A Free Independent Newspaper
Issue 19 NOVEMBER 2014
News, Makers & Trends of the New South
MADEPAER.COM
MONTGOMERY
PUBLISHER MADE Paper
Issue 19 NOVEMBER 2014
EDITORS Brent Rosen, Anna Lowder, Caroline Nabors Rosen, Harvi Sahota CREATIVE DIRECTOR Harvi Sahota DESIGN Matter www.iheartmatter.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Brent Rosen, Caroline Nabors Rosen, Anna Lowder, Andrea Jean, Heather Steen, Tiffany Bell, Will Abner, Johnny Veres, Sam Wootten, Jennifer Kornegay, Melissa Tsai, Tom Jean, Edwin Marty, Evans Bailey, Tina Hofer Medico, Robert Wool, Elliot Knight, Mark Bowen, Christian Kerr, Rebecca Seung, David Mowery, Brian Carroll, Blake Rosen, Josh Carples, Katie Lindgren, Natilee McGruder, Caroline Taylor, Skye Borden, Katie Vega, Rachel Fisher, Amy Collins, Devin Yates, Courtney Kershaw CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Harvi Sahota, Grace Photography, Josh Moates, Jonathon Kohn, Ryan Muirhead, Luke Lindgren, Thomas Lucas DESIGN CONTRIBUTORS Jay Wilkins, Alex Lazzari, Rachel Odom AD SALES Devin Yates devin@madepaper.com
Made is a free, independent newspaper published monthly. ISSUE 19 NOVEMBER 2014 DISCLAIMER: Made publishes news and commentary, critique and reporting, offering different views from our community. Our contributors offer a variety of views and perspectives on subjects covered in Made. These views and opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Due to the nature of creative industries and the connections we foster with those around us, contributors may have some personal or professional connection with people, events, or organizations covered in the publication or website. All letters, messages, and emails sent to Made will be treated as intended for publication unless otherwise noted by the author. Letters and emails may be edited for space and content. Made celebrates the rich history of a free press and is proud to continue to strengthen this tradition.
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Column 2014 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE How Not To Spend Time... opelika trading company MAKERS MUSIC FILM FOod FEATURE: Home invasions STYLE
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MADE is a collective of citizens celebrating the local, the authentic, and the unique. We are creatives featuring other creatives and the engaging work being produced in our city. We call attention to all fields forging new pathways in expression and innovation. We are makers who love to eat, talk, collaborate, question, party, and laugh, and we want you to take part. Thanks for reading this and supporting the artists, craftsmen, creatives, and active citizens that make a city thrive.
WORDS BRENT ROSEN
My friends R.C. Hagans and Michael Stricklin are opening Opelika Trading
it forever. Then, you give away free samples of the lifestyle in downtown
Company in downtown Opelika, Alabama, this holiday season. The store
Opelika on a Saturday, providing plenty of good music and free beer to be
will sell street-inspired art, hand-made leather goods, and other vintage
enjoyed with attractive members of the opposite sex. Your customer
merchandise. We have an interview with them later in this paper and it
remains engaged, keeps associating the bag with the good times, and
was great learning about their inspiration, love of each other’s work, and
eventually, a sale is made.
goals for the future. My favorite part of the interview was R.C.’s response to the question “why did you decide to go with a brick and mortar
Are stores like this risky? Sure. It’s easier to sell commodities on price
business.” His answer: “we [thought we] might as well get a space where
than it is to sell a lifestyle. It’s easier to piggy-back on an established
we could curate every inch, spin our favorite records, sell the shit we
brand than to create your own. It’s easier when your business plan
make, and drink beer with our friends.”
involves steady sales, day-in and day-out, rather than having to hit a few home runs every month to get by. Developers and lenders don’t like
R.C. may or may not realize it, but his vision of a place where he can sell
risking their money on shops like Opelika Trading Co., preferring
shit, listen to records, and drink beer with his friends is probably the
guarantees and sure things over what could be spectacular failures. That
future of retail. I can picture R.C.’s store on a Saturday evening. The lights
is too bad, because the flip-side to spectacular failure is wild success.
are appropriately moody, the music is slowly transitioning from something CONTENTS © 2014 by Made Paper. Reproduction in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the publisher’s express written approval is prohibited. The publication is free, limit two per reader. Removal of more than two papers from any distribution point constitutes theft. Violators are subject to prosecution under city ordinances.
MADE PAPER 505 Cloverdale Road, Unit 102 Montgomery, Alabama 36106 CALL 334.223.4862 EMAIL editor@madepaper.com
atmospheric to something with a beat, bottles of liquor are being passed
I believe Opelika Trading will be a wild success because R.C. and Michael
around with a guitar, and at least 20 people are participating in what
know exactly who they are, have a truly refined point of view, and are in
looks like a photo-shoot after party.
business together to bring out the best in each other. They have the same beliefs about products and materials and the same artistic sensibility.
The most important part of this story, however, is that no one on that
When people walk into Opelika Trading Co., they will “get” R.C. and
Saturday night is buying anything. Well, that’s not exactly true. What
Michael, and they will want to own a part of the lifestyle on display. R.C.
people are buying is the lifestyle that R.C. and Michael are selling. People
and Michael will turn fans into consumers, and everyone will win.
are buying the idea of being surrounded by great furniture and great art. People are buying the idea of flipping through records instead of mp3’s
I wish more developers in Montgomery were willing to take chances on
when it’s time to set the mood. People are buying into the idea that the
these kinds of stores. I wonder whether the Market District will have
commoditized shopping of the big box stores is fine for some, but not for
something like Opelika Trading Co., or if instead I’ll be buying five suits for
them. People are looking at R.C.’s hats, at Michael’s boots, at Mason the
the price of one at Jos. A. Banks on Dexter Avenue. The term “game
dog and thinking, “I want to live like that too.”
changing” gets thrown around a lot when talking about downtown, but you can’t do game changing when you’re unwilling to break the rules.
If you can sell a lifestyle, your products will eventually sell themselves.
Opelika Trading Co. breaks all the rules, and that couldn’t be more
Michael’s top-of-the-line bag sells for $750.00. Sell one, and he’s
encouraging.
probably covered the month’s rent. But how do you convince someone to COVER PHOTO: THOMAS LUCAS
pay $750.00 when they can go online and pay $25.00 for a product that
If you’re in Opelika over the next two months, stop by R.C. and Michael’s
also allows them to carry things conveniently? You set up a store that
store. Have a beer. Listen to some music. Don’t worry about buying
shows people the value of hand-made, of vintage, a place to remind
anything because, eventually, you will.
people that when you buy a Loyal Stricklin bag you buy it once and have
NOVEMBER 2014 • MADEPAPER.COM
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Photo THOMAS LUCAS
A call to put our collective money where our mouth is, the MADE Holiday Gift Guide highlights this year's very special, and very local, gift ideas. Selected from makers, artisans and small businesses, this bunch features unique finds that honor the spirit of thoughtful gift giving. With three types of guides, we've included goods and makers working throughout the Southeast (and mainly in Alabama) that will thrill your friends and family who support creative goods. For good measure - and to level out the commercial mayhem the holidays can brew up - we've highlighted charities and organizations that need support and can offer great gift ideas too. Happy Holidays!
WORDS ANNA LOWDER PhotoS CONTRIBUTED UNLESS NOTED 04
MADEPAPER.COM • NOVEMBER 2014
For The men I know, I know: you’ve tried. You put up a good fight, but it’s time to give in and just buy a record player. No one will slap you with the Hipster label (well, they will but just behind your back) so go on and buy this gorgeous PRO-JECT Debut Carbon turntable available at Atlanta’s premiere men’s shop, Sid Mashburn on the Westside. It ticks all the boxes: sharp sound, great performance, and most importantly - it looks ridiculously good. Go with black or red for classic impact. Sid’s guys will help you out. Turntables from $400 at Sid Mashburn, sidmashburn.com.
Billy Reid has pulled out the stops again, this time with his new line MSL - ALA: authentic, American-made utility workwear inspired by the atmosphere of the Muscle Shoals. This Ford Chino Jacket comes in a navy and natural herringbone-pattern fabric and features overlapping front pockets. Perfect when walking a picturesque field at dusk, whiskey in hand of course. Ford Chino Jacket is $295 available at www.billyreid.com.
