Downtown Crowd, May 2024

DOWNTOWN CROWD | MAY 2024

Editor’s Letter

Morgan Cole, Editor

It’s hard to believe that it’s already May! With perfect temperatures and longer sunny days, we’ve actually had a chance to enjoy some real spring weather here along the Gulf Coast. To kick off the spring season, we’ve brought you details on one of our favorite returning spring events, Night on the Tracks (NOTT). Organized by 309 Punk Project in partnership with the Old East Hill Preservation District and neighborhood businesses, this eclectic evening in Old East Hill delivers a multi-venue experience for the entire community to come out and enjoy! Attendees are invited to walk, skate, ride or roll along the Wright Street rail line in downtown Pensacola as they stop at participating venues to enjoy various art, activities, live entertainment and more. It truly is a one-of-a-kind event, and also serves as a great way for members of the community to come and support some of our local small businesses. Check out the story on page 14 for complete details on the upcoming event.

This month, DTC had the opportunity to catch up with Reverend Horton Heat band frontrunner Jim Heath for an exclusive Q&A ahead of the group’s upcoming show at The Handlebar. We’ve also brought you the scoop on the new kid on the block, restaurateur Johnny Mascia, who’s been making his mark on the downtown dining scene. With two new restaurants already up and running, Mascia isn’t showing signs of slowing down. We had a chance to chat with him to learn more about his newest restaurant, Salad n’ Dash, as well as another one of his latest projects scheduled to make its debut in the coming months.

All this, plus details on spring shows at the Pensacola Museum of Art, staff podcast picks and more. As always, we hope you enjoy the read!

Until next time, Cheers!

– Rishy Studer

Rishy Studer Photo by Matthew Coughlin,

Reverend Horton Heat Reverend Horton Heat

Exclusive Q&A with Frontman Jim Heath

by Nicole Willis

REVEREND HORTON HEAT (RHH) IS A TEXASBORN ROCKABILLY BAND FRONTED BY SINGER, SONGWRITER AND GUITARIST, JIM HEATH. Known for their high energy and unique genre-bending sound, RHH blends elements of country, surf and punk music. The trio grew popular throughout the 90s with notable songs like Psychobilly Freakout and Bales of Cocaine

Today, the band continues to tour across the country and will be making a stop in Pensacola this month to perform at The Handlebar. We had a chance to sit down with Heath ahead of the band’s show to learn more about his childhood, music and career.

RHH will perform on May 15 at The Handlebar in downtown Pensacola. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased online at thehandlebar850.com. To learn more about the band, follow @revhortonheatofficial on Instagram or @reverendhortonheat on Facebook.

DTC: Take me back to when you first got started. What was your introduction to music like?

JH: When I was a kid, my parents kind of played, but it was church for them and a little bit for me too. My mother could sing four-part harmonies when she was a little girl. But the funny thing about them is that they were not rock and rollers. They were older when they had me so they were big band people. I got exposed to a lot of stuff like that—big band, musicals and movie themes. They would buy the album from the movies like Pink Panther. I learned about rock and roll, rockabilly, Johnny Cash and all that stuff from my cousins and my extended family. The first song I tried to learn to play on guitar when I was about six or seven years old was Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues. From there, just like anybody else, I went through phases. There was a record store that I could ride my bike to when I was a 12 or 13 year-old kid interested in rock and roll. I was probably going to go buy a Black Sabbath or Alice Cooper album, but the guy at the record store had a big blues selection and he was always playing blues.

I heard Howlin’ Wolf and I was just like ‘that’s really cool music.’ And so I got into the blues and that led me to wanting to learn to play guitar. So I was a young blues bass guitar player. The next thing I know, my little garage band we had in high school was making money traveling and playing all sorts of different gigs.

DTC: I read that you don’t necessarily consider your band to be a psychobilly band, even though people have labeled you as such. What genre or genres do you consider your music to be?

JH: Well, you know, we do kind of fit in with the psychobilly scene. When I try to tell somebody who has never heard Reverend Horton Heat at all, like somebody in my neighborhood or at the grocery store, I tell him ‘We’re rock and roll, but we’re 50s rockabilly-influenced.’ But yeah, I wrote the song Psychobilly Freakout that came out on Sub Pop in like 1990, but that was before really anybody had heard of psychobilly in America, so a lot of people said I invented psychobilly.

DTC: How do you see your genre today? Are there any artists that you particularly enjoy?

JH: I like so many different types of stuff, but I’m really focused on roots music. As far as psychobilly, I think the best psychobilly bands are the Koffin Kats and The Brains, but there’s others that are coming along that are really great. I shouldn’t say they’re the best because there’s a lot of other really great psychobilly bands that are even friends of ours—Mad Sin, Guana Batz and all that stuff—I got a lot of good friends in that scene. I’m focused a lot on roots music of all sorts of types. I really love JD McPherson. I think he’s great. I also really love Dale Watson. For country, I think he’s

pretty much right there with the best, him and Junior Brown. The crazy thing is, because of [today’s broad] access to music, a lot of young bands can access the older music that was even hard for us to find in the 70s; all the rockabilly records from the 50s were already kind of gone. Now you can find anything, so if you wanted to really focus on rockabilly or focus on surf guitar or whatever, you can find everything just with a click of a finger. There’s some really great things about the digital age and some really bad things about the digital age!

DTC: What can people expect from one of your live shows?

