A Non-Art Student Judges Art

I didn’t go to art school. I’m not an artist. Or an art critic. And I don’t know what it feels like to pour every inch of my soul onto a canvas, or a piece of wood, or into a pile of clay. But I do know what it feels like to see a work of art so moving that it begins to consume your thoughts. I do know that when you stare at a really powerful work of art for a long time, you forget how it looked the first time your eyes scanned its lines, or its horizon, or the mysterious edges of its beauty. Because after really peering at something so awakening, your brain can’t stop inventing new ideas for its meaning. All you can remember is the last reason that brought you to where you are and how you feel. And you still have no idea of the limit to its importance.

I do know that when I look at a painting by Katherine Bradford, I feel all of this. In her painting titled Swim to the City, I feel an eerie type of calm. Like when you’re staring out into the night and all you hear for miles is crying crickets and the crunching of leaves from something unknown. An insecure safety. I feel like I’m floating. Floating in between a dream,

Katherine Bradford, Swim To The City, Oil on canvas, 20″ x 16″, 2009.

bouncing from one thought to another before the morning opens my eyes. Unsure where my mind will take me, but anxious to find out how far it can be stretched. The white fades to blue, fades to black, fades into the night. And I’m stuck there, staring into the unknown. I didn’t go to art school. I’m not an artist. But I do know that this feeling of uncertainty is how my mind finds comfort in something so powerful.

The Vegan Movement: Veggies, Veggies, Veggies

Marcy Knabe stands in her brightly lit kitchen in front of a cutting board filled with veggies. She slowly begins to chop the zucchini, squash, red peppers and broccoli as they tumble in a row on the wooden block. Piece-by-piece she tosses them into a frying pan, forming a colorful stir-fry concoction. Once the vegetables are sizzled to perfection, her dinner is ready.

This meat-free dish is a typical meal for Knabe, who became a vegan in February after hearing about the diet’s various health benefits. A vegetarian since 2010, including milk products and eggs with her veggies, she decided in February to take it one step further by excluding all animal products from her diet.

“It’s not all about burgers and French fries,” Knabe says.

While steak and potatoes were once thought of as the ideal meal, Knabe and her fellow veg-heads believe the vegan diet is the way to dine. Whether they’re just testing it out or completely switching up their lifestyles, some people are choosing to swap out meat and begin “eating green.”

The vegan lifestyle consists of a diet that excludes all animal products, said Amelia Jensen, college campaign coordinator for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Vegans refrain from eating animal meat and by-products, including dairy, eggs and even honey.

While vegetarians abstain from eating animal meat, those choosing to take the plant-eating vegan route go one step further by abstaining from buying products that come from animals.

“In terms of non-food related products and clothing, vegans tend to buy products that are not tested on animals and also abstain from leather and fur,” Jensen said.

Although it may seem like a strange diet to some, Knabe believes everyone should test out the meatless régime.

“This [diet] makes us stop and think what we’re putting in our bodies, and I think that’s a big benefit,” Knabe said. “If people tried it, it would give them a whole new outlook on what they’re eating.”

Marcy Knabe, a vegan since February, chops up yellow squash before adding it to a vegetable stir-fry. “Now that I’m vegan, I’m back to the weight I was 20 years ago,” she said.

Knabe decided to start eating green because of the various health benefits that surround the diet, which is low in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol.

“I’m type 2 diabetic, and I don’t crave sweets anymore,” Knabe said. “Now that I’m vegan, I’m back to the weight I was 20 years ago.”

Because a vegan diet is void of animal fat, vegans are less likely to be diagnosed with various diseases, said Carol O’Neil, registered dietician and nutrition professor at LSU.

“Generally, people who have this lifestyle show that they are less likely to get certain chronic diseases: heart disease, diabetes, obesity,” O’Neil said

While health benefits are a major attraction to those who opt for veganism, people also choose to ditch the meat and pick up the greens for various other reasons.

“People also have ethical concerns about eating animals or eating animal products,” O’Neil said.

The ethical concerns of vegans often have to do with factory farming and the slaughtering of animals, Jensen said. Some people also choose to go meat-free because of the environmental issues surrounding animal agriculture, including pollution and land waste.

For those who find these benefits appealing, the switch from meat-eater to veggie-fiend can be easier than some think, Jensen said.

“An easy and effective way to go vegan is to make little changes in your meals each week to make a smooth transition,” Jensen said. “There are tons of vegan meats, vegan cheeses and non-dairy milks available in most grocery stores.”

When Knabe first started her vegan diet two months ago, she noticed positive changes in her physical health.

“I had seen what a difference it made in the way I felt,” Knabe said. “I eat better. I sleep better. I’m eating more vegetables.”

While there are various benefits of a vegan diet, O’Neil believes the lifestyle is not suitable for everyone.

“If a person wanted to go on a vegan diet, they would need to be fairly well-educated,” O’Neil said. “They have to be very well-informed on nutrition and they have to have knowledge of balancing proteins.”

Because proteins and certain vitamins such as B-12 are found in animal meat, vegans need to find other ways to supplement these into their diets.

“If a person is not going to eat any animal products, they need to take complementary vegetable proteins in order to get complete proteins,” O’Neil said. “Vegans also need to take vitamin supplements to make sure they get enough vitamins and minerals.”

