Borders’ concept bookstore open for business

Borders’ is now open at The Boulevard behind the Mall of Louisiana. The bookstore giant’s grand opening will be Friday, Aug. 29, and will feature live music and book signings throughout the weekend (see schedule below).

Borders’ digital technology center sets itself apart from other chains bookstores. “A lot of stores run from the digital age, but we embrace it,” Borders’ sales director Ray Dinterman says.

Customers can burn a mix CD, put together a book of personal photos or publish their own novel. Sections are split up into lifestyle themes such as cooking, wellness and travel (there’s an entire aisle just for maps of cities around the globe). Other pockets of the store include a graphic novel, or “manga,” area, an attractive children’s section that promotes imagination through art and a Seattle’s Best coffee shop.

Borders.com launches in a few weeks, giving customers the ability to order online, pick up at the store, or vice versa.

Valet parking is available for $4 a vehicle. You can find the drop-off point between Borders and the row of restaurants.

Store hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. until 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturday until 11 p.m., and Sundays until 9 p.m.

Borders’ grand opening weekend schedule of entertainment:

Friday, Aug. 29

3 p.m. – Story time with Strawberry Shortcake

3:30 p.m. – Face-painting until 5:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m. – Free chocolate and confection samples until 9 p.m.; chefs offer advice of frying chicken and will have free samples

6 p.m. – Recycle Rouge lectures on going on green

7 p.m. – Live music by Two If By Land; story time by Pam Kaster, author of Molly the Pony, the small horse that survived overwhelming odds

8:30 p.m. – Live music by blues woman Debbie Landry

Saturday, Aug. 30

10 a.m. – Meet the crew from WFMF 102.5 FM for a live broadcast until noon; visit stilt walker Scott Burke.

11:30 a.m. – Honey treats and story time from Winnie the Poooh

Noon – Celebrity foodie Tom Fitzmorris presents a live radio broadcast from Borders, where he dishes about the local culinary scene; tour the high-tech fire engines from St. George

1 p.m. – Sweet chocolate treats until 5 p.m. and visit with photographer Sylvia Frank Rodrigue as she relives 150 years of B.R. history with her book, Images of America: Baton Rouge.

2 p.m. – Discuss dream destinations in the Borders travel section with experts from Malcolm Travel.

3 p.m. – Danny Heitman book signing, A Summer of Birds, a tribute to John James Audubon and his time at Oakley Plantation; WordPlay Poetry Slam’s teens perform

4 p.m. – Tim Spinosa leaves children astounded with his magic show; Victor Gischler of Baton Rouge signs copies of his book, Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse, a funny look at post-apocalyptic America.

5:30 p.m. – Cooking lesson on salsa

6:30 p.m. – Live music by Lindsay Rae Spurlock (indie pop)

8 p.m. – Blues legend Henry Gray performs.

9 p.m. – Live music by Tout Les Soir (Cajun music)

Sunday, Aug. 31

11 a.m. – balloon art for children

12:30 p.m. – Meet SpongeBob Squarepants as he tells stories, colors and plays games.

2 p.m. – Cooking lesson; learn to make beautiful fruit and vegetable carvings; Author Danny Brown signs copies of his book, Shooting the Pistol, a photographic history of “Pistol Pete” Maravich.

4 p.m. – Emmy Award-winning journalist Monica Pierre signs copies of her book, Found My Soul in a Sweet Potato Patch.

4:30 p.m. – Live music by Big Blue Marble (New Orleans indie pop)

6 p.m. – Baton Rouge Music Studios Showcase features aspiring young local musicians.