PLANET WEEKLY 507 by The Planet Weekly

// IN THIS ISSUE PETAL TO THE METAL IT'S ALL GREEK TO ME PASSION FOR FASHION SPRING TRAINING BAMA ACOUSTICS

MARCH 31 + APRIL 14

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4 PETAL TO THE METAL: YELLOWHAMMER FEST // CELIA RUDD

6 WINE/BEER REVIEW

Creative Campus plans this year's Yellowhammer Festival.

5 CHRIS YOUNG // ALAN SCULLEY PUBLISHER

L I N DA W. J OHN S ON

MANAGING EDITOR

W I L L I AM BA R S HOP

COVER DESIGN

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EVENTS

C H A S E DY E R

ROAD TRIP

T R E Y B R OOK S

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PRODUCTION

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IMAGES

Images: Creative Common License unless otherwise credited.

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS REGINALD ALLEN R A I H A B A J WA WILLIAM BARSHOP CO U R T N E Y BLA N CH A R D K A I T LY N B LO U N T TREY BROOKS KELSEY CAMERON JORDAN CISSELL MARGIE GOLDSMITH SHEENA QUIZON GREGG GARY HARRIS C I N DY H U G G I N S KEVIN LEDGEWOOD BRETT REID VA N R O B E R T S JON ROGERS RACHEL STEINER ALEJANDRA TENORIO

Planet Weekly P. O . B o x 2 3 1 5 Tuscaloosa, AL 35403 Phone: 205.792.7239 Email: publisher@theplanetweek ly.com Please direct correspondence to: publisher@theplanetweekly.com The Planet Weekly is a proud member of The West Alabama Chamber of Commerce. © 2015 All rights reserved. THE PLANET WEEKLY is a registered trademark. Planet Weekly is published every other Thursday. No part of this publication including editorials may be reproduced, in whole or part, by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the Publisher’s prior expressed written consent. One copy of each issue of THE PLANET WEEKLY is free to each of our readers. Any reader who takes more than four copies without expressed permission of the publisher shall be deemed to have committed theft. The views and opinions of the authors of articles appearing in this publication may not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Publisher.

Young's success with his hit single “I’m Comin’ Over" and living his destiny of becoming a renowned country singer.

9 CROHN'S DISEASE // RACHEL STEINER

Crohns affects 1.6 million Americans, most of who are diagnosed before the age of 35. Nutrients are not properly absorbed which can lead to malnutrition and deficiencies. Learn what you can and can't eat.

22 FOLLOWING ONE'S HEART // ALEJANDRA TENORIO Caroline Ruder takes on one of the longest, hardest, yet most rewarding journey of her life.

7 CHAMBER NEWS 9 RESTAURANT GUIDE 15 MOVIE REVIEW 16 PET PLANET 18 EVENTS 19 ROAD TRIP

20 PUZZLEMANIA / EDITORIAL CARTOON 21 HOROSCOPE

HIGH TIDE SPORTS 23 SPRING FOOTBALL UPDATE GARY HARRIS

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F E AT U R E | C E L I A R U D D

PETAL TO THE METAL // YELLOWHAMMER FEST

ars drive up intermittently, some of the passengers local but others are from hours away. All are turned away by a boy in a gray shirt standing next to a white mini-van. He explains to them each time that the festival has been canceled. He commiserates with each group, wishes things were different, that the weather had been more forgiving. Maybe next year, he remembers them saying before they drive away. “Sitting in the arboretum parking lot,” Trent Carlson, Creative Campus intern onsite that day, said, “I wasn’t sure how many people I was going to have to turn away. Throughout the day, however, I began to realize how many people we had reached and how much excitement we had generated.” Yellowhammer Festival met a soggy and premature end last year. After months of booking local bands, scouting the expansive land at UA’s Arboretum, and then diligent planning, marketing and preparation, April 19, 2015, came and went with the cancellation of the festival. The previous day’s showers had waterlogged the field and made the dirt rode into the Arboretum impassable. Alyx Chandler, a second-year Creative Campus intern and Yellowhammer team leader, said it was a difficult decision to cancel the festival the day of, but felt like it was the right call. “When we went to the Arboretum, there was over a foot of standing water over the entire area--where the bands were supposed to play, near the booth areas, where people were supposed to stand,” Chandler said. “We stood in our Chacos and even then knew there was no way it would be anywhere near a smooth or safe day.” Yet, the Yellowhammer Festival didn’t die that day. Due to the success of the event’s marketing, the interest in the Tuscaloosa community held strong, and the group of dedicated Creative Campus interns knew that wasn’t the end of the Yellowhammer Festival. August, when a new year of Creative Campus interns first met, the group pitched Yellowhammer as one of the potential projects for the organization. A strong support fell behind resurrecting the festival. “During orientation we realized there was a lot of energy for Yellowhammer,” Whit Chambers, a first-year Creative Campus intern and Yellowhammer team member, said. “So we went for it.” But the interns knew that this year, as Chandler said, they had to go big or go home. On this Sunday, April 3, the Yellowhammer Festival is open to all community members, students and families from 2-8 p.m. at the Tuscaloosa River Market. Local bands listed for the main stage are The Doctors and the Lawyers, Looksy, Shaheed & DJ Supreme and Wray. Sister Hazel will be performing as the national act. Attendees are encouraged to walk, bike or carpool to the event. Yellowhammer Festival evolved, finding support with UA’s Student Government Association (SGA), University Programs (UP) and the Tuscaloosa River Market. New and returning interns started collaborating with

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these organizations, staying true to the promised “good vibes” and “sustainable” vision from the previous year. At the same time, Chandler said they were not afraid to see beyond that. The differences between planning the festival last year and this year were monumental. This year encompassed a much bigger budget, a nationally-known band to end the night, more partners and so much more. “It was a project we needed to see all the way through,” Tiana Raimist-Carter, a Creative Campus intern and a team leader of the festival, said. Around 18 organizations have signed up to participate at the festival. Black Warrior Riverkeeper has planned to offer an educational experience on the local watershed, including Lake Tuscaloosa and the city’s drinking water source. Other participants include the Left Hand Soap Co., Yoga Bliss, Homegrown Alabama, Alabama Birding Trails, Druid City Dames, and Tide for Tusks. Many will offer games and activities as well as providing information on both health and sustainability. Second-year Creative Campus intern and Yellowhammer team member Sarah Johns said, “Last year we were really disappointed that Yellowhammer was canceled due to the weather and even though this year’s event will be different from what we had planned last year, we are all excited to see it become a reality.” A festival of this size involves juggling several intricacies. Location is based on both the vision of the event, but also projected attendance, which then has an affect on the amount of security needed. No choice is random, but must be given a thoughtful consideration, from the location of each vendor booth to the logistics of a rain plan. Every official message sent out by the team must align with the vision of the festival. “I knew Yellowhammer was what I wanted to spend all of my energy on,” Raimist-Carter said, adding, “Having the basis and mission of Yellowhammer--a sustainability focused music festival, gave us the opportunity to use the past 9 months to focus on shaping the festival. It gave us the opportunity to dig really deeply into every aspect of the festival on the timeline we had.” The Yellowhammer team locked down a key partnership in their goal of sustainability: Rock the Bike, an Oakland-based company specializing in “Pedal Power.” This idea was originally pitched last year, but never came to fruition. “Creative Campus interns conceived the idea of a pedal powered festival in 2015, and through brainstorming, idea incubation and forming key partnerships on campus and with Rock the Bike, this idea will soon be a reality,” Rachel Raimist, Co-Director of Creative Campus, said. Volunteers for biking have been asked to sign up in 15-minute increments, giving these attendees a great view of the stage while also being a vital part of the performance. It’s a creative solution to the usual diesel-powered generators, opening a dialogue about eco-friendly power alterna-

tives and even health and wellness. “We hope we’ve made a lasting impact,” Raimist-Carter said, “and that the Yellowhammer Festival can bring our community together for the common goal of music, sustainability, and good vibes.” There is no denying the excitement, with over a 1,000 likes on the Yellowhammer Festival Facebook page alone as of March 29. Former Creative Campus intern and original Yellowhammer team member Ben Tomlin, now a resident of Clearwater, Florida, has been keeping tabs on this year’s progress from afar. He believed this could alter the local music and arts scene for years to come. “The group involved last year and the group involved this year,” he said, “have put in countless hours to bring it to life and have it be something the City of Tuscaloosa can be proud of.” An annual festival would attract larger crowds as well as a variety of musical artists. More than anything, it shows the power collaboration, innovation and dedication can have on a community. Planning a music festival takes time, and Raimist-Carter admitted that nine months “is not the norm.” “Most music festivals are planned with a minimum of a year and a half in advance,” she said, “but most often it’s much more than that, so we knew we had to be strategic and give it our all the whole nine months. Everything from the lineups to the collaborative art piece to the food vendors and the rebranding, we had the opportunity to plan from the ground up.” Every detail of this event has been laid out with painstaking precision, from the signage directing attendees to the restrooms to the monitored social media blasts. They have built an entire experience, starting with the anticipation of announcements and culminating in the creation of a local festival culture.

