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Founder: Bill Williams

WKMA Art Lab Announces New Workshops for Spring 2023

Do more of what you love! Art Lab at William King Museum of Art in Abingdon VA, announces new art and design classes and instructors for the Spring 2023 semester. Available for both teens and adults, classes for Spring 2023 include drawing, photography, printmaking, creative development, and digital media. Registration is open at WilliamKingMuseum.org/learn or by calling 276-628-5005

Art Lab is excited to host arts workshops with visiting instructors in 2023. Starting January 14, local professional photographer and marketing expert Patrick Savage teaches ‘FUN-damentals of Digital Photography.” Learn what every button on your camera does and leave with an understanding of the fundamentals of digital

photography. Next, Sylvia Lane, a recent painting graduate from Hollins University, will lead a Figure Drawing workshop (ages 14+) with special focus on anatomy for artists on January 24. Art Lab studio artist Lola York will lead “Movement and Creativity” to explore movement as a tool for creative unblocking at the end of January– no previous dance or movement experience required and all bodies are welcome. Adobe Bootcamp training workshops begin in February 2023 Register early to take advantage of temporary special rates on Adobe Bootcamp training sessions. Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects and Premiere Pro are industry standard tools for creative professionals worldwide. Art Lab’s Adobe training sessions

provide a technical foundation for future graphics experts, art students, and professionals interested in increasing their skill set. They are ideal for adults considering career change or expansion as well as students in the communication arts. As part of our Veterans Art and Design program, we offer special discounts for veterans for Adobe training, contact Alice at asalyer@ wkmuseum.org for more information.

A free or pay-what-you-want program, Teen Lab begins in February, and teens ages 13-18 will be led through creating and producing a coloring book of their own. Later Teen Lab sessions focus on ceramics, digital art and book arts. Participants can work through a variety of digital and physical

media projects to build technical skills and support the development of creative voice.

Later this Spring, artist & media expert Sabrina Durling-Jones will lead a 6 session workshop “Artist & Machine: Human Computer Creative Collaboration for Artists” for artists interested in bringing their creative voice to visual collaborations with artificial intelligence. No coding required!

Do more of what you love with Art Lab at William King Museum of Art! Register for classes at williamkingmuseum.org/learn. For additional information contact Laken Bridges, Director of Higher Education at: lbridges@wkmuseum.org or Alice Salyer, Digital Lab Manager, at asalyer@wkmuseum.org or call 276-628- 5005.

Spotlight

Bristol TN/Va

WEDNESDAY JAN 18th

Gunner Heathe 6:00pm at Delta Blues BBQ

Adam Jones 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

THURSDAY JAN 19th

Writers In The Round 6:00pm at Delta Blues BBQ

Trevor Meade Music 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

FRIDAY JAN 20th

Chew | Joey’s Van 6:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar

Chris Long plays CDH 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

Johnathan King 8:00pm at Quaker Steak & Lube

Joslyn & The Sweet Compression 8:30pm at Bristol Casino Bar

SATURDAY Jan 21st

Mick Kyte followed by Mike Preslar 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

Jacob Woodruff 8:00pm at Quaker Steak & Lube

Johnson City

Johnson City, TN

TUESDAY Jan 17th

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

WEDNESDAY Jan 18th

HB Beverly 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza

THURSDAY Jan 19th

Justin Mychals 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza

EMO Night with Johnny Red 9:00pm at Capones

FRIDAY Jan 20th

Blue Highway 8:00pm at The Down Home

Aces & Eights 8:00pm at Tulips Grub & Pub

Elderbug | Failure 2 Conform | Nomad 10:00pm at Capones

SATURDAY Jan 21st

Blue Highway 8:00pm at The Down Home

Curses | Ham Radio | Fractured Frames 10:00pm at Capone’s Kingsport

Kingsport, TN

FRIDAY Jan 21st

Alma Russ 7:00pm at Gypsy Circus Cider Company

Borderline Band 9:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar

SATURDAY Jan 22nd

Bristol, TN/VA Abingdon, VA

Stone Creek 4 9:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar Abingdon, VA

SATURDAY Jan 21st

Hustle Souls 6:00pm at Wolf Hills Brewing

TRI-CITIES 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

THURSDAY

Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub - Johnson City, TN 8pm

Sing Your Heart Out Karaoke 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 with Absolute Entertainment at Union Street Taproom - Erwin, TN 8pm Jan 28, Feb 18 & Mar 4

