// IN THIS ISSUE GOING POSTAL CREATURE COMFORTS MAKING MEALS CUT AND COLOR
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PUBLISHER
MANAGING EDITOR
W I L L I AM BA R S HOP
COVER DESIGN
L AU R A L I N E B E R R Y
EVENTS
C H A S E DY E R
ROAD TRIP
T R E Y B R OOK S
RESTAURANT GUIDE DOC FRANKENSTEIN
PRODUCTION
L AU R A L I N E B E R R Y
IMAGES
Images: Creative Common License unless otherwise credited.
ADVERTISING MA R T Y R OBERSON 205.523.4 668
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS REGINALD ALLEN R A I H A B A J WA WILLIAM BARSHOP CO U R T N E Y BLA N CH A R D K A I T LY N B LO U N T TREY BROOKS KELSEY CAMERON JORDAN CISSELL MARGIE GOLDSMITH SHEENA QUIZON GREGG GARY HARRIS C I N DY H U G G I N S KEVIN LEDGEWOOD BRETT REID VA N R O B E R T S JON ROGERS RACHEL STEINER ALEJANDRA TENORIO
Planet Weekly P. O . B o x 2 3 1 5 Tuscaloosa, AL 35403 Phone: 205.792.7239 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. © 2015 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 four 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.
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STORIES
ENTERTAINMENT
4 ART WIZARD DAVID GOSSELIN // MARGARET CLEVENGER
5 CHAMBER NEWS
Artist David Gosselin conjures beautifully rendered, detailed works of art by applying small, distinct dots of color to form an image.
L I N DA W. J OHN S ON
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7 POST OFFICE PIES // SHEENA GREGG
Adding to the T-town pizza options is Post Office Pies, modeled after the original Birmingham Avondale location. Post Office Pies provides fresh in-house ingredients with pizza sauce made from scratch daily.
9 MEAL PREPPING 101 // RACHEL STEINER
6 WINE/BEER REVIEWS 9 RESTAURANT GUIDE 14 COMMUNITY ARTS
Life gets busy, we work long hours and the thought of preparing a healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner for our families is overwhelming and sometimes can seem impossible to manage. Learn the benefits of meal prepping.
15 MOVIE REVIEW
18 2016 ALBUM REVIEWS // ALAN SCULLEY
16 PET PLANET
Cheap Trick, Bob Mould and Peter Wolf: Reviews and ratings of their newly released albums.
19 ROAD TRIP 20 PUZZLEMANIA / EDITORIAL CARTOON 21 HOROSCOPE 22 EVENTS
HIGH TIDE SPORTS 23 SABAN TALKS HOT TOPICS GARY HARRIS
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F E AT U R E | M A R G A R E T C L E V E N G E R
ART WIZARD DAVID GOSSELIN
H
e is known simply as “The Wizard.” Artist David Gosselin acquired the nickname when he was a student at Livingston University (now The University of West Alabama), but the master of the paintbrush declined to expound upon the reason for the moniker beyond saying, “I was a child of the times.” Regardless of why Gosselin was first dubbed “The Wizard,” it is easy to see why a museum director still refers to him that way. Gosselin conjures beautifully rendered, detailed works of art by applying small, distinct dots of color to form an image. The technique is known as pointillism, but Gosselin said “I just call it dots. I use a liner brush and for some things I take three or four coats of paint.” Originally from Rhode Island, Gosselin made his way to Livingston to attend college because his high school guidance counselor suggested he do so. “Our counselor went to school with Dean Homer who was at Livingston,” Gosselin said. “He said ‘Do you guys want to go to college, get the hell out of Rhode Island? Go down and see my buddy Jim Homer.’ So six or eight of us did, and I’m the only one who had the sense to stay. I love it here. No snow. Up there you have to shovel down to find your car.” Gosselin studied “a little bit of art” in college, but did not graduate. He has continued to create art while he has made his living by painting houses. Creating art is a way for Gosselin to rid himself of irritating thoughts, his own form of therapy. “It’s my complaint department,” he said. “That’s the way I get them (complaints) out of my head. If I don’t do them, they just stay in there, in my little Rolodex between my ears.” In Holiday in Hell, Gosselin has painted his vision of who would be roasting down under and includes Hitler, Stalin, a terrorist bomber, a Nazi soldier, and a pedophile priest. The devil’s face in the center of the painting is from a Halloween mask Gosselin had as a child. “I don’t have the mask anymore but I remembered it,” he said. “It was a translucent plastic; you could see your face but it looked like your face was once removed with no expression.” Gosselin often works in oils, using bright colors to fill canvases or Masonite from edge to edge, requiring a second or third, or even a fourth, look to see everything he has put into his painting. Short Walk Down a Long Hall is a hinged triptych that is a biological history of the world. Fish, reptiles, a dinosaur, and flying insects find their way through a series of cased openings. Gosselin spent eight years working on it. Spending that much time on one painting means he usually has three or four works going at the same time. “While one is drying, I’m working on another,” he said. “When I get an idea, I try to get as much done as I possibly can. My mind wanders; it ping pongs all over the place.” Gosselin does not do a lot of drawing on the canvas before he paints because he said he thinks that would be too much like using a coloring book. “So I just let it go on canvas,” he said. “Sometimes I do a
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pen-and-ink and the painting at the same time. I try to work on the painting just one step ahead of the ink because if you make a mistake in ink, it’s pretty unforgiving and you find a Plan B real fast. Sometimes you have to scrap the whole thing.” When times were lean in the 1970s and Gosselin was out of work, he found a job with the CETA Program (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) painting dumpsters and fire hydrants. He transformed the plain garbage receptacles with likenesses of Jimi Hendrix, Duane Allman, and Frank Zappa. “I had a good time doing it,” he said. But early one Monday morning, Gosselin was greeted with an unexpected and unpleasant surprise. “There was a dumpster at one of the local grocery stores and one of their freezers went out on a Saturday night. I got there Monday and it was full of thawed out chickens. That was a rough day. Beyond awful. It was seven o’clock in the morning when I wandered up on that thing and I bailed quickly.” Kate Cherry, executive director of the Meridian (Mississippi) Museum of Art, has admired Gosselin’s work since first seeing it several years ago at the Brass Monkey in Livingston. “He had several pieces on the wall and I remember the monkeys were playing pool,” Cherry said. “The way he portrays animals as people is quite interesting. He won our People’s Choice Award in 2014 for Big Game Hunt.” Cherry said Gosselin is a quiet person who keeps a low profile. “You can’t find much about him on the internet,” she said. “Last year when he brought his work, I did not see him, and I did not see him when he picked it up.” Cherry said that her staff members at the museum do not refer to Gosselin by name. “We always call him by his nickname, The Wizard.” Nathan Purath, co-director of the Coleman Center for the Arts in York, Alabama, is quite familiar with Gosselin’s work. “He’s had solo shows and been in lots of group shows here,” Purath said. “Gosselin is a very important figure in the West Alabama
art community. He creates these really imaginative, outlandish, fantastic subjects. He definitely has the skills to render realistic imagery and his work is a fantastic realism. He has won tons of awards here.” Gosselin’s artwork can be seen before ever entering the downtown York art center. The artist restored an old mural on the side of the brick building that is home to the Coleman Center. The mural advertises Waco Pep as The King of Motor Fuel, a product that was marketed in the Southeast in the 1920s with the motto “Gets You There With Power to Spare.” Part of the restoration includes a blue-eyed, blackhaired beauty with a classic movie star look, sitting behind the steering wheel of
an automobile. Gosselin has utilized his history major and biology minor in many of his works like Short Walk Down a Long Hall, Big Game Hunt, and The Alchemist. He is, in general, an animal lover with one major exception. “I hate squirrels,” he said. “They’ll chew on your wires and burn your house down and not even get electrocuted. And they are little vandals. I had two tomato plants with fifty tomatoes growing on them, and I didn’t get one. Not one. The squirrels got them all. They come down in droves, like cattle cruising across your lawn. It’s the only thing I shoot at with my pellet gun.” So you are not likely to find one of the bushy tailed rodents in any of Gosselin’s paintings, except, perhaps, in something like Holiday in Hell. For his painting The Alchemist, Gosselin researched an archaic alphabet that is no longer in use. The two men in the painting are on a mission to find the correct formula by which to turn everything they have into gold. Gosselin carefully chose the words he wanted from the ancient language and said the writing roughly translates to “The boss is wrong, gold is gold, and it can’t be made.” Gosselin usually paints from an image in front of him rather than from memory. “My memory has gotten a little sketchy,” he said. “You only get so much room and then you have to cull some of what’s up there to make more room. That’s what getting these ideas down does. It clears up a little bit of space for something else.” Gosselin’s art will be featured at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, 620 Greensboro Avenue, located on the same block as the BamaTheatre, in downtown Tuscaloosa in June and July, 2016.