Vegetable proteins can be found in soy products, such as tofu or soymilk, as well as in some sea plants, O’Neil said. Nuts and nut butters are also high in protein and energy.

Knabe believes it is important for vegans and non-vegans to be educated and understand what kinds of foods they choose to eat.

“You’ve got to make sure you’re doing it the right way,” Knabe said. “I’ve got to make sure I’m getting the calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B-12, so I’ve done research to make sure I’m eating the right things to substitute what I’m not getting from meat.”

The choice to chow down on greens and grains created a new lifestyle for Knabe, who noticed a change in more than just her health from the beginning. These positive transformations are the reasons Knabe plans to continue a vegan diet with no plans to revert back to meat eating.

“One thing I noticed when I first went vegan is that the flavors are like firecrackers,” Knabe said. “It was amazing how much flavor came back. Things taste totally different now. They taste so much better.”

Live After 5: Starting the Weekend Off With Some Twang

A sea of people rises from seat to feet under the setting sun. Hips sway with each blare of the trumpet. Fists pump with each kick, kick, kick of the drums. For a moment, the crowd pulses in unison to the electrifying sounds flowing from the speakers.

More than 2,500 people got up and jammed on Friday, April 20, at Live After 5 in downtown Baton Rouge. Local variety band Smooth rocked out with oldies and popular tunes, as listeners sang along in the North Boulevard Town Square. The event, which is produced by the Downtown Business Association, consists of shows from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Friday until June 1.

“Live After 5 is a free outdoor concert series that provides the opportunity for downtown Baton Rouge to become more of a destination, as opposed to just a quick visit,” said Kerry Ruiz, marketing and event coordinator for the DBA.

Each Friday, downtown is transformed into a mini Woodstock, as residents come together to start the weekend off with some good vibrations while bringing business to the area.

Members of Baton Rouge-based variety band Smooth perform classics and popular songs to a crowd of more than 2,500 people at Live After 5 in downtown Baton Rouge on Friday, April 20.

“We’ve got over 70 businesses that are members of the DBA,” Ruiz said. “And so we feel that it’s our mission to promote our membership by having this event. Our goal is to showcase all the new, great things that are downtown that a lot of people may not be aware of.”

Live After 5 provides a venue for visitors to enjoy a variety of bands, including rock and roll, blues, zydeco and Cajun. This spring’s lineup hosts bands from near and far, with acts from Lil’ Band O’ Gold, Stormy, Bag of Donuts, Pine Leaf Boys, Press 1 for English, One More Time Band, Brandon Giles and Island Fever.

“We try to get a little bit of everything,” Ruiz said. “Something for everybody’s taste, so they can come out and enjoy the type of music they want to hear.”

Fans can request to see their favorite acts light up the stage on Fridays, while bands can also submit their information on the Live After 5 website to get a chance at performing, Ruiz said.

“We try to look at the different bands that have submitted, and give as many local bands the opportunity to perform,” Ruiz said. “There’s so much talent here in Baton Rouge.”

In addition to a slew of musical acts, every Friday visitors can expect to find beverage trucks selling sodas and spirits, food trucks selling sno-balls and sandwiches, and a crowd of people from all over.

“One great thing about Live After 5 is the diversity – young and old, black and white, families, kids,” Ruiz said. “Everybody comes together and has a fun time.”

Since its first concert in 2000, Live After 5 continues to attract growing numbers of fans from Baton Rouge and surrounding areas.

“Back in the day, when it first started, there were maybe 50 to 100 people [who attended],” Ruiz said. “But now we average somewhere in the 2,500 to 3,000 range.”

People wait in line to purchase fair foods like nachos and French fries from a local food truck at Live After 5 in downtown Baton Rouge on Friday, April 20.

The DBA created the event 12 years ago to help build the resurgence of downtown and promote attractions in the area.

“The DBA’s mission is to promote the growth and success of downtown Baton Rouge,” Ruiz said. “And they do that by having this concert that brings people from all over the parish and other parishes downtown. When it’s over, we encourage them to stay downtown and frequent the restaurants, and the hotels and the museums.”

The biggest change Live After 5 encountered since the first strum of guitar in 2000 is the recent addition of the North Boulevard Town Square, which provides a brand new stage and pedestrian-friendly zone for concertgoers to enjoy.

“At one point, the event would be in a different location each week,” Ruiz said. “We used a portable stage, and we would move it to different corners [of downtown]. We actually have a beautiful stage now, where we can put on a really good show.”

Ruiz believes the sense of community and the variety of talent attracts a crowd that continues to make its way downtown for the festival feeling each Friday.

“Obviously, we all love music and we love getting together with the community,” Ruiz said. “You can tell by the feedback we get through Facebook and our website.”

Baton Rouge resident Regina Boatner, who comes every Friday, said she enjoys the lively atmosphere Live After 5 creates.

“Its like one big picnic,” Boatner said. “I like to come out, and sit down, and drink, and have fun and listen to the music.”

Port Allen resident Janice Chiasson said she and her husband have come almost every Friday since Live After 5’s start.

“If it’s a beautiful day, I love to be outdoors, and the music is usually good so I just come out here and enjoy.”

Chiasson believes the concert series is an important aspect in promoting business to the downtown area.

