Downtown Crowd March 2013

Editor’s Corner

CONTENTS

As I’m writing this editorial, my office window is looking out at another in a seemingly endless string of gray February days that has enveloped Downtown Pensacola in its damp gloom. Ugh. How am I supposed to work when rain is spattering on the windows and all this weather makes me want to do is get back in bed with a grilled cheese and some tomato soup and watch episodes of Adventure Time on my DVR? Emily Lullo But like the adult I continually pretend to be, I must press editor on, despite such nagging inconveniences as inclement weather that may befall me. One of the things that is getting me through these grim, rainy days and spastic temperature shifts is my eager anticipation of the coming spring.

Spring! The days will stretch on long past the end of the workday. The weather will call for light dresses and shorts with flowy tops. Maybe I’ll buy some sandals and get a pedicure or something! Spring just opens the doors for endless opportunities, and most of them take place in the great outdoors.

This month I’ve been running outside for ten minute increments during the short spurts of sunshine like a desperate vitamin D junkie, but in March, I’ll be slathering on the sunscreen in preparation for hours spent outside. Long jogs along the bayfront, lunches at the sidewalk tables on Palafox, picnics in the Plaza and leisurely strolls window shopping all over Downtown await me this month, and I couldn’t be happier.

Among the aforementioned activities, this edition of DTC has plenty more reasons to get out. Get out in your medieval tunic at the Gulf Coast Renaissance Faire, March 1-3 at the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds. Jousting knights, pirates, jugglers, dancers, games and more will entertain everyone from fair maidens to lowly serfs. Find the nearest literate member of the aristocracy and have them read page 17 to you.

This month you can also get out on your bike. Dust off that rusty cruiser in the shed, pump up the tires and roll on over to the Funky Bike Fest on March 16 in Plaza de Luna.

Of course, you can also pimp your ride with decorations and submit it for candidacy in the funkiest bike contest, as well as enjoy live music and bike-friendly activities. For more, check out page 23.

In March you can also get out and wine down at Jaco’s Bayfront Bar & Grille’s second annual Spring Fling on March1-3. With a wine pairing dinner, an art festival and a wine tasting, this Fling is not to be missed by any lovers of art and/or wine. Also taking place in Plaza de Luna, this fest offers the perfect way to kick off the season. Turn to page 28 for the full story.

We’ve also got a story on this month’s final production in the Pensacola Opera’s successful 30th Contact me at season, Tosca. This is your last chance Emily@Ballinger Publishing.com to get a piece of the action until next or write to season, and this high drama has P.O. Box 12665, romance, deception and violence that Pensacola, FL 32591-2665. will captivate the opera lover or novice alike. Get the details on page 25.

Autumn may be the hipster’s favorite season with all its knitted trappings and stylish layers, but to me, nothing beats a warm breeze and the bursts of color on trees and in gardens that come with spring. Let’s enjoy it before the sweltering heat sets in.

Have Something To Say?

4. Downtown Improvement Board 6. Art • Music • Theatre 11. ChatterBox

Executive Editor Kelly Oden Editor Emily Lullo Art Director Rita Laymon

12. Dateline Downtown

Graphic Designer and Ad Coordinator Kassie McLean kassie@ballingerpublishing.com

15. Word on the Street

Editorial Assistant Josh Newby

17. Gulf Coast Renaissance Faire 18. Cover Contest 20. ChowDownTown Passage To India 23. MyCrowd: Cool The Panhandle Funky Bike Fest 25. Tosca Caps Off Pensacola Opera’s 30th Season 26. Film 28. Second Annual Spring Fling

Advertising Account Executives Caroline Martin caroline@ballingerpublishing.com Sharyon Miller sharyon@ballingerpublishing.com Contributing Writers Sandra Ward DIB Executive Director Sandra Ward DIB Board Members Burney Merrill – Chairman Ed Carson – Vice Chairman Bob Van Slyke – Treasurer Evan Levin Corbett Davis, Jr. Deadline for space and information is the 15th of the month prior to publication.

For advertising rates or news tips contact Phone: 433-1166 • Fax: 435-9174 DOWNTOWN CROWD is published monthly in cooperation with the Downtown Improvement Board, 41 N. Jefferson St., Suite 401, Pensacola, Florida 32502

by Ballinger Publishing. Offices located at 41 N. Jefferson St., Suite 402, Pensacola, Florida 32502.

PUBLISHED BY BALLINGER PUBLISHING:

30. Historic District 33. Business Profile Alpha Omega Sports Performance 35. Faces in the Crowd On the cover: Artwork by Kassie McLean

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Publisher Malcolm Ballinger

Downtown Crowd is locally owned and operated. It is published monthly for distribution in Pensacola, Florida.

All Rights 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. © 2013

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Downtown Improvement Board Sandra Ward Interim Executive Director of the Downtown Improvement Board

Increasing The Chances For Small Business Success Have you ever wondered why some new businesses succeed right away and just get more vibrant as the months and years pass while others seem to make a big splash when they open then flounder around for about a year or so before closing their doors, all the while blaming the location, parking, the City, the media, the landlord, etc. for their failure? Unfortunately, the latter scenario is not uncommon among many start-up small businesses in Pensacola.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Entrepreneurs desiring to start their own new business can increase the probability of success for their new venture by taking the time to do extensive homework and research before taking out a second mortgage or cashing out that 401(k) to pay for the new business.

Securing a good location for visibility, access, and clustering (like Downtown Pensacola) is an essential

ingredient in business success.

However, it is not the most important pre-requisite when exploring whether to step out and open.

The three most important actions needed before committing to open a new business are: 1.) developing a well defined and detailed business plan in writing that covers all the aspects of running the business as well as the rationale for any assumptions you made to reach your conclusions and any threats in the marketplace or environment that may significantly impact your assumptions; 2.) being sufficiently capitalized to withstand unexpected challenges and changes in the marketplace; and 3.) having meaningful prior work experience within a like business (or at least the industry) as the one being planned.

New business owners that have realized these prerequisites in advance of opening will increase their likelihood of

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success and sustainability exponentially.

While writing a business plan might seem daunting at first, there are lots of helpful resources at the public libraries, local colleges, online, and most importantly here in Pensacola at the Small Business Development Center on E. Chase Street. Development of a business plan forces the entrepreneur to be clear about what type of business they will be undertaking and why their approach to filling that need (assuming they can prove that there is one) will be superior or unique to any competition that exists. Business plans also must include a marketing strategy for all types of paid and unpaid promotion with time lines and budgets.

Complete business plans must include projected financial statements for at least the first year but preferably for five years from opening date and a series of assumptions supporting the projections. A management strategy noting in significant detail how the new entrepreneur will operate their business is the last critical element required for a good business plan.

Planning for the lean times (in advance) and making sure that adequate financial resources are in hand – or available if needed – is just as critical to small business success as having a good business plan. Securing and spending all of the capital available to a new enterprise just to get the doors open and inventory delivered is

never a formula for long-term success.

New business owners almost always underestimate the real costs of operation and the financial impact of things beyond their control (i.e. inclement weather, public works project, road work, sluggish national economy). It is imperative for longterm success that new businesses have a reserve fund equal to three to six month’s of operating costs to get them through the unplanned and unexpected tough times.

Before jumping into a new business ownership and all of the associated responsibilities and obligations, a potential new business owner should already possess some real-world work experience in a business like the one they hope to open. In addition to such on-the-job training, spending a fair amount of time talking to the owners and managers of very successful like businesses in other towns is always helpful and illuminating.

For potential new business owners that remember these three “must dos” before opening their dream business, success for the new enterprise will almost always be quicker and last longer. In the end, sustainable success of a new business depends more on the preparation, planning, and stability of the owner than it does on any other external factor.

