PLANET WEEKLY 536 MAY 10 THRU JUNE 1

// IN THIS ISSUE >> UP-TO-DATE RESTAURANT LISTINGS ›› TRAIN ›› CREAM PIES ›› ERYKAH BADU ›› BEATING THE ALABAMA HEAT ›› EVENTS ›› ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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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

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22 STORIES

10 IN THE KITCHEN

RESTAURANT GUIDE

14 PET PLANET

4 TRAIN // ALAN SCULLEY

“We’ve been around too long. We’re old and we’re old school or they want to make room for the kids that are coming up,” he said in a recent phone interview.

“So for them to play Train, for a pop station to play Train, we have to have real serious heat.”

6 BEATING THE HEAT IN ALABAMA // DR. RACHEL STEINER “Body temperature can rise to dangerous levels if precautions are not taken. Heat illnesses range from heat rash, heat cramps to heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, which can be fatal. Immediate medical attention is needed when one suffers from one of these conditions. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to keep healthy and prevent heat related illnesses during the dog days of summer.”

7 ERYKAH BADU // REGGIE ALLEN

“The Grammy-nominated R&B songstress kicked-started her world tour at the historic Legion Field in Birmingham on May 6. The tour titled “Badu Vs Everythang” was announced less than a week before her arrival in Alabama.”

22 COMMUNITY ARTS // REGINALD ALLEN Film Series, Exhibits and more.

9 BEER/WINE REVIEWS

15 MOVIE REVIEWS 16 EVENTS 19 DECEMEBER ART NIGHT 20 PUZZLEMANIA / EDITORIAL CARTOON 21 HOROSCOPE

HIGH TIDE SPORTS 23

SABAN WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE GARY HARRIS

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

TRAIN // PLAY THAT SONG TOUR

P

at Monahan knows pop music remains a young person’s game. As the frontman of Train for 20 years-plus, he faces that reality with every new album as he lobbies pop radio to play his group’s latest single.

While he says a few core stations seem ready and willing to play Train, many more now question whether the group, despite huge hits like “Hey, Soul Sister,” “Drive By,” “Meet Virginia” and “Drops Of Jupiter” can deliver on pop radio. Monahan has heard the reasoning.

“We’ve been around too long. We’re old and we’re old school or they want to make room for the kids that are coming up,” he said in a recent phone interview. “So for them to play Train, for a pop station to play Train, we have to have real serious heat.”

Despite the challenges, Monahan isn’t giving up on the notion that Train can remain a relevant pop radio band for years to come.

“I don’t want to be a heritage band yet. I don’t want to make the Train record for the Train fans – not yet. I want to make a Train album for the world,” Monahan said in a recent phone interview.

Monahan, who with the recent departure of guitarist Jimmy Stafford is now the lone original member of Train, has so far been unable to notch another chart-topping hit since 2012’s “Drive By.” “Play That Song,” the lead single from the group’s current album, “A Girl, A Bottle, A Boat,” showed some signs of life, going top 10 on “Billboard” magazine’s Adult Contemporary and Adult Top 40 charts, but stalled out at 41 on the all-important all-genre Hot 100 singles chart.

Still, Monahan feels he’s only one single away from getting back into favor with pop radio – and “Play That Song” demonstrated that Train appealed to a young audience.

“I work for every bit of what we get (at radio),” Monahan said. “Like nothing is ever free with this band.

Like we have to go through hell to get anybody to play any of the music that we have. Then when it becomes a hit, they’ll play three other songs from the album, because then it works. They’re in the business to

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sell advertising. They want to make sure their listeners are responsive to it, and they sometimes feel like Train will not appeal to young kids.

However, for weeks (with “Play That Song”) we were the most requested song on Disney Radio, with 25,000 requests a week.”

It makes sense that Monahan keeps an eye on radio and pop music trends. (“I pay close attention to all of it and I try to be a fan of it,” Monahan said. “I want to learn from it and maybe even use some of what I’m hearing.”)

Hit singles have played a major role in building Train’s audience. The first big hit was “Meet Virginia,” from the band’s 1998 self-titled debut album.

It put Train on the mainstream pop map, but it had many predicting the group would be a one-hit wonder.

Instead, Train answered those doubters with another top 5 hit in “Drops of Jupiter,” the title song from the group’s 2001 sophomore album.

Then the 2003 album “My Private Nation,” gave Train another multiformat hit single with “Calling All Angels.”

But as Train established itself as a hit-making act, tensions within the band had been growing. Before making the fourth album, “For Me, It’s You,” the group split with bassist Charlie Colin and guitarist Rob Hotchkiss, leaving Monahan, drummer Scott Underwood and Stafford as the core band members.

“For Me, It’s You” failed to register at radio and Train then went on hiatus while Monahan made his 2007 solo album, “Last Of Seven.”

That project found Monahan collaborating for the first time with outside songwriters, and he continued to use that approach when Train reconvened to make the careerreviving 2009 album, “Save Me, San Francisco,” which featured the six-times platinum single, “Hey, Soul Sister” and two gold-certified singles, “If It’s Love” and “Marry Me.” The band then solidified those successes with the top 10 hit “Drive By” from the next album, 2012’s “California 37.”

But Train hit another bit of a bump in the road after that. Prior to the recording of the next album, “Bulletproof Picasso,” Underwood left the group. And although Monahan teamed up again with several of

the same songwriting/producing collaborators from the previous two albums -- including Butch Walker and Espen Lind and Amund Bjorklund (known as the writing team Espionage) – “Bulletproof Picasso” failed to extend the string of major hit singles.

Following that album, Monahan and Train took a couple of musical side trips, releasing the holiday album “Christmas in Tahoe” in 2015 and a remarkably faithful re-make of Led Zeppelin’s second album on the 2016 release, “Train Does Led Zeppelin II.” In going into “A Girl, A Bottle, A Boat,” Monahan brought in several new songwriting/production collaborators, with William Wiik Larsen, Jake Sinclair and the team of Neff U and Priscilla Renea playing major roles. Staying current for radio was a consideration in this move, but Monahan wanted to change things up for another reason.

“I think it’s important to not overstay your welcome. And people get very comfortable, including me, and I don’t think that’s always good,” he said. “So on this album, I asked my manager, ‘Would you please put me in a room with people that I’ve never met.’ And I find that the younger the better because they haven’t been (tainted) by what I know. There’s already one of us in the room. We don’t need two. So getting around 30-year-olds and even younger than that, it was just the vibe was incredible.

“I’m not trying to be a kid,” Monahan explained. “I’m trying to be who I am,

but work with people who can help me get the version of who I am so that it makes sense today.”

There is a distinctly youthful, upbeat and modern/synthetic feel to “A Girl, A Bottle, A Boat.” “Drink Up” has the kind of shout-along chorus and dancey vibe that’s common in today’s pop music. “Lottery” takes a similar approach, only with an island vibe. There’s also a celebratory vibe to the family-and-friends-themed “Lost and Found.” On “The News,” “What Good Is Saturday” and “Silver Dollar,” Sinclair brings his talents for incorporating into the songs the kind of offbeat, but highly hooky, instrumental nuggets that are popular these days into the production.

But for all that’s modern about “A Girl, A Bottle, A Boat,” there are also a couple of distinctly retro moments.

The song “Valentine” has a 1950s-ish doo-wop influence. And more notably, on “Play That Song,” Monahan uses the melody from the 1938 Hoagy Carmichael standard “Heart and Soul” to anchor the poppy tune.

Train’s show this summer will play off of those retro elements with its visual production.

“It’s called the ‘Play That Song’ tour,” Monahan said. “Basically, it will be similar to like a jukebox kind of stage, and then we’ll play songs throughout the (Train) eras that represent kind of our music, but mostly the new music from this album because I feel like this album is in a lot of ways a throwback as far as what we tried to do…So we want to capitalize on the fact that we did that.”

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NEWS LEADERSHIP TUSCALOOSA GRADUATES 2016-17 CLASS

The Leadership Tuscaloosa Class of 2017 held a graduating ceremony Wednesday evening, closing nine months of leadership training. The ceremony featured keynote speaker Chancellor Ray Hayes of the University of Alabama System.

The program also featured remarks by Cooper Shattuck, Chair of this year’s Leadership Tuscaloosa class and a graduate of the Leadership Tuscaloosa program.

The Invocation was given by Dean McClure, President and CEO of TTL, Inc. and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.

Graduates of the Class of 2017: Antoine Bell, Manager of Business Development and College Relations, The University of Alabama College of Continuing Studies; John Bowers, Field Sales Leader, Allstate Insurance Company; Wade Cornelius, Associate Attorney, J. Marland Hayes, LLC; Ryan Costanzo, Environmental Scientist, TTL, Inc.; Jeff Craft, Director of Finance and Controller, DCH Health System; Tammy Donaldson, Financial Representative, Peachtree Planning of Alabama, LLC; Whitney DuBose, Revenue Officer, The City of Northport; Jack Duncan, Manager, Auto Assembly Plant, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International; Amy Echols, Executive Director, Kentuck Art Center; Traci Ferguson, English Educational Specialist, UA-ACCESS; Josh Fryer, Human Resources Safety Manager, McAbee Construction, Inc.; Bob Gambrell, Manager, Engineering Series Planning, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International; Meredith Gardino, Vice President, Capstone Bank; Harris Hagood, Attorney, Campbell Guin, LLC; Michael Hunter, Executive Director, Good Samaritan Clinic; Will Johnson, Account Manager, Knight Sign Industries; Betty Jones, Tuscaloosa’s One Place, Finance Director; Jay Kasten, Director of Sports, Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports; Beau Laird, Digital Sales Manager, The Tuscaloosa News; Julie Mann, Director of Communications, United Way of West Alabama; Amy Materson, Director of Communications and Marketing; Jordan Morris, Associate Principal, Ward Scott Architecture; Cathy Pagani, Associate Dean of Graduate School and Assistant to the Provost, The University of Alabama; Rodney Pelt, CEO & Founder, Mind Changers, Inc.; Sam Phillips, Assistant Vice President, Regions Bank; Garrett Powe, Loan Officer, Cadence Bank; Antwon Prince-Sealy, Senior Housing Counselor, Community Service Programs of West Alabama; Kathy Rainey, Nurse Manager, DCH Regional Medical Center; Brandon Rowland, I.S. Manager, BFGoodrich/Michelin; Diana Russell, Tax and Cash Manager, The Westervelt Company; Jack Ryan, Sales Associate, RE/MAX Premiere Group; Emilee Scheeff, Associate Attorney, Rosen Harwood, PA; Chris Sentell, Vice President, Sentell Engineering; Annette Smallwood, Marketing and Community Relations, Chick-fil-A of Northport; Steve Steele, Tuscaloosa President, BBVA Compass; Scott Stephens, Director of Planning and Inspections, The City of Northport; Frank Summers, Vice President, Walker Associates, Inc.; Rachel Taylor, Tax Manager, JamisonMoneyFarmer PC; Will Vandervoort, Associate Dentist, Riverview Dental Designs; John Powell Webb, Interim City Engineer, The City of Northport; Krystle White-Hope, Licensed Counselor, Family Counseling Service; Craig Williams, Owner, Avenue Pub.

