PLANET WEEKLY 513 by The Planet Weekly

// IN THIS ISSUE INNOCENT CRIMINALS WEIRDO SPINE CHILLING WITHOUT BORDERS

Monday – $5 Bud Light Pitchers Tuesday – Free Poker Tournament Wednesday – $3 Pint Night @7 p.m.

Thursday – Live Team Trivia and beer specials @8 p.m.

Sunday – Free Poker Tournament @2:30 p.m.

DOWNTOWN TUSCALOOSA 205.366.0913 2

JUN 23 + JULY 7

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STORIES

ENTERTAINMENT

4 BEN HARPER: INNOCENT CRIMINALS // ALAN SCULLEY

5 CHAMBER NEWS

7 WEIRD AL YANKOVIC: MANDATORY FUN TOUR //

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

>>> planetweeklyissue513

There was a fundamental change in the dynamic when Ben Harper reunited with the Innocent Criminals, to make “Call It What It Is,” their new album.

L I N DA W. J OHN S ON

REGGIE ALLEN

Mandatory Fun is the second comedy album to reach the no.1 spot on the Billboard 100 since the 1960s — as long as there is good music, Weird Al Yankovic will never be out of work.

9 JUNE IS SCOLIOSIS MONTH // RACHEL STEINER

6 WINE/BEER REVIEWS 8 IN THE KITCHEN 9 RESTAURANT GUIDE

Scoliosis is a condition by which the spine has more than a ten-degree curvature. Depending on the degree of curvature, scoliosis can cause little to no problems or in some cases, very serious problems leading to other health concerns.

14 EVENTS

18 OLYMPIANS WITHOUT NATIONS //

15 MOVIE REVIEW

With 20 million refugees worldwide, the International Olympic Committee announces a new team to make the games more inclusive for people without a nation to call home.

16 PET PLANET

22 COMMUNITY ARTS // KEVIN LEDGEWOOD

19 ROAD TRIP

CHRISTOPHER ZUMSKI

Bama Film Series, Puppet Theatre and more...

20 PUZZLEMANIA / EDITORIAL CARTOON

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.

21 HOROSCOPE

HIGH TIDE SPORTS

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.

23 RECRUIT UPDATE GARY HARRIS

Don Cheadle's Miles Ahead, The Bama Art House Film Series, June 28

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JUN 23 + JULY 7

F E AT U R E | A L A N S C U L L E Y

BEN HARPER: INNOCENT CRIMINALS t took seven years for Ben Harper to reunite with the Innocent Criminals, and he says in making “Call It What It Is,” his new album with his long-time band, there was a fundamental change in the dynamic. More than ever, billing “Call It What It Is” as a Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals album was a real reflection of theway the music was made. “They’re all credited as songwriters on all of the songs, or on a good number of them anyway,” Harper explained in a recent phone interview. “Even if it’s one I wrote, they have a piece of the songs because they played on it. You would think producing as a collective would be its own challenge with too many cooks, but it turned out to be just right because not only was I bringing that same communal sense of community, but they were also. They were ready to, if you want to change something, be open to it being changed. It was a great collective, certain guys would step up and take charge on certain songs, and we’d let them. Then at other times, other guys would step up on other songs where they had their strengths.” That sort of open collaboration wasn’t always the case when Harper worked with his group during the first decade-plus of his recording career. “I think that was maybe part of the reason that we split in the first place. Maybe I was too hands on,” Harper said. “I think you could point to me being controlling in the process of not only producing the music, but how the shows came to life as well. There was a certain strength in the surrendering, or a certain growth, I should say, in the surrendering aspect of all of it. And I think it was part of the process in the separation, learning the power in letting other people take the lead, whether it’s in music or in life in general.” Harper’s first run with the Innocent Criminals ended after touring to promote the 2007 album, “Lifeline.” From there, he went on to explore several distinctly different musical avenues, with a pair of projects that involved full-on collaborations. First, he put together a new four-piece band, the Relentless7, which took Harper’s music in a leaner, more rocking direction on the albums “White Lies for Dark Times” (2009) and “Give Till It’s Gone” (2011). Both albums included several co-writes with guitarist Jason Mozersky. Then Harper paired up with blues veteran Charlie Musselwhite to create the stripped back bluesy 2013 album “Get Up!” It won the pair a 2014 Grammy for Best Blues Album. Not only was the album collaborative, Harper said he took a back seat on the project to Musselwhite, who has made 30 albums in his career and is recognized as one of the best harmonica players going. “I came in all well knowing that Charlie is Batman and I’m Robin,” Harper said. “Steve Cropper, I was at the White House, like I’ll casually drop that, I was at the White House and Charlie and I were doing a celebration of Memphis soul. Steve Cropper (the legendary guitarist and songwriter from Booker T. & the MGs) was in the

JUN 23 + JULY 7

DANNY CLINCH

house band Booker T, and when there was sort of a technical break, Steve Cropper, he cornered me. He like got me in a corner and he pointed right into my chest, he said ‘Hey, you know what a special guy you’re working with, do you know how lucky you are?’ And I just went ‘Yes, sir.’ And he goes ‘Good,’ and then he walked away. Enough said.” From there, Harper made good on another collaborative project that had been on his to-do list since he broke onto the national scene with his 1994 debut album, “Welcome to the Cruel World” -- making the largely acoustic, folk-leaning 2014 album, “Childhood Home,” with his mother, singer-songwriter Ellen Harper. “I’m from a family of musicians,” Harper said. So the second I got a little traction, I said ‘Hey mom, let’s do something that’s family based.’ We just kept that alive and kept talking. The only reason we didn’t (do “Childhood Home’ sooner) was because I was off to the races (with the career) in such a way that time didn’t open up until the time it opened up. You write half and I’ll write half and we’ll get it done.” With those projects finished, Harper and the Innocent Criminals – guitarist Michael Ward, keyboardist Jason Yates, bassist Juan Nelson, drummer Oliver Charles and percussionist Leon Mobley -- reconvened, making the reunion public with four concerts at the Fillmore in San Francisco in June 2015.

By that time, though, the group was already at work on “Call It What It Is,” putting to work the more collaborative attitude and the musical growth the Harper and his bandmates had gained in the time apart. Harper said he wanted to start the album before playing live with the Innocent Criminals to create a forward-looking attitude around the project. “It felt so incredibly regenerative, not that I was ungenerative (before), Harper said. “It was truly a culmination of the growth of six individuals, and not the stagnation, and that is what has made all things Innocent Criminals possible and provided so much open road for this band.” “Call It What It Is” is another musically rich, lyrically thoughtful, and at times provocative, effort from Harper. It covers a wide range of styles and intensities usually sitting somewhere between rock, blues and soul. There’s big rock in “Pink Balloon” and “When Sex Was Dirty.” There’s a ghostly near solo tune, “All That Has Grown,” and reggae with the song, “Finding Our Way.” “Deeper and Deeper” is an edgy, largely acoustic tune, while the organ-laced “Shine” is funky and earthy. The title track gets bluesy as it looks at the complex issue of police and people of color, while the percussive, Latin-tinged “How Dark Is Gone” is another emotionally charged track. Harper said fans can expect to hear

some new songs in his show, but the set could touch on pretty much any phase of his career. “We’re going to lean heavily on the catalog, and we’re going to also bring to life the new record,” Harper said. “I think we’ll dip into some in between stuff as well. We’ll do some Charlie Musselwhite stuff, we’ll get into some of the Blind Boys material, maybe even some of the Relentless7 material, have a couple, a few songs ready at a moment’s notice.” With “Call It What It Is” complete and tour under way, Harper now says he expects to work primarily with the Innocent Criminals for the foreseeable future. There will be the occasional side project (Harper confirmed that he and Musselwhite are working on a follow-up to the “Get Up!” album that he thinks will surpass their first album together.) But the priority will be projects with the Innocent Criminals. “The Innocent Criminals and I, we’re back and we’re going to stay back,” Harper said. “Now I have a penchant for being a workaholic, so when we do take a couple of months off, yeah, I’ll explore and expand, but in a way that doesn’t jeopardize the Innocent Criminals. That’s going to be

