Downtown Crowd, December 2020 by Ballinger Publishing

DEC. ‘20

Also in this Issue:

MILITARY MATTERS an Armed Forces News Section

MERRY +BRIGHT BRINGING THE END OF YEAR CHEER

Light ‘Em Up

Christmas Lights Near You

Holiday Happenings

Pensacola’s Festivities

Merry Queersmas

How the LGBT+ Community Celebrates

FREE

Cast Iron Polenta with Mushroom & Sausage December 4 • 12:00 PM • $25 Chef Nick will be preparing a delectable lunch of cast iron creamy polenta and wild mushrooms and sausage paired with a fall harvest salad with cranberries and pecans.

Heat up your

Grinchmas Themed Holiday Dinner

Holiday Charcuterie Board Class

December 11 • 6:00 PM • $95 Join us as we transport Bodacious to Whoville! For this special themed December 7 • 6:00 PM • $65 dinner, we will be featuring Roast Come and join the Bodacious team as we Beast, Who Hash, Grinch Greens, Who demonstrate how to create the perfect Pudding, Grinch Bread, Whoville Feast cheese board! Enjoy a demonstration that Treats & Grinch Juice. From themed focuses on the art of preparing a Charcuterie decorations to the playing Grinchmas tray and serving it to guests. Each person will music throughout, we are bringing create their own cheese tray and customize with Whoville to Pensacola various gourmet cheeses from different regions for you all to enjoy! around the world, artisan cured meats, and assorted

HOLIDAYS DEC E M B E R C L ASSE S

accouterments. Not to mention, we will include a glass of your favorite wine to pair perfectly with your custom tray!

Ladies Night Jingle Mingle at 5eleven December 2• 6:30 PM • $65/person Join us to unwind and have fun with the ladies before the holiday season, featuring wine tastings, a floral arrangement class, mini facials and delicious cheese and charcuterie!

/BodaciousShops

Cooking Class Participant Tips & Details: Culinary enthusiasts are encouraged to participate or observe during the class. • Wine & beer service available. • Participants receive 10% off shopping at SoGourmet on day of class. Credit and debit card only for purchases.

Host your holiday events at

511 S. Palafox Street (850) 637-1044 events@5elevenpalafox.com

Your health and safety remain our TOP priority. At Bodacious, all cooking classes are demonstration style (hands off) at this time. Food and beverage staff are practicing the highest safety standards with daily temperature readings and wearing medical-grade face masks and gloves at all times. Guests will remain at recommended distances while enjoying a gourmet meal, a delicious glass of wine and a fresh Bodacious cooking experience. Due to limited product availability during COVID, our Chef may have to make menu substitutions based on the availability. Cooking Class Cancellation Policy: Classes must meet a minimum of 10 reservations. We reserve the right to cancel and undersold classes will be rescheduled. Reservation fees will be refunded within 24 hours. Full refund if cancellation is 48 hours before the date of the event. If cancellation is not 48 hours before the event, you can transfer your credit to an upcoming class. You cannot receive a full refund after the 48-hour mark. Thank you for your understanding!

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DOWNTOWN CROWD DECEMBER 2020

Editor’s Letter

Publisher Malcolm Ballinger Owner Malcolm Ballinger Executive Editor Kelly Oden Editor Gina Castro

CONTENTS 7

Gina Castro, Editor

Art Director Guy Stevens Graphic Designer Garrett Hallbauer Editorial Assistant Dakota Parks Editorial Interns Abigail Denney Jesse Gann Hunter Morrison Advertising Account Executives Paula Rode Paula@ballingerpublishing.com Becky Hildebrand becky@ballingerpublishing.com For advertising rates or news tips contact Phone: 433-1166 · Fax: 435-9174 DOWNTOWN CROWD is published by Ballinger Publishing. Offices located at 314 N Spring St., Ste. A, Pensacola Florida 32501 Published by Ballinger Publishing

Downtown Crowd is locally owned and operated. It is published monthly for distribution in Pensacola, Florida. All Right Reserved. Reproduction or use of the contents herein is prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Comments and opinions expressed in this magazine represent the personal views of the individuals to whom they are attributed and/ or the person identified as the author of the article, and they are not necessarily those of the publisher. This magazine accepts no responsibility for these opinions. The publisher reserves the right to edit all manuscripts. All advertising information is the responsibility of the individual advertiser. Appearance in this magazine does not necessarily reflect endorsement of any products or services by Ballinger Publishing. © 2020

The holidays are always a little bit funny when you work for a monthly magazine. I have to get into the Christmas spirit long before December and earlier than Thanksgiving. To be exact, I started thinking about this magazine two days before Halloween. I’ve had Christmas decorations and glitter all over my desk for a hot minute now, but I love it. Planning holiday magazines and holiday photoshoots makes the holiday season last even longer. If you can’t tell, I’m a fan of just about every holiday, except Columbus Day, of course. Anyhoo, we’ve rounded up all of this month’s and next month’s most exciting holiday events. So, get your calendars out because you won’t want to miss Pensacola’s holiday cheer. Since a lot of us are spending the holidays alone this month, you may be forced to eat your own cooking… for the first time in a while. Don’t worry, we collected a few recipes that even your microwave can cook. No re-

ally, it’s a Christmas dinner you can cook all from your microwave. Many of the typical holiday traditions like visiting family are canceled this year, but one of my favorite traditions is conveniently COVID proof. You and your loved ones can drive around downtown and many other places throughout the city to see Christmas lights and other festive decorations. We rounded up a few great locations that will be decked for the holidays in this issue. Lastly, we took a look at how several people in the LGBT+ community celebrate the holidays. Many of their families unfortunately choose to cast them out, but that often means they discover an even more loving group of friends: their chosen family. You can read about that topic in this issue. From all of us at Downtown Crowd, happy holidays!

