The Loafer 113 by lbdfamilymedia

2024 Bridal Issue THOMAS FARM WEDDINGS

Photo by Stephanie Parker Photography

Publisher Lisa Durbin Creative Director Jon Bill Forrester Managing Editor Peggy Gale Distribution Herbie Durbin Jon Bill Forrester Entertainment Coordinator Andreax Jarre Public Relations Correspondent Lee Lee Williams Contributing Staff Andy Ross

your week’s line-up

Volume 03 Issue 113

Kathie Scalf

04 Spotlight 06 Valentine’s Painting Night Returns with Another Fun Gathering Spent with Loved at Tusculum 06 Beezwax

Have a great week!

11 Things To Do 12 Tri-Cities Faces and Places 14

Biker Events

16 Here Comes the Bride! 22 WQUT Concert Schedule

Po Box 39 Telford, Tn 37690 423-930-7319

LBD FAMILY MEDIA Let’s Get Social!

15 Beanz Biker Corner Bear....The Man, The Myth, The Legend 17

Hello Friends!

Staying on Track During Travel

09 Pets of the Week

The Loafer

Founder: Bill Williams

PUBLISHER

Appalachian Barbie:

08 Puzzle Page

Ann Hartley

All advertisements are accepted and published by the publisher upon the representation that the agency and/or advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The agency and/or advertiser will indemnify and save the publisher harmless from any lossof expense resulting from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement, including claims or suits for defamation, libel, right of privacy, plagiarism, and copyright infringement.

FROM THE

Happy February 2024! The month of love! We can’t think about love without talking about weddings and brides. I absolutely love working on our annual Bridal Issue! We are so pleased to feature Thomas Farm Weddings and Events on our cover and inside. The only thing more beautiful than this venue is the horses. I have no idea how brides are even choosing a venue right now with so many beautiful options like this one along with The Side Porch, General Morgan Inn, The Farm at Pemberton and Villa Nove Farm & Vineyard. All of these gorgeous venues are inside this issue. Also make sure you check out J’s Corner for your catering and Slimming Perfections if you need to lose some inches before the big day…………. Not that you will not be beautiful at any size! I have been married for 32 years and I would say to all of the brides reading this issue to cherish this time and enjoy every moment of their big day! I wish every one of you a long and happy marriage and remember…… never go to bed angry and at every parting say “I love you”.

07 Tri-Cities Nightlife

Wendy Hayden

www.theloafer.net theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com

NOTE

Ones, Friends and a Canvas

Ken Silvers

columns & reviews

theloafer.net | February 6, 2024

Social Sentiments:

Spring Sunshine Into Your Feed! 19 Tea Time with

21 Pop Life The Family Plan 23 Batteries Not Included: Blood Simple

Love, Lisa Durbin Publisher

203 Roy Martin Rd Gray TN instagram.com/the_side_porch facebook.com/thesideporchTN thesideporchtn@gmail.com

A place for gathering with the ones you love!

Available Now for 2024

Everything Package Only

$2995

$500 Save the Date Deposit thefarmonpemberton.com 821 Pemberton Road, Bristol, TN 276-356-4964 facebook.com/thefarmonpemberton instagram.com/thefarmonpemberton

theloafer.net | February 6, 2024

The Side Porch

17 picturesque acres featuring the Gathering Barn, Victorian Farm Home, Bridal Parlor and Grooms Room. A Photographer’s Dream!

Spotlight

theloafer.net | February 6, 2024

Johnson City Johnson City, TN TUESDAY Feb 6th

Old Time Jam 5:00pm at Yee-Haw Brewing Company

Bristol, TN/VA Bristol TN/Va THURSDAY Feb 8th Jason Hicks, Vaden Landers, Bailey George, and Scott Thomas 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House Illiterate Light 8:30pm at Bristol Casino Bar FRIDAY Feb 9th Joslyn & The Sweet Compressio 6:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar Ziril, Kik, XM, Dock Chubkis, Red Cream Soda, 777Saint, Bessarion 6:00pm at Cascade Draft House The BIg Hug 9:30pm at Bristol Casino Bar SATURDAY Feb 10th Rachel’s Tears. Kiki, Greens on Toast, 777saint, Bob Wayne 6:00pm at Cascade Draft House Lauren Cole Band 6:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar Coal Camp 9:30pm at Bristol Casino Bar

Kingsport Kingsport, TN FRIDAY Feb 9th

Cam Ragsdale 7:00pm at Gypsy Circus Cider Company

Brim & Marci Leal 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza

Anti-Valentines Party w/ Dan Herrell & The Troubadours 9:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar

WEDNESDAY Feb 7th

SATURDAY Feb 10th

Rheva & Keegan’s Irish Fiddle Tunes 5:30pm at Mulligan’s Gaming Pub

JC Jazz Collective 8:00pm at Gypsy Circus Cider Company

Prom Night w/ Ali Randolph Band 9:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar

