Everyone needs to meet The Dude. He’s a 1-year-old pit bull and 52 pounds of pure steel. I pulled a muscle in my shoulder trying to walk him when I temporarily adopted him this past Friday from three of my friends who found him on their doorstep on May Street. Strong, hyper little fella despite being underweight and hungry. He was in pretty bad shape—bite wounds on his legs and ear and ribs showing. He wore a thick red “fighting” collar, the kind peeps use when they are breeding and buying pit bulls to dogfight, a high commodity in the slums of Baton Rouge around the The Bottoms and Valley Park. My heart melts for this breed, as it is totally misunderstood and even excluded from the Yelp organization of Baton Rouge that shelters and fosters lost or stray dogs (for insurance purposes).
The Dude is the sweetest dog I’ve ever met. Other than marking his territory on everything in his sight—including my roommate’s dog—The Dude could do no wrong in my eyes. He is a cherub in pit bull form. An angel in the outfield. A diamond in the rough. After taking him in, I immediately contacted family friend and fellow artist Winifred Reilly, who instantly connected me with her friends involved with the Companion Animal Alliance of Baton Rouge. One of the volunteers connected me with Positive Alternatives to Shelter Surrender volunteer who also works with Pit Rowe, an organization devoted to finding safe homes for pit bulls and pit mixes.
Maggie, the PASS volunteer, was able to find a loving foster parent for The Dude within two days. Through PASS, the foster parent is required to foster the dog until it is re-homed safely. The dog will never be put in a shelter. If you get anything from this blawg, dawg, I’m screamin DON’T EVER bring a lost dog you find to the pound, especially a pit. They are euthanized if they aren’t adopted, and it is seldom that people make a trip to the pound to adopt a pit. Craig’s List isn’t a good option to find a new pit owner either, as most people buy or falsely claim lost pits from Craig’s List to fight them. I never thought I was the type to foster a lost animal, especially a pit bull, but I have to say that it was an experience I will never forget. I didn’t want to give him to the volunteer last night because I became so attached to The Dude. COLed (cried out loud) a lot. I love you, my dude.
AVENUE ROUGE RUNWAY
In other news, Avenue Runway Rouge was the dopest as it ever was, held at L’Auberge Hotel & Casino in the event room, featuring a massive runway and a bar at every corner with the top four drink concoctions as per Fashion’s Night Out. Baton Rouge’s renowned Of Moving Colors’ modern dance company performance accompanied Jacob Zumo’s live painting of Madonna while the show opened up with local boutiques showcasing their hottest trends for the fall season. Collections included Edit, NK/ Eve’s Apple, I Do Bridal Couture, and of course the one who stole the show with the grand finale, Rigsby Frederick Salon & Gallery.
Rigs designed amazing headpieces using his swagged-out sculpture skill set that included animal fur, metal, wire, human hair extensions, feathers and leathers. It didn’t hurt to have the headpieces strutted by the fiercest models that stepped foot on the runway that evening, including the salon’s very own resident stylist, Justine Pollet. Haute off the Rack’s Jennifer Papallatoc interviewed an exclusive stylish selection of Baton Rougeans on the red carpet for the live stream webcast.
I flossed my interview with Elizabeth Cole fishbone earrings, a vintage military jacket, an FCUK romper, grey Gucci stiletto booties, and gold and topaz rings. Whatup, swag!? Lols, jk. Shoutzz out to M. Gibbs for the earrings loan and Kitty Cat Crawford for the shoes, yeauxxxxx!!!!! The arm candy Goomby Gibbs sported some amped sweatpants— I’m talkin buttery leather swisher swag to the trillionth See by Chloe ‘sweatpants.’ “Those pants… are EVERYTHING,” she was hollered at by a fellow attendee of the event. Sidenote: the overuse of the word “swag” and all of its variations is still very much a thing. YeauxLeaux.
HGTV alum Kenneth Brown and gallery owner and Baton Rouge art scene supporter Ann Connelly paired up to put on an event benefiting City Year this past week, a share of the proceeds going directly to the efforts of City Year. The show featured designer chairs that were curated by Kenneth Brown and showcased artwork curated by Ann Connelly Fine Art. Located at Kenneth Brown Design on Lafayette Street Downtown, the show was a pop-up event lasting only from Thursday until Tuesday. Doppeee little event.
Dan Baer and Ann Connelly having an ultra swanky convo.
ART.WINE.DESIGN. in the Southdowns Village Shopping Center is TONIGHT. The event’s title is pretty self-explanatory. A wide array of retailers and businesses in the shopping center open up for the night from 6-9 pm to showcase their art and design, and they will be serving FREE WINE Let’s walk over to The Bulldog after. See you there.
ELEVATOR PROJECTS: THE ASYLUM
Spooky things are happening in the LSU art scene on October 25, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., in the brick yard across from The 13th Gate. Even Scary Spice couldn’t spice up her life through a more brilliant outlet than music, spooks and art (oh, and beer). 10 bux and it’s goin downnnn. Let’s get turnt up and scared shizzless at The Asylum.
Check this description from the organizers if I haven’t already convinced you:
“Elevator Projects invites you dip into your psyche and experience an aesthetically demented tour of ‘The Asylum.’ This is an eclectic array of installations and performances that will tease your fearing curiosity. For one night only relieve the artistic edge that haunts you, and let your unconscious mind become the unexpected. The night will also feature the album release party for Baton Rouge local musicians, Moon Honey.
It will double as a vinyl listening party for Hand-Painted Dream Photographs—a new album by the local psychedelic rock band, Moon Honey (formerly known as Twin Killers). It will be a visual album experience with film reel projections by Jessica Ramsey, vocalist. Moon Honey will throwback DJ the remainder of the evening, spinning classic treasures and familiar oddities. The album will be officially released November 16 at the Manship Theatre; prerelease album sales will be available at the event.”
After your trip through the Asylum, Taco de Paco food truck will be stationed in the parking lot to satisfy your insatiable appetite for dementia.
Come dressed in your finest straight-jacket and steel toe boots!
^You know I’ll be there. Spread the word, dope readers.
