Most of us spend our days at work, whether that’s at the office or in this new post-covid world, in some sort of hybrid, virtual, workspace. But whatever it is you’re doing, it’s probably pretty serious and grownup. But, imagine if you spent your work day doing something totally fun and goofy! The kind of thing most people do at parties or on vacation.

Stephanie Morace is owner of Balloonatics of Baton Rouge, a local business that specializes in balloon arts and entertaining. That includes everything from the balloon animals and sculptures you see at carnivals and kids’ birthdays to high-end decorative walls for corporate events and galas.

“Yes, that’s a balloon on my head” – Stephanie Morace from Balloonatics of Baton Rouge!

Beyond her day-to-day balloon world, Stephanie travels the country demonstrating her techniques at trade shows and competitions. It’s not at all what she envisioned she would be doing back in 2013, when she left her job as an environmental engineer to hang out her shingle as a balloon artist and entertainer. In the years since Balloonatics has grown beyond Baton Rouge to New Orleans.

Herb Piert has a business that’s possibly even more fun than balloon art. Herb is co-owner of Pedal Pub Baton Rouge, a portable barroom that’s powered by folks sitting at the bar with pedals at their feet, pedaling what is essentially a party bike. Customers get a self-powered sight seeing tour of the city while the bar serves them beer and plays music.

Herb Piert, Pedal Pub Baton Rouge combines partying, sightseeing and fitness

You may have seen one of these contraptions with a bunch of bachelorette partygoers singing and laughing very loudly in Nashville or New Orleans and now Baton Rouge. Herb and his wife and business partners brought Pedal Pub Baton Rouge to the capital region in late 2021 as franchisees of the Pedal Pub concept.

Stephanie Riegel hosts Out to Lunch Baton Rouge at Mansurs on the Boulevard

Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. Photos by Erik Otts.