From the distillery behind Cathead Vodka, Bristow Gin is a new, bold foray into Southern gin. This manly spirit has swagger, yet offers a sophisticated triple distilled product straight out of Mississippi. According to the distiller, the usual juniper and citrus mingles with pepper, cassia bark, clove and licorice, and lemon verbena. Bristow Gin is a fun divergence from the predictable Tanqueray holiday gift. Bristow Gin is available at fine local bars and at the ABC Store. More at www.bristowgin.com.
Now, the turntable is only as good as the music, so get serious about this. An unknown treasure for covetable vinyl in Montgomery, Eastbrook Flea Market has three booths devoted exclusively to vinyl records with some good options to wrap with with your new turntable. The Record Stop (formerly RAD Vinyl), an honest-to-goodness music store catty corner to Eastbrook is also a treasure trove for vinyl records. Corey, who runs the place, recently moved his store from its previous Atlanta Highway location to allow for more space, and therefore a larger inventory of quality used and new records. Eastbrook Flea Market is located at 425 Coliseum Boulevard, 334.277.4027 & The Record Stop is located at 516 Coliseum Boulevard, 334.356.8338.
If you don’t know Sean Brock, it’s time to up your game. Hailed as the best thing out of Charleston since shrimp and grits, Brock is internationally known for his restaurants Husk (now with Charleston and Nashville outposts) and McCrady’s, Brock won the James Beard Award for Best Chef, Southeast, in 2010 and was a finalist for Outstanding Chef 2013 and 2014. Brock competed on Iron Chef America and hosted the second season of The Mind of a Chef, earning an Emmy nomination. All this to say, he’s legit and now he has a cookbook, Heritage. With a drive to preserve the heritage foods of the South, Brock cooks dishes that are ingredient-driven and reinterpret the flavors of his youth in Appalachia and his adopted hometown of Charleston. You can go comfort food (think food to eat at home) and high-end restaurant food (fancy stuff) for which he has become so well-known. Pickled Shrimp, Hoppin’ John, and Chocolate Alabama Stack Cake sit alongside recipes for Crispy Pig Ear Lettuce Wraps, Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Tomato Gravy, and Baked Sea Island Red Peas. Personal, witty, and delicious - this cookbook is sure to please. And you might get a dinner cooked for you. Available at Capitol Book & News, 1140 E. Fairview Avenue, 334.265.1473. Also on amazon.com.
Everyman needs a good belt. So give your guy a belt made locally, by hand, with style. Little known fact: Montgomery has its very own belt maker in Tom Buckelew. Looking for something nice and brown with a little braid. Got it. How about a cool buckle that leans a little more Restoration Hardware than Jos. A. Banks - got that too. Check out his new store location at The A&P Lofts on Graham Street in Old Cloverdale. The Original Wallahatchie Company products, such as this Hoof Pick Belt, are available at Buckelew’s, 334.271.5147. Belts start at $110.
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For The ladies Looking for a show-stopper piece for someone special? Liz Legg’s got you covered. This 25 year old Alabama native designs gorgeous jewelry that pairs artifacts and objects with gemstones and precious materials. Liz began designing when “mom took me to Scott’s Antique Market in Atlanta, and I bought all kinds of beads and old, broken jewelry fragments. I had always known I loved jewelry, but it was then I realized how much I loved designing it.” Her designs are striking, with unexpected tones and forms. This is an ideal gift for a woman who likes to stand out with signature pieces. Jewelry from $65 - 2,700. www.lizlegg.com • @lizlegg
Photo THOMAS LUCAS
Photo JONATHAN KOHN
Have a friend who can’t get enough of Downton Abbey? Let’s broaden her cinematic interests with art house classics and international new releases by giving her a gift certificate to The Capri. As Montgomery’s only independent cinema, The Capri was built in 1941 and is one of the oldest operating theaters in the state. Help support the revitalization of The Capri and catch the best in independent cinema (and all the Oscar nominees each Winter). Her friends will thank you for that extra dose of Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. The Capri Theatre is at 1045 E. Fairview Avenue. Adult tickets from $7, and ticket books available from $65. www.capritheatre.org
High Cotton Paperie offers great stocking stuffers for discernible girls. From customized invitations and event cards to stationary and more, this is a great way to create a custom gift with minimal effort. Owner Allison Godwin will help create thoughtful gifts for your list. www.highcottonpaperie.com
Need a stylish, up and coming brand to surprise your fashion maven friends? Try Idyll/wilde, a collection of apparel and home-goods produced by hand in Florence, Alabama. Natural fibers, such as cotton, wool, and hand-dyed linen combined with leather accents are mainstays of the collection, which focuses on timeless silhouettes that can be worn year round. Since launching in 2012, Idyll-wilde has expanded on several collaborative projects with local makers and soon opening a retail location in Florence. This will be a lovely surprise that’s sure to please. Find this denim shift at www.Idyll-wilde.com and follow the label on Facebook, www.facebook.com/IDYLLWILDE.collection
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MADEPAPER.COM • NOVEMBER 2014
All that needs to be said. By now we’ve all certainly proved it, so it’s time to let the world know - pull on this baby for a night out and do the city proud. With any luck, you’ll wake up the next morning still wearing it. Custom t-shirt designs are screen printed by hand in Montgomery at Matter Printshop on super soft heather shirts. Perfect for the run up to New Year’s Eve. T-shirts from $20 available at matterprintshop.com and at Welle Studio in Old Cloverdale, 501 Cloverdale Road.
Need a gift for someone into health and well beingNaturally Rad is your fix. Their slogan “Be natural. Feel Rad” sums up their mission best. From soaps to beeswax lotions and sugar scrubs, Naturally Rad was born out of a passion for nature and a love of simple living. “It is important to us to know what we put on, and in, our bodies. Knowing from where every single ingredient comes is one of our main concerns.” To that end, owners Len & Rachel Dickinson grow many of the herbs and flowers on their small farm in Autauga County and everything is made right in their home. Try the After Midnight Pomegranate and My Sharona Sage soaps - great scents for the holiday season. www.facebook.com/naturallyradlife • @benaturallyrad
For The fOoDiE PHOTOs KELSEY McCLELLAN
Piper + Leaf blends custom teas using quality leaves and local ingredients straight from the garden, farm, forest, and briar patch. This family run company’s iced and hot teas are full of flavor and offer unique blends like Briar Patch Brew, Front Porch Special, and Caramel Apple Pie starting from just $3. Shop at www.piperandleaf.com or pick up in Huntsville at Greene Street Farmers Market.
Know someone who’d love some local steaks for a special holiday meal? Surprise them with beef from River Region Beef. Raised and prepared right here by fourth generation cattle farmers, Justin and Jordan Barrett, at Bar Neal Farms. The River Region Beef products are high quality and and offer a wide variety of cuts including filet mignon and flank steak, but more adventurous items include bone marrow and oxtail. Visit www.riverregionbeef.com, and gift orders can be placed by email at riverregionbeef@gmail.com.
Hot Damn Jelly Company has created new Holiday Packs,with all you need for your holiday spread including Spiced Peach Habanero Jam, Apple Butter, and Cranberry-Jalapeno Jelly. Every jar is made by hand in Auburn with local produce, cane sugar and honey. And don’t forget to try their signature pepper jelly - it’s worth it and it comes with a “heat scale” on the label. Purchase online at www.hotdamnjelly.com.
If you’re out to be the hands-down best holiday gift giver, Jeni’s Ice Cream is what you need. This is not just any ice cream. The flavor combinations are out of this world and the ingredients quality is amazing. Go with the Splendid Holiday Collection of 6 pints including Dark Chocolate Peppermint, Middle West Whiskey Eggnog, and Sweet Potato & Torched Marshmallows. The nearest shop is in Atlanta, so head to the Jeni’s website and start shopping. You can create your own sampler packs of different flavors, build your own sundae kit, and give gift cards all from the comfort of your laptop. Jeni’s Ice Cream from $12 at shop.jenis.com.
An annual crowd pleaser- it’s hard to beat the smell of Conecuh Sausage at a holiday party. This cheap and cheerful party food sums up the South and is still made in Evergreen, Alabama. Cut and sear it, poke it with some toothpicks and serve it with a sauce. Grab some from your local grocery store for the coming months. Visit www.conecuhsausage.com for recipes and shop their selection online.