Elizabethton, TN Elizabethton FRIDAY Feb 9th The Salty Moondogs 6:00pm at Jiggy Rays SATURDAY Feb 10th Lightnin’ Charlie 6:00pm at Jiggy Ray’s

HB Beverly 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza College Country Night with Will Cassell and Crosby Tyler 9:00pm at Capone’s THURSDAY Feb 8th Justin Mychaels 6:30pm at Rocks Wood FIred Pizza FRIDAY Feb 9th Jeff Lane 6:30pm at Rocks Wood FIred Pizza Beth Snapp 7:00pm at The Down Home Preston Benfield Band 8:00pm at Tulip’s Pub and Grub Tennessee Lightning 10:00pm at Capone’s SATURDAY Feb 10th Wilson and the Walk | Clonetheory | Spacetrash 10:00pm at Capone’s SUNDAY Feb 11th

MONDAY Feb 12th Anthony Childress 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

Rheva & Keegan’s Irish Fiddle Tunes 5:30pm at Mulligan’s Gaming Pub

Submit Your Live Shows to: theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com or call 423-930-7319 to be Featured in the Loafer Spotlight

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theloafer.net | February 6, 2024

Valentine’s Painting Night Returns with Another Fun Gathering Spent with Loved Ones, Friends and a Canvas at Tusculum Community members can spend a fun and memorable Valentine’s Day with those they love in a historic and relaxing setting while developing or strengthening their artistic skills at Tusculum University.

in the community will not want to miss out on this opportunity to enjoy a quality evening and create a piece of art that can hang on their wall and serve as a forever reminder of Valentine’s Day 2024.”

Tusculum’s Center for the Arts will again hold the popular Valentine’s Painting Night to commemorate this special day. The lively and interactive event will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, in the lobby of Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Center and will feature the opportunity for participants to paint an Italian province landscape.

Valentine’s Painting Night is a fundraiser for Tusculum’s art program.

Guiding guests through the process will be Bill Bledsoe, a working artist for more than 45 years and assistant professor of art and design at Tusculum. Bledsoe also served as the teacher for the inaugural Valentine’s Painting Night in 2023, which sold out and attracted participants who lived throughout the region. “Everyone had a fantastic time a year ago, and many people have asked us to hold this event again,” said Rouja Green, director of the Center for the Arts. “We anticipate this year’s event will also sell out, so we encourage people to purchase tickets early. Our friends The 2023 Valentine’s Painting Night sold out and brought enjoyment to all participants.

Green emphasizes the event is not limited just to couples. People are welcome to participate with other family members or friends or come by themselves. The event is for people of all ages. Tusculum will have 25 stations, with a maximum of two people at each one. No painting experience is required, and Bledsoe will visit each station, as needed, to provide additional support for guests. In addition to painting, guests will experience many repeat elements from the inaugural event. The Center for the Arts will serve heavy hors d’oeuvres during a break in the middle of the painting session and provide guests with the opportunity to have their pictures taken at a photo booth. Music will also be played throughout the evening. “All of our guests will expand their knowledge about art composition and discover more about Italy,” Bledsoe said. “They will gain confidence in their painting abilities and further understand the power of art as a form of expression. But the best part of the evening is being able to spend that time with people they love and meeting new friends. We relish connecting with the community and are excited to replicate the terrific experience people enjoyed a year ago.” Bledsoe has led Tusculum’s studio art program for eight years and provides students with active and experiential learning that incorporates civic engagement with a number of community organizations. He also has a robust private art portfolio and was commissioned to create a painting celebrating the 225th anniversary of

Tennessee and Jonesborough, the state’s oldest town. A large mural he created adorns a wall in Majestic Park in downtown Johnson City. He earned his bachelor’s degree in studio art, which consists of painting and drawing, and his master’s degree in graphic design, both from East Tennessee State University. He worked as an artist for the Air Force and was the youngest to receive the Achievement Medal from that military branch. Bledsoe was recognized as one of the top 100 artists of Tennessee in 1987, and his work is part of a permanent collection in the Frist Art Museum in Nashville. Bledsoe is well-known in the region for spearheading the campaign to rename Tennessee’s National Football League team when it moved from Houston. He worked with NFL properties, ownership and the state of Tennessee on this endeavor. Tickets for Valentine’s Painting Night are $50 for one person and $75 for two people and can be purchased at our.show/nidxzum4pd. Anyone with questions can email Green at rgreen@tusculum.edu or call 423-787-8326. Guests listen to guidance as they create their paintings in 2023.

