444 planetweekly

// IN THIS ISSUE LittLe Shop of horrorS haLLoween ConCert Guide the Shutdown // Maddox’S View

BaMa reCruitinG update // IN THIS ISSUE

ALABAMA BREWFEST SABAN WANTS BETTER THE LITTLE BAR THAT COULD

>>>

NEWS |

T H E C H AM B E R OF COMM E R C E

NEWS

t-town to get $9B business incubator Become a Chamber Ambassador

apply. Applications are being accepted through Nov. 30. Interviews will be conducted in December. An application is available at tuscaloosachamber. com.

Ribbon Cutting at Caring Hands Hospice

Our Ambassador group is an active one, designed to bridge the current active membership and new members with our services. Ambassadors welcome new members and share ways to get the most of membership through an informal mentor relationship. They serve as greeters at our events and generally foster good will. This personal contact is a pleasant surprise to the recipient and a rewarding networking experience to the Ambassador. The program has also proven to develop future Chamber leaders. Any member or employee of a member firm can

2

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

Fall Professional Training In an effort to provide valuable training for our members from highly qualified professionals at discounted rates, we present the 2013 fall training schedule. Non-members are welcome at different rates. Get details at tuscaloosachamber.com.

Chamber Connects Mixer at Bryant Conference Center/Hotel Capstone The Bryant Conference Center (BCC) and Hotel Capstone will host our mixer on Nov. 12 at BCC, 240 Bryant Dr. in Tuscaloosa. This holiday affair is always a treat. Join us from 5-7pm. Prospective members are always welcome!

Caring Hands Hospice hosted a ribbon cutting on Oct. 2. The lovely facility is located in Hobson Place, across from Publix in the Northriver area. Learn all about them at caringhandshospice.org.

New $9 Million Business Incubator Facility on 10th Avenue Planned Federal dollars will construct an estimated $9.31 million facility for our business incubator, The EDGE — Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, which was formed last year and already has seen many businesses grow from its

current location downtown to business spaces of their own. The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration has awarded the City of Tuscaloosa $5.06 million to construct the facility. The remaining $4.25 million, allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for storm recovery efforts, will go toward engineering, site preparation and other aspects of completing the building on the former site of the U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Center on 10th Ave. Very exciting!

Zambooki Graduates from The Edge Zambooki Holdings recently graduated from The Edge-Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. It's the first start-up business to graduate from our downtown business incubator facility, which assists entrepreneurs starting businesses, providing low-rent facilities, shared services, mentoring and other assistance. The Edge is a joint project of the Chamber, the City of Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama business school.

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

19 11 >>> www.theplanetweekly.com Complete our online survey to be entered in a drawing to select the restaurant of your choice for dinner for two. Other prizes include concert tickets, theatre tickets, Planet Weekly t-shirts, and more.

inside

4

>>> planetweeklyissue444

FEATURES

SPORTS

5 ELECTION SHOWDOWN //RACHEL AHRNSEN

21 HIGH TIDE // GARY HARRIS Recruiting Update // Matt Elam and Lester Cotton

Do young citizens care?

6 HAUNTED TUSCALOOSA // RYAN PHILLIPS Tuscaloosa's a hotbed of paranormal activity

9 BLAKE SIMS // STEPHEN SMITH PUBLISHER LIN DA W. J OHNSON MANAGING EDITOR H ER B NEU ASSISTANT EDITOR RYAN PHILLIPS COVER DESIGN LAU R A LIN E B E R R Y SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR R YAN P H ILLIPS DESIGN/LAYOUT HERB NEU ADVERTISING

2 05. 79 2 . 7 2 3 9

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS W ILLIAM B A R S H OP CA R A B R A K E W H ITN E Y WATSON R YAN P H ILLIPS R AC H E L A H R NS E N ST E P H E N SMIT H T R E Y B R OO K S M E E G AN G IL D E H AUS VAN R O B E R TS AM E LIA W E B B E R GARY HARRIS REGGIE ALLEN JIM REED

Planet Weekly P. O . B o x 2 3 1 5 T u s c a l o o s a , AL 3 5 4 0 3 Phone: 205.792.7239 | 205.765.8007 Email: publisher@theplanetweek ly.com Please direct correspondence to: publisher@theplanetweekly.com The Planet Weekly is a proud member of The West Alabama Chamber of Commerce. © 2013 All rights reserved. THE PLANET WEEKLY is a registered trademark.

Planet Weekly is published every other Thursday. No part of this publication including editorials may be reproduced, in whole or part, by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the Publisher’s prior expressed written consent. One copy of each issue of THE PLANET WEEKLY is free to each of our readers. Any reader who takes more than two copies without expressed permission of the publisher shall be deemed to have committed theft (as if...).

The views and opinions of the authors of articles appearing in this publication may not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Publisher.

Profile of a UA backup quarterback

11 BEER REVIEW // RYAN PHILLIPS Cahaba Brewing Co. has legions of fans

17 LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

// AMELIA WEBBER Kickoff production celebratesTheatre Tuscaloosa's15th season

22 CONCERT REVIEW // MEEGAN GILDEHAUS A review of Tomorrow World's epic event

25 SIMONE SAYS // ADVICE FOR THE ASKING 27 HALLOWEEN CONCERT GUIDE // Trey Brooks The crowd will be the real show

entertainment 10-12

RESTAURANT GUIDE

16-17

Events Calendar

18

Road Trip

19

Tuscaloosa music

FEATURE // William Barshop

WHEN CARRIE MET SAMANTHA 13 Has sex finally returned to the city?

23 Horoscopes // Sudoku 24 CROSSWORD PUZZLe

under the cover >>> VISIT US ON THE WEB @ THEPLANETWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

3

>>> POLITICS | R Y AN P H ILLIPS

WHY YOUNG CITIZENS MAY NOT CARE ABOUT THE SHUTDOWN // STUDENTS NOT FEELING THE PINCH

Since October 1, the Federal Government shutdown has caused government offices to close, along with national parks, sending thousands home on furlough and many projects left in limbo.

When considering the politics of such widespread economic effects, The Pew Research Center for People and The Press, compiled data that showed the societal interaction with the shutdown.

The results were staggering According to Pew research, “Among those younger than 30, 63% say they are not following news about the government shutdown closely, including nearly half at 46%.”

Tuscaloosa, which has come under political controversy at the hands of this aforementioned demographic during the recent school board race, is feeling the effects of the shutdown and according to Mayor Walt Maddox, other cities around the state are too.

"I think it depends on where you are if you are affected," he said. "I was just in a meeting with the Mayor of Huntsville and the shutdown has more of an effect in places like Huntsville because of a larger government presence. But with Tuscaloosa it does have an impact in terms of the disaster recovery dollars we will receive."

Maddox then went on to explain the FEMA reimbursement and what it will

4

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

mean for the city of Tuscaloosa to have those payments delayed due to the shutdown.

"Those FEMA dollars are reimbursed, so that it will likely mean that we will have to handle the projects with our own cash flow longer," he said. “It will probably impact the speed in which FEMA reimburses us too. We still have about $4 million in outstanding reimbursement and if it continues it will ultimately slow down many of our projects, from helping first time homebuyers get into their homes to reimbursements on major infrastructure projects. It will have an impact, a lot just depends on where you are and how closely your community is tied with the federal government"

When asked about the problem with a young, disinterested demographic in relation to shutdown, Mayor Maddox cited the bi-partisan bickering as a turn-off for young people who are new to politics.

"In a municipal government, we do not have parties," he said. "We are focused on people and policy. The younger generation is tired of the bickering and hungering to see a new government that will work together, so when they see lawmakers on both sides of the aisle continue this useless political maneuvering, that does not accomplish anything.

In my review of it, that is what is setting in and that concerns me. We need young people to be engaged in order to help us raise our level of politics."

Willniesha Smith, a junior majoring in Telecommunication and Film at UA, said that her disinterest regarding the government shutdown stemmed from a lack of the issue’s immediate impact on her personal life.

"It hasn’t grabbed my attention, I guess because I do not work a job now and neither of my parents were affected by the shutdown," she said. "I don’t know anyone that was furloughed so it doesn’t mean as much in regards to my own life."

Smith pointed out that she did not see the effects around Tuscaloosa but did cite the media’s use of political terminology as a point of confusion for those new to the issue.

"In a closed off section like Tuscaloosa, you do not see too many of the drawbacks," she said. "On the news when I have heard it talked about, it is more political jargon and not in layman terms so maybe if the facts were processed that way, more people would be aware of the issue."

Ellis Terry, a senior business major at UA, was passionate about raising awareness of the shutdown and emphasized the importance of young people understanding not only the issue, but the greater problems concerning the federal government and a citizen base that does not seem to care about political issues.

>>> VISIT US ON THE WEB @ THEPLANETWEEKLY.COM

"It is the future of our nation”, he said.

“I feel like young people my age, I’m 22, they have no idea what is going on in and around the nation and they need to get more involved because obviously they do not care."

Terry cited preoccupation and lifestyles as a cause of disinterest among citizens in the under-30 demographic, partially due to content overload on the web. He then pointed to the media’s responsibility in processing this information for citizens in order to raise awareness.

"It could be just that young people are too concerned with other things, such as social media that preoccupy their time and they are not aware of their surroundings”, he said. "I think if the media shows the negative effects and people do not realize what the government is doing, which could lead to some awareness being raised."

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox was adamant about getting this young demographic involved with not only dialogue concerning the shutdown, but the political arena in general.

"I think young people need to be involved in politics, regardless of political affiliation," he said. "They need to demand sensible politics of their congressman, senator and mayor. Demand politics of progress not politics of fear. To me, that is needed. In city government we get things done, we do not worry about what letter you have beside your name."

Maddox then said that politics at a local level provide more beneficial results, not only due to the lack of partisan bickering, but in shaping the opinions of young citizens who will ultimately be counted on to keep the process moving forward.

"I honestly believe that innovation and ingenuity is something that you see at the local level and the reason we do that is that we are not concerned with accomplishing the goal of the party," he said. "We are concerned with the goals of the people we represent and I think that is the feeling that young people need in order to help us carry our voice to Montgomery and D.C."

>>> T H E M AC H I N E | R AC H E L a hr n s e n

HORWITZ CONTESTS ELECTION IRREGULARITIES // CHARGES UNDER REVIEW

CASON KIRBY “We're dealing with a sensitive matter: students," said attorney James Anderson, who represents incumbent Kelly Horwitz in her dispute over the District 4 Board of Education election in Tuscaloosa, Ala., which continued on Tuesday, Oct. 15 in the Circuit Court. Horwitz lost to a former SGA president of the University of Alabama, Cason Kirby, by 87 votes. He received 416 votes to her 329.

Horwitz had challenged 397 of these votes and contested the election on Oct. 11 by filing a list of individuals whose votes are under review with the court. She filed a second briefing on Oct. 14, which included details of an investigation into election fraud and the University of Alabama’s Greek system’s involvement.

This led to the Tuesday court hearing with Judge James Roberts to discuss the reasons for Horwitz's challenge. The main reasons for the disqualification of votes were problems with residency, registration, bribery and intimidation.

Anderson says, “The first issue is residency. In Alabama, there’s an interesting concept in the law of a ‘domicile.’ For a domicile, a student doesn't count.”

Attorney Laurie Johns says the concept of the domicile means, "simply living here doesn't exhibit a decision to make this your ‘personal home’ for the foreseeable future.”

As a result, even some students who may live in Alabama are not true residents of it. However, Johns says that the qualifications for a domicile are vague and “not set in stone.”

The argument over what constitutes a domicile is one of many issues relating to fraudulent registration. Before the election, 11 individuals, eight of which voted, registered for a single house in District 4. The resident of the home admitted to the media that the others who registered were his fraternity brothers and did not live there. Other voters are accused of falsely identifying their address, including

76 people who allegedly listed sorority houses in which they did not live as their address.

Even if a voter legally resides in District 4, the law requires they live in the district for 30 days before an election to be eligible to vote; 157 voters did not meet this requirement according to the briefing. Horwitz’s briefing also emphasizes the large amount of provisional ballots which were filed, though only 19 were counted.

Kirby’s lawyer, Andy Campbell, could not be reached for comment on these allegations.

Rebecca Rothman, who has a child in the school system, is disappointed by allegations of election fraud by students.

“Kelly represented my district in her first term, and she is one of the smartest and most effective school board members we've ever seen in Tuscaloosa. She’s a visionary, and she gets things done. It's frustrating that so many people may have voted without taking the time to understand the complex issues in this election and in the school

system, and without considering the enormous impact that their vote would have."

The most controversial element of Horwitz’s case have been allegations that votes were also tainted by bribery and intimidation.

The briefing includes several examples of alleged bribe offers by various sororities, such as this post to the private facebook page of Zeta Tau Alpha: “I just wanted to let everyone know that tomorrow is an election day and we are supporting Cason Kirby for District 4. There will be limos on Magnolia drive starting from 7am-7pm. I have a list of 30 girls that ARE registered to vote and I would greatly appreciate if you did. There will be a reward if you do. Cason Kirby's election team has rented out Moe's and Innisfree for tomorrow night and if you vote and turn in a 'I Voted' sticker to me tomorrow then I will give you a wristband. That will get you into both of these bars for FREE and you will receive one free drink at both bars. I have 30 wristbands and ONLY the girls that

vote will receive one.”

Neither of the bars participated in the promotion after the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board warned them not to, according to court documents. Though the promised bribes were never received, merely offering something of value is a violation of Alabama law.

Horwitz alleges that bribes were actually received by Phi Mu sorority members for showing their, “I Voted,” sticker.

Participating members received free Backstreet Boy tickets. One Phi Mu voter posted a picture of her concert ticket on Twitter with the caption,“Backstreet’s Back, alright!”

The briefing alleges that while some students voted for incentives like this, and some out of personal conviction, others were intimidated into voting. Anderson says, "I think there's a lot of people responsible for this, in particular an infamous group called the Machine.”

The Machine, also known as Theta Nu Epsilon, is an exclusive and secretive coalition of 27 Greek organizations. The group is known around the university's campus for swaying elections, and their influence is rumored to extend to the federal level.

UA student Katie Howard says, “I wasn’t really that surprised about the election. I was already nervous about it because I knew it was a Machine election, but I surprised by the means with which

they did it.”

Howard says she felt frustrated and disgusted by the Machine influence on the election, and wonders if real change will arise from the legal proceedings.

“I’m happy to see something proactive being done about it...I would like to think that most people feel the same way. I think they’re fed up with the Machine. But, honestly, I think a lot of people are indifferent to it because they’re only here four years.”

Dr. Steve Bunker, a UA history profes-

KELLY HORWITZ sor, says the election results, “reinforce stereotypes about elections being rigged by a good ole boy network in Alabama.”

He also emphasizes that, “most of the students who voted in this, they’re being used. An outside force is using students, and getting off scot free.”

Anderson particularly remembers one instance of intimidation. He says: “A brave soul told us, ‘My sorority sisters gathered us in the basement and said we couldn't leave until we changed our registration.’”

Those who oppose Horowitz’s claims believe her case is an attempt to disenfranchise student voters, particularly Greek student voters. A sorority member whose name was listed in court documents, and who spoke on the condition of anonymity, says, “I promise neither bribery nor intimidation caused me to vote in the election," and that, "they seemed to have just put every person who voted and was also Greek on there [the briefing].”

The Director of Greek Affairs at UA, and the Panhellenic president of UA, could not be reached by Wednesday morning for comment.

After the hearing Tuesday, Anderson wants Judge Roberts to allow them to subpoena voters to testify. “I think they'll tell the truth. I don't think anyone told them that what they were doing was wrong,” says Anderson. If students lie under oath, it will be considered perjury, a serious crime.

They may also face a misdemeanor for election fraud.

Cason Kirby will take his seat in early November, despite the continuing legal action. He will remain the representative of District 4 unless the allegations are proven.