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For The COLlecTor
ARTWORK Giving artwork is a tricky thing: one man’s trash and all that. So rather than recommending just one artist, here’s a round up of some collectable work (read: affordable now, soon to appreciate). Photography: It’s time to catch up on what Montgomery’s photographers are creating. Indie Film Lab is a hotbed of local photographers and talented printmakers. Many of the photographers shoot commissioned work and sell prints. You can also have Indie Film Lab create archival prints of your favorite photographs. Contemporary Art: Triumph & Disaster Gallery brings cutting edge artists from Brooklyn, New Orleans, Los Angeles and Europe to the Montgomery market, exposing buyers to challenging pieces in fine art, photography, and three-dimensional work. If you’re looking for collectable, it’s hard to beat an Eggleston piece. Portraiture: Artist Johnathan Matthews works in oil on figurative paintings and commissioned portraits in a classical style that recalls the work of the 17th century Dutch masters. After training in the studios of renowned Norwegian classical figurative painter, Odd Nerdrum, Matthews relocated to Montgomery and creates outstanding portraiture that is renowned throughout the South.
Photo WILLIAM GREINER
Contemporary South: Check out Opelika Trading Co., artist R.C. Hagans and artisan Michael Stricklin new shop opening in downtown Opelika, AL. The store will be selling works by R.C. and Michael’s “Loyal Stricklin” line of hand-made leather goods this November and December.
Indie Film Lab is online at www.indiefilmlab.com, or stop by and talk to Josh Moates at 507 Cloverdale Road.
Triumph & Disaster Gallery is online at www.triumphdisastergallery.com. Work can be purchased and shipped worldwide.
Visit www.jonathanmatthews.net to find out more about Matthews’ oil portraits.
OPELIKA TRADING CO. Follow Opelika Trading Co. through @dickcecil and @loyalstricklin (OTC website coming soon).
There’s no time to waste on bad alcohol. Ever. Alabama’s craft beer makers turn out fantastic brewed options, and the craft liquor industry in the South has never looked this good. Sadly, wine doesn’t have a leg to stand on in this region. So, turn to someone who knows and invest in wine with a pro. Derk’s Filet & Vine wine selection is immense. The knowledgable team can point you effortlessly past the Pinot Noir and toward a more unusual Montepulciano or a more collectable Cabernet Sauvignon. Derk can create custom wine gifts tailored to the recipient’s palate, travel interests, or wine experience. The holidays is the time to go big, so stop in Derk’s for wine that’s unique and covetable. Derk’s Filet & Vine is at 431 Cloverdale Road. Winston Hill, Napa Valley Red Wine | $249 per bottle; for 6, $200 per bottle Morey Maison Coffinet, Corton Charlemagne | $200 per bottle Elizabeth Spencer, Rosé of Grenache Mendocino | $16.99 per bottle Domaine de Fontsainte, Gris de Gris | $14.99 per bottle
Anyone with a moderate interest in design or architecture will know the name McAlpine Tankersley Architecture. As one of the country’s most respected traditional architecture firms, it is a huge point of pride that this firm is headquartered in Montgomery. While much of their work can be found in Chicago, Austin, and further abroad, anyone can get an in depth look into the world of design and interiors in the newest book Art of the House. Authored by Bobby McAlpine and Susan Ferrier, this is a follow-up to the best-selling book, The Home Within Us. The book showcases the principles that guide their extraordinary work and shares ideas for creating atmospheric environments. The book profiles a selection of houses that resonate with the firm’s nuanced and sensual aesthetic, combining painterly hues, diverse textures, and a mix of antiques and contemporary furnishings. Art of the House, published by Rizzoli Books, is available at Capitol Book & News and www.amazon.com.
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MADEPAPER.COM • NOVEMBER 2014
For The KIDS
Capitol BOoK & News This name is so good, we had to include it. “The Book Or Two Every Month Or So Club” by Capitol Book & News is a great gift for children. Here’s how it works: you call Capitol Book & News, tell them the child’s interests, age, reading level, how much you’d like to spend and how often you’d like books sent. They do the rest. Kid’s get a wrapped, surprise book in the mail and learn to love reading. Victory. Here’s some of the 2014 Best Book picks to get you started: The Pigeon Needs a Bath (3-5 years), Timmy Failure (6-8), The Boundless (9-12 years). Capitol Book & News, 1140 E. Fairview Avenue, 334.265.1473.
While apps and video games are great, the cool parents know there’s a lot to be said for getting out in the real world and having some fun. The magic of live theater is hard to beat, so surprise the little ones you know with some tickets to fantastic theater - right here in Montgomery. As one of the largest Shakespeare repertory theatres in the US, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival also produces block buster shows that will entertain kids of all ages. The 2014-2015 season is full of standout shows. A Christmas Carol is the obvious holiday choice, but don’t miss Alice In Wonderland starting in January, and Disney’s The Little Mermaid this July. An Ad Lib Membership gives your ticket discounts and other season perks. Tickets at www.ASF.net or call 800.841.4273
Kids love getting their hands dirty. EAT South teaches kids how to get stuck in to urban farming and why it’s good for them. Sure, they’ll start to love eating carrots and radishes, but they’ll think they’re just having fun. With EAT South’s Giving Guide, parents can make a donation or give a gift in the name a child, then take them to the Downtown Farm and let them watch the new gardening beds or Children’s Garden take shape. EAT South’s Giving Guide will be out this holiday season, visit www.eatsouth.org or email denise@eatsouth.org.
Seed Factory is a child’s fantasy land. Toys, games, books, dress up clothes - and it’s a parent’s heaven too. A one-stop shop for unique gifts and handmade toys, go to this Atlanta boutique or shop online for this season’s coolest toys and clothes from Tea Collection, Maileg and local makers. Seed Factory is located in Atlanta’s Westside Provisions District and at www.seedfactoryatlanta.com.
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Drinking Alone this Holiday Season
PhotoS THOMAS LUCAS
cracked booths, a tin or drop ceiling depending on the neighborhood’s vintage. A juke box connected to the internet is not an automatic disqualifier, but certainly a red flag. You want to have one, maybe two drinks. Getting drunk defeats the purpose. Slow down. Look at the other patrons — the woman clownish in her excessive make-up, the older gentleman in a non-ironic John Deere trucker hat, the man with the loosened tie and wandering eye — wonder what twists of fate occurred to bring all of you into the same bar at the same time. Immerse yourself in the living thing that is the bar at that moment. It will help if you leave your phone in the car. Drinking alone is not only for alcoholics (Fig. 1). Even the most social of drinkers should occasionally enjoy the solitary pleasure of drinking alone in a near empty bar. Sipping a liquor drink as the last rays of daylight sneak through broken blinds soothes away the stress of the day better than any happy hour with co-workers. The clinking of glasses and bottles, the rumble of the ice machine, the creaking of the door as the bar’s first customers trickle in — a symphony with the right mindset and the right whiskey. Choose your bar carefully. Avoid anywhere with a fancy martini list, an emphasis on strangely-named craft beer, or bartenders wearing braces or suspenders. Drinking alone is not about luxury, beersploration, or knowing hipsterism. Instead, Look for warmth and familiarity; solo drinking should feel like slipping on an old flannel shirt. Signs of a good bar for drinking alone: wood paneling,
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During the holidays, with family everywhere and in close quarters, drinking alone is a gift to yourself. A solitary drink will rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit better than a trip to the spa. Find an errand to run, preferably one that might require visits to multiple stores. Everywhere sells milk, not everywhere sells canned pumpkin or fake snow. Use that to your advantage. You’ll need a plausible excuse to leave the house for at least an hour, better still an hour and a half. Remember, it isn’t lying when you say, “I can’t believe how hard it was to find a starter log on Christmas Eve,” because bars honestly don’t sell starter logs. I took an unscientific poll of my hardest drinking, most adventurous friends, asking them for suggestions on where to best drink alone in Montgomery. I took their suggestions, did some drinking, and narrowed down the long list to five.
