Louisiana’s capital has neither the nonstop party scene nor the obvious cultural charm of its more celebrated neighbor to the southeast, yet this laid-back Mississippi River town offers a unique appeal. The French, Spanish, Creole and Cajun influences of its three-century history blend with the youthful spirit of Louisiana State University’s nearly 30,000 students, stewing up a Southern mélange that’s on full display during Baton Rouge’s own Mardi Gras celebrations, through March 1, as well as events like the Baton Rouge Blues Festival (April 12). Along rural roads and in revitalized downtown neighborhoods, inside strip malls and by industrial sites, this unheralded city reveals a dynamic musical heritage and rich culinary history that demand to be discovered.

FRIDAY

1. Blues Clues | 4 p.m.

Hidden along a down-on-its-heels stretch just north of downtown, Buddy Stewart Memorial Music Foundation & Rhythm Museum provides a decidedly lowbrow look at the city’s musical history. The sparse, cafeteria-like room is lined with makeshift exhibitions about the band leader Buddy Stewart and local legends like Lazy Lester and Raful Neal. But the real gem is the vintage record collection housed two doors down, separated by a barbershop and behind a sign that reads “Tax Services” — also apparently available here; the shop is overflowing with 45s and 12-inch records from Louisiana bluesmen.

2. High Art | 6 p.m.

Transition to a much tonier cultural scene at the 125,000-square-foot Shaw Center for the Arts, the showpiece of a revitalized downtown. The center covers a full city block, encompassing the Manship Theater, where everyone from Branford Marsalis to high school jazz bands have gigs coming up; the LSU Museum of Art, where an exhibition opening March 8 will look at how jazz and the blues influenced Harlem Renaissance artists; and several smaller theaters, galleries and restaurants. During happy hour, Tsunami, a sushi restaurant with a sixth-floor terrace, is popular for sake cocktails ($6) and preshow sunsets.

3. Down to Business | 9 p.m.

Restaurant IPO caters to the downtown business crowd, but the atmosphere is more West Village than Wall Street, with exposed brick, unfinished industrial walls and cypress wood furniture. The “Southern tapas” menu offers savory items like deviled eggs mixed with crayfish and tasso — a peppery smoked pork regional specialty — and topped by crispy, batter-fried oysters. Larger plates like pan-roasted Gulf fish are also successful; dinner for two runs $100.