicholson Drive, where we serve hot pizza, saucy wings, and cold drinks.

Whether it’s game day, lunchtime, or latenight cravings, come hang out and enjoy a slice of the action with us!

EVENT RENTALS AT THE NEXT LEVEL

Based in New Orleans - Ready to Serve Baton Rouge

DINNER

at The Colonel’s Club

DRINKS

at Mother's Lounge

SERVING THE GREATER BATON ROUGE AREA since 1987

FROM ITS INCEPTION, DIGIULIO BROTHERS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FAMILY BUSINESS, WITH EVERY GENERATION PARTICIPATING IN ITS SUCCESSFUL OPERATION.

CONGRATULATIONS TO 225 ON MAKING 20 YEARS!

Sylist’s

STAYCATION

at Origin Hotel Baton Rouge

Zimmermann denim fitted blouse, $475

Zimmermann wide-leg jeans, $595

From Chatta Box

Bamboo “Lasting-55” heels, $36

OMG Blings 18-karat water-resistant earrings and bracelets, $24-$38 each

Urban Expression “Rosalia” bag, $52

From Bella Bella Boutique

BRUNCH

at Passé All Day Café

LIBRARIES of the Community

The Resources for every age at every stage

• 15 locations

• Resources for all ages

• Career Center

• Small Business Services

• Community Outreach

• Workshops

• Workshops

• Family Fun

• Family Fun

Over 1.7 million visitors annually

• Over 1.7 million visitors annually

• A safe place to land

• A safe place to land

“I’d just like to share that the Main Library location has some amazing business services, including resume assistance. The online access to movies and music is the icing on the cake!”

“I’ve had nothing but great, wholesome experiences. When I moved here, the library programs helped me out of depression. I’m forever grateful.”

“The EBRPL system is the best part of Baton Rouge. It’s a safe, communal space with amazing programming and resources. I’ve lived in a lot of big cities and this library is so much more modern and accessible for everyone.”

That is totes

2005

Eight throwback style trends you can shop at Baton Rouge boutiques

BY CYNTHEA CORFAH

THE YEAR 2005 felt like an “anything goes” kind of year for fashion. Dresses paired with jeans, low-rise bottoms worn with tiny crop tops, and so many belts. As chaotic and experimental as the style trends were back when 225 first launched, many of them are circling their way back into the fashion cycle. Find these at local boutiques.

1. Flyaway tops

All the fashion icons of the early 2000s wore flyaway tops: Britney Spears, Beyoncé and Lindsey Lohan, just to name a few. Whether or not the A-listers were showing off their hard-earned abs or were channeling their inner fairy goddess, they were onto something.

2. Chunky belts

Remember when the solution to a boring outfit was a chunky belt? If you didn’t throw away all of your wide belts from the early 2000s, this year might be a good time to pull them back out to upgrade your outfit from “meh” to “bomb.com.”

3. Shoulder bags

When did we go from wearing purses under our arms to wearing them seatbelt-style across our bodies? Or holding them on our forearms like shopping bags? The return to shoulder bags is right on time.

4. Slip dresses

Don’t remember slip dresses from the 2000s? Here’s your homework: Look up That’s So Raven, season 2, episode 8, when Raven models an iconic slip dress at a fashion show. Silky slip dresses can stand alone or be layered.

5. Micro mini skirts

If you thought mini skirts were short, meet the micro mini. This leggy style worn by the models and it-girls of the Y2K era is a now Gen Z fave. Versatile, edgy and a little playful.

Vintage Y2K Ema Savahl HandPainted Purple Floral Paris Hilton

Halter Top, $1,200 From Time Warp

Large Labyrinth Pendant, $48 From Mimosa Handcrafted

6. Low-rise pants and maxi skirts

Can someone call Christina Aguilera? Because Gen Zers are trying to jack her style. The highrise-versus-low-rise debate is like a swinging pendulum. Whether you love them or hate them, lowrise bottoms are so back.

7. Halter tops

Living in Louisiana with high temperatures and humidity calls for halter tops. This sleeveless style, often paired with low-rise jeans in 2005, is bringing “Sexy Back.” (That’s a 2006 reference, but you get the point.)

8. Spiral and pendant cord necklaces

Locals are swapping their classic gold and silver chains for a more earthy, natural look, with cord necklaces holding metal spirals, stone and shell pendants.

MODERN FAMILY LAW:

Clearing up the confusion with Attorney Ivy Graham

If you’ve ever faced a family law issue like divorce, custody or estate planning, you’ve probably heard a lot of advice from friends, family or even the internet. “Don’t move out, or you’ll be accused of abandonment!” “You need a legal separation first!” “Just download the forms online – it’s easy!”

The truth is, family law has changed a lot over the years, and what worked for your parents or neighbors may not apply today. Ivy Graham, a family law attorney serving Denham Springs, Baton Rouge and the surrounding parishes, has seen firsthand how confusing and overwhelming these changes can be for people trying to do the right thing for themselves and their families.

She believes it’s important to clear up some of the most common misconceptions and to show how working with an attorney can make all the difference.

THE LAW ISN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE

One of the biggest myths Ivy encounters is about “abandonment.” Many people worry that if they leave the family home during a divorce, they’ll lose their rights or be accused of abandoning their spouse.

But in Louisiana, the law has changed: there’s no longer a legal concept of abandonment in divorce cases. Similarly, “legal separation” is a thing of the past. Today, the focus is on how long spouses have lived apart, not on who left or why.

OUTDATED ADVICE CAN LEAD YOU ASTRAY

It’s natural to turn to loved ones for support, but their experiences may not reflect current law. And while the internet is full of information, it’s also full of misinformation.

For example, many people assume that only men pay child or spousal support, but that’s simply not true – either party can be responsible, depending on the circumstances.

DIY DIVORCE? PROCEED WITH CAUTION

With so many online resources, it’s tempting to handle a divorce or custody case without professional help. While it’s possible, the process is rarely as simple as it seems.

Court forms must be completed and filed in a specific order, with certain documents notarized on different dates. Small mistakes can cause big delays, or even cost more in the long run.

As an attorney, Ivy helps clients avoid these pitfalls and makes sure their rights are protected from the start.

REAL-WORLD SOLUTIONS FOR REAL PEOPLE

What sets Ivy Graham’s practice apart is her commitment to practical, real-world solutions. She understands that clients want clear answers and a path forward, not a list of legal jargon.

Soon, she will also be offering mediation services for divorces and family law

matters, giving families even more options for resolving their issues amicably. Whether dealing with divorce, custody, estate planning or mediation, Ivy guides her clients every step of the way with compassion and honesty.

For anyone facing a family law challenge, outdated advice or internet myths can be misleading. Consulting a knowledgeable attorney like Ivy Graham can help clarify options and protect the future. Ivy is ready to help families navigate these challenges. For more information, scan the QR code or visit ivygrahamlaw.com.

A different cloth

Since 2005, store owners have adapted to an ever-changing retail landscape

BY GRACELYN FARRAR // PHOTOS BY COLLIN RICHIE

“I think Katrina taught us a lot about how to handle COVID. You have to take everything day by day.”

MUFFY LEBLANC, pictured here at Hemline Towne Center

MUFFY LEBLANC

HAS been around the block once or twice.

The boutique owner has been in the biz for 27 years, 25 of which have been with local women’s clothing boutique Hemline. Her store in Towne Center just had its 10-year anniversary.

Hemline was conceptualized in New Orleans in 1994 and has since grown to more than 30 locations across the South. Its first Capital Region location debuted in 2005 as Hurricane Katrina was reshaping the city. It was part of a wave of Big Easy businesses that opened outposts in Baton Rouge in the aftermath of the storm, with restaurants like Galatoire’s Bistro and boutiques like Chatta Box serving displaced residents.

LeBlanc was born and raised in the Crescent City but has called the Red Stick home since evacuating that year. And looking back, she says the hurricane equipped her for other obstacles.

•

•

“I think Katrina taught us a lot about how to handle COVID,” she

LEGACYLocal

says. “You have to take everything day by day.”

By the mid-2010s, most boutiques were dabbling in social media. But the pandemic really changed the game in 2020, as owners had to pivot to selling almost entirely online during lockdowns.

“Social media helps us reach customers,” LeBlanc says. “We didn’t have a strong online presence before COVID.”

Hemline’s inventory is now fully shoppable on its website, which offers shipping or store pickup.

Social media has also facilitated a recent rise in online-only shops that operate without brick-and-mortar locations. For Tia Whittington, owner of H Kyle Boutique, content creation is everything. She started her business online in 2013 and moved into a Gonzales storefront in 2015. Last March, she made the transition back to virtual operations—and loves it.

“People are ordering online for pickup in-store, so let’s just do away with the storefront model,” she says.

Whittington has noticed her audience’s content preferences shift from

curated to genuine, and she makes an effort to be authentic. Recently, she’s been wearing pieces from her shop each day to create posts. Customers seem to prefer seeing her try things on rather than

Authenticity is one of the biggest reasons locally owned boutiques stay relevant, even as they face steep competition from online retailers and big-box stores like Amazon, Target and Nordstrom.

Will Aguirre’s menswear store, Carriages Fine Clothier, has been around since the ’80s. He says it thrives in an environment where men care about what they wear; Mardi Gras, sports games and other

on a personal level is what makes us and other boutiques special.”

So what’s next for local retail? It’s hard to say if entrepreneurs will face a moment as lifealtering as Katrina or COVID anytime soon. But in the meantime, the trends are still cycling. Whittington says she’s a firm believer that fashion cycles back every 10 years.

“We’re back into prints now,” she says. “But leopard print never goes out of style for me.”

Despite seeing a rise in popularity in branded clothing over the last 15 or so years, Aguirre predicts a move away from logos. “While people are still very label-conscious,” he says, “things are certainly cleaner these days.”

As for LeBlanc, she’s happy to

WHERE GOOD VIBES, GREAT DRINKS AND BOLD FLAVORS COME TOGETHER.

Cancer ends, a new verse begins

Jon G. | Cancer Survivor

When Jon was diagnosed with leukemia, he found strength in two places—his love of music and the expert care team at Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center. “I started getting care there and was so in love with the people and the prevailing attitude of Ochsner, which is how I ended up writing a song.”

Ochsner MD Anderson delivers advanced cancer care right here in Louisiana, offering access to life-saving clinical trials, innovative therapies, more specialists and more resources for patients. Learn more at ochsner.org/EndCancer

On BRand

Rep the Red Stick with these wearable lines that were born in Baton Rouge

BY OLIVIA DEFFES // PHOTOS BY COLLIN RICHIE

WHAT WE WEAR makes a statement. An animal lover might rock cheetah print while a proud alum might sport a well-loved high school sweatshirt.

Luckily for diehard Baton Rougeans, the Capital Region is home to many shops, brands and creators that design and stock

Tim’s Garage

There’s nothing like a T-shirt that gives that worn-in look without having to spend the time breaking it in. This Baton Rouge brand pumps out vintage-y designs with a retro feel. So much so that scrolling through its site or thumbing through inventory at a pop-up feels like digging through a holy grail of hand-me-downs. Tim’s Garage’s muses include LSU, Capital City landmarks, pelicans and state parks, all of which are plastered on its quirky collections.

Mimosa Handcrafted

No outfit is complete without an accessory or two, so why not embellish your ensemble with bronze, sterling silver or 14-karat gold pieces made at this brand’s Louisiana studio? Wear a piece of home with pendants, cuffs, rings, earrings, cufflinks and pins fashioned to look like the state’s most famous flora, fauna, architecture and even culinary ingredients. All pieces created by founder Madeline Ellis and team have their own meaning and stories, so you can fill your jewelry box with local lore.

Anthony Lawrence Collection

Get gameday ready with shorts, shirts, hoodies and more from this local brand specializing in HBCU merch. It’s licensed to produce items for 17 colleges, including Grambling State, LSU, Southern University and out-of-state schools like the University of Colorado, Howard University and Morehouse College. Its designs can be spotted on street-stylish locals, but they have also been worn by stars like Lil Wayne and Deion Sanders. Still, owner De’fron Fobb is focused on the collection’s hometown presence.

Sweet Baton Rouge

Stroll through this Perkins Rowe boutique and you’ll find hats that say “y’all,” tees that depict the iconic Zippy’s sign and merchandise quoting the Louisiana-set film Steel Magnolias. Beyond the Bayou State-inspired styles, most of the shop's items are even printed here in town at its offsite studio, Petey’s Press. Talk about shopping local.

fashionable items with a hometown twist. Whether you’re a native, a homesick transplant or a new resident, show your love for BR by wearing your heart on your sleeve. Or around your neck. Or across your chest.