KEY LARGO — 1343 Dalraida Road, Montgomery, AL 36109 Key Largo is tucked so tightly against Gunter Annex it may as well be its taint. I walked in on a Wednesday afternoon to a lively crowd, many of whom were intently watching the GeorgiaFlorida women’s volleyball match (game?). While their taste in sports runs counter to mine, their taste in alone-drinking bar is excellent. You can’t ask for much more than dark and smoky, with a friendly bartender and available Bushmills. They have nightly food specials (TACO TUESDAY!) and live music from a band whose name sounded something like Crazy-Eyed Camel Toe. One final word — the soldiers at Gunter’s Cong. Dickinson entrance will not let you cut through the base to get to the bar. Take Dalraida Road or you’ll have a long detour. VERDICT: Top choice for North Montgomery solo-drinking.
PAPA-T’S SPORTS PUB — 3420 Atlanta Hwy, Montgomery, AL 36109 Although this article is about drinking alone during the holidays, I have to advise against drinking alone here. Not because the bar isn’t great, but because this place is too much fun to go by yourself. An entire wall of dart boards. Pool tables everywhere. A shady room that looks like a closet with no doors full of electronic gaming machines, possibly the illegal kind. If your out-of-town crew comes back to Montgomery for the holidays, this would be a great place to shoot some pool, toss some darts, and get heavily drunk on cheap well drinks while watching the football game of your choice. VERDICT: Lousy for drinking alone because it’s so awesome for drinking with a crowd.
IT’LL DO TAVERN — 557 N Eastern Blvd, Montgomery, AL 36117 There’s a Roald Dahl book whose title I don’t remember in which a character claims to be the “world’s tallest midget” and the “world’s shortest giant,” as well as some other mutually exclusive things that turn out to be not that mutually exclusive. With that in mind, I’m declaring It’ll Do Tavern Montgomery’s “Straightest Gay Bar,” or maybe, “Montgomery’s Gayest Straight Bar”. Either way, I’ve never been anywhere else where a grizzled old man in a faded Auburn hat walked up to the jukebox, considered his options, and then put on a double-time remix of Deborah Cox’s “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here.” They have happy hour until 7, which means you’ll struggle to meet the bar’s $10 credit card minimum, and this was one of the only places on the list that had more than one bottle of quality whiskey (hello Buffalo Trace). I got to this bar right around 7:00 p.m., so it was too late to see what alone-drinking there when it was near empty would have been like, but I’m sure it’d be fabulous. Also, corn dogs. VERDICT: If you’re on the east-side and Head on the Door doesn’t seem like it’d be your scene, have a drink by yourself at It’ll Do Tavern.
HEAD ON THE DOOR — 5028 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, AL 36117 I’ll have to be honest — my first visit to Head on the Door was for research on this article. I know, I know, I live a cloistered life in Cloverdale. But man, this place is great. I walked in, and within 5 minutes was playing the name-game with some fella at the bar, drinking the rail-whiskey shot he’d offered, and smoking a cigarette. It reminded me a bit of the way a pack of dogs menacingly surrounds a new dog, gives the new dog a good sniff, and then allows the new dog to join the pack after the hierarchy is established. Loud music, cooly knowledgeable bartenders, and a pool table that gets jammed up against the bar when bands come to play on the weekends. Prediction: no bar will benefit more now that Montgomery has Uber. VERDICT: Top choice for East Montgomery, but you’ll make so many new friends you won’t be drinking alone for long.
BUD’S — 1018 E Fairview Ave, Montgomery, AL 36109 Bud’s is my local, so I almost didn’t include it on this list because it’s impossible for me to drink there alone. Then I remembered this was not just an exercise in onanism, but also a public service for you my stressed out reader in need of a solo drink. When I was describing the perfect place to drink alone, I didn’t realize I was describing Bud’s until I went in there for this article. They have the drop ceilings, the broken blinds, and a new internet juke box that is an abomination that should be taken to the alley behind the place and murdered. But I digress. When it’s still early in the afternoon/evening, before the late night crowds of rowdies get there, nowhere on the west side is better for a quiet and contemplative drink of brown water. VERDICT: Westside alone-drinking at its best. NOVEMBER 2014 • MADEPAPER.COM
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GIVE THANKS FOR FUNKSGIVING You know all your high school friends are coming home to grub with their family for Thanksgiving. You also know you are fed up with only having one option on Thanksgiving night to booze away the stress of family time. Thankfully, two former locals, Jordan Kirkland and Hill Lubin, have created a company called Live & Listen. Lubin describes the company’s intention to “bring some diverse acts and musicians to the Montgomery area, but also focus on how we can positively turn our passion for music into something proactive for the community.” He continues, “For these first two events this year, we have teamed up with local business owner Scott Bell, of the campaign ‘Run Bell Run,’ to help raise money and awareness for Cystic Fibrosis, which Bell himself has lived with most of his life. To help his efforts, we are donating a certain percentage of our t-shirt sales and ticket sales for the event to his local charity.” Live & Listen has graciously given us an opportunity to jam to good music for a great cause and go home not smelling like smoke. Funksgiving will feature Earphunk of New Orleans and the McLovins of Hartford, CT. The concert will be in downtown Montgomery’s newest event space, The Warehouse at Alley Station. Keep your eyes pealed for the Christmas Jam!
LET’S GO SHOPPING: AL’S ANTIQUES
You know him and you love him. Al Cantrell of Al’s Flowers has been a staple in Montgomery for years. Now not only can you pick up a beautiful bouquet to apologize for what you said to your aunt over supper, you can escape after brunch the next morning to Al’s Antiques. The new shop features booths by different local vendors and will get you out of the house for at least an hour. Two hours if you stop for a corn dog at Sonic. Al’s Antiques is open Monday - Friday from 10am - 4pm, located at 1711 Mulberry Street.
The Warehouse at Alley Station is located at 130 Commerce Street, Suite 800.
THE ART OF ESCAPE: INTO THE LIGHT AT THE MONTGOMERY MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS MJ YOGA
If you grew up in Montgomery, you might think you know the permanent collections at MMFA like the back of your hand. Into the Light features works on paper from the permanent collection rarely on view because of their sensitivity to the elements. This collection contains works by Bill Traylor, Elizabeth Catlett, Thorton Dial, Sr., Roger Brown, Walter Anderson, John Marin and many other talented artists. This holiday season is your chance to bring your friends to MMFA and impress them with these outstanding pieces. Tell your guests about Cottingham’s print of the Empire Theatre in Montgomery. The location is now inhabited by the Rosa Parks Museum. Curator Dr. Michael Panhorst stated, “The bus stop outside the Empire is where Rosa Parks was told to move to the rear of the bus, and where she was subsequently arrested.” As you make your way through this two-room exhibition, don’t forget to go inside the Weil Graphic Arts Study Center. There are always beautiful works on paper displayed. You can view 15th-century engravers such as Martin Schongauer and Albrecht Dürer, works by Rembrandt van Rijn, etchings by Canaletto and Callot, aquatints by Goya, lithographs by Whistler, and a zincograph by Gauguin.
Prep your bodies and minds for the clusterfun that is the holiday season. MJ Yoga and Iron City Yoga will be offering an Acro Yoga workshop on November 16th. Acro Yoga is an exercise between two people that helps build trust in each others’ bodies and minds by requiring both people to communicate in a calm way. If you don’t have a partner, Iron City is happy to be your plus one. Owner MJ Anderson says that Acro yoga is “a chance to practice being yourself around someone you love.” Now that we’ve conquered your personal relationships problems, aren’t you hungover from Funksgiving? You know you are. Let’s go get rid of those toxins. Basic Vinyasa with Pranayama… wait, what? Okay, it’s a yoga class that starts with measured breathing practices, then moves into slow and flowing movements. You won’t hurl and you’ll sweat out some of that bourbon from the night before. The class is every Saturday at 8:00 AM with Jeff Geidner. Now you’re centered and ready to head home for another round of awkwardly staring at your cousin’s new nose. Visit mjyoga.net for the schedule or stop by at 4170 Carmichael Court, Unit B, Montgomery
MASSAGE BY JONATHAN If you need silence and time to meditate on what the hell happened last night, please go see Jonathan at Amplify Salon for a Stress Fix massage. It’s 60 minutes of uninterrupted, blissed out peace. If you only have a 15 or 30 minute window to escape, Johnathan can make it work for you: massages are available in 15 or 30 minutes, and up to 1 to 1 1/2 hour offerings. Amplify is located at The A&P Lofts at 1615 Graham Street, Unit 102, open Tuesday Saturday. Call ahead to make an appointment 334.834.4243.