JH: We really try to connect with the crowd. We play a lot of fast and energetic music. In some ways, we kind of are a psychobilly band because we took rockabilly and sped it up and made it more aggressive. But we get bluesy, too, we can get jazzy, we can get country. The main thing is, it’s fast, high energy music, and then we’ll throw in a slow song here or there. We connect with the crowd, we smile and we have a good time. We love playing music, so it’s always a good time.

DTC: You and Jimbo (Wallace, upright bass player for RHH) have been playing together for over 30 years. Can you tell me about your musical partnership and how you’ve managed to make things work playing together for so long?

JH: Well, a lot of it has to do with Jimbo’s attitude. When I got him in the band, he was very gung ho. To this day, both of us are that way. Our manager has been with us for about 25 years and maybe longer than that. Me and Jimbo are so gung ho that our agent doesn’t even really call us to ask us. He does, but in general, he’s basically just booking gigs and telling us where we’re gonna play. Jimbo is like, ‘Oh, okay, we’re gonna play there. Okay, we’re gonna do that.’ That’s really helped the band a lot because so many bands get really nitpicky about where they’re gonna play and how much they’re gonna make. We just go and play. With Jimbo’s attitude, when me and him started going, we really couldn’t be stopped because we weren’t stopping ourselves. So that, and more artistically, we’re definitely on the same page about music. He knows a lot about the stuff that I like from the mid-20th century and that type of music. He can play it really well; he’s in time and in tune and he’s, like I said, gung ho. A lot of what makes it work is just that we understand each other so well, we’re good friends.

DTC: Last year you released your studio album Roots of the Rev Volume One. Is there a volume two that might be coming?

JH: I hope so, that’s why I said Volume One. There’s a lot of older artists that we have a connection to that we just couldn’t get to on the record. There are a lot more roots there than just in the 12 songs on that record, so we’re hopefully going to be able to do a volume two. We always try to avoid cover songs, so our next project really needs to be another new all original Reverend Horton Heat album.

DTC: Do you have plans for that album to be coming soon, or is it just an idea at the moment?

JH: Sadly, it’s all still just an idea. I have a bunch of songs that I need to kind of finish up and then get up to speed before we can start thinking about recording again. The guys can get up to speed really quickly, because with bass and drums, once they learn the changes and have those down pat, then they’re almost good to record right away. But with me, I really need to focus a lot on how the vocals are gonna be and the solos and all that stuff. So that ball is really in my court right now, but I’m working on stuff. I am getting a little sidetracked producing some other people here and there, but that’s good, too. I like that. But yeah, hopefully we can get to the new [material]. We have a couple of new songs that we’ve worked on in rehearsals. We are going to do a recording of one song coming up in a couple of weeks, so we’ll be promoting that one soon!

New Kid on the Block Restaurateur Johnny Mascia Makes His Mark on the Downtown Dining Scene

by Morgan Cole

For more than four decades, Manhattan-born restaurateur Johnny Mascia, has dedicated his life to communicating through cuisine. It all began at the height of the NYC restaurant and night club scene in the 80s and continued through a string of entrepreneurial successes in Boston, NYC and Los Angeles. Since establishing himself as a successful restaurateur, Mascia has graced the covers of local and national magazines, receiving accolades for both his restaurants and award-winning chefs.

Mascia has acquired his culinary taste and expertise from his extensive travels to Africa, India and all points in between— including his mother’s kitchen.

“I owned nightclubs in New York and Los Angeles. Then, I moved to Boston and started developing my first restaurant. I did three restaurant groups. I did a fine dining group that was nationally recognized. My first three chefs were put on the cover of Food & Wine magazine as top 10 chefs in the country. Eventually, I bought a gourmet pizza chain and I built it up and sold it to a private equity group. Finally, my last restaurant group was a gastro sports bar and Grill with elevated cuisine, like veal Milanese. It was really cool,” Mascia said.

His steadfast ability to bring his innovative visions to life have afforded him a successful career. Nationally acclaimed by both critics and patrons alike, Mascia has garnered an impressive portfolio of unique restaurant concepts. His drive to challenge the

status quos of the industry has led to the establishment of numerous successful restaurants over the years, many of which are still in operation today.

Following the financial struggles of many restaurants across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mascia found himself ready to leave Boston and set out to try something new. Along his culinary journey, he continued traveling to various cities and small towns in search of the next best location to bring his innovative restaurant concepts to life, with a few landing right here in Pensacola.

If you have taken a stroll through downtown Pensacola anytime recently, you’ve more than likely stumbled across at least one of Mascia’s dining establishments. Mascia opened his first Pensacola-based restaurant, BarSteak, last October and just debuted his second innovative restaurant concept, Salad n’ Dash, in downtown Pensacola in April.

With two new restaurants already up and running in the heart of downtown Pensacola, Mascia is making his mark on the downtown culinary scene. Since opening his flagship Pensacola restaurant last year, Mascia has become a more permanent fixture in the community, now proudly calling Pensacola his home.

“I’m building concepts downtown that don’t exist out there right now. For example, my steakhouse [BarSteak] is really an alternative steakhouse because it’s much less expensive to buy

a steak there than other dining establishments in town. This is because I offer a whole section of what we call butcher cuts, which are far less expensive than your traditional strip and ribeye. We have an alternative section where you can buy a steak for under $50, and it’s all Mishima Wagyu. There was a need for that niche, and there was a need for a healthy salad place. There’s also a need for two more concepts that don’t exist right now, which are currently in the works and are more longer term projects,” Mascia explained.