LOCAL BUSINESSMAN JORDAN PLASTER WAS HONORED FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES OF SERVICE TO THE WEST ALABAMA COMMUNITY FRIDAY, AS HE WAS NAMED TUSCALOOSA COUNTY CITIZEN OF THE YEAR.

In a lunchtime event at Indian Hills Country Club, Plaster was named the 84th recipient of the award by the Tuscaloosa Civitan Club.

A Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager currently with Ameriprise Financial and formerly of Merrill Lynch, Plaster was recognized in 2017 by Barron’s Magazine as one of the top 12 financial advisors in the state of Alabama. He has been involved in numerous charitable and civic activities, and is perhaps best known for his role in the Tuscaloosa Rotary Honor Flight, which was set up to take World War II and Korean War Veterans to Washington, D.C. free of charge, to tour the monuments constructed in their honor. This year, the Honor Flight began transporting Vietnam veterans, as well.

Plaster has served as the Chairman of The Capital Campaign for Easter Seals West Alabama. In 10 months, The Campaign has raised $1,008,675 of the $1,500,000 goal for the new Easter Seals operating facility.

In 2012, Plaster was named as a recipient of The David Brady Award by Merrill Lynch.

Named for David Brady who lost his life in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the award is among one of the highest honors bestowed by the firm and is given to individuals who provide exceptional service to their clients and communities.

Plaster mentioned the many individuals who had helped him along the way, saying he would accept the award on their behalf.

Jim Page (right), President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, presents Jordan Plaster with the Tuscaloosa County Citizen of the Year award.

ALABAMA ONE CREDIT UNION HOSTS BUSINESS AFTER HOURS FOR MAY

The Inaugural David Reynolds Spirit of Leadership Award was presented to Cathy Pagani by Robert Kuhn, President and CEO of Capstone Bank, and Jim Page, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.

Leadership Tuscaloosa is a nine-month personal leadership development program sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and the following sponsors: Presenting Sponsor, The University of Alabama System; Scholarship Sponsor, BFGoodrich Tuscaloosa Plant; Reception Sponsor, The University of Alabama College of Continuing Studies.

Laura Lee and Jenni Miesse enjoy socializing and networking at May’s Business After Hours, which was hosted by Alabama One Credit Union. The event featured entertainment by the band Low Rates, great food and a gift basket giveaway.

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BEATING THE HEAT IN ALABAMA

A WAR OF WORDS THE RHETORICAL LEADERSHIP OF JEFFERSON DAVIS R. Jarrod Atchison

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ummer is in full swing here in Tuscaloosa Alabama!

Temperatures during the day are already in the mid-eighties and will only continue to rise for the next couple months.

Although this means lots of fun and sun for many, this time of year can also be very dangerous as the temperatures easily reach triple digits at times. Every year, thousands of become sick from exposure to heat, and in serious cases can lead to death. In a recent five-year study in the United States, there were 2,239 reported deaths due to heat illnesses. Our bodies have the amazing ability to cool itself through sweating however, during hot weather especially with high humidity, sweating isn't enough. Body temperature can rise to dangerous levels if precautions are not taken. Heat illnesses range from heat rash, heat cramps to heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, which can be fatal. Immediate medical attention is needed when one suffers from one of these conditions.

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to keep healthy and prevent heat related illnesses during the dog days of summer.

Get outdoor work done early in the day or in the evening Between 10 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon are when the suns rays are most direct and powerful. If you have to do work outside around the house such as gardening or mowing the lawn, try to do these things at dawn or as the sun starts to set to avoid the direct sun and dangerous temperatures.

Wear Sunscreen Apply a sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or higher whenever you're outdoors.

For children, it is recommended to use an SPF of 30 or higher. To achieve adequate UV protection you should use products that say broad-spectrum on them, which means protection against both UVB and UVA rays. When buying sunscreen look for products that contain ingredients such as avobenzone or zinc oxide, as they are the most effective in preventing rays from penetrating the skin. Remember that sunscreen doesn’t last all day! It should be reapplied every two hours, unless you are swimming or even sweating, in that case you should reapply every hour. The bottle will say how long the sunscreen is affective for and the frequency to reapply.

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War of Words analyzes Jefferson Davis’s public discourse, arguing that throughout his time as president of the Confederacy, Davis settled for short-term rhetorical successes at the expense of creating more substantive and meaningful messages for himself and his constituents.

Keep Hydrated In the summer months, when temperatures and humidity are higher than we’re used to, it is easy to become dehydrated. An easy rule to follow is to take your weight in pounds and that is how many ounces of water you should drink daily. For example, if you weigh 100 pounds, you should drink 100 ounces of water per day. However, if lots of time is spent outside in the sun and you are sweating, you should be drinking more. Add an extra 12 ounces of liquid for every 30 minutes of physical activity you do. When you sweat, your body not only releases fluid and toxins from your body, but electrolytes as well. Electrolytes regulate our nerve and muscle function, our body's hydration, blood pH, blood pressure, and the rebuilding of damaged tissue. Various mechanisms exist in our body to keep the concentrations of different electrolytes under strict control. An easy way to prevent electrolyte imbalances is to drink sports drinks such as Gatorade or PowerAde or consume foods high in electrolytes such as bananas, spinach, and avocados. Remember if you are thirsty, that is an early warning signal from your body that you are already dehydrated.

Shade yourself whenever possible Be aware the amount of sun you are exposing yourself to; use an umbrella or find a covered area such as an awning or tree to minimize direct rays.

Consider wearing a hat to protect your head and face and wear clothing that covers the skin but is lightweight and allows the skin to breath. They even have clothing now that have built in sunscreen and are lightweight to help keep you cool.

Keep in mind these suggestions to follow when enjoying the sun and all the activities that go along with it. Cheers to a happy and healthy Alabama summer!

Numerous biographies of Jefferson Davis have been penned; however, until now, there had been no substantive analysis of his public discourse as president of the Confederacy. R. Jarrod Atchison’s A War of Words uses concepts from rhetorical theory and public address to help answer a question that has intrigued scholars from a variety of disciplines since the collapse of the Confederacy: what role, if any, did Davis play in the collapse of Confederate nationalism?

Most discussions of Davis and nationalism focus on the military outcomes of his controversial wartime decisions. A War of Words focuses less on military outcomes and argues instead that, in the context of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis’s rhetorical leadership should have been responsible for articulating a vision for the nation—including the core tenets of its identity, the values the nation should hold dear, the principles it should never compromise, and the goals it should set for its future. Undoubtedly, Davis possessed the skills necessary to make a persuasive public argument. It is precisely because Davis’s oratory skills were so powerful that there is room to judge how he used them. In short, being a great orator is not synonymous with successful rhetorical leadership.

Atchison posits that Davis’s initial successes constrained his rhetorical options later in the war. A War of Words concludes that, in the end, Davis’s rhetorical leadership was a failure because he was unable to articulate a coherent Confederate identity in light of the sacrifices endured by the populace in order to sustain the war effort.

“A War of Words explores an understudied aspect of Jefferson Davis’s leadership, his ability (or lack thereof) to inspire and mobilize audiences through his crafting of rhetorical appeals. This book should be valuable to students of the history of American public discourse, scholars of the Civil War era, advanced rhetorical critics, and those interested in Southern rhetoric and public address.”

—David Zarefsky, author of Lincoln, Douglas, and Slavery: In the Crucible of Public Debate “Atchison does an excellent job of delving into how and why Davis’s speeches often failed to achieve their goals—and why Davis’s rhetorical aims were often off the mark and unsuccessful. Many of the author’s insights and evaluation of Davis’s rhetoric will help students of the Civil War era understand more about the context and history of the time, and, indeed, more about Davis himself.”

—W. Stuart Towns, author of Enduring Legacy: Rhetoric and Ritual of the Lost Cause

R. Jarrod Atchison is an associate professor of communications at Wake Forest University.

The University of Alabama Press is a proud member of the Association of American University Presses. The Press currently publishes 70-75 new titles a year and has over 1,800 titles in print. It is a founding member of the University Press Content Consortium and is at the cutting edge of digital publishing. The Press is the publishing arm of the University of Alabama.

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Photos Courtesy of Reggie Allen

ERYKAH BADU STARTS WORLD TOUR IN ALABAMA STORY

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he Grammy-nominated R&B songstress kicked-started her world tour at the historic Legion Field in Birmingham on May 6. The tour titled “Badu Vs Everythang” was announced less than a week before her arrival in Alabama.

While most of her stops are composed of festival appearances, this marks Badu’s first tour in almost a decade. Her last official tour was in 2010, which was in support of the release of New Amerykah Part Two ( Return of The Ankh.)

Earlier this month, Badu was the headlining artist at the Birmingham stop of Funkfest, a traveling music festival that boasts appearances from top-tier R&B and Rap acts. The weekend featured performances from Juvenile, Goodie Mob, Joe and Babyface.

Beginning a little after 10, Badu slowly sauntered on stage. With every step she took , the audience erupted in unrelenting applause. Her face stern and emotionless, the artist took a brief pause with every step.

With every catcall, it seemed that Badu’s statue-like visage would succumb to laughter.

Making it to the center stage, she launched into “Jam”, “ 20 feet tall” and the heartful “Out of my mind, just in time.”

Taking a moment to talk with the audience, she spoke about her two-decade long career, including debut album “ Baduizm.” This year actually marked the freshman record’s twentieth anniversary.

“I’m an artist, so you know I'm sensitive about my (expletive),” Badu said in between songs.

Before diving into notable duet “ Hello”, the artist tempered that she would be joined by former partner Andre 3000, but quickly shot the fans’ hopes down.

All was forgiven when the 46-year-old played a bevy of her classics, including “Danger”, “Next Lifetime” and “Ye Yo.” Badu closed the night with heavy hitters “Bag Lady( Let her go)” and the sultry diss “ Tyrone.”

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>>> R E S TAU R A N T R E V I E W | C H R I S T U L L E Y

Photos Courtesy of Chris Tulley

CENTRAL MESA // DOWNTOWN DINING Central Mesa To Offer Wholly New Downtown Dining

come up with a concrete number.

Downtown Tuscaloosa has a variety of hangouts, high-class restaurants and holes in walls, but thanks to local restaurant manager Craig Williams, it is finally gaining authentic Mexican food.

When asked about what kind of atmosphere Central will have, Williams said that he hopes that the business workers of downtown and the local nightlife will be interested in dining in. Most of the menu prices are similar to that of The Avenue Pub, with several items being slightly costlier.