“The restaurants and the businesses down here get a big boost every time this goes on because people leave and go eat somewhere or go to a bar,” Chiasson said.

As exciting musical acts continue to light up the stage each Friday, crowds of people make their way downtown to take in some Baton Rouge culture, while enjoying the company of both friends and strangers.

“My favorite part of Live After 5 is that one part during the concert, when I step back and look out at the crowd, and see everybody smiling and dancing together and having a good time,” Ruiz said.

Baton Rouge Bike to Work Week: Pedal Pushers

Cyclists splattered City Park with neon yellow, as they donned high-visibility t-shirts and prepared to prove that pedaling prevails.

More than 15 bikers gathered at the park for Baton Rouge’s Bike to Work Day on Friday, April 20, which marked the final day of Bike to Work Week. The pedal pushers munched on muffins and laced up their sneakers before biking their 6-mile trek downtown at 7:30 a.m.

“The more bikers that are out in the community, the more everyone will start working toward the goals of being a more bike-friendly community,” said Cory Belden, lead planner of Baton Rouge’s first organized Bike to Work Week.

While May is National Bike Month, Louisiana celebrates pedal pride in April, when the weather is cooler and better for riding. Bike to Work Week is a national event that varies in date for different communities.

Mike Martin, founder of Baton Rouge Advocates for Safe Streets, said the main goal of Bike to Work Week was to raise awareness of the benefits of cycling.

“Our goal is to make walking and bicycling so easy and safe that people would choose to leave their cars at home,” Martin said.

More than 15 cyclists prepared to depart from Baton Rouge’s City Park for a six-mile journey downtown during Bike to Work Day on Friday, April 20, part of Baton Rouge’s first organized Bike to Work Week.

Bike to Work Week was created to expose Baton Rouge residents to the idea of commuting by bike rather than by car, Martin said.

“It’s just getting people into the idea that they can actually ride, and do so safely and do so easily,” Martin said.

Belden said the event was also organized in an effort to improve bicycle safety throughout Baton Rouge.

“If people do bike to work, maybe they’ll start putting bike racks downtown, and maybe they’ll start striking more bike lanes throughout the city,” Belden said.

Belden believes the benefits of commuting by bike can improve people’s personal lives while improving the quality of the community.

“It’s a great opportunity to get your exercise in during the day by commuting to work,” Belden said. “Baton Rouge is also one of the worst traffic-congested cities for its size in the country, so the more people you get out of their vehicles and onto bikes, you’re reducing that many cars on the road.”

Martin said commuting through pedal power carries financial benefits.

“If people commuted to work once a week, they would save over $1,100 a year,” said Martin, who commutes by bike daily. “The more you ride your bicycle, the more money you save, the happier you are, the healthier you are, the better the city is.”

To kick-start the habit of pushing back the kickstand and cycling through the city, Martin believes people just need to give biking to work a try.

“In urban areas, the overwhelming majority of trips are under 5 miles,” Martin said. “Give it a shot; it’s better than you think it’s going to be, and it’s easier than you think it’s going to be.”

Cyclists donned neon yellow t-shirts highlighting bike safety during Bike to Work Day on Friday, April 20, part of Baton Rouge’s Bike to Work Week.

Lafayette resident Jen Steele, who participated in Baton Rouge’s Bike to Work Day, bikes her children to school daily.

“By biking them to school, I get in my daily exercise without taking any time away from any family stuff,” Steele said. “The other reason I like it is because I really enjoy being outside and getting that endorphin rush in the morning.”

Steele also believes putting rubber to pedal every morning encourages a community-building aspect.

“Traveling at the speed of bike really changes your perspective on the community around you,” Steele said. “I feel like you get to know people better having that face-to-face interaction, without a layer of glass around you as you drive by.”

Bike to Work Week made it possible for cyclists like Steele, Belden and Martin to paint Baton Rouge neon yellow while raising awareness of the benefits of pushing pedals.

“I haven’t owned a car in 20 years,” Martin said. “Having done it this long, I really prefer being on a bike. You’re more tied into the community and the world, and it brings you a lot of joy, too.”

Earthly Concerns: Louisiana Earth Day

Recycling bins and bicycles lined the streets, while the rhythmic sounds of drums and guitars filled the ears of all who attended Louisiana Earth Day today in downtown Baton Rouge.

Volunteers at Louisiana Earth Day, one of the largest environmental festivals in the nation, promoted “going green” from noon to 8:30 p.m. along North Boulevard with various hands-on activities, informational booths and entertainment.

“The whole purpose of Earth Day is really to advocate for a better quality of life and a sustainable life,” said Louisiana Earth Day spokesperson Brenda Nixon.

The festival, which was founded in 1990, continues to successfully educate Louisiana residents about the importance of environmentally friendly living.

“It started out so successfully from the very beginning, that every year it has grown and every year we have new and different activities,” said Nixon, who has been involved with Louisiana Earth Day for 18 years. “Our main focus is education, because there are a lot of things people can do to create a healthy environment.”

Marcia Ball performed on the Earth Music Stage at Louisiana Earth Day today in downtown Baton Rouge along North Boulevard.

The main goal of Louisiana Earth Day is to promote individual responsibility, Nixon said.

“We’re looking at trying to look at our individual actions to lessen each person’s carbon footprint,” Nixon said. “Because the less carbon footprint that everybody has, the healthier the environment will be.”