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NEWS

ADOPT-A-SCHOOL NEWS Dr. Millet Speaks at Central Elementary

Chamber’s Education Summit Addresses Proficiency Gap Caused by Poverty In the research presented by Ryan Hankins, Executive Director of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, during Chamber in Session: State of Education, students classified as “poverty,” or those receiving free or reduced-price school meals, fared much worse than their schoolmates. While 79 percent of 3rd graders classifed as “nonpoverty” students in the Tuscaloosa City School System and 51 percent of 3rd graders in the Tuscaloosa County School System tested at 3rd grade reading levels, of those considered “poverty” students, just 20 percent of City School and 27 percent of County School students tested as proficient at 3rd grade levels. Hankins zoned in particularly on reading and math, noting that the two were key predictors for future performance, as well as drop out rates. “The student needs to be proficient at third-grade reading levels and eighth-grade math levels,” he said. In response to the PARCA report, both Interim Superintendent Dr. Mike Daria of the Tuscaloosa City School System and Superintendent Dr. Walter Davie of the Tuscaloosa County School System were on hand. Dr. Daria discussed the achievement gap, and the challenges in locating and allocating resources. “At the City Schools, we’ve used the PARCA report in creating our strategic plan,” he said. “We are not satisfied until every child in this school system is successful.” Dr. Davie agreed with the assessment on resource allocation, and expanded to include the challenges of the growing population of English-as-a-Second-Language students. “We have a large ESL population,” he said. “One school has 37 ESL students. These students have often had access barriers. Some of them have not even been in school in five or six years.” During the second part of the Education Summit, Dr. Philip Cleveland, Interim Superintendent of the Alabama Department of Education, spoke on the importance of workforce development and career readiness for students. He was followed by State Representative Bill Poole, Chair, House Ways & Means Education Committee, who gave an update on the education budget. Poole spoke about the significance of the 4 percent raises in the FY17 budget for teachers, saying it had been several years since they had received a raise. Poole also spoke on the funding to hire 500 teachers statewide for grades 8 through 12. “This will allow us to reduce classroom sizes,” he said. Poole noted that every House and Senate seat is up for election in 2018, and urged the audience to pay close attention to political issues in the state prior to the 2018 election cycle.

Dr. Peter Millet, President of Stillman College, spoke at the Central Elementary 5th grade promotion ceremony recently. He encouraged students to “Be a Champion.” Paying it forward, he gave each student a monetary gift to use towards establishing savings funds for the future! The school also has great partners in BBVA Compass Bank and Ezell’s Express.

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Tall Pines caption Great Crowd at Tall Pines Golf Club for Business After Hours Chamber members converged on Tall Pines Golf Club for June’s Business After Hours, and were treated to great food, door prizes and a fun atmosphere. The club, located on Woodland Forrest Drive, gave away rounds of golf as door prizes.

JUN 23 + JULY 7

>>> W I N E R E V I E W | J O N R O G E R S

337 WINE NOBLE VINES CABERNET

tasted the 2013 vintage of this wine.

APPEARANCE In the glass this wine is very dark purple in appearance. Little light shines through. Legs are evenly spaced, numerous and fall down the sides of the glass fairly quickly. AROMA I found this wine to be quite aromatic. My first impression was a soft caramel aroma with a little bit of spice. A few more sniffs revealed black cherry and berries. Overall, I didn’t pick up a strong alcohol aroma even though this wine’s alcohol content is reasonably significant. 337 wine alcohol content 14.5% by volume per the bottle. TASTE 337’s flavor is very “Bordeaux like” in terms of the balance of flavor versus dryness from the tannins. I would describe it as soft and subtle in flavor with some spicy juice of blackberry. MOUTHFEEL AND TANNINS The wine had a cotton like mouthfeel with supple but full mouthcoating tannins. FINISH 337’s finish is long and carried moreso by the tannins then the flavors. As the finish diminishes, the tannins linger on the sides of the tongue.

JUN 23 + JULY 7

OVERALL OPINION I enjoyed this wine quite a bit. I felt like I was getting back to a traditional French Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a bit dry, so those who don’t like dry wines might find this to be a bit overwhelming. I found that letting this wine breathe opened up the flavors somewhat. 337 wine price $11.99. SUGGESTED FOOD PAIRING The wine’s tasting notes suggested that 337 would best be paired with herb roasted pork loin. While I did not have this wine with food, I would expect that the flavors would come through more as a result of the tannins being muted by the food. Given this wine’s reasonable price and classic 337 vine stock origins, I think this wine is a great choice as a either a sipper or complement to the above mentioned dish. Cheers!

>>> B E E R R E V I E W | B R E T T R E I D

3 TAVERNS // WHITE HOPS IPA T

he amount of great beer coming out of Georgia is astonishing. How are there so many talented brewers and people that understand to such a degree living within so few miles of each other? It’s not hard to believe when you taste beers like Burnt Hickory’s Big Shanty or Terrapin’s Rye Pale Ale, the one that started it all for them, or even a simple beer like Sweetwater’s Take Two. These guys are taking seemingly overworked and simple beers and turning them into something magnificent that allows people to rediscover a beer of the style. Such is the case with this beer; one brewed just twenty minutes north of Atlanta in Decatur. Three Taverns is a new comer to the Georgia beer scene, but they’re making an impact with amazing flavors, old principles, and producing beers that explore the bounds of your taste buds. I had the opportunity to enjoy the White Hops White IPA at a festival in Kennesaw and immediately fell in love. Something about the citrus flavors married with the taste of Belgian yeast is something fairly uncommon to me and I’m sure to many others. I picked it up at Green’s, brought it home and, honestly, enjoyed the hell out of it. Here are my thoughts: I poured the beer into a regular pint glass, although it should have been a tulip glass, but I’m too lazy to walk into my living room to grab one, pour it, take a picture of the beer, and blah blah blah. It poured an extremely clear golden color with absolutely zero haze in the glass. I mean, this beer is almost like juice it’s so clear. There was about a quarter of a finger’s width of foam that formed and then disappeared rather quickly. I was left with a thin layer of splotchy head on top that stuck around until the end of the beer. When you smell this beer, you’re immediately hit in the face with a ton of aromas that are super strong. There are lots of grapefruit aromas, some that Belgian yeast I was talking about, and a few more uncommon things for an IPA like some peppery notes and something very floral. This thing almost has a Saison-like aroma to it, which isn’t a bad thing, but thankfully it doesn’t taste like it. Taste is a almost a mirror of the aroma in that you get a ton of grapefruit in the beginning that’s blended very well with a nice citrus hop bitterness. There’s a slightly sweet malt flavor that you pick up on the back end that is very nice; it seems to balance out the flavors a lot. There are some of those spicy and floral flavors that show up toward the end of each sip, but it doesn’t overpower anything, because the main thing you’re getting is that nice, crisp

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citrus flavor from the Citra hops and the grapefruit zest used in brewing. The yeast that’s used is really dominate as the beer warms up, you start to pick up on some clove and some slight hints of a bananalike flavor that really throws you for a loop. It’s a good loop, though; trust me. This is an intensely odd brew that strays away from anything that you’ve ever had that was labeled as a White IPA. Most that I’ve had are ripping with coriander, lighter grains, and some generic hop. This takes the White IPA to another level and then says, “Oh, we’re not done yet” and proceeds to crank that bad boy up to 11. There is something really awesome in these bottles. Mouthfeel is a little different than most IPA style beers and it should be. A little more carbonation and a little lighter body make this one the ultimate summer time brew. I could imagine myself on the back porch drinking several of these while manning the grill or even on the beach tucked away underneath my chair where the police can’t see that I have glass on the beach. Either way, this one has hot weather written all over it. Refreshing hops, light body, and a carbonation level that screams drink more of me. Overall, this is one that will be in my rotation for a while. The mix of complex flavors and uncharted territories make for an interesting, yet perfectly executed White IPA. I can count on one hand the number of beers in this style that I’ve liked and that list starts with this one. There’s something special happening in the world of craft beer in Georgia, and if you’re not taking this opportunity to enjoy some of the best beers in the country, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Inside the Permimeter and the area just outside can be considered the craft beer hub of the southeast and I don’t think anyone can argue with that; at least not to me.