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 BINGO DJ NIGHT

TUESDAY

Team Trivia at Wild Wing Café

Johnson City TN

DJ Trivia at Union Street Taproom Erwin, TN 5pm

WEDNESDAY

Trivia at Tipsy Toad Jonesborough, TN 7pm

Trivia Night Mellow Mushroom Bristol, VA 7pm

THURSDAY

Mellow Trivia at Mellow Mushroom Johnson City, TN- 7pm

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

THURSDAY

Bingo at Mellow Mushroom Bristol VA 6pm

THURSDAY

DJ B-Digital at O’Mainnin’s Pub and GrilleBristol, TN 10pm

FRIDAY

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

SATURDAY

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

SUNDAY

DJ B-Digital at O’Mainnin’s Pub and GrilleBristol, TN 10pm

423-930-7319

Hi! I’m Oakley and I am a handsome 4 yr old Tabby !!! It’s been a rough year for me, coming from a horrible living situation, but I’ve battled back, and now I am ready to settle down in a quiet, loving home. I love attention, petting, ear scratches, and treats, and even being held for a bit.

Hi! I’m Onyx! I am about 1 year old. I am a possible Schnauzer/Spaniel mix. I got along with the big dogs that belonged to the lady that found me. Unsure if I like cats, kids or small dogs. I do need work on manners, house

I’m pretty laid back and I get along fine with other cats. I might need some occasional alone time at first, But I’ll make a good companion to someone willing to take me in and just be a little patient. I’ve been neutered, current on vaccinations and microchipped. training and leash training. I love to run and play. I have pretty white teeth, one blue eye and the other goldish brown, neutered, current on vaccinations and microchipped.

BRISTOL

TUESDAY JAN 17TH

Film Screening — Seizing Justice: The Greensboro Four 11:00am at Birthplace of Country Music Museum

WEDNESDAY JAN 18TH

Film Screening — Black Wings 11:00am, 3:00pm at Birthplace of Country Music Museum

Comedy Open Mic 7:30pm at Blue Ridge Comedy Club

THURSDAY JAN 19TH

Film Screening — The Green Book Guide to Freedom 6:30pm at Birthplace of Country Music Museum

Van Gogh Snowman Canvas Class 7:00pm at Kil'n Time Contemporary Ceramic Studio

Wealth Of Knowledge Man: Comedy Trivia 8:00pm at Blue Ridge Comedy Club

FRIDAY JAN 20TH

D.J. Demers 8:00pm at Blue Ridge Comedy Club

SATURDAY JAN 21ST

Film Screening — Black in Space: Breaking the Color Barrier 11:00am at Birthplace of Country Music Museum

Board Game Night 5:00pm at Bristol Public Library

D.J. Demers 8:00pm at Blue Ridge Comedy Club

THINGS TO DO THINGS TO DO

JOHNSON CITY

SATURDAYS

ACOA (adult children of alcoholics) 1:30-3:00pm. Call for info Bill 423-444-6107 or Cheryl 423-262-6149

TUESDAY JAN 17TH

First Snow Canvas Class 6:00pm at Into the Fire

THURSDAY JAN 19TH

IBN Biz Lunch 11:30am at The Golden Corral

FRIDAY JAN 20TH

Johnson City Love & Hiking Date For Couples (SelfGuided) 7:00am at Willow Springs Park

My First Socks! A Knitting Workshop 9:00am at Yarntiques

Weekly YuGiOh Duel Night 6:00pm at CardFox

Ladies Night 6:30 at Into The Fire

SATURDAY JAN 21ST

Johnson City Love & Hiking Date For Couples (SelfGuided) 7:00am at Willow Springs Park

Annual Robert Burns Dinner 6:00pm at Tipton-Haynes Historic Site

SUNDAY JAN 22ND

Johnson City Love & Hiking Date For Couples (Self-Guided) 7:00am at Willow Springs Park

KINGSPORT

THURSDAY JAN 19TH

Aluminum Jewelry 5:30pm at The Inventor's Center

SATURDAY JAN 21ST

Nature: Wolf Howling 10:00am at Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium

Bob Ross's Red Sunset 2:00pm at Renaissance Arts Center

JONESBOROUGH

TUESDAYS

Jonesborough Storytelling Guild “Stories n’More” Show 7:00pm at The International Storytelling Center

SATURDAY JAN 14TH

Winter Market 9:00am at Boone Street Market

McKinney Center Spring 2023 Open House 10:00am at Booker T. Washington School

Historic Jonesborough Town Tour 1:00pm at Chester Inn State Historic Site

Miss Royal Winter 2023 1:30 at The International Storytelling Center

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

ABINGDON, VA

WEDNESDAY JAN 11TH

IBN Biz Lunch 11:30am at Moon Dog Pizza

Coloring Pages with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop Intro 1:00pm at William King Museum of Art Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Community Center

SUNDAY JAN 15TH

Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Community Center

BLUFF CITY, TN

TUESDAY JAN 17TH

Art Program 11:30 at Thomas Memorial Library

SATURDAY JAN 21ST Game Club 4:30 at Thomas Memorial Library

USeless Facts

1. The name for January comes from the Roman god, Janus, who is always depicted with two heads. He uses one head to look back on the year before, and the other head to look forward into the New Year!