8 12

20 7 5 Questions with Creatives

19 Light ‘em Up

8 Holiday Happenings

20 Downtown Just Got Sweeter

12 Merry Queersmas 16 Your Holiday Dinner Is Minutes Away

22 Military Matters

ON THE COVER – photography by Guy Stevens

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 5

5 QUES TIONS WITH

CREATIVES DYL AN NADSADY BY JESSE GANN

Dylan Nadsady is a 26-year-old visual storyteller, illustrator, author, artist and graphic designer. Originally from Fallbrook, California, Nadsady’s family business brought him to Pensacola, where he lives now. Dylan’s style of art challenges the medium of visual storytelling. Nadsady has been an artist for 13 years and has been working professionally for seven years. He is trained in both fine arts and graphic design. Nadsady is currently working on a handful of different illustration and design projects for corporate and commission clientele. You can reach out to him for commission and commercial work on Instagram @dylan_nadsady_art or on his website dylannadsadyart.com. How long have you been involved in art, and what really started the initiative to become an artist? I am a full-time artist, and I started like most people. As a kid, I just did it when I was young. I wouldn’t say it was an outlet, but it was something that I became attached to. The big switch went from being a kid to this is what I want to do. It was the summer before seventh grade. I did a drawing and it felt really good.

I wanted to do more and more. All I wanted for Christmas was art supplies and books to teach myself. I didn’t know what else an artist could be except for a fine art or gallery artist until I discovered what you can do with art, and how you can build universes and alternate realities that are things that couldn’t exist without artistic innovation. World building, which is visual context with storytelling, gave me an avenue for storytelling that I didn’t know how to use. It combined my two loves of writing and art in a world that was now obtainable to me, hence, being a visual storyteller.

It was the avenue and home that I wanted my art to live in, as either a book or part of a larger project of a film, or a game. Something that can resonate with more people. Something that can grow on its own and speak more volumes. I wanted my art to have that same feeling one day. It isn’t the fame to me, it’s the fact that it is accessible to more people. It is art on a larger scale. Nothing brings me the same joy. I can’t explain it, the storytelling field of art gives me the most joy out of all of the mediums of creativity.

How did you develop your artistic style? Nothing brings me the same joy. It was definitely the feeling of creating something bigger. I didn’t start doing it well. It started naturally and was more than just an abstract piece of art in a gallery. It was the thing that I realized I wanted to succeed the most at. It was the thing I knew I had to get great at.

What was the inspiration behind your style? Any artists that helped shape your style that you look up to? Devin Townsend and Tom DeLonge, who are actually musical artists that focus on embracing and putting emotion first. Their philosophies behind creating music was the “wipe all moment” for me that made me happier to create and create more honestly. They put together raw emotions and high concept themes into

one big cohesive package. I’m basically trying to bring in the lowbrow and high brow together to make the unibrow that is my style. My goal is to have it be impactful, emotionally driven and connected to viewers, and at the end of the day to be cool and fun. What does your workflow for a comic book look like? My confidence and knowing myself has changed my style compared to when I started illustrating comic books four years ago. It is always a push or pull. If I’m lucky to have a visual idea for my comics, it can get drawn within under an hour. Half of my sketching is by pen, and then I export it and transfer it to digital. Sometimes if it’s a theme, concept or idea that may take more time to complete, the idea will never end the same way it started with the concept in my mind. Being a mostly digital artist now, the process has changed and made the process ironically more organic and the piece grows within itself, and I don’t have to put the concepts back together like you would with a strictly traditional piece. There

can be a lot of happy accidents. Usually, it can take about an hour to get a concrete sketch down. Comic book work traditionally takes a lot longer rather than a single full painting. There are two different levels of “finish.” If I really work it, a page can take about two days. There's more work, but it's a different mindset. The more expansive the work, the more you have to balance the elements. What is the next step you are working towards in your career? The next step is putting my writing forward and having two different kinds of fields where before I was trying to put them into one avenue, focusing on comic books. Now I am putting my energy into separate columns such as novels and short stories. It would be a privilege to move towards working in a studio or agency position, moving away from the freelance style. I am currently working on three books and an assortment of short stories. Stability for my family and I would only make the process of creation better and more fluid. The end goal is to have the best of both worlds. I do not want to give up my visual storytelling or my writing. It would be absolutely amazing and really fulfilling to have them working together.

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 7

by Hunter Morrison

As musician Andy Williams once said, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year. There'll be parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting and caroling out in the snow.” It truly wouldn’t be the holiday season without festivals and events to celebrate it. Fortunately, Pensacola will be hosting a variety of fun events this holiday season. And yes, some of them will include snow (even though it may be artificial). So set down the milk and cookies, put on your snow boots and celebrate the holidays at these fun and, most importantly, COVID-19 safe events this holiday season.

