DawgNation Invasion: 10 things UGA fans should consider doing on the way to Baton Rouge
DawgNation Invasion is finally here! Next week, thousands of fans clad in red and black will make their way to Louisiana. Of course, the main event is what’s going to happen on the football field between Georgia and LSU, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a little time for fun too.
With that in mind, here are a few things UGA fans should consider checking out:
For those in New Orleans on Friday, one of the main attractions will no doubt be the food. Although, let’s face it, food is usually the main attraction for me everywhere I go. However, it’s especially true in New Orleans.
A few restaurants stand out as landmarks worth a look — including Brennan’s, the place where Bananas Foster was invented in 1946. Or maybe your sweet tooth is best satisfied with the classic New Orleans take on the doughnut, called beignets. Folks line up around the block to get them made hot and fresh at Cafe Du Monde each morning, and pretty much all day after that.
Nightlife is obviously something else NOLA is famous for, and a couple bars are more well-known than others. The Carousel Bar & Lounge in the Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter has a circular bar in the center of the room that spins around like the childrens’ ride for which it gets its name. Just down the street from there is Pat O’Brien’s — the place where the cocktails known as hurricanes were first made. Unlike Carousel, Nothing in Pat O’Brien’s spins. However, you may think differently by the time you walk out the door.
Something else Louisiana is famous for is music. Therefore it probably makes sense to put together a playlist from the state. After all, we can still enjoy their tunes even if we don’t like their football team.
New Orleans is the home of jazz music, and my personal favorite New Orleans jazz artist is Sidney Bechet.
Thinking of Louisiana also makes me think of the band, Creedence Clearwater Revival. Yes, I know the group that made “Born on the Bayou” famous was actually from California instead of Louisiana. It’s still a fun song to listen to while you’re driving across Lake Pontchartrain.
New Orleans is also known for zydeco music, but I don’t know anything about that particular genre, so you’re on your own there.
On game day, everyone says you should go check out LSU’s mascot, Mike the Tiger’s home on campus. I’m sure I’ll do that, but what I really want to see is the cage where they keep Ed Orgeron.
Two more things I hope you’ll consider: DawgNation will be live at Manning’s sports bar on Friday at 3:00 pm CT (4:00 pm ET) hosting a DawgNation Invasion special broadcast, and tailgating all day Saturday at Walk-Ons in Baton Rouge. If you’re going to the game, we’d love to see you there.
