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LIFESTYLE LETTER

Lifestyle Letter

November 2026 PUBLISHER

Christine McIntosh christine.mcIntosh@citylifestyle.com C O N T R I B U T I N G P H OTO G R AP H E R

Hope Dewald Photography

Welcome to the premiere issue of Baton Rouge City Lifestyle—a magazine inspired by the people, places, and stories that make our community extraordinary. We’re thrilled to be your new source for all things local in Baton Rouge. Each month, we’ll invite you to discover the people behind the businesses, the stories behind the success, and the places that make our city such a special place to call home. As you turn the pages of this first issue, you’ll find a little bit of everything that makes Baton Rouge shine. From beautifully crafted cuisine at local favorites like Supper Club BR and Stroubes Seafood and Steaks, to stunning homes and distinctive neighborhoods such as Country Club of Louisiana and The Lakes at Highland. You’ll meet the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our community, including Hailey Insurance, BrittHill Interiors, and Jeff Raybon Construction, while also discovering the local artists, designers, tastemakers, and fashion enthusiasts who bring their own creativity and personality to our city. But more than anything, we want this magazine to be about you. Our goal is to celebrate the people and places that make Baton Rouge unique while creating a publication that feels personal, inspiring, and genuinely connected to the community we are fortunate enough to serve. There is so much happening in Baton Rouge, and so many remarkable stories waiting to be told. We hope these pages introduce you to someone new, inspire you to try a local restaurant, discover a new favorite shop, support a local business, or simply look at our city with fresh eyes. Thank you for welcoming Baton Rouge City Lifestyle into your homes and your lives. Thank you for sharing your stories, your businesses, your talents, and your passion for this incredible community. We’re honored to be here—and we can’t wait to see you around town. Here’s to Baton Rouge, and to the people who make it home.

Corporate Team CEO Steven Schowengerdt President Matthew Perry CRO Jamie Pentz CoS Janeane Thompson AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe LAYOUT DESIGNER Jayme Emery QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Anna Minnick

CHRISTINE MCINTOSH, PUBLISHER @ B AT O N R O U G E . C I T Y L I F E S T Y L E Learn how to start your own publication at CityLifestyle.com//Franchise. Proverbs 3:5-6 Baton Rouge City Lifestyle® is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Baton Rouge area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle

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Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Baton Rouge City Lifestyle® is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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inside the issue NOVE M B E R 2 0 2 6 | TH E PRE M I E R E I S S U E

Print Prestige Meets Digital Power.

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Featured

Departments

A Beautiful Thanksgiving Table, Made Easy

Entertaining for Thanksgiving? How to easily make your table beautiful

2026 Louisiana Family Physician of the Year

Lifestyle Letter

Decor Trends LIFE + CULTURE

Local’s Choice LIFE + CULTURE

Giving Back LIFE + CULTURE

Family Care HEALTH + WELLNESS

Culinary Creations FOOD + BEVERAGE

Self Care HEALTH + WELLNESS

Trend Setter LIFE + CULTURE

Events

Dr. Byron Jasper is building a different kind of healthcare experience

Practicing Gratitude In The Month of November Gratitude, After All. is More Than a Seasonal Sentiment

On the Cover Fun family holiday photo session at Red Gables in Greenwell Springs, LA. @redgablesgreenwellsprings Photography: Hope Dewald Photography

WHY CHOOSE BETWEEN PRESTIGE AND PLACEMENT? With City Lifestyle’s co-branded print + digital packages, your business captures attention wherever our community is looking. Build unmatched local credibility on the page, and drive immediate action online. Ready to double your local reach? Contact your local publisher by scanning below.

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A Beautiful THANKSGIVING TABLE, Made Easy ARTICLE BY ANGELA BROOCKERD STYLE AND TIPS BY MARY CAROL GARRITY AND REBECCA WOOD PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

There is something about a beautifully set Thanksgiving table that makes the holiday feel a little more special. With a few smart choices, you can pull together a table that looks like it took all week when really it came down to picking the right pieces and letting them work together.