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Art • Music • Theatre PLT Presents Sleuth March 1-3, 6-10 PLT presents Sleuth, a suspense thriller revolving around Andrew Wyke, an immensely successful mystery writer. His home reflects Wyke’s obsession with the inventions and deceptions of fiction and his fascination with games and game-playing. He lures his wife’s lover to the house and convinces him to stage a robbery of her jewelry, a proposal that sets off a chain of events that leaves the audience trying to decipher where Wyke’s imagination ends and reality begins. Tickets are $14-$30 general admission. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 pm, Sunday matinees at 2:30 pm. For more information, call 432-2042.

Three Days Grace & Shinedown at the Pensacola Bay Center March 14 In a pairing of hit-making rock acts, Three Days Grace and Shinedown are teaming up for a coheadlining U.S. arena tour kicking off in February 2013. Adding more firepower to the bill will be opening act P.O.D. Three Days Grace, who recently released the album Transit of Venus, issued this band statement regarding the tour: “We can’t wait to get back out on the road to play live for our fans; that’s the best part of doing what we do.” Meanwhile, Shinedown will be out in support of their latest album, Amaryllis. This past summer, P.O.D. released Murdered Love, which has yielded the number one rock hit “Lost in Forever.” Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com and at the Pensacola Bay Center box office. Ticket prices are set at $25 and $40.50.

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Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Presents Haydn and Sibelius March 2 Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Masterworks Series concert Haydn and Sibelius will be presented at the Saenger Theatre on Saturday, March 2 at 8 pm.

Beginning with classic Haydn and ending with Sibelius’ powerful final symphony, this concert will take you on an emotional ride. Guest Philippe Quint brings his supreme technical skills and emotional touch to Dvorak’s Violin Concerto. Tickets range from $20-$82. For more information, visit pensacolasaenger.com.

Pensacola Civic Band Presents John Williams Concert March 5 The Pensacola Civic Band will showcase the music of John Williams at the Saenger Theatre on Tuesday, March 5 at 7:30 pm. The concert will include well known pieces of music from movies like Superman, Star Wars, The Patriot, Harry Potter, and more! Tickets for the Saenger Theatre are $10 per person. They are available at the Lyceum Box Office at Pensacola State, open from 8:30 am until 4 pm Monday through Friday. On the night of the concert, tickets will be available at the Saenger. For more information visit pensacolasaenger.com.

Comedian Lavell Crawford at the Saenger Theatre March 23 Jokers Wild Comedy Tour presents Lavell Crawford for an evening of comedy at the Saenger Theatre on Saturday, March 23 at 8:30 pm. Lavell Craword was runner-up on The Last Comic Standing, and he’s been seen on Def Comedy Jam, BET’s Comicview, The Jamie Foxx Show, and he most recently taped a special for Comedy Central, Can A Brother Get Some Love, which was released on DVD in August. He can also be seen on AMC’s hit show, Breaking Bad. Tickets for this performance are $40, $45 or $58. For more information, visit pensacolasaenger.com.

Midtown Men at the Pensacola Saenger March 19 The Midtown Men are Tony Award Winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard, and Tony nominee J. Robert Spencer. The group’s jump-to-your-feet show features top hits from a who’s who of the 1960s including The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Temptations, The Jackson 5, and The Four Seasons, whose story they brought to life every night as Stars in the Original Cast of Jersey Boys. Come see this rollicking show at the Saenger Theatre on Tuesday, March 19 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $43 to $63. For more information, visit pensacolasaenger.com.

Hot Glass Cold Brew at First City Art Center March 22 Come check out the new digs at the First City Art Center at 1060 N. Guillemard St. for the March edition of its signature event, Hot Glass Cold Brew. A suggested donation of $25 for non-members and $20 for members gets patrons a one-of-a-kind hand-blown glass cup or clay mug that you can fill with complimentary beverages all evening long.To make the evening even more fun there will be livewheel thrown pottery demos, glass bead making demos and glassblowing demos. There will also be complimentary pizza for guests and beer courtesy of Pensacola Bay Brewery. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

UWF Presents Alumnus Concert with Samuel Park March 6 The University of West Florida will present a special concert by alumnus Samuel Park, violin, on March 6 at 7:30 pm in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Music Hall, Building 82, on the UWF Main Campus. The concert will feature works by Biber, Pandolfi, Guillemain, Schop, Kreisler and Waxman. Park graduated UWF in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in Music Performance. Since graduating, he has performed in solo and chamber music performances on five continents and has instructed master classes around the world. He recently appeared as a violist with “Julliard Baroque” at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Currently, Park is pursuing his graduate studies at the Julliard School. This event is free, but seating is limited.

Therefore, reservations are recommended, but not required. Tickets can be reserved at the CFPA Box Office, Building 82, 857­6285.

Thinking Small at Blue Morning Gallery Through March With the jewelers’ Valentine Show ending March 2, the Blue Morning Gallery’s Spotlight on Art focuses on a show titled “Postcards from Pensacola.” On display from March 3 - April 6, Gallery members, working in their usual medium, provide some of their smaller art—roughly 8 inches by 10 inches or less. Jewelry, smaller pottery, tile art, metal art and wood pieces are included. Viewing work that is smaller than usual allows visitors to appreciate some artistic gems that might be overlooked in a larger display. Gallery windows also “push the envelope” with one window favoring a modern, abstract and industrial theme; the other, a vintage, old world, and antique one. The Blue Morning Gallery is located at 21 Palafox Place, Downtown Pensacola. For information, call 429-9100.

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Art • Music • Theatre Quayside Presents Forms and Figures March 20-April 26 Quayside Gallery Present its latest exhibition entitled Forms and Figures, featuring the work of Gary Jacobson and Marcia Moritz . This show brings together two seasoned artists showcasing diversity. Gary Jacobson says, “The voids and the grains of the woods dictate much of the design of my pieces.” Glass also included. Marcia’s figure drawings are based on the Nicolaides method. “My favorite, blind contours tend to be more accurate despite their distortions,” she says.The show will be on display from March 20 to April 26, with a reception on Friday, March 22 from 5-8 pm.

Quayside Gallery is located at 15-17 E. Zarragosa. For more information, visit quaysidegallery.com.

UWF Chamber Music Recital March 18 The University of West Florida Department of Music will present a chamber music recital featuring UWF Department of Music faculty. The concert will take place on March 18 at 7:30 pm in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Music Hall, Building 82, on the main UWF campus.

Lynne A. Lauderdale, piano, will be joined by Leo Day, tenor, Brian Brown, viola and Bethany Witter, flute. This event is free and open to the public.

However, due to limited seating, many performances sell out; therefore, reserving tickets is requested, but not required. You can reserve your seat by calling the CFPA Box Office at 857-6285.

PMA & Jazz Society Present The Jazz Photography of Duncan Schiedt March 8-Arpil 20 The Pensacola Museum of Art is partnering with Jazz Society of Pensacola to present an exhibition of jazz photography, by renowned photographer Duncan Schiedt. For more than 60 years, Duncan Schiedt has captured jazz musicians in concert and behind the scenes.

His photos have appeared in numerous books, magazines, album covers, and notably Ken Burn’s documentary, Jazz. He has written four books on jazz, most recently Jazz in Black and White, a volume of his most important photographs over 65 years. Join the PMA and Jazz Society of Pensacola as we host a preview of the exhibition on March 7, from 5:30-8 pm. Tickets are $25, and can be purchased through JSOP and the PMA, and space is limited. Food and refreshments will be provided (one drink with your ticket purchase), and Al Martin will perform on the piano, and Greg Lyon will perform on guitar during the reception. Mr. Schiedt will be giving a lecture about his work, and join the reception as the guest of honor. To purchase tickets, call the Museum at 432-6247 to place an order with your credit card over the phone.