From Louisiana-focused jewelry to LSU-inspired tees printed right here in the 225, here are eight local brands to shop:

MEN’S ITEMS

“JUST SU IT” Tee, $24.99

Lacumba U Hoodie, $69.99

From Anthony Lawrence Collection

Keep Louisiana Beautiful graphic tee, $30 Tim’s Garage Logo Patch Snapback, $32 From Tim’s Garage

Homegrown Louisiana Script

Sportsman’s Paradise T-Shirt, $28

Richardson Round Patch Classic Rope Hat, $28

Homegrown Nutria Chino Twill Hat, $28 From Bengals & Bandits

Bengals & Bandits

With a storefront situated right at the north gates of LSU’s campus, this shop is an ideal spot to shop for all the last-min gameday ‘fits. Inside, find racks of purple and gold ballcaps, jerseys, baby fan gear, tiger ears and more. The shop also stocks clothing items emblazoned in unique designs exclusive to Bengals & Bandits, like the store’s tiger logo, crawfish clutching beer glasses and nutria rat decals, and other local motifs.

Queen of Sparkles

Sequins and rhinestones and gems–oh my! There’s nothing drab about the pieces designed by local fashion icon Jaime Glas Odom. As seen in rush week outfit-of-the-day TikToks and courtside on LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey, this glimmering garb is easy to spot with its signature shine. Comfortable cotton shirts and cozy sweatshirts make looking glamorous feel effortless. Surf the brand’s site for specialty collections or look for the gleam coming from racks at Capital Region boutiques.

Gain

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKING Bring

WOMEN’S ITEMS

The Mimi, $65

The Audrey, $65

From Geaux Clear Collection

Sweet Baton Rouge x Better in BTR T-Shirt, $30

Petey Hat, $32

From Sweet Baton Rouge

Black Big Butterfly Cardigan, $196

From Queen of Sparkles

Mimosa Leaf Earrings, $73

Sunburst Pendant, $240

From Mimosa Handcrafted

The Flora Scarf, $45

The Mariposa Scarf, $45

From Laura Welch Taylor

Geaux Clear Collection

From arena concerts to stadium games, a clear purse is a must-have. But transparent totes don’t have to be boring. Studded or leather-trimmed and available in fanny packs, backpacks, crossbodies and more, all of Geaux Clear’s products are named after owner Elise Lagarde Smith’s family members. This local brand meets clear bag requirements while adding to your outfit. Best of both worlds, right?

Laura Welch Taylor

Known for colorful abstract pieces, custom artwork and hand-painted ceramics, artist Laura Welch Taylor also prints her illustrations on scarves offered in different sizes. From a candy-colored sunburst design to styles covered in brush-stroked tigers, these silk squares are ideal for tying around the neck, wrapping around a purse strap, or fashioning into a top. And when you’re not wearing it, the scarf can double as a piece or art.

All that GLITTERS

Lafayette-born Embark Fine Jewelry makes an entrance with its first Baton Rouge location

BY GRACELYN FARRAR // PHOTOS BY ARIANA ALLISON

DURING THE COVID19 lockdown, dreamer Erin Judize and go-getter Katie Kennedy were enjoying a walk when they decided their years of experience in the wholesale jewelry industry had prepped them to start their own business. Once they roped in third co-owner Michelle Robertson, they were off to the races.

What was originally an onlineonly jewelry store soon pivoted to become a brick-and-mortar, to the owners’ surprise.

“Everybody wants to touch and feel and have that in-store experience,” Kennedy says.

Now, what began as a pick-up business around Kennedy’s dining table has transformed into a team of over 15 women and two locations at Embark Fine Jewelry–one in Lafayette and a recent addition in Baton Rouge.

“It just keeps growing and growing,” Robertson says. “It’s a blessing.”

The move to Baton Rouge’s Coterie Exchange development was quite the whirlwind. Leases were signed in June, and after renovations, the second-story space was ready to go for a September opening.

The store is graced with transom windows and soft golden lighting to accentuate the rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings on display.

Soft pinks warm the room along with some light wood cases for gifts, such as perfumes, candles and jewelry cases.

placements and earring purchases to the overall design of an earring stack.

“Everybody wants an ear piercing now. It’s wild,” Robertson says.

At the “dream bar,” customers can build the perfect ring from scratch, creating pieces from all different price points and qualities. Kennedy says Embark has built $1,000 engagement rings but has also done $200,000 engagement rings, so the sky really is the limit with customization.

“I think it gives the air of a place women want to come and shop.”

—Michelle Robertson, co-owner

“I think it gives the air of a place women want to come and shop,” Robertson says.

In a spacious private room, ear piercing services are provided with hollow, single-use needles that are safer and less traumatic to the ear compared to other methods. At Embark, customers can also receive help with everything from piercing

“It’s more of a concierge model.

It’s really how we started out–this intention to have these one-on-one appointments and make it very personable, approachable and easy for people,” Robertson says. “We’ve really kept that thread throughout, even as we’ve grown. We have this beautiful showroom, but we still love the private appointment aspect of what we offer.”

The range of jewelry offerings includes pieces starting as low as $20, creating opportunities for all kinds of gift shopping: graduations, birthdays and “all the different moments that we go through each and every day,” Judize says.

Gifting is a huge aspect of the business. Embark offers local pickup and shipping as well as gift wrapping for any purchase. Customers can build wish lists both online and in store, so friends and family always have a readymade registry for jewelry sizes and preferences.

Embark’s owners say they are hoping to soon open a third location in the Houston area, where Judize is based. The owners also plan to continue doing pop-ups at businesses and sorority houses. And as Kennedy adds, the three women are always texting new ideas to each other.

“Our team is very creative,” Robertson says. “We never stay stagnant.”

This Holiday Season, Share the Magic of Baton Rouge with the Ones You Love

There's no place like Baton Rouge for the holidays—where lights shine bright and memories come easy. From festive exhibits to joyful performances, Baton Rouge is your holiday home base for cheer you can enjoy your way.

Unwrap the Holidays in Baton Rouge — Invite Your Favorite People!

Charlie Brown

Christmas Tour

Live on Stage

River Center Theater for the Performing Arts

Nov 19

White Light Night

Mid City Baton Rouge

Mid City Merchants Assn.

Nov 21

Holiday Lights at Baton Rouge

General

Baton Rouge

General Bluebonnet

Nov 21 - Dec 30

Louisiana Lights Burden Museums & Gardens

Nov 28 - Dec 30

Zoo Lights

BREC Baton Rouge Zoo

Nov 28 - Dec 30

Festival of Lights

Downtown Baton Rouge Arts Council of

Greater Baton Rouge

Dec 5

Ice Skating on the River

Raising Cane’s River Center

Dec 11 - 30

Nutcracker: A Tale on the Bayou River Center Theatre for Performing Arts

Dec 20 - 21

Cirque Musica

Holiday Wonderland River Center Theatre for Performing Arts

Dec 23

Red Stick Revelry

Downtown Baton Rouge Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge

Dec 31 Scan Here to Share with Friends and Family

TEAMWORK MAKES DREAMWORK!

D � N � NG TRENDS

RESTAURANT

RE � NVENT � ONS

ANN � VERSARY CH � NA

REC � PES RECAP

M � XOLOGY EVENTS

COFFEE POP-UP

Group dynamics

There’s a good chance you’ve been fed by City Group Hospitality and Byronz Restaurant Family

Taste of history

About this feature: Each month across our 20th year, 225 will revisit restaurants from our past coverage. From Capital Region classics and award-winners to trendsetters and hidden gems, these businesses have helped shape our dining culture.

BACK IN 2017, Baton Rouge businessman Patrick Valluzzo purchased City Pork’s two locations: its original deli under the Perkins Road Overpass and a larger full-service concept on Jefferson Highway.

But it wasn’t just about picking up two restaurants.

Valluzzo saw an opportunity to create a restaurant group that could help propel the Capital City’s food scene with new concepts.

“There were 35 employees then,” recalls Valluzzo, City Group Hospitality president and CEO.

Today, the company has grown to seven concepts operating out of 13 locations with more than 400 employees, he says.

The backbone brand remains City Pork, an artisan pork eatery still located on Jefferson Highway and now also at Highland and Perkins roads. It has been joined by Proverbial Wine Bistro, seafood-centric Beausoleil Coastal Cuisine, family-friendly diner Spoke & Hub, City Slice Pints + Pizza, and Rouj Creole, which highlights Louisiana’s foodways. The restaurants are scattered throughout East Baton Rouge Parish and include fast-casual locations on the LSU campus and the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine.

“We envisioned a multi-concept organization that would offer different things,” Valluzzo says. “Some are more culinarily advanced, and others are more relatable. It’s a mix of both.”

Similarly, Byronz Restaurant Family grew from a single sandwich shop to a trio of concepts— Brasserie Byronz, Bistro Byronz and Pizza Byronz—whose menus and design channel a “Frenchie American” throughline.

Emelie Kantrow Alton, her father Mike Kantrow and other family members opened Bistro Byronz on Government Street in 2005. It was sparked, in part, by a popular sandwich shop the family ran in the late ’70s and ’80s.

“That brand had a very positive feeling about it,” Kantrow says. “So many people who are now professionals across town worked for us and people remembered the menu.”

The new iteration of the sandwich shop—a full-service, Frenchinspired eatery—drew fans for its bistro menu, which included the original Byronz sandwich, a warmed stack of ham, salami, Canadian bacon, cheese, black olives, lettuce and tomato with a tangy sauce on a homemade

FOR MORE THAN 47 YEARS, WE’VE HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING BATON ROUGE WITH DEPENDABLE, PERSONALIZED CHAUFFEURED TRANSPORTATION—EARNING THE TRUST OF OUR COMMUNITY, ONE RIDE AT A TIME.

bun. Bistro Byronz also added top sellers: pot roast with garlic mashed potatoes and green beans, steak frites and homey “back of the stove” chicken. Signature homemade potato chips served with blue cheese sauce also became a staple.

The family opened another Bistro Byronz in Willow Grove in 2015, and two years later, a new concept in the same development called Flambee Café. It rebranded to Pizza Byronz in 2020. Meanwhile, Bistro Byronz Mid City relocated from its aging building to a newer location on Government Street, in the former White Star Market, in late 2021.

In recent years, the groups have focused on reinvention and modernization over expansion as a means to move the needle in a flourishing culinary scene they helped create.

For the Byronz team, that’s looked like transforming its Mid City location into Brasserie Byronz in 2024, a grown-up version of the bistro with moodier décor,

Beausoleil’s seafood tower

All in the family

10 local restaurants are part of these groups

City Group Hospitality

• Beausoleil Coastal Cuisine

• City Pork Highland @ Perkins

• City Pork Jefferson

• City Slice Pints + Pizza

• Spoke & Hub

• Rouj Creole

• Proverbial Wine Bistro

Byronz Restaurant Family

• Bistro Byronz Willow Grove

• Brasserie Byronz

• Pizza Byronz

upgraded riffs on familiar dishes and a broader cocktail program. Alton says the restaurants have aimed to appeal to different cravings, all delivered in the same European sidewalk café atmosphere.

“We’ve got three different concepts,” Alton says. “And they’re all intended to be honest and accessible.”

For City Group Hospitality, Valuzzo says the phone still rings regularly with new opportunities. But the current focus is to double down on excellence.

All menus were updated this year. Staff were retrained. And earlier this fall, City Slice relocated to Nicholson Drive from West Chimes Street.

Valluzzo says City Group has had a front-row seat to the Capital Region’s dining evolution.

“Baton Rouge has been through a huge renaissance with food,” Valluzzo says. “But I don’t think we’ve arrived yet. We still have a lot of opportunity.”

of dining 20 years

The tastes, sips and trends that have shaped Baton Rouge’s culinary scene

BY MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON // PHOTOGRAPHY BY COLLIN RICHIE

CAST YOUR memory back to a time when fried seafood restaurants and basic American spots defined Baton Rouge’s culinary landscape

In those days, a meager number of sushi restaurants represented gastronomic advancement, and specialty coffee shops were few and far between. So-called foodies felt compelled to travel for dining trends, which seemed to take forever to land in the Capital Region. In those beforetimes, no one had heard of craft cocktails, much less the puzzling term “zero proof.”

Smartphones were a fresh concept, meaning food photography was left to the professionals and Instagram was as unheard of as delivery apps.

Fortunately, the food world doesn’t stand still. Trends now zigzag the country like wildfire, and they’re welcomed in Baton Rouge by willing, adventurous diners.

Here are some of the ways our culinary scene has changed over the two decades that 225 has been in print.