Winterfest The organizers of Winterfest have been working all year to find creative

solutions to bring joy to the Pensacola community in the safest way possible. Their hard work has paid off, as Winterfest is set to take place at 223 Palafox St. on Dec. 5, 11, 12, 18-24. Just like in years past, Santa Claus and The Grinch will still be available for photos. This year, instead of waiting in a crowded line to get your picture taken, guests will be required to make a reservation time for photos either online or on location. You can also expect to see snow at Winterfest, no matter what the weather may be. On Dec. 12, be prepared for a special snow day, with icy treats, snowy activities and an artificial blizzard. While you’re there, be sure to catch a ride on the Winterfest Express, giving all passengers a delightful ride through Santa Plaza. Winterfest is even allowing the kids to write a letter to Santa in the annual Santa letter contest. Winners of this contest will receive a special prize at the Santa send-off ceremony, which takes place on Christmas Eve at 8 p.m. In an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19, hand sanitizing stations will be placed throughout the event. Staff will also be required to wear masks. For more information on Winterfest, go to pensacolawinterfest.org.

The Gordon Holiday Festival

Celebrate and embrace creativity this holiday season at The Gordon Community Art Center Holiday Festival. The Gordon Holiday Festival will feature two programs with musicians, dancers and poets that are free and open to the public. “I want to celebrate some of our local talent,” owner of The Gordon Christine Kellogg said. “This is what will be in the shows, which are open to the public.” The event will also feature local artists displaying and selling holiday gifts. Live music and lights will be displayed outside in the garden area. Food and drink will also be available for purchase. This will be an indoor and outdoor event. Masks and social distancing will be required. Hand sanitizing stations will also be present. The Gordon Holiday Festival is scheduled for Dec. 5 from 5 pm to 9 pm. For more information about The Gordon Holiday Festival or The Gordon Community Art Center, visit thegordon.org or call 850-857-8961.

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White Tie Rock Ensemble at Blue Wahoos Stadium

Jam out to some holiday tunes and celebrate the season with the White Tie Rock Ensemble. The event will take place on Dec. 5 at 7 pm at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The concert will feature music from Elvis, Paul McCartney, The Eagles and other holiday classics through the White Tie Rock Ensemble’s legendary symphonic-rock style and multimedia music experience. “It was a thrill for us to host the White Tie Rock Ensemble at the stadium and help bring live music back to the Panhandle,” team president Jonathan Griffith said. “We can’t wait to literally be rocking around the Christmas tree this December and help ensure that our community can enjoy some of Pensacola’s top musicians during the holiday season.” General admission for the White Tie Rock Ensemble is $30 per person. You can also purchase VIP tickets and packages. All general admission seating will follow social distancing guidelines. Ballpark staff will be in place to ensure social distancing is maintained. Masks are required for all guests and staff while inside the ballpark but may be removed when eating, drinking or when seated. For more information on the White Tie Rock Ensemble, go to milb.com/pensacola.

GET R EA DY, GET S E T, TR OT!

Enjoy Family friendly festivities and donate to a good cause! DEC. 13, 2020 • 1 PM – 4 PM 15 W GARDEN ST, PENSACOLA, FL 32502

First City Lights Festival

Experience the awe and beauty the holiday season has to offer at the First City Lights Festival. Working alongside Winterfest, the First City Lights Festival will showcase half a million twinkling lights in downtown Pensacola. “We work with a company to get Christmas lights put up and as many trees as possible up and down Palafox Street,” said Walker Wilson, executive director of the Downtown Improvement Board. “Those lights will stay on through the middle of January.” The lights from this festival will stretch a total of ten blocks from Wright Street to Cedar Street. While at the First City Lights Festival, be sure to check out Winterfest, which is set to occur on Dec. 5, 11, 12, 18-24. For more information on the First City Lights Festival, go to visitpensacola.com.

Pensacola Humane Society Peppermint Pup Trot

The Pensacola Humane Society (PHS) will be hosting its first-ever Peppermint Pup Trot on Dec. 13 from 1 pm to 4 pm. Family and pets are welcomed to participate in the one-mile walk that begins at Ever’man Cooperative Grocery and Café and goes around Corinne Jones Park before turning back to Ever’man’s. Many of the nonprofit’s events have been canceled due to COVID-19, but this one is still set to occur. “We’ve had to cancel every event this year, and it’s hard when we’re used to bringing in volunteers and lots of folks from our community,” Executive Director Jennifer Bitner said. “We’re really hopeful that this will be an opportunity for folks to come out and be engaged again in our community during the holiday time and support Pensacola Humane Society for all the things that we do for folks throughout the year.” But the fun doesn’t end at the walk. PHS will also be hosting tons of fun, family-friendly activities after the walk. There will be photo ops with Santa, stuffed animal adoptions for kids and Pup Cups for the canines. Entry fee is $10 per person or $25 per family, with or without dogs. Pets and people are encouraged to dress in holiday costumes. Dog costume contest entries are $3 each. All proceeds go to PHS. Walk registration begins at 1 pm and the walk begins at 2 pm. To learn more about PHS, visit pensacolahumane.org.

Don’t forget to dress your pups and enter the costume contest! Registration begins at 1pm, Trot begins at 2pm

$10 per individual, $25 for the whole family! Lots of fun and family friendly activities!

New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display What better way to ring in the new year by watching fireworks? Provided by the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Santa Rosa Sound will be lit up by a dazzling light display this New Year’s Eve. The festivities begin at midnight where spectators can watch the fireworks along the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk or the Quietwater Beach and Soundside area, where there is plenty of room to social distance. Be sure to bring the whole family because this is a free event. For more information on the New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display, visit pensacolabeachchamber.com.

DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 9

Holiday Lighted Boat Parade and Fireworks Display Miracle on Palafox at Old Hickory Whiskey Bar

Beginning in New York in 2014, Miracle pop-up bar has grown into an internationally known event that partners with bars and restaurants to offer masterfully crafted Christmas cocktails in a holiday-themed setting. Miracle will be returning to Old Hickory Whiskey Bar on Nov. 24 and will run until Dec. 31. Guests can expect to see this bar transformed with over the top holiday décor to get everyone into the holiday spirit. “The bar is going to be completely reimagined and redecorated,” general manager of Old Hickory Whiskey Bar DC Campbell said. “We will have holiday giveaways, ugly sweater Christmas parties and movies playing on certain days, so we will have themes throughout the month.” In an effort to keep guests safe from COVID-19, Old Hickory Whiskey Bar will be operating at 50 percent capacity. All employees will also be wearing masks. Seasonally inspired cocktails to be served at this event include Fruitcake Flip, Bad Santa and several others. Holiday-themed cocktail glasses will be available for purchase at this event, with a portion of the sales going to COVID-19 relief efforts of independent restaurants and bars. For more information about Miracle on Palafox at Old Hickory Whiskey Bar, visit miraclepopup. com or oldhickorywhiskeybar.com.

Winter Art Market

First City Art Center is hosting Winter Art Market on Dec. 12 from 10 am to 3 pm. At this event, there will be more than 25 local artisan and student vendors selling handmade goods. Wares such as holiday ornaments, glass items, pottery, paintings, jewelry, wood working, clothing, crystals, artisan coffee, fiber art, home-made dog treats, and more will be sold. Fresh Food Factory food truck will be present, as well as the ECUA hydration station. Guests will have the opportunity to see FCAC glass and pottery artists doing live demonstrations. Gallery 1060 will be open featuring their latest show “Gallery 1060 Holiday Show.” The pieces will be available for purchase. The event will also include holiday themed kids activity, and game area. Masks are required to be worn on First City Art Center’s campus. For more information, visit FirstCityArt.org.

10 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

The Holiday Lighted Boat Parade gives everyone holiday cheer with a unique Florida twist. The event will take place at Sabine Marina on Dec. 5 at 6:30 pm. The parade will then make its way around Santa Rosa Sound and the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk before circling back to Sabine Marina. Spectators can watch the event from the Boardwalk, Little Sabine Bay or any businesses along the parade’s route. In response to COVID-19, the event will be limiting crowds to keep everyone safe. “It’s been an unprecedented year, so we hope to spread some holiday cheer along the island this season and invite the public to enjoy the annual light spectacle along the water,” Executive Director of the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce Patty Spradling said. After the parade, be sure to check out the fireworks display along the Boardwalk at 8 pm. This is a free event. Boats of all shapes and sizes are invited to enter the parade. There will also be a holiday boat decorating contest. For more information about the Holiday Lighted Boat Parade and Fireworks Display, visit pensacolabeachchamber.com or call 850-932-1500.

Whether you’re young or old, early bird or night owl, Pensacola has something to offer for everyone this holiday season. What better way to get into the spirit of the season by supporting your local community? Even so, please remember that you should only attend these events if you feel well enough to do so. If you do attend these holiday activities, be sure that you do your part to keep everyone safe. Remember to bring a mask and social distance whenever you can. We hope to see you at these festive events during this “most wonderful time of the year.” Happy holidays!

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Merry

Queersmas How the LGBT+ Community Celebrates

by Dakota Parks

photos by Guy Stevens

Gathering around the dining room table

with family can be daunting—especially with looming discussion of election results, a problematic uncle or two and the on-going stress of 2020. For many LGBT+ people, heading home for the holidays or even Zoom chatting with family isn’t an option. According to the “Going Home Should Be Beautiful” campaign with GLAAD and Pantene, an estimated 40 percent of LGBT+ people struggle to go home for the holidays. Burdened with unaccepting family members, awkward questions prying into dating lives, lying to family they have not come-out to or forced to go home alone without their partners, push many people away from spending the holidays with family. Transgender people are often repeatedly misgendered and deadnamed by their family and experience additional stress about responses to their changing physical appearance and gender expression. To push forward with celebrating the holidays, many people have sought out acceptance from the LGBT+ community and formed chosen families. The holidays are about spending time with people that love and support you in a safe place where you can be yourself without fear. Members of the LGBT+ community have bravely shared how they celebrate; however, many still spend the holidays alone. If you have LGBT+ friends and family members, don’t forget to check in on them this holiday season.

12 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

Ariel

As a genderaffirming healthcare program manager at an LGBT+ clinic, Ariel Bailey, a 28-year-old trans woman deals with family fallout on the daily. After struggling to find a job when she got out of the Navy, Ariel was instrumental in helping start the first and only informed-consent HRT clinic in the Panhandle alongside Dr. Hillman at Pensacola Osteopaths. While navigating her own strained family dynamic, Ariel is constantly speaking with young transgender people struggling with unaccepting families. “I do so much work in the community because it makes me feel like I have a family,” Ariel said. “My parents have come a long way, but I still don’t speak to a single person in my extended family. My two daughters have been amazing—they even correct people that get my pronouns wrong. I see a lot of young people in the clinic with terrible families and we joke and say, ‘Ok, don’t worry—I’m your new mom now.’ I want to be that supportive person for them and help them navigate their transition because I didn’t have anyone when I really needed it.” Before Ariel began her transition, her holidays included multiple dinners and celebrations with her entire extended family. Now, she spends the holidays with her two daughters and her parents, and avoids extended family functions. Through her work at the clinic and the nonprofit she started,

