Eguide june 2014 edition

June 2, 2014 • Issue 6, Volume 2

Eating Out, Literally:

Machines in Motion: East Texas Comedy Festival: The Grace Project:

Dining Outside Becomes Abundantly Popular CESSE and Discovery Science Place Moves

An Impressive Line-Up of Comedic Talent

A Huge Gift of Love

Get your tickets now!

June 5 at 7 p.m.

“Some Like it Hot” (1959) June 7 at 8 p.m.

“Sound Spectacular: The Golden Era of American Popular Music” June 12 at 7 p.m.

“To Have and Have Not” (1944) June 13

E-Cigarettes - E-Juice Accessories 2 locations to serve you!

Lindale: 3222 South Main St. (903)882-9621 Tyler: 5th St across from Posada’s (903)593-5586

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atur Open Fridays & S

The East Texas Comedy Festival w/ Jimmy Pardo June 14

The East Texas Comedy Festival with

Frank Caeti and Susan Messing June 19 at 7 p.m.

“Rope” (1948) June 21 at 3 p.m.

“E.T. the Extraterrestrial” (1982) June 23-27, 9 a.m. - noon

“So You Think You Can Act?” Children’s Theater Camp with APEX & Felicity Enas (M-F with Performance on Saturday 6/28) June 26 at 7 p.m.

“Citizen Kane” (1941) Downtown Tyler 103 E. Erwin, Tyler

A department of the City of Tyler

days

11am-10pm!

$3.95 Specia

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LIVE MUSIC EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT!!!!!

June 6th - Hoss Huggins June 13th - Jamey Marcontel June 20th - Blind Mojo June 27th - Group Therapy 2 • EGuideMagazine.com

The Entertainment Magazine for East Texas June 2, 2014 • Issue 6, Volume 2

Contents 4-5 Dining

» “Eating Out - Literally: Dining Outside Becomes Abundantly Popular” by Gini Rainey

6-7 Movies: by Dustin Chase, Film Critic

» Reviews for “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “Blended,” “Million Dollar Arm,” “Belle,” “Cold in July” and “Godzilla” » Downtown Tyler Film Festival Accepting Entries

8-11 Music

» “King Richard & The Bayou Boys: Our Gigs are Like Private Parties for Our Fans” by Amanda Main » Kilgore’s “After 5” Concert Series and Many Events » Edwin McCain at Liberty Hall in August » The Complete Music Guide for Live Music

14 Festivals

» The Third Annual East Texas Comedy Festival Invades Downtown and The Jacksonville Tomato Festival

15-16 Things to Do

» Summer Garden Tour, Farmer’s Markets, Cattle Baron’s “Wranglers and Roses,” Downtown Wine Swirl, Funky Junk Round-Up and the Texas Shakespeare Festival

17 Family

» “Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion at CESSE and Discovery Science Place” by Kelly Griffith-Fields

18-19 Art

» “The Grace Project Wants You!” by A. C. Slaughter » The Far Out Art Fest and June Bug Music Festival in Ben Wheeler June 21st-22nd » The Complete Museum and Gallery Art Guide plus Competitions, Festivals, Classes and Workshops

20-21 Theatre

» It’s June at Liberty Hall: Liberty’s Strutting Its Stuff and Showing Off Its Variety » The Complete Theatre Show Guide

22 Books

Staff Publisher

Tena Jerger

Sales Manager Louie Jerger Copy Editors

Dana Khan, Gini Rainey Editorial

Dustin Chase, Lynn Dark, Kelly Griffith-Fields, Amanda Main, Gini Rainey, A. C. Slaughter

Distribution

» “Summer Reading: Something a Little Different” reviewed by Tammy Thomas-Cooke » Writer’s Workshop: Writing in the Digital Age » Tyler Library Happenings, A Spoken Word Event and more

“EGuide Magazine” is an event-driven magazine focusing on ‘things to do’ in East Texas. We are published once a month. We are distributed free in our unique stands at over 360 locations in Tyler, Whitehouse, Bullard, Flint, Gresham, Edom, Ben Wheeler, Lindale, Jacksonville and Rusk.

We will list at no charge most events open to the public. All necessary information should be included such as date, time, ticket cost, description of event, phone number for the public, website address, photos - the more the better. Submit your event at EGuideMagazine.com.

Robin Butt, Dwain Hare, Louie Jerger, Patrick Tilton

Deadlines On Stands Deadline July 1st..........................................June 20th August 1st......................................July 21st September 1st......................... August 20th October 1st......................September 22nd FUN MAP INSERT! November 1st.......................October 20th December 1st...................November 19th

PO Box 130133 Tyler, TX 75713 (903)330-2165 EGuideMagazine@gmail.com The Entertainment Magazine for East Texas EGuideMagazine.com

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Dining

What About Kabob

713 WSW Loop, Tyler Offering up some of the most hip food to hit Tyler, WAK also has a little patio space out front that occasionally hosts some really terrific live music. I promise you that you won’t put any food better than the Narnia’s in your mouth and you won’t receive any better service anywhere else in Tyler. This place is amazing and is so moderately priced, you’ll double check your ticket.

Eating Out – Literally!

Dining Outside Becomes Abundantly Popular

By Gini Rainey

What is it about the great outdoors that just seems to make everything better? Is it a primal need to escape the brick and mortar that we have surrounded our lives with in recent years? Or is it that fresh air, friends, great food, and live entertainment are the perfect ingredients to create a relaxing evening under the stars? Whatever the reason, you’ll be happy to know that Tyler is finally coming into its own as far as great patio venues are concerned.

Stanley’s Famous Pit BBQ

525 S. Beckham, Tyler Now this is one great patio! Not only a major contender for the best BBQ in Texas, Stanley’s has been in business for 50 years and current proprietors Nick and Jen Pencis intend to keep the great Mom & Pop atmosphere that was established by J. D. Stanley when he first started serving up some great BBQ. As if the food isn’t enough to get you to the Stanley patio, there’s also some really great live music happening three nights a week that gets the patio jumping!

Jakes The Chaveta

Crawdaddies Cajun Grill

Lago del Pino

14706 CR 1134, Tyler Relatively new to the Tyler scene, Lago del Pino is another “must do” destination patio to visit. Touting its spectacular lake view and distinctive fountain show, Lago is fast becoming a favorite place in east Texans. With a menu loaded with fabulous dishes from fine steaks to vegetarian options, a great bar, and super service, Lago del Pino boasts a large patio area with live music featured on weekends. The view and history of this place makes Lago a favorite and definitely money well spent!

FRESH by

111 E. Erwin St., Brookshires downtown Tyler 6991 Old Jacksonville Right in the heart Hwy., Tyler of downtown Tyler, Well, BrookThe Chaveta will make shires’ has gone and you feel like you’ve left done it. Not only have east Texas and landed they built a place for somewhere more cosa wonderful shopping mopolitan. Housed in experience, they have a wonderfully refurexpanded and created bished building on the downtown square, this is definitely one of terrific outdoors dinTyler’s premier destinations. With a connoisseur’s selection of food, a ing and live entertainment venue. Every Fridaya evening, they serve up selection of top shelf liquors, fine wines, beer, and cigars, The Chaveta live entertainment along with craft beer and wine and light meals. is a great place to meet friends and enjoy the evening air. Although Go early if you want to score a table. FRESH has become a popuyou will need to walk up two flights of stairs to reach The Chaveta, it is well worth the effort. Jakes regularly features live entertainment and lar gathering place on Fridays for folks in south Tyler. encourages you to visit their Facebook page for updates.

Coyote Sam’s

Rick’s On the Square

104 W. Erwin St., downtown Tyler Another great place in downtown Tyler, Rick’s patio will make you feel like you’ve jumped over into Louisiana with all the raw wood and iron grillwork. One of the first businesses to begin the trend of great downtown venues, Rick’s full bar and great menu includes seafood and steaks, and will remind you once again why you love downtown Tyler. Rick’s also features live entertainment on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights that will add to the enjoyment of your patio experience.

Bar and Grille

5424 Old Jacksonville Hwy., Tyler Now if you’re looking for a great food experience combined with a hunting lodge experience, you need to go to Coyote Sam’s!

Not only do they have great food, but the atmosphere is incredible. There’s so much to look at, you might just forget to sink your teeth into their incredible ribs or Kobe burgers. And, add to that a patio out back that has a creek running alongside and you’ll think you’ve been transported to Montana or Idaho. Occasionally Sam and Marsha also have live entertainment for your enjoyment.

18950 Hwy 155 South, Flint Crawdaddies (now offering two locations but only one with a patio) has the mother of all patios! Completely decked out, the Hwy 155 location of Crawdaddies offers outside seating for everyone. Some of the seating is covered, some not, all have a view of the outdoors and an all-natural setting.

Their menu offers everything from fried chicken strips to crawfish (call first this time of year) to catfish. Everything comes in a basket and the casual atmosphere is something everyone these days craves - relaxation and ease.

In addition to all of these great restaurants, there are plenty of others who offer patio dining, although not necessarily live entertainment. Among those are: • Andy’s Frozen Custard, 6106 S. Broadway Ave., Tyler • B.J.’s Brewhouse & Restaurant, 210 WSW Loop 323, Tyler • Cafe Bhojana Java, 400 W. Rusk St., Tyler • Cheddar’s, 6701 S. Broadway Ave., Tyler • Chiptole, 4751 S. Broadway Ave., Tyler • Chris & Sam’s Bar and Grill, 2210 Three Lakes Parkway/Old Jacksonville Hwy., Tyler • Chuy’s, 5935 S. Broadway Ave., Tyler • Clear Springs Texas Seafood, 6519 S. Broadway Ave., Tyler • The Egg & I, 150 E. Ninth St., Tyler • Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, 1871 Troup Hwy., Tyler • Gus’ Mexican Restaurant, 16700 Old Jacksonville Hwy., Gresham • Happy’s Fish House, 2202 E. Fifth St., Tyler • The Jalapeno Tree, 420 WSW Loop 323, Tyler • Juls Restaurant, 7212 Old Jacksonville Hwy., , Tyler • Margarita’s Mexican Restaurant, 1327 E. Front St., Tyler • Newk’s Express Cafe, 3985 Old Jacksonville Hwy., Tyler • Oliveto Italian Bistro, 3709 Troup Hwy., Tyler • On The Border, 4301 S. Broadway Ave., Tyler • Panera Bread, 5755 S. Broadway Ave., Tyler • The Purple Pig Cafe, 9785 State Highway 155 S., Flint • Razzoo’s, 7011 S. Broadway Ave., Tyler • Rusty’s Taco (2 locations) 1714 S. Beckham and 7920 S. Broadway Ave., Tyler • Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina, 3316 Troup Hwy., Tyler • Shogun of Japan Steak House (2 locations) 3521 S. Broadway Ave. and 5515 S. Broadway Ave., Tyler • Smash Burger (2 locations) 3314 Troup Hwy. and 7484 S. Broadway Ave., Tyler • Traditions (Bistro), 6205 S. Broadway Ave., Tyler • Villa Montez, 3324 Old Henderson Hwy., Tyler There are more patios in the Tyler area. These are just a few to get you started. Grab your spouse, your partner, your best friends and get yourself outdoors to enjoy all of the wonderful food and entertainment that Tyler has to offer. I’m guessing you won’t regret it.

903.825.1975 ~ 903.565.6262 Steaks - Burgers - Seafood - Crawfish......Karaoke Saturday Nights......2 Locations - Hwy. 155 South, Flint & Highway 64 East in Chapel Hill 4 • EGuideMagazine.com

Located in the Historic Brick Streets of Tyler College St., Phillips St., Bois D’Arc, & Rusk St.

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715 S. College Ave. Tyler, Texas 75701 903.533.1771

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“Inspiration Awaits Beyond the Lavender Gate” 304 West Phillips, Tyler Thur-Fri 9-5, Sat 9-3 903-330-4663 dorysgardens.com

From Our House to Your Home Antiques 903-939-8878 722 South Bois D’Arc, Suite 2, Tyler, Texas 75701 etctyler@gmail.com EGuideMagazine.com • 5

Movies Movie Reviews By

Dustin Chase

www.texasartfilm.com

where everything makes sense.

Final Thought - Undeniably one of the smartest films of the year, the series that opened the door to the cinematic world of the comic book film has raised the bar to an extraordinarily high level.

“Blended”

Starring Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore Grade: CThe new crowd pleaser from Adam Sandler opens in a toilet, which is a metaphor for exactly where the film intends to stay for the remainder of the show, regardless of their location. After being mauled by critics and even having his own fan base turn on him (finally!), Sandler returns to something he knows still works at the box office: romantic comedy and the Barrymore/Sandler combination. “Blended” is the third film the comedic duo have shot together (“The Wedding Singer” and “50 First Dates” the previous). The second scene of the film has Barrymore’s character spitting up food all over herself and Sandler, and so the plot continues… ​After one blind date at Hooters, Jim (Sandler) and Lauren (Barrymore) can’t stop talking about how bad it was and how they Starring Hugh Jackman, never want to see each other again, but of course they can’t stop running into each James McAvoy, Jennifer other in the tiny town of Atlanta, Georgia. So, Lawrence, Patrick through wild circumstances they both decide Stewart, Ian McKellen, to take a trip to South Africa for spring break Michael Fassbender and now they are living together and vacationGrade: A ing together. Lauren has two boys in need of In 2000 little known director Bryan Singer opened the doors a father while Jim has three girls in need of a mother, and with all the to the cinematic world of comic book movies with “X-Men,” showromance in Africa the two begin to slowly fall in love while their chiling the world the age of comic book adaptation had arrived. The dren run wild.

“X-Men” comics and films have always stood apart from all others ​Predictability is always the worst element in a Sandler film; you due to its themes of working as a team, the importance of individualknow in the first 10 minutes how it’s going to end. If you don’t find ity, but above all else its diverse characters that appeal to a wide variety the steps to get to that predictable ending funny and entertaining, of viewers, casted to actors who have the talent to flesh them out on then you just wasted 2 more hours of your life on a man that America screen. Singer stepped away from “X-Men” after the enormous success used to find funny, but is finally considered obnoxious. Sandler conof “X2,” which in 2003 raised the bar for superhero films. After multi- tinues with the obvious outside funding for his films; Dick’s Sporting ple failed projects, Singer returns where he should have stayed, orches- Goods, Walmart (his biggest fan) and Hooters are overly displayed in trating the complex world of mutants. In a Nolan-esque type script, the film. The jokes are stale and the acting is cue card read, but there is Singer, like a maestro conducting a symphony of hundreds, miracuone moment I identified with: when Lauren screams to the top of her lously connects every detail from all the past films and extraordinarily lungs at the disaster the trip appears to be while her youngest son slides raises that bar once again. down a stripper pole; at that moment, Lauren and I felt the same.

Half a century from when we last saw Charles Xavier (McAvoy) ​On the outside, “Blended” is about two different families coming paralyzed on the shores of Cuba, watching Mystique (Lawrence) join together to make one big family. On the inside, however, “Blended” is forces with Magneto (Fassbender), the future has turned into exactly about two parents who don’t understand discipline, who have spoiled, what they always feared. An elder Professor X (Stewart) and Magneto bratty kids and need to be focusing on raising their kids instead of find(McKellen) have one final hope, to send Wolverine (Jackman) back ing a partner or taking trips to Africa. What should be a romantic comin time to the 70’s and stop Mystique from murdering the creator of edy for families is more like a horror movie for the single people watchthe sentinel program that will eventually wipe out mutants and the ing. The film’s few funny moments are credited to Alyvia Alyn Lind, humans who try to protect them. When Wolverine arrives back in time who plays Jim’s youngest daughter and speaks like a demon child when Charles isn’t the person he has grown to respect and the general public she doesn’t get her way. “Bridesmaids’” Wendi McLendon-Covey adds is about to see mutants for the very first time. some adult humor, but it’s Jessica Lowe and her “shimmy” that steals Usually the script is the weakest link in comic book film adaptathe show (not that the bar was set very high). tions, but “Days of Future Past” is so complex that the script had to be Final Thought – Predictability, poor writing, worse acting and lots the origin of everything. It’s intricacies are astounding, as if Singer and of bad parenting blended together for a film that should come with a his writing squad poured over every detail of the previous films, even barf bag. small moments like Wolverine’s cameo in “First Class” are used to make a point here. Flashbacks from the three original films, not to mention converging storylines, seek to explain how we got from there to here.

It’s the most brilliantly concealed reboot of our time. Singer makes it seem as if everything from the past films (even highly criticized plot twists in “X-Men The Last Stand”) were all planned leading up to this Starring Jon Hamm, Aasif Mandvi, film and this emotional payoff is a thing of beauty.

Lake Bell, Bill Paxton, Suraj Sharma, There have been a lot of comparisons to “X2” and I think that is Madhur Mityal, Pitobash truly justified as Singer reorients “X-Men” with new life and energy.