Small world

Global cuisine has expanded across the

with restaurants

a

in

City Roots Coffee Bar

Bean scene

Patio, please

Demand for outdoor dining exploded during the pandemic when scores of local bars and restaurants added or expanded breezy outdoor spaces. Unlike other COVID-related phenomena, patios have remained, helping to make al fresco dining commonplace. (Turn to pg. 208 to see some of the spots where you can take it outside.)

Market magic

Culinary retail kept expanding, with the arrival of Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Aldi, Total Wine and Costco, and the continued success of beloved independent supermarkets, international groceries and gourmet shops. Meanwhile, the Red Stick Farmers Market continued to supply hyper-local foods. Local cooks can now find pretty much anything they want, from fresh produce to obscure condiments. From offices to storefronts, we bring reliable service, personal care, and attention to detail you can trust. As a family-owned small business, we’re proud to keep our community clean — one space at a time.

Plant-based finds its place

Dining goes digital

A strong cup of Joe has long been a Louisiana ritual, but now coffee is a full-on movement. Baristas deploy the flair of mixologists in dozens of boutique coffee shops that draw regional fans with cozy interiors and voluminous menus. Iced matcha, pistachio lattes and lavender-infused cold brew only begin to scratch the surface. 2 6 3

Exclusively vegetarian restaurants remain outliers here and in most American cities, but there’s been real growth in mix-and-match menus that prioritize flexitarianism. Today’s diners want their veg and their proteins, too.

Devices have become so embedded in our culinary consciousness that it’s hard to remember life without them. We use smartphones to order, research, scan, map, share and post. As essential as a knife and fork? Not yet, but darn close.

4 5

Beyond booze

No longer does asking for a mocktail earn you funny looks. Bartenders around town have been curating zero-proof dupes with the style and flash of the real thing.

Cottage core

Alcohol grows up

Adult beverages have become endlessly interesting, with craft cocktail menus now the rule, not the exception. Learn to make flawless cocktails at The Tipsy Librarian and shop for the latest buzzy spirits at local supermarkets or stores. 7

8

Cottage bakeries, many of which started during the pandemic, roared onto the scene. Dozens of home bakers launched front porch pickups and pop-ups, giving Baton Rouge a taste of the kinds of detailed pastries, sweets and breads not found in commercial bakeries.

9 10

Popping up

Pop-up culture, once a novelty, became well established, with a growing number of adopters understanding how to track the whereabouts of their favorite food trucks, pop-ups and micro-bakers. Diners also embraced the harsh reality of small-scale operators— sometimes they just run out.

More of a good thing

Twenty years ago, the number of restaurants within subsets like pizza, barbecue, tacos, burgers and sushi eateries was minimal in Baton Rouge. Now, each is its own expansive category, offering a wide spectrum of menus and experiences. Diners remain loyal to their favorites, but they also love options.

Early bird gets the worm

Maybe it’s because we want to rush home to stream a show, or it’s because we’ve been told it’s healthier. Whatever the reason, diners nationwide and in Baton Rouge are eating dinner earlier. Restaurateurs have seen reservation preferences shift to before 7 p.m., with many patrons even preferring late afternoon.

Ascension Parish: Powering the Future of Energy

At the Center of Global Energy Progress

Ascension Parish is the driving force in Louisiana’s petrochemical and industrial economy, strategically located on the Mississippi River with premier access to domestic and global markets.

Cheers to your health

Health-conscious beverages rose in popularity, among them fresh smoothies, cold pressed juices and commercial or homemade kombucha. Spots like The Big Squeezy and Dr. FeelGood became local institutions, answering the demand for nutrient-packed drinks.

Tracking trends

Culinary inspiration used to be fueled by TV shows and glossy national magazines. Now, the hype cycle is fed by TikTok and Instagram. They’ve stoked our interest in Dubai chocolate, the Tunacado sandwich, meal prepping, charcuterie, fruit-shaped ice cream, matcha and so much more.

The price we pay

It’s an inevitable part of time marching on: Prices rise, and they don’t come back down. But diners have watched restaurants and bar prices spike dramatically, thanks to a perfect storm of hikes that include labor, rent, insurance and, of course, food. Combine the cost of a meal with increased expectations for tipping, and a night out now comes with serious sticker shock.

Dining by design

Restaurant design has become an arms race of sorts in Baton Rouge, with spots like Supper Club, The Colonel’s Club, Mother’s Lounge, Jubans Restaurant and Bar, SoLou, Tap 65 and others investing in wow-factor interiors meant to turn heads. Equally impressive bathrooms also got their day as requisite selfie backdrops.

Influencers kept influencing

Twenty years ago, food bloggers were starting to gain traction. Today, influencers wield significant, well, influence.

17

Regional dining expansion

18

New restaurants popped up all over the region, particularly in Ascension and Livingston parishes, where the population has exploded over the last 20 years. St. Francisville also saw new eateries arise in its historic downtown.

The pandemic’s lasting impact

Issue

Destination: dessert

Dedicated dessert shops have become a separate category beyond restaurants and traditional bakeries. Establishments like Bonjour, Creperesso, Cheesecake Lab, Sweet Society, Gail’s Fine Ice Cream, Popaletas Michoacan and others now make it possible to stop off for a sweet on its own or as part of a progressive dinner.

WhereToGeaux225 Social Media founder Jordan Basham, lifestyle expert Maameefua Koomson, and the Eat the Boot Facebook group and podcast help thousands of regional fans decide where and what to eat. We also witnessed the impact of viral TikToker Keith Lee’s 2024 visit to a handful of local restaurants, which reported a subsequent sales bounce known as the “Keith Lee Effect.”

Date: NOV 2025 Ad proof #1

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

The pandemic changed the food scene irreversibly. Restaurants saw the demand for to-go orders surge, thanks to the rise of delivery apps. The large restaurant footprint of the past gave way to small to midsize concepts with fewer seats. And many spots simplified operations with all-day service and streamlined menus.

• AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hrs 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.

19

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Melara Enterprises, LLC. 2025. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700

SANTA SANTA

THE ROWE THE ROWE

PHOTOS WITH SANTA

LIVE MUSIC FACE PAINTING

LETTERS TO SANTA GAMES & MORE

13 DEC 13 DEC 5PM - 8PM

Revolving restaurants

A look at who’s been moving into, out of and around Baton Rouge’s hottest restaurant districts over the decades

BY LAURA FURR MERICAS

OVER THE LAST 20 years, 225 has covered hundreds of restaurant openings (and closings) all over the city—with The Perkins Road Overpass District and Mid City’s Government Street standing out as the region’s feeding ground for fresh flavors and innovative concepts.

Mixed in with stalwart joints, the areas have cooked up some of Baton Rouge’s latest and greatest eateries, many of which have ties to one another.

Here’s a look at some of the restaurants that have moved into and out of the areas since 225 launched back in 2005—plus, what eateries their buildings held before them, based on our past reporting. Recognize any familiar names?

Rocca Pizzeria (2018-present)

Jay’s Bar-B-Q (1954-present)

Government Street

Brasserie Byronz (2024-present)

Bistro Byronz (2021-2024)

White Star Market (2018-2020)

Goûter Restaurant (2016-2017) Tap 65 (2022-present)

Curbside Burgers (2016-present)

White Star Market (2018-2020)

Hannah Q Smokehouse (2019-present)

The Jambalaya Shoppe (Closed 2017)

Soji: Modern Asian (2018-present) Rotolo’s Pizzeria (2008-2017)

MJ’s Cafe * (2019-present)

Tiger Deauxnuts and Barbecue (2018-2019)

Tiger Deauxnuts (2015-2018)

Rocco’s Po-Boys and Grill (Opened 2013)

Opie’s Cajun Cafe (2007-2013) Phils’ Oyster Bar (1950-2007)

The Perkins Road Overpass District

Duvic’s (1997-present)

The Overpass Merchant shares owners with Gail’s Fine Ice Cream down the street and Curbside Burgers on Government.

The Overpass Merchant (2016-present)

Zee Zee Gardens (1990s-2015)

St.

BLDG 5 (2019present)

The Colonel’s Club (2024-present)

Kalurah Street Grill (2017-2023) Chelsea’s Cafe (2006-2015)

DiGiulio Brothers Italian Cafe (1987-present)

Ivar’s Sports Bar & Grill (1990-present)

Hollydale Ave.

Perkins Rd.

Spoke & Hub (2022-present)

Bistro Byronz (2006-2021)

Ferndale Ave.

*Maps are for illustrative purposes only

Zee Zee’s Kitchen + Cocktails (2022-present)

George’s (Closed 2020) Rama (1970s-2020)

Chow Yum* (2019-present)

City Pork Deli & Charcuterie (2013-2019)

Ave.

Luna Cocina (2024-present) Bumsteers (2019-2021) The Crispy Catch (2018-2015)

PLATE IT forward

China for a modern 20th anniversary celebration

BY JENNIFER TORMO ALVAREZ // PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACKIE HAXTHAUSEN

SOME OF KATIA Mangham’s core memories are as a little girl in a china shop.

While her mother shopped for sparkling porcelain, a young Mangham sat politely in the corner, promising not to touch anything behind the glass.

Until she got home.

There, Mangham’s mother would set her haul on a soft bedspread so her daughters could handle the pieces they were curious about.

Mangham remembers carefully clutching dainty teacups made in Limoges, France. She’d practice pouring from a blue and gold teapot. She’d fashion mock tablescapes.

“We could touch everything and get it out of our system,” Mangham says.

The experience turned out to be formative for Mangham—who, as it turns out, would never truly get it out of her system.

Today, she owns Gourmet Girls, a catering company, café and boutique in Baton Rouge’s Studio Park. She has her hands on china all day, curating a retail collection of fine dinnerware from labels like Astier de Villatte, Herend and Ginori 1735.

She relishes advising customers on which china to buy for a traditional 20th anniversary gift—or as presents for weddings, birthdays and other occasions.

But as dining traditions have become increasingly casual, interest in fine china has been waning for decades, according to The New York Times.

Mangham espouses a different approach.

“I’m not a fan of buying things and putting them in a china cabinet. I’m going to use my special china. I use my sterling every day,” she says.

Mangham savors setting a table, the theater of positioning placemats, plates and flatware.

“When you go through the effort of setting a table,” she says, “whoever is coming and joining you for that meal feels special because you did this for them.”

And at the end of the night, it all goes in the dishwasher. It’s worth a little patina.

Katia Mangham, owner of Gourmet Girls

Serving LOOKS

For an anniversary gift—or just because—Katia Mangham shares tips for curating and styling a fine china collection

PHOTOS COURTESY GOURMET GIRLS

Mixing and matching. Complete sets are no longer required. Mangham advocates buying what speaks to you now, even if it means purchasing piecemeal. Blending brands and even patterns is encouraged. Keep it seamless by sticking to one material, such as pairing two porcelain pieces of a similar thickness.

Skip the handwashing. Handle with care, but don’t fear the dishwasher. With moderate use, modern gentle, low-heat settings are unlikely to cause damage to even gold-trimmed porcelain, Mangham says. “But I would not put crystal in the dishwasher,” she adds.

Register for every occasion. “We’ve had a lot of girls and ladies create gift registries that have nothing to do with a wedding. You can make a registry for your birthday or Christmas so people know what to buy you,” Mangham says.

The no-rules tablescape. Let your vase roleplay as a spoon holder at a buffet. Rest your salad servers on a bread and butter plate. “Think outside the lines,” Mangham says.

Astier de Villatte John Derian Collection Blue Butterflies Vase, $770

Fancy can also be fun. Makers are straying from china’s serious, stuffy stereotype in favor of bolder colors and conversation-starting designs, like Astier de Villatte’s whimsical ring cups. “The little handle is a ring. You can drink your coffee out of a Styrofoam cup every morning or out of a cup [like this],” Mangham says.

Astier de Villatte Left Eye Ring Cup, $355

The modular movement. Ginori 1735’s pastel, mid-century-inspired Diva collection is stackable, ideal for entertainers who have limited cabinet space. “The ease of use is phenomenal,” Mangham says.

20 years of Building Tomorrow, Together

WHAT ARE YOUR LEGS TRYING TO TELL YOU? Understanding

vein disease

Venous disease, or venous insufficiency, occurs when the veins in the legs don’t return blood properly to the heart. Instead, blood flows backward and pools in the legs. Over time, this can cause serious complications if left untreated. About 15 percent of people live with venous disease, often without realizing it.

WHO IS AT RISK?

Women are up to three times more likely than men to develop venous disease. Hormonal changes can weaken vein walls and valves, and pregnancy increases blood volume, adding further strain on your vein walls and valves. Multiple births raise risk even more.