Educational booths, such as the Earth Friendly Habitat and the Wetlands Tent, provided hands-on activities for Louisiana residents to gain understanding about environmental issues.

Ashley Mullens of the LSU Agriculture Center Youth Wetlands Program provided applied activities to promote knowledge of Louisiana wildlife.

“We’re teaching youth to explore wetlands through their five senses,” said Baton Rouge resident Mullens. “We hope that this will kick start their interest in wildlife, and they’ll go home and explore where these animals live and exist in our state.”

Mullens believes Earth Day is a way to encourage understanding of various ways to support a healthy environment.

“We love Louisiana Earth Day because it helps us make a huge impact in a short amount of time,” Mullens said. “A lot of it is awareness about wetland ecosystems in Louisiana, and it also helps us get our program out there.”

Earth Day visitors also enjoyed musical acts like Tab Benoit and Marcia Ball, as well as the first ever Dirty Laundry Fashion Show, where LSU apparel design students created outfits from recycled materials.

A “Bag Monster” was created to demonstrate the environmental issues surrounding the use of plastic bags at Louisiana Earth Day in downtown Baton Rouge today. The monster read: “If everyone in the US tied their annual use of bags together, it would wrap around the earth 760 times.”

Nixon believes recycling is a way for people to start getting involved in bettering the environment, and that Earth Day helps jumpstart recycling habits.

“Right now, about30 percent of people in Baton Rouge recycle,” Nixon said. “But what if everybody recycled? We would have very little waste. We can’t just continue to use up our resources without paying the consequences.”Earth Day attendant and Baton Rouge resident David Osborn is a proponent of recycling and the benefits it brings to the environment.

“I think we have a resource consumption problem,” Osborn said. “I view waste as an end result of our resources, and so recycling keeps those resources continually renewing.”

Louisiana Earth Day made it possible for both volunteers and visitors to teach and learn about the importance of creating a sustainable life, while enjoying cultural entertainment on a Louisiana spring afternoon.

“[Earth Day] brings the community all together with one purpose,” Nixon said. “And I really do believe that’s why it has sustained itself.”

http://vimeo.com/41437392

This voiced slideshow uses pictures to illustrate some of the festivities at Louisiana Earth Day 2012.

Sunday in the Park: Grooving Together

A couple spun around and swayed back and forth as they boogied under the spring afternoon skies to the bluegrass music that vibrated through the speakers, dancing in-sync to the strumming guitar and banjo.

The duo two-stepped to the twanging instruments of Mountain Heart as they enjoyed 2012’s first Sunday in the Park on April 1. The event, hosted by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, is a free outdoor concert series with performances on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the North Boulevard Town Square.

A couple dances to the rhythms of bluegrass band Mountain Heart at Sunday in the Park on April 1, 2012 in downtown Baton Rouge.

“Sunday in the Park is a very family-oriented event to really give people a chance to experience downtown,” said Jonathan Grimes, programmatic assistant for the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.

For six Sundays in the spring and six Sundays in the fall, visitors to Sunday in the Park can experience live music from bands of all different styles.

“We’ve got a wonderful lineup of musicians this year,” said Derek Gordon, CEO of the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. “They really represent all genres, so there’s something for everybody.”

The various types of music, including country, zydeco, folk and Cajun acts, attract people each Sunday to come and enjoy the music at no cost.

“People have come because they know they’re going to hear a great act,” Gordon said. “We’ve proven that over the years with the quality of work. It’s just a great opportunity for families to come out and not have to worry about a ticket price.”

Regular Sunday in the Park attendee and Baton Rouge native, Cheryl Bright, said she rarely misses a performance.

“I come every Sunday that I have the opportunity to,” Bright said. “It’s a fabulous community event that everyone in Baton Rouge should experience. And I love that it’s free.”

Gordon believes the event allows people of Greater Baton Rouge to experience the downtown scene, while supporting various musical talents.

“What Sunday in the Park has done is given people an opportunity to enjoy downtown and the improvements that have been made here,” Gordon said. “It encourages people to get out and enjoy Baton Rouge and to enjoy one another. I think it’s been a real community-building opportunity.”

The newest improvement to downtown is the addition of the North Boulevard Town Square, a new pedestrian-friendly area located at the center of North Boulevard and Third Street.

“We had been over at the plaza at the Shaw Center, but with the advent of the new Town Square, we felt it was appropriate to move locations,” Gordon said. “It’s a nice new grass-laden area for people to come and bring their lawn chairs and blankets and listen to music, so we’re very excited about that.”

People gather in the new North Boulevard Town Square to listen to bluegrass band Mountain Heart at Sunday in the Park on April 1, 2012.

Each Sunday, visitors can also expect to find face painters and local food trucks selling anything from tacos to burgers. Grimes encourages attendees to visit the numerous downtown art and historical attractions before and after the shows to get the full downtown experience.

“You have the Louisiana Art and Science Museum, as well as the Shaw Center and the Old State Capitol,” Grimes said. “There’s just a lot to do in that North Boulevard block, so there’s a good bit of stuff to do after or before the event starts.”

Since its start in 2006, Sunday in the Park continues to attract larger numbers of people with its feature performances.

“Our numbers grow and grow every single year,” Grimes said. “We try to get top quality acts, and I think we’ve done a very good job of that. We’re really just trying to make the people of Baton Rouge happy.”