START WITH YOUR TABLECLOTH AND CENTERPIECE Before you worry about napkins, place cards or which fork goes where, pick your tablecloth and centerpiece first. Those two choices set the tone for everything else and make the rest of your decisions so much easier. A pretty fruit or botanical print tablecloth is a great anchor for fall. It brings in color and pattern without having to do much else. From there you can layer in your dishes, glassware and a signature centerpiece piece, like a pair of decorative pheasants or a favorite serving tureen, to finish the look. If you are hosting a larger crowd, don’t be afraid to push a couple of tables together and use a single long tablecloth to unify the space. It creates one continuous table that feels intentional rather than like two tables pushed together as an afterthought. CONTINUED >

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MIX YOUR PATTERNS AND TEXTURES One of the easiest ways to make a table feel curated instead of too matchy-matchy is to mix your dish patterns. Layer in a few different china patterns, add texture with rattan chargers, and let a mix of materials do the work. Rattan chargers especially add warmth and let you set your tablecloth on the diagonal so every seat still gets a spot, even on a square cloth. Square tablecloths are worth a mention here too. They are easy to store and clean, and because you can angle them diagonally, they actually fit most tables better than you would expect. Bamboo flatware is another simple swap that makes a big difference. It feels warmer and more relaxed than traditional silver, which is perfect for a holiday that is meant to feel welcoming rather than formal.

LET THE CENTERPIECE TELL A STORY Your centerpiece does not need to be complicated to make an impact. Mixing botanicals with a touch of nature such as

branches, greenery or seasonal produce, is almost always a win. Pumpkins, apples and figs are an easy, no fuss way to bring fall onto the table if flower arranging is not your thing. Line a few pumpkins down a counter or table runner, tuck in votive candles between them, and you have an instant seasonal moment with very little effort. If your table is full and space is tight, think about height instead of spreading out. A single showstopping serving piece, like a large tureen, can act as the centerpiece on its own, especially when you are seating a big group and need the extra room for food. Don’t forget about the spaces above and around your table. Fresh clippings from the yard tucked into a chandelier or light fixture, mixed with fall branches, add an unexpected layer of beauty without taking up any table space at all.

DO NOT SKIP THE SMALL DETAILS A few simple additions go a long way toward making guests feel like the evening was planned just for

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“ WITH A FEW smart choices, YOU CAN PULL together A TABLE THAT looks like IT TOOK ALL WEEK WHEN really IT CAME DOWN TO PICKING THE right pieces AND LETTING THEM work together.”

them. Place cards and printed menus are an easy way to elevate the table and give guests a little anticipation for what is coming. Candlelight is non-negotiable too. Even a few votives or taper candles instantly make a table feel warmer and more special. If you only have time for three things, make it these: • Linens • A centerpiece with fresh florals or seasonal produce • Candlelight Those three alone can take a table from everyday to holiday ready.

EXTEND THE TABLE WITH A DESSERT STATION Setting up a small coffee and dessert station just off the main table gives guests a reason to get up and mingle a little before settling in for something sweet. Vintage glass cake stands and compotes at varying heights make even a simple pie or store bought dessert look intentional. A small vase of flowers nearby ties the station back to the rest of the tablescape. If baking is not your thing, a pie from your favorite local bakery, displayed on a pretty stand with the packaging removed and a few fresh garnishes like sliced apples or greenery, will look just as elevated as something homemade.

THE REAL SECRET TO A GREAT THANKSGIVING TABLE At the end of the day, the details matter, but the host matters more. Prep as much as you can ahead of time so you are not scrambling on the day of. Greet guests with a cocktail or a few small bites to kick off the evening, and give yourself permission to actually enjoy the people you invited. One last tip: before you start decorating, take a walk around your yard. Branches, leaves and greenery you already have on hand can be some of the prettiest and most personal additions to your table, and they cost nothing at all.

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Nice To Meet You, Baton Rouge! GET TO KNOW YOUR PUBLISHER-CHRISTINE MCINTOSH

C ampi n g Glenn and I love anything outdoors! You’ll most often find us near the water—it doesn’t matter if it’s a pool, lake, or the beach. If there’s sunshine and water nearby, we’re happy! When we’re not working, we love to go camping. We take one big camping trip each year, and several weekend getaways in our camper. It’s one of our favorite ways to slow down, unplug, and enjoy time together.

LSU Fans We’re big LSU fans! During football season, you can find us tailgating and cheering on the Tigers at LSU home games. There’s nothing quite like the energy and tradition of an LSU game day! Geaux Tigers!

