448 planet weekly

// IN THIS ISSUE

ALABAMA BREWFEST SABAN WANTS BETTER THE LITTLE BAR THAT COULD

>>> N E W S | T H E C H AM B E R OF COMM E R C E

NEWS

T-TOWN DIAPER DRIVE // SUPPORT NEEDED Page Elected 2014 CCAA Chairman Jim Page, IOM, CCE, President and CEO, Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, was elected Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama (CCAA) for 2014. He and five other Chamber executives were elected as Board of Directors members last Friday during the group's annual meeting at the Harbert Center in Birmingham. Kudos!

Jim 'N Nick's Wins Downtown T-Town Holiday Window Competition

Our Downtown Merchants committee partnered with PARA for a Holiday Window Competition. Businesses in the greater downtown area participated with the theme Candy Canes and Christmas Carols. Congrats to Jim 'N Nick's on win-

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ning. Love it!

T-Town Diaper Drive Diapers and wipes will be collected at Learning Experiences, next to CiCi's in Northport, on Dec. 14 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

There will be giveaways, door prizes and 20% discount on purchases. The drive is supporting five local agencies: Tuscaloosa One Place, Turning Point, Temporary Emergency Services, Eagles' Wings and Catholic Social Services of West Alabama. Help support it and keep babies healthy and dry!

Holidays on the River is Underway.

The City of Tuscaloosa’s second annual Holidays on the River ice rink and winter village runs through Sunday, January 5 on the lawn of the Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum. The 100-by-60 foot ice skating rink includes a 14-foot tall, 120-foot long ice slide. The Museum features “Expeditions to the North Pole.” Tickets can be purchased at the ice rink box office will be open at the Transportation Museum. Tickets can also be purchased online at ticketmaster.com

or by calling 800.745.3000. For more info, visit HolidaysOnTheRiver.com.

Shelton Offers Corporate Training/ Root Cause Analysis for Maintenance Class The Corporate Training Department at Shelton State is offering this on Dec. 16 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This one-day workshop will give participants a chance to develop and implement permanent solutions to persistent machine failures and problems. The class will help maintenance personnel more quickly discover the true causes, not the symptoms, of failures. Also, the training addresses a systematic way of troubleshooting a problem with practical techniques and tools that work. This workshop will provide individual exercises as well as group activities throughout the day for the participants.

the area of cardiac care. Blue Distinction Centers are hospitals shown to deliver quality specialty care based on objective, transparent measures for patient safety and health outcomes that were developed with input from the medical community.

This year, the national program has added a new designation level, Blue Distinction Centers+, to recognize hospitals that deliver both quality and cost-efficient specialty care. To receive this designation, a hospital must demonstrate success in meeting both general quality and safety criteria (such as preventing hospitalacquired infections) and cardiac-specific quality measures related to lower rates of complications and death following cardiac surgery; and non-surgical procedures, such as cardiac stent placement. Hospitals must also show better cost efficiency relative to their peers. For more info, visit bcbs.com/bluedistinction.

DCH Recognized for Quality in Cardiac Care DCH Regional Medical Center has been recognized by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama as one of the first hospitals in the nation to receive a Blue Distinction Center+SM designation in

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

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inside

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>>> planetweeklyissue448

FEATURES 5 THE BEST OF WHAT'S NEXT // WILLIAM BARSHOP St. Paul and the Broken Bones Dec. 19

6 wayne mills remembered // RYAN PHILLIPS

SPORTS 21 HIGH TIDE

// GARY HARRIS Bama recruiting looks great!

Untimely death brings outpouring of tributes

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS W ILLIAM B A R S H OP CA R A B R A K E R YAN P H ILLIPS ALY X C H AN D L E R ST E P H E N SMIT H T R E Y B R OO K S VAN R O B E R TS GARY HARRIS JIM REED

DESIGN/LAYOUT HERB NEU ADVERTISING

2 05. 79 2 . 7 2 3 9 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.

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

9 RAGS TO RICHES // STEPHEN SMITH

The legacy of coaches

11 BEER REVIEW // RYAN PHILLIPS Batch 19 – Just like prohibition brews

12 restauranT REVIEW

// CARA BRAKE

Sitar Indian delights

13 The goodness of people // ALYX CHANDLER Food pantries and soup kitchens for the needy

25 GIVE MUSIC // STAFF REPORT

Alabama Blues Project needs instruments for Blues Camp kids

27 THE BUKU FESTIVAL // Trey Brooks Big linueup announced

entertainment 10-12

RESTAURANT GUIDE

16-17

Events Calendar

18

Road Trip

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Tuscaloosa music

FEATURE // WILLIAM BARSHOP

ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES 7 Rising to the top of the world

23 Horoscopes // Sudoku 24 CROSSWORD PUZZLe

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

DECEMBER 12 + DECEMBER 26

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>>> INVESTIGATION | R Y AN P H ILLIPS

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UNDERFUNDED // PERRY COUNTY CORRECTIONAL CENTER

Miles Alexander, 31, lay on the bottom level of a green-framed bunk bed, reading a thick red paperback science fiction novel as noise from a Sportscenter newscast echoed from a television across the dormitory. Throughout the large room, the audible conversations of other people rang off the walls at a manageable volume.

“I love to read and play volleyball,” he said. “Science Fiction is probably my favorite—like mystery books. Stuff like reading helps to pass the time but it really isn’t too bad here, the population isn’t really bad and there are plenty of things to do.”

Alexander, who was convicted of the manufacturing of a controlled substance, is one of 30 federal inmates housed at the Perry County Correctional Center, an all male, for-profit prison in Uniontown, Ala. This complex primarily functions as a transitional stopping point for many but has recently seen financial turbulence that has left a noticeable impact on inmates and staff alike.

Perry County Correctional is owned by LCS corrections Services of Louisiana but the state of Alabama has since ceased paying for bed space and removed its prisoners, despite having a crowded state corrections system.

According to LCS Correction Services, their group of prisons makes up the largest privately owned corrections company in the United States. The Perry County Correctional Center, however, sits relatively isolated and emtpy in its rural surroundings but is no stranger to the press. As recent as 2009, the prison was subject to a breakout which resulted in several staff firings after the four inmates were captured in North Dakota following a shootout with police.

After serving eight months at this remote prison, Alexander seemed content with the facility and what it offers. In the 64-bed pod that housed the majority of the prison population, the mood was calm with everyone chatting, reading,

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sleeping or watching television. Inmates conversed with corrections officers and amongst themselves, giving the aura of a bare-bones social club as opposed to a high-security place of incarceration “Really, this is a nice place to be,” he said. “They have good workers here.

There is no trouble—It is that kind of place where you can just do your time and hopefully get out.”

In accordance with prison policy, cameras were not allowed inside of the facility, even on a day when a legislative tour was scheduled.

Alabama has recently seen a heightened number of incarcerations in state penitentiaries. Around the state, the prison system houses approximately 32,000 inmates, despite a system that, on paper, should be able to support only around half of that. Of the thousands of prisoners in state of Alabama, roughly 1,000 are housed in contract facilities like Perry County Correctional.

Currently, the prison has 734 beds, according to Warden Jim Mullins. However the state of Alabama is no longer leasing any of the available bed space, the result of which has reduced the number of inmates drastically. When the state was renting bed space, it paid a cheaper rate than other state prisons around the country according to numerous statistical and administrative sources.

LCS Correction Services could not be reached for comment in regards to funding for bed space.

On Thursday, November 21, a Joint Legislative Prison Committee was scheduled to tour the facility and discuss matters with the prison administration.

However, this meeting was canceled when several of the committee members could not attend.

Bennett Wright, executive director of the Alabama Sentencing Commission, toured the facility and cited state spending as a strain on funding for private prisons in Alabama.

“In corrections, we have state inmates

and federal inmates,” he said. ”On the state court system side, it all just comes down to money and how much the state has to appropriate to the department of corrections. If there is any money left over from that, it might be put towards using private prisons. So I think if the money situation does not change, the state does not have enough resources to have widespread use of private prisons around the state.”

Comparatively, the state of Alabama is more cost efficient than other states in terms of spending on corrections according to Wright.

“One of the things in the state of Alabama is that private prisons in the state don’t necessarily hold the amount of cost/ savings that private prisons do in other states,” he said. “Because the current budget allocation of our prison system is where Alabama already incarcerates inmates, then this comes out the cheapest in the entire country. Moving inmates to a private setting doesn’t save the state money like in other states that typically have much larger prison budgets.”

Wright then said that while numbers are tossed around, it is important to understand how correctional spending functions at the state level.

“We always hear number like: Alabama incarcerates individuals for $42 a day,” he said. “Just because you take 100 people out of prison, it does not mean that money follows each individual. None of the expenses for the prisons change, such as the utility bills and workers have to be paid. You have to pay a private facility more [for inmates] than you would if they are state inmates.”

Despite the cuts and regardless of population, the Perry County Correctional runs like clockwork according to Mullins.

“If you were here on a day when this place was at full capacity, it would be impressive to say the least with how smoothly it operates,” he said. “To see 250 guys move in an orderly fashion— it’s just something else.”

Before the state halted their spending on bed space, Perry County Correctional Center also facilitated hundreds of undocumented immigrants but lost the contract when the cash flow stopped. When the

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funds dried up, the Perry County Correctional ceased to serve as an outlet for catching overflow from state prisons.

However, the low population number ultimately leads to less acts of violence according to one inmate, which makes for a more comfortable stay.

“When people are bunched together, there is always going to be more tension,” said Steven Marks, who has been incarcerated at Perry County for the last 90 days. “It’s not like that here. Here you go outside every day—it just makes for way less tension.”

Marks, 47, who is currently awaiting sentencing on a racketeering charge, also did time at another Alabama location and, given the conditions, said that Perry County Correctional Center was held in a positive light around the region.

“When I was in Mobile, they talked about Perry County like it was the Promised Land,” he said. “I just wish they had more vocational stuff here. I would rather stay here but since it is a transitional facility they can’t offer a whole lot.”

While the number of inmates is low, Mullins claims that there is still a possibility of inmate violence given the close confines. However, he said measures are in place to help deter any incidents.

“There seems to be less tension because the inmates get a couple of hours outside in the morning and a couple of hours in the evening,” he said. “Sometimes though incidents do occur. For example, if someone borrows a bag of chips and does not pay it back. Then we may have trouble—I mean, this is a prison.”

One of the empty dormitories lay in continued on page 22

Warden Jim Mullins

>>> M U S I C| W ILLIAM B A R S H OP

ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES // THE BEST OF WHAT'S NEXT

If you could boil down the sounds of Alabama’s musical history into one band, you’d get something like St. Paul PHOTO: Fernando Decillis and the Broken Bones, the Birmingham soul sextet that’s shooting straight into the stratosphere of indie rock.

They have the foundation of Southern gospel, the iconic production of Muscle Shoals R&B, and the air of a small-town rock outfit. The front man and lead singer, Paul Janeway, is even named after Paul “Bear” Bryant if the band didn’t seem Southern enough. All this and some stirring songwriting gives St. Paul and the Broken Bones the right away to swoop in as Alabama’s next ambassador on the national and international stages.

The secret weapon that gives the band a shot at widespread success is Janeway’s choked, yet powerful voice, a volatile mixture of styles from Tom Waits to James Brown. On the band’s 2012 EP, Greetings from St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Janeway hoots and hollers his way through thick, impassioned arrangements. On the band’s most popular song, “Broken Bones and Pocket Change,” he grabs the limits of his own voice by the coat collar, crooning wildly to lost love. The EP also features the jangly jam “Sugar Dyed Honey Pants,” which shows the Broken Bones’ ability to bring the same soulful energy to the dance floor that they bring to the church rafters.

Shortly after the band’s EP was released it was featured on NPR Music’s “Under The Radar Albums Preview” and Paste Magazine featured the band on their “2013 Best Of What’s Next” list.

Before long they were playing shows all over the country, and being recognized as a force to be reckoned with.