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>>> N E W S | T H E C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
NEWS
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Past Chairs Meet for Spring Luncheon
The current and a number of former past chairmen of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama met for a Spring Luncheon, sponsored by Embassy Suites. Front, from left, Dan Blakely, Gene Poole, Jim Harrison III, Kim Ingram, Verta Barr Meherg, Roger Sayers, Tommy Hester, Norman Crow. Back, from left, Bryan Kindred, Jordan Plaster, Mark Sullivan, Jim Flemming, Terry Waters, Robert Shaw Jr., Randy Skagen, Jimmy Warren and Sam Faucett.
Civic Hall of Fame Hosts Inaugural Social
Members of the Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame met for their Inaugural Social on Tuesday evening at Indian Hills Country Club. The Civic Hall of Fame honors exceptional citizens who have made significant longterm contributions to the overall development of Tuscaloosa County, particularly the quality, livability and economic progress of the community. The next Civic Hall of Fame class will be inducted in October. In this photo, Sam Faucett, Jonathan Hood and David Pass enjoy the event.
April Breakfast & Biz at Capstone Bank Great Venue for Networking
Chamber members who dropped by Capstone Bank were treated to networking on their balcony overlooking University Boulevard at this week’s Breakfast & Biz. The quarterly networking event is held from 7 a.m. - 8:30 a.m., and is a great option for members unable to attend evening networking events. The next Breakfast & Biz will be held July 26 at Glory Bound Gyro Co.
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MAY 12 + MAY 26
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>>> W I N E R E V I E W | J O N R O G E R S
DAVID BRUCE PINOT NOIR
D
avid Bruce Pinot Noir comes from the David Bruce Winery in Los Gatos, California, USA. The winery was founded by David in 1964 (note the bottle picture) in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He’s said to have cleared the land himself and hand planted the vineyard. At the time, he was actually a dermatologist and he divided his time between his practice and the winery until 1985 when he retired from his medical practice. I received this wine as a gift from my generous next door neighbors. They’ve graced me with other great wines in the past, including Honig Cabernet Sauvignon and Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. I shared this wine’s tasting duties with my good pal “Big Al.” Specifically, we tasted the David Bruce Pinot Noir 2012 Sonoma County. APPEARANCE In the glass, this wine is fairly translucent and cranberry to burgundy in color. I called it “delicate looking.” The wine exhibited fine and slowly falling legs, which were numerous in quantity. AROMA On the nose we were greeted with classic Pinot Noir aroma. Cranberry was predominant, with a smokey note as well. I noted a bit of Bing cherry in there too. It all worked together very well and made for a pleasant aromatic experience. We perceived just a mild hint of alcohol in the aroma. David Bruce Pinot Noir alcohol content 14.7% by volume per the bottle. We were very surprised at this, as our guesses were much closer to 13%. Nice job by the winemaker in terms of minimizing the alcohol burn in the aroma!
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TASTE Much like the aroma, the wine’s taste was classic Pinot Noir. Al called out a very mild citrus hint, which I agreed with. We both noted cherry, however it was very muted. We both loved the taste. It was complex and balanced with no single aspect overtaking the other. We also noticed that the taste from a fresh pour was no different than the wine that had been in the glass for a bit. You don’t need to wait for this one to breathe before enjoying it! MOUTHFEEL & TANNINS Mouthfeel was quite smooth and the tannins were well behaved and supple. I noticed them all over the palate. Al noticed them “up the middle of the tongue.” He immediately stated, “Which is unusual for me.” I asked him why and he said he normally notices tannins on his soft palate and the edges of his tongue. So, something a little different there with this wine. FINISH The wine finished especially long for a Pinot Noir and was quite enjoyable. There was no evidence of alcohol in the breathe out, again pleasantly surprising us. OVERALL OPINION Overall we found this to be a very sippable and enjoyable classic Pinot Noir. Al (never at a loss for words) said “Loved it! When there’s a lot going on with a great wine, it challenges the mind and the palate.” I couldn’t have said it better myself! David Bruce Pinot Noir price $29.99. Pricey but worth it! Suggested Food Pairing Don’t pair it with anything. It’s that good.
>>> B E E R R E V I E W | B R E T T R E I D
CREATURE COMFORTS // COSMIK DEBRIS DOUBLE IPA I n just two very short years, Creature Comforts, out of Athens, GA., has really hit their stride and made a name for themselves. Really, think about starting a brewery where Terrapin, one of the largest breweries in the Southeast, calls home and then making beer that, personally, think is much better. That has to be a serious blow to Terrapin, but you would be surprised. This type of friendly competition only forces each company to work harder and grow stronger. Aside from all of that, Creature Comforts has been releasing some smaller batches of really amazing and unique brews. The first of which I had was a tart cherry Berliner Weisse with a beautiful pale red hue and an intense sour bite. The second, and most likely to aid in a life changing episode, is Cosmik Debris. Y’all, this beer is something else and if you remember the rarity I mentioned about Tropicalia, then magnify that by 10 for this beer. Luckily, my best friend lives in Atlanta and we believe he may have gotten the last four pack in the city, but let it be known that I firmly believe that nobody deserves it more than me, for obvious reasons. Here are my thoughts. First of all, Creature Comforts cans, as I’m sure I’ve mentioned, are probably some of the best in the industry. Bold blocks of color along with a clean design really make these stand out from others on the shelf. Also, something that I’ve noticed with several breweries lately is the label isn’t printed on the aluminum itself, but rather a plastic shrink wrap on the can. I researched it a bit and found that the price difference is ASTRONOMICAL in difference. This undoubtedly saves the brewery so much money in production costs and you really can’t tell a difference until you’re holding the can and attempting to take the label off like I was. As we poured the beer, you immediately notice two things: 1. This beer is thick; almost stout-thick, I mean it pours like syrup. 2. You get this amazing aroma of fresh hops, pine, citrus, resin, all of the above. It pours a hazy deep orange color with a fluffy white head that hangs around for a while and sticks to the side of the glass as it recedes. As you take the first smell you get a ton of the hops like I said earlier, but also a nice blend of malts as well. You can also tell right from the jump that this beer is dangerous; meaning that the alcohol makes itself known almost immediately and at 8% it’s a little difficult to hide. Taste is nothing short of amazing, but that’s pretty much the norm for Creature Comforts. I would honestly love to know how they achieve such flavor in their beers. I know of several other breweries that pack the hops into beers, yet are not nearly as flavorful. You first get flavors of pineapple, melon, and other citrus on your tongue first, but that is soon followed by a dank, more oppres-
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sive hop flavor that drives home the DIPA name. You get a little bit of a malty backbone in there that really rounds out the whole beer and tones down the hops at the end of each sip. When they first announced this beer, they stated that they kept the grain bill fairly simple so that they could let the hops shine through, and did they ever. This is hop overload in the best way possible and to get such a cornucopia of flavors in one beer is something truly special. Bravo, Creature Comforts, bravo indeed. My thoughts on the mouthfeel revert back to how the beer poured. It’s thick and creamy, much like a stout would be, but finishes lighter than I expected. After the beer warmed a little bit, there was a tingling sensation on my tongue from the hops; it wasn’t expected, but it was kind of welcomed. Actually, I kind of liked it. Alcohol has a big role in this beer and you can taste it all the way through. If I’m drinking a robust double IPA, I want that alcohol burn. I want to know that what I’m drinking could take out a small animal. It’s comforting and often not executed properly. Sometimes I’ll get beers that are labeled “double” or “imperial” and really just hit way below the mark or just don’t taste good, but this one is gold stars all the way around. Overall, this beer is a magnificent execution of the style, a perfect representation of the brand, and just a damn good beer overall. I would easily keep my fridge stocked if this were made year-round or if it made it to Birmingham for that matter. This one only pokes its head around March in their taproom, around Athens, and sparingly in their Atlanta markets. If you see this beacon of hope for the beer world, grab as much as you can (which will probably be only one four pack per customer) and drink it. Don’t age this one, because you’ll definitely miss out on the extreme hop freshness that’s packed into this beer. Find it. Drink it. That’s really all I can say.
>>> R E S TAU R A N T R E V I E W | S H E E N A G R E G G
POST OFFICE PIES//MORE THAN AMAZING PIZZA P izza is a big deal in this town. Sure it’s an important food staple for every community, but in a college town with football as king, there’s no doubt that Tuscaloosa runs on pizza. Adding to the T-town pizza options is Post Office Pies, located conveniently and strategically behind Innisfree Irish Pub downtown. Modeled after the original Birmingham Avondale location, Post Office Pies boasts their well-known identify of providing fresh in-house ingredients with pizza sauce made from scratch daily. Local ingredients control their seasonal salads that expand the menu beyond pizzas. Running errands downtown this week, I decided to make a pit stop at Post Office Pies for lunch. Adjacent to the District Room event space, the brick walls and garage style doors that open out to the elements make the ambiance desirable for warm summer nights. I was quickly greeted by my server that had her own set of favorites from the menu, including the house-made meatballs made with tomato marinara, pecorino romano, parmesan, and fresh basil. Her pizza recommendations ranged from a simple margherita to a meaty swine pie showcasing house-made pork sausage, pepperoni, bacon, and copious amounts of mozzarella. After taking time to fully peruse the menu, I set my sights on the roasted Brussel sprout and kale salad featuring ad-
ditional garnishes of bacon, mint, cilantro, red wine vinaigrette, and a topping of red chili flakes. Also knowing I couldn’t go to a pizza joint without ordering pizza, I proceeded to order “The White” pizza in the nine-inch size with roasted garlic, pecorino romano, mozzarella, ricotta, and parmesan.