NIGHTLIFE

WEDNESDAY Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at The Pub Out Back (The Italian Pizza Pub) - Johnson City 7pm Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke Night at Wonderland Lounge and Bar - Johnson City, TN 9pm Karaoke with Ron at Kingsport Moose Lodge 6:30pm Loudmouth Karaoke at Michael Waltrip Brewing Company - Bristol, VA on Wednesday, April 5th at 7pm THURSDAY Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub - Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Wild Wings Cafe - Johnson City, TN 9pm Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke at Jiggy Rays Pizzeria - Johnson City, TN Karaoke at Tipsy Toad Tavern - Jonesborough, TN FRIDAY Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Rainbow Asian Cuisine - Johnson City, TN 9pm Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at The Sports Mill - Kingsport, TN 8pm Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke with Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille - Bristol, TN 10pm SATURDAY Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke with DJ Clyde and Prestige Entertainment at Macado’s -Kingsport, TN 9pm Karaoke with Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille - Bristol, TN 10pm

TRIVIA

TUESDAY Team Trivia at Wild Wing Café Johnson City TN DJ Trivia at Union Street Taproom Erwin, TN 5pm Trivia at The Corner Bar Bristol, VA 8pm Trivia at Aubrey’s Johnson City 7pm WEDNESDAY Trivia at Tipsy Toad Jonesborough, TN 7pm Trivia Night Mellow Mushroom Bristol, VA 7pm Trivia at Aubrey’s Bristol 7pm THURSDAY Mellow Trivia at Mellow Mushroom Johnson City, TN- 7pm Trivia at Riverside Taphouse at South Fork Bluff City, TN 7pm

BINGO

TUESDAY Singo at Riverside Taphouse at South Fork Bluff City, TN 6:30pm

DJ NIGHT THURSDAY DJ B-Digital at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille Bristol, TN 10pm

WEDNESDAY Bingo at Tipton Street Pub Johnson City, TN 9pm Singo at Holy Taco & Cantina Boones Creek, TN 8pm Blazin’ Bingo at Mellow Mushroom Johnson City, TN 6pm

FRIDAY Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub - Bristol, TN 10pm

THURSDAY Bingo at Mellow Mushroom Bristol VA 6pm Singo at Aubrey’s Bristol 7:00 PM

SUNDAY DJ B-Digital at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille Bristol, TN 10pm

SATURDAY Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub - Bristol, TN 10pm

To have your events added to this list email: theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com or call: 423-930-7319

theloafer.net | February 6, 2024

TRI-CITIES

theloafer.net | February 6, 2024

SODOKU

CROSSWORD

Down 1. "Keep your ___ the prize" 2. Jean-Claude Van ___ 3. Mimicry 4. Puppets 5. Rds. 6. Looking glass 7. Mary or John J. 8. Numberless ordinals 9. "Woof!" 10. Assurance 11. Snail at Chez Jacques 12. Cowboy's headwear 14. Slogans 16. Not so messy 18. Felt nostalgia for

DROP QUOTE

C RYPTO G RAM

PW PY RHQQHV YXVYX WH WTZX T QXWMHI TVI WSF PW. PL PW LTPDY, TIQPW PW LSTVZDF TVI WSF TVHWMXS, CNW TCHBX TDD WSF YHQXWMPVJ. — Franklin D. Roosevelt

ACROSS 1. Red-wrapped cheeses 6. Makes do 13. Scare away, doggy-style 14. Suspicion 15. Dubai royalty 16. Outdoor company, with "The" 17. Defunct science magazine 18. Geo cars 19. Scoundrel 20. Union intermediary 22. Refuses to admit 23. Wise old man 24. Jargon of a particular field 25. Durbeyfield girl, and namesakes 26. Paris or Nicky 27. Irish or English follower 28. Type of pill

29. Soda-fountain order

21. Gave an exam to

30. Steakhouse offering

22. Old West outlaw

31. Slender as ___

24. Smears in print

32. Ford classic

25. Mind reading

33. Seance sounds

26. ____ corpus

34. Connie Corleone in "The Godfather" 38. Jefferson Davis org.

27. Florida city on the Gulf of Mexico

39. Some large planes have two 28. Makes neat 40. Morales in the movies

29. Locomoted, military style

41. Dorm warmers

30. Turned over and over

43. ___ out a living (making do)

32. Overcome

44. ____ the Unready (English King) 45. Burn just a bit 46. Not evening clothing 47. Garden border tool

Answers to last week’s puzzles can be found on page 09.

34. Little crown 35. Gershwin's "Of Thee ____" 36. Poconos or Tetons 37. Swiss Alp 39. Everyone in Essen 42. Cartoon skunk Pepe Le ____ 43. Ending for Taiwan or Japan

theloafer.net | February 6, 2024

PETS

OF THE WEEK

la d y Lady is a special needs 13 yr old. Now, I may have this thing called Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, but that won’t stop me from being your purrfect companion. I’d do best as your one and only or with a feline pal who has the same virus. Let me tell you, I’ve got the sweetest chirp of a meow and this long, beautiful hair that’s just waiting for a bit of attention. I weigh 9.5 lbs, spayed,

got all my shots, and even have a nifty microchip. In my golden years, I’ve traded wild antics for gentle cuddles and cozy spots by the window. If you’re on the lookout for a seasoned sweetheart who’s seen a lot in her time, I might just be the feline friend you’ve been dreaming of. Other than the FIV, she has no other health issues. Bday 8/16/10

There are 5 Pairs of Love Birds hidden in this issue of The Loafer. Can you find them all?

Last Week's Puzzle Answers

Crossword

Cryptogram:

Dropquote:

"Those who are faithful know only the trivial side of love; it is the faithless who know love's tragedies."