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PSC Lyceum Series Presents Grand Derangement March 5 The Pensacola State College Lyceum Series presents Grand Dérangement in concert at 7:30 pm Tuesday, March 5, at the Ashmore Fine Arts Auditorium. Inspired by folk, Celtic, rock and Broadway, Grand Dérangement’s music is exciting, the rhythms are contagious and the dancers are enthralling. Grand Dérangement hails from Southwestern Nova Scotia and the name refers to the expulsion of the Acadians in 1755. The group acts as an Acadian ambassador creating a new Acadian musical repertoire with growing popularity in Europe and the United States. Tickets are $11 for reserved admission; $9 for non-PSC students and seniors; $7 for PSC faculty, staff, retirees and PSC Seniors Club; free for PSC students. Tickets can be purchased at the door, over the phone with a credit card at 4841847, or online at pensacolastate.edu/mt. For the complete Lyceum Series schedule, visit www.pensacolastate.edu/lyceum.

Second Annual East Hill Music Festival March 23 The second annual East Hill Music Festival is planned for March 23 from 2-9 pm at Bayview Park. All proceeds will benefit Gulf Coast Kid’s House, Escambia County’s child advocacy center. Featuring a daylong event filled with fun, food & fantastic musical performances. Festival attendees can enjoy the music of Grant Peeples, Said Simple, Betsy Badwater and Chainsaw Kelly. Other festival activities include a kids performance stage, food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, aerial swing yoga demos, and Thai massage & structural integration demos. Bring the whole family for a day of food, fun and music and support local child abuse victims by supporting the Gulf Coast Kid’s House with a $10 suggested donation. Food, beverages, beer & wine will be available for purchase, no coolers permitted. For more information, visit easthillmusicafestival.com

At Seville Quarter This Month Seville Quarter hosts a variety of entertainment from a wide array of genres. For more information check out SevilleQuarter.com.

Mondays: Monday Night Blues Every Tuesday: Kitt Lough Wednesday-Saturday: Dueling Piano Show March 1-2: Kategory 5, Thick as Thieves, Grand Theft Audio March 2: Gumbo Ya-Ya Cookoff March 2: Cornbred March 4: Brian Short Duo March 7: Big Jim Brown, Mississippi Rail Company March 8: Fatty Waters, Schofield, Big Jim Brown March 9: Schofield, Big Jim Brown, Mississippi Rail Company March 14: Ryan Balthrop Band March 15-16: Ryan Balthrop Band, Kategory 5 March 21: Fatty Waters, Alverado Road Show March 22-23: Hotel Oscar, The Rez, Alverado Road Show March 28: The Red Field, Banana Republic March 29-30: A Flock of Sea Monkeys, The Modern Eldorados, The Red Field

Fish House Deck Bar Weekly Music Schedule The Deck Bar is closed on Sunday & Monday night Tuesday: Lucas Crutchfield from 6 pm - 10 pm Wednesday: Lucas Crutchfield 5 pm - 9 pm; At 9 pm a regional band will play until midnight. Regional bands are changed weekly Thursday: Lucas Crutchfield 6 pm - 10 pm Friday: Lucas Crutchfield 5 pm - 9 pm; Regional band begins at 9 pm Saturday: Regional bands begin at 9 pm.

At Hub Stacey’s This Month

Hub Stacey’s offers live music Wednesday­Sunday at its Downtown location at 312 E. Government St. Fridays: The Blenders, 8:30 pm Saturdays: Krazy George Karaoke, 9 pm Sundays: Tomato, 1 pm Thursdays: James & Friends, 7 pm March 4: Songwriters open Mic, 7 pm March 6: Plan B, 7 pm March 13: Modern Eldorados, 8 pm March 20: Plan B, 7 pm March 30: 15 Year Anniversary Party with Lektric Mullet, 4 pm

At Vinyl Music Hall This Month Vinyl Music Hall hosts a huge variety of musical acts from a wide array of genres. For more information check out VinylMusicHall.com.

Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2: The Mad Violinist and the Symphony Crack Orchestra Thursday, March 7: The Constellations Friday, March 8: Yesterday: A Tribute to the Beatles Saturday, March 9: Martin Sexton Sunday, March 10: STR FKR, Blackbird Blackbird Tuesday, March 12: Get the Led Out: The American Led Zeppelin Tuesday, March 19: Honor Society, Junior Doctor, Sam James, Simple as Surgery Thursday, March 21: The Revival Tour: Chuck Wagon, Rocky Votolato, Jenny Owen Youngs, Matt Pryor Tuesday, March 26: Natural Vibrations, Sol Tribe, Heritage Wednesday, March 27: Mansions on the Moon Thursday, March 28: Eskmo, Gladkill

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ChatterBox

Ashley Faulkner What is your favorite thing about Spring?

My favorite thing about spring is the shift in the air that takes place around town. People are starting to get excited for summer, shaking off the winter blues. It’s more pleasant to be outside, even at night, so you see people coming out of hibernation.

Where is your favorite Downtown spot to eat outdoors?

I am a sucker for a view, so one of my favorite places to eat downtown is the Fish House. I was recently introduced to their brunch (night owls don’t do mornings often) and was blown away. I also have to say that people watching on Palafox in front of the Leisure Club is almost always rewarded with seeing a random friend or two or petting a cute dog being walked by.

Describe your perfect Downtown picnic.

Baseball season is upon us! Another reason that spring kicks winter’s frosty butt. I certainly think that scarfing hot dogs and beer on the grassy “cheap seats” in the outfield counts as a picnic. A few friends, some grub and a baseball game on a warm spring night sounds pretty perfect to me.

Nick Sexton What is your favorite thing about Spring?

Flowers!!! Check out Supposey Wedding Florals, those ladies are the best in town.

Where is your favorite Downtown spot to eat outdoors?

Leisure Club, great place to have a business meeting over coffee or on of their killer smoothies.

Describe your perfect Downtown picnic.

Perfect Downtown picnic location would be Seville Square. I’d ride my lady there in one of our peppy pedicabs! I would have Izze soda and hotdogs from Dog House Deli. Perfection.

Cody Brooke What is your favorite thing about Spring?

I enjoy the pleasant weather during the day and the occasional cooler evening.

Sleeping with the windows open is always nice.

Where is your favorite Downtown spot to eat outdoors?

Sluggo’s is enjoyable for outside dining because they have plenty of shade and everything on the menu is delicious.

Describe your perfect Downtown picnic.

My ideal Downtown picnic would include a red flannel blanket and a wicker basket containing mac and cheese, various fruits, sweet tea, and a good book. The book is for reading, not eating. This picnic would probably take place in the park, as that is a nice location for picnics.

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Dateline Downtown Tour of Tables at the Garden Center March 22 The annual Tour of Tables event will take place on March 22 with a special preview evening on March 21 at the Pensacola Garden Center at 1850 N. 9th Avenue. Featuring an array of beautifully decorated table settings, guests can tour the tables early at a special preview on Thursday night 5:30-8 pm and vote for people’s choice. Categories for the tables include Most Elegant, Most Whimsical and Most Original.

The luncheon will open for a preview at 11 am, with lunch served at noon. Tickets to the preview night are $10 and for the luncheon $20. A cash wine bar will be available at both events. Tickets are available at the Garden Center.

For more information call 450-0701.

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Celebrate Spring with Small Production Wines & Small Plates at Jackson’s March 6 With small-production wines serving as the inspiration for the tasting, Charlotte Gordon of Aragon Wines has invited a very special guest, small-production wine specialist Tyler Walker of TSW wines. Chef Irv Miller has created a small plates menu that will focus on local ingredients to complement Gordon’s small-production wine selections.

This demonstration will begin at 5:30 pm. Call 469-9898 for reservations.