C h r i s ti n e McIntosh, Pu bl i s h er I’m Christine McIntosh, Owner and Publisher of Baton Rouge City Lifestyle. Glenn and I have been married for more than 19 years and have called Baton Rouge home for the past 12 years. We feel incredibly honored to be part of this community and are excited to share the people, businesses, places, and stories that make Baton Rouge such a special place to live.

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C I T Y L I FEST Y L E G I V ES BAC K

GIVING TOGETHER A Community That Shows Up

Every year, City Lifestyle sends checks to hundreds of families in need across the country through our annual Giving Campaign and our nonprofit arm, Kingdom Building Foundation. But none of it would be possible without you. We can only help the people we know about, and

G IV IN G BAC K | L I FE + C ULT U RE

that’s where our readers come in. If you know someone quietly struggling, whether it’s a single parent, a senior citizen, or a family facing something they never saw coming, we want to hear their story. Nominations are what make this whole campaign possible.

We provided a chair lift for a teenager paralyzed in a gymnastics accident so she could move freely through her own home again. We helped a child who lost an eye to cancer get the prosthetic because insurance wouldn’t cover it. We covered dental work for a man who needed his smile back just to walk into a job interview. We got heat turned back on for a family who had spent part of the winter without it. We helped a family keep up with bills while a husband and father fought pancreatic cancer, and we helped another family cover medical expenses after the unimaginable loss of a child. These are just a few examples of some of the hundreds of individuals that have been helped through nominations from readers like you. None of it happens without someone noticing first and speaking up. "We don't just send checks," says Steven Schowengerdt, CEO and founder of City Lifestyle.

“We send a message: You are seen, you are loved, and you are not forgotten.” Together with City Lifestyle President Matthew Perry, Steven has helped shape this into a tradition that goes far beyond the holiday season. "This is about community," Matthew says. "We believe we've been blessed, so now we get to be a blessing." Often, the person making the nomination gets just as much out of the experience as the recipient. There's something powerful about being part of the reason someone else's burden got lighter, especially when that need might have otherwise gone unnoticed. The campaign is completely confidential. No names are ever shared or publicized, and nominating someone is as simple as telling us their story. We are looking for those in our communities who fall between the cracks of getting help, and together as a community, we can meet those needs.

Nominations open November 1st and close December 3rd. To nominate someone in your community, follow @CityLifestyle on Instagram and find the form in our bio, or visit KingdomBuildingFoundation.org.

This season, giving starts with you. Let's do it together. Nominate someone in need today.

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2026 Louisiana Family Physician of the Year Dr. Byron Jasper is building a different kind of healthcare experience Redefining the Doctor-Patient Relationship Dr. Byron Jasper is building a different kind of healthcare experience—one centered on access, transparency, and the relationship between physician and patient. For Dr. Byron Jasper, medicine has always been about more than treating an illness. It is about listening, building trust, and creating a relationship in which patients feel seen, heard, and empowered to make informed decisions about their health. That philosophy is at the heart of Byja Clinic, the Baton Rouge-based practice Dr. Jasper founded and owns. As Louisiana’s first Black-owned Direct Primary Care practice, Byja Clinic offers a membership-based approach designed to give patients something that can feel increasingly difficult to find in modern healthcare: meaningful time with their physician. The practice serves both insured and uninsured patients throughout Louisiana, including Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette, and Houma. Some patients even travel from out of state. For Dr. Jasper, that reach represents more than growth. It reflects a demand for a different kind of primary care. “I wanted to create a practice where patients do not have to navigate all of those barriers,” he explains. “I wanted healthcare to be more personalized, transparent, affordable, and accessible.” A Different Approach to Primary Care Dr. Jasper did not begin his career with plans to become the owner of a Direct Primary Care practice. Instead, the idea grew out of his

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experience with—and frustrations about—the traditional healthcare system. Patients can wait weeks for appointments, spend only a few minutes with their physician, and receive bills that can be difficult to understand. For Dr. Jasper, those challenges raised an important question: Could primary care be designed differently? His answer became Byja Clinic. Through its membership model, the practice focuses on direct access to the physician, longer visits, personalized care, and greater transparency around costs. Patients can communicate with the practice more easily, including direct texting with their physician outside of traditional business hours, while receiving guidance about their healthcare without the layers of complexity that can sometimes accompany conventional care. At the center of it all is the physician-patient relationship. “When that relationship comes first, we believe both patients and physicians are better served,” Dr. Jasper says.