2. Oddly enough, couples tend to separate or divorce more so in January than any other month of the year.

3. In Pasadena, California, there has been a Rose Parade held every year since 1890. It has since been broadcasted worldwide and is typically viewed in over 100 countries around the globe.

4. If you were born in January, your birthstone is a garnet!

5. In leap years, January always starts on the same day as April and July.

6. London is famous for its extensive subway system, nicknamed “The Tube.” This makes sense because they’re also responsible for opening the first operational underground railway on January 10, 1863.

7. Some historical names for January include “Wulfmonath,” which came from the Anglo-Saxons because it was the month hungry wolves would come scavenging. King Charlemagne would call it “Wintermanoth” meaning “winter/cold month.”

8. Originally, the Roman calendar had only 10 months, and it excluded January and February.

9. King Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome, is responsible for adding both January and February to the Roman calendar. He did this so calendars would be equivalent to a lunar year. Even so, it only had 30 days.

10. Finally, Julius Caesar added the 31st day to the month and completed it to the full month of January we practice now!

11. January was a monumental year for Alaska! As of January 3, 1959, Alaska officially became the 49th state of the United States.

12. Generally, January is the coldest month of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

13. The equivalent month of January in terms of temperature in the Southern Hemisphere is July!

14. Referring back to the Julian and Gregorian calendars, January is the first month of the year, and the first of seven months to be 31 days long.

15. In the United Kingdom, some people practice “Dry January.” This is a movement to encourage people to quit drinking alcohol for the month in order to encourage public health.

Beanz Biker Corner Beanz Biker Corner

Hello everyone, I truly pray your Holiday season was all you hoped it would be. Now that we have Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years behind us. Let’s start this 2023 year with new hopes and dreams. Be kind to each other, be respectful to others.

January is the first month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and is also the first of seven months to have a length of 31 days. The first day of the month is known as New Year's Day. It is, on average, the coldest month of the year within most of the Northern Hemisphere where it is the second month of winter and the warmest month of the year within most of the Southern Hemisphere where it is the second month of summer. In the Southern hemisphere, January is the seasonal equivalent of July in the Northern hemisphere and vice versa.

January's birthstone is the garnet, which represents

constancy. Its birth flower is the cottage pink Dianthus caryophyllus or Galanthus as well as the traditional carnation. The Japanese floral emblem of January is the Camellia. In Finnish, the month of tammikuu means the heart of the winter and because the name literally means "oak moon", it can be inferred that the oak tree is the heart of the grand forest with many valuable trees as opposed to the typical Arctic forests, which are typically pine and spruce. The zodiac signs for the month of January are Capricorn (until January 19) and Aquarius (January 20 onwards). The name of the full moon occurring in January is the wolf moon.

the army on an expedition. As the god of transitions, Janus is often depicted with two, bearded heads that face in opposite directions, looking to both the future and the past. After 153 BCE, January (mensis Januarius in Latin) became the first month of the Roman calendar (which we adopted), the figure of Janus a perfect symbol for new beginnings.

as deceitful and, well, two-faced.

By Anne Hartley

Known for recaps and resolutions, each new year often starts with retrospection and the month of January. What does January mean? January, as we know, is the first month of the year and contains 31 days. The term originated before the year 1000 from Middle English, ultimately deriving from the Latin noun use of Jānuārius, equivalent to Jānus. Who was Janus? In ancient Roman culture, Jānus was a god of doorways, beginnings, and the rising and setting of the sun. His name comes from the Latin jānus, meaning “doorway, archway, arcade.” Fun fact: the closely related Latin word jānua, meaning “door, doorway, entrance,” ultimately gives us the word janitor, which originally referred to a door attendant or porter before evolving to its more familiar sense of “custodian.”