“This is not a place to get a fried chimichanga, Tuscaloosa already has that,” according to Williams. The process of opening a new restaurant in what used to be the space Epiphany used has not been easy for the Avenue Pub team. The operation had to go through the paperwork side of getting licensure as early as December of last year, and construction and renovations have been taking up the time since then. Williams said that Epiphany did leave the building in great conditions, but his team has had very different visions for the restaurant. There is more room for tables and accommodating parties than in the Avenue Pub, and they are trying to make the most of it.

There is roughly 3200 square feet, compared to the 2400 square feet at Avenue. Williams said that he cannot wait to be able to focus on what he really loves, being in a kitchen and getting to know his customers.

Williams, a long-time Tuscaloosa resident and University of Alabama alum, is turning his business experience and personal tastes into Central Mesa. Central Mesa will be located at 519 Greensboro Ave. While this plan has been in the works for many months, Williams will be the last person to take responsibility for its upcoming birth.

Williams, co-owner of the Avenue Pub, went out of his way to make it abundantly clear that his staff, business partner Brandon Tribble, and the welcoming environment that the downtown community offers has pushed him to open Central Mesa. Central, as Williams hopes the restaurant will be referred to as, is bringing fresh, made with care Mexican food to its tables. These fire-roasted vegetables and braised meats will not be the “norm,” Williams stated. There is nothing else in town like it as of now. There are so many types of tequilas available, Williams could not

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Williams credits his “family” of staff as the reason he can open and manage another downtown gem. Williams said time and time again that if he did not have the support of his 40 employees, as well as construction help from Morgan Poe, Ty Tomlinson and Blake Horton, that he would not have attempted this venture.

The Avenue Pub recently won Munch Madness, a 64-spot local radio competition where listeners could vote for their favorite Tuscaloosa bite. Williams made it clear that he aims to make sure Avenue Pub will not miss a beat and that Central Mesa will not take away from the quality it offers.

Central Mesa will be opening as soon as possible, in as little as two to three weeks, and Williams and his family hopes that the community will come to love and appreciate it as they do the Avenue Pub.

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MILL CREEK BREWING COMPANY// WOODSHED INDIA PALE ALE W

ith warm weather fast approaching, my unquenchable desire for easy drinking beers grows even stronger. I’m not one to shy away from a provided macro lager at a party, but sometimes I want something with flavor and more in my wheelhouse. If you’re not familiar with the term session beer, it relates to a brew that’s easy drinking and well, one you could drink multiples of in a drinking session.

You’ll see several styles flaunt the session tag, but the ones I’m usually interested in are the session india pale ales. While everyone is stuck on this New England IPA craze at the moment, and don’t get me wrong because they are damn delicious, I think the real ability and the real talent comes with brewing a low alcohol beer with maximum flavor and basically something I can drink and drink and drink and drink. A brewery that has just begun distribution in Alabama, Mill Creek Brewing Company from Nolensville, TN., has the perfect execution of said beer. Sometimes you’ll get those session IPAs and they’re still pretty heavy and just tongue scorchers that wreck your tongue after a couple, but Mill Creek’s IPA is the perfect balance between malt, hops, and drinkability. Here are my thoughts: As always, I’d like to bring attention to the can the beer is in. If you’re a long time reader, first of all thank you, you know that I’m a design junkie and a fan of overall clean design work.

Mill Creek’s cans are some of the cleanest I’ve seen lately and I just can’t get enough of that white can with a little pop of color, because it’s truly exquisite.

I drank this beer from the can, because hell, I wanted to, but the color is a burnt orange, almost like that bright orange rust you see on things at the flea market. From other pictures I’ve seen, when poured into a glass, the beer has about a finger to a finger and a half width of white head that doesn’t really leave much lacing due to the stunningly low alcohol level.

The first thing you get from this beer is an incredible citrus and piney aroma that draws you in. Something that a lot of session IPAs miss is that essential aroma and it basically goes down hill from there. Luckily, this one is

RAVAGE CABERNET // SAUVIGNON

right on the money and I know this is an IPA from the jump.

When you first taste the beer, you really get a sense of how light the beer actually is. Like other, heavier IPAs, you get a sense of how thick the beer is and you can taste some of the alcohol up front. On the flip side, this beer starts out thin and then allows the flavors to build and build into something that’s a full-bodied IPA that at the same time is light on the tongue and your stomach. Up front is a ton of citrus flavors with a little bit of that nice, danky pine flavor that is quintessential of those classic Northwest India Pale Ales.

The flavor then mellows into a bit more of that citrus flavor that was all over the place in the nose. The beer finishes with a nice hoppy bitterness that reminds you that you are in fact drinking an IPA and as you finish each sip, that same danky, citrus flavor sticks to your tongue and draws you back in.

The mouthfeel is a highlight of this beer for me, because this is really where a session beer passes or fails, and luckily, this one passes with flying colors. Soft and delicate on the tongue, this beer is light and refreshing without losing any of the essential components. The carbonation is light to medium and lends itself to drinking, and with the ABV at 4.5, according to Bo Hicks, the slamability index is very, very high.

All in all, this is a solid beer that I have no problem standing behind and promoting. The only negative I have for this beer is that at the beginning of each sip there is that thinness that is a little too thin for me and seems a little watery. I say that, only to say it recovers brilliantly and makes that watery note last for maybe half of a second, so it’s probably just me trying to find a negative to say on it. Even though this beer doesn’t distinctly utilize the session IPA nametag, to me, this beer is right at the top of that category. Like I said earlier, I have no problems promoting or standing behind this beer. The flavors they’re able to pack into such a small build is nothing short of incredible. I will definitely be purchasing another six-pack and then another and then another. Cheers!

Ravage Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Review From the bottle: Ravage Cabernet is a dark, rich, full-bodied wine featuring layers of dark berry, luscious vanilla and hints of mocha. Sample of Ravage Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 received for review purposes. For more, check out the Ravage Wines website.

Appearance As I was expecting, Ravage’s appearance was very dark. Like, squid-ink dark in the glass. There was a dark purple meniscus and pretty much zero light was able to shine through the glass. Tipping and swirling the wine in the glass resulted in a purple coating that clung to the glass quite nicely. Legs were wide, thick and numerous. Also, super slow to fall.

Aroma The aforementioned tipping and swirling released a burst of aroma that lasted for quite some time. I had also noticed the aroma immediately when I opened t he wine.

From a foot or so away from the glass I noted bold dark fruit aromas. Up close, the aroma was similar but of course stronger.

Added were slight wafts of mocha.

Pungent and thoroughly enjoyable if you like a bold red wine.

A deep whiff revealed a bit of alcohol burn in the nose. Ravage Cabernet Sauvignon alcohol content 13.5% by volume, per the bottle.

In terms of flavors, I picked up more dark fruits, some vanilla from the French oak, and cranberry which I had to think about before realizing what it was. All in all, quite enjoyable.

Mouthfeel and Tannins I was expecting I’d be saying the mouthfeel was creamy, but in fact I chose to go with milky instead. It just wasn’t as heavy as I thought it would be. And that was OK by me.

Tannins were velvety and evenly distributed on the palate. As the tasting notes stated, “soft enough to add balance, while giving structure and depth.”

Yep. Correct.

Finish Ravage Cabernet is long finishing as one would expect. It’s dominated more so by the flavors than the tannins.

Overall Opinion Overall, I went in skeptical, but after tasting it I really liked it. What pleased me most was the balanced boldness of this wine and the fact that it wasn’t as “in your face” as I was expecting.

I also liked the subtle cranberry flavor. It’s muted, but it’s in there, and I enjoy hunting for surprises when it comes to wine flavors. Ravage Cabernet Sauvignon price $11.99 making it a great Under $20 choice.

Recommend!

Taste

Suggested Pairing

The wine’s taste was less dark than I was expecting. A bit of a fruit bomb, but I was expecting the nuclear option (so to speak) in terms of fruit. I was pleased that didn’t occur.

Pair this wine with char-grilled meats and slightly sweet BBQ. (I stole that from the tasting notes, but I agree)

I could immediately tell it wasn’t straight Cabernet Sauvignon.

Looking at the tasting notes confirmed the blend was 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 10% Zinfandel, 3% Syrah and 1% other reds.

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Perfect for a guys night at the barbeque. (OK I stole that too!)

Honestly, you could just sip this around the fire pit too. That would be just fine. Which reminds me, I have one of those in storage under the deck… time to get it out!

MAY 17 + MAY 31

9

>>> I N T H E K I T C H E N | R AC H E L PA X T O N

FAVORITE CREAM PIE RECIPES The holidays are just around the corner and you are probably planning what kinds of pies to make this year. If your family is tired of fruit pies or if you just want to try something new, try making a cream pie! These pie recipes are very easy to prepare and are sure to be family favorites during the holidays or any time of year.

Velvet Smooth Chocolate Cream Pie

>>> RESTAURANTS | 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.

Cook Out 100 15th St E, Tuscaloosa Fast-food chain known for its drive-thru BBQ, burgers & more than 40 milkshake flavors.

Thur-Fri 11:00am-4:00am Sat-Wed 11:00am-3:00am www.cookout.com

3/4 c. granulated sugar 1/2 c. all-purpose flour 1/4 tsp. salt 2 eggs 2 c. milk 1 tbsp. butter 1 tsp. vanilla 1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate pieces 1 baked and cooled 9 inch pie shell

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

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 4800 Doris Pate Dr | Exit 76 // 562.8282 www.crackerbarrel.com

Cooking Instructions: In a heavy saucepan, mix sugar, flour, and salt. Add eggs and milk. Beat with whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until smooth and thickened. Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla. Add chocolate pieces and stir until completely melted. Pour into baked shell. Chill. Spread with whipped cream; garnish with shaved chocolate. Keep refrigerated.

Holler & Dash 1130 University Blvd A-1, Tuscaloosa//752-3310 Sun-Thur 7am–2pm Fri-Sat 7am–9pm Sun 7am-2pm www.holleranddash.com International House of Pancakes 724 Skyland Blvd // 366.1130 Jack's 1200 Hackberry Lane | Tuscaloosa // 345.1199

Banana Cream Pie

Mr. Bill's Family Restaurant 2715 McFarland Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 333.9312

3 bananas 2 c. milk 2 (3 1/2 oz. each) pkg. instant vanilla pudding 1 (16 oz.) carton sour cream 1 baked and cooled 9 inch pie shell

Panera Bread 1800 McFarland Blvd *402 | Tuscaloosa // 366.8780

Cooking Instructions: Line bottom of baked pie shell with 3 sliced bananas. In a large bowl beat together milk, pudding, and sour cream. Pour pudding mixture over bananas and refrigerate 2 hours before serving. Pie will set quickly. Top with whipped cream. Keep refrigerated.

