What’s up – May 2012 issue
A colorful new mural pays tribute to our city’s heroes of the sky. BREC’s Greenwood Community Park was once part of Harding Field, a former training base for World War II fighter pilots, and in April Baton Rouge Gallery artist member Charles Barbier completed his three months of work on the mural commemorating their service. The Vietnam veteran even depicted himself as a soldier in one scene. BREC will officially unveil the mural at a ceremony honoring Armed Forces Day on May 19. —Benjamin Leger
Baton Rouge’s unusually warm winter has meant bigger crawfish and bigger sneezes, too, thanks to a longer tree pollen season.
Last month, the city ranked as the 11th most challenging place to live with spring allergies. Knoxville, Tenn., ranked highest in the study conducted by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
“That [ranking] doesn’t surprise me,” says Dr. James Kidd of the Kidd Allergy Clinic in Baton Rouge. “Baton Rouge has a number of pollens—cypress, elm, pecan [and] oak being the most prevalent—and many pollinate every two weeks this time of year.”
If left unchecked, says Kidd, chronic symptoms like nasal congestion, dry cough and sinus pain can lead to ear infections, bronchitis and other conditions.
Baton Rouge’s tree pollen season ends in June before Bermuda grass pollen becomes the greater threat for triggering sneezes and headaches through mid-October. Unfortunately, mold is not seasonal. —Jeff Roedel
Women felt the power of the nude shoe this past summer. Now, nude platform pumps are absolutely the latest closet must-have. This obsession with the versatile color has made its way into many Spring-Summer 2012 collections, including those of Marc Jacobs and Calvin Klein. These designers celebrate nude by using soft fabrics and girlish silhouettes. These designs radiate femininity and sophistication with just a pinch of sexy. Look for fierce neutrals this month in department stores and boutiques. This trendy pair is available for $39 at Frock Candy in Perkins Rowe. frockcandy.com —Marcela Aubrey
While parents and nutritionists have been trying for generations to convince kids to eat their veggies, one LSU professor had a different idea: Let’s make vegetables taste better.
As the head of the AgCenter’s Food Sciences department, Finley developed what he calls the “bitter blocker,” an intensely sweet chemical compound that can be added to sports drinks—heavy in bitter potassium, which is essential for post-play recovery—or simply sprayed on Mom’s steamed broccoli.
“You can spray it on the surface of vegetables, and it takes some of the harshness out,” Finley says. “It removes those bitter and astringent notes in the back of the mouth.”
Despite the taste, it does not add a significant amount of sugar to products.
H&B Beverages, a startup company out of Covington, has licensed the bitter blocker for its EX5 sports drink. Using Finley’s creation, the drink has a higher potassium content than Gatorade and Powerade, while containing only eight grams of sugar.
EX5 debuted in Baton Rouge in April. —B.L.
There’s a relatively new rock band in Baton Rouge comprising members known more for their work in other bands—particularly the Myrtles and the Widowers. But with a starstruck moniker, will the new group make a name for themselves? Guitarist and vocalist Jonathan Loubiere explains:
“At the time, I had just watched Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains, starring a very young, angry Diane Lane as the front-woman of an all-girl band—which also included Laura Dern,” he says. “I have always liked band names that play on a celebrity or musician’s name. The name the Diane Lanes just sounded right. There was some good feedback when it was suggested. Also, in hindsight, I don’t know of anyone who has a negative opinion of Diane Lane.” thedianelanes.tumblr.com —Caroline Gerdes