We had a chance to sit down with Mascia to learn more about his two new downtown dining establishments, as well as his plans for another innovative project that’s currently in the works. Bon Appetit!

BarSteak

Location: 16 S. Palafox St.

This new downtown steakhouse serves breakfast, lunch and dinner using only the highest quality ingredients, with a touch of bigcity ambiance. Offerings range from ribeye, to harder-to-find cuts like the tender teres major, marbled Denver or boneless coulotte steak. Mascia has curated a menu that highlights expert cooking styles from across the globe, with approachable offerings. Mascia describes the overall restaurant concept as “very cosmopolitan, contemporary, very foodie and very beverage forward.”

BarSteak offers modern new American cuisine, with many dishes inspired by the countries represented in Pensacola’s five flags. The menu also features fresh, local produce and baked goods such as hand-griddled English muffins, mascarpone berry stuffed French toast and tomato pie.

“We actually just launched a new menu at BarSteak. I took the best hits from breakfast, brunch and lunch and now, they’re all on one menu. We now serve that menu from 8 am to 3 pm daily. If you want a benedict or steak at 3 pm or 1 pm in the afternoon, you can get it. If you want a breakfast burrito, you can get that too,” Mascia said.

The lunch menu offers a number of traditional-style sandwiches done right, including a BLT made with bacon from acorn-fed wild boars that is known for being extra flavorful. The star of the dinner menu are the varieties of butcher-cut meat, including sous vide steaks and a dry-aged burger bar. Alongside the steak, are tasty signature cocktail and wine offerings, including a secret signature martini with special tinctures inspired by Mascia’s time in Manhattan.

“Our food is simple, but there are a lot of steps taken in order to get it to the plate that way, and it won’t disappoint,” Mascia said.

BarSteak is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday (hours vary), with brunch hosted on Sundays from 10 am to 3 pm. Visit eatbarsteak.com or check out @BarSteakPensacola on Facebook.

Salad n’ Dash

Location: 10 S. Jefferson St.

Mascia’s latest restaurant venture, Salad n’ Dash, made its debut in downtown Pensacola last month. Located in the drive-thru of the former Wells Fargo Bank off Jefferson Street, Salad n’ Dash brings a fast-service, healthy option to the downtown Pensacola dining scene. As the name implies, the restaurant is centered around gourmet salads with lettuce grown by a local Palafox Market vendor.

“We get fresh lettuce from the ground on a weekly basis, handled only by two people – the farmer and the chef. It doesn’t travel more than 5 to 10 miles,” Mascia explained.

Customers can drive through or walk-up to this trendy eatery to enjoy fresh, delicious salads and a variety of tasty beverages, including cocktails.

“In addition to gourmet salads, we are also offering an extensive selection of beverages, including Mrs. Jones Cold Brew, Sweet Jackson Tea, Big Jerk Soda, Noli South Kombucha, Ripe Cold Pressed Juice, wine, canned craft cocktails and beers,” Mascia said.

The salads come packed with options, including house dressings and a variety of premiere proteins, like steak, salmon, tuna, chicken and tofu that only require about 60 to 90 seconds to prep, according to Mascia. You’ll also see some familiar dishes from the BarSteak menu, including the Southern Style Caesar, made with chopped romaine and kale, gorgonzola crumbles, roasted corn, praline pecans, cornbread croutons and watermelon radish tossed in Caesar dressing. Another being the Roasted Fuji Apple Salad, made with mixed greens and cabbage, topped with roasted Fuji apples, dried cranberries, toasted almonds, goat cheese and a zesty orange dressing.

Mascia said he is excited to bring something new and fresh to the downtown area and says to be on the look out for more new concepts he currently has underway. Visit eatsaladndash.com to order online and to check out the full menu. For specials and updates, follow @salad_n_dash on Instagram and Salad ‘n Dash on Facebook.

Mahnoosh

Location: Coming Soon!

Scheduled to make its debut in the coming months, this new downtown deli is Mascia’s latest restaurant project. Mahnoosh will offer take-out and sit-down service with a hefty menu of freshly made sandwiches. Specialty meats will be flown in from the famous Katz’s Delicatessen and Carnegie Deli in New York, according to Mascia. It will be located on Palafox Street in downtown Pensacola on the other side of the breezeway from BarSteak. There will be more details to come as Mascia and his team work to finalize the menu and finish up the new space. Stay tuned for updates!

Art on View Spring Shows at the Pensacola Museum of Art

The 70th Annual Members Show

From 1908 to 1940, the Spanish Revival-style building now sitting at 407 S. Jefferson St. served as the Pensacola City Jail. After sitting empty for more than 10 years, a group of local women determined the space could be used in a better way to serve their city. In 1954, members of the local chapter of the American Association of University Women envisioned a venue to exhibit traveling art exhibitions, offer art classes for both children and adults, and provide a community space for public meetings, lectures, films and other cultural presentations. Joining with others in the community who shared this vision, they formed the Pensacola Art Association. After leasing the building from the city, the group purchased the building in 1988 and established the Pensacola Museum of Art (PMA).

2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the PMA becoming an art center in Pensacola. In the first year of the center, founders of the American Association of University Women created the Members Show as a way to honor and celebrate the relationship between local artists and the center.