Monster Jam at the Pensacola Bay Center March 1 & 2

The world’s most popular and spectacular monster truck series returns to Pensacola Bay Center March 1-2 bigger and better than ever! Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam Thunder Nationals, as seen on Speed Channel, features the world’s premier monster trucks including Grave Digger, Superman, Backdraft, Full Boar, Nitemare Historic Pensacola Trolley Tours and Razin Kane. The monster trucks will March 5, 7 engage in four separate competitions: the Enjoy a 50-minute narrated tour of the historic area of sky-wheelie contest, the donut contest, the Downtown Pensacola, the “City of Five Flags.” You will freestyle competition, and head-to-head hear about the first settlement of 1559 followed by permanent colonization in 1698. The trolley will leave from racing. Saturday’s 2 pm show will also feature the Party in the Pits from 11:30 am-1 the Pensacola Visitor’s Center at the foot of Three Mile Bridge. Tours are limited to 36 passengers and are held twice pm. Patrons will need a valid Saturday daily at 10 am and 2 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays event ticket along with a pit party pass through March 7. Check out the tour and make your online available for free at participating Southern tour reservations at beachbumtrolley.com or call 941-9876. Ford Dealers. Pit party passes will also be available at the box office the day of the Ice Flyers Ice Hockey show for $10 for adults and $5 for children.

Come root for the home team at the Civic Center with Show times are March 1 at 7:30 pm and the Pensacola Ice Flyers. Because what could be March 2 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm. For more cooler than ice hockey in Pensacola? Games start at information about Monster Jam, log on to 7:05 pm. Home games are listed below. For more monsterjam.com. information check out pensacolaiceflyers.com.

March 8 vs. Fayetteville FireAntz McGuire’s 5K Prediction Run March 9 vs. Fayetteville FireAntz March 9 March 15 vs. Augusta RiverHawks Beginning at McGuire’s in Downtown March 16 vs. Mississippi RiverKings Pensacola at 9 am on March 9, this is one of March 17 vs. Louisiana Ice Gators the largest runs in the city and the nation’s March 19 vs. Columbus Cottonmouths largest prediction run. Awards will be given to March 24 vs. Louisiana Ice Gators the fastest runner of the 3.1 mile course as well as the most accurate in predicting the Bayou Hills Run 5K 10K & Kids Fun Run time it will take to complete the course. Participants of the race must be able March 16 to complete the 3.1 mile course in less than The Bayou Hills Run, a 10k, 5k and Kids Fun Run being held on March 16 at 7:30 am.The race features an hour. The course will re-open to traffic at 10 am. But, don’t be afraid if you’re a two challenging courses that starts and ends at straggler; the McGuire’s bus will be by to pick Bayview Park and winds through Pensacola’s beautiful East Hill neighborhood. This event is a family you up if you can’t quite make it. To register and for more race information, check oriented and is open to the entire public. To register mcguiresrunners.com. visit bayouhillsrun.com.

A.B.C. Beer Tastings at Atlas March 7 Atlas Oyster House and the Lewis Bear Company are presenting a series of informational craft beer tastings. Held the first Thursday of each month through June, the classes will feature a brewery presenter, discussion, and three selections from the presenting brewery. The March 7 class will Hops and Barley featuring Bayou Teche Brewery. There will be two class seatings each Thursday at 5:30 and 7 pm, each lasting one hour. Participants will receive one six-ounce glass of each of the featured beers.

Classes are $10. Call the events line at 433-9450 to make a reservation.

Gumbo Ya Ya Cookoff at Seville Quarter March 2 The annual Gumbo cook-off in Phineas Phogg’s at Seville Quarter will feature amateur and professional teams competing for bragging rights for the best Gumbo in Pensacola. Entry to the competition is $20 per team. Cooking begins at 11 am and the judging and public tasting is from 4 to 6 pm.

Admission to taste is $10 at the door with all proceeds going to Big Brother Big Sisters of Northwest Florida. For more information, please call Buck Mitchell at 434-6211.

Magnolia & White Linens Luncheon March 6 The Pensacola Symphony Guild presents the 27th annual Magnolias & White Linen luncheon, held at New World Landing on March 6. The featured speaker will be Melinda Rainey Thompson, an author and humorist from Birmingham, Ala., where she lives with her husband and three children. She has written four top-selling books including SWAG - Southern Women Aging Gracefully. Her other books are The SWAG Life; I Love You, Now Hush; and I’ve Had It Up To Here With Teenagers. She also writes for her blog and Facebook page. E-mail psogmembership@gmail for ticket information. Tickets are $45 each. For more information, visit psog.org.

Cooking Demonstration with Chef Irv Miller March 20 Enjoy a cooking demonstration with Jackson’s Chef Irv Miller. For this cooking demonstration, Chef Irv will present “Fresh from The Asian Market.” Chef Miller will create dishes - some of his favorite Asianinspired recipes using ingredients from our local markets that specialize in oriental foods: Viet Hoa, Bien Dong, and My Tan Supermarket. Popular restaurant cooking ingredients include sriracha, red chili and garlic puree, sambal oelek, soy sesame oil, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, tamarind paste and dried rice noodles, to name a few items.

Chef will inspire you to cook with many of these ingredients. Tickets are $45 and there will be two seatings at 5 pm-6:30 pm and 7:30 pm-9 pm. For reservations 25th NW Florida Forestry Conclave call 217-2347. & Lumberjack Festival March 2 Get your jeans and flannel shirts ready for Blue Angels Practices the 25th annual Forestry Conclave and March 20, 26, 27, 28, 29 Lumberjack Festival Saturday, March 2, at The Blue Angels will perform practice the Pensacola State College Milton air shows over Pensacola Naval Air campus. The free community event is 8 amStation most Tuesday and Wednesday mornings starting March 16 at 8:30 am, 4 pm. The Milton campus is located at 5988 Highway 90. The day features food, with autograph sessions with the pilots bluegrass music, children’s activities, nature inside the National Naval Aviation and wildlife exhibits, and forestry Museum on most Wednesdays.

Admission to the Blue Angel practices is competitions – including knife and axe free and open to the public. The viewing throwing, log rolling, bow sawing, cross-cut sawing and pulpwood tossing. Competitors area for the Blue Angels practice is must be 16 or older to compete in the adult located behind the National Naval division and 13 to 15 to compete in the Aviation Museum. Bleachers are available for seating about 1,000 people. junior division. Learn about environmental degree programs offered by Pensacola Viewers can also bring their own lawn State and the University of Florida at the chairs, hats, sunscreen and water. For Milton campus. For more information, call more information, visit 484-4463 or visit www.blueangels.navy.mil. lumberjack.pensacolastate.edu.

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Word on the Street 19th Annual Gulf Breeze Celebrates the Arts Festival Art lovers can make the short trip across the three mile bridge for the 19th Annual Gulf Breeze Celebrates the Arts Festival at Gulf Breeze high school on March 9 and 10. The Festival is a juried fine arts and crafts festival that brings quality national, regional, and local artists to Gulf Breeze, Florida. It is a two-day family event, free to the public with over 150 artists, plus a GBAI Members Show, student art, activities for children, and tasty festival food. For more information, call 572-4292.

Angels Garden is Back!

Angels Garden, located at 1208 N 12th Ave. in East Hill, is now back open and freshly remodeled with exciting new merchandise and new local artists. Come by and see what’s new in the local gifts and art at Angel’s Garden or call 435-9555 for more information!

Kaboom Sports Offers Cornhole Tournaments at Helen Back & More!

Kaboom Sports & Social Club offers a way to “Unleash Your Inner 6th Grader” through organized co-ed adult sports leagues and social events. Mark and Krissy Robertson recently brought the idea to Pensacola offering, several co-ed sports like kickball, ultimate Frisbee and cornhole. The Spring league line-up includes Wednesday Night Cornhole at Helen Back from February 27-April 17 and May 1-June 19 for $26.50 per person. The deadline to register is Monday, February 25 and Monday, April 29. For more information about Kaboom Sports & Social Club, or to register for a league, please visit kaboomssc.com or facebook.com/kaboomssc.

