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Pardon me, Mr. President

Edwin Edwards is playing the “old man” card. Rumor has it that the 79-year-old former governor, halfway through his 10-year stint at the federal big house, has some folks making a new push to commute his sentence, essentially letting him off for time served. A previous attempt had been made for a Presidential pardon, but now there is a move afoot just to go for commutaion. The ex-gov’s NYC appeals lawyer says, “There was talk of such a thing a while back,” but says she can’t confirm the new effort. Republican Senator David Vitter opposes such a move, and the White House won’t say yea or nay.

Fashion frenzy

Baton Rougean Chanel Ward, 35, has caught the attention of some pretty important people in Hollywood with her fashion and

entertainment blog, Hip Candy. She was handpicked to interview America’s Next Top Model castoffs for her blog by the CW Network. As of presstime she had already dished with castoffs Anchal, Jaeda and twins Michelle and Amanda. With just under 1,000 hits per day, Hip Candy also has garnered recognition as a Top Ten Finalist for the 2006 Project Runway Fan Blog Contest. What’s next for this fashionista in the know? Her own clothing line, of course. Hey, it worked for J-Lo. hipcandy.blogspot.com

2 live krewes

Could bad blood be stewing between two of Baton Rouge’s Mardi Gras krewes? For the second year in a row, the Krewe of Jupiter parade and the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Ball are scheduled for the same night (Feb. 3) and virtually the same place. Spanish Town’s ball takes place at the River Center, and many of its revelers stay across River Road at the Sheraton. Problem is that’s where Jupiter’s parade rolls—River Road. “We used to be on a Sunday, but that was too difficult for all of us,” says Jupiter Parade Captain Ronnie Mire. “It’s just coincidental that we’re the same night as them, but [our parade] comes in to the south of the River Center and most of their parking is to the north, so it shouldn’t be a problem.” Still, it may be a roadblock for revelers trying to get from their hotel rooms to the ball because they’ll have to get through Jupiter’s “Nightmare on 4th Street” parade as it winds down River Road.

Pee Wee’s big pizza

Last year was good for Stephen Hightower, and 2007 could be even better for the co-owner of the Happy Note Lounge. Leapfrogging off the success of the born-again iconic watering hole on Perkins Road, Hightower started a restaurant right next door, Pee Wee’s Pizzeria. It will cater to families in the Southdowns area by day with its multiple TVs and kids’ menu. Thursday through Saturday nights Pee Wee’s will provide pizza-by-the-slice until 3 a.m. for the barhopping crowd. And it will serve two kinds of pie: floppy, New York-style, and thick Chicago-style. “We had a guy in here last night from New York and he said our pizza was top notch, so we must be doing something right,” Hightower said.

Shooting star

Baton Rouge’s Van Morrison-lovin’ son-of-a-gun, David St. Romain, will make his debut this month on Nashville Star, a countrified

version of American Idol. Hosted by folk-pop singer Jewel, the fifth season of Nashville Star premiers Jan. 11 at 9 p.m. on USA. St.

Romain has been working as a published songwriter in Nashville for several years, and his solo debut DSR is available on iTunes.

SoGo still alive

December’s Rebirth Brass Band concert was rumored at the time to be SoGo’s last night of operation, but principal partner Peter Couhig says the venue will soldier on at least until its February court date. “We’re doing fine financially,” Couhig says. “I’m just looking forward to when we can go in front of the judge in February, plead our case and get our money.” For more than six months SoGo has been fighting the parent company of Belle of Baton Rouge Casino and its attempt to exercise a buyout clause on the venue’s lease without paying the full amount of the buyout. “SoGo is more than willing to relocate if the casino would comply with the buyout clause they themselves wrote,” attorney Stephen Babcock said in a statement last year. Officials with the casino didn’t respond to our request for comment.

The feudal system

After wowing the producers of Family Feud at an audition in New Orleans, Baton Rouge native Brenna Perez, her grandmother Johnell

Allphin, or MeMe as they call her, her mother Brookie Allphin, her sister Brittany Allphin-Smith, and her aunt Wanda Allphin hopped a plane to Hollywood in November for three days of taping. Although she could not reveal the outcome of the show, Perez did say that she and her family represented Baton Rouge well. Their stint on the Feud airs Feb. 2 on WAFB Channel 9 and continues for consecutive days. Survey says set your TiVo to record and be sure to stick around for the credits. You just might see host John O’Hurley (aka Seinfeld’s Mr. Peterman) ballroom dancing with MeMe.

It’s a boy!

Whispers update: Candy Edwards, former wife of Gov. Edwin Edwards, gave birth to a healthy baby boy Nov. 10 at Baton Rouge General Hospital on Bluebonnet Boulevard. Edwards and father Brian Low, a local financial advisor, named their 8-pound, 2-ounce bundle of joy Harrison Arthur Picou Low. Congratulations to the new parents!

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