Seventy years later, artists remain a vital part of the museum community and this annual exhibition highlights their talent and creativity. The 2024 exhibition showcases close to ninety local and regional artists working in a diverse range of media.

Over the years, The Members Show has grown exponentially. “Last year, we had fifty artists displayed at our annual members show. This year, almost ninety artists are represented in the galleries on the museum’s second floor,” PMA Director Nicholas Croghan said. “This is a testament to the growth of our museum as well as the expanding arts community in Northwest Florida. We are delighted and honored to showcase these talented individuals and are thankful for their museum membership and support.”

Members Show 2024 Winners:

Best in Show: Lisa S. Qualls, Playing Ghostbusters in the Woods, oil on canvas, 2024

Second Place: Jason Pinckard, And I Know I am Deathless, video, 2023

Third Place: Racheal J. Homack, Strands Intertwined, mixed media, 2023

People’s Choice: Alison Walden, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, acrylic, 2023

Honorable Mentions: Cara Kearns, Hydra: To All the Cats I’ve Loved Before, natural and synthetic fiber, 2022; Mara Viksnins, Reclining , collage, 2020; Yvonne Christine, Bloodlines , cotton thread, porcelain, glass, crochet hooks, 2019

Lisa S. Qualls, Playing Ghostbusters in the Woods, oil on canvas, 2024

Racheal J. Homack, Strands Intertwined, mixed media, 2023

Contributed by the Pensacola Museum of Art

Love Letters to Ursa Major : A Multimedia Meditation on Environmental Reciprocity

In 2023, Kelly Anne Mueller was awarded Best of Show in the PMA’s 69th annual Members Show for her mixed-media work Nest. She was offered the opportunity to display a sitespecific, solo exhibition this year in tandem with the 70th annual Members Show.

Mueller is an artist, collaborator and educator whose focus on the interrelationship between organism and environment, science, and art, positions her as a visual ecologist. Deeply interested in the patterning relationships of the natural and man-made, Kelly’s multidisciplinary projects explore the tenuous space between natural laws of reciprocity and interconnectedness, the systems and cycles of nature, and the artificial, imposed order of human experience.

Her solo exhibition, Love Letters to Ursa Major, is a reflection on our relationship with the living earth and its inhabitants as we evolve as a species. Like any relationship, for it to thrive necessitates a delicate balance.

You can see the connection to the environment in Kelly’s work from the materials she uses, to the processes she employs. The centerpiece of the exhibition room is a 12-foot-tall bear titled Mother made from Louisiana blue tarps and recycled fabric scraps reminiscent of Cajun Courir costume fringe.

“ Mother represents the earth as both a nurturing provider and a fearsome entity worthy of respect and care,” Mueller says in her artist statement. This large sculpture is also a nod to the famous sculptor Louise Bourgeois’s notable largerthan-life spider, titled Maman.

An additional series of mixedmedia works entitled Mutualisms are featured in the show. These pieces, mounted on wood panels, are encaustic-coated cyanotypes that are created by utilizing UV rays from the sun and iron salt solutions. The photosensitive paper first turns white when reacting to the sunlight, and then blue with exposure to water. The imagery on these panels depict unexpected trans-species cooperations, such as that of the badger and the coyote.

Kelly Anne Mueller’s solo exhibition, Love Letters to Ursa Major: A Multimedia Meditation on Environmental Reciprocity and The 70th Annual Members Show are both on view at the Pensacola Museum of Art through May 28th. To learn more about current shows and other upcoming exhibits, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

Kelly Anne Mueller, Mother, recycled fabric, blue tarp, wood, PVC pipe, LED lights, plastic

Kelly Anne Mueller, Ursa Major , Acrylic, ink and colored pencil on repurposed vinyl wallpaper

by Morgan Cole

THE TRACKSNIGHT ON Eclectic Artistry Meets Industrial Grit

309 Punk Project has partnered with the Old East Hill Preservation District and neighborhood businesses to host another installment of the popular Night on the Tracks (NOTT) event series.

Set for May 11 at 5 pm, individuals from throughout the community are invited to come out and walk, bike, skate or roll along the Wright Street rail line in Old East Hill. This art-and-entertainment-centered event allows members of the community a chance to visit the local businesses located near and along the Wright Street rail line, while enjoying activities hosted at each of participating venues along the way.

“Night on the Tracks (NOTT) is all about celebrating the eclectic and vibrant arts and music scene that we are so lucky to have here in Pensacola, and especially along the Wright Street corridor right beside the railroad tracks,” NOTT Organizer Lauren Anzaldo explained. “This event allows us to support the local organizations and small businesses that make our community what it is. The event is collaborative with the participating venues each bringing something to the table by putting on an arts or music offering at their space.”

From art exhibits, happy hours and live music to an immersive glo art experience at Pensacola MESS Hall, each venue stop will offer something unique for attendees to enjoy.

“The event in May will be our fifth installment of Night on the Tracks. We held the first in December

2022, not long after The Handlebar reopened, and we held three more events in 2023, including our Night on the Tracks Block Party for the 10th Anniversary of Foo Foo Fest. This is the first Night on the Tracks event in 2024. We are hoping to hold the event now about twice a year,” Anzaldo said. “We have more venues involved in Night on the Tracks this time around than we’ve ever had before. It is encouraging to see our community and local organizations and businesses support this event with such enthusiasm.”