Saenger & Pensacola Bay Center Ranked Top Ten by Venues Today SMG-managed Pensacola Bay Center and Saenger Theatre made the top ten, once again. Venues Today, an international trade magazine, ranked Pensacola Bay Center #10 in ticket sales for building capacities of 5,001-10,000. Saenger Theatre was ranked #4 for building capacities of 2,000 or fewer. This ranking is based directly on concert and event grosses from December 16, 2012 to January 15, 2013. “Being ranked in the top ten nationally and number one in the state of Florida is an achievement that venues in our industry strive to accomplish. The programming has been diverse and well supported by the community, which is key to our success,” said Sandie Aaron, SMG Regional Vice President.

Evenings in Olde Seville Will be Back This Summer!

The popular free concert series that brought thousands to Seville Square on Thursday nights throughout the summer has been taken over after the Pensacola Heritage Foundation announced it could no longer host the series. Enter Events Pensacola, a local non-profit formed to keep the free concert series alive with the blessing of the PHF, which has allowed it to take over the iconic name, Evenings in Olde Seville Square.

A series of 12 free concerts in Seville Square is planned for this year, beginning May 23 and running through August 1. If you are interested in volunteering or purchasing a membership to support the series contact Jehan Clark at 261-2200 or info@sevilleconcerts.com.

Florida Archaeology Month Events

March is Florida Archaeology Month! Florida Archaeology Month is celebrated throughout the entire state during the month of March as a way to teach residents and visitors about Florida’s rich history and local archaeological resources. The Northwest Regional Center of the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN) invites the public to attend Florida Archaeology Month events happening throughout Northwest Florida. All events are free. The FPAN is open Monday­Saturday from 10 am­4 pm. Come visit our permanent museum exhibit, “A Roadtrip Through Florida Archaeology,” FPAN Coordinating Center, 207 E. Main St. March 9: 9 am­12 pm, Dash through the Past: Scavenger Hunt Race: Register for a new run/walk scavenger hunt race through historic downtown Pensacola. Learn about local history and win great prizes! Afterward, stay and get hands­ on in our archaeology lab!

March 12: 7 pm, Pensacola Archaeological Society Monthly Meeting and Lecture, “UWF Field Schools 2012 Recap and 2013 Preview,” Bowden Bld., 120 E Church St. March 14: 7 pm, Beyond our Backyard: Archaeology and History around the World Lecture Series, “For God, Country and Some Loot: The Aragonese Aegean Raid of 1292,” Bowden Bldg., 120 E Church St.

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Gulf Coast Renaissance Faire Brings The Past To The Present

By Josh Newby

Gulf Coast Renaissance Faire Where: Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds When: March 2 and 3 from 10 am to 6 pm Info: www.gcrf.com

The Gulf Coast Renaissance Faire has been delighting fans of olden times for longer than a decade now, and with each year’s simple charms and reenactments of knights and kings past, new generations of fans are treated to experience an era long ago and often forgotten.

It all started in 1559, when Tristan de Luna sought to establish a colony in the area now known as Pensacola.

That was a time ruled by the sword’s edge and established by the privileged royalty of kings and queens.

Renaissance Faire-goers are seemingly transported back to that era of danger and adventure, of armored combat and fair maidens, of history, magic, and just a hint of subdued trickery. Patrons are encouraged to come in period ware, as the Faire seeks to make the bond between the past and present even more realistic.

The Faire, which draws about 6,000 visitors over the weekend, originally took place at St. Anne’s Church, but after the sweeping devastation of Hurricane Ivan, the annual celebration has found a new home at the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds. It has even expanded to a second Faire in Mobile, delighting residents of the Gulf Coast with a unique and rare view of life in the Renaissance Era. Steven Melei, who first established the Faire in 2001, promises many attractions for young and old, including jousting knights, magical wizards, medieval fighters, falconry, renaissance dancers, musicians, fire-breathers, jesters, thrill rides, merchants and more.

“The inspiration to start the Faire began when I lived in Houston,” said Melei. “I attended their renaissance faire all three years I lived there, and I just loved it. I wanted to bless my hometown with a similar experience.”

with differing allotments allowed for each competition, depending on the type of lance strike and the result obtained for each pass made by the jousters.

Melei compares the tournament to an extreme sport, with just as much danger, unexpectedness and excitement as modern-day daredevils and death-cheaters deliver to their audiences.

The most noteworthy addition this year is Shane Adams of the Knights of Valour, the Faire’s usual jousting troupe.

Adams hosts the History Channel show Full Metal Jousting and decided to pull himself away this year to attend the Pensacola festivities.

“The Jousting Tournament is a headlining staple of the Renaissance Faire featuring the world famous Knights of Valour,” said Melei.

“The jousting is an accurate reproduction of the tournaments that were common competitions back in medieval and renaissance times in Europe. Knights don 150 pounds of steel plate armor, mount their war horses, and charge at one another with lances attempting to impact and knock their opponent off.”

The winner is then determined by a point system,

Other fun oddities of the Faire include a collaboration of mysterious and unique characters ranging from Torok the Good Troll, to the living tree man, to a living statue—and more excitement and wonderments than you can shake a sword at.

To experience this bygone era in all of its glory, you must make haste and time travel to March 2 and 3 from 10 am to 6 pm. There you will meet the very first pioneers of this once unclaimed and mythical land.

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Cover Contest Sponsored by The Fish House

Calling all artists and designers! We’re looking for one of you to design the cover for our June 2013 edition of Downtown Crowd. While we love coming up with monthly cover designs for DTC, we want local artists to get in on the action! The winner will get their work on the cover of the magazine as well as a Q&A inside the edition.

The winning cover will be revealed at an unveiling party at the Fish House Deck.

Some Guidelines DTC is a free arts and entertainment monthly publication, and we’ll be looking for a cover that is creative and colorful and that entices readers to pick it up and peruse. Your cover can be anything from a painting, to a collage or photograph to a completely digital creation as long as it can be submitted electronically. Keep in mind that DTC is printed on newsprint, not a glossy magazine.

There are no flagship events in the month of June, so for this cover we want artists and designers to get creative and show us your vision of Downtown Pensacola in the summer. You can use the multitude of summer concerts, free fun events, museums, parks, Palafox Market and/or Downtown’s everburgeoning nightlife to inspire your design.

Submissions MUST: • Be 7.75H x 9.9W, 300PPI, CMYK, and in .pdf or high resolution .jpeg form.

• Be sent to Emily@BallingerPublishing.com by May 15.

• Contain a 3.5 x 3.5 space in the upper left corner without text or necessary design elements for the DTC star logo, which we will place.

Designers can send up to two cover entries. Winner will be determined by Ballinger Publishing editorial staff. Decision of judges is final. For questions, please contact DTC editor Emily Lullo at 433-1166 ext.

29 or Emily@BallingerPublishing.com.

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Here are some examples of past covers to get the creative juices flowing:

Winner 2012

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C h o w D o w n To w n

Passage to India The newest addition to the array of restaurants along the East Pensacola Heights area offers a flavorfilled punch of spices and aromas that will take your taste buds on a journey eastward. Passage to India opened recently at 3102 E. Cervantes St. and has been serving up tasty signature Indian cuisine from curries and paneer (a homemade cheese) dishes to buttery naan breads and other favorites cooked in a traditional clay tandoori oven.

Chef and owner Nurul Islam already owned an Indian restaurant in Orlando when he started looking for a possible location to open one in Pensacola. After about two years of searching for the perfect spot, the building on Cervantes that formerly housed the Hunan restaurant was put on the market and Passage to India opened its doors in that location. The spacious interior is warmly decorated in golden and burgundy hues, and features a huge banquet room with a pull down screen for meetings or events.

