Best Local Visual ArtistRoyal Rouge Photography 30.17%
The Royal Rouge Photography crew has traveled the country for shoots from Kentucky to California. But Bolanos and her team seem to know Baton Rouge best. Golden Mississippi River sunsets and historic downtown landmarks provide dramatic backdrops for stylishly staged wedding, quinceañera, graduation and family portraits. royalrougephotography.com
RUNNERS UP
Jacob Zumo 13.27%
Glenn Eymard Photography 11.41%
Kimberly Meadowlark 7.91%
Laura W. Taylor 7.31%
Disco nights, Shrek-themed raves, indie gigs and comedy shows. That’s just another week at Chelsea’s Live. Open since 2022, the music venue’s cool vibes and killer lineups have won the hearts of new fans—and old patrons of its predecessor, Chelsea’s Cafe. chelseaslive.com
RUNNERS UP
L’Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge 17.33%
Varsity Theatre 16.46%
Manship Theatre 15.83%
Beauvoir Park 8.58%
From casting call all the way to curtain call, Theatre Baton Rouge’s renditions of shows like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and A Christmas Carol earn its talented casts and crews a spot in the limelight. theatrebr.org
RUNNERS UP
Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra 20.92%
Center Stage Performing Arts Academy 13.64%
Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre 10.98%
Playmakers of Baton Rouge 9.88%
Best Local ChefChef “Spike” is always smoking in the Big Jake’s BBQ kitchen, chasing drool-worthy crusts on tender briskets and sauce-slathered ribs that just fall off the bone. This pitmaster takes things low and slow, but regulars of the St. Gabriel eatery swear it’s worth the wait. Find the restaurant on Facebook
RUNNERS UP
John Folse, Chef John Folse & Co. 14.14%
Jim Urdiales, Mestizo Louisiana Mexican Cuisine 11.97%
Chris Motto, Jubans Restaurant and Bar 11.38%
Don Bergeron, Bergeron’s City Market 8.26%
With flat-screen TVs lining every wall, there’s no bad seat in any Walk-On’s. Keep an eye on the big game—and three others—while downing Louisiana-inspired dishes and frosty glasses of beer. walk-ons.com
RUNNERS UP
Big Mike’s Sports Bar & Grill 12.36%
Mid City Beer Garden 12.10%
Superior Grill 10.35%
Ivar’s Sports Bar & Grill 7.08%
A dance studio? Check. A pint-sized grocery store and a cafe? Knock Knock has that. The museum promotes learning through play with 18 interactive stations suited for kiddos of all ages. Don’t worry, parents—it’s totally OK if you want to get in on the fun, too. knockknockmuseum.org
RUNNERS UP
Mike the Tiger’s Habitat 19.64%
BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo 14.90%
Louisiana Art & Science Museum 12.57%
Main Event 8.46%
Let’s face it, nothing’s more romantic than going in on a shared spaghetti plate Lady and the Tramp-style. And Gino’s—around since 1966—has hosted its fair share of date nights and anniversaries. ginosrestaurant.com
RUNNERS UP
Tsunami 12.97%
BLDG 5 10.66%
DiGiulio Brothers Italian Cafe 10.35%
Supper Club 10.00%
Don’t scroll through Eat the Boot’s Facebook group on an empty stomach. What started as a space where founder Joey Cavalier and a few friends could share food reviews has morphed into musings from thousands of locals feasting their way through the state. There’s a podcast, too. On second thought, better bring your appetite. eattheboot.com
RUNNERS UP
Mark Belgard, Ascension Parish Department of Memes 16.87%
Jordan Basham, Where to Geaux 225 16.34%
Mikaela Medica, BR Foodie 225 8.86%
Maameefua Koomson 8.70%
Best Radio StationListening to the radio is one life hack for making sitting in Baton Rouge traffic more bearable. KLOVE provides a break from pop hits and mundane talk shows with its flow of contemporary Christian music. listen.klove.com
RUNNERS UP
100.7 – The Tiger 13.50%
98.1 – Eagle 11.27%
103.3 – Classic Hits 10.52%
102.5 – WFMF 10.07%
Best Radio PersonalityThis well-known country radio duo met in Baton Rouge at a station where Big D hosted a morning show and Bubba worked afternoons. Today, they host a talk show together that is syndicated on stations around the country, including 100.7 – The Tiger. bigdandbubba.com
RUNNERS UP
Murphy, Sam & Jodi 23.58%
Matt Moscona 14.97%
T-Bob Hebert 13.52%
Kool DJ SupaMike 10.54%
If there’s a hot news scoop, odds are Kiran Chawla already knows all about it. Unfiltered With Kiran tackles hard-hitting topics, from local crime to politics, on its website, podcast, social media pages and YouTube channel. unfilteredwithkiran.com
RUNNERS UP
Sylvia Weatherspoon, WBRZ 10.58%
Jay Grymes, WAFB 7.38%
Jacques Doucet, WAFB 5.34%
Greg Meriwether, WAFB 4.85%
This article was originally published in the July 2024 issue of 225 Magazine.