Disclaimer: This writer supported Kelly Horwitz during her campaign, but did not vote because she was not registered in the state of Alabama.

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

5

>>> T H E O T H E R S I D E | R Y AN P H ILLIPS

HAUNTED TUSCALOOSA // A HOTBED FOR PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

David Higdon pointed to the top of the imposing Italianate column at the Drish House on Greensboro Avenue and said, “That is where we get claims that people see the lights”.

Higdon, founder of the Tuscaloosa Paranormal Research Group, has been working with this affiliate of the The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) since 2005 and has spent extensive time studying hauntings around Alabama, most notably the famous Drish House.

“One of the main things that always keeps coming up concerning the Drish House is the lights in the tower”, he said.

“People have claimed they have seen lights and the fire department has been called out here several times because people think they see the tower on fire”.

While the lights have made the unoccu-

6

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

pied plantation home famous, Higdon claims that other supernatural happenings have occurred when they have stayed in the house to conduct research.

“We have spent the night in this place three or four times and the claim that I have found true is finding a strong scent of flowers in one of the bedrooms that should not be there”, he said. “You hear knocks and footsteps when you are down stairs but the main thing that keeps coming back up is the fire in the tower.”

In Kathryn Tucker Windham’s famous story collection Thirteen Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey, The Drish House is mentioned and accompanied by a story of a woman who went insane after being intentionally locked in the tower by her overbearing father who did not approve of a suitor that his daughter had fallen in love with.

According to Higdon, Tuscaloosa’s rich history can be found in the multiple accounts of hauntings in the area.

“People forget about the history around Tuscaloosa”, he said. “We call ourselves a research group because behind research is history. You would just be surprised how many calls a week I get where people have experienced activity and basically just pack up and stay in a hotel room. Just around Tuscaloosa County, The University of Alabama is haunted with the quad, Smith Hall, The Gorgas house, there are just so many. Here recently though,

the place I have been trying my best to get in is the old Bryce behind the university. The Shirley place is Northport is also a good place for activity.”

After the parent organization TAPS gained fame on the Sci-Fi television channel with their show “Ghost Hunters”, organizations in Alabama began to pop up which is where Higdon found his start in paranormal investigation.

“We are part of the TAPS family and that means if someone is watching TV and they see TAPS and then want to have someone investigate a haunting, they will email TAPS and TAPS will email us”, he said. “There are only three TAPS families in Alabama and we are one of them.”

Tuscaloosa, which was once the center of mental health in Tuscaloosa, has several historic sites that have gained attention in the world of paranormal investigation. According to Higdon, the most haunted place in Tuscaloosa is one that also possesses a rich and misunderstood history.

“In Tuscaloosa, there are a lot of haunted places but the most haunted to me is the old Bryce in Northport”, he said. “Also what people are hearing are mainly legends about how the place was ran and how the patients were treated but really it was a halfway house. We did more research and it turned out to be just that.”

While the history surrounding Bryce may be misconstrued, Higdon said, the place is still extremely active with paranormal activity.

“When we’ve gone in old Bryce there is always activity”, he said. “You will hear doors slamming and things knocking around.

We’ve heard old-timey telephones and heard voices, which we picked up on the EVP’s [Electronic Voice Phenomenon]. In old Bryce, I have also heard singing that sounds like a woman. It is also the one place that we have seen people go in and get physically scratched up. One person had a scratch across their face. Also batteries get drained in Old Bryce. Flashlights and Wristwatches will go dead in that place too—really just a hotbed for activity. “ While Tuscaloosa is the primary base of operation for his group, Higdon said that they have expanded to research areas outside of the county.

“We’ve been to a lot of places like Sloss furnace, which has been my favorite but we have worked all over the state”, he said.

“At Sloss Furnace, we saw a shadow of a little girl, we heard voices and also when we were down stairs in a tunnel, we noticed the equipment was turning on by itself and everything seemed to start shaking” Higdon recently co-authored two books dealing with paranormal activity in West Alabama: Haunted Tuscaloosa and Haunted Alabama Black Belt.

“Haunted Tuscaloosa came out last year and was done by History Press.”, he said. “They got in touch with me and asked

me if I could write a book so I got with the co-author and we wrote this and Haunted Alabama Black Belt. Haunted Alabama Black Belt features other places around the state like the famous face in the window at the Courthouse in Carrolton and The abandoned Bibb County Jail.”

As a way to train new members, Higdon said, the abandoned Bibb County Jail is used as a mode of preparing possible ghost hunters for their interaction with the supernatural.

“We like to train new people at the old Bibb county jail because it has so much activity,” he said. “If we have a new member we can take them up there and train them and we have had times where people literally ran out. The jail was completed in the 1920s and there have been multiple hangings that took place on the third floor where you can still see the trap door and the steel rod that came out from the ceiling where they would hang the noose. We did the research and it turns out there had been 13 hangings in that jail so naturally there is a lot of activity which is great for us.”

When asked about the most haunted spot in West Alabama, Higdon pointed to one that has etched its face in the minds of people across the country.

“The most haunted place to us in the black belt is the Carrollton Courthouse with the famous face in the window”, he said. “Besides the face, you get cigar smells and hear voices and footsteps. I was walking in and had a team on the second floor and I decided to go to the room that has rarely been used which used to be the sheriffs office so I went in a sat down and right when I did, a clear EVP said ‘Don’t sit here’.”

According to Higdon, this process was created out of a sincere love and interest for local history.

“We are based on what the truth is out there”, he said. “I’m sure everyone has heard a bunch of ghost stories and we want to know about them”.

Higdon’s books are available for purchase at Barnes and Nobles but for those interested in contacting the Tuscaloosa Paranormal Research Group, visit tuscaloosaparanormal. com or call 205.563.3850.

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

>>> F I L M | V AN R O B E R TS

PRISONERS // a ticking clock, and an artfully committed cast «««« «

4out of 4

Watching the disturbing H ugh Jackman child abduction thriller Prisoners is like rubbernecking at the scene of a car accident. Initially, your curiosity gets the best of you and you gawk. Of course, the sight of the blood and gore sickens you. Nevertheless, you can’t take your eyes off it because it makes you consider your own mortality. Prisoners keeps the blood and gore to a minimum, but the nature of the crimes leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Oscar-nominated French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve and “Contraband” scenarist Aaron Guzikowski have created a compelling criminal melodrama that shuns the usual Hollywood glitz and glamour.

Indeed, the filmmakers accentuate realism at every turn. The squeamish might reconsider seeing this tragic tale. The unwholesome subject of child abduction qualifies as heavyweight material, and Prisoners never

resorts to humor to lighten the atmosphere. Actually, the dreadful events in this narrative may challenge your ability to enjoy this intense psychological character study. Clocking in at 153 minutes, “Prisoners” is relentless both in its length and depth. I can’t say enough good things about this inspired but unsavory crime drama.

The characters stand out boldly from the background. Each emerges with greater depth and irony than Hollywood allows, and Villeneuve generates considerable, white-knuckled suspense. Sometimes, the quietest moments prove to be the most suspenseful. Comparably, Prisoners resembles an episode of the CBS-TV crime series Criminal Minds, but clean-scrubbed, well-dressed, FBI agents aren’t investigating the crime. The local authorities handle the case and display appalling incompetence. A father turns into a vigilante and passes the point of no

return to save his daughter. Nobody in this grim, lurid yarn is without a flaw. You won’t want to be like them because they lose their cool.

Prisoners is about a lot of good people doing all the wrong things.

When a small-time carpenter, Dover Keller (Hugh Jackman of “The Wolverine”), isn’t in the woods hunting with his son, he dotes on his adorable, six-year old daughter. Anna Dover (Erin Gerasimovich) and her African-American girlfriend, Joy Birch (Kyla Drew Simmons), are playing in their quiet, suburban neighborhood when they notice a recreational vehicle parked on the street. Dover and his best friend Franklin Birch (Terrence Howard of “Iron Man”) and their wives and older children are enjoying a peaceful Thanksgiving dinner when the girls turn up missing.

Earlier, Dover had told his son Ralph (Dylan Minnette) and Birch’s daughter Eliza (Zoe Borde) to keep tabs on the youngsters. They search the neighborhood but find no traces of either Anna or Joy. Eventually, a police organize a widespread man hunt, with Dover and his son trudging through the woods with an army of other people. Dover’s wife Grace (Maria Bello of “Payback”) has retreated to her bed with pills galore while her husband counts the hours.

Meantime, the police spot the suspicious vehicle near a convenience store, and Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal of “End of Watch”) arrives and approaches it with his gun drawn. The driver, Alex Jones (Paul Dano of “Cowboys & Aliens”), behaves hysterically at the sight of all the flashing blue lights.

Jones tries to drive off the premises.

Instead, he careens into the woods and smashes up the vehicle. Loki arrests Alex, but Loki’s police chief superior releases him later because they found no incriminating evidence either on him or in the RV. Enraged at Alex’s early release, Dover confronts him in the parking lot, and the police have to restrain

Dover. Later, Dover abducts Alex and tortures him. He demands that Alex reveal the whereabouts of his daughter and her companion. Alex repeatedly tells him that he knows nothing about Anna and Joy. Grimly, Dover devises other ways to torture Alex. MeanCloud AtlasLoki is on the trail of a time, Detective bizarre individual who buys children’s apparel despite the fact that he has no children. Moreover, he stores the apparel in locked plastic tubs writhing with snakes. As you can see, nothing about “Prisoners” is lightweight. The scene near the end when Loki careens desperately through traffic to reach the hospital will have you poised on the edge of your seat. One major surprise occurs about three-fourths of the way through “Prisoners” when the identity of the villain who is behind a child abduction ring is divulged. By this time, Franklin and Nancy Birch have visited the site of Dover’s torture chamber and allow him to continue with this disgraceful business.

Hugh Jackman delivers a shattering performance as a father prepared to torture another human if it will prolong his daughter’s life. You’ve never Jackman play a deranged character like Dover Keller. Keller believes devoutly that his actions are appropriate. Moreover, Keller’s closest friends don’t flinch at his merciless interrogation techniques.

In essentially supporting roles, Maria Bello, Viola Davis, Terence Howard, Paul Dano, and Melissa Leo all distinguish themselves. As the grieving parents, Bello, Davis, and Howard are far more sympathetic than Jackman’s distraught father. Paul Dano allows his behavior and bizarre appearance do most of his acting for him. Altogether, Dano emerges as one creepy worm of a guy. Ultimately, Jake Gyllenhaal gives the best performance of his career as a detective who struggles to find clues in the disappearance of two little girls from their neighborhood. Suffice to say, although it qualifies as a superior thriller, “Prisoners” will rattle your cage more than the usual movie.

>>> VISIT US ON THE WEB @ THEPLANETWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

7

Best GAMEDAY Attire

8

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

>>> VISIT US ON THE WEB @ THEPLANETWEEKLY.COM

>>> PLAYER PROFILE | ST E P H E N SMIT H

BLAKE SIMMS // TIME TO EMERGE

Star Jackson and Phillip Sims (no longer at UA). Though these quarterbacks bolted a lot of talent coming in, most of them spilt time with the starting quarterback and only one of them took the reins of starting quarterback and never looked back (Lewis).

In 2010, Sims took his big play ability to the Capstone. He chose Alabama over Tennessee, Georgia, Florida State, Michigan and Mississippi. With Greg McElroy as the starter and AJ McCarron as backup quarterback, Sims redshirted his freshman season. As a redshirt freshman in 2011, Sims was converted to running back. He saw just five games of action, but was productive nonetheless. He had 22 carries for 107 yards (4.9 yards per carry), caught two passes for 18 yards and obtained a national title as a member of the team.

In 2012, Sims saw his playing time increase and as a sophomore he returned to backup quarterback. In ten games, Sims ran the ball 30 times for 187 yards and two touchdowns (first collegiate touchdown against Arkansas). In the passing game, he was 5-10 (50 percent of passes completed) passing for 77 yards.

Since McCarron was the starter, Sims didn’t get many reps until toward the end of games. This led to him being more of a runner and relying more on his athleticism than his ability to effectively pass the football. Despite him being on a team that has won back to back national championships, many Alabama fans felt that though Sims is talented, he may not be the best fit to run Coach Saban’s system.

One thing that people give Sims credit for is his perseverance. Nick Saban loves guys that show toughness, perseverance, leadership and do the little things right.

When things didn’t go according to plan for Star Jackson and Phillip Sims, they transferred out of the program. As for Blake Sims, he decided to stay at Alabama.

After a capturing its 15th national title in the 2012 season, Alabama entered

really pass the football, let alone throw a touchdown in 2010, 2011 and 2012, Sims is 15-20 (75 percent of passes completed) passing for 144 yards and two touchdowns this season.

Is this history in the making? Is Blake Sims starting to emerge? The answers to these questions remain to be seen.

Contributing sports columnist Stephen Smith is a reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine and touchdownalabama. net.

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

UA ATHLETICS CRIMSON TIDE PHOTO

UA ATHLETICS CRIMSON TIDE PHOTO

Many people will make the argument that the two easiest positions in football are placekicker and backup quarterback.

On paper the argument seems legit, with kickers having one responsibility and second-string quarterbacks barley seeing the field. However, the two simplest positions in the mindset of individuals happen to be the two hardest positions in football.

For kickers, they are the last line of offense. When a drive stalls, it is up to them to provide three points on the scoreboard.

Along with providing points, kickers need to have an “ice in the veins” mentality.

This means they must maintain a positive outlook and can’t let the pressure get to them. As for backup quarterbacks, they have to prepare for a game as if they are the starter. They have to watch film, be at practice every day, study the playbook and be ready even if they are not called upon.

As a native of Gainesville, Ga., Blake Sims attended and played football for Gainesville High School. He became known there as an explosive athlete.

In his junior year, Sims totaled 3,736 all-purpose yards (2,785 passing and 822 rushing) and 49 touchdowns. As a senior, Sims went 150-254 (59 percent of passes completed) passing for 2,288 yards and 28 touchdowns. He had 115 carries for 863 yards (7.5 yards per carry), 13 touchdowns and led his team to the state championship in 2009 in which they finished runner-up.

For his success on the gridiron in high school, Sims was recognized twice as AAA All-State by the Atlanta JournalConstitution and the Associated Press (2009). According to Rivals.com, Sims was ranked a four-star recruit and the No.33 athlete nationally. ESPNU rated him as the No.63 athlete and in 2010, Atlanta Journal-Constitution ranked him as the eighth best athlete in Georgia.

The Alabama Crimson Tide has had its history of recruiting talented AfricanAmerican quarterbacks, from Walter Lewis, Vince Sutton and Andrew Zow to

the offseason with a fierce second-string quarterback battle. Six quarterbacks, including Sims battled for the job. Sims beat out the competition and was able to maintain his position as McCarron’s backup. Though fans were impressed with freshman quarterback, Alec Morris in his ability to drive the ball down field in the spring game, Sims was out to prove that was asset to the team and more than just a runner.

The decision to stay at Alabama along with his consistent work ethic in spring and summer camp has really paid off for Sims thus far in the 2013 season. It was mentioned earlier that in 2012, Sims completed 50 percent of his passes for just 77 yards with a quarterback rating of 114.7.

So far this season, Sims has begun to spin the pigskin to the delight and surprise of many Crimson Tide fans. Sims tossed his first collegiate touchdown pass against Mississippi to Chris Black. For the first time in his career against Georgia State, Sims saw more than just the fourth quarter. Saban allowed him to run the offense in the second half of the game.

The confidence that Saban had in Sims delivered as he went 14-18 (77.8 percent of his passes completed) passing for 130 yards and a touchdown pass to Black. After not having the opportunity to

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

9

>>> wine REVIEW | R y a n p h i l l i p s

>>> RESTAURANTS |

StagS' Leap On The Higher End Of Price And Taste //

BREAKFAST / DINNER

delicious variety

W here t o E a t i n T u s c a l o o s a

15th Street Diner 1036 15th St // 750.8750 Open for most lunch and dinners, with limited hours on weekends.