Sour Cream Lemon Pie

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. Mon-Sat 9am–9pm Sun- 10am-3pm Tropical Smoothie Cafe 1800 McFarland Blvd E, | Tuscaloosa// 331-4070 Casual, health-conscious cafe featuring custom smoothies, sandwiches & wraps.

Mon-Thur 6:30am–9:30pm Fri-7am-9pm Sun-10:30-8pm

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

MEXICAN

Cooking Instructions: Combine sugar, cornstarch, lemon rind, lemon juice, egg yolks, and milk in heavy saucepan.

Cook over medium heat until mixture thickens.

Stir in butter and cool to room temperature. Stir in sour cream and pour into baked pie shell. Top with whipped cream. Keep refrigerated.

Don Tono's 2312 4th Street | Temerson Square // 345.9191 El Mariachi 3520 McFarland Blvd E |Tuscaloosa // 409-8585 El Rincon (2 locations) 1225 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 366.0855 1726 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 330.1274

LaGran Fiesta 9770 Hwy 69 S // 345.8871 La Fiesta Mexican Grill 6521 AL-69, Tuscaloosa// 345-8580 Mon-Thur 11am-10pm Fri-Sat 11am-10:30pm Sun 11am-9pm

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of five. For more recipes, gardening, organizing tips, home decorating, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.

FINE DINING

301 Bistro (Was L&N Train Station) 301 Greensboro Ave, Tuscaloosa //764-1395 Casual Dining, Full Bar and Beer Garden Mon-Sat 4–11PM Sun 11am-9pm | www.301bistro.com 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. 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.

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/ The Side by Side Restaurant 2410 University Blvd. | Embassy Suites | 561-2500 thesidebysiderestaurant.com River 1650 Jack Warner Pkwy NE, Tuscaloosa//632-3801 Tue,Wed,Thur-11am–2pm, 5:30–9PM Fri-11am–2pm, 5–10pm Sat-10am–1pm, 5–10 Sun-10am–1pm Closed Monday www.rivertuscaloosa.com

JAPANESE

Bento Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar 1306 University Blvd // 758.7426 Hokkaido Japanese Restaurant 607 15th Street Open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

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.

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

In a heavy saucepan combine sugar, cornstarch and salt. Gradually stir in milk. Cook slowly, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil 1 minute. Remove from heat. Place egg yolks in a bowl. Stir in 1/2 sugar mixture. Stir egg mixture in saucepan. Boil, stirring constantly, for 1 minute longer. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and butter. Add 3/4 cup coconut. Pour immediately into pie shell. Chill thoroughly. Top with whipped cream. Sprinkle remaining coconut on top. Keep refrigerated.

Taco Mama Tuscaloosa 2104 University Blvd A, Tuscaloosa Mon-Wed 11am–9pm Thur-Sat 11am–10pm Sun 11am–9pm www.tacomamaonline.com

Chuy's 1320 McFarland Blvd E, Tuscaloosa// 349-4947 Sun-Thur 11am-10pm Fri-Sat 11am-11pm | www.chuys.com

Iguana Grill 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 752.5895

Cooking Instructions:

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

Ichiban Japanese Grill & Sushi 502 15th Street // 752.8844

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop 2321 University Blvd, Tuscaloosa//409-8344 Mon-Thur 10am–10pm Fri-SAt 10am–12am Sun 10am-10pm | www.fuzzystacoshop.com

2/3 c. sugar 3 tbsp. cornstarch 1/2 tsp. salt 3 c. milk 3 beaten egg yolks 1 tbsp. butter 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 2 c. shredded coconut Whipped cream for (topping) 1 baked and cooled 9 inch pastry shell

Pastor's Kitchen 2910 5th St, Northport//553-2320 Mon-Fri 10:30am-2pm, 4:30–9pm Sat 10:30am-8pm Closed Sun

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

Fernando's Mexican Grill 824 McFarland Blvd E | Northport // 205.331.4587

Coconut Cream Pie

MAY 17 + MAY 31

Quick Grill 1208 University Blvd | The Strip | Tuscaloosa // 342.0022

T-Town Café 500 14th Street, Tuscaloosa | 759-5559 |www.ttowncafe.com Mon - Fri 6am - 3pm; Sat - Closed; Sun 10:30am - 3pm

1 c. sugar 3 1/2 tbsp. cornstarch 1 tbsp. lemon rind, grated 1/2 c. fresh lemon juice (3 lemons) 3 egg yolks, slightly beaten 1 c. milk 1/4 c. butter 1 c. sour cream 1 c. heavy whipping cream, whipped 1 baked and cooled 9 inch pastry shell

10

W H E R E TO E AT I N T U S C A LO O SA

Los Calientes Mexican Grill 3429 McFarland Blvd E // 553.1558 La Fiesta Mexican Grill 345-8580 6521 AL-69, Tuscaloosa Mon-Thur 11am-10pm Fri-Sat 11am-10:30pm Sun 11am-9pm Los Tarascos (2 locations) 110 Skyland Blvd E - Tuscaloosa//553-8896 NEW LOCATION 3380 McFarland Blvd - Northport//330-0919 www.lostarascos.com 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

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.

Pokirrito 68 (was Ezell's Southern Food Express) 220 15th St E, Tuscaloosa Sushi Bar

ITALIAN

Broadway Pizzeria 2880 Rice Mine Road Northeast Tuscaloosa, // 391.6969 DePalma’s Italian Cafe 2300 University Blvd, Downtown // 759.1879 Menu ranges from sanwiches to finer pasta dishes and pizza.

Varied beer and wine selection.

Hours: Mon–Thurs 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Fri & Sat 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. www.depalmascafe.com Little Italy 1130 University Blvd. | Tuscaloosa // 205.345.4343 Mellow Mushroom 2230 University Blvd // 758.0112 Pizzas, calzones, hoagies and more. Open daily for lunch and dinner. www.mellowmushroom.com Mr. G’s 908 McFarland Blvd N | Northport // 339-8505 Olive Garden 2100 McFarland Blvd E // 750-0321 Open daily from 11 a.m. | www.olivegarden.com

CASUAL DINING

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.

Big Daddy’s Cafe 514 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 759.9925 The Blue Plate Restaurant (Was Northport Diner) 450 McFarland Blvd, Northport // 462-3626 Buddy’s Ribs & Steaks

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

>>> RESTAURANTS |

W H E R E TO E AT I N T U S C A LO O SA

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 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 Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers//764-9097 315 15th St, Tuscaloosa Fri-Sat 10:30am–11:00pm Sun-Thur 10:30am–10:00pm www.freddysusa.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.

Heritage House 700 Towncenter | Northport // 758.0042 Open Mon-Fri 7 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

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

The Kitchen 2322 4th St, Tuscaloosa//331-4731 Tue-Fri 8am–3pm Sat-Sun 9am-9pm Closed Sunday Logan's Roadhouse 1511 Skyland Blvd E // 349.3554 Madear’s 1735 Culver Road // 343.7773 Mon–Fri 6 a.m. - 5 p.m. | 2nd & 3rd Sunday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Miss Dots 1715 University Blvd, Tuscaloos Mon-Sun 11am-9pm | www.lovemissdots.com Mugshots Grill & Bar 511 Greensboro Ave | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 391.0572 Great burgers & sandwiches. Unique setting, full service bar, veggie entrees, kid friendly, and open late www.mugshotsgrillandbar.com Newk’s Express Cafe 205 University Blvd. East // 758.2455 Fax: 758.2470 // www.newkscafe.com 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.

Nothing But Noodles 1320 McFarland Blvd E #530// 349-2900//www.nothingbutnoodles.com Pastas, Salads, Soups, Desserts Fri-Sat 10:30am–10:30pm Sun-Thur 10:30am-9:30pm 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 Quick Grill 1208 University Blvd | The Strip // 342.0022 www.bamaquickgrill.com Ruby Tuesday (2 locations) 6421 Interstate Drive | Cottondale // 633.3939 Just off I-20/59 at exit 77. Near Hampton Inn and Microtel Inn 311 Merchants Walk | Northport // 345.4540 www.rubytuesdays.com 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 Southland Restaurant 5388 Skyland Blvd E // 556.3070 Steaks, chops and home-cooked vegetables | Mon–Fri 10:45 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sweet Home Food Bar www.sweethomefoodbaral.com//764-9346 Mon-Sat 9am–9pm Sun- 10am-3pm Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe 1800 McFarland Blvd E, Tuscaloosa// 344-6444 Mon-Sat 11am-9pm Sun 11am-8pm Urban Cookhouse 1490 Northbank Parkway #110, Tuscaloosa// 561-6999 We use the freshest ingredients available with an emphasis on supporting the local farmer Mon-Sun 10am–9pm//www.urbancookhouse.com Zoe’s Kitchen 312 Merchants Walk // 344.4450 A wonderful selection of Greek foods

SPORTS GRILL

Baumhower's Wings of Tuscaloosa 500 Harper Lee Drive | catering-Pick-up Tuscaloosa // 556.5858 | Always fresh and always fun. Owned by former UA/ Miami Dolphins great Bob Baumhower. Kid Friendly Baumhower's 556-5658 (second location) 4251 Courtney Dr, Tuscaloosa Buffalo Phil’s 1149 University Blvd | The Strip // 758.3318 Sports grille with TVs galore. Diverse beer and wine selection, full bar BurgerFi 1320 McFarland Blvd E #510, Tuscaloosa//759-2510

Stylish, eco-minded chain serving grass-fed beef burgers, plus hot dogs, craft beer & wine. Fri-Sat 10:30am-10:00pm Sun-Thur 10:30am-11:00pm order.burgerfi.com/menu/tuscaloosa 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 Moe's BBQ 101 15th Street | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 752.3616 Mon-Sat 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Bar open until 2 a.m., 3 a.m. on Fridays Mugshots Grill & Bar 511 Greensboro Ave // 391.0572 Great burgers. Full service bar. Open late. www.mugshotsgrillandbar.com Walton's 915 Patriot Pkwy, Tuscaloosa//752-1693 Wings and much more Mon-Sat 9am-10pm Closed Sun waltonstuscaloosa.com Wilhagan’s 2209 4th St | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 366.0913 Wings U 1800 McFarland Blvd East Suite 218 | Pick-up Tuscaloosa // 561.3984 Features the first coal-fired pizza oven in Alabama. Owned by former UA/Miami Dolphins great Bob Baumhower. Completely open concept! www.wingsu.com WingZone 1241 McFarland Blvd E | Tuscaloosa // 342.2473

BARBEQUE

Archibald & Woodrow's BBQ 4215 Greensboro Ave | Tuscaloosa // 331.4858 Mon-Sat 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Sun lunch Bama BBQ & Grill 3380 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 333.9816 Dat's Good 4300 AL-13, Northport//333-466 Secializes in Catfish, Hot Wings,and BBQ Tue-Sat 10am-9pm Closed Sun & Mon | www.facebook.com/DatsGoodBBQ 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.