>>> F E AT U R E | R E G G I E A L L E N

Photos Courtesy of Reggie Allen

WEIRD AL YANKOVIC: MANDATORY FUN TOUR

t is rather coincidental (not ironic) that Weird Al Yankovic decided to name his trek across North America the Mandatory Fun tour. Of course, that is referring to the 2014 album of the same name. It just seems difficult to not have fun at a Weird Al concert. The 55-year-old may be the most under-rated, relevant man in show business. In his thirty-year career, the musical lampoonist has managed to amass a large fan base, multiple Grammys and a few platinum albums based purely on the work of others. There is also the fact that Mandatory Fun was the second comedy album to reach the no.1 spot on the Billboard 100 since the 1960s. In other words, as long as there is good music, Weird Al Yankovic will never be out of work. The parody artist stopped in Huntsville, Alabama as part of his 78-city Northern American tour. Fans of all ages lined-up outside of the Von Braun Center wearing Yankovic’s trademark Hawaiian-style shirt and aluminum foil headwear. Many of them discussing if their favorite song will be performed. With 14 albums to his name, it is definitely a tough order to fill. Opening with a montage of a random clips to “Fun Zone”, Yankovic’s accompanying band took to the stage, immediately playing the Pharrell Williams-inspired song “Tacky.” Audience members turned their heads, as the main act’s voice filled the venue but could not be seen. The backdrop then illuminated, showing a live feed of Yankovic singing from outside the Von Braun Center to the audience and finally the stage. After a performance of “Lame Claim to Fame,” Yankovic shifted gears with the accordion-driven medley “Now that’s What I Call Polka”, featuring music from Miley Cyrus, One Direction, Psy and Daft Punk. Yankovic returned to the stage, dressed in a purple octopus suit and ice cream cone hat for his Lady Gaga –driven spoof

“Perform This Way.” He then exited the stage. Cue the backdrop. This would become a recurring theme throughout the show, obviously giving him time for costume changes. Throughout each break, meticulously-edited clips of his various cameo appearances or being referenced in pop culture would play before the next big number. Several of the clips directly correlated

with the next song. All of his tracks did not receive full-on costume changes, but the Grammy winner made sure pay homage to fan-favorites. Throughout the show, he donned a fat suit for “Fat”, a red and maple leaf blazer for “Canadian Idiot”, and a Kurt Koban-inspired outfit for “Smells like Nirvana.” A highlight of the many wardrobe changes was Yankovic riding out a Segway, in a hoodie and do-rag for “White & Nerdy.” In addition to this, the singer did an acoustic medley of hits like “Eat it” and “Like a Surgeon.” Yankovic “closed” the show with the Coolio-inspired “Amish Paradise.” “I want to party all night with you, but for several reasons that is not possible” the front man screamed to the audience, before running offstage. Returning to stage now in Jedi robes and accompanied by storm troopers and Darth Vader, Yankovic led the audience in song for the “American Pie” inspired “The Saga Begins”, which was followed by “Yoda” to the tune of The Kinks “Lola.” While Yankovic could not perform every song from his cavalcade of hits, The Mandatory Fun tour was definitely a service to his many generation of fans.

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • TUSCALOOSA'S SOURCE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, MUSIC, SPORTS & THE ARTS

JUN 23 + JULY 7

>>> I N T H E K I T C H E N | S H A R O N C AC H O

LITTLE KNOWN FACTS AND OTHER USES FOR ROLLING

ho invented them? Why were they invented? Are they only good for rolling out bread dough and cookies? I will answer these and other... very interesting things about our need for rolling pins! First, not to confuse the rolling pin with the bowling pin (or any other pin), the rolling pin is a utensil that has a cylindrical shape with one handle on each side that is used in the kitchen mainly to flatten out and shape dough. According to historical records, many ancient civilizations used round pieces of wood (probably branches with the bark removed) to flatten, or smash or crush their different types of food. The old saying is true, "There is nothing new under the sun"! They also used hardened clay, and glass bottles. Obviously, the glass bottles came later. Regardless of the raw material used, it would have been an antique form of a pin compared to what we now have. The modern wooden rolling pin is much different than the earlier styles. Not only does it now have handles, but due to the invention of J.W. Reed in the late 1800's, the handles now roll independently of the actual cylinder. Previously (and I remember this, it must have been my Great Grandmothers pin!) the handles were just a part of the cylinder and you could not hold the handles and roll the pin. Being one unit, if you held the handles too tightly, the pin would just scrape across the top of your dough- accomplishing... well, not much! I seem to remember a big pile of dough at the end of my board! J.W. Reed must have experienced similar issues causing him to create and patent a rod that would allow the cylinder to spin independently of the

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handles. I promised you little known facts. Here's one: in the United States alone, there are between 600,000 to 750,000 rolling pins manufactured every year! Where in the world are all of these pins being used? I have found that having only one in my kitchen is plenty! Pins are not only made of wood any longer. Glass pins are popular in Italy, in fact, they use chilled wine bottles! The French prefer marble pins on top of marble boards. Other countries make theirs hollow, filling the center with cold water. This would be similar to the Italians and the wine bottle. Here, in the United States, we have primarily used wood. Going back to J.W. Reed's day, pine would have been plentiful and is a soft wood, easy to cut or whittle. Today, most popular are Ash and Maple. Specifically, Rock Maple, as it is a very hard wood (as you can tell by the name alone!). Ash and Rock Maple are used primarily with professional cooking schools, bakeries and high-end retail stores. Are there any other uses for rolling pins, aside from baking and comics who portray angry housewives chasing children and husbands around the house? I found a couple. Thinking outside the box, they are great for children while doing arts and crafts. They can bring relief to aching muscles and knots. The ones with the hollow center can be filled with ice and water for bruising, or with hot water to loosen cramped muscles. You can also lie down and use the pin to roll your feet on, thus giving them a much needed massage after standing all day and baking in the kitchen!

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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. 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. 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.

MEXICAN Chipotle Mexican Grill

1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 391.0140 www.chipotle.com

ITALIAN Broadway Pizzeria

Don Tono's 2312 4th Street | Temerson Square // 345.9191

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

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 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.

>>> H E A LT H | D R . R AC H E L S T E I N E R

JUNE: NATIONAL SCOLIOSIS MONTH

ore than likely you have gotten checked during your school years, specifically middle school for scoliosis. You might have not even been aware that is what they were checking you for at the time. Typically the gym teacher or school nurse performs the tests during gym or health class. If you recall, they most likely they had you bend forward as in touching your toes while examining your back. This is a quick scoliosis check that is typically done during the most rapid years of growth in children- middle school. What exactly is scoliosis? A simple definition scoliosis is a condition by which the spine has more than a tendegree curvature. Keep in mind that the spine should be straight! Because we walk on two feet, the human nervous system keeps our spine straight through reflexes and postural control. Occasionally, a sideways curve can develop due do a structural problem from birth or a misalignment as one grows. Depending on the degree of curvature, scoliosis can cause little to no problems or in some cases, very serious problems leading to other health concerns. In more than 80% of cases, the cause of scoliosis is unknown. However, there are two categories you might have heard of called functional and structural scoliosis. A structural scoliosis means the person was either born this way due to possible misshaped bones in the spine, tumors, trauma, or infections that resulted in a curvature of the spine in adults, a scoliosis can form from severe arthritis of the spine. Postural problems, muscle spasm, leg length differences, or repetitive movements like those done in gymnastics or dance most commonly cause a functional scoliosis. A structural scoliosis does not go away with any motion unlike a functional scoliosis that can decrease or even disappear by repositioning. Some visible findings of scoliosis include an uneven waistline, shoulders that are not level, or the body being shifted off-center when looked at from behind. It is estimated that scoliosis affects 7 million people in the United States and more than a half million visits are made to doctors’ offices each year for evaluation and treatment of scoliosis. Although scoliosis can begin at any age, it most often develops in adolescents typically girls between the ages of 10 and 15 due to the rapid growth of the body. Scoliosis

can significantly affect the quality of life by limiting activity, causing pain, reducing lung capacity, and in severe cases affecting heart function. Fortunately, 4 out of 5 people with scoliosis have curves of less than 20 degrees, which are usually not detectable to the untrained eye. In growing children however, mild curvatures can worsen rapidly by 10 degrees or more in a few months. It is important that parents take action if they suspect their child might have a curvature and should seek further medical attention to be monitored. There are various forms of treatment for scoliosis depending on the severity of the curve. A doctor or clinician will take xrays of the spine to make a firm diagnosis of scoliosis and how severe the curve is. Things then will be taken into account such as where the curve is in the spine, the degree of the curve, and the age and growing stage of the patient. June is National Scoliosis Awareness Month that was created to unite scoliosis patients, families, physicians, clinicians, institutions, and related businesses. This was done to form a collaborative partnership between all involved to create a positive public awareness, education, and advocacy of the condition. On behalf of June being National Scoliosis Awareness Month, our office is offering a complimentary consultation to anyone who suspects they or someone they know might have a scoliosis. Feel free to call my officeFreeman Chiropractic and schedule an appointment by mentioning this article.

