To see a slideshow from the North Gate Fest, click here.
The Northgate area is no stranger to block parties, but none promotes the rich history and local businesses of the neighborhood quite like North Gate Fest.White tents filled with artists’ creations and local restaurants’ food, a stage blasting jams from local bands and plenty of passers-by packed Chimes Street on Friday for the fourth annual North Gate Fest.The John Madere Trio, Bench Bar Boogie Band and the Barisal Guns entertained a steady crowd of locals of all ages, as well as current and former students.The festival, started in 2005 by the Northgate Merchants Association, draws those Baton Rougians who don’t walk past the area every day.This year, an arts market and a two-mile run were added to the festival. The Ceramic Artists Student Association  occupied a tent at the market, selling everything from jewelry to clay kewpie dolls, to promote their pottery sale this week.Lindsey Maestri, ceramics graduate student, said arts markets help foster a sense of community among artists.”I don’t think there’s very many things that happen for local artists, so it’s really important that this happens,” Maestri said.Elizabeth Harvey, co-owner of Storyville, organized the arts market. She said they hope to turn the market into a regular, monthly event so students can sell their pieces.”This is Northgate, and we have a history of being a cool and unique area,” Harvey said. “This area has been neglected for a little while, but we’re definitely in an upward swing.”Another artist tent was occupied by the color paintings of Christopher Smith, studio art senior. He started at the University 10 years ago but took a hiatus and is back to finish his degree.Smith said he wished there were community-based art and music events like North Gate Fest when he was in the city before.”Ten years ago, there was no real arts scene here,” Smith said. “It’s gotten a lot better.”As students and locals strolled up and down Chimes Street, pictures of the those that walked before them were projected onto the wall of North Gate Tavern.Highland Coffees owner and Northgate Merchants Association member Clarke Cadzow has been collecting old pictures of the area for a year and a half. Last year he decided to project the pictures onto the roof of North Gate Tavern. He said they were so    popular he brought them back this year.”We’re focused on the here and now, but we think the history adds depth and character and interest to this neighborhood,” Cadzow said of the Northgate Merchants Association.Cadzow said the northgates used to be the only entrance to the University. South of campus was mainly farmland until the ’70s. Previously known as “Tiger Town,” the Northgate area was where many students spent most of their free time.”This neighborhood is completely interconnected with LSU,” Cadzow said. “This is where students shopped, dined and were entertained.”Glen Petersen, saxophonist for the Bench Bar Boogie Band, started at the University in 1969. He said he remembers after many Tiger Band practices he would meet his friends at Louie’s, which was at that time the only bar in the area. “It’s got that same feeling,” Petersen said. “It’s cool to come back.”Barisal Guns lead singer Ben Catchings said he was impressed by the festival and would like to see more events like it.”This is the kind of stuff that makes you say — What’s wrong with people that say there’s nothing going on in Baton Rouge?” Catchings said. “This is a great area.”- – – -Contact Lauren Walck at [email protected]