LIFESTYLE AND JOB FACTORS MATTER TOO:

• STANDING JOBS - Teachers, cooks, baristas, cleaners, factory workers and retail staff spend long hours on their feet, which increases vein pressure and leakage. Taking regular breaks and wearing compression stockings can help reduce the risk of vein disease.

• SITTING JOBS - Desk jobs limit circulation. Standing up and walking around at least once per hour or moving your legs regularly at your desk can help keep blood flowing.

OTHER RISK FACTORS INCLUDE:

• Age 50+

• Obesity or high blood pressure

• Family history of venous disease

• Smoking

• Blood clots in the legs

• Lack of exercise

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Vein disease often goes unnoticed at first. Symptoms may be subtle, brushed off or ignored - until they become too obvious to overlook. Watch for:

• S welling, heaviness or tightness in the legs ( especially by day’s end )

• A ching, burning, cramping or throbbing leg pain (worse after sitting or standing too long)

• Visible varicose or spider veins

• Skin discoloration

• Dry, flaky or weeping eczema

• Itchy skin

• Rope-like, protruding veins

• Restless legs

• Leg ulcers

TREATMENT OF VENOUS DISEASE

“Recognizing vein disease as a medical condition – not just a cosmetic concern – allows us to address both quality of life and long-term vascular health,” says Dr. Amit Patel, interventional cardiologist and vascular specialist at Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS).

The good news is that vein disease is treatable, whether through lifestyle changes or medical treatments. Lifestyle

changes – such as staying active, moving often or wearing compression stockings – can help reduce symptoms and swelling and, in some cases, treat vein disease. However, to address the root cause, medical treatment may be necessary. At CIS, specialists offer the latest minimally invasive vein procedures, performed in a convenient clinic setting. Left untreated, vein disease can worsen, leading to tissue damage, blood clots, infections or painful ulcers. Early diagnosis and treatment protects your health, improves appearance and can even save your limbs.

DON’T IGNORE THE SIGNS

Vein disease is silent – until it isn’t. A simple ultrasound can detect it early. With three locations across the Capital region, the CIS team provides advanced cardiovascular care close to home. Visit cardio. com to learn more about how CIS can support your cardiovascular health.

TRUE TRIED

Eight standout dishes from the last five years of recipes COMPILED BY TRACEY KOCH // PHOTOS BY AMY SHUTT

ONE AFTERNOON every month, a small team gathers to cook, prep, style, shoot and taste to bring Dining In from 225 contributor Tracey Koch’s kitchen to yours.

Since 2013, Tracey has developed hundreds of original recipes for our magazine, from smothered, Southern-style dishes to at-home Asian-inpsired cuisine. Her culinary knowhow, real-world practicality and love for home cooking shines through each and every dish. And 225 contributing photographer Amy Shutt translates it all to the page.

For this month’s anniversary issue, we combed through more than 150 of Tracey’s recipes from the last five years. Here are some of our favorites.

Turn pot roast leftovers into simple but tasty poboys with crunchy French bread and all the fixings.

Smothered pot roast (March

2023)

Serves 6 (with leftovers)

1 (5½- to 6-pound) beef chuck or shoulder roast

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil

½ cup chopped onions

4 cloves garlic, minced

½ teaspoon dried thyme

1 cup dry red wine

2 packets low-sodium brown gravy mix

1 package brown gravy mix with mushrooms

1. Trim any excess fat off of the roast and pat it dry. Season all the sides with salt and pepper. Allow it to come to room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before browning.

2. Move a rack in the oven to the middle position and heat to 375 F

3. Place a large Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium to high heat. Add the olive oil. Brown the roast for 4 to 5 minutes on all sides to sear.

4. Remove the meat, reduce the heat and add the chopped onions. Sauté for 1 minute and then add the minced garlic and dried thyme. Sauté for another 10 to 15 seconds, stirring constantly.

5. Turn off the heat and pour in the red wine. Turn the heat back on to medium. Scrape the bottom of the Dutch oven to remove any of the brown bits from the bottom.

6. Prepare the gravy packets according to the package directions and pour them into the Dutch oven. Continue stirring until the mixture begins to simmer and thicken.

7. Add the roast back to the gravy. The roast should be mostly submerged in the gravy. Cover the pot with the lid. Place it into the heated oven and cook for 1 hour.

8. After an hour, carefully remove the lid, gently stirring the roast before putting the lid back on. Lower the oven temperature to 350 F and continue cooking for an additional 1½ to 2 hours. The pot roast is done when it is fork tender and easy to slice.

Leftover roast beef po-boys (March 2023)

Serves 6

2 loaves crispy French bread

Mayonnaise

Dijon mustard

3 cups shredded roast beef in gravy, heated (see recipe)

Shredded green leaf lettuce

Sliced ripe tomato

Sliced pickles

1. Heat the oven to 350 F. Cut the French bread into 6-inch pieces, and then slice each piece down the middle.

2. Place the French bread on a baking sheet. Toast in the heated oven for 3 to 4 minutes or until just crispy.

3. Spread mayonnaise and Dijon mustard inside the French bread. Place the roast beef in gravy in the French bread. Top with lettuce, tomato and pickles. Serve.

Homemade ramen broth

(January 2021)

Serves 6

4 tablespoons sesame oil

2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh ginger

3 cloves garlic, chopped

¼ cup chopped scallion bottoms

½ cup mirin or sherry

2 quarts store-bought chicken bone broth

¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce

½ teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup dried shiitake mushrooms

1. Heat the sesame oil in a large pot. the ginger, garlic and scallions. Sauté for 30 seconds.

2. Carefully pour in the mirin or sherry. Continue stirring for a couple of seconds.

3. Pour in the bone broth and soy sauce. Bring the mixture up to a boil.

4. Add the kosher salt and dried mushrooms and reduce the heat. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

5. Keep the ramen broth hot while you assemble the ramen bowls (recipe follows)

Ramen bowls

(January 2021)

Serves 6

1 pound cooked ramen noodles

Homemade ramen broth (recipe above)

2 pounds cooked chicken, pork or beef

1 cup shredded carrots

1 cup shredded cabbage

1 cup sliced baby Bella mushrooms

½ cup bean sprouts

½ cup chopped green onions

½ cup fresh cilantro leaves

Toasted sesame seeds

3 soft-boiled eggs

Sesame oil to drizzle

1. Cook the ramen noodles according to the package directions. Divide between 6 bowls.

2. Pour homemade ramen broth into each bowl.

3. Fill each ramen bowl with the meat, vegetables and bean sprouts. Top with chopped green onions, cilantro and toasted sesame seeds.

4. Cut the soft-boiled eggs in half and place a half in each bowl. Drizzle with a little sesame oil and serve.

Morning mixed berry smoothie (January 2025)

Yields 1 smoothie

1 cup blueberries

½ cup strawberries

½ ripe banana

1 cup low-fat milk or unsweetened vanilla-flavored almond milk

½ cup plain Greek yogurt or plain non-dairy yogurt

2 tablespoons homemade protein powder

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Place all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.

2. Pour into a tall glass and enjoy.

Learn how to make a homemade protein powder at 225batonrouge.com/recipes.

Our January 2025 smoothie recipes have been some of 225’s mostviewed stories of the year.

Women’s Health Services

CareSouth @ Howell focuses on providing a wide range of services, including both preventative care and treatment for specific conditions.

Preventive Care & Wellness Exams

Routine well-woman exams are a cornerstone of their services, including Pap smears and pelvic exams. These are crucial for the early detection of issues like cervical cancer.

Gynecological Care

The practice addresses a variety of gynecological concerns, such as menstrual irregularities, pelvic pain, and menopause management.

Family Planning

They offer counseling and services related to family planning and contraception.

Pregnancy Care

The clinic provides care for pregnant women, from initial prenatal visits through postpartum care, to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery.

Arancini (March 2024)

Yields 25 to 30 (3-inch round) arancini

6 cups water

2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

1 tablespoon butter

3 cups short-grain rice

2 tablespoons olive oil

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

3 cloves minced garlic

1 pound lean ground beef

½ pound hot Italian sausage

2 cups grated Parmesan cheese

½ cup frozen peas (optional)

½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper

2 cup grated mozzarella cheese

1½ cups flour

2 eggs

1 3 cup water

3 cups Italian breadcrumbs

6 cups of vegetable oil for frying

1. In a medium to large pot, bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon salt, butter and rice. Bring the rice back up to a boil, stir, reduce the heat and cover. Cook the rice, covered, over low heat for 10 to 12 minutes or until all the water has evaporated.

2. Remove from heat and allow the rice to steam in the covered pot for 7 to 10 minutes.

3. While the rice is steaming, heat a heavy nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil, crushed red pepper flakes and garlic. Sauté for 10 to 15 seconds and then add the ground beef and Italian sausage.

4. Once the meat is cooked, drain it in a strainer and return to the skillet. Fold in the steamed rice and add the grated Parmesan cheese, peas, remaining salt and pepper. Pour the rice mixture out onto a lined baking sheet to cool completely.

5. Once the rice mixture has cooled, line another baking sheet with parchment. Use a tablespoon or small cookie scoop and portion out the rice mixture to make 3-inch round disks. Place a teaspoon of the grated mozzarella in the center of each disk, and then close up the sides to form a ball. Repeat until all of the mixture is used.

6. Once all of the mixture is formed into balls, set up an assembly line to bread them. Place the flour in a shallow baking dish. In a second shallow dish, beat the eggs and remaining water to make an egg wash. Finally, in a third shallow dish, pour in the Italian breadcrumbs.

7. Roll each ball in the flour, then in the egg wash, and finally in the breadcrumbs to coat completely. Place back on the baking sheet.

8. In a heavy, deep Dutch oven, pour the vegetable oil and heat it over medium-high heat to 300 F. Line a cooling rack with paper towels and begin frying the arancini a few at a time. Fry them for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden.

Remove the arancini with a slotted spoon and place them onto the lined cooling rack to drain. Preheat the oven to 325 F and place the arancini onto a baking sheet. Place them into a preheated oven to keep warm until you are ready to serve. Serve the arancini warm with your favorite marinara sauce for dipping.

For the Crock-Pot chutney recipe, go to 225batonrouge.com/recipes.

Savory French-style king cake (December 2023)

Serves 6

2 frozen puff pastry sheets

6 to 8 slices of bacon

8 to 10 ounces Camembert cheese

2 cups prepared Crock-Pot chutney

1 egg yolk

3 tablespoons water

1. Thaw the puff pastry, heat the oven to 400 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Lightly dust the work surface with a little flour and roll out the 2 sheets of puff pastry into 9-inch circles. Place one of the circles of puff pastry on the lined baking sheet.

3. Cook the bacon until it is crispy, crumble it and set it aside. Slice the Camembert and place the cheese slices in a single layer on the puff pastry that’s on the baking sheet, making sure to leave a 1-inch border all the way around.

4. Spread the Chutney over the slices of Camembert and top that layer with the crumbled bacon.

5. Whisk the egg yolk and water together, and brush the egg wash around the border of the puff pastry.

6. Use a fork to prick a few holes across the second puff pastry round and place the second puff pastry round on top to cover the tart. The holes will help to vent the tart as it bakes, allowing the top to become light and flaky. Gently press the edges together to seal and then fold the edges over and crimp with your fingers.

7. Brush the top of the tart with the remaining egg wash and place the tart in the warmed 400 F oven.

8. Bake the tart for 20 to 25 minutes or until puffed and golden.

Nailing 20 Years of Local Love

As 225 Magazine celebrates two decades of community and creativity, Sweetheart Nails is honored to stand alongside a publication that celebrates local excellence. Thank you for spotlighting the businesses, entrepreneurs, and dreamers that make Baton Rouge beautiful.

Maggie’s dark chocolate pie (November 2022)

Yields 1 (9-inch) pie

1 (9-inch) pie crust

¼ teaspoon cornstarch

2 tablespoons Hershey’s

Cocoa Special Dark Powder

1½ cups sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

1. Heat the oven to 350 F. Roll out the pie crust and press it into a 9-inch pie dish. Crimp the edges and place weights into the bottom of the crust to prevent it from bubbling up or sliding down the edges of the dish as it bakes.

2. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until it is a light golden brown and completely baked. Remove from the oven. Use a fork to prick the bottom of the crust to allow steam to escape while the crust cools. This will prevent the crust from becoming soggy. Set the pie crust aside to cool completely before filling.

3. In a heavy medium-size saucepan, blend together the cornstarch, cocoa powder, sugar and salt until well blended.

3 cups whole milk

4 egg yolks, beaten

8 ounces semisweet chocolate

1 ounce bittersweet chocolate

2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon vanilla

4. Turn the heat to medium and whisk in the milk and egg yolks. Use a rubber spatula to get everything off of the bottom and sides of the pot. Continue whisking over medium heat for several minutes until the mixture is smooth, thick and is just coming to a boil.

