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Something to bark about

To clarify, small dog park doesn’t mean a park for small dogs. It’s merely a reference to the actual size of the new Raising Cane’s Dog Park at BREC’s City Brooks Community Park. “This one is a little less than an acre. We would make it bigger if we had more room!” says Angela Harms, Landscape Architect for BREC. The new dog park opened May 31 with a bash sponsored by Raising Cane’s. The park is expected to be a hit with residents and their best friends. “Dogs of all sizes are certainly welcome,” says Harms. brec.org —MARY GELPI

Abita’s visitor center

Now all the lovers of Abita Wheat, Purple Haze and the ever-popular Turbodog have a center just for them—besides the lobby. The new visitor center for the largest craft brewer in the southeast is making tours of the Covington brewery even better.

“Until now, we’ve never had a place for guests that measured up the to the Abita Beer experience,” says David Blossman, president of Abita Brewing Company. Tourist or local, everyone is encouraged to visit the new addition, watch the brewing live, and of course, taste it for yourself—for free. abita.com —M.G.

The Bulldog

The Bulldog, the popular Uptown New Orleans pub that’s become an institution with hoards of New Orleans partiers, has made it to Baton Rouge. The New Orleans restaurant and bar will move into Southdowns Shopping Center on Perkins Road in the space formerly occupied by Dreux’s Grill. Patrons can expect a similar design to the other Bulldogs in operation. “It will be a fun place to hang out,” owner Eddie Dyer says. The atmosphere will be that of a comfortable pub with more than 50 beers on tap, large televisions for sports, and an outdoor patio. The menu will feature salads, steaks, chicken, burgers and appetizers. “We also want to bring in a lot of specialty beers, and we’ll have over 70 different types of bottled beer,” Dyer says. “Baton Rouge is a great market. We wanted to have the right location. We wanted to be in the urban area of town and Southdowns is great.” bulldog.draftfreak.com —MARY HELEN CRUMPLER

Pigtails & Crewcuts

A stellar haircut experience includes current magazines, juicy gossip and quality pampering—maybe if you’re a grown-up. But not if your idea of entertainment is a wooden train set the size of a coffee table. Kids now have a new Baton Rouge salon experience: movies playing while the stylist snips, a playroom for dressing up and a big screen to play Guitar Hero or Playstation 2. Towne Center’s Pigtails & Crewcuts opened in March to combat the inevitable kicking and screaming during children’s haircuts. “This is their element and a comfortable environment,” says owner Jeff Schafer, who employs two full-time and two part-time stylists for the salon. Prices range from a $16.95 haircut to a $21.95 first haircut package. Parents can also get a cut for $20.95. pigtailsandcrewcuts.com —M.H.C.