Aside from the abundant food choices, my interest started to rise looking at the drink menu. The lemonade sounded fresh and relaxing, and I was curious to know what kind of varieties existed. My server was quick to tell me that in addition to the traditional lemonade, Post Office Pies is known for their quirky, seasonal lemonade
flavors including blueberry, pomegranate, rosemary, and an edgy jalapeno lemonade, all available with fresh basil. It wasn’t long before my salad and pizza were brought to my table. The bountiful salad was not stingy in its garnish of bacon and chili flakes, leaving a balanced salty and spice note to each bite. The red wine vinaigrette was pre-tossed throughout the salad, with just the right amount of dressing to avoid hiding the earthiness of the kale and Brussel sprouts. Next up was my highly anticipated bite of pizza. Rich garlic undertones paired beautifully with the creaminess of the ricotta, balancing the saltiness of the romano cheese. As a crust snob, I was pleased with the outside crisp of the crust followed by a desired softness within the dough. My salad-pizza combo experience made me question ever cooking dinner at home again. Overall, if pizza is your thing, Post Office Pies will be your thing. The freshness of each ingredient is obvious in every food and beverage option throughout the menu. The price point is perfect for a college town, and the location behind Innisfree is simply genius. Post Office Pies is located at 557 20th Avenue South in downtown Tuscaloosa, opening at 11 a.m. daily. Tweet us @ ThePlanetWeekly and let us know where you are eating! Sheena Gregg, MS, RDN,LD is a registered dietitian and local “Filipino foodie.” Follow her on Twitter @AFilipinoFoodie
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MAY 12 + MAY 26
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>>> RESTAURANTS |
W H E R E TO E AT I N T U S C A LO O SA
BREAKFAST / LUNCH
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. 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.
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.
>>> H E A LT H | D R . R AC H E L S T E I N E R
MEAL PREPPING 101 sure your meal includes protein, carbs, and healthy fats. Your body gets all energy sources when fueled with these three macronutrients. Healthy proteins include lean meats, eggs, Greek yogurt, cold-water fish, wild game, and red meat in moderation. Carbohydrates should include fruits, vegetables, and certain whole grains such as quinoa and oatmeal. Healthy fats are crucial for energy, brain function, and keeping your metabolism going and include avocado, coconut oil, raw nuts, real butter, and cold-water fish.
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 // 556.4112 Great locally-sourced foods and live piono music on the weekends. |killionrestaurants.com/kozys/
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 4800 Doris Pate Dr | Exit 76 // 562.8282 www.crackerbarrel.com
The Side by Side Restaurant 2410 University Blvd. | Embassy Suites | 561-2500 thesidebysiderestaurant.com
International House of Pancakes 724 Skyland Blvd // 366.1130 Jack's 1200 Hackberry Lane | Tuscaloosa // 345.1199
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.
Mr. Bill's Family Restaurant 2715 McFarland Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 333.9312 Panera Bread 1800 McFarland Blvd *402 | Tuscaloosa // 366.8780
Bento Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar 1306 University Blvd // 758.7426
Quick Grill 1208 University Blvd | The Strip | Tuscaloosa // 342.0022
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.
Rama Jama’s 1000 Bryant Dr // 750.0901 Closest restaurant to Bryant-Denny Stadium. Sweet Home Food Bar 2218 University Blvd. | Tuscaloosa // 764-9346 Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Waysider 1512 Greensboro Ave // 345.8239 Open for breakfast and lunch. Smoke free.
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.
MEXICAN Chipotle Mexican Grill
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.
Don Tono's 2312 4th Street | Temerson Square // 345.9191
Broadway Pizzeria 2880 Rice Mine Road Northeast Tuscaloosa, // 391.6969
El Mariachi 3520 McFarland Blvd E |Tuscaloosa // 409-8585
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
1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 391.0140 www.chipotle.com
ITALIAN
El Rincon (2 locations) 1225 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 366.0855 1726 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 330.1274 Fernando's Mexican Grill 824 McFarland Blvd E | Northport // 205.331.4587
Little Italy 1130 University Blvd. | Tuscaloosa // 205.345.4343
Iguana Grill 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 752.5895 Jalapeno’s Mexican Grill 2001 New Watermelon Rd | Northport // 342.3378
Mellow Mushroom 2230 University Blvd // 758.0112 Pizzas, calzones, hoagies and more. Open daily for lunch and dinner. www.mellowmushroom.com
LaGran Fiesta 9770 Hwy 69 S // 345.8871
Mr. G’s 908 McFarland Blvd N | Northport // 339-8505
Los Calientes Mexican Grill 3429 McFarland Blvd E // 553.1558
Olive Garden 2100 McFarland Blvd E // 750-0321 Open daily from 11 a.m. | www.olivegarden.com
Los Tarascos (2 locations) 1759 Skyland Blvd // 553.8896 3380 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 330.0919
CASUAL DINING Avenue Pub
405 23rd Avenue // Tuscaloosa Brunch, lunch, and dinner. Specialty cocktails, local pints, bottled beer, and wine. Mon - Fri. 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sat. Noon – 11 p.m., Sun.Noon p.m. – 9 p.m.
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
Big Daddy’s Cafe 514 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 759.9925
Pepito’s (2 locations) 1203 University Blvd | The Strip // 391.9028 1301 McFarland Blvd NE // 391.4861
The Blue Plate Restaurant (Was Northport Diner) 450 McFarland Blvd, Northport // 462-3626 Brumfield's Restaurant 4851 Rice Mine Road | Tue. - Thu.: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Fri - Sat.: 11 a.m. 10 p.m., and Sunday: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Taco Mama 2104 A University Blvd, Tuscaloosa // 409.8173
FINE DINING
Chuck’s Fish 508 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 248.9370 Monday - Thursday 5-10 p.m. and Friday - Saturday 5-11 p.m. Steak, seafood, & sushi specialities. Daily specials: Monday - $20 Bottles of Wine; Tuesday - Ladies Night 1/2 off Domestic Beer and House Wine, Select $5 Martinis, $2 off Select Sushi Rolls for Everyone; Uptown Wednesday - $6 Uptown Shrimp; Featured Cocktails and $20 Bottles of Wine. 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. 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
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. Chicken Salad Chick The Shoppes at Midtown & Essex Square, Northport | Said to be the very best chicken salad that can be found anywhere. www. chickensaladchick.com 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 Five Guys Burgers & Fries 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 391.0575 www.fiveguys.com
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eal prepping- I believe is the single most important thing one should do when trying to eat healthier. When I sit down with my patients to discuss nutrition and the process of changing ones diet, it really starts with changing what you have available in your house and actually making the time to prepare the food in advance. Yes there are now healthier options at fast food places, but the key to healthy eating is preparing your own meals and having healthy food easily available at home. Life gets busy though, we work long hours and the thought of preparing a healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner for our families is overwhelming and sometimes can seem impossible to manage. I have been there! It is easy to resort to eating out, which is easy and convenient but unfortunately is not the healthiest and can become quite expensive. The first step is meal prepping for the whole week ahead. If you work Monday through Friday like most people, your meal prepping will be done on the weekends. Yes, this means giving up some of your precious weekend to cook but it will save you so much time during the week. Sit down on a Saturday morning while you are drinking your coffee and relaxing and find some recipes you want to eat for the week. Make a grocery list of all your ingredients and go buy everything. The grocery store can be a confusing place when trying to eat healthy, especially if you do not have a game plan of what you are buying when you go in. On Sundays, prep everything you need to get through the following week. Portion everything out in containers that you can easily pack for work, which makes it really easy come Monday morning to just put them in your lunch cooler and be on your way. A simple rule I tell my patients is make
BREAKFAST MEAL PREPPING Portion out some Greek yogurt and sprinkle chia seeds and raw almonds to mix in. Then, cut up and add some fruit like banana, strawberries, and blueberries. In a container mix cut up fruit, leafy greens, cinnamon, and protein powder. Each morning blend the ingredients with ice and your liquid of choice like water or almond milk. Bust out the crock pot and make a big pot of steal cut oatmeal with bananas, honey and cinnamon. Let it cook on low over night and eat throughout the week. LUNCH MEAL PREPPING Portion out leafy greens in bowls for the week for salads. Cut up veggies of your choice to add. Grill a couple chicken breasts and cut up and add to each salad for protein Hard-boil a half a dozen eggs for snacks. They are good to eat with cut avocado. DINNER MEAL PREPPING Grilled chicken or other types of meat can be done on Sunday and eaten through out the week. Make a cup of quinoa that will double in size when you cook it and serve through out the week with vegetables. Bake some sweet potatoes or regular baked potatoes that can be reheated throughout the week. Casseroles can be prepped in advance and thrown in the oven when you get home from work. The key to eating healthy is finding the time to do so, and meal prepping is the answer. You will be amazed how much food you can cook up in very little time if you just dedicate a couple hours each weekend to doing this. The whole process will make your week much easier and having enough time will not be an issue. Prep once, eat healthy all week long!