5. Immediately turn off the heat and continue whisking to prevent the eggs from scrambling. As you are mixing, add in the semisweet and bittersweet chocolate, butter and vanilla.

6. Mix until all is smooth and well blended. Pour the chocolate pie filling into the baked pie crust.

7. Place plastic wrap, touching the chocolate filling, to prevent a film from forming. Place the pie into the refrigerator for several hours overnight to chill completely. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Holiday Cleaning Easy

Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, we’re adjusting our tuition to make a St. Luke’s education more accessible than ever.

Why Families Choose St. Luke’s

• Strong academics with high test scores

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• The excellence of a National Blue Ribbon School

Come walk our halls, meet our teachers, and experience what makes St. Luke’s so special.

Ice cream bon bons (February 2021)

Serves 4

1 to 3 pints ice cream of your choice

12 ounces dark chocolate chips

2 tablespoons vegetable shortening

1 cup chocolate cookie crumbs

1 cup chopped toasted nuts

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Use a small cookie scoop or a tablespoon to make and shape small, round ice cream scoops. Place them on the lined baking sheet and put them in the freezer for several hours or overnight.

3. In a microwave-safe bowl, place the chocolate chips and vegetable shortening together and heat for 30 to 40 seconds. Stir and place the bowl back into the microwave for another 25 to 35 seconds.

4. Remove the bowl and stir until the chocolate is smooth. Allow the chocolate to cool slightly, and then transfer it into a squeeze bottle for easier application.

5. Place the cookie crumbs and chopped nuts into separate shallow bowls. Line another baking sheet with parchment.

6. Working quickly, remove the mini-ice cream scoops from the freezer and separate into three groups. Roll one group in the cookie crumbs and another in the chopped nuts. Place these on the lined baking sheet and put them back in the freezer to keep them frozen.

7. Squeeze the chocolate sauce over the remaining ice cream scoops, allowing the chocolate to completely cover the scoops of ice cream. Place them back into the freezer to keep them frozen. Keep the ice cream bon bons in the freezer for several more hours before serving.

A table OUTSIDE , please!

Autumnal weather calls for a meal on the patio, and these 12 spots deliver with plenty of outdoor seating

SoLou

7246 Perkins Road

Enjoy your brunch under sprawling tree limbs during the day or indulge in a b-day dinner under the large, twinkling lights.

Barracuda Taco Stand

2504 Government St.

Scope out your seat while waiting to order at this taco spot’s window. Take your pick of Sonoran-style tacos, bowls, margs and more before indulging at this spacious patio dining area on Government Street.

DiGiulio Brothers

2903 Perkins Road

Save spaghetti night for a rainy day with DiGiulio’s recent patio upgrade. The space has been closed in for those days when the weather is being temperamental or when patrons want to watch sports matchups without hearing the hum of cars.

BLDG 5

2805 Kalurah St.

Rustic and covered in greenery, this restaurant’s outdoor seating area is an oasis for those looking to pick at a grazing board and get away from the hustle and bustle happening in the Overpass area nearby.

BY OLIVIA DEFFES

Mid City Beer Garden

3808 Government St.

Sure, nothing beats a warm day like a cold beer, but grabbing a brew and a grilled cheese and tomato soup at Mid City Beer Garden is way better when the temps are bearable.

The Overpass Merchant

2904 Perkins Road

This Perkins Road fave recently gave its patio a major upgrade by enclosing the space. Sit outside while being protected from outdoor elements like rain and chilly temps. Because no one wants their cheese curds to get cold.

Gail’s Fine Ice Cream

3025 Perkins Road

With brightly painted picnic tables and a lawn overlooking Perkins Road, Gail’s is a great place to enjoy a cool cone to match the downward temperatures.

Rêve Coffee Lab

8211 Village Plaza Court

If you’re looking for an open-air environment to study, have a casual work meeting or sip a coffee with friends, try Rêve’s tables that line the shop’s exterior. Other nearby outdoor options include Bistro Byronz and Pizza Byronz.

Spoke & Hub

5412 Government St.

This Government Street restaurant definitely knows how to utilize its outdoor space. With seating along the front and side of the restaurant, you can enjoy brunch, lunch or dinner at umbrella-covered tables.

Leola’s Cafe & Coffee House

1857 Government St.

Sip on mimosas and try a seasonal flight of pancakes while enjoying the outdoor patio space at Leola’s. The courtyard even features a small stage area for musicians to play and a bar for boozy brunch parties.

Tacos del Cartel

10155 Perkins Rowe

While a lot of the excitement takes place indoors (like fire performances behind the bar), Tacos del Cartel’s outdoor area isn’t too shabby with rattan chairs, comfy couches and photo-worthy neon signs. Perkins Rowe is also home to other spots with tables outside for dining like Drago’s Seafood Restaurant, California Pizza Kitchen, Jinya Ramen Bar and more.

Curbside Burgers

4158 Government St.

In 2024, Curbside Burgers unveiled patio upgrades, with an improved sound system for live music, new landscaping and hanging plants, colorful artwork installed along fences, and six mounted TVs for watching sporting events.

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That’s the SPIRIT

cocktails made

BY MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON // PHOTOS BY ARIANA ALLISON

DURING ALAN

WALTER’S time as a celebrated mixologist in New Orleans, he earned the nickname “Spirit Handler,” a nod to a nervy, yet intentional approach to cocktail craftery. His drinks gained a reputation for deploying unexpected ingredients, but in ways that produced smooth, balanced results. These days, you can taste Walter’s liquid handiwork at Bin Q Liquor, where he’s hosting Thursday night pop-ups, and through his new cocktail catering business, Sprezzatura.

Walter shifted his professional focus from New Orleans to Baton Rouge in late 2021. Until mid-January, he was a consultant with City Group Hospitality, tweaking some of its restaurants’ bar programs before settling into The Brakes Bar, the restaurant group’s boutique Mid City speakeasy. Also in January, he was named a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist in the Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service category, the first culinarian in the Capital Region to earn a nomination.

Four years in Baton Rouge have given him plenty of time to amass a following.

“I’ll send out a text, and see who shows up,” Walter says.

Disciples show up at Bin Q for

the recently launched Alan Walter Thursdays, during which he serves limited-menu cocktails made with fresh fruits, herbs and juices, highend spirits and oddball enhancements, like pine needles, toasted birdseed and muscadine juice.

The menu is scribbled on small cards and pinned to a table stand along with vintage postcards, black and white photos, a $2 bill, a ViewMaster disk and other curated cast-offs.

Patrons grab a stool and choose from drinks like the Thai chili Old Fashioned, the Chien et Loup, and a gin and lychee cocktail with basil and pineapple balsamic. There’s

also a Bellini 75, a mescal Negroni, and a lime and cantaloupe daiquiri.

Walter’s hands move deftly while making the Paloma for the Ages when 225 visits on a Thursday this fall. He peels off a generous wedge of grapefruit rind and muddles it before blending blanco tequila, citrus syrup and pamplemousse liqueur with a finish of sparkling water. Meanwhile, vibey music plays—Walter brings the tunes— while patrons sit among eclectic statuary and bouquets of basil and magnolia leaves. What a way to forget about the gridlock outside on Perkins Road.

Walter has also helped Bin Q up

its cocktail game, preparing fresh syrups and infusions on site, and designing both a menu for fall and Tiki Tuesdays, says store owner Ben Jones. The spirit shop’s bar has become a draw for its customers.

“It just kind of sets us apart,” Jones says.

Walter plans to continue his signature nights at Bin Q, while also launching Sprezzatura, Italian for making the difficult look easy, or effortless grace.

“The focus will be on small gatherings,” says Walter, before turning back to make the difficult look easy. Find it on Facebook.

CELEBRATING

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ENVISIONING BATON ROUGE: Where Community Comes to Life

BREW

BY OLIVIA TEES

Fuel up for haircuts and taco feasts with fresh bevs from Rêve Coffee Lab’s Mid City pop-up

NESTLED BETWEEN

Barracuda Taco Stand and The Parker Barber on Government Street sits a small alcove that has a new tenant. Rêve Coffee Lab has set up a pop-up shop inside the space formerly occupied by D’s Garden Center, offering its specialty coffee to Baton Rougeans in Mid City.

The pop-up is open every Thursday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eric Schoonmaker has worked at Rêve for five years and is the mastermind behind all of the Baton Rouge location’s activities.

For now, the pop-up serves espresso-based drinks, pourovers, matcha lattes and fresh pastries that Schoonmaker personally picks up that morning. Canned coffee and the shop’s most popular specialty drink, the Voodoo Elixir–a honey, cinnamon, nutmeg and chicory concentrated cold brew, are also available.

Schoonmaker says he's learning that the best times to be open are when Baraccuda is busiest. Who wouldn’t want an espresso pick-me-up after demolishing a few tacos?

The pop-up was somewhat of an organic decision, Schoonmaker says. He started with the logistics in March. After meeting Josh Chataignier, who runs The Parker Barber, Schoonmaker learned the location was in the market for a coffee and wine bar–Rêve’s specialty.

“He liked what we offer with coffee and [that we] also kind of have a nightlife as well,” Schoonmaker says.

Schoonmaker and Chataignier both noticed that coffee shops in Mid City close early and wanted to offer a spot for beans and

booze that was open later.

Schoonmaker says the pop-up shop is still in the growing phase. Once the team starts building out, they can offer more seating, AC and the full Rêve experience. With room for one barista, Schoonmaker dedicates the start of his weekend to making sure the pop-up is successful and learning about the new crowd. Even though the pop-up is limited in what it can offer, its dedicated team members have found success and community with their new endeavor. revecoffee.com

CONGRATULATIONS ON 20 YEARS OF 225 MAGAZINE

As 225 celebrates 20 years of publication, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation reflects on their milestones during the past two decades:

• Leading long-term community-based projects like Plan Baton Rouge I, II, and III

• Founding more than a dozen nonprofits working in education, health, community resilience and more

• Distributing more than $600 million in charitable grants on behalf of over 1,000 donors

The Baton Rouge Area Foundation has been expanding access to opportunities in the region since their founding in 1964. Join BRAF in making Baton Rouge a better place to live by becoming a member for just $100 a year.

membership@braf.org | 225.387.6126 | braf.org

20 years after the first 225, these business and community visionaries are charting a course for the Capital Region’s next 20 years and beyond.

PORTRAITS

BY JORDAN HEFLER

FORWARD

LaMont

Cole

MY VISION

Over the next 20 years, I see Baton Rouge becoming a model city where every child, regardless of their ZIP code, has access to an excellent education. By investing in early childhood education, strengthening career and technical pathways, and expanding access to STEM and fine arts, we will graduate students who are not only college-ready but also career-ready and community-minded. Collaboration between schools, law enforcement, community organizations, and families will reduce violence and truancy and increase opportunity. Schools will be true community centers, open beyond the school day, offering health, counseling, and enrichment services. Disparities in education, housing, and health outcomes will narrow significantly, and all children – Black, white, Latino, Asian, rich, poor, urban and rural – will be empowered to achieve their fullest potential.

OUR PATH

As a teacher and principal, I saw students overcome incredible odds when given the right support and encouragement. As a chief academic officer, I watched schools improve when teachers and leaders had the resources and professional development they needed. As a councilman and Mayor Pro Tempore, I saw neighborhoods come alive when people had a voice in shaping their future. And now, as Superintendent, I see a school system filled with educators, families, and community partners who want nothing more than to see our children succeed. These experiences give me confidence that our vision to DARE TO BE GREAT is not a dream too big. It is a possibility within reach.

Deidre Deculus

Robert

MY VISION

Over the next 20 years, I see Baton Rouge emerging as a true Capital City, not just in name, but in leadership. A beacon for Louisiana and for the South, showing what’s possible when a community invests with intention and care. I see neighborhoods that are connected and thriving, small businesses that anchor our corridors, and public spaces that reflect the vibrancy and resilience of the people who call this city home. That vision starts with equity and making sure that growth reaches every corner of Baton Rouge and the parish. It’s about affordable housing, accessible jobs, great schools, and safe streets that support the families who make this community what it is. And it’s about building partnerships that bring resources together to move ideas from vision to reality. Twenty years from now, I want people to look at Baton Rouge and see a city that kept its promises — one that chose collaboration over competition, equity over exclusion, and progress that reaches every neighborhood. That’s the Baton Rouge I believe in, and the future we’re building right now.