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JUN 23 + JULY 7

>>> 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

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

JUN 23 + JULY 7

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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JUN 23 + JULY 7

>>> 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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JUN 23 + JULY 7

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To learn more, please email PlanetEditor@yahoo.com >>> PLANETWEEKLY â&#x20AC;¢ TUSCALOOSA'S SOURCE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, MUSIC, SPORTS & THE ARTS

JUN 23 + JULY 7

>>> E V E N T S FRIDAY, JUNE 24

Live At The Plaza Concerts are back Fridays in June and July 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. WHEN: 6:00pm-9:00pm COST: Free WHERE:Government Plaza 7th St. and 22th Ave. SE. Tuscaloosa PHONE: (205) 469-2182 LINK: www.tuscaloosaamphitheater.com DESCRIPTION: The very popular musical concerts from last year are back again this year, beginning Friday, June 3 through Friday July 29. Each concert will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Government Plaza, downtown Tuscaloosa. Children and dogs are welcome. The public is invited to bring coolers, food, lawn chairs, blankets and settle in for a great musical line-up. The June 10 concert will feature a bluegrass band Lickety Split and will play host to an open competition from the Black Warrior River Fiddle Fest.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25

Tuscaloosa Farmers’ Market WHEN: 7:00am-12:00pm COST: Vendor prices WHERE: River Market and Visitors Center 1900 Jack Warner Parkway Tuscaloosa PHONE: (205) 248-5295 LINK: www.tuscaloosarivermarket.com/ DESCRIPTION: Join us for the Tuscaloosa Farmers’ Market from your local farmers every Saturday from 7AM Noon.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25

Southern Customs Hot Rods & Restorations hosts the First Annual Child Abuse Prevention Services Car & Bike show WHEN: 9:00pm-1:00pm COST: Free WHERE: The University Mall 1701 McFarland Boulevard East Tuscaloosa PHONE: (205) 758-1159 LINK: http://capstuscaloosa.net/ DESCRIPTION: Southern Customs Hot Rods & Restorations hosts the First Annual Child Abuse Prevention Services

JUN 23 + JULY 7

Car & Bike show to be held at The University Mall over flow parking lot June 25th from 9-1. The event is free and will have fun for the whole family including food trucks, raffles, and lots of antique cars! Car registration is $25. Hollow Ends performing at Druid City Brewery WHEN: 8:00pm-11:59pm COST: N/A WHERE: Druid City Brewery 607 14th St Tuscaloosa PHONE: (205) 342-0051 LINK: www.druidcitybrewing.com/ DESCRIPTION: Druid City Brewery presents the Hollow Ends with Tawaine Himself on Saturday, June 25th at 8 pm. The Hollow Ends is a Saint Louis, Missouri folk-rock project created by songwriter Zachary Schwartz.

MONDAY, JUNE 28

The Bama Art House Film Series at Bama Theatre WHEN: 7:30pm-10:00pm COST: Description WHERE: The Bama Theatre 600 Greensboro Avenue Tuscaloosa PHONE: (205) 585-1956 LINK: bamatheatre.org/bamaarthouse DESCRIPTION: The Bama Art House Film Series Summer 2016 will begin on June 14 and will feature six films. The series will offer a mix of comedy, fantasy, thriller, foreign and biopic. Screenings

will take place at the Bama Theatre on Tuesday nights at 7:30 p.m. with the box office opening at 6:30 p.m. and doors at 6:45 p.m. Discount Punchcard Tickets ($60) will be available at the door prior and will be good for any 10 Bama Art House films. Single Tickets will be priced at $8 general, $7 seniors & students and $6 Arts Council members. The featured films are: June 14: The Meddler June 21: Green Room (sponsored by Left Hand Soap Co.) June 28: Miles Ahead (sponsored by Left Hand Soap Co.) July 5: The Lobster July 12: High-Rise July 19: Marguerite

DIRT, SWEAT, AND GEARS Off-Road Duathlon WHEN: 8:00am-11:59pm COST: Admission WHERE: Lake Lurleen State Park 13226 Lake Lurleen Road Northport LINK: www.alapark.com/lake-lurleenstate-park DESCRIPTION: This event is designed so that athletes of all abilities will be able to participate in an awesome off-road mountain bike and trail run race. The race is being hosted by DCH Sports Medicine. The course:The race starts at Pavilion 1 with the 10 mile mountain bike leg of the race. Racers will start in waves and do two laps on the Ridge Loop before returning back to the Start/ Finish to transition to the trail run. The trail run leg of the race will be an “out and back” course on the Lakeside Trail for a total distance of 3.3 miles. Racer Options: Racers can compete either as individuals or as a relay teams. Awards for individuals will be Male and Female age group categories. Relay Teams categories will be Male, Co-ed, and Female two person teams.

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

WARCRAFT // STUNNING CGI IMAGERY

★★★

OU T OF 4

o, I’ve never played the video game World of Warcraft, but I’ve seen the $161-million dollar, PG13 rated, Universal Pictures’ extravaganza. What “Source Code” director Duncan Jones, “Seventh Son” scenarist Charles Leavitt, and “Warcraft II & III” video game scribe Chris Metzen have wrought is a larger-than-life, adventure fantasy inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic “Lord of the Rings” and C.S. Lewis’ “Narnia” novels. This sprawling sword & sorcery saga pits terrestrial humans against marauding extraterrestrial Orcs in a cornucopia of striking computer generated images. If you’ve seen either the trailers or publicity photos for “Warcraft,” you know those intimidating Orcs resemble Goliath-like humanoids, possess massive limbs, and have a Frank Frazetta look. Tusks bulge improbably from their grim mouths as if they were colossal warthogs. Indeed, these belligerent invaders emerge as mighty gruesome. They wield humongous hammers that would make Thor crap in his drawers, and they abide by a staunch code of honor. Namely, Orcs don’t fib. Once they promise something, they adhere to their word. Of course, the Orcs are avatars that unseen but seasoned thespians such as Toby Kebbell, Rob Kazinsky, and Clancy Brown portray in motion capture outfits. Meantime, the humans resemble Arthurian knights adorned in elaborate suits of armor with massive glittering swords. Whereas the Orcs gallivant around on gigantic wolves, the humans cruise the skies astraddle giant Griffins when they aren’t riding horses. Aside from Travis Fimmel’s sympathetic protagonist Anduin Lothar and Dominic Cooper’s noble King Llane Wrynn, “Warcraft” relies largely on hundreds of CGI characters. What these characters lack in depth, Jones and his special effects wizards compensate for with ghoulish countenances. The filmmakers are not interested in diplomacy as much as they are fascinated with the pugnacious warriors and warlords as they engage in a battle to the death for a little over two hours. This above-average, cinematic adaptation isn’t as abhorrent as many critics have claimed, and the narrative ambiguities in “Warcraft” actually provide it with some surprising depth. Neither Orcs nor humans are entirely either evil or heroic. “Warcraft” chronicles a merciless clash between two vastly different races of warriors. First, director Duncan Jones and his scribes introduce us to the mighty Orcs. Hailing from a dying planet named Draenor, they set out to conquer the planet Azeroth where King Llane Wrynn (Dominic Cooper of “Need for Speed”) of Stormwind presides over a human population living in comparative peace. Those rugged, mesomorphic Orcs march to the orders of a wicked warlock, Gul’dan (voiced by Daniel Wu of “Europa Report”),