Moving from west to east along the Wright Street corridor in Old East Hill, venues participating in the May 11 installment of NOTT include 309 Punk Project, End of the Line Cafe, Pensacola MESS Hall, Doc’s Hop Shop, Bear Walker Skateshop, the curb, From the Ground Up and The Handlebar.

On the day of the event, each of the venues will also have small punch cards on-hand with each venue’s logo, with a QR code on the back, to help attendees easily link up with the Google Map that was created for the event. NOTT attendees can pick up a card and can go around to the venues and have their card stamped/punched to recieve special discounts.

“We want people to come out and enjoy this event, the focus has always been on building community, getting out and about in the neighborhood, immersing yourself in the culture and appreciating the diversity of talent we have here.” There is truly

something for everyone, for families with kids, singles, younger or older folks,” Anzaldo said.

The May 11 installment of NOTT kicks off at 5 pm at 309 North 6th Avenue, with staggered events taking place at each venue throughout the evening. Individuals of all ages are welcome to attend this free community event, and no tickets are required.

For complete event details, visit 309punkproject. org or bit.ly/NOTT511. Check out the full list of participating venues and activities planned for the May 11 installment of NOTT at bit.ly/NOTT511map.

Scan the QR code below to access the NOTT Google Map:

“We want people to come out and enjoy this event. the focus has always been on building community, getting out and about in the neighborhood, immersing yourself in the culture and appreciating the diversity of talent we have here.”

LIVE MUSIC + HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS

End of the Line Cafe | 610 E. Wright St. | 5 to 8 pm

LIVE SKATEBOARD PAINTING

Bear Walker Skateshop | 410 E. Wright St. | 5 to 8 pm

The new Bear Walker Skateshop will host a live skateboard painting session and offer exclusive deals on select merchandise and apparel all day, including BOGO on stock skateboards and 25 percent off apparel and hats. The shop will also host a raffle for a chance to win a $500 in-store gift card. Raffle tickets are $5 for 5 entries. Visit bearwalker.com for details.

ART EXHIBITION BY YUSUKE OKADA

309 Punk Project | 309 N. 6th Ave. | 5 to 8 pm

309 Punk Project will showcase its May Artist in Residence, Yusuke Okada. Okada is a self-taught artist who was born in Tokyo and currently lives and works in NYC. Utilizing a variety of mediums including oil, acrylic, watercolor, ink and clay, Okada relays his own unique perspective of the American experience through his darkly comedic canvas paintings and illustrations. His vibrant pieces reflect various social, cultural or political themes such as addiction, boredom, expectations, jealousy, marriage, vacations, tears, negativity, revenge, violence, youth and more. The event is free and open to the public. Visit 309punkproject.org, or yusukehorsejeanokada.com for complete exhibit details.

End of the Line Cafe will host NOTT Happy Hour from 5 to 8 pm featuring food and drink specials and live entertainment. Other discounts will be offered to attendees with valid NOTT event cards. Check out the menu and more at eotlcafe.com.

SoLA ART MARKET

School of Liberal Arts | 301 E. Gadsden St. | 5 to 9 pm

The School of Liberal Arts (SoLA) will host the SoLA Art Market featuring various pieces of jewelry, paintings and photography. Attendees can also participate in a ceramics workshop, where they can help create tiles that will be used for an upcoming remodel project at the school. There will also be local food vendors on site. For more details on the SoLA Art Market, visit facebook.com/pensacolasola.

IMMERSIVE GLO ART EXPERIENCE

Pensacola MESS Hall | 418 E. Wright St. | 5:30 to 7:30 pm

The Pensacola MESS Hall will debut an immersive Glo Art experience themed around the nature within our Bay Area and the surrounding wetlands. Visitors will walk through a completely self-contained maze-like structure and view immersive glo art created by students from St. Paul Catholic School and other local schools, while also learning fun facts about our local ecology. The rest of the museum will not be open to the public during the special debut of this exhibition. This even is free, but donations are always welcome. Learn more about the exhibit and the Pensacola MESS Hall at pensacolamesshall.org.

LIVE MUSIC BY GRAYSON CAPPS

From the Ground Up | 501 N. Hayne St. | 6:30 to 9 pm

The garden will host music under the stars featuring acclaimed singer, songwriter and guitarist Grayson Capps. There is no cost to attend. For details, visit fromthegroundupgardenpensacola.com.

MAGIC SHOW WITH MILAN THE MAGICIAN

Doc’s Hop Shop | 500 E. Heinberg St. | 6 to 7 pm

Doc’s Hop Shop will host a special magic performance by Milan the Magician. The brewery will also have its new bounce house set up for the kiddos to join in the fun. Check out Doc’s Hop Shop online at docshopshop.com or @docshopshop on Instagram.

LIVE ART DEMO BY ETEP

the curb | 620 E. Wright St. | 6 to 7 pm

One of Pensacola’s newest shops, the curb, will be joining NOTT for the first time in May. The shop will offer in-store specials all day from 2 to 8 pm, with free stickers included with every purchase. From 6 to 7 pm, local painter Etep will host a live art demo and Q&A. The shop will also hold a skateboard deck giveaway throughout the day. Follow @thecurbstore on Instagram for instructions and giveaway entry details.