“It’s about getting the University and Tuscaloosa community excited about being sustainable,” Chandler said. “We want to take the energy people feel for a music festival and combine that with easy and fun ways to be more environmentallyfriendly. The main stage entertainment will be supplemented with a kids corner, side stage with smaller acts, a beer garden, food trucks and other local vendors and organizations. The festival will also feature a collaborative art piece with bottle caps collected by the community. Many Creative Campus projects are taking on a role with exhibitions at the festival as well. A relatively new project, Flux, has hopes to make the music a tangible experience. “Children can come up, all people can come up,” Brandon Izor, a Creative Campus intern and Yellowhammer member, said. “It’s an interactive performance. Flux came from a desire to have some way to get people interested in experimental music through participation.” Hours have been devoted to building a gigantic PVC pipe xylophone, measured and cut precisely for the perfect notes. With this hands-on experience, Flux believes they can influence the perception of the experimental genre. Izor said once an individual has participated in the act of making that music, they will begin to understand the mindset of experimental artists. “We want to foster a sense of community overall, and what better way to do that through good music, good food and sustainability?” Hannah MacInnis, a Creative Campus intern and Yellowhammer leader, said. From the looks of the Yellowhammer Festival’s plan, there will be no short supply of entertainment or good vibes this Sunday.

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YOUNG // COMIN' OVER

SHERYL NIELDS

hris Young is low key enough that if one hadn’t paid attention to the country singles chart or a couple of significant creative developments in Young’s approach to making his new album, “I’m Comin’ Over,” one might think everything was just business as usual for the country artist. The singles chart is notable because the title song from the new album recently held down the number one spot for three weeks on “Billboard” magazine’s Country Airplay char, a triumph that would illicit a can-hardly-contain-the-excitement response from many artists. Young is certainly pleased with his latest success, but the matter-of-fact tone he showed in a recent phone interview lacked the kind of anticipation and urgency – not to mention excitement — one might expect from an artist who looks to be on the verge of arena-headlining stardom. Instead Young sounds self-assured, but humble, and focused on the work that goes into having a successful career. “I don’t think you can get much better than having a number one platinum single as the first single off of the new project,” the affable Young said of the song “I’m Comin’ Over.” “It’s just kind of (about) building upon that now.” Young has been doing a good job of building momentum for his career over the past half dozen years. His 2006 selftitled debut album stiffed, but “Getting’ You Home (The Black Dress Song),” the second single from his sophomore album, 2009’s “The Man I Want To Be,” became a chart-topping breakthrough hit. Then the title song from that album and a third single, “Voices,” extended the streak of number one singles to three. The Murfreesboro, Tennessee native has been on a roll since. His next two albums, “Neon” (2010) and “A.M.” (2013) added three more number ones to Young’s resume and set the stage for the emphatic run of the “I’m Comin’ Over” single, and the strong debut of the new album (which sold an impressive 57,000 copies in its first week). It’s not just the chart successes that are a big deal. The “I’m Comin’ Over” album involved some major changes in how Young has made his albums in the past — steps that also suggest he’s confident of his abilities at this point in his career. After working with noted producer James Stroud on his recent albums, Young took the reins on the “I’m Comin’ Over” project by co-producing the album with songwriter Corey Crowder. Artists producing their own albums, while somewhat common in the rock and alternative genres, is rare in country. But Young had no great revelations or statements about his decision to step into producing on “I’m Comin’ Over.” “You know what, actually it just kind of felt like it was time,” he said. “I don’t think it was anything in particular. It wasn’t like some big moment where I was like ‘I’m going to do this.’ It was like ‘I think this is the right way to go on

this project specifically.’ It was a bit of a risk because it’s something I haven’t done in the past.” Another significant shift was that Young worked with an almost entirely new group of songwriters in co-writing nine of the 11 songs on “I’m Comin’ Over.” He began to think of Crowder as his co-producer after writing sessions with Crowder and Josh Hoge. Once again, Young sounded like switching up songwriting collaborators was about as earth shattering as changing shirts. “I don’t think it’s anything in particular,” Young said when asked what led to working with a different set of co-writers. ”I don’t think it was like something was going on where I felt the need to do that. It was more that this is just kind of naturally how this project worked itself, and obviously a lot of the writing that I was doing with Josh and Corey plays into all of this. I think there’s only one song that I wrote for the project that didn’t have one or both of them listed (as co-writers). There’s one song that I wrote with the Warren Brothers that they weren’t in on. But I don’t know, it’s just what we were getting together just seemed to be really, really not only the direction I wanted to go, but exactly what I wanted to say. I think it just worked out that way.” Apparently, Young didn’t have any grand vision or big artistic statement in mind for the album, either. Asked about is goals for “I’m Comin’ Over,’ he simply said the main idea was “just to make the best project I could.” Of course, that’s probably a good approach for an artist who clearly has done a lot of things right over the course of his

“I don’t think you can get much better than having a number one platinum single as the first single off of the new project. It’s just kind of (about) building upon that now.” past four albums. And the “I’m Comin’ Over” album is perfectly in character with Young’s other albums – delivering another set of tuneful, well-crafted songs with lyrics that feel emotional and heartfelt without seeming contrived. Where the “A.M.” album leaned a bit more toward uptempo material than Young’s previous albums, the new album swings back in favor of ballads and mid-tempo material. There’s a sturdy rocker in “Underdogs” and a breezy tune in “Sunshine Overtime.” Otherwise, “I’m Comin’ Over” is defined by melodic, easy-going mid-tempo tunes like “Heartbeat,” the current single “Thinking of You”(a duet with Cassadee Pope that is top 10 on “Billboard’s” Country Airplay chart) and the title song – as well as reflective ballads like “I Know a Guy” and “Sober Saturday Night.” Now Young is resuming a winter/spring tour in support of the new album. He didn’t disclose how many new songs will be in the set, but suggested he won’t weight the show too much toward the “I’m Comin’ Over” material. ‘”You definitely have to play the stuff that people have heard on the radio,”

Young said. “But when it gets down to actually new stuff, you don’t ever want to play like the whole new record. It’s been just kind of a gradual change of me figuring out, ‘Today I think I’ll add this.’ So it kind of depends on what show people show up for.” After headlining arenas in the fall, Young is playing primarily theaters and large clubs on this tour. If the string of hits continues, this might be one of the last opportunities to see Young in smaller venues. But when it comes to stepping up to arenas, Young himself is taking things as they come and simply staying the course. “I think everything that is going on right now is definitely conducive to that,” Young said, once again mentioning that the success of the “I’m Comin’ Over” single is as positive as possible a development in furthering his career. “So I think just doing a lot of the things that I’ve been doing and just continuing to build it everywhere I can, I think that’s the best possible thing I can do. Right now I’m just kind of enjoying that process.” That might be an understatement for other artists, but it seems perfectly in character for Young.

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BAREFOOT CHARDONNAY

arefoot Chardonnay is vinted and bottle by Barefoot Cellars in Modesto, California, USA. They’re proud of the fact that they’ve been partnering with non-profits across the United States over the last twenty-five years. One example is their Beach Rescue initiative with the Surfrider Foundation to protect the world’s coasts and waterways. I shared this wine with my trusty tasting assistant “Big Al”. As you can see from the bottle picture above, no vintage was indicated.

13.0% by volume per the bottle. We were surprised it was that high!

APPEARANCE In appearance this wine is light brassy in color (like a tuba!) and richer in hue than your typical Chardonnay. Legs are slowly falling and irregularly spaced, indicating some potential body to this wine.

FINISH Barefoot Chardonnay finishes long, juicy and buttery! We both counted a 7-9 second finish that was evident all over the palate. What stuck with us in the finish was the richness of the flavor, including some of the sweetness that carried through. No appreciable tannins were noted.

AROMA I did not notice the aroma immediately upon the wine’s pouring. Up close, I did notice that this wine is a bit sweet, with notes of ripe melon and apple. Big Al noted grapefruit when he gave the wine a gentle sniff. A deeper inhalation revealed a hint of nutmeg. Neither one of us noted any burn from the wine’s alcohol. Barefoot Chardonnay alcohol content

TASTE I felt that all the flavors were subtle. I noted juicy sweet citrus, muted lime and a light nutty flavor. Big Al felt there was a lot going on with this wine. For him, the dominant taste was sweet grapefruit. On the tip of his tongue he noted a nutty overtone. We both found the wine’s taste very enjoyable, mostly due to the multiple aspects of flavor present in this wine.

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TROPICÁLIA INDIA PALE ALE I know I’ve mentioned this a few times, but there are certain beers that carry weight with only a name. Heady Topper, Pliney the Elder, and more locally, Snake Handler are a few beers that can turn a few heads if you say it in the right company. There’s a brewery in Athens, Georgia producing one of those beers right now. Tropicália is a fantastic take on the American IPA and the buzz around it is nothing to mock. Here are my thoughts: First off, I love everything about Creature Comfort’s branding. All of the design elements of their brand are built on clean lines and bright colors. The brewery is housed in a beautifully renovated mechanic shop. There’s reclaimed wood lining the bar and metal piping running throughout. The only bad thing about Creature Comforts and this beer specifically is the demand. Creature Comforts knows they’re brewing gold there, but it’s hard not to believe that they’re purposefully not brewing enough to meet their demands. Either way you look at it, the beer is still great and if you want a quality brew, look their direction. If you’re ever in Athens, I suggest taking the tour. Anyways, lets get to the beer. I poured the beer into a pint glass to get every bit of the aroma and flavor that it had to offer. The beer pours a golden orange color with a thin white head that sticks around for quite a while, but after it does recede, it clings to the side of the glass quite nicely. The aroma is amazing and that’s really all you can say. A lot of prominent pine notes with strong hints of grapefruit and some subtle notes of other citrus fruits. When the beer warms a bit, the citrus aroma kicks up a little bit and you can also begin to pick up on the bread-like malt that mostly gets masked by the citrus forward hops. Each sip begins with a powerful grapefruit peel and citrus hop takeover.