Open Tuesday - Saturday at varying hours, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts is located at 1 Museum Dr.
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Artist R.C. Hagans and artisan Michael Stricklin are opening Opelika Trading Co. in downtown Opelika, AL. The store will be selling works by R.C. and Michael’s “Loyal Stricklin” line of hand-made leather goods this November and December. MADE caught up with them a few days before their November 1st Grand Opening to talk about the store, its inspiration, and what’s next. M.P.: You’ve both had success without putting your work in a physical space -why did you decide to go with bricks and mortar this holiday season? M.S.: Over the past year and a half we’ve done numerous pop-up displays at events both locally and around the country. With each new and bigger event, we set our sights higher and higher, putting more and more effort into our setup until eventually it began to look like an actual store, albeit set up that very morning and taken down at the end of the day. R.C.H: After realizing what a pain in the ass it was to set up and break down a festival booth every Saturday we decided we might as well get a space where we could curate every inch, spin our favorite records, sell the shit we make, and drink beer with our friends. M.P.: What were your inspirations for the store and how did you want the store to feel for your customers? R.C.H.: Motorcycles and Switchblades. New York 1969. M.S.: It took a lot of give and take initially to blend leatherwork with street art— something that we have never seen before—but the commonality was found in southern culture. RC often paints portraits of key southerners, as well as philosophers, artists, musicians, and other great historical figures. There’s also a warm tone in my leatherwork that emanates southern culture and value, but the two perspectives needed a common language on which to stand, and we found that through goods of the past. There’s a beauty and a realness to beat up old goods that still work as intended, and that is the real inspiration for our store. M.P. Does the store sell only your work, or do you have other friend/artisans involved?
M.S.: We support and promote a number of our fellow friends and artisans, but right now, we have so much stuff that we’ve made, we only have room for our own goods. M.P.: How has growing up together in the Auburn/Opelika art scene helped your work and influenced what you do? R.C.H.: As a creator, you couldn’t ask for a better home base than Opelika. Zero distraction and a small community of extremely supportive individuals. Folks like Richard Patton and Ashley and John Marsh have given us the opportunity to open up to the world and show what we’re made of. Michael is my biggest inspiration, he pushes me to do my best work, and to do a lot of it. We signed the lease on a big haunted old house and i think he’ll agree that was an important day our journeys both separately and as a team. There’s an element of friendly competition inside those doors that drives us. In The Blue House, it’s him against me; once we step off the porch- it’s us against the world. M.S.: There are a number of individuals in the community who have been of great support to the both of us. We are forever grateful to the other small business owner’s in the area who have shown us love and support and provided venues for us to be a part of their dreams as well as to achieve our own. Special thanks to Richard Patton, Aaron Kovak, Jay and Laura at Overall Company, Sarah Barnett Gill at Mama Mochas and all of our friends and family who continue to push us and support us on our crazy endeavors. M.P.: Would you consider keeping the store open year round, or is this just a short time experiment? R.C.H.: This is an experiment. We made a little money this year and instead of blowing it on chicks, booze or that guided vision quest in Iquitos, Peru (like i wanted to) Mike suggested we rent a space and see what happens. That being said, we realize there’s no limit to the potential of this partnership. Be on the lookout for the opening of our Manhattan location- Opelika Empire. MS: The next planned step is the website. We’ll get that up after the holidays. If this location proves successful, then we will definitely stay. Our next planned store is NYC.
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ARTWORK COURTESY JAY DAVIS
Brooklyn based painter Jay Davis invites viewers to participate in his spatially ambiguous paintings as he or she finds connection to the familiar or nostalgic images. The solo exhibition at Triumph & Disaster features his most recent series of work. Doritos, the MasterCard logo and even the Coors Light Mountains take us on a journey that brings us to a state of self reflection, relying on our own memories and experience to fully discover the many dimensions of Davis’ layered paintings.
Japan is definitely one of my favorite places to visit. I’ve been lucky enough to visit a few times, and therefore spend time exploring the country, seeing parts that most tourists don’t have a chance to visit. Traveling on the Shinkasen, the onsen culture (the hot mineral baths, at least one in every town), the food, the history and culture, are all amazing and inspiring. I’m always struck by how much of the culture is so rooted in history while existing in a society that seems years ahead of the rest of the world. Really amazing place to go.
Davis discusses his Southern roots, journey as an artist, and exhibiting in Japan with Triumph & Disaster Gallery curator Caroline Taylor prior to his arrival in Montgomery for the opening of his exhibition on November 6th.
Unfortunately on that last trip, my show opened a few days before the earthquake and tsunami, and traveling through the country in the midst of the crisis was an incredibly humbling experience.
Made Paper: When did you first start painting, and when did you decide to pursue art as a career? Jay Davis: I’ve always been interested in art, though what defined that has changed considerably for me. It was pretty much a given with my family by the time I was two that I was going to be an artist in some regard. I was always drawing, cartooning, doodling. I loved comic books and the newspaper comics. I thought I’d be a cartoonist, but ultimately, the idea of writing a joke a day, or illustrating a book a month didn’t interest me.
MP: Do elements / images from your personal or everyday life appear in your paintings? JD: My memory and surroundings definitely enter into my work. But I don’t of course limit it to just things I surround myself with, and I’m mindful of the use of objects, patterns, themes, and gestures, that they are part of a wider collective consciousness. These paintings have familiar objects and traces of images from everyday life - tromp l’oeil Doritos, sandpaper or fruit. Echoes of credit cards and standard size printer paper. Mountains lifted from Aquafina and Coors. A rubber ball from everyone’s childhood. I’m mimicking simple digital effects, in the most analog fashion - with paint.
When I was still really young, I was into the band Black Flag. The artist Raymond Pettibone was the brother of one of the members, and he made the most amazing, and disturbing, album art which gave me some ideas outside the scope of comic books. I also had an “internship” in pre-computer graphic design in middle school in downtown Charleston, funnily enough. Once I got to high school, the school’s art program left something to be desired, so I took some private painting classes. But it was really when I got to art school, rented a studio off campus, and started to surround myself with other artists that my visual language expanded and I started the process that has led to the work I am stillmaking today. MP: You have held exhibitions internationally – what are some of your personal highlights? JD: I’ve been lucky enough to show in a lot of different places, but my last show in Japan really stands out as a vivid one. It was called “Anagrams and Other Dimensions” and all of the work was based on a word play with anagrams. I even re-orderd the letters on the front window to read “Tofu Storm” rather than the gallery’s name “Motus Fort” - the irony being that the Japanese use a character based alphabet, therefore that type of word play goes completely off the radar there.
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MP: The paintings included in your exhibition at Triumph & Disaster are from your most recent series. How do these paintings differ from your previous work? JD: The new work is spatially more ambiguous, not relying on the tropes and safety of landscape, still life, or portraiture. In my previous work I was often presenting you with some elaborate puzzle of a narrative through spaces and characters. This new series works with using objects that are part of our collective cultural consciousness as tools to bring the viewer to a state of selfreflection according to their own memory, cultural baggage, etc... that can change from person to person, year to year. In a way, turning you viewing the work into the subject, and allowing the painting to exist as a changing image rather than something static. I’ve purposely made these paintings, so that when viewed in photos or online, they look like digital collages - like you’ve looked at Google for too long and the image search has taken on a form of its own. That’s partially as a response to how so much art is viewed only in this way, and how images are consumed so quickly - literally given a thumbs up or down, swiped and discarded. I think the image used to be more precious. Now the idea of “liking” something is almost a
mockery of what it should be. What I enjoy about painting, and maybe one of the things that makes it relevant today, is that you have this image that is consumed slowly, that is allowed to change with you over time, and that you give a little more of your attention to. MP: While you are a native of South Carolina, and spend part of your year in North Carolina, you have lived in Brooklyn, New York since graduating from college. How has dividing time between the two regions influenced or informed your practice? JD: I grew up in Charleston, SC, in the same house on the Isle of Palms that my parents bought in 1972. They sold it maybe 15 years ago, and have since moved inland. We had Hurricane Hugo send a surge 5 feet into the house, and my family and I spent a year rebuilding. I think that has made me more prone to attach memory to objects, combined with growing up in one of the oldest cities in the US. History and memory were always around me. I find myself coming down South to both Charleston and North Carolina, where my family has a beach house, much more than I used to. I’ve grown up surfing my whole life, so of course the warm water is always a draw, as well as the amazing food. I’ll be heading down there again after leaving Alabama. With the exception of my sister and her family, who are now living and teaching in New Delhi, my parents, siblings, nieces, and nephews are all down there. Good to get back.