OUR PATH

I came to Baton Rouge in 1995 as a student at LSU. I watched the corridors and community transform from downtown outward. I have seen the power of community will in transforming spaces across this city and parish. I know Baton Rouge has what it takes. We’ve already started to see what happens when we bring people and resources together with intention, when we invest in our downtown, major corridors like Perkins Road, Plank Road and Florida Boulevard, when we plan for growth that lifts everyone, not just a few. Baton Rouge can stand as a model for the South, a city that honors its roots, embraces innovation, and shows that when people come together around a shared purpose, there’s no limit to what we can build.

Dustin Yates

MY VISION

Over the next 20 years, I see St. George as a model of efficient, transparent governance, with safe neighborhoods, strong public schools, and a vibrant local economy that attracts families and businesses alike. I believe our success is tied to the broader success of the Baton Rouge region. We don’t rise by building walls—we rise by building partnerships. My hope is that, in the decades ahead, St. George and Baton Rouge will continue to collaborate on regional infrastructure, economic development, and public safety initiatives that benefit everyone. Together, we can create a stronger, more resilient future—one that honors our unique communities while embracing a shared destiny.

OUR PATH

This city was born from grassroots energy—a desire for local control, better services, and a voice in the decisions that impact our daily lives. That same energy is now fueling our future. We are building this city with intention, accountability, and a deep respect for public input. We have an opportunity to learn from what’s worked and what hasn’t across the region and to set a new standard for what local government can be. The people of St. George are not waiting for change; they’re creating it. That’s what gives me confidence that our vision is not only possible, but inevitable.

Johanna

Fini

Attorney and Notary, Fini Firm

MY VISION

My vision for Baton Rouge over the next 20 years is a hope that people of all backgrounds, businesses, big or small, see this city not just as their hometown, but as a place to dream big and build something everlasting—one where hard work, creativity, and compassion come together to create real opportunity for everyone in the community, with the mutual goal of benefiting the future of Baton Rouge.

OUR PATH

I’m optimistic that this vision can become a reality because I have seen firsthand with my personal experience how loving and supportive the Baton Rouge community can truly be. I work with people every day in my small business—assisting clients, business owners, families—who remind me how resilient and capable the Capital City can be. There’s a passion and spirit in Baton Rouge that doesn’t quit. Whether it’s rebuilding after storms, helping a neighbor in need, or starting a new business from scratch that becomes an overnight success due to the community support, members of the Baton Rouge community always support each other.

Libbie

Sonnier

Chief Executive Officer, Louisiana Policy Institute for Children Ph.D.

MY VISION

Over the next 20 years, I see Baton Rouge as a city where opportunity begins at birth—where every child has access to high-quality early learning, teachers are celebrated as brain architects, and families have the resources they need to thrive. By investing boldly in children and building strong partnerships across business, civic, and philanthropic sectors, we can make Baton Rouge a national model for integrating early childhood education into community growth. The future of our city is brightest when we prioritize our children and their families.

OUR PATH

I have seen the power of communities, civic leaders, and philanthropic partners coming together around a shared vision. Over the past decade, the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children and its partners have built a strong foundation of investments, innovative programs, and public–private partnerships that show what’s possible when we act collectively. With continued collaboration, strategic alignment, and a focus on results, Baton Rouge can become a model for supporting children, families, and opportunity across the community. It’s inspiring to be part of the change we want to see.

Jonathan

Grimes

MY VISION

My hope for Baton Rouge and the surrounding parishes over the next 20 years is that we continue to embrace and elevate our vibrant arts and culture scene. We are fortunate to live in a region overflowing with creative energy— musicians, dancers, poets, painters, actors, filmmakers, and dreamers who reflect the spirit and soul of our community. If we continue to celebrate our artists, invest in their work, and show up for one another, we can build a region that not only attracts talent but keeps it thriving here at home. Without creativity in our lives, what becomes of our quality of life? Art is not an accessory—it’s essential to how we see, feel, and grow together. My vision is for a Baton Rouge where creativity isn’t just supported, but fully woven into the fabric of everyday life—a place where imagination drives progress and community fuels inspiration.

OUR PATH

With the renovation of the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center, and the plans to redevelop the River Center and the downtown landscape, I am inspired by the progress our city is making to becoming a hub for visitors and locals.

Dr. Charles

Williamson

Founder and Medical Director, Williamson Eye Center

MY VISION

When I look at Baton Rouge, I see more than a city. I see a living, breathing community that has shaped generations of families like mine. My father began caring for the eyes of Baton Rouge residents over 75 years ago and his four boys developed that into a world class eye surgery practice. Now my children are practicing as the third generation, and 9 of my 11 grandchildren also call this home. So, when I imagine the next 20 years, my vision is for Baton Rouge to continue growing as a city that values excellence and belonging in equal measure. Our city is a place where generations of young people can not only find opportunity but also find meaning. If we can continue nurturing our young people, supporting innovation in education and healthcare, and investing in beauty in our riverfront, our neighborhoods, and our shared experiences, then the Baton Rouge my grandchildren inherit will be even more remarkable than the one I grew up in.

OUR PATH

I’ve had the privilege of seeing what Baton Rouge can accomplish when people commit to excellence. In medicine, business, and education, I’ve witnessed how ideas that began right here have spread across the country. Our city may not always make national headlines, but it consistently produces people of integrity, ingenuity, and heart; and that gives me hope. I’m optimistic because I see Baton Rouge through the eyes of three generations of my family. I see young professionals starting businesses, artists transforming public spaces, and families investing in neighborhoods that matter to them. The same drive that built LSU into a world-class university, that made our culture of food and music famous, and that keeps our people resilient is what will carry Baton Rouge into its next great chapter. We have built the foundation; now it’s about continuing to believe in ourselves and the future we can build together.

Whitney Hoffman Sayal

MY VISION

Over the next 20 years, I see a more connected, walkable, and vibrant Baton Rouge: a city where the downtown riverfront is fully embraced as a community treasure by both residents and visitors; where a robust mix of retail and restaurants serves our community and draws new energy into downtown; where safe bicycle and pedestrian networks are expanded and link our neighborhoods; and where our cultural and civic life is celebrated every day. I want Baton Rouge to be known as a place that honors its history, nurtures new ideas, and inspires pride in the progress we achieve together.

OUR PATH

I’m optimistic because we’ve already proven what good planning and strong partnerships can achieve. From the investments we see today guided by the visions from both Plan Baton Rouge I and II in public greenspaces, hotels, bicycle and pedestrian amenities, and cultural attractions – to the current community excitement around creating the next great aspirations for Plan Baton Rouge III - our community has shown that when we work together, real change happens. We’ve built momentum — and the fact that more people are choosing to live downtown, businesses are investing, and our quality of life is improving tells me this vision is not just possible, it’s already underway.

E.J. Kuiper

President and CEO, FMOL Health

MY VISION

A healthy community is a vibrant and thriving community that offers its people an overall better quality of life, including bestin-class arts and entertainment. First things first, we need to get the new Arena on LSU’s campus built. That project will unlock a wave of economic development on, and around, the LSU campus initially that will grow and spread to downtown Baton Rouge, Memorial Park and beyond. And I can promise you that FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake will be there as a catalyst along the way! As one of the region’s largest employers, we understand the importance of investing in the growth of our communities so that we can attract and retain the type of talent that our patients deserve.

OUR PATH

I have seen it, experienced it, and was a part of it during my years in Omaha. Anyone who has made the trip to the College World Series in Nebraska over the last few years has witnessed what visionary leadership can accomplish and create. Omaha’s downtown is now a culturally vibrant, alive and exciting place to meet for people of all ages. Whether you want to attend a sporting event or concert or enjoy amazing restaurants, you can find it there. Baton Rouge has the same opportunity and, I believe, the right ingredients in place to do the same and more!

OLLI AT LSU: THE VISION

Baton Rouge is already recognized as the proud home of LSU—a place where people from all over the world come together to learn and further their education. The legacy of education is one of our city’s greatest strengths. Through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI at LSU), we hope to carry the excitement of learning beyond the traditional, academic setting. Our goal is to continue to create a space where adults 50+ have opportunities to explore their curiosity, discover new hobbies, and make connections along the way. At OLLI at LSU, we believe learning has no age limit and by living out that belief, we’re helping Baton Rouge build a future where education thrives at every stage.

OUR PATH

OLLI at LSU already has the building blocks to make an impact—an engaged community that loves to share knowledge and learn new things every day. OLLI at LSU’s fast and continued growth proves that there is a strong demand for this kind of engagement. As more people get involved, we believe the joy of learning will spread—not only throughout Baton Rouge, but across all four of our Louisiana chapters.

From left: Tarilyn McBride, Program Manager, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI at LSU); and Lisa Verma, Senior Director - Professional Development & Community Program, LSU Online & Continuing Education.

Lisa

Tarilyn Verma McBride

Jonathan Grimes President and CEO, Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge

Deidre Deculus Robert

Dustin Yates Mayor, City of St. George

“Supporting the Arts Council through donations, membership registration and attending concerts is the best way to support our organization.  Making connections is just as valuable as well, so that we can bring the arts to EVERYONE in our region.”

Learn more: ArtsBR.org

Whitney Hoffman Sayal

Executive Director, Downtown Development District

“Everyone’s vision for our city matters. For those passionate about advocating for strong development and investment downtown, the Downtown Development District offers many opportunities to get involved as partners in shaping the heart of our city.”

Learn more: DowntownBatonRouge.org

President and CEO, Build Baton Rouge (BBR)

“Connect with us to learn about projects, community planning sessions and partnerships that directly shape the future of our neighborhoods. When residents, public partners, and investors unite around a vision, we can build a Baton Rouge that truly works for everyone.”

Learn more: BuildBatonRouge.org

“This is your city—your voice matters. If you’re inspired by this vision, I encourage you to get involved by attending public meetings, joining advisory committees, volunteering in your neighborhood, and staying informed about local issues. Every bit of involvement matters.”

Learn more: StGeorgeLA.gov

‘REAL CHANGE REQUIRES ALL OF US’

Inspired by our 225 Forward visionaries? Here’s their advice for getting involved.

Johanna Fini

Attorney and Notary, Fini Firm

“Support local businesses, mentor an aspiring student, attend community events, or just get to know your neighbors. Every small act of connection adds up. When we support one another, we create the kind of community where everyone has a chance to grow.”

Learn more: FiniFirm.com

Lisa Verma, Senior Director, Professional Development & Community Programs, LSU Online & Continuing Education

Tarilyn McBride

Program Manager, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI at LSU)

E.J. Kuiper

President and CEO, FMOL Health

“There are some great folks invested in working for and bringing this vision for Baton Rouge forward. A ‘glasshalf-full’ and ‘We can do this!’ attitude is necessary to effect positive change. Let’s do this!”

Learn more: FMOLHS.org/giving/volunteer

“Adults 50+ who share in this vision can join OLLI at LSU by becoming a member or even volunteering to be an instructor! Membership gives you access to a wide variety of courses offered by all four of our chapters, field trips, special events, and much more.”

Learn more: CE.LSU.edu/OLLI

LaMont Cole

Superintendent, East Baton Rouge Parish Schools

“Support our schools directly by volunteering. Attend school board meetings, advocate for policies that strengthen public education, and hold leaders accountable. Real change requires all of us standing shoulder to shoulder, each doing our part to lift up our children.”

Learn More: VIPSBR.org (Volunteers in Public Schools Baton Rouge) and EBRSchools.org

Libbie Sonnier, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer, Louisiana Policy Institute for Children

“Anyone inspired by this vision can make a difference by advocating for policies that expand access to high-quality early learning, supporting local programs through volunteering or funding, or partnering with organizations to address community needs.”

Learn more: PolicyInstituteLA.org/ take-action/

Dr. Charles Williamson

Founder and Medical Director, Williamson Eye Center

“In my world of medicine, excellence doesn’t happen by accident; it comes from a mindset of continuous improvement and collaboration. The same is true for a city. Support local businesses, mentor a student, volunteer your skills, invest in the arts, and be present.”

Learn more: WilliamsonEye.com

ARTISTS’ PERSPECTIVES

PERFORMING ARTS

ARTS AND MUSIC EVENTS

“The design was intended to make an intimate opera house. … It’s like everyone has a front-row seat.”

Jason

From the FRONT ROW

TRANSFORM YOUR SMILE

“Whether

-Scott A My dental experience with Dr. Ventress and his Team is always the absolute BEST, from when I walk in until I walk out. I am always treated with courtesy and extreme professionalism. 5 stars aren’t enough to rate Dr. V and his Team!

Birthday cards

As 225 celebrates its 20th anniversary year, we’ll also be spotlighting other organizations and businesses celebrating milestones in 2025.

LOCATED INSIDE THE Shaw Center for the Arts, the Manship Theatre’s mezzanine venue has provided a unique performing arts and cinema experience to downtown for the past two decades.

