Valentine's Day events scattered around city

Cajun-style dinner and dance held tonight

Couples and singles are sure to have a "bon temps" tonight at Boudreaux and Thibodeaux's Valentine's Day Dinner and Dance. A Louisiana-style, candle-lit dinner will be served at 7 p.m. at tables garnished for two, complete with roses, champagne and music. Dinner ends at 9 p.m., and the doors open to the public for a cover-free opportunity to dance the night away. Karen Dean, co-owner of the night club, said Boudreaux and Thibodeaux's wanted to give something special to people who appreciate a more relaxed environment and real Cajun experience. "We just wanted to offer something a little more Louisiana, a little more laid-back," Dean said. "A lot of people don't particularly enjoy the hassle of getting really dressed up and going out, so we are creating a very comfortable yet nice atmosphere for couples who are a little more casual-oriented." The co-owner said she was excited to announce the special entertainment the night club had lined up for the event. "We're bringing in Karizma, a great party band that does a fantastic R and B and soul show," Dean said. "We also have Hearts lingerie boutique joining us for the night, and we're setting up an in-house store for people who want to shop on site with us." Callie Kemp, frequent bar patron and University alumna, said the Valentine's Day Dinner and Dance is attractive because of the fun atmosphere and low price. "It is affordable for LSU students, a romantic place and also really easy going," she said. "We don't have any kind of dress code or anything like that. It's not pretentious." Kemp said people will appreciate the comfortable tone of the night more than anything else. "It's going to be a really personal, casual atmosphere catered and customized specifically for people out celebrating Valentine's Day," Kemp said. "It's not only going to be romantic. It's going to be a fun place where people can kick back, dance, have a blast and drink if they feel like it." Lizzy Evans, undecided freshman, said she was planning on attending the cover-less Valentine dance with some of her friends. "I'm just glad I don't have to be part of a twosome to have some fun on Valentine's Day," Evans said. "It's cool that they have something for us single girls who still want to go out and have a good time." Dean said the Valentine's Day Dinner and Dance is going to stand out because Boudreaux and Thibodeaux's offers a Cajun flair.

Roller Derby to host holiday benefit

"Laissez les mechant filles rouler," translates to "let the bad girls roll." This phrase is the slogan for the Red Stick Roller Derby, the first all-female, flat-track roller derby in Baton Rouge. The derby is hosting a fundraiser Saturday night at North Gate Tavern. The Anti-Valentine's Day Bash will feature three local bands: No Fuego, Axis of Evil and Field Day. The derby is collecting canned goods for the Baton Rouge food bank as admission. Money raised will go toward the food bank and private practice space for the Derby, currently held Thursday nights at Leo's Rollerland Roller Skating and Hockey Complex. Practices in their three-day-a-week schedule are held at Skate Galaxy near the intersection of Jefferson and Airline highways. Practices are open to all interested female skaters and to anyone else who wants to go roller skating on a Tuesday night. A middle-aged woman bouncing to her cassette player, a lanky adolescent boy in a pink tank top and a young woman soaring and turning like a figure skater all zipped around the rink Tuesday night. Padded, helmeted, and heavily-tattooed ladies in black slowly filter onto the floor, many of them wearing tight-fitting shirts with witty sayings. Sporting the phrase "Talk Derby To Me" was Zarathrustya, psychology senior and league president known to the rest of the world as Mary Koehler. Koehler found out about derby on the Internet, she said. She created the RSRD MySpace.com page after stepping onto the rink for the first time in 10 years. "It's very empowering," she said. "Baton Rouge could really use something like this." She said the derby is actively recruiting anyone and everyone interested in roller derby. Experience is not required. They hope to have 20 girls by next fall. Two derby hopefuls, Jennifer Alford and Danielle Vignes, work in the communication studies department. They stood on the side of the rink, watching the girls practice a whip drill. Alford said she saw the RSRD at the Beauregard Town Mardi Gras parade and wanted to come check it out. But upon seeing the girls flinging each other around the rink to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, she said, "I'm not up to that advanced level yet, but I think it's really cool." Travis Hanes, owner of Mid-City Bikes, found the group's page on MySpace and wanted to get involved, he said. Hanes acts as a referee, and his store sponsors the derby. "Getting in right now is the time to do it," he said. "They're still doing basic skating drills. It'll be different in a year." Koehler said she sees improvements every practice, and the most important characteristic of interested girls is commitment. "It's a huge commitment physically, mentally and financially," she said. "It's a lot of falling on your butt and hitting your head on the ground. We usually leave practice limping." Lauren O'Neill, also known as "Dropkick Mick" and the team's trainer, said the most common injuries so far are butt bruises and shin splints. But, the RSRD is just getting into the contact techniques of the sport. They have not competed in a "bout" against another team but hope to next season, Koehler said. The team has nine girls so far, three of whom are undergraduates. She said there is a real sisterhood in roller derby, and many leagues help each other out on a regular basis. The biggest league in the region is the Big Easy Roller Girls in New Orleans. The league has four teams, and Hanes said their bouts regularly pull in near 500 attendees.