Emery

When Emery Peil, a 29-year-old transgender man serving as Staff Sergeant in the Air Force first told his family about his transition, his mother told him that he was dead to her. The holidays of his childhood in Michigan surrounded by family and staying up until midnight to open presents became a thing of the past. “It wasn’t until I got to Pensacola that I found a welcoming space in the LGBT+ community,” Em-

I do so much work in the community because it makes me feel like I have a family.” Transacola Support Group, Ariel is channeling her passion to help other trans people feel less alienated. She even hosted a holiday party last year, Winter Queerstice, for local LGBT+ people that didn’t feel comfortable going home for the holidays, which she hopes will return in 2021 when COVID is under control.

ery said. “The [drag] queens are like family to me. Lauren Mitchell and the other queens were so important in helping me become the person I am today. In many ways, I think they have cultivated a safe haven for people in the community because we know that they're going to defend us. They know what it’s like because they have been at war for their safety for decades if you look at the history of drag. They just embrace you and encourage you to be yourself.”

Emery found refuge and support in the Pensacola drag scene when Lauren first allowed him to compete in a male-only t-shirt contest at Emerald City—an act of solidarity and support of his transition that led to a close friendship between them. Since then, Emery has become a staple to the community and has operated the lights for The Cabaret drag shows for four years. Although Emery hasn’t been home for the holidays in nearly a decade, his twin sister Hilary and his younger sister Carly have been a major support by standing up for him against their mother and trying to bridge the gap of

unacceptance. After four years of his mother not speaking to him, Emery’s mother finally made contact with him at his sister’s wedding in September with a hug and apologies for her behavior. In past years, Emery has spent the holidays playing video games or visiting with friends to combat the lonely holiday blues, but this year, he is hopeful that progress has been made with his family in Michigan and that he might be able to celebrate with a FaceTime call home to his family.

It wasn’t until I got to Pensacola that I found a welcoming space in the LGBT+ community. The [drag] queens are like family to me.”

Nyralda

For the last six years during his undergrad and graduate degree at the University of West Florida, Nyralda Bradley, a 25-year-old bisexual man has spent the holidays with his tight-knit group of friends. Each year, they gather for a friends-giving potluck on Thanksgiving and don their best festive footiepajamas for Christmas and share a few alcoholic drinks while exchanging Dirty Santa gifts. Although Nyralda has not come out as bisexual to his family, he said his friends have been the best support he could ask for. “I don’t have any shame about who I am or fear the judgement from my family—I just don’t think it’s any of their business,” Nyralda said. “As much as I love my family, we disagree on a lot of ideological issues, so I avoid go-

ing home as much as possible. At prior holiday functions, my aunts would have all of us over, and it would quickly turn into this big gossip fest. I don’t like bad talking anyone, and I don’t want to be subject to that gossip if I told them I’m dating men or any variety of genders.” When Nyralda first began working at the UWF Writing Lab, he was immediately exposed to an inclusive hub of LGBT+ people at the university that allowed him entrance to an accepting community and helped him form a support system outside of his family. “The lab was always this kind of inclusive place for all genders, races, ethnicities and sexualities. So, there was never an issue with being yourself there.” Nyralda explained. DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 13

Elijah

Over four years ago, Elijah Luth, a nonbinary 31-year-old, stopped celebrating the holiday season with his family when they had an adverse reaction to him coming out as transgender. Elijah works as an analyst for team experience at Navy Federal where he supports diversity and inclusion at work and has advocated for the company to end trans healthcare exclusions, which goes into effect this year. Growing up in a typical Southern conservative family, Elijah has struggled to remain in contact with his parents for his own mental well-being.

Carley

“I had to learn through therapy where to set my boundaries,” Elijah said. “I just can’t put myself in those situations where I’m not respected. I’m not on speaking terms at all with my dad and my mom still refuses to use my proper name or pronouns. When I first came out as bisexual, that was more acceptable to my family because it was something that I could hide. Once I started testosterone, I couldn’t hide who I am.” Elijah’s sister has been the only family member that has accepted him and stood up for him against their parents. He now spends the holidays with his chosen family.

Since she was a little girl, Carley Kirk, a 22-year-old lesbian woman, knew she would never be able to bring a partner home for the holidays. Carley is an anthropology graduate currently working in the marijuana industry and living in an RV with her partner. After her mom died, Carley moved in with her sister at 13 years old. It wasn’t until she moved in with her former softball coach that she found out what it means to be a part of a stable and accepting family.

ing queer is one thing, but there’s this entire sense of othering that happens back home. Even what I wear is not considered normal or appropriate. I have a pretty fluid gender expression, and I didn’t feel comfortable embracing that until I moved in with my old softball coach Kayla and her wife Stephanie. They were the first normal and healthy lesbian couple I ever met. They took me in when I moved here for college and really helped me grow into who I am today.”

“I haven’t spent the holidays at home in many years,” Carley explained. “Be-

Carley quickly became a member of their family and was even around for the birth of Kayla and Stephanie’s first

Harley

Harley DismukeRojas, a 26-yearold transgender man relishes in holiday traditions with his wife. As a creative person drawn to woodworking and writing, Harley looks forward to weekend trips to renaissance fairs in November and merging holiday traditions with his wife’s family. Harley’s parents struggled to accept his transition and even refused to attend his wedding.

ter was my biggest advocate, and I knew that even if our parents didn’t get better that we would have each other. My dad is better now, and he calls me his son, but when my mom is around, he gets really quiet. She uses a childhood nickname for me and refuses to use my pronouns. Going home to my parent’s house is definitely easier now with my wife because I have someone that is going to stand up for me.”