who resembles the spawn of Satan with an elaborate thicket of antlers bristling from his back. Gul’dan mobilizes the Orc tribes into an army called the Horde, and he conjures up a colossal trans-dimensional portal. The Orc shaman practices a noxious form of Black magic called the Fel. He deploys the Fel to make the portal operational. The portal derives its power from the life force of captives that the Orcs have imprisoned and transported to Azeroth. This mysterious Fel depletes life energy of those prisoners and their life energy maintains the portal. This portal is reminiscent of the gateways in the vintage sci-fi film “Stargate” and the television series it spun off that transported individuals from one world to another. The murky green Fel is so toxic that it corrupts anybody and anything, and this malignant force has warped Gul’dan so dreadfully that some of his own kind have come to abhor it. The Orc warrior Durotan (voice of Toby Kebbell of “Fantastic Four”) rules the Frostwolf Clan. As one of the many Draenor tribes, the Frostwolf Clan has joined Gul’dan’s Horde. Durotan wants his people, particularly his pregnant wife Draka (voice of Anna Galvin), to thrive as prosperously as they once did before their planet began to deteriorate. Durotan’s clan takes its name from the enormous wolves that they ride. Meantime, Durotan doesn’t completely trust Gul’dan or the terrible green Fel magic that destroys everything it touches. This generates considerable friction between Durotan and war chieftain Blackhand (voiced by Clancy Brown of “Highlander”), especially after the latter discovers that the former is plotting treason behind his back. Durotan calls a truce and has words with King Wynn, but Blackhand surprises the two and attacks them. Dur-

ing this wild melee, Stormwind’s sorcerer Medivh, (Ben Foster of “The Mechanic”) the legendary Guardian of Tirisfal, saves King Wynn’s life by deploying a shield to thwart Blackhand’s warriors from slaying him. Unfortunately, King Wynn’s army commander Sir Anduin Lothar (Travis Fimmel of “Vikings”) loses his son, when the young warrior is caught on the wrong side. Not only does Lothar suspect that the Fel has corrupted Medivh, but he also believes that Medivh and Gul’dan may have been conspiring with each other. Anybody who isn’t thoroughly acquainted with the mythology of Warcraft may find themselves bewildered by the byzantine stratums of the story. Painstaking research enabled me to clear up who was who in the complex line-up of characters. Indeed, I talked with a seasoned “Warcraft” gamer who has been playing the Blizzard Entertainment game for over a decade. I watched “Warcraft” twice before I gained

a clear understanding of the hierarchies for both the Horde and Stormwind Alliance. If you’ve never played Warcraft, the best way to enjoy “Warcraft” the movie is to savor it simply for both its breathtaking computer generated imagery and interesting combatants. The grotesque Orcs are extremely ugly, while the Stormwind warriors reminded me of King Arthur’s knights from the classic movie “Excalibur.” “Blood Diamond” scenarist Charles Leavitt and “Warcraft” game author Chris Metzen gloss over some salient points in the Warcraft universe. Miraculously, director Duncan Jones doesn’t let the plethora of exposition take the edge off the savage, testosterone-laden action. He plunges audiences into the stunning CGI imagery with its adrenalin-laced action sequences without drenching us in gallons of blood and gore to compensate for the plot. “Warcraft” lives up to its title without w earing out its welcome at 123 minutes.

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JUN 23 + JULY 7

>>> PET PLANET

PAULY // LOVES TO SNUGGLE well with other dogs, too. We have started his crate training. Mickey is up to date on his vet care, neutered, heartworm negative and is microchipped. He is on heartworm and flea/tick prevention. What more can we say about this dog but come and adopt him!?

LENORE // SLEEK AND SPUNKY

This sweet young man is Pauly, a very cute adult male orange tabby. His orange color is a light peachy frosting, with a cute pink nose and beautiful bright yellow eyes! Pauly does like to steal the limelight from other cats, so he will either steal all the toys to gain your attention or just tug on your shoelaces to make you look down! Pauly has been gentle and sweet with children. He loves to snuggle with other cats, but really loves when he can snuggle with a person. If we can’t find Pauly he is usually hiding under a blanket. Pauly has developed a condition known as “pillow pads” where his pads are very sensitive and sometimes require ointment to keep them well. This in no way deters him from being a loveable cat. Pauly is negative for FIV/ FeLK, current on vaccinations and neutered.

MICKEY // GREAT LITTLE DOG

Meet Lenore! She is around 9 months old, and she is one spunky little girl! She is constantly on the go, unless of course it is nap time. She has a sleek, black coat and is very soft. Lenore is a very playful kitten. She would do well as a playmate if you have another cat or as an only kitty as long as she is getting plenty of attention! This sweet, spunky girl is ready for her forever home! Lenore is negative for FIV and FeLK, current on vaccinations and spayed. If you are interested in giving PAULY, MICKEY or LENORE 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.

Cute and cuddly - perfect ingredients for the perfect pup! This fine looking fellow is Mickey, a 2-year-old male Corgi/Terrier mix. He has a reddish-brown with black and has a thick coat. He has a long body with short legs. Mickey is a small dog, weighing only 15 pounds, and this is full-grown. Mickey was pulled from our local animal shelter, where he was found as a stray by Animal Control and nobody came down there to claim him. Poor little guy! Mickey is a great little dog; so sweet and so much fun! He loves attention and to be with you. He has a delightful personality and is very playful, curious and lovable. Mickey should be fine in an apartment, as long as he gets daily walks; and he does pretty well on a leash. Mickey will require a fenced in yard if left outside any unattended. He should be fine with children ages 6 and older and seems to do

JUN 23 + JULY 7

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • TUSCALOOSA'S SOURCE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, MUSIC, SPORTS & THE ARTS

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JUN 23 + JULY 7

>>> FEATURE | C H R I S T O P H E R Z U M S K I

OLYMPIANS WITHOUT NATIONS

n August of 2015, Yusra Mardini and her sister, Sarah, fled Syria after their home was destroyed in the country’s civil war. The sisters traveled on land through Lebanon and Turkey, eventually boarding a boat with 18 other refugees. When that boat’s motor failed in the Aegean Sea,Mardini, her sister, and another woman jumped out and pushed the boat for three hours to the island of Lesbos. Mardini would later tell a press conference in Berlin that “it would be a real shame if I drowned in the sea.” Many refugees do drown attempting to reach safety in Europe—2,500 died this year alone—but that is not what Mardini meant. Mardini is a competitive swimmer, and she is one of 10 athletes selected this week to compete on a refugee Olympic team at the 2016 Rio Olympics. For a group of people stripped of their homes and citizenship, it’s an effort to restore an element of their humanity: sports. Prior to this year’s games, Mardini and her fellow teammates would not have been eligible to participate on any Olympic team. Yet that’s a violation of the Olympic Charter, which considers playing sports a human right. “Every individual,” the Charter reads, “must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind.” This is a noble value, but it raises a fundamental problem: the Olympics hold national competitions. While everyone may have a right to practice sport, not every athlete has a nation to call home. By creating the refugee Olympic team, the International Olympic Committee hopes to rectify that dilemma. The team is composed of 10 athletes, all verified by the United Nations

