2019 Gumbo final - Book - Page 106
Dead Poet
A New Scene Opens Near LSU Campus
ead Poet, the University area’s newest bar, is spicing
up nightlife for students with their different take from
the traditional college bar.
The bar, located on East Boyd Drive, opened its doors
in December. Local artist Ellen Ogden painted the murals that
feature a wide variety of artists from Edgar Allan Poe to Tupac. The
bar presents live entertainment every Wednesday.
When asked why the name Dead Poet, bar manager Christian
Grimaldo, a University alumnus, explained that there were many
factors that went into the decision.
“We wanted to tie it in to LSU in some way,” Grimaldo said. “We
wanted to do something that drew it back to education. Dead Poet
Society was one of the owner’s favorite books, and we used Dead
Poet as a little tie in. A nod to education and literary themes.”
Along with its name and locale, Dead Poet’s objective is to provide
a different experience altogether from that offered by other
businesses in the area.
“Once you come inside, I think that’s the big difference. We put
a lot of thought and care into the design and the functionality of
the place,” Grimaldo said. “We want to give the student a better
experience than they’ve gotten used to with the offerings in
Tigerland right now.”
“I’ve heard a lot of that, even from friends and family,” Grimaldo
said. “One, I’m not very superstitious. And two, I think that
everywhere else there just wanted to open a bar. They didn’t really
put any time and effort into it the same way that we did.”
Unlike its local predecessors that wanted to fit in with the
preexisting bar scene, Dead Poet aims to stand out. As of now,
Dead Poet is only one of two venues that offer weekly live
entertainment in the University area. With a team who has carefully
constructed the space and paid attention to every detail, Dead
Poet may defy the odds.
“I mean, we thought of all that whenever we came for this
project, from the Jordan Jefferson incident in 2010 or 2011 to the
surrounding businesses, all that stuff,” Grimaldo said. “But I think
we’re a lot different than those other places. That’s been our main
focus - is to stand out. We don’t want you to remember Shady’s
when you walk in.”
Dead Poet is open Wednesday to Saturday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Story // Lia Salime
Photo // Reveille Photographer
Design // Catherine Carpenter
The bar is equipped with a large dance floor for customers to
dance in, a stage for performers, sitting areas and Ogden’s lively
murals. It has a wide selection of beers and cocktails, including
margaritas from Velvet Cactus.
“We definitely have places for you to chill out, have a drink and
have a conversation, which is something I think that’s lacking in the
area,” Grimaldo said.
In addition to live music every Wednesday, customers can enjoy
a unique selection of music from two house DJs who rotate every
Friday and Saturday. The house playlist includes selections from
staff, management and the owners.
“We are focused on new music in and not play the same old like
80s rock tunes and nineties rap,” Grimaldo said. “We like all that
stuff but it’s just not, it’s not gonna be the focus.”
The bar’s address, 623 East Boyd Drive, has a history of seeing
many businesses open and close. Some upperclassmen and
alumni refer to it as cursed. Grimaldo, who was a student at the
University from 2010-2016, wwitnessed firsthand the demise of
bars like Shady’s, Top’s, and The Bandit. As daunting as it may
seem, Grimaldo says he’s not put off by it.
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