OVERALL OPINION Overall we both really enjoyed this wine! If you look at my previous reviews of various Barefoot Cellars wines, you’ll see that my reviews have been mixed (see above). I think of all the Barefoot wines I’ve reviewed, this is my favorite so far. Recommend! Big Al concurred.

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Combine that with a powerful punch of grapefruit juice and you have a something that tastes more like a juice cocktail than a beer. After the grapefruit bomb, you start to pick up on some of the grassy hops that continue to build the intense flavor of the beer. There’s some light bread-like malt that builds the backbone up and rounds out the flavor. Some added alcohol flavors gives the entire beer a little kick as well as a warming aspect. After the beer warms, you get even more of the grapefruit and a pretty strong pine finish. Mouthfeel is quite unique for an IPA of this caliber. There’s a really soft feel to the beer that’s almost like velvet. I would compare the mouthfeel to that of a stout, but I know that I’m drinking an IPA because of the hop bite that you get. There’s a complementary amount of carbonation that doesn’t really make the beer too hard to drink or too heavy. Although, let it be known that you’re not going to be pounding these. It can get a little heavy, so be warned. Overall, this is a perfect execution of the American IPA style. There’s a great citrus complexity that pairs greatly with the bread-like backbone to create a wonderfully put together brew. You get grapefruit tartness and the dank properties of the pine and a perfectly built malt backbone. This is one beer that I cannot wait to drink again and if I can find it, I’ll buy as much as I can. Seek this one out if you want something worth writing about.

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NEWS WORKFORCE INITIATIVES ANNOUNCED Representatives from Shelton State Community College, West Alabama Works, and the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama announced two important workforce initiatives during a press conference held at Benjamin Barnes YMCA March 25. The Mobile Workforce Unit, a Mercedes Sprinter van customized as a training lab, is complete and ready to deploy to rural and underserved communities throughout the West Alabama region. Outfitted with the latest technology, the van will be used for traditional pre-employment training. There are currently ten outreach events in Hale County scheduled through the end of May. “There are many applications for the Mobile Workforce Unit,” says Nicole DuBose, Director of Dr. Cynthia Anthony Training for Business and Industry at Shelton State. “This versatile unit is about extending the delivery of services across our region and increasing awareness of available workforce training and services. It is much more than a van; we believe it is a critical piece for transforming the workforce delivery system in our rural communities. Additionally, it can be used for job fairs. Individuals can register for classes or apply for jobs with a recruiter standing by to help.” “We are very excited to partner with West Alabama Works in an effort to engage the community and facilitate training for regional business and industry,” says Cynthia T. Anthony, Interim President of Shelton State. “The Mobile Workforce Unit provides a unique opportunity to conduct grassroots outreach efforts in some of the underserved areas throughout our region, all while delivering pre-employment testing and training necessary to obtain a job in the region’s growing automotive industry.” Tuscaloosa is also launching their ACT Work Ready Community initiative. This initiative aligns workforce training programs with the economic development needs of communities and matches appropriate applicants to jobs based on their skill levels. A certified Work Ready Community helps workers understand skills required by employers and communicates workforce needs to educational and workforce training programs. “We’re excited about being so close to becoming one of the first certified ACT Work Ready Communities in the State of Alabama,” says Donny Jones, Chief Operating Officer for the Chamber and a member of the Alabama Workforce Council and the Workforce Development Board. “This not only shows West Alabama is a place where workers can access the tools they need to find good jobs, but also as an environment in which businesses can grow and thrive.” “We all have a stake in making our region more competitive and closing the skills gap to help our citizens find meaningful employment. Change starts by developing an industry led, community-based framework that links workforce development to education, aligns economic development needs of communities, and matches individuals to employers.” “It is very encouraging to see what is happening in our community,” says Gary Nichols, Chairman of West Alabama Works. “When we partner and work to make the entire region stronger we will see lives changed, business thrive, and hope restored. Our commitment is to foster an environment of collaboration and support in all our communities in West Alabama.”

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PATRICIA BARNES OF SISTER SCHUBERT FAME AS LUNCHEON SPEAKER The Women’s Leadership Alliance of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama will welcome Patricia Barnes, also known as Sister Schubert, as the guest speaker for their Spring Lunch, scheduled for April 14 at Indian Hills Country Club. Festivities for the event begin at 11 am, with the luncheon starting at 11:30. Patricia Barnes began baking as a little girl, and in 1989 brought her grandmother’s recipes to the public when she established the Sister Schubert brand. Today, the company has 12 varieties of rolls and sweet rolls. Reservations for the Spring Lunch are required. Lunch tickets are $35, and door prize tickets are $5 each, or 5 for $20. Group tables are available by reservation. Proceeds from the event benefit the Boys and Girls Club of West Alabama, Arts ‘n Autism and the Tuscaloosa Public Library. To RSVP for the Women’s Leadership Alliance Spring Lunch, or to become involved with the group, contact Jill McDonald at (205) 391-0555 or email jill@tuscaloosachamber.com.

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MARCH 31 + APRIL 14

The Weeknd • Calvin Harris • Florence + The Machine

Alabama Shakes • Ellie Goulding • Lenny Kravitz • Flume Haim • Cage The Elephant • Panic! At The Disco • Grimes The Chainsmokers • Walk The Moon • Leon Bridges • Miike Snow BIG BOI + Jason Isbell • Big Grams ( PHANTOGRAM ) • Run The Jewels • Foals Fetty Wap • The Neighbourhood • Portugal. The Man • Moon Taxi 3LAU • Courtney Barnett • Silversun Pickups • X Ambassadors

Bro Safari • Kurt Vile and the Violators • Børns • Thomas Jack Coleman Hell • Alessia Cara • Wailers • Mayer Hawthorne Nahko and Medicine for the People • Brett Dennen • The Struts Atlas Genius • Vince Staples • Pepper • Raury • Snails Stick Figure • Judah & the Lion • Tourist • Kaleo • Magic Man Health • Alison Wonderland • The Griswolds Hippie Sabotage • The Revivalists • GIVERS Coasts • Phases • Bully • Lizzo • Jack Novak

The Royal Concept • Pell • Bass Drum of Death Jai Wolf • Muddy Magnolias • Meg Mac Lazyboy Empire • Jerry Folk • Speaker of the House Powers • Lost Kings • Half Moon Run Strangers You Know • Koa

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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.

MEXICAN Chipotle Mexican Grill

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

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

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

El Mariachi 3520 McFarland Blvd E |Tuscaloosa // 409-8585

DePalma’s Italian Cafe 2300 University Blvd, Downtown // 759.1879 Menu ranges from sanwiches to finer pasta dishes and pizza. Varied beer and wine selection. Hours: Mon–Thurs 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Fri & Sat 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. www.depalmascafe.com

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

ITALIAN

El Rincon (2 locations) 1225 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 366.0855 1726 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 330.1274 Fernando's Mexican Grill 824 McFarland Blvd E | Northport // 205.331.4587

Little Italy 1130 University Blvd. | Tuscaloosa // 205.345.4343

Iguana Grill 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 752.5895 Jalapeno’s Mexican Grill 2001 New Watermelon Rd | Northport // 342.3378

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

LaGran Fiesta 9770 Hwy 69 S // 345.8871

Mr. G’s 908 McFarland Blvd N | Northport // 339-8505

Los Calientes Mexican Grill 3429 McFarland Blvd E // 553.1558

Olive Garden 2100 McFarland Blvd E // 750-0321 Open daily from 11 a.m. | www.olivegarden.com

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

CASUAL DINING

Avenue Pub 405 23rd Avenue // Tuscaloosa Brunch, lunch, and dinner. Specialty cocktails, local pints, bottled beer, and wine. Mon - Fri. 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sat. Noon – 11 p.m., Sun.Noon p.m. – 9 p.m.