The band rolled through Tuscaloosa in April, opening up for John Mayer at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater.

When Janeway took the time for a phone interview with the Planet Weekly, he had just gotten off stage in Atlanta, opening a show for Jason Isbell of the Drive-By Truckers. He talked about

how his dreams changed from being a preacher to selling out shows, how six band members wrote most of their debut album in a month, and where he sees himself going as a musician.

As Janeway’s stage name, “St. Paul” would suggest, his musical output is strongly rooted in his religious upbringing in Chelsea, Ala. The only music played in his household growing up was gospel, and likewise, the first music he learned to play was church hymns for the guitar. Janeway said he was somewhat separated from the trends of the 90s as he was growing up and is still reaching back to understand that musical moment.

“I have this story, that my cousin had a Nirvana Nevermind CD, and he tried to sneak it in to me, but my mom found it and threw it away,” Janeway said. “Later on in life I kind of felt like I had to play catch up. Everyone was like ‘you never heard this My Bloody Valentine album?’

I had to hear these things years later.”

While the Broken Bones were rising up as a band, Janeway was still working a job as a bank teller. When his boss gave him a choice between his job and his set at SXSW, Janeway went with the band to Austin. Janeway said it was simply a gut feeling that made him go all-in on trying to make it as a musician.

“There was this kind of relief that [the band] was giving me and that’s hard to replicate,” Janeway said. “I think it’s the same feeling people get when they write. Or when they drive a truck. It’s kinda reckless but I think it’s ended up working out ok for us.”

As soon as the group of six Alabama natives was assembled, they took to the studio with Alabama Shakes’ keyboardist Ben Tanner, who invited them to sign on to his label, Single Lock Records, which he founded with John Paul White of the Civil Wars. The band wrote most of the songs on the album within the span of a month, Janeway said.

“Ben Tanner had a really strenuous schedule and he said ‘alright either you can do it in a month or you can do it in

six months,’” Janeway said. They chose one month, and got to work right away.

Janeway said every band member had a solid knowledge of gospel music, but as they wrote the record they dove even deeper into the genre.

“The deep cuts from the O. V. Wrights and the James Carrs, stuff that music people might know about but not everybody knows about, we started digging into that,” Janeway said. “It’s not a popular genre right now and that’s fine, but that’s definitely a hundred percent where I draw a lot of stuff from. I’d be doing it whether we were in the 80s with hair metal, that’s what I’d be doing.”

Growing up immersed in gospel music, Janeway said that style and history will always be at the core of what he does, but he’s grown to take from completely distant corners of the music canon. He said the two prized possessions in his record collection are a mono LP of Johnnie Taylor’s Wanted: One Soul Singer and a 45 rpm record of the Ghostbusters theme song.

The upcoming album is called Half the City, after the Magic City of Birmingham.

“There’s a line in the song ‘I populated half the city but I still can’t find no

love,’ so Half the City became our album title,” Janeway said. “There’s no deeper meaning to it really. We’re not making a statement or anything.”

Janeway said the night before the album he’ll be nervous, but he’s excited for a new way to interact with fans at shows.

“Right now we play shows and nobody knows our songs because we don’t have an album out,” Janeway said. “It’s gonna be a different kind of dynamic. A little bit of nerves but what we’ve done is done.”

Half the City promises to reinforce the Broken Bones’ new reputation for raucous soul roof-raisers. The success of their first full-length effort could very well play St. Paul and the Broken Bones to the ears of Middle America, and put Muscle Shoals back on the map as a rich center of musical influence. If it can happen for English folk revival bands and Columbia post-grads, it can happen for a little gospel group from Birmingham.

St. Paul and the Broken Bones will be opening for the Alabama Shakes Tuscaloosa Get Up 2 benefit concert at Bama Theater Dec. 19, and will return to Birmingham Dec. 28 for a show at WorkPlay Theatre. Their debut LP, Half the City is set for a Feb. 18 release.

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

DECEMBER 12 + DECEMBER 26

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>>> M U S I C | RYA N P H I L L I P S

WAYNE MILLS REMEMBERED AS COMPASSIONATE, TALENTED // R.I.P.

The Tuscaloosa music scene has undergone a substantial makeover over the years in regards to popularity and appeal, with new acts paving the way for artistic expression.

This West Alabama musical renaissance was pioneered by hardworking road warriors like Wayne Mills, whose fame stretched far past the banks of the Black Warrior River.

Mills, 44, died on November 23 after being shot following a dispute in a Nashville bar. The owner of the bar has since been arrested and indicted for murder in the case.

A memorial service was held for Mills in his hometown of Arab, Ala., on Sunday, December 1 at the Arab High School Auditorium.

News of his passing sent shockwaves through the country music community,

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garnering national attention. After an extensive music career that gained traction in Tuscaloosa, friends remembered Mills as a genuine country artist who was also a true friend.

Jason Herndon, a close friend and former musical collaborator, praised Mills for his talents among other things.

“Wayne was a great entertainer and showed all of us Tuscaloosa guys how to draw a crowd,” he said. “He had so much confidence on stage and had a strong voice. He had learned from everyone around him and created his own thing.”

Mills also made a name for himself in the wider country music scene, taking the stage with such notable country acts as Jamey Johnson and Blake Shelton over the course of his career.

A fixture in the local music circuit, Mills previously occupied a regular spot at Harry’s Bar before growing in popularity, which made for fond memories according to Herndon.

“He packed out Harry's Bar every Tuesday night for a long, long time,” he said. “I think it was then when he realized he was really on to something. Wayne also

had a very diverse group of people sitting in on Tuesday nights from Adam Guthrie (from the band Pain) to Hal Bruni. The list goes on and on, but the point is that Wayne brought unlikely combinations of musicians together.”

The roots of Herndon’s connection to Mills run deep and are rich with memories of the two friends playing music together. According to Herndon, Mills was a confident musician and energetic entertainer early in his career.

“Early in our friendship we entered a talent show in Morgan County,” he said.

“We sang, 'She's a Lady' by Alabama and we won. I think it was like $150 and we were so excited. It was like Wayne knew we would win and I was shocked when we did. I still smile about that day. He had such a positive attitude, always. He always knew he was capable of anything. He was diverse. He sang traditional country, rock, gospel. He was always learning from folks and had a strong work ethic."

Herndon then reflected on Mills as a friend and spoke to how his legacy will be carried on through his music.

“Wayne was an honest friend and he told it like it was whether you wanted to hear it or not,” he said. “He was one of my favorite people. His heart was huge and I would trust him with my life. Our sons played together a few days ago.

I wish Wayne could have been there. I loved Wayne so much.”

The scope of Mill’s influence, according to one local musician, stretched far

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beyond the realm of country music.

Dave Bowman, lead vocalist of Leaderdog and former musical collaborator with Mills, remembers starting out musically in Tuscaloosa and meeting Mill’s for the first time.

“I met him around 1998 through a scene consisting of Jason Herndon and Wayne,” he said. “I was kind of the new guy on the street and Wayne was a celebrity at the time—I don’t think there was anybody more popular than him in town at the time. He had a regular Tuesday night gig at Harry’s Bar and if anybody went there during that time it was just as strong as seeing Johnny Cash, with that energy and the crowd.

It was always hopping when he was on his game.”

Bowman then spoke on the traits that made Mill’s not only a memorable performer, but also a caring friend.

“Wayne was to me, more like a big brother and he was a big guy already,” he said. “He had this energy about him that if you had a one on one with him, and got to spend personal time with him, he made you feel like you were his best friend. He had that ability. He would listen to you, give you his undivided attention and just had a warm feeling about him. He always acknowledged his friends, even from the stage. Anybody that knew him knows exactly what I am talking about.”

Bowman then said that he derived musical inspiration from Mills, who influenced him through his memorable outlaw country style and songwriting.

“He inspired me to write the one and only country song I have ever written,” he said. “It was written for Wayne to use, we just never got around to working it out. I would like to record it someday though.”

Additionally, Bowman said that Mill’s music and popularity had a profound impact on up and coming musical acts in the area. Given Mill’s local fame, news of his untimely passing hit home with Bowman.

“He probably inspired every singer songwriter to take a chance and do covers and gigs, because he was such a big name. Everyone knew who he was. That is just the truth—just a fact. It was sad day when I found out the news.”

According to Bowman, Mill’s legacy will live on through his music and the people he touched through it.

“Wayne will be remembered mostly for being a real guy,” he said. “He was a real musician telling real stories. He would want to be remembered for just being genuine. He was a genuine artist and his success if all the people he affected because of how nice he was to everybody. He included everyone. He dedicated his entire life to music, did great things in Nashville so I know he would want his music to live on.”

>>> F I L M | V A N R O B E R T S

"HOME FRONT" // ACTION JUNKIES WILL ««« LIKE IT // KNOCKOUT CAST

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Don’t let the title of the latest Jason Statham actioneer “Homefront” deceive you. This is no soap opera about life in the boondocks. “Things To Do In Denver When You’re Dead” director Gary Fleder and “Cobra” scenarist Sylvester Stallone should have entitled it “Hell On A Bayou.”

This exciting but formulaic revenge thriller pits a retired DEA agent against a murderous bunch of bikers and rednecks who resemble the hellions in the “Sons of Anarchy” television series. Naturally, Statham plays the conscientious DEA agent who witnessed a gross miscarriage of justice that his superior defended as ‘protocol.’ After an explosive drug bust at a New Orleans’ nightclub, our undercover hero’s brothers-in-blue mow down a clueless biker in a fusillade of gunfire.

Apparently, they suspected that the poor slob was reaching for a concealed weapon after being warned against such a move.

The blood-splattered experience sickened our protagonist enough that he resigned from the agency and settled down in a remote Louisiana town to raise his young daughter. While he sought to put as much distance between his past as he could, our protagonist doesn’t realize that escaping his bullet-riddled past is easier said than done. Basically, “Homefront” resembles a witness relocation thriller, except the hero here is a cop rather than an eye-witness.

Stallone adapted Chuck Logan’s novel, but the filmmakers have changed the setting from Minnesota to Louisiana. A former Vietnam veteran, Logan has published eight novels about ex-lawman Phil Broker, and “Homefront” hit the book racks back in 2009. Indeed, “Homefront” provides Statham with an ideal vehicle. The rural setting and dastardly villains reminded me of the Elmore Leonard TV show “Justified.” Co-stars James Franco, Winona Ryder, Clancy Brown, Kate Bosworth, and Frank Grillo constitute a first-class cast for this gritty, hard-boiled, methamphetamine melodrama.

Everything goes wrong for our hero when his nine-year old daughter Maddy (newcomer Izabela Vidovic) picks on the wrong bully at her elementary school.

Fat Teddy Klum (Austin Craig) not only steals Maddy’s baseball cap, but he also terrorizes the willowy little darling on the playground. Maddy warns Teddy twice to hand her cap back, but Teddy chuckles contemptuously at the defiant little waif.

Imagine Teddy’s surprise when Maddy socks him in the snout and knocks him on his obese butt! Phil Broker (Jason Statham of “Safe”) is remodeling a house with his African-American partner Teedo (Omar Benson Miller of “8 Mile”) when he receives a call from the Rayville Elementary School. School psychologist Susan Hetch (Rachelle Lefevre of “Twilight”) briefs Broker about the incident, and Sheriff Keith Rodrigue (Clancy Brown of “Highlander”) struggles to keep Teddy’s mom Cassie Bodine Klum (Kate Bosworth of “Straw Dogs”) off Broker’s back. When she cannot slap Broker around, Cassie incites her husband Jimmy (Marcus Hester of “Lawless”) to rough him up. Broker puts Jimmy out of action with the ease of a kung fu master, and the sheriff wonders where our hero got his training. Later, Cassie resorts to her scumbag brother, Gator (James Franco of “Spring Breakers”), to take care of Broker. Teedo warns Broker that Gator operates a local meth factory and discourages any competitors by informing on them to Sheriff Rodrigue. Gator burglarizes Broker’s remote house in the middle of the woods and stumbles upon Broker’s files from his DEA days. Moreover, he discovers Broker was the anonymous snitch that sent Outcast motorcycle gang member Danny T Turrie (Chuck Zito of “Carlito’s Way”) to prison and put the first of the 47 bullets into Danny’s worthless son Jojo (Linds Edwards) on the street in New Orleans. Gator concocts a hare-brained scheme with low-life waitress Sheryl Marie Mott (Winona Ryder of “Heathers”) to alert

the Outcasts about Broker’s whereabouts.