Full Moon BBQ 1434 McFarland Blvd E, Tuscaloosa// 366-3555 (sports Grill) Mon-Thur 10am–9pm Fri-Sat 10am–10pm Sun 11am-9pm Hick’s BBQ 4400 Fayette Hwy // 339.3678 // Tues–Sat 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q 469-2060 305 21st Ave, Tuscaloosa Sun-Thur 11am-9pm Fri-Sat 9am-10pm | www.facebook.com/JNNTuscaloosa Hoo's Q 345-6400 101 15th St E, Tuscaloosa Mon-Sun 10am-9pm | www.hoosbbq.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 Pottery Grill (2 locations) Highway 11 | Cottondale // 554.1815 3420 Alabama 69 | Northport // 333.5848 Menu: thepotterygrill.com Tee’s Ribs and Thangs 1702 10th Avenue // 366.9974 |11 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily

STEAKS

Logan’s Roadhouse 1511 Skyland Blvd | next to Sams // 349.3554 Steaks, ribs and spirits Longhorn Steakhouse 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 345-8244 #412 Nick's In the Sticks 4018 Culver Rd | Tuscaloosa // 758.9316 A long-time Tuscaloosa tradition. Good steaks at a reasonable price Try a Nicodemus if you have a designated driver.

Outback Steakhouse 5001 Oscar Baxter Dr // 759.9000 R. Davidson Chophouse 2330 4th St. /Downtown Tuscaloosa/ 2056148782 We specialize in traditional American steakhouse fare including filets, New York strips, ribeyes, porterhouses, and more.The wine list and cocktail menus are exceptional and rotate with the seasons. Reservations are available online at rdchophouse.com or by phone. Hours - Tues–Fri. Lunch – 11:00am – 2:00pm; Cock-

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MAY 17 + MAY 31

11

>>> RESTAURANTS |

W H E R E TO E AT I N T U S C A LO O S A (CO N T.)

tail Hour – 4:00pm; Dinner – 5:00pm - untill. Saturday: Lunch – 11:00am 4:00pm; Cocktail Hour – 4:00pm; Dinner – 5:00pm - until. Sunday Brunch: 10:00am - until Texas Roadhouse 1363 McFarland Blvd E, Tuscaloosa// 759-2596 Fri-Sat 11am–11pm Sun-11am-10pm Mon-Thur 3pm-10pm www.texasroadhouse.com

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

SEAFOOD

Pizza 120 50115th St. East | 561.6853

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)

Pyros Fire Fresh Pizza 1320 McFarland Blvd E #270, Tuscaloosa//248-7343 Mon-Fri 10:30am-10pm | www.pyrospizza.com Tut’s Place 1306 University Blvd | The Strip // 759.1004

DELICATESSEN

Honeybaked Ham Company 421 15th St. E // 345.5508 //www.honeybaked.com

Shrimp Basket 3249 McFarland Blvd E, Tuscaloosa//469-9786 Mon-Fri 10:30am–9pm | www.shrimpbasket.com

Jason’s Deli 2300 McFarland Blvd // 752.6192 www.jasonsdeli.com Located in the Meadowbrook Shopping Center

Catfish Heaven 2502 21st St, Tuscaloosa// 752-7222 Mon-Sat 11am-7:30pm Closed Sun

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

Steamers on The Strip 1301 University Blvd, Tuscaloosa//750-0203 Mon-Sat 11am-8pm Sun 11am-5pm | www.steamersonthestrip.net 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.

Chang’s Chinese Restaurant 1825 McFarland Blvd N // 391.9131 China Fun 2600 University Blvd | Alberta City // 553.2435 Chongwah Express 1425 McFarland Boulevard, Northport. 333-1088 Hot Wok Express 6571 Alabama 69, Tuscaloosa// 758-0148 | Mon-Sat 10:30am–8pm Lee Palace 6521 Highway 69 S // 391.9990 / Open daily 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Mr. Chen's Authentic Chinese Cooking & Oriental Market 514 14th St. | In the Oz Music shopping center // 343.6889 // Open Sun - Thu 11am - 9pm, Fri & Sat 11am - 9:30pm New China Fun 4213 University Blvd E, Tuscaloosa//553-2435 Mon-Thur 11am–9:30pm Fri-Sat 11am–10:30pm Sun 12–9:30PM Panda Express 636 15th St E// 343-6888 Fri-Sat 10:30am-10:00pm Sun-11:00am-9:00pm Mon-Thur 10:30am-9:30pm | www.pandaexpress.com Pearl Garden 2719 Lurleen Wallace Blvd | Northport // 339.0880 Peking Chinese Restaurant 1816 McFarland | Northport // 333.0361 Open 7 days a week. Super lunch and dinner buffet.

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

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

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 Chuck E. Cheese's Midtown Village, 500, Tuscaloosa St//979-3420 Mon-Thur 11am-9pm Fri-11am-10pm Sat-9am-10pm Firehouse Subs 1130 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 248.0680 Hungry Howie’s (2 locations) 1105 Southview Ln | South Tuscaloosa // 345.6000 1844 McFarland Blvd | Northport // 333.2633 1211 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa | The Strip // 366.1500 4851 Rice Mine Rd | Northriver/Holt // 345.3737 Lenny’s Sub Shop 220 15th St // 752.7450 // Fax: 752.7481 // www.lennys.com Little Caesars Pizza 1414 10th Ave // 366.2220 | www.littlecaesars.com (Second location) 5980 Old Greensboro Rd, Tuscaloosa// 331-8150 Little Italy 1130 University Blvd. // 345.4354 Marco’s Pizza 1021 McFarland Blvd, Northport// 330-4555 Mon-Thur 11am–10pm Fri-Sat 11am–11pm Sun 3–10PM | http://www.marcos.com Mellow Mushroom

MAY 17 + MAY 31

Subs n' You 2427 University Blvd. | Tuscaloosa // 205.758.0088

43 Prime Steakhouse 13620 Highway 43 N Northport// 331-5800 Monday-Thursday 4:30-9 Friday-Saturday 11-10 Closed Sunday

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.

12

2230 University Blvd | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 758.0112

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

ASIAN CUISINE

Ruan Thai 1407 University Blvd // 391.9973 | ruanthaituscaloosa.com Exotic Thai cuisine. Offers vegetarian options, outdoor dining, and a full bar. Sushi on Thursdays. Lunch: Mon–Sat 11 a.m. -2 p.m. | Dinner: Mon– Thurs 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Fri & Sat 5 p.m. -10pm | Sun 11 a.m. -3 p.m.

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

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

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 1403 University Blvd | Tuscaloosa // 462.3664 Sweet CeCe's Frozen yogurt Treats 2217 University Blvd. | Downtown Tuscaloosa // 561.6458 A fun and friendly make your own creation, yogurt experience!

TCBY (3 Locations) 2304 Mcfarland Blbd | Meadowbrook Shopping Center // 349.4661 // 2 Mcfarland Blvd | Northport | Essex Shopping Center // 758.6855 // 1130 Univ. Blvd. | The Strip // 345.0804 Yogurt In Love Patriot Center 7402 Highway 69 South//764.9173 Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Friday & Saturday 11 a.m.-10 pm.

Yogurt Lab 920 Paul W. Bryant Dr Ste 200 | Tuscaloosa // 347.9522 Yogurt Mountain 1800 McFarland Blvd E | Midtown Village // 342.1484 Mon–Thurs 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. | Fri & Sat 11 a.m. - midnight

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

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MAY 17 + MAY 31

13

>>> PET PLANET

DYLAN // BOB TAILED KITTEN

CHEWY // CHIWEENIE!

D

T

ylan is such a cute little kitten! He is solid black, except for his back toes, and they're white. Dylan is at the shelter with his three siblings: Anastasia, Christian and Elliott. And guess what?

They are all bob-tailed!

his little baby is Chewy, aka Chewbacca, an 8-month-old (as of May 2017) female Chihuahua/Dachshund mix. She has a light tan, smooth coat, the ears like a Chihuahua, and the longer body like a Dachshund, thus a ChiWeenie! Chewy is small, weighing only 13 pounds, and will only get to about 15 pounds when full grown.

Dylan is current on vaccinations, is litter box trained, and will be neutered when old enough. We hope you will bring this baby into your heart and home!

Chewy was an owner-surrender that has been bounced around a lot already in her short little life. She is very loving, friendly and sweet. She has some Chihuahua spunk and shakes, but she is most affectionate and playful as well. Chewy is a young puppy who will need training and structure to help her develop into a well-mannered adult dog. She has puppy energy, so she needs exercise and play time to get that energy used up. She MUST be an inside dog and cannot be left alone outside on her own. She would be fine in an apartment, but she is a bit of a talker. We hope this settles down once she is more comfortable with her forever home.

Chewy must be on a leash if outside without a fenced-in yard. We are working on socializing her around other dogs and on her crate training. She should be fine with older children, 12 and up, but not younger ones due to her small size. Chewy loves to snuggle with you and be with you. Chewy is up-to-date on her vet care, spayed, and is heartworm negative. She is on heartworm and flea/tick prevention. This sweet little dog is ready to settle down with her forever family.

GET NOTICED ADVERTISE IN PLANET WEEKLY.

To learn more, please email PlanetEditor@yahoo.com

If you are interested in giving CHEWY or DYLAN the forever homes 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

// IN THIS ISSUE >> UP-TO-DATE RESTAURANT LISTINGS ›› FASHIONABLY LATE ›› SEETHER ›› COMMUNITY ARTS ›› EVENTS ›› ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Turning point domestic violence and sexual assault services center and the Board of Directors are excited to announce the new Executive Committee at its annual meeting. The annual meeting starts at 6:30pm at the First United Methodist Church and features awards, a chance to meet the new committee members and exciting guest speakers on February 27, 2017. A few words of welcome are planned by local officials including, Chief Tommy Reese of Demopolis, Dr. Mallory of Shelton, board members and others. In recognition of Turning Point, the West Alabama areas domestic violence/sexual assault agency, >>> VISIT US ON THE WEB @ THEPLANETWEEKLY.COM

MAY 3 + MAY 17

1

Next Issue // May 31

Advertising Deadline: Friday, May 26 205-523-4668//205-792-7239

theplanetweekly.com 14

MAY 17 + MAY 31

issuu.com/planetweekly

is inviting all citizens, social groups and other non-profits to join with them in this annual event to thank them for their continued support.

Our goal is to create a conglomerate displaying the strength gained by joining together. We are asking individuals and various groups and members to join us and continue a commitment to ensure that all lives are lived free of violence and abuse,? said Amy Gundlach-Foster, Executive Director of Turning Point.