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.
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>>> RESTAURANTS |
W H E R E TO E AT I N T U S C A LO O SA
Heritage House 700 Towncenter | Northport // 758.0042 Open Mon-Fri 7 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
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
Hooligan’s 1915 University Blvd // 759.2424 From hamburgers to hummus. Open daily 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Mugshots Grill & Bar 511 Greensboro Ave // 391.0572 Great burgers. Full service bar. Open late. www.mugshotsgrillandbar.com
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.
Tuscaloosa Burger & Seafood Company 1014 7th Ave. | Tuscaloosa // 764.1976 Over 160 craft beers. Tue. - Thu 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri - Sat 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sun 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Large selection of decadent desserts Wilhagan’s 2209 4th St | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 366.0913
Logan's Roadhouse 1511 Skyland Blvd E // 349.3554
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
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
WingZone 1241 McFarland Blvd E | Tuscaloosa // 342.2473
Newk’s Express Cafe 205 University Blvd. East // 758.2455 Fax: 758.2470 // www.newkscafe.com 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 lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch // www.ocharleys.com Panera Bread 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 366.8780 www.panerabread.com
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 Dickey's BBQ (3 locations) 9770 Alabama 69; Midtown; and 13544 Hwy 43 North at Rose Blvd. in Northport. Texas Barbecue. | 344.6500 1800 McFarland Blvd, Midtown Village, Tuscaloosa. | 758-1133 13544 Hwy 43 North, Winn Dixie Shopping Center, Northport. | 330-1147 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.
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
Hick’s BBQ 4400 Fayette Hwy // 339.3678 // Tues–Sat 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
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
Moe's Original BBQ 2101 University Blvd.. // 752.3616 Mon–Sat 11am - 10pm | Bar service Mon-Sat 2am and Fri -3am | Kitchen closes at 10pm
Ryan’s 4373 Courtney Dr // 366.1114 Near Marriott Courtyard and Fairfield Inn Sitar Indian Cuisine 500 15th St // 345-1419 Southern Ale House 1530 McFarland Blvd N Monday-Thursday 11a-9p, Friday-Saturday 11a-10p Sunday Brunch 11a-2p A warm and inviting restaurant just north of the river with both classic and contemporary interpretations of Southern Cuisine. We boast a large variety of local craft beers on tap and other options in bottle for our beer loving constituents. Wine and Signature cocktails
Pottery Grill (2 locations) Highway 11 | Cottondale // 554.1815 3420 Alabama 69 | Northport // 333.5848 Menu: thepotterygrill.com 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
Southland Restaurant 5388 Skyland Blvd E // 556.3070 Steaks, chops and home-cooked vegetables Mon–Fri 10:45 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Logan’s Roadhouse 1511 Skyland Blvd | next to Sams // 349.3554 Steaks, ribs and spirits
T-Town Café 500 14th Street, Tuscaloosa | 759-5559 |www.ttowncafe.co Mon - Fri: 5 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sat: 5 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sun: 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Longhorn Steakhouse 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 345-8244 #412
Tacogi 500 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 342.3647
New Orleans Steak and Seafood House 824 McFarland Boulevard |11:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m. daily. 248-7666
Tuscaloosa Burger & Seafood Company 1014 7th Ave. | Tuscaloosa // 764.1976 Over 160 craft beers. Tue. - Thu 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri - Sat 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sun 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Large selection of decadent desserts.
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.
Zoe’s Kitchen 312 Merchants Walk // 344.4450 A wonderful selection of Greek foods
Outback Steakhouse 5001 Oscar Baxter Dr // 759.9000
SEAFOOD
SPORTS GRILL
Chuck’s Fish 508 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 248.9370 Monday - Thursday 5-10 p.m. and Friday - Saturday 5-11 p.m. Steak, seafood, & sushi specialities. Daily specials.
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 Billy's Sports Grill Historic Downtown Northport // 879.2238 Good food, beverages and family friendly Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. till 9 p.m. (Sunday Brunch 10:30am-3pm). Buffalo Wild Wings 2710 McFarland Blvd. East | Tuscaloosa // 523.0273 Sports grille with TVs galore. Diverse beer and wine, full bar Champs Sports Grille 320 Paul Bryant Drive | inside Four Points Sheraton Hotel // 752.3200 Breakfast and lunch buffets. Sunday brunch 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Hooter’s 5025 Oscar Baxter Dr | Next to Jameson Inn // 758.3035 Wings, clams, shrimp and of course the Hooters Girls www.hooters.com Innisfree Irish Pub 1925 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 345.1199
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New Orleans Steak and Seafood House 824 McFarland Blvd |11:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m. daily. // 248-7666 Red Lobster 2620 McFarland Blvd. | Tuscaloosa // 205.553.8810 Sun-Thurs 11AM-10PM//Fri & Sat 11AM-11PM Reservations Accepted Take-Out Available Private Dining Area Available for Advanced Booking (Lunch Specials Available Mon-Fri 11AM-3PM) Tuscaloosa Burger & Seafood Company 1014 7th Ave. | Tuscaloosa // 764.1976 Tue. - Thu 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri - Sat 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sun 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Over 160 craft beers. Large selection of decadent desserts.
GET NOTICED
The Levee Bar and Grill 1 Bridge Ave | Northport // 632.3136 Casual riverfront dining Hours: Mon-Thurs 11 AM-9 PM, Fri-Sat 11 AM-10 PM, Sun 10:30 AM-3 PM (Happy Hour Mon-Thurs 2 PM-6 PM) leveebarandgrill.com
CHINESE Buffet City
1747 Skyland Blvd E // 553.3308 All you can eat buffet. Open 7 days a week.
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>>> RESTAURANTS |
W H E R E TO E AT I N T U S C A LO O S A (CO N T.) McAlister’s Deli (2 locations) 101 15th St | Tuscaloosa // 758.0039 3021 Tyler Dr | Northport // 330.7940 Sandwiches, salads and spuds www.mcalistersdeli.com
Chang’s Chinese Restaurant 1825 McFarland Blvd N // 391.9131 China Fun 2600 University Blvd | Alberta City // 553.2435
Momma Goldberg’s Deli 409 23rd Ave // 345.5501 |www.mommagoldbergs.com
Chongwah Express 1425 McFarland Boulevard, Northport. 333-1088
Newk's 205 University Blvd E | Tuscaloosa // 758.2455
Hot Wok Express 6751 Alabama 69, Tuscaloosa // 758.0148
Schlotsky’s Deli 405 15th St. E // 759.1975 // schlotskys.com
Lee Palace 6521 Highway 69 S // 391.9990 / Open daily 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Which Wich University Blvd.// Downtown Tuscaloosa // Mon – Sat 10:30 – 9 // Sunday 11 – 7 // Fresh ingredients, great sandwiches. 764.1673
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
ASIAN CUISINE
Pearl Garden 2719 Lurleen Wallace Blvd | Northport // 339.0880
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.
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.