"To the aesthete it is an art form, an athletic ballet. To the spiritually inclined it is a religion."

Sudoku

k y

Hi! My name is Lucky! I am a very handsome Hound/Beagle mix. I am a sweet boy that just wants to find a home that will give me the love and attention that I need. I am high energy and love to play. I would like a kid to play with but maybe one over 5 because I could possibly knock a smaller one down with all my love. I have that perfect hound bark to serenade you when you get home.

I have the best personality and will always be happy to see you! I would like to have a family that can keep up with me. Walks? Hikes? Runs? I am your guy! Though, I do like the occasional snuggle session under snuggly blankets. I weigh 40 lbs, good with other dogs, neutered, up to date on vaccinations, microchipped, partially housetrained. Bday 10/18/22

If you are interested in adopting : The Bridge Home No Kill Animal Shelter 423-239-5237 • 2061 Highway 75 Blountville, TN Facebook: bridgehome

bridgehome.org

theloafer.net | February 6, 2024

THOMAS FARM WEDDINGS

Church Hill, TN 423-367-8415 thomasfarmevents.com

facebook.com/thomasfarmevents

Couple’s Choice Award Winner since 2018

Photograph by Yellow Tree Photography

JOHNSON CITY

Killer Beaz Funny Valentine Extravaganza 6:00pm, 8:30pm at Holiday Inn JC Boomtown Improv! 8:00pm at Wallace Theatre

SATURDAYS ACOA (adult children of alcoholics) 1:30-3:00pm. Call for info Bill 423-444-6107 or Cheryl 423-262-6149 BRISTOL THURSDAY FEB 8TH WEDNESDAY FEB 7TH Tri-Cities Turtles Run Club Open Mic 8:00pm 12:45pm at Yee-Haw at Blue Ridge Comedy Club Brewing Co. THURSDAY FEB 8TH IBN Evening Social 5:30pm at Tennessee Hills Brewstillery “Cozy Cabin” Canvas Class 6:00 PM at Kil'n Time FRIDAY FEB 9TH Contemporary Ceramics Johnson City Love & Hiking Date For Couples (Self-Guided) FRIDAY FEB 9TH 7:00am at Willow Springs Park “Intertwined” Canvas SATURDAY FEB 10TH Class 6:00 PM at Kil'n Time Johnson City Love & Hiking Contemporary Ceramics Date For Couples (Self-Guided) Amber Autry 7:00pm 7:00am at Willow Springs Park at Blue Ridge Comedy Club Maple Syrup Festival and SATURDAY FEB 10TH Pancake Breakfast 8:00am at Tipton-Haynes Historic Site Board Game Night 5:00pm Love Birds Kids Canvas at Bristol Public Library 10:00am at Into the Fire Amber Autry 7:00pm, 9:00pm Galentine’s Market 11:00am at Blue Ridge Comedy Club at The Mall at Johnson City SUNDAY FEB 11TH Mardi Gras Moto Madness Parenting Prime Time – 11:00am at Wrecking Crew Make Parenting Sweet Harley-Davidson 8:00am at Parenting Sweet Mardi Gras Mask Making Workshop 2:00pm at Tie Breakers KINGSPORT Parents' Night Out 4:30pm THURSDAY FEB 8TH at The Wellness Center IBN Blz Lunch 11:30am Parents Night Out! 5:30 at Pratt's BBQ at Hands On Discovery Center

Kingsport Cider & Cheese Pairing ABINGDON, VA 4:30pm at Gypsy Circus Cider Co. WEDNESDAY FEB 7TH Mardi Gras Murder Mystery Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon 6:00pm at Allandale Mansion Community Center FRIDAY FEB 9TH Mardi Gras Murder Mystery 6:00pm at Allandale Mansion SATURDAY FEB 10TH Nature: Wolf Howling 10:00am at Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium Tie Dye Event 5:00pm at Brushstrokes n’ More Mardi Gras Murder Mystery 6:00pm at Allandale Mansion

JONESBOROUGH TUESDAYS Jonesborough Storytelling Guild “Stories n’More” Show 7:00pm at The Intl. Storytelling Center WEDNESDAY FEB 7TH IBN Biz Lunch 11:30am at The Black Olive FRIDAY FEB 9TH Chocolate Fest 1:00pm, 5:00pm at Downtown Jonesborough SATURDAY FEB 10TH Chocolate Fest 10:00am, 2:00pm at Downtown Jonesborough Historic Jonesborough Town Tour 1:00pm at Chester Inn State Historic Site

To be featured in The Loafer's Things to Do email us at: theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com or call 423-930-7319

FRIDAY DEC FEB 9TH Movies for Adults 2:00pm at Washington County Public Library SUNDAY FEB 11TH Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Community Center

ELIZABETHTON SATURDAY FEB 10TH Love Mugs Pottery Workshop 2:00pm at Made on Elk Bae Day - A Valentine Maker's Market 4:00pm at Riverside Taphouse

theloafer.net | February 6, 2024

THINGS TO DO

theloafer.net | February 6, 2024 12

theloafer.net | February 6, 2024

Useless Facts sponsored by biker wear Useless Facts about 2024: 1. February fluctuates between having 28 and 29 days per year. The 29th day only occurs every 4 years during leap years. 2. The length of February was finalized when Julius Caesar remade the Roman calendar and assigned the month 28 days and 29 days. In 713 B.C., February was officially added to the Roman calendar. 3. If you were born in February, your birthstone is an amethyst, and your flower is a primrose. 4. The western zodiac signs in February are Aquarius which is until February 19th, and Pisces, which is until February 20th. 5. Over time, the length of February kept changing. At one point, it had as little as 23 days.