Margarita's Grill 1241 McFarland Blvd E // 343.0300 Moe’s Southwest Grill (2 locations) 2330 McFarland Blvd E // 342.1487 1130 University Blvd // 752.0234 moes.com

Big Daddy’s Cafe 514 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 759.9925

Pepito’s (2 locations) 1203 University Blvd | The Strip // 391.9028 1301 McFarland Blvd NE // 391.4861

The Blue Plate Restaurant (Was Northport Diner) 450 McFarland Blvd, Northport // 462-3626 Brumfield's Restaurant 4851 Rice Mine Road | Tue. - Thu.: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Fri - Sat.: 11 a.m. 10 p.m., and Sunday: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Taco Mama 2104 A University Blvd, Tuscaloosa // 409.8173

FINE DINING

Chuck’s Fish 508 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 248.9370 Monday - Thursday 5-10 p.m. and Friday - Saturday 5-11 p.m. Steak, seafood, & sushi specialities. Daily specials: Monday - $20 Bottles of Wine; Tuesday - Ladies Night 1/2 off Domestic Beer and House Wine, Select $5 Martinis, $2 off Select Sushi Rolls for Everyone; Uptown Wednesday - $6 Uptown Shrimp; Featured Cocktails and $20 Bottles of Wine. Cypress Inn 501 Rice Mine Rd // 345.6963 Fax: 345.6997 | www.cypressinnrestaurant.com 2003 Restaurant of Distinction. Beautiful riverfront location. Steaks, seafood and more with Southern flavor. Wine list, full bar. Specialities of the house include Shrimp Cypress Inn and Smoked Chicken with white barbecue sauce. Kid friendly. Closed Saturday lunch. Mike Spiller is featured the first Thursday of every month. Happy Hour- Mon-Fri from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. featuring 1/2 price appetizers. $2 Domestic Draft Beers and $3 Well cocktails. Epiphany Cafe 19 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 344.5583 “New American cuisine” with a strong emphasis on local produce, organic meats, and sustainable seafood. The menu is always changing and features include an extensive wine list, a large vibrant bar and martini lounge area, as well as patio seating. Reservations are available online at epiphanyfinedining.com or through open table. Hours: Mon–Sat 5 p.m. - until

Buddy’s Ribs & Steaks 2701 Bridge Ave | Northport // 339.4885 Buffalo Wild Wings 2710 McFarland Blvd // 523.0273 Mon–Wed 11 a.m. - midnight | Thurs–Sat 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Chicken Salad Chick The Shoppes at Midtown & Essex Square, Northport | Said to be the very best chicken salad that can be found anywhere. www. chickensaladchick.com Chili’s 1030 Skyland Blvd | Near McFarland Mall // 750.8881 Fax: 758.7715 // www.chilis.com Dave’s Dogs 1701 McFarland Blvd E | University Mall // 722.2800 Five Guys Burgers & Fries 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 391.0575 www.fiveguys.com 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

CROHNS DISEASE NUTRITION

y definition, Crohns disease is a bowel disease that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive track, which leads to severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, and weight loss. It affects 1.6 million Americans, most of who are diagnosed before the age of 35. Because of the inflammation, nutrients are not properly absorbed which can lead to malnutrition and deficiencies. The area of the digestive tract that is affected differs per person. The inflammation can often spread deep into the layers of bowel tissue and can result in life-threatening complications. Currently, there is no cure but there are some therapies and changes a person can make to reduce flare-ups and manage the disease. Some lifestyle changes that can help with this disease are monitoring the diet with a medical professional, drinking plenty of water, and making sure you are supplementing with vitamins and minerals to help prevent the body from malnutrition. Below are some recommendations that can be useful for a person who has Crohns disease. Avoid Raw Nuts- they are hard on the intestines to digest and can irritate the intestinal lining. Some good alternatives include creamy nuts such as peanut or almond butter. Avoid Spicy foods- Spicy foods can be harsh for anyone but especially someone with Chrons disease where it can cause irritation to the intestinal lining and it increases inflammation and intestinal distress. Limit Caffeinated Drinks- Caffeine can increase the symptoms of Crohns and can cause flare-ups. If you are a coffee lover, consider decaf coffee although it still has some caffeine, symptoms can be more easily manageable. Avoid Alcohol- Consuming alcohol causes dehydration and prevents proper rehydration, which can worsen symptoms. Those with Crohns are usually on anti-inflammatories and antibiotics which alcohol can interfere with. Limit Dairy- Many people with inflammatory bowel disease find that problems such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and gas improve by elimination dairy products. With age, our bodies lose the ability to properly digest dairy and lactose products and with this disease the patient should avoid anything that could contribute to digestive distress.

Eat Raw Fruits and Vegetables in Moderation- If consuming too many fruits or vegetables that are raw, this can lead to abdominal distress which is unfortunate because how great they are for you. High fiber foods may make Crohns symptoms worse. To insure one is still getting the recommended fruit and vegetable intake, they can be prepared in different ways like steamed, baked, or stewed. Some foods that absolutely should be consumed by a person with Crohns 1.Potatoes, rice and pasta – Smooth bland foods tend to be easier on the digestive systems. 2. Oatmeal – Oatmeal has soluble fiber that absorbs water and passes more slowly through the digestive tract. 3. Almond milk – This milk is great because it is lactose free and the person won’t have to deal with dairy upsetting their digestive tract. It also is fortified with calcium and protein, which people with Crohns often lack. 4. Eggs – These are easily digestible and are high in protein. 5. Salmon or mackerel – These fish are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids which lower inflammation. Should be consumed sparingly though and only wild grown fish should be purchased as it has fewer toxins. 6. Bananas and papayas – These tropical fruits are easy to digest and high in major nutrients and vitamins 7. Poultry – Chicken and turkey are high protein foods that are easy to digest. 8. Avocado – The soluble fiber in an avocado is digestion-friendly and packed full of the good fat our body needs. 9. Water – Most important!!! Water should be consumed to flush out the intestinal tract and keep the person hydrated. When a flare-up occurs, the patient often has such severe diarrhea that they become dehydrated. This is often the reason for hospitalizations following a Crohns episode and can easily be avoided with proper hydration.

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MARCH 31 + APRIL 14

>>> 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

MARCH 31 + APRIL 14

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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Plus: Iron pouring, API poster show, Piggly Wiggly Craftly Beerly Garden, Regional art & food vendors + more! TICKETS ON SALE FRIday 3/4

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MARCH 31 + APRIL 14

>>> 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

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MARCH 31 + APRIL 14

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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

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MARCH 31 + APRIL 14

Dance Alabama! March 29 – April 2 So nice we had to do it twice! Dance Alabama! returns to the stage for a spring concert featuring all new, student choreographed dance pieces that range from ballet to hip hop.

Arcadia April 11– 17 Winner of the 1995 Tony Award for Best Play, Tom Stoppard’s critically-acclaimed drama uses a vast English estate to explore the connections between past and present & science and humanity over the course of two centuries.

Boeing Boeing April 19–24 Boeing, Boeing is a romping farce about a swingin’ bachelor whose plans for a quiet weekend at his Paris apartment are thrown into turmoil when, thanks to the advent of the speedier Boeing jet, all three of his stewardess fiancés are in town at the same time. He must rely on his neurotic friend and an acerbic housekeeper for help; but unfortunately, his friend can’t keep track of which lies to tell to whom. Tickets at 205.348.3400 or theatre.ua.edu

MARCH 31 + APRIL 14

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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

MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2

★★★★

OU T OF 4

ometimes, sequels are actually worth waiting for, especially the sequel to one of the highestgrossing, American romantic comedies in cinematic history. “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2” (**** OUT OF ****) qualifies as a charming but predictable sequel to its phenomenal predecessor “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” For the record, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” earned $368 million plus globally at the box office when it came out back in 2002. As far as I am concerned, the litmus test for all sequels is the cast. Virtually everybody from the 2002 original about a dysfunctional Greek family residing in Chicago has returned for this follow-up film. Happily, Canadian actress of Greek descent Nia Vardalos, who wrote “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” initially as a one- woman stage play, has scripted the sequel. Vardalos earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay for the first film. “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2” is every bit as entertaining and magical as its forerunner. In the sequel, Vardalos contends with three generations: the parents, her own marriage, and her haughty daughter. John Corbett, who played her boyfriend/husband Ian Miller from the earlier epic, is back. Simultaneously, seasoned Hollywood supporting players Michael Constantine and Lainie Kazan reprise their roles as our heroine’s eccentric Greek parents. Predictably, Constantine’s overbearing patriarchal character Gus still wields his spray bottle of Windex and brags that this cleaning product can solve any problem. If you’ve seen the original film, you’ll easily spot everybody else, including Louis Mandylor, Andrea Martin, Joey Fatone, and Gia Carides. Rated PG-13, this ethnic comedy will keep you giggling at their screwball shenanigans. Indeed, “Nanny McPhee” director Kirk Jones maintains a lighthearted, breezy pace from fade-in to fadeout, with several amusing complications and a surprise or two to enliven the material. Amazingly enough, he doesn’t slight anybody in the large ensemble cast. Altogether, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2” celebrates romance, love, marriage, weddings, and embraces diversity throughout its nimble

