Good morning, Baton Rouge.

TikTok-famous Salt Pepper Oak moved from Mississippi to Baton Rouge in late April on Exchequer Drive—founder Vincent Hunt opened the restaurant with a small menu and limited hours and will expand offerings soon.

The LSU School of Theatre hosted the Take XI Student Film Festival on May 4 at 2 p.m. at Shaver Theater, where 15 student films were shown—many highlighting Geaux films funded by the Department of Film and Television.

The event gave young filmmakers a chance to share their work and learn about the film industry.

This week in Baton Rouge, the LSU School of Art Senior Exhibition opened on May 5 at Barnes Ogden Gallery—Scott Rabalais held his book signing on May 6 at La Divina.

Today, indie artist Mat Kearney performs at Manship Theatre—upcoming events include Music in the Gardens on May 8, LSU baseball on May 9, Disney On Ice and the Night Market on May 10, and a Mother’s Day brunch on May 11.

Graduation ceremonies for Baton Rouge area high school and college students are set throughout May with events beginning tomorrow at Southern University and continuing with LSU and local schools on various dates — the schedule offers dates, times, and venues to help families plan their attendance.

Thousands of customers in the Baton Rouge area lost power as severe weather and the threat of flooding affected Entergy and DEMCO services — about 28,000 are without power as of 9:15 p.m. People with these services are advised to report outages by calling their utility companies.

Authorities in East Baton Rouge and West Baton Rouge have opened sandbag pickup locations—residents should bring their own shovels—to help prepare for heavy rain expected to drop between 3 and 5 inches and cause a moderate flash flood risk.

Southern University junior outfielder Cardell Thibodeaux has a .455 batting average and 14 home runs and honors his family with every swing—he says that losing his cousin and two loved ones has pushed him to lean on his faith and support system to overcome his grief.

Kiristen McGirt, the defending shot put champion at East Ascension, will compete at the state championships Friday at LSU and aims to win both the shot put and discus as she prepares to begin her track career at Tennessee; she joins teammates Katie Truett and Morgan Vincent, and coach Kacey Elphage praised her work ethic and leadership that have helped shape the program.

So Good: The Neil Diamond Experience

7:30-10:30 p.m. — Manship Theatre — Tickets available — Experience an unforgettable tribute to Neil Diamond with over 24 classic hit songs.

Vincent Neil Emerson Live Performance

9:00-10:30 p.m. — Chelsea's Live — Cost TBA — Experience the acclaimed singer-songwriter blend Americana, country, and rock n roll in an engaging live setting.

4th Annual Miles2Moms Event

7:30-11:30 a.m. — North Boulevard Town Square — Free entry with registration — Celebrate maternal mental health through a fun 2-mile walk/run with family and friends.

Disney On Ice: Let's Dance!

11 a.m. — Raising Cane's River Center — Ticketed event — Experience a magical remix of Disney tunes with Mickey and friends on ice.

2025 Pan American Masters Weightlifting Championships

May 14-18 — Crowne Plaza Executive Center Baton Rouge by IHG — Early registration $149 — Witness an exciting competition featuring master lifters from across the Americas.

Strength and Speed: 8th and 9th Grade Baseball Training

12 PM - 1 PM — Catholic High School — Must participate in Metro League for tryout eligibility — Enhance athletic skills with focused strength and conditioning training for aspiring CHS baseball players.

Metro League Baseball Tryouts

2-4 p.m. — Catholic High School — Required participation for prospective CHS Baseball team members — Organized league play for 7th-9th graders aiming for the upcoming school year's team.

2025 Elite Camp #1

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. — LSU Football Operations Center — Cost not specified — Enhance your athletic skills at this comprehensive camp for high school students.

Taj Farrant's Chapter One Tour

9:00 – 10:30 PM — Chelsea's Live — Tickets available — Experience the debut album tour of young Australian guitarist Taj Farrant showcasing his unique sound.