Grade: B+ The emotional stakes have never been as high or played so well. Singer Tom McCarthy (“Win Win Up,” “The returns the film to its origins, literally and metaphorically. McAvoy and Visitor,” “The Station Agent”) has once Lawrence repeat their powerful performances from “First Class,” while again come up with an inspiring, movEvan Peters’ Quicksilver gets a fantastic slow motion bulle-saving scene ing story based on true events about a you won’t soon forget. However, like “X-Men” has proven before, it’s baseball agent whose company is about not afraid to kill any of its characters or travel to very dark emotional to go under unless he comes up with a places. Yet it’s the ending where the genius of the film truly lies and Dustin is a Member of the “Houston Film Critics Society” Film Critic/Assistant Editor for “Texas Art & Film” (texasartfilm.com) Film Critic for “The Daily News” (Galveston) Entertainment Reporter for “Galveston.com” Film Critic for “Island Guide,” (Galveston) & “EGuide Magazine” (Tyler) and Online Air Entertainment News Commentator at “News 92FM’s Livin’ Large”

“X-Men: Days of Future Past”

“Million Dollar Arm”

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14221 Hwy 155 S. Tyler TX 75703 903-920-2898 6 • EGuideMagazine.com

million dollar idea. He convinces a Chinese backer that the man’s company would receive incredible publicity if he would finance a contest in India for a recruit who could be trained in a year to play baseball and be drafted by an MLB team. Since there was no baseball in India, they would look for players in the cricket games, a popular sport in India.

JB (Hamm) then heads to India while his partner Aash (Mandvi) manages their agency at home in LA. JB needs a scout who will be able to determine which candidate has the best potential, so Ray (Arkin) accompanies him, traveling around India in search of the two recruits.

This is an adventure in itself, navigating an exotic country with different customs, huge turnouts to see who can throw the fastest ball best, and a scout who naps constantly. His napping doesn’t seem to matter, since Ray can tell by the sound of the ball hitting something how fast it was going.

After weeks of discouragement, they find two excellent candidates and head for home, where they will encounter even more challenges, setbacks, and emotional outbursts. As much as the story is about the two young Indians having to learn how to play baseball (in a year’s time) and adjust to a completely different culture, it is about change and development within JB. He is a single man enjoying the high life, with no interest in marriage and family, when suddenly, he has three “children” (the translator/assistant and the two young men) he is responsible for. He hadn’t bargained for that, and clearly needs coaching by the woman renting the small house on his property. Brenda (Bell) is a doctor-in-training who has the people skills JB sorely lacks.

She engages the young men and gets to know them in a way that never occurs to JB. He also gets help from the trainer Tom (Paxton), who earned a PhD in psychology before his baseball career. But JB doesn’t take either Brenda or Tom very seriously until it becomes clear to him how much he is overlooking.

“Million Dollar Arm” is a finely produced work with able direction provided by Craig Gillespie (“Lars and the Real Girl”). The musical score is just right, blending Indian and American musical numbers in an artful way. Cinematography by Gyula Padas captures Indian urban and country life and nightspots in LA, as well as tricky shots of speeding baseballs. Jon Hamm, famous for playing Don Draper in “Mad Men” on TV, has well proven himself a versatile actor whose subtle facial expressions register deeply held thoughts and emotions.

His portrayal of the significant changes across time in his character further attest to his skill. With the supporting cast of Mandvi, Bell, Paxton, and Arkin, they form a smooth and well-integrated ensemble. The two Indian recruits have appeared in two other major American films – Saraj Sharma as Pi in “Life of Pi” and Madhur Mittal as Salim in “Slumdog Millionaire,” and do just as well in this work. The actor who plays translator for JB, Pitobash, has excellent timing in delivering some of the funnier lines in the film.

And, finally, hurrah(!), the Paxton character with some background in psychology, uses its principles in a knowledgeable way – not a common occurrence in films.

This feel-good movie will surely win the hearts of Americans and perhaps Indians as well.

“Belle”

Starring Gigi Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson, Emily Watson, Sam Reid, Matthew Goode Grade: B+ Fox Searchlight hit a home run last year, with “12 Years a Slave” taking home the best picture trophy. This year they go back even farther in history, to 1796, with another true story that is far less violent but equally as stirring. “Belle” follows one of the most notable families in London during the time as they accept and set new standards for raising a mulatto child in their family. As she matures she becomes alarmingly aware of the double standards within her own family. There is no denying that Fox Searchlight once again feels like they have a crowd pleaser on their hands, with the applause during and after the film. “Belle” is poised to make quite a splash this summer, providing a welcome distraction from all the superheroes and special effects. ​Captain Sir John Lindsay (Goode) brings his mulatto child,

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conceived out of wedlock, to his parents home in London expecting them to abide by the law and raise her up in the birthright she is guaranteed. Following the death of Sir Lindsay in battle, Belle (Mbatha-Raw) is to receive a substantial inheritance from her father.

Belle and her cousin Elizabeth (Gadon) have grown up together as sisters, and now when they are both about to be out in society looking for husbands, it’s the exotic Belle and her inheritance that is turning heads instead of the typical blond Englishwoman. Their Pa-Pa, Lord Mansfield (Wilkinson) has before him a defining case that will change the way Britain values the lives of slaves, with Belle being the biggest influence on his decision. ​Television actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw has stood by this project’s development for years, and there is no denying that Fox hopes Raw can claim the type of stardom Nyongo earned with “12 Years.” She certainly carries the entire film with her beauty and poise, but it’s the writing that really allows her to soak up the screen’s juiciest moments.

She is certainly in great company, with Oscar nominee Wilkinson (“In the Bedroom,” “Batman Begins”), who also gives quite a good performance and is afforded more screen time than he has gotten recently with other projects. Watson and Richardson are also quite good, but it’s newcomer Sam Reid who deserves the remaining praise. ​“Belle” flips conventional wisdom that we associate with films like “Emma” and “Pride & Prejudice” or “Sense & Sensibility” by having Belle as the female with the looks, inheritance and the men seeking her to gain status in the world, albeit with controversy due to the color of her skin. The production does borrow a bit too heavily from Joe Wright’s 2005 “Pride & Prejudice” at times; never more so than the scene of marriage proposal in the Mansfield home. “Belle” focuses more on the interior and production design than the vast outdoors in Wright’s film. While the film never feels groundbreaking, and the performance probably won’t be remembered at the end of the year, it’s still very much a crowd pleaser with a new spin on a classic tale.

Final Thought – Flips conventional wisdom on a classic tale.

“Cold in July”

Starring Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, Don Johnson Grade: B ​If you have been missing those weeknight, network 90’s films from the old days (you know, the Monday Movie of the Week), then you are in for a treat with Sundance and Cannes official selection “Cold in July.” Jim Mickle doesn’t just throw in the old clothes, synthesizer musical score or vintage cars to make it seem like we are in 1989, we have full on mullet, floral couches and it re-confirms everything Richard Linklater showed us in “Bernie” about East Texas. Before the title even hits the screen, the suspense is packed so tight it’s seeping out of the cracks. “Cold in July” starts off a thriller and ends up a thriller, but what happens in between is quite entertaining to watch; it’s often absurd and even funny.

After shooting an intruder, quiet family man Richard Dane (Hall) and his family live in fear that the deceased’s father will seek revenge, and he does - sneaking into the house, evading local Texas police, and spreading bullets on Dane’s sons’ bedspread. What doesn’t sit right with Richard is taking ex-convict Ben Russell (Shepard) out the backdoor of the police station late at night. Prey turned ally, the two find there is a lot more being covered up than the identity of the intruder. This leads to Ben’s buddy Jim Bob (Johnson) driving his red convertible Cadillac up from Houston so these boys can take justice into their own hands. ​ ​Not only does the plot twist and turn multiple times, reorienting the type of film we think we are watching, but the narrative is also interchangeable from suspense to dark comedy, and finally to an action thriller. When Don Johnson steps into the picture, it’s as if “Nash Bridges” has been reborn with vintage Texan attire and horns on his hood. The plot involves “The Dixie Mafia,” a term so absurd I had to look it up just to verify the ridiculousness of the name; it’s real, believe it or not. Whatever Mickle’s intentions adapting Joe R. Landsdale were, he pulled it off in some weird, twisted obsession with late 80’s/early 90’s film that infects every facet of this picture.

One of the year’s most fascinating on screen trios, Johnson, Shepard

Downtown Tyler Film Festival Now Accepting Entries

and Hall electrify the screen in a flickering neon sign type of way. When you first hear that synthesizer musical score, all the shameful thrillers from 1991 will flood your memory. It’s jarring at first, but when you realize what Mickle is doing, it’s just another brilliant element to this creation. Coincidence is probably the biggest drawback to the film, but it never ruins the fun here. Mickle draws from other filmmakers like Tarantino or Friedkin, who have shot similar type genre films in and around Texas, but he takes this retro road trip farther than anyone has done successfully.

Final Thought – Never has the 90’s suspense thriller looked and felt so good.

“Godzilla”

Starring Aaron Taylor Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Juliette Binoche, David Strathairn Grade: C ​Since 1954 Godzilla has remained a popular cinematic monster character, debuting every decade to a new generation from the 70’s to now. Warner Bros. has thrown a lot of money at sophomore director Gareth Edwards (“Monsters”), who brings this bombastic and loud film to the screen. Like most Hollywood remakes, it’s a darker, more sinister version than what we have seen in the past. Sprinkled with lots of talent, including Oscar winner Juliette Binoche (“The English Patient”) and nominees Sally Hawkins (“Blue Jasmine”) and Ken Watanabe (“Inception”), the actors do very little to infuse the monster film with the type of life it needs. The ingredients in “Godzilla” are far too obvious and reflective of recent films, but it does slightly rise above last year’s big, dumb monster destruction film “Pacific Rim.” ​During an excavation in The Philippines in 1999, two scientists found something alarming and unexplainable miles in the deep. In Japan months later, an explosion rocked the city’s nuclear facilities and killed some of its personnel; that incident would forever change Joe Brody (Cranston) and his son Ford (Johnson). 15 years later, Brody has dedicated his life to solving the mystery of the cover-up until the reading and pulses begin to happen again. Born and fed from radioactive nuclear waste, two beasts emerge to threaten human existence as they attempt to mate and cover the earth with their kind. A third and even larger creature named Godzilla rises from the depths of the darkest ocean to battle with the malevolent creatures. ​The biggest problem with “Godzilla” is that it never stands on its own as something original, unique or born out of creativity. Something that has been remade so many times, borrowing from so many other sources, dilutes any power of effect it hopes to have. It’s ingredients are a mixing bowl of “Jurassic Park,” “The Impossible,” and “Pacific Rim” (which was just borrowing from “Godzilla”/”Monster” movies before it).

Godzilla sounds like Spielberg’s “T-Rex,” and a scene on the Golden Gate bridge (another rip off of every action movie ever set in San Francisco) in a school bus nearly mirrors that famous first appearance in “Jurassic Park.” The tidal waves flooding through Honolulu never match the realism of the water in “The Impossible” and the nearly shot for shot battle in the pacific ocean mirrors those we saw last year in “Pacific Rim.” ​The script really rolls the dice in building a 90-minute backstory that is nearly all talk, teasing the viewer for the third act, “Just let them fight.” If you can stay awake for that first part of the film that misses every opportunity to create characters we care about, then by the end, after seeing building number 50 destroyed, the teasing suspense has faded and with it the concern for anyone’s safety on screen. 23 year old Aaron Taylor Johnson is playing a very buff, macho, older-than-hisyears character that never connects with the audience. While he flies all over the world to save various members of his family, his heroics are never earned.

Final Thought – Slightly more intelligent than last years’ “Pacific Rim” but equally as ineffective.

For more movie reviews go to....

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audience (PG-13).

There is also a student category for films produced entirely by filmmakers under the age of 18. This is an exciting new venture!

Last year, there were several student films produced in the Tyler area, and festival coordinators hope to receive even more this year.

“Students are the perfect model of independent filmmaking: endless creativity, Continuing this month, entries will be lots of experimentation and accepted on www.FilmFreeway.com for the fourth annual Downtown Tyler Film Festival no money,” said Film Festishowing September 24th-27th at downtown val Chairman Justin Reese.

“We want to encourage them Tyler’s Liberty Hall. to hone their craft by providing an audience The Downtown Tyler Film Festival is a celebration of storytelling through film in East they can impress and a cash prize they can use to fund their next film.”

Texas. This is an international film festival Awards and prizes are as follows: with short films from all around the world, Best of Fest: $1,000 however it seeks to encourage local East TexBest East Texas Film: $750 ans independent works.

Best Student Film: $150 Only short films of 15 minutes or less Audience Favorite: $150 are accepted. Films may be of any genre but Films may be submitted through Film must have been completed after January 1st, 2012 and should be suitable for a general Freeway through July 31st, but there are

cheaper entry fees for early entries.

East Texas filmmakers will also receive a 25 percent discount off of the entry price by entering the TEXASFOREVER2014 code into www.FilmFreeway.com.

See Film Freeway or www.TylerFilmFest.com for eligibility details.

“The Downtown Tyler Film Festival has doubled the number of entries received each year and 2014 is expected to be bigger and better than ever,” said Main Street Department Leader Beverly Abell. “It is amazing what our Tyler filmmakers are producing and how much they improve each year.”

More information is available online at www.TylerFilmFest.com or by following Tyler Film Fest on Facebook and Twitter. Any inquiries or questions should be made to the Main Street Department at (903)593-6905.

Tickets to the Film Festival are available at www.LibertyTyler.com.

Upcoming “Maleficent” (In theaters June 7th)

Starring Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning This is the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain from the 1959 classic “Sleeping Beauty.” A beautiful, purehearted young woman with stunning black wings, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army of humans threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land’s fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal - an act that begins to turn her pure heart to stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the king of the humans and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom - and to Maleficent’s true happiness as well.

“A Million Ways to Die in the West” (In theaters June 7th)

Starring Amanda Seyfried, Liam Neeson After cowardly Albert backs out of a gunfight because he’s never fired his gun, his fickle girlfriend leaves him for another man - the proprietor of the town’s foremost moustache emporium. When he accidentally saves the life of a mysterious and beautiful woman, she helps him find his courage and learn to stand up for himself. But when her husband, a notorious outlaw, arrives seeking revenge the sheep farmer must triumph over all of the hilariously awful dangers of the old west in order to save her.

“Edge of Tomorrow” (In theaters June 7th)

Starring Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt Lt. Col. Bill Cage is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop - forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again and again. But with each battle, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski. And, as Cage and Rita take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the enemy.

“The Fault in Our Stars” (In theaters June 7th)

Starring Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort Hazel and Gus are extraordinary teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, a love that sweeps them - and us on an unforgettable journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous, given that they met and fell in love at a cancer support group.

“22 Jump Street” (In theaters June 14th)

Starring Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill After making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers Schmidt and Jenko when they go deep undercover at a local college. But when Jenko meets a kindred spirit on the football team, and Schmidt infiltrates the bohemian art major scene, they begin to question their partnership. Now they don’t have to just crack the case - they have to figure out if they can have a mature relationship. If these two overgrown adolescents can grow from freshmen into real men, college might be the best thing that happens to them.

“How to Train Your Dragon 2” (In theaters June 14th)

Starring Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler Set in the mythical world of burly Vikings and wild dragons, and based on the book

by Cressida Cowell, the action comedy tells the story of Hiccup, a Viking teenager who doesn’t exactly fit in with his tribe’s longstanding tradition of heroic dragon slayers.

Hiccup’s world is turned upside down when he encounters a dragon that challenges him and his fellow Vikings to see the world from an entirely different point of view.

Dustin’s “Best” & “Worst” ...So Far “Best” Movies

“Worst” Movies

“X-Men Days of Future Past” - A “I, Frankenstein” - D“Hellion” - A“The Bag Man” - D“Labor Day” - A“300: Rise of An Empire” - D“Chef” - B+ “3 Days to Kill” - D “Grand Budapest” - B+ “Adult World” - D “Boyhood” - B+ “Legend of Hercules” - D “The Railway Man” - B+ “Kelly & Cal” - B+ “At Middleton” - B+ “Predestination” - B+ Liberty Hall, located in downtown Tyler, offers entertainment through film, theater, comedy and music.

There is not a bad seat in the house - only 315 to choose from! Most movies are $5-$7. Upcoming movies are: June 5th at 7pm........................................“Some Like it Hot” (1959) June 12th at 7pm............................“To Have and Have Not” (1944) June 21st at 3pm......................................................... “Rope” (1948) June 21st at 3pm..............................“E.T. the Extraterrestial” (1982) June 26th at 7pm............................................“Citizen Kane” (1941) EGuideMagazine.com • 7

Music

King Richard & the Bayou Boys:

“Our Gigs are like Private Parties For Our Fans”

By Amanda Main

Tyler-based blues and rock ’n’ roll band King Richard & the Bayou Boys first stepped onto the East Texas music scene in 2010. Founded by “King” Richard Doredant, who sings and plays the guitar and harmonica, the retro band also includes drummer Robie Morgan, bass-player Ben Carter, and tenor and alto saxophone-player Sean Fuller.

Richard, 50, began life in a New Orleans neighborhood near the home of “Blueberry Hill” singersongwriter Fats Domino. He brings with him a respect for deep musical history.

He and his wife, Laurie, evacuated New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. The move brought them to Tyler, and he says they had no trouble adapting to East Texas life. “It was seamless; there was no real problem at all,” he says. “Texas was very welcoming, and it was a wonderful place to make a home and raise a family.” Their 8-year-old daughter, Becky, was born soon after making Tyler their home.

Richard recently spoke with EGuide about his band and love for writing and playing blues and rock ’n’ roll music.

