What’s Up

The 2012 Summer Olympics in London begin July 27 and run through Aug. 12, and Baton Rougeans have plenty to be excited about. The city should be well represented with former Tiger round ballers Seimone Augustus and Sylvia Fowles lacing up for the USA Women’s Basketball squad, while on the track, former LSU standout Lolo Jones is tipped to return as a hurdler.
Though 17 current and former Tiger track stars have competed in the Olympic trials for the U.S.—which conclude July 1—Jones is on the most “must-watch” lists. Jones was leading in the 100-meter hurdles at the 2008 game when she famously tripped and lost a sure medal. Jones has brushed that setback aside, become one of the most popular Olympic athletes on Twitter with 118,000 followers, and is in top shape to return for Olympic gold.—JEFF ROEDEL

Murphy, Sam and Jodi, the little radio show that began locally in Baton Rouge and now broadcasts to 17 stations across the country, will celebrate15 years on air later this year. Known for talk show banter the whole family can listen to on its morning commute, hosts Bob Murphy, Sam North and Jodi Carson have also nabbed some marquee interviews from Jay Leno and Betty White, to former President Bill Clinton and former Gov. Edwin Edwards—just after his release from federal prison.
“We’re not just goofing off,” Jodi Carson says. “We’re covering the Master’s in Augusta, Ga., fashion week in Savannah, and a blizzard in Amarillo, Texas, all while looking out the 5th-floor window of the Xerox building onto the 10-12 split.”
The show airs on 96.1-FM The River weekday mornings with a replay Saturday.—BEN LEGER

Want to see Boston Celtics star Brandon Bass crush a kickball or Saints wide receiver Devery Henderson smack a homer? July 6-8, WAFB anchor Jacques Doucet hosts his annual Red, Rock & Blue charity softball and kickball games at Cypress Mounds and an outdoor concert in the Varsity Theater back lot.
In 2001, the events raised $61,000 for Support our War Heroes and Blue Star Mothers of Louisiana, and early commitments this year include more former Tiger stars Glenn Dorsey, Randall Gay, Tyrus Thomas and Marcus Thornton. redrockandblue.com

This season a one-piece swimsuit doesn’t have to bring to mind images of the unflattering number you used to wear during hot summers on swim team. Cute cutouts, funky patterns, and vintage silhouettes make a bold statement when compared to the frumpy one-pieces of yore. Antrhopologie at Perkins Rowe has always been a great place to find a unique maillot not likely to be seen all over the beach or try locally owned Stella Boutique for some fabulous selections from Seafolly and L*Space.—TIMMONS GRAY

The first time Elizabeth Canfield saw veteran actor Steve Zahn in person, it was a few years ago at John Besh’s Luke in New Orleans. A longtime admirer of his work in Happy, Texas and Chelsea Walls, Canfield resisted the urge to approach him for one very apparent reason: She was celebrating her bachelorette party in a white gown and tiara. “Plus, I think he just wanted to enjoy his dinner,” says the LSU alumna and communications specialist for BASF.
But Canfield got her second chance at Jazz Fest this year, and the popular Treme star did not disappoint.
“He was so nice and took the time to take not one, but two photos, which I wasn’t going to ask him to do,” Canfield says. “I love how his funny personality shows through in the picture. Since there was a line I didn’t want to take up too much of his time, so we didn’t talk much. I just told him I admired his work, and he said he appreciated that.”
—J.R.