There’s also a bar area with sleek high-top tables and a fully stocked bar with an array of liquors and a large selection of wines.

The main draw though, is the food. Lunch is a daily buffet from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, and it features a variety of items that rotate out each day, along with a few mainstays that will always be on the buffet.

“Some things a lot of people like are chicken tikka

By Emily Lullo

masala and curry chicken, so those two things are always on the buffet, along with tandoori chicken,” Islam says.

For many, no Indian meal would be complete with out a warm piece of spongy naan, a hand stretched bread cooked in the clay oven that looks like a bubbly pita and is perfect for soaking up the rich sauces that accompany many Indian dishes. But you won’t find naan on the buffet. Islam has it made fresh for customers, so it’s served to the table to accompany a meal. The menu boasts 14 types of Indian bread, like naan stuffed with chicken, onions, potatoes orchili flakes, and other types of Indian bread like whole wheat tandoori roti or fried puri.

There’s even a lesser known naan for those with a sweet tooth.

“We have one which a lot of people say is dessert,” Islam says. “It’s called Pashwari naan, and it’s made with almonds, coconut, cherries and raisins, so it’s a little sweet.”

For dinner, the menu has around 70 items that feature seafood, chicken, lamb or goat as well as vegetarian dishes, many of which feature ingredients like potatoes, homemade cheese, eggplant, and lentils. Islam says Passage to India can even accommodate vegan palates or strict Jainist meals, which are vegan and also omit root vegetables.

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Islam says he sees many people who are already familiar with Indian cuisine, as well as guests who may be wary of trying the dishes because they assume it will be too hot and spicy.

“We have a lot of new people who have never eaten Indian food and they think Indian food is spicy, but it is not,” he explains. “The buffet is always mild to medium, and when you order from the menu we can adjust the spice levels: mild, medium, spicy and hot, and whoever likes very, very hot, we make it ‘Indian hot.’”

While Indian cuisine definitely employs the use of lots of spices and herbs, like cumin, ginger and garlic, not all of them are necessarily spicy. Islam encourages everyone to try out dishes with your preferred amount of spice, and the lunch buffet is a good way to try many different dishes at one time.

The buffet is $9.95 every day and $2 off for military personnel.

For Indian food lovers, Passage to India will give you the authentic experience of rich Indian cuisine, and for those who are unfamiliar with the fare, the restaurant will give you the perfect introduction to the vivid and distinct flavors, textures and colors of delicious Indian food.

Parking Map

Your guide to Downtown parking.

Brought to you by:

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MY CROWD

Cool the Panhandle Funky Bike Fest

By Emily Lullo

Cool The Panhandle Funky Bike Fest Where: Plaza de Luna When: Saturday, March 16, 9 am-1 pm Info: Find the Cool the Panhandle Funky Bike Fest on Facebook, or call 687-9968

With spring in the air, Downtown Pensacola is shaking off the cold of winter and embracing the gorgeous weather, and what better way to enjoy the wind in your hair and the sun on your face than rolling down Palafox on two wheels. If your bicycle has been hibernating in the garage all winter, now is the time to take it out, dust it off, and maybe even add some stylish flair to your ride for this month’s Cool the Panhandle Funky Bike Fest on March 16.

As Downtown Pensacola has steadily grown and expanded its many offerings, there’s been a noted influx in traffic—both pedestrian and vehicular.

City adjustments that slow down that vehicular traffic and make the district safer and more accessible for both pedestrians and cyclists have made a difference, and efforts continue to further improve the streetscape.

Sustainable Gulf Coast and 350 Pensacola have organized the Cool the Panhandle Funky Bike Fest, taking place in the grassy area at Plaza de Luna from 9 am-1 pm on Saturday, March 16, as a way to bring more attention to bicycling and its many benefits.

“We’re hoping to use the festival as a way to bring enthusiasm and bring fun to the idea of bicycling and making our community a better place to ride a bicycle,” says organizer Christian Wagley.

The “funky” part of the Fest is what you bring with your bike. Attendees are encouraged to decorate their bikes in eye-catching ways to compete for the title of funkiest bike.

“The heart of the event is a funky bike contest where we’ll have a set of judges who will judge bicycles on a variety of different categories,” Wagley says. “We’re encouraging people to decorate their bikes and make them really funky and wild.”

Categories for the contest will vary and will include a contest for kid’s bikes, funkiest bike, best overall, best cargo bike, best antique bike and even noisiest bike. Participants can line up their rides for display during the event for judging and prizes from local bike shops will be given to winners.

Additionally, attendees can enjoy live music from local group Mad Happy, as well as some talks and presentations on safe bicycling and encouraging

people to bike more and the environmental issues and benefits related to bicycling. There will be free safety checks for bikes and some light refreshments for guests.

A few ideas for getting your bike ready are adding colorful streamers or flowers, a new funky paint job, a unique basket, or adding bells and whistles to the bike. Your imagination is the limit, and there is only one stipulation to the possibilities.

“We want people to make their bikes as funky as possible, but they still need to be safe to ride,” Wagley says.

The fest is free and everyone is invited, whether you’re a master cyclist or you just want to check out the funky bikes. With a beautiful spring day on the waterfront and some fellow bike lovers and enthusiasts to enjoy it with, the Cool the Panhandle Funky Bike Fest will definitely add some fun to your March and inspire you to take pride in your funky ride.

For more information find the Cool the Panhandle Funky Bike Fest on Facebook, or call 687-9968.

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Tosca Caps Off Pensacola Opera’s 30th Season

By Emily Lullo

Tosca Where: Saenger Theatre When: Friday, March 15 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, March 17 at 2 pm Info: pensacolaopera.com.

Pensacola Opera has celebrated the huge milestone of its 30th season, which kicked off last October with the dark comedy of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd and continued with the January showing of the lighthearted Barber of Seville. This month will bring a dramatic telling of Tosca to the stage of the Saenger on March 15 and 17.

This season has been known as the “Season With an Edge,” because sharp edged blades figure prominently in the storylines of each of the three productions.

“Tosca serves as a perfect bookend to our Season With an Edge,” says artistic director Kyle Marrero.

“Sweeney with his razor, Figaro with his scissors and razor, and now Tosca with her knife—each with a very different story but united by their use of sharp tools to accomplish what they want.”

In the tale of Tosca, what famed opera singer Floria Tosca wants is simply to be with her lover, the painter and political activist Mario Cavaradossi, but the evil Baron Scarpia has other plans. The production takes place over a single day in Rome in June 1800, during which Scarpia invites Floria to dinner in order to get information from her about a political escapee that Cavaradossi is hiding. He has tortured Cavaradossi within earshot, prompting Floria to give up the information willingly, but only after

convincing Scarpia to promise to let her and her lover escape safely.

Scarpia tells Flora that Cavaradossi will face a firing squad but the muskets will shoot blanks, and after faking his death she can leave with him, providing her with a note of safe-conduct for the lovers. But when Scarpia tries to ravish Floria anyway, she uses a knife to kill him, and rushes to alert Cavaradossi of the fake execution plan. However, the plan was a ruse all along and the bullets are real. With her love dead and Scarpia’s henchmen approaching, Floria takes her own life.

The tragic tone of the production is in contrast to the more humorous offerings earlier in the season.

“Tosca, with it soaring melodies, verismo (real life) drama, lush orchestration and backdrop of Rome in 1800 provides the beauty and largess of Grand Opera with the intimacy of a passionate, tragic love story,” says Marrero.

This production too will be larger in scale than the previous two shows, featuring towering, beautiful sets from the New Orleans Opera, as well as around 500 costume pieces designed by world class costumer Glenn Breed, Pensacola Opera’s resident costumer and associate theatre professor at UWF. Charles Houghton will bring the stage to life with his sculpted and dramatically intuitive lighting design.

