Music, Food, and Culture feature more than a dozen musical acts playing on two stages. Members of Parliament/Funkadelic will headline this year’s event alongside Big Freedia’s Gospel Revival and Honey Island Swamp Band’s Dark Side of the Bayou. Bayou Boogaloo also hosts a variety stage with comedy, improv, and cabaret. Attendees can watch the performances from the land or a boat on the bayou. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the Bayou St. John neighborhood. Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival If you’re looking for a family-friendly event that’s easy on the wallet, check out the Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival. Celebrating its eighth anniversary, this event highlights regional food favorites from Louisiana and other Southern states, but music also takes center stage. Attendees can expect performances from blues, soul, R&B, and gospel artists. The 2025 Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival will be held May 17–18 at the East Baton Rouge Public Library. It’s free to attend, but VIP tickets are also available to cover all food and drinks.
The Kindness Cure
A NATURAL BOOST FOR BODY AND BRAIN
"What you think about, you bring about. What you brought about, you thought about."
That old saying takes on new meaning when you realize how closely your mindset and health are related. In fact, science is finally catching up to what many of us have always felt: Kindness is powerful — not just emotionally but biologically. We all know that kindness benefits the recipient, but recent research shows that it also boosts the well-being of the giver and all those who simply witness the kind act. Kindness Received When you’re on the receiving end of a kind gesture, your brain starts producing more oxytocin. This helps regulate serotonin and dopamine, your body’s natural “feel good” chemicals. At the same time, cortisol levels decrease, which helps reduce stress and anxiety. Overall, this balance creates a sense of connection, safety, and self-worth that goes far beyond the moment. Kindness Given Those who perform acts of kindness often experience a surge in dopamine and serotonin, which provide a natural mood lift. Oxytocin increases as well. With these neurochemical shifts, the body’s inflammatory response decreases and immune function improves. It’s proof that doing good really is good for you. Kindness Observed Even watching a kind act can shift your biology. Witnessing kindness can trigger a phenomenon called moral elevation — a state marked by calm, inspiration, and measurable biological benefits like reduced cortisol levels and improved heart rate variability. In high-pressure environments, such as law offices, courtrooms, or even just everyday business, these small moments can add up. A thank-you note, a patient conversation, or an encouraging word might seem minor, but they have real power to shift your day, as well as someone else’s.
SLOW COOKER SHREDDED BEEF LETTUCE CUPS
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
Ingredients • 1 boneless beef chuck roast (about 2 lbs) • 3 medium carrots, peeled, chopped • 2 medium sweet red peppers, chopped • 1 medium onion, chopped • 1 8-oz can unsweetened crushed pineapple, undrained • 1/2 cup reduced- sodium soy sauce • 2 tbsp packed brown sugar • 2 tbsp white vinegar • 1 garlic clove, minced • 1/2 tsp pepper • 3 tbsp cornstarch • 3 tbsp water • 24 lettuce leaves for serving
Directions 1. In 4- or 5-quart slow cooker, combine roast, carrots, peppers, and onion. 2. In small bowl, stir together the next 6 ingredients; pour over roast. 3. Cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours. Remove roast, let cool slightly, then shred. 4. Skim fat from cooking juices, then transfer juices and vegetables to a small saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat. 5. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water, stir mixture into juices, and cook 3–4 minutes until sauce is thickened. 6. Return beef, sauce, and vegetables to slow cooker; cook for 10–15 minutes. 7. Serve beef in lettuce leaves.
So, if you’ve been looking for a small way to make a big impact, start here. Practice kindness and share it. You’ve got nothing to lose and a lot of serotonin to gain.
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