METAL SHOW

The Handlebar | 319 N. Tarragona St. | 7 pm

End your night listening to some loud fast-paced metal music at The Handlebar. The Handlebar is hosting a live metal show featuring Gatecreeper and Creeping Death. The cover is $20, with half off for attendees with NOTT cards. Visit the handlebar850.com, or check out @thehandlebar850 on Facebook for complete show details.

What We’re Listening To

Two Hot Takes

by Nicole Willis

Hosted by Morgan Absher, Two Hot Takes offers an engaging approach to discussing listenersubmitted stories and submissions to advice columns. Absher keeps the discussion fresh and provides differing perspectives by rotating her co-hosts each episode, ranging from celebrities to regular contributors. Throughout each episode, Absher and her co-host delve into personal dilemmas, exploring stories submitted directly to the podcast or shared by users on Reddit, where individuals seek advice. The hosts discuss the stories and offer their “two hot takes” on the situations. The podcast discusses stories from a variety of compelling topics, ranging everywhere from relationship and family issues to ethical dilemmas and workplace challenges. Absher’s charisma and ability to build rapport with any guest she has on makes each episode entertaining and fun to listen to. Each episode invites the audience to reflect on their own views while considering different approaches to modern-day predicaments. This podcast is perfect for those who enjoy lively discussions and a direct approach to advice, making complex and often taboo subjects accessible and discussable. Whether you’re in for the drama, the laughs or the advice, Two Hot Takes delivers an engaging listening experience that will have you tuning in for the next episode. New episodes of Two Hot Takes air every Thursday on all audio platforms and YouTube.

Ridiculous Crime

by Morgan Cole

Why does true crime need to be all blood and guts and gore? If you’re feeling a little serialkiller-ed-out, then let me introduce you to Ridiculous Crime. Hosted by Zaron Burnett and Elizabth Dutton, this murder-free true-crime podcast is dedicated to crimes that are, well, absurdly ridiculous. Burnett and Dutton are genuinely hilarious and let their imaginations completely run wild as they share outlandish tales of capers, heists and cons that shine a light on the absurd and outrageous side of criminality. Described as 99 percent murderfree and 100 percent ridiculous, Ridiculous Crime brings some much-needed levity to the true crime charts, proving that truth really can be stranger than fiction. Burnett and Dutton start each episode by asking each other, “You know what’s ridiculous?” before rambling on about other topics like the inflatable furniture craze of the 90s and the fact that dentists created both cotton candy and the electric chair, which then transitions into the ridiculous crime of the episode. Some of my favorite past episodes include the theft of Judy Garland’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz and the Milli Vanilli lip syncing scandal. If you’re on a true crime listening spree, and are looking to mix things up, Ridiculous Crime is definitely worth the listen. New episodes are released biweekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays and can be listened to on iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible and more.

Staff Podcast Picks

Modern Love

by Darien Hardy

This year, New York Times’ podcast Modern Love is celebrating its 20-year anniversary. The popular podcast, book and TV show started its journey in 2004 as a column in the nationally renowned newspaper within editor Daniel Jones’s weekly style section. Recently, Anna Martin, the podcast’s host, has announced a series of special episodes featuring actors, novelists, musicians and more influential figures to celebrate the anniversary. She kicked the season off with Jones himself and his Three Powerful Lessons about Love. Novelist, Celeste Ng; actors, Penn Badgley, John Magaro and Maya Hawke; singers, Brittany Howard and Laufey; chef, Samin Nosrat; psychotherapist, Esther Perel and many more celebrities to come have spoken on minute aspects of love, from sharing meals on first dates to falling back in love after heartbreak. The podcast also explores poetry and parenting, longing for a past life after an affair, the importance of being vulnerable with children and more. Martin and each of her special guests are going back into the Modern Love archives and resurfacing essays that have been published in the column over the last 20 years. Tune in each week to explore decades’ worth of Modern Love essays filled to the brim with real-life love stories from parents, spouses, lovers and the like. Modern Love is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

with us and watch h Kentucky Derby at our Glitz & Gallop Gala!

Since 1924, United Way of West Florida has fought for the health, education, and financial stability of every citizen in our community. As we embark on this benchmark year, we invite you to be a part of our 100th-anniversary celebration!

Gala tickets are $100 per person, which includes 2 drink tickets and 10 betting tickets to be used at our Parade of Prizes table and to bet on horse races. The Gala features heavy hors d'oeuvres and live music from the String Farm Band.

Photo © Tracy Colson

MAY COMMUNITY EVENTS

Pensacola Blue Wahoos Schedule

May Home Games at Blue Wahoos Stadium

For more information and tickets, visit milb. com/pensacola

May 7 at 6:05 pm - Birmingham Barons vs Blue Wahoos

May 8 at 11:05 am - Birmingham Barons vs Blue Wahoos

May 9 at 6:05 pm - Birmingham Barons vs Blue Wahoos

May 10 at 6:05 pm - Birmingham Barons vs Blue Wahoos

May 11 at 6:05 pm - Birmingham Barons vs Blue Wahoos

May 12 at 4:05 pm - Birmingham Barons vs Blue Wahoos

May 21 at 6:05 pm - Tennessee Smokies vs Blue Wahoos

May 22 at 6:05 pm - Tennessee Smokies vs Blue Wahoos

May 23 at 6:05 pm - Tennessee Smokies vs Blue Wahoos

May 24 at 6:05 pm - Tennessee Smokies vs Blue Wahoos

May 25 at 6:05 pm - Tennessee Smokies vs Blue Wahoos

May 26 at 4:05 pm - Tennessee Smokies vs Blue Wahoos

Blue Angels Practice Dates

May 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 28, 29

The world-famous Blue Angels can be seen practicing over the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola select days throughout the year. Guests can come to the National Naval Aviation Museum to watch the practice for free, with gates opening at 9:30 am. The practice flight demonstrations can also be viewed outside of NAS Pensacola including Fort Pickens, boat cruises, and various points throughout downtown. The Blue Angels will take off around 10:30 am and the practices last for about 55 minutes. Please note that the National Naval Aviation Museum will be closed to visitors on May 7, 8 and 9. Practice schedules are subject to change. For more information, visit navalaviationmuseum.org/blueangels/