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
Swen Chinese Restaurant 1130 University Blvd | The Strip // 391.9887 Trey Yuen 4200 McFarland Blvd E // 752.0088
PIZZA AND SUBS
A Taste Of Chicago 1700 Greensboro Avenue 205-342-DOGS Mon. - Thurs. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Fri. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. 17th Street and Greensboro Avenue. Authentic Chicago style foods. Italian Beef Sandwiches, Chicago Rib Tips, and Chicago Style Pizza. California Underground 13552 Highway 43, Northport | 339.8660 Firehouse Subs 1130 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 248.0680 Hungry Howie’s (2 locations) 1105 Southview Ln | South Tuscaloosa // 345.6000 1844 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 333.2633 1211 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa | The Strip // 366.1500 4851 Rice Mine Rd | Northriver/Holt // 345.3737 Lenny’s Sub Shop 220 15th St // 752.7450 // Fax: 752.7481 // www.lennys.com Little Caesars Pizza 1414 10th Ave // 366.2220 | 1www.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 a.m. | Sun 11:30 a.m. - midnight Pizza 120 50115th St. East | 561.6853 Pizza Palace Buffet 6521 Alabama 69 | 752.5444 Tut’s Place 1306 University Blvd | The Strip // 759.1004
DELICATESSEN
Honeybaked Ham Company 421 15th St. E // 345.5508 //www.honeybaked.com Jason’s Deli 2300 McFarland Blvd // 752.6192 Fax: 752.6193 // www.jasonsdeli.com Located in the Meadowbrook Shopping Center. Jimmy John’s (3 locations) 1400 University Blvd | The Strip // 366.3699 1875 McFarland Blvd N | Northport // 752.7714 815 Lurleen B. Wallace S | Tuscaloosa // 722.2268 Delivery 7 days a week. www.jimmyjohns.com Manna Grocery & Deli 2300 McFarland Blvd E | Tuscaloosa // 752.9955
COFFEE SHOP
Barnes & Noble 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Tuscaloosa // 349.6366 Five Java Coffee, fresh juices, smoothies and treats from Mary's Cakes. Open Monday - Saturday at 7am; 9am on Sundays Heritage House 700 Towncenter | Northport // 758.0042 Open Mon-Fri 7 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. 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 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. Dunkin' Donuts 2520 Stillman Blvd. |Tuscaloosa// 349.3400 McCorvey Dr. | Tuscaloosa // 348.4041 www.dunkindonuts.com 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 Mon–Thurs 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. | Fri & Sat 11 a.m. - midnigh
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MAY 12 + MAY 26
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>>> C O M M U N I T Y A R T S
T
he Arts Council of Tuscaloosa will present Belle Adair in concert on Acoustic Night, May 26, 2016, at 7:30 p.m. at the Bama Theatre’s Greensboro Room. Cover charge is $5 with a full service bar available. With a successful 2014 and 2015 campaign in support of their debut LP “The Brave and the Blue” in the books, Belle Adair is continuing to lay the groundwork for 2016 and beyond. Outlets such as NPR, Oxford American, Spin Magazine and Uncut have all offered glowing praise for the group, while college radio stations across the country have added the LP to their rotation. In addition, the band has maintained a healthy touring schedule throughout the past two years, highlighted by stops at SXSW, CMJ and support for Alabama Shakes. In February 2015, Belle Adair entered FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Ala. to begin work on a follow up to “Brave” with Tom Schick (Wilco, Mavis Staples, Real Estate) behind the board as
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producer. The Florence, Ala. band is led by principal songwriter and vocalist Matt Green and accompanied by Jonathan Oliphant on keys, Adam Morrow on bass and Reed Watson on drums. Visit belleadairmusic.com for more information. The Bama Theatre is located at 600 Greensboro Avenue in downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about The Arts Council or Bama Theatre, patrons should LIKE the Facebook page “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” and follow tuscarts on Twitter. Call 205-758-5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.
ETHAN GULLEY & CHASE JACKSON
BELLE ADAIR WILL BE FEATURED ON UPCOMING ACOUSTIC NIGHT
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BARBERSHOP: THE NEXT CUT
★★★★
T
welve years have elapsed since we last saw Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, their colleagues and their customers cutting up in the ensemble “Barbershop” film franchise. If you remember all those years ago, Calvin Palmer, Jr., (Ice Cube of “Friday”) committed a terrible mistake when he sold his late father’s venerable barber shop in the original “Barbershop” (2002) to scheming loan shark Lester Wallace. After he realized the barbershop’s legacy as a landmark in the south side Chicago community, Calvin changed his mind about his harebrained, get-rich-quick schemes and struggled desperately to get the barbershop back from Lester. Lester (Keith David) wanted to turn the place into a strip club. Happily, Calvin thwarted Lester. In “Barbershop 2: Back in Business” (2004), Calvin and his crew cautioned their elected Chicago municipal leaders about the dire effects that gentrification would cause if outside interests were allowed to renovate the south side neighborhood. Now, the long, overdue, second "Barbershop" sequel in the MetroGoldwyn-Mayer franchise focuses on issues more relevant than those dealt with in its predecessors. This time, however, Calvin and his crew aren't tangling with either a gluttonous loan shark or a greedy politician. Instead, they have to confront trigger-happy gangs and the tragic violence that these pistol-packing hooligans perpetrate. Ultimately, “Best Man” director Malcolm D. Lee’s “Barbershop: The Next Cut” surpasses its entertaining predecessors and displays greater concern for real-life issues rather than merely ‘good times’ comedy for the sake of ‘good times’ comedy. Naturally, the passage of twelve years has wrought changes not only in the cast, but also in the basic premise of the “Barbershop” franchise. Of course, Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, Eve Jeffers, Sean Patrick Thomas, Jazsmin Lewis, and Troy Garity are back. Unfortunately, Troy appears briefly as his Jewish character Isaac Rosenberg, who clipped hair in the first two “Barbershop” epics after Calvin’s African-American colleagues and customers accepted him. Basically, Calvin cuts Isaac’s hair and then Isaac exits the action. Meantime, Sean Patrick Thomas as Jimmy Jones spends more time off screen than on screen since he has taken a position at City Hall. Comedian Anthony Anderson, who stole an ATM machine in the original “Barbershop,” has reformed and runs a catering company. Michael Ealy as Ricky Nash, Leonard Earl Howze as Dinka, and DeRay Davis as the Hustle Guy have departed and been replaced. Calvin’s son Jalen (Michael Rainey Jr.) has grown up and attends high school. Meanwhile, Eve has married Rashad (Common of “Run All Night”), and they have had a son who attends school with Jalen. Calvin and Rashad are tight friends.
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thoughtless mistake when she rescheduled the rival gang banger. This incident propels the grand finale, and Calvin and his crew decide to defuse the tension. The solution to gang violence that Calvin and company offers isn’t 100 percent successful. When he isn’t staging high school scuffles and back room shuffles, Lee uses the energetic camaraderie of his ensemble cast and their spicy chatter to amuse us. Still looking like Civil Rights activist Frederick Douglas, scene-stealer Cedric the Entertainer spouts some of the best, sidesplitting lines in this clever PG-13 rated comedy. He doesn’t deliver lines as controversial as his Rosa Parks rant in the original “Barbershop,” but he keeps things lively. One of the more amusing scenes has President Obama (Reggie Brown of “The Obama Effect”) visiting the barber shop and sitting in Cedric’s barber chair for a trim. This humorous scene won’t make sense unless you’ve seen the original “Barbershop” where Cedric has a photo of Walter Payton getting a haircut from him. Like Obama, we cannot see each man’s face to verify their identity. Altogether, “Barbershop: The Next Cut” provides the right blend of comedy and drama. Although the first two “Barbershop” movies were testosterone laden tales, with female barber Terri (Eve Jeffers of “Blade II”) injecting estrogen into the mix, “Barbershop 3” has altered its formula. Instead, director Malcolm D. Lee shows the male barbers sharing half of the building with female hair stylists. In the Kenya Burris & Traci Oliver screenplay, Angie (Regina Hall of “Scary Movie”) is now Calvin’s business partner, and she has her own employees. One of them is none other than Draya (music sensation Nicki Minaj of “The Other Woman”) who wants to seduce Rashad. The rivalry between Eve and Draya over Rashad provides some of the film’s funnier moments, and the steam culminates in screams as Eve catches them in the barber shop back room. A lesser subplot finds Jerrod (Lamorne Morris of “Black Rapunzel”), one of Calvin’s new barbers unjustly accused of being gay, setting out to seduce Bree (Margot Bingham of “Burning Blue”), a frustrated hair stylist who cannot find a faithful man. The conflict erupts when Calvin catches Rashad’s son Kenny (newcomer Diallo Thompson) swiping candy bars, and Rashad backs up Calvin. Earlier, the two kids had pled with their fathers to ante up twenty dollars each for them. Calvin turned Jalen down. Afterward, as Jalen and Kenny were walking to school, a rival, outside-ofthe-neighborhood gang confronts them on the sidewalk. Before any bloodshed can occur, the local gang scares off the other gang, and then they slip both guys a twenty dollar bill. In school, Jalen gets into a
fight. The school counselor advises Calvin and his wife Jennifer (Jazsmin Lewis of “Grandma’s House”) about the incident. Jennifer discovers a gang bandana in Jalen’s dresser. This sparks a generational gap clash between Calvin and Jalin. Calvin objects to Jalen’s thuggish dreadlocks. Worse, Calvin believes Rashad’s son Kenny has led Jalen astray with the gang bangers. Ironically, Jalen led Kenny astray. The night the two guys are to be initiated into the gang, Kenny refuses to accompany Jalen. Similarly, Draya schedules a hair appointment with one gang banger while another gang banger is in the shop getting his hair cut. Everybody scrambles to keep these two thugs from swapping lead with each other on the premises. Draya admits that she made a
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>>> PET PLANET
FREDDY // COY & CUTE SO cute but so shy – at first! This adorable dog is Freddy, a 3-year-old male Jack Russell terrier mix. He is a small dog, weighing only 15 pounds and has a long white and brown shaggy coat. Freddy was pulled from our local animal shelter, where he had been surrendered by his owner due to landlord issues. He was kept on the stray side for over a month because he was so scared and unresponsive, preventing them from doing a behavior assessment. Freddy finally got used to being there and they were able to do one, and he did just fine. Freddy is a bit shy and runs away from you at first, but he is already coming around at our facility and is warming up to folks. Once he knows you and is comfortable, he is friendly and wants to be with you and get some loving! Freddy may do better in a calmer environment and without young children around. He should be fine in an apartment, as long as he gets daily walks. Freddy seems to be okay around other dogs, but would prefer them his size and energy level. He will require a fenced in yard if left outside any unattended. Terriers like him will run off after a scent and may not come back! We have started on his crate training. Freddy is up to date on his vet care, neutered, heartworm negative and is microchipped. He is on heartworm and flea/tick prevention. Freddy really needs to get back into a home environment where he will be so much more comfortable, allowing his true sweet personality to come out.