Gator dreams in his naive mind that the Outcasts will repay him for his friendly little tip by helping him distribute his meth.

Outcast motorcycle chieftain Cyrus Hanks (Frank Grillo of “Disconnect”) and his best bangers cruise into Rayville with payback loaded in their pistols. Meanwhile, our hero realizes that he is living in a land where feuding is a way of life. At the last minute, after Gator has stolen Maddy’s pet kitten named Luther, Broker smells the stench of murder in the air and tries to clear out.

Unfortunately, our hero doesn’t get far before he discovers that his daughter and he are surrounded with no way out.

Mind you, “Homefront” would be just another routine but entertaining shoot’em up, but director Gary Fleder has assembled a knock-out cast of celebrity talent and orchestrated some bone-crunching action scenes. James Franco plays Statham’s grinning redneck adversary with gusto. At one point, he chides Phil Broker because our hero doesn’t “smell the wood burning” and “cannot connect the dots.”

Winona Ryder gives an electrifying performance as Gator’s skanky accomplice who served time for smuggling narcotics into Angola Prison. Topping both Franco and

Ryder is sexy Kate Bosworth of “Straw Dogs” and “Blue Crush” as a housewife hooked on meth who ridicules her husband mercilessly into doing what she cannot. Seasoned character actor Clancy Brown emerges from the background as a corrupt local sheriff who behaves with Cloud Atlasthan the usual paid-off more discretion politician. Essentially, nobody gives a bad performance in “Homefront,” and the children are incredibly convincing, too. Of course, Fleder and Stallone shoot the works, and Statham displays his usual physical prowess. Basically, if you enjoy watching the “Transporter” star kick the crap out of his antagonists after they threaten his daughter, you’ll enjoy “Homefront.” The close encounter combat sequence between our hero and two stooges at a local gas station is hilariously violent. Statham is the new Steven Segal with the effortless aplomb with which he dispatches his opponents. Dutch lenser Theo van de Sande’s cinematography of the swampy Louisiana locations is simply elegant; for the record, Sande photographed the Wesley Snipes vampire opus “Blade.” Clocking in at a nimble 100 minutes, “Homefront” never wears out its welcome.

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

>>> OPINION | ST E P H E N SMIT H

ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE // RAGS TO RICHES In discuss riches stories, people often reflect on musicians, celebrities or athletes who have persevered from a humbling background to become a pinnacle of society.

Everyone has that moment in life to which they want to achieve greatness and won’t allow anyone or anything to stand in their way of capturing it.

Despite Alabama being founded in 1831, the road to greatness began in 1923. From 1923-30, the Crimson Tide football program was under the leadership of head coach Wallace Wade. After posting an undefeated 15-0-2 record with WALLACE WADE Vanderbilt, Wade built a powerhouse in seven seasons In 1931, Wade shocked the world by with Alabama. Under Wade, the Tide leaving Alabama to become the head notched three national titles (1925, 1926 coach of Duke. Regardless of the lack and 1930) appearing in the Rose Bowl. of football passion at Duke compared At that time, the Rose Bowl determined with Alabama's, Wade decided that the national champion. his football philosophy would be better suited there. While Wade settled in Durham, North Carolina, the Tide’s ram in the bush was Frank Thomas.

At the University of Chattanooga, Thomas compiled a record of 26-9-2 in four seasons. No drop off in production occurred from Wade to Thomas. Thomas established himself as one of the top coaches in the nation at Alabama.

In 15 seasons (1931-46), Thomas guided the Tide to a 4-2 bowl record, including winning national titles in 1935 (1934 season) and 1942 (1941 season). Alabama appeared in the Rose Bowl (1935 & 1942), Cotton Bowl Classic (1942) and the Orange Bowl (1943).

They won all four matchups under Thomas.

Along with taking home national titles, Thomas made sure that his own conference was in order first. The Crimson Tide won four Southeastern Conference titles (1933-34, 1937, 1945) with him at the helm and Thomas achieved FRANK THOMAS an SEC Coach of the Year Award ing rags to

PHOTOS: UA ATHLETIC PHOTOGRAPHY

in 1945.

One can’t begin the phrase “Alabama Football” without including one person, Paul W. “Bear” Bryant. Before Bryant became a legend, he was coached and mentored by Thomas. Despite being a gifted athlete, Bryant took brains over brawn and used his mind to develop the minds of young athletes on the field as a head coach.

At Kentucky and Texas A&M, Bryant was stellar. For the Wildcats, he was the best thing in Kentucky since fried chicken. Outside of agriculture, Bryant was the best thing moving for the Aggies.

Though he accomplished a ton of success with Kentucky and Texas A&M, Bryant saved his best coaching performance for Alabama. His reason for returning to his alma mater was “Momma called.

And when Momma calls, you just have to come runnin’.”

Bryant answered the call in 1958 as he took over as the Tide’s head coach.

Prior to Bryant’s arrival, Alabama won just four games in three seasons. After

posting a 5-4-1 record in his first season and defeating Auburn in the renewed Iron Bowl in 1959, people started to sense something special about Bryant. Just like players who step up in key moments and games to achieve certain awards, coaches have to step up and prove that they were the right person for the job.

The year of recognition came for Bryant in 1961 when dominance of Alabama’s football program began. Under Bryant, Pat Trammell, Lee Roy Jordan and Billy Neighbors, the Crimson Tide went undefeated (11-0). They defeated Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl and captured its first national title.

While most people are content with tasting success once, Bryant wasn’t done. From 1962-64, the Tide was set out to prove that it was the best program in college football. With Bryant calling the shots and Joe Namath under center, Alabama couldn’t be stopped. The Crimson Tide won the Orange Bowl (1962), Sugar Bowl (1963) and captured its second na-

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

>>> RESTAURANTS |

Wiederkehr Wine Cellars // Flavors Of The Ozarks

BREAKFAST / DINNER

W here to E at in T uscaloosa

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

When one pictures the state of Arkansas, images are evoked of the rolling Ozarks, winding rivers and college football Saturdays. And the brisk southern climate is also ideal for winemaking.

Wiederkehr Wine Cellars, based in Altus, Arkansas, has tended to the vines and produced wines background by the Ozark Mountains for the last 125 years.

Being ever the traditionalist, the first wine that is worth sampling, in this reviewer’s opinion, is the Wiederkehr Cabernet Sauvignon. This bold red offers the drinker a conventionally fresh take on the Cabernet, by sticking to the most fundamental practices associated with utilizing these varietals.

Specific pairing recommendations for this hearty treat can also come in the way of a char-grilled steak and potatoes. For those with a sweet tooth, try complimenting this wine with pecan pie to unlock the pungent flavors, and I'm not talking about the pie.

Fans of red wine will be pleased to learn that Wiederkehr Wine Cellars has a Merlot that is competitive with anything from California wine country.

Drinkers, who enjoy a heavy fruit burst with the conventional bitterness of red wine varietals, can do their taste buds a favor and partake in the Merlot. The fruit flavors are apparent without being overpowering, and the bitterness rounds out a glass of this Merlot with a crisp finish.

The Merlot is an elegant wine with big fruit and a noble finish. The full mellow taste of this classic should be enjoyed with good friends, good foods, and good times. Complements pasta dishes with tomato-based sauces.

Another treat that can pair well with this red can be found in Mozzarella based dishes or, such as Lasagna or Chicken-Parmesan. Chocolate, in its various forms, also makes for a delightful pairing with the Merlot.

Wiederkehr Wine Cellars, in addition to an extensive line of reds, produces a line of crisp, renowned white table wines.

One of these delectable treats is a

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DECEMBER 12 + DECEMBER 26

Chardonnay that is as lightly crisp and it is tastefully fruity. With a sharp nose that immediately brings to mind the classic varietals used, this white is the perfect addition for that low-key dinner party with finger food.

“This renowned deliciously dry white table wine has the exquisite flavors, aroma, delicacy, and finesse of the world-famous Pinot Chardonnay grape variety. It's delightfully refreshing when served chilled anytime, and especially good with meals.

Full dinner spreads are also perfect for this Chardonnay, given its light filler quality.

The fruit varietals used also make for a welcome addition to nearly any combination of culinary indulgences. Specifically, try pairing this wine with roasted poultry, grilled fish (preferably tilapia or whitefish) and greens to bring out the inherent sweetness of this treat. In terms of dessert, pair this white with any peanut butter dishes.

In the spirit of southern culture, last in line is a White Muscadine table wine from Wiederkehr Wine Cellars. This reviewer's favorite is a lighter take on an autumn favorite. While most muscadine wines are heavy in taste and filler, this white is derived from lighter muscadine varietals that highlight the best of what the two styles have to offer.

“This flavorful, semisweet wine, delicate yet fruity in quality, with a bouquet as charming as the early Southern mansions whose tables it first graced, is to be served well chilled”, the Wiederkehr website reads. “Definitely American, and delightfully delicious.”

Sporting a semi-sweet taste that is an unconventional approach to muscadine varietals, this white pairs well with saltier, crispy foods and spicy treats that’s can border on the creole variety. Common sense will dictate that this is a wine that is designed to be enjoyed with a wide range of foods that may come across any table.

Given the middle of the road price, Wiederkehr Wine Cellars is a good deal and worthy of support in the southern wine market.

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 Jalapeno’s Mexican Grill 2001 New Watermelon Rd | Northport // 342.3378 LaGran Fiesta 9770 Hwy 69 S // 345.8871 Los Calientes Mexican Grill 3429 McFarland Blvd E // 553.1558 Los Tarascos (2 locations) 1759 Skyland Blvd // 553.8896 3380 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 330.0919 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.

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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 607 15th Street Open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

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 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 Little Italy 1130 University Blvd. | Tuscaloosa // 205.345.4343 Mellow Mushroom 2230 University Blvd // 758.0112 Pizzas, calzones, hoagies and more. Open daily for lunch and dinner. www.mellowmushroom.com 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

>>> RESTAURANTS |

W here to E at in T uscaloosa ( cont . )

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

Batch 19 // Bringing It Back

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

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 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

Tin Top Restaurant & Oyster Bar 4851 Rice Mine Rd NE #460 // 462.3399 McFarland Plaza Shopping Center & Temerson Square Wintzell’s Oyster House 1 Bridge Ave | Northport // 247.7772 Casual riverfront dining Sun–Thurs 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Fri–Sat 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

I n certain circles , old ways are sometimes considered the best. Many brew masters in the market today attempt to craft brews that are unique to drinkers but one time-tested brew has its origins in a 100-year old recipe that harkens back to the days of bootleggers and speakeasies.

Batch 19. A subsidiary of Coors in Golden, Co., offers a pre-prohibition style lager that is a fresh take on an American staple. Available in an iconic brown growler bottle, this line of beer attempts to convey a time long past to its drinkers with the old techniques providing a refreshing alternative.

On this brewery’s website, they describe their wares as “Hoppy, Balanced, Damn Near Perfect”.

For a beer with such a rich, hoppy flavor, the head is surprisingly light and leads into a smoothly bitter taste topped off by a bold finish that is quite filling. On the Batch 19 website, the brew masters describe the roots of the lager and what drinkers can expect when taking on this historical brew.

“We found exactly what you were looking for. A hoppy, yet surprisingly balanced, lager that’s based on a 100+-year-old recipe,” the site reads.

“It’s brewed with a rare combination of Hersbrucker and Strisselspalt hops but has the decency to respect your palate with a balanced malt finish. If you need to know anything more about it, we suggest you stop reading and start drinking. Or contact us on Facebook. We love talking about beer.”