View works by Jay Davis at Triumph & Disaster Gallery in Old Cloverdale. The Opening Night Reception for the Jay Davis exhibition is Thursday, November 6, 2014. Davis will be present for the opening night. The exhibition runs through December 2, 2014. Triumph & Disaster Gallery, 505 Cloverdale Road, Unit 102, on the Courtyard at The A&P Lofts. www.triumphdisastergallery.com • @triumphdisaster
November 5-9 Alabama Frontier Days
November 16 Beginners Acro Yoga Workshop
Using Fort Toulouse - Fort Jackson Park as its historical backdrop, Alabama Frontier Days focuses on demonstrating what life was like in the Frontier South during the early years of European and American exploration and settlement, 1700-1820. The public can experience this living history as many frontier trades and crafts will be demonstrated by living history specialists and craftsmen in period costumes. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for students. fttoulousejackson.org
Acro yoga builds a practice of the understanding of trust. Iron City Acro Yoga will be at MJ Yoga Studio November 116 for a workshop for beginners to come learn couple yoga. Bring a friend or loved one to come enjoy the afternoon doing something fun and healthy together. Cost $35. Visit mjyoga.net to register.
Fort Toulouse, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
November 6-9 2nd Annual Songwriting Workshop Hank Williams Museum
The Hank Williams Museum songwriting workshop will include songwriting seminars, one-on-one critiques, jam sessions, a “goodie” bag, a buffet dinner on Thursday evening, and a continental breakfast on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; as well as an acoustic concert on Saturday night that will be headlined by Jan Howard. Call 334.360.3600 or visit thehankwilliamsmuseum.net to register.
November 11 Veterans Day Parade
Downtown Montgomery, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The fifth annual Montgomery River Region Veterans Day Parade will take place on November 11 beginning at 11 a.m. in front of the State Capitol and will proceed down Dexter Avenue. Following the parade, the Capitol Sounds Band will perform a Veterans Day Concert inside the City Hall Auditorium beginning at 12 noon.Rain or Shine.
MJ Yoga, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
November 21 & 22 5th Annual Artists Market
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
The 5th Annual Artists Market features more than 30 local and regional artists. Come shop Friday and Saturday and meet the artists! This event is free and open to the public. Visit mmfa. org for more details.
November 23 – December 24 A Christmas Carol Alabama Shakespeare Festival
A favorite family holiday tradition returns to Alabama Shakespeare Festival with previews starting November 23. This holiday must-see will get you into the swing of the holiday season with Scrooge’s search for redemption and a magical evening of ghosts, spirits, festivity and goodwill. For tickets and more info, visit asf.net.
November 28 Funksgiving
The Warehouse at Alley Station
Featuring Earphunk of New Orleans and The McLovins of Hartford, Connecticut.
words BRIAN CARROLL
IMAGE COURTESY CHAD KAMENSHINE, COURTESY OF THE ARTIST
San Francisco four-piece Deerhoof understands how to play in the most basic sense of the word. Their new album, La Isla Bonita, was recorded live during a week-long sleepover amidst arguments about whether it should sound like Janet Jackson or Joan Jett. They must be pulling some journalist’s leg, because the only way the adventurous musical explorers in Deerhoof could ever hope to calm themselves down to the level of those two performers is through a series of full frontal lobotomies. Instead, La Isla Bonita, their thirteenth record, is packed with the funky breakdowns for which the band is known but - in an inspired choice - wrapped in various flavors of delectable, Latinobased Rock. Known for their unpredictability, Deerhoof makes playful, not aggressive, music often from the formula of much harder bands. Instead of ending up with a genre fusion resembling Metal, they switch out rollicking tempos and rhythms on-the-fly in a jazzy collision of Garage Funk and Twee Pop. Topping the cantankerous, manic backing band’s onslaught of peppy riffs and rests is singer/songbird Satomi Matsozuki’s bugle-like, Japanese-accented voice. Perhaps it’s just Matsozuki’s personality, but Deerhoof always manages to bring a childlike sense of wonder to each of their projects, making their sound unmistakable. It’s a sound that’s served them well, with a handful of their earliest efforts heralded as one-time classics. Despite releasing well-respected albums consistently since their heyday, the band has been slightly off the radar in recent years, their signature unpredictability perhaps itself becoming a toopredictable element in their music. What makes La
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Isla Bonita so great, in contrast, is that the Deerhoof compromises enough to follow the rules of standard songwriting this time around, but still scours every piece of fine print to see what loopholes they can get away with exploiting to avoid losing their identity as a band. Ten years ago, it was easy to find crazy, femalefronted Rock acts hammering out cutely demented drum and guitar assaults, but after reaching the major label threshold a few of these like-minded acts toned things too far down, losing their core fans for household name status. It happened to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Metric, and Blonde Redhead, but it didn’t happen to Deerhoof. On La Isla Bonita, Deerhoof might have had to make the decision to dumb themselves down just a teensy-weensy bit, but hopefully are as delighted as I am to realize that by doing so, they inadvertently hit the nexus of all that is wonderful about their music. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that while trading bits of oddness in for pop sensibility they also managed to sneak a case of salsa into the mix. Emblazoned by subtle dips into the prickly, percussive rhythms of Latin America and the ghostly Western twang of California Surf guitar, La Isla Bonita is alternately fun and mysterious. It’s punk, but played in a spooky, Tex-Mex way, like something from the Tindersticks or The Plugz’s score to Alex Cox’s Repo Man. You can hear the band’s Pixies influence above all others here, so if you like the Pixies but haven’t enjoyed anything that band has done since their reunion, this is your album. Sure, you might say, a lot of insecure hipster bands set out to mine authenticity by slapping barely-competent Surf riffs onto generic Rock and Roll, but Deerhoof wisely hallows complex, twangy, Western guitar leads without irony, building shrines to the Telecaster, not musical goofs around it. That’s not to say there’s anything particularly stoic or uptight about La Isla Bonita. Unlike the majority of bands who overvalue their own seriousness, it’s worth sharing Deerhoof’s promotional photograph for this album, featuring the band happily smiling as Matsozuki stands with her shirt tucked into a linen skort pulled up like Steve Urkel’s trousers. It makes
you smile just seeing the band, and it’s the same with the music. You don’t find uncalculating, unironic, thoroughly confident fun in music this easily every day. Drummer Greg Saunier steals the show here as he goes for technique over bleeding eardrums, infusing these charming sing-songs with such sunny beats that I’d be tempted to call it the perfect summer album if it weren’t nearly turkey time. The electric guitars, at one time emulating a mariachi version of Ritchie Valens, squeak, bleed, and whistle, and when the occasional dark moment on the record does arise, the furthest the band’s sunny disposition allows it to spoil the setting is akin to the feeling of clouds passing briefly overhead. Like Deerhoof, their album is kind of goofy but rocking, artful but not out-of-this world. Not all prospector’s ghosts and lonely beaches, the album can be a real party. I mean a real party, featuring dorks, a copy of Greaser’s Palace, and bowl of queso dip. Deerhoof still sound like their slippery selves, but they’re presented here straighter than ever, and sugar plum dreams of hearing them on the radio for the first time suit the band well. La Isla Bonita is killer Pop/Rock dialed in (or down, in their case) to the perfect settings. It breathes and it’s colorful, with plenty of soft bites. While their songs may still dip into noise frequently, these outbursts never spoil the show, making this the most consistent release I’ve ever heard from the already well-liked band. Punky, funky La Isla Bonita is unlike anything else out this month, it’s also damn fun, tickling the nerves with the perfect amount of noisy zest and breezy, effortless control. Recommended for fans of the Pixies, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blonde Redhead, Metric, Blondie, St. Vincent, Sonic Youth, Beck, Atlas Sound, David Byrne, Beach House, The Naked and Famous, and Janet Jackson. Listen to Deerhoof’s La Isla Bonita on NPR’s First Listen and purchase through its links to Amazon or iTunes to help support NPR.
