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What’s New in March: Buzz-worthy openings and more around B.R.

Dinner Lab event image courtesy Ryan Green.

Dining

Dinner Lab, a pop-up dinner series that originated in New Orleans in 2012, is expanding into the Capital City later this month. The first event—date TBA—will be a five-course dinner from Chef Mario Rodriguez of New Orleans. Patrons must become members to get tickets to Dinner Lab events, and memberships cost $125 per year. dinnerlab.com

Boil & Roux has taken over the Portico’s location at 11777 Coursey Blvd. The new restaurant comes from Maurice Walker and specializes in boiled seafood and Southern comfort food. Business hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. 292-2645. boilandroux.com

What the Health? is a new app for consumers interested in health inspections in their regions. Georgia natives Chris Peoples and Jake Van Dyke created the app, which shows restaurant-goers inspection reports and uses a letter-grade system as well as a 0-100 score for each establishment. The app is available for free on iPhone and Android devices.

Jeff Kleinpeter took a medical leave from his position as president of Kleinpeter Farms and Dairy, as first reported by Daily Report in January. Last year, Kleinpeter and his staff fought to address quality issues with upgrades and equipment improvements at its Airline Highway plant. “Things are back on track,” Kleinpeter said in a statement. At press time, the leave was expected to last 30 days. kleinpeterdairy.com

Marty J’s Specialty Meats should be opening soon. The new meat and seafood market is located at 13434 Perkins Road and specializes in New Orleans-style poboys and plate lunches. Former state Sen. Marty Chabert is heading the market.

On the horizon: Roux 61, a Louisiana-style restaurant based in Natchez, is taking over the former location of Boutin’s at 8322 Bluebonnet Blvd. The new restaurant is set to open this summer and will emphasize seafood platters, raw and chargrilled oysters and burgers. roux61.com

Shopping

Carriages Fine Clothier, a clothing store in the Bocage Shopping Center, closed its ladies store last month after more than 30 years in business, following the departure of longtime store manager Pam Petit. The men’s store will remain open. carriagesbr.com

Massage Envy is set to open its third area location by May at 7940 Bluebonnet Blvd. The chain has more than 1,000 franchise and company-owned outlets nationwide and entered the Baton Rouge market eight years ago. massageenvy.com

spanish moon.vu
Courtesy Spanish Moon

Venues

Spanish Moon became a smoke-free establishment in early February. The local music venue and bar will have an outside area for smoking. Days before the announcement, the New Orleans City Council passed a smoking ban in most places across the city. Metro Council member John Delgado considered proposing a similar ban for Baton Rouge. thespanishmoon.com

Movies

We’re No. 1! MovieMaker Magazine listed Baton Rouge as the best small city to live and work in as a filmmaker. No. 2, you ask? New Orleans. The magazine pointed to productions such as Fantastic Four, work from the Baton Rouge Film Commission and facilities such as the Celtic Media Centre as reasons for the ranking. moviemaker.com

Metro

Chairman of the board. Baton Rouge Area Chamber announced that attorney Van Mayhall Jr. has been selected as its board chairman for 2015. Mayhall is a senior partner at Breazeale, Sachse and Wilson and previously served as chair of the Downtown Development District and vice chair of the East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority. brac.org

Knock Knock’s groundbreaking “imminent.” The long-planned Knock Knock Children’s Museum in City Park is nearing groundbreaking, according to Daily Report. Staci Duhé, chairman of the museum’s board of directors, says the museum is still on track to open the summer of 2016.

Supercharged. Tesla Motors’ “supercharger station” opened in late January at the Acadian Village Shopping Venter. The station has six charging stalls and is the second supercharger station for the state.

Chemistry lab at Kenilworth. Photo by Lawles Bourque
Chemistry lab at Kenilworth. Photo by Lawles Bourque

Schools

Great job! Kenilworth Science and Technology Charter School was highlighted as part of National School Choice Week earlier this year. In 2009, the school was failing and is now one of the top open-enrollment middle schools in Baton Rouge. kenilworthst.org

High tech. LSU launched a new master’s program in digital media arts and engineering. The university says it’s the first program of its kind to be offered in the state. Both programs were created to fill the growing demand in existing and future film, sound recording, technology and digital arts jobs in the area.