City Cafe 408 Main Ave | Downtown Northport // 758.9171 Established in 1936. Big on food, low on price. Open for breakfast and lunch. Historic downtown Northport. Closed weekends.

CountryPride Restaurant 3501 Buttermilk Rd // 554.0215 www.ta.travelcenters.com Breakfast 24 hours. Lunch and Dinner buffet.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 4800 Doris Pate Dr | Exit 76 // 562.8282 www.crackerbarrel.com International House of Pancakes 724 Skyland Blvd // 366.1130 Jack's 1200 Hackberry Lane | Tuscaloosa // 345.1199 Maggie's Diner 1307 Ty Rogers Jr. Ave | Tuscaloosa // 366.0302 Mr. Bill's Family Restaurant 2715 McFarland Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 333.9312 Northport Diner 450 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 333.7190 Panera Bread 1800 McFarland Blvd *402 | Tuscaloosa // 366.8780 Quick Grill 1208 University Blvd | The Strip | Tuscaloosa // 342.0022

Since its rebirth into the winemaking industry, Stags' Leap Winery in Napa, CA., has crafted treats of the vine since the 1970’s.

Being partial to reds, it was only fitting to begin with a 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley. While fairly high on the price scale, ($52/bottle), this Cabernet reciprocates with an unparalled profile that is lush with blueberry and oak accents. The nose on the Cabernet is particularly crisp, which leads well into a mildly acidic bite that is strong without being overpowering.

The bold fruit flavor of this Cabernet lends itself well to be paired with greens and vegetables while the oak compliment is a welcome addition to any baked meats like ham or chicken. During the fall season, this Cabernet stands out as a must for those big holiday meals.

Stags' Leap reinvented their red appeal with a 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley that acts as the spicy, blueberry-based sibling of 2009. Sporting a warm ruby tint, the 2010 Cabernet derives its rich taste from red fruit and pepper spices, all pinned together by a splash blueberry and oak. While this is a wine made for aging, the youthful confidence of this red can be noticed upon first taste and when dealing with the excitement that surrounds such a tasty purchase, it is understandable if it is enjoyed immediately. Given the spicy nature of the 2010 Cabernet, it would be an ideal pair with any cold, sugary treats in order to capture the warmth that this wine has to offer.

However, the 2010 could also pair well with roasted poultry or mild cheeses.

For lovers of Rosé, Stags' Leap offers a pink treat that is sure to cool you off in the final warm days of the season. The nose of the Rosé Amparo Napa Valley gives an immediate burst of citrus and melon flavors which transition into a soft taste evocative of strawberry and raspberry. This Rosé possesses a surprising acidity that, while not overpowering, is more filling than contemporaries. To accent the elegant fruit flavors, the Rosé will pair well

10

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

with spicy, grilled meats or fall vegetables.

In comparison to other Stags' Leap products, the Rosé sits on the lower end of the price scale, coming in at $27/bottle. For a wine with such a crisp, flavorful finish, the appeal for the Rosé should be to the taste buds and pocket book.

Another lighter treat from Stags' Leap Winery comes in the way of their 2011 Viognier Napa Valley. With a bright acidity, the 2011 Viognier’s nose is highlighted by spring blossom and stone fruit that culminate in a splash of peach flavor that is light and savory. This soft white is a perfection recommendation for a novice wine drinker not fond of the more bitter side of the vine. The balanced taste of the Viognier gives way to a perfect accent for a wide range of treats but in this reviewers opinion, a meal of spicy buffalo wings on a college football Saturday would make an ideal companion for this tastefully crafted white.

Lastly, a transition back to Stags' Leap selection of reds which features a beautifully crafted Merlot that has a bold appeal across a wide range of palates. Their 2010 Merlot Napa County, is an exotic red that is set off by an enticingly sweet nose, tinged with aromas of cherry and blackberry. The taste is previewed well by the luscious nose but a hidden, savory caramel flavor can be noticed which makes for a rich aftertaste that leaves the drinker wanting more. A drawback to the Merlot is its filler quality, but if enjoyed with light food that should not pose a problem for the drinker. In regards to pairing, the Merlot may be the most versatile red on the Stage’s Leap wine list. As a personal recommendation, try pairing this red with grilled seafood or a complex salad. With such a rich taste, one cannot go wrong in pairing the Stags' Leap 2010 Merlot with any treats, regardless of season. As the holidays approach, one pairing recommendation could be to sample this red with pumpkin or spice treats, in order to bring out the dark, rich flavors in one of the delicacies of California wine country.

Rama Jama’s 1000 Bryant Dr // 750.0901 Closest restaurant to Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The Brown Bag 9425 Jones Road | Northport // 333.0970 Its speciality, fried green tomatoes, joins barbecue plates and fish filets on an extended list of meats and vegetables.

Tues 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Wed-Sat 10:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

The Waysider 1512 Greensboro Ave // 345.8239 Open for breakfast and lunch. Smoke free.

MEXICAN Chipotle Mexican Grill 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 391.0140 www.chipotle.com Don Rafa's 2313 4th Street | Temerson Square // 345.9191 El Rincon (2 locations) 1225 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa, AL // 366.0855 1726 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 330.1274 Fernando's Mexican Grill 824 McFarland Blvd E | Northport // 205.331.4587 Iguana Grill 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 752.5895

Epiphany Cafe 19 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 344.5583 “New American cuisine” with a strong emphasis on local produce, organic meats, and sustainable seafood. The menu is always changing and features include an extensive wine list, a large vibrant bar and martini lounge area, as well as patio seating. Reservations are available online at epiphanyfinedining.com or through open table. Hours: Mon–Sat 5 p.m.

- until Evangeline’s 1653 McFarland Blvd. North // 752.0830 Located in the Tuscaloosa Galleria. 2004 West Alabama Tourism Award Winning Restaurant. American Eclectic Cuisine. Lunch: Mon–Fri 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Dinner: Tues–Sat 5 p.m. - until... Fall: Saturday Brunch.

The Globe 405 23rd Avenue Owned by legendary thespian and chef, Jeff Wilson. The decor takes one back to merry old England. The food is internationally acclaimed, priced reasonably, and the service is cheerful and professional. Cocktails are excellent as are the wines. Open 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and from 5-9 pm. Tuesday through Saturday, Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

FIVE Bar 2324 6th Street. // 205.345.6089 A restaurant/bar based on simplicity. We offer 5 entrees, 5 red wines, 5 white wines, 5 import beers, 5 domestic, and 5 signature cocktails, to go along with our full liquor bar.

Dinner: Sunday - Thursday 5-10; Friday and Saturday 5-12 Lunch: Friday and Saturday 11-3; Sunday Jazz Brunch: 10-3 five-bar.com; 205.345.6089 Kozy’s 3510 Loop Road E | near VA Medical Center // 556.0665 Eclectic menu, extensive wine list. Dinner at Kozy’s is a romantic experience complete with candlelight and a roaring fireplace. | www.kozysrestarant.com

JAPANESE Benkei Japanese Steak House 1223 McFarland Blvd // 759-5300 Hours: Mon–Thurs 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Fri–Sat 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Bento Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar 1306 University Blvd // 758.7426 Hokkaido Japanese Restaurant REOPENING SOON! Ichiban Japanese Grill & Sushi 502 15th Street // 752.8844 Tokyo Japanese Steak & Sushi Bar 6521 Hwy 69 S | Hillcrest Center // 366.1177 Offers steak, seafood, tempura, teriyaki and sushi. Including cooking at your table, if you choose. Sun–Thurs 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Fri & Sat 5 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Kobe Steak House 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 759-1400 Lunch: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Dinner: 4:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Sat & Sun 11:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.

ITALIAN Broadway Pizzeria 2880 Rice Mine Road Northeast Tuscaloosa, // 391.6969

LaGran Fiesta 9770 Hwy 69 S // 345.8871

DePalma’s Italian Cafe 2300 University Blvd, Downtown // 759.1879 Menu ranges from sanwiches to finer pasta dishes and pizza.

Varied beer and wine selection.

Hours: Mon–Thurs 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Fri & Sat 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. www.depalmascafe.com

Los Calientes Mexican Grill 3429 McFarland Blvd E // 553.1558

Little Italy 1130 University Blvd. | Tuscaloosa // 205.345.4343

Los Tarascos (2 locations) 1759 Skyland Blvd // 553.8896 3380 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 330.0919

Mellow Mushroom 2230 University Blvd // 758.0112 Pizzas, calzones, hoagies and more. Open daily for lunch and dinner. www.mellowmushroom.com

Jalapeno’s Mexican Grill 2001 New Watermelon Rd | Northport // 342.3378

Margarita's Grill 1241 McFarland Blvd E // 343.0300 Moe’s Southwest Grill (2 locations) 2330 McFarland Blvd E // 342.1487 1130 University Blvd // 752.0234 moes.com Pepito’s (2 locations) 1203 University Blvd | The Strip // 391.9028 1301 McFarland Blvd NE // 391.4861

FINE DINING

Chuck’s Fish 508 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 248.9370 Steak, seafood, & sushi specialities. Open for dinner and Sunday brunch. Great atmosphere and excellent service.

Ladies Night on Tuesdays. Ladies receive ½ off on drinks.

Uptown Wednesday - $6 Uptown Shrimp, $8 Uptown Tacos.

Cypress Inn 501 Rice Mine Rd // 345.6963 Fax: 345.6997 | www.cypressinnrestaurant.com 2003 Restaurant of Distinction. Beautiful riverfront location.

Steaks, seafood and more with Southern flavor. Wine list, full bar. Specialities of the house include Shrimp Cypress Inn and Smoked Chicken with white barbecue sauce. Kid friendly.

Closed Saturday lunch. Mike Spiller is featured the first Thursday of every month. Happy Hour- Mon-Fri from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. featuring 1/2 price appetizers. $2 Domestic Draft Beers and $3 Well cocktails.

Mr. G’s 908 McFarland Blvd N | Northport // 339-8505 Olive Garden 2100 McFarland Blvd E // 750-0321 Open daily from 11 a.m. www.olivegarden.com

CASUAL DINING Big Daddy’s Cafe 514 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 759.9925 Buddy’s Ribs & Steaks 2701 Bridge Ave | Northport // 339.4885 Buffalo Wild Wings 2710 McFarland Blvd // 523.0273 Mon–Wed 11 a.m. - midnight | Thurs–Sat 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.

Cafe J 2523 University Blvd // 343.0040 Chili’s 1030 Skyland Blvd | Near McFarland Mall // 750.8881 Fax: 758.7715 // www.chilis.com Dave’s Dogs 1701 McFarland Blvd E | University Mall // 722.2800 Desperados Steak House 1530 McFarland Blvd // 343.1700

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

>>> RESTAURANTS |

W here t o E a t i n T u s c a l o o s a ( c o n t . )

Sun–Wed 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Thurs–Sat 11 a.m. - 11p.m.

FIG (Food Is Good) 1351 McFarland Blvd NE // 345.8888 Mon–Fri 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Five Guys Burgers & Fries 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 391.0575 www.fiveguys.com Glory Bound Gyro Company 2325 University Blvd // 349-0505 Glory Bound Gyro Company is a unique restaurant that focuses on great food and service in a funky, fun-filled atmosphere.

Open Mon-Thu: 11am - 10pm | Fri - Sat: 11am-10pm | Sun: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Hooligan’s 1915 University Blvd // 759.2424 From hamburgers to hummus. Open daily 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Horny's 508 Red Drew Ave | Tuscaloosa // 345.6869 Mon 4 p.m. - 2 a.m. | Tues-Thurs 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.

Fri 11 a.m. - 3 a.m. | Sat 4 p.m. - 2 a.m.

New Orleans style atmosphere in the heart of Tuscaloosa on the strip. Horny's offerings include a full liquor bar, beer, and a variety of classic American food. Horny's Bar and Grill offers a limited late night menu from 1:30 a.m. - 2:30 a.m. So, if you're hungry after "last-call for drinks," Horny's is the place to be.

KK’s Steakhouse 13242 Hwy 69 South // 633.1032 Tacogi 500 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 342.3647 Logan's Roadhouse 1511 Skyland Blvd E // 349.3554 Madear’s 1735 Culver Road // 343.7773 Mon–Fri 6 a.m. - 5 p.m. | 2nd & 3rd Sunday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Mugshots Grill & Bar 511 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 391.0572 Great burgers & sandwiches. Unique setting, full service bar, veggie entrees, kid friendly, and open late www.mugshotsgrillandbar.com Newk’s Express Cafe 205 University Blvd. East // 758.2455 Fax: 758.2470 // www.newkscafe.com An express casual dining experience in a refreshing and stylish atmosphere. Serving fresh tossed salads, oven baked sandwiches, California style pizzas and homemade cakes from Newk’s open kitchen.

Sun–Wed 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Thurs–Sat 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

O’Charley’s 3799 McFarland Blvd // 556.5143 Open daily for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch www.ocharleys.com Panera Bread 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 366.8780 www.panerabread.com Piccadilly Cafeteria 1701 McFarland Blvd E | University Mall // 556.4960 www.piccadilly.com Quick Grill 1208 University Blvd | The Strip // 342.0022 www.bamaquickgrill.com The Local Catch // 331.4496 2321 University Blvd. | Tuscaloosa Full Menu including breakfast served all day.

Live Music Mon-Sat 11 a.m. - close | Sun 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

For a complete schedule http://localcatch30a.com/ Ruby Tuesday (2 locations) 6421 Interstate Drive | Cottondale // 633.3939 Just off I-20/59 at exit 77. Near Hampton Inn and Microtel Inn 311 Merchants Walk | Northport // 345.4540 www.rubytuesdays.com Ryan’s 4373 Courtney Dr // 366.1114 Near Marriott Courtyard and Fairfield Inn Sitar Indian Cuisine 500 15th St // 345-1419 Southland Restaurant 5388 Skyland Blvd E // 556.3070 Steaks, chops and home-cooked vegtables Mon–Fri 10:45 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Zoe’s Kitchen 312 Merchants Walk // 344.4450 A wonderful selection of Greek foods

SPORTS GRILL Baumhower's Wings of Tuscaloosa 500 Harper Lee Drive | catering-Pick-up Tuscaloosa // 556.5858 | Always fresh and always fun. Owned by former UA/ Miami Dolphins great Bob Baumhower. Kid Friendly Buffalo Phil’s 1149 University Blvd | The Strip // 758.3318 Sports grille with TVs galore. Diverse beer and wine selection, full bar Buffalo Wild Wings 2710 McFarland Blvd. East | Tuscaloosa // 523.0273 Sports grille with TVs galore. Diverse beer and wine selection, full bar Champs Sports Grille 320 Paul Bryant Drive | inside Four Points Sheraton Hotel // 752.3200 Breakfast and lunch buffets. Sunday brunch 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Hooter’s 5025 Oscar Baxter Dr | Next to Jameson Inn // 758.3035 Wings, clams, shrimp and of course the Hooters Girls www.hooters.com

Innisfree Irish Pub 1925 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 345.1199 Moe's BBQ 101 15th Street | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 752.3616 Mon-Sat 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Bar open until 2 a.m., 3 a.m. on Fridays Mugshots Grill & Bar 511 Greensboro Ave // 391.0572 Great burgers. Full service bar. Open late. www.mugshotsgrillandbar.com Wilhagan’s 2209 4th St | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 366.0913 Wings U 1800 McFarland Blvd East Suite 218 | Pick-up Tuscaloosa // 561.3984 Features the first coal-fired pizza oven in Alabama.

Owned by former UA/Miami Dolphins great Bob Baumhower.

