225BatonRouge.com - Blogs

Hello, naysayers. My name is Brandi and I am a glass-is-half-empty kind of girl, much like most of you. As a fellow pessimist, you should find it easy to listen to what I have to say. So, here it goes.

STOP complaining. I am sooooo tired of hearing all of you whine about how boring Baton Rouge is and how there is nothing to do here. I’ve worked for 225 for a year now, and I’ve discovered there is actually plenty to do here. The trick is keeping track of it all so you don’t miss things. So, for your benefit, here’s a peek into my own October calendar. Maybe you’ll discover some ideas you’ll like, and who knows, maybe I’ll see you there, although I hope not (more on that later).

International Heritage Celebration - Oct. 1 - Baton Rouge River Center

I remember going to this when I was younger, and being overwhelmed with the amount of green beer on the premises. I suspect the Irish do not really serve such a thing. I also remember funnel cakes, which no festival is complete without. So I'm hoping for more heritage, less of the beer and food coloring combo, and a hot, delicious funnel cake under an avalanche of powdered sugar.

Nigella Feasts premiers on Food Network – Oct. 1 - my couch

If I can wrangle the remote away from the fantasy football coach perched in the recliner, I will be watching my favorite British chef, Nigella Lawson. I don’t know where I first saw her, but I absolutely love her. It’s so nice to see a normal person with an actual personality cooking. Now that I have British cuisine covered, as well as snooty, Hamptons cuisine ( Ina Garden, who all men seem to dislike) and Italian (Giada De Laurentiis, an actual Italian and granddaughter of producer Dino De Laurentiis).

Hollydays - Oct.18 through 21 - Baton Rouge River Center

This is a shameless girly thing, I know. But I go almost every year, buy the Mercedes raffle tickets, which I’m convinced no one actually wins, and I find a ton of useless stuff that I just cannot live without. Buy now, find gift recipient later. There are two huge downsides though. 1) I always dress for the weather, and the River Center temperature is ALWAYS the polar opposite. 2) Because it’s scorching hot in there and I’m harried from shopping, I will most certainly run into someone I know. Great.

Louisiana Book Festival - Oct. 28 - State Capitol

The last time I went, I met this fantastic printmaker selling some of his wares during a demonstration. Of course, he was gone by the time I realized I had to have one of the pieces. This year, Harry Shearer (voice of Montgomery Burns, Waylon Smithers, Ned Flanders, Kent Brockman, Rev. Lovejoy, Principal Skinner, Dr. Hibbert, Rainer Wolfcastle, etc.) will be in attendance. As a “Simpsons” devotee since the Tracey Ullman days, I must attend every lecture/signing that he will be participating in. And hey—225 is a co-sponsor this year, so we’ll have our own tent there with fresh copies of the November issue. Plus, I remember leaving with a ton of free goodies, and nothing could be better than that. Except funnel cakes.

Duel Under the Oaks - Oct. 29 - PMAC

I have always been a tennis fan, but unfortunately am less than skilled at the sport. But I have never seen professionals in a live match. I also come from the Agassi/McEnroe era and personally have never been crazy about boring ol’ Pete Sampras. When will I ever have another opportunity to heckle him? And proceeds go to the LSU Health Sciences Student Relief Fund. Heckling, tennis and charity, oh my.

Inspection sticker - ASAP – Benny’s Car Wash

I hate to, but it’s required. I don’t know why, but I really loathe this task and put it off for weeks. Last year, I was denied and had to drive around with that orange stigma on my windshield until the car’s computer could be reset. I was awarded a $125 ticket for an expired inspection sticker year before last. I think it’s all a scam, but it is one of the unnecessary evils of living in Louisiana. If you take it to Benny’s, you can get a nice car wash and oil change while they’re at it.

Food, sports, literature, ancestry, shopping and laziness; there’s a little bit for everyone. So fill the glass up so it’s neither half full nor half empty and start actually looking for things to do. And please, please stop the whining.