Guest Dave Evans, the chef behind Luna and Augustine and the founder of Chuck Fest, joins hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana's Playground ahead of the free downtown festival returning Oct. 17.

He traces Chuck Fest from a Luna block party in 2014 to a downtown-wide celebration that drew 15,000 people, explains why he stepped away and came back, and makes the case that Lake Charles can hold its own with New Orleans and Lafayette. It is a conversation about food, music, and believing in your own backyard.

Find more information on where to eat, things to do, and events happening this weekend at VisitLakeCharles.org.
Stop by The Hut on Ruth Street in Sulphur for a to-go barbecue shack serving Texas-style smoked meats, hearty sides, and banana pudding worth saving room for.

Keep up with hosts Brady Renard on Twitter, @RenardSports and Jillian Corder on Facebook, @JillianCorderKPLC.

Guest Marcus Lawson, a home chef and competition cook, joins hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana's Playground for a snake draft of the best plate lunches in Southwest Louisiana. The three of them each pick their spots across specific weekdays, a Louisiana dish, and one free-for-all, landing on 12 places from fried chicken Wednesdays to a sauce piquante you have to get lucky to catch. Think of it as a two-week eating plan you did not know you needed.

Find more information on where to eat, things to do, and events happening this weekend at VisitLakeCharles.org.
Stop by The Bad Apple Saloon on Ryan Street for a bar and grill where people come for the drinks and stay for the wings and the drunk grilled cheese.

Keep up with hosts Brady Renard on Twitter, @RenardSports and Jillian Corder on Facebook, @JillianCorderKPLC.

Guests Brett Downer and Heather Partin, two longtime Lake Charles Little Theatre board members, join hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana's Playground to mark the theater's 100th anniversary season. They trace the company's origins to founder Rosa Hart, who wrote to Hollywood stars and once landed Lake Charles in the pages of Life magazine, and explain how an all-volunteer operation has survived fire, flood, and hurricanes for a century. It becomes a case for why live theater still matters in the age of AI.

Find more information on where to eat, things to do, and events happening this weekend at VisitLakeCharles.org.
Stop by Spicy Rico in Sulphur, a locally owned build-your-own Mexican spot off Beglis Parkway serving burritos, bowls, and house-made salsas.

Keep up with hosts Brady Renard on Twitter, @RenardSports and Jillian Corder on Facebook, @JillianCorderKPLC.