2021 People to Watch in the Capital Region

Despite the pandemic, Baton Rouge bakeries say king cake demand remains high

By Caroline Hebert January 12, 2021

While Louisiana mourns the cancellation of traditional Mardi Gras celebrations, bakeries around Baton Rouge are still working hard to fulfill king cake orders. For many of us, it's one element of the holiday that we can celebrate safely at home.  “This is our saying around here: COVID can cancel Mardi Gras, but it can’t cancel king cakes,” says Gambino’s Bakery's Tammy Wilson. For some bakeries, though, the pandemic has meant reevaluating…

Local maker Katherine Lea designs minimalist planners for creatives

By Cynthea Corfah @lacedincyn December 30, 2020

Do you struggle finding a yearly planner that fits your style? Do you get overwhelmed by all the stickers, bright colors, motivational quotes and to-do lists filling the pages of today’s most popular planners? Meet: Alter Planning Co., a local planner business that makes simple, stylish and intentionally designed planners with artists in mind. Katherine “scottie.” Lea launched Alter Planning Co. in 2019. She didn’t feel represented by the planners…

Inside the Baton Rouge Sensory Garden, a hidden gem that’s three decades in the making

By Julia-Claire Evans January 15, 2021

There’s an oasis of mint, basil, sunflowers and even okra right in the middle of the city. The recently completed Baton Rouge Sensory Garden inside BREC’s Botanic Gardens at Independence Park feels miles away from the cars passing through the surrounding Goodwood neighborhood. The Sensory Garden has been a work in progress for around 30 years, and its transformation has continued since the Herb Society took it over about three…

First-year head coach Jay Clark is aiming high in 2021 after four decades of D-D Breaux’s dedication

By Mark Clements December 30, 2020

How do you replace a legend? What steps do you even begin to take to fill the void left by someone who is the gold standard in your line of work? It’s a question that has been on Jay Clark’s mind ever since he was tasked to take over for D-D Breaux as head coach of the LSU gymnastics team in August. It goes without saying this wasn’t just your…