5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche @ PLT

May 3-12

The Susan B. Anthony Society for the Sisters of Gertrude Stein are having their annual Quiche Breakfast. When the Communists attack, the closet doors blow open as secrets, repressed desires and an insatiable hunger for quiche are released. Set in the Cold War era, the dialogue

is full of innuendos and hilarious audience participation. This production is intended for mature audiences. Performances of 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche will take place from May 3 to 12 at the Pensacola Little Theatre located at 400 S. Jefferson St. For showtimes, tickets and more information, visit pensacolalittletheatre.com.

SBCJ Arts and Crafts Show

May 4

Support small businesses and shop local at the Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones (SBCJ) Arts and Crafts Show. Explore the works of some Pensacola’s talented artists and merchants. Shop handmade arts and crafts, enjoy delicious baked goods and more. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. The event runs from 10 am to 3 pm and is hosted at the Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center located at 913 S. I St. For more information, visit fb.me/e/3kUoe05A4.

East

Hill Makers Market

May 7

Enjoy an afternoon of shopping, food trucks and kids activities the East Hill Makers Market. Hosted at Cordova Square by the East Hill Neighborhood Association, the market will feature over 40 craft and food vendors. Come shop, meet and mingle with your neighbors from 3 to 6 pm. This event is free and open to the public. Cordova Square is located at 1101 N. 12th Ave. For more information, visit fb.me/e/3v72mHOcm.

Mother’s Day Sip & Shop Night Market

May 9

Leash up the pup, grab your mom and head over to WolfGang’s Mother’s Day Sip & Shop Night Market. There will be a ton of pet-pawsitive small businesses to support, plenty of craft beer, food and fun. Browse from a variety of pet-friendly vendors and enjoy a delicious Perfect Plain brew. This event is family-friendly and has something for everyone. The market runs from 4 pm to 8 pm at Perfect Plain Brewery and Garden & Grain. For more information, visit wolfgangparkandbrews.com.

Dirty Honey at Vinyl Music Hall

May 10

Some musicians take a while to build an audience and connect with fans. For the Los Angeles-based quartet Dirty Honey, success came right out of the gate. In October 2019, Dirty Honey made history as the only unsigned artist in Billboard’s near four-decades to hit #1 on the magazine’s Mainstream and Hard Rock Charts with its debut single, When I’m Gone. Since that weighty debut, Dirty Honey has opened for The Who, Guns N’Roses and The Black Crowes, where the band received glowing reviews and standing ovations. Now, the group is bringing their rock ‘n’ roll sound to Pensacola with their

headlining Can’t Find The Brakes Tour. Don’t miss Dirty Honey with special guest Royale Lynn at Vinyl Music Hall. Doors open at 7 pm and the show begins at 8 pm. For tickets and more information, visit vinylmusichall.com.

Gulf Coast Culture Fest

May 11

Gulf Coast Culture Fest is a vibrant and inclusive festival that celebrates the rich diversity and cultures of the Gulf Coast and its surrounding areas. This highly anticipated event brings together artists, businesses, vendors and community members for a day filled with artistic expression. Watch captivating live entertainment and enjoy a wide array of mouthwatering cultural food options. By promoting unity and appreciation for different cultures, Gulf Coast Culture Fest creates an atmosphere of harmony and rejuvenation that is enjoyed by all who attend.

Gulf Coast Culture Fest runs from 10 am to 6 pm and is hosted at Seville Square located at 311 E. Government St. in downtown Pensacola. For more information, visit gulfcoastculturefest.com.

PSO in the Park

May 11

Join the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra (PSO) for a free outdoor performance at the amphitheater at Big Lagoon State Park. This one-hour event features members of the PSO brass section playing music from the movies, marches from John Philip Sousa and jazz favorites from the big band era. This event is free, but there is an optional donation to enter the park. The performance begins at 2 pm. Big Lagoon State Park Amphitheater is located at 12301 Gulf Beach Hwy. For more information, visit pensacolasymphony.com.

Pretty Woman at the Pensacola Saenger Theatre

May 13 & 14

Based on one of Hollywood’s most beloved romantic stories of all time, Pretty Woman springs to life with a powerhouse creative team led by two-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell. The film was an international smash hit when it was released in 1990. Now, 30 years later, Pretty Woman is back as a musical, delivering on all the iconic moments you remember. Get ready to experience this dazzling theatrical take on a love story for the ages. Pretty Woman will be performed at the Pensacola Saenger Theatre, located at 118 S. Palafox St. Doors open at 6:30 pm and showtime is 7:30 pm both nights. For tickets and show details, visit pensacolasaenger.com.