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94 minute running time without wearing out its welcome. You’ll have to search long and hard to find a comedy that neither insults you with its idiocy, nor soils its own material for comic relief. Some things have changed for the cacophonous Portokalos clan. America’s ailing economy has forced Toula (Nia Vardalos of “Helicopter Mom”) to quit the travel and tourism business, and she has gone back to serving as a hostess in her father’s restaurant The Dancing Zorba. Meantime, Ian and she have been raising a daughter, Paris (Elena Kampouris of “Labor Day”), who at age seventeen is hopelessly obsessed with eyeliner. At this point in her life, Paris has had it with her parents and can see through their agenda. Of course, since she is old enough to apply for college, everybody hopes she will stick around Chicago and attend Northeastern Illinois University. Paris prefers to pack up, leave town and indulge in greater freedom from stifling parental supervision. Moreover, she puts up with Gus’ criticisms about her status as a spinster as well as her encroaching decrepitude. Remember, Toula tolerated similar comments about her advanced age in the original. Meantime, Ian is no longer a teacher at the high school that his daughter attends and where Toula pitches in to help whenever volunteers are needed. Now, Ian is the principal, so the Millers have cornered prosperity of a sort. Gus still tells the same jokes, and he regales Paris and her friends with his outlandish etymological Grecian origins of any word. Toula’s brother Nick (Louis Mandylor of “One in the Chamber”) has married and has three little boys. Everything suddenly changes for the worst when Gus discovers that the priest who married Maria (Lainie Kazan of “Dayton Devils”) and him forgot to sign the marriage license. Predictably, Maria takes this opportunity to learn how much Gus really loves her by playing hard

to get when he proposes to her again. Indeed, everything that can go wrong does go wrong until Maria decides to accept his offer. Maria adds to their woes when she hires a wedding planner and the poor girl refuses to grant Maria’s every wish for an over-the-top marriage ceremony. Maria’s dysfunctional family throws up their collective hands in despair and they take over planning the ceremony. While Gus and Maria struggle to tie the knot for the second time, Toula and Ian endeavor to rekindle the passion in their own marriage since Paris is about to forsake Chicago for a New York City university. Does anybody remember the short-lived television series “My Big Fat Greek Life” with its seven episodes that the incredibly successful movie spawned? Star and scribe Nia Vardalos and director Kirk Jones behave as if the events depicted in that ephemeral series never occurred. Miraculously, they manage to bridge the void of the intervening 14 years and blend both films seamlessly together. Ian and Toula live next door now to Gus’ mansion with

its tacky plethora of Greek statues. Every morning dawns with Gus cruising up to each adjacent house to pick up family members for school and work. Mind you, like the original film, the producers of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2” show the savvy sense to serve audiences sloppy seconds of the first film. Basically, this amounts to a “Big, Fat” ethnic array of stock characters scrimmaging in a standard-issue sitcom. Believe it or not, Vardalos still gets a lot of mileage out of this wacky formula about their extended family. For example, when everybody realizes how late they are for the wedding, a family member in the Chicago Police Department arranges to transport the principals by careening patrol cars with lights ablaze to their Greek Orthodox Church. After the demise of the television series, it was difficult to imagine that the Portokalos clan would scale the same hilarious heights. Nevertheless, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2” emerges as a faithful and flavorful sequel that all sequels should emulate, and the ensemble cast hasn’t lost a scrap of its charisma.

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>>> PET PLANET | K E L S E Y C A M E R O N

ARE YOU REALLY READY TO ADOPT A DOG?

MINDY // PETITE LITTLE LADY This little lady is Mindy, a petite female brown tabby. Her fur coloring is absolutely beautiful! Pictures just can’t do her justice! She has gorgeous honey and ginger coloring. Mindy is a sweet, funny, and very affectionate little girl. She loves people, loves to play and to nap with other cats. She absolutely loves attention! We recently discovered that she also loves belly rubs. She would make the perfect companion cat. Mindy is negative for FIV/FeLK, and current on vaccination and spayed.

MISSY // PRISSY MIX

any of us (if we’re honest with ourselves) have pictured our home with a dog. Enjoying long walks on the nearest trail with our furry friend in tow, snuggling at night by the fire with our dog’s head on our lap, playing catch out in the back yard- a dog can bring to a family all of these things and so much more! But, are you REALLY ready to adopt a dog? At The Humane Society of West Alabama, we are constantly searching for the best pet parents with which to match our wonderful dogs and cats, but we also know that many potential adopters don’t fully consider the other side of adopting- the many (and often expensive) factors in raising a healthy, happy dog. Here are some other considerations to picture as you make that all important decision to adopt. Your new pet must receive annual exams. These visits include a physical exam, blood panels, a fecal test, and sometimes additional testing should the veterinarian detect a potential problem. Also the pet receives his yearly immunizations at that visit. These exams can run between $200-$300 per year. When your pet reaches middle age (around 7 years), another blood panel is recommended to screen for other diseases. I highly recommend this, as I have discovered in two of my dogs potential life threatening illnesses that would have gone undetected without this test. Your dog’s dental health needs to be considered as well. Did you know that research indicates that proper dental health can extend the life of your pet by two to five years? Oral disease is estimated to be present in up to 80 % of dogs and cats, so it is imperative that owners schedule yearly dental cleanings. In between cleanings, brush your pet’s teeth or use a washcloth to go over their gums and teeth weekly, and provide your dog with edible dental chews or crunchy veggies like carrots to help reduce tartar buildup. (FYI: Never use human toothpaste on your pet’s teeth- the sweetener can be toxic to your pet.) A healthy diet is also important, from birth to adolescence to adulthood, and on in to old age. Look for a food packed with animal-based protein, fiber, healthy

MARCH 31 + APRIL 14

grains, vitamins, and minerals. As expected, the cheaper dog food is not the recommended one. A life stage diet meets the nutritional needs as your pet ages. Your veterinarian or pet food store employee would be good sources to help you choose the right food for your dog’s needs. Daily exercise is a must! Just as many humans are overweight and out of shape, many of our pets are as well! According to a recent Purina study, as much as 60 % of our pets are overweight! Regular daily walks, healthy (but not too many) treats, even dog training can help prevent that problem- funny how that works with us humans too! Preventatives such as flea, tick, heartworm, and intestinal parasite preventions are needed for our area year round. Heartworm disease is fatal if not treated, but it is preventable with monthly medication. Check with your veterinarian to determine the best products for your pet. Grooming for all breeds of dog is essential! A simple bath, then a brush, plus an occasional nail clipping, is satisfactory for most breeds. However, dogs with lots of hair or ones that need sculpted coats will require professional grooming. Going away for a long weekend or a vacation? It would be great to take the family pet, but sometimes that is not practical. Paying for doggie day care, boarding, or a pet sitter can be costly, but it is a very necessary part of owning a pet. The take away? Our dogs and cats can fill so many needs for us, and we can save a life if we adopt from a shelter or a rescue organization. Just remember that owning a dog or cat is a lifelong commitment with many responsibilities. If you cannot meet those responsibilities, neither you nor your pet will be happy or healthy. Evaluate your lifestyle, your home, and your pocketbook before making that very important decision! For a complete description of the wonderful dogs and cats in our care, along with some really cute pictures, please visit our website at www.humanesocietyofwa. org. Tina Miller, The Humane Society of West Alabama

Say hi to Missy, a 1- to 2-year-old female Corgi/ Terrier mix. Missy has a sleek black coat with some white markings and the short legs and stout body of a corgi. She is a nice small/ medium size, weighing around 20 pounds. Missy was pulled from our local animal shelter, where she and some of her siblings were picked up by Animal Control and no one came to claim them after a month of being there. We also have her sister, Prissy! Missy is a little shy at first but warms up quickly, and she’s sweet and friendly as can be!! She is a pretty calm dog, which would make her a nice companion pet. She is good with other dogs and tends to be the submissive one in a group. She should be fine with children and should be okay in an apartment, as long as she gets daily exercise. Missy will require a fenced in yard if left outside any unattended. We have started on her crate training. Missy is up to date on her vet care, spayed, heartworm negative and is microchipped. She is on heartworm and flea/tick prevention. What a little cutie pie – come meet this sweet girl and fall in love! If you are interested in giving MINDY or MISSY the forever home they want and deserve, visit the Humane Society of West Alabama at http://www.humanesocietyofwa.org or call us at (205)-554-0011.

The Humane Society of West Alabama is in need of volunteers for both the cat and dog facilities. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please contact our volunteer coordinator at volunteerhswa@gmail.com or go ahead and download a volunteer application from www.humanesocietyofwa.org/formsinfo. html and send to the same email.

VOLUNTEER

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MARCH 31 + APRIL 14

>>> EVENTS CALENDAR | T H E S O U T H E A S T ' S L A R G E S T NOTE: All events listed here have phone numbers in the 205 area code unless otherwise indicated.

FRIDAY, Apr 1 -10

In This House: Selections from the Permanent Collection WHEN: 6:00pm-8:00pm COST: Free WHERE: Sarah Moody Gallery of Art 103 Garland Hall, University of Alabama Campus Tuscaloosa PHONE: (205) 348-1890 LINK: visittuscaloosa.com/calendar-ofevents-old DESCRIPTION: Gallery Director, William Dooley selected works by Pablo Picasso, Elizabeth Murray, Kara Walker, Jim Dine, Chuck Close, April Gornik, Walker Evans and William Christenberry, among others, to be included in this much-anticipated annual exhibition.

FRIDAY, Apr 1-8

Sella Granata Art Gallery Group Exhibition WHEN: 10:00am-4:00pm COST: Free WHERE: Woods Hall 109 Woods Hall Tuscaloosa LINK: visittuscaloosa.com/calendar-ofevents-old DESCRIPTION: The Gallery will feature work from multiple exhibitions. Information about visitor parking is available here: http:// bamaparking.ua.edu/visitor-information/. Parking is free on campus in a legal space after business hours. For more information, contact the gallery at (205) 348-1891 or go to http://art.ua.edu/gallery/sgg/.