Try pairing the lager with grilled seafood and vegetables skewers to counter and ultimately savor that spicy chargrilled flavor. Given the filling nature of this particular lager, enjoy white meat or light snacks to harness the taste profile of a traditional beer. The Batch 19 Lager can be purchased in six-packs for a reasonable price and is more than worth it for nostalgic beer lovers.

In addition to their Pre-Prohibition Style Lager, Batch 19 has also recently produced a Bock that is a promising sibling to the popular Lager. Listed as “Old-Spanking New”, this is yet another fresh take on historic beer from the folks at Batch 19. With a dark amber hue and a head that is refreshingly heavy, this brew packs a punch to the taste buds that is hard to forget.

On the Batch 19 website, the origins of their particular Bock is given to bring the history to light. the

Wilhagan’s 2209 4th St | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 366.0913

Red Lobster 2620 McFarland Blvd // 553.8810 McFarland Plaza Shopping Center

>>> beer review | R y a n p h i l l i p s

“The English translation of “bock,” meaning “goat,” bock beers were traditionally brewed to celebrate the arrival of spring and stood as a symbol of both a storied past and good times yet to come”, the site reads. Inspired by a recipe that dates back to before Prohibition, this traditional bock has a bold malt taste and deep amber color.

Reach back and discover what a real bock beer was like then and what it’s like now. Available year round.”

While this beer is a heavy take, even by traditional Bock standards, it is still delightfully crafted in terms of its taste profile. The taste is sharp, without being overpowering and balanced in a way that is not overly filling. The bold flavors from the particular malts make for a perfect addition to any cold winter day, when a puny light beer simply will not get the job done. In the places where it counts, the Bock pulls its weight, even more so than the Lager in this reviewer’s humble opinion.

When pairing the Batch 19 Bock, try crispy fried foods to accent the slight sweetness in the beer brought out by salty treats. Strangely enough, treats such as popcorn make for a wonderful companion to this filling, yet inherently palatable beer that is a splash of bold, dark malty flavor.

For the prices, both of these beers deserve sampling from anyone interested in tested beer recipes that aim for nostalgia. In comparison to beers crafted in a similar manner, Batch 19 is not quite at the top of the class, but certainly brings a fresh taste of iconic flavors to a thirsty consumer base. In short, it is the closest thing you can get to a beer time machine.

The Batch 19 Lager is available where most beers can be purchased in Tuscaloosa while the Bock is only available for purchase and on-tap in certain cities.

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DECEMBER 12 + DECEMBER 26

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>>> RESTAURANT REVIEW | CA R A B R A K E

SITAR // AUTHENTIC AND DELICIOUS

>>> RESTAURANTS |

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

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

In a busy city like Tuscaloosa, especially during football season, variety is important when it comes to food.

Tuscaloosa delivers, though, and it doesn’t disappoint.

At the corner of Hackberry and 15th street sits Sitar, an authentic Indian restaurant that offers freshly prepared Indian cuisine at a great price. Sitar offers dine-in, take out, and catering servies, along with a lunch buffet, and with a total of eight locations across the US, you can enjoy the fresh, tasty food wherever you are.

The extensive menu caters to vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike; their vegetarian cuisine varies between vegetable based soups, and vegetarian variations of non-vegetarian food, such as turning a chicken-tika masala into paneer tika masala by taking out the chicken and substituting for cheese cubes instead.The spices and flavors are still there, just safe to eat. Along with converting meat dishes to non-meat dishes, the menu has a section for vegetarian options, so patrons don’t have to hunt for them on the menu.

Traditionally, part of the spice used for Indian food is hot, but that’s not the case here. The food is spiced to taste, where customers can request mild or hot for flavor. The basic ingredients for each dish are listed under the item so customers can ask for something they don’t like

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or can’t have to be kept out of their order.

Most of the dishes come with rice, and as a nice add on, there’s a section of the menu with the different breads that are freshly prepared in the kitchen, each one making a nice compliment to an order.

The atmosphere is comfortable and colorful, with various Indian themed decorations scattered around. They also offer a bar, with various beers mixed drinks and wines. Non alcoholic drinks include soda, Madras coffee, a sweet and milky coffee, Indian chai tea, lassi, a yogurt based drink made with spices, and sometimes fruit. Sitar offers lassi with mango, sweetened lassi, or salty lassi. Lassi is also served on the children’s meal, which is made of chicken tikka, fries, rice, and a choice of lassi or mango juice.

Sitar offers native desserts as well, including Ras Malai, which is a cheese pastry soaked in saffron-flavored milk, Kulfi Mango/Pista, which is Indian style ice cream, Kheer, or rice pudding, and Gulab Jamun, which is a cheese dessert in cardamom flavored syrup.

Sitar Indian Cuisine is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11am to 3pm for lunch, then 5pm to 9:30pm for dinner service. It is located at 500 15th street, next to Bama Bowling. Contact them at 205.345.1419, or through their website at sitartuscaloosa.com.

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

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 In Love Patriot Center 7402 Highway 69 South Phone Number: 764.9173 Fax Number: 764.9228 Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Friday & Saturday 11 a.m.-10 pm. .

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

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 Manna Grocery & Deli 2300 McFarland Blvd E | Tuscaloosa // 752.9955

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>>>G I V I N G | CA R A B R A K E

THE GOODNESS OF PEOPLE // DEMAND FOR FOOD FOR THE NEEDIEST HAS INCREASED

Christmas brings out the love in everyone, and a lot of people can certainly use some love. There are so many different ways to help others—enough to fit any budget. Only able to donate some extra canned goods? Use a food donation bank.

Want to give a child the gift of Christmas?

Donate an unwrapped toy or two. Now the only question is where to donate.

Tuscaloosa has numerous options scattered across the city. Two of those options are food banks and food pantries.

The West Alabama Food Bank, Inc., is one of the food distribution banks, located at 3160 McFarland Boulevard. Executive Director Henry M. Lipsey, explained the difference between the two. “A food bank collect, inspects, sorts, stores food which is distributed to member agencies who then deliver the food to the needy at no cost to the needy,” says Lipsey. “A soup kitchen prepares meals and feeds people on a regular schedule at no cost to the people being served.”

The West Alabama Food Bank has served almost 3-million pounds of food to people in Tuscaloosa and surrounding areas, and they continue to grow. Sadly, more food has been needed this year, according to Lipsey. “Donations of food and money are up because the demand for what we do is up and we do our best to satisfy the demand,” he says. “The depressed economy increases demand while the goodness of people help us meet the demand.”

Food isn’t the only demand needed.

Volunteers are a crucial part of the process, and they have more than enough. “We have a active volunteer program,” says Lipsey about the people of Tuscaloosa. “Along with the goodness of our citizens, we meet our demand for volunteers. We use from 5 to 20 volunteers per day depending on our demand.”

One would hope that as more jobs are created, the level of people in need would decrease, but it seems that it hasn’t

happened yet, says Lipsey. “Our agencies report that the demand for assistance continues to grow and probably will until the economy improves,” he said with concern in his voice.

Food banks don’t directly work with people in need, but there are inspiring stories to be shared by Lipsey. “One morning I went to work and there was a lady parked in our parking lot,” he says.

“As I investigated, she reported that she was embarrassed to ask for help but she did not have a choice.”

“She and her husband were Northport natives who had finished high school together, married, went to work locally, bought a home and raised a family. As the children grew up and moved on, they took in two elderly relatives. She and her husband continued to work and the two elderly relatives has some income, so the household was doing fine.”

“Recently, she and her husband lost their jobs due to the depressed economy, and within a few months the two elderly relatives died. Suddenly the household went from four incomes to no income and she could not buy groceries. We gave her enough food to last a few days and put he in contact with one of our agencies who could help her on a longer basis. Several months later, she returned to tell us that she and her husband had gotten new jobs and she would not require further assistance. How wonderful it would be if that happened more often.”

The West Alabama Food Bank can be contacted at 333.5353, through their website westalabamafoodbank. org, or on Facebook at facebook.com/ WestAlabamaFoodBank.

Other food banks and food pantries include: ● The University Church of Christ runs a food pantry, located at 1200 Julia Tutwiler Drive, on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5 p.m.

They can be contacted at 553.3001. ● Temporary Emergency Services offers a

food pantry, located at 1705 15th Street from the hours of Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Contact them at 345.7330. ● Capstone Church has a food pantry located at 1907 University Boulevard, offered Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., and Friday from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. They can be reached at 366.1581. ● The First United Methodist Church of Tuscaloosa runs a food pantry located at 800 Greensboro Avenue from the hours of Monday-Thursday: 8am-5pm and Friday 8 a.m. - noon. Contact them at 345.7261. ● The Salvation Army runs a food pantry located at 2902 Greensboro Avenue, open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. They can be reached at 758.2804. ● Catholic Family Services offers a food pantry where families in need can recieve help every three months. They are located at 608 37th Street East. Contact them at 759.1268 for more information. ● The Tuscaloosa Community Soup Bowl is a soup kitchen open 7 days a week in Tuscaloosa. It is run through the First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa, located at 1711 23rd Avenue, and is open Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Contact Amy Grinstead. If you would

like to volunteer, contact Lora Hubbard at 752.7529, or atthubfab5@comcast.net. ● Likewise, the East Tuscaloosa Community Soup bowl is hosted out of the Hargrove Memorial United Methodist Church, and offers a hot meal on Wednesdays and Fridays from noon - 1 p.m, and will host a food pantry distribution on Saturday, December 21 from 9 a.m. - noon. They are located at 1812 Hargrove Road East, and can be contacted at 205.553.7271, or on their website at hargroveumc.org.

Food services aren’t the only way to give this year; the Tuscaloosa Marines are running Toys for Tots this year, with several different drop off locations. Check their website, tuscaloosa-al.toysfortots.org for a list of drop of sites. Janice Looney is the contact representative for Tuscaloosa, and can be reached at 758.6816.

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DECEMBER 12 + DECEMBER 26

13

>>> TIDE TRIBUTE | C O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 9

ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE // RAGS TO RICHES

tional title in 1964. Alabama would hoist up another national title in 1965, after defeating Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.

Despite going undefeated in 1966 and defeating Nebraska in the Sugar Bowl 34-7, the Tide finished third in the nation behind Michigan State and Notre Dame.

What makes this rags to riches story so compelling is when you go through difficult times and still manage to come back better and stronger. In 1967, many people coined Alabama as the team to beat and just knew the Tide would bring home another title.

Unlike Namath, Kenny Stabler couldn’t help Alabama bring home a national title. The prior success Bryant had started to elude him. After finishing 8-2-1 (1967), 8-3 (1968), 6-5 (1969) and 6-5-1 (1970), many Crimson Tide fans began to wonder if this was the end of an era. Bryant also thought he was washed up and wanted to considering retiring or coaching in the NFL. Ever resilient, Bryant braced for one more push to prove that he was still the best in the game. He racked up three more national titles (1973, 1978 and 1979) and captured 13 SEC titles. Upon his retirement in 1982, Bryant was the winningest coach in football with 323 wins.

Coach Bryant was a tough act to follow. After his retirement in 1982, Bryant left some huge shoes for Alabama coaches to fill, especially Bill Curry.

Despite posting a 26-10 record in three seasons (1987-89), Alabama never defeated Auburn under Curry. Though the Tide won a share of the SEC title in 1989 and made bowl appearances in

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Curry’s three seasons, Alabama was 0-3 against the Tigers.

If it took Bryant to keep Alabama on the map, then it had to take a Bryant disciple to keep them there, right? In Gene Stallings case, the answer is yes.

Stallings took over for Curry in 1990 and though he was no Bear Bryant, Stallings knew what the people of Alabama wanted. In six seasons (1990-96), Stallings placed the Tide back atop the ranks of college football glory.