Visitors like David Normand, of Denham Springs, come each Sunday to appreciate the laid-back environment and unique acts.

“I’ve been coming for about three years,” Normand said. “I love the music, the atmosphere, the beautiful weather and the people that come out here.”

As each Sunday presents a new musical act, people of Baton Rouge and surrounding areas continue to come together to enjoy the company of their neighbors while grooving to the beat.

“My favorite thing about Sunday in the park is that people dance,” Gordon said. “They don’t know each other, but for that minute, when they’re dancing, they’re an ensemble.”

Mountain Heart performs a cover of the Allman Brothers’ classic, “Whipping Post,” at Sunday in the Park on April 1 in this B-Roll footage.

NanoDay: Small Science

Two pint-sized scientists, dressed in long, white lab coats, watched as Amber Cobb squeezed two drops of water into a cup filled with “Magic Sand.” The water sat on top of the mystical grains, unabsorbed. The mini researchers’ eyes grew big as they observed.

“This experiment explains how this sand is hydrophobic,” Cobb said. “The oil in the sand makes the water repel. See?” she asked, tipping the cup of “Magic Sand” forward for the viewers to see.

The lab-coated girls stared in amazement. “Wow!” they expressed, in unison.

NanoDay at Louisiana Art and Science Museum was filled with experiments and hands-on activities to teach visitors about nanoscience, the study of small matter.

Cobb, a junior at East Baton Rouge Laboratory Academy, performed her experiment at the Louisiana Art and Science Museum’s NanoDay today.The event celebrated nanoscale science, which is the study of matter ranging from one to 100 nanometers in size.

“To understand nanoscale, consider that a nanometer is one-billionth of a meter in size,” said Tara Kistler, LASM communications coordinator. “For example, a human hair is about 80,000 nanometers in width.”

NanoDay at LASM is part of a nationwide festival where educators, engineers, students and scientists create hands-on demonstrations to inform attendees all about tiny matter.

“This nationally takes place from March 24 through April 1,” Kistler said. “And it’s celebrated at more than 200 science museums, research centers and universities across the country.”

In order to host NanoDay, LASM applied to the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network. This is the second year for the museum to host the event.

“I’m an art educator that happens to love science,” said Tammy Frazier, LASM art education curator. “So when I first learned about the NISE Net and what a valuable resource they were for informal science education, I knew LASM needed to get involved. We hope to make it an annual event.”

Frazier believes hosting NanoDay is a way to both inform and excite the Baton Rouge community about the study of small matter.

“Our community is full of passionate scientists,” Frazier said. “By hosting NanoDay at LASM, we are able to bring many of these scientists out of their laboratories, research centers and classrooms to share what they know and love with children and adults in our community.”

Volunteers from organizations such as ExxonMobil, the J. Bennett Johnston Sr. Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices, and the LSU Department of Physics joined high school students like Cobb to demonstrate the study of nanoscience.

Tammy Frazier, Louisiana Art and Science Museum art education curator, demonstrates how to make a carbon molecule out of candy and toothpicks at NanoDay.

Visitors enjoyed activities such as creating a giant nano-tube out of balloons and building molecular models of carbon from toothpicks and candy.

“It’s been fun to do the different experiments,” said Adrianne Crouse, of Baton Rouge. “The hands-on activities are really interesting.”

The event made it possible for volunteers and visitors to enjoy teaching and learning the intricacies of nanoscience.

“Science is exciting, and the scientists and educators that work with us at NanoDay want to share that excitement with everyone,” Frazier said. “I think this is what makes this event so successful.”

Red Stick Farmers Market: Buy Fresh. Buy Local

Buddy Miller, clad in a camouflage bucket hat that covers his wool-white hair, leans over his table, straightens his large-framed glasses and pops a pecan into a customer’s mouth. He sits back and gives a hearty, raspy laugh as the customer chomps on the salty-sweet snack Miller harvested with his own hands.

“What could be better than that?” he asks, a child-like grin covering his face.

Miller, owner of Plantation Pecan in Waterproof, La., sells his products at the Red Stick Farmers Market every Saturday in downtown Baton Rouge. He is one of more than 50 farmers who haul their locally grown products to market for customers to buy.

“To make what we do worthwhile, we have to have access to people,” Miller said. “And this market gives us the venue to achieve that.”

Buddy Miller (seated), owner of Plantation Pecan, teaches shoppers how to make perfect pancakes with pecan meal at the Red Stick Farmers Market Saturday, March 10.

Miller drives three hours every Saturday to sell a variety of crops at the market, including asparagus, peaches, nectarines and, of course, his famous crowd-favored pecans. This is Miller’s 10th year selling at the market.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to not only come and shop,” Miller said. “You’re sitting across the table from the person that raised your food, so you build a relationship with that person.”

2012 marks the 15-year anniversary of the farmers market, which continues to build strong connections between local farmers and shoppers.

“A lot of people remember when there wasn’t a lot going on downtown,” said Darlene Rowland, director of development for the Red Stick Farmers Market. “But the market always brought people downtown and really created a community-building experience.”

Every Saturday, rain or shine, this tight-knit community of residents and farmers buy and sell a variety of local products.