Completely open concept! www.wingsu.com WingZone 1241 McFarland Blvd E | Tuscaloosa // 342.2473

BARBEQUE Archibald & Woodrow's BBQ 4215 Greensboro Ave | Tuscaloosa // 331.4858 Mon-Sat 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Sun lunch Bama BBQ & Grill 3380 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 333.9816 Billy's BBQ Downtown Northport 364.1400 We specialize in BBQ, fresh ground beef, poultry, and pork made fresh, served fresh. Ask about our specialty potatoes.

Mon & Tues 10-7// Wed. 10 – 5:30// Thurs, Fri, & Sat. 10 - 9 Costa's Famous BBQ and Steaks 760 Skyland Blvd // 331.4526 Dreamland (2 locations) 5535 15th Ave | Tuscaloosa // 758.8135 101 Bridge Ave | Northport // 343.6677 The legend. On game day, get there early if you want to make kickoff. Seating is limited. Hours: Mon–Sat 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. | Sun 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Hick’s BBQ 4400 Fayette Hwy // 339.3678 // Tues–Sat 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Moe's Original BBQ 2101 University Blvd.. // 752.3616 Serving up an award-winning, all things Southern BBQ and Live music experience. Come dine-in or sit on the patio and enjoy some great Que, beers, whiskey, and live music on Thursday-Saturday. Roll Tide!

Mon–Sat 11am - 10pm | Bar service Mon-Sat 2am and Fri -3am | Kitchen closes at 10pm Pottery Grill Highway 11 // 554.1815 Awesome barbecue. The Pottery Grill serves up everything from pork, chicken, ribs and sausage to burgers, hot dogs and salads. Take-out and catering available.

Tee’s Ribs and Thangs 1702 10th Avenue // 366.9974 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily

STEAKS Logan’s Roadhouse 1511 Skyland Blvd | next to Sams // 349.3554 Steaks, ribs and spirits Longhorn Steakhouse 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 345-8244 #412 Nick's In the Sticks 4018 Culver Rd | Tuscaloosa // 758.9316 A long-time Tuscaloosa tradition.

Good steaks at a reasonable price Try a Nicodemus if you have a designated driver.

Outback Steakhouse 5001 Oscar Baxter Dr // 759.9000 Desperados 1530 McFarland Blvd. N. | Tuscaloosa // 343-1700 Sun–Wed 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Thurs–Sat 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

SEAFOOD Chuck’s Fish 508 Greensboro Ave // 248.9370 Local Catch Bar & Grill 2321 University Blvd // 205-331-4496 American, Seafood, Cajun/Creole. Coastal Cuisine with a Southern Twist!.

Monday & Wednesdays half off house wine and appetizers at happy hour Tuesday $3 fried shrimp taco all day Thursday ladies night 20% off ladies tabs 4pm-close Sunday half off mimosas and bloody Marys all day Lunch 11am-2pm; Dinner 11am-until Happy Hour 3pm-6pm with $5 house wine, $5 top shelf, $3 well. $1 off bottle beer Red Lobster 2620 McFarland Blvd // 553.8810 McFarland Plaza Shopping Center Tin Top Restaurant & Oyster Bar 4851 Rice Mine Rd NE #460 // 462.3399 McFarland Plaza Shopping Center Wintzell’s Oyster House 1 Bridge Ave | Northport // 247.7772

>>> beer review | R Y AN P H ILLIPS

Cahaba Brewing CO. MAKES Brewfest IMPACT // GREETED BY LEGIONS OF DRINKERS

Birmingham-based Cahaba Brewing Company, founded in 2011, offers a tasty selection of craft beers that appeal to a wide range of palates. A child of the Alabama Beer Renaissance, Cahaba Brewing may be a new name, but the taste is as time-tested and true to form as competitors. This tradition in brewing is brought to a contemporary audience by their own specific approach to the craft and Alabama beer drinkers are welcoming Cahaba along with the myriad other breweries that are sprouting up around the state.

Cahaba showcased their wares at the recent Alabama Brewfest and was greeted with legions of drinkers who were left satisfied. As the beer lovers crowded the small, tented sample stand, the popularity of this humble brewery could be seen in the faces of those enjoying the brews and the good time atmosphere.

One of the most popular brews at the sample tent was the beer that helped start it all for Cahaba Brewing. The Liquidambar, which is described as the flagship beer for this modestly sized brewery, sports a rich, frothy taste perfect for fans of malty ales and autumn days. Each batch of Liquidambar is topped off with a handful of palisade hops that help it reach the appropriate balance between the malt and hop flavors, which results in a crispness that does not taint the palate. While frothy until the last trop, the head on the Liquidambar is remarkably crisp and light. When discussing food, this balanced ale will pair excellently with barbequed chicken skewers, spicy jambalaya or any pepper-based dish. This peer is tasty, but quite filling and should be enjoyed in moderation so as to avoid that beer-belly feeling. The filler quality, however, does not detract from the exquisite taste and unconventional craftsmanship of this Alabama beer.

Next on tap was a sweeter, lighter brew that is described as liquid candy by those who manufacture it. The Oka Uba IPA from Cahaba makes for a less-thanbitter alternative for those fans of sweeter beers who do not want to be bogged down under a bitter taste and filling quality.

When stacked against other IPA’s, the Oka Uba provides a refreshing alternative that has a moderate bite with a semisweet finish. This sweetness is all the Oka Uba needs to set itself apart from competitors. According to the brew masters, the Oka Uba IPA is their most drinkable beer for novices and overall is enjoyable for new and long-time beer drinkers. This taste appeal makes for a wide range of

pairings to compliment this IPA. The Oka Uba’s crisp, semi-sweet taste accents the flavors of saucy dishes and treats covered in cheese, like nachos or pizza. At the Alabama Brewfest, the Oka Uba also proved a favorite among those sporting pretzel necklaces that frequented the Cahaba sample tent. In short, if it is salty, the Oka Uba should be a contender for pairing. The lightness and sweet finish of the Oka Uba IPA also allows a six-pack to be enjoyed with large quantities of treats without filling the drinker to the brim.

Of the beers being sampled from the Cahaba Brewing Company, their American Blonde Ale seemed to be the most requested, with positive comments from many of the patrons who raved about its drinkability and flavor. This ale is the lightest offered by Cahaba, in many different ways. Blended with American and European malts and hops, the American Blonde Ale has a light taste, with a spicy frothiness that tickles the tastes buds. The light color is also true to the light, balanced taste that is sure to accompany a wide range of delicacies for all seasons.

When pairing the American Blonde, experimentation is most certainly welcome, but in this reviewer’s opinion, treats of the chargrilled or roasted variety would be the perfect addition to a beer that is as flavorful as it is easy on the stomach. Novice drinkers would find much of value in this coy ale, that could appeal to those new to craft beer but unsure where to start.

Cahaba Brewing Company continues to develop new flavors and as they grow, their West Alabama customer base is sure to grow with it.

>>> VISIT US ON THE WEB @ THEPLANETWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

11

>>> RESTAURANTS |

W here t o E a t i n T u s c a l o o s a ( c o n t . )

Casual riverfront dining Sun–Thurs 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Fri–Sat 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

CHINESE Buffet City 1747 Skyland Blvd E // 553.3308 All you can eat buffet. Open 7 days a week.

Chang’s Chinese Restaurant 1825 McFarland Blvd N // 391.9131 China Fun 2600 University Blvd | Alberta City // 553.2435 China Garden Hwy 69 S | Hillcrest Center // 758.0148 Lee Palace 6521 Highway 69 S // 391.9990 Open daily 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Mr. Chen's Authentic Chinese Cooking & Oriental Market 514 14th St. | In the Oz Music shopping center // 343.6889 // Open Sun - Thu 11am - 9pm, Fri & Sat 11am - 9:30pm Pearl Garden 2719 Lurleen Wallace Blvd | Northport // 339.0880 Peking Chinese Restaurant 1816 McFarland | Northport // 333.0361 Open 7 days a week. Super lunch and dinner buffet.

Hours: Sun–Thurs 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. | Fri & Sat 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Swen Chinese Restaurant 1130 University Blvd | The Strip // 391.9887 Trey Yuen 4200 McFarland Blvd E // 752.0088

ASIAN CUISINE Ruan Thai 1407 University Blvd // 391.9973 ruanthaituscaloosa.com Exotic Thai cuisine. Offers vegetarian options, outdoor dining, and a full bar. Sushi on Thursdays.

Lunch: Mon–Sat 11 a.m. -2 p.m. | Dinner: Mon–Thurs 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Fri & Sat 5 p.m. -10pm | Sun 11 a.m. -3 p.m.

Surin of Thailand 1402 University Blvd // 752.7970 Authentic Thai restaurant and sushi bar. Open daily.

Lunch: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Dinner: 5 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. www.surinofthailand.com

PIZZA AND SUBS A Taste Of Chicago 1700 Greensboro Avenue 205-342-DOGS Mon. - Thurs. 10:00am - 9:00pm; Fri. - Sat. 10:00am - 10:00pm 17th Street and Greensboro Avenue. Authentic Chicago style foods with a taste of Chi-Town in every bite. Italian Beef Sandwiches, Chicago Rib Tips, and Chicago Style Pizza.View our menu online and order at CRIMSON2GO.COM. Follow us @ TasteofChicagoTtown on Instagram.

Firehouse Subs 1130 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 248.0680 Hungry Howie’s (2 locations) 1105 Southview Ln | South Tuscaloosa // 345.6000 1844 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 333.2633 1211 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa | The Strip // 366.1500 4851 Rice Mine Rd | Northriver/Holt // 345.3737 Lenny’s Sub Shop 220 15th St // 752.7450 Fax: 752.7481 // www.lennys.com Little Caesars Pizza 1414 10th Ave // 366.2220 www.littlecaesars.com Little Italy 1130 University Blvd. // 345.4354 Mellow Mushroom 2230 University Blvd | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 758.0112 Subs n' You 2427 University Blvd. | Tuscaloosa // 205.758.0088 Roly Poly Sandwiches 2300 4th Street | Tuscaloosa // 366.1222 The Pita Pit 1207 University Blvd | The Strip // 345.9606 Hours: Mon–Sat 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 a.m. | Sun 11:30 a.m. - midnight Tut’s Place 1306 University Blvd | The Strip // 759.1004

DELICATESSEN Honeybaked Ham Company 421 15th St. E // 345.5508 www.honeybaked.com Jason’s Deli 2300 McFarland Blvd // 752.6192 Fax: 752.6193 // www.jasonsdeli.com Located in the Meadowbrook Shopping Center.

Jimmy John’s (3 locations) 1400 University Blvd | The Strip // 366.3699 1875 McFarland Blvd N | Northport // 752.7714 815 Lurleen B. Wallace S | Tuscaloosa // 722.2268 Delivery 7 days a week. www.jimmyjohns.com

12

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

>>> VISIT US ON THE WEB @ THEPLANETWEEKLY.COM

Manna Grocery & Deli 2300 McFarland Blvd E | Tuscaloosa // 752.9955 McAlister’s Deli (2 locations) 101 15th St | Tuscaloosa // 758.0039 3021 Tyler Dr | Northport // 330.7940 Sandwiches, salads and spuds www.mcalistersdeli.com Momma Goldberg’s Deli 409 23rd Ave // 345.5501 www.mommagoldbergs.com Newk's 205 University Blvd E | Tuscaloosa // 758.2455 Schlotsky’s Deli 405 15th St. E // 759.1975 schlotskys.com Which Wich University Blvd.// Downtown Tuscaloosa // Mon – Sat 10:30 – 9 // Sunday 11 – 7 // Fun atmosphere,fresh ingredients, great sandwiches. 764.1673

COFFEE SHOP Chloe's Cup 2117 University Blvd.| Tuscaloosa // 764.0218 Crimson Cafe International Coffee House & Gourmet Deli 1301 University Blvd | The Strip // 750.0203 Mon–Fri 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. | Sat & Sun 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. thecrimsoncafe.com Five Java Coffee, fresh juices, smoothies and treats from Mary's Cakes.

Open Monday - Saturday at 7am; 9am on Sundays Heritage House 18 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 758.0042 Krispy Kreme Doughnut 1400 McFarland Blvd // 758.6913 www.krispykreme.com Starbucks (2 locations) 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 343.2468 1901 13th Ave East | inside Super Target // 462.1064 starbucks.com

DESSERTS Celebrations Bakery, Inc. 1832 McFarland Blvd N | Northport // 339.3221 Fax: 349.1945 Cold Stone Creamery 1130 University Blvd. | Tuscaloosa //343.1670 www.coldstonecreamery.com Specializes in customized ice cream Hours: Mon–Thurs 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Fri & Sat 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Sun 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Mary's Cakes & Pastries 412 22nd Avenue | behind Opus | Northport // 345.8610 www.maryscakesandpastries.com Mon–Fri 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. | Sat 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Smoothie King (2 locations) 415 15th Street | Tuscaloosa // 349.1721 Fax: 349.1945 1403 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 462.3664 Sweet CeCe's Frozen yogurt Treats 2217 University Blvd. | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 561.6458 A fun and friendly make your own creation, yogurt experience!

TCBY (3 Locations) 2304 Mcfarland Blbd | Meadowbrook Shopping Center // 349.4661 // 2 Mcfarland Blvd | Northport | Essex Shopping Center // 758.6855 // 1130 Univ. Blvd. | The Strip // 345.0804 Yogurt Lab 920 Paul W. Bryant Dr Ste 200 | Tuscaloosa // 347.9522 Yogurt Mountain 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 342.1484 Self-serve frozen yogurt experience Mon–Thurs 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. | Fri & Sat 11 a.m. - midnight

TO HAVE YOUR RESTAURANT LISTED HERE PLEASE EMAIL PLANETEDITOR@YAHOO.COM

>>> T H E F L AT S CR E E N | R E G G I E ALL E N

When Carrie met Samantha // Has sex finally reached the city?

After spending six seasons on HBO, Carrie Bradshaw has found a new home on The CW network with The Carrie Diaries, a loose prequel spinoff of the popular Sex and the City franchise, and she is not alone. This summer, it was announced that Carrie Bradshaw would be sharing the flat screen with a not-so unfamiliar character- ladies and gentlemen, let us welcome back Samantha Jones.

Many will remember Samantha Jones as the older wise cracking sexual deviant of the four leading ladies on Sex and The City. Originally played by British actress Kim Cattrall, newcomer Lindsay Gort and Jones look-alike will be now holding the reigns to the promiscuous character. But, what does this mean for the show?

Though Gort has already announced that Cattrall has given her official blessing to play Jones, the true question is not whether she can pull off playing one of the show’s most memorable characters, but with Jones part of the cast; has sex finally reached the city?

Based loosely off of the second installment of the “Carrie Diaries” young adult novel series “Summer and the City,” by Candace Bushnell(author of the Sex and The City novel), follows a much younger Carrie Bradshaw (played

by AnnaSophia Robb) as she spends the summer in New York City with her best and newly out gay friend Walt(Brendan Dooling) and eventually running into her future gal-pal ,Samantha Jones.

Season one ended with Carrie still a virgin, but with the introduction of the sultry Samantha Jones, it seems that this just might change. Samantha, Carrie’s future confidant just might bring something to the show, that the series truly lacks: authenticity and sex. In the opening of each episode, Carrie opens with “before there was sex, before there was the city.” With season two taking place in New York and Jones part of the

cast, has the show lost it’s mantra, or possibly become more interesting?

The Carrie Diaries premiered last January to strong ratings, but as it reached midseason, saw a decline in ratings due to competition with other premiering shows. With the show’s demography consisting of mostly teenager women, the addition of Samantha Jones just might strengthen the current demographic or even attract the audience that grew up with Cattrall’s portrayal of Jones.

With a slow start in the first season, not to mention the show’s cookie cutter characters that were obviously meant to represent younger and modified versions of the Sex and The City cast, a little authenticity would give the show a boost. Imagine a younger Carrie and Samantha sharing brunch, talking about something that made it’s predecessor so entertaining: sex.

