Long Distance: Jeanine Dent

Why did you leave Baton Rouge?

We left in June 2005 because my husband decided to open a second office of Dent Asset Management outside Washington, D.C., in Tyson’s Corner, Va. He still has his office in Baton Rouge, so we still come down pretty regularly.

What do you miss?

I miss my friends. We used to live around the LSU lakes, so I miss waking up to that amazing view every morning. We really miss the food. I think this is the first time we have ever had a bottle of Tabasco in the house.

What don’t you miss?

I don’t miss the lack of emphasis on the arts and the arts community. When we left, the Shaw Center was just opening, so I know there have been a lot of changes, but I still think there is room for more art in Baton Rouge.

What does D.C. have that we don’t?

There is always something to do here. There are tons of galleries here, and the museums are all free. We also spend a lot of time walking around and looking at the monuments. It’s definitely a city you can walk around in. In Baton Rouge you can’t go anywhere without a car, but Washington is pedestrian friendly.

When were you last in town?

In November for the LifeAwaits benefit concert we held at Grant Street Dance Hall in Lafayette. We raised about $18,000. We are planning an event for the spring that will be in either New Orleans or Washington.

Find out more about LifeAwaits at lifeawaits.org.