EGuide: How did you get your start in music?

Richard: I’ve been playing music since I was a kid; a lot of people at my age had a guitar. I was a big rock ’n’ roll fan and (of) blues music, and being that I lived in New Orleans, there was a lot of blues music around, and a lot of concerts, so I kind of always wanted to play the guitar. And that was the thing, so that was the generation for it – the rock ’n’ roll generation.

EGuide: What do you see in the East Texas music scene compared to the New Orleans music scene?

Richard: Well, it’s apples and oranges; it’s really two different things, but the best thing I see about East Texas is, it’s growing, especially since we started the band. We’ve been going at it for four years here, and I see a lot more venues and a lot more artists, and people coming up and different groups, and it’s really exciting. I think it’s a good time to come along. I feel like the world is kind of wide open to us right now.

EGuide: What do you miss about New Orleans?

Richard: The food! But you know, you guys eat in Texas, too; they have food here, too, in case you didn’t know. I miss some of the music, the history of some of that. … You’re not gonna see artists like that here; you don’t have the history for that, but it’s gonna take off – it’s an incredible growing music scene here. And Texas has such a huge style of different music. Gospel music – I see a lot of these praise bands, people working with churches. … Jazz. There’s a Mexican influence, so you get the Tejano music, and country – country’s really big here. … and I’m just a big blues fan, and I’m just interested in preserving and performing the history.

8 • EGuideMagazine.com

EGuide: What did you do in your time in Tyler before forming your band with the Bayou Boys?

Richard: Well, we were actually the praise band for the Pleasant Retreat United Methodist Church. That’s how we met. I went to church there, and we started playing music there. (Richard says the band later found their saxophone-player, Sean, online.). I’ve been writing songs since I was a kid and decided to start a group here.

I had 15 songs that I had recorded in a recording studio in New Orleans that has yet to be released. And I guess I just got that itch to do it again, so we got it started, and we’ve been really happy. We’ve had a lot of highlights with the band since we have started.

EGuide: What kinds of highlights?

Richard: Well, although we’ve got a lot of original music, there’s a certain kind of retro aspect of it. So I was really pleased when we got to play with The Coasters, which was a really iconic ’50s doowop group (their hits include 1950s songs “Yakety Yak” and “Charlie Brown”). We came to Hideaway Lake and got to perform for them and be the backing band and open up for them. It was totally fun!

EGuide: How would you describe your collaboration process with your band?

Richard: Well, of course, it’s a benevolent dictatorship. I’m the king, after all (he laughs). No, seriously, you take everybody’s contributions and their experiences into consideration of course. Somebody has something to bring to the table, and you listen and work together on it. That’s probably the thing we’ve really been lucky with – everybody’s mature and stable, and we’re listening to each other and we’re working with each other, so the collaboration process is good. I come with this general idea, and they kind of help me hammer it out. The general idea is a real aficionado for the history of blues and rock ’n’ roll music. And it’s comedy. Comedy is a huge part of this. In addition

to T-Bone Walker and ZZ Top and Stevie Ray Vaughan, I count The Three Stooges among my inspiration.

EGuide: What types of subjects inspire the songs you write?

Richard: The lyrics usually come from a place of desperation. I think the characters in the songs, people are usually at a point where they’re desperate and pleading. … The subject matter for the songs can be anything from the comical – I’ve got a song about crawfish, for example – to, like I said, desperation. Loss, love. I’ve got a song about a car, “you only love me for my car.” What’s that about? It’s kind of an American dream, this guy’s got a car, but he’s got a full bar and a kingsize bed in the back seat.

The songs, the subject matter ranges widely, but I would say it all fits squarely in the pantheon of the history of American rock ’n’ roll for Texas and Louisiana.

EGuide: What has drawn you and your band to play the style of music that you play?

Richard: On our own recordings, our music doesn’t sound like it came from 1962, it sounds like 2014. There’s a retro aspect to it, but it’s not like we’re just rehashing old stuff. You’re taking influences of the stuff that you really love. And that’s always gonna come out in your own stuff. And what drives us to do it, really, is just my love for that, and I’ve sought out other people who can share that with me or can help me realize that vision.

And that’s kind of my goal. Like when we do a four-hour show, it’s a lot of fun, and there’s a lot of ground to cover, a lot of different styles of music that we do. And it’s a lot of laughs, too.

EGuide: What portion of your shows would you say are original songs?

Richard: We have a lot of originals, but when we do, say, a fourhour show, probably a quarter of it is original. But if you really look at

what we do, if you come out and see the band, to say what portion of it is original is hard to answer, because we do stuff that nobody else does. And even the stuff that other people do, they don’t do it quite like us. We don’t do it like the record. So it’s all original, it’s definitely got its own stamp on it.

EGuide: What is your band’s favorite venue to play in East Texas, and why?

Richard: XL’N (on Fifth St.) is always great; Lago Del Pino is really nice. And we love Dick’s (Cajun Grill), which is over in Mount Selman.

FRESH by Brookshire’s, we’ve enjoyed that. There’s a place up in Jefferson we go play called The Knight Light Theater.

We really enjoy the people at those places; they really get into it. And it’s good when you get that audience participation. A lot of venues we’ve enjoyed playing, that’s why. If you’re just playing for 10 people and they’re really digging the band and dancing and having a good time, that’s what we’re there for. We’re not like a human jukebox. We have a lot of fun with people; we talk with ’em, we joke with ’em. And the way I view our shows is like, this is my time for my private party with them. They’re as much a part of the show as I am.

EGuide: What advice can you give to people trying to break into music, specifically in the blues and rock ’n’ roll genre?

Richard: Be yourself, I would say; you’ve got to be real. A lot of people copy what others are doing. When people think of Texas blues, a lot of people think of Stevie Ray Vaughan, and you can copy their blues licks on the guitar, but that doesn’t make you a blues band or a blues player. It’s just got to come from your heart. If I could give some other advice, I would say, bring lots of money. You’re gonna need it; bring lots of money.

EGuide: What artists have you been listening to lately?

Richard: I’ve been listening to so much stuff.

Clifton Chenier, a Louisiana artist I have recently been listening to. The Black Keys, I really like them.

James Brown, Otis Redding and Sam Cooke. All of that is really awesome to me. I love the guitar. I listen to a lot of country players because they can really pick that guitar. I listen to Marty Stuart. Buck Owens. I love Little Richard, Carl Perkins and Buddy Holly. You go all the way back to that.

But there’s a lot of different, current, contemporary blues artists that are just as fascinating. I love listening to Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who’s also a Louisiana artist. There’s such a variety of other people that you see in the contemporary blues scene such as Tommy Castro and Joe Bonamassa. I just love blues!

EGuide: Well, thank you, Richard. Do you have any other thoughts you’d like to share?

Richard: Just, thanks. I want to say thanks to all the people who’ve been supporting us, following us on Facebook, and buying music, coming out and seeing the shows. We’ve got a lot of people who’ve just been die-hards, really good friends to the band, and I just can’t thank them enough. All the people who’ve made all the shows such a success, because it’s really just as much about them as it is me. I love it when the people dance and get up and have a good time with us.

We had an interesting show at FRESH (in May), and there was an older couple that got up and danced to the music, and the lady got up afterwards and told us she was 85 years old, and the man had just turned 90. And they’re up there dancing. But that was just kind of an interesting thing.

That’s the kind of thing, that’s who I want to thank – the people for bringing the spirit to it, ’cause that’s the spirit of the show. We put on a show, but that’s the culture, rock ’n’ roll.

It’s a party. And you can’t have a party without some partygoers and making some noise and having a good time.

King Richard & the Bayou Boys have an album titled “Life of the Party,” available online at KingRichardtheBayouBoys.com (note that there is no “and” in the Web address), on iTunes, Amazon.com, and other online music retailers.

The band also has a new album in the works titled “Crawfish,” and Richard has his own upcoming solo album, “Tequila Nights,” which consists of 15 original songs recorded in New Orleans. He expects both to be released sometime in the fall.

Upcoming performances include: • June 6th - Texas Players Club in Longview at 9pm - 1am • July 4th - FRESH by Brookshire’s in Tyler at 6-9pm • July 11th - The Back Porch Outdoor Stage in Kilgore at 9pm - 1am, July 11.

Kilgore“After 5” Concert Series Continues

Friday, July 25th – The Bluebirds (8-10pm)

This will be a street dance! The Bluebirds have been performing as a 6-7 piece Blues/Soul/Dance Four evenings of entertainment remain for this band. Dirty Redd on trumpet and Omenka on sax along with Ben Kitterlin on drums are the core year’s “Fridays After 5” concert series.

“Our 2014 concert series will run monthly, typ- unit. Jason Coffied is first call guitarist and Julieann ically from 8-10pm, the World’s Richest Acre Park. Banks has been the female vocalist and plays bass The later schedule works better for the performers for the Van Morrison Tribute featuring Bruce Flett.

The players and singers may change, but the and the crowd in the Texas summer heat. OrganizBlues/Roots/R&B keeps the dance floor packed. ers are also looking for a secondary venue in case One might compare Bluebirds to other perenof inclement weather; if we’re not at the World’s nial favorites that have Richest Acre, visitors should evolved like Roomful of look for a sign directing Blues, Fabulous Thunthem to the night’s venue. derbirds, or Louisiana’s Friday, June 6th – LeRoux.

Dazed and Ally Venable Band (8-10pm)

We’ll be entertained by two bands, Dazed and Ally Venable Band, for this Friday evening. Dazed is a young classic rock band from East Texas that includes, Lance Hampton (lead guitar and vocals), Caleb Cannon (bass guitar and vocals), and Drew Theiring (drums and vocals). These young musicians have been called the band with “young hearts and old souls.” Ally Venable is a young local guitarist and vocalist with an amazing voice and a big sound. Her favorite styles of music include blues and country music and her major influences are Stevie Ray Vaughan, Gretchen Wilson, Buddy Guy, Orinthia and local band The Darby Warren Project.

Friday, August 15th – Daniel Foster and Levi Kitchen (9-12pm)

This is our Back to School Party! Daniel Foster has a unique style of music, traditional country with a hint of early gospel exposure.

Daniel also covers many classic country tunes as well as Daniel Foster “original” songs you are sure to love. Levi Kitchen, minister of music at Kilgore’s Cornerstone Fellowship, is a singer/songwriter who has been performing and recording music most of his life.

Levi plays a broad range of styles from Hard/ Progressive rock to Acoustic Blues/Jazz.

All concerts are free to the public and family friendly.

EGuideMagazine.com • 9

Edwin McCain at Liberty Hall

August 16th at 8pm Tickets are: $35 rows A-E; $30 rows D-K; Balcony rows AA-CC are $25 and DD-EE are $20, VIP Boxes are $200 and seat 4 per box Where: Liberty Hall, 113 E. Erwin, downtown Tyler Edwin McCain’s voice is everywhere. At any given moment, a radio station is playing one of his songs. An American Idol hopeful is belting out “I’ll Be.” A newlywed couple is dancing to “I Could Not Ask for More.” There’s Edwin singing the National Anthem before the Atlanta Braves and the Dodgers play for the pennant. Before a NASCAR race at Talladega. And at the NBA Finals. We hear him in over 100 concert halls throughout the country every year, and that’s not even counting the performances at the Super Bowl Village and fundraisers for Habitat for Humanity, the Wildflower Camp Foundation, Kyle Petty’s Victory Junction Gang and so many more. McCain’s innate ability to write and perform songs that somehow every listener claims as their own has made him one of the most enduring and downright likable entertainers of our generation.

The “New York Times” dubs Edwin the “great American romantic,” and his fans do certainly agree but it’s the fun that brings them back to his concerts every single time he comes through town. Edwin roars through soulful renditions of his songs, tosses in irrepressible vintage R&B rhythms and turns his concerts into parties. His between-song-banter is more stand-up than rock star, drawing as many laughs as cheers.

“It’s not about chart positions or record sales or anything like that,” insists the man with 11 albums, a wall of platinum and gold albums that have sold in the millions, and reams of Top 10, 20 and 40 hits, “it just has to do with people coming together and sharing a moment, that’s it. And that’s all I ever wanted to do. I just love that moment in the small club and bar where every single person in there has a moment where it’s silent and they get it and it’s beautiful, that moment where the music that’s coming off the stage is much more than the players and

Live Music Gig Guide Sunday, June 1st

Circle M Crawfish – Karaoke, 6-10 Iron Horse – open Mic, 3-7 XLN – Karaoke, 8-12

When: Cost:

A D

Tuesday, June 3rd

Coach’s & Cowboy’s – Karaoke, 8-12 The Shed, Edom – Pickin & Grinin, 6-9 Where’s Rufus – DJ , 8-12 Wednesday, June 4th

Click’s Live – Karaoke, 8-12 Cork – Dustin Becker, 7-9, The Forge, Ben Wheeler – Open Mic, 6-9 Iron Horse – Southern Comfort Karaoke, 8-12 Lago Del Pino – Open Mic, 9-12 Leon’s, Longview – Blues Jam with Jonny & The Night Crawlers, 8-11 Stanley’s BBQ – Mike Acoustic, 7-10 Thursday, June 5th

much more than the audience and something happens and you’re sitting there and your hair stands up. That’s it, man. I love it.”

Opening for Edwin McCain is “Michealis” Michaelis is made up of Meagan, Mallory and Madeline—their surname doubles as their band name—the group has been winning over audiences throughout its native Texas since youngest member Madeline was only 5 years old. “They’d sneak me through the back door of the honky-tonk and then I had to leave right after the show,” says Madeline.

Now all grown up, the girls spent the past two years collaborating with visionary Nashville producer Dave Brainard (Jerrod Niemann, Brandy Clark) on their debut album, a collection of songs that marries the traditional country their father played for them while growing up with the ’90s showmanship of artists like Garth Brooks, Shania Twain and, another Texas trio, the Dixie Chicks.

With harmonies as tight as their sisterly bond and a sexy, swaying sound all their own, Michaelis is a breath of fresh air in an often stifled and maleheavy musical environment.

Circle M Crawfish – Karaoke, 5-9 Cork – Acoustic Music, 9-12 The Forge, Ben Wheeler – Van Darien, 7-10 Iron Horse – Boogie Butt Karaoke, 8-12 Half Moon – DJ, 8-11 Moore’s Store, Ben Wheeler – Karaoke, 8-11 Potpourri House – Paul Ruark, 6:30-9 Purple Pig – Open Mic, 6-9 Shoguns – Open Mic, 7-10 Stanley’s – BBQ & Blues, Blue Louie, 6-9 Friday, June 6th

Sunday, June 8th

Circle M Crawfish – Karaoke, 6-10 Click’s – Blue Louie, 6-9 Iron Horse – open Mic, 3-7 XLN – Karaoke, 8-12 Tuesday, June 10th

The Back Porch, Kilgore – Tuxedo Cats, 8-12 Clicks – Channel 8, Babe, Night Lights, 9-1 Cork – Jazz Trio, 6-9, DJ Mike, 9-12 Crawdaddy’s, Flint – Bobby Edwards & The Blue Cats, 6-9 Dick’s Cajun Grill, Mt. Selman – DJ Krash Karaoke, 8-12 The Forge, Ben Wheeler – Father/Brother, 7-10 Fresh – Johnny & The Nightcrawlers, 6-9 Iron Horse – 315 South, 8-12 Jakes – Shana Rubin, 8-11 Juls – The Magills, 7-10 Lago Del Pino – Something Blue, 8-11 Mario’s – Live Jazz, 6-10 Moore’s Store, Ben Wheeler – Mike Ryan, 8-12 Potpourri House – Bobby & Ken, 6:30-9 Purple Pig – Live acoustic music, 6-9 Ricks – Identity Theft, 8-12 Stanley’s BBQ – The Effinays, 9-12 Wrights BBQ – Hoss Huggins, 7-10 Yamato – DJ, 9-12 Saturday, June 7th

The Back Porch, Kilgore – Shinebox, 9-1 Breakers – Live Music, 8-10

Circle M Crawfish – Live Music, 7-10 Clicks Live – Adakain, Black Top Mojo, Deano N’ Chains, 9-1 Cork – Levi Kitchens, 7-10, DJ Cicero, 10-1 Crawdaddy’s, Chapel Hill – Bobby Edwards & The Blues Cats, 6-9 Crawdaddy’s, Flint – Boogie Butts Karaoke, 8-12 Dick’s Cajun Grill, Mt. Selman – Live Music, 8-12 The Forge, Ben Wheeler – Craig Wallace, 3-6, Kid Icarus Project, 7-11 Fresh – Senor Gringo, 6-9 Half Moon – Live Music, 9-1 Iron Horse – I20 Band, 9-1 Jake’s – The Brass Tax, 8-11 Juls – Tuxedo Cats, 10-1 Lago Del Pino – LC Rocks, 8-12 Mario’s – Live Jazz, 6-9 Moore’s Store, Ben Wheeler – Chris Wayne Band, 8-11 Potpourri House – Bobby & Ken, 6:30-9 Rick’s – Electric Circus, 9-1 Shoguns – Live Music, 8-12 Stone Country Dance Hall, Lindale – Callahan Divide, 9-1 Sweet Dreams Winery, Palestine – Byrd & Street, 7-10 XLN – Todd Freeman, 9-1 Where’s Rufus – DJ, 8-12 Wrights BBQ – Karaoke, 7-10 Yamato – Karaoke, 9-1

Coach’s & Cowboy’s – Karaoke, 8-12 The Shed, Edom – Pickin & Grinin, 6-9 Where’s Rufus – DJ, 8-12 Wednesday, June 11th

Click’s Live – Karaoke, 8-12 Cork – Dustin Becker, 7-9 The Forge, Ben Wheeler – Open Mic, 6-9 Iron Horse – Southern Comfort Karaoke, 8-12 Lago Del Pino – Open Mic, 9-12 Leon’s, Longview – Blues Jam with Jonny & The Night Crawlers, 8-11 Stanley’s BBQ – Mike Acoustic, 7-10 Thursday, June 12th

Circle M Crawfish – Karaoke, 5-9 Cork – Acoustic Music, 9-12 The Forge, Ben Wheeler – Bobby Duncan, 7-10 Iron Horse – Boogie Butt Karaoke, 8-12 Half Moon – DJ, 8-11 Moore’s Store, Ben Wheeler – Karaoke, 8-11 Potpourri House – Paul Ruark, 6:30-9 Purple Pig – Open Mic, 6-9 Shoguns – Open Mic, 7-10

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Available on iTunes and most online retailers, or pick up a CD at Hastings in Tyler or Victor Music Exchange in Lindale.