JUN 23 + JULY 7

as holding refugee status. In addition to Mardini, there is another swimmer who left Syria, Rami Anis; two judoka from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Popole Misenga and Yolande Bukasa Mabika; marathoner Yonas Kinde from Ethiopa; and five runners formerly of South Sudan, James Nyang Chiengjiek, Yiech Pur Biel, Paulo Amotun Lokoro, Rose Nathike Lokonyen, and Anjelina Nada Lohalith. Team Refugee Olympic Athletes (ROA) was created by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee in response to the global refugee crisis resulting from nearly 20 million refugees, as of 2014.Meaning the Earth now has about 1 million more refugees than there are Romanians or Syrians. In 2012, Romania sent 103 athletes to the summer Games. “This will be a symbol of hope for all the refugees in our world, and will make the world better aware of the magnitude of this crisis,” said IOC President Thomas Bach, when he announced the final team selection. “It is also a signal to the international community that refugees are our fellow human beings and are an enrichment to society.” The refugee team is funded by the Olympic Solidarity Programme, created to assist those National Committees in need of organizational resources and training support. The Solidarity Programme already supports more than 1,700 athletes from developing countries, in addition to the refugee team. When the refugee team makes its entrance at the Opening Ceremony, it will be the first time a team will march at the Olympics representing no nation. They will march to the Olympic Anthem; they will carry the Olympic flag. While ROA will be the first organized team to represent nationless peoples at the Games, the athletes will not be the first to participate in the Olympics without being on a national team. According to Bill Mallon, Olympic Historian and founding member of the International Society of Olympic Historians, individuals have competed in the past, usually due to war or political sanctions in their countries. The first instance was in 1992, when Yugoslav athletes, whose team was banned due to sanctions associated with the Balkan war, were allowed to compete as“Independent Olympic Athletes.” Allowing 10 refugees to compete does not mean every human population suddenly has access to the Games. There are still groups, like Tibetans, who

remain in political situations that exclude them from bringing a team to the Olympics. Because of China’s occupation of Tibet, Tibetan athletes must compete under the Chinese flag, if at all. But with the creation of a refugee team, it is possible to imagine a more inclusive future for the Games. Tenzing Sherap, Program Manager at the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota, praised the IOC for creating a space for refugees, and for recognizing that “these things are not about sports only but about longing for freedom.” Most refugee stories in the media focus on hardship and tragedy: dangerous mass movements, dilapidated tent cities, and refugee camps. “These are important pictures but they depersonalize the refugee story,” said Bill Canny, Executive Director of Migration and Refugee Services for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. “The more that [the] Olympics can personalize, tell a personal story about a refugee and his or her family, I think it makes it more real for us to see how in fact these people differ very little from us if at all.” Given the Olympic-sized audiences Rio will bring, the stories of the refugee athletes will provide a new, powerful opportunity for those working to ameliorate the refugee crisis. The London Summer Olympics in 2012 was the most watched TV program in U.S. history. Second on that list is the Beijing Summer Olympics in 2008. Worldwide, the Olympics measures its viewers inbillions. This is important at a time when global public perceptions of refugees are low, the United Nations reports. In the United States, refugees have been met with disdainful public opinion, according to PEW Research. Attitudes toward immigrants are often divided along party lines, with 59 percent of citizens saying immigrants strengthen the country and 33 percent calling them a burden. Yet the stories of refugee athletes are filled with adversity and deserve to be heard. Misenga and Mabika, the judoka from Congo, defected from their homeland when they applied for asylum during a 2013 Judo Championship tournament in Rio. Misenga fled after his mother was killed and his brother disappeared. “I’ve seen too much war, too much death,” he says. Mabika’s story is similar; her family was lost in Congolese conflict. Both turned to Judo as a way out. “Judo is my life. It helped me escape war, to take another path,” says Mabika. “The more that people understand what a refugee is and what a refugee has gone through,” said Canny, “I think that increasingly people in this country will welcome them, and help them start new lives in the United States.”

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South Sudanese refugee Anjelina Nadai Lohalith will compete in the 1500-meter run on the refugee Olympic team in Rio. Photo courtesy of International Olympic Committee. In the meantime, the athletes will train in the nations where they have sought refuge. The South Sudanese runners are training in Nairobi, Kenya, with two-time New York City Marathon winner Tegla Loroupe. Loroupe, a three-time Olympian will also serve as the team manager for the Refugee Team. “When I look at them, when any of us look at them, we’re reminded that it isn’t by choice that people become refugees,” she says. “It could be any of us.” “It isn’t by choice that people become refugees,” she says. “It could be any of us.” Yusra Mardini practices with the support of the German National Olympic Committee (NOC). Michael Shirp, deputy head of media for the German NOC, says that Germany is proud to support Yusra and her effort to compete at the Olympics. He says she and her sister “represent an impressive example” of the refugee population in Germany, which grew by more than 1 million in the past 15 months. Because refugees give up their homes and suffer through perilous journeys, Shirp says, they offer inspiration to Germans. That inspiration and talent is evident from the Mardinis’ arduous trip to Europe. At a press conference in Berlin in February, Mardini recognized the inspirational nature of her personal story. “The problem [in Syria] was the reason I am here and why I am stronger and I want to reach my goals,” Mardini said. “I want to inspire everyone that everyone can do what they believe in their hearts.” A global audience will hear all the stories of the refugee Olympic team this summer. And in doing so, a billion souls will get to watch the nationless compete as equals, as the Olympics lives up to one more aspect of its optimistic charter. Christopher Zumski Finke wrote this article for YES! Magazine. Christopher blogs about pop culture and is editor of The Stake. Follow him on Twitter @ christopherzf.

>>> 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 BIRMINGHAM FRIDAY, JUNE 24 Old Crow Medicine Show // Iron City SUNDAY, JUNE 26 Chris Isaak // Lyric theatre

MONDAY, JUNE 27 Bring It! Live // The Alabama Theatre WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29 In This Moment // Iron City

FRIDAY, JULY 8 Robert Earl Keen // Avondale Brewing Company SATURDAY, JULY 16 Bun B // Bill Harris Arena Deontay Wilder // Legacy Arena at the BJCC

SUNDAY, JULY 17 Sloss Music & Arts Festival Weekend // Sloss Furnaces

NASHVILLE

SATURDAY, JUNE 25 Laid Back Festival w/ Gregg Allman // Carl Black Chevy Woods

TUESDAY, JULY 5 Barenaked Ladies // Ascend Amphitheater

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6 Duran Duran // Ascend Amphitheater THURSDAY, JULY 7 Little River Band // The Franklin Theatre

FRIDAY, JULY 8 Billy Joe Shaver w/ Heart of Texas Band // City Winery Nashville Leann Rimes with the Nashville Symphony // Schermerhorn Symphony Center

SATURDAY, JULY 9 Guns N’ Roses // Nissan Stadium WEDNESDAY, JULY 13 Weezer and Panic // Ascend Amphitheater

THURSDAY, JULY 14 And Evening with Tony Bennett // Schermerhorn Symphony Center FRIDAY, JULY 15 Maxwell // Ascend Amphitheater Chris Isaak // JUNE26

SUNDAY, JUNE 26 Bob Dylan & Mavis Staples // Carl Black Chevy Woods

SATURDAY, JULY 3 Shooter Jennings // City Winery Nashville

205.523.8007

FRIDAY, JUNE 24 Peabo Bryson // Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center

SATURDAY, JUNE 25 John Prine & Amanda Shires // Atlanta Botanical Garden

SATURDAY, JULY 2 Ani DiFranco // Ponce City Market SATURDAY, JULY 9 The Commodores // The Villages Amphitheater

SUNDAY & SATURDAY, JULY 3 AND 4 Let Freedom Sing with Sheryl Crow and Brandy Clark // Ascend Amphitheater

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29 Slipknot at Lakewood // Lakewood Amphitheatre

TUESDAY, JUNE 28 Slipknot // Bridgestone Arena

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SUNDAY, JULY 17 Melissa Etheridge // Ryman Auditorium

SUNDAY, JUNE 26 Steely Dan // Chastain Park Amphitheater

MONDAY, JUNE 27 Justin Bieber // Bridgestone Arena

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Weezer // July 13

TUESDAY, JULY 12 Robert Earl Keen // Ponce City Market THURSDAY, JULY 14 Boyz II Men // Chastain Park Amphitheater

FRIDAY, JULY 15 Steve Miller Band // The Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheater Dierks Bentley/ Somewhere on the Beach // Lakewood Amphitheatre

SATURDAY, JULY 16 Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo & Melissa Etheridge // Chastain Park Amphitheater SUNDAY, JULY 17 Josh Groban with Sarah McLachlan // Chastain Park Amphitheater

FRIDAY, JULY 22 Garbage // Tabernacle Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Kevin Gates // Lakewood Amphitheatre Monday, July 25 Counting Crows & Rob Thomas // C hastain Park Amphitheater

