Tigerweekly Article

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Tigerweekly Article

By Kaiya Morrison http://tigerweekly.com/article/02-20-2008/7688

Baton Rouge has fallen back in love with its downtown. Revitalization efforts have brought new businesses, housing and a now thriving nightlife community. The latest addition to entertainment venues comes with the opening of 600 Main, a club named after its location.
Owners of 600 Main, Jeremy and Sara Meighan, have one goal in mind: to create an international portal for unique entertainment experiences. How do they plan to do this? The club, which will be open Wednesday through Saturday evenings, will have different themed nights of events. Each night will offer different cultural experiences, and will highlight a variety of artistic mediums.
"Baton Rouge has a lot to offer, and people aren't seeing that," said Danny Breaux, head of Public Relations for 600 Main. "We're trying to push things that aren't being shown. I believe there are really talented people here who don't have a way to connect socially, and that's what we want to provide."
Breaux became associated with the Meighans three years ago after he opened his own production company, WildFlower Productions, while he was a student at LSU. The Meighans, who he was introduced to by mutual friends, were operating their own company, BabyButterfly Productions.
"They [the Meighans] have been sponsoring Latin nights for 10 years in the Baton Rouge area," Breaux recalled. "They turned me on to the idea, which was something they had stopped doing for a while. I helped them build it back up."
Latin night events have been hosted by both production companies at nearly every major club in Baton Rouge, so it's no surprise this will be one of the themed events at 600 Main. Every Friday night the club will offer "La Noche Dulce." Before the event gets going at 10 p.m., patrons can come an hour prior for free Salsa lessons.
"The club is 21+ every night except for Friday," Breaux said. "On Latin night, it will be 18+. There are a lot of people who are under 21 who love Latin music. We want to let them be a part of this, too."
After dancing the night away on Friday, Saturday will be a bit more subdued because it's all about fashion.
"We have a big stage, and there will be a catwalk for the fashion show nights," Breaux explained. "Each show will feature different boutiques in town. The first one will be with Loft 31, which is located on Perkins. Eutopia Hair Salon will be supporting the event by providing hair and makeup for all the models."
Just as with the Latin night, "Fashion on Main" is another reinvented project of Breaux's.
"My production company was booked to do the after party for 'Hemline,' an LSU organization that held a fashion show at the Shaw Center," Breaux recalled. "I saw the show, and thought to myself, why not put the show and the party together into one night?"
Breaux began hosting fashion shows at The Roux House in November of last year. The shows became a big success, which is why they have been added to the roster of events for 600 Main.
600 Main has scheduled two model and talent call auditions to seek out individuals interested in participating in the events. The first one took place on February 16, and the next one will be on February 23. All interested are asked to come by between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
The purpose of the model and talent audition is to seek out more than just models for the fashion shows. Breaux said it's for all individuals with a unique talent. Some of the talents they are seeking are models, designers, actors, DJs, singers, performers, photographers and anyone with an "outlandish talent."
"Anyone doing something interesting, edgy or off the mainstream path should come by for the Model and Talent call," he said. "The purpose of doing them is more to have a chance to meet everyone doing something interesting."
Artists are especially encouraged to attend as the venue plans to host monthly art shows.
"If we see something we really like, then we want to push that," Breaux said about the art shows. "We have this one long wall with track lighting and a lounge area with couches for the art show nights."
All of the events kicked off with a soft opening on Valentine's night, February 14. The venue hosted a "Red Light, Green Light" party, where single people wore green shirts, people in relationships wore red shirts, and anyone who fell somewhere in the middle wore a yellow shirt.
The official grand opening will then be held on Saturday, March 1.
"There's going to be a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Mayor," Breaux said about the grand opening. "We're calling the night 'Fall in love with 600 Main.'"
In the same tradition of other newly opened clubs in the downtown are, 600 Main will enforce a dress code. However, because there will be so many different events appealing to a wide array of individuals, Breaux said it will be lenient based on the night's events.
"It will be a dressier type of place, but we want to welcome both the artist and the young professional," he said.
To learn more about 600 Main, visit the Web site at www.600mainbr.com.