225BatonRouge.com

Where can I find 225 magazine?

Dear Editor,

Where can an interested reader find your magazine? I mean really, where? I see lots of racks around town. But they are always empty regardless of the time of month or locations I’ve looked in it seems.

Is it me, or do I have really bad luck?

I think it might be easier to locate Jimmy Hoffa than to find a 225 rack stocked with actual real magazines on it. I’m not kidding.

Congratulations are in order for what is obviously a wildly successful and very popular publication. I think it is a great publication from what I have seen when I have seen it. I wish I (and dozens of people I know) could actually read it.

Any suggestions?

Steve K.

Editor’s note: 225 arrives in the racks right around the first of each month. You can view a list of rack locations at 225batonrouge.com. Click “newsstands” at the bottom of our homepage. Subscriptions are not currently available.

A second take on our movie biz

Dear Editor,

Responding to Sherri McConnell’s interview (“Trial by fire,” September), during her tenure as OEID director, Louisiana has seen more film-related fraud investigations, corruption admissions and litigation than ever.

In light of FBI investigations, important industry and legislative concerns during the session included Film Commission oversight and an appeals process for denials and delays. Neither was addressed in dozens of amendments or draft rules, which have not been legally implemented, despite 2002 legislative requirements.

McConnell’s amendments would have voided millions of dollars of existing certification contracts on which producers have relied, but a (state) Senate amendment protected Louisiana’s integrity by grandfathering such contracts. Despite this law rejecting her amendments, she claimed in September such contracts were void.

When talking about plans for the office, McConnell described a Web site, but not a strategy to fulfill her legislative mandate of attracting production investment, developing infrastructure, training workers, increasing jobs and competing globally. She admits taking action in response to threats of a negative press conference or litigation, yet has refused personal meetings to resolve issues.

Louisiana is still building a fledgling industry but is being hamstrung by those entrusted to increase its growth and economic impact. It is a shame because we in the film industry would enjoy a glass of lemonade.

Michele LeBlanc, entertainment attorney

Thirsty for more

Editor’s note: Our sister publication, Daily Report, recently reported venerable downtown watering hole the Thirsty Tiger is to become a martini bar.

Dear Editor,

The Thirsty Tiger is closing.

A half-century old tradition is now gone. Gone are the newspapermen, and the downtown workers, and the football fans, and the service industry crowd, the couple of black gents who were always up for a discussion of politics, the jazz player or two who stumbled upon the place, the “absolutely not passable” transvestite or two, and the guy with the sleeveless shirt in the El Camino. Heck, Jim McCormack, easily the best barkeep in the 225 was headed out before the place closed. I’m sure he smelled the change in the air.

And all to be replaced by a wine and martini bar.

Taking a quick inventory of entertainment options available, I realized it was time to hop out my dour funeral garb, and gracelessly second line down Third Street, which, I’m now gonna call “Wine and Martini Heaven.” Yep, friends, it will be nigh impossible to walk down Third Street without a glass of wine in the left hand and a martini in the right! Come ye blessed yuppie handcuffs!

For starters, we’ve got wine and martinis at the Wine Loft. And in just a handful of weeks, we can get wine and martinis at the M Bar and the Thirsty Tiger.

Immediately after that, we’ll be getting wine and martinis before dinner, at D’Agostino’s, or at Capital City Grill, or Tsunami, or the Little Village (wine and martinis upstairs and downstairs!) And soon, wine and martinis at the new steakhouse under Big Shaw.

Yes folks, in just a few short months, we’ll have eight places for wine and martinis, all within a block.

And then, who are the holdouts in our new Elysium? First, there are the frat bars (Roux House and Happy’s), both of which could use a wine and martini makeover.

Then, there are the PENDING frat bars (Schlittz & Giggles), which could learn a lesson and serve wine and martinis with pizza. Heck, even the Third Street Daiquiri Company could hop aboard the trend.

Their patrons would just have to overcome a somewhat misleading name.

Not to be outdone, we’ve also got the Jimmy Buffett set, over in Avoyelles/Cat House and Boudreaux & Thibodeaux. Let’s be frank here, nothing goes with a cheeseburger in paradise like a shrimp-decorated glass of white wine and a filthy martini. Maybe Poor Boy Lloyd’s can tell their crowd to hop in, as well. There’s the Red Star, which at one time was fancied a wine-and-martini bar par excellence. And there’s the place that will open in the former Richoux’s. Maybe, just maybe, a wine-and-martini joint will lift the curse put on that place.

Yes folks: 17 spots to drink within a block of Third Street, all trying to squeeze that dollar out of that elusive set of wealthy, young professionals. Those who, astonishingly, can imagine nothing better to do on a Friday night than go out and pretend that they are as sophisticated as their peers in suburban Dallas.

We’ll set our sights on the Pastime and the gay bars next!

But, honestly folks, I love Baton Rouge; it’s my home. I love downtown. And, I’m even a so-called young professional. But I’m overwhelmed by that painful sameness that we’re marching toward.

Let’s have an Irish pub (with fish and chips, not schoolgirl outfits), or a pool hall, or a reggae bar, or a juke joint that’s not playing some tired, accountant-friendly cover of “Brown-Eyed Girl,” or how about a late-night coffee shop where the pseudo-anarchists can connive.

Heck, I’d even be supportive of a theater for the artsy-farts.

Or, well, how about just a bar for the everyman? Where he or she can meet after work or class, or a day playing soccer, or a day out fishing, or after the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade? Let any age, race, creed, or background be welcome. Where we might celebrate, and meet, and share stories with friends, family and the dozens of people you had yet to meet.

You know—a bar like the Tiger?

Matthew D. Diez

Benjy clears the air

Dear Editor,

I feel like I need to clear up some things from the article (“Does Benjy protest too little?” in the October issue).

I wrote “Who’s God?” after watching the movie Munich. It’s about differing religious beliefs, the violence that ensues and the bullheadedness that keeps wars marching on. Look closer, for God’s sake. Whichever one that may be.

Peace to all.

Benjy Davis