The theater was founded as part of a broader effort to revitalize downtown and to attract great performers to Baton Rouge, according to Jason Langlois, executive director. LSU, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and the state partnered in the early 2000s to create an off-campus arts hub in the LSU Museum of Art and new nonprofit theater, which would become Manship Theatre.

Inspired by European opera houses, the two-tiered design offers 325 audience members an intimate view of the stage. Since opening in 2005, Manship Theatre has hosted a variety of acts, from TEDxBatonRouge to jazz musician Jon Batiste.

“The design was intended to make an intimate opera house,” Langlois says. “It’s rare for a venue to have that intimate setup for the artists and audience. Because of its design, it’s like everyone has a front-row seat.”

Langlois, who first started working at the theater as a bartender in college, has been with the venue for nearly its whole 20-year tenure as it has evolved to meet the needs of the community.

Over the years, Manship Theatre added an entrance from North Boulevard and later remodeled the workshop and black box spaces so Manship could host multiple events on the same night—such as a concert in the main theater and a comedy show in the black box. Theater programming initially focused on live music, education, dance and community events but later added film screenings as Baton Rouge’s own film production industry grew.

Issue Date: NOV 2025 Ad proof

To stay up to date, the nonprofit theater adds a $3 facility

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maintenance and enhancement fee to each ticket, which is deposited into a restricted fund used only with board approval.

Now in his second year as executive director, Langlois is focused on the theater’s future and how it can continue to serve as a cornerstone for Baton Rouge’s arts community. The theater will continue to offer educational programming for the region’s students and independent films, but the

Another longtime leader: Like Langlois, Stephen Pitzer has also been with Manship from day one and currently serves as its director of production. In the past 20 years, Pitzer has helped execute performances from John Waters and Henry Rollins to Martin Short and Brian Posehn. “He has seen it all,” Langlois says.

Roll the credits

Fun facts about Manship Theatre

• It is named after local newspaper mogul Douglas Lewis Manship Sr.

• In the 2022-23 season, Manship Theatre offered 15 performances for more than 11,000 school-aged Capital Region children.

staff is looking for more opportunities to partner with film festivals and comedy shows.

“We’ve got a roadmap and a vision that we have to make sure we execute,” he says. “We have to make sure we hold onto the brand we’ve built all these years. We’re in our 20th year now. Our goal is to bring in great performers for the city of Baton Rouge to enjoy.” manshiptheatre.org

• A loading dock past the theater is covered with hundreds of signatures left by performers over the years.

• Pitch Perfect used Manship Theatre’s mezzanine stage for filming.

• Manship Theatre’s 20th anniversary gala held in the spring featured Italian classical crossover star Matteo Bocelli.

Setting STAGE the

Three Baton Rouge actors on why they believe the performing arts matter

BY DANA MULLER

ON THE HEELS of the shocking closure of Theatre Baton Rouge just shy of its 80th anniversary, it hasn’t been the easiest year for local performers. But thespians find hope on the stage—and in absorbing the many shows that continue to play out across the Capital Region. Here, they offer a window into the world of community theater.

Answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.

BRCC and 225, Serving the Community for nearly 30 Years

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• 1998: BRCC opens for first day of classes, Aug. 20, 1998

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• 2024: Grew enrollment to 10 times the number of original 1998 enrollment, 2024-2025 Academic Year

• 2025: Ribbon cutting on new, state-of-the-art BRCC|OLOL Nursing & Allied Health Building, August 13, 2025

For nearly 30 years, BRCC has been opening doors for students in the Capital Region—just like 225 has been telling our community’s story.

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Endless Possibilities

Thomas JACKSON

Creative specialist, River Center Theatre for Performing Arts

How did you get into theater?

I was one of those kids doing all the sports, and one year I finally got to do theater. I took a little theater class at Parkview Baptist. That same year, I jumped into a Playmakers of Baton Rouge show, Pinocchio. It was a fever dream to remember, but super cute. I was signed, sealed, delivered from then on.

Favorite role you’ve played locally? Waitress at Theatre Baton Rouge. I played Ogie. He’s nothing but absolute joy all bundled into one person.

Favorite local theater memory as an audience member?

I just saw Cabaret at Ascension Community Theatre. The direction was impeccable. It gave me a breath. It was a pump of oxygen into the veins. I thought, “We have great theater. People are still doing it. Everything is perfectly fine.” If we can do shows like that even out in Ascension, we’re golden.

What other behind-the-scenes theater roles have you done, and what do you enjoy about that side of it?

I’ve stage managed and I do tech. Seeing the way things work backstage is amazing. You’re watching the mechanics underneath this beautiful machine.

How do you get into character?

I’ll create a playlist and a routine for each show. Sometimes I think of a drink the character would have. It’s about creating a vibe.

Why is community theater important? It’s an energetic exchange. When someone says something funny onstage, you laugh. You clap. You feel good. That emotional release, you don’t find it just anywhere. Community theater lets you have that. … Baton Rouge’s theater scene is still growing. New micro theaters like the Shoestring Theatre Co. and Strike Theater have emerged in just the past year, creating fresh opportunities for local performers and audiences.

When and how did you get into theater?

During my sophomore year at St. Joseph’s Academy, I did a few school shows and then got involved with Theatre Baton Rouge the summer before junior year, starting with Alice in Wonderland. I joined their Young Actors Program and worked backstage on their City Series.

What’s your favorite local show you’ve performed in?

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical by TBR was my favorite musical because the cast was amazing and the choreography really challenged me. I’m not a choir kid, but I learned how to push myself musically. For a play, I’d say TBR’s Radium Girls

What makes community theater special to you?

It’s a mix of people. At school, it’s all your same-age peers, but in community theater, you work with people from all walks of life. There are retirees, middle schoolers and college students all learning from each other. That energy is so unique.

Favorite show you’ve watched locally?

The Mousetrap at Sullivan Theater. I didn’t know the play, so the twist at the end completely surprised me. Everyone’s British accents were so convincing. I was hooked the whole time.

IsabellaWALTON

Freshman, Spelman College, and theater enthusiast

Michelle Freneaux CHASSAING

How long have you been involved in theater?

If you count Sunday school productions, then since I was like 3. But the first time I was in a proper theater was the Baton Rouge Little Theater in the early 2000s. I was in Umbrella

What’s your favorite local show you’ve performed in?

Ascension Community Theatre’s Cabaret, hands down. The Emcee is a character I never thought I’d have the chance to play. A lot of people would see a feminine-presenting person auditioning for the Emcee and just kind of hand wave it, but the director, Heath McNeese, gave me the chance and I’m very grateful for it.

Favorite local theater memory as an audience member?

I saw Baton Rouge Little Theater’s Sweeney Todd when I was 12. Driving home afterward, my parents asked what I thought. I said, “I don’t know. It was good, but kind of over the top … like how far the blood shot when Todd would slit victims’ throats.” They were like, “No, that’s realistic.” And that’s the day I learned what blood pressure is!

What do you enjoy most about working behind the scenes?

I love the challenges of backstage work. Every show has the same kind of foundation skills, but each lighting or sound design or reset build is unique. I really enjoy collaborating with people to bring art to life.

How do you get into character?

I build characters around sensations, movements and physicality. I decide which physical traits define them and work in that space to feel out the character. Sometimes I write character charts and connect them to how they relate to others.

Why is local theater important?

I’m on the board of the Sullivan Theater. Being part of the community means meeting and connecting with people and seeing all the different kinds of folks who find a safe space to be themselves and explore new ways to create through theater. I think a lot of healing happens in community, and local theater is about that, first and foremost.

perspectives Artists,

Local creatives share how life in the Red Stick has shaped their work

WORDS AND

BY AVERY WHITE

AS THE CAPITAL of such a soulful state, it makes sense that art abounds in Baton Rouge. And with subjects often depicting our region’s people, food, music and cultural traditions, many of these pieces could have only originated here.

Over the years, 225 has published a recurring Artist’s Perspective feature, sharing the stories behind locally made paintings, drawings, photos and mixed-media pieces. This time, we’ve asked four makers to tell us how the city has shaped their lives—and in turn, their work.

Marchand

LEAH MARCHAND WAS born in New Orleans but grew up in Baton Rouge, the city where she has built a life with her husband and children.

There was once a time when the family considered leaving the Capital City, but they planted roots instead.

“Baton Rouge is home,” Marchand says. “When we made the decision to stay, it became less about, ‘Let’s get away from Baton Rouge,’ and more about, ‘How can we make Baton Rouge better and celebrate Baton Rouge?’”

While a lot of her art is already inspired by south Louisiana, Marchand’s signature is her Leather Maps Series: gold maps of the Red Stick painted on the ridged back of an alligator.

Marchand takes commissions for the collection, tracing maps of clients’ lives on the backs of the reptiles. It’s reinforced her appreciation of how intertwined our community is with nature, Marchand says.

“Art transcends all. It breaks language barriers,” she says. “It breaks cultural barriers. Artists are able to take things that are really hard to understand—grief, politics, anger—and put it in a way for people to understand it, to make it understandable, relatable.”

A BATON ROUGE TRADITION SINCE 1983

OPEN THANKSGIVING DAY, 10 AM – 2 PM.

DINE IN WITH US OR PRE-ORDER YOUR HOLIDAY MEAL LOVE THE EASE? CHRISTMAS PRE-ORDERS COMING SOON.

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$60 | CAULIFLOWER CRAB & BRIE ½ GALLON

$12 | PINT OF GRAVY

$30 | MASHED POTATOES ½ PAN

$35 | SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE ½ PAN

$30 | CREAMED SPINASH ½ PAN

$45 | CORNBREAD DRESSING ½ PAN

$30 | MAC & CHEESE ½ PAN

$35 | SMOTHERED GREEN BEANS ½ PAN

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Harris Michael

MICHAEL HARRIS'S GRAVITATION toward art started at a young age.

“When I was a kid, I’d always sketch and draw on napkins or paper towels at McDonald’s or just anything I could grab, even on the wall at my grandmother’s house,” Harris says.

While today, a lot of his art drifts more toward the abstract, his signature acrylic style depicts settings reminiscent of Louisiana and its landscapes.

“I used to ride down River Road a lot because I enjoyed fishing and open lands,” Harris says. “Every now and then [I’d] see an old church or pond, and I’d paint from that.”

Harris has also become known for the faceless characters on many of his canvases. The anonymity encourages viewers to find themselves in the art, he says.

“If you see it, you could be it,” Harris says. “It doesn’t have a special person—eyes, nose, ears and mouth—so you could be in that space.”

Jenn Lee

Hester

THOUGH SHE WAS born and raised in Baton Rouge, Jenn Lee Hester says she hadn’t realized her appreciation for its landscape until she traveled. Venturing to big cities around the country, she enjoyed the sights. But she simultaneously found herself understanding for the first time how much Louisiana has to offer.

“I used to hate on the city a lot,” Hester says. “But as I’ve traveled, I have this appreciation for how green it is here, and just the lushness and the things that we can grow here.”

After obtaining her degree in graphic design, she channeled her talents into hand-lettering artful designs on the chalkboards at the Baton Rouge location of Trader Joe’s.

“That was kind of like my springboard job,” Hester says. “I feel like that pushed me into getting into my business.”

After having her first child, she left Trader Joe’s to start her own business, Jenn Lee Creates. Today, she keeps busy with window painting, branding, design work and murals—and has even published two volumes of the Letter It Out book series elevating the work and personal stories of other creatives.

One of her recent projects was painting a Louisiana-themed mural on a food truck. She splashed the exterior with the state’s famous sunset scenes and the local critters she’s come to adore. It was a bucket list project, she says.

“It was good for me to find appreciation,” Hester says. “It kind of refreshed me.”

Caring for Generations

WHAT IS INFLUENZA?

Influenza is commonly known as the Flu. It is a seasonal upper respiratory infection caused by a virus, which is highly contagious. Most people associate the flu with cough, congestion, fever, sore throat, and body aches. Though these are common symptoms, the severity of influenza can vary based on the individual. People at highest risk for severe symptoms from the influenza virus include those who are pregnant, the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and those with end stage kidney disease.

WH Y IS I T I MP ORTA NT TO GE T THE VACCINE EACH YEAR?

The influenza vaccine, or “flu shot”, is our best defense against experiencing severe symptoms or spreading the virus. There are many strains of the influenza virus, and they are known to evolve or adapt from year to year. That is why organizations such as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) study the influenza virus year round. This gives them the ability to analyze each vaccine subtype, and make the necessary adjustments to the vaccine each year based on the strains and trends of influenza infections around the globe. We have been vaccinating against seasonal influenza for 50 years, and data over that time shows that being vaccinated yearly against influenza prevents illness severity, medical visits, hospitalizations, ICU stays, and even deaths related to the influenza virus. That is why it is crucial for everyone to receive an annual flu shot to prevent disease severity and transmission.