Alabama captured four SEC West titles (1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996), an SEC title (1992) and its first national title since Bryant in 1993. Sometimes, when there is success, there is also controversy. In 1995, the NCAA found Alabama guilty of violating four major rules. As a result, the Tide was placed on three years’ probation and docked 30 scholarships. Alabama had to forfeit eight wins from its 9-3-1 1993 season and they were also barred from postseason competition.

In the 10 seasons following Stallings’s departure, Crimson Tide fans experienced many emotions. The evident ones were anger, disappointment, frustration and agony. From 1997-06, Alabama went through five different coaches (Mike DuBose, Dennis Franchoine, Mike Price, Mike Shula and Joe Kines). Though some of them tried their best to get the Tide back to where Bryant, Stallings and others had them, Alabama fell from the pinnacle of football greatness to the bottom of the barrel.

Hope came to Alabama in 2007 as Nick Saban made landfall in Tuscaloosa.

Like Moses parting the Red Sea, fans

poured into the Mal Moore Athletic Facility anticipating whether Saban could be the guy that could lead the Tide back to prominence. Saban was told by fans and others that it would take him six years before he wins his first title with Alabama.

Lo and behold in seven seasons, Saban has achieved three national titles with the Tide and is in route of a fourth.

It hasn’t been easy for him. He’s had to get the right players to buy in his system “The Process,” along with dealing with a devastating tornado that destroyed the lives and possessions of many citizens in Tuscaloosa. Through the high and lows, Saban has managed to not only keep himself composed, but also his team.

Along with winning titles, Saban has

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become the best recruiter in the game.

He’s brought in some of the most talented players to Alabama from Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson and Julio Jones to Courtney Upshaw and Terrence Cody In 2011, Saban hand chose AJ McCarron as his quarterback. The journey to success hasn’t been easy for these two, but in just three seasons Saban has molded McCarron from game manager to leader. McCarron has achieved two national titles as a starting quarterback and is a Heisman Trophy contender this season and this year's winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.Earlier in the semester, an article appeared in The Crimson White, stating Alabama fans were getting tired of winning. To most fans, the article was unnecessary. Before Saban, the Tide couldn’t buy a win. Since Saban has come in and recruited well, some fans arguably have become spoiled by championships and many of them don’t attend a lot of games now.

It’s understandable that you would want your team to play more close games instead of blowouts, but when a team comes from mediocrity to greatness you should be very excited. Earlier this season, there were talks about Saban possibly leaving Alabama for Texas. The rumors ended this week after University of Texas president, Bill Powers said that he wasn’t even in pursuit of Saban.

Since his arrival, Saban has been nothing short of spectacular to Crimson Tide and its fan base. He’s posted a 79-14 record in his seven seasons as head coach.

In six of seven seasons, Saban has led the Tide to 10+ wins and in all seven seasons Alabama has gone to a bowl game.

Alabama fans need to be appreciative and happy to have a coach that knows and understands how to win. Like the old saying goes “you never appreciate a good thing until it’s gone.” Crimson Tide fans, relish the time Alabama has with Saban as coach and brace yourself for the future when he retires.

Contributing sports journalist Stephen Smith is a reporter for touchdownalabama.net.

>>>CO M M U N I T Y | A LY X C H A N D L E R

A KICK THROUGH THE DOOR OF COLLEGE EDUCATION // A CIVICS LEARNING PROJECT TAKES HOLD

The entire 8 th grade of University Middle School, on Thursday, November 21, pumped their fists and cheered as they gripped their symbolic college graduation diploma and walked across the stage of the University of Alabama’s Ferguson Theatre. After a day of touring campus with the Men and Women of Capstone and eating lunch with various University of Alabama clubs, the children said an excited goodbye to their experience in the Kickstart Program.

“The feeling you get after working so hard gives you goosebumps,” George Jones, a speaker at the Kickstart graduation, said. “You need to do that twice.”

The Kickstart program, affiliated by the service-focused Carl A. Elliot Society, was created as a civic learning project by Undre Phillips (shown standing in photo) , a Junior Secondary Education major, during his involvement two years ago in Alabama’s Freshman Forum. The program was created with the focus on the lack of college success for the majority of the Title 1 middle school students in the Tuscaloosa area. Phillips said over 90% of the the middle school students in the area receive free lunch and come from low socio-economic backgrounds. Even though a majority of the schools are located in only a few miles or minutes away from the University of Alabama, Phillips said most of the children have no idea what the university looks like or what it has to offer.

“We called it Kickstart because we want to kickstart kids into prosperous futures,” Phillips said.

Freshman Forum is a leadership program at the University of Alabama for first year students that encourages them to network in the community

through service. Many of the students joined a civic learning project, but Phillips felt a calling for something more. After growing up in a low income household with a single parent, Phillips felt a soft spot for the lack of educational encouragement out there for kids already struggling in their home situations.

“I personally want to give back to the community to help those kids,” Phillips said.

After he was inducted into the Carl A. Elliot Society, he jumped at the opportunity for them to become involved with Kickstart. Since then, Kickstart has grown to incorporate more support and some of the Tuscaloosa schools have even participated more than once.

The program leaves the kids with both an important message about college education, and also things to take home as reminders.

“We came here last year, but it was nothing like this,” Angie Morrison, the University Middle school’s head Counselor who came both times to Kickstart, said. “It’s been phenomenal.”

Alabama’s Student Affairs donated a package containing posters, pens and a t-shirt while Bama Dining provided a free Lakeside meal that the kids raved about all day. Each student was also given a free flash drive. Several groups across campus, such as SGA and the Theta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, came to the luncheon with huge smiles and shakers in hand, to support them at the mock graduation. Over ten organizations on campus had a member present to address questions while they ate lunch at Lakeside.

“If they don’t have motivation to get into the university, then I don’t see how anyone can expect for them to get

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DECEMBER 12 + DECEMBER 26

15

>>> EVENTS CALENDAR |

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 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, DECEMBER 13

THE ACT PRESENTS "LES MISERABLES" WHEN: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.

COST: Call; they forgot to show the prices WHERE: Bama Theatre LINK: theactonline.com

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA WHEN: Call - they forgot to list the times COST: $5 WHERE: McAbee Center PHONE: 205.562.3235 DESCRIPTION: Boys and girls 10 and under get to make a Christmas craft item and have their picture taken with Santa Claus.

THE TERRY TURNER SHOW & BENEFIT WHEN: 8 – 11 p.m.

COST: $10 at the door WHERE: VFW Post 6022, Cottondale PHONE: 205.553.8040 after 3 p.m.

EMAIL: vfwpost6022@yahoo.com DESCRIPTION: Terry Turner's Las Vegas Style show. The VFW Ladies Auxilliary will hold a raffle to benefit their cancer aid and research program.

SNOWFLAKE SATURDAY & ELF WORKSHOP WHEN: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

COST: Activities included with admission, whatever that is—they never show prices on their website. Very inconvenient.

WHERE: C.H.O.M CONTACT: 205.349.4235, ext. 24 (ask why they don't mention prices) EMAIL: carla@chomonline.org THE ACT PRESENTS "LES MISERABLES" WHEN: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.

COST: Call; they forgot to show the prices WHERE: Bama Theatre LINK: theactonline.com

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15

3RD ANNUAL HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AT THE LIBRARY WHEN: 2 - 6 p.m.

COST: Free WHERE: Main Branch, Tuscaloosa Public Library DESCRIPTION: The open house will have kid’s crafts, movies, treats, book signings from local authors, and a “Holiday Postcard” photo booth. All activities are free and family friendly. Several local Tuscaloosa authors will be on hand from 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. to sell and sign their works for patrons. Bill Fitts, Lila Weaver, and Tanya Eavenson are just a few of the area authors scheduled for the program.

COMMIT TO BE FIT HEALTH WORKSHOP WHEN: 1 – 5:30 P.M.

16

DECEMBER 12 + DECEMBER 26

THE SOUTHEAST'S LARGEST

THE ACT PRESENTS "LES MISERABLES" WHEN: 2 – 4 p.m.

COST: Call; they forgot to show the prices WHERE: Bama Theatre LINK: theactonline.com

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16

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.

THE ACT PRESENTS "LES MISERABLES" WHEN: 2 – 4 p.m.

COST: Varies WHERE: Bama Theatre LINK: theactonline.com BOOK DISCUSSION // "UNBROKEN" WHEN: 10 – 11 a.m.

COST: Free WHERE: Library, main branch LINK: tuscaloosa-library.org

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17

>>> PET PLANET | T H I S M O N T H ' S P E T S

FLO AND AMELIA // LET A LITTLE SUNSHINE IN This beautiful redhead is Flo, a one year old female Shepherd/Golden Retriever mix with the beautiful thick golden red coat of a Retriever and the head shape and perky ears of a Shepherd. She is currently a little underweight and will grow to around 50 pounds in full adulthood. Flo is a sweet and loving dog who is playful and loves attention. She does well with other dogs and should be fine with children, though they should be at least eight years or older due to her size. She has started her crate training and is up to date on her vet care, spayed, heartworm negative and on heartworm and flea/tick prevention. If you are interested in giving Flo the forever home he wants and deserves, visit the West Alabama Humane Society at humanesocietyofwa.org or call us at 205.554.0011.

HOLIDAY ACOUSTIC NIGHT BENEFIT FOR THE GOOD SAMARITANS CLINIC WHEN: 7 – 9 P.M. cost: $5 where: Bama Theatre PHONE: 205.758.5195 LINK: tuscarts.org DESCRIPTION: This annual music benefit features Mark Hughes Cobb, Callooh!

Callay!, Bible Study, Blaine Duncan, Voodoo Saints. $MART WOMEN, $MART MONEY – becoming financially literate in 2014 WHEN: 9 – 11 a.m.

COST: Free WHERE: McDonald Hughes Center, 3101 MLK Jr. Blvd.

PHONE: 205.552.5628 DESCRIPTION: Sponsored by Woman2Woman Empowerment. Learn about setting up a family and personal budget.

Men are also welcome.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18 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 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.

Amelia is a beautiful short-haired female Tortoiseshell. She is an older kitten around six or seven months old. Amelia is sweet and gentle. She loves attention and doesn’t mind mewing to get it! She was named after Amelia Earhart for her love of adventure and daring spirit! Amelia does well around other cats. She should do well with children and would be a wonderful companion cat.

She has never been around dogs.

She is negative for FIV/FeLK, current on her vaccinations and spayed. If you are interested in giving Amelia the forever home she wants and deserves, visit the West Alabama Humane Society at humanesocietyofwa. org or call us at 205.554.0011.

The benefits of volunteering:

1. Make a difference in the lives of homeless pets and work towards a community that is more humane for animals.

2. Develop new skills while exploring the field of animal welfare.

3. Keep good company. You'll make lots of new friends—and not just the four-legged kind. Working side by side with people who share similar interests can forge lifelong friendships.

4. Meet the new you. You'll discover skills you never knew you had, and you may be surprised at what you're capable of achieving.

5. Gain a new career. You'll learn things that may lead you to the career—or career change—of your dreams. Employers and college admissions officers look favorably on time spent in volunteer service.

6. Enjoy a wagging tail, a purr, and a smile.

Didn't someone once say that the best things in life are free?

ARTSY AFTERNOON WHEN: 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

COST: ?

WHERE: Children's Hands On Museum

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>>> C O M M U N I T Y | A L Y X C H A N D L E R

KICKSTART // CONTINUED

continued from page 15

ANGIE MORRISON

there,” Phillips said.

Phillips has been volunteering at the West Lawn Middle School through Teacher’s Cadet as a teacher’s assistant since he first entered college. By shadowing the teaching and developing a intimate relationship with not only the students but also the principal and teachers, he saw a need for educational encouragement.

“The expectations for these kids aren’t as high as they need to be,” Dustin Threlkeld, a Senior Financial Planning major and advisor for Kickstart, said.

By choosing 8th graders versus highschoolers to participate in the Kickstart program, it allows the students to still have a very real chance of focusing on their grades, resume and involvement in the community to increase their scholarship chances. Phillips said college readiness and physical exposure to Alabama’s uplifting, spirited environment is the key to making progress.