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Stanley’s – BBQ & Blues, 6-9 Friday, June 13th

The Back Porch, Kilgore – Kid Icarus Project, 8-12 Clicks – Black Top Mojo, 9-1 Cork – Jazz Trio, 6-9, DJ Cicero, 9-12 Crawdaddy’s, Flint – Chris Colston, 7-10 Dick’s Cajun Grill, Mt. Selman – Karaoke, 8-12 The Forge, Ben Wheeler – Matt Dunn, 7-10 Fresh – Bobby Edwards & The Blue Cats, 6-9 Halfmoon – 7 Years Today, 8-12 Iron Horse – Big Hotel, 8-12 Jakes –Mental Custody, 8-11 Juls – Pocket Tangerines, 8-11 Lago Del Pino – Daniel De La Rocha, 8-11 Mario’s – Live Jazz, 6-10 Moore’s Store, Ben Wheeler – Bill Hilly, 8-12 Potpourri House – Bobby & Ken, 6:30-9 Purple Pig - Live Acoustic Music, 6-9 Ricks – The Stars, 8-12 Stanley’s BBQ – Sound Track Mind, 9-12 Wrights BBQ – Jayme Marcontel, 7-10 Yamato – DJ, 9-12 Saturday, June 14th

The Back Porch, Kilgore – Randy Morrison & Joanna Endsley, 8-12 Breakers – Live Music, 8-10 Circle M Crawfish – Live Music, 7-10 Clicks Live – Funeral Horse, 9-1 Cork – Tuxedo Cats,DJ Rufus, 9-12 Crawdaddy’s, Chapel Hill – Sons Of Affliction 6-9 Crawdaddy’s, Flint – Boogie Butts Karaoke, 8-12 Dick’s Cajun Grill, Mt. Selman – Group Therapy, 8-12 The Forge, Ben Wheeler – Ann Armstrong & Steve Hughes, 7-10 Fresh – Jaden Farnsworth, 6-9 Iron Horse – Teazur, 9-1 Jake’s – Behind The Wall, 8-11 Lago Del Pino – Live Music, 9-12 Mario’s – Live Jazz, 6-9 Moore’s Store, Ben Wheeler – Mike McClure, 8-11 Potpourri House – Bobby & Ken, 6:30-9 Rick’s – Bushrod Jenkins, 9-1 Shoguns – Live Music, 8-12 Sweet Dreams Winery, Palestine – Patrick James Freden, 7-10 Where’s Rufus – DJ, 8-12 Wrights BBQ – Karaoke, 7-10 XLN – Phatt Johnny And The Buicks, 9-1 Yamato – Karaoke, 9-1 Sunday, June 15th

Circle M Crawfish – Karaoke, 6-10 Click’s – Live Music, 6-9 Iron Horse – Open Mic, 3-7 XLN – Karaoke, 8-12 Tuesday, June 17th

Coach’s & Cowboy’s – Karaoke, 8-12 The Shed, Edom – Pickin & Grinin, 6-9 Where’s Rufus – DJ , 8-12 Wednesday, June 18th

The Back Porch, Kilgore – Ronny and Friends, 7-10 Click’s Live – Karaoke, 8-12 Cork – Dustin Becker, 6-9 The Forge, Ben Wheeler – Open Mic, 6-9 Iron Horse – Southern Comfort Karaoke, 8-12 Lago Del Pino – Open Mic, 9-12 Leon’s, Longview – Blues Jam with Jonny & The Night Crawlers, 8-11 Stanley’s BBQ – Mike Acoustic, 7-10

Cork – Lauren Alexander, 7-10 DJ Rufus, 10-1 Crawdaddy’s, Chapel Hill – Phatt Johnny & Stephanie Born, 6-9 Crawdaddy’s, Flint – Sons Of Affliction, 8-12 Dick’s Cajun Grill, Mt. Selman – Live Music, 9-1 The Forge, Ben Wheeler – Junebug Festival, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Damn Quails, Oil Boom, Stefan Cotter, Kid Icarus Project, 3-12 Fresh – Purple Velvet Fox Jazz, 6-9 Half Moon Grill – Randall King Band, 9-1 Iron Horse – Shinebox, 9-1 Jakes – Dazed, 9-12 Juls – The Magills, 10-1 Lago Del Pino – TJ Broscoff, 8-11 Mario’s – Live Jazz 6-9 Moore’s Store, Ben Wheeler – Lookin’ Back Texas, 8-11 Potpourri House – Bobby & Ken, 6:30-9 Ricks – Safira, 9-1 Shoguns – Live Music, 8-12 Sweet Dreams Winery, Palestine – Keith Rae, 7-10 Where’s Rufus DJ , 9-1 Wrights BBQ – Karaoke, 6-9 XLN – Behind The Wall, 9-1 Yamato – Karaoke, 9-1 Sunday, June 22nd

Circle M Crawfish – Karaoke, 5-9 Click’s – Live Music, 6-9 Iron Horse – Open Mic, 3-7 XLN – Karaoke, 8-12 Tuesday, June 24th

Coach’s & Cowboy’s – Karaoke, 8-12 The Shed, Edom – Pickin & Grinin, 6-9 Where’s Rufus – DJ JB, 8-12 Wednesday, June 25th

The Back Porch, Kilgore – Cole Allen, 7-10 Circle M Crawfish – Live Music, 5-9 Click’s Live – Karaoke, 8-12 Cork – Dustin Becker 7-9, The Forge, Ben Wheeler – Open Mic, 6-9 Iron Horse – Southern Comfort Karaoke, 8-12 Lago Del Pino – Open Mic, 9-12 Leon’s, Longview – Blues Jam with Jonny & The Night Crawlers, 8-11 Sports Zone – DJ Cicero, 8-12 Stanley’s BBQ – Mike Acoustic, 7-10 Thursday, June 26th

Circle M Crawfish – Karaoke, 6-10 Click’s Live – DJ, 8-12 Cork – Acoustic, 9-12 The Forge, Ben Wheeler – Devine Leigh, 7-10 Half Moon – Live Music, 8-12 Iron Horse – Boogie Butt Karaoke, 8-12 Moore’s Store, Ben Wheeler – Karaoke, 8-11 Potpourri House – Paul Ruark, 6:30-9 Purple Pig – Open Mic, 6-10 Shoguns – Open Mic, 7-10 Stanley’s – BBQ & Blues, 6-9 Friday, June 27th

Circle M Crawfish – Karaoke, 5-9 Clicks Live – The Foundation, 9-12 Cork – Acoustic, 9-12 The Forge, Ben Wheeler – Wesley Pruitt, 7-10 Half Moon – DJ, 8-11 Iron Horse – Boogie Butt Karaoke, 8-12 Moore’s Store, Ben Wheeler – Karaoke, 8-11 Potpourri House – Paul Ruark, 6:30-9 Purple Pig – Open Mic, 6-9 Shoguns – Open Mic, 7-10 Stanley’s – BBQ & Blues, Blue Louie, 6-9

The Back Porch, Kilgore – Voodudes, 8-12 Circle M Crawfish – Live Music, 7-10 Cork – Jazz Trio, 7-9, DJ Austin Day, 9-12 Crawdaddy’s, Chapel Hill – Chris Colston, 6-9 Crawdaddy’s, Flint – Kaitlyn Bretta, 7-10 Dick’s Cajun Grill, Mt. Selman – Karaoke, 8-12 The Forge, Ben Wheeler – Ben Lowery & Wes Hendrix, 7-10 Fresh – Lauren Alexander Band, 6-9 Half Moon Grill – Chris Wayne Band, 8-12 Iron Horse – Bobby Edwards & The Blue Cats, 8-12 Jakes – Steve Carpenter, 8-11 Juls – Dan Rocha Trio, 10-1 Lago Del Pino – Dustin Becker, 8-12 Mario’s – Live Jazz, 6-9 Moore’s Store, Ben Wheeler – Texas Rebellion, 8-11 Potpourri House – Bobby & Ken, 6:30-9 Purple Pig – Live Acoustic Music, 6-9 Ricks – Empire 6, 8-12 Stanley’s BBQ – Shinyribs, 9-12 Wrights BBQ – Group Theropy, 7-10 Yamato – DJ, 9-12

Friday, June 20th

Saturday, June 28th

Thursday, June 19th

The Back Porch, Kilgore – Lady Chazz & The Tramps, 8-12 Clicks Live – Downfall Rising, Victims Of Sanity, ETX Binary System, Everything Shatters, 9-12 Cork – Jazz Trio, 6-9, DJ Mike, 9-12 Crawdaddy’s, Chapel Hill – Bobby Edwards & The Blues Cats, 6-9 Crawdaddy’s, Flint – Chris Colston, 6-9 Dick’s Cajun Grill, Mt. Selman – DJ Krash Karaoke, 8-12 The Forge, Ben Wheeler – Heather Little & Matt Bradshaw, 7-10 Fresh – The Haggerty’s, 6-9 Half Moon Grill – 7 Years Today, 8-12 Iron Horse – Something Blue, 8-12 Jakes – Quentin Moore, 8-11 Juls – Tuxedo Cats, 8-11 Lago Del Pino – Jordan Farnsworth, 8-11 Mario’s – Live Jazz, 6-9 Moore’s Store, Ben Wheeler – Faster Horses, 8-11 Potpourri House – Bobby & Ken, 6:30-9 Purple Pig – Live Acoustic Music, 6-9 Rick’s – Space Rockers, 8-12 Stanley’s BBQ – Sideshow Tragedy, 9-12 Wrights BBQ – Blind Mojo, 7-10 Yamato – DJ, 9-12 Saturday, June 21st

The Back Porch, Kilgore – Ally Venable Band, 8-12 Breakers – Live Music, 8-10 Circle M Crawfish – Live Music, 7-10 Click’s Live – Stillbent, Darkside Of Daylight, Driven Below, 9-1

The Back Porch, Kilgore – Dazed, 8-12 Breakers – Live Music, 8-10 Circle M Crawfish – Live Music, 7-10 Click’s Live – Riverhead, Cinder Cell, This Day Fourth, Heartsease, 8-12 Cork – Shay Bailiff, 7-10, DJ Mike, 10-1 Crawdaddy’s, Chapel Hill – Sons Of Affliction, 6-9 Crawdaddy’s, Flint – Boogie Butts Karaoke, 8-12 Dick’s Cajun Grill, Mt. Selman – Live Music, 9-1 The Forge, Ben Wheeler – Taylor Heard, 7-10 Fresh – The Magills, 6-9 Halfmoon Grill – Live Music, 9-1 Iron Horse – Anthony Riley Band, 9-1 Jakes – Little Man Zac, 9-12 Juls – DJ Shane Payne, 10-1 Lago Del Pino – Cody Riley, 9-1 Mario’s – Live Jazz, 6-9 Moore’s Store, Ben Wheeler – Blacktop Gypsy, 8-11 Potpourri House – Bobby & Ken, 6:30-9 Ricks – Big Mouth, 9-1 Shogun – Live Music, 7-11 Sweet Dreams Winery, Palestine – Eric Moseley Duo, 7-10 Where’s Rufus - DJ , 9-1 Wrights BBQ – Karaoke, 6-9 XLN – Remedy Stick, 9-1 Yamato – Karaoke, 9-1

Entertainment Specialist

Sunday, June 29th

Circle M Crawfish – Karaoke, 5-9 Iron Horse – Open Mic, 3-7 XLN – Karaoke, 8-12

EGuideMagazine.com • 11

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EGuideMagazine.com • 13

Festivals The Third Annual East Texas Comedy Festival:

An Impressive Line Up of Talent

“The Conan O’Brien Show,” “MADtv,” “Reno 911,” “Key and Peele,” “The Tonight Show” and “That 70’s Show” are just a handful of credits the headliners of the Third Annual East Texas Comedy Festival bring to the stage of Liberty Hall on June 13th and 14th for a weekend of comedy with an edge the city of Tyler has never experienced before. Both nights start at 8pm with the “Late Night” Stand Up beginning at 11pm.

Friday, June 13th at 8pm will feature Tyler Elliott, Daryl Felsberg whose album “Bad Fatitude” has played all over XM Sirius Radio’s Comedy Channels, and Jimmy Pardo from the “Conan O’Brien Show.”

Jimmy Pardo is one of the biggest names in stand up comedy. Jimmy continues to headline at some of America’s top comedy clubs and is the warm-up comic for Conan and appears often on the show as a member of Team Coco. His raucous-but-smart podcast “Never Not Funny” is consistently rated as a top comedy podcast. His guest list reads like a Who’s Who of comedy. His stand up style is very interactive as he plays off the live audience. He acquired this style while being the warm-up comic to get the studio audience ready for Conan O’Brien.

Pardo is as funny talking to a stranger in an elevator as he is talking to a crowd from the stage. Everything he observes or thinks, he immediately scans to find the funny.

After Jimmy was told for the thousandth time that he was even funnier offstage than he was onstage, he dropped most of the jokes from his act. Now he spends nearly his entire set interacting with, and making fun of, his audience.

In addition to appearing working with Conan, he has performed on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” He hosted “National Lampoon’s Funny Money” on the Game Show Network, and was the co-host of AMC’s “Movies at Our House” for four seasons. He has hosted episodes of VH1’s “The Surreal Life” and “Love Lounge” and NBC’s “Late Friday.”

He’s appeared on popular shows such as “Monk,” “That 70’s Show” and “Becker.”

New to the festival this year Friday at 11pm is “The Local Late Night Show” hosted by Brandon Davidson and music by Struck by Hammerz! This show will combine a stand up show with a late night talk show format.

“We are really excited about putting this show on. We’re writing bits for it, there will be stand up comics including the East Texas Funniest Comic and 9-year-old Saffy Herndon. Comedians will actually sit at the desk as if on an actual talk show and the best part is we’ll have a live band on stage throughout the show. This has been a very challenging opportunity but we believe our end result will be a very entertaining reward for those in attendance,” says festival producer Jamey Whitley.

Saturday night at 8pm the festival continues featuring the improv madness of Tyler’s own Card 53 featuring new members from Dallas’ Fourth Wall Comedy. This is for the easily not offended-type audience. Following Card 53 will be Alice & Edward who will get a one-word suggestion to inspire a series of scenes never performed before and performed completely off the cuff to explore characters and relationships much like an improvised sitcom.

Alice and Edward are the middle names of Susan Messing and Frank Caeti. Frank Caeti was a cast member of the hit sketch TV show “MADtv,” has appeared as a guest many times on the hit show “Key and Peele” and is currently working with the producers of “Key and Peele” for a new digital series.

Susan Messing is one of the most fearless performers in the history of improvisation, is an alumna of the iO Theatre, Second City’s Mainstage, and is a founding member of Chicago’s infamous Annoyance Theatre. Her show “Messing with a Friend” is one of the most popular improv shows in Chicago as she performs with a different guest each week.

She performed last year as a headliner in the TBS “Just for Laugh’s Festival” in Chicago with “SNL’s” Tim Meadows.

“I am completely honored to have Frank and Susan here. Frank is one of the hardest working and most loved entertainers in the improv industry. Susan is known all over as an improv legend and is one of the most sought after improv teachers. She developed the level two curriculum at iO – the same improv school where Tina Fey, Chris Farley, Mike Myers and so many others came from,” says Whitley.

Frank and Susan will also be teaching improv workshops during the day on Saturday. Previous improv or theatre experience is highly recommended but is not required.

The Third Annual East Texas Comedy Festival presented by Prosperity Bank will be June 13th and 14th at Liberty Hall. This festival is not intended for children or the easily offended. Tickets and workshops are available for purchase online. For more information please visit www.LibertyTyler.com, “like” The East Texas Comedy Festival Facebook page or call Liberty Hall at (903)595-7274.

The mission of Liberty Hall is to create an exciting arts and entertainment experience that will integrate the arts into the downtown’s social, economic and community fabric by providing diverse opportunities for entertainment, through film, theater, comedy and music.