FRIDAY, Apr 1

The Arty Party WHEN: 6:00pm-12:00am COST: N/A WHERE: Hotel Capstone 320 Paul Bryant Drive Tuscaloosa PHONE: (205) 752-3200 LINK: www.hotelcapstone.com/ DESCRIPTION: 6 p.m. Cocktails Silent Auction 7:30 p.m. Dinner Live Auction Grand Door Prize Drawing Cocktail Attire It’s There, I Swear:” Sydney Ewerth MA Exhibition WHEN: 7:00am-12:00am COST: Free WHERE: Sella-Granata Art Gallery 109 Woods Hall, The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa PHONE: (205) 348-5967 LINK: art.ua.edu/site/galleries/woods-hallgallery/ Stands in Solitude: Kelsey Windham MA Exhibition WHEN: 7:00am-12:00am COST: Free WHERE: Sella-Granata Art Gallery 109 Woods Hall, The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa PHONE: (205) 348-5967 LINK: art.ua.edu/site/galleries/woods-hallgallery/ DESCRIPTION: Kelsey Shearron Windham is a visual artist and educator working on her MA degree in the UA Department of Art and Art History. In 2014 she was awarded a Graduate Council Fellowship from UA. Windham earned the Bachelors of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in drawing from Memphis College of Art in 2011. In 2010 she was awarded the Hohenberg Fellowship to study painting in Umbria, Italy and participated in a group show there. She has partici-

MARCH 31 + APRIL 14

pated in solo and juried group exhibitions in Memphis and Tuscaloosa.

SATURDAY, Apr 2

Volkfest WHEN: 11:00am-9:00pm COST: $15-$50 WHERE: Government Plaza 7th St. and 22th Ave. SE. Tuscaloosa PHONE: (205) 553-3133 LINK: www.focusonseniorcitizens.org/ DESCRIPTION: FOCUS on Senior Citizens will host the first annual Tuscaloosa Volksfest on Saturday April 2nd at Government Plaza. Volksfest is a celebration of German culture featuring live music, German foods, a biergarten tent featuring local brews from Black Warrior Brewery and Band of Brothers, a classic German car show and children’s activities such as face painting, a petting zoo, and blow up obstacles. Musical acts include Wolkgang Moritz, Smooth

Saddles, The Frayed Knot Band, and the Horizon Band. Ticket prices are $15 General admission, $25 preferred including a T-shirt, Volksfest drinking glass and one beer token. Tickets may be purchased in advance at any Bank of Tuscaloosa location or online at www.grsmarketplace.com. Proceeds benefit FOCUS on Senior Citizens of Tuscaloosa County. 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/ Doctors’ Day 10K WHEN: 8:00am-12:00am COST: $10-$25 WHERE: Bama Theatre, 600 Greensboro Ave, Tuscaloosa

PHONE: (205) 562-3220 LINK: www.tcpara.org/ DESCRIPTION: This year’s Run is in memory of Drs. Herbert Arnold, Rich Gurich, John Shamblin, Wade Young, and Michael Poist. Run is at 8:00 and Fun Run/ Walk and children’s activities begin at 9:30. Registration is now available on Active. com! http://www.active.com/event_detail. cfm?event_id=2085197 Newsboys WHEN: 7:00pm-12:00am COST: $15-$40 WHERE: Tuscaloosa Amphitheater 2710 Jack Warner Parkway Tuscaloosa PHONE: (205) 248-5280 LINK: www.tuscaloosaamphitheater.com/ DESCRIPTION: Newsboys We Believe Gods Tour with special guests Audio Adrenaline, Ryan Stevenson & OBB

ACOUSTIC NIGHT WILL FEATURE CELTIC ENSEMBLES

he Arts Council of Tuscaloosa will present Open the Door for Three with Chambless and Muse in concert on Acoustic Night, April 27, 2016, at 7:30 p.m. The event will take place at the Bama Theatre’s Greensboro Room with doors opening at 7 p.m. Cover charge is $15 with a full service bar available. OPEN THE DOOR FOR THREE Open the Door for Three utilizes tune books, collections and recordings for old and new tunes and songs. They combine these discoveries with fiddler Liz Knowles’ compositions, harmonies, and arrangements, Kieran O’Hare’s encyclopedic knowledge of tunes and the uilleann piping tradition, and the rhythmic bedrock bouzouki and world-class singing of Dublin-born Pat Broaders. The trio’s members are veterans and mainstays of the Irish music scene around the world, having played with Riverdance, Cherish the Ladies, Secret Garden, Anúna, Liz Carroll and The New York Pops, as well as with artists like Don Henley, Paula Cole, Bonnie Raitt and Josh Groban. They have performed around the world on Broadway, at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, at L’Olympia and the Palais des Congrès in Paris, in Malaysian rainforest festivals, in theatres from Shanghai to São Paulo and even a bullring in Mallorca. Their debut release, “Open the Door for Three”, and their brand new second CD, “The Penny Wager”, are the culmination of years on the road, comprised of unearthed tunes, new arrangements of great songs, homages to the musicians and bands they heard in their youth and the signature sound of a trio of good friends playing great music together. Visit openthedoorforthree.com for more information. CHAMBLESS AND MUSE Originally from Montgomery, Ala., Jil Chambless now resides in Tuscaloosa and has played an active role in the Celtic music scene for more than 20 years. As singer and flute and whistle player, she has completed many recording projects and performed at Celtic festivals and concerts across the United States as well as in Canada, Scotland and Israel with the band Henri’s Notions, guitarist Scooter Muse, Scottish singer Ed Miller, Scottish fiddler John Taylor, the band Vulcan Eejits!, the Vogt Family Contra Band and others. Already an accomplished guitarist, Scooter Muse purchased his first banjo in 1972 and almost 40 years later has been fortunate to win countless banjo competitions throughout the southeast including the Tennessee Valley Championships eight times. He has performed with bluegrass legends Claire Lynch, Vassar Clements and a host of others as well as handling first call banjo duties for the world famous Muscle Shoals, Ala. recording in-

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Top: Open the Door for Three. Right: Chambless and Muse dustry. In the 1990s he founded the Full Moon Ensemble, and after a successful 8 year run, was then drafted as the guitarist for the longest running Celtic band in the south, Henri’s Notions. In 2005 he recorded his first solo guitar CD, “Saddell Abbey”, with all original material and music set to the poetry of Robert Burns. He is a Master Folk Artist with the Alabama State Council on the Arts. In 2010, Chambless and Muse began performing as a duo to promote their individual solo projects, playing a variety of venues from small house concerts to major Celtic festivals. Their duo CDs consist of “The Laverock Sang” and “Passing Tales and Glories”. Visit jilchambless.com and scootermuse.com for more information. The Bama Theatre is located at 600 Greensboro Avenue in downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about The Arts Council or Bama Theatre, patrons should LIKE the Facebook page “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” and follow tuscarts on Twitter. Call 205-758-5195 or visittuscarts. org for further information.

>>> 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 SUNDAY, APRIL 24 Steely Dan // Legacy Arena the the BJCC

BIRMINGHAM THURSDAY, MARCH 31 Riff Riff // Iron city Father // Iron city

FRIDAY, APRIL 1 Martin Lawrence // Bridgestone Arena

SUNDAY, APRIL 3 Melvins, Napalm Death // Iron city FRIDAY, APRIL 8 Outcry Tour Featuring Kari Jobe // Legacy Arena at the BJCC Robin Trower // Marathon Music Works

SUNDAY, APRIL 10 Mumford and Sons // Legacy Arena at the BJCC FRIDAY, APRIL 15 Live at the Lyric: Taylor Hicks // Lyric Theatre

SATURDAY, APRIL 16 Pentatonix with Us The Duo // Legacy Arena at the BJCC Flashdance // Legacy Arena at the BJCC TUESDAY, APRIL 19 Jimmy Buffett // Oak Mountain Amphitheatre THURSDAY, APRIL 21 Steven Curtis Chapman // The Alabama Theatre

SATURDAY, APRIL 23 Widespread Panic // Legacy Arena the the BJCC

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Mumford & Sons // APR 10, 12

TUESDAY, APRIL 26 Breaking Benjamin // Iron city

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 r. Kelly // Legacy Arena at the BJCC Sevendust // Iron city

NASHVILLE

SATURDAY, APRIL 2 Dr. Dog & Wild Child // Ryman Auditorium

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 Ry Cooder – Sharon White//Ricky Skaggs // Ryman Auditorium

SUNDAY, APRIL 10 The Rat Pack is Back // Schermerhorn Symphony Center MONDAY, APRIL 11 Meat Loaf // Schermerhorn Symphony Center

TUESDAY, APRIL 12 Dailey & Vincent // Schermerhorn Symphony Center FRIDAY, APRIL 15 Bryan Adams // Ascend Amphitheater

SATURDAY, APRIL 16 Smashing Pumpkins & Liz Phair // Ryman Auditorium

SUNDAY, APRIL 17 Three Dog Night // Schermerhorn Symphony Center Check Corea & Bela Fleck // Ryman Auditorium

MONDAY, APRIL 18 A very Intimate Evening with Pat Benatar // Schermerhorn Symphony Center

TUESDAY, APRIL 12 The Cult // Variety Playhouse Mumford and Sons // Infinite Energy Center

SUNDAY, APRIL 24 Ben Folds with Ymusic // Ryman Auditorium

SUNDAY, APRIL 17 The Noise Presents Amon Amarth // Tabernacle

FRIDAY, APRIL 22 Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals // Ryman Auditorium

ATLANTA

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2 Atlanta Festival of Laughs: Mike Epps // Philips Arena

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6 Tech N9NE // Center Stage Robin Trower // Variety Playhouse FRIDAY, APRIL 8 And Evening with They Might Be Giants // Variety Playhouse