>>> 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

>>> PLANETWEEKLY • TUSCALOOSA'S SOURCE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, MUSIC, SPORTS & THE ARTS

JUN 23 + JULY 7

>>> PUZZLEMANIA | C R O S S W O R D P U Z Z L E

Across 1. Prefix with scope 5. Falls away 9. ___ Cove ("Murder, She Wrote" setting) 14. Pope before Sergius III 15. Haus wife 16. "____ at last!" 17. Questionable 19. Prohibited 20. Actress Linney 21. Skepticism 23. Put down, slangily 25. River on the Canadian border 30. Magic 8 Ball answer 33. Bollywood star Aishwarya ___ 35. Long, dismal cry 36. At a great height 37. Dame ____ Everage 39. Hub in Jordan 42. East Timor's largest city 43. Jane Eyre's pupil 45. Donkey, in Düsseldorf 47. IBM competitor 48. Thought disorder indicator 52. Cheat 53. "Law & Order" variant 54. The ____ (Netherlands city) 57. "Dallas" matriarch Miss ___ 61. Broadway fare 65. Averse 67. Opposite of zenith 68. Eve's garden 69. Descartes's "therefore" 70. To the left, on a ship 71. Arrange in order 72. Tandoori bread Down 1. Twelfth Hebrew month 2. "99 Luftballons" singer, 1984 3. Fact-based film, for short 4. Carry to excess 5. Young newt 6. Garrett of "Everybody Loves Raymond" 7. Scott ___ (80s actor)

JUN 23 + JULY 7

8. One time White House Chief of Staff John 9. Musical composition 10. ___ G (Sacha Baron Cohen character) 11. ___ jellyfish 12. Indivisible 13. Knight of TV 18. Wet, weatherwise 22. Storage item 24. Classical meeting site 26. "The ____ Bug" (Poe tale) 27. Apply oil ritually 28. Biathlete's item 29. Upper-story room 30. Moola, Mexican-style 31. Welsh valley 32. Pre-Mayan people 33. Backsides 34. Rider 38. Not to mention 40. ___ Wednesday 41. Trawler equipment 44. German theologian 46. Flush 49. "Is ___ Keeper?" (Cosmo headline, maybe) 50. Puts forth, as a case 51. Glum 55. Cancel 56. Vase-shaped pitcher 58. Currency in Capri 59. Actress Swenson 60. Harold's "Ghostbusters" role 61. Genetic material 62. Eminem's music 63. Hullabaloo 64. Space station 66. Acct. addition

SOLUTION FOR PUZZLEMANIA CROSSWORD ON PAGE 21

>>> 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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>>> PLANETWEEKLY • TUSCALOOSA'S SOURCE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, MUSIC, SPORTS & THE ARTS

>>> HOROSCOPES | W E E K L Y O V E R V I E W Shopping fever could grab you at the start of the week as the Full Moon encourages you to splurge on items that you've coveted for some time. You might decide you're getting them no matter what, and if so, you might as well enjoy them. Communication is key as the Sun joins Venus in your sector of talk and thought, which could inspire you to get in touch with family members or anyone else you haven't seen in a while. Go easy at the start of the week, as the Full Moon in your sector of relating could inspire some blunt conversation. If you have something to say, try to be tactful, especially if you want to remain friends over the long term. Later, opportunities could come your way through property and real estate or business-related matters linked with family or relatives. The chance to invest your money could prove lucrative over time. The week gets off to a dynamic start with a Full Moon in your lifestyle sector encouraging you to forget about your diet or exercise routine and indulge. The Sun glides into Cancer that same day, enhancing your vitality and encouraging you to get cracking on projects that have been on the back burner. You won't want to miss out on a potential opportunity or lucrative collaboration this weekend. It's certainly something to watch out for.

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The start of the week could be excellent for a party, celebration, or get-together at your place, as the Full Moon encourages you to kick back and have some fun. However, the Sun glides into your sector of spirituality and introspection that same day, which suggests that the next four weeks could usher in a time of reflection and meditation. In fact, you may have an opportunity to get closure on an issue that you've struggled with for some time. The Sun's move into your sector of wishes, long-held dreams, and friendships could be a call to get more involved in community life and connect with your friends more often. In addition, you might be motivated to reflect on your goals and consider whether they're applicable to your life as it currently stands. This is a time of taking stock, so don't be surprised if your priorities have changed. The weekend could bring a creative opportunity that you won't want to miss. Go easy at the start of the week, as the urge to be very honest could cost you a friendship. The Full Moon in Sagittarius can bring emotions to the surface while also encouraging you to express them openly. While it's great to speak your mind, employing a little tact would be helpful. The focus then shifts to your sector of career and goals, encouraging you to take stock and consider your plans for the coming months and tweak them if necessary. The Full Moon at the start of the week could nudge you over the edge and cause you to splurge unnecessarily. If you've been scrimping and saving lately, your hard work could go out the window unless you refuse to give in to temptation. The Sun's move into Cancer and your sector of travel and study could see you eager to acquire new knowledge. Taking up a course or class could give you the skills necessary to rise further up the ranks. You may feel quite gung-ho as the Full Moon in your sign encourages you to express yourself freely and openly on Monday. However, try to be careful of more sensitive souls who might find your honesty somewhat disconcerting. The Sun's move into your sector of shared finances and intimacy could be a call to think carefully about your income and expenses and how to make the most of them. Finally, opportunity knocks over the weekend. Don't miss a potentially fabulous offer. The Jupiter/Pluto connection in your sign peaks this week, so prepare to make the most of a situation or circumstances that could propel you to greater success. If you're willing to do the groundwork now, you could reap the rewards later. It would be wise to go easy on Monday, as the Full Moon could see you making a rash judgment. Avoid impulsive moves to avoid embarrassment! Finally, the focus on your relationship sector could help one relationship blossom. The Full Moon at the start of the week can be excellent for all kinds of celebrations and social events. If you throw a party, it could be everything you hope for - and more. Meanwhile, the focus shifts to your sector of lifestyle and wellness, encouraging you to think about your habits and how they contribute to your overall wellbeing. Making changes to diet and exercise could be key to feeling more energized and upbeat than you have in some time.

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PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

Be careful when dealing with those in authority, particularly at the start of the week. The Full Moon could encourage you to answer back or rebel. It might be best to toe the line if you want to avoid problems. Aside from this, the Sun's move into your leisure and pleasure sector is the perfect time to indulge your senses. If you've felt somewhat frazzled due to a hectic lifestyle, head to the nearest bathtub with a glass of champagne and unwind. The week begins with a Full Moon in your travel and adventure sector, which could stir up wanderlust. You might need to put such dreams on hold for a while if you have responsibilities to attend to. A focus on your home zone suggests that you may be happier pottering around the house than on the other side of the globe anyway. This could be just as well, as you'll be in the right place to take advantage of a great offer this weekend.

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JUN 23 + JULY 7

>>> C O M M U N I T Y A R T S

FREE SUMMER PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN

he Arts Council of Tuscaloosa will present two performances of Puppet Arts Theatre’s “The Princess & the Pea” at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center Black Box Theatre on July 14, 2016. Two shows will be presented at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. This program is free and open to the public, but by reservation only. Parents, daycare directors and others involved in summer programming for children should contact Sandra Wolfe, Executive Director, at 758-5195, ext. 3 or director@tuscarts.org. Seating is limited to 150 children per show. The presentation by Puppet Arts Theatre, based in Jackson, Miss., is made possible by a Gulf States Presenters Grant provided by the Alabama State Council on the Arts. This show is a fast-paced introduction to puppetry with an easy to follow demonstration of puppet making using a plain styrofoam ball and other ordinary materials to create a technically complex character. Children from the audience are invited on stage to manipulate some of the puppets. From a simple ball on a single finger, to a complex ten-string marionette, the show presents a broad overview of the world of puppetry. The main feature of the program is a famous story written by Hans Christian Andersen, “The Princess and the Pea.” Conventional and unconventional puppetry has been a hallmark of the Puppet Arts Theatre for many years now. “The Princess and the Pea,” set to the music of Rossini, is presented as a farce performed with the puppeteers in the full view of the audience, manipulating traditional marionettes. Puppet Arts Theatre is a professional touring company under the direction of Peter Zapletal, an award-winning puppetry producer and animator for Mississippi Educational Television. His television specials have been seen nationwide on PBS. He received the MA degree in puppetry from the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Czech Republic. He will be joined on stage by T.