“We’re trying to get a vision of beyond high school,” Morrison said. “The dropout rates are pretty big.”

Speakers at the Kickstart Program explain what a resumé is and how FASFA and other scholarship organizations can aid motivated students with getting a college acceptance letter and financial support in the future. Speakers and students of Alabama spoke about the importance of community service, as well as how students need to do more than just get by during high school. The students that participated throughout the day and answered questions at the end also received goody-bags.

“I learned that we can come to college and enjoy ourselves,” said Jaylyen Frazier, an 8th grader at University Middle school.

Although much of the day’s agenda revolved around serious messages about why college was something worth working for, a huge part of Kickstart is exposing middle schoolers to the fun side of college. They got to tour some of the dorms and see what it would be like to live with their friends. The Men and Women of Capstone also took them to the Quad to give them a college student feel. They encouraged the fact that col-

lege is a game of both work and play.

“We have already visited fire department and Shelton’s main campus to expose all of students, particularly the first generation students, to college campus and careers soon,” Morrison said.

The Carl A. Elliot Society now acts as a major influence in the Kickstart Program. The society originated from Alabama Congressmen Carl Elliot, who in the 1950’s and 1960’s created policies to aid lower income students and provide them with college funding. Due to his anti-segregation policies, he later lost his support in office and lived the rest of his life in poverty. Although his impact was far from over. In 1992, after he died, people created the Carl A. Elliot Society to honor him by continuing the services he first started in Tuscaloosa.

Phillips said he is proud to be part of the organization and that his background as an education major has guided him in the right direction with his life. Kickstart drives home the importance of showing these nearby kids the one of a kind college chance. Involvement in organizations and education that a college like Alabama can provide has the potential to change lives.

“The focus is definitely to show different organizations but it’s also to show them college as a whole,” Alexis Long-Daniels, a Junior journalism and psychology major and PR Chair for the Carl A. Elliott Society, said.

At the end of the graduation ceremony, Phillips asked the students repeat the words "I will succeed" and by the end of the minute, it became an uproar of excitement over what that phrase could really mean to them one day.

Phillip leaves them by saying to work for success like Coach Saban teaches, by making each day and hour matter.

The Carl A. Elliot Society continues to endorse Kickstart into a bigger and bigger program.

“We plan to expand to every Title 1 school in the Tuscaloosa community and hopefully to the Black Belt community as well,” Phillips said.

>>> EVENTS CALENDAR |

THE SOUTHEAST'S LARGEST

(cont'd)

PHONE: 205.349.4235

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19

held the first Saturday of each month in the Story Castle at 10:30 a.m.

MOVIE MORNINGS // "MONSTERS" WHEN: 9:15 – 11:15 a.m.

COST: Free WHERE: Tuscaloosa Public Library, Main Branch LINK: tuscaloosa-libary.org

PUBLICIZE YOUR NONPROFIT EVENT. CONTACT

planeteditor@yahoo.com

TUSCALOOSA GET UP 2 WITH THE ALABAMA SHAKES WHEN: 7 – 10 P.M. COST: Sold Out WHERE: Bama Theatre PHONE: 205.886.4140 DESCRIPTION: Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity, the Bama Theatre Restoration Fund, and Red Barn Foundation.

COST: Free WHERE: Maranatha Church, 2614 Herman Ave. PHONE: 205.758.2358 DESCRIPTION: Health practitioners speaking about basic health, nutrition, herbal remedies, lifestyle choices, natural care, and more.

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, DECEMBER 20

HOLIDAY GALA 2013 // A BLACK TIE AFFAIR WHEN: 8 p.m. – midnight COST: $30 single; $50 couples WHERE: Jemison-Van de Graaf Mansion PHONE: 205.614.8585 EMAIL: tuscblackchamber@gmail.com DESCRIPTION: Formal social event benefitting the Tuscaloosa area Black Chamber of Commerce's Student Incentive Program. Live entertainment and free cocktails.

TONY BRATINA "CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS" WHEN: 9 a.m. – noon COST: Free WHERE: Cultural Arts Center LINK: tuscarts.org PHONE: 205.758.5195, ext. 6 DESCRIPTION: Tuscaloosa News graphic artist, Tony Bratina, explores the traditions of Christmas around the world, past and present, in this one-of-a-kind art exhibit on display through December 27 in the Arts Council gallery at the Cultural Arts Center.

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

Happy Holiday Season

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

DECEMBER 12 + DECEMBER 26

17

>>> ROAD TRIP | SOUT H E AST E R N CONC E R TS AN D E V E NTS

A // M //

BLACK JACKET // VINCESYMPHONY GILL // BIRMINGHAM // OCTOBER 25 ATLANTA //

HedPE // BIRMINGHAM // DECEMBER 17

DECEMBER 16

OAK RIDGE BOYS // NASHVILLE // DECEMBER 13

SHUGGIE OTIS // NASHVILLE // OCTOBER 24

fun. // OCTOBER 22 // ATLANTA

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13

Blues

Aaron Neville, The Civic Theater

Birmingham Pink, BJCC Festival Expressions and Strung Like a Horse, Zydeco Rollin in the Hay, WorkPlay Theater The Molly Ringwalds, Iron Horse Cafe

NASHVILLE Chiodos, Rocketown Jason Isbell, Mercy Lounge/Cannery BallRoom

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16

ATLANTA Vince Gill with Amy Grant, Fabulous Fox Theater The Misfits, The Masquerade

Montgomery Super Bob, Café Firenze II Stephen McCollough Band, Maestro 2300 Bryan Jackson, Coach’s Corner

NASHVILLE The Time Jumpers, 3rd and Lindsley Bar and Grill

ATLANTA Norma Jean, The Masquerade Zedd’s Ded, Metro Skates

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17

ATLANTA Max Bemis, The Masquerade

NEW ORLEANS George Porter Jr., One Eyed Jacks

saturday, DECEMBER 14

ATLANTA Angie Stone, The Loft Yacht Rock Revue, Variety Playhouse Inviolate, Vinyl Rittz, The Masquerade

NASHVILLE Julia Sheer, Rocketown

NASHVILLE John Tesh, Nashville War Memorial Auditorium Brendan Benson and Friends, Ryman Auditorium

ATLANTA

Celtic Women, Symphony Hall Atlanta Dubconscious, Variety Playhouse NEW ORLEANS Jake Miller, House of Blues

MICHAEL THORNTON // MONTGOMERY // DECEMBER 22

CELTIC WOMAN // ATLANTA // DECEMBER 22

BIRMINGHAM The Park Band, Zydeco

MONTGOMERY Derek Sellers, Mellow Mushroom

Fly Golden Eagle, Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom Kevin Gordon Band, High Watt

NEW ORLEANS Terry McDermott and the Bonfires, House of Blues

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15

ATLANTA Abiotic, The Masquerade

Junior, Blue Iguana

NASHVILLE Abiotic, The Masquerade Greg Brown, Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom Hessler, Exit In

NEW ORLEANS

Jay Brown and the Dudes, Venue 10 The Smoking Section, 3rd and Lindsley Bar and Grill Cory Branan, High Watt Rising Appalachia, Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom

THURSday, DECEMBER 19

NASHVILLE

ATLANTA Over the Rhine, Variety Playhouse

BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA// BIRMINGHAM // DECEMBER 20

sunday, DECEMBER 22

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18

NEW ORLEANS NOFX, House of Blues Dec 14- Maze, Saenger Theater

MONTGOMERY

ATLANTA Abbey Road Live, Variety Playhouse

MONTGOMERY Michael Thorton, Santa Barbara

BIRMINGHAM LaGoons, Zydeco

MONTGOMERY V-8 Death Car, Head on the Door Reckless, War Eagle Supper Club Southern Tradition, Playoffs Pub

Montgomery Trademark, Café Firenze II John Bull Band, The Tipping Point

New orleans Auto Tomii and the Invincible Czars, Howlin Wolf Moon Honey, Gasa Gasa

BIRMINGHAM Hed PE, Iron Horse Café

BIRMINGHAM Emancipator, Zydeco Act of Congress, WorkPlay Theater

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20

Birmingham Blind Boys of Alabama, WorkPlay Theater Tim Tyler on the Keys, Zydeco

NASHVILLE

NEW ORLEANS Magnetic Ear, Gasa Gasa

NASHVILLE Oak Ridge Boys, Ryman Auditorium

TERRYMCDERMOTT // NEW ORLEANS // DECEMBER 19

NEW ORLEANS Terry McDermott and the Bonfires, House of

>>> R OA D T R I P D I R E C T O RY Travel the South's best venues. Visit their website for ticket info and more.

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

18

DECEMBER 12 + DECEMBER 26

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

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

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

>>> TUSCALOOSA MUSIC | WHO'S PLAYING AROUND TOWN

MOJO TRIO

BLACK WILLIS

RHYTHM & BREWS // DECEMBER 21

THURSDAY DECEMBER 12

Green Bar: Stand up comedy Jupiter: CBDB

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13

Rhythm & Brews: Jason Miller Jupiter: DJ Houndstooth Green Bar: Ham & Cat

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14

Rhythm & Brews: Farmers Daughter Jupiter: DJ Alchemy Rounders: Sean Rivers Green Bar: Admiral Snackbar

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19

Green Bar: Tuscaloosa Get-Up Afterparty with Black Willis & Golden Monica Rhythm & Brews: Snazz Jupiter: DJ Shaman

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20

Green Bar: Closed for private event Jupiter: DJ Houndstooth

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21

Green Bar: Trivial Pursuits live podcast Rhythm & Brews: Mojo Trio Jupiter:DJ Alchemy

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23

Jupiter: Jupiter Christmas Party, everyone welcome, DJ Fat Pat

Jupiter: Ping Pong Tourney

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26

Jupiter: Ping pong tourney @9 p.m.

Jupiter: DJ Shaman

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27

Jupiter: Open Mic

GREEN BAR // DECEMBER 19

Jupiter: DJ Houndstooth

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18

Rhythm & Brews: DJ ProtoJ Green Bar: Open Mic w/ Ham Bagby Jupiter: Trivia Night

SEAN RIVERS TRIO TO HAVE YOUR BAR AND MUSIC EVENT

OCTOBER 25 & 26 // ROUNDERS

LISTED HERE PLEASE EMAIL PLANETEDITOR@YAHOO.COM

>>> LO C A L B A R S 4th & 23rd

Buffalo Wild Wings // 523-0273

Gallettes // 758-2010

Jackie's Lounge // 758-9179

The Red Shed // 344-4372

1831 // 331-4632

Capones // 248-0255

Gnemis Top Shelf Tavern // 343-0020

The Jupiter // 248-6611

Rhythm & Brews // 750-2992

Alcove // 469-9110

Carpe Vino // 366-8444

Grey Lady // 469-9521

The Legacy // 345-4848

Rooster's Blues House // 334-4507

Bear Trap // 345-2766

Catch 22 // 344-9347

Harry's Bar // 331-4151

Mellow Mushroom // 758-0112

Rounders // 345-4848

Big Al's // 759-9180

Copper Top // 343-6867

Houndstooth // 752-8444

Mikes Place // 764-0185

The Booth // 764-0557

Downtown Pub // 750-0008

Innisfree // 345-1199

Mugshots // 391-0572

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

DECEMBER 12 + DECEMBER 26

19

20

DECEMBER 12 + DECEMBER 26

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

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

BAMA RECRUITING LOOKS GREAT // MILLER DISCUSSES SABAN'S VISIT Christian Miller

Tide coaches have been on the road recently visiting prospects, including several of those on the 2014 class committed to Alabama. One of UA's top commitments in the class is linebacker Christian Miller of Spring Valley HS in Columbia, SC. Nick Saban was in Columbia recently to meet with Miller and his family.

"It was great to have the opportunity to meet with Coach Saban," the 6-4½, 215-pound Miller says. "It was really more of a personal meeting than anything else. What I mean by that is that it gave my family, my mom, an opportunity to sit down and speak with Coach Saban.