14 • EGuideMagazine.com

The Jacksonville Tomato Festival: Everything’s Coming Up Tomatoes

By Lynn Dark

When: Saturday, June 14th, 9am-4pm Where: The area of The Tomato Bowl and the Norman Activity Center on Commerce St. Cost: Free to attend I love Jacksonville tomatoes. Red ones or green ones, it doesn’t matter.

They are amazingly good. You really can’t help but be impressed by all of the uses our Jacksonville neighbors have come up with for their tomatoes.

The city of Jacksonville will be hosting their 30th annual Tomato Festival on June 14th. Peggy Renfro with the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce kindly took time out of her busy schedule to sit down with me and discuss what we can look forward to at this year’s festival.

Most events will take place from 9am-4pm in the area of The Tomato Bowl and the Norman Activity Center on Commerce Street.

Shuttle services will be available for those parking closer to the overpass.

There are 200 vendor slots and they are expected to be full. There will be booths offering everything from East Texas arts and crafts, food items, clothing, cowboy hats, woodwork, and a multitude of other items. There will also be plenty of food vendors, information booths, raffles and items for children. Some of the vendors are local, but other vendors will be coming in from as far away as Houston, Dallas, Central Texas and Louisiana.

This is the first year the city will be presenting specialty label salsas for sale. Several different flavors will be offered, ranging from hot to sweet. In addition, a tomato based salad dressing will be available for purchase.

Be sure to visit the Farmer’s Market, located in the parking lot across from the Tomato Bowl and adjacent to the Norman Activity Center. All of the produce available for sale is of the finest quality and grown by local farmers. All of the Cherokee County Tomato growers are being encouraged to gather up their tomatoes and be a part of the festival. The categories they will be competing in are Commercial Grower-Biggest and Best Plate of Three; Individual Grower-Biggest, Best Plate of Three; Best Plate of Three-Heirloom Variety; and Best Plate of Three-12 and under. Open categories include Most Unusual and People’s Choice. All of these categories have a cash prize of $75.

There will be several new events this year, including a tomato packing contest, a 5K Run, a baby crawling contest, and a photo contest. $1000 in prizes will be awarded for the best photos taken at the festival.

Is your baby the fastest crawler in town? The Kid’s Klub Baby Crawling Contest will be held inside the Norman Activity Center beginning at 9am.

Another new addition to this year’s festival is a designated area for children’s activities, called the Kids Zone. Administered by the Health Department, this area will be located in the building next to the Norman Activity Center and will be entirely devoted to providing fun activities specifically designed for kids.

The salsa contest is divided into four categories: Fire Engine Hot, Medium, Sweet, and Pico de Gallo.

All entrants must use Jacksonville tomatoes in their salsa. Judging is based on taste and texture.

If you are interested in participating in the Tomato Eating contest, be prepared to attempt to eat five “nice sized tomatoes” in three minutes. The winner is who eats the most or who finishes the fastest.

The Homegrown Tomato contest is open to Cherokee County residents. The Chamber of Commerce works with the County Extension Agent and Master Gardeners to award monetary prizes in several different categories.

Something that I can’t quite wrap my mind around is the tomato peeling contest. Put your paring knives away. If you want to participate in this contest, be prepared to peel an entire tomato with your teeth. Competitors range in age from 5 to 80 years old. Judging is based on who can peel their tomato the fastest while leaving something that still resembles an intact tomato.

A talent contest takes place between 1-4pm. $500 in prize money is up for grabs and the only caveats are that the talent must be family friendly, and if you’re singing, you must know your song.

Karaoke is not allowed. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

One of the most exciting things going on after the main festival events are over is the 9th annual Street Dance that will take place in front of Chili’s from 7-10pm. Several hundred people are expected to turn out to enjoy the free music. Those interested in attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and listen to the live band, Lady Chazz and the Tramps. In addition to the band, Boogie Butt Productions will be providing DJ entertainment. Local bands will be playing throughout the day during breaks between contests. There will also be a gospel concert starting at 5pm in the Norman Activity Center.

Anywhere from 40 to 60 cars participate in the Car Show each year. The show is divided into three categories: street cars, custom cars and custom trucks.

There will be awards in each category. The Motorcycle Show was added a couple of years ago, and it continues to grow every year. There were 30 participants last year and even more are expected this year.

Awards will be given in this show as well. An average of ten tractors participate in the Tractor Show each year. There are no prizes for this event. Participants meet up to visit and enjoy the festival going on around them.

For those who are interested, shed tours are available. The public has the opportunity to observe the way tomatoes are sorted and packaged prior to being sent out to buyers. The shed tours take place just a few blocks from the main festival.

The fishing tournament takes place on Lake Jacksonville. Prizes awarded for total catch and the biggest bass. Approximately 60 teams participated last year.

There will also be a USPTA Gran Prix Juniors Tennis Tournament taking place at Jacksonville High School. Entry fees go into Jacksonville Tennis Association scholarship fund. Trophies will be awarded to winners in each age division, and all entrants get a t-shirt.

If you aren’t overwhelmed by all of the things going on, there will also be a soccer tournament. Last year, 66 teams entered this event.

For more info, including contest rules, prizes, entry forms and fees, eligibility, calendar of events, e-mail and telephone contacts, visit the festival’s website at www.jacksonvilletexas.com/pages/TomatoFest/.

Things to Do

Events

Saturday, May 3rd - East Texas Bombers Roller Derby Season Continues with the following games, all starting at 5pm. Are you ready East Texas? It’s time to get loud with the Bomb Squad! Whether you are a long-time fan or this is your first bout, it is our pleasure to welcome you to the exciting world of Roller Derby. This is great family fun. The hits that happen on the track are full body contact and skaters may go flying into the suicide seats section. This season Support a Great games are: Cause and See June 14th - Mountain Gateway Sisterhood Of Steel August 2nd - Northside Fury Hidden Gardens October 18th - Bat City Rebellion Wanna see some beautiful gardens Tickets are pre-sale $10, and at the door, $12. Suicide plus help out a great cause? Then attend (track side seating) is $15 and children under 10 are this fundraiser that helps support the free. Doors open at 4pm and the bouts start at 5pm. many projects that the Smith County A portion of the proceeds go to local charities. No Master Gardeners (SCMG) sponsor in outside food or drinks are allowed. the Tyler area. SCMG has four gardens within the Tyler Rose Garden, the Hid- First and Third Saturday of each month - Free C&W den Garden (an educational display for Dance Lessons will take place at TASCA from 5:30school children) at the East Texas State 6:30pm. Join instructor Hugh Wallace for some great Country & Western dance tips and steps. Then stay Fair each September, and free educational presentations for the general pub- to practice your new skills during the C & W dances lic seven months each year at the I.D.E.A. Garden. the same nights, 7-9:30pm. Don’t miss the fun!

Master Gardeners also give presentations to garden For more information call (903)871-3217. TASCA Activity Center Ballroom is located at 10495 CR 2167 clubs and other public organizations.

(Jim Russell Rd.) in Whitehouse.

Smith County Master Gardeners, a volunteer organization of Texas A&M AgriLife ExtenFirst Tuesday of the Month - The IDEA Gardening sion Service, will host their annual garden tour on Series is an informative lecture series covering June 7th. Four private gardens in the City of Tyler gardening topics suitable for a particular month. The will be open to the public from 9am-3pm, rain or lectures are held on the patio in the IDEA garden, shine. Each garden has a different setting, from which is located in the southeast corner of Tyler’s causal, to a shady hillside to a formal garden of Rose Garden starting at 12 noon. There is limited individual rooms. Each of the gardens offer interseating. You may want to bring a lawn chair for your esting landscaping ideas that could be an inspicomfort. The lecture will run for about 30 minutes ration for the individual homeowner looking for followed by a question and answer session. June 3rd: designs for their own gardens.

“Succulents” is the topic. Lectures are sponsored by The cost to tour all the gardens is $10 each in the Smith County Master Gardeners Association and advance, cash or check. Tickets on the day of the the Texas Agri-Life Extension Service. It is held at tour are $12 each.

The Tyler Rose Gardens, 420 Rose Park Dr., Tyler, Advance tickets are on sale till June 6th and may be purchased at the following locations: Brookshire’s (903)670-3302. on Rice Road in Tyler, Potpourri House at 3320 Troup Hwy. Tyler, Blue Moon Nursery at 13062 FM 279, Every Tuesday and Saturday - Rose City Farmers Chandler, Rubicon Wild Birds at 19456 Hwy. 155 S. Noonday and the Extension Office in the Cotton Market will take place 8am-1pm, featuring the best Belt Building 1517 Front St., Suite 116.

Some of the gardens are not handicap accessible and we request that wagons or strollers not be used in locally grown produce, local artists, and local music. This is a vibrant community marketplace in the garden spaces.

For more information please call the Smith County Master Gardeners at (903)590-2980 or go to the promoting fresh, healthy, local foods grown within 75 miles of the market, handcrafted art and artisan website scmg.tamu.edu.

Summer Garden Tour:

products, local music, sustainable living, education, and entertainment. This will take place at Juls Restaurant, 7212 Old Jacksonville Hwy., both Tuesday and Saturdays (7am-1pm) and at the Salvation Army on Thursdays (8am-1pm). For more info call (903)4846120, foodcoalition.org. Admission is free.

Every Tuesday and Thursday - East Texas State Fair Farmers Market will be held starting at 7am. Located under the south pavilion at the Fairgrounds, 2112 W. Front St., Tyler, this farmer’s market features all of it’s favorite farmers that the heart of Tyler has known for years. There has been a market at the fairgrounds for decades and this year is no different. For recent updates and info visit the their Facebook page or www.etstatefair.com. This will continue through July.

For more info (903)597-2501. It is free to attend.

Saturday, June 14th - Cattle Baron’s Gala - Country artist and Tyler resident Joe Nichols will headline the 27th annual Tyler Cattle Barons’ Gala.

This year’s theme is ‘Wranglers and Roses,’ and you’ll want to slip on a pair of the jeans for this fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Nichols is known for his hits “Brokenheartsville” and “Sunny and 75.” He moved to Tyler in 2010 and says he’s happy to finally be able to take part in this fundraiser.

“It seems like it makes sense on all fronts. It’s a great way to play at home in front of family and friends and it’s a great way to give to the community I live in.” Nichols plans on performing some fan favorites along with some new material. The gala is scheduled for Saturday, June 14th at the Rio Neches Ranch. For tickets or more info go to American Cancer Society Tyler office, 1301 S. Broadway, Tyler, (903)5971383, www.cattlebaronsgala.net. Festivities start at 7pm. There will be a silent auction, live music, food vendors and lots of fun. Be prepared, most vendors at the festival only accept cash.

Cont. Page 16

EGuideMagazine.com • 15

Cont. from Page 15 Friday-Sunday, June 13th-15th - Always...

Patsy Cline Dinner Theatre - Patsy’s back for three performances only at the beautiful KE Bushman’s Celebration Center, located in Bullard. Tickets are for “Intimate seating” $40 and “Premium Seating” $50. There will be a dinner served June 13th-14th and a Sunday Brunch June 15th. This Tyler Civic Theatre presentation of “Always...Patsy Cline” will be held at KE Bushman’s Celebration Center, 1565 FM 2493 E., Bullard, www.kiepersol.com.

Saturday, June 21st - Book Signing for Scott Meador at Bruno’s Pizza - Amazon Bestselling author and East Texas native Scott Meador will be at Bruno’s Pizza in Gresham from 6-10pm on June 21st celebrating the release of “Temptation,” the follow up to his hit “Redemption.”

There will be free food, a reading from “Temptation,” a Q&A session, autographs, and door prizes. For more info you can go online at www.scottmeador.weebly.com Saturday, June 28th - Funky Junk Round-Up is a one day shopping extravaganza featuring a unique blend of handcrafted art and crafts, vintage finds and inspiration, one of a kind items, antique décor, hand painted furniture, rusty-chippy-shabby-reloved and refunked junk, bling and glam boutiques, sparkly jewels and fabulous junk-tiques for your creative soul. This will take place at Harvey Convention Center, Tyler, 10am-4pm. There is a $3 admittance fee.

Thursday-Saturday, June 26th-28th “Godspell” presented by Pollard Theatre Center will be at 7:30pm nightly at Pollard United Methodist Church Founders Center and there will be a matinee at 2:30pm at Bergfeld Park Amphitheater stage Saturday, June 28th.

Based on the Gospel, according to St. Matthew, a small group helps Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a wide variety of storytelling techniques and doses of humor. Songs ranging in style from pop to vaudeville are employed as the story of Jesus’ life dances across the stage and His message of kindness, tolerance and love come vibrantly to life. Pollard Founders Center is on the Pollard campus, 3030 Cope-

FIRE

land Road, Tyler, Admission is free.

Saturday, June 28th - Downtown Wine Swirl Event - The historic heart of the city will celebrate a new event, the Downtown Tyler Wine Swirl, Saturday, June 28th. “The Wine Swirl will give the downtown and local restaurants great exposure, and it will also pair those restaurants with area vineyards,” Beverly Abell said. “In addition, it is a fundraiser for our Main Street Department, which has the mission of downtown revitalization.”

Abell explained that a Wine Swirl is a pairing of locally owned restaurants with vineyards.

Ticket holders will be able to “swirl” from site to site downtown to sample food and wine while enjoying live entertainment and art. Those who want more information or to purchase tickets should go online to www.DowntownTylerArts.com or call Gallery Main Street at (903) 593-6905.

Friday, July 4th - Annual Patriotic Concert will take place 4-5pm. This annual celebration for the East Texas community will feature recognition of all service veterans in the audience as the song of his or her service is sung -- music by the Tyler Civic Chorale and guest artists. This will be held at the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, 230 West Rusk Street, Tyler. Admission is free to the public. For more go to www.tylercivicchorale.org.

EGuide will list any event for free, yes, you read that right,

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Log on to our website, click “Submit an Event” and simply fill out the form. It’s that easy!

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MOUNTAIN

16 • EGuideMagazine.com

“Macbeth”

The 2014 Season Promises to be the Best Ever

This year, the Texas Shakespeare Festival continues the long-standing tradition of excellence with the following performances:

“Cymbeline”

By William Shakespeare, directed by Deb Alley Presented June 26th, July 3rd, 5th, 11th, 13th, 18th, 20th, 24th, 26th One of Shakespeare’s later romances, “Cymbeline” is filled with memorable characters – a treacherous villain, a virtuous heroine, a jealous husband, an evil queen, and her detestable but comical son. Cinematic in structure, “Cymbeline” is similar to a modern-day romance-thriller, moving between several locations as it tells more than one story about the triumph of love and truth over selfishness, jealousy, and falsehood.

“Noises Off”

By Michael Frayn, directed by Raymond Caldwell Presented June 27th, July 4th, 6th, 11th, 13th, 17th, 19th, 24th, 26th Since its debut in 1982, “Noises Off” has become one of the most-produced comedies of all time. Frank Rich of the New York times called it “the funniest play written in my lifetime.” This side-splitting farce is about a thirdrate theatre company performing a touring production of a pointless comedy called “Nothing On.” Their neurotic personalities, fractured relationships, and backstage misbehavior combine to create an evening of absolute mayhem and constant laughter.

By William Shakespeare, directed by Steve Tague Presented June 28th; July 4th, 6th, 10h, 12th, 17th, 19th, 25th, 27th Known throughout the world as a true dramatic masterpiece, “Macbeth” is one of Shakespeare’s most thrilling and dramatic plays. Frightening, suspenseful, and profound, it is an unforgettable morality play about the consequences of unbridled ambition and the lust for power. “Macbeth” is brief but powerful, full of unforgettable characters, imagery, and poetry.

“My Fair Lady”

Book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner / music by Frederick Loewe, directed and choreographed by Ann Nieman, music direction by Arnold Sherman Presented June 29th; July 3rd, 5th, 10th, 12th, 18th, 20th, 25th, 27th “My Fair Lady,” written in 1956, is based on George Bernard Shaw’s play “Pygmalion” and, in many people’s opinion, is actually more satisfying than its original source. Written by the talented duo who wrote “Brigadoon,” “Paint Your Wagon,” and “Camelot,” “My Fair Lady” is simply irresistible. The romantic Cinderella story, the music and lyrics, the visual spectacle – everything about it is beautiful.

“My Fair Lady” is an icon of the American musical theatre, and perhaps the best musical ever written.

“A Children’s Production”

By Jason Richards, directed by Jason Richards Presented July 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th at 10am Tickets are available by calling (903)983-8601 or on-line at www.TexasShakespeare.com. Tickets range from $25-30. Times vary so be sure to look up each production. Texas Shakespeare Festival is located at 1100 Broadway, Kilgore. For more info or group tickets call (903)983-9117 or (903)983-8119.

Family

Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion: One Exhibit, Two Venues

By Kelly Griffith-Fields

The Center for Earth and Space Science Education at Tyler Junior College (CESSE) and Discovery Science Place (DSP) has collaborated once again on a duel-venue venture, “Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion.”

“CESSE and DSP are natural partners in science education in the East Texas area,” Dr. Tom Hooten, director of the CESSE at TJC said. “We have partnered on previous exhibits such as Jurassic Summer last year. It was a natural fit for us to partner on this – one exhibit; two venues.”

‘Machines in Motion’ is an internationally acclaimed exhibition offering forty life-sized, interactive machines from the mind and manuscripts of da Vinci.

