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Caterie blaze hits musicians

The New Year’s day fire that gutted Acadian-Perkins Plaza shut down several small businesses, including Claitor’s Law Books, Southdowns Liquor and Cigarettes and Bayoushimmy dance studio.

The fire also snuffed out one of Baton Rouge’s most beloved coming-of-age venues, the Caterie.

A generation of LSU students and 20-somethings packed the Caterie to hang out over cold beers, listen to music and occasionally fall in love. Busy cooks in the narrow kitchen plated up affordable favorites like Foghorn Leghorn chicken sandwiches and Cheeseburgers in Paradise—comforts that kept regulars coming long after college.

But the Caterie was also an important home for some Baton Rouge musicians.

Not only were Caterie concerts popular, but a clutch of adjoining rehearsal spaces thumped and twanged away at all hours with the sounds of more than a dozen bands rehearsing.

Anna Byars, a local songwriter and coordinator of one of these rooms called the Batcave, says the fire will hurt local music. “Playing together is pretty much lost, especially for drummers, because [at the Caterie] you could make as much noise as you wanted,” Byars says. “The shopping center wasn’t totally gentrified, so people like us could afford to be there.”

Owners of the Caterie told The Advocate they hope to rebuild in five months. Meantime, help is on the way for the musicians: Storyville is launching a benefit t-shirt design, a compilation CD of music by bands that lost instruments is set to go on sale, and the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge is hosing a donation drive for musicians as well.—ALEX V. COOK and TOM GUARISCO

Heart warming

Reports of Kleinpeter Farms Dairy’s new calf born with a white heart-shaped patch similar to the milk and ice cream maker’s familiar logo went viral last month as ABC affiliates picked up the story in Alabama, California and Ohio.

“I was in shock,” says the dairy’s president Jeff Kleinpeter. “When I saw it I did a double-take. Then I whipped out my camera phone and started snapping pictures. It was a perfect heart.”

Kleinpeter is running a naming contest for the famous new addition (Lovey and Sweetheart are two early favorites). The contest ends Feb. 13. Visit kleinpeterdairy.com to vote.—JEFF ROEDEL

Best of 225 Awards returns—with a twist

For the 5th year, the Best of 225 Awards is back, and this year’s competition promises to be more exciting than ever.

Readers will nominate favorites in more than 50 categories, including a few new ones.

As well as presenting plaques honoring winners’ achievements, 225 will host our first Best of 225 Awards bash.

“The Best of 225 Awards have grown bigger and better every year, so what better way to honor Baton Rouge’s best than with a great party,” said 225 Publisher Julio Melara.

Subscribers to any of our e-newsletters—225Select, 225Dine and the soon-to-debut AvenueRouge—will receive an invitation to submit nominations (you can sign up by clicking here). The top nominees in each category will become finalists, and an independent market research firm will conduct a random-sample survey to determine the winners, which will be unveiled in our July issue.

The 2010 awards categories are:

Dining

Ambiance

Asian

BBQ

Boiled crawfish

Breakfast

Burgers

Cajun/Creole

French

Ice cream (including gelato and yogurt)

Italian

Late-night dining

Mediterranean

Mexican/Latin

New restaurant

Pastries

Pizza

Plate lunches

Po-boys

Salads

Sandwiches

Seafood

Service

Soup or gumbo

Steaks

Sushi

Vegetarian-friendly

Worth the drive (within 45 minutes of Baton Rouge)

People

Athlete (still competes and lives in Baton Rouge)

Former athlete 
(living in Baton Rouge)

Do-gooder (activist or volunteer)

Eligible bachelor

Eligible bachelorette

Local blogger or columnist

Performing arts group

Power couple

Sportscaster (TV or radio)

Television personality (hosts, anchors and reporters)

Visual artist

Places

Antiques store

Art gallery

Deli/specialty market

Essential spot to bring out-of-town guests

Free wifi hot spot

Gift store

Locally-owned men’s clothing store

Locally-owned women’s clothing store

Place to meet friends for coffee

Place for wedding receptions

Entertainment and Nightlife

Bar

Cocktail menu (specialty drinks)

Local band

Place for dancing

Ready for launch

Since the lift-off of Columbia in 1981, Americans have been fascinated with NASA’s groundbreaking reusable space shuttle. After 134 launches filled with exhilarating discoveries and two devastating tragedies, NASA will retire the multibillion-dollar shuttle program this September. But five final missions will take place first, beginning with the launch of Endeavor on Feb. 4. BREC’s Highland Road Park Observatory is offering live, up-close telescope looks at these remarkable craft hurtling toward space for the final time. Visit bro.lsu.edu for more details and a complete schedule of NASA launches.—J.R.

Meredith with mom Susan and sister Rachael.

The purrfect gift

Most little girls who walk into Cat Haven are there to pick out a kitten.

Meredith Giles was a little different. The good-hearted 9-year-old dropped in to Cat Haven last month to hand over a whole year’s allowance. “I just love kitties,” she explained, “and I knew that Cat Haven took good care of kitties.” Her generous gift will help keep the cats in kibble—the no-kill shelter is entirely dependent on donations for its ongoing rescue, spay and neuter operations.

Visit cathaven.com to see how you can help out like Meredith.—R.U.