One Night in Baton Rouge
Well, it is not quite as exotic as One Night in Bangkok, but Baton Rouge is just an hour and so outside of New Orleans has so much to offer. Living in the Crescent City, you forget how many wonderful places our state holds, so I decided to take a quick road trip on the second Friday in May.
My friends Beaux and Barrett joined me on my little Baton Rouge adventure which turned into quite the excursion. We stayed at the Hotel Indigo, a very sophisticated boutique hotel in the Baton Rouge Downtown Riverfront at 200 Convention Street. Located in a historic building, the Indigo blends a modern contemporary feel with amazing Southern Hospitality. The service is outstanding and it offers many amenities to their guests from complimentary wireless Internet access to a 24 hour workout center. The lobby sets the atmosphere of elegance which carries over to the rooms, which are beautifully designed with well- appointed bathrooms (love the showers) and extremely comfortable beds. Which is the most important feature of a room in my opinion; they passed that test with flying colors, the beds simply enveloped you. The hotel is also within walking distance of several major attractions such as the Louisiana State Capitol, Central Business District and Riverfront Convention Center.
We got settled into our room, and then did a quick change for a night out in Red Stick. We started by defying the freakishly bad weather that evening to attend Hot Art, Cool Nights. This is the 11th annual Baton Rouge Mid-City Merchants sponsored spring art hop. This was a cool event, which I liken to our White Linen Night or Art For Art’s Sake. Thousands of art lovers jam into the participating businesses enjoying the art and in select locations some great local bands. What is so unique about this event is that it is more than just art galleries involved, Mid-City businesses will sponsor local artists and their original work. We visited everything from coffee shops to an insurance agency, all showcasing both well-known artists and new talent. Two of my favorite spots were Elizabethan Gallery and Lauren Maier State Farm.
Mid-City is considered the premier art and design district of the city with its area spanning from I-10 to Lobdell Boulevard and from Claycut/Broussard to Main Street. All proceeds from this event go to public art for this area of Baton Rouge. There was even free shuttle bus transportation.
Afterwards we went to dinner at one of Baton Rouge’s top restaurants Fleming’s Steakhouse. Fleming’s of Baton Rouge is in Mid-South City, located at 7321 Corporate Boulevard, just off of I10 near the Bocage Village Shopping Center. This excellent steakhouse is a complete dining experience that goes beyond just good cuisine. The service is excellent from entrance to exit. The décor is tasteful and understated with rich wood grain looks and comfortable banquets.
For those not familiar with the restaurant, Flemings was founded in 1998 by restaurateurs Paul Fleming and Bill Allen. The first Fleming’s opened in Newport Beach, California. Their vision was to create a unique steakhouse experience with an emphasis on generous hospitality, an inviting atmosphere and the very finest aged USDA Prime beef. In addition to inspired service and expertly prepared Prime Steak, they also focused on an exceptional selection of wines. The Fleming’s 100® — is there award-winning collection of 100 wines by the glass. Fleming’s is also part of Bloomin’ Brands, one of the world’s largest casual dining companies, which also owns and operates Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill and Roy’s Restaurant.
The menu is extensive and their wine list is one of the best I have ever found. Presented to guests on a tablet, you are able to peruse the wines, look at the pairings and find out information on the vineyards. Surfing the net has never been so fun. For those who have a passion for wines and good cuts of meat, Flemings is the perfect choice. But they have a full menu that has choices from seafood and poultry to vegetarian options. The appetizers we tried that were exceptional were the sweet chile calamari and the jumbo lump crabcakes. But event before the appetizers hit the table; the hot bread served with a duo of spreads got your appetite growing. But it was the hand-cut steaks that highlighted the meal. We tried three different options all were delicious. The first was the peppercorn steak which is a prime New York strip with a peppercorn outer shell, giving the meat the right hint of flavor without being overpowering. I had the dry-aged prime ribeye with the poached lobster tail finished off with caviar and béarnaise sauce. The last steak we tried was the filet mignon paired with crabmeat stuffed shrimp. Each selection was cooked perfectly to our specifications. For sides, I recommend the sautéed mushrooms and the rosemary and garlic and cipollini onions. From appetizer to dessert, the meal was outstanding creating a very memorable dining experience.
After dinner, the gay nightlife beckoned to us. We started at George’s Place located at 860 St. Louis Street very close to downtown right by the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino. George’s is a friendly neighborhood bar that was established in 1970. To classify this place as a neighborhood bar would be an injustice, it has so much to offer from a stage for drag performances to a nice outdoor patio area. The place was hopping with a variety of different styles of gay men from the hot twinks to the contingent of well-dressed lobbyists and politicos who look like they came in straight from the capital floor. The legislature is currently in session. Their staff was welcoming especially Chansley who was witty and very sociable. For anyone visiting Baton Rouge, George’s is definitely a great bar for socializing (and a little cruising).
We then went to Splash which is a short distance from downtown at 2183 Highland Road. This large nightclub offers the best in dance music. There are several different areas as part of this bar for patrons to enjoy from the upstairs dance club which has a totally different vibe then the one below (On the night we visited, it was very Goth) to the pool table lounge. The drinks are good and the bartenders quick to get you a refill. The draw of this place is their dance floor which is expansive, perfect for large crowds and shows. Their lighting system accentuates the atmosphere of this high energy club. George’s and Splash are ideal choices for the LGBT traveler when visiting the city, both offering their own unique vibe.
We headed back to the hotel and had a nightcap in our hotel bar. King’s Bar and Bistro located in the lobby of the Hotel Indigo is more than a hotel lounge. It is an open and airy space with talented mixologists serving tasty craft cocktails and standard libations. It was the impeccable ending to our evening of frivolity in the city.
On Saturday we played tourist in downtown Baton Rouge, first walking to the Farmer’s Market located on Fifth and Main Streets. This is one of the largest farmer’s markets I have been to and extremely popular with residents and visitors alike. It is open only on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon so it was a treat we were there for it. The driving force behind the market is to build a sense of community among farmers and consumers. The value of Louisiana’s rich culture steeped in food and farming motivated support from urban neighbors to eat locally and in season. They had everything from meats and seafood to plants, herbs, fruits and vegetables. Whether it is honey or homemade breads, this market has everything, and also has several little restaurants ideal for brunch. There was also a cooking demonstration happening.
The Red Stick Farmers Market was formed in November of 1996 creating a link between locally owned family farms and food businesses in the Baton Rouge area. From the very first Market day, Red Stick Farmers Market became a favorite Saturday morning tradition where shoppers could build relationships with food producers. It was interesting talking to the chicken farmers supplying eggs to bee keepers.
We also walked around the Capitol Building grounds looking at the numerous magnolia trees and gardens. Once we finished our downtown stroll, we went for a little retail therapy at one of the city’s greatest shopping areas, the Mall of Louisiana. I know malls are passé, but this one is pretty impressive and has every store imaginable in it or near it. But Baton Rouge offers many outlets the Crescent City still is waiting to get. Two of them we made it a point to visit before returning home, Z Gallerie and Trader Joe’s. Z Gallerie is like a better design version of Pier One and Restoration Hardware. Trader Joe’s has Two Buck Chuck, must I say more. Needless to say, poor Beaux’s little Fiat was filled to the capacity when we returned. Definitely next time we visit, we need to take a bigger car. So when you look for close getaway from the craziness of New Orleans, you do not have to go any further than our state’s capital. For more information on the city and things to do, go to www.visitbatonrouge.com.
Tony Leggio
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