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Emergency Bike Night February 28th at 19E Pit Stop 6pm Local Events: 1. Gala Scholarship Fundraiser 7pm at The Heritage Event Venue Feb 17th 2. Bear’s Celebration of Life February 24th 5pm at 19E Pit Stop 3. 2nd Annual St, Patty’s Day Party 1pm March 16th at True Sons Club House

Rides: 1. Lids for Kids March 30th

Bike Rallies: Daytona Bike Week March 1st – 10th Daytona Beach

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theloafer.net | February 6, 2024 16

Here Comes The Bride!

Social media, if used correctly, can be extremely motivational. It can motivate you to start that project you’ve been working on through groups filled with expert advice. It can also inspire you to start a business that shows the world what you are truly passionate about. Negativity runs rampant on social media, but with some tweaks, you can have the positive experience you deserve.

social media experience. Comments are able to be deleted for a reason. Negative comments can have a lasting effect on mental health, whether intended or not. You hold the power to remove comments that interfere with your ability to maintain a positive outlook.

Take control of your feed by using your settings to your Ridding yourself of negative advantage. Filter negative followers is a great way to language, block harmful users, add more sunshine into your feed. Content created and and control tagging settings shared by negative people along with deleting negativity can significantly impact your through followers and mental health. Don’t be afraid to click the unfollow button on comments to ensure a positive social media experience that negativity. That button is the start of your path to a positive leaves you feeling fulfilled.

Social Sentiments By Wendy Hayden socialsentiments @outlook.com

socialsentiments.net

theloafer.net | February 6, 2024

Spring Sunshine Into Your Feed!

theloafer.net | February 6, 2024 18

by Kathie Scalf

Following a much-needed sabbatical from work travel throughout the chaos of holiday season, I returned to my life on the road and spent the last two weeks in Knoxville and Chattanooga. I was quite apprehensive about what this would mean for the dietary changes and strict workout schedule I’ve worked hard to implement over the last few months. Historically, traveling for work is when I tend to fall off the wagon and sends me on a weeks or sometimes months-long spiral of over-indulging and undermoving my body. While I wasn’t 100% perfect (and I don’t think anyone can be), I’m rather pleased with my conduct during this time. It turns out, with a little planning and selfdiscipline, travel doesn’t have to set you back in your self-improvement.

would be higher than I would prepare at home. I then prioritized where I would eat, examining their menus ahead of time to ensure there were things I could modify to fit my dietary needs. As someone who worked in the service industry for years, I HATE the idea of being known in the kitchen as some “gluten free Karen” with a thousand mods and food allergies. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve walked away from a high maintenance customer and muttered to myself “if you have such a particular diet, maybe you should just eat at home.” I now understand that is not always an option and luckily it was way easier to order than I expected.