“My oldest sister came out a lesbian before me and I think my parents really struggled with having two queer children,” Harley explained. “My sis-

Harley has also experienced the support of a chosen family with his former soccer coach, Mrs. Lindsay that he considers his real mother figure and even shared his mother/

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“I was lucky to be adopted by a couple that I work with,” he said. “My coworker, Kelly, knew about what happened with my parents. We continued to grow closer as we worked together, and one day Kelly said, ‘This is absolutely unacceptable. You’re my kid now.’ Kelly and her husband Jim have taken me in on the holidays and always invite me over. They even took me on a trip last Thanksgiving. It’s bittersweet because I still feel an aching sadness that I can’t be with my blood family, but I’m grateful to have this new support system.”

child, offering to come stay with them for two weeks while they adjusted to new parenthood. She now spends every holiday with them. “Stephanie and Kayla were everything I needed as a young lesbian,” Carley said. “I can’t imagine where I would be without them. Chosen families are so important. I want young queer people to know that if you just hold on, at some point someone is going to come across you, really listen to you and just scoop you up and take you in as their own. There are good people out there.”

son wedding dance with. After being kicked out of his parent’s house, Harley lived with Mrs. Lindsay, who was very supportive of his transition and helped him begin hormones. “The South can be a really scary place to be a black trans man,” he said. “I’m constantly on guard, but I’m also lucky that I have an incredible support system. Even though we are introverted, my wife and I have branched out into the LGBT+ community and gone to pride and drag shows. It’s really beautiful just being accepted for who I am without question.”

It’s really beautiful just being accepted for who I am without question.”

December 18–20, 2020 Saenger Theatre

www.balletpensacola.org

Join by December 31!

850.432.9546

“Beauty for the sake of beauty.”

Find me at:

• Trader Bo’s • Pensacola Positivity Market - Sun. 10am–3pm • 200 South Market - Dec. 19, 3–9pm

Kim Kortleever 850.530.8497

@KortleeverKim Kim Kortleever

your Holiday Dinner is Minutes Away

by Gina Castro | photos by Garrett & Katie Hallbauer Do you have minimal cooking experience but still crave a holiday dinner? Because, same. Any other year, you could get a ticket to a holiday dinner with just a bottle of wine and a store bought pie. However, a bottle of tequila has been proven to get you a VIP pass. You might want to keep that in mind for next year. This year, not many people are having large gatherings for the holidays. But that’s fine. It just means more tequila for you. Luckily for you, we rounded up easy microwavable recipes for you to enjoy. They’re all vegetarian because salmonella never misses a season. The recipes include some holiday favorites: mac and cheese and apple pie. We even got a little boujee and added Ratatouille, so we highly recommend you watch the movie to get the best experience. Anyhoo, FaceTime/Zoom your loved ones and drink responsibly. Happy holidays!

10 Minute Lasagna Kirbie’s Cravings

Ingredients • 2 sheets of lasagna noodles each sheet broken into 6 rectangle pieces • ¼ cup marinara sauce • ¼ cup chopped cherry tomatoes • ½ tbsp chopped basil • ½ cup shredded low fat mozzarella cheese

5 Minute Mac ‘N Cheese Tasty

Ingredients for 1 serving • ½ cup elbow macaroni • ½ cup water • 3 tablespoons milk • salt, to taste • pepper, to taste • ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese • fresh chive, to garnish, optional Directions 1. Mix the macaroni, water, and salt in a microwaveable mug. 2. Microwave for 2–3 minutes, then stir. 3. Add the milk, cheese, salt, and pepper, then stir. 4. Microwave for another 30 seconds, stir, and garnish with a sprinkle of chives. 5. Enjoy!

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Directions 1. In a very large microwave-safe bowl (use one that is both wide and tall and can hold at least 20 oz of liquid), add lasagna noodles. Add in 12 oz of water. The water level should cover all the noodles and should only reach about halfway up on your bowl. If you use a bowl that is too small, too much of the water will boil over and not enough will remain to cook your noodles. 2. Place your bowl onto a large plate, to catch the water spillage. Put plate and bowl into the microwave and cook for two minutes. Stir pasta to keep it from clumping. Cook for another 2 minutes. At this point, the water should have reached a boil and some of it may have spilled onto your plate. Quickly dump out the water spilled onto the plate, give your pasta another quick stir and check how close the pasta is to being done. 3. Pop your plate and bowl back into the microwave. Cook your pasta for two more minutes. At this point, your pasta should be al dente. If it isn't, you can cook a little longer. Drain water from pasta, reserving 1 tbsp of water in your bowl. 4. Add in chopped tomatoes and tomato sauce. Give your sauce a quick stir to even it across your bowl. Sprinkle on basil. Sprinkle cheese over top. Put the bowl back in the microwave. Cover the surface with a paper towel (otherwise, your tomato sauce may splatter) and cook for around a minute and 30 seconds, or until cheese is completely melted and tomato sauce is warmed. Serve immediately.

Ratatouille

Apple Crisp in a Mug

Ingredients • 1 medium yellow onion, sliced ¼ inch thick

For the apple filling: • 1 apple peeled and sliced thin

Food Network

Yellow Bliss Road

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

For the crisp topping: • 2 tbsp of softened butter not melted!