Machines displayed are derived from da Vinci’s drawings. They have been brought to reality by a team of modern scientist and artisans. The team hand crafted his designs using tools and materials available in da Vinci’s era.

The full sized machines are presented along with drawings which they were derived from. Visitors are able to set in motion the interactive displays; discovering the creativity, mechanical and engineering concepts from the genius.

“Da Vinci was perhaps the first master of both art and science,” Hooten said. “By studying his designs we can see that many of his machines were simultaneously complex and beautiful.”

The exhibit is organized into four parts based on elements of nature and divided between the two venues.

DSP will be hosting the Earth and Fire exhibits. Machines in the earth element rely on human power and process to produce an item. Examples of machine warfare correspond to the fire element.

At the CESSE Water and Air machines are on display.

Machines in the water category generate power from the element or help facilitate man’s movement through water. The air module highlights da Vinci’s flying machines.

Hooten explained there are two signature pieces, one at each venue; visitors are probably most excited for.

“DSP has a tank with wheels, turrets and cannons,” Hooten said. “CESSE has the air machines suspended from the ceiling of the exhibit hall.”

The interactive exhibit is meant for all ages to explore history, science, mechanics, physics, invention and innovation. Visitors can also build a bridge, fire a catapult; create flying machines and more as a part of Leonardo’s workshop.

“A young person will experience a highly interactive exhibit that allows you to make the machines work while also illustrating flight, warfare, science and beauty,” Hooten said. “If you are an adult you will also experience a sense of awe at how a single man envisioned things such as a hang glider or machine gun or parachute as far back as the 1400s.”

The “Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion” exhibition will run through September 7th at both venues. Combination tickets, which include the da Vinci exhibit at Discovery Science Place as well as TJC’s CESSE exhibit and a domed-theater show, are $12 for adults and $9 for children. There’s also a da Vinci Plus option, which includes all of the above plus general admission to Discovery Science Place, for $16 for adults and $12 for children.

There are also three summer camp programs being offered that coordinate with the exhibition.

“The Art of Science with Leonardo da Vinci” will be held at

Discovery Science Place June 23rd-27th from 10am-4pm. Every camp day they will focus on a particular art medium and the science behind it. The camp is for students grades K-6th. Younger students will focus on the creation of art pieces such as paintings, musical instruments, and sculptures. Older students will delve into the world of Leonardo da Vinci as well - his artistic and scientific endeavors.

“Inside da Vinci’s Studio” will be at CESSE June 23rd-27th from 9am-12 noon. Campers, ages 6-11, will learn about the life and times of the original Renaissance Man, explore some of the artist’s most famous works and innovative techniques, and create their own sketchbook and masterpieces.

“Designs of da Vinci” is also at CESSE. It will be held July 7th-11th from 9am-12 noon. Campers ages 6-11 will learn about transportation to weaponry to flying machines, da Vinci’s many ideas and inventions that were before his time. Campers will discover how da Vinci’s designs and discoveries over 500 years ago still influence technology today, and they will have the opportunity to build fun inventions of their own.

The Center for Earth & Space Science Education is located at 1411 E. Lake St., on the TJC main campus. Hours are 10:30am-5pm Mondays-Saturdays, and 12:30-5pm Sundays. Call (903)510-2312 for more information.

Discovery Science Place is located at 308 N. Broadway Ave. Hours are 9am-5pm Mondays-Saturdays, and 1-5pm Sundays. Call (903)533-8011 for more information For tickets and more information, go to davincisummer.com.

For more summer camp information or to register visit davincisummer.com/summercamps.

Town to Celebrate the Life of Brooks Gremmels on July 4th

Foundation. “The community of musicians, artists, and friends will come together to donate their time, talent, and a fire-works display to party in true Brooks fashion presenting six hours of free, family fun,” she explained.

Thus far, here’s what’s planned for the day’s events: Friends, family, and loyal staff of Ben Wheeler, Texas’ 5-8:30pm Music at The Pickin’ Porch Park 5pm Musical Guests: Wesley Pruitt, Heather Little, Stefan Cotson, Brooks Gremmels, are ter, Matt Bradshaw, Craig Wallace, Travis Bolt, Chase ready to honor the man McClanahan and blacktopGYPSY behind the revitalization of what was once, a sleepy, little 7-8:30pm Stratoblasters 8:30pm Fireworks at Sunset at The Pickin’ Porch Park East Texas town.

1960’s Garage Rock Band: Brooks focused his efforts 9pm Mouse & The Traps at Moore’s Store and devoted his resources Jimmy Wallace & Jerry Don Branch to spark a renewed sense of 9pm at The Forge Bar & Grill community into the town.

9:30pm Movie for the Kiddos: “Wizard of Oz” in Technicolor at Back in 2008, he and his wife, Rese, threw a 4th of July Celebration The Forge’s Backyard Pavilion for the community with free music, hot dogs and fun in the park.

There will be a small charge for food and drinks. Profits raised Since that first fun-filled gathering, Ben Wheeler has hosted many will go to the Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic District Foundation in an more events put on to bring town-folks, as well as people near and effort to help continue Brooks’ vision to keep the town moving forfar, to Ben Wheeler. ward long into the future.

“What better way to honor Brooks who brought us all together For more information about Brooks’ Bash, keep an eye at the first time, than to celebrate the way he did,” expressed Jenni eguidemagazine.com, call (903)833-1070 or BenWheelerTX.com.

Wilson, president of the Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic District

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Art The Grace Project Wants You! A Small Project Blossoms Into a Huge Gift of Love

By A. C. Slaughter

It’s official – The Grace Project is going public! Do you have a blank wall that desires art? A public space outside your house or business? Outside your church or school? The Grace Project is geared up, brushes drawn, ready for action.

You may be asking yourself, what is The Grace Project? I am glad you asked and I am delighted to tell you about it.

The Grace Project is a lively group of energetic persons who love life, laughter and aren’t scared to get down and dirty when it comes to painting. Set up as a non-profit 501(c)3, The Grace Project is designed to enrich the lives of anyone with intellectual or cognitive disabilities. Their most recent projects include painting in the park, and other various places, but the activities are many as this fun group will take on almost any task.

Started five years ago by founder Grace Ram of Whole Health, the group has put its energies towards the fulfillment of life for those with special needs. Parks, movies, museums, theater, concerts, putt-putt, birthdays, holidays, swimming, running, jumping and of course, art - this is what they do.

Enrollment is easy, you just show up. Bring a friend or relative with special needs who loves being active and come join this fun crew. Family members are encouraged to attend and participate as each activity is a bonding and growing experience for all.

Grace’s daughter Christina can tell you how much fun they have as she has been an integral part of this project since the beginning. Also pictured are Anna and Avery who have also been aboard The Grace Project for some time now.

Originally the group began to fill the shortage of day programs here in Tyler but budded into its own – blessing the lives of East Texans for half a decade. It may be difficult to find after school programs for special need students but look no further as The Grace Project is ready to grow and is always accepting new students.

Right now The Grace Project is painting murals and they want to paint your space!

Summer is here and they are looking for ANY public space where they can leave their mark. Public walls, old cars, trashcans, windows – anything that can be painted, they’ll do it. Have you been staring out the window at a dirty old wall for years wishing someone would come along and make it pretty? How about that rusty old car outside that your husband won’t get rid of? Have it painted! Now is your chance to make that happen and The Grace Project wants to be involved.

Under the direction of Tyler’s own Russell Belue, The Grace Project students will create a beautiful new world for you and your’s to enjoy for years to come and all you have to do is make a phone call. The group has been practicing mural painting for months and now it is time to make their presence known. Some of the group’s murals can be seen inside Whole Health located in the Bergfeld Center.

Currently the Grace Project is meeting on Mondays from 2:30-4:30pm at Bergfeld Park for Painting in the Park. This class is under the direction of local artist Russell Belue. Belue is an abstract expressionist with a BFA in painting who has traveled and painted from New Mexico to Argentina but has rejoined his hometown sharing his love of painting with those eager and willing to learn.

Right now the Painting in the Park class will meet at said time, weather permitting, but as the summer rolls on, time and location are subject to change. The Grace Project is currently looking for an indoor space so if you have or know someone who has a place for them to use, please let them know.

Future projects include making and selling art, commissioned work and who knows what else this fun-loving crew has in store. The Grace Project has big plans and is set up ready to make them happen.

Donations are accepted. Any art supplies, such as paper, paint, brushes, etc... are graciously accepted.

Monetary donations are also needed to expand and grow this ambitious program.

If you or anyone you know is interested in joining The Grace Project you can contact Russell Belue at (903)5708882 or at beluesky@me.com. Check out Russell’s work at Russellbelue.blogspot.com.

Interested parties can also contact Grace at (903)530-3453.

Come join the fun and create some awesome art work for yourself or as a gift for someone else.

The Grace Project – creating memories one painting at a time.

Pictured from the top, left to right: 1) Painting at the Park 2) Supplies 3) A fun day of painting, friends and fun (Avery Covington, Russell Belue, Grace Ram, Christina Ram, Dottie Hairston, Anna Haslett) 4) Christina Ram, Grace Ram 5) Mural inside Whole Health 6) Christina Ram 7) Avery Covington 8) Mural painters 9) Barbara Haslett, Anna Haslett 10) Painting at the Park 11) “Christina” by Russell Belue 12) Avery Covington, Kim Covington

18 • EGuideMagazine.com

Events

6x6@110 Entries wanted! The City of Tyler’s Main Street Department announced that its awardwinning 6x6@110 project, begun in 2012, is back for 2014.

The project, “6x6@110” will take place June 6th.

The project is a major fundraiser for operations of Gallery Main Street and arts programming emanating from the gallery. The department has to fundraise a large percentage of its operating costs and depends on projects such as 6x6@110 to meet budgetary and operational goals. The idea of 6x6@110 is to get artists and arts supporters to create art on small canvases distributed by Gallery Main Street. The canvases are returned back to the gallery, and then are sold via special exhibit for $20 each. All proceeds will go to the gallery and arts programming. The 2013 version of the event almost doubled in size, with more than 1,000 canvases being turned in by participants. The project was also recognized by the Texas Downtown Association’s Best Promotional Event award. The 6x6 part of the project’s title is, of course, due to the use of 6” x 6” canvases. The 110 in the title refers to the gallery’s address, 110 W. Erwin. Artists are being asked to create art on 6” x 6” canvases that the gallery supplies. Not only will oils and acrylics be part of the event, but watercolors, photography and even 3-D items will be accepted for the exhibit as long as they can be mounted to the galleryprovided canvas and not extend beyond the 6” x 6” dimensions of the canvas. This year’s goal is to have more than 1,000 canvases to hang in an exhibit that will begin with an opening party on June 6th at 6pm. Part of the fun of the purchasing process is that the purchaser will not know who painted the piece until the purchase is completed when the canvas is turned over to reveal the artist.

Saturday, June 14th - Art of Business Workshop: Jury Preparation and Booth Presentation will be held Saturday, June 14th starting at 1pm. This workshop will be taught by multiple speakers, each with their own area of expertise. Sam Fontenot will cover the many different ways to construct a professional art booth presentation, while Leigha Sherman will discuss the importance of a professional presentation and other business techniques that all artists will benefit from. She will also be covering the correct ways artists should submit their work to juried shows and exhibits. To follow up and elaborate on that discussion, Kevin Young, Artist Nation’s Film & Photography Director who is currently the featured photographer at Gallery Main Street, will discuss different photography techniques and how to properly capture artwork. This workshop is designed to will help educate artists on how to ensure they are not rejected from a show based on improper photography skills. With the expectations and requirements constantly escalating in the art world, this workshop will truly benefit those looking to take their art career to the next level. Seats are limited so please reserve yours now, visit artistsnation.org for more information. Tickets are $20 and space is very limited. Due to limited seating this event requires tickets to be purchased in advance. This will be held at Artists Nation Studios, 719 W. Front St., Tyler., (903)8836288. Please enter at the rear of the building.

“Scott M. Liberman, M.D.: At the Vantage Point” will be on exhibit through July 13th - This exhibit represents the first-ever solo museum exhibition of Lieberman’s photography. This exhibition brings together more than 90 images representing Lieberman’s body of work as a photojournalist with the Associated Press and numerous publications, encompassing a broad spectrum of subject matter including celebrity portraits, sporting events, nature tableaus, and aerial photography. This exhibition, organized by the TMA and guest curated by photographer Robert Langham, displays Lieberman’s ability to combine the fundamentals of photography with his acute sense of being “in the right place at the right time” to create a memorable image. Admission is adults $5, seniors and students $3, and children

(12 and under) are free. Tyler Museum of Art is located at 1300 S. Mahon Ave., Tyler, (903)5951001, www.tylermuseum.org.

“Mediterranea: American Art from the Graham D. Williford Collection” will be on exhibit through June 29th at the Tyler Museum of Art. This exhibition explores the major cultures and monuments of the Mediterranean region through the art works of American artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. American tourism of Europe before the Civil War usually followed that of the Grand Tour, which included all the important cultural centers of France, Italy and Germany, but in the late 19th century, American artists showed increasing interest in points abroad, including Spain, the Holy Land, Egypt and much of northern Africa.

American artists became interested in the aspects of nature and culture that they believed to define the Mediterranean: its distinctive flora, the legacy of the Greco-Roman past and the influence of Christianity and Islam. The results rarely depicted a homogenous image of the Mediterranean, but often focused on the visual signs of cross-sea warfare, trade and religious influence. The reasons for this expanded awareness are numerous. Popular travel writers such as George William Curtis, Bayard Taylor and Mark Twain attracted American attention to North Africa and the Middle East. Some American artists were encouraged to visit Spain, the Middle East and Africa by their European teachers. Wealthy collectors also drew artists to popular vacation spots such as Venice and the Nile River. Finally, religious faith prompted some Americans to visit the Holy Land and other sites important to their beliefs. While the respective reasons for Mediterranean travel differed among American artists, the visual records of their travels demonstrate a growing awareness of a palpable unity in the region. Mediterranea provides contemporary viewers with an exploration of the ways American artists understood, interpreted and portrayed Mediterranean culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Tyler Museum of Art is located at 1300 S. Mahon Ave., Tyler, (903)595-1001, www. tylermuseum.org.

Seniors’ Day - Join Tyler Museum of Art for Seniors’ Day as they say ‘thank you’ to all of their visitors ages 65 and up. The third Monday of every month, seniors are invited to enjoy free, guided tours of the current exhibitions. Tyler Museum of Art is located at 1300 S. Mahon Ave., Tyler, (903)595-1001, www. tylermuseum.org.

Family Day - Drop by the Tyler Museum of Art on the second Saturday of every month and enjoy a fun-filled event, perfect for the entire family. Family Days are held in the classroom and children are invited to stop in from 2-4 and participate in free art activities. Kids will also like the tasty refreshments provided during the event. Family Day activities enhance the current TMA exhibitions by reflecting similar themes, artistic styles, techniques, and other artistic aspects. Tyler Museum of Art is located at 1300 S. Mahon Ave., Tyler, (903)595-1001, www. tylermuseum.org.

“Constancy & Contentment: MFA Thesis Exhibition Miles Mayfield” will be on exhibit. The Meadows Gallery is located within the R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center on the campus of The University of Texas at Tyler and features rotating exhibitions throughout the year.

The Meadows Gallery exhibition schedule includes nationally known guest artist exhibitions, the Annual International Exhibition (in its 29th year), faculty curated exhibitions, MFA thesis exhibitions, and a student juried exhibition each summer. A MFA Thesis Exhibition is the culminating event of three years of exacting studio art work. Meadows is located at 3900 University Blvd., Tyler, (903)5667250, www.uttyler.edu/meadowsgallery.

LMFA summer art classes in ArtWorks Creative Learning Center - Don’t miss these ten weeks of wonderful classes for all ages in so many media!

Come learn and grow your artistic talents. Sign your kids up for these classes soon, there is limited spaces available. Classes are: • June 2nd-4th - Hat or Jewelry Holders - taped mache’ heads with base.

• June 2nd-6th - Meow-Crazy Lazy Cats, drawing and painting cats.

Ben Wheeler Hosts Two Festivals This Month:

The Far Out Art Fest and The June Bug Music Festival The “Far Out” Art Fest welcomes you to a juried art show in downtown Ben Wheeler, hosted again by the Artists & Merchants Association. To be held Saturday-Sunday, June 21st-22nd in Ben Wheeler and Edom, this is an extremely well attended festival and draws buyers from all over East Texas, including Dallas/Fort Worth, Tyler and Longview.

They are still taking applications, go to benwheelertx.com for the form.

Also, at the same time, the June Bug Music Festival will be held, Saturday, June 21st, featuring Ray Wylie Hubbard headlining the music with a spotlight on true Texas Americana singer songwriters who have opted to do it themselves without the hand of Nashville.

Kicking the music off at the Forge Pavillion will be the winner of the first annual “Battle of the Bands,” The Kid Icarus Project. These guys blew everyone away and won hands down.

Following them will be local band Stefan Cotter and the Rastabillys. Next taking the stage is the Dallas band, the hugely popular, Oil Boom. Craig Wallace and Guthrie Kennard will preform. The Damn Quails will perform right before everyone’s favorite, the headline Ray Wylie Hubbard. Music will be non-stop 12 noon to 12 midnight.