LEO // SUPER SWEET Meet Leo! Leo is a handsome young tuxedo male. He was born on 11/26/15 and is almost six months old. He is at the shelter with his four siblings. Leo has such an interesting face and four white socks! What a cutie! Leo is a super sweet kitten. He would do well as a companion cat or as the only cat in the house. Leo is negative for FIV and FeLK, current on vaccinations and spayed. If you are interested in giving FREDDY or LEO the forever home they want and deserve, visit the Humane Society of West Alabama at http://www.humanesocietyofwa.org or call us at (205)-554-0011.
The Humane Society of West Alabama is in need of volunteers for both the cat and dog facilities. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please contact our volunteer coordinator at volunteerhswa@gmail.com or go ahead and download a volunteer application from www.humanesocietyofwa.org/formsinfo. html and send to the same email.
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>>> MUSIC REVIEW | A L A N S C U L L E Y
2016 ALBUM REVIEWS CHEAP TRICK: “BANG, ZOOM, CRAZY…HELLO” (Big Machine)
Cheap Trick getting inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in early April served as a reminder that this veteran band has left a mark on music with its career. Now “Bang, Zoom, Crazy…Hello” lets us know this group is staying inspired even though it’s been nearly three decades since Cheap Trick had its last radio hit (1988’s “The Flame”). And while it’s true that the band was never better than on its first three albums – “Cheap Trick” (1977), “In Color” (1977) and “Heaven Tonight” 1978) remain among the best power pop albums ever – the group’s musical output over its last five albums has been consistently strong, too. “Bang, Zoom, Crazy… Hello” is the fifth of those albums, and it finds Cheap Trick rocking harder than on its Beatles-esque previous album, 2009’s “The Latest.” Songs like “No Direction Home,” “Blood Red Lips,” “Roll On” and “Heart on the Line” have plenty of crunchy guitar riffs and energy to go with their solid pop hooks. And a couple of tunes that ease up on the energy –- “When I Wake Up Tomorrow” and “Sing My Blues Away” boast some of the album’s strongest melodies – bring good balance to things. If the album lacks anything, it’s a knockout track (like “Surrender” from “Heaven Tonight,” “Ballad of T.V. Violence”
from the debut album or “Lookin’ Out for Number One” from the underrated 1982 album “One on One”). But “Bang, Zoom, Crazy…Hello” is another entertaining effort from rock’s most enduring power pop act. – Rating: 3 ½ stars
BOB MOULD: “PATCH THE SKY” (Merge)
The joke about AC/DC and the Ramones is they each made more than a dozen albums and they all sounded the same. But there’s actually a virtue in that. Both bands had an instantly recognizable sound – something any artist should strive for – and the challenge was how to still sound fresh with each new album. Bob Mould is another artist who has created an immediately identifiable sound. And if his music is fundamentally more varied than that of the Ramones or AC/DC, Mould nevertheless is at a point where many artists start to sound tired and their albums feel like reruns of past glories. No such problem with the former mainstay of Husker Du. On “Patch The Sky,” Mould is still finding potent riffs and dynamic melodies (“The End of Things,” “You Say You” and “Daddy’s Favorite” are prime examples) that are as visceral and vital as ever. Plus Mould and his band sound just as fierce and energetic as ever, putting plenty of crunch into the rockers and building dynamics and lyrical drama that give more restrained songs like “Losing Sleep” and “Monument” a tension and urgency that makes them as powerful as the full-on rockers. Staying relevant for three decades is a huge accomplishment for any artist, and on “Patch The Sky,” Mould has made an album that stands with his best work. – Rating: 4 stars
PETER WOLF: “A CURE FOR LONELINESS” (Concord)
If this new solo album is an indication, Wolf has mellowed since the days when he was the slick talking, high-energy, city-cool frontman of the J. Geils Band in the ‘70s and ‘80s (as well as on the solo albums that followed into the ‘90s). But that’s not a bad thing, as he seems to have found a musical comfort zone with “A Cure For Loneliness.” That said, Wolf still shows a flash of his old jive-talking self in introducing “How Do You Know,” a fast shuffling blues-rocker. But where the Wolf of his youth may have gone full throttle on that song, here he keeps the beat light, the instrumentation restrained and lets the natural energy of the song drive things home. That song, along with the rollicking “Mr. Mistake,” is as close as Wolf comes to rocking out. Otherwise, he’s in a laid back mode, letting songs like the rural soul ballad “Peace of Mind,” the country-ish “Some Other Time, Some Other Place” and the bluesy, semi-energetic “Always So Easy” sway and breathe. He reaches a high point with the lovely soul ballad “It’s Raining,” a song Wolf co-wrote with legendary soul songsmith Don Covay and he dedicates to the late Bobby Womack. Lyrically Wolf is frequently in a mood to reminisce, looking back at his wild days in “Fun For A While,” a tune with gentle country slide guitar and a bit of a soul to its sound, while promising to keep living and loving and leaving hard times behind on “Rolling On.” Wolf sounds like a man who’s grown from a cocky kid who thought he had all the answers to one who has gained experience and wisdom and has found a musical voice that fits his life today. It makes for an album that demands a little patience, but reveals plenty of charms, strength and staying power. “A Cure For Loneliness” figures to age well as a musical work, just like the man who created it. – Rating: 3 ½ stars
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MAY 12 + MAY 26
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>>> ROAD TRIP | S O U T H E A S T E R N CO N C E R T S A N D E V E N T S THURSDAY, MAY 19
BIRMINGHAM SATURDAY, MAY 14
Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra // Alys Stephens Center SUNDAY, MAY 15
Black Jacket Symphony // The Alabama Theatre
Cage the Elephant & Portugal the Man // Ascend Amphitheater FRIDAY, MAY 20
Miike Snow // Marathon Music Works Chris Tucker // Nashville Municipal Auditorium SATURDAY, MAY 21
TUESDAY, MAY 17
Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band // Saturn SATURDAY, MAY 21
Kenny Babyface Edmonda // Alys Stephens Center TUESDAY, MAY 24
Dave Matthews Band // Oak Mountain Amphitheatre WEDNESDAY, MAY 25
Jamey Johnson // Iron City The Wailers // Avondale Brewing Company Dick Dale // Saturn FRIDAY, MAY 27
Lil Durk // Iron city
Styx // Ascend Amphitheater Trevor Noah // Ryman Auditorium Jeff Foxworthy // Ryman Auditorium Kathy Griffin // James K. Polk Theater MONDAY, MAY 23
Dyland Fest: Nashville // Ryman Auditorium WEDNESDAY, MAY 25
Bullet For My Valentine // Nashville War Memorial Auditorium THURSDAY, MAY 26
Jimmy Buffett // Ascend Amphitheater Jimmy Buffett // MAY 26
NASHVILLE SUNDAY, MAY 15
Silversun Pickups // Ryman Auditorium
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Dave Matthews Band // MAY 24/28
SATURDAY, MAY 14
Shaky Kneed Music Festival // Centennial Olympic Park SUNDAY, MAY 15
Styx, 38 Special // Verizon Wireless Amphitheater TUESDAY, MAY 17
Insane Clown Posse/ Young Wicked // The Masquerade Curren$y // Center Stage WEDNESDAY, MAY 18
Otep/ September Mourning // The Masquerade
SATURDAY, MAY 21
K Michelle // Fabulous Fox TheDaryl Hall and John Oates // atre Aaron’s Amphitheatre at LakeSUNDAY, MAY 22 wood The Summer Set // The MasFRIDAY, MAY 20 querade Luke Bryan // Aaron’s AmphiSATURDAY, MAY 28 theatre at Lakewood Dave Matthews Band // Aaron’s Willie Nelson // Chastain Park Amphitheater at Lakewood Amphitheater
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Brad Paisley and Robben Ford // Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom Paul Simon // Ryman Auditorium
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>>> 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
Montgomery Performing Arts Center 201 Tallapoosa St 334.481.5100
Von Braun Center 700 Monroe St SW 256.551.2345
Amphitheater at the Wharf 23101 Canal Rd 251.224.1020
The Hangout 251.948.3030 thehangout1.com
The Nick 2514 10th Ave S 205.252.3831
WorkPlay 500 23rd St S 205.380.4082
Bridgestone Arena 501 Broadway 615.770.2000