• 3 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, chopped

• ½ tbsp of melted butter

• 1 tbsp flour

• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

• ¼ tsp cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme (from about 3 sprigs)

• 1 tsp brown sugar

• 3 tbsp old fashioned oats

• 1 tsp flour

• 1 tbsp brown sugar

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

• ¼ tsp cinnamon

• 1 small eggplant, peeled in alternating stripes, sliced into ¼ inch-thick rounds (about 6 ounces) • 1 small zucchini, sliced into ¼ inch-thick rounds (about 4 ounces) • 1 small yellow squash, sliced into ¼ inch-thick rounds (about 4 ounces) • 2 plum tomatoes, sliced into ¼ inch-thick rounds (about 8 ounces) Directions 1. Toss the onion, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, ½ teaspoon of the thyme, ½ teaspoon salt and a couple grinds of pepper in a microwave-safe 9-inch pie dish. Cover with a piece of wax paper. Microwave on high (at 100 percent power) until the onions are soft and translucent, 7 minutes in an 1,100-watt oven or 10 minutes in a 700-watt oven. (When removing the wax paper, be careful to avoid the hot steam.) If the onions are still a little raw, microwave again, covered, in 30-second increments.

Directions 1. Mix apple filling ingredients in a small bowl. 2. Mix together crisp ingredients. Work in the butter with a fork. 3. Layer half the apples in a microwave safe bowl, mug or ramekin. Top with half the crisp mixture. Add another layer of apples and then the remaining crisp mixture. Place in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes. 4. Careful, it will be very hot when removing from the microwave! Serve warm with whipped topping or vanilla ice cream.

2. While the onions cook, toss the eggplant, zucchini and yellow squash slices with 2 tablespoons of the remaining olive oil, the remaining ½ teaspoon thyme, ½ teaspoon salt and a few turns of black pepper in a large bowl. Add the plum tomato slices, and gently toss. 3. Alternating vegetables, shingle slices in a circular pattern over the cooked onions in the pie dish. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Cover with wax paper. Microwave on high (at 100 percent power) until the vegetables are soft, 9 minutes in an 1,100-watt oven or 14 minutes in a 700-watt oven. If there is any resistance when you pierce the vegetables with a paring knife, microwave again, covered, in 30-second increments. Microwave, uncovered, on high (at 100 percent power) for 3 minutes in an 1,100-watt oven or 4 minutes in a 700-watt oven to evaporate excess moisture. Drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil.

Parsley Potatoes Southern Lady Cooks

Ingredients • 4 to 6 medium potatoes peeled or unpeeled and quartered (can use any kind of potato) • ¼ cup of water • ¼ cup of butter or 4 tablespoons • 1 tablespoon of dried parsley flakes can use more • ½ teaspoon salt

Directions 1. Place potatoes and water in a microwave safe bowl or casserole dish and cover. Microwave on high until potatoes are tender when stuck with a fork. It should take about 12 minutes and you should stir after half the time. 2. Remove potatoes, drain and set aside. Microwave butter until melted and then stir in parsley flakes, salt and pepper. Pour over cooked potatoes and toss. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

• ¼ teaspoon black pepper DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 17

Light 'em Up by Gina Castro

Holiday traditions have had to adapt this year. Any other year, people would attend the annual holiday parade, travel to their hometown for Christmas dinner or even just spend the day with as many of their loved ones as possible. This year, we’ve all had to make a few sacrifices, but there is at least one holiday tradition COVID-19 can’t affect: Christmas lights. It’s a simple, family fun tradition. There is something about the cool air, dark sky and warm glow of thousands of tiny lights that gets you into the holiday spirit. Just pile the family in a car, grab some eggnog and drive by some beautifully decorated homes. The downtown area is another magnificent sight this time of the year. We rounded up a few neighborhoods that have excellent light shows and a few places that host spectacular light shows that are worth the drive. Download the app Trail of Lights to find homes decorated with Christmas lights near you. You can also join the Facebook group Pensacola Christmas Lights to find dozens of decorated homes in Pensacola.

Sowell’s North Pole Christmas Light Display 7650 Sowell Rd, Milton, FL

Sowell Farms is an event space located in Milton. Although it is known as an elegant wedding venue, it also hosts a spectacular

LOCAL SPOTS • The Cottrell Family Christmas Lights - 533 Tampico Blvd • The Bugg Family Christmas 3649 Buford Dr • 3281 Whistler Dr • 311 Sands Pl • 4819 Randee Cr • Crescent Lake on Clearwater Ave - Randee Cr • Langley Avenue

Christmas lights display every year until Dec. 26. Visitors can take a cruise through the farm’s light display as many times as they like for $10 fee per vehicle. Another option is to take a train ride through the farm for an additional $2 per person. Children 12 months and under are free. To learn more about this event, visit Sowell’s Facebook page.

Bellingrath Gardens & Home

12401 Bellingrath Gardens Rd Theodore, AL 36582 This is Bellingrath Gardens and Home’s 25th year of Magic Christmas in Lights. In this Gulf Coast holiday tradition, guests stroll through a dazzling light display that features more than 1,100 set pieces, 3 million lights and 15

First City Festival of Lights Photo by Laura Bogan scenes throughout the 65-acre Garden estate. In addition, the Bellingrath Home is decorated in its holiday finery and enhanced with beautiful poinsettias. Magic Christmas in Lights is a made-inAlabama production. Each year, the set pieces for the holiday lights are designed, welded, painted and lamped by members of Bellingrath’s staff. Three employees work full-time all year on the light display. You can experience this event until Dec. 31. Visit bellingrath.org for more information.