Making Healthcare Easier to Understand One of the challenges of introducing a new healthcare model is helping people understand why it exists. A common question Dr. Jasper hears is straightforward: Why would I pay a membership for primary care if I already have insurance? Healthcare, Dr. Jasper points out, has developed differently, with insurance often being billed for routine or relatively straightforward services that might be simpler and more efficient to pay for directly. Consider car insurance. Most people would not expect to file an insurance claim every time they bought gasoline, rotated their tires, or washed their car. Routine services are generally easier to manage through straightforward payment. Byja Clinic offers patients another way to think about routine primary care—one that separates everyday physician care from the role insurance plays in protecting against major and unexpected medical expenses. The goal is not to replace insurance, but to give patients another option for accessing primary care. That distinction is an important part of the education Dr. Jasper and his team provide. By helping patients understand costs upfront and identify cost-effective options for medications, laboratory work, imaging, and other services, the practice aims to make healthcare more understandable and approachable. “We can be transparent about actual costs, spend meaningful time with our patients, and help them make informed decisions about their health without unnecessary complexity or expenses,” he says. More Than a Medical Practice For Dr. Jasper, however, the vision extends beyond the walls of Byja Clinic. He believes healthier communities require more than access to a physician. Education, mentorship, opportunity, and community support all play a role. That belief has led to his involvement with the Byja Charitable Alliance, a nonprofit created to expand the broader mission of the clinic. Through its Patient Assistance Program, donations can help subsidize—or, when possible, fully cover—the cost of membership for individuals who might otherwise be unable to afford it. CONTINUED > NOVEMB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/B ATO N R O UG E

He is also involved with the Comprehensive Medical Mentoring Program, which works to increase mentorship, exposure, and opportunities for underrepresented students pursuing careers in medicine. Closer to home, Dr. Jasper is a member of the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, where he participates in community service efforts. His commitment to mentorship is particularly personal. As someone passionate about creating opportunities for the next generation of healthcare professionals, he wants young people to recognize that careers in medicine can be attainable— even when they may not have traditionally seen themselves represented in those professions. Building What Comes Next The growth of Byja Clinic has reinforced Dr. Jasper's belief that there is an appetite for a different approach to primary care. Being named the 2026 Louisiana Family Physician of the Year was one meaningful affirmation. So has been seeing patients travel across the state—and beyond—to receive care. But Dr. Jasper isn't interested in simply building a larger practice. He envisions expanding Byja Clinic to multiple locations and bringing like-minded physicians into the organization— physicians who share his belief that medicine can be practiced with greater accessibility, transparency, and connection. At the same time, he hopes to expand the work of the Byja Charitable Alliance through partnerships with individuals and organizations that want to make personalized primary care accessible to more people. It is an ambitious vision, but ambition is hardly unfamiliar territory.

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The Superpower Behind the Vision Ask Dr. Jasper what he considers his greatest strength, and his answer isn't about medicine. “My superpower is bringing people together to accomplish things that initially seem impossible.” He enjoys taking a big idea, breaking it into its individual pieces, and figuring out how those pieces can work together—even when resources are limited or the odds appear stacked against the vision. Over time, he has learned that the difference between an impossible idea and a possible one can sometimes come down to the people willing to believe in it. “The right people in the room who are willing to believe, collaborate, and get to work,” he says, can change what is possible. That philosophy seems to define more than his approach to business. It is reflected in his commitment to medicine, mentorship, community service, and the future he is building through Byja Clinic. Outside of medicine, Dr. Jasper makes time for family, community, music, and learning. He occasionally DJs at events and venues, another expression of his enjoyment of bringing people together. And perhaps that is the thread connecting all of it. Whether he is caring for a patient, mentoring a future physician, serving his community, or bringing a group of people together around an ambitious idea, Dr. Jasper approaches each opportunity with the same underlying belief: meaningful change rarely happens in isolation.It happens when people are willing to imagine something different—and then come together to build it. For Dr. Jasper, that is what Byja Clinic represents: not simply a different way to deliver primary care, but a vision for what healthcare can become when the relationship between patient and physician is placed where he believes it belongs—at the center.