MONDAY, APRIL 11 Deerhunter // Variety Playhouse

FRIDAY, APRIL 15 Kathy Griffin // Symphony Hall Atlanta

TUESDAY, APRIL 22 Esperanza Spalding Present Emily’s D & Evolution // Center Stage Sister Hazel // Variety Playhouse WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23 Ciara- Jackie Tour Sponsored by Topshop // Center Stage

THURSDAY, APRIL 24 Bush // Tabernacle Van Morrison // Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 Steel Panther // Tabernacle

>>> 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

MARCH 31 + APRIL 14

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

Across 1. Tagged 8. Weak and thin, as a voice 13. Feign 14. ___ a living 16. Pizza portion 17. Reach an agreement out of court 18. More hideous 19. Shepherd's pie ingredients 21. Horse halters 22. "As God ____ witness..." 23. Young newts 24. "Riddle-me-___" (nursery rhyme line) 25. ____-O ("Old MacDonald" refrain) 26. Bandleader Shaw 27. Gorged 30. Bradley and Begley 31. In a lather 33. Publication for web 35. 6, on a telephone 36. Squirrels' hangouts 40. "A Doll's House" playwright Henrik 42. Iditarod terminus 43. Lennon's wife 46. "How the Other Half Lives" author Jacob 47. Zen paradox 48. Is blustery 50. Items in a toolset, often 52. "___ Beloved..." 53. Egyptian god of death 54. Triskaidekaphobe's fear 56. Annul 57. Assurances 58. "___ Defeats Truman" (infamous1948 headline) 59. Hates

SOLUTION FOR PUZZLEMANIA CROSSWORD ON PAGE 21

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Down 1. Stick around 2. 2001 French film with five Oscar nods 3. Trade 4. Fashionable issues? 5. Den 6. List abbr. 7. Kind of diver 8. Easily annoyed 9. Home furnishings chain 10. Butterfly catcher 11. Once in a while 12. Christmas season 13. Lip-puckering 15. Durbeyfield girl, and namesakes 20. Fail to mention 22. Clock numeral 25. Vocalist James 26. Chopping tool 28. Long geological period 29. Extra-wide shoe spec 31. Without an agenda 32. 100% sure 34. Sets apart 35. "Man in the ____" (Michael Jackson hit song) 37. Half hitch, e.g. 38. Raised a glass to 39. Pres. monogram 41. Holding in trust 44. What the weary get, in a saying 45. Young hooters 47. "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" novelist Ken 48. Swiss city on the Aare 49. Thesaurus wds. 51. Walk in the wild 52. Detergent target 55. Possess, to Burns

>>> PUZZLEMANIA| S U D O K U

It's easy to play Sudoku! Simply fill every column, row and 3x3 box so they contain every number between 1 and 9. The game is easy to play but difficult to master! Solution Page 21

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>>> HOROSCOPES | W E E K L Y O V E R V I E W You'll need to make up your mind whether you want something or you don't. Powerful influences showing up at this time could see you hesitating, which may prove fatal. If you're at all uncertain, let your instincts be your guide. However, trusting your intuition may not be as easy as it should be. In that case, confiding in a trusted friend may be your best alternative. He or she might be able to spot certain flaws or special benefits that you've missed. There's a very sociable quality to the week ahead, with plenty of opportunities for mixing and mingling. And you might find yourself involved in both formal and informal events. Even so, your connections with others should be charged with a lot of energy, encouraging you to swap business ideas, make bold plans, or perhaps enjoy a little romance. On the home front, entertaining can be fun, though it helps to choose your guests wisely. How will you know if you're making the right decision this week? It's possible you may not! It's said that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Bearing that in mind, you'll need to get involved personally before you can make an informed decision. Even so, there's a tendency right now to mistrust your instincts. If this is true, the next best thing is to look at the results you're getting. If they're all you hoped for, then you're good to go.

For Spring Reading Lists Try the Best!

lest dtog o o C : e Rosi the plane on

Rosie Recommends TOP SELLERS AT HALF PRICE

You may be enthralled by all kinds of adventures and opportunities. Even so, try not to get too carried away. With Mars in Aries and your zone of travel and exploration, sticking to one plan or idea may not be easy because boredom could set in fairly quickly. However, if you're to get anywhere at all, you'll need to make a decision and abide by it. Perhaps you may not be so tempted to jump ship if you involve others in your plans. This could be a time of plain speaking, when you're unlikely to beat around the bush. This week's energies could see you being a little bit harsh with someone, particularly if you feel you've been wronged in any way. Nevertheless, the more sensitive qualities of Venus and Neptune in Pisces enable you to put yourself in their shoes, if you're willing. If you can do this, you'll understand why they did what they did and what your next move should be. This can be an exciting time for your relationships, with new ideas and opportunities helping to enhance your bond. There will be a lot to talk about in the days ahead, and some of it could be a bit uncomfortable, particularly midweek. It's important that you stand your ground. Don't feel you have to cooperate if you don't want to. However, you also have a great opportunity to clear the air and rewrite the script concerning your connection with a significant other. Money matters may not have been easy for some time, particularly with Saturn encouraging you to be more responsible for your finances. You may have found it necessary to cut back and recycle certain items rather than buy new. Nevertheless, this week brings opportunities for more work, whether temporary or long-term. An offer that comes out of the blue could be the answer to a prayer and provide much-needed cash. Ideas for enhancing your income could also show up. It may be difficult to stay on track regarding your commitments, particularly when there's so much to do and so many places to go. You could be lured by adventure or perhaps the thrill of a new romance or an opportunity to go to a place you've long wanted to visit. However, it is possible to fulfill your responsibilities and enjoy yourself if you're prepared to think outside the box. Also, you may be doing more than your fair share of work at home. You may find it difficult to reconcile your hopes and plans with those of family members. While you may have opted to let them have their way, a part you could feel a bit resentful. The coming days and weeks can be excellent for letting go of emotional baggage that might prevent you from getting the most out of a heartfelt talk. If you need to discuss matters with a trusted friend first, it might give you a fresh perspective on your issues. Collaborating on plans and projects can give you a great feeling of being part of a team, and that's something you find very exciting. There's plenty going on this week that you'll want to be involved in. However, if you're discussing sensitive issues, it helps to tread with care. Aside from this, you can make plenty of progress this week so long as you're willing to cooperate. But this could be an issue, as harmonizing viewpoints may not be an easy process.

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PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

You're geared up to make progress now and in the weeks ahead. And even though Saturn is currently retrograde at the top of your chart, your ambitious side is very much in the fore. Although your best-laid plans may be delayed, don't put them off altogether. Spurred on by Mars, this is the time to explore new possibilities and make those vital connections that could help you achieve your dream. Your finances could improve if you make the right moves. You'll truly be in your element this week, and perhaps a tad impulsive, too. If you want to get your work completed in a timely manner, you'll need to concentrate, and this could be easier said than done. You may be distracted by new ideas, opportunities, knowledge, or the Internet. However, you'd be better off tackling your responsibilities than pushing them to one side, simply because other people are relying on you and your image could suffer if you don't.

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MARCH 31 + APRIL 14

F E AT U R E | A L E J A N D R A T E N O R I O

FOLLOWING ONE'S HEART // CAROLINE RUDER

aroline Ruder found herself strolling the ever so busy Fall 2014 Bryant conference career fair. Like many of her peers, she went with the intention to network with some of the industry’s elite companies. It was there Ruder realized, she could not envision herself in the field of Marketing or any field to be exact. “I felt ungrateful. There were so many jobs there, so many opportunities, but I just couldn’t see myself truly happy at any of them.” Ruder said. After the sudden realization that marketing was something she could not see herself pursuing postgraduation, Ruder called her mom and asked for advice. “If you could be doing one thing in the world, what would it be?” Her mother asked. It took less than a second for Ruder to answer.

“Fashion,” was all she said. Thus, beginning one of the longest, hardest, yet most rewarding journey of her life. With one year to go before graduating with a Bachelor Degree in Marketing from The University of Alabama, Ruder found herself at a crossroad. Would she stick to what she had spent the last three years of her life preparing for or follow her heart and pursue a career in fashion design? “In the back of my head, I’ve always known that I wanted to be a fashion designer.” Ruder recalled. “I used to make dresses out of Kleenexes for my barbie dolls when I was little.” It took some time for Ruder to realize and admit to herself that fashion design was her passion in life. As someone who describes herself as a realist, it was more about giving herself permission to follow an artistic route rather than stick to the business future she had planned. “The transition was hard, I stayed up late hours into the night almost every day teaching myself everything I know today,” she said. “I only began teaching myself how to sew about a year and half ago so I think about all the things I would be able to do if I had just started earlier.” If given the opportunity to go back in time, Ruder states she would double major in Fashion Design and Marketing. Though,

she believes everything happens for a reason, and she is extremely grateful for where her life is at this point in time. “I’ve worked really hard for all the opportunities I’ve ever had so I feel like it’s obvious this isn’t a joke to me, that it’s something I want to do for the rest of my life, even if it is a journey I recently just begun.” Fast forward to today, Ruder, a senior with just a short month left here at the Capstone, she looks back at all the obstacles she had to overcome to get to where she is today. “It’s insane to think about the fact that my biggest validation thus far has been getting accepted into [Savannah College of Art and Design] and knowing that everything I did and everything I submitted, I not only learned from scratch but I was the one who taught myself how to do it all.” Now, as she looks ahead as to what the future might hold for her, Ruder is certain of one thing -- she wants her brand to mean more than just clothes. “Clothes are so much more than putting fabric on your body. It’s about showcasing who you are, your hopes and dreams,” she said. “I really want to design with a sense or a mantra that everyone has purpose. I think clothes are definitely a way to show a person’s purpose and beauty.”