Christmas Nights of Lights of Mobile Hank Aaron Stadium 755 Bolling Brothers Blvd Mobile, AL 36606

Alabama’s largest synchronized light show is coming back for the 2020 season. Visitors can see over one million lights synchronized to traditional and newer Christmas music from their own vehicles. You just have to turn your radio dial to the right station to hear the music play through your own car stereo. So, pack your vehicle full of friends and family to enjoy the show and continue your Christmas tradition. The show is every night no matter the weather until Jan. 1, 2021. Tickets are $8 per person. Children under four years old are free. Visit mobileseg.com for more information.

Celebration in the Oaks 2 Friederich Ave New Orleans, LA 70124

Breathtaking light displays adorn New Orleans City Park for the annual Celebration in the Oaks until Jan. 1, 2021. The magical winter spectacle attracts crowds each year 25 acres of holiday lights and holiday favorites like Mister Bingle. The Botanical Gardens, Storyland and Carousel Gardens come alive this holiday season. The holiday attraction opens on Nov. 29 to Jan. 1, except on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Admission starts at $10, and children under age 3 are free, along with Friends of City Park members. For more information, visit neworleanscitypark.com.

First City Festival of Lights Palafox St, Downtown Pensacola

Did you know it takes about 500,000 lights to make downtown sparkle? Each day, downtown lights up from 4 pm to 12 am until Jan. 7. Although these decorations appear effortlessly gorgeous, it takes the Downtown Improvement Board nine months to organize and 450 hours to put up and take down the canopy lights. So as you drive by this immaculate sight, be thankful you get to just sit back and enjoy the view. DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 19

photos by Gina Castro

Downtown just got Sweeter

by Abigail Denney

eterbrooke Chocolatier opened a new location on Palafox, making downtown Pensacola a little sweeter this holiday. Owners of this franchise, Lee and Del Cartledge had a surprise soft opening on Nov. 4. “We were doing an interview and the photographer needed better lighting, so we pulled the shades up and people started walking in,” Del said. “We weren’t planning on opening for a couple of more weeks, but people were waiting.”

As for the grand opening, Del said they were waiting for a couple of graphics to get finished. “We wanted to have the graphics for the grand opening. It’s still in the works,” Del said. They plan on having the grand opening late November. When the couple saw the space for rent on Palafox, Del knew it was a sign that they needed to be there. “We love Pensacola, and we love downtown. It’s such a beautiful place. Another reason it felt meant to be was because we wanted to be near the Saenger Theatre, since it’s a part of Peterbrooke’s story” Del said. Peterbrooke started with a woman named Phyllis Geiger in a neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida. For their first Christmas, they were asked to participate in a neighborhood holiday festival to hand out samples. Geiger had nothing specifically for sampling, so she went next door to the local movie theater and came back with popcorn. That’s when the magic happened. Geiger poured her chocolate on the popcorn, and the rest is history. “When I saw that this location was just a few doors down from the Saenger Theatre, I knew it was right. I didn’t want to open it anywhere else. I just prayed and prayed and hoped we got it. We are so blessed and thankful we were chosen out of everyone,” Del said.

Their in-house items include gift baskets that have a price range for everyone, pumpkins and footballs stuffed with chocolate covered popcorn, and they’re starting to put out their holiday collection. “We are trying to put everyone’s favorites in the gift basket,” Del said. The Chocolatier also offers gelato and chocolate covered Rice Krispies, potato chips, pretzels and Oreos. It’s been a long ride since they first started renting the space in March. With the hopes of opening up toward the end of spring, COVID and Hurricane Sally had a different plan for them. “We’ve had several setbacks with COVID, the hurricane and the bridge being closed. We live in Gulf Breeze, so it’s been taking us an hour and a half to get to work every day. We have been taking everything in strides, so it’s taken quite a bit of time,” Del explained. You will find nothing but kindness from the Peterbrooke Chocolatier on Palafox. The franchise is family owned and operated. Since the beginning, their son and daughter have been heavily involved in the works. They both have jobs working in the shop. Peterbrooke Chocolatier is open from 10 am to 9 pm on the weekdays, 10 am to 10 pm on the weekends, and 10 am to 6 pm on Sundays.

photo by Guy Stevens 20 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM

BUYING, SELLING OR LOOKING? Let Robert help you with your Real Estate needs.

ROBERT GEAN Broker/Owner GRI, MRP, MFP Retired Air Force

850.206.0395 3025 King Street Pensacola, FL 32526

FloridaPanhandleRealty.llc

MILITARYMATTERS

AN ARMED FORCES NEWS SECTION

PENSACOLA RECEIVES GOLD STAR FAMILIES MEMORIAL MONUMENT

he Veterans Memorial Park Foundation of Pensacola installed the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument on Oct. 28. The monument was brought to Veterans Memorial Park by a UPS tractor trailer accompanied by an honorary motorcycle escort led by the Patriot Guard. “We’re honored to provide escort for this tribute to the families of the fallen,” Ray Doyle, Asst State Captain NWFL, Patriot Guard said. “Our group of local Gold Star Family members and other supporters are proud to be part of this initiative to recognize the thousands of families across the nation who bear the burden of the loss of a loved one as a result of their military service to our country,” Tim Spears, committee member and Gold Star Dad. Pensacola’s monument represents the 75thedition of the Hershel “Woody” Williams Medal of Honor Foundation’s national Gold Star Families Memorial project, said. Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams, whose extraordinary valor during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945 is legendary, founded the Gold Star Families Memorial project as part of the living legacy of America’s fading “greatest generation.” Woody Williams, age 97, traveled to Pensacola to be a featured speaker at the ceremony and greeted local Gold Star families as this monument was dedicated.

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Photos by Gina Castro

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