“So many people come religiously every week,” Rowland said. “It’s really a place where it’s more than just buying your vegetables and fruits; you make friends.”

Shoppers can also visit the Main Street Market, which is open six days a week and is located at the center of the farmers market in the Galvez Parking Garage.  This indoor market gives space to vendors, such as GoYaYa’s Crepery, which offers its crowd-pleasing Nutella-stuffed crepes. Visitors can also enjoy the Fresh From the Market cooking show every Saturday, where local chefs demonstrate recipes featuring seasonal ingredients.

“We have so many diehard shoppers that come,” Rowland said. “They’re here before the bell rings every Saturday. They go inside and have breakfast. We also have some different coffee groups that meet every Saturday and have coffee and breakfast together, and then come out and shop.”

The Baton Rouge Arts Market, which occurs in conjunction with the farmers market every first Saturday of the month, allows artists to sell their creations to the public. All three of the markets bring a mixture of creativity downtown, adding vibrant colors and people to the otherwise concrete jungle.

“It just creates an environment where people come downtown every Saturday, and there’s always something going on,” Rowland said. “It’s been said that it’s the best cocktail party in town, without the cocktails.”

Big River Economic and Agricultural Development Alliance is the parent association that organizes the Red Stick Farmers Market and the Main Street Market. Its mission is to build a strong, healthy local food system so that farmers, like Miller, can have a venue to sell their products.

“For many of these farmers, if they weren’t able to come here and sell at the market and sell direct, instead of competing with wholesalers, they wouldn’t be able to stay on their farm and continue farming,” Rowland said.

Jynell Glaser, of Glaser Farms in New Roads, La., sells strawberries to eager customers at the Red Stick Farmers Market in Downtown Baton Rouge on Saturday, March 10.

BREADA is also the Louisiana regional coordinator for Buy Fresh Buy Local, a foods campaign that highlights the importance of supporting Louisiana farms and keeping food dollars circulating in the state.

“This is a pure market, meaning that everybody here has to raise everything that they sell,” Miller said. “So you’re assured that all your money stays local.”

Regular farmers market shopper Jessica Walther, of Baton Rouge, said she buys local because it’s important for her to know where her food is coming from.

“I know whenever I shop at the market I’m supporting the local economy,” Walther said. “And you get to ask the farmers questions about the food you’re buying. You can’t beat that.”

While funding the local economy is a central aspect of purchasing local goods, the nutritional component of the foods is also a beneficial factor.

“Everything is generally picked within 24 hours before coming to the market,” Rowland said. “So you’re getting the highest nutritional content of vegetables you can find anywhere in Baton Rouge.”

Miller said the combination of local and fresh creates a better source of food than the grocery store.

“People are going to find a wide variety at this market,” Miller said. “So it’s a win-win in nutrition, in freshness and in supporting local business.”

Any visitor to the farmers market can find an array of local products that includes anything from meats to homemade soaps, and everything in between.

“You can find goat meat, guineas, plants, local honey – the list goes on,” Rowland said. “There’s a lot of amazing things here that you can’t really find at the grocery store on any Saturday morning.”

Shoppers like Walther enjoy the one-stop-shop experience created by the market, where customers can buy a large portion of food.

“I buy eggs, kale, oranges, some meats and seafood,” Walther said. “The variety and freshness are the best you can find.”

In addition to the Saturday market, farmers set up seasonally on Tuesdays at the Unitarian Church, located at 8470 Goodwood Blvd., and Thursdays at 7248 Perkins Road, weather permitting.

“Thursdays you’ll probably find between 12 and 20 farmers,” Rowland said. “It’s still a good mix and variety of items, but you may not see everything you see on Saturday. On Tuesdays, it’s a little bit smaller.”

While farmers like Miller continue to sell their local products at the Red Stick Farmers Market, shoppers continue to participate in the benefits of buying local and fresh, and reciprocal relationships form between the two.

“The market helps you build friendships,” Miller said. “And there’s a mutual trust in that there’s safety in what you eat, and there’s nutrition in what you eat. So, really, what could be better?”

Check out this clip of Darlene Rowland, director of development for the Red Stick Farmers Market, as she talks more about BREADA.

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A compilation of photos from the Red Stick Farmers Market on Saturday, March 10 in downtown Baton Rouge.

Boozing and Running: Happy’s Running Club

Come run. Come drink. Leave happy.

Every Tuesday, more than 100 runners, walkers and beer enthusiasts meet at Happy’s Irish Pub in downtown Baton Rouge at 6 p.m. Fifteen minutes later, they’ve hit the streets to run a 5-K as one of the largest running clubs in the country. After their 3.1-mile jog, they end up back at the bar to fill up their pint glasses and bask in the camaraderie of people from all walks of life.

In March 2008, Baton Rouge residents Michael Lang and Scott Higgins, along with Brandon Landry and Jack Warner, also of Baton Rouge, started Happy’s Running Club to combine a little bit of running with a little bit of boozing.

“I had read about some other clubs all over the country, and this was before downtown Baton Rouge really started its resurgence,” said Higgins, a native of New Orleans. “So we were like, ‘Alright, let’s bring some people downtown; let’s do something fun, very casual.’”