THE MULLIGAN BROTHERS IN CONCERT

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he Mulligan Brothers join Acoustic Night, April 14, 2016, at 7:30 p.m. at the Bama Theatre’s Greensboro Room with doors opening at 7 p.m. Cover charge is $15. The Mulligan Brothers consist of Ross Newell (lead vocals, guitar); Gram Rea (fiddle, mandolin, viola, harmonica and vocals); Ben Leininger (bass and vocals) and Greg DeLuca (drums and vocals). “Via Portland” is the second album for the band from Mobile and Baton Rouge that took a name that means second chances. When their first album, titled “The Mulligan Brothers”, was released, they were unaware that they were creating an album that would create so much passion among fans and pride among the band members. “Via Portland” has been equally well received, debuting at #18 on I-Tunes singer songwriter chart, reaching #7 on the Relix/Jambands chart, #12 on Roots Music Report Alt. Folk Chart and making the Alternate Roots Top 50 Albums for the first half of 2015. The band stands dead center at the crossroads generally defined as Americana, described as a blend of Folk Rock and Alternative Country. The easy flow of music uses traditional textures without falling into a fake rootsiness, balanced against lyrics that are often sharply contemporary. The Mulligan Brothers gently weave heartfelt tales of

L-R: Greg DeLuca, Gram Rea, Ben Leiniger, Ross Newell love and loss into a complex yet comforting combination that will leave listeners nostalgic for something or someone that is not easily described. They have performed at festivals including the New Orleans Jazz Fest, the renowned 30A Songwriter Festival in Florida plus those in Ireland, The Netherlands and Belgium. For more information about the band, visit facebook.com/ themulliganbrothers and themulliganbrothers.com.

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>>> H I G H T I D E S P O R T S | GARY HARRIS

SPRING FOOTBALL UPDATE Tide’s focus is on improving

he Crimson Tide held its fifth practice of the spring in full pads this past Monday afternoon. Even though Nick Saban says his team has made progress, he makes it clear that much more improvement is needed as Bama prepares for this Saturday’s scrimmage. “I asked the players today to be honest with themselves on what they need to do, what we need to do, Saban said in the press conference. “How do we get where we want to go? The kind of effort we need. The kind of toughness we need to develop. The kind of preparation we need to have to develop the right habits so that we have more and more guys that can play winning football at their position. I think that takes a tremendous amount of discipline and focus to be able to play each and every play with the kind of effort, toughness and discipline to do your job that’s going to help us play winning football. “Right now, we’re making too many mental errors. We have too many penalties. We have too much lack of focus, too much lack of attention to details. But we’re going to keep working with these guys, especially the young guys get the importance of doing the little things right, so that we have a better chance of improving as a unit when they’re in there, because we have more guys that are more complete players that are playing their position. So that will be the major focus this week in terms of what we need to accomplish so that we can go out there when we scrimmage on Saturday and have more guys that are confident in what they’re supposed to do and they can go out there and play fast and play the kind of football we want to play on both sides of the ball and on special teams. We got a ways to go to get that done, but we’re making progress. “The one thing that you notice, and players that have a little maturity, have a little experience is that you give them the weekend off for Easter and they come back they don’t skip a beat. You see some of the younger guys on the team that you’re really trying to work with, they don’t seem to be able to retain the things that you work to get up to this point and you take a step back and now you’ve got to go try to take two steps forward. I think that’s maturity with young players. Experiences help them see what they need to do to work and focus and prepare better so that they know what to do when they go out there and get it done the way we need to get it done. That’s the focus on what we need to improve on.”

BATEMAN HAS SHOWN IMPROVEMENT

A few days into spring practice last year, Cooper Bateman was moved to wide receiver. He eventually returned to quarterback and spent last season as the backup to Coker. This spring, Bateman might be the early favorite to win the job. “Cooper’s done a good job,” Saban said. “He obviously has the most knowledge and experience with the offense. “There’s things that he needs to work on and that we need to work on with him so that he can go out there and play with the confidence and be the kind of leader and decision-maker that we need at that position to play winning football, and that’s what we’ll continue to focus on.”

CORNWELL IS MAKING PROGRESS

By the end of last spring, it appeared that David Cornwell had a legitimate shot at winning the Tide’s QB job. But in August camp he fell behind Jake Coker and Cooper Bateman and never caught up. He’s making another run at the job this spring. “David’s having a good spring so far,” Saban said. “David has a really good arm. His arm talent is probably as good as anyone we have. His accuracy is good. He’s smart. Very bright guy. “I think he’s got enough experience in the offense from having been around here for a while to have a really good understanding of it, and I think he’s made a lot of progress. “The guy that wins the quarterback job will be the guy that wins over the team with his ability to play on a consistent basis, make the kind of choices and decisions, show the kind of leadership to affect other people.”

SAFETY DANCE

The Tide brought in three safeties in its 2015 recruiting class. Last season, Ronnie Harrison saw a significant amount of action at safety. Shawn Burgess-Becker played on special teams and got in a few plays at safety. Deionte Thompson spent the year redshirting as a receiver before switching back to safety. “Ronnie played a lot last year,” Saban said. “He’s definitely ahead of the other two.” Of Burgess-Becker and Thompson, Saban said, “They both have the ability to do certain things and really can be positive players on the team. “But the big thing is learning what to do, how to do it, why it’s important do it

that way, and to be able to go out there and play with confidence and execute it. That’s going to come from better focus, better preparation, better discipline, better carryover, and spending more time thinking about football when they’re not playing it, so that they get better at what they need to do. “If those guys are going to make that kind of progress, that’s the kind of habits they need to develop and they’re only going to develop those kind of habits if they invest their time properly in doing those things.”

HAND LOOKS GOOD

One defensive lineman expected to step up this spring is junior defensive end DaShawn Hand. “Da’Shawn Hand has done a nice job,” Saban said. “He did a nice job when he got a chance to play last year. He’s doing a really good job this spring. “With Jonathan Allen out, him and Dalvin (Tomlinson) are getting all of the reps with the ones. We’re not really rotating anybody else in there with those two guys. “He’s made a tremendous amount of progress. He’s gotten bigger and stronger. He can still run. He’s still a good pass rusher. We’re trying to develop as an inside rusher as well for third downs. We’re pleased with the progress that he’s made and he probably would’ve been able to contribute even more than he did last year if he would’ve been given a little more opportunity. “I think this is going to be a really productive year for him. He’s certainly had the right attitude about the things that he’s needs to do to develop and be that kind of player.”

Holcombe juggling football, baseball and school

Sophomore linebacker Keith Holcombe is pulling double duty this spring between playing baseball and practicing football. Plus, he’s a college student. “I think it’s tough,” Saban says. “I don’t know how they do it. They (the baseball team) leave today and they’re gone until Sunday. I get concerned about a guy playing when he’s going to miss four days of school. “We want him to play baseball (and) he wants to play baseball, but football players don’t have to miss a lot of school, because we play on Saturday, so seldom do we hardly miss anything. It takes a little getting used to for me for guys to do that. “It makes it more difficult for him to balance what he needs to do in football, and he has a chance to be a great contributor next year on the football team. By not being there (when he travels with the baseball team) and doing some of the things in the (football) role that he fits into, it could affect his development to some degree. But whatever he misses, we will make every effort for him to make up so that he can get those reps so that he can get where he needs to be.”

BREAKING DOWN THE OFFENSIVE LINE

“I think we have a lot more guys that have potential to play right now,” Saban said. “There’s a lot of guys that are in a developmental sort of stage. “Lester Cotton had had a really good spring. He’s played left tackle and right tackle. (Korren) Kirven has done a really good job and he’s made a lot of progress. He’s having a really good spring so far. “Ross (Pierschbacher) has done a good job at moving over to center. “Cam Robinson (shoulder) is obviously not practicing. He’s doing individual drills, but is not doing any team drills. But he’s played enough around here that we think he’s going to be a pretty good left tackle. “So I think the challenge is going to be with the guys that we have coming in and the experience that we have coming back, is getting the best five guys at the best positions that we can. So how we do that is going to be a little bit of a work in progress. But the faster we can do it, probably the better off we are. “I think what we’re trying to do right now is giving everybody a lot of turns, so that we can make a good decision about who we want to invest time in for the future to get the best five guys in the best spots for us to have the best offensive line in the fall.”

BALDWIN IS LEARNING WHAT IT TAKES

One of the newcomers expected to contribute next season is JUCO offensive tackle Charles Baldwin. Baldwin is learning this spring what it takes to make the transition from junior college to Alabama. Baldwin has worked at left and right tackle. “He’s a very good athlete,” Saban said. “He’s got a lot of ability. He’s got a lot to learn. He’s got a long way to go. We’re going to continue to work with him to get him to do the things right, to get him to buy into doing things the way we need him to do them so that he can have success here. That might take some time, but we have a lot of patience and we’ve got a lot of people around here that are willing to see what we can make work with him.”

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MARCH 31 + APRIL 14

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