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C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | F OOD + BE VE RAGE

Tips on meal prepping for less stress ARTICLE BY ALISON STANTON Let’s face it: hosting Thanksgiving dinner can be stressful. Between grocery shopping, house cleaning, cooking and baking, it’s no wonder the day devoted to giving thanks can feel a tad daunting. Here’s some very welcome good news: whether this is your first holiday hosting rodeo or you’ve stuffed many a turkey over the years, you can knock out most of the Thanksgiving meal prep work in advance – some of it two weeks before the big day. To make this year’s Thanksgiving meal easier and more enjoyable, consider the following timeline of tips.

2 WEEKS BEFORE Create Your Thanksgiving Menu • Print out the recipes you plan to use – this will be much easier than constantly tapping your phone to prevent the screen from going dark or scrolling when your hands are covered with flour or onions. • Using your menu and printed out recipes as a guide, compose a complete shopping list. • Double check your supply of herbs and spices to see what you have on hand – even the ones you are pretty sure you have enough of, like salt and pepper (this tip comes from personal experience!). • Shop for all non-perishable and frozen food items. Basically, if it doesn’t need to be stored in the fridge, or if it doesn’t have a short shelf life, it’s going in the cart. • Plan three easy and tasty dinners for the days leading up to Thanksgiving and purchase those ingredients during your shopping trip. Or plan at least one night of takeout. CONTINUED >

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4-5 DAYS BEFORE Clean & Organize, Buy Fresh Groceries • Clean your home completely, enlisting family members to help. Then, as the big day approaches, you can touch up as needed. • Finish your grocery shopping for fresh vegetables like potatoes, onions and carrots and other items not purchased earlier. • Go through your fridge and toss any old, expired condiments, leftovers and mysterious food items that no one is eating. This will free up valuable real estate for your various dishes.

2-3 DAYS BEFORE Prep Meals & Set the Table • Wash and chop all veggies and place the prepped produce into plastic baggies or airtight food storage containers. If some recipes call for “minced onion” and others require “chopped onion,” label the bags accordingly. • Set the table, and include the empty serving dishes. This will help you figure out ahead of time where the larger dishes can go (and if they will all fit!) Add Post-It notes to the empty dishes to remind you what will go in what. Use a clean sheet to cover everything and keep it all dustfree until Thursday. You can also do this for a buffet. • Gather all needed serving spoons and other serving pieces. • Pre-measure herbs and spices for your recipes and store them in labeled small plastic bags with the name of the dish they are for and what’s in the baggies. You can also do the same for any flour, sugar or other non-perishable ingredients you’ll use in your dishes.

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1 DAY BEFORE Tidy, Prepare Dishes & Drinks • Do a quick clean and tidy around the home; for instance, run the vacuum and shine up the bathrooms. • If you haven’t already done so, bake your pies, or, at the very least, prepare your pie dough. Wrap the dough in plastic and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble and bake the pies. • Make the mashed potatoes. Bonus tip: on Thanksgiving, put the potatoes into a slow cooker and heat them up using the “warm” setting. • Prepare the gravy. If you have a second slow cooker, it too can be warmed up this way on Thanksgiving. This will also help free up pots, pans and burners on the stove! • Set up a separate drink station where guests can help themselves or someone can serve them away from the kitchen. Stock it with glasses of different sizes, napkins, bottle and can openers and straws.

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ARTICLE BY ANNA BARNES

Practicing Gratitude IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER As autumn settles in, November arrives with a quiet reminder: to slow down, look around, and give thanks. The air turns crisper, the leaves finish their colorful transformation, and the pace of life seems to gently nudge us toward reflection. With the holiday season fast approaching, November provides a natural pause—a moment to notice the abundance we often overlook. Gratitude, after all, is more than a seasonal sentiment. It’s a mindset that has the power to shift perspective and bring more joy to the everyday. November encourages us to refocus, to see not just what we strive for, but all that we already have. From the comfort of a warm home to the support of friends and family, or simply the beauty of a golden autumn afternoon, this month offers endless opportunities to be present and appreciative. Practicing gratitude is more than a feel-good habit—it’s scientifically linked to better health and longevity. Studies show that regular gratitude can improve sleep quality, lower blood pressure, boost energy levels, and reduce stress. Together, these benefits promote overall well-being and may even help us live longer, healthier lives.