Lang and Higgins met when they played on the softball team of Forum 35, a program for young businesspeople aimed at bettering Baton Rouge. Lang, a Yankees fan, and Higgins, a Red Sox fan, bonded over their love of sports and community. The two formed their company, 2 Dumb Runners, which organizes Happy’s Running Club.

“We did a ton of races together, and so that was the genesis of our relationship,” said Philly native Lang. “We met through a casual athletic activity, and we said, ‘Wait, we love casual athletic activities, and we love the social side of sports, so let’s do a running club.’”

For $35, a member of Happy’s Running Club gets perks including two-for-one drafts every Tuesday at Happy’s after the run, a dri-fit running club shirt and 15-percent off at Varsity Sports.

“It’s a pretty damn good value,” Higgins said.

Since 2008, Happy’s Running Club now includes more than 3,000 members, making it one of the top-five largest “social” running clubs in the country. In 2011, the club had 850 paying members, but because of the relaxed atmosphere, many people just tag along.

“The number is hard to be specific on,” Higgins said. “We keep it casual, and I would rather someone hide in the back than annoy someone who is just a little late on catching up on their dues.”

As the club grew, Higgins saw the emergence of a new downtown – one that was more lively and full of people.

“Four years ago there was just not a lot going on downtown,” Higgins said. “There’s a lot more now, but we were sort of on the front end of that, which was nice.”

Happy’s Running Club brought crowds of people together to run, drink and see a part of Baton Rouge they may not have otherwise seen. Some Baton Rouge residents made it downtown for the first time ever because of the club.

Running club charter member Bobbi Joe Guerin said the group allows her to keep close to her Baton Rouge roots.

“Just experiencing downtown Baton Rouge is awesome because it’s now just becoming what it used to be,” Guerin said. “My family is from Baton Rouge, so now sometimes I feel like I’m experiencing the same thing that they were.”

The running club isn’t the only way Lang and Higgins became a part of revamping downtown. Through their company, Ethos Events, which plans races in Baton Rouge, the pair created the Happy’s 5000, an event combining exercise, food, music and art.

“We try to do things very differently, and we’re always trying to promote Louisiana culture,” Higgins said. “In the years past we’ve done it along Third Street, and we’ve basically made a block party out of it.”

To make the Happy’s 5000 different than other 5K races, the duo focused on features to make it stand out from the mundane.

“I hate getting a plastic bag with 15 coupons I’ll never use and a Gildan cotton, crappy t-shirt,” Higgins said. “So our goody bag is a pint glass with our race logo on it — that’s all you need.”

Along with the Happy’s 5000, Lang and Higgins created the Red Carpet Road Race, where runners trot a 5-K route downtown in tuxes and evening gowns. Both events make up the run Nightlife Series and always happen in the evening to counteract the tradition of early-morning races.

“We said, ‘OK, what are all the elements I don’t like about 5-Ks in town?’” Higgins said. “First of all, I don’t like getting up early on Saturday morning, so we decided we were going to do it at night, which no one does.”

The 2 Dumb Runners are also spreading the running club to Happy’s in New Orleans, bringing the meet, run, drink routine to the Crescent City.

When Lang and Higgins first started the Baton Rouge club, they knew meeting at the same place, at the same time and in the same spirit was an important part of bringing people together to enjoy hitting the pavement and slugging back some cold ones.

“We have met every Tuesday for over four straight years,” Lang said. “And every Tuesday you know that there will be a ton of people – fast, slow, black, white, young, old – it doesn’t matter.”

And every Tuesday, rain or shine, the assorted crowd breezes through the streets of downtown – sometimes even in costume.

“The Halloween parties are fun,” Guerin said. “Everybody dresses in great costumes, and runs in them, and then we go back and dance and cut it up.”

The mix of people with all types of athletic backgrounds is what Lang and Higgins believe to be a driving force in the group’s success.

“The level of runner that we have is from elite runners all the way down to a walker – and I mean a true walker,” Higgins said. “It’s just a huge, diverse crowd.”

Although the club is filled with people of all abilities and ages, a strong sense of community at the center of the group binds its members together.

“I think the friends that I’ve made through Happy’s will be a part of my life always,” Guerin said. “Runners have electricity about them. They’re just good, social people to hang around.”

And as the miles rack up with each slap of sneaker to pavement and the beer flows from keg to cup, Happy’s Running Club and its members continue the Tuesday tradition of a fun run, followed by a couple brews.

“It’s just really nice, laidback, casual people that like to get some exercise,” Lang said. “So come one, come all and come every Tuesday.”

And while some may be intimidated to start running in a group of this size, Lang and Higgins stress the importance of experiencing this group’s inclusive appeal.

“It’s weird. Usually you imagine a group of that size gets very cliquey, but it’s really not,” Higgins said. “Everybody is real welcoming. It’s just a happy mood; no pun intended.”

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Happy’s Running Club – Route 1

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Happy’s Running Club – Route 2

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Happy’s Running Club – Route 3

Cycling for a Cause: 74 Miles to Bring Smiles

Imagine taking a one-day, 70-mile bike ride from the Red Stick to the Big Easy – just to see a child smile.

At 8 a.m. on Sunday, March 25, over 200 philanthropic cyclists will clip on their helmets and push their pedals on a journey of similar length at the West Feliciana Sports Park in St. Francisville, all in the name of charity. The cyclists will pedal 74 miles in the “No Such Thing as Impossible” Bike Ride to benefit Wheels to Succeed, a program that provides adapted bikes for children with disabilities.