In addition to Gort joining the cast along with AnnaSophia Robb, it was announced that another Carrie’s sassy friend from the senior show, Stanford Blatch, would be joining this season after being mentioned in the season finale’s final moments.

The second season of The Carrie Diaries is scheduled to premiere on The CW network Friday, October 25. At 7/8 central time.

>>> M I N I R E V I E W | W ILLIAM B A R S H OP

MILEY'S NEW CD // WATERED DOWN WITH SOME PRECIOUS MOMENTS Miley Cyrus dares you to question her right to have sex. She is a grown woman after all, but parents and fans alike seem to feel betrayed that she has taken such deliberate measures to distance herself from the kid-friendly persona that Disney was peddling not so long ago. Are former Hannah Montana fans ready to hear Miley deliver the line, “They ask me how I keep a man/ I keep a battery pack”?

Ready or not, Miley’s new album, Bangerz, plows forward with content that intends to express rebellion and sexuality. The tongue-twister hook on “Love Money Party” falls just short of parodying pop radio’s love affair with nightclub references, and lands on an embarrassing imitation. She stumbles through another late announcement that she’s a transformed artist on “Do My Thang” with the lyric, “I’m a southern belle crazier than hell.” And of course, the lead single “We Can’t Stop” captures it all, while earning even more criticism for using black culture as a prop in her bad-girl narrative. Much of the excitement of listening to the album is wondering what taboo or sexual innuendo she’ll throw out next, if only to monitor the reactions on Twitter.

Unfortunately, waiting for that explicit shoe to drop is where the drama of Bangerz

starts and ends. When Miley’s not partying with her tongue out, she’s singing sweet, but forgettable melodies on songs like “Adore You” and “Drive,” with affectionate lyrics that clash with her flippant attitude. And even when she goes full throttle with drugs and promiscuity, she waters down the adrenaline she’s trying to push with lazy, slurred vocals that push the nasal quality of her voice to irritating limits.

The album does squirrel away a few precious moments that use Miley’s honesty and energy to their best. On “FU,” she somehow makes messy synths and cheesy text lingo sound like “I Put A Spell On You” with earnest, big-band vocals. While “4x4” is a prime example of Miley’s biggest mistakes, the felicitous four-on-the-floor beat and Southern twang are undeniable. It’s these moments, when she forgets about the “fun” persona she spend so much time pantomiming, that can translate into real fun on the record.

Walking away from a bomb of media buzz and backlash, Miley is doing her best to make it all the combustion seem spontaneous. Bangerz might seem like a treacherous piece of fuel to add to the fire, but she knows exactly what she’s doing, and her very public transformation won’t be left out of the spotlight if she has anything to say about it.

>>> F U N | W H ITN E Y W ATSON

HILLCREST HIGH TO HOLD UNIQUE FUNDRAISER

A different gaming tournament will be taking place at Hillcrest High School on November 2, thanks to a partnership with The Monitor: Game Emporium. Thanks to multiple televisions and gaming systems provided

by The Monitor, there will be a NBA 2K14 video game tournament taking place in the high school’s gymnasium starting at 10 a.m. and open to all who want to participate.

There will be food, prizes, real-life basketball shooting contests as well as more for only a seven dollar donation to the school per player. Admission is $7 per person and gamers will be provided the opportunity to play on PS3 and Xbox 360 on a game just released this month!

The Game Emporium is a relatively new gaming business to Tuscaloosa, and owner Andrew Bryant has expressed excitement for the upcoming event. Bryant describes his business as one that promotes games in a manner which enforces positive development for kids, and hopes that this family friendly day will be a good way for community members to come together to support a local school.

Proceeds from entry fees will go directly back into helping the high school provide new facilities for its students. This fundraiser is hoped to help with costs for the school not quite covered by education budgets. Education is a cause that any member of the community can get behind, and it takes individuals coming together and giving in order to provide the excellent facilities the youth of our area use to learn and grow.

Gamers and those wishing to support this event should visit The Monitor Game Emporium to register for the tournament. The Monitor is located at 1105 Southview Lane Suite 106, Tuscaloosa in the Publix shopping center on Highway 69 South. For additional information please contact the Game Emporium at 205.561.6931.

kind of

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

13

>>> THE ARTS | W ILLIAM B A R S H OP

KENTUCK FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS // 270 ARTISTS // 30-THOUSAND ATTENDEES // NORTHPORT IS READY

Kentuck Festival of the Arts is expected to bring more than 30,000 people to Northport, Alabama on Oct. 19 and 20, and will feature more than 270 artists and craftspeople displaying and selling their work.

The great volume of visitors requires a lot of cooperation from Northport residents, said Kentuck Art Center director, Emily Leigh.

Leigh said it’s the biggest weekend of the year both for art andfor business.

This year the festival overlaps with a University of Alabama football home game, another event that floods the town with traffic. Leigh said sharing the weekend with the football game is one of their biggest challenges.

“That’s just a lot of bodies, a lot cars,”

14

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

Leigh said. “We have to account for that, but we certainly can handle it as we have in the past.”

The festival will provide three shuttles that run up and down Main Avenue to pick up patrons as an alternative to parking.

Leigh said this will not only be convenient for festival-goers, but it will reduce the number of cars trying to get around downtown Northport.

One of the shuttle’s stops is on the same block as Adams Antiques and The Potager, two businesses co-owned by Carl and Harriet Adams, two original Kentuck board members. The two storefronts sell antiques, art and home accessories, which Carl said are a huge draw for the type of customer

who makes the trip to Kentuck.

“When Kentuck started, what you see as the downtown wasn’t there,” Adams said.

“There weren’t a lot of businesses that could really take advantage of the people coming in. Things like TV repair, real estate, barbershops, but not cafés like now.”

Adams said the weekend of Kentuck is consistently the best retail week for Northport, and the relationship between Kentuck and local business was there from the very beginning.

“I don’t think people understand, Kentuck put us on the map,” Adams said. “You see now the downtown is probably as stable as it’s ever been in economic vitality. And even in these years after the tornado, Kentuck is a good solid weekend for us.”

Both Carl and Harriet were active in founding Kentuck in 1971. It has since been recognized as one of the biggest celebrations of folk art and outsider art in the world.

Adams’ stepson, Brandon Cooper, who does a lot of the work managing the businesses, said their shops owe a lot of sales to Kentuck visitors, even getting repeat customers who stop in from year to year.

“It seems like most of the out-of-town people aren’t just coming to Kentuck,” Cooper said, “A lot of times they’re stopping in Tuscaloosa and going all through the Southeast. And they’re planning on spending money, too.”

Cooper, who is also president of the Downtown Northport Merchants Association, said businesses like his do all they can to support Kentuck in hopes of festival-

goers visiting their stores. Cooper said he even commissions pieces from Kentuck artists like Kerry Kennedy for his own store.

Kennedy, one of Kentuck’s resident potters and ceramics designers, said the environment that Kentuck has created is not only beneficial for business, it has made Northport into a nucleus of creativity and ideas.

“The mission of Kentuck was to provide affordable studios and work in a community together,” Kennedy said. “Being among other artists is just priceless. We can go into our own studio and shut the door, but we can come out and talk about ideas and engage with other artists around us.”

Kennedy and her husband, Joe Rossomanno, make functional pottery yearround, but Kennedy said the Kentuck weekend is when they get the most new customers.

“With thousands of people coming in, we hope they stop and sit down to eat, look into some of the stores,” Kennedy said. “It’s absolutely huge for us, to see these people coming in.”

Leigh said she sees this festival bringing in even more new patrons to join the veteran festival-goers and enjoy the music, storytelling and food that Kentuck offers.

“That’s something we’re really proud of, those who have been with us for so long and the newcomers who are seeing it for the first time,” Leigh said. “I think this year is going to carry on that tradition.”

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

>>> L OC A L B U S I N E S S | CA R A B R A K E

STEAMERS OPENS ON THE STRIP// NO OTHER MENU LIKE IT

Not everyone has had a chance to go to the beach, especially living so far north in Alabama. The Jimmy Buffet music, fresh seafood, island drinks, and relaxing atmosphere make these trips a good part of any vacation.

For those of us here in the city, a new branch of an old favorite will bring the taste of the Gulf to our streets.

Steamers just opened their new location across from Eagan’s, named Steamers on the Strip. This restaurant, a hit at it’s first location on Hargrove road, aims to bring the beach scene to the residents of the strip. The restaurant features shrimp, gumbo, hushpuppies and more.

The manager of the store, Blaine Price, said that moving here was an easy choice. “It was a great opportunity,” he said. “Over there [at the Hargove location], we have a great local demographic, and here we have the

college students, especially on game days. You can’t beat it.”

For those that were a fan of the Tavern, ties aren’t completely cut. “The same owners that were involved with the Crimson Tavern are still involved, it’s just a new partnership with the owners of Steamers.” Though this store is doing quite well, the original location will always be the first Steamers, according to Price.

One thing not brought into question is how well the restaurant will fare compared to others. “That was something I was more excited about than worried,” said Price. “Everyone has burgers, wings, and fries, but the gulf atmosphere, things like playing Jimmy Buffett all day, that’s something that no one else has. The menu is different from what you can get around here. No one else has popcorn shrimp, po boys, things like that.”

Not only do they have a distinctive menu, but they also have weekday specials, such as Service Industry night on monday nights, where discounts are given to employees of restaurants around Steamers if you come in with your uniform on, tuesdays will be live trivia, and wednesdays will be frozen drink specials, with a Margaritaville theme.

Steamers has kept a little of the decor of the Tavern, with most of the changes being with the music, menu, and drinks.

The outdoor seating has stayed, along with the stage and upper level seating inside.

Steamers on the Strip is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Monday through Thursday, will be open late night Friday and Saturday, and is open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The restaurant is located next to Egan’s bar on Red Drew Avenue.

>>> VISIT US ON THE WEB @ THEPLANETWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

15

>>> EVENTS CALENDAR |

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17

William Willis // "A Span of Painting" // Artist Lecture WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: 203 Garland Hall, University Campus COST: Free PHONE: 205.348.5967 LINK: art.ua.edu DESCRIPTION: Mid-career modernist artist William Willis is widely exhibited throughout the United States. The exhibit will be preceded by an opening reception from 6 – 8 p.m.

Basic Microsoft Word/Excel 2010 WHEN: 10:30 - noon WHERE: Tuscaloosa Public Library Weaver Bolton Branch COST: Free CONTACT: 205.345.5820, ext. 1264 to register.

DESCRIPTION: Become familiar with tools to make document creation faster/ easier: inserting headers and footers, page numbers, using borders, creating labels and envelopes and learn how to create graphs and charts, along with inserting formulas into spreadsheets.

Acoustic Night Featuring the Debbie Bond Trio WHEN: 7:30 – 9:30 pm WHERE: Bama Theatre COST: $5 LINK: tuscarts.org/calendar of events/php DESCRIPTION: CD release party for "That Thing Called Love: Doors open at 7 p.m. Full bar available Darkness into Life Exhibit WHEN: During Library hours COST: Free WHERE: Tuscaloosa Public Library PHONE: 205.345.5820 LINK: tuscaloosa-library.org/calendar-ofevents DESCRIPTION: Runs through Oct. 27. Offers glimpses into the private memories of Alabama men and women who were children and teenagers during the Holocaust.

Their stories are a complicated patchwork of suffering, loss, cruelty, despair, bravery and hope.

Toddler Time WHEN: 10 – 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Tuscaloosa Public Library Story Castle COST: Free DESCRIPTION: Toddler Time consists of stories, songs, activities and crafts. Ages 24 months to 36 months

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18

Crimson Classic Cross Country UA Track & Field Event WHEN: All day LINK: Rolltide.com/sports

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

events.php

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 KENTUCK FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS WHEN: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

WHERE: Kentuck Park, Northport COST: $10/day LINK: kentuck.org DESCRIPTION: One of America's top 10 arts gatherings. More than 270 folk, visionary and contemporary artists and artisans will be present. Live music, storytelling and free hands-on art-making for children.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20

Men's Volleyball // Alabama vs. LSU WHEN: 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: University of Alabama LINK: rolltide.com/tickets

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21

Homework Help WHEN: 3 - 5 p.m.

WHERE: Tuscaloosa Public Library, Weaver Bolton Branch COST: Free CONTACT: 205.345.5820 DESCRIPTION: Provides one-on-one homework assistance to students K-8th grade. It is a drop-in service; students may come and go at any time during session and must have homework with them in order to attend. This is a Monday through Thursday activity.

Intermediate Microsoft Excel 2010 WHEN: 7 - 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Tuscaloosa Public Library, main library, computer lab.

COST: Free CONTACT: 205.345.5820, ext. 1264 DESCRIPTION: This is a continuation from Basic Microsoft Excel and it provides a wealth of hands-on learning about effectively using this application for document creation.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22

Bama Art House // "Prince Avalanche" WHEN: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. (doors and bar open at 6:45) WHERE: Bama Theatre COST: Varies PHONE: 205.758.5195 LINK: tuscarts.org/calendar of events.php Pre-School Story Time WHEN: 10 – 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Tuscaloosa Public Library, Story Castle COST: Free (age 3 - 5) CONTACT: 205.391.9989 EMAIL: childrens@tuscaloosa-library.org DESCRIPTION: Simple stories, songs, activities and crafts.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23

Janis Edwards "Ephemeral and Enduring" art exhibit WHEN: During gallery hours WHERE: Arts Council Gallery at the CACCOST: Free.

PHONE: 205.758.5195 CONTACT: tuscarts.org/calendar of

16

T H E SOUT H E AST ' S LA R G E ST

Homework Help WHEN: 3 - 5 p.m.

WHERE: Tuscaloosa Public Library, Weaver Branch COST: Free CONTACT: 205.345.5820 DESCRIPTION: Provides one-on-one homework assistance to students K-8th grade. It is a drop-in service; students

>>> PET PLANET | T H IS MONT H ' S P E TS

MEET ROCKER AND SASHA // SEEKING A FOREVER FAMILY Rocker is a two year old Australian Shepherd mix with a beautiful thick black coat with brown markings. He is medium to large in size, weighing 37 pounds.

Rocker is a very friendly, social dog who loves to play and be with other dogs.

He is easy going with a moderate energy level. He would make a great family dog and be good with children of most any age. He will require a fenced in yard to support healthy activity.

Rocker has started his crate training. He is up to date on vet care, neutered, heartworm negative, and is microchipped. He is on heartworm and flea/tick prevention. If you are interested in giving Rocker the forever home he wants and deserves, visit the West Alabama Humane Society at humanesocietyofwa.org or call us at 205.554.0011.

Sasha is a beautiful two to five-yearold adult Tabby cat with a unique mix of rust, gray and white highlights. Sasha is a calm, quiet and affectionate cat who would make a wonderful companion animal in a quiet home. She chirps and runs to greet people when they walk in the room and would likely bond particularly if given the chance to consistently socialize with only one or two human companions.

Sasha gets along well with other gentle cats, though she would be just fine with not having to share the attention with anyone else! She probably wouldn’t do well around dogs. Sasha is negative for FIV and FeLK, spayed and up-to-date on her vaccinations. If you are interested in giving Sasha the forever home she wants and deserves, visit the West Alabama Humane Society at humanesocietyofwa.org or call us at 205.554.0011.

Since October is National Adoption Month, Pet Supplies Plus is helping the Humane Society of West Alabama celebrate all month long! Customers can make cash or supply donations at the Tuscaloosa Pet Supplies Plus location. Adoption drives are also scheduled for Saturday October 19th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and Sunday October 20th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. We’re hoping for a big turn-out with the goal of placing deserving animals in forever homes, so come out to support these events! To learn more about this and other ways to support the Humane Society of West Alabama, call us at 205.554.0011.

