Since the bye week has provided a break in the action, I thought this might be a good time for me to ask you all for some help/suggestions for my upcoming trip to Baton Rouge. I'm only going to be in town for 48 hours, so I want to enjoy as much as possible. I'm staying at the Marriott Courtyard on Acadian, which I think is pretty close to campus. I've heard that I should be there to see the team and band walk down the hill before the game. 1. Are there any other gameday LSU traditions that I shouldn't miss? (other than heavy boozing....I can handle that one myself!) 2. What are the best area sports bars? How about a good place to watch football closer to the airport before I leave? 3. What is the best store for me to stock up on LSU gear? 4. Where can I get the best/authentic cajun meal? Sorry for all the questions, but the anticipation and excitement for my first visit to TS is building.......Geaux Tigers.
1) spend some time roaming campus before the march. soak it in, there's nothing like it. 2) i prefer to watch at home, naturally. but sammy's on highland is a laid-back, nice place with good food. 3) tiger mania has a good selection if you're wallet is a little heavy. tigermania.net you'll find LSU stuff everywhere though 4) easiest question. just peruse the tailgates, introduce yourself around and make sure they know you're a yankee tiger. people will not take no for an answer when it comes to trying their food.
Hey Penn you will have an outstanding and special time. Drink in all of the experience as it is more than electric. I have gone to LSU home games since 1967 and there is nothing better. Below are my answers to your questions. 1. Are there any other gameday LSU traditions that I shouldn't miss? (other than heavy boozing....I can handle that one myself!) Enjoy the campus it is beautiful. Take some time to wander through the tailgate all over campus enjoy the friendly Tigers who will share their food. Go by Mike the Tiger's cage before they take him out. Be in the stadium before the band comes out. The Tiger Band builds the excitement like no other. 2. What are the best area sports bars? How about a good place to watch football closer to the airport before I leave? You have to go to the Pastimes downtown. Great debris style roast beef po boys and pizza. All over the bar are photos of LSU teams and plays going back to Billy Cannon. Not fancy but real. 3. What is the best store for me to stock up on LSU gear? There will be one near your hotel. 4. Where can I get the best/authentic cajun meal? Mike Andersons if you can get in. He has pictures of his exploits as an AA linebacker at LSU in 1969 & 70. Also Parrains on Perkins Road. Ralph & Kacoos Enhoy my friend and :geaux:
pastimes and parrain's will treat you right, penn. parrain's is one of my favorites and is right near the interstate by acadian if you need to jet to the airport afterwards.
If you are older than 30, go eat at Drusillas and then stop in at the Patio Lounge just around the corner. You might meet some interesting people there.
Unfortunately, my time will be even more restricted as I am coming in on Thanksgiving afternoon, and i'm sure a lot of places won't be open on Thanksgiving.
GAME DAY INFO: If you come five or six hours early you can find free parking on the streets near campus, but central campus is parking-pass only. The north side LSU free lots are small and fill up quickly. Avoid parking in the high-crime neighborhood to the north of campus, the better parking is on the south side anyway. If you run late, the big free grass lots off the river road aren't that far from the stadium. Try these links for maps and info: Getting to the Game: Traffic, Parking, and Tailgating LSU Football Fan Guide 2010 Tiger Stadium Interactive Stadium Map: See Your view of the Field Tiger Stadium Quotes We eat good in Baton Rouge. There is some damn good food in this town, especially seafood. Mike Andersons, Parrains, Drusilla Seafood, and Ralph & Kacoos are the most popular. All will be crowded on game weekends but you can get in with a reasonable wait, they are used to it. There are lots of ethnic food restaurants in town as well. TJ Ribs is especially good at moving a crowd through on game day and serves fine BBQ. Juban's is kind of upscale but has the finest Creole cuisine in town. Boutin's for Cajun cuisine and music. Good off-campus Bar & Grills abound. The Chimes, Walk-on's, The Pastime, Chelsea's, Georges, Ivars, Sammy's, Fred's, and Brewbachers are all great LSU bars with good food. The new Buffalo Wild Wings in Tigertown has the most big screens for a sports bar. And don't forget 24-hour breakfast at Louie's Cafe, a classic just-off-campus diner with the best omelettes and burgers in town. A Rolling Stone Best Campus Eatery. Live music close to campus can be found at the Varsity Theatre or Chelsea's. Don't forget the two riverboat casino's downtown for more fun and entertainment. There are a number of Third Street bars downtown with live music. And New Orleans is only an hour away. Game-Day traditions: Go see Mike the Tiger's new habitat, our live Bengal Tiger Mascot. There is usually a Jambalaya stand nearby, try it! The LSU Tiger Band marches down the hill to Tiger Stadium an hour before the kickoff and it is something to see and hear. It will be crowded, but the crowd response is part of the show. Tailgaiting is legendary around campus before the game. Nobody, I mean nobody, cooks more or better food than LSU tailgaters. LSU gear can be gotten everywhere, even Wal-Mart. The Tiger Gift Center is right by Tiger Stadium by the Tiger cage. The Union Bookstore and local campus bookstores have a lot of gear but are expensive. Tigermania has a website and an LSU gear store in town. Traffic sucks. Get used to it. Come early. Don't get in a hurry.
He said authentic. Having lived in both Nola in BR if you want great food you are just going to have to take the hour drive down to NOLA. Drago's is my personal favorite. Don's will get you the best boudin though but that is toward Lafayette. If you want to stay in BR go with Mike Anderson (expect a wait), Chimes (great oysters), and Ralph and Kacoos.