There were many gateways in Rome where ceremonial entrances and exits were made, especially for the departure of

This ancient deity Janus has found his way into modern English in more ways than one. And as you might expect, his other lexical contributions are not entirely straightforward. The versatile word Janus-faced can refer to someone or something’s capricious or seemingly contradictory nature. Or it can be used with a more negative undertone to describe someone

The two faces of Janus are also evident in the term Janus word, “a word that has opposite or nearly opposite meanings,” such as cleave and dust. (These are also called contronyms.) To cleave something can mean to adhere closely to that thing, but it can also mean its opposite: to split, divide, or cut off. As a verb, dust can refer to the removal of dust, or the addition of it. (Think dust the cookies with confectioners’ sugar.) Duality is embedded into all of Janus’s words, including the very language we use to talk about the beginning of the calendar year: January.

Beanz Biker Corner

Sponsored By Biker Wear

By Wendy Hayden

Why Do I Need Social Media?

Social media has become a vital part of every business. If you are holding out on using social media for your business, consider how the following five aspects of social media can be beneficial to your brand.

Build Brand Loyalty

Engaged followers are the best brand advocates. Build a foundation of trust by providing valuable information instead of sales pitches. Research problems that are common to your audience and provide solutions. By providing information that your audience can use, you give them a reason to keep following you and recommend your brand to their friends and family.

Customer Service

Customer service as we know it is changing. Social media provides the fast and convenient solutions customers are looking for and is becoming a viable alternative to traditional customer service. Using social media as a customer service tool allows customers to

get their questions answered in a more convenient manner than a phone call. Put yourself in the shoes of your customer. Would you rather spend ten minutes on the phone with a customer service representative or send a message and move on to your next task? Your customers will appreciate the amount of time you save them by being available through social media. When your customers are spared time and effort, so are you.

Virtual Shopping

Social media allows your customers to shop from the comfort of their home. Pinterest and Instagram are great platforms to showcase products, services, details, and pricing. Your customers can make purchasing decisions at their convenience without having to drive to the store. Give your customers the in store experience 24/7 by using social media to its full potential.

Brand Management

Social media is an easy way to manage how your brand is being

perceived online. It allows you to resolve issues in a timely manner and turn a bad situation into a way to prove your commitment to customer service. Social media is the modern version of word of mouth. It is important to stay on top of everything that is being said about your brand.

Brand Humanization

Your social media presence should be an extension of your brand’s personality. Each post should be as human as the person who posts it. Imagine that your audience is standing right in front of you. What reaction are you hoping to get from your post? Humanizing your social media presence allows you to connect with your audience in a way that will resonate with them. It allows your audience to see you as a trusted friend instead of just another advertiser.

A strong social media presence will lead to sales, customer loyalty, brand advocates, and so much more. Can you really afford to not have a social media presence?

Weekend Getaway-Nashville Edition

by Kathie Scalf

If my social media feeds are to be believed, it appears a great deal of Tri-Cities folks are taking off for quick weekend trips to Nashville. And who can blame them? Since Covid, Nashville has exploded as the new US hotspot, drawing the thousands of average Joe’s, tech companies, celebrities, and urban developers from around the world. Following right on the heels of this massive growth came dining and entertainment like no other. I can honestly say Nashville has something for everyoneoutstanding cuisine, a broad array of sporting events, rooftop views of glittering city skylines, and of course music at every turn.

It’s for this reason I get so disappointed every time I see someone on Instagram or Facebook come all this way and never venture off Broadway. While I’m the first to admit there’s a good time to be had falling in and out of the honky tonks of South Broadway (or SoBro as we call it), there’s so much more to the city. Nashville proper has more than 20 identifiable neighborhoods, each with their own unique flavor and offerings and probably less than a 10 minute Uber ride from wherever you are. This is an almost impossible mission for me, but I’m going to attempt to recommend a perfect weekend in Music City. However, this is entirely subjective and abbreviated to fit space and time, so if you’re planning a trip this way I highly suggest you research and crowdsource tailored to your own interests.

First I would plan the trip around a big event. Maybe it’s a sporting event; my favorite is taking in a Preds game and their season will last well into March. But depending on the time of year you can attend a Titans football game, baseball at First Horizon Park in Germantown, or for the latest fun, catching Tennessee’s Major League Soccer Team at their new stadium. If you’re not the sporting type, definitely see a concert. There are endless music venues, but for the largest acts you can check the lineup at Bridgestone Arena,

Nissan Stadium, Ascend Amphitheater (my favorite -you can watch your favorite artist perform outdoors with the beautiful cityscape behind them), The Ryman and even Brooklyn Bowl, a music and entertainment venue that has, you guessed it, bowling lanes. Whatever it is, I would try to make that your Saturday night plan.