>>> VISIT US ON THE WEB @ THEPLANETWEEKLY.COM

>>> THE STAGE | AM E LIA W E B B E R

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS // KICKOFF TO CHEERS FOR 15 YEARS

>>> EVENTS CALENDAR | (cont'd)

may come and go at any time during session and must have homework with them in order to attend. This is a Monday through Thursday activity.

Acoustic Night Featuring The John Whelan Trio WHEN: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.

WHERE: Bama Theatre COST: $10 LINK: tuscarts.org/calendar of events/php DESCRIPTION: Traditional Irish Music Doors open at 7 p.m. Full bar available.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24

Basic Microsoft Word/Excel 2010 WHEN: 10:30 a.m – noon WHERE: Tuscaloosa Public Library: Weaver Bolden Branch COST: Free CONTACT: 205.758.8291 to register DESCRIPTION: Learn the basics about word processing. And Learn about basic spreadsheets and using them to compute financial data with a simple formula. Users should have a basic understanding of how to use a computer, with the keyboard and mouse.

Toddler Time WHEN: 10 – 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Tuscaloosa Public Library Story Castle COST: Free - ages 2 - 3 year-olds EMAIL: seymour.emily@gmail.com LINK: tuscaloosa-library.org/calendar-ofevents DESCRIPTION: Stories, songs, activities and crafts.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25 Theatre Tuscaloosa will present Little Shop of Horrors Oct. 25 – Nov. 3 in the Bean-Brown Theatre on Shelton State’s Martin Campus.

From the award-winning songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, Little Shop of Horrors tells the story of a down-and-out skid row floral assistant named Seymour who becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant from outer space with a mysterious craving for fresh blood.

Soon the plant, Audrey II, grows into an ill-tempered, tough-talking, R&B singing carnivore who offers Seymour fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite. This musical comedy is an affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies and is based on the 1986 film by Roger Corman, which starred Steve Martin and Rick Moranis, and the 1960 screenplay by Charles Griffith.

“Little Shop of Horrors has a huge following and we are thrilled to be putting together a show that is surely to be a hit with our audiences,” said Tina Turley, director and executive producer. “The cast is immensely talented, the production team is hard-working and creative, the script is well-written and the musical numbers are the kind you can listen to over and over again.”

Working alongside Turley is an experienced and talented production team

including Music Director Terry Moore, Choreographer Beth Key Patrick, Resident Costumer Jeanette Waterman, Set Designer Andy Fitch, Lighting Designer John Hisey and Sound Designer Frank Duren.

The cast for this production includes Wesley Rorex as Seymour, Scarlett Walker as Audrey, Charles Prosser as Mushnik, Danny Salter as the Dentist and Bucky Clements and Clemmie LaShaun Hilton as the puppeteer and voice of Audrey II, respectively. Other cast members include: Sara Kathryn Bonds, Myiesha J. Duff, Diva Hall, Brandon Kalusa, Kaylee Macknight, NorQuina “Q” Rieves and Logan Spradley.

Little Shop of Horrors kicks off Theatre Tuscaloosa’s 2013-14 Season: Cheers to 15 Years! Performances will take place Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays and Wednesday at 2 p.m. All proceeds of a pay-what-you-can final dress rehearsal on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m., will benefit the Charlie Dennis Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Tickets are $22 for adults, $18 for seniors (60+) and $14 for students and children. Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more. Season subscriptions, which can save patrons 15 percent on single ticket purchases, are still available for a limited time.

For more information about the 2013-14 season or to purchase tickets visit theatretusc.com or call 205. 391.2277.

T H E SOUT H E AST ' S LA R G E ST

Improbable Fictions presents Terry Pratchett's "Guards! Guards!" (film) WHEN: 7:30 – 9 p.m. (pre-show music at 7 p.m.)

COST: Free (limited seating) WHERE:Rotary Club of Tuscaloosa's Black Box Theater at the Cultural Arts Center, 600 Greensboro Ave. DESCRIPTION: Sponsored by the Hudson Strode Program in Renaissance Studies.

Readers' Theater for Children WHEN: 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Tuscaloosa Public Library main branch Story Castle COST: Free CONTACT: 205.345.5820, ext. 1134 EMAIL: childrens@tuscaloosa-library.org DESCRIPTION: Fun, interactive story time where children listen to a story, think and ask questions about the story, and then become a part of the story by acting it out with their friends. This activity is also held the first Saturday of each month in the Story Castle at 10:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26 Boo Breakfast & Ghost Stories with Riverboat John WHEN: 10 – 11:30 a.m..

WHERE: Childrens Hands-On Museum COST: Prepaid reservations required CONTACT: 205.349.4235, ext. 24 EMAIL: carla@chomonline.org to reserve your spot.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27

Cavell Trio WHEN: 4 – 6 p.m.

WHERE: Cultural Arts Center, Black Box Theatre COST: Free LINK: tuscarts.org

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 Honor Choir Concert WHEN: 7:30 – 9 p.m.

WHERE: Concert Hall, Moody Music Building COST: Free LINK: tuscarts.org

Introduction to PC / Internet WHEN: 9 - 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Tuscaloosa Public Library Main Branch, Computer Lab COST: Free CONTACT: 205.345.5820, ext. 1264 to register.

DESCRIPTION: Learn terminology, the different components of the computer, and how to begin using Internet Explorer to browse websites and to perform basic search functions. Also covers basics of email.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29

Teen Movie // "Beetlejuice" WHEN: 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

COST: Free WHERE: Tuscaloosa Public Library Weaver Bolden Branch PHONE: 205.758.8290 LINK: tuscaloosa-library.org/calendar-ofevents Prentice Chorale and The Rude Mechanicals Present "Shakespeare Spoken and Sung" WHEN: 7 – 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Cultural Arts Center Black Box Theatre COST: Free LINK: tuscarts.org/calendar of events.php DESCRIPTION: An evening of scenes, monologues and songs taken from a variety of Shakespeare's plays.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30 Sonic Frontiers // "Uncanny Valley" Concert WHEN: 7:30 – 9 p.m.

WHERE: UA School of Music Moody Recital Hall COST: Free LINK: tuscarts.org DESCRIPTION: A performance of poet John Woodward's serial poem with music by composer John Gibson.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31 Main Avenue Mortuary WHEN: 7 – 10 p.m.

WHERE: 315 Main Avenue, Northport COST: $15 DESCRIPTION: Haunted house event.

PUBLICIZE YOUR NONPROFIT EVENT. CONTACT

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

planeteditor@yahoo.com OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

17

>>> ROAD TRIP | SOUT H E AST E R N CONC E R TS AN D E V E NTS BLACK JACKET SYMPHONY // BIRMINGHAM // OCTOBER 25

SHUGGIE OTIS // NASHVILLE // OCTOBER 24

fun. // OCTOBER 22 // ATLANTA

THURSday, OCTOBER 17

ATLANTA

Atlas Genius, Vinyl Hunter Hayes, Fabulous Fox Theater

ATLANTA

Kris Kristofferson, Symphony Hall Atlanta Switchfoot, Vinyl

NASHVILLE

NEW ORLEANS

We Came as Romans, House of Blues

Birmingham

CBDB, Zydeco

Montgomery

NASHVILLE

Patty Griffin, Ryman Auditorium The Neighbourhood, Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom

ATLANTA

Lynyrd Skynyrd, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park Unknown Hinson, Masquerade

NASHVILLE

fun. , Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park

Marc Broussard, Harrahs New Orleans

saturday, OCTOBER 19

BIRMINGHAM Vegabonds, Zydeco Spunk Monkees, Iron Horse Cafe

MONTGOMERY

Suave, Blue Iguana Third Street Band, Kangaroo Jacks Bradley Roberson, Aw Shucks

NASHVILLE Charlie Wilson, Nashville Municipal Auditorium

Tedeschi Trucks Band, The Joy Theater

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20

BIRMINGHAM

Dawes, WorkPlay Theater Flux Pavilion and Skism, Zydeco

Selena Gomez, Bridgestone Arena Between the Buried and Me, Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26

Birmingham

NASHVILLE

Bassnectar, Boutwell Auditorium

NEW ORLEANS

Rollin in the Hay, War Eagle Supper Club

Nine Inch Nails, Bridgestone Arena

Datsik, House of Blues

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23

New orleans

Steve Earle, The Civic Center

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28

NEW ORLEANS ATLANTA

Bullet for my Valentine, Tabernacle

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29

NASHVILLE

Asking Alexandria, Nashville War Memorial Auditorium

ATLANTA

Sleigh Bells, Vinyl

nashville

Fossil Collective w/ Paper Lions, WorkPlay Theater

John Prine and Steve Earle, Ryman Auditorium Taking Back Sunday, Marathon Music Works Steve Aoki, Anthem

NASHVILLE

Birmingham

WEDNESday, OCTOBER 30

GWAR and Whitechapel, Masquerade

ATLANTA

Michael Buble, Bridgestone Arena

THURSday, OCTOBER 24

BIRMINGHAM

The Lone Below, WorkPlay Theater Tim Reynolds, Zydeco

Tech N9ne, Masquerade Sister Hazel, Vinyl

sunday, OCTOBER 27

birmingham

Montgomery

Carbon Leaf, WorkPlay Theater Crystal Stilts, Bottletree Café

NEW ORLEANS

Willie Nelson, Montgomery Performing Arts Center

montgomery

fun., Champions Square

ATLANTA

ATLANTA

Michael Buble, The Arena at Gwinnett Center The Waterboys, Variety Playhouse

Neko Case, Buckhead Theater Pretty Lights, Tabernacle Built to Spill, Variety Playhouse The Dirty Heads, Masquerade

NASHVILLE

Leftover Salmon, Loveless Café Clay Walker, Wildhorse Saloon

NEW ORLEANS

James Blake, Republic of New Orleans Diana Ross, Saenger Theater

THURSday, OCTOBER 31

ATLANTA

Big Gigantic, Masquerade Sevendust w/ Asking Alexandria, Tabernacle The Orb, Vinyl Leftover Salmon, Variety Playhouse

Birmingham

Acoustic Café 2758 County Hwy 9 205.647.3237

Fox Theatre 660 Peachtree St NE 404.881.2100

Moe’s Original BBQ 6423 Park Dr 251.625.7427

Amphitheater at the Wharf 23101 Canal Rd 251.224.1020

The Hangout 251.948.3030 thehangout1.com

Bridgestone Arena 501 Broadway 615.770.2000

Marathon Music Works 1402 Clinton St 615.891.1781

Montgomery Performing Arts Center 201 Tallapoosa St 334.481.5100

Centennial Olympic Park 265 Park Ave W NW 404.223.4412

Minglewood Hall 1555 Madison Ave 901.312.6058

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

NASHVILLE

Sleeping with Sirens, Rocketown

Montgomery

>>> ROA D T RI P D IR E C T ORY Travel the South's best venues. Visit their website for ticket info and more.

18

URI// BIRMINGHAM // OCTOBER 31

atlanta

Reverend Raven, Capitol Oyster Bar

NEW ORLEANS

New orleans

Jason Aldean, New Orleans Arena Wolfgang Gartner, The Joy Theater

NASHVILLE

Jessie Ware, House of Blues

ATLANTA

NEW ORLEANS

ATLANTA

Michael Franti and Spearhead, House of Blues

NEW ORLEANS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22

Luke Bryan, Bridgestone Arena Reckless Kelly, 3rd and Lindsley Bar and Grill

Another Hero, Blue Iguana

John Fogerty, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park

Sevendust, Zydeco

Eat a Peach, War Eagle Supper CluB

ATLANTA Flux Pavilion, Tabernacle Stephen Marley, Vinyl Geto Boys, Vinyl

Montgomery

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21

Birmingham

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25

Robert Randolph and the Family Band, WorkPlay Black Jacket Symphony, Birmingham Museum of Art

NEW ORLEANS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18

NASHVILLE

Shuggie Otis, Exit In

Birmingham

Air Supply, Wildhorse Saloon Cole w/ Wale, UNO Lakefront Arena

ALICE COOPER // MONTGOMERY // OCTOBER 31

205.324.1911 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre 2200 Encore Pkwy 404.733.5010 Von Braun Center 700 Monroe St SW 256.551.2345

The Nick 2514 10th Ave S 205.252.3831

WorkPlay 500 23rd St S 205.380.4082

Sloss Furnaces 20 32nd St N

Zydeco 2001 15th Ave S 205.933.1032

Todd Snider’s “What the Folk”, WorkPlay Theater Blair Crimmins and the Hookers, Bottletree Café Emerge, Iron Horse Café Uri, Stillwater Pub

Montgomery

Alice Cooper, Montgomery Performing Arts Center Super Bob, Café Firenze II These Hearts, The Mill

NASHVILLE

Band of Heathens, High Watt

TO HAVE YOUR VENUE AND EVENTS LISTED HERE PLEASE EMAIL PLANETEDITOR@YAHOO.COM TO BE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT ISSUE.

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

>>> TUSCALOOSA MUSIC | WHO'S PLAYING AROUND TOWN JAKE LEG STOMPERS // GREEN BAR // OCTOBER 19

WICK IT vs. WHITE NOISE JUPITER BAR // OCTOBER 24

JESSTA JAMES // OCTOBER 25 // RHYTHM & BREWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17

Jupiter Bar: 90.7 Benefit featuring Doctors & Lawyers & Mother Funk Green Bar: Junkyard Kings, Admiral Snackbar Rounders: Bond Band, DJ Spinnzz Rhythm & Brews: Druid City Slick

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18

Rounders: Sean Rivers, DJ Spinnzz Green Bar: Gravy Jupiter Bar: Bama Gamblers & laGoons Rhythm & Brews: Jason Miller

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19

Rounders: Steven Padilla, Sean Rivers Trio, DJ Spinnzz Green Bar: Jake Leg Stompers Rhythm & Brews: Desperate Measures Jupiter Bar: DJ Silence

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23

Rhythm & Brews: Karaoke Rounders: Borland Green Bar: Open Mic with Ham Bagby Jupiter Bar: Trivia Night with Andrew Bone of Rivals.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24

Jupiter Bar: Wick It vs White Noise Green Bar: Young International / Cold Cold Seats Rounders: DJ Spinnzz, Good Love

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25

Green Bar: Machines are People too / Blackwater Thieves Rounders: Sean Rivers, DJ Spinnzz Jupiter Bar: The Vegabonds Rhythm & Brews: Farmers Daughter & Jessta James

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26

Rounders: The Devines, Sean Rivers Trio, DJ Spinnzz Jupiter Bar: DJ Silence Rhythm & Brews: Skyler Foster

THE YOUNG INTERNATIONAL OCTOBER 24 // GREEN BAR

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29

Jupiter Bar: Savoy

wednesday, OCTOBER 30

Rhythm & Brews: Karaoke Green Bar: Open Mic with Ham Bagby

thursday, OCTOBER 31

Rounders: Bond Band, DJ Spinnzz Green Bar: Economy Cartel Jupiter Bar: CBDB Rhythm & Brews: Halloween Party w/ Mojo Trio

SEAN RIVERS TRIO

TO HAVE YOUR BAR AND MUSIC EVENT

OCTOBER 25 & 26 // ROUNDERS

LISTED HERE PLEASE EMAIL PLANETEDITOR@YAHOO.COM

>>> L OC A L B A R S 4th & 23rd

Bo's // 759-1331

Downtown Pub // 750-0008

Innisfree // 345-1199

Mugshots // 391-0572

1831 // 331-4632

Buffalo Wild Wings // 523-0273

Gallettes // 758-2010

Jackie's Lounge // 758-9179

The Red Shed // 344-4372

Alcove // 469-9110

Capones // 248-0255

Gnemis Top Shelf Tavern // 343-0020

The Jupiter // 248-6611

Rhythm & Brews // 750-2992

Bear Trap // 345-2766

Carpe Vino // 366-8444

Grey Lady // 469-9521

The Legacy // 345-4848

Rooster's Blues House // 334-4507 Rounders // 345-4848

Big Al's // 759-9180

Catch 22 // 344-9347

Harry's Bar // 331-4151

Mellow Mushroom // 758-0112

The Booth // 764-0557

Copper Top // 343-6867

Houndstooth // 752-8444

Mikes Place // 764-0185

>>> VISIT US ON THE WEB @ THEPLANETWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

19

>>> HAVING FUN | ry a n p h i l l i p s

INAUGURAL ALABAMA BREWFEST SEES LARGE TURNOUT // CROWD SAYS LET'S DO IT AGAIN

The simple parking lot at the L&N Station in downtown Tuscaloosa was transformed Friday, October 11 for the inaugural Alabama Brewfest. All in support of Arts N Autism and the Alabama Brewers Guild, this event set up shop and provided patrons with flavors of over 50 different breweries from around the state and region.