Favorite Malaika

THE ART PIECES that fill Malaika Favorite’s studio are in various forms and mediums, yet she says they all have something in common: They mean something to her.

“I try to build my shows around what seems important to me,” she says.

After studying at LSU, Favorite found herself living in other cities like Grambling, Louisiana, and Augusta, Georgia. But she ventured back to the Capital Region in 2016. Her work has appeared everywhere from Baton Rouge Gallery to the West Baton Rouge Museum, and the community often plays a central character in her art. In a piece called “River Road,” she explores the impact of local chemical plants.

“My father was an environmentalist, and so I sort of stepped into his shoes,” Favorite says.

Each work of art has its own story, and she hopes that people don’t just look at a piece and think it’s pretty. She hopes they’ll also interpret what she is trying to say.

“If I have the eyes of the people or the ears of the people, I may as well say something,” Favorite says.

PROUDLY SERVING BATON ROUGE FOR OVER 22 YEARS

Jam

SESH

BY GRACELYN FARRAR // PHOTOS BY ARIANA ALLISON

Baton Rouge Music Studio’s BRMS Creative allows young musicians to rock out and record music

AT BRMS CREATIVE,

Studio A is live, with four young musicians cranking away at their instruments and talking about what sounds are ideal for the project they’re working on.

In an adjoining engineering room, two are experimenting with new tech, laying tracks over one another and adding reverb to the pieces. Out in the hallway, a teen is banging on drums before he carts the instrument to play with a group.

Baton Rouge Music Studios is coming up on its 20th anniversary, and as founder Doug Gay says, the business was becoming maxed out at its current location on Government Street. Though a good problem to have, it offered an opportunity for growth. Gay began working with Jessica Bandele, the mother of two of his students, on a new project: BRMS Creative. It was the natural next step in Gay’s young musician programming.

The goal of the new space, which officially opened in September off of Sherwood Forest Boulevard, is to allow students to produce their own work with the help of mentors and state-of-the-art equipment.

“He’s great at getting those kids and putting them in bands and doing live performances in the city,” says Bandele, BRMS Creative managing partner. “But there’s another side to being a musician and an artist.”

BRMS Creative offers a wide range of programs, including private and group lessons, solo artist and band mentorships, musical theater classes, songwriting and audio production. The hub will also be available for birthday parties, school field trips, corporate team-building sessions and more. The sky is the limit, Bandele says. Along with individual practice

rooms and soundproofed studios, there is also an event space ideal for intimate live performances or group events.

The team plans to have regular events, like an open mic night on the schedule each month. The highlight, though, is the engineering room, with adjustable lights to indicate when the studio is live and to set the mood.

“This is where the art and the chaos are organized into presentable material,” Gay says.

The room also features a soundboard that adjusts how the music pipes in from the neighboring studio. The technology is set up primarily for the use of Logic Pro, a program similar to GarageBand. Gay hopes that it will allow the students to be able to work on their music at home, too. Bands can also record here, plus other studios can contract BRMS Creative for work.

“This space allows us to kind of lean into digital art and creating content,” Gay says. He plans to invite videographers, photographers and social media creators to work with students in the future.

BRMS Creative is set up to be inviting to both musicians and their friends and family, with lounging areas decorated withfunky art. Instruments that aren’t being used are tucked into corners, creating a lived-in feel. The design is meant to inspire with a welcoming, low-pressure environment.

“I feel like this is where I’ve always been meant to be,” Gay says. brmscreative.com

The Junior League of Baton Rouge is deeply grateful to our sponsors, vendors, and shoppers for making Hollydays 2025 a success. Your support helps us to continue making a meaningful impact in the Baton Rouge community.

The Junior League of Baton Rouge is deeply grateful to our sponsors, vendors, and shoppers for making Hollydays 2025 a success. Your support helps us to continue making a meaningful impact in the

Nov. 7+9

Mind your oohs and aahs at a spectacular presentation of the opera Le nozze di Figaro. Head to LSU’s Music and Dramatic Arts Theatre to see the show put on by the Turner-Fischer Center for Opera at LSU. Spectators will be taken through dramatic twists and turns accompanied by traditional opera-style singing. calendar.lsu.edu

Nov. 13

Enjoy an evening of Americana and country music with a solo show from award-winning artist Shakey Graves at Chelsea’s Live. Expect to hear hit songs like “Tomorrow,” “Dearly Departed” and more. chelseaslive.com

Nov. 14

Compiled by Olivia Tees

Rock on with Better Than Ezra at the band's homecoming concert at L’Auberge Casino Hotel. The Baton Rouge-born band will perform its hit alt-rock tunes like “Good,” “Desperately Wanting” and more. lbatonrouge.com

Nov. 19

It’s almost the holidays, Charlie Brown! Get into the holiday spirit with a musical retelling of the beloved TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas. Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Snoopy and friends will take the stage at the River Center Theatre for Performing Arts. theatre.raisingcanesrivercenter.com

Nov. 19

Head to Manship Theatre for a new installment of the River City Jazz Masters series featuring the all-female jazz group Artemis. Enjoy a concert of rhythm and sound as the band performs tracks from its new album, along with other favorites. manshiptheatre.org

Nov. 19+20

Hear ye! Hear ye! Travel back in time to the medieval ages with Baton Rouge Symphony’s Welcome to the Renaissance concert at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum’s planetarium. This special edition of the Concerts in the Cosmos series is held in conjunction with the Louisiana Renaissance Festival.

Nov. 20

Paint your furry friends with an art session at the LSU Vet School. Held in partnership with the LSU Museum of Art, this event allows attendees to create a pet portrait in the style of George Rodrigue’s iconic Blue Dog. Free art supplies will be provided for attendees; all that’s required is your imagination and creativity. lsumoa.org

Nov. 25

Take a trip to the underworld with the traveling Broadway show Hadestown at the River Center Theatre for Performing Arts. This Tony award-winning musical takes the audience on a journey of rewriting fate, accompanied by magnificent scenery and hauntingly beautiful music. theatre.raisingcanesrivercenter.com

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Compiled by Olivia Tees

1

CALLING ALL BOOKWORMS

Support Bayou State authors exhibiting at the annual Louisiana Book Festival. This event celebrates both readers and writers with kids’ activities, author-led discussions and food trucks. louisianabookfestival.org

7-9

SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP

Holidays are best spent with family and friends, so get the shopping done early at the Merry Market. This festive event hosts local vendors who offer unique gifts for everyone on your list. Mimosas will be served in the morning and, of course, Santa will

2

PUPS AND PINTS

Give back to furry friends at this year’s Cap City Beer Fest. This pet-friendly event benefits Companion Animal Alliance and offers samples of craft beers, homebrews and more. In addition to sips, enjoy music and bites from local mobile eateries. capcitybeerfest.org

8+9

GRAB A GLASS

Wine and dine at the St. Francisville Food and Wine Festival, a weekend-long celebration of local chefs and live music. The fest boasts four events, including Bubbles & BBQ, a jazz brunch and more, all set in the historic town.

13

REAL TALK

TEDxBatonRouge is back with a new lineup of speakers for this year’s event, themed “Unseen Currents,” at Manship Theatre. Aside from curated talks, the event will feature performances, plus activation stations that turn ideas into hands-on experiences with partners across science, art, tech and civic life. tedxbatonrouge.com

NOV. 1: Freret Street Fall Festival, freretstreetfestival.org

NOV. 7+8: Billie Eilish at the Smoothie King Center, smoothiekingcenter.com

NOV. 15: Beignet Fest, beignetfest.com

NOV. 1+2: Abbeville’s Giant Omlette Celebration, giantomelette.org

NOV. 6: Bert Kreischer at the Cajundome, cajundome.com

NOV. 13-16: Port Barre Cracklin Festival, cracklinfest.com

ALSO THIS MONTH

NOV. 1

BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo’s first-ever Rumble in the Jungle event will combine wildlife with wild machines for an electrifying new motor show. Attendees can marvel at the display of muscle cars, motorcycles and custom rides amid a backdrop of lush greenery and wild animals. brzoo.org

NOV. 5

LIGHT UP

White Light Night, Mid City’s biggest art festival, sets Government Street aglow with pop-ups from Louisiana artists, makers and creators. Follow the twinkling lights illuminating businesses and vendors, while enjoying live music, exclusive bites and other activities. midcitymerchantsbr.org

27

EARN YOUR TURKEY

Kick off Thanksgiving Day with Baton Rouge’s annual Turkey Trot 5K downtown. There will also be a 1-mile fun run for the kiddos. The races take place early in the morning before Turkey Day festivities and aim to promote a healthy balance of fitness and food. turkeytrotbr.com

Stroll through Perkins Rowe and its stores at the annual Sip & Shop event. Treat yourself with retail therapy and wine pairings throughout the night. Try to win a holiday shopping spree by participating in a game of bingo and checking off your card at participating shops. perkinsrowe.com

NOV. 7+8

Baton Rouge’s iconic haunted house, the 13th Gate, transforms into a house of horrors when it goes completely dark for its Flashlight Fright Nights. Dig deep and put on a brave face to navigate the eerie path with only dim fingerlights to illuminate the way. 13thgate.com

NOV. 8

See science in action with Super Science Saturday at LSU’s PMAC. The event lets kids, parents and anyone interested in science participate in interactive hands-on learning stations from LSU departments and organizations and other industry partners. lsu.edu

NOV. 19

Bask in the magic of the holidays with Poinsettias & Prosecco hosted by the Friends of LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. Wander around the lit-up Windrush Gardens, indulge in wine sips and small bites and listen to live music all evening. fobgburden.com

NOV. 22

Ditch the sweats and grab your ballgown for the Baton Rouge Fantasy Ball held at the historic Lyceum venue downtown. The theme is “A Starfall Celebration,” inspired by the popular romantasy novel A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. With performances, small plates, live music and more, attendees can live out their magical fantasies. batonrougefantasyball.com

MORE EVENTS

Subscribe to our newsletter 225 Daily for our twice-weekly roundups of events. 225batonrouge.com/225daily

Later, Gator

Like a charm

CUSTOMIZABLE CHARM jewelry is so in right now. And local shop NK Boutique is getting in on the trend by welcoming mobile jewelry biz Whimsy Gems into its space with a weekly pop-up.

On Thursdays at NK Boutique’s Corporate Boulevard location, customers can browse a plethora of charms, chains, scarves, bracelets and other modifiable accessories. Whimsy Gems Owner Bailey Jane Overland even offers after-hour private parties.

Just like her product options, the space has been fully customized with a Whimsy Gems neon sign, glass canisters of candy, a shimmering wall backdrop and lots and lots of pops of pink (it’s Overland’s favorite color, after all).

“Everything in here you can put a charm on and make your own,” Overland says.

The two businesses first joined forces when Overland held a pop-up at NK Boutique’s St. Francisville location.

“Not only did Bailey have a great selection of quality pieces that were well priced, but she made the experience fun by personalizing each piece for every customer,” NK Boutique owner Anna Katherine Gladden says about her first event with Overland. “It was a total success.”

From there, everything seemed to fall into place, Gladden says.

Overland launched her jewelry venture in August 2024 after her mother passed away. Looking for a way to ease her pain, she began making charm accessories. Her hobby-turned-passion became Whimsy Gems.

Overland’s always chasing trends to ensure that her business has the latest styles. Right now, she’s loving turquoise, brushed gold and Swarovski crystal necklaces.

She stocks a variety of chains from beaded strands to stylish scarves, and about 400 charms in the shapes of hearts, stars, fish, potato chip bags, crosses and much more. Her products are gold-filled, gold-plated, waterproof or tarnish-free.

“If I stay evolving with what’s coming in and up and coming, then I think that’s why it’s continued to grow and at such a fast pace in just a year,” Overland says.

YEARS 20 OF FUELING BATON ROUGE

2005

Katrina Recovery

After Hurricane Katrina, ExxonMobil contributed over $7M to relief efforts.

Refinery Integrated Competitiveness

$300M suite of projects increased the Refinery’s processing capabilities and overall competitiveness.

100 Years Celebration

ExxonMobil Refinery celebrated 100 years of operation.

Through the last 2016 2009 2022 2021 2025

Polypropylene Growth

$500M funded for new polypropylene unit, doubling production capacity to meet growing demands for high performance and durable plastics.

Education Support

$13M contributed to National Math and Science Initiative to support students and teachers in Louisiana.

IPA Production

$100M to be invested in producing 99.999% high-purity isopropyl alcohol, a critical material for U.S. semiconductor chip manufacturing.

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