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

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

INSTANT DEATH // REVENGE IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT

★★★

OU T OF 4

S

ometimes, a guilty pleasure can be a lot of fun. Watching the straight-to-video, Lou Ferrigno, action DVD “Instant Death” revived memories of Charles Bronson’s “Death Wish” movies, Liam Neeson’s “Taken” trilogy, and the Sylvester Stallone “Rambo” franchise. If you haven’t seen “Death Wish” (1974), you’ll have a chance to watch Bruce Willis step into Bronson’s shoes for the 2017 remake when it comes out later this year. Suffice to say, “Death Wish” dealt with a mild-mannered New York City architect who embarked on revenge binge after his wife’s murder and his daughter’s rape during a home invasion. The Charles Bronson hero meted out vigilante justice from the barrel of a revolver to a variety of lowlife criminals that prowled the streets after sundown. Ironically, he never found the hoodlums who terrified his family. Nevertheless, while cleaning up the city streets, he evolved into an urban legend. “Death Wish” qualified as one of the notable examples of the revenge movie genre about a private citizen who avenged his relatives after the police proved ineffectual.

“Skin Traffik” director Ara Paiaya and scenarist Adam Davidson replicate the revenge movie formula without tampering with any of the usual clichés. Were it not for the steely presence of body-builder Lou Ferrigno, who rampaged on television as “The Incredible Hulk” from 1977 to 1982, “Instant Death” would constitute just another routine crime thriller.

Indeed, Ferrigno is the star rather than merely a supporting character or an actor appearing in a cameo.

The 66-year old Ferrigno performed all his stunts. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Can Ferrigno act?

Although he seems self-conscious around other actors, Ferrigno plays a flawed father figure hero who might behave in such an aloof manner. The personification of the Grim Reaper, Ferrigno’s paterfamilias suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. The realistic, gritty action occurs primarily in contemporary London, and the filmmakers pit the former “Hulk” against a repellent Cockney mobster nicknamed ‘Razor.’ Jerry Anderson plays Razor, and he is a dead ringer for popular British tough-guy actor Ray Winstone. Anderson plays such a deranged dastard that the actor should think twice about strolling in public without bodyguards. Imaging what Ferrigno’s revenge-minded father will do to Razor when they tangle heightens the suspense of “Instant Death.”

Ferrigno plays veteran Special Forces fighter John Bradley. Although he has been out of combat for six months, Bradley hasn’t recovered entirely from the untold horror. The lonely lifestyle that he describes to his sympathetic psychiatrist recalls the toxic activities that Robert De Niro’s cabbie Travis Bickle indulged in throughout director Martin Scorsese’s classic, urban shoot’em up “Taxi Driver” (1976). The psychiatrist recommends Bradley reconnect with his two surviving family members: his grown-up daughter Jane (Tania Staite of “Crossing Bridges”) and his young granddaughter Wendy (newcomer Sophie Wembridge), who live in London, England. Bradley catches a flight out of New York City. After he lands and sets out to visit Jane and Wendy, Bradley witnesses a vicious gangland slaying.

A ferocious underworld enforcer, Razor (Jerry Anderson), is eradicating all rival drug dealers in his domain.

Anybody who peddles narcotics on Razor’s turf won’t die from old age.

The desperate fools who buy those forbidden narcotics don’t last long.

Razor is torturing an independent drug dealer, Carnie (Sven Hopla of “The Foundling”), when Bradley sees the murder. Not only does Razor kill the rival drug dealer, but he kills another innocent bystander who walks in front of Bradley when Razor tries to shoot our hero. Razor dispatches his intimidating henchmen to liquidate Bradley. Before he eludes Razor’s thugs, Bradley guns down two of them.

A furious Razor demands Bradley’s head. A young street hoodlum locates Bradley after he shadows him to his daughter’s apartment building.

Naturally, Jane is ecstatic about finally seeing her dad again. Bradley rarely spent time around his family while he was in the service. He explains he must visit an old friend in town the next day. The old friend turns out to be Colonel Neal (newcomer Michael James MacMahon) who served with Bradley in the military. Essentially, Colonel Neal is comparable to Samuel Trautman (Richard Crenna) from Sylvester Stallone’s “Rambo” quartet. Trautman acted as the go-between Rambo and those who availed themselves at his combat skills. Predictably, Razor and his hooligans show up at Jane’s door inquiring about Bradley. When Jane cannot tell them where her father has gone, Razor’s henchmen rape her on the dining room table. Later, Razor brandishes a razor and carves up

Jane’s face. Before he leaves, Razor smothers helpless Wendy with a pillow. After Bradley learns about his family, he launches his own crusade of vengeance against Razor and his depraved crew.

“Instant Death” resorts to neither humor nor comic relief characters.

The violence is staged with a sense of spontaneity, and our hero emerges as just as cold-blooded as his nemeses. For example, Bradley holds an arrogant British gangster at gunpoint, and the gangster proposes they negotiate. Our grief-stricken hero refuses, and the gangster’s head vanishes in a bloody explosion. This could rate as the darkest movie that Lou Ferrigno has ever toplined, and he delivers a solemn performance as John Bradley. Paiaya produced the straightforward but violent “Instant Death” on the streets of London for added authenticity. He does a good job of establishing both the characters of Bradley and Razor before he turns them loose on each other. Part of the fun of watching “Instant Death” is that you can savor what the hero will do to his foes. Mind you, you won’t find any gratuitous nudity in the unrated DVD version of “Instant Death,” because it emphasizes blood, gore, and guys.

The homicidal content and the casual depiction of murder and rape may appall the squeamish but appeal simultaneously to stout-hearted action junkie fans who can tolerate a little blood and gore. One of the chief virtues of “Instant Death” is British director Ara Paiaya doesn’t let his efficient 84-minute melodrama wear out its welcome.

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

MAY 17 + MAY 31

15

>>> E V E N T S THURSDAY, MAY 18

Tabitha Cooley @ Southern Ale House WHEN: 6:00pm -9:00pm COST: Free WHERE:Southern Ale House 1530 McFarland Blvd N Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 PHONE: LINK: http://southernalehouse.com/ DESCRIPTION: Join us for live music on the patio from local musician, Tabitha Cooley!

FRIDAY, MAY 19

Diedra The Alabama Blues Queen At Band of Brothers WHEN: 7:00pm-12:00am COST: Free WHERE: Band of Brothers Brewing Company 1605 23rd Avenue Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 PHONE: (205) 266-5137 LINK: https://www.facebook.com/brewingbroth ers/?rf=528097770684009 DESCRIPTION:Diedra "The Alabama Blues Queen" will perform at Band of Brothers, Friday, May 19. The performance will start at 7 p.m. There is no cover charge. Diedra is a 15 times Blues Award Winning and Nominted International Artist. She is a 2014 International Blues Challenge Finalist. She has a song called "Hip Swing In Blues" that created a National line dance. Her husband, Keithen Ruff was recently inducted into the Alabama Blues Hall of Fame. He played lead guitar for Three time Grammy Nominated Bobby Rush for 20 years. He is a four time "Producer of the Year" nominee.

FRIDAY, MAY 19

City of Tuscaloosa Friday Night Live at the Plaza Concert Series to Feature Lamont Landers Band WHEN: 6:00pm-9:00pm COST: WHERE: Government Plaza 7th St. and 22th Ave. SE. Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 PHONE: LINK: http://tarredandfeathered.info/ DESCRIPTION: The City of Tuscaloosa will host musical acts in Government Plaza every Friday night starting April 28 and through July as part of its third annual Live at the Plaza concert series. Each week's free concert will run from 6 to 9 p.m. and will feature a local band in the family-friendly atmosphere of Government Plaza, adjacent to the downtown parking deck behind City Hall. The week of May 19th, Live at the Plaza will present Lamont Landers Band playing blues, soul, rock, and funk. New this season is the creation of entertainment district for each concert. Alcohol can be purchased from restaurants and bars within and on the district boundaries and taken to Government Plaza, which includes several surrounding blocks. Musical acts interested in performing at and businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities for Live at the Plaza should contact liveattheplaza@gmail.com

SATURDAY, MAY 20

Farmers Market WHEN: 7:00am and 12:00pm COST: Free WHERE: Tuscaloosa River Market 1900 Jack Warner Pkwy Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 PHONE: (205) 248-5295 LINK: http://www.tuscaloosarivermarket.com/ DESCRIPTION: The River Market opened in May 2012. Vendors set up ripe red tomatoes and famous Chilton County peaches. Musicians

16

MAY 17 + MAY 31

sit propped up against the door, playing guitars as you walk in, and freshly brewed iced tea is for sale to help battle the heat. Additionally, local Food Trucks, bakers, artists, and craftsmen gather here to sell their gourmet grub, fresh-baked yeast rolls, homemade jams and jellies and hand-carved cutting boards.

Popular summer foods include tomatoes, Chilton County peaches, squash, corn, and local honey. The Farmers Market at the River Market is open from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturdays ALL YEAR LONG and on Tuesdays (from Memorial Day through Thanksgiving).

Now accepting: EBT/SNAP/SFMNP/WIC, cash, credit, and debit. Come on y'all, eat local!

of May 12th, Live at The Plaza will present Plato Jones, one of Tuscaloosa's signature party bands. New this season is the creation of entertainment district for each concert.

Alcohol can be purchased from restaurants and bars within the boundaries and taken to Government Plaza, which includes several surrounding blocks. Musical acts interested in performing and businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities for Live at the Plaza should contact liveattheplaza@gmail.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 20

Frayed Knot Band to play at Band of Brothers WHEN: 7:00pm-12:00pm COST: Free WHERE: Band of Brothers Brewing Company 1605 23rd Avenue Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 PHONE: (205) 266-5137 LINK: https://www.facebook.com/brewingbroth ers/?rf=528097770684009 DESCRIPTION: The Frayed Knot Band to play at Band of Brothers Saturday May 20.

The band will start at 7 p.m. There is no cover charge. Frayed Knot Band is a home-grown Tuscaloosa band. They play a lot of 70's music, some 80's and even a few new songs.

A couple of their favorite artists are Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles.

SATURDAY, MAY 20

20th Annual BBQ & Blues WHEN: 6:00pm-10:00pm COST: Free WHERE: Tuscaloosa Regional Airport Terminal 7601 R Cardinal Airport Rd Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 PHONE: (205) 343-8382 LINK: https://www.thedchfoundation.org/ DESCRIPTION: Get ready for the 20th Annual BBQ & Blues event coming up on Saturday, May 20th at the Tuscaloosa Regional Airport Terminal! We are very excited to host such a wonderful event while raising funds for the DCH Help and Hope Patient Assistance Fund.

This fund supports cancer patients in West Alabama who need financial assistance while undergoing treatment. Come out and have a great time while supporting a deserving cause! $40 for single tickets and $70 for couples Ticket includes entry to the event and BBQ plate provided by McAbee Pigfitters Please visit our website for additional event information. See you on May 20th!