FEATURE FILM A lot of films come and go between our monthly publishing dates. As a new feature, we offer you a short take on what’s coming to cinemas over the next 30 days. INTERSTELLAR Matthew McConaughey in a space film with Anne Hathaway that’s directed by Christopher Nolan (Batman Begins, Memento). Book it. DONE.
PHOTO RUNAWAY FRIDGE PRODUCTIONS, ELEMENT PICTURES, FILM4, INDIEPRODUCTION
WORDS EVANS BAILEY
Frank follows John (Domhall Gleason) after he gets drafted into the strangest fictional onscreen band since Kathleen Turner Overdrive. John just happens to be taking his morning walk near the beach in his quaint little English town when a raving lunatic jumps into the frigid waters. A ratty band van pulls up. A quick conversation with the band’s manager confirms that the former keyboardist is currently in the back of an ambulance wrapped in a thermal blanket and a new position has just opened up. John confirms he can play a C, F, and G on the keys and is immediately offered a spot for that night’s gig. A good whirlwind start to a quirky rock film right? Well, let’s meet the band first. There’s Maggie Gyllenhaal on synth and spooky theramin. Carla Azar (lately with Jack White’s Peacocks) on drums. Frenchman Francois Civil on guitar. New guy John on keys, and original keyboardist (and friend to mannequins) Don managing. Then there’s the titular Frank. Man, there’s Frank. Frank wears a gigantic cartoon paper mache head, always. When the synth gets going and the melody gets damn-near unrecognizable, he plugs a microphone in his freaky head, sways back and forth, and spouts off-the-cuff, over the top lyrics. Played by Michael Fassbender (sorry if you’re looking for lots of his handsome face), Frank is equal parts maddening and inspiring for his bandmates and the world at large.
After a short tryout gig with John, the Soronprfbs (really) retreat to a lake house in Ireland to record their big record. Frank is enamored with the process of recording, which consists of recording various natural and unnatural sounds, fighting, running wind sprints, and having the occasional viking funeral. John is slightly more focused. Dedicated to making something out of a career that practically fell in his lap, John offers up his own tunes (which Frank quickly recognizes as shit), clashes with Clara (Gyllenhall) about their musical direction, and puts all the band’s hijinks on the web. John’s over-sharing pays off, and the band winds up getting a plum gig in America at the South By Southwest Festival in Austin. The band’s potential success weighs heavy--most of all on the is-he or isn’t-he deranged Frank. John takes the brunt of the heat from the band for trying to be popular and messing with Frank’s “process.” The inevitable meltdown pushes Frank the man to his edge and the film quickly pivots to make a statement about the relationship between artists, their personas, and audiences. The Soronprfbs, amazingly, recorded all their music live for the film (Gyllenhaal plays a mean theramin, just don’t touch it). The sound is hard, jazzy, synth-rock with Frank channeling Val Kilmer playing Jim Morrison on acid with a massive paper mache mask on his head spouting off about random shit in the room. Most of Frank is a weird damn movie that’s not for everyone, but its comedic flourishes and touching finale show that there really is something behind that mask. If you want to see something you have never, ever seen before, go see Frank at the Capri November 7-12.
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING Somebody recommended that I read a book called Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge by Edward Wilson (a biology professor at UAB) a few years ago. It was so dense I read 130 pages before my eyes went cross and my nose started bleeding. This biopic about Stephen Hawking should be much better. DUMB AND DUMBER, TO *fingers crossed* *face scrunched really tight* “Please don’t ruin my early teens, please don’t ruin my early teens...” *watches trailer* “So Flora Felcher and Harry made a baby, Lloyd wants to bang her now... hmmm” *early teens withers up, dies, gets roasted on the barbie*. MOCKINGJAY: PT. 1 The latest installment in this monster YA franchise tracks the stronger opening half of Suzanne Collins’s final and weakest installment in the book series. Julianne Moore joins the big payday as the president of (spoiler) District 13. HORRIBLE BOSSES 2 Sequel to the surprisingly successful romp starring Charlie Day (Always Sunny, Pacific Rim), Jason Bateman (Everything), and Jason Sudeikis. HB 2 adds Chris Pine and Christopher Waltz as additional jerky boss people. Sexy dentist Jennifer Anniston is also back. Sadly, no Bill Lumberg though. ESCOBAR: PARADISE LOST (a.k.a. Escobar: Lazy Titling) The ashen husk of Benicio Del Toro stars as Pablo Escobar, the notorious Columbian drug kingpin. When Escobar’s niece meets surfer dude Peeta from Hunger Games, hijinks ensue.
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I’m going to ruffle some feathers here. Don’t ask me for Goose or Patron before I even have the chance to greet you. Slow down. Maybe even have a seat first. Before blurting expensive booze names and waving your greenbacks around, glance over a menu, take it all in. Look at the bar and the variety of bottles back there. In most cases the portfolio of liquors, wines and beers are hand selected. Everything has its place and everything is there for a reason. I don’t bother wasting the real estate behind my bar on products that aren’t worth a damn. I’m looking for character. I’m looking for the bottle that offers something unique and can stand on its own. It is all about character. A fair portion of any thriving bar is going to be occupied by the standards that everyone has come to expect. Grey Goose, Crown Royal, Jack Daniels, Tanqueray, domestic light beers. These names are big, wildly successful staples because they are good. That’s the problem, they are just good. Nothing really special about them, they are just so-so. Within the past decade there has been a boom of brands that appeal to the craft concept of liquor, bringing labels like Tito’s to the market. The guy who started Tito’s originally made his vodka by
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hand, which is awesome and that’s why his product took off. That guy was making a solid product that had a heartwarming story and a good profile.
Crossroads. Each one of these distillers makes incredible products that have that character about them I’m looking for.
Unfortunately Tito’s is now made somewhere in the Midwest, trucked down to Austin, and then distilled one last time before it is bottled. The Tito’s brand is covered in lawsuits, and people aren’t buying the “handmade” pitch anymore. I get tickled when someone says they love this craft vodka that their buddy introduced them to. It’s called contract distilling and I’m not a fan.
I work in an environment where it’s important for us to know the story of our product. I want to know who makes my house bourbon (Buffalo Trace) or vodka (Cathead) just as much as chef wants to know where his lettuce or grits come from (Oakview Farms).
Character. Liquor is starting to experience the same thing, and it is fantastic. Think about the craft beer movement. There are numerous brands that exist out there that have been started by regular ol’ folks. I love the fact that we Alabamians have the opportunity to share a pint with any number of our craft beer brewmeisters. It’s nice to be able to shake hands with the people who make what we consume. Liquor is spread a bit thinner due to local distilling laws, but the state of Alabama has taken on some excellent boutique liquors. Bayou Rum from Louisiana and Cathead Vodka from Mississippi are my two favorites, but of course we cannot forget our home team High Ridge Spirits out in ‘Stills
Maybe it’s time to start thinking about booze the same way we feel about food. What actually tastes good, and where does it come from. Instead of forking over extra cash for “top shelf” booze in your vodka tonic or whatever, give one of these young guys a shot. Choose for yourself, talk to your bartender if you’re not sure about something. That’s what we are here for, after all. I don’t have a recipe for you to try to make. Instead, just see if your local bar has local booze to follow up all of that local beer.
Will Abner is the supreme bartender at SpringHouse on Lake Martin. You can catch up with him there, and even in Garden & Gun these days. But always at MADE Paper.
Ronny Blankenship, Clanton, AL Blankenship Farms “Our main crops are peaches, plums, nectarines, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers and all types of greens.” What are you eating this Thanksgiving? “We’re gonna have turkey breast, squash casserole, probably gonna do an apple pie, fried cucumbers, and rattle snake pulled beans.”
