Baton Rouge is celebrating this Cinco de Mayo with plenty of block parties and drink specials. From the downtown area to Government Street to Tigerland, area restaurants and bars will be ready for students to celebrate.
Hot spots like The House in Tigerland celebrate with $2 margaritas until 10 p.m. and $3 imports all night. To encourage its patrons to live the celebration, the House will also have free cover from 11 to 11:30 p.m. for patrons in Mexican colors.
Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of Mexico’s victory against the French in the Battle of Puebla.
Alex Averill, biology sophomore, said she doesn’t plan to shake up her usual partying routine for the Mexican holiday.
“I’m going to Tigerland,” Avrill said. “Probably Reggie’s, since I happen to be there a lot.”
The Roux House will take over the downtown celebrations, said Danny Breaux, owner of Wildflower Productions and promoter for The Roux House.
“We’ll have shot specials and margaritas,” Breaux said. “The fun starts at 10 p.m. with a New Orleans-styled brass band playing, and there’s a DJ spinning until 2 a.m.”
Near campus, many venues like The Chimes are hosting blowouts for patrons. Chimes will serve quesadillas and black bean soup all day, with $2 Cuervo Platino shots, $4 Platino margaritas, $2.50 select Mexican bottle beer and $2.50 house margaritas, according to Patrick Higgins, manager at The Chimes.
“It’s an expensive tequila, and we run it real cheap,” Higgins said.
Serrano’s Salsa Company on Highland Road will transform its parking lot into a stage, where two live bands will perform. Serrano’s will also remain open until 2 a.m., said Jasmine Smith, Serrano’s server.
“I’m probably going to Serrano’s or Reggie’s,” said Stephen Driggers, chemical engineering sophomore. “Whichever one has better drink specials.”
There will be $4 large margaritas and the regular 10-percent discount for students at Izzo’s Illegal Burrito, said manager Patrick Foy.
Qdoba Mexican Grill is embracing the celebration with an all-day happy hour, said Taurus Pea, manager at Qdoba on Burbank Drive.
“We’re giving away free chips and salsa to the first 100 people, with more prizes and specials between 4 and 8 p.m.,” Pea said.
La Caretta has $9 top-shelf margaritas, $4 imports, $9 mixed drinks and $3 shots of Dos Lunas. Superior Grill will close down its parking lot for an all-day block party with a live band and mariachis.
“We’ll have shot girls coming in, and we’ll have a special menu,” said Chris Esquivel, Superior Grill general manager. “There will be tables outside, tables inside, people can sit wherever they’d like.”
However, some students plan to skip the bar scene and throw their own fiestas.
Lindsay Roe, elementary education junior, finds it more economical to stay at home and celebrate.
“There’s only so many Mexican restaurants in Baton Rouge, and it’ll be hard to cram everyone in there,” Roe said.
With finals coming up, Ashley Morel, mechanical engineering sophomore, thinks she will be staying in.
“I’m probably … studying,” Morel said.
Those trying to avoid the celebration altogether should steer clear of Mexican restaurants, said Joshua Palmeri, architecture alumnus.
“I’m going to P.F. Changs because I’m trying to avoid the rambunctiousness of the Cinco de Mayo crowd,” Palmeri said.
Regardless of where you go in Baton Rouge for this Cinco de Mayo, one thing is for sure: The tequila will be flowing.
 
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Contact Kittu Pannu at [email protected]