Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/22095
AREA GUIDES infrastructure is the impressive Baton Rouge River Center, located on the banks of theMississippi River and com- pletely transforming the downtown cor- ridor. The entire complex, including the 10,400-seat Arena and 1,897-seat Theatre for the Performing Arts, as well as the Exhibition Hall, includes more than 200,000 sq. ft. of renovated space, and incorporates state-of-the-art exhibi- tion, meeting, concession and kitchen facilities. The 70,000-sq. ft. Exhibition Hall can be combined with the Arena to create more than 100,000 sq. ft. of con- tiguous exhibit space, or can be divided into two separate spaces. Additionally there is a 26,000-sq. ft. ballroom (divisi- ble into two smaller areas), 49,038 sq. ft. of pre-function space, and 23,445 sq. ft. of meeting rooms, which can be configured into spaces ranging in size from 1,000 sq. ft. to 6,536 sq. ft. Additional meeting space, as well as 9,000 guest rooms, can be found in the city’s more than 75 hotels, motels and bed and breakfast inns. Among the out- standing meeting properties are the 333- room Holiday Inn South, 290-room Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center, 223-room Embassy Suites Hotel, 299- room Baton Rouge Marriott, 294-room Crowne Plaza Baton Rouge, and the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino and Hotel, with 300 rooms. Old South beauty, Creole culture, Cajun zest, colorful politics and an all- around good time will greet conference attendees, before, during and after meet- ing events unfold. Why? Because the variety of cultural influences in Baton Rouge makes the city a unique and charming place to visit. The city’s architecture reflects a melting pot of styles and periods. African-American and Caribbean influ- ences are found in homes and buildings with large balconies, floor to ceiling win- dows and exterior shutters. The Old State Capitol is reminiscent of a Gothic Castle while many plantations have gal- leried stairwells reminiscent of the Victorian age. Laura Plantation, a Creole plantation, is a true blend of these multi- cultural influences. 76 back over 100 years. Conference attendees with pre-and Skyline of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, seen from across the Mississippi River Convention delegates, business trav- elers and vacationers come to Baton Rouge for many and varied reasons, but they all come with one common desire — to delight in the extraordinary cuisines that are indigenous to Louisiana. No doubt, while you are here you’ll fall in love with regional dishes that reflect local Cajun, Creole, French, Italian and Spanish heritage. Succulent crawfish étouffée, spicy Hallelujah Crab, fresh seafood, wild game, mouth watering pecan pie and bourbon drenched bread pudding can be found at the most lavish, as well as the most unassuming dining establishments. And if these tantalizing treats stir your appetite for great food, this is just the beginning. From alligator sauce piquant all the way to Zydeco shrimp, the abun- dance of innovative menus and dishes found throughout the city make it some- times difficult for visitors to decide where to eat and what to order! One thing you won’t want to miss is a leg- endary home-style dinner served at one of the many plantation restaurants. Sip mint juleps on the porch, as spicy red beans & rice with freshly baked corn- bread are prepared from recipes dating post convention free time, especially those traveling with families in tow, will have no trouble finding things to do and see in Baton Rouge. At the top of the “must see” list of kids activities is down- town Baton Rouge. Start with the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, housed in a 1920’s train depot. Here you’ll find an impressive collection of fine art along with the Discovery Depot, a creative, interactive area that teaches basic art concepts and the Science Station Gallery & Lab where scientific concepts are demonstrated. These inter- active science exhibits were further enhanced with the opening of a plane- tarium space theater in early 2004. Seating 150, the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium is among the most sophisti- cated multimedia presentation facilities in the world. Audiences of all ages can experience a new universe of sight and sound through planetarium programs, 70mm large-format films and laser shows on a 60-ft. domed screen. Visitors can also enjoy the planetarium’s nearly 5,000 sq. ft. of hands-on exhibits, including nine giant planets built to scale and a mete- orite one billion years older than any Earth rock. Kids of all ages will want to take a ride on the wild side with the Alligator Bayou Swamp Tour, a 90-minute narrative on the history, biology and ecology of the swamp. Or, they can dive into Louisiana’s unique and colorful history and culture at the new Louisiana State Museum. The 69,000 square foot muse- um features a massive full-size shrimp boat, interactive music booths, an enter- taining Mardi Gras exhibit and much, much more that will excite visitors of all ages. Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport serves the area with flights daily to most major US cities, via Northwest, Delta, US Airways and Continental Airlines. WHOYOUGONNACALL? Baton Rouge Area CVB (800) LA-ROUGE www.visitbatonrouge.com Black Meetings & Tourism November/December 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com Photo Credit: Pattie Steib