The scope of the grand production is further widened by the many singers and actors that will be onstage.

“With almost 50 choristers, 14 members of the Pensacola Children's Chorus, supernumeraries, and principals, you will have over 70 people onstage, not to mention sets and costumes that provide the visual representation of actual Roman historic locations— Sant'Andrea della Valle, Palazzo Farnese and the Castel Sant'Angelo—and periods,” Marrero says.

The season closer will take the stage on Friday, March 15 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, March 17 at 2 pm.

While the passionate drama of Tosca will be your last opportunity to get a cut of the Season With an Edge’s action, Marrero says that next season will bring Pensacola Opera’s popular events like the Jukebox Gala and Salon Series concerts, as well as some cherished favorites and new surprises.

“We have finalized the selection of our main stage productions; they will be Bizet's Carmen and Rossini's adaptation of Cinderella entitled La Cenerentola,” he says. “In addition, we will be expanding our Artist in Residence Showcase to be a full production in collaboration with UWF.” For tickets and more information, visit pensacolaopera.com.

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Film In which we unfairly judge coming attractions based solely on their trailers

What I’ll be spending my $8 on: Oz the Great and Powerful In theaters: March 8 Starring: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff What I got from the preview: The prequel to one of the most beloved movies of all time, Oz takes place before the now famous Wizard was so great and powerful. After being swept up in a twister, Oscar meets three charming witches—one or all of whom may have an evil side—and gets reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the magical Land of Oz and its munchkin inhabitants. This film seems to take place before both The Wizard of Oz and Wicked.

Most notable for: A movie that is ambitious and hopeful beyond belief, audiences will be expecting this film to at least try to live up to the magic and childlike wonder of The Wizard of Oz that has remained timeless for the past seven decades.

Unqualified critical observation: Honestly, I’m not too excited about this, but it is the highest profile film of this month, and the one that will either be the most awe-inspiring or awful. The cast is wonderful, and I’m sure the effects and movie magic—helmed by director Sam Raimi of Spiderman and Evil Dead fame—will be more than competent, but I just don’t see how this can live up to its source material. I hope I’m wrong, though, and this film doesn’t land a punch firmly in my childhood.

By Josh Newby

21 and Over In theaters: March 1 Starring: People you’ve never heard of (Miles Teller, Justin Chon, Jonathan Keltz) What I got from the preview: In a case of the worst timing ever, a stereotypical Asian medical student has his stereotypical “big test” the morning after he very stereotypically turns 21. There should be lots of nudity and drugs, not to mention the stereotypical seemingly overbearing yet actually completely reasonable father.

Most notable for: Absolutely nothing about the film looks like it will be remotely notable, unique or worthwhile, so I instead turn your attention to the movie’s poster, which features our hero in compromising attire, standing atop a police car, with his arm outstretched toward the least tempting tagline ever: “Finally.” Above that, the words that studio execs hope will sell the film: “From the writers of The Hangover.”

Unqualified critical observation: Once or twice a year, Hollywood has the brilliant idea to jam as much debauchery and cringe humor into 90 minutes as humanly possible. The Hangover was not particularly groundbreaking or layered, but it was immensely funny as far as party movies go. This movie will be none of those things.

leads’ acting chops, but it may just be an innocently twee delight that is perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon at the multiplex.

Admission In theaters: March 22 Starring: Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Lily Tomlin, Michael Sheen What I got from the preview: Tina Fey plays a Princeton admissions officer, which isn’t a profession I ever thought I would want to see depicted until I saw this preview.

Anyway, Tina Fey is up for a promotion at work, because she’s an all-around awesome person, when she stumbles upon a kid who does not meet hers or Princeton’s standards, but who may just be the son she gave up in an adoption years ago. Paul Rudd shows up halfway through to make us all wish we were Paul Rudd.

Most notable for: The cast, which is the only reason I’ll be seeing it. Seriously, whatever casting director had the brilliant idea to pair these two charming everyday heroes of comedy and wit together deserves at least a shot, regardless of the somewhat cookie-cutter story.

Unqualified critical observation: This film won’t likely challenge any preconceived notions on the state of higher education, and it may very well be trying to connect too many story lines, and it definitely won’t expand either of its

The Host In theaters: March 29 Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Diane Kruger, Max Irons, William Hurt What I got from the preview: Aliens are planning to occupy Earth by implanting on its inhabitants, but there are clusters of resistance. In order to locate the rebels, the aliens find a girl named Melanie Stryder, whom they inhabit. Her family and friends are insistent on freeing Melanie from the aliens’ control, before they are discovered.

Most notable for: I hate giving Stephanie Meyer more press than she deserves, but what’s an extra drop in an ocean?

Meyer wrote the wildly successful Twilight novels, and instead of retiring to Forks, Wash., with her millions, she decided to instead be a leech on American culture.

Unqualified critical observation: The premise does seem a little interesting, but I fear it will merely devolve into another supernatural/sci-fi teen love triangle. I’ll avoid it at all costs, unless of course Meyer’s aliens force me to see it and add to her fortune.

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GI Joe: Retaliation In theaters: March 29 Starring: Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis What I got from the preview: Apparently, ninjas like to fight each other while rappelling down arctic mountainsides and listening to The White Stripes. I can’t blame them for that.

(Also: The Rock! Explosions! Memorable one-liners!) I have no idea what the plot involves, nor what political and societal undertones I’m sure will be conveyed while Channing Tatum is flexing, but to be honest, I don’t care.

Most notable for: Being a sequel to the underwhelming GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and trying really hard to resurrect Bruce Willis as an action star Unqualified critical observation: While the original was an unenjoyable bit of ridiculousness that tried to balance serious world issues with fanboy unrealistic action, this film actually seems like it is embracing their target market of 12-year-olds and going after them unabashedly. I’m kind of excited for this movie and the transition of my playtimes from yesteryear to the big screen.

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Jaco’s B ayfront B ar & Grille Presents the Second A nnual Spring Fling

By Emily Lullo

2nd Annual Spring Fling Where: Jaco’s Bayfront Bar & Grille When: March 1-3 Info and Tickets: jacosbayfrontbarandgrille.com and artonthebayfront.com

Spring in Pensacola means more time outdoors, the start of a season of festivals spotlighting both local food and locally created art, and a general feeling of celebration wafting through the warming air. Spring may not officially start until March 20, but we’re banishing the winter blues early with all of the aforementioned activities combined into one amazing weekend from March 1-3 at Jaco’s Bayfront Bar & Grille’s Second Annual Spring Fling on the Bayfront.

Since opening, Jaco’s has been lauded for its uniquely scrumptious flatbreads, small plates and other dishes, but also for the amazing view of the bayfront, with many patrons regularly enjoying sunset dinners and brunches on the bay. The restaurant quickly started taking advantage of its primo location by spearheading Art on the Bayfront along with the Pensacola Museum of Art, which brings a monthly art festival along Plaza de Luna and stretching up Palafox along the marina.

“We think spring, summer, art, wine, the bayfront and marina is what everyone loves about our city.

Other cities wish they had it. It's what makes Pensacola special,” says Jaco’s owner David Hambrick. “So we, Jacos, have the unique ability because of our location and surroundings, to be able to make use of all of those items in one!”

The Spring Fling does just that, starting with a five course wine pairing dinner under a big top tent in Plaza de Luna on Friday, March 1. Along with live music and a menu including bacon wrapped grouper, hanger steak and finishing with a caramel Bailey’s pot de crème, wine representatives will be on hand to present each wine and describe its attributes to guests.

On Saturday, March 2 and Sunday, March 3, the Plaza will be open to the public from 10 am to 5 pm for an art festival along the bayfront.

“We expect to register 50-plus artists as we did last year. Also we will have music ongoing,” Hambrick says. “This is also in conjunction with the PMA and they will have events ongoing.”