If possible, drive down on an early Friday afternoon. Nashville is only around 4.5 hours from Tri-Cities and the bonus is you’ll gain an hour coming down when you cross from Eastern to Central Time. If you can get on the road by 11am you’ll arrive just in time for the standard 3pm hotel check-in and miss the bulk of rush hour traffic, which is an absolute nightmare and only getting worse as more people move to the area.

Now for one of the most important aspects of your trip- where to stay. You can expect to drop on average $125-$375/ night for a hotel room on a January weekend. It’s difficult to choose because there are so many incredible options, but if money is of no object I would definitely suggest somewhere with a fabulous rooftop and an excellent restaurant. The Joseph is a perfect example; located in the heart of downtown this is a stunning new showpiece, outfitted with amazing art installations from the time you pull up to the valet. On the ground floor they are home to Yolan, the Italian fine dining venture by Michelin Starred chef Tony Mantuano. Upstairs they have one of the most breathtaking rooftops in Nashvillewith their white poolside cabanas and lush walls of succulents and greenery, you’ll swear you’ve stepped onto a patio in Greece rather than a roof in Middle Tennessee.

If you’d prefer accommodations a bit funkier and off the beaten path, check out The Dive Motel in East Nashville. This 70s throwback will also make you think you’ve time traveled, this time to the decade of disco. This former run down, one level mid-century masterpiece was lovingly restored to its hayday, each room decorated with shag carpet, disco balls, and heart shaped tubs. In the summer months, their pool is the wildest weekend party in town, with all the coolest of Nashville enjoying live local artists on the

poolside stage. This property is 21+ and definitely not for you if you’re seeking a relaxing and quiet night in.

For a Friday night of food and fun I suggest checking out Germantown. This neighborhood has some of the best restaurants in Nashville and everything is super walkable. For sushi there’s O-Ku, the sexy Asian sister to Oak Steakhouse. For seafood, check out the Optimist, then venture to their amazing cocktail bar Le Loup for post dinner drinks. For the most spectacular wine list in Nashville and pasta check out Rolf & Daughters. Or for classic American dishes there’s Butchertown Hall or 5th and Taylor. If you feel like continuing the party late night, there’s nowhere better than Mother’s Ruin, a 2 story gem with a back patio that’s typically filled with Nashville locals from all walks of life.

Saturday mornings are for brunch, and I recommend heading 20 minutes south to America’s Main Street and exploring downtown Franklin. This charming Nashville suburb is steeped with civil war history and the streets surrounding the downtown square are lined with boutique retail shops and fantastic eateries. One of my favorites is a small Italian bistro called Culacinno. Enjoy the view of an open air kitchen where chefs prepare handmade pastas and brick oven pizzas while sipping on a spritz or mimosa. If you’re in the mood for something more casual, just down the street is 55 South, a New Orleans style fast-casual venture that’s been featured on Guy Fierri’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” It’s guaranteed greasy, feel-good food, and every weekend they set up a monster Bloody Mary bar as well.

Once you’ve had your fill of shopping and eating in Franklin, it will probably be time for your event. Instead of hitting the same honky tonks on Broadway before and after, take time to explore the new Fifth & Broad development directly across the street from Bridgestone. This giant complex just keeps growing and is already home to Justin Timberlake’s 12/30 Club, Eddie V’s steakhouse, a plethora of retail shops including an Apple store, and Assembly Food Hall which is a food court featuring all Nashville classics like DeSano’s Pizza and Prince’s Hot Chicken

to name a few. The new underground tequila bar Pushing Daisies is the latest late night “it” spot with a speakeasy vibe and is also located in F&B. If you want to continue your party into the wee hours of the morning, stroll one block up to Printer’s Alley where you can dance the night away to the house band at Bourbon Street Boogie Bar or with bottle service at Dirty Little Secret. You can also take in the city views from the AirStream on The Bobby rooftop or cozied up next to a fire at Rare Bird, the rooftop of The Noelle.

If time permits, grab some brunch and last minute retail therapy before heading out on Sunday in 12 South. This trendy neighborhood hosts Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James boutique as well as White’s Mercantile. And the brunch at Urban Grub is not to be missed. They have your standard dishes as well as a raw bar and ample seating.

This itinerary is hardly a drop in the bucket of things-to-do in Nashville. If you’re planning a trip, my only plea is to dig a little deeper than the uber-touristy Broadway area and expand your horizons. There’s so much fun to be had, the hardest part of your trip will be making time for it all.