Also there will be an Art Car Parade, juried art show, food vendors and lots of fun for the entire family.

Tickets are $20 for adults in advance at theforgebenwheeler.com or $25 at the gate.

Please join us for a groovy, far out experience, on Saturday-Sunday, June 21st-22nd.

These two festivals strive to reach a wider audience to elevate Ben Wheeler and our 279 sister city, Edom, Texas, as the cultural hub of the Upper East Side of Texas.

Voted one of the “Coolest Small Towns in Texas” by Texas Highways magazine, Ben Wheeler has been revitalized and has become a popular get-a-way destination for people from all over the state.

The Ben Wheeler Artists and Merchants Association, the entity putting on the sophomore art festival, is currently accepting artist applications for approximately 40 shaded spaces in the park area of downtown Ben Wheeler. Vendor applications are also being accepted at this time to reserve limited space under designated tent areas.

The Ben Wheeler Artists & Merchants Association is made up of downtown Ben Wheeler businesses (Made in America Emporium, Harrison & Son Knifesmith, The Furniture Restorer, Flying Fish Gallery, Secret Garden, The Forge Bar & Grill, The Hat Doctor and Moore’s Store Restaurant & Live Music Venue) brought to town through Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic District Foundation (BWA & HDF), a 501 c (3) organization that has resurrected the town with various conveniences for the community to enjoy including entertainment porches, restaurants, shops, an historical chapel, a schoolhouse/library, as well as various businesses. Growth and development are ongoing.

Ben Wheeler, named for the first man to carry mail into Van Zandt County, thrived during the late 1800s and early 1900s as families arrived in horse-drawn wagons, rode horses, or walked to visit, get mail, buy supplies, and sell or trade goods at one of the several general stores. The community included churches, barbers, blacksmiths, tailors, saddle and shoe shop, several gins and mills, a bank, the Berry Resort Hotel, boarding houses, a movie theater, lumber yard, a garage with gas pumps— eventually, cafes, a school, and even a college at one time called the Alamo Institute. Ben Wheeler shrank after World War II as many people left for large cities to find work.

Ben Wheeler is located halfway between Tyler and Canton, Texas on Highway 279. Located in our shaded park in the historic downtown area, just steps away from galleries, shops, and restaurants events will include demonstrations by local artists, live music, food and drinks, including beer and wine. For more info call (903)262-4786.

• June 5th-6th - Van Gogh-Starry Student Painting, painting with tempera on watercolor paper • June 7th - Drawing Lessons, learning drawing techniques to enhance your natural abilities.

• June 9th-12th - Intro to the Potter’s Wheel, Fall in love with the potter’s wheel (for the first time or all over again)! You should feel comfortable at week’s end throwing a variety of objects. Finished work will be kiln fired and ready for glazing. Clay and tools provided. Wear your grubbies: we will throw clay on Day 1.

• June 9th-13th - Watercolor Fundamentals, adding oil pastels, tissue paper, glue and salt to watercolor pictures.

• June 9th-13th - Ballerinas & Fashion Meet, cut out ballerinas (one day), Painted Degas Dancers (two days) and students design clothing on their fashion model they learn to draw in proportions by folding paper (two days).

• June 16th-19th - Intro to Clay Building, learn the hand building techniques that have been used thousands of years to create your own pots, vessels, or sculptural forms. Using these techniques you should have numerous pieces built by week’s end. All work will be kiln fired and ready for glazing. Wear your grubbies: we will get our hands dirty on day one.

• June 16th-20th - Giacometti Tape Mache’, make bronzed looking sculptures using twisted paper sacks.

• June 19th, Ladies Night - Still Life Fruit Bowl on Canvas.

• June 23rd-26th - Intro to Welded Metal Sculpture, explore the fun world of welded metal sculpture.

Create 3D sculptures using the MIG Welding process. Bring long sleeve shirt, long pants, closed toe shoes, and safety glasses/goggles. Welding gloves and helmets are provided. You will weld the first

day, bring your imagination so you can create finished sculptures this week.

• June 23rd-27th - Mosaics (2 classes with 1 for different age groups), learn the art of mosaics by designing your own letters 7” tall and approx. 6” wide, 2 “ thick, designed to stand or hang. Morning classes (10:30-12 noon) are for ages 12-14, afternoon classes (1:30-3pm) are for adults.

• June 30th-July 2nd - Red, White & Blue Flowers & Vase, make flowers and a vase out of red, white and blue fabrics. Great to take to grandmas house, use as a hostess gift or keep.

Cost varies per class and spaces are limited. More classes are listed online. Reserve your spot online or by calling (903)753-8103. Longview Museum of Fine Art is located at 215 E. Tyler St., downtown Longview, (903)753-8103, www.lmfa.org.

Tuesday, June 10th - “Drink & Draw” will be held at What About Kabob at 7pm. Everyone is welcome - just come out and bring your drawing pad and cooler. Drink and Draw is a great time to come out and meet fellow artist and share ideas. Logan Strong and company who will be providing some amazing music at the event. Check artistsnation.org for info.

June 15th - Photog Meet-Up will be held on the Square in downtown Tyler at 1pm. This is for all photographers, hair and make up artists, face and body painters, and experienced or aspiring models.

All experience levels are welcome in all categories.

Are you looking to take your photography to the next level? Wondering what those buttons on your new dslr mean? Do you want to just play around with like minded artistic people and shoot something new and different? This is a chance for everyone to get together, shoot some beautiful photography and just have an amazing time. Check artistsnation.org for more information.

EGuideMagazine.com • 19

Theatre

It’s June At Liberty Hall: Liberty is Strutting Its Stuff and Showing Off Its Variety

Coming this summer at downtown’s Liberty Hall are a host of great movies, workshops and lectures.

Have you been to Liberty yet? There is not a bad seat in the house.

This intimate, renovated theatre is designed to showcase a great variety of events. This summer Liberty shows off its stuff with the following events that you will want to see. You can buy your tickets online at LibertyTyler.com.

Movie: “Some Like it Hot” (1959) Thursday, June 5th at 7pm

Tickets are $5 online and $7 at the door When two musicians witness a mob hit, they flee the state in an all female band, all disguised as women. Further complications set in.

Movie: “To Have and to Have Not” (1944) Thursday, June 12th at 7pm

Tickets are $5 online and $7 at the door Expatriate American Harry Morgan helps to transport a Free French Resistance leader and his beautiful wife to Martinique while romancing a sexy lounge singer.

Third Annual East Texas Comedy Festival June 13th-14th at 8pm

Starring Jimmy Pardo, Frank Caeti, Susan Messing, Daryl Felsberg, Card 53 and the winner of the “Funniest Comic in East Texas” See details on page 14. 17 and up only please.

Tickets online are $25 per night or $40 for both nights. At the door, tickets are $30 per night or $55 for both. VIP Boxes are available to purchase for $150 per night and seat up to four people. There are college student discount tickets with College ID for $15 per night or $25 for both nights.

Comedy Workshops 2014 Saturday, June 14th

Workshops are $50 per session or $90 for both

10am-1pm with Frank Caeti, “The Complete Scene” (Class max: 14 students)

The foundation of great improvisation is scenes with strong relationships. In this workshop, Frank will provide a simple structure to help participants learn how to create a complete improvised scene with a beginning, middle and end. The focus will be on improvising two-person scenes utilizing emotion, character, and point of view to discover funny and wonderful relationships. (Previous improv training is recommended for this class) Frank Caeti is an alumnus of The Second City Chicago where his credits include: National Touring Company, two resident company stages (Chicago e.t.c. & Las Vegas), Reverie (a nonverbal sketch comedy show), and Twist Your Dickens at the Kirk Douglas Theater. He was a series regular on the FOX’s long running sketch show MADtv. Other TV credits include: Key and Peele, Reno 911, NCIS, The Jay Leno Show, and over forty commercials. His regional theater credits include: La Jolla Playhouse, Dallas Theater Center, and Laguna Playhouse. Frank is one half of the acclaimed duo, FrankenMatt with former Saturday Night Live writer Matt Craig. He regularly performs in LA at UCB, iO West, and Second City Hollywood.

Saturday 2pm-5pm with Susan Messing, “Group Pretty” (Class Size Unlimited)

Improvisation is an active art, not a bunch of people standing around arguing with each other. This workshop is designed to make your team look visually stunning. Stage Picture, Flying Safety, and elements of Story Theatre and Symmetry will have you off the back wall and make you and your friends look awesome.

Susan Messing, a NJ native and graduate of Northwestern University’s Theatre School, has been an improviser and comedian for over twenty-five years. She is an alumna of the iO Theatre, Second City’s Mainstage, and a founding member of Chicago’s infamous Annoyance Theatre. Susan created and has taught her curriculum at iO and iO West, The Annoyance Theatre, The Second City, and around the country. Susan is an adjunct instructor for DePaul University, The University of Chicago, and The School at Steppenwolf. Her standup act with her puppet, Jolly, was featured at the HBO/US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, and on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend and NBC’s Late Fridays. Her most impressive bit movie role was as a bad stripper in a halo brace in Let’s Go to Prison! You can see her every Thursday night in her critically acclaimed show, Messing with a Friend, now in its seventh year at The Annoyance Theatre. She has been delighted to participate in the Just For Laughs Festival every year since its Chicago debut.

Movie: “Rope” (1948) Thursday, June 19th at 7pm

Tickets are $5 online and $7 at the door Two young men strangle their “inferior” classmate, hide his body in their apartment, and invite his friends and family to a dinner party as a means to challenge the “perfection” of their crime.

Movie “E.T. the Extra-terrestrial” (1982) Saturday, June 21st at 3pm

Tickets are $5 online and $7 at the door A troubled child summons the courage to help a friendly alien escape Earth and return to his home-world.

Movie: “Citizen Kane” (1941) Thursday, June 26 at 7pm

Tickets are $5 online and $7 at the door Following the death of a publishing tycoon, news reporters scramble to discover the meaning of his final utterance.

20 • EGuideMagazine.com

To list your productions here go to “Submit an Event” at....

EGuideMagazine.com Energy Center, 719 W. Front St. Suite 20 in the basement, Tyler. Entrance on the north side of the building.

Tickets available at the Box Office: (903)740-5387 or apextheatre20.com

Coming up...

Saturday, June 21st..................... Saturday Morning Kidcom In August................Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Cherokee Civic Theatre 157 West 5th Street Rusk, Texas 75785 (903)683–2131 www.cherokeetheatre.net All tickets are reserved seats with member prices of $9 adults, $6 students and general prices of $12 adults and $10 students. All at the door tickets are $15.

Thespians ‘N Training Camp of Cherokee Civic Theater to present: Grand Finale Showcase on July 26th Could you put on a show in just 40 hours? Thespians ‘N Training (TNT) can. Since 2004, TNT summer camp at CCT has produced nearly 50 shows with young people acting, costuming, and building sets – and they do it all in just 40 hours.

TNT@CCT is more than just East Texas’ most affordable arts camp, it’s a time and place for young people to learn theatre arts skills and practice life skills like cooperation and leadership. Their motto is “It’s All Good” because creativity comes in all shapes and sizes and that’s what makes this vibrant, exciting and just plain ole fun.

Our talented all-volunteer staff welcomes new and old friends with troupe directors Sheilah O’Heaney (Grades 1-2), Moira Debbs (Grades 3-4), Judy Faye Garner (Grades 5-6), Debra Petri (Jr. High) and Eddie Breen and Laura Cunningham (High School).

Castanya Breen, Judy Faye Garner and Sheilah O’Heaney also serve as TNT Producers. Volunteer Counselors, Administrative Aides and “Juniors” (teen counselors) are still needed.

TNT 2014 will run from July 14th-26th and registration is underway. The $50 fee covers both weeks of camp and scholarships are available for all ages. Registration is so affordable because of our generous TNT Underwriters: The Kiwanis Club of Jacksonville; Suzanne & J.C. Morris; JP Auto; The Cunninghams; Citizens 1st Bank; Judy & Kelley Garner; Austin Bank; Jerry Ocker, DDS; Texas National Bank; The Schultz Family; Chapman’s Pharmacy; O’Heaney & Debbs; Jason Hood Consulting; Jane & Don Parsons; and the Gloria Dotson Memorial Fund. Underwriters are always welcome to assist with additional scholarships; donations may be tax-deductible.

To join the “40 hour frenzy of fun” as a TNT Staffer, Underwriter or Camper, please contact CCT at (903)683-2131. Full camp information, scholarship and Jr. Counselor applications and registration forms are available online at www.cherokeetheatre.net.

Registrations are accepted on a first come, first served basis, and troupes do fill up quickly.

114 North Johnson Street Mineola, Texas 75773 lakecountryplayhouse.com For more information call (903)569-2300 Playhouse Season Tickets are $15-20

“June Tunes” will feature show tunes of all variety and will be fun for the entire family. Tickets are adults $5, children free. The Lake Country Symphonic Band will be in concert at 2pm, at the Historic Select Theater.

“South Pacific” will be in production July 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 31st and August 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

“The Lion in Winter” will be in production September 19th, 20th, 21st, 26th, 27th and 28th.

Tickets are available now for all productions.

Call the box office at (903)569-2300 for reservations.

LINDALE COMMUNITY THEATRE

www.lindalecommunitytheater.org Call (903)638-0402 for more information.

“Shake, Rattle and Roll” will be presented for a one-night performance, Saturday, June 7th at 8pm. This a Special Benefit Performance. Tickets must be purchased or reservations made by June 5th at 10pm. Catered by Chef Mitchell Bond. Bring your own adult beverages. Tickets are $30 or $50 for couples. Doors open 7pm, show starts 8pm.

“The Drowsy Chaperone” On stage July 11th-13th and 18th-20th. Doors open 45 minutes prior to show time. Tickets for adults are $15, students $12, 12 and under $8 and available at the door or online.

Henderson County Performing Arts Center

...to entertain, to educate, to change lives 400 Gibson Rd., Athens, Texas 75751 Tickets are available at the door, by calling (903)675-3908 or at www.hcpac.org.

“Daddy’s Dyin’ Who’s Got the Will” will be on stage June 12th-20th.

Set in a small Texas town in anytime, U.S.A., Daddy’s Dyin’ concerns the reunion of a family gathered to await the imminent death of their patriarch, who has recently suffered a physically, as well as mentally, disabling stroke.

In essence, however, it is not the story of the impending demise of the father or of the drafting of his will, but of a rebirth of the spirit of the family unit. Without becoming ponderous, losing a sense of humor or pandering to timeworn cliches about Texans or Texas drawls, the story shares many elements of a good summer novel: it’s a fast, delicious, easy read with funny moments, tense moments, touching moments, and characters you care about.

AUDITIONS: “Once Upon A Mattress” (production will be August 7th - 16th) auditions on June 16th and 17th at 7:30pm

122 E. Main St. Henderson, Texas For information call (903)657-2968 or hendersoncivictheater.com Located on Heritage Square in downtown Henderson, a National Register Historic District, in the original Opera House which was built in 1885.

“Nunsense,” directed by Nathaniel Olson Show Dates: July 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th Laughter is a blessed event in this hilarious musical comedy. Due to an unfortunate accident in the kitchen of the Little Sisters of Hoboken convent, some fifty-two nuns have gone on to their reward. Adding to the unpleasant event, the nunnery’s coffers lack the funds to pay for a decent burial for all the sisters, leaving four of them in cold storage.

Reverend Mother, however, is determined to raise the cash, and decides that she and her fellow nuns will put on a talent show, in which they’ll show off their singing and dancing ability, with the proceeds going towards the Little Sisters’ funeral fund. First staged in 1986, Nunsense became a sensation off-Broadway and a wildly popular attraction on the road, spawning four spin-off shows to date.

All ETSO performances will be at the UT Tyler Cowan Center.

Tickets available at the box office, located at 3900 University Blvd.

(903)566-7424 or online at www.uttyler.edu/cowan Announcing our 2014-2015 Season Join Richard Lee and the ETSO for an exciting new season of concerts: Highlights include Cliburn Gold Medalist Vadym Kholodenko Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 Dueling Fiddles with Celtic fiddler Natalie MacMaster and ETSO concertmaster Mark Miller Mahler: Symphony No. 4 The Royal Family of Guitar: The Romeros and much more.

5 concert subscriptions start at $38 3 concert subscriptions start at $27 Order by calling 903-566-7424.

719 W. Front St., Tyler (903)883-6288 artistnation.org ACTORS MEET UP - Artists Nation Studios, Tuesday, June 17th at 7pm

This get together is all about socializing and meeting other actors, while doing what we all enjoy...acting! Come hang out with others that share the same interests and help build the Performing Arts Scene of East Texas. We meet every third Tuesday of the month at a new location every time. This month we will meet at the APEX Theatre, 719 W. Front St. (use the back door).

Everyone is invited to come talk about life in the arts, read a play, hone skills, build and network with others who desire to be involved in Performing Art. We can’t always be acting but this way we have an outlet. We can all share our journeys and accomplishments and stories...it will be a fun time had by all.

This year Palestine Community Theatre is adding a special one-weekend performance to their 2014 season lineup in order to help raise funds for the facade restoration project.

Forever Plaid, sponsored by Ellen Weber, D.D.SFamily Dentistry With Care, is one of the most popular and successful musicals in recent memory. This deliciously goofy revue centers on four fun and eager male singers killed in a car crash in the 1950’s on the way to their first big concert, and now miraculously revived for the posthumous chance to fulfill their dreams and perform the show that never was.