Jairo Alvarez, owner of Baton Rouge’s Alvarez Construction Company, started the “No Such Thing as Impossible” Bike Ride in 2006. His commitment to cycling earned him 109 National Olympic medals, so it would seem natural that the cycling enthusiast, then 68, would turn to cycling to celebrate his victory over cancer.

“I was having surgery to remove the cancer and the day before, I sent an email to all of my cyclist friends,” Alvarez said. “I told them ‘I have a monster leaving me tomorrow, and I want to invite you to ride with me to say goodbye to the monster.’”

Fifty of Alvarez’s closest cycling-enthusiast friends joined him on a bike ride that signified the end of his battle with cancer and highlighted his ferocity to defeat the disease.

The event occurs annually to celebrate Alvarez’s birthday and takes the same name as his autobiography, which details his cancer battle and his life growing up in Colombia.

When he was 12, Alvarez sold a calf to buy his first bike and cycling continued to be an important part of his life. He teamed up with Wheels to Succeed after the organization stood out to him as a unique program to Baton Rouge.

“I knew this was a good opportunity to raise money for this cause,” Alvarez said. “I sent a bunch of letters to TV stations, radio stations and newspapers, and we raised about $18,000 the first year.”

Since the first official “No Such Thing as Impossible” Bike Ride in 2008, Wheels to Succeed raised $60,000, and the number of participants increased from 50 during the first ride to 150 in 2011.

“We raised $28,000 last year, and we hope to get about $30,000 this year,” Alvarez said.  “We’re also expecting 200 to 250 people participating.”

Registration for participants is $30, with all funds going directly toward Wheels to Succeed and the purchase of adapted bikes for children with disabilities.

“Riding a bike is something that most of us take for granted,” said Lauren Hoffmann, program director for Wheels to Succeed. “But a lot of kids with physical challenges don’t get the same opportunity because they can’t ride a traditional bicycle.”

Adapted bikes range from $600 to $8,000, making it hard for many families to purchase them alone, Hoffmann said.  Wheels to Succeed makes it possible for children to receive these bikes and experience the joy of riding.

“Since the summer of 2007, we’ve made it up to 44 bikes that we’ve provided for kids in Louisiana, primarily in Baton Rouge,” Hoffmann said. “We’ll hopefully be at 50 bikes for our March event.”

Children who want an adapted bike are placed on a waiting list through Wheels to Succeed and can receive their bikes within a month, depending on funds. Companies, such as the Canada-based Freedom Concepts, Inc., make the bikes and send them back to the program.

The most common adapted bikes help to increase children’s head and trunk alignment and stability. There are also bikes available with rear steering, which allow the caregiver to steer the bike for the child. These bikes all make it possible for children with disabilities to experience the therapeutic benefits of cycling.

“When I work with children that I know would benefit from having a bike, I encourage them to attend our events and sign up to eventually receive a bike from Wheels to Succeed,” Hoffmann said.

Other events to raise funds for Wheels to Succeed include March’s “Yes We Can” Expo, where children are evaluated for adapted bikes, and the Free Kid’s Bike Race on LSU’s campus each October.

The “No Such Thing as Impossible” Bike Ride is the biggest annual fundraiser for Wheels to Succeed. At the event, children are presented with their new bikes and have the opportunity to ride around the West Feliciana Park in the Kid’s Fun Ride.

“We’ve never before had an adapted bike demo booth and kid ride in St. Francisville, so we hope it gives more children the chance to come test out bikes, get evaluated and get closer to having bikes of their own,” Hoffmann said.

The event also provides an opportunity for people with physical disabilities to join people without disabilities who come to show their support, while enjoying their passion for cycling.

“It’s a way to show kids with disabilities that this can be a lifelong recreational habit and a way to be active, have fun, socialize and be physically fit,” Hoffmann said. “I’m really looking forward to it being an event that bridges the gap.”

While Wheels to Succeed continues to grow since its startup in 2007, events such as the “No Such Thing as Impossible” Bike Ride help spread the word about the program to families who are unaware of its mission.

“There’s still plenty of families out there who aren’t aware of who we are and what we do,” Hoffmann said. “We want those families to know that we’re here, and we want to be able to get these bikes to kids who need them and want them and who are going to benefit from them.”

To make the ride an inclusive, family-friendly event, a 10-mile route and a 46-mile route are available for those who are unable to bike 74 miles but still wish to participate.

“My family has just started biking, and we thought this would be a great ride,” said Janell O’Halloran, a first-time participant planning to ride the 10-mile route. “It’s also a great way to help a wonderful cause.”

Wheels to Succeed is a nonprofit organization unique to Louisiana, and it attracts those like O’Halloran who are not avid cyclists but want to give their time and pedal-power to this cause.

“I’ve never participated in an event like this,” O’Halloran said. “I’m a little nervous, but with today’s economy, every event that raises money for a cause is important.”

As word spreads about the “No Such Thing as Impossible” Bike Ride, Hoffmann believes the benefits of the event are clear through the happiness on the children’s faces.

“The smiles that we get to see when kids ride a bike for the first time or when kids get the ultimate surprise with the gift of a bike, it’s a very moving experience,” Hoffmann said. “It makes it all worth it.”