Navy Days

Parade

May 18

Enjoy a Saturday by the water while celebrating the heroes in uniform. Pensacola’s Navy Days Parade is set to take place on May 18. Gather along Pensacola’s waterfront for this exciting parade featuring military equipment, squadrons, Sailors of the Year, bands and drill teams and many of Pensacola’s Mardi Gras Krewes. The parade starts at 10 am at Veterans Memorial Park and ends at Community Maritime Park. For more information, visit pensacolanavydays.com/page/parade.

Vintage Block Party

May 19

Join Pensacola Vintage Collective on Sunday, May 19 from 1 to 6 pm at The Handlebar at 319 N. Tarragona St. for a vintage block party. The event will feature dozens of the area’s best vendors in vintage clothing, art, handmade goods, records and more. Attendees will have a chance to enjoy live music by both The Funk Heads and Meledious Allen, as well as cold beers, food trucks, tasty bites from saucebossburger and other sweet treats. This event is family and pet-friendly and there is no coast to attend. Check out @pensacolavintagecollective social media for more details.

Bands on the Bayou

May 24

Bands on the Bayou is back! Ben Loftin & the Family will perform at this month’s Bands on the Bayou event. Formed locally in Pensacola, Ben Loftin & the Family are heavily influenced by the rich musical cultures of the Gulf Coast. The group was born in 2013 when founding singer/songwriter and guitarist Ben Loftin and friends began practicing and producing original music. Today, the ensemble produces a vibrant blend of pop, funk, soul and reggae at a range of venues across the southeastern United States. Bring your chairs, blankets and family to the Bayview Community Center to enjoy this free night of music starting at 6:30 pm. Individual donations are appreciated, with all proceeds benefiting selected local nonprofits. For more information, visit bandsonthebayou.com.

Grand Fiesta Parade

May 31

Come catch some beads, hear the sounds of marching bands and enjoy beautiful floats parade through downtown. Kicking off at 7 pm, the Grand Fiesta Parade provides family-friendly fun for everyone. Bring the entire family to one of Pensacola’s favorite Fiesta events. In addition to the dozens of local krewes parading, special appearances will be made by a masked DeLuna, his Queen and their court. Road closures for the Grand Fiesta Parade will begin at approximately 3:45 pm. All roads will be closed from Reus to Jefferson Street and from Wright to Main Street. For more information, visit fiestapensacola.org.

MILITARYMATTERS

AN ARMED FORCES NEWS SECTION

BLUE ANGELS ANNOUNCE COMMANDING OFFICER FOR 2025-2026 SHOW SEASONS

STORY BY PETTY OFFICER 1ST CLASS CODY DECCIO, NAVY FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION SQUADRON

The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, announced the commanding officer for the 2025 and 2026 seasons at a press conference at the National Naval Aviation Museum onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola on April 16.

Cmdr. Adam “Gilligan” Bryan will succeed Cmdr. Alex Armatas and assume command following the end of the 2024 show season in November. Applicants are required to have a minimum of 3,000 flight hours and be in current command or have had past command of a tactical jet squadron.

“What I’ve always really enjoyed is being a part of an incredible team and seeing them succeed,” Cmdr. Adam Bryan said. “I put the success of the team as my personal goal and what I’ve always strived for. If they’re doing well, then I’m doing well.”

Bryan, a native of Canton, Connecticut joins the Blue Angels after serving as the commanding officer of the “Kestrels” of VFA-137. His previous assignments include multiple squadron tours, where he deployed aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE.

Bryan holds a bachelor’s degree in Science in Economics from the United States Naval Academy. Bryan has more than 3,200 flight hours and more than 625 carrier arrested landings. His decorations include multiple unit and personal awards.

“This year, we had an exceptional pool of exceptionally qualified and skilled leaders apply for the position,” Blue Angels Commanding Officer and Flight Leader Cmdr. Alex Armatas said. “I have complete confidence in Cmdr. Bryan to guide this team through the 2025 and 2026 show seasons.

Cmdr. Bryan will serve as Commanding Officer and Flight Leader for the 2025 and 2026 Blue Angels air show seasons. He will report for initial training in Pensacola, Florida in September and officially take command of the squadron at the end of the air show season in November. The changeof-command ceremony is slated for November 3, 2024 at the National Naval Aviation Museum.

As the Blue Angels’ commanding officer, Cmdr. Bryan will lead a squadron of 160 personnel and serve as the demonstration flight leader, flying the #1 jet. The Blue Angels perform for 11 million people annually across the United States, and are scheduled to perform 64 shows in 32 locations during the 2025 season.

Visit blueangels.navymil for the latest Blue Angels news.

PHOTO BY PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS CRAYTON AGNEW

• Gallery Night

• Night at the Museum Gala

• Navy Days 4K Run/Walk

• Navy Days Parade

• Fun Fest at Community Maritime Park

• Blues on the Bay

B E A C H L I F E .

N I G H T L I F E .

Y O U R L I F E .

E n r i c h y o u r s t a y c a t i o n , v a c a t i o n , a n d a n y

l i t t l e t h i n g w i t h a L i f e s t y l e L o a n f r o m

M e m b e r s F i r s t .

Rates and terms are based on individual credit worthiness Programs, rates, terms, and conditions are subject to change without notice

Membership is open to those who live, work, or attend school in Escambia, Santa Rosa, or Okaloosa County.