Over the course of two fun-filled days, beer lovers were treated to a wide range of tasty drinkables, along with food, entertainment and a fun atmosphere made possible by the tireless efforts of those who want to continue forward with the recent Alabama beer renaissance.

Colorful Vendors and participants alike were met with pristine weather, a welcoming atmosphere and, not to mention, a

plethora of beer.

Jamie Cicatiello, owner of Grace Aberdeen Habitat Academy in Tuscaloosa, was a vendor at Brewfest and praised the crowd that made the event possible. Sporting a glow-stick frame that resembled a neon green snap-back hat, Cicatiello also mentioned that the variety of vendors appealed to the broad spectrum of tastes that were present.

“It has been fun and interesting because we vend all the time but this is the first Brewfest that we have vended at and we just love it”, she said. “We are excited because it was so many people who were suppose to be here and you can really support something like this. I would say that it is a great atmosphere, the weather has been great and for $30 dollars you

get to sample so many great things. The space is nice and open, plus there is a band. You get to try all these different beers and learn so much about local beer making, you hear things like ‘This tastes like skittles’, know things like that.”

Cicatiello also said that the Brewfest is beneficial for more than just the local beer community. According to Cicatiello, the economic boons are plain to see and not restricted to the craft beer industry.

“Us as small business owners can come down and partake and join the atmosphere while making some money while everyone else can do”, she said. “I am glad to do it and people should really get behind something like this”.

Local favorites Druid City Brewing Company were in attendance, bringing their personalities along with flavorful brews that have captivated a city. Bo Hicks, co-owner of Druid City Brewing Company, raved about the benefits to be had for brewers in and outside of Tuscaloosa with events like the Alabama Brewfest.

“We have been really excited to see this thing in action”, he said “It has been great to see the turnout and enthusiasm not only at our booth but at others who are getting good feedback. Like Cahaba Brewing, we are stoked to see them do

good because they are about the size of Druid City, which makes it as hard for them to get their beer to Tuscaloosa as it is for us to get our beer to Birmingham so it is a great way to spread the word.”

According to Hicks, the beer community around Alabama is taking off at break neck speed, with places like Tuscaloosa serving as a proving ground for breweries that want to appeal to big market drinkers.

To Hick, the more local, the better.

“The beer community in Tuscaloosa has been growing by leaps and bound and it is crazy with just the amount of appreciation that I have seen”, he said. “Tuscaloosa is the place to try craft beer. I think something like the Brewfest will get the ball rolling. I have been wildly happy just talking to be, they seemed really stoked about it.

One of our biggest things starting this was that we wanted to be Tuscaloosa based, even our pest control is local.”

20

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

>>> VISIT US ON THE WEB @ THEPLANETWEEKLY.COM

Cahaba Brewing Company, as mentioned by Hicks, was also in attendance and drew throngs of thirsty patrons who celebrated the young breweries treats. Eric Meyer, head brewer at Cahaba Brewing Company and a full-time firefighter at Mountain Brook Fire Department, was pleased with the turnout and more than happy to talk about their experience at the inaugural brewfest.

“This brewfest in Tuscaloosa is awesome and for a lot of people who don’t travel to Birmingham and see the breweries there, they have been really receptive to the beers here and are getting behind the local brewers here, which is good for everybody”, he said. “The new thing tonight is our Oktoberfest, which is our fall seasonal and goes quick. It is a very hot item on the market, so get it while you can because people love it. Our American Blonde is also a very good transition beer for those coming out of the Bud Light, Coors Light arena.”

As plainly stated from the other vendors, the turnout and support seemed to be the highlight of the night for many breweries, including Eric Meyer and Cahaba Brewing Company.

“This is an awesome turnout and we just couldn’t ask for more”, he said.

“There are a ton of people with 20 local craft brewers from Alabama.

Things like brewfest and local breweries being supported are great for trying to gain traction for the craft beer movement here.”

Both days of the event featured entertainment along with the beer, such as corn hole and live music. Michael Battieo, singer and guitarist for Black Warrior Blues who performed for the crowd on Friday night, was optimistic about the effects of the event and its turnout. After performing covers of Stevie Wonder and Bob Dylan, Battieo was pleased with the attitude of the event “This has been great and knowing the guys who put this on were good people, we knew it would be great”, she said.

“We like beer and we like music so this has been such a great event. The vibe is cool but the Free the Hops movement has done so much for the nightlife here. We need stuff like this.”

>>> HIGH TIDE | G A R Y H A R R IS

BAMA RECRUITING UPDATE // BAMA IMPRESSES MATT ELAM // LESTER COTTON WILL WAIT TILL SEASON'S END

Matt Elam, one Alabama's top targets in the 2014 class, was in Lexington, KY on Saturday night to get a firsthand look at Alabama and Kentucky, two of the favorites to land the mammoth defensive lineman from Elizabethtown-John Hardin, KY. "It was a great atmosphere," Elam says. "There were a lot of fans from Kentucky and Alabama that were yelling my name. It was exciting. I was very impressed with Alabama. The defense was pretty dominant. They played a great game. What else can you say about them? They were very impressive."

The 6-5, 365 pound Elam is also impressed with the Tide coaching staff, including assistant Lance Thompson, who is in charge of recruiting Elam. Thompson was in Elizabethtown on Friday night watching Elam play.

"I really, really like the Alabama coaching staff," Elam says. "The first coach who called me after my visit to Kentucky was Coach Thompson. I have a great relationship with him. My mom likes talking with him, too. He's a down-to-earth guy. I think he's the kind of guy that he'd always be there to talk to if I needed someone to go to.

He just seems be the kind of guy that you can talk to about anything."

Elam also speaks regularly with Coach Saban.

"Something Coach Saban told me really sticks out to me," Elam says. "He said that every player who he's recruited to Alabama has won a national championship. Who else can

say that?"

Elam says his top three schools are C.J. Hampton Alabama, Kentucky and Notre Dame.

He'll be in South Bend this Saturday for the ND-USC game. He hopes to make it to Tuscaloosa on October 26 for the Alabama-Tennessee game. He definitely plans to be in Tuscaloosa for the LSU game on November 9.

Most expect that Elam will ultimately choose between Alabama and Kentucky. There's hometown pressure to pick the Wildcats, but Elam insists that that won't influence his decision when he announces at the Army AllAmerican Game on January 4.

"I appreciate all the love and attention that I'm getting from the Kentucky fans," Elam says. "But I've got to make a decision that's best for me. I'll pick the school where I feel the most comfortable and where I think I have the best chance to be successful. I want to play in the NFL, and someday I want to be a football TV analyst. I want to be in football for a long time."

THE LATEST ON LESTER COTTON One of Alabama's top OL prospects for the 2015 class, Lester Cotton, a 6-3, 310-pounder at TuscaloosaCentral, is barely a mile from the UA campus. Speculation is that Cotton's college decision might also not be too far away.

In fact, there have been reports that Cotton has already committed to Alabama. That is not the case though.

"He's not going to make any kind of a decision until after the season is over," says Central head coach Dennis

Conner. "We're focusing on our season. We've still got a chance to finish with a good season. He's not going to do anything before the season is over."

Cotton, perhaps the most talented prospect to come out of Central in over a decade, has already racked up offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Louisville, LSU, Mississippi State, USC and Vanderbilt, among others.

Conner says the attention that Cotton is garnering from around the country is growing daily.

"I was out of school yesterday and come back today and my mailbox is full of letters from everybody," Conner says. "There's one from the Miami Hurricanes and every SEC school on my desk, and that's just few of them from one day."

It's no secret that Cotton has long favored the hometown Crimson Tide.

"They have a great program. They have a great tradition," Conner says of the reasons Cotton likes UA. "He's from here. He was born in Alabama.

He's always followed Alabama."

Cotton has missed a couple of games with a nagging knee injury. He's expected to get an MRI soon. Conner says that prior to the injury, Cotton was dominating at left tackle and guard.

"He was blowing people up like the guy in that movie, The Blindside," Conner says. "He was having a great year."

Cotton was so dominant that opposing defensive coordinators began to scheme around him.

"They started taking their best defensive end and moving him inside so he wouldn't have to go against Lester,"

Conner says. "So we moved Lester inside to guard. He's very advanced for his age as a pass blocker. That's what he does really well. But we moved him inside and started pulling him and he really liked that. He was doing a very good job for us run blocking. He had some crushing blocks."

Cotton projects as a guard in college.

"That's what they're saying right now," Conner says. "But you never know. He's got the talent to play anywhere."

"I don't know, we haven't played Alabama yet." ~ Vince Lombardi after being asked what it felt like to be the greatest football team in the world just after winning the '66 Super Bowl. ~

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

21

>>>

CO N C E R T R E V I E W | M E E G A N GI L D E H A U S

TOMORROW WORLD // A WEEKEND FOR THE RECORD BOOKS // IMMERSION INTO MADNESS

When European based production company ID&T decided to bring their hugely successful weekend-long music festival, TomorrowLand, from it’s home in Boom, Belgium all the way to Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia, the stakes were high. A solely Electronic Dance Music (EDM) Festival, TomorrowWorld’s (name altered for the international edition) 21 and over, 3 days of musical madness, from Sept. 26- 29, was not only a success, but a truly historic weekend that exceeded extraordinarily high expectations.

My group and I (a group of acquaintances that would never have believed the closeness we feel now) all purchased the ‘Full Madness 5 Day Pass’ months ago,

22

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

allowing us entry into the pre-party, ‘The Gathering’, Thursday night and full entry into the festival, beginning Friday at noon until the closing, Sunday night at 12 a.m..

We chose to camp in Dreamville, a fantasy town consisting of tents, complete with showers and bathrooms, a marketplace to purchase food, booze, rave gear, phone chargers and more, information booths, a central boardwalk throughout, and music playing 24 hours a day. To enter Dreamville, which we quickly began referring to as ‘home’, one would pass under a giant rainbow at least four stories tall. Dreamville was quickly transformed from a huge grassy field bordering a lake to a community of thousands of tents, with flags from

all over the globe flying high above each temporary home. Each tent was packed in tight, our neighbors all around us having traveled near and far. United as one, we were anxiously anticipating the weekend of performances from the top DJs in the world.

Upon entering the festival grounds Thursday night for "The Gathering", we crossed the dark lake through a bridge lined with fire breathing fish. Overhead, massive constant streaming green laserbeams created a roof-like awning above us. We quickly began viewing reality as a distant, if not unpleasant, memory.

The most remarkable success of TomorrowWorld, in my opinion, was the complete immersion into "the Madness".

TomorrowWorld and Dreamville were these incredible creations of a fantastic dream land full of happy people (no fights and only 4 drug related arrests made), mystical scenery (think fields of 20-foot tall mushrooms), and 8 differently themed stages, each never stopping the beat for 13 hours a day. These illusions transformed into our new reality, if only for 4 days, and I speak for my group as well as myself when I say we much preferred our new reality to the old.

TomorrowWorld attracted 140,000 ravers over three days, with 75 nations represented, to watch 300 of the world’s best DJs, including: Armin van Buuren, Tiesto, David Guetta, Hardwell, Axwell, Afrojack, Steve Aoki, Calvin Harris, NERVO, Alesso and hundreds more. The massive mainstage (which was longer than a football field) was shipped from Belgium to be

present at TomorrowLand’s second home in Chattahoochee. The stage was an enormous bookshelf, boasting novel titles like “The Book of Love” and “Beauty and the Beat”, and it was complete with fire blasters, water fountains, and seemingly endless firework displays. At the center of the stage was the “Book of Wisdom”: an immense storybook that opened to reveal a giant screen on the two pages inside.

A woman’s face would appear amongst the words on the pages and recite to us the many mantras of TomorrowWorld, for example: This Is Your Life, Make Every Second Legendary.

All day and night at every stage, unimaginable light shows were enhanced with hundreds of pounds of confetti and miles of streamers raining down on the happily dancing mobs. The crowds of people dressed in anything and everything imaginable and unimaginable contributed greatly to the magic. Flag poles waved high above us, topped with hundreds of flags, pictures, posters, blow up animals and just about anything else you can possibly dream of. Glowsticks, body paint, crowd surfers, and shoulder riders felt as common as air, and they were.

The DJ’s beats bumped throughout the Hills, and our love for Dreamville, our many new friends, and TomorrowWorld as a whole echoed along with them. Our elated group was, to put it lightly, heartbroken to leave our ‘home’ but we vowed to meet again, same time, same place next year. Further proving the massive success of this festival, this past week TomorrowWorld organizers signed a 10 year contract reserving Chattahoochee Hills for a decade of Madness to come.

All in all, TomorrowWorld killed it!

The weekend of September 26-29 has changed my life for the better, and I would recommend pre-ordering your ticket for the 2014 Madness.

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

>>> HOROSCOPES |

>>> PUZZLEMAniA |

week l y o verv i ew

Sudoku

A woman, perhaps your mother, could visit you this week. She may not be in a great mood, so perhaps you'd better take her out in public where she'll have to maintain some self-control. If not, you could set yourself up for a scolding over something that seems inconsequential. Defuse the situation by encouraging her to talk about what's really bothering her. It's probably not you.

Traffic in your neighborhood could be congested beyond anything you've seen before. Perhaps an accident or road construction is blocking the street. It may be nearly impossible to get anywhere by car, even the grocery store. If you must go out, either walk or ride a bike or it might take an hour to do what would normally take a few minutes. Better yet - stay home!

You're romantic by nature, but this week you're probably more interested in sensuality than roses and champagne. Even the idea of inviting seduction seems too insipid right now. You're more inclined to action. This is OK your lover is in the same frame of mind. Use your intuition to judge. If not, you might have to go for the champagne and roses after all.

You're apt to feel rather tense this week and blame it on boredom and discontent with your current life. You could spend much of the morning daydreaming, formulating outrageous plans to escape what you see as a rut. While doing this you might discover an idea that's not only appealing but also workable. Consider it carefully over the next few days. You might want to go for it!

Do you feel like you're about to explode? Tension may have built up through the week and now there may be no outlet for it. If you aren't careful, you might take it out on those closest to you. Go for a workout or clean the house. Engage in any kind of physical activity and get the endorphins going so you can feel good again. Life's too short to waste on being stressed and upset.

Was there a task you wanted to have completed by now that was delayed for reasons beyond your control? Don't obsess over it.

It isn't your fault, and there's nothing you can do about it. Find something else to do so that thoughts of this chore don't creep in.

Better yet, go out with a friend. If the Universe had meant for that task to be completed, it would have been!

It's easy to play Sudoku! Simply fill every column, row and 3x3 box so they contain every number between 1 and 9. The game is easy to play but difficult to master! Solution Page 27

Over the past few years you've been aware that both you and your chosen life path are changing. This hasn't always been easy for you, because it sometimes means saying goodbye to parts of yourself that you're rather fond of. Today the tension of the past week may get to you. Defuse the tension. Go for a workout, shop, or clean the house.