limited. I don’t typically drink when I’m home outside of the occasional glass of wine in the evening, and even those have been eliminated while I’m trying to get my health on track. It’s painful to admit, but alcohol and health are not and never will be compatible. When you’re eating very clean even 1-2 cocktails will make you feel sluggish and brain-foggy the next day. Alcohol also has the unique ability to taste better and better with every glass, making it very easy to go from “1 drink and I’m leaving” to “8am with a blaring headache wondering where my wallet is.” While I still made it to bed at reasonable hours, there were definitely Instead of hitting up a fast food biscuit a few nights where I should have for breakfast, I had Uber-Eats deliver avoided alcohol altogether, especially to my hotel from Ruby Sunshine or in Chattanooga where I tend to have First Watch while I was getting ready. I My biggest concern prior to leaving more temptation simply because I love ordered their basic breakfast plate of 2 was my food. In addition to tracking the town and atmosphere. Moving my macros and measuring my portion eggs scrambled, subbed their chicken/ forward I will just stick to turkey sausage in place of pork, and sizes, I now have to navigate this club soda and lime and save my drinks swapped the potatoes for a fruit cup, restrictive diet and only eat single for celebrations. When you have a job only eating melon and discarding ingredient foods. That has already like mine and are living the high sugar grapes. For lunch and proven difficult even in my own out of hotels, it’s hard to kitchen, let alone trusting a stranger in dinner the easiest thing to order was a restaurant to properly prepare it. It’s some type of salad, removing any non- differentiate from work-mode and vegetable toppings and asking for olive vacation-mode, so self-discipline is of impossible to prep meals in advance oil and vinegar on the side in place of and bring them with me; the utmost importance. the dressing, then adding a protein not only would I have to fill a cooler If you’re trying to be healthier in 2024 like chicken, shrimp or steak. No one and haul it in and out of hotels, as and are worried that an upcoming batted an eye when I requested the well as have my car equipped with a meats be grilled with minimal oil and vacation or business trip is going smaller cooler to eat throughout the no butter, and I was still able to enjoy to derail your progress, just know it day, it’s also part of my job to host doesn’t have to end that way. Be strict business dinners and happy hours with dinner with my colleagues. our clients. I also made sure to keep my workouts with yourself and plan ahead, but prioritized. I packed workout clothes also let go of the idea of perfection. So the first thing I had to do was for each day and continued to get up Nothing is irreparable and a week or accept that this would be mitigating and hit the hotel gym just as I would two out of the groove doesn’t negate circumstances and let go of the idea at home. Most hotel gyms have the weeks of hard work you’ve put in. of perfection; I would just have to everything I need in terms of free do the best I could with what I had. The “all or nothing” mentality is more weights and cardio equipment, so Instead of eating 6 perfectly timed dangerous than a night of over200-300 calorie meals during the day, I there is no excuse to skip a session. indulging, so just get back on track as cut it down to breakfast/lunch/dinner The most difficult aspect I had to soon as you can and keep it moving. knowing that my calories per meal navigate ended up being alcohol. I With a full year of market work ahead work for a whiskey distillery, so it is of me, I’ll be fighting the good fight literally my job to buy people drinks right beside you! and spend my evening barhopping, especially when visiting markets outside of Nashville where my time is

XO - Kathie

theloafer.net | February 6, 2024

Staying on Track During Travel

theloafer.net | February 6, 2024 20

I like Mark Wahlberg, but every time I see him I think of Marky Mark, his former music persona, despite his Oscar nomination in 2006. More often than not, Wahlberg tends to stick to roles that best suit his talents, as in the new movie "The Family Plan", an action/comedy, where he plays a former assassin living incognito with his family in Buffalo, NY. Frankly, if I were in his position I would have lived in a warmer climate, but I suppose that's beside the point. Wahlberg stars as Dan Morgan, a car salesman married to Jessica (Michelle Monaghn), and the father to three kids, Nina (Zoe Colleti, Kyle (Van Crosby), and Max (played by twins Iliana and Vienna Norris). Dan shys away from technology and social media, leaving Jessica often frustrated that the family isn't more spontaneous. Gee, I wonder why Dan is this way? Little does he know, his past is coming back to haunt him. When Dan and Jessica are at a local carnival celebrating their anniversary, they discover

Pop Life

By Ken Silvers theloaferonlineprint @gmail.com

some guys filming a romantic moment, and while Dan goes nuclear inside, he holds back due to the danger of revealing his former occupation. Matters really crank up when Dan and his youngest child Max are at the supermarket and he is attacked by an obviously trained assassin. Dan manages to defeat his attacker, but after contacting a former associate, he is advised to leave town as the attacker could have been hired by McCaffrey (Ciaran Hinds), his former employer. Upon discovering the photo taken of Dan and Jessica taken at the carnival "outed" him, he prepares to gather passports for his family and packs bags for them under the guise of taking a spontaneous trip to Las Vegas. Once the family is on the road to Vegas, Dan discovers this vehicle has a tracking device, and manages to dispose of it. The family makes several stops on their trip, but are found by the henchmen at each stop. When the family finally makes it to Vegas, everything comes crashing down when Dan and Jessica are attacked in their hotel suite and Dan is finally forced to tell his wife the truth about his past. After a shoot out in the hotel, Dan reveals his real name is Sean, and tells his family their life in Buffalo is over, and Jessica decides to take the kids and leave Dan/Sean. This action proves disastrous, as Jessica and the kids are kidnapped by McCaffrey's henchmen forcing our hero into action. There is an eventual showdown at an

abandoned hotel involving everyone, including Dan/Sean's ex-love Gwen (Maggie Q). There is also a surprise involving Dan/ Sean and McCaffrey that I will not reveal. As expected the bad guys lose, and the Morgan family is able to return to Buffalo and get their lives back to normal. The film doesn't pretend to be anything new or different, but does succeed as an action/comedy. Wahlberg is fine in a role tailor made for him, and I often feel as if I

have seen this plot hundreds of times. The supporting cast is fine, and the sparring of their characters is typical for this genre. Overall, if you want a film with surprisingly tense action, with some comedy thrown in, "The Family Plan" is for you. Just don't expect the reinvention of cinema. Now streaming on Apple TV+ (Rated PG-13)

theloafer.net | February 6, 2024

The Family Plan

theloafer.net | February 6, 2024

CONCERT SCHEDULE Bristol

BRISTOL TN/VA

PARAMOUNT Jan 26 Paul Reiser Feb 3 Brad Upton Feb 15 Mike Goodwin Feb 20 Farm & Fun Time featuring St. Paul & The Broken Bones Mar 2 Asleep at the Wheel Mar 3 Twitty & Lynn Mar 9 Tartan Terrors Apr 10 John Oats Apr 25 Glenn Miller Orchestra