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Sell Advertising Space in the Planet Weekly Please Call or Email Linda Johnson 205.792.7239 • publisher@theplanetweekly.com

FRIDAY, MAY 26

Plato Jones WHEN: 6:00pm-9:00pm COST: Free WHERE: Government Plaza 7th St. and 22th Ave. SE. Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 PHONE: LINK: DESCRIPTION: The City of Tuscaloosa will host musical acts in Government Plaza every Friday night starting April 28 and running through July as part of its third annual Live at the Plaza concert series. Each week's free concert will run from 6 to 9 p.m. and will feature a local band in the family-friendly atmosphere of Government Plaza, adjacent to the downtown parking deck. For the week

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CRAFT BEER | WINE | BARCADE | GROWLERS

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MAY 17 + MAY 31

17

Effective

ADS CONTACT

205.792.7239

Accepting New Patients!

Chiropractic Care Nutritional & Weight Management Programs Sports Physicals 9770 Highway 69 South Unit A | Tuscaloosa Englewood Plaza next to Winn Dixie

205-409-6333

Check us out online at www.freemanchiropracticandwellness.com Now Accepting Blue Cross Blue Shield!

GET NOTICED

ADVERTISE IN PLANET WEEKLY. To learn more, please email PlanetEditor@yahoo.com 18

MAY 17 + MAY 31

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

>>> ROAD TRIP | S O U T H E A S T E R N CO N C E R T S A N D E V E N T S BIRMINGHAM Saturday, May 20 The Crystal Lounge//Tobin Sprout, Elf Power

Sunday, May 21 Oak Mountain Amphitheater//Dierks Bentley w/ Cole Swindell and Jon Pardi Iron City//Mayday Parade Zydeco//Real Friends Alys Stephens Center//Itzhak Perlaman Birmingham Sloss Furnaces//95.7 Jamz Car and Bike Show

Tuesday, May 23 Saturn//Black Lips Iron City//An Evening with Primus

Wednesday, May 24 Oak Mountain Amphitheatre//Train, Natasha Bedingful The Crystal Lounge//Icon For Hire Thursday, May 25 Saturn//The Mountain Goats

Friday, May 26 Alabama Adventure//Alabama Splash Adventure Tuesday, May 30 Lyric Theatre//The Bacon Brothers Friday, June 2 Saturn//Lake Street Drive

Saturday, June 3 The Crystal Lounge//Deicide Wednesday, June 7 Iron City//Glass Animals

Friday, June 9 Dorothy Jemison Day Theater//Fiddler on the Roof

Saturday, June 10 Black Creek Park//7th Annual Black Creek Arts Festival Oak Mountain Amphitheatre// Chris Stapelton

NASHVILLE

Friday, May 19 Ryman Auditorium//Little Big Town

Saturday, May 20 12th & Porter//Adrian Belew Power Trio Bridgestone Arena//Lionel Richie & Mariah Carey

First Tennessee Park Sounds Stadium//21017 Big Guitar Brewfest

Sunday, May 21 Grand Ole Opry House//Nashville Boogie Weekender Schermerhorn Symphony Center//Harry Potter and Chamber of Secrets High Watt//Chris Pureka Monday, May 22 Rocketown//Real Friends

Tuesday, May 23 Andrew Jackson Theater//The Carole King Musical Bridgestone Arena//Maxwell Mercy Lounge//The Mountain Goats

Wednesday, May 24 James K. Polk theater//David Gray Bridgestone Arena//Hall and Oates & Tears For Fears Ryman Auditorium//Dylan Fest Nashville Exit In//OKILLY DOKILLY Thursday, May 25 Mercy Lounge//Ty Segall

Friday, May 26 Bridgstone Arena//Eric Church

Saturday, May 27 High Watt//Tim Kasher Ascend Amphitheater//Nashville Symphony Mercy Lounge//Say Anything & Bayside Wednesday, May 31 Ascend Amphitheater//Train, Natasha Bedingford

Friday, June 2 Ryman Auditorium//Joan Baez, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Indigo Girls Schermerhorn Symphony Center//Copland’s Third Monday, June 5 Ryman Auditorium//Darius Rucker

Wednesday, June 14 Andrew Jackson Theater//Neil deGrasse Tyson Thursday, June 15 Ascend Amphitheater//Third Eye Blind w/ Silversun Pickups

ATLANTA

Friday, May 19 Wolf Creek Amphitheater//Atlanta Funk Fest Chastain Amphitheater//John Legend Center Stage//Damien Escobar Sunday, May 21 Tabernacle//Trey Songz The Masquerade//In Flames

Thursday, May 25 Tabernacle//David Gray The Masquerade//Morbid Angel Variety Playhouse//Pat Green

Saturday, May 26 The Masquerade//Say Anything & Bayside The Masquerade//Icon for Hire Monday, May 28 Fabulous Fox Theatre//Chris Rock Tuesday, May 30 Center Stage//Todd Rundgren

Wednesday, May 31 Verizon Amphitheatre//Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds Thursday, June 1 Tabernacle//Billy Currington Atlanta Symphony Hall//Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Friday, June 2 Lakewood Amphitheatre//Train, Natasha Bedingford Friday, June 9 Center Stage//Skillet

Wednesday, June 7 Ryman Auditorium//Marty Stuart

Wednesday, June 14 The Masquerade//The Birthday Massacre

Friday, June 9 Ryman Auditorium//Paul Shaffer Schermerhorn Symphony Center// Boney James

Sunday, June 11 Nissan Stadium//2017 CMA Music Festival Tuesday, June 13 Bridgestone Arena//Iron Maiden & Ghost

Friday, June 16 Verizon Amphitheatre//2017 Country Megaticket

Saturday, June 17 Verizon Amphitheatre//Luke Bryan CNN Omni Atlanta Hotel//Ivan Amodei’s Intimate Illusions Chastain Park Amphitheater//Gipsy Kings

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

MAY 17 + MAY 31

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

Across 1. "You're ____ pal" 6. Ship to "remember" 14. Yogi of the Yanks 15. Tiring 17. Gossip mill product 18. Irks 19. Sweet liqueurs 21. TV character who says "Don't have a cow, man!"

22. Ate in, as a restaurant 23. 30s flyer 25. Parisian season 26. Unique case 28. Went on alone 29. ___ Plaines, Illinois 30. Progress in the garden 32. Hunan general 33. "Saturday Night Fever" group, with "the" 34. "___ you for real?"

37. Be pleasing (to) 38. Mule of song 41. Backslide 43. Bygone theaters 45. Kimono accessory 46. Goings-on 47. Without metaphor 49. Soaks up rays 50. Manifestly 52. Government investigators 55. Knock for ___ (astonish) 56. Running 57. ___ Loa, Hawaii 58. Flight attendants 59. Put in place

Down 1. Chafed 2. Bring together again 3. White-furred weasels 4. Came into being 5. Texas town 6. Chirped 7. Roll-call response 8. Disney souvenir hat features 9. Hosp. procedure 10. Small island in a river 11. Santa ___, one of the Solomon Islands 12. "But there's ___ I can do" (Supertramp lyric) 13. Nail filers 16. Chihuahua, por ejemplo 20. Digressions 23. Item in a belt?

24. Mineral scale 27. "Copy that" 31. They may weigh 98 pounds 33. Dick's "Mary Poppins" role 34. "Am not!" rejoinder 35. Completely does over 36. 50-50 proposition 38. Clarify 39. Mollusk 40. Frog's seat 42. Back up 44. Fogs (up), as a window 48. Former Chinese Premier Zhou ___ 50. Muslim prince 51. Peddle 53. Jack follower 54. Bus rte. stop

>>> PUZZLEMANIA| S U D O K U

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

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

>>> HOROSCOPES | W E E K L Y O V E R V I E W As Mercury, the planet of talk and thought, eases into your sign, you might want to share ideas that you've been mulling over recently. You're very much in your element at this time, and this week could be an opportunity to take steps to fulfill one of your heart's desires. It may not happen overnight, but bit by bit you'll get there. Friday night can be perfect for a sizzling date, while the weekend could see you enjoying a little retail therapy.

As your personal planet Mercury heads into a secluded sector of your chart, you may find that you're naturally more connected with your feelings. This week and over the coming weeks it may become easier to discuss issues that you've so far kept to yourself.

In addition, letting go of any situations that no longer serve you can also leave you feeling quite liberated. As the Sun enters you sign this weekend, mixing and mingling can be rewarding and uplifting.

Although the Sun's presence in your career zone puts you in the spotlight, you might enjoy the chance to make a big splash. This is your chance to show off your skills and let others know what you can do. Mercury also enters this sector, so you might be eager to give a presentation that can augment your image. Once the Sun moves into your social sector this weekend, the idea of relaxing with friends or enjoying community events could appeal greatly.

Although the Sun's presence in your career zone puts you in the spotlight, you might enjoy the chance to make a big splash. This is your chance to show off your skills and let others know what you can do. Mercury also enters this sector, so you might be eager to give a presentation that can augment your image. Once the Sun moves into your social sector this weekend, the idea of relaxing with friends or enjoying community events could appeal greatly.

As Mercury moves into your sector of travel, you may become curious about exploring countries or cultures you've never encountered before. The coming weeks might see you booking a trip or vacation to a place that can provide sensual delights, heady experiences, and plenty to explore. You may also have an chance to make some positive changes on the home front because of a brilliant idea. It could save you a lot of work if you put it into action.

You might be very aware of subtle undercurrents that could be influencing a relationship or important situation. And these insights might help make a difference in a matter that has been niggling at you for some time. In addition, you may also be thrilled by a relationship that seems to offer something different. This person could be a breath of fresh air in your life, enabling you to see key issues from a fresh perspective that's very liberating.

Mercury eases into your sector of relationships to encourage more conversation and interaction. Gauging other people's reactions before you make key decisions can be crucial if everything is to work to plan. Also, other factors could bring up ideas that have an impact on your income and moneymaking ability. If you've experienced some difficulty in this area recently, a key blend of energies could coincide with a job offer or business proposal that is very good for you.

With a focus on your lifestyle sector, you may be curious about how you can make better use of your time in order to accomplish more. The coming week could encourage you to take a closer look at your routines and daily activities and streamline them in order to give yourself more leeway. In addition, you could find that a new hobby, sport, or creative activity has a liberating effect on you, bringing friendships your way that may be very welcome.

While you may be very busy with your job or responsibilities, a focus on your leisure sector could entice you to explore hobbies that you might relish. And even though you may have a lot of your plate, the opportunity to relax and do something you enjoy might be too tempting to resist. Improvement could show up concerning a family or domestic matter, and it may be due to a brilliant idea.

Although it might require patience, it's worth following through.

This week and the coming weeks could see you getting organized at home by clearing out closets, tackling chores, and making sure that everything you keep has a home. You might be able to earn extra money by selling items you no longer need. Another key aspect suggests that if you're willing to cooperate with a friend or group, something unique may be achieved. A blend of new information and tried and trusted techniques could pave the way to success.