He just went over everything about the program, things that I already knew. But it was great that he could review those things in person with my family. That went over well."

Miller, who originally committed to Florida, switched to Alabama last July.

JASON MILLER BAND There's been internet rHYTHM & BREWS // AUGUST 3 speculation that Miller might still be unsure of his decision.

"Obviously I feel very good about Alabama," Miller says. "I wouldn't be committed to them if I didn't feel good about them. I have a good relationship with the coaching staff. Obviously they have a great program. They've been very successful and they help their players have success."

Miller hasn't ruled out the possibility that he might take an official visit to Georgia.

"It's like I've told others, I might take another visit. I might visit Georgia. We'll see," Miller says. "I'm going to visit Alabama [probably January 17] .

"Like I said, I feel good about my commitment. I've not re-

ally been thinking that much about recruiting. This season my goal was to focus on my senior season. I was relaxed as far as recruiting goes and I'm still relaxed about recruiting."

Miller had a banner senior season. In helping Spring Valley to a 12-1 record, Miller had 188 tackles, 25 tackles for losses and 24 sacks.

"From what Alabama tells me, I can help them at all of the linebacker spots," Miller says. "They say that they need a guy who can play different roles. They think I can do that, kind of like Dont'a Hightower did for them. They think I can line up outside as a pass rusher, but I'm not just a pass rusher. I can drop into coverage. I can move inside and play there.

I can move to end and rush the passer off the edge. Having the ability to do all of those things can be helpful to their defense."

REED HEADED TO TUSCALOOSA For Jarran Reed, it's been a long and winding road to Tuscaloosa. But he's almost there.

The 6-3, 305-pound Reed, a junior college defensive lineman at East Mississippi CC in Scooba, MS, is a native of Goldsboro, NC. Coming out of high school, he committed to North Carolina but didn't qualify academically. He ended up at East

Mississippi, where he played in 2012.

During that season, he committed to Ole Miss. But on signing day last February, Reed signed with Florida over Alabama.

He never made it to Gainesville, because he didn't graduate. So he returned to East Mississippi this season.

With his academics now straightened out, Reed has decided that he wants to play for Alabama. He recently committed to Tide head coach Nick Saban. He announced the decision after a visit from Coach Saban and Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart.

"It's final this time," Reed says with a sigh of relief. "I'm glad that it's finally over.

I'm very excited about Alabama. I'm ready to get there. I'm going to be there sometime in early January. I'm not exactly sure which day yet, but I know I'll be there in about a month."

Reed chose Alabama over several schools, including Ole Miss. The Rebels are expected to continue their pursuit, but Reed is set for Alabama.

"They have a great program. That's one of the big things," Reed says. "They have great coaches. Coach Saban is a straightforward guy. If he tells you something,

that's the way it is. I like that. He told me today that he really wants me at Alabama.

I had a great meeting with Coach Saban and Coach Smart today. I've pretty much known for a while that Alabama is where I was going. I knew it was time to go ahead and announce after I met with Coach Saban and Coach Smart today."

Reed's performance this fall was crucial in helping East Mississippi to an 12-0 record and a national championship. Reed recorded 64 tackles and 4½ sacks.

"Coach Saban and Coach Smart told me that I will play a few positions on the defensive line," Reed says. "In the 3-4, I'll be a five technique defensive end. In a four man front, I'll be a three technique. That's what they've told me. They like that I've learned how to play all of the positions already. They think I will help them out pretty quickly. That's what I'm looking to do."

Gary Harris is Sports Director of Tuscaloosa's WVUA-TV, and can be seen nightly at 5, 6, and 10 p.m.

“I remember how scared to death I was as a little kid of Santa Claus.” ~ Nick Saban ~

Jarran Reed

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

DECEMBER 12 + DECEMBER 26

21

>>>

I N V E S T I G AT I O N | C O N tinue D F R O M P A G E 4

THE GOOD, THE BAD // PRIVATE PRISON good condition, with no signs of life save for a few scattered, white messages written on bunks. According to Mullins, the short notes, sometime illegible, notes were written in toothpaste. A single word inscribed in a crusty white film on the underside of a top bunk of one bed read simply: Ecuador.

Some inmates are allowed contact visits with relatives or friends, Mullins said, but it is a privilege that must be earned and not a right extended to all.

Along the inside blocks of the prison that run between different recreational or housing areas, parallel lines on the concrete floor, spaced about five feet apart, snake along the corridors and serve a crucial purpose within facility protocol according to Mullins.

“We use these yellow lines on the floor to maintain discipline, to see people and basically maintain the safety of the officers who are trying to move the prisoners in an orderly fashion from place to place,” he said.

Mullins, who sported cowboy boots and blue jeans, dragged on a cigarette under his thick mustache as he exited the corridor and proceeded to observe the nearly empty courtyard. As he looked over the rim of his tinted glasses to the other side of the chain-link fence, he explained the financial plight of the prison.

When the state did not renew their

22

DECEMBER 12 + DECEMBER 26

leases for bed space at Perry County, the prisoners were moved and the population numbers dropped according to Mullins, who then said that the statistics were not a reflection on the operation of the facility by the prison’s administration. Despite Perry County’s past with breakouts, the low number of inmates under watch of a new administration appears to exist almost harmoniously, with few acts of violence. “[The prisoners] were taken to a number of facilities, mostly in central Alabama, but many went North,” he said.

“States pulled out people because of cost. If it had something to do with this place or how it is run, I would not be here. If the warden under contract proves to be a problem, then as I said—I would not be here.”

The prison courtyard, which covers an expansive stretch that features basketball and volleyball courts, workout areas and pay phones, was virtually deserted with only a small group of inmates casually occupying a single picnic table.

Mullins said that with such a small population, the prison could better facilitate the number of inmates that they do house. Given the lower numbers, things like food and services can be properly catered.

“We can hold roughly 250 inmates through our dining facilities at one time

and to see it when it is full is impressive,” he said. “We serve them based on the company menu and with a smaller population, we just needed smaller amounts of it. Here, you could bring in a guy who is overweight and he will lose some pounds or you take a guy who is under weight and they will gain some with the quality of food we serve. “ Lt. Charita Dial, who has been employed at Perry Country Correctional for the last six years, agreed with the quality of services provided to the inmates and said that this ultimately helps curve the frequency of violent incidents and aids in the corrections process.

“We have access to everything the inmates could need with our facilities so there is no need for tension, such as violence, because we facilitate everyone,” she said. “The inmates also eat well, so if they are always getting something good to eat, chances are there will not be as much violence or tension because they are more satisfied as opposed to being on edge.”

The size of the prison population can also be taxing on the corrections officers who walk the block due to the infrequency of incidences that require attention. However, Dial also pointed to the opportunities to be had through the Perry County Correctional Center and the exciting possibilities for those employed in such a facility.

“It is tedious with a small population because once everyone is fed, so much time is just spent watching them and nothing may happen but there is the possibility that it might,” she said. “It has been an awesome experience here with a lot of different training, like with immigration and the U.S Marshalls—also having a variety of inmates makes for a good learning experience. If you are looking for something different, or to broaden your horizons on different types of law enforcement or corrections training and methods, then this is it—Every day is different.”

Desmond Blake, 21, who has currently served one month for felony possession of a firearm, said that the prison offers a variety of outlets for the inmates to ultimately get through their time and stay out once it is over. According to Blake, the overarching goal is rehabilitation.

“We make good use of the facilities here like the library and computers,” he said. “We use the computers to write letters to Judges or people like that—its peaceful. The staff try’s to see what your problem is in order to help you, at least as much as [The administration] can let them help you.”

Inmates who exhibit good behavior and volunteered were, at one point, allowed to occupy various odd jobs around the complex, but according to Mullins, the available jobs have decreased and the inmates must maintain the administrations unwavering trust in order to keep their position.

“The last few inmates we had, we were actually able to give work if they volunteered,” he said. “We had some of them

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

do pots and pans after meals and one that did laundry. I use to have a guy clean my floors, but since, we’ve had to keep them out of that section of the facilities. I am picky about the people who work. They have to adhere to strict rules, for example, several like to wear their pants sagging and if I see that, they lose their job.”

Mullins then alluded to more opportunities that the prison offers inmates in order to make the stay more bearable. This is done in the hope that comfortable inmates will be less violent ones. However, the prison does not see many profits from all of the amenities that they offer.

“Here we have a library with computers that allow inmates to do law research with Lexus-Nexus, but they are not connected to let the inmates surf the web,” he said. “We also have a regular library and office space. Inmates also are allowed phone time, which they purchase from the commissary. We allow the phones to come on in the mornings and turn it off at bedtime. It would not matter to me if they cut the phone service off, I don’t see even a small cut of it” Additionally, Mullins said the prison provides other forms of entertainment to inmates, primarily by law, to ensure that the peace is kept. While Mullins said he knows nearly all of the inmates, the context of their relationship may be under different pretenses.

“The inmates are allowed to watch satellite television and decide amongst themselves what they are going to watch.

It is mostly news, church or sports,” he said. “ I know just about all of the inmates here but if I know your name it is because I simply know you, or you’ve done something bad” Occupying the job of warden entails several responsibilities, many of which can pose an immediate physical danger to the person holding the position.

According to Mullins, this can often spill over into his life outside of the Perry County Correctional Center and not always from former inmates.

“I might run into the people who worked here that were laid off in the community every now and then but not often and on occasion I will run into ex-inmates,” he said. “I can’t say I don’t worry about one I’ve possibly upset and that might have a grudge against me when they get out.”

In the wake of a funding shortage, the possibility exists that LCS corrections system could shut the prison down or sell it to a state reluctant to purchase bed space. However, Mullins said he enjoys the work because of the difference that can be made in a person’s life through a well-run facility.

“Doesn’t everyone worry about the company they work for shutting down?” he said. “If they shut it down it is because they have to. As with the corporate world, if the need is there, you have to provide a service. But this is a nice job and I like it because there are many here that you actually can do something with and help.”

>>> HOROSCOPES |

>>> PUZZLEMAniA |

week l y o verv i ew

Sudoku

You may be caught in a difficult quandary. Your attention to other people's needs may draw you into dramas that you don't want to be part of. As a result, you may be indecisive and unsure of how to proceed. You must find the balance between taking care of your needs and being considerate of others. You'll be confident of your decision once you've made it.

Once you have your feelings under control, you can be more expansive in other parts of your life. You can branch out, reach toward others, and make important connections that will help move you toward success and good fortune. There's opportunity available to you today, so don't blow it by letting your emotions get the better of you!

Instead of directing all your energy outward and dominating the conversation with your ideas, consider listening. Let ideas flow your way. Be receptive to opinions and ideas. A wonderful mental and emotional expansion occurs when you receive instead of being so concerned about projecting out. Be more focused on what's happening on the inside instead of so worried about events on the

Things will be moving more in your favor as the days wear on. An easygoing, sensitive energy dominates the atmosphere. It will be easier for you to be yourself. Your loving, nurturing qualities are accentuated. You may have the urge to buy groceries and cook a wonderful meal for yourself and others. You're happy to open up your home and offer your hospitality.

You may feel like you're spinning your wheels today, especially as the end of the day draws near. Nothing seems to be going your way.

Things aren't really as bad as you think. Most likely, part of your uneasiness has to do with anticipation of upcoming events. Difficult tensions can result when you get irritable for no reason. Don't make the situation any worse than it needs to be.

You're in a good position to make a major breakthrough. Your sensitivity works to your advantage. It gives you insight into things that others miss. The good news is that this comes with an extra grounding force that helps you be more practical in your decisions and rational in your actions. This wonderful combination helps you attain the success and good fortune you deserve.

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

Don't get too hooked on the free spirit that may dominate the morning hours. Have your fun at that time, but all good things must come to an end at some point. You may be called on for a more serious job when evening rolls around. Instead of plowing ahead and working to get things done the way you want, be more sensitive to others and more grounded in your approach.