Feb 3 Feb 17 Feb 23 Mar 16 Apr 20 Jun 15

Song of the Mountains with The Malpass Brothers and The Kody Norris Show Big Gun AC/DC Tribute William Golden and the Goldens Carson Peters and Iron Mountain Aaron Tippin Mark Lowry & Friends with Endless Highway and The Sound

KNOXVILLE TN

Knoxville

BIJOU THEATRE Jan 28 Judy Collins Feb 2 Scott Miller Feb 9 Big Something MARTIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS Jan 18 Black Jacket Symphony performs Feb 10 Dailey & Vincent Feb 16 & 17 Erick Baker Journey’s Escape Album Mar 6 Geoff Tate and Feb 2 Three Dog Night Adrian Vandenberg Feb 15 Larry Fleet with Dalton Dover Mar 10 Steven Curtis Chapman Apr 1 ZZ Top Apr 13 The Chain-Fleetwood Mac TENNESSEE THEATRE Tribute Band Jan 27 Ron White Apr 25 Rain: A tribute to the Beatles Feb 7 Dwight Yoakam Feb 24 Diana Krall Mar 1 Godsmack GREENVILLE Mar 2 Steve Trevino Mar 16 Marc Broussard NISWONGER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Mar 26 Scott Bradlee’s Jan 19 Rhonda Vincent Postmodern Jukebox Jan 22 Drumline Live Apr 20 Ashley McBryde Jan 27 The Guess Who Apr 25 Nickel Creek Feb 2 Dugger Band May 1 Bonnie Raitt Feb 4 The Canine Stars Jun 8 Brad Williams Feb 10 Chris Janson THOMPSON BOWLING ARENA Feb 19 Drew & Ellie Holcomb Jan 13 Aerosmith and The Black Crowes Mar 1 The Steeldrivers Feb 8 Disturbed with Falling in Reverse Mar 9 Jeff Allen and Plush Mar 6 Sawyer Brown Feb 18 Winter Jam ’24 with Crowder, Mar 22 Stayin Alive: One night of the LeCrae, Cain and many others Bee Gees Feb 23 Riley Green Apr 5 Evil Woman-The American ELO Mar 15 Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top with Apr 13 Firehouse Black Stone Cherry May 4 Anthem Lights Mar 16 Dan + Shay May 10 John Anderson Acoustic Mar 28 Avenged Sevenfold with Poppy & May 14 Brothers of the Heart Sullivan King Apr 4 Sam Hunt MARION VA Apr 6 Bert Kreischer Apr 16 Tyler Childers with 49 Winchester THE LINCOLN THEATRE Apr 26 Tim McGraw and Carly Pearce Jan 27 Molly Hatchet with Peacemaker

JOHNSON CITY TN

JOHNSON CITY

GREENEVILLE TN

MARION, VA

May 9

Zach Bryan

KNOXVILLE CIVIC AUDITORIUM: Feb 15 Matt Rife Mar 1 The Fab Four performs The Beatles Rubber Soul Mar 5 Joe Bonamassa Mar 21-24 Big Ears Festival with Herbie Hancock, John Paul Jones + more KNOXVILLE CIVIC COLISEUM: Feb 4 Theo Von Mar 22 Gabriel Iglesias Mar 27 Reo Speedwagon and Rick Springfield May 11 Kevin Gates July 25 Jordan Davis

NASHVILLE TN

Nashville

RYMAN AUDITORIUM Jan 20 American Aquarium Jan 24 Mr. Big with The Smithereens Jan 28 Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons Jan 29 Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton Feb 1 The Milk Carton Kids Feb 3 Three Dog Night Feb 9 Grace Potter Feb 14 & 15 Band Of Horses Feb 16 & 17 Clint Black Feb 21 & 22 Oliver Anthony Feb 24 Kenny Wayne Shepherd Feb 25 Billy Strings Feb 27 Godsmack Feb 28 Jon Batiste Mar 8 & 9 Greensky Bluegrass with Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country Mar 12 Tesla Mar 14 K.C. & The Sunshine Band Mar 16 Extreme Apr 2 Dustin Lynch Apr 4 The Wood Brothers Apr 5 & 6 Black Pumas Apr 9 Casting Crowns Apr 26 Leftover Salmon & the Infamous Stringdusters May 4 Tracy Lawrence May 10 & 11 Amy Grant Jun 6-9 Matt Rife June 21 & 22 Blackberry Smoke BRIDGESTONE ARENA Jan 23 Tool with Elder Feb 2 Cody Johnson