Much like Art Night on the Bayfront, music will fill the air and local artists will line the water side of the Plaza, with all varieties of media represented from jewelry to metal work and painting and anything in between. Hambrick says the PMA is planning some kid-friendly activities and he hopes to have a dedicated area for UWF students from the art department.

On Sunday, from 1 to 5 pm, wine lovers can cap off the weekend with a wine festival on the bayfront.

Festival guests can taste from 60 labels, and

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educational presentations will be made each hour.

Guests can also purchase any of the wines they tasted at a deeply discounted price. Tickets to the wine festival are $30.

Jaco’s has the unique ability to bring more people to the thriving bayfront with a variety of events that go above and beyond the monthly Art Night on the Bayfront events, but that often include art, wine and a festival atmosphere.

“We are able to create events that let the people of Pensacola and area have an interactive experience with all of those elements,” Hambrick says. “We have hosted many events doing just that, from our monthly art venues like Art al la Carte in the restaurant, to big top tents and Shakespeare performances, wine festivals, and art events. And the ideas keep on coming based on the support of our customers!”

Don’t expect to see the action on the bayfront dying down any time soon, and stay up to date with future events by subscribing to Jaco’s online newsletter. You can do that, as well as purchase tickets to the wine festival, at jacosbayfrontbarandgrille.com and artonthebayfront.com.

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Spring Downtown Spring is in the air, and the perfect way to celebrate is to soak in the sun and enjoy the breezy spring weather while strolling through the Historic District in Downtown Pensacola. With charming streetscapes, museums and shops to meet all your wants and needs, it’s definitely worth the trip. Celebrate our local business by checking out all the storefronts along the district, stroll the bayfront and parks, and find your new favorite spot in Downtown.

This month, Seville Square will host the Smokin’ in the Square BBQ Cook Off. Enjoy this chance to savor the barbecued offerings from amateur and professional teams, and grab dessert or a beer form one of the businesses nestled around Seville Square. Do you have antsy young students out on spring break? Take the time to show them Pensacola’s rich history and more with events and characters at the Pensacola Children’s Museum or in the living history exhibits and tours in Historic Pensacola Village.

The Historic District isn’t only for special events, though. It’s the perfect place for a jog, a picnic or just a leisurely walk with a friend. Meet your everyday needs with all kinds of businesses that call this beautiful segment of Downtown home.

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5

at 433-1166 ext. 28

8 1.) La Bona International Boutique 507 Adams St., 850-857-1211 3.) Pensacola Bay Brewery 225 E. Zaragoza St., 850-434-3353 4.) Tanner Realty Find Your Home in Paradise 421 E. Zarragossa St., 850-435-9007 5.) The Mole Hole Unique Gifts 425 E. Zarragossa St., 850-434-7329 6.) Olde Seville Chiropractic Dr. Lindsey Jeudevine 208 S. Alcaniz St., 850-607-2105 7.) Historic Pensacola village 205 East Zarragossa St., 850-595-5993 8.) Pensacola Historic Lighthouse 2081 Radford Blvd. 850-393-1561

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32 The DTC • March 2013 • www.downtowncrowd.com

Business Profile

By Emily Lullo

If you’ve long abandoned your New Year’s fitness goals or a random assortment of dumbbells or fitness DVDs sits languishing in a little-used corner of your home, it’s time to make a commitment you can stick with.

Spring is the season of rejuvenation, so there’s no better time to check out Alpha Omega Sports Performance for your health and fitness needs.

Alpha Omega utilizes a fitness method called Crossfit, a system often utilized by professional athletes, members of the military or police forces and martial arts practitioners. If the thought of plodding through a workout from machine to machine in a typical gym setting turns you off, then the use of Crossfit techniques might rev up your motivation. Crossfit utilizes functional movements at high intensities, meaning workouts focus on movements that people do everyday, and which can be increased in intensity to match the level of the participant.

Owner Joseph McCrory says that

plenty of people come to Alpha Omega having never picked up a weight in their lives, but love the atmosphere and varying workouts that Crossfit training affords.

“If you look at the population of our gym, our youngest Crossfitter is 16 and our oldest Crossfitter is 65 and they compete side by side regularly,” McCrory says. “There are all sorts of ways for us to cater the workouts to anybody that walks in the door.”

At Alpha Omega, most members come in at a time when there is a scheduled class, and every class is facilitated by a level one coach. Each day the classes have a workout of the day, and participants can compete with, cheer on, or socialize with other members in the class. McCrory finds the encouraging social atmosphere to be a bonus for many members, and it’s a stark contrast to a regular gym, where people typically put on earphones and complete workouts solo.

“It’s a big community everybody

works out together in the same class,” he says. “You can compete against the people that are in the class with you, you can compete against the times that are posted on the board from the previous classes, and you compete against yourself and what you did with that workout the previous time.”

But it’s not all competition.

McCrory says the first person to finish a workout quickly becomes a cheerleader for other class members.

Additionally, Alpha Omega hosts Stretching for Strength yoga classes, which focusing on stretches that work out areas that might be tight or sore from regular exercise.

Alpha Omega also offers youth classes that range from foundational development for children ages 7-10, to progressive development for ages 1114, and up to honed/advanced development for ages 15 and up. For children and teens age 17 and below, Alpha Omega offers a youth scholarship for members of the community that are interested in

improving fitness, but may not be able to afford a gym membership.

Applicants must provide references of good citizenship and have good grades in school.

“We really want to give back to the community with the facility as well.

We want to make sure we’re not just helping the people that can pay for it,” McCrory says.

If you’re prone to getting bored of repetitive workouts, the atmosphere and training style at Alpha Omega Sports Performance can easily be tailored to meet your individual goals and needs.

“It’s an exciting social workout, something you’re not going to get from a normal gym,” McCrory says.

The best way to discover what Crossfit and Alpha Omega are all about is to come by the gym and take a class. Alpha Omega is located at 490 E. Heinberg St. For questions or more information on membership, call Joseph at 377-1862.

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34 The DTC • March 2013 • www.downtowncrowd.com

Faces in the Crowd

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...at the Hot Glass Cold Beer: 1. Tobi Echevarria and Emily Lullo; 2. Glass artists Tim Nolan & Michael Conrad; 3. Caroline Martin & Stephana Gaudin; 4. Justin Beihl, Justin Gates, Stacy Kendall, David Kendall; 5. Jessica Ogden & Geo Trice. ...at the Wedding Cover Reveil at The Fish House: 6. Cliff & Maggie Castleman; 7. Julie & Jonathan Fink; 8. Lee Howell & Amy Murph; 9. Marina & Lee Howell; 10. Steve & Kim Brown; 11. Virginia & Ray McClean.

QUIZ:

What is the name of Floria's lover in the opera Tosca? (search this issue for answer)

ADMIT ONE

Grand Prize is Pair of tickets to opening weekend of PLT's Snoopy: The Musical, April 12-14

Deadline to enter is March 15.

Answers may be emailed, faxed or mailed (no telephone entries). On the 15th of the month, the winner will be selected at random.

Grand Prize: Two tickets to PLT’s Snoopy: The Musical The Rules: Employees and family members of Ballinger Publishing and the Downtown Improvement Board are ineligible for prizes.

Ballinger Publishing is not responsible for restrictions of each prize.

Winners are chosen at random from a pool of eligible respondents.

Daytime phone number MUST be provided with submissions.

Winners will be contacted by phone. Winners are ineligible to win again for a 6-month period. IMPORTANT: All entries MUST be sent by E-MAIL (emily@ballingerpublishing.com), FAX 435-9174, or MAIL (PO Box 12665, Pensacola, FL 32591). Entries must be in by the 15th by noon. NO TELEPHONE ENTRIES.

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36 The DTC • March 2013 • www.downtowncrowd.com