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

As Mercury enters your sector of communication, this can be a good time to take a class that enables you to learn a new skill.

It's also a great opportunity to reach out and make some vital connections that can bring new offers, deals, and contracts your way. At the same time, you might be able to increase your income if you act on an idea. It could be a game changer for you. Someone in authority may welcome your genius!

You may breathe a sigh of relief this week as tensions begin to ease and you start to feel more relaxed. And with communication planet Mercury moving into the practical sign of Taurus, this can be a time for planning ahead and doing the groundwork when it comes to new projects. In addition, you'll be willing to think outside the box and embrace new ideas in a very down-to-earth way. Studying and networking could also be important.

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

MAY 17 + MAY 31

21

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

DRUID CITY ARTS FESTIVAL // GREER FAWLEY

April’s Druid City Arts Festival, and the Druid City itself, encourages local artists to be active with their craft and in the community. Artists like Greer Fawley had the opportunity to host a booth at the April 8th event.

Fawley, 25, originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, is a graduate student at the University of Alabama. Though this was her second consecutive arts festival, Fawley never planned on being a professional artist. She said that when she was younger, her mother would regularly take her to the beach, where she fell in love with the color of the ocean and the feel of the sand. A generous amount of her art has nautical themes, and she attributes that to those trips from her childhood. Most of her work is done on either wood or canvas.

Fawley arrived downtown at 5:30 a.m. to set her booth up in a way that allowed customers to easily see her work and to speak with her. As much as she loves creating her art, getting to meet people in the area with similar values as her, such as creativity, community and faith, brings her just as much joy. She explained that she sometimes feels guilty relying on sites such as Amazon for gifts when she could be supporting someone doing

similar work locally. “I could be buying someone’s soccer practice or dance lessons,” she said. She hopes and believes that others in the community feel the same way.

Fawley said that the only daunting aspect of participating in events like the arts festival is the possibility that she will spend time and money working on wood and canvases only to have no one purchase anything.

Fawley’s skill and quality should then speak for itself, as that possibility did not come true. She did say that while this was a successful art show, she thinks that last year’s event saw a bigger crowd, which lead to better sales.

After Fawley received her Bachelor’s Degree from UA, she spent three years working with Campus Ministry.

This is when she began to sell her artwork to support herself. She started small with commissioned pieces for friends and family, and grew from there. At one point, a friend recommended that she start an Etsy page to sell her work on a global scale, and she did just that.

Etsy allows her to display her works at BeachesBePainting.etsy.com and she also has an Instagram account at BeachesBePainting. The name Beaches Be Painting references the common theme of her work as well as an inside joke between her and her friends back in Virginia. She enjoys the regular interaction that being an artist brings. Being able to satisfy a customer looking for a personal Bible verse or any other sentimental affect drives her to be more creative.

Fawley plans on continuing her work to express herself and grow as an artist. When asked if making the same piece up to 15 times made her ever resent her work, she laughed and said of course not. “It’s not one person buying it 15 times, it’s new to everyone who receives it,” she said, meaning that she puts the same effort into every work of art. She is so dedicated to her customers that she was writing shipping labels while being interviewed.

The personal brand of UA’s own Greer Fawley exhales salty air and a sense of intrinsic tranquility, and it deserves a space in any home.

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MAY 17 + MAY 31

>>> C O M M U N I T Y A R T S | THE ARTS COUNCIL OF TUSCALOOSA

“RETROSPECTIVE” EXHIBIT // WILL FEATURE THE WORK OF BETHANY WINDHAM ENGLE AND FRANK ENGLE “Retrospective,” an exhibit featuring the work of Bethany Windham Engle and Frank Engle will be displayed at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center June 2-30, 2017. The exhibit, consisting of two and three dimensional pieces in a wide range of media, will be displayed in both The University of Alabama and The Arts Council Galleries.

An opening reception will be held on June 2, 2017 from 5-8 p.m. during First Friday. The reception and exhibit are free and open to the public.

Bethany Windham Engle (1932-) has been an integral part of the Alabama art scene for over 60 years during which time she taught art in several West Alabama institutions including Shelton State Community College, The University of Alabama, the University of West Alabama and in the Tuscaloosa County school system. She was part of the integration team in the Tuscaloosa County schools and was one of the founding faculty of Shelton State Community College. Her educational background includes the A.A. from Stephens College, Mo. and the B.F.A, M.A. and Ed.D. from The University of Alabama. Her work has appeared in both national and international competitions as well as publications such as "Eyes On: Abstracts," "CPS to the Point," "Art Galleries and Artists of the South," "Best of Worldwide Artists: Charcoal, Pastel and Pencil," "Best of Worldwide Landscape Artists," "Best of America: Watermedia Artists," "Strokes of Genius" and "Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing." For many years her works were exhibited in her gallery at Artist’s Row in Northport.

Frank L. Engle (1916-2002) was an internationally known sculptor, designer, painter, glass artisan, ceramicist and professor. Engle completed numerous commissioned works, the majority of which were in welded steel, lead, fiberglass and plaster. He attended the John Herron Art Institute (now part of Indiana University in Indianapolis) and did graduate studies in sculpture with an emphasis in ceramics at the University of California. His design career began at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation after which he founded Engle Studios, producing decorative designs for home décor. He also did private commissions including designs for Ford Motor Company and The Shamrock Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

Engle taught at the University of Iowa and Evansville University in 1949, sold the studio, then joined The University of Alabama faculty in its newly created art department. He won numerous awards, participated in single and group exhibitions, spent time as a research scholar in Europe and served as a representative for the non-profit American Craft Council. In the late 1960s, Engle began teaching ceramics at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to help establish what would later become the UAB Art Department.

In 1980, Engle retired as Professor Emeritus of Art. He continued to work from his home and studio and received numerous commissions. His work is included in many private, public, university, church, and corporate collections in the United States, Mexico and Europe. In 1994, Engle was presented with the Distinguished Career Award by the Society for the Fine Arts and the College of Arts and Sciences at The University of Alabama. A room in Woods Hall in the Department of Art at the University of Alabama was named in his honor. Engle died on February 20, 2002, in Tuscaloosa, and his ashes were interred on the grounds of Windy Hill, his home in Tuscaloosa County.

The University of Alabama Gallery is open weekdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and The Arts Council Gallery is open weekdays 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m.

The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center is located at 620 Greensboro Avenue in Downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about the CAC, The Arts Council or Bama Theatre, patrons should LIKE the Facebook page “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” and follow tuscarts on Twitter. Call 205-758-5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.

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

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

BAMA FOOTBALL UPDATE // MARKAIL BENTON IS ON TRACK TO BE IN TUSCALOOSA

I

ncoming freshman linebacker Markail Benton can't wait to get to Tuscaloosa. The Phenix City-Central standout plans to arrive at UA on May 29. In the meantime, as he's finishing up high school exams, Benton spends every extra moment studying the highlights of former Tide star linebacker Reuben Foster.

"I watch Reuben's highlights every day," Benton says. "I've learned so much from watching him -just the way he plays the game. He's an absolute beast. I love watching Reuben play. It motivates me to play at that level."

Benton will arrive in Tuscaloosa as part of one of the nation's most heralded linebacker classes.

Other standouts in the group include Dylan Moses, an early enrollee, and Chris Allen and VanDarius Cowan, both slated to arrive with Benton on the 29th.

"It's real exciting to be part of it," Benton says.

"I've been working out to be ready. I'm going by the plan they sent me. I'm in pretty good shape right now. But I guess I'll find out what kind of shape I'm really in when I get there.

"I'm about 240 right now. The last time I spoke to Coach Saban, I was 245. He told me as long as I have my speed and can move, he wasn't worried about it."

"I talk to Coach (Derrick) Ansley, my recruiting coach, every week. He's telling me to be ready.

He said they like me on the inside. He said if I'm good enough to play outside in passing situations, they'd like to try me doing that."

The 2017 class is the Tide's seventh consecutive nationally top-ranked recruiting class.

"I know most of the guys from being around them at The Opening last summer and from the Under Armour Game," Benton says. "We have some great players. We have some that when I watch their highlights, I just say, 'Wow'."

Which fellow freshman has wowed him the most?

"I'd have to say Najee Harris," Benton says. "I just watched his highlights again today during PE. He's an absolute beast. He hurdles guys. He runs through guys. He outruns guys. It's amazing watching him."

SOFTBALL TO HOST NCAA REGIONAL For the 13th-straight season, Alabama softball has earned a top-16 national seed and will host an NCAA Regional as the No. 16 overall seed,

welcoming Minnesota, Louisiana Tech and Albany to Tuscaloosa. NCAA Tournament play at Rhoads Stadium begins Friday, May 19.

only faced Minnesota once in program history, a 2-0 Crimson Tide win on Feb. 10, 2000 at the Metrodome Classic in Minneapolis.

The NCAA Tournament appearance is the 19th-straight for Alabama, having done so every year since 1999. Alabama has earned a top-16 national seed 15 times, including a hosting streak of 13-straight starting in 2005. The Tide is 84-39 (.659) all-time in NCAA Regional play and has won every regional round since 2005, the longest active streak in Division-I softball. Alabama has not lost a game in regional play since 2007, a streak of 31-consecutive games.

Louisiana Tech (34-22) won the automatic bid for Conference USA, the program's first league title since 2008 and 10th overall. Six players were named to the all-conference team, including Newcomer of the Year Krystal De La Cruz, a sophomore pitcher who leads the team with a 2.00 ERA over 105.0 innings pitched. Alabama has won all four of its meetings against Louisiana Tech, last facing off in a doubleheader on March 27, 2007.

Action at the Tuscaloosa Regional will begin on Friday, May 19 when Minnesota faces Louisiana Tech at 1:30 p.m. CT on WatchESPN.com before Alabama takes on Albany at 4 p.m. CT live on the SEC Network.

Albany (27-16) won its sixth America East title this weekend, its second in the last four seasons.

Senior utility player Elizabeth Snow was name the league's Player of the Year, leading the team with a .439 batting average and 50 hits, including 13 home runs and 46 RBIs. Alabama has met Albany four times in program history, winning all four. The last meeting came on Feb. 14, 2004, a 12-0 win for the Crimson Tide.

The Minnesota Golden Gophers (54-3) earned the Big 10's automatic bid after winning their second-straight tournament title. Minnesota was the league's regular-season champion as well, finishing conference play with a 21-1 Big 10 record. Senior pitcher Sara Groenewegen is a top 10 finalist for USA Softball Player of the Year and has a 30-2 record with a 0.59 ERA and 280 strikeouts over 190.0 innings pitched.

Minnesota was ranked No. 4 in both national polls heading into last weekend. Alabama has

The winner of the Tuscaloosa regional will advance to face the winner of the Gainesville Regional, hosted by top-seeded Florida. Other teams playing in Gainesville include Oklahoma State, Florida International and Florida A&M. Courtesy: UA Media Relations

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