Gratitude can also be shared and strengthened through connection. Simple practices— like swapping daily moments of appreciation with a friend, sending a heartfelt note, or expressing thanks out loud—remind us that gratitude is not only personal but also relational. By including others in our practice, we cultivate deeper bonds, spread positivity, and create a ripple effect that enriches both our lives and the community around us. Thankfulness doesn’t require grand gestures—it can flourish in simple acts. A note of appreciation, a shared meal, or even a mindful moment to acknowledge the good in our day can be transformative. In doing so, we carry the warmth of gratitude far beyond November, turning it into a daily practice that enriches our lives year-round. This November, may we not only count our blessings, but also embody them—living with greater awareness, kindness, and a renewed sense of gratitude for the season we’re in. Besides, practicing gratitude throughout the month will inevitably pay off when asked, “What are you thankful for this year?” around the Thanksgiving table.

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“Gratitude, after all, is more than a seasonal sentiment.”

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VOLUNTEER Volunteering is a powerful way to express gratitude as it turns appreciation into action. By giving time, skills, or support to others, we acknowledge our own blessings, foster connection, and make a positive impact, showing thankfulness through meaningful contribution and generosity. There are a myriad of wonderful causes to dedicate your time to; another way to deepen your ties in your community.

WRITE A POSITIVE REVIEW FOR A LOCAL BUSINESS

KEEP A GRATITUDE JOURNAL Keeping a gratitude journal helps shift focus from what’s lacking to what’s abundant in life. By regularly recording moments of appreciation, it boosts mood, reduces stress, and cultivates mindfulness, making it easier to notice everyday joys and strengthen overall happiness and well-being. Some days may be easier than others but some days it’s okay to acknowledge your appreciation for a hot cup of coffee.

TAKE A GRATITUDE WALK

Have you been meaning to write a kind review about that new place you loved? If it’s been on your to-do list, make it a priority. Writing a positive review for a local business is a simple way to practice gratitude. It acknowledges the hard work behind the service, supports the community, and spreads positivity— helping both the business thrive and you feel more connected to the place we call home.

A gratitude walk combines movement with mindfulness, making it a powerful practice. By noticing nature, reflecting on blessings, and appreciating the present moment, it shifts focus away from stress. And we all know taking a walk is a great way to get our bodies and minds moving. This simple habit boosts mood, deepens gratitude, and strengthens both mental and physical well-being. Plus a fall walk with the deep, rich tones of the changing leaves is also a mood booster.

SAY ‘THANK YOU’ MORE OFTEN

HAVE A GRATITUDE “BUDDY”

Needless to say, saying “thank you” more often is a simple yet powerful way to practice gratitude. It acknowledges kindness, strengthens relationships, and fosters positivity. Regularly expressing appreciation not only uplifts others but also deepens your own sense of thankfulness. You just might inspire someone else’s gratitude journey!

Pair up with a friend this month! Having a gratitude buddy is a great way to create connection while reinforcing thankfulness. By sharing what you appreciate with a friend or partner, you gain fresh perspective, deepen relationships, and stay accountable—making gratitude a consistent, shared, and uplifting part of everyday life.

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Your ultimate guide to the perfect game gathering this holiday season ARTICLE BY BETH DEL VILLE ’Tis the season for get-togethers with family and friends. Kids are home from school, friends and family are visiting for the holidays, and neighbors are especially, well, neighborly! In the whirlwind of holiday to-dos and festive planning, it’s easy to get lost in the chaos. This year, take a moment to carve out some time for a little fun! With screens and social media dominating our attention, a nostalgic, simple and joyful game night sets the scene for laughter, friendly competition and making memories with those you love. Check out our guide to creating the best game night ever.

The Guest List: Game nights might just be the perfect party; they’re great for everyone from toddlers to grandparents. And games can be the great equalizer while bringing everyone together. The sweet spot for your game night’s guest size should be manageable but large enough to be lively (somewhere between 6 to 10 people).