Slumberland

There is a new fantasy film now showing on Netflix you may want to check out featuring "Aquaman" star Jason Momoa. "Slumberland" is based on the comic strip "Little Nemo in Slumberland", and co-stars Marlow Barkley as a young girl raised in a lighthouse who has dreams of Slumberland. The story begins by introducing us to Nemo and her father Peter (Kyle Chandler), a lighthouse keeper who has taught his 11-year-old daughter all about running a lighthouse. Each night Peter tells his daughter wild stories about his adventures with a character named Flip. One of the stories is how he and Flip search a cave to find magical wish-granting pearls. Of course the stories cause Nemo to have wild dreams each night. One night as Peter is telling Nemo another wild story, a ship is in distress and he must leave to help. The trip results in Peter being lost at sea and feared dead. After this tragedy, Nemo is sent to live with her uncle and Peter's brother Phillip (Chris O'Dowd), who is not exactly thrilled about raising a child. Nemo moved to an unnamed

Pop Life

By Ken Silvers theloaferonlineprint

city with Phillip, who is living a rather dull and unhappy life, even though he loves his job of selling door knobs. Nemo struggles with her new life in the city and with her new guardian, and seeks solace with her stuffed pig named Pig and her nightly dreams in Slumberland. During one episode, Pig comes to life and Nemo finds herself in Slumberland, the world between dreams. During this visit her beg magically grows legs and transports her back to the lighthouse where she meets Flip (Momoa), a character who is not only a dream "outlaw" but is very stubborn as well. Flip is in the lighthouse searching for a magical map of which Nemo knows nothing about. When she awakens Nemo finds the map in the waking world and manages to take it back to Flip in Slumberland so she can help find the magic pearls to wish her father into her dreams. Flip confides to Nemo he has no idea who is in the waking world as he has refused to "wake up" for so long. The two use the map to journey through the dreams of others in order to find the cave containing the magic pearls. While on their journey through others dreams, they are attacked by a cloud of smoke resembling a kraken (a legendary sea monster), which Nemo encountered in a previous dream in which the creature took her dad. As if this isn't bad enough, the two are being chased by Agent Green (Weruche Opia), an operative of the BoSA (Bureau of Subconscious Activities), who has been in pursuit of Flip for his dream hopping and never waking up. Despite continued

dream hopping, Flip is eventually caught, and when Nemo wakes up Phillips shows her an old video tape of him and Peter as children. While viewing the tape, Nemo realizes her uncle is actually Flip, and due to refusing to wake up, remains in his unadventurous and static state. The story continues back and forth between Slumberland and the waking world with Nemo and her uncle finally becoming close due to a near tragedy involving Nemo. As the film ends, Nemo has become more comfortable in her school, and Phillip is finally becoming more outgoing in life,

and shows real love and a caring attitude toward his niece. The film was amazingly beautiful and the special effects are wonderful. Momoa appears to be having a blast as Flip, with his horns and sharp teeth. Co-star Barkley is very effective and sweet in her role, and I really enjoyed when her stuffed pig came to life.

"Slumberland" is a film the entire family can enjoy and is purely a magical adventure. Now showing on Netflix. (Rated PG)

Bristol

PARAMOUNT

Jan 6 Dailey & Vincent

Jan 7 Journeyman-Tribute to Eric Clapton

Feb 2 Ace Frehley

Feb 3 Neko Case

Feb 4 Cash UnchainedTribute to Johnny Cash

Feb 23 Sierra Hull and Justin Moses

Mar 11 Free Fallin’-The Tom Petty Tribute

Apr 1 49 Winchester

Apr 15 Best of the Eagles-Tribute

Apr 29 Ashley McBryde

May 11 Steep Canyon Rangers

May 19 A Brothers RevivalTribute to The Allman Brothers

CAMEO THEATER

Jan 8 Geoff Tate

Feb 11 Lorrie Morgan

Mar 17 John Michael Montgomery

Mar 18 Bad Marriage

Mar 26 Eric Gales

May 10 An Evening with Roger McGuinn

JOHNSON CITY

FREEDOM HALL

Apr 14 Nate Bargatze

Jun 2 Mr. Speed- Kiss Tribute

MARTIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Feb 4 The Black Jacket Symphony: Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours

Apr 30 Amy Grant

GREENVILLE

NISWONGER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Jan 21 The Isaacs

Jan 27 The Doo Wop Project

Feb 3 Heather Land

Feb 11 I Am He Said

-a Neil Diamond Tribute

Feb 17 Roots & Boots Acoustic tour with Aaron Tippin, Collin Raye and Sammy Kershaw