Singing in the closest of harmony, squabbling boyishly over the smallest intonations and executing their charmingly outlandish choreography with over-zealous precision, the “Plaids” are a guaranteed smash, with a program of beloved songs and delightful patter that keeps audiences rolling in the aisles when they’re not humming along to some of the great nostalgic pop hits of the 1950’s.

“Forever Plaid” will run one weekend only through June 1st. The curtain will open at 7:30pm, Thursday through Saturday with performances beginning at 7:30pm, and 2pm on Sunday. Come out to support the arts in Palestine!

Tickets are $8 for students, ages 4-18, and $12 for adults. Tickets are available locally at the Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce, Dogwood Diner, Switch, Sears, Discount Pools, and Education Unlimited. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.outhouseticket.com.

Tyler Community Concert Series

To purchase SEASON tickets, visit www.tcca.biz.

All concerts are held at Caldwell Auditorium at 7:30pm.

For more info call (903)592-6266.

The new concert season runs from September 2014 to April 2015.

This fall Al Simmons will begin the season on October 16th. Al has an award-winning slap-stick comedy act full of jokes, gadgets and gags. This world-renowned comedian delivers classic Vaudevillian comedy and musical humor.

Then on January 13th, 2015 The Rob Verdi SAXsational will perform. Rob will be entertaining you with 50 years of Jazz and Pop standards. He also shares his rare and unusual instrument collection and he will be accompanied by a local band or ensemble.

Next on February 5th, 2015, Good Company will be inspiring nostalgia with vintage music from across the United States. They will bring a kaleidoscope of R&B, Rock, Gospel and Bluegrass. This will be iconic American roots music for you to remember and enjoy.

On March 15th, 2015 will be Live from Nashville, a high-octane country show with song, dance, breathtaking scenery and costumes.

Hear the songs that gave Music City its name.

Ending the season April 14th, 2015 William Florian will present “Those Were the Days.” He is the perfect combination of musician and storyteller.

“Always Patsy Cline & KE Bushman’s Celebration Center” 400 Rose Park Drive in Tyler, next to the Tyler Rose Garden Center

3 Performances only! June 13th - June 15th Intimate seating = $40 / Premium seats = $50 This will be a sell-out guaranteed, get your tickets today!

“Hairspray - The Musical”

July 10th-July 27th “Hairspray” is a musical with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O’Donnell and For more info call Thomas Mee(903)592-0561 or tylercivictheatre.com han, based on the 1988 The Box Office is open John Waters Monday - Friday, 10am - film “Hair1pm and 2pm - 5pm spray.” The songs include 1960s-style dance music and “downtown” rhythm and blues. In 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, plump teenager Tracy Turnblad’s dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program based on the real-life Buddy Deane Show. When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight, and meets a colorful array of characters, such as Corny Collins (The show’s singing host who shares Tracy’s liberal political views) and Velma Von Tussle (The villainous producer of the show who does everything in her power to further her daughter’s career and destroy Tracy’s and Corny’s). She then launches a campaign to integrate the show. Hairspray is a social commentary on the injustices of parts of American society in the 1960s.

Located at 3900 University Blvd. on the UT Tyler campus Tickets are available at the Box Office, at (903)566-7424 or online at uttyler.edu/cowan 2014-15 Cowan Center Circle presents...

“Larry the Cable Guy”

The upcoming 2014-15 season brings lots of funny, big-name talent, splashy shows and top-notch music. Get ready to laugh and move to the music! It will be a full season of great programming and Cowan Center Circle members are part of the exclusive inner circle with many benefits and perks.

“Larry the Cable Guy” kicks off the season, September 13th at 7:30pm for the Cowan Center Circle Members Gala. As a circle member, you get the chance to be first to buy single tickets every year.

Join the Circle today at www.cowancenter.org. There are many different levels available. Stay connected, enjoy your benefits and make your support of the Cowan Center count in many ways.

All Members who join by August 1st are recognized on the member lobby sign all year.

EGuideMagazine.com • 21

Books

Summer Reading:

A Few Different Ones From the Normal Romances

By Tammy Thomas-Cooke

Welcome summer! It’s my favorite time for reading and here are two that I think you’ll want to know about that are a little different than the normal beach-read.

“Bibliotherapy: The Girl’s Guide to Books for Every Phase of Our Lives”

By Nancy Peske and Beverly West Have you ever wished you had a guide, a helping hand from someone who had walked in your shoes and made it to the sunny side of the street? If you have, then this book is for you.

“Bibliotherapy” is a compendium of titles to help modern women navigate the shallows and raging rivers in the lives of women.

We all need some kind of therapy these days and “Bibliotherapy: The Girl’s Guide to Books for Every Phase of Our Lives” fills the bill with chapters titled ‘When You Still Think You Can Change Him: Bad Boy Books’ to ‘When You Desperately Need to Believe That There’s a Purpose to It All: EmbracingYour-Inner-Light Book,’ there are chapters for every occasion and stage of a woman’s life.

Each chapter features numerous books for review, proffering why that particular book and its author is important to a woman’s life. A sample of the books explored in these chapters: “Delta of Venus” by Anais Nin and “Rubyfruit Jungle” by Rita Mae Brown in the former, and “The Portrait of a Lady” by Henry James and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in the latter. The reviews are succinct, with quotes taken from each, and they’re entertaining to read.

“Bibliotherapy: The Girl’s Guide to Books for Every Phase of Our Lives” leaves a trail of literary breadcrumbs to help women navigate our lives in every stage; through all the wanton craziness of our twenty-something years, offering tissues to us in our breathless thirty somethings, nodding knowingly along with us in our forties and looking back and laughing with us in our fabulous fifties and beyond.

Writer’s Workshop: “Writing in the Digital Age”

East Texas Writer’s Network Summer Workshop will be held 9am-4pm, Saturday, July 19th.

“Writing and Marketing in the Digital Age” will be the topic and two great speakers are sure to entertain and teach us a few things.

John Borgstedt – Masterful Marketing

John-BorgstedtJohn is the author of “I Love You Mom Please Don’t Break My Heart.” He has been recognized through numerous national and international awards including outstanding local, regional, cable television and program awards, as well as an award for the finest video and film production and work created for the web.

John’s dream is to provide a home on a ranch facility for abused and neglected boys, creating a safe haven for them. He envisions meeting their every need with a parent’s love, supervision, and care.

He hopes to offer them something most have never known before: a loving home life: structure, stability and hope for a better life.

Eventually, he would like to see the home expand to care for more children, including possibly adding a facility for girls. Then… on to other towns in Texas and other states!

Meanwhile, John is on the road year-round speaking with countless entities, to children, and at public engagements. He speaks with court appointed special advocates (CASA), along with nationwide speaking engagements for Child Protectiye Services (CPS), and in the state of Texas at Texas Youth Commission facilities (TYC). He also speaks in churches, at children’s camps, and to nationwide law enforcement agencies and lawmakers.

True, this is a book about books and that may not sound too enticing. But in this ever harried and technologically isolating world, “Bibliotherapy” is like having our sorority sisters sitting you down and offering their sage advice. They have walked your path and gleaned kernels of knowledge that they want to share but since they could never be sitting on your settee sipping tea and offering their wisdom, they have substituted works of literature to be your afternoon companion.

Rating: 8 out of 10; an easy read and excellent for women of all ages.

“Heads in Beds” By Jacob Tomsky I live on an island whose main revenue stream is the hotel service industry so this book snagged my attention. I know nothing about the hotel industry and thought it might be interesting to learn a little bit about the inner workings of this profession.

Jacob Tomsky has offered up a biographic novel meshed with a how-to guide for travelers. His profanity laced stories are amusing, shocking, warm, harsh and all thoroughly entertaining. He recounts his days behind the Front Desk with the detached charm of someone you will probably only meet once in your life. He sees us (the guests) as we truly are, especially while on overnight stay.

Guests come in with their own agendas and expectations, and he endeavors to provide each one with a memorable stay. He wields the Check-In terminal like a sharpened blade, upgrading people to better rooms than they could have afforded, dishing out “immediate karma” to those who pique his ire.

His life story ambles along at a leisurely pace during his youth, as he recounts his virgin days in the hotel game. His keen desire to please and to provide “above and beyond” service in New Orleans, where he makes lifelong friends. But he is plagued with an insatiable curiosity and has, from his “hustling at the desk,” socked away a sizeable nest egg. When he travels to Europe to figure out what he wants to do with his life, he is plagued with an almost terminal wanderlust, but ends up back behind the desk, this time at the Big Show, Midtown Manhattan, New York.

Tomsky dispenses invaluable knowledge for anyone who plans on staying at a hotel. A few key things to remember: • Tip well and often. Small gestures make a big difference in your comfort and in the amenities offered.

• Be courteous to the bellmen and the Front Desk Agent, they are trying to feed their families, just like you, and deserve civility.

• And never talk on your cell phone when you are checking in!

That will result in your getting “key bombed” (yeah, I said it... key bombed. Seriously, read the book, it will open your eyes).

This book will give you tips and devices to make the most of your stay at any hotel, though I am not courageous or devious enough to employ them myself. You will also learn things about your room that you wish you didn’t know, but forewarned, is forearmed. So, book that room, enjoy your stay and remember to tip everyone.

Rating: 9 out of 10; Very useful and a fun read! has also written the teleplay for three television movies: Gambler V: Playing for Keeps and Wildcat: The Story of Sarah Delaney and the Doodlebug Man for CBS, and The Texas Rangers for TNT. Two years ago, as digital publishing was surging to the forefront, he and his wife, Linda, joined with attorney and author Stephen Woodfin to found and build Venture Galleries, working with authors across the country and helping them publish, promote, market, and sell their books.

To register go to etwritersguild.org and fill out the form. Cost is student $20, members $40 and non-member, $50. Registration is required. The Writers Workshop is sponsored by the East Texas Writers Guild, a group of writers whose objective is to provide Support, Opportunity and Education for published and/or aspiring authors.

Book Events

Sunday, June 1st - Did you know that Tyler now has a venue for Spoken Word Artists? Artists Nation has created the Tyler Spoken Word Event and it takes place every first Sunday of the month with partners, APEX Theatre 20 (Actors Preparatory Exchange). This is open to all and will feature poetry, prose, short story, comedic pieces, diatribes, rants, and just about any type of spoken word you could imagine. It is a very laid back, no pressure atmosphere and everyone is welcome to participate. Admission is $5 unless you are reading or performing. Check artistsnation.org for more information. This will be held 6-8pm at Actors Preparatory Exchange (rear entrance), 719 West Front St., Suite 20, Tyler. For more info call (903)883-6288.

Sunday, June 1st - East Texas Writer’s Network Monthly Meeting - Held the first Sunday of the month, Texas Writer’s Network is held 2-4pm at the Tyler Library Auditorium. No registration is required.

The meeting is an open forum for published, unpublished and Caleb Pirtle – Writing in the Digital Age Caleb-PirtleCaleb Pirtle III has always considered himself to be friendly “wannabes” to generally network and discuss the trials, a thief. He says, “I’ve spent my whole life stealing bits and pieces of tribulations and joys of writing. Tyler Public Library is located at other people’s lives, experiences, and memories, then writing them 201 S. College Ave., downtown Tyler. For more information call down in newspaper stories, magazine articles, and books – both fic- (903)593-7323, www.tylerlibrary.com. tion and nonfiction. I would be lost if they had not come along. I Monday, June 9th - East Texas Writer’s Guild General Meeting would have been terribly disappointed if our paths hadn’t crossed - takes place the second Monday every month. The cost is free to and I had not been able to sit down and talk to them for a while. I attend and it starts at 6:30pm. This months meeting will be held am convinced that everyone who walks across the street has a great at Tyler Chamber of Commerce, 315 N Broadway Ave, downtown story to tell if someone will just take the time to listen.”

Tyler. MaryAnn Miller will be speaking. Call (903)534-0655 with Pirtle takes the time. He listens. He has been doing it all of his questions or go online at www.etwritersguild.org. life. Many of their stories have found their way into the more than Sunday, June 1st - B.U.N.S. Book Group meets the first Sunday sixty books and novels he has written, including such award winners as XIT: The American Cowboy, The Unending Season, Echoes of the month at 3pm. This is hosted by Nelson Clyde from the Tyler Morning Telegraph. Anyone is welcome to join. This is from Forgotten Streets, and The Grandest Day. His article about held at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 4916 South Broadway, Tyler, Nick Rowe, the first American soldier captured during the Vietnam War, won the National William Randolph Hearst Award. Pirtle (903)534-3996.

22 • EGuideMagazine.com

Tyler Public Library Events

Tyler Public Library is located at 201 S. College Ave., downtown Tyler. For more information (903)593-7323, www.tylerlibrary.com.

Essay Contest: Its All About Super Heros

Tyler Public Library is celebrating the 75th anniversary of Batman!

Join the celebration by taking part in the Superhero Essay Contest.

Entrants should describe their personal superhero. Essays can be fiction or nonfiction and must contain no more than two thousand words.

Entries fall into four age groups and can be submitted through June 14th. Winners will be announced June 20th. Winning essays will be published in the Tyler Public Library newsletter.

Events for Children

Toddler Time (Every Wednesday at 10:30am except June 4th) Story time for families followed by a short film. Directed toward children up to age 3, but all ages welcome. Free. Held in the Story Room.

Read Aloud Crowd (Thursdays at 10:30am except June 5th) Story time for families followed by a short film. Directed toward children ages 3 through 6 years of age, but all ages welcome. Free. Held in the Story Room.

Starry Time Story Time (Every Thursday at 6pm) Join us for stories, songs and a short film the whole family can enjoy. Free.

Family Movie Matinee (Saturday, June 7th at 11am) Join us for a popular feature length film to whole family can enjoy. Please contact the library for movie title, rating, and length. Free, no registration is required. Held in the Taylor Auditorium.

Family Story Time (Saturday, June 7th at 10:30am) Join us for stories, songs, and a short film the whole family can enjoy. Free, no registration is required.

Kids Movie Matinees (Mondays and Fridays, June 13th-July 28th) Popular feature length films will be shown on the library’s big screen for everyone to enjoy. For movie titles and information please contact the library. Open to ages 12 and up. Free.

Lego League (Tuesdays beginning June 10 th-July 29th, except July 1st, 1:30pm) This is a creative time with Lego and Duplo blocks. We provide the Legos you provide the imagination. Open to ages 3 to 12.

Kid Buzz (Wednesdays beginning June 11th-July 30th, except July 2nd, 1:30pm and 3:30pm) This program, designed for students entering 1st through 5th grades, includes creative crafts, activities, and guest speakers from Caldwell Zoo, Texas parks and Wildlife, and KETK NBC. Free, registration required at www.TylerLibrary.com.

Held in the Library Auditorium Fab Friday (Fridays beginning June 13th to July 25th, except July 4th, 1:30pm) Fabulous performers the whole family can enjoy. Events include a local author visit and performances from the Texas State Railroad, Texas Parks and Wildlife, local educator Tom Young, and the Chemistry Road show from Texas A&M. Free.

Events for Teens

Teen Advisory Council (Saturday, June 7th, 1-2pm) A group for teens looking for a more active role in library happenings for them and their peers. Open to ages 12 to 18. Free.

Teen Movie Matinees (Saturday, June 7th, 2pm) Popular feature length films will be shown on the library’s big screen for everyone to enjoy.

For movie titles and information please contact the library. Open to ages 12 and up. Free.

Teen Thursdays (Thursdays beginning June 12th-July 31st, except July 3rd, 2pm) Events for students entering 6th through 12th grade.

Activities include a Downtown Scavenger Hunt, CSI – Crime Scene Investigation, Zombie Apocalypse, Deco the Library and guest speakers from Caldwell Zoo and Texas Parks and Wildlife. Free, registration required at www.TylerLibrary.com Movie Marvels for Teens (Every Thursday beginning June 12th to July 31st, except July 3rd, 4pm) Popular feature length films based on Marvel Comics will be shown on the library’s big screen for teens to enjoy. For movie title and information please contact the library.

Open to students entering 6th through 12th grade. Free, no registration is required.

Events for Adults

Using e-Resources with your Digital Device (Saturday, June 7th, 2pm) Learn how to use the library’s e-resources from OverDrive and OneClickDigital on your Kindle, Nook, iPad or Android device. Also, the use of Ebsco e-books on your computer will be covered. Please contact the library for more info and a schedule. Free. Held in the Story Room.

Art Cards (Tuesday, June 3rd 10:30am) Learn the art of rubberstamping, embellishing and card-making from a pro. This is offered the first Tuesday of each month. $10 fee, registration preferred.

ClubRead (Tuesday, June 24th, 10am) Join us for in depth book discussions. March book selection: “Flight Behavior” by Barbara Kingsolver. April book selection is “Sweet Tooth” by Ian McEwan. This is free. Held in the Taylor Auditorium.

Celebrate Diversity (Tuesday, June 17th, 5:30pm) The Tyler Public Library and the Tyler Together Race Relations Forum join together to learn about diverse cultures—ethnic, religious, and regional. Each gathering will include a mixer with refreshments, a main event and discussion.

EGuideMagazine.com • 23

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