225BatonRouge.com

Here: Policy analyst for Gov. Mike Foster

There: Owner, Grand Contemporary Art Gallery in Lafayette

Why did you leave Baton Rouge?

I had a job offer in New Orleans. From there I moved to Lafayette to open my art gallery.

What do you miss about the city?

I have a lot of great friends there. I miss all the great restaurants in Baton Rouge. The thing I miss most, though, is living in Spanish Town. I just loved living there—walking my dog and going to all the parties for Spanish Town Mardi Gras.

What don’t you miss?

The traffic.

What does Lafayette have that Baton Rouge doesn’t?

Lafayette definitely feels a little smaller, which I like. It has so much loud music. I like that, but I found it surprising when I moved here. The main reason I moved was that it didn’t have a gallery like the kind I wanted to open. It has a really popular art walk that brings a lot of people downtown every month. And not to say that Baton Rouge doesn’t have this, but the people in Lafayette are so friendly. Lafayette has a real down-home feel to it, and I love Festival International.

What’s essential when you come back?

I have to go to Jay’s Bar-B-Q, I have to go to Head Over Heels (it’s my good friend’s store) and I have to visit Dave at Chelsea’s. Oh, and I have to visit my new niece. grandcontemporary.com"