ONGOING & UPCOMING EXHIBITS NOW-JUN 25 Made in Alabama, Wiregrass Museum of Art, Dothan NOW-JUN 30 Deborah Hughes: On the Rocks, Wellness Walls for Art, University Medical Center JUN 1-30 Collins Folk Art Collection, Kentuck Gallery; Scott McQueen: Clarke Gallery, Northport JUN 3-JUL 29 Paintings by David Gosselin, UA Gallery and Arts Council Gallery, DWCAC, Tuscaloosa JUL 1-31 Community Postcard Show, Kentuck Gallery; David Betak, Clarke Gallery, Northport AUG 4 Art Night at Kentuck: Laquita Thomson, Kentuck Gallery; Anne Stickney, Clarke Gallery, Northport (through Aug 31) AUG 15-SEP 1 Alabama National Exhibition, Sella-Granata Art Gallery, UA SEP 2 First Friday Reception, UAB/UA Faculty Exhibition, DWCAC, 5-8 pm AUG 5-SEP 30 UAB/UA Faculty Exhibition, Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center, Tuscaloosa SEP 14-OCT 31 Smithsonian exhibit: Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America, Black Belt Museum,sponsored by the University of West Alabama

JUN 23 + JULY 7

J. McSparrin, a professional actress and puppeteer who has appeared many times at the New Stage in Jackson, in many TV commercials and Mississippi ETV. Jarmila Zapletal, a professional puppet maker and designer, created the puppets for the production. Puppet Arts Theatre is devoted to bringing exciting and memorable performances to its audiences. Since 1968, this theater has thrilled children of all ages from Boston to Tampa and throughout the Southeast with magical and thrilling theatrical experiences. Puppet Arts Theatre is on the Performing Arts Touring Program of the Mississippi Arts Commission and on the Approved Artist Roster with the Alabama Council for the Arts.

“Educational programming continues to be a priority for The Arts Council, and we hope parents and organizations will take advantage of this colorful and exciting show that will provide a quality summer activity for their children,” said Sandra Wolfe, Executive Director of The Arts Council. The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center is located at 620 Greensboro Ave. in Downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about The Arts Council, CAC 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.

BAMA ART HOUSE FILM SERIES CONTINUES

he Bama Art House Film Series Summer 2016 began June 14 and features six films. A program of The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa, the series offers a wide variety for all fans of the big screen with a mix of comedy, fantasy, thriller, foreign and biopic. Screenings take place at the Bama Theatre on Tuesday nights at 7:30 p.m. with the box office opening at 6:30 p.m. and doors at 6:45 p.m. Discount Punchcard Tickets ($60) are available at the door prior to screenings and are good for any 10 Bama Art House films. Single Tickets are priced at $8 general, $7 seniors & students and $6 Arts Council members. Patrons can visit bamatheatre.org/bamaarthouse to view the list of films, details and accompanying trailers.

June 14: The Meddler June 21: Green Room June 28: Miles Ahead

July 5: The Lobster July 12: High-Rise July 19: Marguerite

Left Hand Soap Company is sponsoring “Green Room” and “Miles Ahead”. The mission of the Bama Art House series is to bring current and contemporary independent film to West Alabama, transforming the historic Bama Theatre into a cinematic art house. 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 bamatheatre.org for further information.

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BAMA RECRUITING UPDATE

SHAVERS FELL IN LOVE WITH ALABAMA Tyrell Shavers came from Lewisville, Texas to see what Tuscaloosa was all about. It was better than he expected. "I just came to see Alabama and I found out that I love it," says the highlytouted 6-6, 199-pound receiver, who committed to the Tide following his visit. "Everything about it was great. The city of Tuscaloosa, I just loved it. The facilities, the academics, the coaching staff, everything." Shavers says it starts with wide receivers coach Billy Napier and Tide head man Nick Saban. "I had a great conversation with Coach Napier and Coach Saban," Shavers says. "They told me the truth. That's what I really liked. They told me the truth. They told me how it was going to be. They said I was going to have to work for everything, and I plan on enjoying every minute of it." Shavers also "hit it off" with several Tide players, including freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receivers Robert Foster and Calvin Ridley. "They told me to make my own decision and not listen to everybody else," Shavers says. "I felt like they were being honest with me. They said not to rush into a decision until I felt comfortable. I liked being around them. We hit it off." Shavers was joined on the trip by his parents, his little sister and a cousin. He says Alabama has his parents' stamp of approval. "They loved it as much as I did," Shavers says. Shavers says other schools that were in strong contention included Texas, Miami, FSU, Arizona State, Ole Miss and Mississippi State. "I probably won't take any other visits," he says.

BRANDON RUIZ

commit to Alabama. "He just laughed," says the 6-2, 245-pound Benton, one of the nation's top linebacker prospects. "Reuben knew what I was going to do." In the days leading up to the announcement, Benton had leaned on the Alabama linebacker for some advice. Four years ago, Foster was in a similar situation to Benton's -- a star prospect in Auburn's backyard. "Reuben told me to follow my heart and to do what I wanted to do," Benton says. "But he said that if I wanted to win championships, I should go to Alabama." With that, Benton picked the Tide. "Just the tradition," Benton says of why he picked UA over nearby Auburn. "I also like the coaching staff. It's a great group of coaches and I have a great relationship with them. I have a great relationship Coach (Derrick) Ansley. He was actually the first coach to offer me when he was at Kentucky. That's meant a lot to me." The Alabama staff has told Benton that they plan to use him on the inside and outside. "On first and second down, I'll be inside," he says. "On third down, I'll move out to the edge to rush the quarterback." Verbal commitments are not binding. But Benton is adamant that his commitment is solid. "The recruiting process is completely over for me," he says. "I'm shutting it completely down. I won't be taking any other visits. I'm going to help Alabama recruit other guys. I don't know which guys, but I will help Alabama recruit." Benton has a message for the undecided recruits. "I've been getting some grief around town (from Auburn fans)," he says, "but my message to every recruit out there is to do what you want to do. Don't do what other people tell you to do. You have to do what's best for you, your future and for your family. Go with your heart."

RUIZ COULDN'T PASS UP THE CHANCE TO KICK FOR ALABAMA Brandon Ruiz admits that Nick Saban looking over his shoulder made him a bit nervous. But the 2017 placekicker coolly knocked home several field goals -including a 52-yarder -- in front of Saban at the Tide's kicking camp. Ruiz, from Williams Field HS in Gilbert, AZ, was among campers trying to earn a Bama offer. He knew that he had caught Saban's eye. But he didn't know if he had earned an offer. "I spoke to Coach Saban, but all he said was that he needed to speak with my coach," Ruiz says. "Then I was told to call him (Saban) back. That's when he offered. I committed on the spot." Ruiz, ranked by some as the nation's top 2017 placekicker, also considered offers from Arizona, Iowa State, Oregon State and Tennessee, among others. "It was between Alabama and Tennessee," Ruiz says. "But Alabama was my number one school. I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity. "Alabama's been my dream school. The fans, the atmosphere, the coaches, it's all just amazing. It's a place where I feel I can go to develop and grow. It'll be challenging, but I think it will help me grow." As a junior, Ruiz connected on 12 of 16 field goal attempts. His long last season was a 51-yard game-winner with 31 seconds left. Back in April, Ruiz gained national recognition when he was highlighted on ESPN Sports Center "I kicked a 76-yard field goal in practice," Ruiz says. "ESPN picked it as one of their top ten plays of the day." Tide placekicker Adam Griffith will be a senior next season. The door will be open for the 5-10, 170-pound Ruiz to claim the job as a true freshman in 2017. "I'm very excited," Ruiz says. "It's a great opportunity."

MARKAIL BENTON

KING BEN WENT WITH HIS HEART Shortly after making up his mind, Markail Benton of Phenix City-Central called Tide linebacker Reuben Foster to let him know that he'd decided to >>> PLANETWEEKLY â&#x20AC;˘ TUSCALOOSA'S SOURCE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, MUSIC, SPORTS & THE ARTS

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