You may feel you're coming to a dramatic emotional climax regarding an issue that you take personally. There's a strong force stirring up your feelings, but that doesn't mean you have to spin out of control.

While this emotion builds within you, there's a solid, stable force helping you keep your feet on the ground. This lifeline is always there

Be careful of letting your erratic, willful nature dominate the scene.

Go with the flow and be more sensitive to the people around you.

Stay grounded, focused, and aware of your emotions. This may be easier said than done, but this kind of behavior is key to making the most of today. There's opportunity in doing things in a slightly different way than you have been.

You may be scolded for something you failed to take care of properly.

There's a wonderfully expansive feeling to the day that you should capitalize on. Don't get too bogged down with the little things. Don't get overwhelmed with what you did wrong. There are so many more wonderful things to celebrate. Why spoil them with nitpicky details?

The beginning of the day may start out boisterous and easygoing. The object of the game for you will be to have some fun. As the day wears on, you'll feel like you need to get more organized. You have to start planning ahead and getting focused in terms of what tasks you need to take care of when.

You may experience a bit of tension and resistance with someone during the early part of the day, but things will ease as evening draws near. People will be more flexible as the day wears on, and be more receptive to your perspective. The more organized and grounded you are, the more room there is for expansion and growth in all the different parts of your world.

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

DECEMBER 12 + DECEMBER 26

23

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

Across 1. Scamps 5. City about 50 miles east of Syracuse 10. They're honored in May 14. U.S.S.R.'s ____ Mountains 15. Tycoon 16. Expansive story 17. Slip cause 19. Interoffice note 20. Non-Latino 21. Shaky one 23. One-___ (old ball game) 26. "Mrs. Miniver" Oscar winner 27. "To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells..."

32. Minor minor 33. "___ your tintype!"

34. Genetic enzyme 38. Charitable fraternity: Abbr.

40. Popular mall jewelry store 42. Estrada or Satie 43. Capital of Yemen: var.

45. "Paganini" composer 47. Atlanta Braves' div.

48. Wrestling ploy 51. Toward the back of a ship 54. Finish the road 55. Tourist's guidebook 58. Gucci alternative 62. Hairstyle for Macy Gray 63. Washington waterway 66. Spongy ball substance 67. Right: Prefix 68. Low Country big cheese 69. Tennis champ Steffi 70. Actress Allen of "Enough" 71. Snake sound Down 1. World Baseball Classic team 2. Island in County Donegal

3. Cottonpickin' 4. Ski event 5. "Kill Bill" actress Thurman 6. Apex 7. "___ no kick from champagne": song lyric 8. Round dance leader 9. State 10. It might be permeable 11. Some GM cars 12. Old copy machine, briefly 13. Hold in contempt 18. __ do 22. Bride's ___ of honor 24. Completely, after "from" 25. Bottom lines 27. Wagering parlors, for short 28. California county east of Sonoma 29. Do too much of 30. Flag holders 31. Like some grounders 35. River of Pisa 36. Cat's resting spot 37. Made do 39. Slackened 41. FDR's mother 44. Pasture portion 46. Replies to an invitation, briefly 49. Place to dip a quill 50. Villains' opposites 51. Opposite of a whimper 52. "60 Minutes" co-host 53. #NAME? 56. River at Chartres 57. Mil. units 59. Autobahn car 60. "CSI" samples 61. U.S.N. bigwigs 64. Words of doubt 65. "___ Skylark" SOLUTION FOR PUZZLEMANIA CROSSWORD ON PAGE 27

24

DECEMBER 12 + DECEMBER 26

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>>> CHARITY | W ILLIAM B A R S H OP

"GIVE MUSIC" DRIVE TO COLLECT SUPPLIES FOR BLUES CAMPS

A labama B lues P roject is seeking instruments and accessories for blues lessons for at-risk children A non-profit organization, The Alabama Blues Project offers blues music camps and in-school music programs for children ages 8 to 18, providing lessons in guitar, drums, vocals and harmonica. From now until Dec. 31, the Alabama Blues Project will be collecting new and used guitars, drums and accessories through its "Give Music" drive, with collection locations set up at Oz Records, Guitar Gallery and Southeastern Music Gallery in Tuscaloosa. The items collected will be used to provide afterschool, summer and in-school blues music lessons, where the instruments are provided for use by the students.

Robert Randolph & The Family Band

Flo Rida

Train

ACTOR'S CHARITABLE THEATER // LES MISERABLES

The Actor’s Charitable Theater will present Les Miserables Dec. 13 – 16 at the historic Bama Theater. The theater company hopes to carry on its tradition of widening the scope of Tuscaloosa’s theater community and put on an entertaining rendition of the Claude-Michel Schonberg musical, based on the book by Victor Hugo.

The role of Jean Valjean will be played by Sean Randall, a University of Alabama graduate who covers the trucker community at Randall-Reilly Publishing. Randall will portray Valjean’s attempts to escape a 19-year prison sentence for stealing a loaf of bread. The lead female role, Fantine, will be played by Leslie Hoyle, a young actress from Cottondale, Ala. Fantine is the young mother forced into prostitution to support her illegitimate daughter, Cosette. The director of the show, Joey Lay, is also one of the founding members of the ACT. The idea behind the ACT is to enrich the theater community of Tuscaloosa and use the money the productions raise to support local charities. The group started producing shows in 2008, and prides itself on giving opportunities to people who don’t normally have the chance to be on stage. Since then the ACT has put on well-received performances of hit musicals like Sweeney Todd and The Color Purple. This winter’s production follows the widely acclaimed film version of Les Miserables starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway.

Tickets are on sale at theactonline.com for Dec. 13 – 16 at the Bama Theater.

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DECEMBER 12 + DECEMBER 26

25

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

THE NIGHT SANTA CLAUS SAVED MY LIFE

At the age of 17, I’m walking the late-night long walk home from my job as a radio announcer at WUOA-FM on the University of Alabama campus.

It’s nearly Christmas and, like many Tuscaloosa days, the morning began warm and humid, so I wore my short-sleeved shirt and jeans to work.

Now, a cold front is upon me, and suddenly I’m walking home from work in sub-freezing weather circa 1959 A.D. It’s cold, so cold.

My Cushman motor scooter, held together with duct tape and optimism, has finally broken down and the only way to get from the University Campus to Eastwood Avenue is to trudge. I have to walk east on University Boulevard and cut across the railroad tracks to get to 15th Street, but it’s getting harder and harder to do this, my breath coming in short and frosty gasps.

Everything starts to freeze up.

My painful nose and painfully cold toes are protesting. My bare arms are screaming for fur. Gloveless hands are poked down into my too-thin pockets. Thighs are cold for lack of thermal underwear. My teeth are gritted tight against their chatter and at this point, I’m wondering whether I can make it. I remember all those tales about people freezing to death without knowing it, and at this moment, I’m not knowing if I can make it.

I’m tired of painful walking.

It’s too cold to walk.

Now I’m feeling drowsy...

What will be the last thing I see?

Childhood comes ‘round in my mind. There’s Santa, coming to take me back into his arms. I can always depend on Santa. He’s made me feel good in the worst of times.

Wait—where am I? I’m walking along in the darkness—and I’m hallucinating about SANTA! But now I hear Santa, I actually hear him.

This has got to be the end of me, I chatter to myself, leaning into the wind.

What I hear are sleigh bells, and who has sleigh bells in the Deep South on a snowless, freezing-cold night?

I look around to find Santa, and see an old pickup truck, trundling along, a loose chain dangling from its rear gate, making those sleigh bell sounds. The truck slowly passes, heading toward the railroad tracks. I shake my head and laugh involuntarily.

The rush of adrenalin gives me enough energy and body heat to jumpstart myself.

I’m inspired and ready to walk faster, now. The truck’s chains have given me the boost I need to survive.

Then, squinting ahead, I see a red-mittened hand and a flash of fluffy white cuff poke outside the driver’s window of the pickup truck for an instant, as it disappears in the distance. A wave?

I rub my eyes and the truck is gone. In my confusion, I’ve forgotten to try to hitch a ride. But I resume my trek.

My pace quickens, and soon I am home at 26 Eastwood Avenue, warming my hands and thighs over the floor furnace, drinking hot chocolate, and remembering with a sheepish grin and unclenching teeth the moment when I really believed Santa was coming to rescue me.

Now, so many decades later, I really do believe it (Jim Reed's Red Clay Diary column does not end with a period (.) because it never ends) (Jim's book, Christmas Comes But Once a Day, is off the press in an expanded edition. If you'd like to purchase a copy, contact jim: jim@jimreedbooks.com )

©2013 by Jim Reed

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

BUKU FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES LINEUP

Snoop Lion

Medical science has shown that calories in sugar-loaded drinks can lead to obesity, diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. CHOOSE HEALTH. Sugar is addictive.

SOLUTION FOR PUZZLEMAINIA SUDOKO PAGE 23

SOLUTION FOR PUZZLEMAINIA CROSSWORD PAGE 24

@TreyBrooks88

The preparation for Festival Season just seems to start earlier and earlier each and every year. Already, Hangout has sold out of early bird tickets. It seems like Voodoo and Bear Creek just finished by the time Bonnaroo and Wakarusa started making announcements. And as new festivals are popping up in the spring, we are already getting artists announcements before New Years.

One of these spring festivals to announce this Tuesday was Buku, an electronicheavy offering in New Orleans industrial dock area. It will be held March 21st and 22nd.

Last year’s Buku festival was headlined by Kid Cudi, Calvin Harris, Primus, Passion Pit, Kendrick Lamar and STS9. This year’s offering promises to be just as exciting while keeping to the festival’s electronic focus.

The main headliner for 2014 will be one of the most unique bands in rock history: The Flaming Lips. Fronted by wild-haired troubadour and Virgin Mobile spokesman Wayne Coyne, the Lips engage in neo-psychadelia while staging elaborate shows filled with an ever changing array of props including bubbles and bunny suits. While “Do You Realize” is the closest they’ve come to having a radio hit, they have a loyal following that makes them festival headliners wherever they choose to play.

While the Lips are a psychedelic rock act, electronic music dominates the rest of the lineup. Of these acts, the biggest name is probably David Guetta. The French DJ is world renowned, and is recognized as one of the greatest house DJs on the current circuit. The World Music Award winner dominates the dance charts in many countries.

He’s joined in the lineup by electro-pop princess Ellie Golding. Golding brings a unique voice to a genre that relies on instrumentals to captivate crowds. She has worked with some of the world’s top DJs and producers and continues to expand the popular concept of electronic music. Some more big names include Glitch Mob, Zedd, Kaskade, Zeds Dead, Chromeo, Lotus and Baauer.

Rap and Hip-hop will also be well represented at Buku. Probably the biggest rap name there will be Bone Thugs-N-Harmonly. Bone Thugs were one of the first rap groups to incorporate harmonized singing into their music. They have proven to be very influential on the melding of pop into rap music and vice-versa. Underground rap mogul Tyler the Creator will also grace the festival stage. Tyler is the leader of the Odd Future collective and also host Loiter Squad on Adult Swim. Some more rappers to visit New Orleans for Buku include Pusha T and Schoolboy Q. The talent at Buku goes far beyond just the headliners. Some other artists to watch out for include Beats Antique, Phantogram, Explosions in the Sky, Skream, Wavves, Paper Diamond, Miami Horror, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and many others. This is just the initial lineup, so look for more artists to be announced as March crawls closer and closer.

Buku is setting up shop in a city known for its music and its music festivals. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is world-renowned and brings in one of the biggest and most diverse festival lineups every April at the fairgrounds.

On the other side of the city, in the scenic City Park, Voodoo Music and Arts Experience combines modern rock hit makers with local New Orleans fare. Buku completes a music fan’s tour of the city by taking them to the industrial side of the city, a perfect setting for the electro-heavy festival. Hopefully, Buku can become a staple of the city as it complements the other larger festivals nicely.

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