Keep the emotions in check.

Are you planning to hear a sermon, lecture, or speech of some kind this week? Don't be surprised if what the speaker says turns out to be more hot air than useful information. He or she is probably more interested in venting feelings than presenting the facts. Opinions can be valuable, too, so listen. Take it all with a grain of salt until you've checked out the facts.

Dark dreams may haunt your sleep and cause you to awaken in the night. The dreams probably represent nothing more than your unconscious mind releasing the darkest of your worries, fears, and frustrations that you've been going through over the past week. A closer study of what the symbols mean to you could be enlightening. Write them down!

Your partner may be worried because a family member is ill. This could cause your friend to be distracted. If this is a love partner, offer sympathy, but don't expect any gratitude now. If this is a business partner, you may have to take on a heavier workload over the next week. The family member will recover, but your partner won't be much good to anyone until then.

Have you resolved to give your house a thorough cleaning? You may have gone to the store and bought every conceivable type of cleaner. You're determined not to quit until the house is spotless.

Use natural cleaners if possible. Chemical substances could seem especially harsh today. Second, don't try to do it all now. Take care of the worst and then leave the rest for tomorrow.

If you're in the mood for love, remember to be sensitive to your partner's needs and give lots of love in return. Don't forget that the old standbys of champagne and chocolate still work! Or a warm bubble bath - that's sure to relieve any tension.

>>> VISIT US ON THE WEB @ THEPLANETWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

23

>>> PUZZLEMANIA | C R OSS W O R D PU Z Z L E

24

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

Across 1. Pacs anagram 5. Compact disk forerunner 10. Stylist's tool 14. ___ Romeo (Italian car) 15. It's human 16. An older brother of Seth 17. Crackpot's output 19. Dark time, in brief 20. From ___ distance 21. Shakes up 23. Kiln for drying hops 26. Tenants' contracts 27. Electrical problem 32. Tic-tac-toe victory 33. More positive 34. Some compounds 38. Italian soup pasta 40. Capers 42. Camay, for one 43. Orlando fivesome (17th) 45. Taboos 47. Title car in a 1964 pop hit 48. Highest-priced boxing ticket 51. "___ Choose": Friedman 54. Hungarian premier 55. Annuls 58. Rumor 62. ___ the task 63. Pebbles, for one 66. Double no-hit pitcher Johnny Vander ___ 67. ESPN anchor Rich 68. Holds close 69. Beseeched 70. Brand of water 71. Petty fuss Down 1. Site of a biblical miracle 2. Addition word 3. Aptly named shaving lotion 4. Took, as an exam

>>> VISIT US ON THE WEB @ THEPLANETWEEKLY.COM

5. Panay native 6. Former Israeli airport 7. Steaks and burgers 8. U.S.S.R.'s ____ Mountains 9. "Star Trek" helmsman 10. Bach choral creations 11. Theater awards 12. Yard in Perth 13. Give a benediction to 18. Irish poet-playwright 22. Spaniard's six 24. Soviet ballistic missile 25. Laborious 27. Promptly 28. ___ d'oeuvere 29. Like molasses 30. Makeovers 31. Scottish novelist-physician 35. High-priced ticket area 36. London goodbye 37. Help in weightlifting 39. Published 41. Ice cream drink 44. ___ Field (Shea's replacement) 46. Western lilies 49. Without charge 50. Moogs et al.

51. Dowdy dresser 52. Spurn 53. Makeup name 56. Half of MCVIII 57. Spanish "ayes" 59. Decorate 60. Swenson of the screen 61. Poor student's bane 64. Org. that funds exhibits 65. Former "Grand Ole Opry Live" network SOLUTION FOR PUZZLEMANIA CROSSWORD ON PAGE 27

>>> ADVICE | J UST AS K Robert Randolph & The Family Band

SIMONE says...

Q: Simone, I’m a twenty-four year-old guy completing my second year in the military.

I’m in aviation training. My girlfriend got transferred to a different base in another state six weeks ago; we’ve been dating for nine months. When we were stationed together, we got along great and made a commitment to stay true to one another, even while apart. But lately, I’ve become suspicious that she has not kept her word, and it’s getting to me.

I tend to stay to myself anyway, but I’ve pulled back even more these days and my sergeant has expressed concern. He sent me to talk with a counselor, which I did, but I don’t think much was accomplished.

My Train issue is that my girlfriend is letting me down, and I don’t know what to do.

I have a lot of trouble trusting people, and I wonder if I’ll ever find a trustworthy woman (I’ve been burned before). My girlfriend says that I put too much pressure on her and that she can’t be the center of my world. But she is the center of my world, and I like it like that. As long as I have her, I don’t really need a bunch of guys, or other people, for that matter. I get really down when I don’t know what she is doing.

When I met with the counselor a couple of weeks ago, she wanted to focus on me. I didn’t have a really great childhood.

I told her my father was overly strict and angry a lot of the time. And the counselor pulled the secret out of me that an associate of my older brother molested me when I was younger. But I’ve dealt with that; crap happens. He was just a stupid pervert. I don’t think about that anymore.

My problem is my girlfriend. I want to know if she is cheating on me. That’s what is making me crazy!

Signed, “Suspicious”

A: Dear “Suspicious...,” I understand that your immediate concern is the loyalty of your now-longdistance girlfriend. I imagine that you are preoccupied with thoughts of what she is doing all the time and obsessed with feelings of despair that you might lose her.

The mental anguish that you suffer is real; the desperation you experience, at times, overwhelming. If only you knew what your girlfriend was doing, you’d be alright, you believe. And maybe you would be — for a while.

But I think the counselor was on to something. The foundation for our now was laid in the before, our past experiences. If some of those were bad, and we became emotionally wounded as a result, forming negative beliefs about ourselves and life, those early experiences can still control our present. The key to changing this often lies in exploring the negative messages we took in and then replacing them with self-supporting positive ones.

But this process takes some willingness, motivation and effort.

You described a pattern of isolating from others, feeling untrusting and suspicious; making your girlfriend “the center” of your world. When we identify with and depend upon another to that degree, smothering them with our insecurities and neediness, unknowingly wanting them to rescue us from our fear and aloneness, we do not bring a healthy wholeness to the relationship.

That healthy wholeness, for you, needs to be goal number one. That is where the counselor was headed in her focus. As much as your thoughts and your emotions are centered on your girlfriend, they need to be first focused back upon yourself. No one outside of yourself can ever make you complete. Emotional healing and positive self-affirmation begin within, deep and personal. It can seem like hard work at first, but the ultimate liberation and lightness it brings is well worth the effort.

I suggest you reconsider continuing with the counselor, at least for a while — see where it takes you. There are some issues in your past that seem to need resolving before you will be successful in a balanced, long-term relationship. This really isn’t about your girlfriend. Be grateful that events in your recent life led you to this opportunity to clear out some of your painful past.

You have been given a gift; may you chose to use it wisely.

Signed, Simone

Flo Rida

©2013 Simone Says-Advice.

Simone, a pseudonym, is a Licensed clinical social worker in Alabama. If you have a question for Simone, email planeteditor@ yahoo.com, subject: Simone. Identies to queries are held in confidence.

We reser ve the right to edit the text.

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

25

>>> RED CLAY DIARY | J IM R E E D

I'LL NEVER FORGET THE DAY I READ A BOOK

TASTY FOOD & BRILLIANT BREWS

So…what is the first book you ever read?

What is the first book I ever read?

Allow me to crank up the Time Machine and get back to those thrilling days of yesteryear in Tuscaloosa, when books slowly insinuated themselves into my life.

First thing I do is SEE a book. It’s over there, just within reach of my chubby little uncoordinated fingers. I can roll just a quarter-roll in my crib—that’s all it takes to see this unfocused blur of colors and shapes on the cover. All I know how to do is experience the book, not knowing that it can be read and manipulated. So, I do what I know how to do: lick the cover and gnaw at the corners. It tastes different than those mashed-up things they are feeding me. It would be even tastier if I could bite off a piece and swallow it, but that comes later.

So, first I SEE a book. Then I TASTE it. Then I chew a bit. Then, I lose concentration and fixate on a wiggly toy that is hanging above me. I’ll get back to the book later.

Next thing I know, I’m snuggled up to my mother’s chest, experiencing the words she is reading to me as they vibrate the side of my face. I can HEAR her voice with one ear. I can FEEL her voice with the other. And then I note that she is gently turning the pages, causing the colorful shapes and strange markings to shift each time. I can hear her inflections of warmth, suspense, happiness, as the pages drift by.

Before I know it, I’m sitting up in my own wobbly fashion and turning the pages—not necessarily one at a time, not necessarily in any order. But I am doing the book the way I know how to do it. And, now and then, I even taste it again. I’ve been known to rub a crayon onto the paper to add color and design.

Time flies and now I’m reciting a book to my mother and sister, pretending that I’m reading it as the pages pass, but actually I still don’t know how to read, I’m just feeding back what I’ve heard them read aloud so many times. They play along with the ruse.

Now, at last, I am picking out a word or two in preparation for enrolling in the first grade at Northington Elementary School. I’m excited about the prospect of actually making my way through the words with some degree of understanding. And, amazingly, after a while I start to read big-lettered words on my own.

What is the first book I can read without assistance? Hard to tell, since the books at school are not the same books we have at home. I’m reading some in both places.

But in class, I get to read a Dick and Jane and Sally story all the way through! When I become an author many years later, I am jealous of those who wrote this classroom reader. Wouldn’t you like to be the writer whose works can be recited by heart by millions of school kids? “See Dick run. Run, Dick, run!”

In middle age, I discover the song that comedian Jimmy Durante co-wrote and performed with gusto: "There’s one day that I recall, though it was years ago. All my life I will remember it, I know.

I’ll never forget the day a read a book. It was contagious, seventy pages.

There were pictures here and there, So it wasn’t hard to bear, The day I read a book. It’s a shame I don’t recall the name of the book.

It wasn’t a history. I know because it had no plot. It wasn’t a mystery, because nobody there got shot.

The day I read a book? I can’t remember when, But one o’ these days, I’m gonna do it again." (Listen to Jimmy sing it on Youtube.com.)

©2013 by Jim Reed

Just yesterday, a pleasant family enters my bookstore, looking around and remarking upon the variety of things to read. One young girl is just tagging along, so naturally she’s the one I try to engage in conversation: “What do you like to read?” I ask, hoping to introduce some titles to her. She performs a sly smile and doesn’t answer because, like so many other children I meet these days, she knows her avid parents will answer for her. “Oh, she doesn’t read,” her father says. I know what he’s saying, but I play dumb just to see what kind of response I’ll get: “You mean she doesn’t know how to read?”

I ask sympathetically. She grins even more deeply, waiting for her parent’s punchline.

“No she just doesn’t like to read.”

I get it now. This lass has found a way to rebel against her parents, assert her own identity, appear cool to other kids. Normally, I get to talk up a book enough to inspire someone like her to try it, but I know there’s no way this can happen when hovering but well-meaning parents are there to puppet-master her conversation.

I say what I always say whenever the situation calls for it: “Oh, too bad. Mark Twain once said that a person who does not read has no advantage over one who cannot read.”

This is aimed at no-one in particular. The girl gets the joke but continues to play dumb. The parents remain perplexed.

What will no doubt happen—I’ve see it often—is she will discover a spicy novel proffered by a friend and, in secret, read it voraciously, becoming hooked on reading despite herself. She will, in the tradition of all kids, hide this novel and this fact from her parents as long as she possibly can.

The cycle goes on. And maybe one day she’ll hear an old Jimmy Durante song and get excited all over again

Editor's note: Jim Reed never ends his column with a period (.) because it's still being written

26

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • tuscaloosa's SOURCE for entertainment, music, sports & THE ARTS

The original shock rocker Alice Cooper will invade our state capital, bringing his world renowned stage show with him. Cooper has gone from social pariah to Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, and owns a very nice sports bar in Phoenix. But his show has never wavered as he continues to pioneer live rock and roll events.

For many, travel this time of year can prove to be difficult with school and football complicating matters. However, there are plenty of Halloween concerts nearby for those who don’t want to travel far or at all. In Birmingham, the rap-funk fusion group Uri will be playing at the Stillwater Pub. Uri also has an album releasing soon, so be sure to keep an eye out for that. Here in Tuscaloosa, local favorites CBDB will be playing at the Jupiter, a venue they have come to know very well. The Jupiter will be busy in the days leading up to and after Halloween as well. Major artists coming to Tuscaloosa’s premier bar venue include Savoy on October 29, Datsik with Funtcase, Antiserum, Mayhem and The Firm on October 30, and The Randy Rogers Band on November 7.

Of course, no matter what show you attend, one thing holds true: the crowd will be the real show. The creativity of costumes, and the antics of those getting into the spirit of the holiday will be just as entertaining as the artists on stage. Together, they make for an unforgettable carnival that every concertgoer should experience. What else can I say? I love Halloween!

If you wish to see what other events are happening around Halloween, make sure to check our local music listings and road trip sections.

>>> MUSIC | t rey br o o k s

HALLOWEEN CONCERT GUIDE // THE CROWD WILL BE THE REAL SHOW

Snoop Lion

BEST BEER SELECTION IN WEST ALABAMA

SOLUTION FOR PUZZLEMAINIA SUDOKO PAGE 23

SOLUTION FOR PUZZLEMAINIA CROSSWORD PAGE 24

@TreyBrooks88

The spooky time of the year is upon us. Haunted houses and costume parties are sure to become the staple of any college student’s nightlife as Halloween draws near. As the Main Avenue Mortuary scares the good people of this town in downtown Northport, one can feel that Tuscaloosa is ready for the second most commercially active holiday of the year.

Yes, Halloween, in my opinion, might be the most fun holiday of the year, and one that remains important to social scenes long after the childhood days of trick-or-treating. It is also a time when major concerts and festivals take place across the nation. Here in the South, there is plenty of musical activity to keep fans happy this Halloween season.

The city of New Orleans is the perfect place to celebrate Halloween. The macabre and weird has always been part of the draw for tourists visiting the Crescent City.

Needless to say, the city is alive this time of year. One of the biggest draws in the past returns this year as Widespread Panic invades UNO Lakefront Arena Halloween night.

In the past, Panic’s Widespread Panic Halloween shows have been some of the most traded and downloaded among fans as the band tends to bring out an impressive array of cover songs during the performance. Local funk group Galactic also put on an impressive show for Halloween as well. This year, they will WIDESPREAD PANIC HALLOWEEN CONCERT be at the Civic Theater.

But the biggest event of the season begins the day after Halloween. The Voodoo Music and Arts Experience is one of the most prestigious music festivals in the nation and ends the unofficial festival season that began in April at Coachella. This year’s headliners include Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails and Kid Rock among many others. The “ritual”, as it is called, takes place at the gorgeous City Park.

Another smaller festival takes place in the Spirit of Suwanee State Park in Florida.

Hosted by String Cheese Incident, Hulaween brings in a variety of artists to celebrate the holiday among a beautiful natural setting and last four days from Halloween until November 2nd. Aside from SCI, other artists include Big Gigantic, Sound Tribe Sector 9, Steve Kimock, Brock Butler, Future Rock, Conspirator and Moon Taxi. The festival Dispatch will be part of a busy Halloween season for Big Gigantic, who plays Halloween night in Atlanta at the Masquerade. Other ATL shows to watch out for include Leftover Salmon at Variety Playhouse on Halloween night, and metal artists GWAR and Whitechapel at the Masquerade the night before. If you decide to go see GWAR, be forewarned that you should not wear anything you care about because it will get soaked in fake blood.

Now that’s a band that does Halloween right!

Metal heads can also get excited about a special Halloween show in Montgomery.

>>> VISIT US ON THE WEB @ THEPLANETWEEKLY.COM

OCTOBER 17 + OCTOBER 31 2013

27