Mar 4 Resurrection- A Journey Tribute

Mar 11 Jefferson Starship

Mar 31 Gentri (The Gentlemen Trio)

Apr 4 One Night of Queen-performed by Gary Mullen And the Works

CONCERT SCHEDULE CONCERT SCHEDULE

Apr 14 Mark Lowry

Apr 22 Masters of Soul

May 5 Wild World of Animals Free Community Concert Series

May 13 Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives

May 20 Get The Led OutLed Zeppelin Tribute

Knoxville

TENNESSEE THEATRE

Jan 12 Tommy Emmanuel

Jan 26 Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Feb 3 Kevin James

Mar 3 Home Free

Mar 16 Buddy Guy

Apr 26 Ben Folds and a Piano Apr 28 Amy Grant

THOMPSON BOWLING ARENA

Feb 17 Journey and Toto

Feb 18 Cody Johnson featuring Randy Houser

Feb 24 Blake Shelton

Mar 30 Kane Brown Apr 21 Lizzo

Jul 15 Thomas Rhett

Oct 16 Shania Twain

KNOXVILLE CIVIC AUDITORIUM

Feb 2 Scotty McCreery

Feb 4 Fortune Feimster

Feb 17 Heather McMahan

Feb 21 Tedeschi Trucks Band

Mar 3 Zach Williams

Mar 14 Third Eye Blind

Mar 22 Champions of Magic

Apr 20 Casting Crowns

Apr 29 Theresa Caputo

KNOXVILLE CIVIC AUDITORIUM

Feb 16 Whiskey Myers

Apr 15 & 16 Leanne Morgan

BIJOU THEATRE

Jan 21 Drivin & Cryin

Jan 27 Scott Miller and David Childers

Feb 11 Erick Baker

Mar 11 Marc Brossard with Seth Walker

Mar 17 The Mavericks

Mar 23-25 Drew & Ellie Holcomb Apr 7 David Sedaris

Nashville

RYMAN AUDITORIUM

Jan 4 Celebrating the Life of Justin Townes Earl with Steve Earl and the Dukes and friends

Jan 27 Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Jan 30 Mammoth WVH and Alter Bridge

Feb 5 Night Ranger

Feb 6 Paramore (Opry House)

Feb 9 & 10 Blackberry Smoke

Feb 14 Death Cab for Cutie

Feb 20 Bush

Feb 23-25 Tedeschi Trucks Band

Feb 26 Billy Strings

Mar 4 Dawes

Mar 11 & 12 Bobby Weir and Wolf Bros

Mar 18 Buddy Guy

Mar 31 & Apr 1 GOOSE

Apr 7 & 13 Morgan Wade

Apr 8 Leann Rimes

Apr 14 & 15 Lady A

Apr 19 Leann Morgan (Opry House)

Apr 21 David Spade

Apr 27-29 Nickel Creek

May 8-10 John Mellencamp

May 19 Crowded House

May 24 Rick Springfield

Jul 6 Sam Bush

ASCEND AMPHITHEATER

May 11 Koe Wetzel

Jun 23 Walker Hayes

BRIDGESTONE ARENA

Jan 20 Barry Manilow

Feb 9 Andrea Bocelli

Feb 19 TobyMac with Crowder

Feb 24-25 Billy Strings

Mar 1 Carrie Underwood

Mar 31 Kane Brown

Apr 7 Chris Tomlin

May 4 Janet Jackson with Ludacris

NISSAN STADIUM

Apr 15 Luke Combs

May 5-7 Taylor Swift

May 19 Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks

BROOKLYN BOWL

Mar 7 Theory of a Dead Man

Mar 31 Larkin Poe

Apr 6 The Winery Dogs

Apr 14 Queensryche

Asheville

THE ORANGE PEEL

Jan 13 The Breakfast Club

Jan 20 Larkin Poe

Feb 18 Elle King

Feb 25 Paul Thorn

Apr 4 The Winery Dogs

Apr 20 Judah & The Lion

May 12 & 13 Drive By Truckers

May 21 Trae Crowder

Jun 22 Margaret Cho

Cherokee, N.C.:

HARRAH’S CASINO

Jan 7 Styx

Jan 13-15 Jamey Johnson

Feb 3 Rep Speedwagon

Greenville, S.C.