Marathon Music Works 1402 Clinton St 615.891.1781
Sloss Furnaces 20 32nd St N 205.324.1911
Zydeco 2001 15th Ave S 205.933.1032
Centennial Olympic Park 265 Park Ave W NW 404.223.4412
Minglewood Hall 1555 Madison Ave 901.312.6058
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre 2200 Encore Pkwy 404.733.5010
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MAY 12 + MAY 26
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>>> PUZZLEMANIA | C R O S S W O R D P U Z Z L E
Across 1. "Gotta hand ___ ya..." 5. Trim, as meat 10. Torero's foe 14. Restaurant employee 15. Month after diciembre 16. Cousin of the emu 17. Spew 18. Post-lunch periods 20. "Look!" to Luis 21. Narc's org. 22. I couldn't care less! 23. "The ___ Sanction" (Eastwood film) 25. Abbr. in a super-short email 26. "Sleepless in Seattle" director Nora 28. Like a mortarboard 33. Lamb's cry 34. "___ recommend it!" 36. Garbo born Gustafsson 37. Caked deposit 39. Basted 41. Gray of song 42. James and Jones of jazz 44. Wish grantor 46. Mortgage org. 47. Like pigs, camels and giraffes 49. Take a ___ (try) 51. Store's stock (abbr.) 52. ___ alcohol (biofuel) 53. Mustachioed Don of classic films 57. Prefix with politics or centric 58. Geologic periods 61. One who does library work 63. Gone 64. Small hotels 65. Not happy 66. Strong urges 67. Geneticist's studies 68. Rainwear brand 69. Latin I verb SOLUTION FOR PUZZLEMANIA CROSSWORD ON PAGE 21
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MAY 12 + MAY 26
Down 1. SALT concern 2. Siamese, today 3. Indiana city 4. Like a station in a power outage? 5. Cul-de-sacs 6. Hell, to Henri 7. Greek cheese 8. "The Kids ___ All Right" (2010 film) 9. Shoulders-to-hips areas 10. Often furrowed facial feature 11. "Whoops" 12. Singer Horne 13. Make it to the end 19. Request in a Chinese restaurant 24. "... but for the grace of God ___" 25. Moth-___: worn out 26. Show's host 27. Miniseries segment 28. Pulled, as a broken-down car 29. Hesitant non-fluency 30. Gardener's device 31. ____ Sketch (toy for budding artists) 32. "A ___ the Races" 35. Desert region of southern Israel 38. Steely ___ 40. Warps 43. Chainsaw brand 45. Ken. neighbor 48. Baseball situation 50. Shipboard "Understood" 52. Very wide shoe size 53. Etcher's supply 54. "Death in Venice" author Thomas 55. Sicilian peak 56. Sinclair Lewis hero 57. Big breeze 59. Nursemaid dog of literature 60. Pt. of GPS 62. Agcy. of the legislative branch
>>> PUZZLEMANIA| S U D O K U
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 21
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>>> HOROSCOPES | W E E K L Y O V E R V I E W Digging up an old idea or reviving a half-finished project could bring promising and surprising results. If you feel inspired to return to a plan that seemed to be going nowhere, after a little tweaking it could bring spectacular results this time around. The same applies to creative projects for which you may rediscover your enthusiasm and finish with a resounding flourish. If a love relationship has stalled, Jupiter's forward motion could see it picking up steam again in the weeks ahead. Hidden information and buried secrets may come to light in the week ahead. The reason is that the focus on your mystical and spiritual sector could encourage you to unburden yourself regarding events that need processing. If there's something on your conscience that you've never told a soul, this might be a good time to reveal it, providing you can find someone you trust enough. On another note, giving your imagination free rein could bring lucrative and creative ideas your way. A meeting with an old friend could prove quite delightful, particularly if you haven't seen each other in some time. Chances are good that you've both changed and you might get along better now than you did in the past. And with Jupiter pushing forward in your sector of talk and thought, communications look more promising in general. If you've been waiting for news, you should hear fairly soon. If you work in the media, opportunities for more projects may come your way.
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Jupiter storms ahead in your financial sector from Monday. If you've experienced delays, you should see more activity soon. However, be alert this week for openings that could enable you to enhance your income or improve your status. The past plays an important role in the present, so an old boss might have a tip or new job for you or give you the name of a contact who can be of help. Networking could bring new associates and useful information your way, too. If you feel you've been held back lately by unfortunate timing, this should end starting Monday as Jupiter pushes forward in your sign. Good things may start to come your way as a result, and you'll realize that all those opportunities you thought had passed you by really haven't. Stay alert, as they could start arriving soon! A focus on your travel sector suggests that any detours or snafus you encounter on a trip could result in new and exciting encounters and discoveries. What does it mean when the planet of good fortune turns direct in your psychological sector? You could find that you begin to trust your intuition and become more responsive to its messages and subtle hints. The hard work you've put into a spiritual discipline, such as mediation, yoga, or self-analysis, could begin to show results. Difficult situations in your outer life can begin to change for the better. Where finances are concerned, an apparent setback could have hidden advantages. Stay alert! If you've had a disagreement with someone or need to renegotiate a deal, this week's blend of energies can help you do just that. Whether you or another makes the first move, the willingness to listen and find a compromise that works for everyone can get you back on track. With lucky Jupiter forging ahead in your sector of friends and long-held dreams, you may gain ground by joining groups connected with your interests. Restarting a lapsed membership could prove productive, too! With your ruler Jupiter pushing forward in your sector of career and goals on Monday, you may find that opportunities you've been awaiting now begin to appear. You could also get help from a boss, superior, or authority figure who wants to see you do well. But with Mercury retrograde in your lifestyle sector, you'll need to take care when dealing with paperwork, taking messages, or negotiating deals. Don't take anything for granted. Could a romance blossom at work? It's very possible! If you've had no luck regarding a court case or other legal matter, things could change for the better once Jupiter pushes forward on Monday. If you're traveling or working abroad, stay alert for opportunities that could expand your options. This can be a time of magical encounters. Romance looks to be very sweet, with this week's alignment sure to rekindle the flame of love and give a budding romance a passionate boost. If you've been busy, it's certainly time to unwind. If you've had issues with business affairs or shared finances, things might begin to look up when Jupiter dances forward on Monday. If money has been delayed for whatever reason, you should hear news that confirms it's on the way. You'll also find that a focus on the home front encourages you to redecorate, remove clutter, and generally get your place shipshape. Entertaining should go well, too. And a secret wish you've harbored for a while may come true!
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Communication is key this week, so be sure to keep everyone in the loop, as it will help avoid misunderstandings and needless mistakes. If you have a particular issue to deal with, the days ahead can be perfect for helping you resolve it. Be willing to sit down and discuss core problems. You may find that a chat can propel you forward to greater success in the future. If you're invited to a reunion, it should be very warm and welcoming. Hidden treasures may come to light this week. If you've been mulling over ways to increase your cash flow, try rooting around in the attic, cellar, or other nooks and crannies. Also, you could hear good news regarding a job you thought you'd missed, so stay tuned for a letter or phone call. If you feel moved to try again after a previous failure, your efforts could be rewarded. With Jupiter dancing forward, work options certainly look a lot more promising.