Thanksgiving is an important reminder that we should take a break from the day to day and show appreciation for what we have. While giving thanks is a great idea there’s no better way to put it into practice by sharing a locally sourced meal with our friends and family. Alabama is the perfect state for locally sourcing your thanksgiving. We might be known for cotton but we actually live in the most biodiverse region east of the Mississippi. Take a trip to your local farmers market you’ll find all the Turkey day staples: sweet potatoes, squash, corn, greens and Miss Sue of Clanton makes delicious desserts. She makes all kinds of pies but is famous for her caramel cake, when asked about why she supports local farms it’s purely logical, “If it’s good you should patronize that location.” For the main event on Thanksgiving there’s no need to get BIG TURKEY involved, we have great local options in central Alabama such as Greeneville’s Bates House of Turkey. There’s no shortage of good reasons for having a locally sourced thanksgiving. It is better for you and the environment. We have the chance to meet our farmers and understand what is and what is not going into our produce, much
of which is grown without hormones, antibiotics or other harmful additives. It has a positive economic impact on your community instead of going elsewhere. It’s sustainable compared to modern industrialized agriculture that has a very negative impact on our environment. According to a study by the University of Florida our food travels on average 1,500 miles to get to your plate. This makes for an increase in the amount of green house gasses in our atmosphere and places an unnecessary demand for fossil fuels. Why buy produce from California when we have access to affordable organic food from places like River Oaks Farms in Millbrook located just seven miles from Downtown Montgomery? So as we gather on the third Thursday of November let’s remember that Thanksgiving in a sense is the original localvore’s Holliday where people came together to give thanks and supplied a meal with what they could harvest. Let’s visit our farmer’s markets and talk to the people that grow our food and see that eating locally is good for everyone and a great way to show appreciation for our community and thanks for what we have.
Miss Sue, Clanton, AL “Caramel Cake is my signature cake. I also do pies - sweet potato and pumpkin.” Why should we eat local? “As long as it’s good quality, you should try it and if it’s good, patronize that location.”
Miss Jane, North of Prattville Gibbons Farm “We sell lady peas, squash and turnips.” How did you get into selling produce? “I was raised on a farm and live on a farm now.
Charles Walters & Don Higgins “We raise vegetables and pigs, chickens and eggs and we have a few cows - just seven miles from this table. All our animals are pasture raised with no hormones or antibiotics. It makes for a healthier product.”
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I’m walking through the sun-drenched courtyard of the A&P Lofts, manicured grass I’ve crossed countless times. I used to live in this building, but as I ascend the stairs I’m not headed to my old apartment on the right, but to the one on the left. Before today, I’d experienced the apartment on the left only through furtive glimpses through half-opened doors. Today, my former neighbors and most charming hosts, Greg Tankersley and Mary Robin Jurkiewicz, have invited me in to fully experience their home. Two years ago, this architect couple lived in a 5,500 square foot historic home on South Perry Street. Now, they’ve downsized to this 1,750 square foot condo. Many of Greg and Mary Robin’s friends and neighbors wonder why, and how, the couple and their teenage daughter went from a sprawling homestead with vast spaces for entertaining to a two-bedroom loft with one large common area doing triple duty as a living room, dining room and kitchen. “Why” boils down to one common theme: this couples desire, at their current age and stage, to edit their collection and prioritize their life. “How” springs from a few strategies they’ve learned along the way. First, the “why.” According to Mary Robin, “having a small home base, where we can ‘camp out’ beautifully, allows us so much extra energy to go out into the world and [for instance], make a difference through more volunteer work because I’m not slaving away in my yard. I loved my yard, don’t get me wrong, but I check it off my list, ‘ok, I explored that, I loved it.’” Having less house has given Mary Robin a lot more time to focus outward rather than spending time being a steward of her property. Or, as Greg chimes in, “with my business I travel so much, work all over the place, and it’s so much easier to come home to a door than eaves that need to be painted, gutters that need to be cleaned… you come in and the house says, ‘welcome
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home, I’m so glad you’re here,’ as opposed to a house that says, ‘where have you been all day? I need you.’” The move to the loft apartment is only just the beginning for Greg and Mary Robin, as they will head to an even smaller apartment in New York City next year. “We are about to go to something two-thirds the size of this. We are having to get rid of even more. It’s kinda of fun, because it’s sort of like, the older you get, you just keep your best friends,” Greg laughs, “and so it’s sort of like that with furniture, you think, ‘ok, who do I want to spend the next 10 years with? Not her, she’s annoying’ and so on.” Of course, there are still those items they don’t have a place for, but can’t bear to part with, and those will have to go in storage until they can decide what to do. Even the best planners have a sentimental side, all you pack-rats and hoarders (myself included) will be relieved to hear. As far as “how,” Greg and Mary Robin stressed the importance of functionality. As Greg explained, ”I tell people now we are living in square inches rather than square feet. And I’m joking, but not really because function really does reign supreme; every square inch has to work, HARD, to fulfill all of your life functions.” Greg continued, “When you live in a large house you can be a little fat and slovenly with your function because it can be taken care of somewhere, but when you start editing your life down it’s almost like going into a travel trailer. Everything has to have a certain function by the way the machine of your life operates; the challenge is making sure each one of those daily things that make up the path of your life is all taken care of.” Planning is key. Before each move, the couple lays out a master furniture plan to know beforehand what new items they need to fill their space. Greg explained, “we knew what we had, so we could say, ‘ok, that goes
there, that goes there, we need that,’ and so there was a progression of beginning to collect things because with every move our square footage needs were going up.” Planning only goes so far, however, and eventually you have to start cutting. When asked how they started, Greg quickly replied, “By getting rid of ½ our stuff! Seriously, we had a full basement, full attic, and a full garage.” They started by throwing away things that had no value, and donating as much as they could. Mary Robin explained, “I gave away as much as I could because I hate putting stuff in the landfill.” She also exmphasized how modern technology allows for more multi-dimensional spaces. Mary Robin pointed out that instead of a cabinet of home entertainment equipment and stereo equipment, they have a flat screen television. and a Bose iPod dock that serves their entertainment purposes perfectly in a small living area. To say that Greg and Mary Robin have a knack for putting a room together is a gross understatement, considering they are design professionals who have probably forgotten more about designing a space than most of us will ever know. Despite their obvious credentials, their home does not feel contrived or overstyled; rather, it feels like walking into a place where people actually live, filled with interesting mementos collected over the course of their interesting lives. From Greg and Mary Robin’s perspective, downsizing has allowed them the freedom to rid themselves of less important things, and to enjoy what they have come to love and value. Anyone currently teetering on the precipice of downsizing, but who thinks it’s an impossible task, can take inspiration from Greg and Mary Robin. Your new home may not look exactly like these pro’s, but at least you too can be surrounded by only your “best friends.”
NOVEMBER 2014 • MADEPAPER.COM
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Style Opinions: What Not to Wear Unlike last month’s tips on what’s in style and trendy this Fall, I’m going to do a 180 and probably offend a few peeps out there by giving you my opinion on what not to wear. I’m not saying you can’t wear these clothes anymore, but I’m strongly suggesting that you refrain from doing so. Please, I’m begging you! Each season has its own trends and at first they seem OK, but now is the time to let some of them go. Let’s start with the ever so popular chevron print. I’ve seen these big zig zags on everything from blouses, dresses, skirts, and even pants. That’s right, zig zag pants. And this is coming from someone that loves a bright colored print! However, unless that crazy pattern is made by Missoni, just say no. Speaking of crazy pants, I’m actually drawn to colorful silk patterns, but I draw the line when it comes to palazzo styles.
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Unless you are six feet tall, these tight waisted, loose bottomed pants are just not flattering. It’s as simple as that. Yes, styles like bell bottoms are back, but the stretchy faux silk version doesn’t work. Last but not least is really going to set some people off but, like most things, moderation is key. I love a good monogram and can especially appreciate the craft of sewing, since I come from a family of seamstresses. However, putting a monogram on every single item you own is just annoying. This moves past fashion and into your everyday style. Do you really deem it necessary to let strangers on the road know that your middle initial is ’S’? Didn’t think so. Keep those stitches on your bedding, shower curtains, and even cuffs. Just don’t feel the need to share those two or three initials with everyone and everything you can get your hands on. Now that you’ve gotten my rant, feel free to take my advice. Or don’t. But remember that even those trends I’ve suggested have an expiration date.
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the southeast. Russell Lands On Lake Martin lies at the heart of Lake Martin and includes 25,000 acres of pristine forests with
pristine water and 750 miles of
more than 80 miles of hiking, bik-
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ation destination unparalleled in
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Throughout our country’s history,
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