Feb 14 Feb 9 Feb 17

Anita Baker Pantera with Lamb of God Disturbed with Falling in Reverse and Plush Feb 23 Billy Strings Feb 24 Billy Strings Mar 1 Sam Hunt Mar 21 Dan + Shay Mar 29 Chris Tomblin Mar 31 Fall Out Boy & Jimmy Eat World Apr 14 Jeff Dunham Apr 18 & 19 Tyler Childers Apr 25 Tim McGraw Apr 29 The Postal Service with Death Cab For Cutie and Pulp May 11 Bad Bunny May 24 & 25 Noah Kahan Jun 3 Niall Horan Jun 14 Luis Miguel Jun 23 Alanis Morissette, Joan Jett & Morgan Wade BROOKLYN BOWL May 16 Mammoth WVH BROWN COUNTY MUSIC CENTER Feb 10 Yacht Rock Revue Mar 2 John Michael Montgomery Mar 24 Steve HackettGenesis Revisited May 4 Beth Hart NASHVILLE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM Oct 10 Three Days Grace and Chevelle Oct 26 -28 Hardy with Lainey Wilson ASCEND AMPHITHEATRE Apr 27 Cody Jinks May 31 & Jun 1 Lainey Wilson Jun 22 Jul 12 Aug 13

Cypress Hill Styx, Foreigner and John Waite Creed with Tonic and Finger Eleven

NISSAN STADIUM Jul 20 Def Leppard and Journey

ASHEVILLE NC

ASHEVILLE, NC

EXPLOREASHEVILLE.COM ARENA Feb 16-18 Billy Strings THE ORANGE PEEL Jan 20 The Milk Carton Kids

CALL WQUT @ 477-1015 FOR MORE CONCERT INFORMATION OR VISIT WWW.WQUT.COM

The good people at The Criterion Collection continue their commitment to bringing out movies to home video in the best possible editions. Since introducing the 4K UHD blu-ray disc to their lineup in 2021 they’ve not only released many new to the collection titles in the format, but revisited films they had released before to bring out again in the ultra-high-definition format. They’ve done this again with a new 4K edition of their 2016 release of the debut from The Coen Brothers, 1984’s “Blood Simple.” “Blood Simple” is one of the most stunning debut films I’ve ever seen. Set in Texas the film is a darkly comedic Neo-noir, in many ways the bleakest comedy of errors one can think of filtered through the classic trappings of Noir, updating them for contemporary audiences. Set in a Texas town, a sketchy bar owner thinks his wife is having an affair and hires a most dubious private detective to follow her and find out. It doesn’t help that the affair is going on with one of his employees at the bar, who he promptly fires, then decides that isn’t enough. Turns out

Batteries Not Included

By Andy Ross theloaferonlineprint @gmail.com

our private eye is more than willing to do anything if the price is right, regardless of where it falls in the law, and this kicks off our series of interesting events. What surprises me most about this movie, is just how damn assured it is for a firsttime debut. We know what The Coen Brothers are capable of now, but this? This showed them ready to dive right in out of the gate and try to get it all out if they only had one shot. This is the first time the Coen’s would work with Francis McDormand, making her feature film debut, she plays the sleazy owner’s wife at the center of it all. The great M. Emmet Walsh plays our sketchy private eye, in a role that was written for him. John Getz plays the lover and I kept trying to figure out why the bar owner looked so familiar to me. It’s the great character actor Dan Hedaya, who I know as the lawyer from “The Addams Family” directed by this film’s cinematographer, Barry Sonnenfeld. That’s another striking element of “Blood Simple,” this amazing cinematography. The film has color but somehow makes it work to evoke the stark feel of a deepshadowed noir. It’s a stunninglooking movie, particularly a sequence towards the end which just about put me out of my chair. But I don’t want to spoil the movie for you. This an amazing film, and one well worth seeing. Criterion first released “Blood Simple” on blu-ray in 2016 from a then-new 4K restoration made from the original camera negative, this was supervised and approved by Barry Sonnenfeld, and Joel and Ethan Coen. I suspect this is the same source for the new Criterion 4K disc. I was sent the 2016 Blu-ray, which also comes with the new 4K release, so I can’t say how this restoration looks in 4K. What I can tell you is that it must

look amazing, as this is a fantasticlooking blu-ray. The film has the right amount of grain, and the color pallet comes across beautifully. It’s a stunning-looking movie, even on standard blu-ray. The audio mix is a 5.1 remix created by the film’s original sound mixer. It’s mostly muted in the surrounds. The film was originally released in Dolby Stereo, which used a monophonic surround channel. I suspect this mix just opens up the surround mix to add a little more directionality with stereo surrounds over mono. It sounds great. Bonus features are, as usual with Criterion solid. They include a new feature with the Coens and

Sonnenfeld talking about the film, a conversation with the Coens and author Dave Eggers, interviews with the cast and crew, and a selection of trailers for the movie. It’s a wonderful package and I’m sure the 4K upgrade is well-welcomed for fans of the film. “Blood Simple” is an amazing movie, tense, suspenseful, shot well, and a heck of a debut. Halfway into the film, I thought I was going to have an anxiety attack. It’s that good. This is another fine release from The Criterion Collection and it comes highly recommended. See you next week.

theloafer.net | February 6, 2024

Blood Simple