Setting the Scene

: Clear away the clutter to make space for games and guests. Assemble a comfortable seating area with cozy blankets, cushy poufs and floor pillows to encourage everyone to relax and stay a while. Curate a fun and upbeat playlist to have in the background - just loud enough to create the perfect party ambiance. Indie folk or smooth jazz can keep the energy up without distracting from gameplay. Set up a variety of lighting from string lights to candles to craft a magical mood, ensuring the space feels inviting.

snack sensations. You can rent an old-fashioned popcorn machine for a fun, nostalgic touch or simply provide a large bowl of freshly popped corn. Then, arrange your toppings. Think butter or olive oil, a variety of seasonings from traditional salt to nutritional yeast, sweet candies for that salty-sweet combination, melted chocolate and caramel sauce, and more.

The Games: The best strategy for selecting games is to have a variety at the ready. For large, loud and energetic play, think group party games like Codenames and Wavelength. For smaller, more thoughtful groups, Ticket to Ride, Carcassonne and other strategy games may be the way to go. You can’t go wrong with timeless staples such as Pictionary, Scrabble or a deck of cards. Or take game night outdoors and prepare for a spirited contest with classic outdoor games like ladder toss and cornhole.

Snack Attack: Keep the rivalry friendly by ensuring your guests are satiated. Set up a popcorn bar, a low-effort but high-impact snack station! Stock up on individual popcorn boxes so your guests can create their own

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No matter who wins the game, we all know the real win is spending time with your loved ones.

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NOVEMBER 2026

events A S E L E C T I O N O F U P C O M I N G LO C A L E V E N T S

NOVE M BE R 1 ST

Cap City Beer Fest Downtown Baton Rouge | 1:00 PM A fun afternoon downtown with craft beer, food trucks, live music, games, and a dog-friendly atmosphere. It benefits Companion Animal Alliance.

NOVE M BE R 4 T H

Sip & Shop Perkins Rowe | 5:00 PM Stroll through Perkins Rowe, enjoy a featured sip at participating businesses, and take advantage of exclusive promos and activations inside their spaces.

NOVE M BE R 5T H

The Red Clay Straights Raising Cane's River Center | 7:00 PM The Red Clay Strays are celebrating their new album Grateful with their biggest headlining tour so far, “The Grateful Tour ‘26.”

NOVE M BE R 6T H

Federales Fest Live Oak at Cedar Lodge | 7:00 PM Country, rock, Americana, food and drinks. The 2026 lineup includes Pecos & the Rooftops, Starboro, Doussan Garrett Benoit, B.B. Palmer and The Love.Craft Band.

NOVE M BE R 1 0 T H

Ruffino's Holiday Cooking Experience Ruffino's | 6:00 PM The Ruffino's Cooking Experience is a 5-course meal, paired with wine and step-by-step instructions from our team of chefs

NOVE M BE R 1 2 T H

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 River Center Theatre This concert will dive deep into the iconic fifth symphony by Tchaikovsky and is a very powerful and deeply personal expression.

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N OV E M BE R 1 9 T H

Pointsettias and Prosecco Burden Museum and Gardens | 7:00 PM Wander through the stunningly lit Windrush Gardens while enjoying delectable small bites and perfectly paired drinks from local restaurants.

N OV E M BE R 1 9 T H

A Celtic Christmas River Center Theatre | 7:00 PM Featuring former World Irish dance champions and stars from Lord of the Dance and Riverdance, A Celtic Christmas delivers a holiday celebration packed with Irish wit, traditional tunes and heartfelt ballads, alongside all your favorite carols.

N OV E M BE R 2 0 T H

White Light Night Mid City / Government Street | 6:00 PM White Light Night is Mid City's largest art festival featuring Louisiana's best artists, makers, and more CONTINUED >

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events

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NOVEMBER 27TH

Louisiana Lights Burden Museum and Gardens | 7:00 PM Experience the magic of Louisiana Lights, Baton Rouge's premier holiday light show at Burden Museum & Gardens.

DECEMBER 5TH

The Market at the Oasis The Market at the Oasis (13827 Coursey Blvd) | 9:00 AM A pet-friendly daytime outdoor market featuring handmade crafts and local foods.

DECEMBER 6TH

Santa's Art Studio LSU Museum of Art (100 Lafayette St) | 1:00 PM A festive, family-oriented creative drop-in studio session.

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