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MAY 12 + MAY 26
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>>> E V E N T S THURSDAY, May 12 SUNSET SUPPER ON THE RIVER DOS WHEN: 5:30pm-8:30pm COST: $25 WHERE: Riverwalk 1900 Jack Warner Parkway Tuscaloosa, AL PHONE: N/A LINK: visittuscaloosa.com/calendar-of-events-old DESCRIPTION: Join us on Thursday, May 12, 2016 at the Tuscaloosa River Market for Sunset Supper on the River (Dos)! Enjoy a silent auction, raffle, live music, drinks, and a delicious Taco Bar catered by Chuy’s. Tickets are only $25 and can be purchased at http://waao.info/ or from a board member. *We’ll also be providing FREE childcare to attendees at Capstone Church, which is convenient to the River Market. There will be a preregistration and trained staff, as well as pizza and drinks for the kids. Proceeds support West Alabama AIDS Outreach. We can’t wait to see you there! FRIDAY, May 13 “REGRETS ONLY” PERFORMANCE WHEN: 7:30pm-11:59pm COST: $12-$17 WHERE: Theatre Tuscaloosa 9500 Old Greenboro Road #135 Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 PHONE: (205) 391-2277 LINK: www.theatretusc.com/ DESCRIPTION: Audition time: 6PM In a penthouse apartment in NYC, a powerhouse attorney, his socialite wife, and their closest friend, get together to put the concept of marriage on trial when the lawyer is asked to write a controversial Constitutional amendment. Meanwhile, the bridezilla daughter is struggling to pull off the wedding of the century when every flower shop, bakery, and beauty salon in the city mysteriously go on strike. You’ll be rolling in the aisles at what the New York Sun call “a sharp-tongued comedy of uncivil disobedience.” Friday, May 13th at 7:30 PM Saturday, May 14th at 7:30 PM Sunday, May 15th at 2 PM Wednesday, May 18th at 2 PM Thursday, May 19th at 7:30 PM Friday, May 20th at 7:30 PM Saturday, May 21st at 2 PM Sunday, May 22nd at 2 PM SATURDAY, May 14 DRUID CITY IRON DOG WHEN: 8:00am-1:00pm COST: $35 WHERE: Lake Lurleen State Park 13226 Lake Lurleen Road Northport, AL 35452 PHONE: (205) 394-5537 LINK: www.druidcityirondog.com/ DESCRIPTION: Come, bring your dog, and compete together in the most unique event Tuscaloosa as seen yet, The Druid City Iron Dog. The event made up of 3 parts, a 2 mile dog walk, agility course and swim relay, is a fund raiser for the Humane Society of Alabama and Metro Animal Shelter. Join us at Lake Lurleen State Park as we spread awareness of the benefits of exercise and how much fun it can be when you include your dog, the perfect personal trainer! Registration is $35 with $4.00 park entry fee. Awards ceremony for overall Iron Dog and best in agility and swim relay along with door prizes to be handed out. Dog trainers and veterinarians will educate us on obedience and pet health. Participants will finish the day with a picnic in the park! Saturday, May 14th, 2016. TUSCALOOSA FARMERS’ MARKET WHEN: 7:00am-12:00pm COST: Vendor prices WHERE: River Market and Visitors Center 1900 Jack Warner Parkway Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 PHONE: (205) 248-5295 LINK: www.tuscaloosarivermarket.com/
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MAY 12 + MAY 26
TUESDAY, May 17 STAND UP AND ROCK FOR AUTISM — COMEDY SHOW WHEN: 7:00pm-9:00pm COST: $10-$20 WHERE: Bama Theatre 600 Greensboro Ave Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 PHONE: (205) 758-5195 LINK: bamatheatre.org/ DESCRIPTION: Stand Up and Rock for Autism Comedy Show Doors and Silent Auction at 6PM Show at 7PM. $20 adults $10 students with id purchase tickets at theact.info RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE WHEN: 10:00am-2:00pm WHERE: Benjamin Barnes YMCA 2939 18th Street Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 PHONE: (205) 650-9511 LINK: www.redcrossblood.org/ DESCRIPTION: You can help strengthen our local community by supporting the American Red Cross blood program. The Red Cross has been a stabilizing force in Tuscaloosa for many years, providing disaster relief, health and safety training, blood collection and other life-changing community services. Next time you’re eligible to donate, look for the Red Cross blood drive most convenient for you. Because when you support our blood program, you support all Red Cross services. Call 1-800-RED CROSS , visit red-cross-blood-dot-org or download our one of a kind free blood donor app. THURSDAY, May 19 TUSCALOOSA MUSEUM OF ART ART WITH FRIENDS WHEN: 5:30pm-7:30pm COST: N/A WHERE: Tuscaloosa Museum of Art: Home of the Westervelt Collection 1400 Jack Warner Parkway Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 PHONE: (205) 562-5286 LINK: tuscaloosamoa.org/ DESCRIPTION: Will and Kathie invite you to join them for their “Art with Friends” evening, May 19th from 5:30 until 7:30. Light hors d’ oeuvres and beverages will be served. FRIDAY, May 20 I LOVE THE 90S WHEN: 7:00am-11:59pm COST: N/A WHERE: Tuscaloosa Amphitheater 2710 Jack Warner Parkway Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 PHONE: (205) 248-5280 LINK: www.tuscaloosaamphitheater.com/ DESCRIPTION: Look out, it’s a blast from the past for fans of 90s music, as the “I Love the 90s’ tour is coming to Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Friday, May 20th! SATURDAY, May 21 4TH ANNUAL WILL MAY 5K AND TRAILS FOR TAILS 10K WHEN: 10:00am-12:00am COST: N/A WHERE: Bama Theatre 600 Greensboro Ave Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 LINK: visittuscaloosa.com/calendar-of-events-old DESCRIPTION: Once again we are taking the Will May Run to Sokol Park- home of The Will May Dog Park! Register EARLY to be sure to get the popular Dri-fit Race Shirt! All proceeds will fund the maintenance and improvements of The Will May Dog Park. Come out on May 21st, 2016 to enjoy great BBQ, live music and a wonderful race for Will May!
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SABAN TOUCHES ON HOT TOPICS During the SEC Spring Teleconference
With the NFL Draft and the resignation of defensive line coach Bo Davis, it's been a relatively busy time for Alabama football. Nick Saban discussed those topics and more during the recent SEC coaches Spring football teleconference.
THE DRAFT
It was a bit of surprise that Alabama only had one player player selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Most draft experts expected the Tide to have at least two, and possibly as many as four, taken in round one. Ryan Kelly was UA's only first round pick, going to the Indianapolis Colts with the 18th overall pick. Bama had five players go in the second round, including linebacker Reggie Ragland to Buffalo, running back Derrick Henry to Tennessee, defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson to Detroit, defensive lineman Jarran Reed to Seattle and cornerback Cyrus Jones to New England. Running back Kenyan Drake was picked by Miami in the third round. Eight Tide players signed free agent contracts. "I was excited for all the 15 players that we have who have a chance to make an NFL team," Saban said. "Seven guys that were drafted in the first three rounds, I think it's a wonderful opportunity for them. Eight others who signed a free-agent contract, we're really hopeful and excited that they have an opportunity now. I think that those are all good things." Henry and Robinson were the Tide juniors who declared early. While Henry was projected as a second round pick, Robinson had received a first round grade from the NFL. "I think all of our players (juniors) made a good decision based on the information that we had at the time and where they were projected," Saban said. "But this is what happens. A lot of these evaluations the juniors get, sometimes the teams don't know as much about them." In addition to Robinson, fellow Tide defensive lineman Jarran Reed was projected by many as a first rounder. Saban felt that the overall number of high quality defensive linemen available in the draft might have impacted Robinson and Reed. "There's a lot of defensive linemen, which probably affected our two guys," Saban said. "But I think they're all going to have great careers and that's what all of those players should focus on, not where they got drafted but having great careers in the future. I think being a second round draft pick is a great opportunity. Some guys may be disappointed about that, but there's only 40 guys in the country that got picked before you. "I'm just really glad the way all of our guys represented themselves, their families and our program while they were here and in the draft. I'm always excited to see our guys get drafted. It's always an extra boost when they get drafted in the first round and we were happy for Ryan Kelly. I would've loved to have seen some of our other guys have opportunities to be first round draft picks, but I really do think they need to focus on the opportunity they have now."
BO DAVIS' RESIGNATION
Everybody was surprised by the news about defensive line coach Bo Davis, who resigned recently amid reports that UA and the NCAA had conducted separate investigations into possible recruiting violations. "I'm not going to comment on any personnel decisions or investigations. We put a statement out," Saban said. "We're all about trying to do things right here in Alabama and we're going to do everything we can to do it right, make it right. "Bo submitted his letter of resignation. We appreciate the contributions he made to the program here and we wish him the very best in the future."
SATELLITE CAMPS
Another hot topic has been the satellite football camps. The NCAA overturned a rule it had just recently implemented that banned schools from conducting off-campus football camps. Reports are that Alabama plans to participate in an upcoming camp at Samford. "We're going to participate on a limited basis," Saban said. "We're still working on plans, but we're going to continue to focus on getting kids to come to our camps here. Our camps here have always been about player development and doing a great job of teaching. We have a great staff here. We've had a great response to our camps here. Also, any player that's interested in coming to school here has a chance to see what the University of Alabama has to offer. "We're going to participate on a limited basis. We're not allowed to promote where we're going, so I'm not going to comment on that. We're going to continue to try to focus on getting kids to come to the University of Alabama's camp."
TOUGH OPENER
Saban was asked if opening with a top opponent, like USC in the upcoming opener, is beneficial for strength of schedule and positioning for the playoffs. "We have always tried to play a good opponent in a neutral site game for the last eight or nine years. That's benefited us," Saban said. "I think it benefits our team in the off-season in terms of their development. "Also, I think that if you can have success in that game, it sort of benefits your opportunity (for a playoff spot). Also when you play a good opponent and you don't have success, it can put you in a tough situation. "So we like it because we get to play a quality opponent and they do have a lot of good players. They're well-coached. It gives our players something to really work hard on in the off-season and fall camp to get ready for a big game."
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