BON SECOURS WELLNESS ARENA

Jan 29 TobyMac, Crowder, Cochren & Company

Feb 16 The Judds featuring Wynonna

Feb 18 Katt Williams

Mar 12 Greta Van Fleet

Mar 18 Kane Brown

Apr 27 Kenny Chesney

Jul 14 Thomas Rhett

Winston Salem North Caroiina

LJVM COLISEUM

Mar 3-4 Billy Strings

Pikeville, Ky

APPALACHIAN WIRELESS ARENS

Mar 8 Theory of a Dead Man and Skillet

Mar 18 Koe Wetzel

Jun 24 Travis Tritt

Myrtle Beach, S.C

House of Blues

Jan 28 Steel Panther

Feb 25 Big Head Todd and the Monsters

Mar 24 Skid Row and BuckCherry

Mar 25 Eric Johnson

Apr 7 Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox

The Post Holiday Fridge

The first full week of any new year is the waning days of the confusion that comes with the post-holiday haze. You’re dazed, unsure of what the time is, and possibly wondering when your guests are going to leave. Traditionally, we think of this time being the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Oh, no. It goes on for one more week before things get “back to normal.”

I had company over the holidays who stayed for a week and a half, family members. They came in post-Christmas, which meant that as I was preparing for Christmas dinner, I was also preparing for house guests. I won’t horrify you with the amounts on the receipts from the grocery store. This is where growing up playing Tetris on the Game Boy comes in handy. You have the skill you need to move, squish, rotate, and place a large number of foodstuffs in the fridge.

With my guests arriving the day after Christmas I had fears that space in the fridge would be limited at best, but the upside to their late arrival meant that the fridge wasn’t too packed on Christmas Day. The

leftovers from the dinner were mostly gone by the time everyone arrived, or they finished them up as my family are fiends for ham and dressing. The real problem was on the 27th when off I went to the grocery to stock up again on things to feed these folks.

This is when the fridge moved from a game of Tetris to a game of Thin Ice. The fun toy where you slowly drop wet marbles onto a stretched piece of tissue in hopes of not being the one to “break the ice” by causing the issue to rip open. Every time I opened the fridge with a container of leftovers in my hands, I wondered if it would be the day that trying to place it would cause everything to just explode outwards at me.

Because none of my guests will keep track of their leftovers, the flip side of this game is once they’ve all left you have to clean out the fridge. As you do, you think, “As long as I’ve got the big lawn and garden trash bags here, I might as well clean this whole thing out. New year, new fridge!” This always gives me a sense of hesitation as I think “What horrors lie in the deep, dark, recesses of this fridge?”

coffee in the morning, and because it’s mayonnaise, you leave it in the fridge. It stays on the door on the shelf, as a constant reminder, “Rinse me and recycle me please!” But you’re too busy with your active lifestyle to get around to it.

Now, it’s beyond “clean me out and recycle me” and moved to “I may unleash the blob on society if I dare open this jar.” Now we toss it into the trash and think no more of it. Lots of random sauces are always lurking in the back corners. I bought these for a Hawaiianthemed barbecue but then never used them again. They also get tossed. But the most impressive feat is a jar of all-natural Maple

Syrup from 2009 that somehow is still in there. It says all I have to do is boil it, skim the top, and it’ll be good as new!

One day I will do this, but today is not that day. Since the bottle says it’s fine to eat once you do that, it goes back into the deep dark corner. I look forward to celebrating my 20th anniversary with this jar in the upcoming years. For now, the real estate in the fridge has become more spacious and it looks, dare I say, clean in there. Here’s hoping your fridge remains clean and plentiful in the new year. See you next week.

Batteries Not Included

By Andy Ross theloaferonlineprint

The first thing to go was all the takeout containers that had accumulated over the week and a half my guests were with me. Then I moved on to the last vestiges of the Christmas meal leftovers. Then came the things which somehow had been in the fridge since man first walked. I’m not talking about the dented and well-worn Tupperware full of God only knows what. I’m talking about half-full jars of mayo and fancy mustards that had expired back in 2015.

They wind up there due to the best of intentions. “Oh, the chipotle mayo is post-dated, I need to clean it out so I can recycle the jar.” But because you notice this when you’re reaching in for creamer for your

The Nashville Sound wants to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season!

Robert Earl Keen 1/26 at the Cameo DownTown Bristol

Bill Engvall 1/30 at the Paramount Center for the Arts GRAND OPENING MAY 7 NEXT TO AMC THEATER IN JOHNSON CITY September 23-24 Greene County Fairgrounds September 23-24 Greene County Fairgrounds

The Nashville Sound wants to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season!

January 9th-15th is National Pizza Week