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No middle ground

A few dozen demonstrators gathered in front of the Russell B. Long Federal Building and Courthouse on Florida Street recently to denounce Israeli attacks on militant Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon and the lack of U.S. involvement in the conflict. Albert Wehbe, president of the Islamic Center of Baton Rouge, organized the rally.

“We want to raise awareness, because the media presents a single-minded view,” said 28-year-old Egyptian Ahmed Mansour at the scene. “They should not be targeting infrastructure.”

Not all of those demonstrating were of Middle Eastern descent. Baton Rouge native, Ashlee Brackett, age 18, carried signs and marched in the protest. Brackett says she watches Arabic satellite television reports and trusts those sources more than CNN and Fox News.

“If their goal is to get the terrorist forces, then, yes, they’re justified, but I don’t think that’s their goal,” she said during the demonstration.

The current conflict began July 12 when Hezbollah guerillas killed three Israeli soldiers and kidnapped two others between the towns of Zar’it and Shtula near the Israel-Lebanon border.

Core Clothing

Erin Douglass has been practicing Pilates for more than five years and as a working mom she would love to go straight from her workout mat to running errands, but she wouldn’t be caught dead going grocery shopping and picking up her dry-cleaning in skimpy aerobic wear.

Douglass realized she was not alone, and rather than wait for someone to come out with a workout clothing line that was not only functional and fashionable, she decided to do it herself. She teamed up with Elizabeth Walsh, owner of Walsh Pilates and Lifestyle, to form we pilates clothing. The two women researched cuts and fabrics and designed a line of tanks, tees and pants they are confident will take women fashionably from their workout to Wal-Mart without an unnecessary trip home to change clothes.

Although designed with yoga and pilates practioners in mind, the fabrics, colors and styles are designed to fit anyone with an active lifestyle.

“We want to be one of your favorite shirts whether it’s to workout or hang out,” Douglass says.

Prices are $30 to $34 for tanks and tees, and pants start at $43. we pilates clothing is available at Woman’s Fitness Center, Spectrum Fitness clubs, Athletique in Towne Center, or on its Web site wepilates.com.

Capitol Hill hottie

Baton Rouge native Kelli Bondy has been named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People on Capitol Hill. The award came after a reporter for Washington, D.C., newspaper The Hill caught at glimpse of the 24-year-old executive assistant to Bobby Jindal on a visit to the congressman’s office. Not used to the spotlight, Bondy was unsure about the honor at first but then says she decided to enjoy it when a friend from Alabama was also named to the elite list.

Bondy says she was always drawn to life in D.C. and loves the pace of working for a congressman. She has been keeping Jindal’s schedule since last May.

“He’s very approachable, intelligent and ambitious, and I think his staff reflects that,” Bondy says. “He’s young himself, so we’re trying to keep up with him.”

Patrick Ryan, photo editor for The Hill, says several Louisianans have made the list in the past few years. “There must be something in the water down there,” he says.

Dorothy Boger, an LSU graduate and aide to Sen. Mike Crapo, made last year’s list.

Metro Council martinis

Bar owners across the capital city are feeling the effects of the Metro Council’s ban on alcoholic drink specials after 10 p.m., and although Chicago’s Steaks is not technically a bar, owner Pat Mahon is tired of the council’s clamp down on small businesses and restaurants.

In a playful attempt to stick it to the Man, he is offering 25-cent martinis during lunch, nicknamed the Metro Council Martinis. Patrons can enjoy a five-ounce pour of a traditional cosmopolitan or dirty martini.

“This is isn’t a money maker or breaker for us,” Mahon says. “It’s just for a giggle, and the customers seem to like it.”