2010 EDition GREA t E R B A t O N R O u GE The Official Visitors Guide PluS is here! What to see Where to stay Where to eat SPONSORED BY: TheMusic Issue Date: Welcome Ad proof #4 • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. • Ad will run as is unless approval or final revisions are received by the close of business today. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees. Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2009. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329 d o fo a Se & Steak Family owned and operated Fireside dining Can accommodate large parties including rehearsal dinners Fresh homemade yeast rolls will greet you at your table US Highway 190, Livonia, LA 70755 | 225-637-3663 | notyourmamas.net (just 20 minutes west of Baton Rouge and 40 minutes east of Lafayette) Open daily 11-9pm • Fri. and Sat. 11-10pm 3 WELCOME • www.visitbatonrouge.com Issue Date: Welcome Ad proof #2 • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. • Ad will run as is unless approval or final revisions are received by the close of business today. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees. Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2009. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329 VISIT US AT WWW.HOOTERSLA.COM TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU Hooters Siegen Lane 6454 Siegen Lane Baton Rouge, LA 70809 225-293-1900 Hooters College Drive 5120 Corporate Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA 70806 225-928-7221 Hooters Denham Springs 254 Range 12 Blvd. Denham Springs, LA 70726 225-243-7962 WWW.HOOTERSLOUISIANA.COM WELCOME • www.visitbatonrouge.com WELCOME 5 introduction Baton rouge! elcome to Baton rouge, Louisiana’s capital city and one of America’s next Great cities! While you are visiting, i would like to encourage you to take advantage of everything we have to offer. Baton rouge has outstanding local cultural attractions, such as the old State capitol, the rural Life Museum, the Louisiana Art and Science Museum, the Southern university Museum of Art and the Louisiana State Museum, a museum show- casing the history of Louisiana. Baton rouge is also home to the Shaw center for the Arts, where you can view prestigious exhibits in the LSu Museum of Art and sample an exciting schedule of cultural events and live performances in its Manship theatre. Additionally, Baton rouge is a center for commerce, with several business incuba- tors and the Louisiana technology Park. We are home to Louisiana State university and Southern university, and we are proud to have the fastest growing community college in the nation, Baton rouge community college. Wour city has some of the finest restaurants, which are guaranteed to satisfy any liking. At night, you can put on your dancing shoes and head downtown to enjoy the vibrant nightlife along the Mississippi river. i hope that you enjoy your stay and come back to visit us real Welcomesoon. to MElviN l. “KiP” HOlDEN Mayor-President elcome to Baton rouge! You’ve chosen an exciting time to visit Louisiana’s capital city. in 2010, we will celebrate the bicentennial of East Baton rouge Parish and the 150th birthday of Louisiana State university. And we’ve got more things planned than you can shake a stick at ... a red Stick, that is. the celebration will last throughout the year, featuring annual events like our fam- ily friendly Mardi Gras parade season and one of the South’s largest St. Patrick’s day parades. crawfish season is in full boil when our spring festival season kicks off on April 24 with the Baton rouge Blues Festival. And mark your calendar for the inaugural Bayou county Superfest on Memorial day weekend. this first-time event features country mu- sic superstars Kenny chesney, taylor Swift and Keith urban. Foodies won’t want to miss the Second Fete rouge Wine & culinary Festival in Au- gust, and as fall approaches, it’s time to fire up the grills, loosen the belt buckle a notch Wand get ready for tailgating. As you can see, there are plenty of reasons throughout the year to stick around the red Stick! For more information, we invite you to log onto visitbatonrouge.com. Laissez les bon temps rouler! PAul ARRiGO President & Ceo, Visit Baton rouge hether you are visiting for business or pleasure, you will discover our region’s rich history, cultural arts and numerous surprises to make the most of your time in Baton rouge. We offer countless ways for you to enjoy yourself no matter what your interests. our goal inside Welcome magazine is to help make your visit entertaining and worth remember- ing. inside you’ll find an array of restaurants serving tantalizing cuisines from all corners of the Earth. Whether you’re looking to shop, listen to some music or visit museums and plantations, our goal is that your visit is memorable. Look inside for details about all of your choices. We hope you will use Welcome as your personal tour guide for the Baton rouge area. Enjoy your visit! JuliO MElARA WELCOME • www.visitbatonrouge.com WELCOME Publisher, Welcome 6 W FroM our sponSor the tradition continues Mike Anderson’s Seafood: ver the past 30 years, Mike than 235 people. the company opened its Anderson’s Seafood has grown French Quarter location in the mid-1980s along into a Baton rouge staple. it’s with a food court location at the riverwalk the south Louisiana restaurant Mall. (the French Quarter location is currently that food lovers and football closed due to the aftermath of Hurricane Ka- fans alike turn to for fantastic regional food in trina.) there is also a Mike Anderson’s franchise a festive atmosphere—and for fun with friends located in the Holiday inn in Gonzales, La. and family too. After three decades in the Loyal customers as well as south Louisiana food business, Mike Anderson’s has earned its visitors flock to Mike Anderson’s for sensation- reputation for serving exceptional south Loui- al fried or broiled seafood. other restaurant fa- siana seafood dishes in a relaxed, comfortable vorites include a crabmeat- and shrimp-stuffed atmosphere. fillet, Mike’s Special (jumbo shrimp broiled in “When i started the company, i wanted worcestershire, margarine, lemon and spices), to make sure that customers leave full and and the Guitreau (grilled fresh fish topped Ogo home with leftovers,” says owner Mike with sautéed crawfish, shrimp, mushrooms and Anderson. “now, 30 years later, they are still onions in white wine, margarine and spices). returning because we continue to strive for in addition to the main restaurant, Mike consistently good food, dependable service, Anderson’s also offers outdoor dining at the and to make sure the customers get their Side Porch, which can be booked for private money’s worth.” parties five out of seven nights of the week. Mike Anderson, an LSu All-American it has become a premier location for hosting football player in the early 1970s, opened Mike birthday parties, reunions, corporate parties, Anderson’s college town Seafood & oyster Bar seafood boils, rehearsal dinners, small wedding in november of 1975. it was located on High- receptions and high school reunions. land road near LSu and offered four different obviously, Mike Anderson’s has blossomed po-boys and oysters on the half shell. When into much more than a traditional eatery, but it it outgrew its space, the has never lost its main fo- company moved to its cur- cus: a dedication to quality rent location on West Lee food, friendly service and drive and changed its name big helpings! this should to Mike Anderson’s Seafood ensure its position as a restaurant. staple on the Baton rouge today, Mike Anderson’s seafood scene for many in Baton rouge seats more years to come. WELCOME • www.visitbatonrouge.com WELCOME 7 contEntS coVEr StorY Published by the Baton rouge Business report in conjunction with Visit Baton rouge 1-800-LA-rouGE It’s a phenomenal year for music islovers in a cityhere! that loves its music. 30 LiStinGS Note: Listings in this publication contain information sup- plied by advertisers; the publisher is not responsible for claims or information therein. Who to call ..............................................................13 Hotels at a glance .................................................17 Where to stay ........................................................22 Where to eat ..........................................................39 What to see ............................................................45 What to see: Plantations ....................................51 Where to shop ....................................................... 57 coffee breaks..........................................................61 nightlife ...................................................................63 Cover photo by Mark Steve Guillory What to do..............................................................64 Where to tee it up ................................................73 Around the area FEAturE downtown ..........................................................77 Culture trails .....................................................36 Mid city .............................................................. 80 Get the full Baton Rouge experience by follow- Ascension Parish .............................................83 ing a single trail to the best of everything. iberville Parish ..................................................85